Compiled and Published by Heritage Group

ISSUE No. 52 2019/2020 PRICE €10.00 The Herald Annual Publication of Ballymote Heritage Group

Compiled and Published by Ballymote Heritage Group

Editor: Fiona Dunleavy

Design, Typesetting and Printing: Orbicon Print,

Cover Design and Artwork: Brenda Friel

Issue No 52 2019/2020

The Corran Herald wishes to sincerely thank all those who have written articles or contributed photographys or other material for this issue 2 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

Contents Page Stephen Flanagan - Editor of The Corran Herald 2012 - 2018 4 Remembering Padraig Mc Dermott (By John McDonagh and Padraig Doddy) 4 The Four Leaf (By Joe Langan) 4 Remembering Margaret Foley and Katie Davey (By Kathryn Foley) 5 The Philosophy of Pat Gallagher (Submitted by Michael Farry) 6 Three Titanic Girls (By Kev Murray) 7 Lord Palmerston’s Ballymote Estate: A place of memorable change (By John Mc Keon) 8 What Came in the Boat (By Lynda Hart) 14 Dark Brown or Black (By Kathleen Quinn) 15 Book of Ballymote: Codices Hibernenses Eximii -II- Edited by Ruairí Ó hUiginn (Appreciation by Neal Farry) 16 The Voyage of Patrick (Submitted by Paul Burns) 22 Letter from Bridget Burns Benson to Her Parents in America (Submitted by Paul Burns) 23 Extracts from the Journal (Submitted by Padraig Doddy) 24 Nace O’Dowd: A Magnificent Footballer (By Tommy Kilcoyne) 25 Professor Ivan Perry (By Neal Farry) 26 The Life and Times of the Old Barn (By Joan Gleeson) 27 World War II Aircraft Crashes in the Easkey Area (By Sam Moore) 28 Sr Bridget Tighe (Submitted by Bernard Tansey) 30 Revisited: The Keash/Culfadda Project (By Steve Lemken) 31 The Circle of Life (By Bernie Gilbride) 34 Sligo Oysters flown to Asia (By Garreth Byrne) 35 Newspaper Articles 1881 (Submitted by Padraig Doddy) 36 John Taaffe (Submitted by Padraig Doddy) 36 The Rise and the Demise of the Thatched Cottage (By Micheál Murphy) 37 An Historical Tale (By Bernie Gilbride) 39 Elphin: An Enigmatic Saint (By Padraic Feehily) 41 My Name is Matty Brennan (By Joe Langan) 42 Poem of Ballymote (By Jack Mullen) 42 Catholic Practice in the mid -18th century Parish of Kilross (By Pat O’Brien) 43 Rite of Passage for a New Theatre (By Michael J Meehan) 47 Sligo Protestants and the Sligo Borough Election of January 1919 (By Padraig Deignan) 49 A Ballymote Bookseller? (Submitted by John Coleman) 54 The Amazing Tale of Dr William P. Tonry ( By John McDonagh) 55 Fred Conlon and his Sligo Sculptures (By Jack Harte) 57 Or Even Turn North (By Martin A Timoney) 59 William Rowan Hamilton: ’s greatest ever Scientist (By Nial Friel) 63 Dobharchú: Hound of the Deep (By Joe McGowan) 64 Taaffe Sun Dial (Submitted by John Coleman) 67 Moth Records from a Ballymote Garden (By Micheal Bell) 68 Did the Punishment Fit the Crime? (By John C Mc Ternan) 70 The Mc Govern Family of Ballymote (Submitted by John Coleman) 72 The Rover Returns…unexpectedly (By Mary Kelly White) 73 Mercy Sisters (Submitted by Pauline Brett) 74 (By Bernie Gilbride) 75 Remembering Gate Lodge at Earlsfield House and Davey’s of ‘The Flash’ (By Owen Duffy) 76 Ballymote Sports Report from the Sligo Champion 1901 (Submitted by David Casey) 78 Chavelier O’Gorman of Auxerre (Submitted by John Perry) 79 Tom Carroll (Submitted by Paddy Egan) 79 The Corkrans of Corkran’s Mall: An old Sligo family (By John C Mc Ternan) 80 My Australian Family (By Maree O’Dowd) 81 Bram Stroker in Ballymote (By Dr Marion Mc Garry) 82 Supreme Court Justice and Senior U.S Democratic Leader Harry Heher (By Owen Duffy) 85 30 Years of the Ballymote Heritage Weekends 87 First Communion 2019 in Ballymote and Knockminna 91 Ballymote Heritage Group 92

3 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 STEPHEN FLANAGAN EDITOR OF THE CORRAN HERALD 2012– 2018

By Neal Farry - Chairman of Ballymote Heritage Group

Last year we celebrated 33 years and son Stephen. For the past six years now when he is no longer Editor and 50 Issues of Corran Herald. From Stephen has maintained and enhanced is living outside of the country. its launch in 1985 until his death in the role of Editor and the Corran We are deeply grateful to Stephen 2012, James Flanagan was Editor Herald has continued to be published for all his work on the Corran Herald of the Corran Herald. He was also to a high standard and on time under and we wish him and Katie his wife a devoted member of the Ballymote his guidance. Stephen, who achieved all the best for the future. Heritage Group and PRO. He was all of this while working fulltime We welcome Fiona Dunleavy as the totally dedicated, skilled and thorough in Dublin with Microsoft, has now new Editor of the Corran Herald. She in his work in compiling and editing moved to Seattle in the USA as part of has a hard act to follow in the steps the Corran Herald over a long number his job. He managed to get the Corran of the Flanagan gentlemen, but we are of years. Herald published and to standard more than confident that Fiona will The death of James left a huge void by volunteering long hours of his enable us to continue the tradition of in the Balllymote Heritage Group, free time and for this we are very publishing the Corran Herald at the but the editorial role was filled at appreciative. Stephen has never been end of July each year. short notice and with grace by his less than courteous and helpful even Remembering Padraig Mc Dermott By John Mc Donagh & Padraig Doddy

It is with a great sense of loss that In Dublin he worked mainly at the we mourn the death of Padraig, who carpentry trade and eventually was died on Jan 18th 2019. Padraig was a employed as “Clerk of Works” by frequent and valued contributor to the Fingal County Council. Corran Herald. Padraig was a dedicated and really A native of Roadstown, enthusiastic historian and researcher Bunninadden Padraig attended and had a photographic memory for Bunninadden national school and names places and dates. He was a Ballymote Vocational school. After frequent user of the services of the his school days he worked as a Records Office in Bishop’s street. Postman around Bunninadden and It was part of the service that if any the surrounding areas, he also worked piece of the historical jigsaw was for the E.S.B at the time of the rural missing. One only had to ring Padraig electrification after which he moved to get the required in information. to Dublin. He will be missed The Four Leaf Shamrock By Joe Langan I know a spot One is for faith You must have faith Where the sun shines like gold And one is for hope And you must have hope And the cherry blooms burst like snow And one is for love you know If you search and you wait And underneath And God put another one in for luck You will find the spot Is the loveliest spot If you search you will find where it Where your four leaf shamrock grows. Where the four leafed shamrock grows. grows. 4 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Remembering Margaret Foley and Katie Davey

By Kathryn Foley

time she left Ballymote to the time she Vincent and myself. My aunt Kitty returned. However, she persevered continued to come home from and later completed here midwifery England for long Christmas, Easter in Holles Street Hospital, Dublin. and Summer holidays. We would Her nursing career presented her with eagerly await the telegram, telling us amazing opportunities and later she what train she would be arriving on. returned to England to work with The However, as fate would have it she Arts Education Trust in Hertfordshire met Frank Davey from Lissananny –the boarding school of The Royal and they wed in 1970. No more need Ballet. This allowed her to travel to be homesick, she was home to stay. back frequently to Ballymote as she Throughout a life that spanned enjoyed the school calendar. almost 100 years there were many My mother the youngest of the three happenings. As a child, my mother was the only one left to take over the recalled shots being fired over their farm. With ageing parents and Molly sheds as the Black & Tans drove up who was experiencing failing health, the road into Ballymote. In the course she felt duty bound to care for them of her life she lost her sister Molly, all. However, it was not all doom and both her parents and later, Peter, her gloom. All three of the Fox family husband. Katie also lost her husband members were outgoing and enjoyed Frank and then to the delight of us all life. They all loved fashion and style she came back to live in Rathdooney – something that stayed with them where she was born. Katie died in right up to the end. They frequently 2015 at the age of 97 years. travelled by train to Sligo and also to Both Margaret and Katie were great Dublin on occasion. The old steam supporters of The Ballymote Heritage trains went so slowly, they would drop weekend. Every year they attended Margaret Foley their parcels out the window as they all of the lectures and frequently went My mother Margaret Foley died on the passed the house. They’d then walk on the heritage trips. They enjoyed 9th of January this year at Ballymote home from Ballymote train station the social aspect of meeting the people Community Nursing Home where she without the added burden of parcels. who came to Ballymote on an annual was cared for during the last 10 months Soon after the death of Molly, basis as well as the local people who of her life. She was born on March my mother met Peter Foley from attended. 23rd 1919 at Rathdooney, Ballymote, Highwood, Kilmactranny and on The photo was taken at Sligo Races where she continued to live for almost the 8th February 1953 they married. in 2012. They were then 92 and 93 all of her life. Her parents Andrew They had two children – my brother years of age. and Kate Fox had three daughters. Molly the oldest girl died young in her early thirties having contacted a flu virus on a trip to Dublin. This was in the early 50’s before the introduction of flu vaccinations. Molly was considered delicate having been born with scoliosis. At an early age she won a Scholarship to the Marist Convent in . However, due to health problems she had to return home before completing her education. My aunt Kitty (Katie) qualified as a nurse in England – she often said she was homesick from the L-R Katie Davey and Margaret Foley 5 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Philosophy of Pat Gallagher

Submitted by Michael Farry

Any country that wishes to have The day for landlordism is passed. liberty must be up and doing. Never will there be contentment until every evicted tenant Nothing short of full Home Rule is put back in his or her home. measure will satisfy the We are ready and willing to purchase our farms under the people of Ireland. Act of 1903 if they are offered to us on reasonable terms. The coming year will be a very eventful We have plenty of waste land, with the poor people one in the history of this country. huddled on the bleak mountain side. We await the future with the utmost calm, We hope to have grazing ranches torn up and divided because we feel that no amount of cajoling will break up amongst the landless people, which shall be the means the splendid organisation of our people. of making our rising generation a happy and prosperous We intend to fight the battle until victory crowns our people. efforts, and give all the assistance that in our power lies to The branch expressed its sympathy with John Hunt and our representatives fighting our battle his wife on being thrown out of their home on a bleak in the British House of Commons. October morning. The League, should be supported, as well as the Irish Parliamentary Party, who have brought peace, plentiness, Now is not the time for creating dissension in our ranks. and Home Rule to the threshold of their doors. Some people nowadays have a convenient trick of coming into the field at the eleventh hour. That might do Each man must pledge himself to do a man’s part. right enough in spiritual matters, but it will hardly do in The people must be prepared for any sacrifice, even life, the work of fighting Irish landlordism. any time their privileges and We now know the true Nationalists in the parish from the liberties are being tampered with. base-born slaves who are sunk in Any member absenting himself without a satisfactory serfdom to-day, as if Michael Davitt never appeared in explanation will be struck off and Irish politics. a new member put in his place. He made a humble apology and promised that he would We will not readily let down a man who is a consistent never again violate the principles or the Nationalist, and his father before him. orders of the League. He was a loving son and a faithful comrade, As this was his first offence, the committee accepted his as was shown on last Sunday when sixty-four money and allowed him to become a member again. young men wearing white sashes carried his remains to the grave

Pat Gallagher (1864-1959) of Martin Dan, who was also arrested, Creevane, was secretary of had taken part. Killoran parish United Irish League club from 1901 until the club faded The poem is a “found poem” in that away because of the Great War and the text is not original but is selected the postponement of Home Rule from the reports of Killoran United around late 1914 or early 1915. The Irish League meetings, presumably United Irish League was the parochial written by Pat Gallagher as secretary, organisation which supported William published in the Sligo Champion Redmond’s Irish Parliamentary Party. 1901-1914. Pat later supported Sinn Féin and spent a short period in Sligo Jail in 1920 Pat Gallagher was my great having been arrested on suspicion grandfather. of involvement in a raid for arms on Cultibar House, Coolaney. He hadn’t been involved in the raid but his son, Pat Gallagher (1864-1959)

6 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Three Titanic Girls By Kev Murray

On 15th April 1912 three young door of the cottage, too emotional in New York. In 1919 she married women, Miss Catherine Hargadon, to accompany yet another child to John Joseph O’Neill. They relocated Miss Mary Delia Burns and Miss the train at , the main to Jersey City, New Jersey where they Margaret Devaney, all friends, from departure point from County Sligo to became the parents of six children, Co. Sligo, boarded the Titanic at the rest of Ireland, and from there the two of whom died in childhood. Her Queenstown, Co. Cork, to emigrate to world. So off Margaret went in the son Matthew O’Neill was born March the United States of America. Only horse-drawn jaunting-car with her 15, 1922 and died in Flemington, New one survived. father, John, and two neighbouring Jersey in February of 1982. Her son Miss Catherine (Kate) Hargadon farm girls, Mary Delia Burns and John J. O’Neill was born December aged 17, from Carnamadda, Carraroe, Kate Hargadon, also booked on the 11, 1927 and died in Cresskill, Ballysadare, County Sligo, boarded as Titanic.” New Jersey on April 2, 1996. Both a third class passenger (ticket number daughters survive. Helen Landsberg AQ/3. 30631, costing £7 14s 8d). still resides in Clifton, New Jersey. Kate died in the sinking and her body, As Margaret Devaney O’Neill, if recovered was never identified. frequently gave interviews about the Titanic, she spoke to many civic and school groups and was among the dozen or so survivors who attended the New York premiere of the film, ‘A Night to Remember’. In a 1973 interview, Margaret After her husband died, Margaret said the three girls were alerted to O’Neill moved to Clifton, New Jersey. the disaster by an older male friend She passed away on June 12, 1974, at from their homeland. After a brief the age of 82. She is buried in Holy investigation of the Aft deck, the three Name Cemetery, New Jersey. girls went to retrieve their lifejackets Mrs O’Neill had saved three Miss Mary Delia Burns, aged 15 or from their cabin during which time mementos from the Titanic and 18, from Knocknahur, Kilmacowen, they lost track of their older friend. these relics are still treasured by her Ballysadare County Sligo boarded Margaret said that after encountering descendants. The first was her third as a third class passenger (ticket locked gates to Second Class, the class ticket (which she had in her number 330963, costing £7 17s 7d). three climbed a ladder from the Aft sweater pocket when she left the Delia was emigrating to America Well deck to one of the decks on Titanic). The second is the actual where she hoped to get employment Second Class. One of her friends knife that the crewman used to cut the as a housemaid for a well-to-do began suffering from seasickness and ropes that tied the oars together. The family. She too died in the sinking had to stop. The other friend stayed third is a lifeboat iron emblem flag and her body if recovered, was never with her while Margaret proceeded that was removed from the lifeboat identified. on, intending to return for them when and given to Margaret while on the Miss Margaret Devaney aged 20, she would have located the life boat. Carpathia. The man who gave the was born 2nd June 1891. She was But she found herself caught up in the flag to Margaret was in charge of leaving her home in Kilmacowen, crowd around Collapsible C and was the lifeboat. He told her that she was County Sligo, to settle in New York pushed in. She said that as the boat responsible for the lifeboat escaping where her brothers, Patrick and was lowered it got caught on the ship’s the Titanic by having the knife. As a Michael, and her sister Mary lived. rivets; the crew had trouble loosening token of his appreciation, he presented Her parents were John Devaney and the falls to free the boat. One of them her with the iron emblem. Margaret Devaney (nee Gunning). begged the passengers for help in Margaret Devaney herself never She boarded as a third class passenger cutting them. Margaret discovered knew her birthday and later adopted (ticket number 330958, costing £7 17s she had a pocketknife on her, which the same date of her husband. She 7d). was sold by Barton Smith’s in Sligo, later said that growing up in the poor A contemporary account reads: and gave it to the crew by which they and rural areas of Ireland, one didn’t “Morning dawned and her mother were able to cut the collapsible free. celebrate birthdays, so it wasn’t Margaret waved goodbye from the After Margaret’s rescue, she lived unnatural to not know one’s birthday.

7 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Lord Palmerston’s Ballymote Estate: A Place of Memorable Change

By John Mc Keon

On the 3rd April 1847 residents on the small Ballymote estate owned by Lord Palmerston bid farewell to the members of seventeen local families. They were leaving their homes, walking to Sligo Port and boarding a ship, the Carrick of Whitehaven. This ship was to sail with these one hundred and seventeen men, women and children to Quebec, Canada, carrying them to what they hoped would be better lives in the New World. Tragically, within a month, most of those who left on that fateful April morning were dead, victims The Cross Homestead prior to their Famine Walk of the deadliest shipping calamity Minister, inherited the eight townlands Almost two centuries prior to to befall Famine emigrants in Black which comprised his Ballymote Palmerston’s time, these Ballymote ‘47. When the Carrick hit rocks and estate. These were classed as ‘settled’ lands were part of the O’Connor sank off Cap des Rosiers, Canada, lands and were part of a larger estate Sligo properties. Then in 1636, the on 28th April, only sketchy details he held in Co. Sligo. Palmerston, like O’Connor Sligo era ended heralding of the tragedy and of those lost were his predecessors, was an absentee the arrival of absentee landlords, heard back in Ballymote. It was over landlord and his succession brought middlemen, limited tenure and rental a century and a half later, with the major changes which deeply affected conflict. In the years between 1636 memory of the tragedy greatly faded, the lives of those living on the estate. and 1700, the Ballymote lands passed that four descendants of survivors He was their landlord for over six through a number of owners, each were invited and returned to visit their decades, from 1802 to 1865. His bringing their own challenges for ancestral home in the townland of era began as fallout from the 1798 residents. These ownership shifts Cross. In 2013, Rose Marie and Terry Rebellion continued and as the impact are summarised in Figure I. Initially Stanley together with Frances and of the Act of Union became a reality. the O’Connor Sligo lands were taken Joan Kilbride were the first visitors By the 1830s Catholic Emancipation over by the Earl of Strafford and his with links to the Carrick tragedy was delivered, while the 1840s relative, Sir George Radcliffe, using to return to their ancestral roots brought the momentous and terrible questionable means. Their ownership and make contact with their distant events of the . During was, in turn, rescinded by Cromwellian relatives in Ireland. Later, these first his time, education was spread to forces, and was only partially restored visitors established contact with other the rural masses, most middlemen to their heirs in 1661. Near the end branches of their Canadian family, were removed, estate holdings of that century, these heirs passed and some members of these other were restructured and tenants were on the mortgages on a portion of the branches have visited the old home required to build houses on their new properties, including other properties site in Cross since. And from 2013, holdings. He oversaw changes to the in Dublin and Yorkshire, to Sir John descendants of five other survivors of infrastructure on the estate including Temple. He was a member of the the tragedy have been traced. Some of a much expanded road network and Irish Parliament and great grandfather these also plan to visit their ancestral the start of new railway and postal to Lord Palmerston. Sir John’s estate homes in Ballymote in coming years. services. These changes had both included properties in counties outside Decades before the Famine, in 1802, positive and negative outcomes for Sligo, and his extensive properties in the 3rd Viscount Palmerston, later residents, with the Great Famine that county included lands in all of Lord Palmerston and British Prime having the most tragic impact. its six baronies, with most located in

