THE CORRAN HERALD 1

Where are they no Christian Slabs 3-4 Love Under Siege 5 Madame's Daught: 6-7 Drama in Ballym,. 8 All Gold % 9 Sligo Newspapers ... 9 First Holy Communica 10 The Horn War 11-12 Farewell to the Boreen 13 The Examination 14 Dillon House in 15-16-17 The Nature Game 18 Window Competition entries 19-20-21 Golf Club 1930-1997 22 The Mercy Sisters and Education in Ballymote 23 The Potato Blight 24 How to know you're getting old 24 The Pip 25 A cloud burst of the early 'thirties 26 A local T.D. again 27 Andrew J. Walsh, Athlete 28-29 A new creation ? 29 Doo Church 30-31 A piece of history —the Sacristan's House 31 The Bad Times 32 The Co-operative Creamery Association 1894-1994 32 Dan the Man 33 The period of the nineteen-fifties 34 Mrs. Nellie Tansey 35 , Ballymote 36-37-38 Threatened and depleted species 38 Ballintubber Abbey 39 Census of Corran 1659 40 THE CORRAN HER:,^ BALLYMOTE 8th Annual HERITAGE WEEKEND (ORGANISED BY BALLYMOTE HERITAGE GROUP) Patrons: Mr. Eamon Barnes D.P.P. Most Rev. Dr. T. Flynn, of

FRIDAY 1st AUGUST —MONDAY 4th AUGUST 1997 IN TEAGASC CENTRE, BALLYMOTE, CO. SLIGO

FRIDAY 1st AUGUST SUNDAY 3rd AUGUST 8.30 p.m. Official Opening by Malcolm Billings, 2.00 p.m. Lecture: The Story of the B.B.C. Broadcaster and Writer. in Ballymote followed by a walking tour of Lecture: Farming For The Crusades: the historic sites of Ballymote Town. Templar & Hospitaller Estates Tom McGettrick, Historian. Rediscovered. Malcolm Billings. 8.30 p.m. Lecture: Megalithics and Metals in Ireland and Western Europe. SATURDAY 2nd AUGUST Lord Dayton, Baron of Corran. 10.30 a.m. Lecture: The Geology & Landscapes of the Ballymote Area. Conor MacDermot, MONDAY 4th AUGUST Archaeological Survey of Ireland. 10.30 a.m. Lecture: Carrowmore Excavations. 2.00 p.m. Outing: The Bricklieves and Curlew Professor Goran Burenhult, Stockholm Mountains: Guide: Conor MacDermot. University. 8.30 p.m. Lecture: Early Monastic Sites of Co. 2.00 p.m. Outing: Carolan Country — Kilrc,; tan, Sligo. Martin A. Timoney Woodbrook and Ardcarne Church famous and Mary B. Timoney, Archaeologists. great stained glass windows and organ. Guide: Frank Tivnan, M.A. H.D.E., Histc ian, St. Mary's College, Boyle. WEEKEND TICKET: £10.00 INDIVI!UAL LECTURES: £3.00 8.30 p.m. Lecture: Simony, Sacrilege TRANSPORT AVAILABLE FOR OUTINGS and Perjury: Archbishop Marsh and his Library. Dr. Muriel McCarthy, Keeper Sponsored by: Marsh's Library. PATRICK ROGERS LTD. BALLYMOTE

THE CORRAN HERALD 3 Where are they now, the Knockmore Early Christian Slabs

By Martin A. Timoney as the west wall. There is a We are now sure when or how recent build up of stones on the the slabs went missing, some of "WHERE are they now?" is the line of the west wall. There them were certainly gone by usual nostalgic opener for was a fine east window as is March, 1984, before the someone talking of a has-been pop to be seen from the fragments of Carrowntemple slabs were group of the 1960s, of classmates it used as gravemarkers. In the removed, an event which happened of an earlier generation or when south wall there was a dooway in early Autumn of that year. looking at a long abandoned towards the west end and the base At this point it is appropriate to house sadly overgrown with briar. of a two-light window is describe in simple form the four In the case of Knockmore there positioned upsidedown towards slabs. should be no notalgia, just the east end. There is a round- Each slab is a deep purple downright rage, for part of the sandstone. The shape of the slabs heritage of Ireland, more altar position. The graveyard wall was not regularised at all. Only specifically that of south Sligo and includes many pieces of dressed the face bearing the cross was particularly that of the parish of and cut stone in its make-up and prepared, if at all, in any way. Kilfree, has gone missing. In fact other dressed pieces are scattered The shape and the rough and it has not been seen by the public throughout the graveyard being irregular backs of the slabs argues for over a decade. Let us go back used as grave markers. against them being used other than almost two decades and even However, Knockmore was in a recumbent position. further. important at an earlier date. The Each slab has a single Greek Knockmore, alias Mount Irvine, evidence for this was the presence cross and all four are of the same is a townland in the parish of of four Early Christian slabs lying design though they vary in detail. Kilfree some short distance west of on or about the north side of the They have expanded terminals, Gurteen in south Co. Sligo. Access church. These have not been seen some of which are in the form of to the lonesome graveyard there is in public for some years which is two lobes. The grooves are 3cm by a lane off a side road off the most regrettable. wide by 1 cm deep. Gurteen to Tobercurry road. Three of the slabs were first No. 1 is a roughly rectangular The graveyard is rectangular and noted about 1978 by Joe Sweeney slab 78cm by 33cm and is 5cm to within it are the remains of the of Gurteen who taught in Cloontia 7cm thick. The cross is 20cm by Carmelite Priory of Knockmore National School, not far south of 16cm. alias Grand Mont alias Cnoch Knockmore. When I went to see No. 1 is a roughly rectangular More. This was founded about them about 1981 I found another slab with a triangular top. It 1320 by the O'Garas. An slab. measures 77cm by 71 cm and is inquisition of 1594 found that 7cm to 14cm thick. The cross in when dissolved it was seized of a the centre of the triangular head is quarter of land valued at 6s. 22cm by 16.5cm. However, Knockmore is listed No. 3 is a sub-triangular slab among the convents existing with the apex at the middle of the c.1737. I suspect that many out of righthand side. It measures 80cm the way rural still had by 57cm and is 7cm to 9cm thick. clergy and mass being said long The cross is 20cm by 16.5cm. after the Dissolution. No. 4 is a sub-rectangular slab The only surviving building is 103cm by 47cm and is 6cm to 8cm the church and even it is quite thick. The cross in the centre of incomplete. The church measures the head is 17.5cm by 14 cm. 25.90m by 8.70m. The north side It is very hard to date a cross of of the east gable still stands as this simplicity but they date to the does the lower courses of the east i Early Christian period, that is the and south walls. A short section period between the introduction of of the north wall ends with stones Christianity and the Medieval that suggest that there was a period, most likly to the middle of doorway here. Up to fifteen years that span and probably to before ago the line of this wall could be the 10th century. traced between grave plots as far None of the four Knockmore as the east end. There is a round- slabs is to be seen on site today; headed piscina to the right of the No. 2 was there after the others 4 THE CORRAN HERALD

went missing. They are large and awkward and could hardly have been carried easily by one man. Slabs of this period have been taken from Clonmacnoise, Inishbofin on Lough Ree, Inish Cealtra on Lough Derg, Carrowntemple and elsewhere so it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that the Knockmore slabs have gone a similar route. There is a major worldwide trade in antiquities which has reached deep into Irish heritage. The possessive nature of people coupled with the fact that more people have surplus wealth to purchase the unique artifact means that the art-antique market is running out of quality supplies which in turn has fuelled trade in heritage objects. Such objects and even parts of buildings are being taken by various routes across Europe to the richer world. Having said that the missing slabs could still be in Co. Sligo, even in the parish of Knockmore, even in the graveyard, but one feels less hopeful in regard to the latter after several searches over a number of years. These slabs are part of the heritage of Ireland and were in safe-keeping in Knockmore graveyard for several centuries. While I have descriptions, photos and drawings of the slabs, and so detailed information on them exists here and elsewhere, it is important that their present whereabouts be established. Anyone knowing of the present whereabouts of these slabs should inform the Duty Officer at The National Museum, 01-67744, the Gardai, or the writer, 071-83293. This photograph from the Sligo Field Club archives shows Al fie Gallagher, Veterinary Surgeon, of Ballymote and Dr. A.T. Lucas, Director of the National Museum of Ireland, at the archaeological site at Kilturra, three miles south of Bunninadden. This photo was taken in the 1960's. They are looking at a 19th century slab (not in photo) with an inscription to the Cooke family of Kilturra. To the right of the photo are two other slabs at the site. They are an Early Christian slab with a cross in a circle and a 19th century slab with a cross. Since then a large stone with a hole through it has been moved from the stream to this spot at the suggestion of Tim Kelly of Carricknagat, Ballintogher. All these stones are at St. Attracta's Well beside the prehistoric barrow at a bend in the river. It was Alfie Gallagher that first brought the Lough Gara crannogs to national attention when he reported them and several lake shore finds to the National Museum. His report, along with a drawing of a later Bronze Age sword, was published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Antiqaries of Ireland in 1952. Vol. 82, pages 182— 183. —Mary B. Timoney THE CORRAN HERALD 5 Love under seige By Sonia Kelly sent for Desmond and asked to be an alderman's house in the city, pending further investigation. She AS the strongest fortress in told what the woman's errand continued to insist that she would , Ballymote in Co. was. The Earl told him that he only marry with her brother's Sligo is more often associated with had received no messages, his consent and said that she had also war than love, but it was there sister, Lady Joane, being the recipient. received a proposal from the Earl that love blossomed between Hugh of Kildare, which she was O'Donnell and the Lady Joane of This news made Sir George considering. Desmond. suspicious, so he ordered Mary But the serving woman This castle was built in 1300 McShee to appear before himself subsequently confessed that she A.D. by Richard de Burgo, the and the Privy Council. Under had seen O'Donnell several times Red Earl of Ulster, one of the examination the woman confessed with the Countess at Ballymote Anglo-Normans who first that she had brought a letter to and that she herself had urged appeared in the region in 1187. Joane, but that the special point Joane to come to her mother and But in spite of its defences, with of her errand was to convey the O'Donnell as he was a great lord loft. walls and six towers, the de Lady to her mother for the and very rich. The plan was for Burgos were not able to hang onto purpose of marriage to O'Donnell. her to go from Thomond to it for very long, the Earl of Ulster Needless to say, the Lady Joane Clanrickarde, from there to Tibbot being defeated at the battle of was the next to be grilled and ne Longe and thence to Sligo, Connor by Edward Bruce the Scot confessed her knowledge of the eventually ending up with Red in 1315, when the town of plan, but submitted that she had Hugh in Ulster. In the event, of Ballymote was destroyed. never intended to go ahead with it course, none of the plans Rory O'Connor, who had allied without the consent of her materialised, as the army was himself with Bruce, was the next brother. But the Earl not only defeated and O'Donnell fled to to acquire Ballymote and its professed complete ignorance of Spain, where he died of poisoning. castle, but he was defeated by the the matter, but took grave offence O'Connor Sligo was allowed to MacDonoughs in 1381, whose with his mother for thus take over Ballymote Castle in 1603 chieftain was responsible for the endangering his newly restored by promising Her Majesty to compilation of the great Book of status. The Council believed his repair it without charge to the Ballymote. prostestations of innocence, but Crown. He remained there until For two hundred years the castle took a grave view of the affair, Limerick fell to Cromwellian remained in their possession until regarding it as being intended to forces and then surrendered. Soon in 1598 they sold it to Hugh kindle new fire in the province. afterwards the fortifications were O'Donnell for four hundred Mary McShee was clapped into dismantled, the moat was filled up pounds and three hundred cows. It gaol and Joan was imprisoned in and the castle fell into ruin. became his headquarterrs and was used as a place of assembly to the march of his armies to Kinsale in 1599 and his subsequent Heritage Group A.G.M. disastrous defeat. Meantime, the Earl of THE twelfth Annual General Meeting of Ballymote Heritage Group Desmond's son had had his was held in September 1996. A successful year was reported. The father's living restored to him and August Heritage Weekend had gone very well, all lectures and was staying with his sisters, Joane outings being well received and appreciated. The Corran Herald is and Ellen, in Limerick, while his its new enlarged format had rapidly sold out. mother, Elinor, Countess of Following the AGM the membership of the Group, and its Desmond (now married to officers, were as follows: Vincent Jordan (President), Matilda Casey O'Conor Sligo) lay sick at (Vice-President), Eileen Tighe (Chairperson), Yvonne Perceval (Vice- Ballymote. Shortly before Chairperson), Betty Conlon (Secretary), Nellie Tansey and Mary O'Donnell's departure for Kinsale, Martin (Joint Treasurers), James Flanagan (Corran Herald editor Sir George Carew, who was in and PRO), Gerry and Esther Cassidy, Maureen Egan, Anne command at Limerick, was Harrison, Carmel Rogers, Jack Martin, Anne Flanagan, Mary notified that one Mary McShee, O'Donnell, Stan Casey, Cassie Finn, Paddy Horan, Nuala Rogers, the Countess' serving woman, had John Conlon, Nellie Jordan, Noreen Friel, Brenda Friel, Molly arrived in the city. Howard. Sir George assumed that she had The Corran Herald subcommittee consisted of James Flanagan, come to see the young Earl and Jack Martin, Eileen Tighe, Betty Conlon, Nellie Tansey. Corran made no move for three days, Herald treasurers were Betty Conlon and James Flanagan. Heritage during which time he expected to Weekend co-ordinators were Eileen Tighe and Betty Conlon. be informed about whatever Since the 1996 AGM the sad death of Nellie Tansey has taken messages had arrived. When no place. See appreciation elsewhere in this issue. information was forthcoming, he 6 THE CORRAN HERALD Madame's daughter By Jim McGarry IT was the last day of the was a daughter, Maeve, who may At school Maeve studied the Exhibition. The viewers were few not have inherited her mother's violin seriously with a view to and all were elderly. Suddenly the great beauty but did inherit her becoming a professional soloist. quiet atmosphere was shattered by great humanity as well as her One recital, at the Wigmore Hall, a messenger boy calling in a loud father's artistic talent. London, was enough to prove to accent "Miss de So it was at Lissadell one day in her that she would never be a Markievicz". 1901 that Madame gave birth to a soloist, and not seeing herself as The tall woman in blue, daughter, called Maeve, after the the second fiddle of a string standing alone, answered in an legendary Queen of Connacht. The quartet, she abandoned music as a equally loud aristocratic voice: "I confinement took place in a room, career. am Maeve de Markievicz". one of whose windows looks Maeve was now a strikingly At that, an old lady who had across the cairn on Knocknarea handsome if not classically been keeping one eye on the where Queen Maeve is alleged to beautiful young woman. She was paintings and the other on the tall be buried. extremely intelligent and a brilliant woman, walked up to her and When Madame was ready to conversationalist. Her said: "I knew your mother. rejoin the social round, she left grandmother still hoped for a Madame was a beautiful woman, her infant daughter with her conventional future. but you are not". grandmother, Lady Georgine So, taking time by the forelock, With that she hurried out of the Gore-Booth, at Lissadell. Lady Georgina arranged to launch salon to return in a few minutes, In time the relationship between Maeve on a London Season. thrust a large bouquet of flowers the grandmother and grand- The English cousins who shared into the artist's hands saying: daughter developed into one more Maeve's coming out were all "For Madame's daughter". like mother and daughter. Lady formally presented at Court. But The incident took place in Georgine was to become the one in view of Madame's activities at August, 1960, at the first Irish solid link in the life of her grand- that time, it was tought prudent Exhibition of the paintings of an daughter. not to seek presentation at Court unusual woman, herself the For very soon Madame became for "That Woman's Daughter". daughter of that legendary immersed in the political and The trivial round of the social Irishwoman, Constance Gore philanthrophic activities which whirl appealed even less to Maeve Booth, Countess Dunin- were to absorb her for the rest of than it had to her mother and Markievicz. her life, while the Count ceased to lasted even shorter. Bowing to the Had the old lady paused a reside in Ireland. inevitable, Lady Georgina minute, she would have seen an When Sir Jocelyn Gore Booth reluctantly sent her grand-daughter extraordinary likeness not married in 1907, his mother Lady to Swanley Agricultural College superficial, it's true, but there is Georgina, moved first to for Women, from which Maeve the same fine bone-structure of Ballytivnan, Sligo and finally to eventually graduated with a B.Sc. mother and daughter. Ardeevin, between Sligo and (Hort.) degree. On further observation, she Rosses Point. To supplement her theoretical would have realised that the artist This was to be Maeve's home knowledge, she spent four years at was very much her mother's until the death of her practical farming. She then took daughter, not only in looks but in grandmother. Here, from time to up an appointment as Instructress that indefinable air of breeding time, Madame came from Dublin in science and gardening in a which allowed her mother to walk to visit her daughter and her Training School for Teachers. with kings, yet not lose the mother. During this period, Lady common touch. At the age of 14 Maeve was Georgina and Madame died within Yesterday it enshrined her who sent to an exclusive English a very short time of one another. had been the toast of Viceregal school, but not before she had Fortune seemed to smile on Dublin, London and Paris in the exhausted the patience of ten Maeve for a while. She was hearts of Dublin's poor. Today governesses who had tried, one notified that she had been left her daughter is equally at ease in after another, to tame her everything her mother and the famous salons of London and mettlesome spirit. grandmother had to leave. the farmhouses around Lissadell. She was at this school during As it turned out, both legacies The family that produced two the Rebellion of 1916, and as was were small. Lady Georgina had sisters of the divergent calibre of to be expected in such a setting, been living on a substantial Eva and Constance Gore-Booth, achieved a doubtful notoriety as Jointure but it ended with her when joined with that of the "That Woman's Daughter". death, whereas Madame had spent royally descended Pole, Count Secretly she had the greatest nearly all her private means on her Casimir Dunin-Markievicz, was admiration for her mother's philantrophic projects for the poor bound to produce no ordinary emancipation and hoped one day of Dublin. offspring. And so it was. to follow in her footsteps, not in There was, however, enough to The only issue of that marriage the field of politics, but the stage. buy a small fruit farm in Kent, THE CORRAN HERALD 7

