P THE rCORRAN HERALD, A Heritage Group Production

ISSUE 17 Summer Edition 1989 PRICE 50p

Yeats's Country Where was .. . Gluinaragh or Bertie Anderson of Colga, in St. Attracta's Knees by Jim McGarry the Prologue he wrote for the Salute to Yeats concert at the opening of the First Yeats by Martin Timoney International School, described Yeats' legacy to as follows:- In Vol. 18 (pp 10-11) of the J.C. `What Ayrshire is to Burns, what McDonagh Manuscript, written the Lake District is to about 1933 and now in Sligo Wordsworth, Wessex to Hardy, in County Library, there is mention, some such relationship, in some drawing and a photograph, of a perhaps even closer relationship, site called `Gluinaraght or St. does Sligo stand to Yeats. This Attracta's Knees' at which there woodland of ours, these lakes, this appears to be a slab bearing a very hill-framed, most magical of simple cross and two bullaun landscapes - these exist no longer depressions. Mr. McDonagh now in themselves alone but have wrote as follows: taken on a second, a transmuted `It is known locally as the life, reflected in the magic mirror Saint's House, but it is really a low of his great art, woven into the stone wall surrounding a flat rock `I have spread my dreams under very texture of his verse, of his which has two saucer-like your feet. Tread softly because verse at its most musical, at its impressions and a cross made by you tread on my dreams.' most haunting.' the intersection of two fissures. Fifty years after the death of the The atmosphere of the Sligo in The indentations are believed to poet W.B. Yeats, more students which the poet grew up is best have been the imprint of St. than ever tread softly on his described by Sean O'Faolain in Attracta's knees and are very dreams. Only Shakespeare has a `an Irish Journey': Cont page 2 regular in their make. larger bibliography. This place appears to be still Since his burial in frequented by pilgrims, for I graveyard, more and more found coins and beads etc. in pilgrims come to Drumcliff to various parts of the enclosure but honour the man acclaimed the local residents appear to be very greatest lyric poet of this century. reticient about the stations, if any, He has enshrined the folklore and performed. place-names of in Gluinaraght is the name modern literature. These pilgrims applied to the little stone not only honour the memory of enclosure in the townland of the poet but in doing so achieve a Tawnawealon near Brishliev on greater knowledge of his writings. the Curlew mountains. According His brother Jack Yeats said he to one old resident it lay quite never painted a picture that had close to one of the roads of not a part of Sligo in it. The poet primitive times which crossed the too acknowledged his debt to Curlews and ran through the Sligo in the formation of his western part of the range... ' character and art. Many Sligo As the manuscript is not clear place names are known to readers on the actual location of the site who never visited Sligo; other than that it is on the Curlew Benbulben, Knocknarea, Dooney Mountains, probably in the Rock, Innisfree, Lough Gill, townland of Tawnalion or Glencar and Lissadell. Tawnailealon, Cont page 3 j YEATS COUNTRY Cont from page 1

'Myths suffuse the air like smiled on every hearth or Tom Henn is now dead as are spray. They fall on the simplest thundered in every storm and no all but one of the seven founders things and cover them like hoar- man thought that there existed of The Yeats Society Sligo. That frost or the shimmering webs that beyond the hills any world but his the memorial born that night of mist the fields in Summer. The eye own.' the 21 May 1959 continues to obscures itself. Objectivity is Where then more fitting to hold flourish is final proof of the place impossible where so many religues an annual School to his memory W.B. Yeats holds in English excite the mind; dolmens, cairns, than in the place that inspired Literature and the magic spell the stone circles, forts, cromlechs, him. many place-names used by his trilithons; all suggestive of events It was not until 1959 that a hold for the students of his works. not merely great but superhuman. group of four men and three In 1965 the Centenary Year, he One look at that flat topped women met in the Art Gallery of wrote of the School, 'but most plateau of Knocknarea, one hint Sligo Library for the purpose of important of all is the setting, the of its associations, one glimse of forming a Committee to found a landscape, the atmosphere of the enormous cairn surmounting permanent memorial to Sligo's Sligo.' it (as large at close quarters as one greatest son. That was on the 21 It has not changed greatly since of those man-dwarfing slag-heaps May 1959. A Company, without a Yeats' time. The two legended of the Black Country) is enough to constitution was set up that night mountains Knocknarea and Ben subdue all disbelief; and since it is on a capital of thirty shillings, to Bulben, still dominate the scene. one of the first natural objects to make plans for the First There is hardly a place-name catch the eye one approaches this International Yeats Summer within a ten mile radius that does region subject to it even before School. All were strangers to the not appear in the poetry or the one has well entered it. groves of Academie but one plays. No poet in history has such 'There was, more than in any amongst them had already an incomparable background; other place that I have been of its discussed such a project with Stratford and Kilmarnock, size, an extraordinary feeling of professor Thomas Rice Henn of Weimer and Verona are Barren self-sufficiency. And when I began St. Catherine's College, compared with this. to consider this, and wonder why Cambridge, who was born in Today's controversy as to the it was so, I could only think that Albert House, Pearse Road, Sligo. burial place of the poet is this is because there is a variety of To him must be credited the irrelevant. Cast a cold eye, if yon classes, and traditions - the best prestige and the major work in its will, future generations will come Protestant stock in all Ireland is in success. Without his imprimatur and stand beside that simple Sligo - and because of that who would have listened to and limestone slab in Drumcliff surrounding dignity of history joined in that initial Celebration graveyard and having stood, pass and fable which tempts one to of The First Yeats International by. liken this little port to some port- Summer School of 1960. It is his 'What they undertook to do city on the Pireaus where the gods Irish Memorial. They brought to pass; All things have like a drop of dew Upon a blade of grass'. BRICKLIEVE AND KEASH DISCOVERY

IN Sligo's Bricklieve moun- from Sunday Independent (25/6'89) to be observed through smoked tains, where place names sug- glass. gest the environment was once Leo Reagan, who wants to put his inhabited by sun worshippers, it and some of the cairns and findings to specialists in this field, Leo Reagan, Yale graduate believe he has come across an 'exter- the behaviour of the sun. nalised Newgrange' which makes the and arts education organiser Pharoahs rate as historical upstarts. with Sligo-Leitrim V.E.C., is Two years ago on an even- He believes Keash predates convinced he has made a dis- ing of the summer solstice he Newgrange by 400 years. covery of international impor- stood' on top of one of the He sees this area and its phenome- tance, which demonstrates the cairns and watched'the sun dip non as unique, one of the prehistoric wonders of the Western world, an work of highly intelligent man down into Keash and slot per- elaborate monument to man's knowl- 3,500 years B.C. fectly into the notch, its rays edge of astronomy, and a guide to his In the great plateau in the aligned with seven cairns. religious beliefs and his concern with Bricklieves there are the the dead. remains of 21 cairns, not all Cloud was the only feature He is convinced the area could be a which could black out the phe- major attraction for scholars and tour- passage graves. nomenon. ists. In Newgrange only a few are pri- Leo noticed on the hillside viledged to watch the manifestations of the solstice because of the confined of Keash a notch about 80 feet During last week's solstice space. On this mountain, he says, across and 40 feet deep. He the sun dipped into the notch 1,000 could watch and contemplate the wondered if there were an and sent a searing light 17 life riddles of man who was so con- alignment connection between miles across the cairns. It had cerned with the sun. 3 THE IRELAND'S OWN CO. SLIGO Gluinaragh or St. Attracta's Knees FEATURE (March 1989)