8 six baronies, with most located in the baronies of Carbury, Tirerril and Corran. In contrast, the western estate Lord Palmerston inherited was far smaller; it was confined to Co. Sligo and mostly to the of Carbury, with smallerTHE properties CORRAN in Tirerril andH Corran.ERALD • 2019/2020 Figure 1: Main Ownership Changes of Ballymote Estate Lands, 1630 – 1870 Year Ownership Changes and each cost less than 10 shillings 1636 Takeover of part of the O’Connor Sligo lands by the Earl of Strafford and Sir rent annually. George Radcliffe 1641 -  1641- Balance of O’Connor Sligo lands forfeited and given to Strafford By 1829, the position had changed 1700 & Radcliffe. considerably with forty-one direct  1652 to 1659 - Lands removed from Strafford’s & Radcliffe’s families and parts parcelled out to families linked to Cromwellian forces. leases operating, an increase of thirty  1661- Lands of Sir George Radcliffe restored to Thomas Radcliffe, his over 1813, Table 2. Middlemen son and heir.  1680 - Thomas Radcliffe wills his estate to his aunt Margaret Trapps and were removed from Knocknaskeagh Joshua Wilson. and Drumharnaught, and replaced  1685 - Margaret Trapps mortgages her estate to Sir John Temple and Dr John Lesley. Dr Lesley’s mortgage subsequently transferred back. by twenty five individual and direct 1701 –  1701 - Margaret Trapps and Joshua Wilson will their estates in Sligo, 1802 Dublin and Yorkshire to Sir John Temple. annual leases. Knocknafusoge had  These estates later inherited by Sir John Temple’s son, the 1st Viscount two tenants with the Taaffe family Palmerston, and the 2nd Viscount Palmerston. Many ownership and boundary disputes among Sligo landlords during this century. losing part of its holdings there. And 1802 –  1802 - The 3rd Viscount Palmerston, later Lord Palmerston, inherited the by 1865, following the completion 1868 family estates in Sligo, Dublin and Yorkshire. By this time the Sligo estate is much reduced from that taken over by Sir John Temple. In 1802 of land squaring across the entire the lands on the Ballymote estate were deemed settled, and by 1865 all Sligo estate, between 1837 and 1852, of its middlemen were gone.  1865 - All estate lands pass to Lady Palmerston on the death of Lord middlemen were removed from the Palmerston and by 1868 the Ballymote lands were no longer part of the Ballymote estate and forty eight estate. individual leases replaced the eleven Fig. 1: Main Ownership Changes of Ballymote Estate Lands, 1630 – 1870 Palmerston’s Tenant and Lease Changes, 1813 to 1865. which existed in 1813, Table 3. theExtensive baronies tenant of andCarbury, lease changes Tirerril took place and on theon Ballymote the townlands estate in Palmerston’s of Mullaghcurrows time. Removing all middlemen was a Corran.These areIn summarisedcontrast, inthe Tables western 1 to 3. estate On inheritance, and heKnockrower. identified overpopulation Similarly and Robert major aim of tenant farmers at this landlessness as the main problems across the entire Sligo estate. To address these he focused Lordon removingPalmerston middlemen, inherited improving was the quality far of Dukelands, bringing had long waste groundsterm tenure into in Cross time and Palmerston delivered this smaller;production, it was upgrading confined husbandry to practices, Co. Sligo and providingand newCloonagh, sources of employmentHenry onIrwin the in on all his Sligo lands by the 1860s. impoverished estate. Table 1, sets out the tenant structures he inherited when virtually all of andthe mostly Ballymote to lands the werebarony controlled of Carbury, by middlemen, Drumharnaught while Table 3 shows theand scale Richard of Phibbs But, while this was of great benefit to withrestructuring smaller heproperties achieved by in 1865. Tirerril and in west Knocknaskeagh, while many tenants, removing middlemen Corran.In 1813, the properties on five of the eight BallymoteMichael townlands Cryan were controlled had byannual tenure was not a complete panacea, as over middlemen, each with long-term tenure, while a sixth,over the townlandeast Knocknaskeagh. of Knocknafusoge, had Only one head-tenant, Christopher Taaffe. Mathew Baker had long term tenure on the townlands thirty of the new holdings created in Palmerston’sof Mullaghcurrows Tenant and Knockrower. and SimilarlyLease Robertone Duke townland, had long term Tunnagh, tenure in Cross had four Ballymote were small. Even by the and Cloonagh, Henry Irwin in Drumharnaught and Richard Phibbs in west Knocknaskeagh, Changes, 1813 to 1865. individual tenants who held direct impoverished standards of that time Extensive tenant and lease changes annual leases with Palmerston.2 At these small holdings were not viable took place on the Ballymote the time eleven direct leases existed farm units. A similar picture occurred estate in Palmerston’s time. These across the eight townlands; six were in Ahamlish, the North Sligo estate, annualwhile ‘at Michael will’ Cryanleases, had while annual tenurefive overwere east Knocknaskeagh. Only one townland, are summarised in Tables 1 to Tunnagh, had four individual tenants who held directwhere annual virtually leases with Palmerston.all middlemen At the were 3. On inheritance, he identified longtime term eleven and direct for leases three existed lives across each. the eight townlands;also removed. six were annual Again, ‘at will’ thisleases, created while five were long term and for three lives each. Three other estate leases also existed. All overpopulation and landlessness as the Threethree other were eitherestate for leases very small also pieces existed. of property many or for structures more tenancies,and each cost lessbut than several 10 of main problems across the entire Sligo All shillingsthree were rent annually. either for very small these were small and not viable farm estate. To address these he focused piecesTable of 1 : propertyList of Tenants or &for Rents structures on Palmerston’s units. Ballymote Estate, 1813. on removing middlemen, improving Townland* Lessee Tenant Tenure Yearly Rent £ S D the quality of lands, bringing waste Tunnagh Mich Scanlon At Will 26 11 11 grounds into production, upgrading Terence “ “ 24 11 11 O’Connor husbandry practices, and providing James Healy “ “ 24 11 11 new sources of employment on the M Wood “ “ 26 11 11 Mullaghcurrows Mathew Baker Mathew Baker 30 May 1776 46 4 - impoverished estate. Table 1, sets Knocknafusoge C Taaffe At Will 75 - - out the tenant structures he inherited Cross &Cloonagh Robert Duke Robert Duke 11 May 1776, 84 - - for 3 lives when virtually all of the Ballymote Drumharnaught Henry Irwin Henry Irwin 11 Oct. 1771, 44 12 6 for 3 lives lands were controlled by middlemen, Knockrower Mathew Baker Mathew Baker 30 May 1776, 39 18 11 while Table 3 shows the scale of for 3 lives East Knocknaskeagh Mich. Cryan At Will 180 - - restructuring he achieved by 1865. West Rich. Phibbs 2 Sep 1784, for 31 10 - In 1813, the properties on five of Knocknaskeagh 3 lives (21 yrs) Carrigins/a Chief Robert Jones For Ever 10 - the eight Ballymote townlands were Rent controlled by middlemen, each with Cooldrumaneighter/a Colonel Parke For Ever 6 8 Chief Rent long-term tenure, while a sixth, the Shannon/a Chief Colonel Parke For Ever 6 8 Rent townland of Knocknafusoge, had (* Note: All townland names and spellings are as presented in the estate’s annual accounts). one head-tenant, Christopher Taaffe. Table 1: List of Tenants & Rents on Palmerston’s Ballymote Estate, 1813.By 1829, (* the Note: position All had townland changed considerably names and with spellings forty-one direct are leasesas presented operating, anin the Mathew Baker had long term tenure increase of thirty over 1813, Table 2. Middlemen were removed from Knocknaskeagh and estate’sDrumharnaught, annual and accounts). replaced by twenty five individual and direct annual leases. Knocknafusoge had two tenants with the Taaffe family losing part of its holdings there. And by 1865, following 9the completion of land squaring across the entire Sligo estate, between 1837 and 1852, middlemen were removed from the Ballymote estate and forty eight individual leases replaced the eleven which existed in 1813, Table 3. Removing all middlemen was a major aim of tenant farmers at this time and Palmerston delivered this on all his Sligo lands by the 1860s. But, while this was of great benefit to many tenants, removing middlemen was not a complete panacea, as over thirty of the new holdings created in Ballymote were small. Even by the impoverished standards of that time these small holdings were not viable farm units. A similar picture occurred in Ahamlish, the North Sligo estate, where virtually all middlemen were also removed. Again, this created many more tenancies, but several of these were small and not viable farm units.

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THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

were allocated by lottery and once mostly building local road networks given, tenants were required to fence and draining lands - together with them off and, with help, build new soup kitchens and food rations. homes on them for their families. No These other reliefs helped ease the further subdivision of newly squared pressures for some residents but not lands was permitted, under pain of for all. However, during the Famine’s ejection. This meant an end to a way most acute and difficult time, from of life for the many cottiers in all March to October 1847, assisted townlands. By 1846, however, the emigration became a major focus problems of land squaring were totally of relief for residents. Pre- Famine, overtaken by the onset of a greater Palmerston consistently wrote that threat, the arrival of the Great Famine. no tenants were to be forced from That crisis meant residents faced a their properties. Then in 1848, he stark choice – accept Palmerston’s modified his position noting that any offer of assisted emigration, which ejections ought to be done without he introduced in 1837, or stay and cruelty but that some were required to risk the consequences of hunger, or improve social conditions in Ireland. worse, on top of the problems of land His agents insisted that all emigrants Carrick Bell and Monument at Cap squaring. assisted off their lands in 1847 went des Rosiers, Canada In addition to assisted emigration, voluntarily. But, it is likely that at Land Squaring and Other Changes: other Famine reliefs were provided least some residents were ‘persuaded’, As removing middlemen proved on Palmerston’s Sligo estate. These or effectively forced, to leave. insufficient, on its own, at increasing included public and estate works - From the early 1820’s, Palmerston the size of many holdings, Palmerston Table 2: Tenants & Rents on Palmerston’s Ballymote Estate, 1829 Townland Tenant Annual Rent to May 1829 was reluctantly convinced to Tunnagh £ S D commence a programme of land Charles & John Scanlon 14 15 4 Charles Scanlon 14 15 4 squaring in 1837. This policy was Terence O’Connor 9 4 8 Denis O’Connor 9 4 8 designed to further reduce the number John O’Connor 9 4 8 of middlemen and give tenants larger ThadyHeally 6 18 6 Michael Kerrikin 13 17 0 single-plot holdings. Such larger Carroll &BartlyHeally 6 18 6 Patrick & Thomas Ward 9 17 0 single-plot holdings contrasted with Charles Roycroft Sen. 9 17 0 the position prior to squaring when Charles Roycroft Jun. 9 17 0 Mullaghcurrows Reps. Mathew Baker 42 12 11 small holdings of 3 to 5 acres were Knocknafushoge James & Christopher Taaffe 46 3 1 often split into fifteen, or more, William Reynolds & Owen 23 1 6 McDonough discrete sub-plots. Land squaring was Cross and Cloonagh Robert King Duke 77 10 9 Drumharnaght James Keerin 6 1 4 strongly resisted by tenants on the Dennis Keerin 3 0 8 Ballymote lands, as it was elsewhere. Bryan Mahon 3 0 8 Patrick Finney & Bart. Heally 8 10 9 This was for many reasons including Mathew Brogan & Thos. 4 7 8 Brennan the uncertainty and dislocation it Thomas Brennan 4 8 10 created for all. It required a great Patrick Heally 4 1 10 Owen Heally 6 2 4 leap of faith by tenants who had to Martin Keerin 2 19 8 George Grier 39 6 6 give up their existing plots without Knockrower Reps. Mathew Baker 36 16 8 knowing what, or where, they may get East Knocknaskeagh Michael Boland 15 12 4 Patrick Boland 5 4 10 a new holding. Across the entire Sligo Mathew Hannon 10 9 8 estate, squaring continued during the Michael Cryan 10 9 8 John Cryan 10 9 8 Famine years, and this aggravated the Cormack Brennan 3 4 10 John Filane 5 4 10 problems facing tenants. In October John Hines 10 9 8 1845, as Famine signs emerged, Patrick 5 4 10 Robert Dunne 5 4 10 Palmerston, while visiting Ballymote, Cormack Higgins 10 9 8 Patrick Higgins 10 9 8 assured tenants that none of them John Leyden 10 9 8 would lose their homes or lands due Michael & James Kelly 10 9 8 Reps. Richard Phibbs 29 1 6 to squaring. Despite this assurance, Carrigins a Chief Rent Sir Robert Booth Bart. 9 4 and the fact that many families held Cooldrumaneighter Colonel William Parke 6 2 Shannon Colonel William Parke 6 2 non-viable holdings, strong resistance to squaring remained. New holdings Table 2: Tenants & Rents on Palmerston’s Ballymote Estate, 1829

5 10 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Table 3: Tenants and Rents on Palmerston’s Ballymote Estate, 1865 Townland Tenant Half Year’s Rent to Nov. ’65 severe that numerous tenants faced £ S D Tunnagh William Gaddes 15 15 0 arrears of up to three times their Luke Scanlon 6 0 0 Wo of Chas Roycroft 7 15 0 annual rent. In 1829, total rent arrears Richard Roycroft 1 0 0 John Mulvanny 4 12 0 on the Ballymote lands stood at £980, Wo Marget O’Connor 1 0 0 a figure that was almost twice the rent Thomas Ward 1 10 0 Wm M Lougherry 7 10 0 due that year. After 1840, Palmerston TerceO’Connor 3 15 0 ThadyHeally 4 15 0 sought to end this practice, a policy MichlMurricane 3 18 6 J Roycroft late A Carty 6 0 0 which added further to the burdens Mullaghcurrows Edward Tighe 34 9 0 MichlScanlon 8 13 0 facing tenants when Famine hit. And John Mc Cann 8 0 0 by the 1860s, rent arrears were greatly Knocknafushoge Cath. Taaffe 34 12 3 Cross MichlBenson 10 1 3 reduced on the entire Sligo estate. Andrew Hannon 9 3 9 James Kaveney 6 10 0 One middleman on the Ballymote MichLHannon& Co. Cloonagh W & Mary O’Connor 6 5 0 lands, Mathew Baker, refused to Rev. DomkO’Grady 4 0 0 allow rent arrears on his properties W & Ellen Devins 8 10 0 Henry McDonough 2 16 3 and was in regular dispute with under- Passage William Phibbs 6 Bryan Mc Dermott 2 17 6 tenants over rent levels. From 1813, Michael Hannon 17 11 0 MichLCunnane 4 3 3 he complained that some of his under- Drumharnaght Andrew Grier 26 15 8 MichLKerrins 5 13 3 tenants refused to pay their rents, Patt Brennan 3 19 4 while his failure to allow rent arrears Knockrower ThoS& Martin Murray 13 14 6 Thomas Murray 10 4 2 increased tensions with under-tenants. Do 10 4 2 East Knocknaskeagh MichLBoland 9 16 9 In 1841, these under-tenants wrote WO Darby Henry 7 0 9 James Leydon Jun. 7 6 to Palmerston seeking his support in West Knocknaskeagh PattCryan 8 19 2 L having their rents reduced. Under- Mich Cryan 5 1 1 John Hynes 3 18 4 tenants, from Mullaghcurrows, added Frank Devins 5 4 10 Patt Higgins 8 4 9 their concerns at Baker’s ‘oppressive RepSLeydon by James Dowd 5 17 0 James Kelly 5 2 11 behaviour’. By 1843, these under- Michael Marren 6 0 0 MichLBoland 6 0 0 tenants again wrote to Palmerston Ed. Hynes by Patt 4 2 6 saying that Baker had threatened WO Mary Coleman 5 5 0 Turbary Rents of Settled Est’s 11 5 0 to eject many of them from their Table 3: Tenants and Rents on Palmerston’s Ballymote Estate, 18656 lands. Then in 1847, several under- tenants from Knockrower left on promoted the education of Catholics estate accounts show that the yearly the Carrick for Canada. Meanwhile, on the Ballymote lands, providing rents on the Ballymote lands rose tenants in Knocknaskeagh also wrote financial support towards teacher’s from £602 to £770, an increase of 28 to Palmerston, in 1841, reporting a salaries and land for new schools. percent. Average rents per holding bizarre event in which they claimed, In 1844, a local priest wrote asking rose from £14 to £16, figures twice a Mr Thrustout had entered their lands him for land and a subsidy towards the average levels on the North Sligo, and threatened to eject them all. And, a new school in Tunnagh, adding or Ahamlish, estate. This suggests that addressing a very different aspect of that this school was urgently needed. the size of holdings on the Ballymote the rents issue, in December 1845 He wanted the subsidy already paid estate was larger, and possibly of Fr Henry, Drumharnaght, wrote to towards the local dispensary to be better quality, than those in Ahamlish. Palmerston stating his concern that transferred to the school, writing With the economic collapse at the the potato failure may lead ‘lay and that the dispensary was not needed end of the Napoleonic wars in 1816, clerical agitators’ getting poor tenants as the people were in good health. many tenants on the Sligo estate were to stop paying any rents. Also in 1844, the Rev Hore sought unable to pay their rent on the due Rents on the Ballymote Lands: a subscription from Palmerston for a date. As a result the normal practice In the fifty years from 1813 to 1865, estate accountsAssisted show that theEmigration yearly rents on thefrom the school at , writing that it was ofBallymote paying landsrents rose one from year £602 toin £770, arrears an increase Ballymote of 28 percent. Estate, Average 1847 rents per near Drumharnaght. Also from the increasinglyholding rose fromswitched £14 to £16, to figuresrents twicebeing the averageIf the levels upheaval on the North wrought Sligo, or by land Ahamlish, estate. This suggests that the size of holdings on the Ballymote estate was larger, early 1820s, Palmerston subsidised paidand twopossibly or threeof better years quality, in thanarrears. those inBy Ahamlish. squaring and the pressures of paying two dispensaries on the south Sligo the 1840s, this problem became so Figure 2: Annual Rent & Rent Arrears on the annualBallymote and Estate rent arrears were not estate, one at and the 1813 1829 1865 other in Ballymote. Annual Rents £602 £560 £770 Rent Arrears - £980 £175 Rents on the Ballymote Lands: Total Rents Due £602 £1540 £945

In the fifty years from 1813 to 1865, Fig.With 2: the Annual economic Rent collapse & at Rent the end Arrears of the Napoleonic on the warsBallymote in 1816, manyEstate tenants on the Sligo estate were unable to pay their rent on the due date. As a result the normal practice of paying rents one year11 in arrears increasingly switched to rents being paid two or three years in arrears. By the 1840s, this problem became so severe that numerous tenants faced arrears of up to three times their annual rent. In 1829, total rent arrears on the Ballymote lands stood at £980, a figure that was almost twice the rent due that year. After 1840, Palmerston sought to end this practice, a policy which added further to the burdens facing tenants when Famine hit. And by the 1860s, rent arrears were greatly reduced on the entire Sligo estate. One middleman on the Ballymote lands, Mathew Baker, refused to allow rent arrears on his properties and was in regular disputewith under-tenants over rent levels. From 1813, he complained thatsome of his under-tenants refused to pay their rents, while his failure to allow rent arrears increased tensions with under-tenants. In 1841, these under-tenants wrote to Palmerston seeking his support in havingtheir rents reduced. Under-tenants,from Mullaghcurrows, added their concerns at Baker’s ‘oppressive behaviour’. By 1843, these under-tenants again wrote to Palmerston saying that Baker had threatened to eject many of them from their lands. Then in 1847, several under-tenants from Knockrower left on the Carrick for Canada. Meanwhile, tenants in Knocknaskeagh also wrote to Palmerston, in 1841, reporting a bizarre event in which they claimed, a Mr Thrustout had entered their lands and threatened to eject them all. And,addressing a very different aspect of the rents issue, in December 1845Fr Henry, Drumharnaght, wrote to Palmerstonstating his concern that the potato failuremay lead ‘lay and clerical agitators’ getting poor tenants to stop paying any rents. Assisted Emigration from the Ballymote Estate, 1847 If the upheaval wrought by land squaring and the pressures of paying annual and rent arrears were not challenging enough, the onset of the Great Famine in 1845 dramatically worsened conditions on the Sligo estate. It was mid-1846 when conditions seriously deteriorated there, but later that year and into1847 many residents faced the desperate reality of starvation and possible death. Potato failure meant food supplies were scarce, and the prices of the limited amounts available increased dramatically. Many more residents than expected concluded that assisted emigration was their most viable option and that there was no future for them if they