which Maeve managed until the had achieved her first exhibition. memory in London had its outbreak of the Second World That in Hampstead, where drawbacks, and more and more War. artists are two a penny. Maeve realised that she must At this time her hobbies were Two years later she held her return for inspiration for her next filming in small parts at Elstree, first Irish Exhibition in Dublin. Irish Exhibition to the landscape music, poetry and writing a This was in no small measure due that had inspired Eva Gore Booth detective novel. to the help and encouragement of and both W.B. and Jack Yeats. Taking up war work, she was one of the last of Madame's Filled with that sudden longing first assigned as a Labour Officer original band of Fianna Eireann for home that had inspired W.B. over Land Girls in Somerset, later — Eamon Martin. Yeats to write `Inisfree', she put moved to Kent and during the down her brush one spring day to final phase of the war was back It was almost 50 years to the write: teaching at Swanlea College. day from the founding of the There is colour on Benbulben After the war she took up Fianna Eireann in Dublin by Indigo on Knocknarea reclaiming and planning gardens Madame, to that first Irish Gold and grey and primroses around Hampstead that had been Exhibition in Dublin by Maeve. In Lissadell today. allowed to run wild during the war That it was made possible There is fire on Ben Weskin years. This is still one of her through assistance of the former Ice blue on Sligo Bay. occupations. Chief of Staff of the Fianna God give us peace and hope In 1956, she suddenly decided Eireann is a tribute to the in Lisadell today. she wanted to paint. With the enduring spirit of a great And so she came back for a same energy that had characterised Irishwoman, just as the bouquet lengthy stay at Lissadell, where the Madame in her projects, Maeve was a tribute to the memory of a gentle spirit of Eva and the made such progress at her new beautiful woman. turbulent spirit of Constance still hobby that within two years she But painting Irish scenes from linger.

GROUP TAKEN AT THE START OF THE 1996 HERITAGE WEEKEND Front row, left to right: Nuala Rogers, Betty Conlon (Secretary Ballymote Heritage Group), May O'Donnell, Mary Martin (Joint Treasurer), Tilly Casey (Vice-President), Stan Casey, Clr. Paul Conroy (Chairman, Sligo Co. Council), Eileen Tighe (Chairperson BHG), Yvonne Perceval (Vice-Chairperson), Jack Gilligan (Dublin City Arts Officer). Middle row: Cassie Finn, Nellie Tansey (Joint Treasurer), Michael Ryan (Director and Librarian, Chester Beatty Library), Anne Flanagan, Anne Harrison, Maureen Egan, Carmel Rogers. Back row: Vincent Jordan (President), James Flanagan (Editor Corran Herald, PRO), Gerry Cassidy, Jack Martin, Martin Timoney (Archaeologist, Hon. Sec. Sligo Field Club), Mary Timoney (Archaeologist). 8 THE CORRAN HERALD Drama in Ballymote and other places By Tom McGettrick "Emlaghnaghten School of adjudicator, described his voice as ON March 16th 1919 the A.O.H. Acting" too had many happy "the loveliest voice she had ever Dramatic Society, Ballymote years with Ballymote. He has the heard from a male actor." staged `The Croppy Boy' in the Owen B. Hunt medal for Actor of There were so many others who Hibernian Hall. The cast is not the Week in in 1956 gave service, many gone off life's recorded. The prices of admission to his credit and was on the All- stage and some still playing parts were 2/4, 1/3 and 8d. An old Ireland winning team at Athlone in the drama that each day brings. seanchai who shared many a story with the play `Dark Brown' in I recall Paddy Mullen, Phil with me would say "that was 1957. The cast on that occasion Sheeran, Doreen McDonagh, Jack when porter was tuppence a pint". was Dolores Corr, Molly Martin, Meehan, Lynda Begley, Frank A dance followed with the prices Bridie Scanlon, Josie McHugh, Flannery — who could forget 2/- for males and 1/- for females. Carmel Collins, Paddy Coen and Lynda and Frank in that little Music was by the A.O.H. Band. Tom McGettrick. The producer one-act gem by Lady Gregory, Later that year the Society was Fr. Paddy Higgins who, `The Workhouse Ward'. Yes, I rehearsed `The Memory of the during his years as at know many are left out, I'm Dead' by Countess Markievicz. Ballymote, produced `The Whip sorry. I conclude with a tribute to They were prevented from staging Hand', `The Righteous Are the Ballymote Dramatic Society. it, why is not stated. The titles Bold', `Professor Tim', `The They were pioneers, in a way. suggest a trend in the politics of Rugged Path', etc. with the When they took the play the time. As far back as 1897 Society. His trophy for production `Aftermath' by T.C. Murray to Percy French came to the same at the All-Ireland Festival at the festival in Tubbercurry in 1944 hall with a mixture of concert Athlone was a well-deserved they were among the groups items and sketches. Jimmy tribute. taking part in that first drama Reynolds (Mr.) was the organiser, Of the above cast, Molly Martin festival that led to the founding of a man of outstanding talent in won the award of Actress of the the Amateur Drama Council of music and drama. The older Week as the Reverend Mother in Ireland with M.J. Devine of generation in the town will the `Righteous Are Bold' in Tubbercurry its first president. remember him. Tubbercurry in 1958. Paddy Coen In the years that followed In the 1920's Batt Henry in his wrote a three-act play, `The Ballymote took plays to various small school in Emlaghnaghten Darkest Hour' which the group festivals. Nights of much travelling was producing Dion Boucicault's took to Tubbercurry in 1962 and and late homecoming, but I am plays with casts from the school Dolores Corr will be specially sure the verdict would be it was area. Some of those are worth remembered for her production of all great fun. mentioning, they were well pantomimes in the local cinema. It trained. Bridie Scanlon took part was nice to meet Larry and herself later in most of the productions recently. with the Ballymote Dramatic The writer will be pardoned for Society. She gave years of recording that when Godfrey dedication and skill. She received Quigley took him in hand the highest praise from following a meeting at adjudicators on the Drama Tubbercurry, he became the proud Festival Circuit at Tubbercurry, winner of the Joe Burns Cup for Ballyshannon and Athlone in the senior character sketch in English All-Ireland Finals where she and the Padraig Pearse Cup for played on two occasions. Peggy character sketch in Irish at Feis McGettrick was another of that Shligigh in 1958. These and other school. When she went to work in days with drama in Ballymote it is Carrick-on-Shannon she played for a pleasure to recall. many years with the Breffni Michael Reynolds came to Ballymote as a pension officer. In Players. Still hale and hearty, she the Dramatic Society he produced has "best supporting actress" at work of the highest standard. He Loughrea Festival and group prepared `The Singer' by Padraig honours at Athlone to her credit. Pearse in 1946 for the Paddy Curley, another from Tubbercurry Festival and `The that school, joined the Ballymote Bishop's Candlesticks' for Feis Society and many audiences Shligigh, both winners. When he enjoyed his portrayals. did the part of McDara in `The This writer from the Singer', Rita Mooney, the THE CORRAN HERALD 9 ALL-IRELAND GOLD WINNERS FOR BALL YMOTE SLIGO NEWSPAPERS

THERE have been local newspapers in Sligo for over 200 years. The Sligo Morning Herald or Connaught Advertiser, and the Sligo Journal or General Advertiser were the first papers started, and the first named would appear to have been the earliest in the field. Three early numbers of the Sligo Journal-116, 157 and 281—and one number of the Sligo Morning Herald-184—have fallen under the writer's notice; and as the number of the Journal issued on the 20th December, 1793, is 116, while the number of the Herald issued on the same day is 184, it would follow, taking both to have been weekly papers all through, that the first number of the Morning Herald preceded the first issue of the Sligo Journal by more than a year. Both, however, were bi-weekly occasionally.

The name, motto, and price of Morning Herald are thus given in Number 184: "No. 184 THE SLIGO or CONNAUGHT VOX POPULI. (A Print of Fame here.) Price 2d. "HOW TIMES HAVE CHANGED SINCE OUR PARENTS WERE YOUNG" MORNING HERALD U-13 Project which took place in All-Ireland Community Games Finals ADVERTISER in Mosney in May 1997. From left to right, Gerald McGettrick, Orla SLIGO MORNING HERALD Mongey and Niamh Martin, 5th Class pupils of Scoil Mhuire Gan Smal, Ballymote. Friday Morning December 29th 1793 To be awarded 1st place in Mosney for our project was a great joy and Sligo: Printed and Published by a great achievement as the standard was extremely high and there were O'Connor, Market Street, where 33 entries in our U-13 category. Advertisements and Articles of This achievement was a result of many hours of hard work and Intelligence are received". research, mainly on Saturdays and after school hours. Our theme was "Have times changed since our parents were young". It took us from In his History of Irish Periodical the swinging 60's to the technology of the 90's. We interviewed people Literature, Dr. Madden and found they were most helpful. Some enjoyed their trip down mentions a paper called The "memory lane". Sligo Morning Herald, "printed In developing our plan, we considered the changes in attitudes, by J. O'Connor, Limerick"; but it is pretty certain that "J. entertainment, education, discipline, crime, transport, liturgy, banking, O'Connor, Limerick", is a sport, family life, health services, salaries/wages and now of course the mistake of the Doctor for changes that computers, fax machines, mobile phones, etc. have brought O'Connor, Market Street. into life. Finally, we considered that "mod cons" of all kinds have taken the —Supplied by Claire Walsh drudgery out of life, but the "meitheal idea" and the "neighbourliness" is gone or going. Can we get the balance right? 10 THE CORRAN HERALD

KNOCKMINA N. S. FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 1997 Front row, left to right: John Anderson, Aiden Caffrey, Ella Trautmann, Elizabeth Clarke, Patrick Clarke, Jason Dwyer. Altarboys: Rymond Scanlon, Garry Lavin, Michael Scanlon, Dermot Caffrey. Also included are teachers Mrs. Patti O'Connor (Principal) and Mrs. Maura Horan and Fr. J. Caulfield, C.C., Ballymote.