by Neal Farry

(Taunawealon The recent Ireland's Own St. `The Great Counsellor,' Fergal does not exist as a townland name Patrick's Day 1989 Annual O'Gara, Charles Phillips, Francis on the maps) its precise location contained an unheralded but, Taaffe, 4th Baron of Ballymote has not been established despite nevertheless, welcome surprise for and Viscount of , Bryan intensive field-work in the Co. Sligo people in the form of a Cooper, T.D., Tadhg Dall approximate area; there appears twenty-seven page special Co. OhUiginn, Dubhaltach MacFir- to be no local recollection of the Sligo feature. Unfortunately, the bisigh, Thomas and William place. It is hard to accept that less cover page of that particular issue Connellan, composers of harp than sixty years after McDonagh gave no indication of the wealth of music, Sir George Gabriel Stokes, was writing, all memory or test, photographic and 'advertising Mathematician, Charles knowledge of the place could have material contained inside and this Anderson Read, Publisher, Owen gone. commendable compilation of Co. Connellan, Gaelic scholar, the Sligo fact, stories and profiles fiddler Michael Coleman and seems to have missed the notice of Mary Colum, wife of Padraig • ^^ I a great number of people who Colum and associate of James would certainly have purchased Joyce and P.H. Pearse. extra copies had they been Sligo's remarkable achieve- forewarned of its publication. ments in the fields of Gaelic The Editor of Ireland's Own history and literature are dealth has gratefully achnowledged the with in a number of articles :assistance given by Messrs. Sean featuring `The Annals of the Four McTernan and Martin Timoney Masters' which were patronised in gathering and recording the by Fergal O'Gara, Lord of material. and through their Moygara, 'The Great Book of efforts, anybody who was Lecan,' `The Yellow Book of anybody and anything that was Lecan,' `The Book of Geneolo- anything in Sligo's varied history gies,' `The Book of Ballymote,' have found well-merited `The Book of O'Hara' and `The O'Gara Manuscript.' GLUINARAGHT recognition. Indeed, much of the The Drumcliffe High Cross and TAWNAWEALON submitted material has had to be held over because of lack of space, the Moylough Belt are also but it will be used later to enrich described. the pages of future issues of The range of material covered Ireland's Own. in, indeed, breathtaking and is a McDonagh's photograph is very Among the items included are must for anybody who wishes to small so we really need to find the an unusual P. J. McCall ballad be introduced to Sligo's past, stone and the place that he is `Welcome to Sligo,' Co. Sligo presented in a form capable of talking about. If the stone is as Golf Club, the Castles and perusal in a period of time less McDonagh describes it, then it can Abbeys of Sligo, the Port of Sligo, than that required to travel by be compared with a stone in front of match-making and wakes in train from Sligo to Longford. the ancient altar at Toomour near Kilmactigue in the early years of The information contained in Keash which has three bullaun the 19th century, Markree the feature in relation to 'The depressionss and three crosses cut Observatory, a survey of Co. Sligo Book of Ball ymote' and `The in it. Bullaun stones are thought to agriculture in 1800, the origin- Battle of Keshcorran' (971 A.D.) have been used for crushing metal legend of Sligo Town, brief notes has provoked me to make a ore in advance of smelting on early on places throughout the county number of observations as, no Monastic sites. The cross as drawn worthy of a visit, The Hawk's doubt, similar observations are by McDonagh is simple and can be Well Theatre, the holy wells near being made by people in other compared with crosses at Toumour Sligo City and the beauty of Sligo parts of the county on the and Carrowntemple, both in Co. in an article entitled `Land of information in the feature Sligo, and many others throughout Heart's Desire.' Profiles on the relevant to their own areas. the country. As such it would date following people are also In the case of `The Book of to the sixth to ninth centuries. included: the O'Conors, Lords of Ballymote,' the Ireland's Own Sligo, Kane O'Hara, Charles accounts appear to be self- The discovery of the stone would O'Connor of Belangare, Eva contradictory. In one article we establish the whereabouts of yet Gore-Booth, John Jinks, T.D., are informed that the manuscript another early Christian Monastic Ambrose O'Higgins, Viceroy of acquired its name from Ballymote enclosure, another part of our Peru, Pertie Anderson, friend of where it was compiled about 1391 heritage. Anyone aware of its W.B. Yeats, Countess Markievicz, A.D. In this case we are told that whereabouts should contact Martin The Yeats Family, Cecil Ewing, the compilers were Solomon A. Timoney, Bothar An Corran, Michael Corcoran, William O'Droma and Magnus O'Duige- Keash. Bourke Cockran, Hugh Hyacinth nan of Shancoe, both of whom McDermott, Terence McDonagh laboured under the patronage of Cont page 4 4 THE IRELAND'S OWN DEPARTURE Cont from page 3 FROM LIFE

Tomaltach MacDonagh, Lord of We must also take into Corran. In the 'Around the consideration the tradition that Count y' article it is stated that the exists in the area that M►• God, Pill time is coming. Book of Ballymote was compiled part of the book may have been i surel y know it well, within the walls of Ballymote compiled at the home of the h1t on/v joy upon this earth Castle about 1391. The compiled at the home of Manus Is that my soul may twitlt yin, dwell. contradiciton appears in another O'Dtiigenan, one of the scribes i own I have no love for earth. article entitled 'Ancient Treasures and `011amh' to the MacDonaghs, For me it was filled frith care of Sligo.' where we are told that at Shancoe in that area. J.C. Mt• troubles the y were many the Book .of Ballymote was McDonagh says that the work was And no' cross was a/wa ys there. compiled in the small Franciscan done by Solomon O'Droma, of Friary or Abbey, north of the Fermanagh, Robert MacSheehy town of Ballymote in 1390 A.D. and Manus O'Duignan, who by Manus Duignan and two worked under the guidance of Yet God gave me strength and others for Tomaltach Og Donald MacEgan, whom courage. MacDonagh, Lord of Corran an O'Duignan refers to as 'my tutor.' To guide mc' o'er life's path, Tir Oiliolla. J.C. McDonagh believes that the I know I oft'times offended him In his `History of Sligo' Vol 11, book was compiled from a mass of Archdeacon O'Rorke definitely loose manuscripts in the But to me He showed no wrath. comes down on the side of possession of MacEgan. It could His voice was a/n a ys coursing, Ballymote Castle being the be possible that collection and I felt it in my heart, location of the compilation of the editing of the work could have And now I feel it often manuscript. He quotes an entry at been carried out in Shancoe. When from life I' m going to part. folio 62 to prove that it was Archdeacon O'Rorke is in written in the castle. This entry agreement with the 18th century 3 was written by one of the scribes, antiquarian, Charles O'Conor, Turlogh Og, son of Hugh who identifies Ballymote Castle as Oh, Jesus dear, will you be near O'Conor, King of Connaught the location for the manuscripts When I am called .for home? who states that he was writing that compilation. And leave me not to sigh with fear. part of the book in the house of The entry dealing with the Oh, leave me not alone. Tomaltagh MacDonagh, Lord of Battle of Keshcorran (971 A.D.) Your presence here will comfort me Corran. Ballymote historian, J.C. in the Ireland's Own feature also When my last agony I must hear, McDonagh tells us that the contains an item of information My recompense, it twill be great Franciscan Abbe y of Ballvmote that is puzzling. This refers to the If your happiness I may share. was founded in 1442 A.D. by three exact identity of the combatants in brothers of the O'Coleman family that encounter. In the feature we 4 under a mandate from Pope are told that the battle was fought Eugenius IV. Therefore, it is between the Norsemen and the Yes, my loving Jesus, impossible that it could have been Connaught Clans and that the You are my one and all, used as a scriptorium in 1391 A.D. Irish were defeated in the struggle .4nd when I leave this dreary life If we accept that Tomaltagh after which they buried their deat I hope my name you'll call, Mac Donagh, did in fact, use in the nearby church of Toomour. And place it in your roll-book Ballymote Castle as his home, we J.C. McDonagh was of the That.stands by your heavenly throne have no choice but to accept that opinion that the Vikings never Perfumed by those holy saints the Book of Ballymote was entered the region of Corran and Whom you also call your own. compiled within the walls of the obviously quoting from O'Rorke, Castle. It should be noted that the he tells us that the battle was report of the Board of Works fought between the warriors of 5 Archaeologists, who excavated Connáught, under their King So love me, dearest Jesus, Ballymote Castle in 1981 suggests Catlial, and the northern forces of It's for your love I crave, that there was little evidence of Aileach (Elagh) in Ulster who For hope in all my dreariness prolonged domestic habitation in were led by their chief, Murragh That you my soul may save. the Castle. In the light of this Glunillar (Eagle-Knee) Ua opinion perhaps we should Flaithbheartaigh. King Cathal Pardon all my weaknesses consider the possibility that and several of his chiefs died in the When before you I must stand Tomaltagh MacDonagh used the battle. A number of Ulster chiefs And leave to me a little place castle only as a fortress and had also died and all these chiefs, both Within your Holy Land. his home elsewhere in the locality. northern and southern, were If this was the case then the interred in Cill Easpaig Luidhigh manuscript could have been in Toomour. Woodmartin tells us Mary A. Flatley, compiled in some of the minor that `Glunillar' of Arleach then Late of Battlefield MacDonagh castles, or in a more plundered the entire province of humble habitation. Connacht without oppoosition. 5

