The Corran Herald Issue 11, 1987
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THE CORRAN HERALD A Ballymote Heritage Group Production ISSUE NO. 11 Oct EDITION 1987 • PRICE 40p BALLYMOTE MAN THE TAAFFES OF BALLYMOTE ON SPANISH ARMADA Co Louth Batty Connell left Ballymote in March 1973 and Bohemia to join the Garda By Nial Ferry Siochana. His two brothers, John and David is the Welsh equivalent Michael, also `joined of Taaffe and this Norman-Welsh up'. In physique and family is descended from Sir Nicholas Taaffe who settled in character and in their Ireland in 1196. This man's education at Ballymote grandson, Richard Taaffe, was Boys' School and Corran His earliest, truly amazing Sheriff of Dublin in 1295 and he College, they were ideal report of the discoveries there is later became Sheriff of Co. Louth. recruits. They have done sent to the Corran Herald in his Richard's son, John, I was an Archbishop of Armagh. native Ballymote. We are deeply well! Smarmore Castle, near Ardee, Co. grateful for this and look forward Batty was posted to North Louth, is still in the possession of Donegal and has been in to him playing a big prart in the the Taaffes. Greencastle since 1976. The sea events of 1988, the fourth centenary of that expedition that In the 1580's Bunninadden and recreation associated with it Castle was granted to William attracted him. He became a strong brought so many tragedies to our North-Western coast. Taaffe, a Catholic Royalist swimmer. He could leave a adventurer from CO. Lough. He trawler three miles out and swim This is the story — 'I have been was appointed Sheriff of Co. Sligo ashore. Here he took up a sport or diving for 12 years. In February in 1588. WIlliam fought on the passtime which has brought 486 I decided to start a diving club English side at the Battle of results that will surely have in Moville, Co. Donegal, where I Kinsale and he distingushed reprecussions among hisorians have been working for the last 11 himself by capturing and hanging and in the museums of the years. We, as a new club, found Doctor Eugene MacEgan, the western world. As a sub aqua our first ship-wreck off Inishowen Catholic Bishop of Ross (1601). diver one might say he has joined Head on 5th May, 1986. From here For his services o the crown a ship of the ill-fated Spanish we went from one ship-wreck to William Taaffe was rewarded with a knighthood and with Armada many leagues under the another. Contd. on Page 2 sea. • extensive grants of land in Co. Sligo and nine other counties. Sir William made Ballymote Castle his home. Those lands in the Ballymote area which Taaffe did not hold himself he regranted to the Mac Donaghs and others for an annual rent. On August 1st, 1621 his eldest son, John, was created 1st Baron of Ballymote and Viscount of Corran. The 1633 Civil Survey gives two examples of the leasing arrangements between the Taaffes and two of their tenants. The 1633 Civil Survey gives two examples of the leasing arrangements between the Taaffes and two of their tenants. Contd. on Page 5 Ballymote Man • DIVORCE by Una Preston Divorce is very much in the news on spanish armada .. .. .. .. .. today. Even those who would have recoiled from the notion of In March of 1987 which I was breaking what they regarded as diving with the Moville Sub-Aqua a life-long contract for 'better or ( all four of us) we were cont. from Page 1 worse' are now being brain- approximately thirteen miles washed into giving it second south of Malin Head, and thoughts. The family is the approximately a half mile north of corner-stone of society and that Kinnagoe Bay where 17 years has nothing to do with ones ago, wreckage from La Trinidad religious beliefs. The human Dr. Colin Martin returned to the Valencera was found by the city site on the 8th September, child takes 18 years to mature of Derry Sub-Aqua Club. La accompanied by a team of B.B.C. and during those years the Trinidad Valencena was one of camera-men to record some of the future citizens with need the the biggest boats in the Spanish most interesting funds, guidance and example of both Armada fleet, which set sail from particularly a ships gun-carriage. parents. The parents who have Spain to conquer England in the This particular gun carriage is the given the child life owe it what is Spring of 1588. Here I found a 50 only one of it's kind in existance in necessary to enable it to fullfil its pounder bronze siege cannon. the world, and certain measures role in society. It will be said that This gun is 10 feet long and bears had to be taken to protect it from many marriages have the the crest of the then King of Spain the ferocious seas and gales of the constituents of failure from the 'Phillipus Rex', weighing 2½ ton Atlantic. An extensive sand- beginning. There are many and in mint condition. We refused bagging operation was carried reasons for this but one basic and in mint condition. We raised out around the gun-carriage the gun on the 11th April, 1987, reason cannot be ignored —the and it is now at my house in which lies in 30 feet of water. ignorance or otherwise of the Greencastle. On our new site we With the diving season coming to contracting couple. They have found a large wooden ships close for this year, we are looking should be old enough and gun-carriage, pewter plates, forward to an exciting and mature enough to understand wooden ships, gun-carriage successful season next year. what marriage is about. They wheels, and ships planking, and should have the material needs approximately 200 yards last of Culfadda Show to set up house. They should our site, we located the ships i realise that they are both human main anchor. One might say we The people of Culfadda held with human faults and that they have found everything from a their sixth annual Agricultural and will have to be patient and needle to an anchor. Horticultural Show on the 17th forebearing with each other. August '87. It was by all standards Because of the amount of an excellent show of which all Women in the past were in a wreckage found on our site, we who participated should be justly disadvantaged position. The located the ships main anchor. proud. Obviously a lot of hard marriage contract made them One might say we have found work has gone into it and the subordinate to their husbands. everything from a needle to an response from the community The state treated a wife as the anchor. was very good, both with regard chattel of her husband having Because of the amount of to quality and quantity. The few if any rights of her own. This wreckage found on our site we Judges sent by the County has now been largely remthe law decided to call in a leading world Committee of Agriculture and has now been largely remedied, expert on Armada Shipwrecks, othe judges expressed surprise at thanks to the efforts of some Dr. Colin Martin of the Scottish the quality of the exhibits and said worthwhile feminists. She must Institute of Maritime Studies. He the show was as good as could be now be regarded by the law and arrived on the 16th May, 1987 and expected anywhere. carried out a limited survey of by her husband as an equal Availing of a pleasent day a materials on the site. On his sharing partner in every respect. large number of people turned completion of this survey he Given this equality and a mature out to see the exhibits in the Hall finished us with a report. It now and prepared approach to and to watch the judging of cattle, seems that we have indeed marriage due pre-marriage ponies, goats and sheep. They located the wreck of the La assessment of compatability, were also entertained by a Trinidad Valencera. there she be no need for the colourful Fancy Dress Parade, a trauma of ieperation with its With most of her cargo, and at Dog Show and a very entertaining disastrous a, ect on the lives of last 33 bronze cannons to be Cat & Kitten Show. All in all ii was children of the marriage or, in raised yet, this is indeed the find a great day for the area and it the case of divorce, when one or of a lifetime. On National Museum came to a wonderful close in both partners re-marry, the have shown a great interest in the Higgins' Lounge that night with new discovery, and they have the selecting of the 1987 Queen of tragedy for the children of losing sent their representative to the Show. She was a lovely both stable home life and inspect the site with us. Because Ballymote Girl by the name of parentage. Those who advocate of its valuable contents, a Caroline Hever who was divorce should take a serious preservation order was placed on crowned by the Chairman of the look at its effect in other the site at out request. Show, Mr. Joe Cryan. countries. 3 THE FRUGAL YEARS by PJ. Duffy Johnie was a schoolboy in the grader attc4'ding primary late nineteen thirties during school, this new medium was those stringent years that equally confusing, but by followed in the wake of the degrees, at least part of it finally economic war.