SCOIL MHUIRE GAN SMAL, BALLYMOTE, FIRST HOLY COMMUNION 1997. Back row: Karl Brennan, Maíre McLoughlin, Odhran Harrison, Fr. J. Caulfield, Marion Mullen, R. Flynn (P.P. Ballymote), Aiden Healy, Denise Lavin, David Anderson. 3rd row: Sr. Regina Lydon (Principal), Richard Watson, Niamh Mahon, Kevin Hooey, Veronia Kyle, Barry Tighe, Eileen Hurley, Luke McFadden, Lisa Scanlon, Joseph Golden, Miss D. Taheny (Vice-Principal). 2nd row: Brian Martin, Sinead Healy, Shaun McEvilly, Maeve Golden, Mark Irwin, Joanne Cremin, Karl Scanlon, Lorraine Quinn, John Cawley. Front row: Deirdre Barrett, Melissa Underwood, Laura Creegan, Lynda Scanlon. THE CORRAN HERALD 11 The Horn War

THE enactment by the Irish apprehend they forced to march witness had helped Mr. Tennison Parliament in April, 1793, of the before them in order to secure to escort, had been discharged. Catholic Relief Bill secured a themselves from frontal attack by Little replied that they were. "He considerable measure of social and these gentlemen's friends. They saw MacDermot next morning political emancipation for the then advanced to Ballyfarnon on lying at a cabin near Cootehall, conservative gentry and the the borders of Sligo and with his nose, one of his eyes and affluent merchants professing the Rocommon and thence marched to near half his face shot away". Catholic religion. It provided no attack Castle Tennison, A military officer stated that he relief for poverty, however, nor subsequently renamed Kilronan met the prisoner on the morning did it free the peasantry from the Castle, from which they carried in question "at the head of a most exactions of the tithe-proctor, the off "a double-barrelled gun, a numerous mob; that the prisoner middleman and the other little considerable quantity of silver saluted him, asked if the prisoners tyrants of their fields. Moreover, plate, wine, ammunition and other had been released whom he was it became widely rumoured that articles". They are also stated to escorting or if any mischief had the Militia Bill, providing for the have broken and demolished the been done in an engagement which compulsory conscription of men windows and furniture of the had taken place between the army for the war against France, which residence. and another mob who had became law about the same time, This party was led by a man attacked the party and forced had been agreed to by the named John MacDermot, whose them to release the prisoners; representatives of the Catholic family and lineage were seemingly adding a threat that if any aristocracy in consideration of the well-known at the time but have mischief had been done Mr. privileges secured by them by the since become enveloped in Tennison might expect that there Relief Act. At the same time obscurity, or, still worse, falsified would not be a stick or stone of French agents or sympathisers or rendered unintelligible by his house left standing" (Walker's stressed the egalitarian aims of the misleading and fragmentary Hibernian Magazine, 1794). Revolution and pointed out that descriptions. An officer who was in the the common people were being At MacDermot's trial in Dublin, district at the time tells in his conscripted to fight against the in February, 1794, an attempt was autobiography that the Defenders very protagonists of their own made by his counsel to prove that "were headed by John economic emancipation. he had been coerced, like the rest MacDermot, a most profligate Serious disturbances developed of the local gentry, into the van of character, he was son to a Roman in many counties. Bands of oath- the Defenders, but it was deposed Catholic gentleman and had bound "Defenders" assembled in for the prosecution that he had enlisted and deserted frequently force and the houses of the gentry been seen tendering an oath to and was at this time proscribed. were raided for arms. Priests eight or ten of the mob at the Under such a leader the acts of alleged to have assisted in the bridge of Carragagappal about violence committed by them could enrolment of the militia were two miles from Castle Tennison, not surprise. The insurgents were denied admission to their chapels. "binding them to be loyal and at Crusna Chapple (sic.) about In the Defenders faithful to him in burning and five miles (from Boyle) waiting for included the houses of two destroying the house of Mr. evening". This account says that members of the Catholic Tennison". Such an oath would an attack on Boyle was intended Convention and of some of the seem to have been as unnecessary but that the mob of about 1500 Catholic clergy in their attacks. A in the circumstances as it was were taken in the rear, the magistrate reported that "the tautological in its terms. The chief gentleman prisoners taken from decent Catholics in Sligo have object of the men whom them and themselves put to flight. joined the Protestants". McDermot led from Céis was stated by a reporter while they "Those who could ran away, In May, 1793, the people met leaving their arms and shoes on were en route to be liberation of "in great bodies" on the the field". 143 prisoners were their comrades from Carrick (on mountains of Céis Chorainn in captured, "miserable, ignorant South Sligo, at the summons of a Shannon) gaol and Mr. Tennison's wretches". These were promptly horn blown by Martin own evidence at the trial was that disposed of without waiting legal McDonough of Tuamour. They he was absent from home when authority of any kind by the Earl proceeded to attack Hollybrook his house was attacked, having left of Corhampton, then Commander- House, the mansion of the Folliott with a number of other gentlemen in-Chief "who came, examined family then tenanted by their in the execution of his duty as a and sent every man fit for service relation, William Phibbs. They magistrate to escort some prisoners on board a Tender at Sligo, from also raided Joshua Cooper's house to Carrick gaol. Another witness, thence to the Fleet". The account at Markrea "and all the William Little, swore that goes on to describe how neighbouring seats". Those of the MacDermot had asked him information then came that the gentry whom they managed to whether the prisoners whom rebels were coming to attack the 12 THE CORRAN HERALD The Horn War Earl of Kingston's residence at Tennison, Esq., and theron stolen There were estated gentlemen that do Rockingham. This was obviously several articles of plate, wine, etc. belong to me the relief party headed by The jury failed to agree and And did I lead a sober life it's hanged MacDermot which had been at according to Burke (Ancedotes of I ne'er would be Castle Tennison as described the Connaught Circuit), their To back the poor against the rich above but the narrator's memory processes of mutual persuasion with them did not agree seems to be at fault in suggesting were supplemented by the use of And so McDermott Roe must die in that the two parties were dealt tongs and fire-irons until at length shame and misery. with in immediate succession as the combatants were parted by the The Anthologia Hibernica for MacDermot at Castle Tennison halberdman, assisted by the military, June, 1793, reported that a was already aware of the outcome and "carted" to the bounds of the prisoner taken at Boyle included of the battle of Crossna. Thus, at country "all battered and "a gentleman of family, who least a day, or perhaps more, must bleeding". having run through his fortune, have elapsed between the two The Anthologia Hibernica for had joined and headed these encounters. On the second February 1794, reported the trial misguided people". As occasion, "we planned a Sortie a of MacDermot at bar in the Court MacDermot lay in agony at Coote little before day which was of King's Bench by a Co. Hall he was asked what he had effected with success beyond our Roscommon jury. He was found done with the valuables taken expectations for we beat up the guilty. "His wretched appearance from Castle Tennison and he Quarters of MacDermot and took (for half his face is shot off) replied that he had personally him prisoner; he was severely interested the feelings of every obtained nothing there but a wounded in the face, one of his person present". On the 30th shotgun. eyes knocked out and otherwise May, 1794, John MacDermot All this suggests that John injured. This man was tried at was brought up to receive MacDermot actively and Roscommon Assizes, but the jury, sentence. Messrs. Simon Butler, voluntarily participated in the riots not agreeing were carted—and he McNally, Geoghegan, McDermott which were called the "Horn was transmitted to Dublin, where and Costello severally offered War" from the fact that the he was hanged, dying the points in arrest of judgement blowing of horns was the hardened villian he had ever which were overruled by the preconcerted signal for the lived". (Annals of the late Major Court. (It will be noted that assemblies; that he was the son of Oliver Fry, R.A., 1773 –1868). MacDermot had the assistance of a Catholic gentleman who was MacDermot was brought to trial at least two lawyers who were probably in reduced circumstances; at the Roscommon Assizes on members of the United Irishmen). that he was wounded and Monday, 22nd June, 1793, before Sentence of death was then passed subsequently captured in the Chief Baron Yelverton and Mr. on the prisoner. On the 7th June, course of his efforts to secure the Justice Downes, afterwards Lord 1794, MacDermot was executed at freedom of members of another Kilwarden. The legality of the the commons of Kilmainham and contingent of Defenders who had constitution of the Grand Jury Walker's Hibernian Magazine been made prisoners by the was challenged on a plea which reported that "The unhappy man military; but that when brought to was a somewhat peculiar one to was so overcome by the horrors of trial he was not accused of emanate from what we would his situation that he was nearly rebellion but of heading the mob conceive to be a nationalist, and dead before the executioner which destroyed and plundered presumably Catholic, party, performed his office". This does Mr. Tennison's house on the 21st namely that the High Sheriff, not accord with old Fry's May, 1793. William Crofton, had declined to statement that he died "the The Ballad introduces a take the oath which affirmed that hardened villian he had ever lived". complication by calling him the Church of Rome was The Ballad of Bold McDermott "MacDermot Roe" but obviously idolatrous and damnable. The Roe will be found in Colm it refers to the same man, half of assizes were postponed until the O'Lochlainn's Irish Street Ballads, whose face was shot away. It also 12th October when the objections pps. 56 – 57. It contains the refers to the abortive trial at were disallowed and this following lines: Roscommon and the execution in constituted a precedent for liberal Dublin. I headed the Defenders as their captian sheriffs thenceforth refusing to • Mr. Garvin is a native of 'tis the truth take the offensive oaths Keash, Co. Sligo, and despite In the County of Roscommon I was throughout the country generally. being Secretary to the Department called the undaunted youth Meanwhile, poor MacDermot of Local Government (as it was I fought as brave as any 'till half my continued to live as he might with then), found time to pursue his face was shot away half a face. interests in the historical and At the October trial, My father was a gentleman and my literary fields. In January 1954 he MacDermot pleaded not guilty of mother a lady gay gave a lecture in Boyle, Co. having on the 21st May broken One thousand was her fortune upon Roscommon, on aspects of local open the house of Thomas her wedding day history in which he referred to "The Horn Rebellion". THE CORRAN HERALD 13

DRUMNAGRANSITY N.S. 1948 Front row: Eileen Hannon, Pauline Carty, Josie Healy, Kathleen Healy, Pakie Egan, Sean Carty. Middle row: Kathleen Hannon, Francie Dyer, Rod Egan, Francie Healy, Imelda Healy, Padraic Healy. Back row: Ita Lavin, Mary Dyer, Tommy Dyer. Photo courtesy Tommy Dyer Farewell to the boreen IN many parts of Ireland, one However, some boreens still Almost 200 years earlier, in now gasps at the sight of what carry impudent rights-of-way, 1650, another marvellous map had was once the main coach road to enough to defy any bulldozer. been made, the first survey map Dublin or Cork. By modern This right-of-way will still be of Ireland, called the Down standards, they are tiny, twisty, found most frequently where Survey. It was made on overgrown lanes and yet they once access is required by one man to a Cromwell's orders. He also knew a network of inns, hotels, field or fields, through another ordered a report on the soils in halts and "unyokes", where the farmer's land. Again, one each area. He needed the maps horses were changed after frequently finds a right-of-way to and the reports so that he could completing another stage. the whole community for a Mass fairly (!) distribute Irish land to Everyone knows that the words path to a long-ruined medieval his officers and soldiers. This map "bothar" and "boreen" are church. names the townland of each farm, derived from the word "bo", a All these boreens and old coach the acreage of each farm, the cow. The length of the cow or the roads performed a vital function name of the owner and his width of the thoroughfare, in for people in your area. It would, religion (seemingly only two, relation to the cow's length, gave of course, be impossible to Protestant and Irish Papist). the thoroughfare its name and preserve them all; it may not be Now for a 20th Century definition. possible or desirable to preserve wonder: By means of photo- The boreen is, of course, the any of them now, with the price copying, the National Library of smallest throughfare, and it is of land so high. However, there is Ireland has superimposed the 1650 these which have been the greatest one marvellous memento of them. map on the 1840 map. casualties in the second half of In 1840 a superb survey map The result is a fascinating this century. They are being was made of Ireland. It was near treasure with a clear record of slaughtered and levelled with the end of the dominant stage your place in 1650 and 1840, ferocious rapidity, and more will coach days, but every boreen and boreens, roads, lanes and all. follow as the present trend in lane, road and observable right-of- bigger and more efficient machines way was carefully and continues. The boreen is now methodically put down on that —From "Look Around" by Nicky inadequate and shortly will only 1840 survey map. (Fields and Furlong, Irish Farmers Journal, be a mark on a map. houses too). January 20, 1979. 14 THE CORRAN HERALD The Examination