A LAND OF MEGALITHIC TOMBS, Part 1

Martin A. Timoney

County Sligo is internationally known because of W.B. Yeats. His headstone at Drumcliffe is visited by thousands yearly. But Sligo is littered with burial places far more ancient and far more impressive, and for which Sligo is also well known the world over. Most obvious is Misgaun Maeve, the most impressive cairn in Ireland, on Knocknarea. It is only one of many burial places dating to the period of our first farmers, the Neolithic period 4600 to 2000 B.C. Radiocarbon dates are converted to real years. At this period megalithic tombs, i.e., tombs built of large rocks, were the burial places of the dead. The current estimate for the total number of megalithic tombs in Sligo is about 250. This includes portal tombs Passage tomb, Carrowmore No. 7 with Knocknarea, topped by such as at Tawnatruffaun or at Misgaun Maeve, in the background. Photo. MA. Timoney. Carrickglass, which has a 70 ton capstone, court tombs such as at Carrowmore tombs were seen as Carrowmore tombs Creevykeel, and wedge tombs being the end of the line at about never had a covering cairn; some such as at Gortakeeran, as well as 2000 B.C. the passage tombs of all types. had carpets of stone three or four Carrowmore tombs are In a passage tomb a rectangular layers deep around the burial chamber. different. They are simple, lack or cruciform chamber is covering cairns like those of the Carrowmore is the largest approached by a passage and other cemeteries and are built of megalithic cemetry in Ireland and these are enclosed within a split boulders unlike the stone one of the largest in Western circular cairn or mound. The slabs used elsewhere. There is no Europe. It spreads into the chamber usually has a vaulted particular reason why these townlands of Carrowmore, roof built by corbelling which people had to use the split Graigue, Cloverhill, Tober- shows great architectural skill. boulders of Carrowmore. A short naveen, Oakfield and Barnasrahy. Radiocarbon dates from passage move onto the limestone heights Two years ago The Office of tombs at Newgrange and Knowth of Knocknarea would have Public Works purchased 25 acres, in the Boyne Valley are around provided ready access to slab including at least eight tombs, for 3000 B.C. At Carrowkeel in the limestone on an exposed siting the Irish Nation at Carrowmore. Bricklieve Mountains is a cemetry which would be the normal for Hopefully this is the beginings of a of fourteen cairns, some covering passage tombs. cruciform passage tombs. Some National Park based on genuine have fine corbelled roof's like ancient monuments. Newgrange and Knowth. Part of Other examples of Carrowmore Many of the tombs at one was excavated recently as also type passage tombs are to be seen Carrowmore were partially one at Glen in the Ox Mts. near close to St. Anne's R.C. Church in excavated twice during the last Ballisodare. Cairns such as those Abbeyquarter in Sligo, north of century. Recently there has been a at Keash, Knocknashee, Inishcrone and at Carrowreagh major campaign of excavation Heapstown and Cairns Hill southeast of Ballina. and study of these tombs and the probably contain passage tombs. area where they stand by Swedish Carrowmore, two miles west of archaeologists, Dr. Goran Sligo town, has at least 45 tombs There has been much debate as Burenhult (1977-1982) and Mr. and may have had many more. to the origins and sequence of Stefan Bergh (1978-1989). Dr. Carrowmore passage tombs are passage tombs. Up until the mid- Burenhult got very early totally different in appearance. A seventies it was generally believed radiocarbon dates for the complete Carrowmore type that, having begun somewhere in Carrowmore tombs. These extend passage tomb consists of a circular the Mediterranean area, they from 4580 to 3710 B.C. in real area bounded by a kerb of spread through Spain and years. These dates which are not boulders and a central burial Britany, up the Irish Sea to come universally accepted would mean chamber approached by a into Ireland, established that Carrowmore tombs were passage. Proof of a passage magnificient cemeteries in the being built at least somewhat reaching from the kerb to the Boyne Valley and at Loughcrewin earlier than the generality of burial chamber has not been Meath and on Carrowkeel and at passage tombs if not at the Carrowmore, Co. Sligo. established. begining! Cont page ' 6 A LAND OF MEGALITHIC TOMBS

CARROWMORE No. 4 is on Excavations showed one to be the the Sligo side of the Carrowmore Modern science, thts ttme tn the area of a football pitch and 3m. Riding School. Excavation form of analysis of the vegetation deep. People ate oysters here from revealed several layers of stones pollen, held the prospect of before 3500 B.C. to the time of and circles of small boulders settling the debate as to the Christ. Only the finds of oyster around the chamber. There is a cultural background of the people shells in some of the Carrowmore short passage which does not whi built Carrowmore. Clearance tombs, three miles to the east, reach to the surrounding kerb. of forest for tillage and the tenuously linked the two. During the backfilling of the site presence of grain pollen could in 1979 I left the level of the answer many questions. Pollen ground around the chamber and cores were taken close to passage a little lower so t' at they Carrowmore but these did not could he better seen. The catch the periods of time required. radiocarbon date from the tomb, In the following article Dr. 4580 B.C. in real years, if Goranson, Lund, Sweden, Tells of applicable to the construction of the pollen core from Trean- the tomb, would make this not scrabbagh under Carrowkeel. only one of the earliest megalithic tombs in Ireland but also one of the earliest in all of Western Europe. This 4580 B.C. date is so early that it would imply a Mesolithic migratory hunter fisher gatherer culture for the people who built the tomb rather than a Neolithic settled pastoralist tillage farming one. The excavator has not convinced archaeologists that the charcoal sample for the date belongs to the time of building the tomb. Pre-tomb activity and a natural forest fire have been given as alternatives. This debate has given Sligo international publicity and more Ground floor of Cairn K at visitors! Carrowkeel, Co. Sligo The Mesolithic Neolithic Burenhult argues that because argument has not yet been settled, of the early dates, the lack of and perhaps never will. We do not contemporary dwelling places, the know if we are dealing with lack of pottery and the presence of movement of people or of the idea oyster shell deposits in the tombs of megalithic tombs. The he sees some of the people as being movement could hardly have been Mesolithic rather than Neolithic continuously in one direction for in background. Mesolithic people hundreds of years. However, On Carrowkeel overlooking had to be nomadic over a large along the road much knowledge Lough Arrow there are more than area to collect their food but of Ireland's past has been 80 low stone circular enclosures. because of the riches of fish in the unearthed, literally, and the These may be the dwelling places seas and lakes and the rich fruits county has benefited tremend- of the cairn builders. There are of the forests, nuts, berries, wild ously from the tourist and several earthen hutsites on fowl, game, eggs, etc., around occasional employment point of Knocknashee. Likewise on Knocknarea these peoples were view. relativly settled and so the rock Knocknarea are several small Last year's logo for the `Sligo is strewn gravel ridges of circular or oval enclosures. In Surprising' campaign seems to be Carrowmore became their sacred recent excavations the found- based on Poulnabrone portal burial place, long before the ations of huts about 5m. across, tomb in Co. Clare. Either Pyramids, Troy or Knossos. whose roofs of thatch or turf had Tawnatruffaun or Carrickglass been supported on wooden poles, portal tomb is sufficiently So far this article has as well as flint and chert scrapers dramatic to serve as a logo for this concentrated on the `houses of the and arrowheads, a polished stone land of megalithic tombs. Several dead'. During 1979 we searched axe and some pieces of pottery of the Carrowmore tombs can for the dwelling places of the were found. These sites were in use now be used with pride as a logo builders of Carrowmore. Finding about 3300 B.C. This would be for Sligo, because as I write, The dwelling places has always been later than the general period of use Supreme Court has ruled that difficult but the series of shell of Carrowmore. So far we have Sligo County Council can not middens along the Cullenamore not found the dwelling places of establish a rubbish dump at shore of Ballisodare Bay near the builders of the Carrowmore Carrowmore. looked promising. tombs. THE GREAT MASTER OF WIT 7 by P. J. Duff.