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THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

agents anticipating trouble in bringing left from the Sligo estate in 1847. tenants back ‘into order’. Residents These lists recorded all names on five knew of the Carrick tragedy from early of the nine ships carrying Palmerston’s summer, and this combined with the Sligo emigrants to Canada that year other pressures they faced, magnified together with partial lists of those their fears. Yet, Palmerston’s agents on two of the other ships. As the saw ejections as expensive and Carrick was the first ship to leave ineffective and preferred ‘agreements’ Sligo port with Palmerston emigrants in terminating leases. And, pre that spring, the names of all seventeen Famine, Palmerston ordered that no families who left the Ballymote estate tenants were to be forced from their in April 1847 were revealed, Figure holdings. So estate records show far 3. For each family, the name of the less ejections than popular folklore head member was given, as was the suggests. This was because many townland they came from and the removals and relocations were not numbers in each household. classed as ejections. Those assisted A total of 180 passengers departed to emigrate, were recorded as having from Sligo Port aboard the Carrick ‘volunteered’ to go; those forced on April 4th, 1847. With the Photo of the four generations of from their plots prior to getting new Ballymote families were others Kavanaghs : Sarah and Patrick’s holdings during land squaring, were from Innishmurray Island, and from son Dominick, grandson Arthur, classed as being relocated; and those the Ahamlish estate in North Sligo. great granddaughter Malvina, moved due to building roads or other Tragically, all but 48 were drowned Kavanagh Riffou,and great great structures, received compensation. three weeks later when the ship sank granddaughter, RolandeRiffou Landless cottiers and middlemen, off Cap des Rosiers on April 28th. Of challenging enough, the onset of the forced out by squaring, were not listed those who survived, twelve stayed Great Famine in 1845 dramatically as ejected since the former had no on in the Gaspe Province, the coastal worsened conditions on the Sligo lands and the leases of the latter had province in eastern Canada where the estate. It was mid-1846 when expired. Yet, all tenants and cottiers tragedy occurred. Thirty-six others left conditions seriously deteriorated removed or relocated for any of these the area within months and travelled there, but later that year and into 1847 reasons probably felt that they were, in on to Quebec and other destinations. many residents faced the desperate effect, ejected. In 2012, Mullaghmore & reality of starvation and possible It was long believed that the names Historical Society set itself the task death. Potato failure meant food of all those who left had not been of trying to trace the descendants of supplies were scarce, and the prices recorded at the time. But this was not some of the twelve survivors who of the limited amounts available the case for all. In 2012, the names of built a life for themselves and their increased dramatically. Many more somedrowned of those and whothe family left name the Sligowas changed estate from familiesKaveney to in Kavanagh the Gaspe on arrival Province. in Canada. It was members of the fourth and fifth generation of descendants of Patrick and Sarah who residents than expected concluded werereturned revealed. to revisit Then the thesite ofMullaghmore the old homestead in 2013.Initially And othersthis fromwork the fifthfocused and sixth on a that assisted emigration was their and generation Cliffoney of this family Historical have visited there Society since. family living in the Gaspe with the most viable option and that there was unearthedFigure 3 :lists List ofof Emigrants the emigrants from the Ballymotewho surname Estate to Canada,Kavanagh. March – June, That 1847. family no future for them if they remained on Ship Townland Family No. in Family Carrick Drumharnaght John Furey& Family 5 For Quebec their Ballymote or North Sligo lands. Sally Brennan & Family 8 “ “ From early 1847 through to 1852, John Heally& Family 8 “ “ Owen Heally& Family 10 “ “ large scale emigration took place from John Keerin& Family 6 “ “ both locations. Nancy Keerin& Family 7 “ “ James Heally 4 “ “ This emigration, however, was Knockrower Widow Murray & Family 7 “ “ not classified in estate records as Thomas Murray & Family 6 “ “ Widow Cawley& Family 9 “ “ arising from ejections. Rather, it Widow Pilkington & Family 8 “ “ was recorded as residents wanting to Tunnagh Bartley Heally& Family 5 “ “ Widow Biddy O’Connor & 5 “ “ leave and pleased with the assistance Family provided which enabled them go. But Knocknaskeagh John Filan& Family 8 “ “ Widow Winefred Kelly & 8 “ “ some emigrants saw it as ejection, and Family Pat Hines & Family 5 “ “ remaining residents’ feared further Cross Pat Kaveney& Family 8 “ “ ejections throughout 1847. Tensions Eliza Liddell Cross John Hannon & Family 9 To New Brunswick flared up that November, especially Fig. 3: List of Emigrants from the Ballymote Estate to Canada, After 2013, Mullaghmore &Cliffoney Historical Society continued its work and has traced in Knocknaskeagh and Tunnagh, with Marchthe lineage – June,of five more 1847. survivors, and possibly seven, all of whom came from the Ballymote estate. These included four members of the Crummy-Healy family from Drumharnaght who also settled in the Gaspe region. Owen Healy and his wife, together with their daughter Bridget, her husband12 Patrick Crummy and their children, were on the ill-fated Carrick. (Patrick was probably a member of one of the three Crummy families, listed in the Tithe Applotment books 1833, as living in the nearby townland of Emlagh). Only the daughter, Bridget, together with three of her children, survived the tragedy while the other six members of the family drowned. She subsequently remarried and two of her surviving children went on to marry years afterwards. A number of their offspring grew up in the Gaspe region. A few of their present-day descendants, who now live in Canada and the United States, have connected with this project in recent times and a number plan to visit the Gaspe for a commemoration ceremony near the site of the tragedy in May 2019. Some of them also hope to visit Ireland and the place of their ancestral home in the future. Another survivor from Drumharnaght, was Bridget Keerin. She was a daughter of one of the two Keerin families on board, and may have been related to Bridget Crummy Healy. Both these women married into an Adams family in the Gaspe, and both had large families whose descendants are now spread across Canada and the United States.

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THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 claimed to be descendants of ceremony near the site of the tragedy. Palmerston’s death in 1865 the Carrick survivors. Research raised Some of them also hope to visit Ballymote lands passed out of his the possibility that the family may Ireland and the place of their ancestral family estate. He had invested indeed have descended from the home in the future. heavily on estate projects from the Kaveney family who left from Cross. Another survivor from 1810s and at the time of his death the Subsequently, it was confirmed that Drumharnaght, was Bridget Keerin. Sligo estate was in serious debt and the Kavanagh family of Jersey Cove, She was a daughter of one of the two ran sizeable annual deficits. After his the Gaspe, were indeed the direct Keerin families on board, and may death his successors disposed of parts descendants of Patrick and Sarah have been related to Bridget Crummy of both the Sligo and Dublin estates Kaveney, who departed with their Healy. Both these women married to ease their financial burdens. But six children from Cross on April 3rd into an Adams family in the Gaspe, the events from his era, including the 1847. Only three members of that and both had large families whose tragedies of the Great Famine and family survived the sinking. They descendants are now spread across the ensuing programme of assisted were Patrick, his wife Sarah and their Canada and the United States. emigration, left an indelible imprint son Martin. Their five daughters were According to the folklore of yet on his Ballymote lands and on the drowned and the family name was another family, two brothers, Cornelius lives of those families who went out changed from Kaveney to Kavanagh and Owen O’Boyle, also survived in Black ’47. Their descendants, on arrival in Canada. It was members the wreck. They were among the particularly those of the survivors of the fourth and fifth generation of survivors who left the Gaspe within of the Carrick tragedy, hold a very descendants of Patrick and Sarah who months of the tragedy. Both brothers special place in the story of the Great returned to revisit the site of the old apparently travelled onwards to New Famine and that of the Ballymote homestead in 2013. And others from York. Remarkably they and their estate. This story, much of which has the fifth and sixth generation of this descendants maintained contact with yet to be uncovered, extends to the family have visited there since. the Kavanagh family of the Gaspe for lives many of these emigrants built for After 2013, Mullaghmore & the next hundred years. Alas, like the themselves in the New World. Cliffoney Historical Society continued Crummy family, no mention of the its work and has traced the lineage name O’Boyle or Boyle was listed of five more survivors, and possibly on the Carrick. But it is possible seven, all of whom came from the that Cornelius and Owen may have Ballymote estate. These included been the grandchildren of one of the four members of the Crummy-Healy Ballymote families on the ship. (A family from Drumharnaght who also Patrick O’Boyle was recorded in settled in the Gaspe region. Owen Tithe Applotment books of the 1830s, Healy and his wife, together with while a Patrick Boyle was listed as a their daughter Bridget, her husband tenant in Knocknaskeagh in 1829 and Patrick Crummy and their children, in 1841). were on the ill-fated Carrick. (Patrick The story of the seventeen families, was probably a member of one of who left on the Carrick in 1847, the three Crummy families, listed in is not the only story of emigrants Cap des Rosiers Lighthouse, where the Tithe Applotment books 1833, from the Ballymote estate in those the Carrick tragedy occurred. as living in the nearby townland of years. Other families emigrated Bibliography Emlagh). Only the daughter, Bridget, and assisted emigration continued Mc Ternan, John C., Olde Sligoe, together with three of her children, from the estate right through until Aspects of Town and County over 750 Years, Avena Publications, Sligo 1995, survived the tragedy while the other 1865, when Palmerston died. In July O’Connor-Sligo Estate, pp 53-58. six members of the family drowned. 1847, John Hannon and his family of O’Dowd, Mary; Power Politics & Land, Early Modern Sligo 1568-1688, The She subsequently remarried and two nine left Cross for New Brunswick, Institute Of Irish Studies, The Queens of her surviving children went on to aboard the Eliza Liddell. All University of Belfast, 1991. Broadlands Archive Papers, Hartley marry years afterwards. A number of members of this family arrived safely. Library, University of Southampton, UK their offspring grew up in the Gaspe Intriguingly, while several families – including BR 151/22/1-3, Apr 1687; BR 140/4, May 1667 – Feb 1680; and BR region. A few of their present-day with the surname Hannon live in New 149/19/1-14, Rents and Expenditures on descendants, who now live in Canada Brunswick to-day, no connections the Sligo Estate, 1813- 1868. Tithe Applotment Books for Sligo, 1823 and the United States, have connected have yet been made to the Hannon’s - 37. with this project in recent times and a who left from Cross all those years Mc Keon, John; Lord Palmerston: An Absentee Irish Landlord, Cladac Press, number had planned to visit the Gaspe ago. 2018. in May 2019, for a commemoration Within a couple of years of

13 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 What Came in the Boat? By Lynda Hart

At around five thousand eight hundred ago by Mesolithic Hunter Gatherers. to the one used nearly six thousand years ago, a new era was about to Before the Neolithic period every years ago. Recently a Neolithic boat begin on the island of Ireland. It was a human had been a Hunter Gatherer. was found on the River Boyne, near revolution that had swept up from the Recent DNA and facial reconstruction Bru Na Boinne. It was a longboat Near East ten thousand years ago and has been carried out on a skeleton probably hollowed from a single tree, had followed two distinct routes. One, from the UK called Cheddar Man {His dated to around five thousand years which followed the river Danube. The skeleton was found in the Cheddar ago, but would not have been ocean second the Mediterranean route. This Caves in Somerset, and he lived there going. It would have been used on revolution was agriculture and it was about ten thousand years ago. } The the rivers much in the same way we brought here to County Sligo by the results showed that he was a Northern use cars on roads today. The boats Neolithic peoples. Hunter Gatherer and they were dark that would have brought the Neolithic Maugheraboy causewayed enclosure skinned with black hair and blue eyes. peoples here would have to have been and the complex give They were tall and strongly built. In a good size and stable to be able to dates showing that this is where these contrast the DNA from Neolithic carry all that they brought with them. first farmers came and settled. people in Ireland show there are In the past ten to fifteen years smaller, more of a wiry build. They scientific techniques have driven have paler skin, brown hair and brown forward with an intense momentum, eyes. which has given us a new and unparalleled insight to our Neolithic ancestors. We have many Neolithic genomes from here in the north west. The unique DNA sequence that can tell us so much. Skin and eye colour. Diet and disease. Other tests can determine Monument building. Beliefs. Orientation. the distinct area where an individual spent their formative years. What came in the boat...? Firstly, of course the Neolithic farmers So where did our Neolithic ancestors and their families. The first wave of come from...... ? people might have been mainly young Before DNA sequencing we would A traditional currach which would have been used on lakes, rivers and men, needed to secure land for clearing look at cultural similarities. Pottery shallow coastal waters. and setting of crops and building of and weapons for instance. Now using enclosures and houses. So they were this new science we can say that these How did they get here....? bringing with them the technology ancestors came from what is now They came in boats. Hunter Gatherers needed to clear woodlands, to till and North Western France, the Brittany were very adept seaman and from fertilize, to weed and to sow and reap. area and down to the west towards bones found in Mesolithic context They also brought a belief system, the Basque regions. Their origins we know them to have been deep possibly linked very closely to like all Neolithic people are from the sea fisherman. These techniques the elements, the land and to their Near East, modern day Turkey, Iran, could have been learnt or traded by ancestors. They probably brought the Iraq and Syria and these ancestors Neolithic peoples and used to get bones of their ancestors with them. who came to Ireland followed the them to Ireland. Although no sea They certainly brought the passage Mediterranean route, which would going vessels from the Neolithic tomb tradition. The knowledge of have been through Greece, Italy, period have been found in Ireland, construction, stone seasonality and Spain, Portugal and into France and Claidhbh O Gibne a traditional currach orientation. onward to Ireland. boatbuilder (Boyne currach heritage Pottery and tools. Pots tempered centre) has been experimenting with with quartz and bones have been What did they look like...? building larger sea going boats using found in passage tomb context. Tools The Island of Ireland was inhabited only materials that would have been for everyday tasks, and weapons for after the end of the last Ice Age, available at the time. He hopes the protection but also for ceremonial use approximately ten thousand years boat he is constructing will be similar are found.

14 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

They would have brought cereals. hundreds? Not all would reach these older Neanderthal traces. But we An ancient form of wheat and barley. shores, so it would be logical that each will all have Neolithic DNA. The Pollen analysis from lake cores boat would need to be a small self- first farmers soon became the over- taken from near the Carrowmore sustaining unit able to provide and riding population, and they were the complex, Co. Sligo, shows that very produce both crops and more animals. founders of the way we live today. early in the Neolithic period crops An intriguing mystery concerns were being grown here. These first the red deer. The red deer plays an And finally... Why did they come farmers would have had a small plot intricate part in the lives and beliefs here? growing their cereals and would have of the Neolithic passage monument Ancient people would have been very spent considerable time and energy people. Antler pins are found in knowledgable about the seasons, weeding, tending and fertilizing great quantities in all the passage the movement of the sun, moon and their land. The cereals might have monuments in the form of worked the stars. They would have known harboured some unwanted guests. pins usually with a mushroom shaped about clouds and tides. They would Spores of disease, bugs and insects head. The red deer becomes extinct in have noted migrating birds. This and possibly voles, mice and shrews. Ireland during the Late Glacial Period knowledge along with man’s desire to On the Orkney Islands lives a vole (approx. 12,000 to 14,000 years ago) always want to know ‘what is around those DNA is vastly different from the There are no C14 dates then until the the corner’ or ‘what is over the voles living on mainland UK. The Neolithic, where again we find the horizon’’ would have told them that DNA of this small rodent is closest to oldest dates from the monuments at there were other lands awaiting them. a vole found only in coastal regions the Carrowmore complex. The climate in Ireland six thousand of Belgium, which may offer some years ago was better than today. It insight to the origins of the Neolithic So the question is.. Did our Neolithic would have been slightly warmer peoples who lived upon the Orkneys. ancestors not only introduce but probably much drier and sunnier, The boats also may have had domesticated animals to Ireland, but thus being able to grow cereals this stowaways, in the form of small sea did they also re-introduce the red deer, far North. It is not until around five creatures that either fixed themselves which would appear to be a sacred thousand five hundred years ago that onto the underside of the boat or animal to them?. we see a downturn in the weather crawled inside. They would have also brought their and some very wet periods in the Seeds from native species of trees oral traditions. Their stories and following millennia. and flowers. The Strawberry tree is legends. Their beliefs. Stories of We don’t know if there was pressure only found as a native tree in Portugal, the witch are found in all the areas exerted on these people to find Spain and very specifically in parts where we find strong Neolithic roots. new lands. If so it could have been of Kerry and around Lough Gill in Co Scotland, Ireland, Northern Spain, economic, political or religious . This Sligo. Portugal and France. These legends is a question we may never know the The question of how these ancient tells of the witch creating the world, answer to. people transported their domesticated of making mountains and valleys, It is perhaps a struggle to comprehend livestock is a perplexing one. How do building passage tombs, but also of in this time of unbelievably fast you transport cattle, sheep and goats at deer and domestication of animals, paced technology that some of these this time? Was it a Neolithic ‘Noah’s weaving and spinning and controlling first Neolithic farmers were the Bill Ark’ with two of each animal? It’s the weather and the seasons. Maybe Gates and Steve Jobs of their time, hard to say but bringing only two the witch was the creation story for They may have been treated as would have been taking a huge risk of people who had only the spoken word superstars, royalty or even gods, but death, through sickness, the loss of the to pass on their knowledge. their knowledge and techniques were boats or terminal injury, so perhaps Today it is reasonably inexpensive as forward thinking and sometimes three or four young of each animal and easy to have ones DNA tested. probably as controversial as some would be brought, tightly bound to The results are to some extent of the great minds of the 20th and avoid injury to themselves and the predictable. We nearly all have 21st Centuries. The lives we live people. We don’t know how many some small percentage of Hunter today were shaped by our Neolithic boats sailed at any given time, tens or Gatherer DNA, some will have ancestors of six thousand years ago. Dark Brown or Black By Kathleen Quinn Medieval in the mist Doctor and Politicians await their miracle cure, Curst by scribes Quills that pierce the heart Women in beggar skin shoes, Vellum and parchment very translucent.

15 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Book of Ballymote: Codices Hibernenses Eximii -II- Edited by Ruairí Ó hUiginn

An Appreciation by Neal Farry

The volume displayed here is the margin colophon written by Maghnus second in the Royal Irish Academy’s Ó Duibhgeannáin (MÓD Duignan)) as Codices Hibernenses series. It he was transcribing Togáil Troí (Troy) features the published proceedings near the end of BB. At that time of a conference on the ‘Book of Maghnus was lodging in the house Ballymote’ (BB) that was held on of Domhnall, a brother of his tutor, the 5th & 6th February 2015. Twelve Giolla na Naomh Mac Aodhagáin distinguished modern academics have (GMcA-Egan), in Ceapach Rúitín, each contributed a unique, novel Tipperary. MÓD pays tribute to and nuanced scrutiny of BB, which his tutor GMcA and to both Mac the editor informs us is one of the Aodhagáin homes. Ruairí makes a most extensive and most lavishly plausible suggestion that MÓD was a illuminated Irish manuscripts from teenage scribe, who was perfecting his the Late Middle Ages. BB has 251 art in the Tipperary school of GMcA. surviving folios with 59 prose and It is believed that Maghnus died in verse texts in Irish and a small amount 1452. The final translations of the of material in Latin. BB classical Latin and Greek sagas In his introduction Prof. Ruairi were transcribed in Cappaghrattin. Ó hUiginn of Maynooth University Solamh Ó Droma’s (SÓD) signature ‘The Book of Ballymote – Codices enlightens us with a brief yet Hibernenses Eximii – Edited by was added to the book here to verify comprehensive account of the political Ruairí Ó hUiginn, may be ordered that he also transcribed part of and intellectual milieu that led to the via bookshops or via the Academy BB in Cappaghrattin. Robeartus compilation of BB in Ballymote and website https://www.ria.ie/ Mac Sithigh (RMcS) was the third Cappaghrattin, Co. Tipperary, during publications/new-publications The scribe. In her essay here below rrp is €55. the final decade of the 1300’s. A Máire Ní Mhaonaigh stresses that the marginal note by one of the scribes assert himself militarily on a wider MÓD’s tutor, Giolla na Naomh Mac of BB assures us that this manuscript scale. He suffered some defeats Aodhagáin, was an acknowledged was compiled in Tomaltagh Mac but his clan eventually subjugated Brehon law expert. Máire is positive Donnchaidh’s (TMcD) Ballymote MacDiarmada’s stronghold in that legal learning formed part of the home, perhaps the , between Moylurg (Lough Key, Boyle) and training of Maghnus and of his fellow 1384 and 1397 when Toirdhealbhach in 1392 the Ó Conchobhair Ruadh scribe Solamh. Óg Ó Conchobhair was King of himself submitted to Tomaltagh Our editor furnishes the identities of (1384 – 1406). TMcD was in south Connacht. In the annals many people who possessed the Book Chief of Corran & Tirerrill from 1383 preserved in MS Rawlinson, TMcD is of Ballymote until it found a permanent until his death in battle in 1397. described as ‘the greatest benefactor home in the R.I.A in 19 Dawson St., Tomaltagh’s Clann Donnchaidh of his time, being pre-eminent in Dublin. Ruairí and a number of other (McDonagh) was a junior branch of the Europe for sheltering the poor, contributors outline the itinerary of (McDermott) lordship widows, churches and the infirm’. BB from Ballymote to 19 Dawson St. until 1384 when the Ó Conchobhair Tomaltagh died at the Battle of Cenn BB was in the possession of the Mac (O’Connor Kings of Connacht) Éitigh (Kinnitty, Co. Offaly) in 1397. Donnchaidh clan leaders in Ballymote Lordship split into the Donn and the An tOllamh Ó hUiginn believes that it until 1522 when Aodh Dubh Ó Ruadh factions. TMcD of Ballymote is noteworthy that one of the highest Domhnaill (O’Donnell) purchased it supported the Ó Conchobhair Donn points in Mac Donnchaidh history is from Ruaidhrí Mac Donnchaidh for while his former overlords, the marked not in bardic verse, but by the 140 milch cows ‘co ced da cloinn’ MacDiarmada, joined the Ruadh production of this remarkable Book of (with his family’s permission). How alliance. A long war commenced in Ballymote. long BB remained in Donegal is Connacht and this allowed TMcD to Ruairí draws our attention to the unknown but in 1639 Archbishop