A SKETCH FROM REAL LIFE A final injunction anent the improvement and, in doing so, wearing of our best clothes, and A bright, balmy summer morning, takes a junior class for an we separate. To-day sees us all with the rare sunshine dancing in explanatory lesson on "The alert. Of late trade has not been every nook and corner of the Farm". It is hinted to him that artizan district, intensifing the air very good, but proud parents have these children have never seen the boldly risen to the occasion of of pleasant bustle which envelopes country but he smilingly "The Examination" and snowy it. deprecated such an utter collars, gay hair ribbons, and Yestere'en the fiery cross was absurdity, and proceeded to spotless "pinnies", are the order sent round "that for sure and delight his rapt listeners with a of the day. The elders are all certain the new Inspector would be vivid word picture of the charms anxiety, on the principle of "you in school tomorrow". So, of country life—the fields, the know the D—1 you have, but - although the long-looked-for flowers, chicks, lambs, etc., you don't know the one you surprise visit has kept everyone on winding up with the word haven't", and there are grave the strain for months, still, this "pump". "Who can tell me about rumours afloat that this new man last declaration is so impressive, a pump?" "Who has seen one?" wants all sorts of things, from that doubters are vanquished and Blankness settled on the class. writing on sand to "graphs". quick preparation is well in hand. After a long pause a hand shot The morning wears on, its usual The old school, decidedly not one up. It was that of bright little routine only broken by the noisy of Ireland's model white Bridgie Kelly. Triumphantly the entrance of an important-looking elephants, has done yeoman great man looked around, as much servant maid, who leads a stodgy, service in its time, and now wears as to say: "There, now! I knew a distinctly shabby appearance, overfed, overdressed little girl of that by judicious questioning I about eight years of age. Stupidity contrasted sharply as it is with a could gain information". Gently and good nature are spelt largely showily painted publichouse in its he drew the little one within the over the child's chubby face, immediate vicinity. The interior is circle of his fatherly arm and bade even worse. Of decoration there is encircled as it is by stiff corkscrew her tell him where she had seen not a sign, save and except two curls. The maid, evidently the pump. Bridgie gazed impressed by the grandeur of her ancient map pictures, "The Races confidently at him, her dark eyes charge, whispers loudly to the of Man" and "The Animals, sparkling, and her delicate cheeks Birds, and Fish of the World". teacher "that her mistress, Mrs. flushing with the pride of superior McSwiggin, wishes that her Imelda These, in the long past, had knowledge, and answered in charmed many generations of not be allowed near Bridgie response to his "Now my child, Kelly", said Bridgie being the wondering youngsters, but now speak up; let us all hear", poverty-stricken, intelligent child they are faded to a blurred "In the publichouse, sir!" drabness, the Patagonian is undis- of a foolish father, who spends The lesson ended abruptly, but tinguishable from the Esquimaux, most of his time and earnings in throughout the day many were the the gaudy publichouse of the and the Elephant and the Whale pitying glances cast by the good have vanished completely. So a McSwiggin. man on the unconscious little This fact is public property of summary riddance of these relics scholar, whose childhood innocent the neighbourhood, so the teacher of happy youth is decided upon, horizon was bounded by the coldly replies "that every child is and their places are taken by publichouse. treated alike, no distinction is bright prints from illustrated (The Irish School Weekly, June 10, 1911) made, but that Mrs. McSwiggin papers. might rest satisfied that the Orders are given for a thorough cleaning of the floors, desks, and children were never near each other, as Bridgie was always at the windows, but here an obstacle is met in the easy-going official head of the class and Imelda at charwoman, who deeply resents the foot". Considerably abashed, the maid retires, and soon after such undue haste in her own particular domain of work, the nervous tension is relieved by the advent of the Inspector, who declaring that: "A week, let alone proves himself a kind, humane one evening and morning, is needed to do the thing right". man, giving credit where it was However, an extra tip mollifies her due, and delighting all. Helpfully he pointed out ways of just wrath, and she consents to do her best. THE CORRAN HERALD 15 Dillon House in Ballaghaderreen By Máire McDonnell Garvey THE Dillon House is much older than we ever thought it was in my school going days. It is a large three storey impressive building in the centre of Ballaghaderreen or Bealach a' Doirín and overlooks the Square. No matter what side you come in from this large house is the first item to be seen. I gather from various sources that the house could have been built in the last quarter of the eighteenth century. The Dillons were not living in the town at that time. But the landlord of Costello Gallen who resided at Loughglynn, just eight miles outside what was then known as the village of Bealach a' Doirín (the Way of the Little Oak Wood) was Viscount Lord Dillon. He was the owner of Dillon House, Ballaghadeereen, Co. Roscommon one of the largest tracts of land in Connacht 93,321 acres. Hughes was a magistrate in left her guardian and protector. From the house of Loughglynn Bealach a Doirín who got this This, he neglected and Catherine several others have descended. As appointment on the proposal of left Hughes penniless and went to is well known Dillons of Viscount Dillon of Loughglynn. her own estate at Strokestown. Loughglynn sold their property to He and another magistrate were It appears that James Hughes the Congested Districts Board at accused under the Whiteboy Act was no angel and never lost an the beginning of this century and and they both protested their opportunity to add to his wealth. it was divided among the tenants. innocence. Having connections in The McDermotts of Coolavin have The most respected of these `high places' it was no surprise to recorded more of his `goings on'. Dillons were those of Belgard find them two years later in In a letter written by Dr. Hugh Castle in Co. Dublin just off the charge of a military enquiry in McDermott of Coolavin to his Naas Road. Roadstone bought Bealch a' Doirín. It was of course wife Bess who was on a visit to over that property some years ago a well known fact that magistrates Ballinagare, the home of the and run a thriving business from throughout the country often kept O'Conor Don, he said he saw a there. The Dillons of Lung on the on the side of the Ribbonmen and crowd of people gathered at Dublin Road outside Bealach a Whiteboys in order that their own Creggane chapel on his way home Doirín were of the same family. personal land and families would from the Float Bridge. He The Dillons of Clonbrock, Mount go unharmed. probably took his wife that far Dillon, Cappa, Johnstown, Catherine O'Conor Don's and she was met by some of the Coolbuck and the descendants of husband Dominic O'Conor Don O'Conor Don there. He saw Tom those of Kilkenny West in Meath died in 1795. Women were very Dillon (probably an agent for the were created Earls of Roscommon badly treated in those times Viscount) giving James Hughes in 1622. The Dillons of Lisheen, irrespective of their standing in the possession of Charles Costello's Dillon's Grove, Hollywell, community. James Hughes was farm at Cross and Cooleena. Farmhill and Mullin are descended her maternal kinsman through the There was a question of dual from junior branches but are none alliance of his father with the ownership between Dillon and the less Dillons in their own right. Dillons of Lung. Catherinc was Costello from the time of the To go back to the origins of the forced out out of her own house Survey and Distribution. Dillon House, it was the home of by Hughes to go on a visit to his James Hughes had a daughter a magistrate in Bealach a Doirín family mansion in the village of married to a brother of General called James Hughes who appears Bealach 'a Doirín in Co. Mayo. James Joseph McDonnell of to have an enormous influence in She went on this visit intending to Carnacon House outside Westport. the area. His father had eloped stay only a few days. To her James Joseph was active in with and married one of the Miss misfortune she stayed too long. securing some legislative Dillons of Lung when he was only She lent money which she never independence for the Irish a struggling shopkeeper from got back and thought she would Parliament of 1792 and helping to Leitrim. It took quite a few years never get out of their clutches. She organise the United Irishmen in before her family forgave her. blamed Viscount Dillon as he was Connacht. A niece of James 16 THE CORRAN HERALD Joseph kept a diary in which December 1918 at the East Mayo James Joseph's escape from election John, leader of the Ballinamuck is recorded. He Nationalist Party, was defeated by joined General Humbert and Eamon De Valera. He retired accompanied him to Bellaghy from politics and spent much of where they had a difference of the remainder of his life running opinion. James Joseph insisted the the business called Monica Duff in proper route to take was the one Bealch 'a Doirín. He died in 1927. to Bealach a' Doirín and attack 's son James lived General Lake who had taken over forty years of politics and was a James Hughes's house on the legend in his own lifetime. He first Square and the town was crowded supported De Valera but after a with military. At this time year he joined the Fine Gael party Hughes's niece was on a visit with James Dillon which was a merger of the Centre her mother in Hughes's house. She Party and Cumann na Gael in claimed that Hughes built the Gaeilge). After the death of his 1933. He was an outstanding town but the County libraries of mother in 1862, it was the Minister for Agriculture and is Mayo and Roscommon have no O'Harts, the O'Hara family and remembered for the land drainage information of this. Anne Deane who looked after the and reclamation. One of the finest The Dillons of Lisheen as family. No. 2 North Great orators of his day he was mentioned earlier were descended Georges St. became John's appointed to the Council of State from junior branches of permanent home but he spent in 1960. Even those politicians in Loughglynn. Luke Dillon was a many happy days in Bealach a' opposition had to admit that he full grown man at the time of the Doirín and his cousin Anne Deane was an outstanding man. He died 1798 rising. Family tradition has it was like a mother to him. John in 1986 and was mourned by all. that he was a member of the became a doctor in 1877. He James' son John Blake Dillon was United Irishmen. He is said to married Elizabeth Mathew who born in 1945. He qualified as an have taken part in the `Castlebar was a niece of the famous priest accountant and is living in Dublin. Races'. Unable to pay his rent who started the Pioneer The Dillon House went up for Luke was evicted and moved into Association. When Anne Deane sale after the business closed Bealach a' Doirín. He died in 1825 died in 1905 she left the business down. It had prospered from 1812 and one of his sons Thomas and land to John. down to the 1940's and 1950's. started a small family business. John became an active worker With the arrival of supermarkets There is no definite record as to in the Land League and a great and foreign owned chain stores in when Dillons acquired the house supporter of Parnell. He Ireland, family owned stores began on the Square from J. Hughes. championed the cause of the to close down. Monica Duff and When it became a going concern tenants early on during the Land Company closed down the Thomas handed it over to his War. At this time the big house different departments one by one. widowed sister Monica Duff. She was open for all the politicians of The ironmongery went first, in turn gave the business to her the day. Anna and Fanny Parnell then the mineral water plant, next daughter, Anne Deane who was were part of the "Ladies Land the yard, and finally the drapery, also a widow who had great League" with Anne Deane and household, grocery and bakery business ability. were frequent visitors to the house closed in 1985. The land was sold Anther son of Luke Dillon, as were Parnell, William O'Brien, to the Roscommon County John Blake met Thomas Davis Michael Davitt and Council. and Charles Gavin Duffy in Duggan and McCormack. Even Many young boys and girls Trinity College where they started the British M.P. William Blunt from Bealach a' Doirín itself and a newspaper called `The Nation' in was welcome. He was a friend of surrounding towns had been 1842. The insurrection they John Dillon and came to Ireland employed in Monica Duff's. organised and lost in 1848 did not to see for himself what the There, under the watchful eye of succeed as the people of Ireland situation was. Before this time the Michael Cawley and before him found the `bread and butter' issue Dillons had acquired the Post Bob Partridge, they received the more important. John Blake was Office. Anthony Trollope (the initial training that would make elected M.P. for Tipperary but writer) was overseeing the Post them efficient business people for died in 1866. Offices throughout the country. It the future. Those days are now John Dillon, son of John Blake has been said that he wrote some gone forever. was born in Dublin and spent his of his famous Barchester Novels For years the conversation in most impressionable years in that while staying in the house. the town was the restoration of city. , one of the John Dillon championed the the Dillon House. The Taoiseach Fenian leders, was tutor to John. cause of the tenants in the Land John Bruton came to look at it in When he was about thirteen years War during which time he was 1985. He promised to do his best. old he and his brother William imprisoned twice and he continued Ballaghaderreen and District went to Dr. Quinn's school in No. to take their side in supporting the Development Ltd. held many 6 Harcourt St. (now the `Plan of Campaign' and was sent meetings and so the work has headquarters of Connradh na to prison again in 1888. In begun. The house is being brought THE CORRAN HERALD 17

back to its old glory and the Western Development Teeling Street, Administrative Headquarters has been established and will be part of the restored house in the future. Ballymote, in 1930 In all these two hundred years no one seemed to bother about the history of the house itself. When I asked John Blake he said he knew very little except that it was a two storey house when it was acquired by the Dillons and that the outer walls were cavity walls and had been filled with turf mould to the heat in. Dillons added the third storey and it stands there in all its glory today. We hope that in the twentieth century this house will be the centre of activity for community developments and we wish the people of Bealach a' Doirín every good luck for the future. REFERENCES: 1. Recollections of Skeffington Gibbon 1796-1829. Printed by Joseph Blundell, 187 Great Britain Street, Dublin; 2, James Dillon—A Biography by F.S.L. Lyons; 3, Mid-Connacht by Márie McDonnell Garvey; 4, Co. Roscommon Historial and Archaeological Society Journay 1994 and 1996.

This photo was taken looking out onto Teeing Street just before the Blessed Sacrament procession in 1930. Can anyone identify any of the people shown? —Photo courtesy Liam McDonagh

Castle Ballymote Norman 18 THE CORRAN HERALD I

DRUMNAGRANSHY N.S. Back row: Miss Hinds N.T., Eileen Hannon, Imelda Lavin, Josie Healy, Its Lavin. Front row: Pakie Egan, Tommy Dyer, Pauline Carty, Mary Dyer, Padraic Healy. Year unknown. Photo courtesy Tommy Dyer. The nature game By Molly Howard about seven inches tall and the and sauce bottles. Another guess smallest about two inches. Some concerns some of the very thin WHEN we label things, we put are of clear glass, some are of ones which are four and a half them into slots, we tell ourselves brown glass and there is one inches tall and have an outside that we know what they are. So which I think of as a pot, being diameter of just under one inch. I how does one decide whether made of opaque white glass. I think they are medicine bottles. A something is junk or an have divided them into two smaller one, which could be one archaelogical artefact? If it is a groups, those with screw tops and of the oldest ones, is three inches question of time, how much time those without. I would guess that high and seven eights by half an should elapse before the those requiring corks as stoppers inch at the base. This, I think, is changeover occurs from being are the older ones. also a medicine bottle. something thrown away because it The modern group have some When I see the glint of glass as is junk to something found and recognisable shapes. There is an I dig in the garden, I only save treasured because it is a relic of ink bottle, some sauce bottles, an those bits which turn out to be the past? eau de cologne bottle, a spice complete bottles. Sharp shards I The reason I ask these questions bottle, a baby lotion bottle and dump in an old bucket. They will is because I am slowly acquiring a the white glass pot which I'm eventually reach the town dump collection of small bottles convinced contained cold cream. though what I am going to do discovered during one of my For me, the cork top bottles are when it closes I don't know. gardening activities, i.e. digging the more interesting, probably Only once did I save a broken the ground over before I put because the first lot described are piece of glass. That was because it plants or seeds in. barely out of the `junk' category, was much thicker than the normal I live in a house built just prior at least as far as I'm concerned, shard. Also, although it is clear to the War, which to my way of though I've no doubt there are glass, it has a greenish tinge. My thinking is within the present day. many nowadays who've never small knowledge of glass making However, it is built on land where bought a bottle of ink. Within the tells me that this indicates age. a previous house stood. To me, older group, I can really only Which brings me back to my the earlier house is history. I do guess, because some of them are original question. When does a not know how long people have new to me. I lived in Canada until piece of broken glass stop being lived on this spot but the bottles I I was twenty-one so I am not something to throw away and have recovered, a total of thirty- familiar with what was common become something to keep? Is one so far, seem to have been here during the twenties and there a precise definition? Or is it thrown away by the occupants of thirties. merely anything outside one's own one or other of the two houses. In the older group, there are lifetime? I would dearly love to The largest of the bottles stands what looked like more ink bottles know. THE CORRAN HERALD 19

McGettricks Drapers, O'Connell St. Cassidy's Newsagents, Lord Edward St.

Patrick Rogers Ltd. Hard e, & Eileen Egan, O'Connell St. O'Connell St. Paddy

THE CORKAAN HIERALD THE CORRAN HERALD 21 Heritage Windows Exhibition '96

pharmacy, Lord Edward St. newsagents, O'Connell St. Sheerin's Butchers n M••p S' I Hurley's (Myles Sheerin), Christine Lenno Teeling St.