During his lifetime he became located some distance from the famous for his amazing sense of Way back in those days when forge where he worked. An Indian the clergy were exceedingly strict humour and mastery of the witty stable boy who sometimes took about people working on Sunday, phrase. I suppose he could be the horses to be shod had acquired he met up with a priest while described as one of the greatest a custom of addressing all military drawing water to his cattle on a wits who ever dwelled in these people as Lascars. This it later Sunday evening. The priest parts. Whenever people from transpired was an old Indian title proceeded to lecture him about about the place met for a fireside for a soldier or a sailor. When in the consequences of breaking the discussion, it would be a dull later life Gaffney had settled down third commandment, and gathering that sometime or other at home and begun to relate his concluded by saying, `Sunday and - didn't have a quotation from the experiences to his neighbours, he Monday seems to be all the same vast repertoire of witty sayings told them the story of the Indian with you'. Quick as wink he that belonged to the late Patrick lad and his strange name for a retorted, `Well Father, you must Gaffney of Bearvaish, Rath- soldier. They, of course had found understand that our cattle drink mullen, Ballymote. I've been told the title most amusing, with the water on Sunday as well as that even abroad in foreign lands, result that some of them took to Monday'. The dumbfounded when people from this part of the addressing him as Lascar priest didn't utter another word, country come together, it wasn't Gaffney. but slammed shut the door of his unusual to hear the name of He took over the family farm at car and drove on. Patrick Gaffney mentioned when Bearvaish and also carried on During the fifties he would a conversation reached the point working as a smith. During the of humour. journey into town travelling by middle decades of the century, he donkey and cart. When some of In his youth Patrick was a became a familiar figure at fairs his cronies remarked how terribly strong well-built fellow who was and markets in Ballymote town, fast transport was becoming, he destined to embark onto a life of and enjoyed nothing better than a summed up the situation with this adventure. Sometime before the good banter with the traders and little rhyme: outbreak of World War I he dealers who frequented those joined the British Army, and later gatherings. Those type of people ended up on the battle-stricken were usually exceptionally glib on The rich man goes by motor car plains of Belgium. In later life he the tongue and the exchanges that The poor man goes by train was to describe something about took place between themselves Gaffney goes on his ass and cart, what life was like in the trenches at and Gaffney were often amusing and he gets there the same. Flanders. He used to say that not in the extreme. alone had they to do combat with He always got a gratifying kick In the declining years of his life, the German forces, but they had out of pitting his wits against the old man would stroll down the to reckon with the forces of those cheeky young officials of the road to his son's forge, almost vermin, lice, and insects as well. establishment who thought they daily. He still harboured a desire He would talk about the cast-iron knew it all. A local man used to for catching up on the things that discipline obtaining in the ranks at tell the story of a fair day when he were taking place around him, the time, and how a surly look at a fobbed off a young Garda who and longed for a discussion with staff-sergeant might earn you a was looking out for sheep dipping what was then, by arid large, a spell in the detention quarter. certificates, by offering him a dog rising generation of younger An incident which involved the licence instead of the required people. The level and standard of commanding officer in his certificate. When a difference education was also rising, and he regiment was to take him away arose between a neighbour and gloated at the prospect of from the zones of combat, and himself over the division of a confronting those students of the was probably responsible for boundary fence, the district new order. A young fellow who saving his life. He described how appraiser was called in to mediate had spent some time in college the colonel's horse was such a high in the dispute. The officer, who casually met up with him, one day. spirited steed that none of the incidentally had a reputation for This chap was already well aware smiths attached to the regiment reconciling warring factions, had of Gaffney's prowess in the field were capable of shoeing him. brought both men together, of verbal exchange. Among the Gaffney who had been brought up showed them their respective subjects they discussed were the with the trade volunteered to have portion of fence and advised them advantages of a proper education. a go, with the result that he shod to have these repaired, saying that Gaffney lamented the fact that he the animal without difficulty. This `good fences meant good left primary school at the age of action gained for him a farrier's neighbours'. `I understand that' thirteen years. Your man certificate, and he was taken right replied Gaffney, `but I'll tell you intervened to say that had he away to the forge where he something mister, I'd sooner be (Gaffney) received a proper became employed shoeing horses fighting than fencing anyday'. Of education it's above in Dail for the cavalry. course he didn't mean a word of Eireann he would be. `Not at all', His sojourn here was to earn for what he said, he just wanted to replied Gaffney, `it's below in the him a title that was to remain with dent the ego of the great lunatic asylum I'd be, it's too him for the rest of his life. It would peacemaker somewhat, and much I'd know. seem that the stables where the maybe take a little bit of the military kept their horses were conceit out of him. Cont page 8 8 THREE HOUSES OLD NEIGHBOUR Tom McGettrick MOTHER & The recent reading of three DAUGHTERS books, Life by the Liffey by John O'Donovan, an interesting B y his cottage door on many a day ramble through life and times in I see new faces on the tree lined hill 1 see him doodling the time away, Dublin down the centuries, Pillars alwa ys in September when leaves chatting to neighbours on this or of the House, an anthology of fnll that verse by Irish Poetesses compiled faces I knew well so long ago or stroking a dog with a_friendl.y pat by J.J. Kelly, and Souperism: when I walked there with books Myth or Reality? written by As slowly he moves on his daily attendmg school, round, Desmond Bowen, a stud y of the same sil' smiles and ,lances of Catholics and Protestants during sometimes pausing to look around their c i es the Great Famine, caused me to when pruning a tree with expert covertly pass between the gtrls and write the article to which I give the care boys, above title. It wasn't the or digging in his garden acre. innuendo that their mothers bore coincidence of my own book Regarded as a local historian in spring, when these same trees selection that brought these • who forecasts the weather vagaries were young in leaf publications my way, because in too, and we were saplings to their the case of two of the books it was his observatory, the fields and roguish guiles. another reader that made me hedgerows, aware that Ballymote and Sligo the nesting birds, the first cuckoo. were mentioned in high places. A guide to local field and folk-lore, Homes In the first book one chapter the double ditch, the gallows tree, tells of the Foundling Hospital caretaker of the famine grave-yard, The land lay stretched before me which concentrated within its the disused mass-path, the alter like a lost wilderness; walls between the years 1703 and stone. uncontained lake and flooded river 1832 a large portion of the misery In his worn-out tweed and mended - the habitat of wintering goose and of the neglected and often boots swan; abandoned children of the poor of his appearance is rugged and a saturated scene of bog and Dublin (and they were legion) at uncouth, marshland, that time. There is a footnote to passing unheeded by societies vain plateau, promontory and rocky this chapter which states:- Arbella who fail to see an ageing wisdom, fields (her own spelling) evidently had a The prudent eye, the assuring smile, accomodating abandoned dwellings good opinion of herself. When she the philosophy of his seventy years - (fungi on a ruined land); visited Ballymote, Co. Sligo where as patiently he listens to the daily the occupants scattered now her family the Fitzmaurices cares, like seeds to the wind woned property she caused an the grief and happiness of the - behind them a blighted past. obelisk to be erected in her honour community. Yet inside these pathetic homes on a nearby hill. "there are clues to identities, The obelisk or round tower on David McEllin of a former proud community; Carrownanty Hill is no longer Jan. '89 austere and moustached men there. It was an eyecatching and ardent women landmark. Arbella (Fitzmaruice) - the roots of continents, Denny spent a long period of High up in the townland of posing for posterity in faded albums widowhood in charge of the Carrowcawley he built his own there a fallen scapular; a prayer to Foundling Hospital and her mansion ` in the style of a castle' St. Anthony; dedicated efforts to improve according to Young. This was a worm-infested table and chairs; conditions there were successful, Earlsfield House - the townland an old dresser, a piece of broken but when she died in 1792 `the old became Earlsfield - a basement delph state of affairs returned' as house, the first of three such that once glittered on its polished O'Donovan says. The Fitz- houses which had in their tenants shelf maurice connection with and their associations some part a discarded suitcase of frayed Ballymote is already well told of in in the making of what is today the leather Arthur Young's Tour of Ireland history of the locality. There was a spilling clothes like guts on the 1776 and elsewhere. It has left story that stones from the ruins of floor, marks, some faded, some still well the Franciscan Abbey were being an old coat hanging on the back of a etched in the locality. The appropriated to build the door; Honourable Thomas Fitzmaurice Fitzmaurice home. This the empty hearth - a gaping wound set out in 1774 to make Ballymote plundering of holy ground with black blood seeping from its the most important centre of the brought about a prophetic chimney breast linen industry in the country. He utterance. When the Abbey and where kettles no longer sing had a large mill (Mill St.) erected, the Castle also were being and voices that once echoed the finest of its kind in Ireland. He similarly plundered on other within these crumbling walls had an earthen dam constructed occasions nobody seems to have - now reverberate off skyscrapers. down stream from Ballinascarrow minded. Earlsfield House early in Lake to contain water to power this century became the Convent David McEllin the mill. The dam is still there. of Mercy Nuns. Cont page 12 Nov. '87 MASTER OF WIT