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Auxerre in 1774 from a millwright’s among scholars, and manuscripts widow in Drogheda for £20. On with historical and genealogical the establishment of the Royal core belonged in the curriculum of Irish Academy in 1785, O’Gorman bardic schools, and were essential presented the Ballymote MS to its to the practice of a court poet’s library, where it has since remained. function. These digests of history and In 1887 Robert Atkinson published a learning used by the BB compilers, facsimile of BB with an introduction, were twelfth century reworkings of an index and a contents analysis. 200 material like the Banshenchas (Lore copies were printed and distributed of Women) and the Dindshenchas widely. Finally, the digitisation of (Lore of Places). BB as part of the Dublin Institute Nollaig Ó Muraíle, NUIG, compares for Advanced Studies’ Irish Script the structure and contents of the on Screen Initiative, has made high two celebrated Co. Sligo manuscripts resolution images of Lebhar Bhaile i.e. the Book of Ballymote (BB) and an Mhúta widely available to readers the Book of Lecan, (B.Lec). Dr. internationally. Ó Muraíle considers that BB was Front cover of ‘Book of Ballymote Prof. Ó hUiginn’s article is entitled compiled after 1395 by its editor - Edited by Ruairí Ó hUiginn’ ‘The Book of Ballymote: Scholars, MÓD from Ballyfarnon, assisted by (Reproduced by the kind permission Sources and Patrons’. At various SÓD of Fermanagh and RMcS, and of the Royal Irish Academy). stages in BB the scribes divulge the that B.Lec was compiled in James Ussher, Trinity College Dublin, sources of earlier manuscripts they between circa-1397 and post-1432 by had access to Liber Ballimotensis. In copied while transcribing. These editor Giolla Íosa Mac Fhir Bhisigh, 1666 Dubhaltach Mac Fhir Bhisigh, assisted by Murchadh Ó Cuinnlis, the Kilglass- antiquarian, Ádhamh Ó Cuirnín and an anonymous noted that Lebhar Bhaile an Mhúta scribe. Both volumes are similar in an Chorainn was one of the great format, structure and content. BB manuscript authorities to be found comprises 251 folios, each 15.25 ins. in Dublin at that time. In 1686 BB long by 9.75 ins. wide, while B.Lec was in the library of TCD, possibly contains 311 folios, each 11.875 ins. having been deposited there with long by 8.375 ins. wide. The total the rest of Ussher’s manuscripts. In vellum area of BB is 37,321 sq. ins., 1719 BB was borrowed from Trinity while the vellum area of B.Lec totals by Anthony Raymond, a scholar 30,930 sq. ins. Kathleen Mulchrone’s of and literature. skeletal list-form of B.Lec shows 82 Although Raymond was a fellow of separate items. Although just 59 texts the college, BB was never to return were chronicled in the case of BB, to Trinity again. In 1730 Richard the MacDonagh manuscript is the Tipper transcribed material from repository of more textual material. BB. Tadhg Ó Neachtáin did likewise There is a striking similarity between in 1752. BB may have stayed in Ó the two Sligo volumes, BB & B.Lec, Neachtáin’s MS collection after and it is clear that the compilers had Raymond’s death in 1752. During Drawing based on the front cover access to the same type of sources. the following two decades material above of the ‘Book of Ballymote’. Is this Noah and his ark, Tomaltagh Nevertheless, the genealogical from BB was circulating among Mac Donnchadh in his 1392 hour of material in BB and B.Lec display scribes and learned circles in Carraig glory, or Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill significant differences, while the texts na bhFear, Co. Cork, probably having celebrating his acqusition of BB in in both manuscripts of Cóir Anmann been transcribed in Dublin or Cork 1522? (Names), Lebor na Cert (Rights) and by Mícheál Mac Peadar Ó Longáin. were; Leabar Gearr Uí Cheallaig, Dindshenchas (Places) are based on By 1769 BB was in the possession Saltair Cormaic i Caisiul, Leabhar different exemplars. Ó Muraíle is of Tomás Ó Doirnín in Droghada. Duin Da Leathghas, Leabhar Oilein confident that no text in B.Lec was Tomás had been a corn miller’s clerk Indsí Duine, Leabhar Droma Saileach, copied directly from BB. in Crumlin, Co. Antrim. Within a year Cin Dromna Snechta, Leabhar Lothra Using Kathleen Mulchrone’s or two BB was owned by a weaver, Ruadhan & Libar Glinni Dá Locha. skeletal list-form (circa 1938), Nollaig John Finglass of Drogheda. BB was Ruairí further informs us that variant itemizes the 59 Ballymote texts as bought by Chevelier O’Gorman of versions of these texts were available follows: 1: Sex Aetates Mundi (The

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Six Ages of the World) and an appendix Moighi nf). 39: Seats of Learning poem by Donn Cuachmhuighi entitled frequented by Tuatha Dé Danann. 40: ‘Reidhigh damh, a De do nimh’ Bailí findachta rígh Condacht (The (Relate for me, heavenly God). 2: A prosperity of the kindreds of the King chronological tract on the Five Ages of Connacht nf). 41: De urgartaib of the World. 3: Tract on the place- ríg Érend - The prohibitions of the names in Asia. 4: The Pedigree of kings of Ireland. 42: Poem by Cúán St. Joseph. 5: The Ages of the World Ó Lóthcháin, ‘A fhir áin iadas in teach in Latin. 6: Poem, ‘Sé bliadhna (O man who desires the confines of a caogat maille’ (56 Years together). house nf). 43: Lebor na Cert – The 7: Leabhar Comhaimsireachda Book of Rights. 44: Banshenchas (Book of synchronisms) of Flainn – Lore of Famous Women. 45: Mainistreach). 8: An anonymous Treatise on Irish prosody. 46: Lebhar poem ‘Nin mac Bel roga na righ,’ Ollaman – The Book of Ollam. 47: (Ninius the son of Bell, best of the The Book of Oghams. 48: Auraicept kings). 9: Measurements of Time & na nÉces – The Poets’ Primer & Space; Tre gort crann, tre crann cu. Lebur (Book) Ferchertne. 49: Poem, (Through a forest, a hound past a tree Anthropomorphic wire initial by Tré fhocla tacrait filid (With words nf). 10: The Tower of Babel. 11: Maghnus Ó Duibhgeannáin, Book poets compete or assemble nf). 50: Description of Christ & his Apostles. of Ballymote MS 23 P 12, f. 137r. Poem, ‘Do dligegaibh dunta na 12: The Development of the (Reproduced by permission of the nduan’. Dunta for nduan decid lib Ceremonies of the Mass. 13: Lebor RIA). (To the rules for the closing of poems Gabála Érenn– Book of Invasions of of Nennius (A History of the Britons). nf). 51: Poem, Da cuincead neach a Ireland: Version C. Poem by Gilla 24: Senchas Naomh Érend. Poem: ndliged, (The rules for the full liberty MoDhubhda, ‘Éri ógh, inis na naemh’ Naemsenchas Naem Insí Fáil of persons nf). 52: Note on the loss (Arise, perfect island of saints nf). 14: (Genealogies of the Saints of Ireland). of BB by Ruaidhrí Mac Donnchadha List of the Christian kings of , 25: The History of the Hebrews. 26: to Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill in 1522 with some pedigrees. Poem: ‘Cland The Palace of Emain Macha, ‘Ba mór AD. 53: Uraicecht Becc – The Ollaman Uaisle Emna’ (Ollaman’s a n-ordún du Conchobar’ (It was a Little Primer (On the Privileges clan, the nobility of Emna nf). 15: List great invincible fortress for Conor & Rights of Various Classes). 54: of the Christian kings of Leinster with Mac Neasa nf). 27: Oididh Daithi – Dindshenchas Érend – The Lore their pedigrees. Poem by Ó Duinn, Death of Nath Í. 28: Cóir Anmann of Famous Irish Places. 55: Togáil ‘Cóicedh Laigen na Lecht Righ’ (The – The Fitness of Names. 29: Treatise Troí – The Destruction of Troy. 56: Province of Leinster of the royal on the aithechthuatha (The subject Merugud Uilixis – The Wanderings of tombs nf). 16: List of the Christian tribes of Éire nf). 30: Poem, ‘Is ór Ulysses. 57: Imthechta Aeniasa – The kings of Connacht, with pedigrees. glan is neam im gréin’ (Golden & Aeneid. 58: The History of Philip & Poem by Ó Duinn, ‘Cruacha Condacht pure is the heavenly sun nf). 31: Do Alexander of Macedonia. 59: Epistil raith co rath’ (The peaks of Connacht ingantaib Érenn – To the Wonders of Alaxandair – The Epistle of Alexander with bountiful current nf). 17: List Ireland. 32: Tochmarc Luaine acus to Aristotle. of the Christian kings of Munster, Aided Athairne – Wooing of Luaine In many cases above no translations with pedigrees. Poem by Seaán Ó and killing of Athairne. 33: Compert were provided. I have indicated my Dubhagáin, ‘Caiseal cathair Chland (The Conception) of Conchubair own translations with my initials nf. Modha’ (Cashel the city of the clan meic Nessa. 34: Geineamain (the The same commentator believes of Modh nf). 18: Tecosca Chormaic Birth) of Cormac Uí Cuind i.e. King that the relationship by marriage – ’s instructions to a Cormac. 35: Echtra Cormaic i Tír between TMcD, Chief of Corran and king. 19: Briathra Fíthail – Sayings Tarrngire acus ceart claidim Cormaic Tirerrill and patron of BB, and Giolla of Fithal. 20: Gnomic Sayings or (Cormac’s expedition in Tír Tarrngire Íosa Mac Fhir Bhisigh, chief compiler Maxims – Maith dan eagnaí (Good and his appeal to arms nf). 36: Aidid of B.Lec could be significant. Giolla poem of prudence nf). 21: Trecheng Crimthaind meic Fidaid & Trí meic Íosa was married to Caithirfhíona Breth Féni – Triads of Ireland. 22: Eathach Muigmeadoin i.e. Brian, Nic Dhonnchaidh, a second cousin to Senior Genealogies of the Dominant Ailill, Fiacra (The violent deaths Tomaltagh. According to Nollaig the Septs: Uí Néill, Uí Briúin Chonnachta, of Crimthaind & the three sons of Lecan scribes may well have been Uí Fhiachrach, Airghialla, Laigin, Eathach nf). 37: Eachtra mac Echach striving to rival the work of TMcD’s Múscraige, Fir Alban, Síl Ír, Síl Éibir, Muigmeadoin (The expedition of the scribes. In a marginal note in B.Lec, Dál Cais, Síl Luigdech meic Ítha. 23: son of Echach nf). 38: Imtheachta Mac Fhir Bhisigh has written that he Lebor Bretnach – Historia Britonum Moighi Ruith (The Wanderings of was compiling B.Lec for himself and 18 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

in the struggle for survival. Ó Corráin occupation of Egypt, from where Mil believes that the ample church estates and his Gaelic people supposedly became sanctuaries where such small departed to invade Ireland. The aim kindreds and families of the church of our scribes was to write a classical, could maintain themselves. The biblically influenced account of church demanded monogamy on its world, national and Christian history lands. Donnchadh is grateful that BB where Ireland’s multifaceted story, as contains an invaluable collection of told in BB, is made to shine. medieval genealogical tracts that have Prof. Elizabeth Boyle of Maynooth yet to be appreciated by many kinds University continues the study of of modern historians. ‘Biblical History in the Book of The contribution of Máire Ni Ballymote’, where she tells us that Mhaonaigh, Cambridge University, such history created the fundamental ‘Universal History & the Book of chronological framework within which Ballymote’, surveys for us history of all medieval Irish historiography was all hues – local, national and global. conceived. The bible stories were Máire demonstrates the coherent, believed to be literally true. Ideas comprehensive organisation and of kingship, invasion, ancestry, sequencing of the documents in BB. language and geography were rooted The first entry is Sex Aetates Mundi in awareness of the Bible. The Zoomorphic ribbon initials, from by Dares Phrygius (The Six Ages of prehistoric Irish invaders, concluding the ‘Book of Ballymote’. The World), and the final chronicle is with Mil’s Gaeil, who were recorded his son after him in 1397, the winter an Irish translation of the Epistle by in Lebor Gabála Érenn (Invasions), after the death in battle of TMcD. Alexander of Macedonia to Aristotle. conterminous with biblical and The late Prof. Donnchadh Ó Furthermore, we are asked to note classical empires, are included in BB. Corráin UCC, while discussing ‘The a detailed linear, world history of The compilers of BB are concerned Book of Ballymote: A Genealogical universal time, biblical, classical and with Ireland’s place in the world’s Treasure’, was concerned with the Gaelic. The Ballymote scribes were narrative, and God’s intervention organisation of genealogies, their following a consciously conceived in history to bring salvation to their relationship to late antique records, plan. The fall of the Tower of Babel native isle. The Appendix affixed by and the light they throw on survival is said to account for the origin of Prof. Boyle with a poem of 21 stanzas and reproduction in medieval all national languages, a fact that is in Middle Irish and English, and populations. He notes that early Irish recounted in Auraicept na nÉces (The which is preserved in BB treating of medieval scholars modelled their legal Poets’ Primer), a document preserved ‘Assyrian Kings and Irish Prehistory’, tracts on Old Testament stories where in BB. The six world ages are the substantially clarifies the intentions of polygamy and concubinage practiced Assyrians, the Medes, the Chaldaeans, the BB scribes. by religious leaders are recorded in the Persians, the Macedonian- Deborah Hayden of Maynooth the ‘genealogies’. In medieval Irish Greeks and finally the Romans, who University, following her essay ‘The records the property rights of wives, became Christian. Medieval authors Book of Ballymote & the Grammar secondary wives and concubines are considered Alexander of Macedonia of Irish’, has furnished a remarkably acknowledged. He tells us that access both a classical and a biblical figure informative Appendix of 27 items to land and the products of the labours because he is encountered once in the containing a catalogue of grammar of others, and the sexual access to Book of Maccabees. Máire informs and prosody in BB. The version of many women, enabled the Irish elite us that the poem about King Ninus Lebor Gabála Érenn (Invasions of to multiply with astonishing rapidity. son of Bel in BB synchronises the Ireland) preserved in BB exhibits The frequent births of offspring and an reigns of the Assyrian kings with the a list of 72 languages that the ‘Irish inclusive law of legitimacy provided invented Irish prehistory of Lebor scholar, Fénius Farsaid’ supposedly the Gaelic aristocracy with a large Gabála Érenn (Invasions of Ireland) collected at the Tower of Babel. crop of fighting men who were kin, i.e. Partolón, Nemed, Fir Bolg, Fénius is credited with creating his but also rival heirs at the same time. Tuatha Dé Danann and the Gaelic native Gaelic tongue from parts of Donnchadh tells us that between 600 invaders under Mil. The Jewish all those languages. A prose-verse and 800 A.D. the genealogical records Patriarch Abraham is juxtaposed with passage in this part of The Book of list over 200 aithechthúatha or rent- Ninus in the poem. The text in BB Invasions articulates an educational paying small communities throughout beckons particular attention to the curriculum consisting of four distinct the country. These aithechthúatha synchronisation between Alexander’s branches; A: canoin ‘canonical texts represented dynasties that had failed defeat of the Assyrians and his or law books, B: stair or history, C:

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and their relationship to further texts interpreted as being written by of the works in other manuscripts. Ruaidhrí Mac Donnchaidh himself The text of (a) Togáil Troí is based regarding the surrender of BB to Aodh on the 6th century Historia de Ó Domhnaill: ‘Is beg an díth leam o Excidio Troiae by Dares Phrygius domnaill do buain an leabairsi dim or and comprises about 30,000 words. is clu feamachuis do chúaidh air mur The text of (b) Merugud Uilixis is leaphor’. The celebrated Ballymote 2,700 words long and is written in a historian, Christopher McDonagh, simple, straightforward Middle Irish has translated Ruaidhrí’s comment style using indirect speech. The BB in the following terms: ‘Small is the text of (c) Imtheachta Aeniasa has loss to me in O’Donnell having forced occasioned debate among at least the book from me, for it is a fame of four modern international scholars. silliness that has come over it’. Prof. George Calder (Glasgow University) Ó Macháin also surmises that the believed that the Irish translation Christian names of the BB scribes was written about 1300. D. Poli Solamh (Solomon) Ó Droma and (Bologna) disagrees and argues in Robeartus Mac Síthigh could indicate favour of a translation between 1080 that these men were clerics. He and 1120. Erich Poppe (Marburg, agrees with Prof. Brian Ó Cuimh that Germany) contends that this story collaboration between religious and was a historical narrative rather than secular scribes was commonplace. Samples of scripts from ‘The Book an epic of mere entertainment. Prof. Bernadette Cunningham, a of Ballymote’. (Courtesy of the Mac Gearailt himself is confident that Royal Irish Academy librarian Coach House Hotel, Ballymote). (d) Scéla Alaxandair was translated and Raymond Gillespie MRIA, rím or metrics and D: gramadach or about 950 A.D. He asserts that the Maynooth University, have penned grammar. Entries 45 to 53 of the BB Scéla is an impressive achievement, a joint contribution to examine ‘The list of contents illustrate the medieval but few scholars have accorded it the Owners & Users: The Changing Irish scholars’ approach to education. attention it deserves. Contexts of the Book of Ballymote, These are as follows: 45: Treatise A veritable mine of practical 1500 – 1750’. Our contributors affirm on Prosody; 46: The Book of Ollam information concerning the physical that BB was not simply a miscellany (the highest grade of poet); 47: The structure of BB is contained in but a carefully structured compilation, Book of Oghams; 48: Auraicept na Pádraig Ó Macháin’s (U.C.C.) displaying a logical ordering of texts to nÉces – The poets’ Primer; 49, 50 & article ‘The Book of Ballymote & the reflect a view of how a society should 51 are Poems; 52 is not relevant; 53: Irish Book’. This ‘noble volume’, to be ordered. Bernadette & Raymond Uraicecht Becc – The Little Primer quote Eugene O’Curry, appears to be have observed that the original BB (a status text on the grades of various preserved by contemporary front and scholars adapted and modified existing individuals). This presentation by back boards enclosing a relatively written texts during transcription Deborah focuses on a section of BB loose collection of folio gatherings. to make them relevant and useful. that is concerned with the education, Pádraig has presented the collation or From 1397 to 1522 the beneficiaries status and function of the filí, or data management of the BB MS, in a of the Mac Donnchaidh family’s secular learned men of medieval clear numbered list, where the vellum manuscript were of the learned class. Ireland. folio gatherings and the name of each A ‘genealogy of the saints’ created by Prof. Uaitear Mac Gearailt, St. scribe who transcribed on them, can the BB scribe Mac Síthigh, became Patrick’s College, Drumcondra, be perused. There are 17 gatherings of the exemplar of the same text from the expounds for us ‘Translations 10 folios, 5 gatherings of 8 folios and 1590’s, which is now in the portion of Latin Works in the Book of a number of singletons in BB. This of British Library Add. MS 30512. Ballymote’. Approximately one-sixth writer discloses that the antiquarian After Aodh Dubh Ó Domhnaill of the BB manuscript is devoted to the Eugene Ó Curry believed that Aodh obtained Ballymote’s erudite volume following four Middle Irish texts with Dubh Ó Domhnaill may never have in 1522, his main interest was to allow classical themes: (a) The Fall of Troy, paid the 140 cows to Ruaidhrí Mac his principal learned family, the Ó (b) The Wandering of Ulysses, (c) The Donnchaidh in 1522, and that the Cléirigh, access to its contents. In the Adventures of Aeneas and (d) The Ballymote man may have surrendered 1630’s the Gaelic historian Geoffrey Story of Alexander of Macedonia. BB to his overlord to secure his Keating acknowledged BB to be one Our writer in particular examines own liberty or protection. Our Cork of the most important sources of Irish the language and style of each text Professor quotes the comment in the history. In 1619 James Ussher of TCD margin of f.224r that is commonly owned both BB and B.Lec. Ussher