Michael Perry T/A L. Hayden, Licensed Premises, vamxaE^tt OúWáL... ::.. Batty Cawley, O'Connell St. ^,,,^ „ & Son, Electrical, Telling St. Lord Edward St. Vucent McDonagh

Grattan Cleaners ( Co. M.I.A•V•'.. Auction Rooms, Main St. Richard & Attracts Creamery Rd. Cryan & Molloy), Owen Breheny, Perry's Supermarket, Grattan St. Main St. 22 THE CORRAN HERALD I Ballymote Golf Club 1930-1997 by Rosaleen and Pat Mullen THERE is a long tradition of golf sections for beginners and for In 1993 Ballymote Golf Club in the Ballymote area. The club ladies. The best beginner was moved to its current location at was first affiliated to the Golfing former handball star Michael Ballinascarrow. The new course Union of Ireland in 1947, but golf Cunnane, while Mrs. Constance was up and running within a short has been played locally since 1930. Rogers was the best lady." — time. Soon after, new greens were The club has had different Newspaper report. built at holes 2, 3 and 6, a new `homes' down through the years, My own earliest memories of fifth hole was constructed and starting off in Deroon in 1930. golf are firmly rooted in Carrigans several hundred trees have been The founders back then included Golf Course. The course itself was planted. The clubhouse, changing Dr. Pat O'Hart, J.V. Kerr, Joe relatively short in distance but rooms, car park, equipment Healy and Batty Cryan. Golf was nevertheless par was always a storage facilities and manicured played here for a number of years good score. Many of the holes rought are all major new features until the land was divided by the appear to have been designed by of this present course. Irish Land Commission. God himself, with each hold being Many new members now play The second golf course was set on its own level. The three par golf in Ballymote. The new course located in Carrigans on Pattersons 3's were particularly good short has the potential to continue to land in 1942. An elderly lady, holes with hole number nine, the improve over many years as the Mrs. Ellen Flannery was employed shortest of them all at 120 yards, trees come more into play, and the by Sam Patterson as a herder, but producing a remarkable number of addition of bunkers, she was also responsible for double and triple bogeys for what reconstruction of greens and the cutting the fairways which she did appeared to be a straightforward building of new tees are all with a dockey and a single berth hole. developments which would further mower. This course closed in the The best hole on the course enhance the course if and when early '50's due to compulsory however, was the 430 yard par 4 funds become available. tillage. eight. Here a drive from on high This further development Templehouse was home to the onto a generous fairway in the however is already being pursued third golf course in Ballymote in valley below left a very difficult with the introduction of a five 1954. A contract was drawn up uphill second shot with out of year development plan. A with Alexander Perceval to lease bounds to the left and a severe fundraising draw with generous the land for a sum of £35 per year slope to the right leading to the prizes is currently in place and the which was paid in two instalments. waiting water below. The beauty proceeds from this will go a long The club members to sign the of the hole was the fact that there way to financing the plan. contract were Harry Horan, Tom was no way to play safe except to Golf has been a great success in Johnson, Dr. Taheny and Andy aim directly at the flag and hope Ballymote for over sixty years now Rogers. and pray that the ball went due to the commitment and hard It was back to Carrigans again straight. work of the club committees and for the fourth golf course in 1966. Because of the shortness of the its members. The main advantage This course was located within a course and the lack of bunkers or of having a golf course in mile of the town on a sharefarm trees on the course, they only Ballymote is that we have: in Upper Carrigans and was defence which Carrigans could founded by such people as Paddy present was the difficulty of the Mullen, Harry Horan, John carpet-like greens (similar to • A golfing facility literally on O'Mahony and Alfie Banks. Augusta National, home of the our doorstep with little travel A newspaper cutting dated Masters), which during World War time 29/11/66 expressed the hope that 2 served as grazing land for cattle. the associates' section (the ladies) It was during our years in • Affordable golf where all are would have no problem Carrigans that Ballymote welcome at any time, without reorganising itself and noted that represented Connaught on two time sheet worries the reappearance of Ballymote occasions in the Carrols Pro-Am brought the number of golf clubs competition in Portmarnock. The • Our own identity and in Connaught to the new record team in 1985 was represented by opportunities to play in golf level of 29. Paddy Mullen, Pat Ridge and competitions, such as inter-club The new course was informally Charlie Scanlon, and they were matches, which as members of opened on Sunday 8th February drawn with Christy O'Connor Jr. larger clubs we may never 1968. "To mark the occasion, they The team in 1986 was represented have had. ran an open competition over nine by Tommy Joe Hunt, Brian holes and the first winner was Kennedy and Stephen Cannon and (With grateful appreciation to Tommy Wynne, with a net return they were drawn with Severiano Kathleen Cryan and Harry Horan of 37. There were also special Ballesteros. for information supplied). THE CORRAN HERALD 23 1

1986: Presentation to Severiano Ballesteros of Innisfree Crystal. Left to right: Brian Kennedy, Tommy Joe Hunt, Severiano Ballesteros, Joe Stagg (Captain), Paddy Mullen (Hon. Sec.), Stephen Cannon. The Mercy sisters and Education in Ballymote EARLSFORD House, as it was while B. Quinn succeeded number and one principal teacher. once called, was built around 1775 him as parish priest of Ballymote. The principal at that time was Sr. by the Fitzmaurices. Many of the Canon Quinn worked M. Gertrude Gallagher. Shortly stones for the building were taken assiduously to improve conditions after that many efforts were made from Ballymote Castle. In 1833, among all classes, and was to get a new school for the girls of Sir Robert Gore-Booth bought the responsible for the erection of a Ballymote, and another for the houses from the Fitzmaurices. very fine primary school which boys. Sr. Frances McNicholas Captain Gethins became a land combined accommodation and succeeded Sr: Gertrude as agent for the Gore-Booths. The equipment for senior and junior principal. Gethins family continued to live classes. This school was opened on After many meetings and there until 1906. The estate was Pearse Road in 1915. The school negotiations with the Department then put up for sale and was continued the tradition of two of Education it was decided that purchased by the parish priest as a separate schools—an Infant School an extension would be built to the parochial residence. Later he and a Senior School. Each school existing girls school on Pearse decided it was unsuitable for the had its own separate roll number Road. Money was collected locally purpose and he offered it to the and a principal teacher for each to finance the local contribution Mercy Sisters for a convent. school. It was not until 1918 that which was added to the grant What the Sisters were really the Sisters of Mercy took charge from the Department of looking for at that time was a site of the senior school. Education. Finally, in 1991, the for a convent near the parish In 1951, this school was boys and girls school were church. After consultation with extended and reconstructed. Mons. amalgamated and became known Bishop Lyster it was agreed that P. Roughneen was then the parish as Scoil Mhuire gan Smál. Sr. the Sisters would take over the priest of Ballymote; Sr. M. Agnes Regina Lydon became principal of residence at the purchase of O'Grady was the principal of the the newly amalgamated school. £2,000, and they gave their senior school and Sr. M. Gabriel On the 21st September, 1992, residence "Castle Lodge" to the Kelly was the principal of the parish priest. the new school opened. This was a Infant School. In 1982 the infant great day for the young girls and On the death of Staunton, school and the senior school were P.P., Swinford, Canon boys of Ballymote, and indeed for amalgamated. For the first time the Sisters of Mercy too, who had Connington was transferrred to since primary education started in given ninety years of unbroken Swinford as , Ballymote it was now just one roll service to the pupils of Ballymote. 24 THE CORRAN HERALD The Potato Blight By Claire Walsh Belgium and France, then the landlord's agent set fire to the The potato was introduced into South of England. It first houses — which in itself was a Ireland at the end of the sixteenth appeared in Ireland in Dublin and way of prevention of disease, but century. It was first used as a Waterford in September 1845. some times the people were still supplementary food and as a At the time it was not inside. standby against famine when there understood that the disease was The Poor Law Relief was slow was a poor corn crop due to bad caused by a fungus and that the in coming. The first Indian Meal weather. The potato was then weather was a contributing factor to come to Boyle came on barges known as a plant which was to its spread. At the time an east to the Bailey Bridge from "peculiarly exempt from blights wind prevailed. Drumsna. The railway line to and mildew." The Cloghogue area had sandy Boyle was not finished yet. It gradually became the staple soil and produces very good Michael Walsh from Cloghoue food of the poorer people but potatoes. At the outbreak of the went for two horse carts of the with improved varieties it was used blight in 1845 the crop was not meal. On his way home he was by all classes in the 18th and 19th badly effected. The people said ambushed at the old Deerpark centuries. "Lough Arrow saved them" as School by hungry people from With increased cultivation the East wind did not carry the Sheegora and the Rock of Doon. various diseases crept in — curl, disease across the water. He said the people in his area taint, scab which often caused A man from Barroe, Highwood, were hungry too but he would give partial failure of the crop and a came to my father's house to them one cartload provided it was threat of of famine. collect the "Station Box" for the divided fairly, the man with the The census of 1841 estimated Harvest Station which was held in biggest family was to get the most. that the population of Ireland was each townland. It was on a Friday They returned to Butlers at the 8 million at this time, but Mrs. and there was "Cally" for the foot of the hill, they had a shop Woodham Smith considered that dinner — mashed potatoes with and a weighbridge. A spokesman the numbers were too low. As scallions — there was some left in was appointed and the meal quoted in her book "The Great the pot and he asked if he could' divided fairly. Hunger": "Though the numerators have it. He was given a plateful There was always a friendship were largely members of the Irish with a noggin of milk. between the people of the Rock of Constabulary much time, local As he was eating his abdomen Doon and the people of knowledge and courage was began to swell and he rolled in Cloghogue afterwards. needed to track down the pain. The poor man had not eaten The bad times lasted up to communities of evicted and anything for days. This would 1890 when the spray for the unemployed who existed in caves, indicate that there was a crop of potato crop was introduced. The sod huts and under tree trunks". potatoes in Cloghogue in 1845. spray was mixed at home, An intelligent relief officer wrote The blight spread all over the bluestone (Coppersulphate) and that the census of 1841 was country in 1846 and there was washing soda dissolved in water "pronounced universally to be no complete failure of the potatoes. and well mixed. At first it was fair criterion of the present With the hunger came disease — sprinkled on the foliage with a population." dysentery, typhoid and typhus, beesum made from heather or The land for cultivation was got whole families died and there was whin, later the spraying machine from the landlord through middle no one to bury them. The became available. men and agents who added to the rent for their own advantage. Thus the labourer, cottier and small farmer had to pay a high How to Know You're Getting Old price for conacre and maybe give labour as well. Everything hurts; what dosen't hurt, doesn't work. —Anon. The more nourishing type of The gleam in your eye is the sun shining on your bi-focals. potato gave a small yield so the You feel like the morning after, but you haven't been anywhere. poor people had to plant a newer You get winded playing cards. variety the "Lumper". This potato Your children begin to look middle aged. gave prolific yield and grew well You join a health club, but don't go. in poor soil but was of poor You have all the answers, but no one asks the questions. quality, watery and tasteless — You look forward to a dull evening. "no better than a turnip." You need glasses to look for your glasses. It was also least resistant to the You turn out the light for economy instead of romance. blight when it came. Your knees buckle, but not your belt. The potato blight was first Your back goes out more often than you do. noticed on the East Coast of the You sink your teeth into a steak and they stay there. U.S.A. in 1843 and arrived in Your birthday cake collapses under the weight of the candles. Europe in 1845. It appeared in

THE CORRAN HERALD 25 The pip

By M.B. Ní Chanáin nice setting. They might be from then!). Side cars, even ass and one's own hens or might be creels down from the mountain, "An egg and an egg and an egg exchanged with a neighbour for a any mode of conveyance to bring every day and me barefooted". different strain or a better breed the chicks. So sang the hen when she of fowl. The hen sat on the nest She might be about her cackled after laying an egg. The for three weeks except for a short household chores or doing some cock answered, "I searched spell each day to take a bit of work out in the garden, but she Ireland, England and Scotland and food. At the end of that time, the cheerfully came and sat patiently, couldn't get a shoe to fit you. excitement mounted waiting for sometimes for hours on end, What a-a-a-ils you?" the first chirp of a chicken. The curing chickens. Very often for As children, we believed they children always waited eagerly for people she had never met before, really said this and we were quite that day and though it was but who became her firm friends. adept at imitating them. This and something we witnessed year after Payment was never expected or many other memories came to year, the experience of new life given, just a kindly turn for a mind on reading an account in was always wonderful. neighbour or stranger. Another The Sligo Champion of a project Unfortunately, very often, in a time it might be her turn to be done by some students titled few days or even weeks, a horrible helped in one way or another. "Counting Their Chicks". It disease could strike, and they Such was life in those days. involved incubators and methods could just die away. I am sure this It was the bane of our father's we would not have known disease had a technical name but life for those couple of months anything about fifty of sixty years to the country people it was and ours as well because chickens ago. This was long before Acot or known as "the pip", because of seemed to take precedence over Teagasc was ever heard of, and the noise the chickens made. Tiny everything else. every country woman would have worms would collect in the gullet. Ah well! Things change. The as many chickens as possible. It The chick would just smother and "hen woman" came, or so we was part of their livelihood, at the time, there was no cure called the first Poultry instructress. providing meat and eggs. available. New cures were given and eventually Generally, one would have a accepted. Gradually people drifted Well my mother devised a chicken for Sunday dinner as a away and another old way of life method to cure them. She saved change from the home cured slipped from us. her own chickens and then by bacon used during the week. In In the post-war years, people degrees the neighbours'. Soon her those days, country people rarely became more prosperous. They fame spread and people came had beef or lamb, one reason became less dependent on hens from far and near. During the and eggs. Travel became easier. being that travelling was not easy months of May and June there and the little country shops, which The little country shop was a stream of vehicles at our disappeared. Food became more provided the needs of the local house. People came on bicycles community, did not run to varied. Strange to say what was with baskets of chickens, ass and simple country. living sixty years providing fresh meat. Chickens cart (they were not called donkeys were also needed for the feast at ago is a news item now. meitheal times, gathering the crops and bringing home the turf. The eggs paid the shopkeeper during the summer months. It was a kind of barter system, the basket of eggs was handed over the counter and the price of the goods required was balanced against the price. Very seldom did money change hands. It might be a few shillings short one week, but the following week it would most FZ,Lzlfc ' likely balance. ^^^f^sff^l'8C^' ?f^ So rearing chickens was very • ^,F%f. ^íf..Jll.i. .. important in those days and the c:Í/,aY;f/ t?^i CJ^z^fr1 {{ , f' number a person would have {FY^ : JJ,,f' j^/f JFf t(!i ^ depended on the number of <'í41' ^' ^ u3 "clockers" available. A clocker was a broody hen, which refused to leave the nest. A setting of eggs was put under her, thirteen was a 26 THE CORRAN HERALD Our Sponsors A cloud burst of the early BALLYMOTE Heritage Group 'thirties gratefully acknowledges its (By P.J. Gilmartin) indebtedness to the following who have generously sponsored the A roar of thunder long and loud was heard for miles around, 1997 and previous Heritage And turkey cocks and cocks of hay were swept from off the ground. Weekends. Their continuing help Dan Healy's pigs danced reels and jigs, as Annie grasped the tool, and encouragement are much The flood came in the back door and swept the yankee off the stool. appreciated: 2. Allied Irish Bank Gallagher Pete got on his feet like King William at the Boyne Bank of Ireland And let the tide go far and wide, John Battle's hay to join. FBD Insurance And Battle's laps were swept through gaps as old John did loudly call Jack Martin And Healy Mike let go the dyke right through John Lawson's wall. John Perry TD and Marie 3. N.C.F. Joe Coleman's hen went like the wind, to the foot of Carnaree, Patrick Rogers Ltd. Where Johnnie Tighe came with his whiskey keg meeting Fahey B. Roger McCarrick, Auctioneer Poor Mullins turkey lost her life in the waters cool and deep Sligo Dairies It went down her pipe and filled her gripe and Catherine weep weep. Stan Casey 4. Tente Ltd. Harken Tom and Joe Molloy were there until next day Ulster Bank The bird they ate on Mullins street and laughed at Battle's hay.