Around this time he struck up a rather unusual relationship with a retired landowner who had farmed extensively in south Sligo during the early years of the century. The ex Lord of the Manor had resided for a time at Gaffney's. The late Michael Ulsler Bank Murray who lived next door to the Gaffneys said that he often sat by in wide eyed wondernment, BALL YMOTE listening to this pair of venerable gentlemen reminising over, what once had been two vastly different sets of life-styles. The same \\;;./ Michael Murray used to reckon that if the tales and adventures of Ulster Bank the Gaffney family were properly l-J documented they would make up not just a book but a very large encyclopaedia. MANAGER: Kieran McGowan ASST. MANAGER: Nobby McGuirk No charge whatsoever is envisaged to patients requiring any of the Hospice services -Home Care, Residential Care, Day Care or bereavement counselling. The services will be available to the CASTLE terminally ill, regaof the country was concerned. Discussions then varied a good deal from to-day's debates, which very often seem to HOTEL be dominated by the constant use of four letter words. Gaffney was never known to indulge in the use Family run Hotel and Lounge of four letter words nor was he catering for Weddings, Dinner Dances, Functions, likely to turn vulgar or sarcastic. He would swiftly sum up his Birthday Parties, etc. etc. opponent, detecting the chinks in his armour, then with a few well For all your Angling needs visit our new Tackle Shop. chosen words he would swipe him New and secondhand stocks plus repair service. down. It was woe betide the erring young greenhorn who would mistake him fora simple old man. Emmet Street, Ballymote, Co. Sligo. He would most certainly have something very different coming Ph. 071 - 83342 his way. i

Patrick Gaffney, humourist at Bearveash from the Congested and raconteur, and maker of the His father, who originally came Districts Board, and Patrick who witty phrase, was born and reared from Arigna worked here for a married Annie Feehily reared a in a little thatched house situated period, shoeing the coachman's family of ten children. His death to the rear of what now is horses, and acting as a sort of in 1960 at the age of 83 years Rathmullen Post Office. The Coachman's attendant, as well as removed from this part of the premises where the P.O. is located a part-time jarvey. All this was country one of the most was then used as a Coach-house. happening at the time when the interesting people to occupy the As a boy he attended the old country's chief transport system scene here, during the course of Rathmullen School which was consisted mainly of horse-drawn this century, a man whose situated nearby. Although he used coaches, and when a swift pair of exceptional talents had made him to say that his favourite subject horses and a sturdy pair of candles a legend in his lifetime. was English Grammar he also would take you from the Mail To-day, almost thirty years reckoned that his teacher Mr. Coach Road to Rathmullen, at after his passing the stories and McGowan taught such things as night-time, before the candles accounts of his incredible wit Algebra and Geometry, and had a flickered out. continue to be told and re-told at habit of lashing his lessons home In later years, the Gaffney firesides up and down the with the use of a stick. family acquired a holding of land countryside. No GLOR NA GAEL BALLYMOTE

by Neal Farry Excavations A branch of Glór na nGael for the Ballymote area was set up at a Geraldine O'Connor, Coláiste at public meeting in the Castle Mhuire; Jerome Kerins, Boys' Hotel, Ballymote on Monday N.S.; Martina Aldridge, Ballymote Castle November 14th, 1988. The newly Knockminna N.S.; Rachel Fahey, formed coiste decided to enter the Coláiste Mhuire. 760 of the cards 1989 National Glór na nGael were printed and distributed through the following outlets: Competition. The aim of this by Neal Farry competition is to find the Perry's, Cassidy's, Hurley's, community that has done most to Rogers', McDonagh's and promote the Irish language at Casey's. 200 of the cards were local level. The following work purchased by Ballymote Bank of plan was drawn up to be Ireland Branch and were sent to implemented during the year: the Branch's overseas customers. (1) Bilingual Table Quiz. Glór na nGael was inaugurated The purpose of the excavation in 1961 under the auspices of (2) Bilingual 25 Drive. was to ensure accuracy in Cumann na Sagart, the Society of (3) restoring the castle to its former Irish language St. Patrick's Irish-speaking Priests. Glór na Day Card based on Ballymote. magnificance. The excavation was nGael has as its patrons, an directed by Mr. P.D. Sweetman, (4) Irish language church services tUachtarán Padraig 0 hIrighle, for St. Patrick's Day. an archaeologist attached to the and Cardinal Tomás 0 Fiaich. Office of Public Works. (5) Céilí Gaelach. The Stiúrthóir is an tAthaír The excavation showed that the (6) Oiche Airneáin (Rambling Pádraig 0 Fiannachta, Colaiste moat was a rather unimpressive night, through the medium of Phádraig, Maynooth. feature of the Castle's defences. It Irish). The objective of Glór na nGael was no more than three feet deep (7) Irish week in the community. is to have a voice of the Irish at maximum and was probably a (8) Ceol ar an tsráid. language heard throughout river meander that was diverted to (9) Country walk and picnic. Ireland so that we may preserve, run around the castle to form a (10) Oíche Gaelach (poetry and strengthen and enrich our sense of shallow moat. The moat was music). community and nationality. excavated at a position (11) Irish language classes for The officers and members of immediately outside the southern adults. Coiste Bhaile an Mhóta are as curtain wall. There was no (12) Irish Essay Competition. follows: Cathaoirleach, Niall 0 evidence to suggest that there was (13) Irish Drama. Fearraigh; Leas Chathaoirleach, a postern gate in this part of the (14) Irish language Christmas Gearóid 0 Casaide; Rúnaí, Máire castle. Cards. Ní Shitric; Cisteoiri, Máire Bean The foundations of the thick Uí Dhodaigh agus Caitlin Bean Uí The Bilingual Table Quiz was stone walls representing the east Dhodaigh; Oifigeach Caidrimh successfully compered by Sean 0 and west gate towers were exposed Poibli, Mícheál 0 Domhnalláin; hUiginn, O.S. Coill Fhada, who to their present denuded height. A Coiste: Pádraig 0 Bruachóig, prepared and asked sixty Queen Elizabeth 1 coin (dated Eamonn 0 Gearráin, Máire Bean questions in Irish and English to 1590) was found below collapsed 112 competitors. The bilingual 25 Uí Chárthaigh, An Dr Stan 0 masonry in the interior of the east drive attracted thirty-six Cathasaigh, Mathilda Bean Uí gate tower. Chathasaigh, Sorcha Bean Uí competitors and plenty of Irish Further excavation took place was spoken during the progressive Chaoilte, Gráinne Bean Uí in the angle towers which exposed Fhearraigh, Máire Ní Chana, session. Fr. O'Mahony continued wall footings, floor levels and lines the tradition in the parish of Deirdre Nic Eoin, Pádraigin Ní of collapse. The following including Irish prayers and Irish Fhiaich, Aine Ni Fhiaich, Seán 0 artifacts from medieval times were hUiginn. music in the St. Patrick's Day found during the excavation. (1) A 11.30 Mass. Members of the coiste Seosamh Uasal Mac Donn- piece of 14th century pottery organised a collection on behalf of acha, the western organiser of which was glazed local ware was Connradh na Gaeilge on St. Glór na nGael, is professional found in a blocking wall in the Patrick's Day. adviser to the Coiste. south-west tower. (2) A piece of The St. Patrick's Day Irish There are Glór na nGael medieval cooking ware was found Cards project was very successful. committees in Sligo, in the north-west tower. The Designs were entered by students and Ballymote. It is envisaged that archaeologists were surprised that in all the parish schools and seven committees will be organised in all so little domestic ware was found entries were chosen for areas of the country in the near in the castle. Although the publication. The winning artists future. In the interim, people from fortification was used for a great were:- Sharon Haynes, Corran the parishes adjoining Ballymote, deal of military occupation there College; Elizabeth Costelloe, who are interested in the work of was little evidence of settled Corran College; Gabrielle the organisation are welcome to domestic occupation for long O'Connor, Convent N.S.; join the Ballymote Coiste. periods.