20 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 merely selected individual pieces to Lord: Reading the Illumination wearing medieval dress and standing bolster his ecclesiastical arguments, in the Book of Ballymote’. Karen in a boat that is sitting on dry land, is rather than using BB as a whole to specifies that the illumination in BB Noah and his ark. She postulates that view the social logic of the late 14th is based on the Insular Scriptorium the king in question could represent century Gaelic society. By the early where the dominant feature has two Tomaltagh Mac Donnchaidh in his 18th century the tale Echtra Cormaic forms, the ribbon initial and the wire 1392 hour of glory or Aodh Dubh Ó & ceart claidim Cormaic (call to initial. Pictures reproduced here from Domhnaill after his purchase in 1522 arms) was important since it contains BB can be categorised as follows: of Ballymote’s prize possession. an explanation of the origins of the two ribbon initials, two wire initials, In his 1936 ‘History of Ballymote elusive ‘Psalter of Tara’, allegedly seven zoomorphic initials with a cat, and the Parish of Emlaghfad’ an historical source book that many a fish and a dragon included, ten Christopher McDonagh considered it contemporary scholars claimed anthropomorphic (humanoid) initials appropriate to quote the observations was included within BB. In 1777 portraying various gestures, one of the English Victorian poet and the antiquarian Charles O’Connor geometric initial, four ‘turn in the cultural critic, Matthew Arnold, of Bellanagare stated the Book of path’ drawings to guide the reader, concerning the Book of Ballymote Ballymote was ‘a book full of truth a peeping head sketch, one close and similar Irish manuscripts: ‘These and poetic fable’. relationship initial between text and tomes could not have not been written Dr. Elizabeth Duncan PhD image and some initials from other by fools or for any foolish purpose, that (Research in Aberdeen) has manuscripts. BB contains a total of is, I am convinced, a true presentment investigated ‘A Reappraisal of 429 individual artistic illustrations. to have in one’s mind when one looks the Hand Formerly Attributed Ms. Ralph does not believe that at Irish documents like the Book of to Maghnus Ó Duibhgeannáin the BB frontispiece, displaying a Ballymote’. (MÓD) in the Book of Ballymote’. kingly figure with seven other people This writer concentrates a detailed study of the script in BB attributed to MÓD. Inconsistencies in the 1981 paleographical study of BB by Tomás Ó Concheanainn are highlighted. The script of MÓD and the entries penned by all the principal hands in the BB MS are written in Gaelic National Miniscule, a quill-craft that first appeared about 1000 AD. The writing of MÓD is examined in consummate detail, employing remarkable forensic skill. Fifteen pictures of the relevant BB script are displayed to demonstrate the results of Dr. Duncan’s study. Elizabeth supplies an easily decipherable Appendix to prove conclusively that eight different scribes participated in the sections of BB previously attributed to MÓD. The folio numbers, the texts and the extent of transcription performed by each scribe, are shown under the sigla MÓD 1 to MÓD 8. This evidence of Group at the launch of ‘Book of Ballymote – Codices Hibernenses Eximii. collaboration by relief scribes is also Edited by Ruairí Ó hUiginn’ on the 1st. November 2018 in the Royal Irish cited in the body of Dr. Duncan’s Academy, Dublin : (L to R) Mr. Martin Timoney (Sligo Field Club), Mr. Leo Leyden (Sligo Field written essay. Club), Prof. Ruairí Ó hUiginn MRIA, Director DIAS, School of Celtic Studies, The final essay in ‘Book of Ms. Siobhán Fitzpatrick, Librarian Royal Irish Academy, Prof. Liam Breathnach Ballymote, edited by Ruairí Ó MRIA, DIAS,School of Celtic Studies, Prof. Peter Kennedy, President of the hUiginn’, is presented by Art Royal Irish Academy, Mrs. Mary Timoney (Sligo Field Club), Mr. Neal Farry Historian Karen Ralph of the (Chairperson Ballymote Heritage Group), Mrs. Grace Farry (Ballymote), Mr. American University in Paris, and David Casey (Ballymote Heritage Group), Mr. John Coleman (Ballymote Heritage Group). bears the title ‘A Manuscript for a

21 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Vogage of Patrick THE STORY OF THE VOYAGE OF PATRICK BURNS AND MARGARET BURNS TO AMERICA – AS PENNED BY PATRICK BURNS FEBRUARY 12th, 1900, WATERTOWN, NY Submitted by Paul Burns

My sister Margaret and myself sailed weeks, I working about two week there came a heavy rain storm that from Sligo on the 27th of May 1847 on the La Chene Cannal Bason lock. gave me a severe drenching. I was and after a very troublesome and My sister Margaret was stopping at a scarcely able to go home but when turbulent voyage landed in Quebec, lodging house. We then went up the I did, I lay down with a relapse and on the 11th day of July, 1847. Ships La Chene Canal to Otawa then called racking pains and aches, that almost name was Ellen and was commanded Bytown. We only stayed a few hours. killed me, never standing on green by Capt. Thomas Hood an englishman We then went down toward Kempville grass again. My eyesight became and a very efficient and good man. and were accompanied by Catherine so weak and effected that when I Shortly after leaving Sligo with McGill an Emigrant girl whom we approached an object, it appeared in about three hundred and fifty met in Montreal who was on the way double vision. But during that winter passengers the deadly “ship fever” to her friends in Kempville. I remained in a place called Irishtown a violent form of typhus fever raged Before arriving in Kempville the about three miles from Kempville, among the passengers and fully one boat became disabled at a place called building fireplaces and chimneys and third of the passengers died of this Beckwith Landing, and Margaret and odd jobs such as I could get. My sister dread disease. The disease was of Miss McGill becoming sick with the Margaret stayed with a family close generally short duration in most cases. fever we were obliged to leave the by in the neighborhood. Sometimes a person would be alright boat at that place and took refuge at On February 9th 1848 I came to in the evening and would be taken sick the house of one Patrick Mullin a very Prescott and crossed the St Lawrence at night and be dead by day break. kind and good man who contracted to United States, but in crossing The method of burying was the the disease from us and died of it. there was some difficulty, it being a wrapping of the body in sail cloth After leaving Mullins we went cold night. I hired a skiff to take me and placing it on a plank on the rail of to Kempville where I rented some over. There was a woman passenger the ship, then weighing it down with rooms, but in a short time after sister along with us and I think she weighed sand or stones and cast into the water. Margaret got a relapse of the Typhus approx. 250lbs, and she sat in the stern As there was no clergyman on board fever, and after doctor’s care and my of the boat which afterwards became a I read the De Profundis over each attendance she recovered well. At the very useful balance. As the ice was before the body was cast into the sea same time I got a job on building of perhaps ½ inch to 1 ½ inch thick, the and such heartrending scenes I have Mr. Jones M.P., at Kempville on his bow of the boat sat on the ice like a never before or since witnessed. new site. My first part of the job was sleigh runner, and the stern in the At arriving at Quarantine outside of on trial, I had to build some Eliptic water. A long gaff used by the man in Quebec a great many of the passengers Arches over the front entrance and the bow of the boat worked together affected with the fever were detained sides, but after some time I was taken with the man in the center of the boat there. But Margaret and myself with sick with the Typhus fever and by this who paddled with his oar with all his many others were allowed to proceed time sister Margaret was recovering might to shove the boat ahead. to Quebec. We stayed there about two so she could attend to my wants and During this time the corpulent weeks in Quebec at a street or locality in about three weeks I was able to sit woman kept a rocking in the stern too called Diamond Harbour, and visited up alone in a chair. and froe in order to the bows in with a friend and neighbour, a man by I gained strength fast, and I being the water and break the ice at the stern, the name of Anthony Connolly, who anxious to go to work, my next job but after some time and difficulty we lived in the same townland with me was to build a cellar for a black smith landed in Ogdensburg. in Ireland. by the name of Foster, of whom later Next morning I started in search of a We sailed up the river to Montreal cheated me out of a large portion job and I wandered into a marble shop in steam boat called the “John Munn” of my pay! But when I was about kept by a man of the name Whitney, and stayed in Montreal about three putting on the last finishing touches, which was about hiring me and gave

22 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 orders to draw out by pinnacle, the it, but I have been glancing over their on corner of Washington and Healy portrait of St Patrick, which I did as shoulders and had a good idea of the Street, Watertown, N. York. I was well versed on that subject. I words and contents and corrected them On this above named bridge the made a very good attempt. He was several times. They handed me the contractor went broke and owed called away on some business and letter which I read to the satisfaction some money, but after going through told me to remain in the shop until his of all in the room, and after asking me a process of law only a small portion return, but as my purse being light and had I a trade I said I was a mason, and remained to my share. My father and night approaching, I did not wait for both men offered me a job as both of mother and family came then from his return, and went to the suburbs of them had two large bridges to build. Ireland May 13th 1849 to Potsdam the city where I happened on a job that And I remained there for the summer and came to Watertown where the lasted a few weeks. and fall of 1848. remained on Gotham Street where I was sent on an errant and happened After I got settled in work I they both died, Mother passed in to meet a team going to Ogdensburg went back to Canada for my sister Sept 26 1867 and Father passed away for coal, and asked me to ride. He Margaret, and started back toward on Oct 13 1867 at the house of their went into a tavern to get refreshed Potsdam again where I was working son Patrick Burns 35 Gotham St and water his horses and on arrival, on a bridge that crosses the Racquette Watertown N.Y., where he was buried there were several persons in the bar River and secured a place for my sister in Calvary cemetery Watertown with room, and amongst them were two with a family by the name of Daniel a monument erected 22 feet high by contractors of different sections of the Bellis about four miles from Potsdam, their children and carved and lettered Ogdensburg and Lake Champlain R. and sometime after went to work by their sons John and Patrick. May Road. These happened to have a letter for Attorney Knowles, where she they rest in peace. written by some Civil Engineer and remained until she came to Watertown all in the room was puzzled to read with her parents, brothers and sisters A Letter from Bridget Burns Benson to her parents Thomas and Mary Burns in America Submitted by Paul Burns Bridget was one of the two daughters Easkey area--Gilgan, McManus, Parents: of Thomas Burns and Mary Flynn of Goulding among others--had preceded I rec’d your kind and most welcome Easkey who remained in Ireland. In them. letter which afforded me the greatest 1840, she had married George Benson Many of the people mentioned pleasure in the perusal of it to hear that who kept a store in Ballysadare and in Bridget’s letter are of course ye arived all safe from the danger ye clerked for Mr. Culbertson, a mill relatives. Others appear to have been went through, thank God for it. I cried owner. According to this letter, former friends in Easkey or people in more when I received your letter than Bridget saw the family off from Sligo Ballysadare. I did in parting ye in Sligo. I went when the family sailed in late March This letter was written in late July down the next day to see ye, when I or early April 1849 on an immigrant 1849, approximately four months after came in sicht of the vessel, could not ship bound for Quebec. The sailing Bridget’s family sailed from Sligo. go any farter. I was scarse able to go was unseasonably early, as reflected The average crossing by sailing ship home. There was great storm shortly by reports that the ship had become from Sligo to Quebec was 48 days, after ye sailed, which left me double icebound. so four months was as soon as a letter worse. I went several time to Sligo The family arrived in Quebec May could be sent and an answer received. to hear from the vessel and herd that 13, 1849, and on May 18 it crossed Hopefully, the family sent the locks she was in ice. I had a letter wrote into the USA where two of Bridget’s of hair that Bridget requested, because when I rec’d yours. I felt so uneasy siblings, Patrick and Margaret, were she never saw any of them again. I got 2 phajes read as Mick told me. waiting. These two, apparently an Bridget died in 1855 leaving eight My Aunt laments very much after My advance party, had made the journey orphaned children, most of whom dear Father. She is discontent. to America two years earlier, and migrated to America as they reached (page 2) after eight months in Canada they had adulthood. I send a ring to Margrett and the crossed the border to New York State. other to Anne. A link of Janes hair Soon after entering the United States, Balisodare as my deer Mother requested. She the family settled in Watertown, New July 23rd, 1849 still spakes of the whole family and York, where other families from the Ever Dear and Most Affectionate espesily Thomas and Anne. When

23 ever she gets a book she tape down The Mountain family sends their the postage and I will be the better the whole family. I fret when ever I respects to ye all and so does Jane judge____next.. No more at Present see her. She is in my Fatherinlaw and We. and James Benson family. James but George request of ye to write a fine child. John Wiliamses family Noland (or Boland) Senr died. Miss of(ten) as it is the greatest greatest are in good health. Mary anne is the Gouden did also-- in a short time both comfort I have. P.S. Although the same way. My uncle’s people are ine of them. Mr. Cuberson (Culbertson) Oacion (ocean) does between us roar good health. The(y) read your letter. got maried. I have nothing new to and distant be our lot, my prayer be Bridgt Hawk is gone to England. her mention. I know by your letter that always in your head whatever be thy and John Thomas. John sent for her. you did not get the letter I sent to Patt. lot. May heavenly angels their soft My Aunt Catrine is well. Thomas Post paid it in Sligo. I shant pay for wings display and guide ye safe from Gehen is gone to England also. The this lest their should be a mistak. Miss Every dangerous way. The path of black cow is sick, I think she is getting Burly said I should not postpay any Pleasure may ye ever tread pursued by better. We sold the yellow cow at 35 s. letter for that country. George sends fotune and by virtue lead, Wherever Cows never was so chape and butter his love and best respects to ye and thou goest still happy may though also at 4 d the lb to 3 ½ d. There is of cours so do I and all the family. I be and when far distant sometimes a fine prospect of the potatoe crop. send my love to Mick, Patt, Margrett think of me. I can scarsly write this There is no apearance of a rot thank and Anne, Thomas and John. I hope with tears. This is the 4th time for God. Patt Gilroy shent the check after that ye will send me part of all your me to finish it and perhaps I migh die ye hair, and don’t forget my dear Father with ye yet and live. Let me know if (page 3) and Mother. When I die I should like Margrett is as fat as at home or Patt. on the ____ . We should get his to have it in the coffin. No more at Or what dresses is most fashionable. hous and lands if we could pay our present but remains your fond and I must end it. Let no person seest but rent again. My Deer Parents let me affectionate sone and daughter ye. know if that contry agrees with ye as (written along edge of page--) (Written upside down on the bottom well as Ireland, or what trade are ye George and Bridget Benson forever of the last page) going to send Thomas and John to. yours I return a thousand thanks for the offer Do you follow any business or did (page 4) that you made me in sending me a the Priest come back yet. How many I hope that you will write to me present in your reeset letter. miles is Montrail (Montreal) from ye. quarterly as it woud give us the (Written on margin of first page) We My mother in law desires to send her greatest consolation to hear from would hold the money and burn the blessing to ye, and her sone James. you often and mention to me about letter. Extracts from the Sligo Journal Submitted by Padraig Doddy Tuesday October 8th, 1793 containing between 90 and 100 acres Vestry assembled having this day To be let for two lives from the 1st of choice land, well enclosed with received with the utmost regret the day of November next, the lands of stone walls and eight feet double resignation of our worthy Curate Emlaughton which lie within one mile quicked ditches; the garden orchard the Rev J.J. Harrison (by whom of Ballymote, 12 miles of Sligo, 11 and shrubbery partly enclosed with a the duties of this parish were in miles of Boyle, containing about 122 seven foot high wall and partly with a exemplary manner discharged) having acres of arable and pasture ground and large quick fence. The orchard is well unanimously come to the following about 190 acres of bog, two thirds of furnished with best peach, apricot and resolution Resolved that a Silver Cup which is reclaimable and would be other trees in full bearing. be presented to the Rev J. J. Harrison easily made good pasture of. It is Proposals in writing only will be in testimony of the advantages derived useless to run any encomium on the received by James Fleming Esq, to their parish from his uncommon lands so well known. Newtown, Kilcock who will close pains and attention. Proposals in writing only (post-paid) with a good tenant when value is Adam Powell Church Wardens to be received by Matthew Fleming offered. Henry Meredith } Esq, Bracca Castle, near Kilbeggan. Gentlemen – please accept my October 6th, 1970 warmest thanks for this very polite August 5th, 1793 At a Vestry held in the Cathedral and singular mark of your favour. Tuesday March 25th, 1794 Church of Achonry in the county of I am with respect your humble servant To be Let: from the 1st day of May Sligo on Wednesday October 6th, J.J. Harrison (Rev) next for three lives or 31 years; the 1790. house and demesne of Roadstown, We the Protestant Parishioners in

24 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Nace O’Dowd: A Magnificent Footballer

By Tommy Kilcoyne

to lift the Sam Maguire Cup for Kerry, Nace took control of the midfield area and retained it right throughout the match. The famed GAA writer Mick Dunne headlined his match report in the following morning’s Irish Press with the caption ‘O’Dowd was Magnificent’. In the year 2000 Nace was chosen at midfield on the Connacht Team of the Millennium. The highlight of his playing career was being selected on the Ireland team in 1954 and 1955 to play the Combined Universities in representative games at Croke Park. At club level Nace won three Sligo Senior county championships with Tubbercurry in 1950, 1951 and Ben Wilkinson (Chairman) presenting Nace O’Dowd (Captain)a silver 1955 and a Mayo Senior county Jubilee presentation 1983 championship with Castlebar Mitchels Nace O’Dowd was one of Sligo’s medal at Minor level with in 1953. greatest footballers. Born in Ballinacarrow in 1947, a team he In 1957 Nace played with Carrowrile in the parish of Achonry/ captained, and two years later was Ballymote and then joined his native Mullinabreena on 1st August, 1931 to captain of the first Sligo Minor team Mullinabreena whom he captained to Tom and Jane O’Dowd (nee Brennan) to win the Connacht Championship, a famous Sligo Senior championship he was baptised John Joseph Ignatius beating Roscommon in the final. That success in 1958, the year before he O’Dowd in the local Catholic Church team was subsequently beaten by emigrated. of the Sacred Heart. He attended Armagh in the All-Ireland semi-final He continued his playing career Carrowrile National School and later at Lurgan in New York and graced the playing Tubbercurry Vocational School. After Nace was the youngest ever player fields of America with the same leaving school he worked in Galway, to don the Sligo Senior county jersey style and dedication he had shown Castlebar and Tubbercurry before and enjoyed a brilliant career. He in Ireland. He was a tremendously emigrating to the United States in led Sligo to two Connacht Finals, powerful man whose influence and 1959. both of which were lost to Galway ability tended to get the best out of his A decade later in December, 1969 in 1954 and 1956. The 1954 defeat colleagues at all times. he returned from America and later was heartbreakingly narrow while At administrative level, he purchased the Sancta Maria Hotel the 1956 defeat was comprehensive. represented Sligo on the Connacht in . With his wife Bridgie Galway went on to win the All-Ireland Council and was also a staunch (nee Healy), a native of Pontoon, Final that year. Nace became a legend member of the Coolera/Strandhill Co. Mayo, he established a thriving in his own lifetime playing ten times GAA Club. He managed the county business and the hotel hosted functions for Connacht and helping to bring Senior and Under-21 football teams of all varieties, especially for sporting the much-coveted interprovincial in the late 1970’s, the Under-21 team organisations. Railway Cup to the west on three being rather unlucky to lose the 1979 It is as a footballer, however, that occasions, in 1951, 1957 and 1958. He Connacht Final to Galway. Nace will be best remembered. He is the only Sligo player to win three Nace was a first cousin of other great carved a special place for himself Railway Cup medals. He produced Sligo footballers, the Christie brothers in the history of Sligo GAA and is a sublime display in the 1955 semi- Paddy and Mick from Tourlestrane widely regarded as one of the greatest final against Munster in Castlebar. and Mick Snee from Tubbercurry. players ever produced by the county. In direct opposition to the great John Their mothers were sisters, being He won a county championship Dowling, who later that year went on daughters of Michael and Catherine