DRUMCORMACK SCHOOL 1969 Back row: Dolores Candon, Stephen Hannon, Eamon McLoughlin, John Candon R.I.P., Bernadette Gallagher, Padraic Brennan, Goretti Irwin, Matt Connell, Ethan Gallagher. Centre row: Carmel McLoughlin, Michael Candon, Eamon Brennan, --- McLoughlin, Betty Coen, John Joe Brennan, Margaret Coen, Ciaran Walsh, Eugene Connell, Sean Tansey, Noelle Conlon, Anne Walsh, Caramel Tansey. Front row: Kieran Tansey, Anne Tansey, IKieran Conlon, Gary Conboy, Christopher Donaghy, Enda Connell, Marie Brennan, Michael Healy, Martina McLoughlin, Tony Coen. Photo courtesy Nellie Tansey THE CORRAN HERALD 27

IN the past there have been South Sligo T.D.s who lived either in Ballymote itself or within a stone's throw of the town. These would include Alec McCabe, Patrick J. Rogers and Eugene Gilhawley. A With the retirement from Dail Eireann of Eugene Gilhawley in 1981, Ballymote ceased to have a resident T.D. Until now, that is, because on June 7th, 1997, John Perry of Main Street, was elected T.D. for South local Sligo. In June, 1951, close on 50 years ago, Pat James Rogers won (in his case, regained) a seat "for Ballymote". To provide a flavour of history repeating itself, we give below a contemporary account of P.J. Rogers's T.D. victory celebrations and a similar account in relation to John Perry. THE news of the election of Mr. SATURDAY, June 7th, 1997 was P.J. Rogers as a T.D. was indeed a tension filled day, as the again received by the people of prolonged election count took Ballymote and the surrounding place in the Gillooly Hall in Sligo districts with great excitement and Many supporters waited outside enthusiasm. A popular local all day, anxiously awaiting reports farmer and member of Sligo Co. from those lucky enough to be Council, Mr. Rogers, better present at the count. known to his many friends as Pat As evening approached, James, enjoyed a prolonged term excitement grew as the certainty of office in Dáil Eireann prior to dawned that John Perry was 1948, but in the election of that indeed going to be elected to the year when the constituencies of 28th Dail, at his first attempt. Sligo and Leitrim were combined This fact was finally confirmed and the number of seats reduced, by the Returning Officer at he lost his by a very narrow 11.15 p.m. and the cheering and margin. In fact, South Sligo lost applause from supporters, as John all representation, which its people and his wife, Marie were lifted on deeply regretted. high, was a sustained outburst of joy and satisfaction that after a On Friday last excitement ran lapse of almost twenty years, high as telephone wires hummed Ballymote had once again a PATRICK J. ROGERS and radios blared out the latest resident. position in the prolonged count Eventually the new Deputy and and when the news of his election his numerous supporters left for as the last Deputy to the 14th Dáil his home town. reached his home town enthusiasm A huge cavalcade of cars snaked knew no bounds. Bonfires were its way, growing in size as it prepared and approaching passed in increasing numbers of midnight a procession of cars left bonfires, to South Sligo. the town to escort him home. On On reaching Ballymote, though his arrival a short while later he the hour was late on a pleasant was greeted with wild and summer night, the town was fully prolonged outbursts of cheering alive as hundreds of well wishers from several hundreds of people sought to congratulate the Deputy gathered in the soft glow of a and welcome him home. huge bonfire of tar barrells, Thanking the people for electing blazing on the town's familiar him, as he addressed them in the Rock. With difficulty did he move open air in the early hours of through the crowd, and when he Sunday morning, John committed addressed them every sentence was himself to fully justifying the greeted with a fresh outburst of confidence they had placed in him. JOHN PERR Y cheering which rent the stillness of He thanked all the people who the warm Summer night. Thanking had worked for his success and the people for electing him, Mr. who had voted for him. Rogers assured them that he His every sentence was greeted would do all in his power to with enthusiastic and sustained justify the confidence they had applause, and there was no doubt placed in him. in anybody's mind that things were now as they should be, the His election as a T.D. was in no T.D. was back in Ballymote. way a personal victory but a History had, once again, repeated victory of South Sligo whom he itself! represented. by DON CONLON 28 THE CORRAN HERALD Andrew J. Walsh BALLYMOTE-BORN WORLD CLASS ATHLETE OF 1890s

ANDREW J. Walsh was born in Gardens in 4.38 min. the house which is now Kane's February, 1892: First in the one Supermarket in Market Street mile Metropolitan Championship (Lord Edward Street), Ballymote. from T.P. Conneff, Hyertberg and Andrew (Andy) Walsh Hollander in 4.32 minutes. emigrated to New York, where he September 22nd, 1892: Second secured employement in the in the two miles steeplechase renowned R.H. Macy's championship of America, beaten Department Store. Between 1890 by two inches. Time 13 minutes. and 1898 he distinguished himself July 14th, 1893: First in the in North America as a top class mile race at R.H. Macy's games in runner, displaying an amazing 4.35 min. for the three-quarter mile race. versatility and establishing two September, 1893: Second in the February 11th, 1893: Winner of world records. During his athletic one mile U.S. National the mile race at the Boston A.C. career Andy Walsh competed Championships in 4.25 mins. indoor games in 4.36 mins. successfully in the following September, 1893: Winner of the July 4th, 1893: First in the mile events: one mile, one and a half 1,000 yards race at the New York race at Boston, defeating White, miles, two miles, three miles, two A.C. games beating Kilpatrick in McLoughlan, Allison and Clarke miles steeplechase, 1,000 yards, 2.14 mins. The world record for in 4.35 mins. five miles cross-country, one mile the event stood at 2.13 mins. September 16th, 1893: Second in cross-country, the 220 yards sprint Kilpatrick was the world champion the mile race at Chicago's World and the 75 yards dash. He was an Fair Championship beating amateur member of the New York Conneff. Xaviers Athletic Club and his club June 13th, 1894: Andy won the officers have compiled a record of half-mile race at Newark Institute eighty of his races spanning a in 1.57 minutes. period of nine years (1890-1898) August 10th, 1894: He ran a which were run in venues in New dead heat with Hollander in the York, New Jersey, Newark, mile race at St. George's Games in Princeton, Boston, Chicago and 4.21 mins. Montreal. November, 1894: Andrew J. The introductory paragraph in Walsh won the one mile race at the Xavier's club record is as the 13th Regiment's Indoor Games follows: "We give below the in 4 minutes, 26 seconds, which record of our representative, was a world indoor record. Andrew J. Walsh, the well known A newspaper cutting, which is champion, who was on so many not dated, is included in the occasions, carried the Cherry X to Xavier's Club dossier of Walsh's victory. It will be seen that all the successes and it declares: "Walsh champion distance runners have at makes a new world record at one time or another been defeated Montreal — He covers 220 yards by "Our Andy". Beside winning in 21.1 seconds". the Metropolitan Championship in July 31st, 1898: A.J. Walsh, '92 he also has the distinction of Xavier AC won the 75 yard dash placing more than one world's at the C.J. Harvey Games record to his credit". defeating Bloss, who held the Here following is a selection of world 50 yard record. his most significant achievements: The following statement has August 24th, 1890: Andy won been proudly recorded by his club: his first race, at the Harness "A.J. Walsh has been asked Makers' games in 4 min., 56 sec. nearly every week whether he has September 1st, 1891: He won ever beaten Conneff or any other the two miles race from scratch at of the good runners. He has the AOH games in 10.03 minutes. defeated the following men on November, 1801: Winner of the even terms: T.P. Conneff, Geo. one mile race at the Manhatten Orton, Chas. Kilpatrick, G.O. AC games at Madison Square Jarvis, G. Hallander, E. THE CORRAN HERALD 29 Andrew J. Walsh continued Hartsberg, Walter Allison Bartly Cryan, Pearse Road, photographs in the career record (Boston), McLoughlan (Mass.), C. Ballymote, who is a grand-nephew of Andy Walsh have been taken Bean (Suffolk) and A.C. Morgan of Andy Walsh. from 'Harper's Weekly'. of Yale. All the above men have Many of the reports and won championships". This news item from a New York Newspaper gives an indication of the standing of A.J. Walsh among the city's sporting public. Andy Walsh's Watch: Andy Walsh, the Xavier's distance runner, came near to losing his watch after a mile run last night. Walsh was quite content with second prize which was a silver watch, and when he received it he rushed gleefully to the dressing- room. A line of overcoats was hung on the wall and Andy, judging about where his ought to be, dropped the watch in a pocket. When he was ready to don his coat, Walsh felt for the watch. It wasn't there. Walsh became pale and staggered. Every pocket was subjected to search and even his running costume was looked into. But no watch could be found. About a half an hour after, Walsh was bewailing the loss of his timepiece to his friends when a young man approached and said, "I found a watch in my overcoat pocket and it does not belong to me". "It is mine", Anew creation? answered Walsh before he looked at it, and luckily it was. Andy's AN artist, who, having undertaken the work of restoring the mural decorations face became wreathed in smiles in a church, sent in his bill for £33-3s-6d. He was requested by the Parochial and he want home happily". Church Council to render an itemised account which he did. Towards the end of his running career charges of professionalism £ s d were made against Andy Walsh. 1 Corrected the 10 Commandments 5 10 0 In his defence, his athletic club, 2 Embellished Pontious Pilate and put new ribbon in his the Xaviers, issued the following bonnet 1 0 0 public statement: 3 Put new tail on rooster of St. Peter and mended his comb 1 5 0 "Andy Walsh sincerely hopes 4 Replumed and gilded the wing of the Guardian Angel 7 15 0 that the much delayed settlement 5 Washed the servant of the High Priest and put carmine on of his case will be consummated in his cheeks 10 0 the near future, and thereby 6 Renewed heaven, adjusted the stars, cleansed the moon 3 5 0 relieve him of much needless 7 Re-animated flames of Purgatory and restored souls 1 7 6 worry. If all the crack athletes 8 Renewed the flames of hell, put new tail on Devil, mended were as pure amateurs as Andy, it his left hoof, did odd jobs on the damned souls 4 16 6 would be well for the interst of 9 Cleansed the ears of Balaam's ass and shod him 14 0 amateur sport, and comparatively 10 Put earrings on Sarah's ear 1 0 0 speaking, the Amateur Athletic 11 Put new stone in David's sling, enlarged Goliath's head, and Union Board would have a bed of extended his legs 2 5 0 roses". 12 Decorated Noah's Ark 3 0 0 This article was compiled by 13 Mended the shirt of the Prodigal. Son, and cleaned his nose 15 6 Neal Farry from the New York Total 33 3 6 Xavier's A.C. record of Andy Walsh's athletics career. The From Parish Magazine, St. Mary the Virgin, South Elmstall, Yorks. dossier was provided by Mr. 30 THE CORRAN HERALD Doo Church From a project by Joanne Gilligan, Tony Burns and Oliver before getting on to it. The rock is the sacristy and a toilet were built. Getbins. situated around 300 yards from Before the sacristy was built the KILMORGAN or Killurrough — the existing Church. The first Priest vested behind the altar. thinly populated, without town or Church built at Doo stood around The first lighting was put into even village worthy of the name, 200 yards from where the Mass the Chapel by Monsignor gives its name to the half parish Rock is situated. This was a Roughneen in the 1940s. This was of Emlaghfad and is according to primitive thatched Chapel which gas lighting. There was no heating the Martyrology of Donegal, a was built at the end of the 18th whatsoever for many years. The foundation of or dedicated to St. Century around 1790. first heating system was a furnace Morgan, who was a descendant of When the present Doo Church with a chimney in the middle of Niall of the nine hostags. was eventually built in 1880 by the Church. The Church was The Parishes of Emlaghfad and Monsignor Loftus, the old Chapel usually full of smoke. Kilmorgan were united at the was the last thatched Chapel in In 1955 Monsignor O'Hara got beginning of the 18th Century, the Diocese of Achonry. new slates, laths and felt put on probably in 1704 AD. After the The Church, which is dedicated the roof. Much of this work had closing of Kilmorgan in the penal to St. Joseph, is a very beautiful to be redone subsequently. 'times, Mass was said at the Mass and substantial country Church However, the main pitchpine Rock in Doo. built in the Gothic . The bell structure of the roof is still very This rock which stands about 7 ft. which now stands separately at the good. There was an old stone wall tall is unusually large. The priest front of the Church was once on in front of the Church until had to get up on a horse and cart the gable of the Church. In 1914 around five years ago when a new one was built. A lot of the trees around the Church were cut down which made the site bleaker. There was a gallery in the Chapel until around twelve months ago, but it was removed because it was deemed unsafe. In 1930 a harmonium was brought from Roscommon by horse and cart and it took several men to get it up the awkward stairs to the gallery. Stained glass windows were installed in 1926 under Canon Quinn in memory of his brother, by Early & Co. The worker was paid £2 per day. Handmade nails were used to put in the windows. These nails were made with hammer and anvil. Their heads were bevelled. A new altar was put in about ten years ago. The old marble altar was removed as were the A MATTER OF LINES .. . altar rails. The latter was by far Seamus Heaney, the Nobel Prize-winning poet from Derry, who has the nicer of the two. There were charmed the Western Isles with his books of poetry is seen here with no Confessional boxes for many Dan Healy on the occasion of the launch of the book of poems on the years until they were taken out DART, called `Between the Lines'. Dan is a DART driver and has was from the Church in Ballymote. presented with a copy of this book signed by the poet. Between the There is also a Baptismal font Lines contains 200 poems from various writers. A short poem by in the Church. A wall was built in Seamus Heaney is a fitting tribute to Dan and all train drivers in this front of it concealing it. This is a country. great pity as it was beautifully Lit carriages ran through our fields at night decorated. It is rarely used, since Like promises being speedily withdrawn most Baptisms take place in Awakened by train-noise, well-placed suburban, Ballymote. During the early 20th I ask myself is this where they were going Century the Church was packed to —Seamus Heaney capacity for Sunday Mass and many people had to stand outside. THE CORRAN HERALD 31 Extract from The Sligo Champion of 27/11/1880:

The new Chapel at Doo, built at £12-10s, and it has taken thirteen Christopher L'Estrange, both of a cost of £600, will be solemnly of them to give up this small sum. whom exerted themselves well and dedicated to God on Sunday, the The late lamented Alderman kindly in providing the new site, 5th December. The sermon will be James Tighe, Sligo, bequeathed the clergy and people of the preached by Most Rev. Dr. £25 for this purpose and his parish of Kilmorgan are deeply MacCormack, Lord Bishop of executor has paid it in full. To indebted. Achonry. The building was Mr. Maurice Conry, J.P., Mr. Now the work being so good commenced last May and many Bernard Collery, Mr. Edward J. and necessary, and the debt still thanks are due to Mr. Patrick Tighe and Mr. Francis Higgins, very heavy and embarrassing, the Harrington, the Contractor, for who, aided by Fr. Meehan, have clergy of Kilmorgan will count the the manner he hastened and been instrumental in procuring friends and benefactors of this £43-2s from a few good and true executed the work. It is somewhat new chapel by hundreds on the friends in the town and difficult, at any time, to raise coming long wished for day of neighbourhood of Sligo. To these funds for building a Chapel, but it Dedication. gentlemen and to Mr. William was quite impossible this year Phibbs, Seafield, and Mr. Supplied by John McTernan. owing to the impoverished condition of the country. Yet with all this, it was necessary to proceed with the work because the old wretched thatched Chapel, A piece of history — the Sacristan's House which this new one replaces, had to be allowed to tumble down, as MANY of our readers will remember fondly the little house shown the timbers were all rotten, the above. It stood in the grounds of Ballymote's , between walls split and cracked, and the church and the road. Built of cut stone and with its own little several warnings were given of the "spire", it reflected the style and architecture of the bigger building. It is risk to life which was being seen. seen here from the point of view of a person who has walked a few yards Since the fate of the old Chapel, inside the main gate of the church and has turned to the left to look at the very last of the Chapels in it. Demolished in the 1950's, it has housed a number of sacristans and Ireland, the congregation have their families. Among the sacristans known to have lived there were heard Mass in the open air. They number 150 families, composed Tom Cawley, John Scanlon and Michael Scanlon. extensively of herders, labourers There are no parish records concerning this building. We would be and poor small farmers. The only grateful if any of our readers could throw further light on its history. In help they have given up to this is particular ... in what year and by whom was it built? What other sacristans lived there? Was it always a sacristan's house? In what year exactly was it demolished and what became of the stones? (Photo supplied through Sr. Roch from the McDermott family). 32 THE CORRAN HERALD