POLLEN ANALYTICAL INVESTIGATIONS 11

IN TREANSCRABBAGH, CARROWKEEL by Hans GOransson

It is possible to distinguish between different decline level' both grasses and ribwort plantain plant and fern genera - and even species - by increase enormously in the Carrowkeel area. We studying their pollen grains and spores in the can be sure that cows, sheep and probably goats microscope. Pollen and spores are preserved in lake also were by then introduced into western Ireland. mud and peat. Thick layers of such deposits have Probably the grazing took place at the coast on been built up since the end of the last glaciation marsh-land and/or on the fens at lake and river about 14,000 years ago. By studing samples from sides during summer time. During the winter the cores of mud, taken in lades or bogs, the past live-stock was driven and herded to the limestone vegetation can be reconstructed. The different mountains where a good winter pasture was found genera and species identified and counted during as happens in the Burren today. this `pollen analytical work' are arranged in Cultivation of barley and emmer wheat may have columns in pollen diagrams. started very early in Carrowkeel. These Stone Age In the beginning of August 1981, I was invited by cereals, however, spread very few pollen grains to Dr. Goran Burenhult to the archaeological the surroundings. The first very typical wheat excavations at Carrowmore, Co. Sligo, in order to pollen grain is found at a level which is about 400 perform samplings in lakes and bogs. On a sunny years after than the elm decline level. Future pollen day my friend, Martin A. Timoney, brought me and analysis may show the presence of cultivation of my Swedish fellow-worker, Magnus Thelaus, to the cereals 500-600 years earlier. During the middle or bog at Treanscrabbagh in the Bricklieve later part of Neolithic Time rowan and oak increase Mountains. This bog is situated directly to the distinctly. These trees are light-demanding and they north of the famous Carrowkeel cemetery with its expand when the shading elm diminishes. numerous megalithic tombs. In 1951 Professor In this way, during more than two thousand Frank Mitchell, of Trinity College, Dublin years the mountains were grazed, during the published a diagram from Treanscrabbagh. That Mesolithic probably by red deer and from the elm diagram covers the time from the end of the last decline level by introduced domestic animals. The glaciation up to relatively recent time. Six species, megalithic graves were built during the time of all trees, are represented in the 1951 diagram. maximum grazing in Bricklieve Mountains. New cores were taken in the Treanscrabbagh bog Because of this long grazing time the broad-leaved during our 1981 stay. The cores were analysed by trees were, in the long run, `consumed'. The base- me in Lund, Sweded, and also C14-dated there. The rich soils were leached; perhaps there was an megalithic graves in Carrowkeel were built between increase in the precipitation at the end of the forest c. 3800 B.C. and c. 3300 B.C. (`calibrated C14- phase in Bricklieve Mountains. According to both dates') that is during Neolithic Time (when man old (Watts 1961) and new C14-datings it has been was a farmer). Charcoal below one of the graves in shown that blanket peat began to form on the Carrowmore was dated to c. 4700 B.C., a date of former rich mountain ground from c. 2600 B.C. Mesolithic age (when man still was a `hunter- From then on the hills became covered with peat, gatherer'). For that reason the pollen analysis of the which during c. 4500 years has grown thicker and Treanscrabbagh cores was concentrated on thicker and which has partly buried the megalithic Neolithic Time but also on the last part of the graves. Mesolithic. It is, indeed, strange to stand on the heights to the In this new diagram 42 different genera and west of Lough Arrow and to look out over the peat species have been identified. Microscopic charcoal covered land of Bricklieve Mountains. What a particles have also been counted. change since the Stone Age! Instead of a landscape INTERPRETATION with grazing cows and sheep on green grass Between c. 5000 B.C. and c. 4000 B.C. the forests amongst hazel scrub and with elm and oak woods, in Bricklieve Mountains were extremely rich and peat covers the whole area. Indeed, the - dominated by hazel, elm and oak. Bushes like scenery is quite different today than it was during honeysuckle and holly thrived in the glades. During the time of the megalith builders. this time a base-rich soil covered the limestone . r e Wind—transported microscopical charcoal particles mountains. The pollen diagram discloses, however, i• that fires were common during the last part of the Mesolithic. Very likely the gunter-gatherer cleared areas of the forest by ring-barking high trees and by 4":„," controlled burning of the forest ground (bush- a f, burning). In this way grasses and thus, for instance, t ag red deer, were favoured. The increased supply of Y '1'yá\l' ••, i ' I ,'`,Y ^^ ^ ^^ /i// 'J .\`'i^,cVo , light favoured hazel and this a rich production of hazel nuts. After these Mesolithic clearings aspen thrived as did bracken and herbs, as did cranesbills, vetches and species of the pink family and the bed- straw family. Heather began to increase. C. 4000 B.C. elm declined, very likely because of I^ í factors lying beyond man's control. In recent years we have seen how rapidly elm disease has spread across North Europe from Ireland in the west to southern Sweded in the north east. As this `elm Atlantic high forest and girdled trees 12 THREE HOUSES