25 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

Sligo Team 1951 Brennan of Moylough, Tubbercurry. developed to a high standard. As Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis. The esteem in which Nace O’Dowd well as being the home venue for the Tommy Kilcoyne. is held in his native place was Coolaney/Mullinabreena GAA Club it emphasised when the local GAA club is also a real focal point for the local Sources: decided to name its club grounds in community. Tributes to a Football Immortal: Nace his honour. The Nace O’Dowd GAA Nace O’Dowd’s death at Sligo O’Dowd (Sligo) Editors: Joe Masterson Park was officially opened by County General Hospital on 16th May, 1987 and James McGuinn. 1989. Board Chairman Tommy Carroll came as a great shock not only to his Sligo GAA 125 History: 1884-2009. in May 1994. In the intervening family, but also to his many friends quarter of a century the park has been and admirers throughout the country. Professor Ivan Perry By Neal Farry

Congratulations to Professor Ivan is one of Europe’s leading Centre’s of Perry, a native of Ballymote, who Excellence for interdisciplinary public was admitted recently into the Royal health nutrition. He is also Dean of the Irish Academy in recognition of his School of Public Health at University achievements in science. College Cork. There are 606 elected Ivan is a son of the late Jack and Members of the Royal Academy who Margaret Perry nee Benson, of are entitled to use the designation Ballymote. He received his education ‘MRIA’ after their name. Professor in the Convent of Mercy Infant School, Ivan Perry now joins this august Ballymote, Ballymote Boys’ National group who includes the novelist Maria School, Coláiste Mhuire, Ballymote Edgeworth, Mary E. Daly, historian and University College Galway. Ivan and Commissioner, Mother and Baby is an epidemiologist in public health Homes Commission of Investigation, nutrition and enjoys an international Nobel laureates W.B. Yeats, Ernest profile. For the last twelve years Prof. Walton, Belfast born atomic scientist, Perry has been the leading investigator the poet Seamus Heaney and Austrian Professor Ivan Perry and his wife on the Health Research Board’s Centre physicist and developer of quantum Mary Cahill for Health and Diet Research, which theory, Erwin Scródinger. at the Royal Irish Academy, Dawson Street, Dublin

26 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Life and Times of an Old Barn By Joan Gleeson

Today, I’m watching the arrival at my new discoveries. The next generation of the team went by air with the rest door of a huge monstrosity of a red, takes over. going by sea. shiny, noisy machine. I hear them call Weather and social events have I have to tell you why the excitement it ‘a tractor’. The little boy said, played a big part in my life. How can was so high around my barn door. You “Daddy! The very big size of it!”. I ever forget the year of 1947? It was see two Sligo men were secretary I know this is the end of the good old the one hundredth anniversary of the and chairman respectively of the days for me. cruel famine. Weeping and wailing Connaught county board. Tom Memories come flooding back. and great American wakes were Kilcoyne from Ougham up the road, How well I remember the frenetic the order of the day in the Forties was the secretary and Jack Brennan activities that went on here over the especially as thousands were forced from held the Connaught past century’s turning seasons. I to emigrate for a better life. Fiddles, chair at that time. Both men travelled recall the plucking of the goose for flutes, melodians and quarter barrels with the teams. The and Christmas and the children’s laughter of porter were the last memories of Kerry teams played to thousands of as the fluffy down settled on their hair many emigrants. Tears and laughter, Irish spectators with the Cavan team and clothes. The early spring had the hopes and sometimes disaster, but they winning the Sam Maguire cup. At annual ritual of the splitting of the never forgot their families back home. home, men gathered in the houses of potatoes to be dropped in the drills I witnessed the arrival of the postman people who had radios to hear Micheal for next year’s dinner. I can’t forget with the American parcel on the front O’Hehir’s commentary on Raidió the rows and ructions at the kid’s card of the bike and the Christmas cards Éireann. I could hear cheers and roars games on the lid of an old trunk. Snap, and dollars in the airmail envelopes. on the prevailing wind with every Old Maid or Twenty-five. Another never to be forgotten point and goal scored. On arrival “Snap!”, he shouted. memory was the blizzard of that back in Dublin the teams was received “No, I said it first”. same year or the big snow, as it was at Áras an Uachtaráin by President “No I did. I’ll tell Mammy you’re called. The temperatures dropped Seán T O’Kelly. Celebrations went on cheating”. and the snow fell thick and fast for days. There wasn’t a sheaf of oats That old trunk has her own story overnight, driven by a strong wind. cut or hay or turf brought home only having crossed the Atlantic in the The wind drifted the snow in huge talking about the match. I heard it all! nineteen-twenties. New steps on mounds against windows, doors, Well that was a long time ago but the hornpipe practiced to the tunes gates and ditches, wiping out roads I’m still here. I have the sun on my of the wind-up gramophone records. and fields and leaving the entire back warming my old stones and I see They were danced with gusto on my map of Ireland as one huge iced and the moon at night over Grehan’s hill concrete floor sending particles of frosted cake. Myself, I looked like the reflected in the little river gurgling dust flying and playing in a shaft of perfect Christmas card with only my through ‘the bottoms’ on its way to sunlight from my little window. chimney protruding above my rooftop the Owenmore. The robin sings its There was constant in and out for of heavily covered snow. It didn’t heart out at break of day from the this tool and that. A rake, a scythe, a thaw for weeks and left a late spring old hawthorn tree. The swallows spraying machine, a horse to be shod, doing catch-up for crops planting and repair their nests under my eves every asses hooves to be paired, a plough to sowing. spring but I haven’t heard a cuckoo be fixed; I had all the tools. I was never You can’t let a little thing like a or corncrake or curlew for years now. lonely. I was needed. Times changed. blizzard dampen the spirits of the Makes me sad. New eras dawn with The children grew up and moved GAA. The entire GAA fraternity got the same farm work to be done, only away to make their own memories, to work on organising the All Ireland the tools have changed. I welcome the tell their own story to live a life of football match for that September changes, but God be with the good old new ideas with new fangled devices. for none other venue than the Polo days. Start up that tractor Noel and By the time they are half my age these Grounds, Bronx, New York. I know never mind the reminiscences of an inventions will be old hat. However, t’was a mad idea but they pulled it off. old barn. There could be life in this men and women on the shoulders of Irish air travel was in its infancy and old barn yet. these giants will continue to make to make assurance doubly sure, some

27 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 World War II Aircraft Crashes in the Easkey Area

By Sam Moore

During World War II many people these operations. Allied aircraft were June 23 1940 from Easkey area witnessed a number allowed to overfly to A Hawker Henley aircraft from RAF of foreign military aircraft crashes. bases such as the Flying Boat base at Armaments Training Station Unit Ireland’s policy was officially Castle Archdale, (probably from Aldergrove) landed at “neutral”, and the country did not and the main Allied Airbase at Nutt’s Easkey with two crew. This particular publicly declare its support for any Corner near Aldergrove, Co. Antrim, aircraft was used as a target tug; an particular side during the war. Even and this was known as the Donegal aircraft which towed targets for the though Ireland remained neutral there Corridor. The bodies of the dead Allied purposes of gun or missile practice. were just over 200 recorded crashes airmen found along the Irish coast or The names of pilots were not recorded or forced landings in Ireland over the those that died in crash landings were as the crew only spoke briefly with 1939-45 period. Pilots of the German handed over at the border and were locals and it was only on the ground air force, the Luftwaffe, who crash- accompanied by an Guard for a few minutes before they took off landed in Ireland along with German of Honour, and some were buried in again. sailors who came ashore were all graves now maintained by the War interned in detention camps. At the Graves Commission. A considerable January 24 1941 start of the war, Allied crews, mainly number of crashes occurred either A Lockheed Hudson aircraft from British and Commonwealth airmen, side of the , the best RAF 233 Squadron, Aldergrove, were interned in some cases, but many known being that of Boeing B-17G- Co. Antrim made a forced landing were sent to the 15-BO Flying Fortress under call around 5.00pm in the townland of border where they returned to their sign ‘Gaza King’ of the US American Derk Beg, , having run low squadrons. This was most prevalent Air Force crashed into the side of on fuel. The Lockheed Hudson was during 1940 and 1941. As the war Tievebaun Mountain in north Co. Sligo an American-built light bomber progressed, and in particular with on December 9 1943. It was one of 40 and coastal reconnaissance aircraft the entry of America into the war, it aircraft being flown as a ‘ferry’ flight primarily operated by the RAF. None became clear that if Ireland interned from Goose Bay in north Canada to of the four crew were injured. RAF any serving United States personnel Prestwick, Scotland. Another example 233 squadron was a coastal command it would cause great embarrassment US Airforce Flying Fortress with the patrol aircraft and it had an encounter to the Irish government. From 1942 call sign of the ‘Devil Himself’ was over the Atlantic with a Luftwaffe onwards, a process was followed on a training mission, lost its course, Flying Boat. It suffered some damage whereby only those airmen flying ran out of fuel and force landed onto but the encounter caused the aircraft operational missions would be Mullaghmore Beach December 5 to lose its bearings leading to low-fuel interned, but even this was not strictly 1942. British and American repair levels. It landed in a field belonging followed as no members of the RAF’s crews travelled from Northern to Patrick Kilcullin and he, along with Coastal Command patrol aircraft were Ireland each day to try and fix the Peter Barrett a neighbour, were the interned during this later period of the plane’s engine, while the crew were first on the scene. They were joined war. Respective embassies had to pay accommodated in the Beach Hotel shortly after by Patrick McTernan, a for their keep, but towards the end in Mullaghmore and later brought to Local Defence Force man. They, along of the war, the German embassy was Finner Army Camp where they were with a number of others, including the unable to pay, so German internees housed for 17 days until their plane men of the Irish Coast Watch Service worked on local farms. was ready to fly again. And it took at Look Out Post (LOP) no 67 Many aircraft were being ferried off from Mullaghmore Beach. Strict and Rosskeragh LOP 68 had all seen across the North Atlantic and were wartime press censorship had the the aircraft circling over . flown by a mix of experienced and fresh effect of controlling any reaction to LOPs were constructed around the aircrew members along with civilian the war’s unfolding events but many entire Irish coastline, from Co. Louth employees of Ferry Command. This people from around the Easkey area to Malin Head in Co. Donegal, for was the aircraft ferry service that remember a number of the aircraft that use by the Coast Watching Service. delivered over 10,000 aircraft across crashed in the vicinity. Details below A total of 83 of these continually- the Atlantic Ocean mainly from bases are of the recorded incidents focusing manned observation stations were in Newfoundland, Canada, at a time on the region around Easkey and are built, each with a mission to relay when long range navigation was in its listed by date. all maritime and aerial activity to infancy. Over 500 aircrew died during Irish Military Intelligence, called

28 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

Laurence Rooney of Easkey reported that at 11.50am he went from Easkey with Garda Sergeant David Dempsey by bicycle to Killenduff. They went into John Maguire’s field at the back of the Seafield Hotel and saw it floating on the surface. He, and members of the Local Defence Force, searched the shoreline for survivors, to no avail. The Irish Military advised the British Authorities in Northern Ireland and at 3.05pm the British rescue boat, the Robert Hastie travelled from Lockheed Hudson (National Museum of the US Airforce, Public Domain) Killybegs to the scene of the reports G2. There were four LOPs in County was used as a VIP transport aircraft, and searched until 12.35am but Sligo: LOP 66 Lenadoon (Rathlee), often by the Eamon de nothing was found. The Robert Hastie Aughris; Rosskeragh and LOP 69 Valera. The original four crew were was a British manned vessel which Mullaghmore. The bomber had interned in the Curragh Camp in Co. was permitted to be stationed in the dropped four bombs out at sea, two Kildare and would have regularly harbour of Killybegs in Co. Donegal. miles south of Raghly Harbour, seen their old plane fly over them The body of Royal Canadian Air before making its landing. The crew from Baldonnell in the new Irish Air Force pilot Flight Lieutenant James asked Peter Barrett where were they, Corps colours. Three of the crew Constataris was discovered near as they thought they had crashed managed to escape from the Curragh. Drumbannon Point on the north coast in Scotland. After discovering they John William Shaw was later killed in of , near to the harbour were in the Free State three of them, action in June 1944 and Denys Welply of Killybegs six days later on Friday, leaving one crewman at the aircraft, was shot down in November 1944. 29 May 1942. His mess bill for went to Pat Scott’s pub and then on to Neither body was recovered. Roderick $4.45 from the base as Saskatoon, Skreen Garda station. While at Scott’s Cowper was taken Prisoner of War in Saskatchewan Province, Canada was pub, a local story says that there was a September 1941, having escaped from found in his pocket and provided his row between two drunken customers. Ireland in July 1941. identity. The British Authorities in One of the crew reportedly said he Northern Ireland and the Canadian hoped he can re-join the war as it May 23 1942 consulate in Dublin were informed was safer than the pub! Shortly after The aircraft involved in this particular and James Constabaris’ remains were they returned to their aircraft along crash was another Lockheed Hudson transferred across the border at Pettigo with Garda Sergeant Peter Byrne III patrol bomber, one of a batch on May 31, 1942. from Skreen. Two members of Irish of Hudson delivered between April Military Intelligence, G2, arrived and July 1942. It had departed from September 4, 1944 from Athlone, searched the aircraft Newfoundland and the crew consisted One story that is remembered well, in and confiscated the logbooks and the of Royal Canadian Air Force pilot, the area around Easkey and Aughris, two carrier pigeons that each aircraft James Constabaris, age 27; Royal Air is that of the forced landing of a Fairey had. A local un-named Volunteer from Force Volunteer Reserve navigator, Swordfish III from 811 Squadron, Aughris LOP accidentally let off the Kenneth Dyer, age 21 and Royal which had been temporarily based emergency dingy and blocked the Canadian Air Force Radio Operator, at the RAF Coastal Command at door escape, briefly trapping the G2 Donald Engemoen, age 19. Witnesses Limavady, Co. Derry. The Fairey men inside. saw the aircraft circle the area Swordfish was a torpedo bomber On landing it had managed to stop between and Easkey biplane that began life in the 1930s, after 20 metres but two of its propellers twice before reporting that it headed but remained in front-line service had been bent and the undercarriage towards the sea and landed in water until the end of the war primarily was down. An Irish Air Corps salvage around Carrownabinna Point, just as an anti-submarine aircraft. This team dug trenches into which the west of Easkey. The plane remained Swordfish, with its two-man crew, undercarriage was lowered and they on the surface for about 10mins, and Alan Arcus and Dennis Pender, had managed to repair the aircraft. An Aer then sank, 2 miles off Carrownabinna lost its bearings in bad weather while Lingus pilot then arrived and flew Point. The times of these sightings engaged in air-sea rescue work. The the plane from Kilcullin’s field to were recorded to have been around aircraft was seen over Downpatrick Baldonnell Aerodrome, Co. Kildare. 11:30 in the morning when it landed LOP at 7.10pm before it crash-landed It became Irish Air Corps No. 91 and and then sank before noon. Garda at 9.00pm. It landed in Foley’s Field

29 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 in Carrowcaslan near Skreen and had slammed into Stephan Foley’s hen house killing 30 chickens as well as damaging half an acre of cabbage. Mr Foley was at a funeral of his son at the time who tragically drowned with five others in Ballysadare. The plane crash report, including the fact Mr Foley was at his son’s funeral, was to appear in the following day but was censored. The henhouse was valued at £5 and the chickens at 7 shillings 6 pence each. All bills were sent to the British Department of Fairey Swordfish (Tony Hisgett, Creative Commons) Defence. The aircraft was dismantled Acknowledgements Further Reading and moved to Finner Camp, Co. Thanks to Carmel Gordon of Easkey, Burke, D. 2011-14 www.csn.ul.ie/~dan/ Donegal before it was handed over the Sergeant Kelly of the Irish Military war/crashes.htm. Accessed 23 June 2014 border to the RAF Northern Ireland at Archives and a special thanks to Dennis Irish Military Archives Aircraft Crashes Strabane on 10 September 1944. The Burke, originally from Cloonacool, Sligo G2/X/0645; 0806; 1013; 1098; 1107; 1338; 1366; 1373. crew members, Arcus and Pender, had Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo, whose excellent MacCarron, D. 2003 Landfall Ireland: been handed over to British authorities website http://www.ww2irishaviation. the story of Allied and German Aircraft at Belleek on 5 September 1944. com/ and thorough knowledge of WWII which came down in Éire in World War air crashes in Ireland were essential to this Two. Colourpoint Books, Newtownards. article. Sr Bridget Tighe Submited by Bernard Tansey Ballindoon Co Sligo Irish missionary, School of Economics. She launched Sr Bridget Tighe is unique in being the prestigious Margaret Beaufort the recipient of two prestigious public Institute of Theology in Cambridge recognition awards from her home in 1993 and served as vice rector country in 2018. of Tantur Ecumenical Institute in Sr Bridget was honoured with Jerusalem. Trócaire’s inaugural Romero Sr Bridget has served almost 40 International Award at a ceremony years in the Middle East and is in August 2018, in recognition of now General Director with Caritas her humanitarian work in Gaza Jerusalem. She has been working and the Middle East. The award with the beleaguered Palestinian commemorates the inspiring work communities in Gaza and Jerusalem of Blessed Romero, the late and has led the Caritas Jerusalem Archbishop of San Salvador, who medical centre in Gaza where the fought against poverty and repression population has suffered from repeated in his native El Salvador. England to study nursing at Whipp’s attacks by the Israeli military. Sr Bridget was also presented Cross Hospital in East London. She Based in the Holy Land, Caritas with a Presidential Distinguished entered the Franciscan Missionaries Jerusalem is a humanitarian and Service Award by President Michael of the Divine Motherhood at Ladywell development organisation that D Higgins in December 2018. The on 25 June 1965 and after being represents the socio-pastoral service award is a recognition of her 40 years professed she served Palestinian of the Catholic Church in Jerusalem. of ministry and service to the poor and refugees in Jordan as a nurse and It was founded in 1967 in the vulnerable in the Middle East. Midwife. She studied theology at aftermath of the Six-Day War, to By way of background, when she Cambridge University and specialised respond to the overwhelming needs of was 17, Bridget Tighe emigrated to in health economics at the London the Palestinian refugees.