The bad times By Claire Walsh STORIES FROM SOUTH SLIGO tenants and their families were Martin Foley, Sean Ban Walsh, 1832 - 1890 evicted. In Templevanny (Keish Hughey Foley, Dominick Pye, IN my memory I never heard the Parish) 26 tenants, and many more James Gaffney Magee, Paddy old people refer to the famine. It in areas around Boyle. Local Walsh. was always "in the bad times". tradition has it that some were These evictions took place in the The failure of the potato crop evicted on Christmas Eve and left springtime. The families had dug due to the blight was another on the roadside. If their neighbours the land in ridges for the potato hardship in a series of misfortunes gave them shelter they too were crop and had the manure delivered bringing hunger and want, and evicted. by ass and creels, but the potatoes death. Lorton's Clearances took place were never set and the manure The Asiaic Cholera first broke in 1843 in the townland of never spread. The trace of the out in India in 1826. Spreading Carrowkeel. The following is a list ridges are still to be seen. Many across Asia and Europe, it reached of the families from this townland died by the roadside. These notes England in 1831 and appeared in who were evicted: on the Clearances are taken from Ireland 1832. Sligo escaped up to Jack Higgins, the Lynch family, the writings of Canon Hurley August but then Sligo town was Thomas Walsh, Patsy Brehony, P.P., Aughauagh 1921 - 1937. sorely afflicted and also parts of Michael Kelly, Miley Kildea, James Some of the evicted people went the county. John Weir of Healey, William Connolly, to relatives in other areas and if Cloghogue had "a corn mill on the Matthew Moraghan. (It is they were able to rent land it was river running from Cloghogue into interesting to note that the lane to only where the land was poor and Lough Arrow. It was worked by his home is still called "Matthew had to be reclaimed. Some went to Pat Timon and his wife. They both Moraghan's Lane", on the way up England and America from the went to Sligo at the time of the to Carrowkeel), James Connor, port of Sligo. Cholera, he with a load of corn, she with a basket of eggs. Both got The Co-operative Creamery Association, the disease and died within 24 hours. Their infant son lived, and 1894-1994 1. was cared for by his mother's Ye true sons of Gráinne, I pray pay attention, people. The name Timon is now And hear the few verses I'm going to relate. extinct in this locality but there are It's about a sad cloud that hangs over the nation many descendants still in the area. The profits of Erin I'm going to abate. The mill was not used afterwards 2. but part of the building was there When creameries were invented and circulars printed, up to recent times and the mill race Each farmer consented to join by the score, was only removed a short time For to save feather scrubs and their fingers from rubs, ago. As children we were warned And the jingling of tubs outside the back door. not to go near the mill or we might 3. catch the "Fever". The word With a foreign constitution and a home contribution, "Fever" terrified people probably It stuck like solution to each man and wife. stemming from the Cholera Some thought they would flourish themselves for to nourish, epidemic also the typhus and But alas! it would perish and shorten their lives. typhoid from the famine period. It 4. was hard to countenance then that Some thought it bad profit and tried to stop it, "Fever" only means an elevated And there were some who were sorry for joining at all. temperature nowadays. When they heard the calves roaring, their own milk deploring, The Clearances were mass And they pale, weak and worn and ready to fall. evictions. The purpose was to 5. create large viable holdings for the The women work early hours through blackheads and flowers landlord and remove the poor who Through sunshine and showers, through thick and through thin. were only tenants at will or on For to meet the long cart before it would start short leases and only had small `O Lord what we part with for the blue drop of skim. plots. The largest Clearance in this 6. area was carried out by Lord The pusheen in the corner refuses to drink it Lorton. He was one of the King The highway and beggarman they it will refuse. family of Kilronan and Neither Indian or Arab, Jew or Italian will take it Rockingham estates. He lived in And see when it falls how it splashes your shoes. Ballindoon which he called 7. "Kingsborough". He had several There's no more firkin barrels to grease boxty farrells estates and was married to an In sorrow I mourn for this century heiress: He was not short of money With new milk distilleries, and skimmed milk auxilaries unlike many other landlords. May the Lord help us prosper in the next century. In the Parish of Aughanagh 55 THE CORRAN HERALD 33 DAN THE MAN — D.A.R.T. driving making all the right noises

DART driver Donal Healy is making all the right noises at present and has just been featured in a major RTE documentary for his musical talents. A specially talented concert flute player, Donal's skill has taken him all over the world to the major cities of the United States and England. He has also represented Ireland at the Celtic Congress for some years past in Dublin, Inverness in North Scotland, in the Isle of Man, Falmouth Cornwall, Swansea and Russia. The television documentary, which was broadcast a fortnight ago, traced the Healy family, who have a long association with the railways in Ireland. The family hail from Cloonmonagh, Ballymote, County Sligo, where Donal's grandfather worked on the Sligo and Northern Counties Railways all his life. Donal's father followed these footsteps in the same job. The third generation of Healys — Donal became part of Railway life in , County Sligo, in 1953. He spent his childhood listening to traditional music wherever it was played — mostly in people's homes. He moved to Dublin and while working as a driver of the Dublin trains took part in the Gaelic social life in the City. Donal started work in Dublin on the outer suburban Dublin, Dundalk and North Wall lines. Their headquarters was what is now known as the Point Depot. Eleven years ago Donal became a driver on the DART line — a far cry from when his grandfather had to walk 16 miles to Sligo. Donal is now continuing to make his name as a top calibre musician while commuting thousands of passengers on the DART line each day. —Reprinted courtesy COMMUTING TIMES 34 THE CORRAN HERALD

It was here for the first time I The by P.J. Duffy was to hear the magic voice of THE early nineteen fifties saw Micheál O'Hehir. Over the years, Europe recover at a rapid rate this man's broadcasts would re- following the ravages of World echo through, not only every War Two. The recruiting drives household in Ireland, but in period being carried out by big others, scattered around the globe. construction companies like The house would be packed to Wimpey and McAlpine drew large capacity with people, as they numbers of Irish workers away anxiously awaited the outcome of of the from our shores and over to Great the match. Britain where an all out effort was Everybody present would be being made to restore and rebuild totally captivated with the the cities which had been eloquence and wit of the great devastated by German air-raids. broadcaster. People would make Nineteen For our young people, the remark, "Orah shure Micheál especially, there was little on offer O'Hehir would make a bad match here in the line of a job with a sound great." paypacket coming up at the end of It makes me feel sad now when the week. They went across in I stop to think, that what I was -fifties droves during those years of 1950 listening to then was a legend in and 1951. In many cases whole broadcasting whose genius we are families closed their doors and never likely to see equalled. emigrated. A number of years later while Food rationing and compulsory attending a Connacht final tillage were still in operation football match at Charlestown I during those years, but were was, for the first time, to see the gradually coming to an end. man in the flesh as he made his The Government of the day way out beside me on his way to brought in measures to improve the broadcasting box. He was then the lot of the rural communities a fresh-faced young man full of by paying out grants for land energy, and his presence, for that drainage and reclaimation. Grants moment, aroused a good deal of were also made available for curiosity from onlookers and building and repairing admirers of somebody, who was dwellinghouses and outoffices. accustomed to making the Gradually the standard of living airwaves roll. began to improve. Many people Today, on radio and television, bought radios for the first time in when snippets from the past are their lives. Only the better off flashed up and I hear the voice of members of the community owned O'Hehir, it brings back nostalgic motorcars and these were mostly memories of great games and great professional people like clergymen, days in broadcasting. schoolteachers and those, who Nineteen fifty was a terrible bad were in well-paid employment. year weatherwise. The incessant During the nineteen forties rain which set in early in July radios were few and far between, caused terrible flooding and wrath but now with their coming into havoc on the farming community. almost every household, people in Crops of hay and corn actually remote areas were to become more rotted into the ground, or else in communication with what was were swept away by floods. Little happening in the world outside. silage was being made at this time Up until 1948 we did not have a and the loss of the hay crop radio in our possession, so at resulted in an acute shortage of times of important broadcasts we fodder during the severe winter would travel a half-mile up the that followed. This scarcity road to a neighbour's house resulted in huge losses in livestock, where, incidentally, we were and in many cased those people always made welcome. These visits affected never really recovered. took place mostly at night time This sad saga accelerated the rate but during times of important of emigration and in the spring of football broadcasts we usually 1951 many more people set sail went there on Sunday afternoons. for Great Britain. THE CORRAN HERALD 35 Mrs. Nellie Tansey The Corran IT is our sad duty in this issue to record the untimely death of one of Ballymote's best-loved people, Mrs. Nellie Tansey of Emmett Street, who passed away after a brief illness of May 23rd, 1997. Herald To say that the news of her death caused absolute shock and compiled and published by astonished incomprehension is to put it mildly. Nobody could believe that this woman still in her prime had been laid low; nobody could BALLYMOTE HERITAGE accept that her boundless energy had been cut off, that her GROUP enthusiastic zeal for doing all things well had been silenced, and that her encouraging and inspiring presence was going from amongst us Editor: James Flanagan forever. A native of Cloongowla West, Design, Typesetting and Printing Ballinrobe, Co. Mayo, Nellie chose to by devote her life to teaching and first came THE SLIGO CHAMPION to the Ballymote area when she was appointed teacher in Drumcormack N.S. Cover Design and Artwork by in 1954. She married Pat in 1956 and BRENDA FRIEL their five children are Sean, Carmel, Kiernan, Anne and Helen. She moved to Bunninadden N.S. in 1969 and remained there until 1983 when she came to the Boys' National School in Ballymote. She was Vice-Principal there from 1984 to 1991. In that year the Boys' N.S. was amalgamated with the Convent Girls' N.S. and in the resulting new school she was a Privileged Assistant until her retirement in 1994. All her pupils and their parents from all those years will remember and appreciate the great sense of duty, thoroughness and dedication that she brought to her teaching. For her every day was an important day and she filled its every second with her boundless energy and commitment. The Editor But Nellie's interests and influence reached far beyond the confines of the classroom. She was involved in most sporting activities around Ballymote, either as . an official, a background helper, a coach or else would like to as one of the attendance giving encouragement to her side. She was a founder member of the Corran Athletic Club, and was their take this registrar from 1979 to 1984. She was a committee member of Ballymote GAA Club, of Ballymote Celtic Club, and the Ballymote Community Parks Committee. Athletics was probably her greatest opportunity to interest and she coached young people in cross-country running. Who does not remember her presence at the annual Community thank all our Games competitions in Corran Park, where she was everywhere at once, organising, encouraging and faithfully recording the winners? contributors for Some of her work was done in the background, looking after the little details that don't make the headlines but whose neglect could cause many problems. And when she got the chance to engage in a The Corran sport for herself, she enjoyed a game of golf. In recent years Nellie joined the Ballymote Heritage Group and Herald had been a joint treasurer up to her last illness. She was also a member of the Corran Herald subcommittee and this magazine owes much to her energy and persistence in gathering photographs and other material for its pages. And the Heritage Weekends owe much of their smooth running and good organisation to her tireless work behind the scenes. Recently she had taking up painting, attending ICA classes in Ballisodare. A measure of her success here too is seen in the fact that she exhibited at this year's Sligo Arts Festival. Now, sadly, she is gone and we are all the poorer for her passing. We have lost a friend whose warmth and interest will not be replaced. We have lost one of our finest examples of inspiration and commitment. To her husband and family we offer our deepest sympathy. We can only console ourselves with the sure knowledge that now on the endless playing fields of Heaven she will enjoy the peace of God forever. 36 THE CORRAN HERALD Church of Ireland, Ballymote

By John C. McTernan

THE Church of Ireland, in 1818, a fact authenticated by a The church was not finally Ballymote, more correctly dated lintel in the centre of the completed until 1848 when the designated Emlaghfad Parish tower. However, it would appear grounds were walled-in and the Church, stands on an elevated site that most of the construction work entrance gates placed in position, on the east side of Lord Edward was done between 1830 and 1835. mainly through the munificence of Street in the centre of the town. The Vestry Books for that period Sir Robert. For reasons not now This edifice replaced an earlier throw little light on developments, known, the enclosure was never structure whose ivy-clad steeple apart from recording various used as a cemetery, as had been still stands in defiant isolation on payments for what was described the original intention. a hill top, almost a mile south, at as "the change of the site of the In 1993 the exterior of the Emlaghfad. church" and "lagging out" the church was renovated, the grounds At this point in time its difficult site of the church in 1830. landscaped and the perimeter wall to ascertain why the original site, The completed edifice, which lowered. This has not only which dates back to the early has seating for 650, has been enhanced the town centre but also Christian period, was vacated in described as a good example of presents the century and a half old favour of the present location. the First Fruits type of 3-bays to limestone building to greater From a structural viewpoint it the crossing trancepts, with a lofty advantage. would appear that there was no tower chamfered with necessity to vacate the 18th crenellations. Lewis in his century building in light of the Topographical Dictionary (1837) Memorials described it as "a good building in fact that the roofless structure There are four finely executed the English style and remarkable complete with walls and steeple memorials in the chancel, in for the beauty of its tower and still stands, a century and a half addition to a number of inscribed spire". This new place of worship after it was abandoned as a place plaques elsewhere. Particularly of worship. A possible explanation for the Protestants of the Union striking are the ornate marble is that Reverend John Garrett, the of Emlaghfad cost in the region of memorials of the Phibbs family, £3,000, which was financed as Vicar, and the Select Vestry, namely, William Phibbs of follows: considered the town centre as a Hollybrook, who died in July, preferred location for a parish Loan of £550 from Board of 1801, and his son, Owen Phibbs church. It certainly renendered it First Fruits in 1818; of Willowbrook and Merion more accessible to worshippers Loan of £1000 from Board of Square, Dublin, who departed this who would no longer be required First Fruits in 1831; life in January, 1829. (See Corran to negotiate the rather steep £1000 raised by parochial Herald, No. 28, p.29, for text of incline that led to the former assessment; inscriptions.). monastic setting at Emlaghfad. The nearby Duke memorial £300 donated by the Earl of The site for the new church, recalls the memory of Robert King containing 2 roods and 25 perches, Orkney (Fitzmaurice); Duke, J.P. of Newpark House, was donated by the Fitzmaurices, £100 each from Bishop of who was the 4th son of Robert the local landlords. About the United Dioceses of Achonry & Duke of Kilmorgan, and the same time the following Killala and Edward S. Cooper reputed builder of Newpark advertisement was published in the of Markree. House. His eldest son, Robert Sligo Journal. Sir Robert Gore-Booth, who Duke, a barrister by profession, To Architects had succeeded the Fitzmaurices as who died from injuries received in Proposals will be received by the landlord of Ballymote in 1833, a fall on a hunting field, is also Church Wardens of the Union also contributed handsomely remembered. The inscription reads of Emlafad, for building a new towards the building costs. The as follows: clock in the tower was put into Church in the Town of Sacred to the Memory of position in 1878 to Gore-Booth's Ballymote, in said Union. Robert King Duke, Esq., memory by local subscription. An A Plan and specifications can of Newpark, inscribed tablet at the base of the be seen on application to the Who Departed this life on the tower reads as follows: Rev. J. Garrett, Newbrook, 3rd of May, 1836 Ballymote. The Clock in the Tower was Aged 66 years John Taaffe West, Bailinlough erected to the Memory of the Leaving four sons and four John Duke, Newpark, late Sir Robert Gore-Booth, daughters surviving Church Wardens Baronet, M.P., of Lissadell by By whom this Tablet is Erected Various extant sources suggest the Tenantry on his Ballmote in Remembrance of that the building was commenced estate. A.D. 1878. the best of Parents. •