Cont from page 9 obviously in response to some interesting little item of uncertain epistle from them, Towards the middle of the book circumstantial evidence turned up of poems, Pillars of the House, `while you are thinking we are when the demolition was being starving'. In a letter of 5 May 1847 there was one, The Yellow Moon - carried out. This was a mother-of- A Smuggler's Song, written by he wrote of 600 starving labourers pearl handled knife with a small asking him to plead on their Charlotte Gubbins, born 1825. A silver plaque let in to the side of it brief biographical note indicated behalf. with the name A.M. Daly on it. It The Rev. John Garrett . had that it was taken from her book of became the Parochial House when poems, One Day's Journal, begun in 1818 the building of the Canon E.M. Conyngton was church in the centre of the town published at the Independent Parish Priest. Office, Sligo in 1862. I traced this with its slender, graceful spire, A deed dated 4 October 1878 slim volume to the Library of and at the same time the concerning the trusteeship of the Trinity College and was very substantial rectory or glebe house Catholic Church is signed John G. kindly supplied with photocopies which is on the opposite side of the Reynolds, Solicitor, Castle Lodge, of some of the pages. Gurteen road from the creamery. Ballymote. John G. Reynolds was Blakeny Gubbins was the Bowen states that during the the father of Mr. Jimmy and Miss Famine `food was distributed at occupier of all the land around the Lettie, still remembered. When he the Rectory from 6.00a.m. to Castle (including the Castle) and acquired the property of a landed 9.30p.m. each day', quite an across where the railway now is individual named Gumley they for some distance. This undertaking. There seems to be no moved to the house on Pearse doubt that there was considerable information is recorded in Road, where we remember Mr. activity around this house during Griffith's Valuation of Tenements Jimmy and Miss Lettie living. Mr. the worst experiences of that sad published about 1855. He was in Jimmy was prominent in music time. It deserves mention too Inspector of Revenue Police, and drama. He was the because of an extremely obviously an occupation of accompanist in May 1897 when interesting register kept during the considerable status. One of their Percy French gave a concert in the whole of the Garrett period and duties was to seek out and bring town. Miss Lettie was closely continuing into after years - poteen makers to justice. identified with Sir Horace Charlotte Gubbins was his wife. births, deaths. and some Plunkett in the co-operative marriages. It is a parish register The poem referred to above has movement. She performed the but has frequently a wider scope bearing in a humorous way on her official opening of Ballymote than Emlafad. Parish records husband's occupation. Creamery on 26 July 1897, and were not officially kept, as far as I It was during Gubbin's was for a period organiser of know, until many decades after occupation of these lands that home industries for the I.A.O.S. this one. Castle Lodge was built. It would The next basement house was In writing about Earlsfield be easy to assume that it was the built when the Rev. John Garrett House I mentioned about stones barracks of the Revenue Police was rector of Emlafad. The being taken from the Abbey and I only that the building on the Garretts, Church of Ireland have always had the impression Gurteen road, which up to recent clergymen in Emlafad for more that the Abbey was a much bigger times was the Church of Ireland than a hundred years, are told in building than the ruin indicates. Primary School, is recorded as O'Rorke's History of Sligo, in The Loftus Hall (as everyone fulfilling that function at time. So McDonagh's History of knows) was the church from the one is safe in accepting that Castle Ballymote and the Parish of middle of the 18th Century up to Lodge was the private residence of Emlafad and with a more the time of the building of the the Gubbins family. It was a stone searching look at their activities in Church of the Immaculate and mortar building, the stones Desmond Bowen's Souperism, Conception and it was built with coming from the towers flanking Myth or Reality, published in stones from the Abbey ruins. the entrance to the castle. When 1970. About 1862 Ballymote Dis- Castle Lodge was being partially The Rev. John Garrett pensary Committee had the wall demolished to accommodate the succeeded his father, Rev. built around the graveyard with re-construction of the St. John of William, as Rector of Emlafad in stones from the Abbey also. God Convent this was obvious. It 1806. At that time the Church was Hundreds of the graves of the is the second basement building. on the high ground in the centre of poor may have been marked with Two families associated in what is now Emlafad graveyard. stones from it. It is not likely they different ways with community He died in 1855 so he would have would have been brought in from activity lived at Castle Lodge at experienced the ravages of the else where. It was bigger. different times between the Great Famine around him. He I conclude with a few lines from Gubbins era and the brief was a man of boundless energy Charlotte Gubbins - descirbing occupation by the Sisters of Mercy and those who wrote about him Ballymote! before they moved to Earlsfield did not always agree about the ..... a little town House, Daly and Reynolds, the purity of his intentions. Bowen In western Erin situate two families. There may be slight gives him credit for dedication to In its least favoured portion, where doubt about the Dalys, but there the welfare of the poor of all Wide tracts of bog, most desolate, is no doubt that they owned part creeds while the famine raged. In Present an aspect brown and bare; of the land there known then as his appeal for aid to the Mansion Shut in b y hills ..... Esker and the Castle Meadow. An House Committee he wrote, 13 CANON JAMES K. CASEY PRINCE RUDOLF & BARONESS MARY by John C. McTiernan (The Taaffe Connection) James Kevin Casey, .the `poet-priest', as he was.callpd, was born Mary Matthews in Itiverstown on September 26th, 1824. He was the son of James On the morning of January 30th, 1889, Casey, by his wife, - Norah Gethins. On .his Mother's side .he was the bodies of Crown Prince Rudolf of closely related to Don Patricio Milmó, the nineteenth century Austria and his mistress, Baroness Mary Sligo-born Mexican millionaire (q.v.). His mother died in 1863 and Vetsera, were discovered by the Prince's his father fifteen years later. Both were buried in . Tavmagh ceme- valet at the hunting lodge of Mayerling, tery and over their grave a devoted son erected a fine memorial near Vienna; the subsequent events have which is inscribed the following epitaph: - provided the basis for numerous books, films and documentaries. Still the mystery Accept,'fond parents, throned above remains unsolved - was it a suicide pact, Life 's s i,urnny ocean wild; born of the unstable mind of Rudolf, or a - This monument of filial love vastly complex political plot? From your devoted child. The man who played the key role in the alleged cover-up which followed the You taught rue young to worship God, discovery of the two bodies was Count And every sin to dread; Eduard von Taaffe, Prime Minister of Alóng the path the saints.have trod • Austria - and Baron of Ballymote, Co. Your children young you led. Sligo. Faith, hope, love and gifts beyond The now ruined castle at Ballymote was All else between the poles; once the family seat of the Taaffes, granted I owe them to your teaching fond, to Sir William Taaffe by Elizabeth the First May Heaven rest your souls. `for services rendered to the Crown', particularly during the siege of Kinsale. From 'his earliest years James Casey gave evidence of a-studious These lands of the Barony of Corran disposition, and after some schooling locally he attended : a small formed part of an extensive settlement and classical college in Sligo. He entered Maynóoth College in August, Sir William was also endowed with lands at 1851, and soon gained distinction both for his scholastic ability Carlingford, Co. Louth, and in Tipperary. and his poetic genius. As a student he translated the Exile of Erin The fact that the Taaffes were, and into Irish - verse, and, subsequently, collaborated with Ulick J. remained, Catholic made the generous Bourke in producing the College Irish Grammar. settlement by the Crown all the more James Casey was ordained to the priesthood by_'pr Gillooly, surprising. Their religious beliefs, however, eventually militated against them Bishop of Elphin, in the old chapel in Sligb in 1857: 'His first and they later fled to France, then to missionary work took him: to , the parish of Bakal,. County Austria. In time, Lord Nicholas Taaffe was Galway, where he found . the. people down-trodden and spiritless conferred with the title of Count of the after the disastrous famine years. The tyrannical and • arrogant Holy Roman Empire and appointed actions of the local land!krez .made .his task extremely difficult, Chancellor of Austria-Hungary. but Father Casey used every legitimate means at his disposal to Some of the earlier Taaffes were prolific improve the material as well as the spiritual lot of his parishioners. letter-writers, as is evidenced in 'Memoirs of the Taaffe Family', most of which was After spending three fruitful years in i3?llygar, Father Casey was compiled in the 1600s. Theobald Taaffe, appointed to the post of Principal of St John's Seminary, Sligo. Lord of Carlingford and Baron of This was an appointment very much to his liking, and it provided Ballymote, was Envoy Extraordinary to took a lead- the Austrian Emperor. It would appear him with numerous outlets for his diverse talents. He that one of his duties was to accompany ing part in all the controversies of his day, and lectured indefati- royal ladies, complete with their dowries, gably against secret societies whose activities in the neighbourhood to foreign courts in search of suitable he so fearlessly condemned. When the construction of Sligo Cathe- husbands. dral was about to commence, Dr Gillooly despatched Father Casey In the course of one of these missions, on a fund-raising campaign throughout the length and breadth of Lord Carlingford wrote to Princess the diocese. His eloquence coupled with a strong and simple faith, Elizabeth of Austria of a namesake of hers: helped to make his mission highly successful. `The gout is a cursed