30 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Townlands Revisited: The Keash/ Culfadda Townland Project by Steve Lemken

To remember. To be remembered. To not forget. To not be forgotten. To pass on communal knowledge. A welcome base of information to old and new friends and neighbors. The above thoughts are the guiding principle of a project taken on by a small group of residents, all volunteers in the South Co. Sligo townlands roughly corresponding with the villages of Keash and Culfadda. The project builds upon the work done by The Keash-Culfadda Local History Committee published in their 2001 From left: Noel Costello, Pat Lynch, Tom Dyer, John Cryan, Sean Connelly, book, “Keash and Culfadda: A Local Eddie Harte, Pat Ward, Joe Cullen History.” [Out of print.] The project’s seed was planted near and write the Keash/Culfadda history Noel Costello, another long time local 30 years ago when one local resident book. farmer and retired surveyor/architect. with deep roots in the area, Pat Ward, “They covered a good deal of the “Our event was a recreation of the a former shopkeeper and publican, local and social history, archaeology, mass meeting of the 1914 volunteers saw the forestry plantings in the area topograghy, oral histories and myths in a local field. Folks from each starting to overtake the old house sites of the area and more,” Ward said. townland gathered on the site and then and holdings of residents long gone “And before that book, there was marched to the Keash GAA field on and/or going. the Knockbrack and Templevanny Garland Sunday 2016. The committee “I got to thinking that no one would graveyard inventory projects, done by gathered up stories and photos for a remember where those sites would be, local students, listing the inscriptions commemorative booklet sold to cover or who lived in them, as the forests on the stones that could be read.” costs. The event was successful and started covering sites,” said Ward, who But spurring on this current several volunteers, wanting to do has a broad wealth of local knowledge project was the thinking that some more, got excited with the idea for stored in his memory about the area’s of the collective past wasn’t being this information gathering project. people and relationships. “I wasn’t passed on like in days not so long Our first meeting was at Keash Hall. sure how to begin but I did start gone by. Namely, the names and We shifted to Pat’s house for weekly writing down the information in bits interconnections of families down the meetings with no overhead to worry and pieces.” years and the small local names given about. Others were thinking along those to townland fields, hills, etc. “Ah sure “We started with mapping out lines as more and more people, family we had a powerful lot of information some tasks and looking at what print, seekers “from away” mostly, came to share about history and myths,” said online and people resources we could round the area seeking their roots Ward. “But we were forgetting the consult about the past,” Costello said. and any possible relations. “The late relations, tales and names of people “Each volunteer joining has particular Jim McGill, a local historian who going back from the 1901 and 1911 knowledge of their townlands and had a powerful knowledge of the Census and back beyond and those neighbors or other skills giving area, and I, found ourselves sending local names that give a townland its’ shape to the project’s needs, goals the visitors to each other when they own feeling.” and eventual product. Most of the were looking for information,” Ward “The current project took up in volunteers are gathering information said. Eventually, this activity and the earnest about three years ago when from their neighbors about land and feeling to get down some of the local another local committee came together other named features in a townland, history stirred enough local residents to put an event and a publication for like wells, fields, springs, house sites and academicians to come together the 1916 commemorations being - be they current dwellings, ruins encouraged round the country,” said or knocked houses. We especially 31 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

forgotten by most. All we can get and verify we’ll set down.” Another problem with the records, Costello explained, “is that most of the maiden names of the married women named in the Census records are not included. “Hence, by going back to the BMD sources, we are able to make a more accurate connections and From left: Steve Lemken, Joe Cullen, Pat Ward, Eddie Harter, Noel Costello, Pat Lynch, Kevin Cryan, Tom Dyer, John Cryan compilations of families,” he said. “Fathers and mothers and witnesses speak with residents who can make Tax records and other sources.” are often on the BMD records. And, family connections across a number This information is just the with the knowledge gained from of generations. Other committee beginning. The committee is still interviews with older residents, we members are scouring data sites on the working to get this first rendition up round the circle. Internet and published print resources, on an Internet site later this year or “Will we be 100 percent accurate?” typing up information and gathering early next year. Web site and print Costello mused. “Maybe not, but we or taking photographs.” references will be included for users then will count on the users to help The work is ambitious and specific. to follow up. us correct the record through their “To guide us, we are using a map of the Next, the online listings of births, own knowledge and research. On parish of Keash & Culfadda showing marriages and deaths [BMD] are the whole, we believe we’ll come the older civil parishes of Drumrat, also being recorded, starting with close to being able to tell where folks Toomour and part of Kilshalvy,” said the earliest recordings from the lived. Now, those who’ve moved out Costello. The map is based on the 1860s. “This part is a slow process,” of the area will not be tracked, but if Ordanance Survey 1 inch townland Costello said, “because the scanned they moved within it, you should find index map and included in the Keash/ handwritten online records can be them.” Users will be encouraged to Culfadda history book on page 87. hard to read. In addition, the localities explore the original records online to A copy of the map, drawn by Fr. often give just old, now unused local get the full picture of their ancestor’s Thomas Connolly, hangs in the Fox’s place names. We’ll capture as many family. Den in Keash. “We use a number of as possible with the old and new place In addition, the information held by other local OSI maps I had from my names and add to the first information the Valuation Office in Dublin, not working days” sheets.” available online, is now being looked A townland information sheet “These records are also where at and this will be another resource to outline, with a map of the specific we will make the family inter- tell genealogists, historians and other townland, was designed so that the connections from at least the Griffith researchers what land their ancestors information could be typed in under Valuations names to the 1901 and worked and lived on. specific heading. 1911 Census records,” Ward said. Carrying on, the committee is also “We’ll include every person and Of great assistance to sorting those reviewing the Ordnance maps to pin family we can find in the 80 plus connections are the very good point each family home site named in townlands as far back as possible up memories of the committee members the Griffith’s and Census records. to the 1911 Census and a bit beyond,” of the nick-names of families and “We’ve all been making frequent Costello said. “Various sites on individuals. The committee spend trips around the townlands, visiting the Internet are the first sources. many a meeting just sussing out each sites to get a better idea of the current We’re copying names from the Tithe of the same named families. Applotments [records of renters taxed Ward said, “That’s part of the to pay Church of Ireland fees in the process and the many bits and pieces late 1820’s into the 1830s], the renters each committee member gets by and landlords listed in the 1850s talking with people in their homes, Griffith’s valuation recordings, all alongside the road or at the local pubs individuals listed in the 1901 and 1911 is a help. There is a lot of knowledge Ireland Census for those townlands, not noted in the records and only people in parish sources from Diocese relations or neighbours know where of Achonry from the 1840s on up, say - a child - was reared or who else and old estate records. We included was living in a home and not recorded owners listed in the 1656-58 Down between the record keeping. The Survey maps. We’ll look at the Hearth same for names of the wee spots long John Cryan Pat Lynch Joe Cullen

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for work outside of their expertise, The Civil Records of Births, primarily in work involving web Marriages and Deaths are Ireland’s site development and other tasks as official records. Note dates covered determined. on the Website. Interested? We would love to have you and your knowledge to assist this Church records project. Please contact: https://registers.nli.ie Noel Costello: Mob. 086 161 3456 https://churchrecords.irishgenealogy. Kevin Cryan and Tom Dyer Email. [email protected] ie/churchrecords/ Roman Catholic lay of the land,” Costello said. “At or Pat Ward: Mob. 087 909 3453 Original parochial registers (i.e. a later stage we should be able to Additional - resources for readers used baptisms, marriages and burials) of include the names of those people by the Keash/Culfadda Townland the Roman Catholic Church remain living at each ‘home place’ over many Project committee. with the relevant parishes. Microfilm years and put a GPS coordinate on copies of original parochial registers the site so visitors can ‘find’ their Online Web Sites are available at the National Library ancestral home or land.” The following resources sites have of Ireland (NLI) for most Roman “The point is to get the history of been used in the Keash/Culfadda Catholic parishes in Ireland for the people and places of the Keash and Townland Information Sheet years up to 1880. Some cases up to Culfadda townlands from as many development. More will be added in 1900. These microfilms are digitised people and other sources as possible, the online work as they are accessed. and available to view online for free now, before people pass on,” said The National Archives has developed on the NLI’s Catholic Parish Register Ward, “and to make familiar to current a Genealogy website to facilitate website. locals, visiting family genealogists, access to digitised collections that http://www.nationalarchives.ie/ historians and others to this local are useful to family and local history article/records-birth-marriage-death/ history. We see the project as ongoing, research. Access to these records is to be added to over the years, long free of charge. All of these collections Church of Ireland after we are gone, so that the history have been indexed and are searchable A list of all Church of Ireland parish remains a living part of being here and by name and location. registers, indicating whether they talked about.” http://www.nationalarchives.ie/ survive and where they are held, is The committee invites anyone with genealogy/our-genealogy-website/ available in the National Archives local townland knowledge to contact Many other useful links https://www. and also on the website of the RCB them. They also request anyone with irishgenealogy.ie/en/useful-links Library. The names and addresses old photographs of by-gone sites and The Down Survey of Ireland http:// of the clergy are given in the annual places to lend them for copying and downsurvey.tcd.ie/index.html Church of Ireland Directory. inclusion for the eventual website. Taken in the years 1656-1658, this https://www.ireland.anglican. Any written records or tales people is the first ever detailed land survey org/search?query=Parish+re may hold that can be viewed and on a national scale anywhere in the cords+births+death+marriag shared are also welcome. New world. The survey measured land to es http://www.nationalarchives. members are also very welcome. be forfeited by the Catholic Irish to ie/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/ facilitate redistribution to Merchant COIPARISHREGISTERS.pdf Members of the Keash/Culfadda Adventurers and English soldiers. Griffith’s Valuation and related source Townland Project Committee: Tithe Applotment Books sites Sean Connelly Seafin http://titheapplotmentbooks. http://www.askaboutireland.ie/ Noel Costello Greenan nationalarchives.ie/search/tab/home. griffith-valuation/index.xml http:// John Cryan Tonaponra jsp www.askaboutireland.ie/reading- Kevin Cryan Derragolagh These are a vital source for room/history-heritage/irish- Joe Cullen Toomour genealogical research for the pre- genealogy/ Tom Dyer Drumnaganshy Famine period, given the loss of the These records provide names of Eddie Harte Sraigh 1821-51 Census records. Compiled renters and land owners, acreage and Michael Higgins Derragolagh between 1823 and 1837 to determine more. Published between 1847 and Steve Lemken Rooskey Beg the amount which occupiers of land 1864. One of the most important of Pat Lynch Brougher over one acre should pay in tithes to Irelan’s genealogical resources. See Pat Ward Sr. Knockoconnor the Church of Ireland. who lived in your townland in the mid-19th Century. All members are volunteers, with Civil Records time and labor donated. Funding or https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ Ordnance Survey further donated labour will be sought churchrecords/civil-search.jsp The committee makes extensive use

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tradition were compiled by pupils from 5,000 primary schools in the between 1937 and 1939.

https://www.duchas.ie/en/info https://www.irelandsown.ie/the-old- age-pension-scam/ Noel Costello and Pat Lynch Steve Lemken and Pat Ward Ireland Reaching Out site of the (OSI), reminders. Learn of the monuments For making connections in the county which has evolved from the Ordnance in your area via the Archaeological or parish your ancestor lived in - or Survey Office established in 1824. Survey of Ireland. Go to https:// where you think he/she lived, go on OSI continues its public service www.archaeology.ie and look for the and sign up at Ireland Reaching Out - function of creating and maintaining Historic Environment Viewer . this site leads to a community of folks the definitive mapping records of the working to connect all State and much more. https:// www. Valuations with their place of origin. osi.ie Looking for more about properties? We’ve made extensive use. Explore See the Valuation’s Office web site https://www.irelandxo.com the Geohive site within the OSI site. at http://www.valoff.ie/en/archive- You can use the tools to see a map research/genealogy/ Recommended book: your townland and house sites. Ireland Placename Database Project Tracing Your Irish Ancestors: The The committee has OSI permission Information Complete Guide 5th Edition by John for use of the maps. http://map. Grenham See description on geohive.ie/mapviewer.html The Place Names Database Amazon. of Ireland is a comprehensive One explanation about ages in the The Public Record Office of Northern management system for data, archival Census Ireland (PRONI) records and place names research One last site: About the Act passed www.proni.gov.uk conducted by the State. in 1908 to help people get a pension. Site for Northern Ireland records, logainm.ie It helps to explain some of the including landlord Co. Sligo estate discrepancies in ages between the records [i.e. Gore-Booth] The Schools’ Collection 1901 and 1911 Census. Approximately 740,000 pages https://www.irelandsown.ie/the-old- Ancient monuments in townlands (288,000 pages in the pupils’ original age-pension-scam/-30- County Sligo is long inhabited, and exercise books; 451,000 pages in the folks who lived here left many bound volumes) of folklore and local The Circle of Life By Bernie Gilbride

Smiling as l remember the scene before for planting for shelter. It took a few only the rooms in use. me in the old photo album. A small years before we realised too many had As I look around me now - it has boy about three years old in a wheel been planted!!! become the home of my dreams - barrow. The small face beaming, very The apple trees five in all, two eaters, a bit old fashioned no doubt - in its mucky, he is being pushed to shelter two cookers and a desert apple were furniture, carpets, and heavy velvet from the sudden squally shower. what l was most interested in, having curtains, walls papered (should be The wheel barrow, cement encrusted spent my own youth playing under five painted the family tell me) but l like from years of use on building sites. such trees, and now anticipating the wallpapered rooms, warmer, more The lad - wellies, raincoat and hat, pleasure of seeing them in blossom, colourful, interesting, even cosy. much the worse for wear, showing watching the fruit develop from tiny The boy, a man, a father,a grandfather lots of mud from the path being laid bud to full blown apple. - still smiling, often beaming as of around the house. long ago, as he recounts the foibles We have just moved in and lots of Where have all the years gone? of his grandchildren. The wheel has site works are still ongoing. Gardens A lovely brand new house, bare come full circle. being dug, plants ready for planting, walls, bare rooms, just the absolute a big bundle of fair sized trees ready essentials, even curtained windows in

34 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Sligo Oysters Flown to Asia By Garreth Byrne

If you go on holiday or business Sligo was a thriving sea port sailing classroom. Then he began seriously trips to Hong Kong, Shanghai or ships brought Lissadell oysters in growing oysters. Guangzhou, you might like to treat special brine containers to London for yourself to a traditional expensive gourmet consumption in fashionable Ballisodare Oysters seafood dish like shark fin soup, or restaurants. The oyster industry in Ballisodare vitamin-rich seaweed soup, or stir- Business declined in the 1930s but Bay has a colourful history and began fried giant prawns with noodles. But in 1986 Gigas oysters (scientific name quite by accident. Noelle Middleton there is something salty you are more Crassostrea gigas) were introduced who died aged 89 in 2016, was a familiar with if the other dishes sound to the bay by the current producers. successful Irish actress and BBC too exotic for your delicate palate. I The Gore-Booths have left Lisadell presenter in London in the 1950s. Born refer to fresh Sligo oysters, marketed and Wild Atlantic Oysters are now in Ballisodare in 1926, she was the under the brand name Wild Atlantic supplied by several entrepreneurial only daughter of Wilbur Middleton, Oysters, carefully packaged and families based in County Sligo. Bord a wealthy mill owner with family airfreighted from Ireland. In a Hong Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Bord Bia links to the Yeatses. (W.B. Yeats spent Kong or Shanghai hotel restaurant (the food export authority) play key childhood holidays in Sligo on account you may pay a steep price for a plate roles in quality control, environmental of these conections, with profoundly of Wild Atlantic Oysters, but along monitoring, the provision of scientific poetic results in later life.) After with many of the newly rich citizens and financial supports, and the obtaining her degree from Trinity who have benefited from modern identification of export markets. College Noelle Middleton became China’s economic boom, you will The scientific input into the revival involved in the theatre and played at be enhancing a niche aspect of Irish of oyster cultivation in Sligo Bay the Gate when Micheál MacLiammóir marine food exports. owes much to enlightened research was a key figure, before going to Sligeach is the Gaelic name for and collaboration in the early 1970s London. In London she acted and Sligo, sometimes translated as the between the Shellfish Research became a radio presenter for the BBC. Shelly River. Shellfish of various Programme at University College But news about a stormy Force 12 species have been abundant since Galway and the U.K. Ministry of gale in Sligo called her back to check ancient times along the banks of the Fisheries. Oyster stock was sourced on a family boathouse overshadowed River Garavogue and the extensive from British Columbia, where marine by . The boathouse was estuary that extends out into the conditions were similar to the Atlantic wrecked but Noelle decided to stay. Atlantic Ocean. Fishing has always coast of Ireland. She purchased 30,000 seed oysters been done along the winding coastline, The oysters cultivated in this from a hatchery in Wales and set up helped by natural bays and harbours area are sourced from a local oyster her oyster farm in Ballisodare Bay. like Raughly, Sligo Bay, Streedagh hatchery run by Kevin O’Kelly in The business thrived and she never and beautifully situated Mullaghmore. Drumcliffe Bay. It is one of only a few returned to London theatre or radio. Oyster farming is a niche marine hatcheries in Ireland. Tiny live shells Historically several other coastal industry in suitable parts of the are transferred gingerly to wire mesh areas of Ireland have shellfish farming undulating Sligo, Mayo and Donegal nets on sunken metal trestles slightly and harvesting traditions. coastlines. Licensed oyster beds are offshore, where daily tidal ebb and Clew Bay was an ideal part of found today in Ballisodare Bay, in flow cover, nourish and expose the Mayo for oyster development in the Sligo estuary and in Drumcliffe among maturing oysters to salty wind and early 19th century. A species called other locations along the Wild Atlantic sunshine. Ostrea Edulis, also widespread in Way. A company with a packaging One of the founding members of other coastal parts of Europe, found plant in Lissadell, an estate associated Wild Atlantic Oysters, Charlie Kelly sheltered bays and estuaries in Ireland with the Gore-Booth family and W.B. from just outside of Sligo town, started hospitable. Oyster dredging in the Yeats, now exports live Wild Atlantic farming clams and oysters in 1986 in 1830s provided gainful employment Oysters to France and Hong Kong. Lissadell. He spent childhood family to many and in the late 19th century Lissadell Oyster farming dates back holidays in Mullaghmore, and during six million native oysters a year were to the 1860s when the Gore-Booth student holidays tried lobster fishing exported by ship and train to the family of Countess Markievicz created and recreational inshore fishing. British market. a huge sub-tidal bed, growing native After training as a teacher he went In 1595 Poolbeg in Dublin was oysters in Drumcliffe Bay. When into fish merchandising instead of the prepared by the Dublin Corporation

35 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 for the planting of junior oysters. Irish oysters include France, Italy and poses a problem. Workers who In 1838 the oyster beds at Clontarf Spain. In recent years Asia has started brave wet windy weather to keep the were carefully stocked with oysters to emerge as a growing market. industry going need protection and from the USA and France. This Science and environmental remuneration. brief information on Dublin oyster monitoring will continue to play a Garreth Byrne lives in retirement cultivation puts the West of Ireland vital role in maintaining the Irish in Dromahair, where he is a member situation in a national historical oyster industry in which Sligo, of Dromahair Heritage Group. He context. Mayo and Donegal have played an taught English in 5 cities of mainland Traditional continental markets for important role. Over harvesting China, but never ate oysters there. Newspaper Articles 1881 Submitted by Padraig Doddy This article is taken from The him for a similar offence. From the From the evidence of Mrs. Culligan, Champion and Sligo News (The Sligo evidence of Mrs. Gaffney and her Mrs. Sharkey and Mrs. Morrison, it Champion) August 13th, 1881. mother, Mrs. McDermott (nee Doddy), appeared that on the date in question it appears that on the date mentioned Mrs. Sharkey was in her own garden Ballymote Petty Sessions her father was in an excited state, and and Mrs. Culligan in her mother’s (Mrs. Thursday on coming into the house he demanded Morrison’s) garden. Mrs. Sharkey (Before Captain J.O. Gage, R.M.) stimulants, which were refused. He was in the act of doing something to in chair. G.A. Molony,, R.M.; R.A. then got so excited that he upset the Mrs. Morrison’s cabbage when she Duke, and A. Perceval, J.P.) shop and kitchen furniture. A general was seen by Mrs. Culligan. Then There were over forty cases entered melee then ensued, resulting in the the tongues were let loose on both for hearing, but the majority were of rejection of Luke from the premises. sides, and several names of a nasty minor importance. After a long hearing, their worships character were called on all sides. dismissed both cases. However, according to evidence, ALLEGED ASSAULT there was no assault proved. Captain Luke McDermott v. Mrs. Gaffney ANOTHER ASSAULT Gage, addressing the defendants, said The complainant and defendant in Mrs. Culligan summoned Mrs. he would adjourn the cases for three this case are father and daughter and Sharkey for assaulting her on the months. In the meantime, if any other hail from Bunninadden. Plaintiff 8th June. Mrs. Sharkey had a cross case cropped up he would send them charged his daughter with assaulting case against Mrs. Culligan for a all to prison. him on the 20th of July, and the similar offence. Both parties are daughter had a cross case against neighbours and reside at Newtown. John Taaffe Submitted by Padraig Doddy John Taaffe (i) of Ballinaglough, John Taaffe (iv) S.P of Glenesk born died on 8 th July 1853. His only Ballymote living 1774. c.1817. Married and a son was born daughter Charlotte married Edward His wife was Mary Irwin, Clan of 1856. Pollock (Solicitor) in 1841. Jones-Irwin His estates of Drumraine and Glenesk John West’s tenants in 1844 were Their son John Taaffe (ii), described for sale In Londid Estates Court in Michael Davey as a kinsman of Francis Taaffe – who 1856/1857 Thomas Hannon had 2 sisters John Taaffe Obituary, Sandymount, Michael Redican Hannah married Henry Irwin Co. Dublin, 1878 Pat Grey Joan married Reverend Charles West In 1912/1915 Irish land Commission Henry Doddy John Taaffe (ii) appears to have died acquired Drumraine (205 acres) and in Sligo Town, 1840 other Taaffe properties from Dr. John There was a School in Ballinaglough John Taaffe (iii) of Drumraine (parish Frederick Taaffe – presumably a under the patronage of John West in of Cloonoghill, near Ballymote descendent of John Taaffe. which there are 110 children. There and of Glenesk, Lough Talt was also a Hedge School of about 50 (NearTubbercurry). 1845 Married The last landlord that lived in children Julia Trafford of Straffordshire Ballinaglough was John West Esq., Source: Bethams Genealogical Abstracts

36 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Rise and the Demise of the Thatched Cottage by Micheál Murphy

Up until the middle of the 19th the gable wall and provided some heat century, rural dwellings in the west for the occupants in winter. were little more than hovels. Tenant All materials for the construction farmers had no security of tenure of these houses were sourced locally. and improvements to their dwellings Stone for the walls was collected from invariably resulted in an increase in a local quarry or from field clearance the rent demanded by the landlord. gathered over many years. Sometimes The Land Acts of the 1880s granted existing buildings were demolished farmers more security, and a general to provide raw material. A kiln of improvement in the standard of living limestone was burned to supply the accommodation followed. Many new lime to make mortar. The purest of thatched cottages were constructed the resulting quick-lime was slaked and in west Sligo and Mayo practically by soaking it in a pit where it became all followed the same design. Each hydrated to make a sticky product, consisted of just two rooms. The calcium hydroxide. This was mixed principal room which served as the with sand to make a lime mortar kitchen and living area had a large open which gives greater flexibility to fireplace and a bed alcove, known as stone joints than modern cement. The the outshot or the hag, built into the durability of such lime mortars has rear wall near the fireplace. The bed been well proven. They were used in this kitchen alcove was generally in the construction of 10th century reserved for the grandparents. The round towers and abbeys and even second room, which had a fireplace in the pyramids of Egypt, some of backing up to the kitchen fire, was the which have stood for more than four family bed room. Up until the turn of thousand years. Rough plan of typical 19th Century the 20th century, the lower end of the The choice of site for a new Cottage. living room also housed the few cattle cottage was mainly determined by its permission had to obtained not from that the farmer owned. These valued proximity to a water supply such as a the local authority but from the fairies! possessions of the family were tied to well, a river or a stream. That settled, Superstition or pisreogaí decreed that four stones had to be placed and left in position overnight at the site of the four corners of the house. Any discommoded fairies would express their displeasure by moving the stones away and nobody would risk their wrath by blocking their pathway. Stories abound of such stones being displaced by local pranksters too but the would-be builder had no option but to select a new site.