THE CORRAN HERALD 37

Church of Ireland, Ballymote

Also to the Memory of Anne, served with him on the Duchess his wife Vicars of Emlaghfad Marlborough Relief Committee in Who departed this life on the REV. JOHN GARRETT was 1879, paid tribute to the Vicar's 2nd January, 1812 inducted Vicar of the Union of "large hearted humanity and Aged 35 years. Emlaghfad in 1806 as successor to genuine Christian charity" and Also to the Memory of Robert his father, Reverend William went on to describe him as a their eldest son Garrett. John Garrett was "gentleman of culture and Who departed this life primarily responsible for the education". On his arrival in on the 6th of December, 1829 building of the new Parish Church Ballymote there was widespread Aged 32 years. as well as the Glebe House at religious bigotry, but thanks to his Tieveboy. He took an active part efforts the different creeds lived in The Baptismal Font is inscribed in local affairs and served as a harmony and peace during the to the memory of Robert Magistrate of the County. During four decades of his incumbency. Alexander Duke, J.P., D.L. of the he was untiring In failing health for some time, he Newpark who died in April, 1910, in his efforts on behalf of the died at his son's residence outside aged 73. starving poor throughout the Portlaoise in May 1882, aged 62, The fourth memorial in the Union and served on a number of and was buried in the family chancel recalls the memory of local Relief Committees. He died vault. In an obituary in the Sligo Reverend Henry Garrett of in March, 1855, aged 78, and is Independent he was referred to as Carlow, who died of a malignant buried in Emlaghfad. "a churchman of the old fever in 1838, aged 26. He was the evangelical type, an earnest and son of John Garrett, Vicar of REV. ARTHUR MOORE son of eloquent preacher, an active and Emlaghfad (1806 – 1855) and Reverend John T. Moore, Queen's zealous pastor". County, and grandson of the Hon. builder of the church. REV. THOMAS GORDON WALKER, Other tablets or inscriptions are Arthur Moore, a Judge of the born 1845, came to Ballymote in to the remembrance of Richard Court of Common Pleas, was 1880 as Curate to Dean Moore. Fleming of Abbeyville (Obit educated at Trinity College and On the latter's death in 1882 he ordained in 1843. He was inducted August, 1866): George Robert was appointed his successor. Morrison of Ballymote and as Vicar of Emlaghgfad in 1855 in Walker was a descendant of the succession to John Garrett. A Chicago (obit June, 1877): Patrick `Defender of Derry's Walls' and Graham of Knockalass (obit member of the Diocesan Council, the scion of an Orange family. September, 1895) and Richard he was appointed Dean of • Shortly after his induction as Edward O'Hara of Newpark Achonry in 1875. County Vicar he was responsible for the historian, Terence O'Rorke, who House (obit May, 1948). re-opening of the local Orange I 38 THE CORRAN HERALD

Lodge (No. 795), which had been wife followed him to the grave six Dublin. He retired in 1960 and closed by his predecessor, and of months later. died in Dublin in April, 1962. issuing a circular in 1884 urging He presented a chalice to REV. HERBERT J. MACREADY BRYAN Protestant landowners not only to Emlaghfad, which he inscribed as was born in 'Melbourne and served employ but also to pass on their follows: In thankful remembrance in the Anglican church in farms to members of their own of many blessings during a Australia. He moved to Ireland in faith. This enraged the local ministry in this parish of thirty 1923 and spent two years as Catholic community who years from the date of ordination, Deputation Secretary to the organised a monster demonstration 1880– 1910. Colonial and Continental in protest and at which Walker REV. WILLIAM A. SHADE was Missionary Society. Two years was accused of kindling "the born in Dublin and educated at later he was appointed of embers of dying Orangeism". A Trinity College. He was ordained Clougheen in the Diocese of local balladier, Patrick Quirk, Lismore. In 1944 he was composed a lyric commemorating in 18% and served as Curate in Killorglin and Killarney and transferred to Killoran and the event, the opening lines of Rector at Bruff (1911– 16). He elevated to the rank of which ran as follows: was inducted as Vicar of Archdeacon of the United Diocese From where did this Walker come- Emlaghfad in 1916 as successor to of Killala and Achonry. He was From Kamtschatka or Bagdad? Dean Walker. In 1918 he was instituted Vicar of Emlaghfad in Oh, he's a loyal Orange parson, transferrred to County Wexford 1960 and retired five years later. And resides in Emlagh fad. where he died in 1934, aged 68. He died at Nohoval rectory, County Cork, in May 1966, The Reverend Walker married Sophia Elizabeth, the daughter of REV. CHARLES JOHN A. HARRIS, REV. VIVIAN EDWARD KILLE, Jemmett Duke of Kilcreevin in ordained in 1904, succeeded Shade who succeeded Macready Bryan in 1866, and a decade later was as Vicar in 1918, a position he 1966, was the last resident Vicar appointed Canon of Killaraght. In held for seven years. As Canon of of Emlaghfad and a glebe of 33 1907 he became Dean of Achonry the Cathedral Chapter he was acres. He was transferrerd to the and a member of the Diocesan transferred to Kilmoremoy in Diocese of Clogher in 1974. 1930. Council. REV. RALPH MONTGOMERY Over the years, and in changing STRATFORD, incumbent of the times, the sectarian outlook REV. ISAAC HILL McCOMBE, Ballisodare Union since 1956, was mellowed considerably and in his son of John McCombe of Rar also instituted as Vicar of latter years he was both popular Rathmines, was ordained in 1918 Emlaghfad in succession to the and highly respected by all creeds and instituted as Vicar in 1930. Reverend Kille. He is an and classes. His funeral cortege to During his incumbency he became Archdeacon of Killala and Emlaghfad churchyard in May, Rural Dean of Dromard and a Achonry and the current 1916, was of large dimensions. His Canon of St. Patrick's Cathedral, incumbent. Threatened and depleted species heron. Recently I have heard a badger clean out the den and carry very interesting story about the the bedding away , a long distance By Stan Casey heron and his counterpart in from the den. On one occasion Japan. Our own heron feeds on when he was returning from a THIS year our Spring and fish from the rivers and streams. 'card game, he stepped out of his Summer is very encouraging to The heron in Japan has a very car and stepped on the paws of date. Our trees, grass, flowers, unique way of attracting fish, i.e. the badger. He never issued a shrubs, were never more attractive he has red feathers on his feet, grunt of protest, but just walked than they are now. The birds and which is the only difference in his silently into the darkness. all things in nature are full of plumage. He bites an inch long On listening to a recent tape on life and joy. stem of a cactus which has a curl, insects and wildlife I learned that People have remarked to me like the head of a fish and he research is being done on the that they heard the concrake this throws a series of these into the female bee as scientists believe the year in Mayo and Sligo and this is stream to attract fish. ovaries are being attacked by a very encouraging, particularly to The badger is another animal new virus which can render the the farming community as they that is blamed for a lot of female unproductive, thus having got bad press as to the depletion damage. A friend told me recently an adverse effect on pollination in of the corncrake. about a badger family living near the Spring. Regretfully there are other his home. He remarked how he Studies are being undertaken all species of nature's birds that are observed from a distance the adult over the country by research also becoming depleted, namely badgers playing with their young scientists to investigate why these the grouse, partridge, skylark and outside the den. He saw the boar species are becoming depleted. THE CORRAN HERALD 39

Ballintubber Abbey By Jack Marlin SOMETIMES people are apt to get confused between Ballintober and Ballintubber. The former is an Abbey in Co. Mayo, and the latter is a Castle in Co. Roscommon. A , ECT CONDIMENT Ballintober Abbey/Baile an Tobair WRITS Strangely enough, this old and historic Abbey is still being used, ^:. Ail5 despite the Reformation and being vandalised by Cromwellians in 1653. It is exceptional in that Mass has never ceased to be celebrated in it since it was built, over 750 years ago, except for a few weeks during the famine of the 1840's. It is said that St. Patrick founded a church on this site in about 441, before started their abbey in 1216, although the now much-ruined cloister, which adjoins it, is from the 15th century. The restoration of the church and the chapter house began after Catholic emancipation in 1829. Today the main feature of the restored interior is very simple, the walls are limewashed and are unadorned. The church still has a bold cruciform shape. The chapel of the deBurgo which now houses a craft shop, was built to contain the magnificent tomb of the son of Grace O'Malley the "Pirate Queen". He was "Tiobin na Long" (Theobald of the Ships). He was murdered close to here in 1629. The pilgrimage road to the holy mountain (Croagh Patrick) passes Ballintober and is aptly named "Tochar Phadraig". On either side of the abbey, flagstones of the pre-Christian era can be followed. Ballintubber Castle: Home of the Kings of Connaught The castle was built in the early 1300's and from then until the 1600's this huge castle housed the mighty O'Connors of Connaught. From here the family maintained their grip on the countryside and fought off all invaders. In 1652, Oliver Cromwell took the castle and its possessions, but the O'Connors got the caste back in 1677. The castle was again confiscated after the Battle of the Boyne (1590) and the O'Connors lost it again. Around 1700, it began to deteriorate. Í £Co xl^^r 41, Today the ruins, which are quite large, dominate the local village, which f^^j although no remains are visible. ex./. Tradition has it that the Irish built in timber, so Ballintubber is ^ y unique in that it was the first Irish castle to be built of stone. ^ lye i, lf-Ce".L.^.^-! ;; . 34):^_... 'gt / {t ^ ,.^J`^ 13 . ' CJ , ^. 44"1‘ :á-6-;-: z^ IC. 4 ^f THE following Census, giving the number of inhabitants, English and Irish, in the townlands, parishes, and baronies of the county, together with the names of the Tituladoes, shows the desperate state to which the population of Sligo, town and county, was reduced in 1659, near the close of the Cromwellian regime.

BARONY 07 emus—continued. BARONY OF CORRAN No. No. English Irish. Parishes. Towalands. of Tituladoes' Names. English) Irish. Parishes. TownLnds. of Tituladoes' Names. People. People. Billmnrran Binnhurm 20 John Duke, gent., 6 14 Imlaghfada Lishananymore 12 12 6 4 2 John Geale, ggeenat. F.,^ ^n 4 4 Cnoomonagh 13 Donnell Conellan,gent. 13 Cloonlurgo 8 John Clifford, gent. 2 6 Corhnber 9 3 Grg 40 6 34 Darley 16 Edward Tibb, gent. 2 14 14 98 Drumfin 4 4 Bally^mote 112 William Webb, Esq. 8 Ardrea 4 Henry Bierast, gent. 2 2 Dorin 8 Laoahaky 4 4 Ardnaglas.e 13 13 12 Thomnne 10 10 Cloonamanagh 12 Kilmnrrin 9 9 Clonyne 6 6 24 Clunegallell 14 Robert Duke, gent. 14 Carrownaclooda 24 John Honlder, gent. 5 28 Dunemigin 16 2 14 Rathdowaey 28 Francis King, Esq. Tumour Levalley 24 24 Ballybrenan 24 24 10 Balliaaanaragh 13 2 11 Ardooanell 10 Drumnegrangy 40 40 Portinshy 15 15 10 Thnmore 8 2 6 EmlaRhnaghten 10 Roseribb 38 2 Ballyfay 18 18 36 Siltarrow 8 Cnonklonh 6 Robert King, gent. 1 5 Bnockaylor 6 Templevaney 68 68 Rabene 8 8 1.3 Carrowreagh 15 15 Kilterrow 13 Clooneoaher 8 Ogham 15 15 8 15 Lora 8 8 Ballindow 15 Thrtnemore 12 Bananadan 19 Timothy Howes, gent. 4 26 12 Cloonoghill 19 Morby 21 21 y Collere 17 17 Clooneoghill 13 13 8 8 Principal Irian Names and their Numbers in Corran Cloonimeehan 4 Aga^ 6 Brenans Ballinaglogh 13 13 . . 12 O'Gara . . 6 0'Canane . . 5 O'Heiver . 5 lin^urhar 14 14 ConelLn . . 5 O'Horcboy . 9 Lisle. 2 2 Conor . . 6 O'Healy . 13 F11in.hihy Ballenapnr 18 6 7 MaDonogh . . 30 OMerin . 6 Ballylonahaa 13 Richd. Meredith, gent. 6 37 O'Dacy . 5 Mullronifin . 16 Ball^ntroban 13 1 McDier . 5 McSwyne 6 Banelaghi. 1 1 11 0'Floen . 10 O'6oan)an 19 Billoehalvey 8 8 Gillelorin . 7 Tremble . 8 Clunecumry 6 McGilltriok . 8 Tanist . . 6 Qannagh 6 6 Persons in Corran, 76 English, 1,031 Irish. Totall, 1.107 Cloonbanagh 12 12 Clans= 5 5 Thawnaghmore 8 3 Collnahary 4 4 Dtiuntstt 14 14 Rathmolin 10 10 Snockgrane 9 • 9 ArdLherly 8 3 Cl^s°+^ l Ary 10 10 3 8 Clanaeal^ T 2011 20 ánookbraoh 20 20

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