persecutor of my In 1873 Father Casey was :assigned as pastor to the parish of quiet, having kept me in bed since my arrival here, but if fasting and praying that Athleague, in County Itoscomt ton, and for the first time in his life I may once more wait on Your Highness he found time to devote himself earnestly to poetry. Through this may banish it, I shall within two days medium he strove for the moral i:,iprovement of the people of demand aid from the Emperor and by the Ireland, especially in the matter of intemperance. He addressed next post be able to let you know wl'3t my himself in verse to his fellow -(rountrymen, in some instances over opinion is of this people and the court, the signature of `J.K.C.' His f;rsi notable metrical composition, where I am resolved to be Solicitor for Tyndall on Materialism; a philosophical poem, was published in Princess Elizabeth, from whom I had the 1875. Appearing at a time when the public mind had been aroused honour of a letter, but if I can get her by the `eloquent and trenchant refutation' of Tyndall 's material- portion into my hands, if she gets not a husband, I'll give it to you, for in my heart I istic doctrines by Bishop Conroy of Ardagh, it attracted a good hate a religious, handsome princess, that is deal of attention. ...at page 14 to say, a nun'. Cunt page 14 14 CANON JAMES CASEY cont Prince Rudolf Our Thirst for Drink, its Cause and Cure, a long poem in which the drink question is discussed under ifs various aspect.,, was pub- & Baroness Mary lished shortly afterwards. Here ,vas a `masterly and exhaustive On 23rd January 1666, Lord dissertation' on the problems of intemperance, and it abounded in Carlingford again wrote to Princess passages of great power, graphic descriptions, sound moralit y and Elizabeth, apparently with advice impressive illustrations: regarding a sum of money which the Emperor was about to settle on her, to be The woes of drink are now on every tongue, disposed of as she wished: `If His Imperial Those `woes unnumbered' wnich I've lately sung, -- Majesty be so just and bountiful as I wish, I Not adl indeed; the tongue of man would fail would not have it converted to the building To name, to count or sing them in detail; of churches, nor disposed of within the And yet they grow and multiply apace, limits of a cloister; Your Highness is born To rob, to ruin and destroy our race; and ordained for greater and more public To blight prosperity, to nourish crime, actions and your memory to be recorded rather by a posterity of princes than by And kill whole hecatombs before the time! ecclesiastical shows. Therefore resolve, Intemperance, an ethical poem, described by Archbishop MacHale Madam, to be of the world and make some of Tuam as `a fine production in the best style of Pope', was Prince (of the many who will attempt it) equally well received. Here, again, the author considered intemper- happy'. ance under its various aspects and he sought to combat the evil It was rumoured for some time after with a vigour and vividness that captivates the reader. Mayerling that certain vital papers connected with the cover-up were in the In the Preface to his Verses on Doctrinal and Devotional Sub- possession of the Taaffe family; they jects Father Casey expressed some surprise at the success and appear, however, to have been either lost popularity of his earlier writings, and confessed that he felt `as or destroyed at some stage and the mystery much diffidence' in offering another selection of poems to the remains. public as if a line of his `had never been printed'. `Being now myself in the Autumn of life.' he wrote, `I desire that my readers may meet in these pages the mellow fruit of sober reflection rather than the rich flowers and foliage of a poetic fancy which are RATIONALISATION UNA PRESTON naturally to be looked for in the springtime of life.' In common with his earlier writings, this work was favourably commented This is a word we hear very frequently upon by the critics. John Cardinal Newman was much impressed now. Usually it is followed by an by its `clear, easy, musical flow'. Archbishop John Healy of Tuam announcement of redundancies and a further addition to the unemployment was equally enthusiastic: `Its language is clear and simple,' he register. What does this rationalisation wrote, `and a spirit of fervent devotion breathes in every line. It is, mean? What it does is to reduce staff, and I think, admirably calculated to instruct the mind and improve the arrange to do the same work with fewer heart.' people. Compensation for those who now Between 1880 and 1889 Father Casey published several collect- find themselves unemployed is the ions of verse. These included Home Rule Rhymes, Temperance redundancy packet. Can that, however Poems and Temperance Songs and Lyrics. Although very few of generous it may seem, take the place of his writings lacked a strong moralising theme, especially in relation steady employment? Human beings are to temperance, this did not prevent him from composing some not built for idleness. Mind and body must witty and light-hearted verse, such as The Toper and his Bottle: be occupied for health's sake. A recent RGDATA report saying that while output and profits have increased John Jameson, mavrone, John, unemployment also has increased, points I love your sight no more; to the fact that modern technology and the use of machinery reduces the need for I loved you long, but now, John, human labour and is ultimately more My folly I deplore. profitable. Your smile. was sweet and bright, John, To be told you are no longer necessary Your breath was like the rose; must be humilating to the employee who But you have been to me, John, has given years of honest service to a firm. The cause of all my woes. There are questions here that must be asked and answered. And one question I curse the day I met you, John, would surely relate to the rights of I curse the luckless hour workers. They are the wealth creators and I tasted first your flavoured cup, their loyalty should entitle them to And felt its magic power. something more than their wage packet. Worker participation. A share in the All life to me was gladness enterprise, even a small one for every year Until I saw your face, of service plus some say in the running of But now my lot is bitterness the firm, would act as a tribute. to the Dishonour and disgrace. human dignity of the worker and could pay huge dividends in terms of loyalty etc to the Cont page 15 employer. 15 CANON JAMES CASEY cont THE SINGLE EUROPEAN Practically all his published works ran into several editions, and if collected into one volume would fill close on two thousand octavo ACT pages. Abolition of boundaries - a merging of James Casey was one of the most popular of the temperance identities - a single market. Will it work or poets of his day. He was, also, one of the most potent forces at for how long. Who will gain, who will work in resisting and abating the evils of intemperance. He practised suffer or be eliminated. Thinking back on the virtue of temperance to an heroic degree from the time he took our joining The European Common the Total Abstinence Pledge from Father Mathew himself in Market, all the ballyhoo that attended it Madden's field in 1840. The Gaelic League had his full and loyal and its after effects, one is tempted to be a bit sceptical about this new European support, and he was a fluent Irish speaker. One of his most po pu- effort. lar shorter pieces was The Gaelic Revival, a poem of close on two Eleven countries with separate identities hundred lines, which he published in 1903. In it he extols the to be moulded into one. What of the merits of the native tongue and rings its praises: backgrounds of these countries - History, it is well nigh half a century s,:a.:e first these words I read, Geography, Culture and Heritage. They And yet the sweet old Celtic tongue, thank Heaven, is not dead, speak of the removal of trade barriers and Though banished long from court and camp and driven to abide tell us there will be free movement of people from one country to another, in With peasants in their humble homes by moor and mountainside; short - that we will be one big happy family 'Tis living still and vigorous, though persecuted long, - A dream that only a super-optimist could And now comes forth to greet its friends in accents sweet and see succeeding. We were brain-washed into strong. saying Yes to a Referendum that we did not Beginning to feel the infirmities of old age, Canon Casey resign- understand and now we will have to put up with the consequences. What family would ed the charge of Athleague perish in 1905. After spending a short willingly take dictation from another time in Dublin, he finally r3ured to the quiet and picturesque family regarding how it managed its affairs resort of Bosses Point, a place known and beloved by him since his and that seems to be now what we are being boyhood days. In this haven b;; the shores of Sligo Bay he spent told to do. Already much of our hard won the last years of his long and fruitful life. The dark clouds of even- freedom has been eroded. The Single ing were gathering high over Knockn? rea one February day in i9 09 European Act will take what remains. as James Kevin Casey, then in eighty-fifth year, was called to They tell us we are Europeans now but his eternal reward. they know and we know that we are The qualities of the `poet-priest' are best described by another children of an ancient nation and heirs to Sligonian, Dr John Healy (q.v.), in his Centenary History of May- its inheritance. We are an intelligent people. We have many undeveloped and nooth: under-developed resources which Europe Father Casey was a sober-minded, didactic poet who fashion- in her struggle for material wealth has lost. ed his style on Pope's Essay on Man, and similar poetic effus- Our weakness is lack of belief in ourselves ions, in which the flights of the imagination are restrained or and our ability to make good on our home made subservient to the hi;ha. purposes of reformation and soil. hlstruction. Father Casey's poems have had a very wide circu- 1992 offers a challenge. Our young people should accept - take what is offered lation, and" have done much to promote the great cause of and use it to develop their own country. It temperance, of which, during all his life, he has been, both by still can offer them a living. word and example, the zealous apostle. UNA PRESTON CONNACHT HOME IMPROVEMENT GROUP

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