Construction In general, traditional thatched cottages in the west were built to roughly standard dimensions, with internal measurements of 36 feet Cottage at Hennigan’s Heritage, Killasser, Co. Mayo. in length by 12 feet in width. The

37 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 external walls were 18 inches thick. (Note: 1 foot = 12 inches = 30.48cm). A much thicker wall was built about 12 feet from one gable and it divided the cottage into a main bedroom and a larger living-room cum kitchen. It also accommodated back to back fire-places, a large one fitted with a crane for hanging cooking pots in the kitchen and a smaller one in the family bedroom. The annex or outshot in the kitchen extended out about 4 feet and was 6 feet long. Once the foundation trench was dug, it was filled with stone and mortar to ground level. Then the stone mason built up the walls to a height of about 8 feet with layers View of the roof construction from below with rafter, rough cross beams and the scraws supported by short pieces of bog timbers. of stone and mortar, strengthening the structure with specially dressed machine. It was advisable also to Once the roof was completed, the quoins on the corners. When the treat straw intended for thatching with rooms were each fitted with a small two gables reached a height of about bluestone solution which protected it window and the kitchen/living room 8 feet and the chimney was built up, against moulds or even maggots that had two doors sited directly opposite roofing began. Bog oak or ash was attract jackdaws and other vermin. each other. Sometimes the front door the preferred timber for the rafters or The thatch was held in place with was divided so it could be closed as couples. When cutting turf, beams of scollops1 or rods of willow or sallow, a half door. This had the benefit of bog oak might be discovered under the locally known as sally, cut in 3 foot allowing more light and ventilation blanket of bog. These are extremely lengths and pointed at each end. but also kept poultry and small farm durable and were carefully extracted The thatcher bent them in U-shapes animals out. The living room floor and stored for construction purposes. before thrusting them down to secure was paved with flag-stones while the (The location of hidden bog deal the straw in place. Most families grew bedroom usually had a mortar floor. and bog oak is sometimes indicated sallys in the garden for thatching and Finally the walls were smoothed off in places in a bog where frost or ice basket making. Sallys have the ability with lime mortar and whitewashed melts quickly). The rafters, placed to regenerate themselves every year. internally and externally. about 3 feet apart were overlaid with lighter timbers which were secured with wooden pegs. The next step was the covering of the rafters with scraws or heath covered sods cut from the surface of the bog. These were stitched in place with home-made straw ropes (súgáin) or sometimes with ropes twisted from strips of bog deal. The thatching process began with an under layer of straw or sometimes rushes. The upper layer of thatch was usually rye straw, because rye was stronger and grew taller than oats or barley. The rye was harvested with a scythe and the grain removed by scutching or hitting the seed heads of the sheaves against a stone so as not to damage the straw. I have seen the sheaves of rye to be used for thatching being carefully inserted into a thresher and removed quickly before the straw was damaged in the Scollop cut, pared and bent ready for securing the thatch.

38 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

The Congested Districts Board condition that he build an outhouse front of the door and substitute a neat (CDB) so his cattle could be removed from yard or garden surrounded by a well- Up to the middle of the 20th century the dwelling and also to have the built wall, then it seems to me that the such thatched cottages were common manure pit moved to a safe distance £1 repays itself times without number, throughout the west. Large families, from the house. Once the cattle were outside the money value, in the social with division and subdivision of rehoused, a wall or a wooden partition education of the man and his family”. small holdings, demanded that many was erected to section off the lower The CDB continued with its cottages had to be built to house new end of the living room thus providing good work of promoting “self- families. These were clustered in a second bedroom. Sometimes a loft help” among the poor tenants of the little villages or clachans where each was built over this room which could west until the Irish Free State was household shared close kinship with be accessed by ladder. This provided formed in 1922. After that, its duties its neighbours and many shared the extra storage capacity and bed space were distributed among various same family name. It was not unusual too for the older children. government departments, chiefly the for each of these families to have more From 1912 onwards grants and Land Commission. It can be argued than 10 children all reared in a tiny 2 loans were awarded for the erection of that no other government agency did room cottage. Family size, together houses with a thatched or corrugated as much to lift the living standards of with rack rents and over-reliance on iron roof and at least 2 bedrooms and people of the west and raise them from the potato as a food source contributed a kitchen. The maximum grant for this the plagues of famine, poverty and to conditions of severe poverty. was £5. Later grants were given for disease as did the Congested Districts In 1891 the Congested Districts 3-room slated houses. The basic type Board in its thirty years of existence. Board (CDB) was set up which had cost £ 82 assuming that the farmer 1Scollop from the Irish, scolb, a among its objectives the improvement provided the unskilled labour, while a thatching rod, as in the well known of the living conditions of tenant 2-storey, 3-room house cost £186. seanfhocal: Ní hé lá na gaoithe lá na farmers. The CDB provided grants The success of the CDB can be scolb i.e. the windy day is not the day to farmers to improve their holdings summed up by a statement from for thatching. without fear of incurring penalties in the Board itself: “A spirit of rivalry Sources used for Congested Districts the form of increased rent. A Parish in cleanliness, in agriculture, and Board Committee Scheme was established domestic progress is being stirred up Mansion House Relief Fund, Dublin City in 1897 consisting of the clergy in localities which have been almost Library, Pearse St., Dublin and 6 residents of the parish to be impossible to get at in anyway hitherto Congested Districts Board for Ireland by William L. Micks, in Mayo County elected by landholders. A tenant attempted. Where a grant of £1 or £1- Library, Castlebar who wished to improve his holding 10-0 will induce a man to move his “Self help among the Western Congests”, could apply to the committee for a cows out of the dwelling house, build essay by Sir Henry Doran, in The Voice of grant which would only be given on a byre, move the manure heap from in Ireland (1922)

An Historical Tale

By Bernie Gilbride

As she climbs the stairs in Parkes It had been seized by O’Rourke and The O’Rourke estate had been given Castle she thought of all the people the other Irish Chieftains in reprisal to Sir Roger Parke, an English planter, that had climbed similar stairs over for the elopement. Thus starting the in 1610 as part of the plantation of the centuries in the old . invasion of lreland by the Normans. Leitrim. It was he who built the Castle Before Roger Parke had been given Centuries later, in 1591, Brian using the stones from the O’Rourke the land, the old Tower House of the O’Rourke, who had been knighted by Tower House in that process. By lrish Chieftain O’Rourke’of Breiffne, the English Monarchy, was captured 1628 the Castle was completed. So had stood here for centuries. and brought to London. Tried and this estate has played a large part in In the 12th century Dervorgilla, hanged for treason for sheltering the history of lreland. Dervorgilla wife of the then Chieftain--Tiernan Captain De Cuellar of the Spanish was first recorded to have fled the O’Rourke, had eloped with Dermot Armada, who had been shipwrecked Tower House in approx. 1167. McMurrough, High King of Leinster, off the Sligo coast at Streedagh, Standing in what she assumed who invited the Normans to come to during the Spanish Armada attempted would have been the main bedroom, lreland to help him regain his kingdom. invasion of England. overlooking the lake, on the first floor 39 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 of the castle, on that brilliant summer lrish people. Down all those years seaside Strandhill, Bundoran, or even day, a shiver ran down her spine, as they never surrendered, though losing Streedagh had held their holiday she thought of the bravery of that lady their lands and homes, and being home. all those centuries ago when such forced into a kind of slavery over all Going outside to the enclosed court events were unheard of and women those centuries. yard to walk the battlements, she seldom left their homes. Travelling A boat distracts her thoughts as it stood remembering she had been told was then a major event. Bad roads, approaches the slipway beside the that part of the original foundations of no motorised transport (then a mote in castle and she decides to go down the old O’Rourke Tower House had God’s eye) centuries into the future. stairs to explore the courtyard, been discovered while laying that She tries to visualise Dervorgilla battlements, and gardens. Also to see yard --giving her an eerie feeling that History has not given a description the ‘sauna’ she had heard so much such things could be brought to light of her or of her husband Tiernan about, situated on the lake shore, after so long. O’Rourke. directly under the castle, and used by The battlements lived up to all Standing in the sunlight, she tries the occupants of the castle down the her hopes and expectations. The to recall the history she had learned centuries, with a swim afterwards in security they afforded the family in of that period. She sees, in her the icy cold water of the lake, their those turbulent times was remarkable mind’s eye, a young woman, elegant, answer to our ‘shower’ from them could be seen anyone beautiful, with long nut brown hair, For over two centuries, the Castle or anything approaching the Castle living in this lovely place overlooking had lain in ruins. Following on the by land or water. The views were Lough Gill, miles from anywhere. death by drowning of two young magnificent surrounded by mountains: Perhaps married to a much older grandchildren –Robert and Magie -of O’Rourke table mountain, Ben Bulbin man, chosen by her father as was the Roger Parke, while out boating, in in all its glory and the southern aspect custom in those days and with whom 1677, the remaining girl Ann married protected by Lough Gill. she had nothing in common. Time Sir Francis Gore of Sligo. Thus The gardens were large, with leafy was passing and she must have felt leaving the castle to fall into disrepair walks, a haven of nature, where she life was passing her by. Enter Dermot after the death of her parents. could hear the birds singing and gentle McMurrough, King of Leinster, a Recently restored, by the Office of waves washing on the rocky shore. faraway province. Their attraction Public Works in 1970, using lrish oak, She thought again of Dervorgilla, is mutual. They fall in love, and and old methods of workmanship as in and wondered if in her later years, after an affair lasting two years she the original Tower House, she delights she remembered the beauty of this decides to leave her husband and in the feeling of space, the thickness tranquil place and perhaps even elope with Dermot, to a new life. The of the walls, the lovely oak stairs and missed it. Realising her thoughts had consequences of her leaving did not the magnificent views over the lake. come full circle, she made her way to matter to her. She could not know With its fortifications it must have the waiting coach, vowing to research O’Rourke would decide to wage war been a comfortable, safe house to live as much as possible of the O’Rourke and try to bring her back. in. Chieftains’ history, the social living of This is what he actually did and the She felt sure the Parke family era 1169. Also Dervorgilla’s family only help McMurrough could get was enjoyed boating on the lake, and and her background. from across the lrish Sea. That help swimming in its waters. Its level Realising how uninterested she came readily from King Henry 11 of lawn was ideal for all sorts of games, had been about this history, in her England. He had been waiting for an with its high walls providing shelter, own backyard, while busy exploring appropriate time to invade lreland and warmth and protection. This same Grecian and Roman culture of McMurrough’s request offered him lawn would have seen many family faraway places all over Europe, she a wonderful opportunity. Not being gatherings on Summer evenings down chided herself for her neglect. free to go himself he sent Strongbow, the centuries, weddings, christenings, Sligo Library, with its collection of to whom McMurrough promised his all sorts of celebrations ancient Sligo history, would be her first eldest daughter Aoife in marriage and Where did they Honeymoon in stop. Then Google her next source of the right to succession of the kingdom those days, she wondered? information. Modern technology with of Leinster on his own death. She really must look up the social its invaluable knowledge of ancient Strongbow landed in Waterford history of that time She knew they histories and cultures, at the flick of in 1169 and so began the Norman did not travel too far for holidays. a switch, would surely help reveal all, occupation of lreland which was to Even the Continental Royals, usually she hoped. continue for over 700 years, with had summer houses within reasonable many wars and much hardship for the distances, so perhaps the nearest

40 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Elphin: An Enigmatic Saint By Padraic Feehily

A cursory reference in an English He came to the conclusion he was journal to a girls’ school near Elfwin (Aelfwine) a nephew of King Manchester called Saint Elphin’s Oswald of Northumbria from 633 to called upon the writer to make contact 642. with a former governor of the school, The second reason for the a gentleman - it transpired with a predominance of this theory that special interest in Saint Elphin: the Saint Elphin was a Saxon Saint was Reverend Cannon J.O. Colling former a more general one. The Victorians Dean of Warrington. were very much pro-Anglo-Saxon According to Cannon Colling and did not attach much importance “Warrington Parish Church, as far as to the Celts believing that the Anglo- I know, is the only parish church in Saxons when they arrived, destroyed the world dedicated to Saint Elphin. the old Roman-British communities The only other place of worship altogether. Recent work by historian dedicated to Saint Elphin is the chapel Nora Chadwick has shown this was at Saint Elphin’s School, Darley Dale not the case. The Victorians were Derbyshire, but this derives from prejudiced against the Celtic church, a Warrington where the school was prejudice going back to the historian: founded for clergy daughters’ in 1844. Venerable Bede and a prejudice Built originally next to Warrington existed in in favour of the Church of Parish Church, the school moved to England which was planted by Saint St Elphin’s Church, Warrington Derbyshire in 1904.” Augustine and his successors. Who was this Saint Elphin? So it was that Victorian historians The story of the diocese of Elphin “His name does appear in the new identified Saint Elphin with Elfwin begins with the arrival of Saint Patrick Oxford Dictionary of the Saints nephew of Saint Oswald King of in the fifth century, when tradition tells published in 1979. It would seem Saint Northumbria. us he made his historic crossing of the Elphin was one of those Reverenced In the inaugural lecture of the Shannon into Connacht and began the locally by the Christian community. Warrington church history society in process of evangelisation. There are many such saints in the 1980 Dr Ian Sellars lecturer in history Ail-Finn or Oil-Find and in Latin history of the church especially in of the North Cheshire College, boldly e1phinum, Elphinium. Ail Finna the old Celtic churches of the West of states that in his opinion “Elphin was Elphinensis and Saxum Lucid I England, Wales and Ireland.” without any doubt …a Saint of the old fontis (the rock of the clear spring) What other evidence exists about Celtic church”. He drew attention to are variants of the early usage of the Saint Elphin, and in so far as it recent work of scholars…. which has name: Elphin. has survived, has been discovered given us a much clearer picture of the The beginnings of Irish Christianity according to Canon Colling. ancient Romano – British Church and are surrounded by all those questions According to him “There is only shows that the old Celtic Kingdoms which relate to a society emerging one reference to Saint Elphin of stretching from Cornwall, through from prehistory, having only come Warrington in the ancient sources and Wales, across the North and up into into contact with literate civilization that is in Domesday Book of 1086. Scotland were more Christian and beyond its borders; the early Irish This entry in Domesday Book tells stable that we had imagined them to church has proved a rich quarry. us that there was a well-established be. Dr Sellars pointing to the number References continue to be made to church in Warrington in 1086 and of Celtic place names surviving in the the Age of Saints. This notion was that it was dedicated to Saint Elphin. area, is convinced that Saint Elphin given added life by the writings of It is only with the Victorian revival was a missionary from the old Celtic Fr John Ryan, a Jesuit scholar with of interest in medievalism that Saint Missionary Centre at Bangor-on-Dee. encyclopaedic knowledge of the Elphin re-appears as the patron of This Missionary Centre flourished hagiography of the early church. Warrington.” from about 600AD onwards and Not even here is there any evidence One leading Warrington historian missionaries were sent from here or speculative reference to a Saint Dr James Kendrick wrote a paper to support the faith of the Romano- Elphin. entitled “Saint Elphin who was he”. British and also to convert the heathen 41 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

Anglo-Saxons. up in Cardiganshire called “Bordd woman and a Celtic Saint of the early Dr Sellars is sure that Saint Gwÿry Gogtedd” which means “The 7th Century. Elphin of Warrington was a Celtic Descent of the man of the North”. missionary saint who converted this It describes how Elphin made his Perhaps the last word should be area to Christianity or who supported way from somewhere in the Carlisle left to Sir Nikslaus Pevsner at the Romano-British Christians and region down to this area, fighting beginning of his description of Romano-Christians in their faith and at the same time spreading the Warrington parish Church in “The in days of extreme difficulty and word of God, ending up eventually Buildings of England”. “This is a very danger for the Christian Church. in Cardiganshire. He points out the rare dedication and no one knows who He refers to a recently discovered evidence is indisputable to Saint Saint Elphin was” Elphin, a name that old Welsh manuscript which turned Elphin being a man rather than a traversed two countries. My Name is Matty Brennan By Joe Langan My name is Matty Brennan The tale of history repeats itself, I woke next morning A politician of renown Now I know that this is true, Peaceful and serene. I was born and reared in Cloonacool My uncle blazed his glorious trail in Was this a big thing Not far from Tubber Town. 1932. Or was it just a dream? One of my greatest thrills Once again the Brennan name echoes And then I saw a spider Since I was a boy through the Dáil Weaving patterns through the air, Was to take a walk with a dog and To meet some friends She was doing it very busily stick Both old and new She was doing it for me. Down by the River Moy. And vote for Fáil. Then I got the message In gold majestic letters I’m proud to be where I am today In Brennan’s bar as he drank a jar Matt Brennan TD. With men that have no fears, An old man said to me De Valera’s heroes, Lemass’ Fusilliers, “Congrats Matt Now a TD’s life can be full of strife Jack Lynch’s men of Destiny But just you listen to me”. And for help he’d need a fairy, And Haughey’s volunteers. As he drank another sip But I have one “Be nice to Garrett on his way down And her Christian name is Mary. You might meet him coming up”. Ballymote County Sligo

Submitted By Carmel Mullen The grass grows green on Keash- We fell in love for evermore, Mother’s too, Corran’s hills, In Ballymote, County Sligo. In Ballymote, County Sligo. And sweet overflow The fields around this enchanting spot, Last night I had a pleasant dream, My brother sleeps by Carrownanty’s Ballymote, County Sligo. And I was back once more, hill, Old friends, old songs, old tales again, The Good Lord called him to go, A wild goose flight ‘cross a young Dad and mother’s house below, A true blue of old Ireland, spring moon, It seemed that I had never left From Ballymote, County Sligo. Silver salmon streams below, Ballymote, County Sligo. Fond memories of sweet yesteryears The grass grows green on Keash In Ballymote, County Sligo. The grass was still green on Keash Corran’s hills, Corran’s hills, And sweet shamrocks overflow Merry those dances in the glen, And sweet shamrocks overflowed The fields around this enchanting spot, At five crossroads, when day was o’er, The fields around this enchanting spot, Ballymote, County Sligo. The fiddle tunes, I remember still, Ballymote, County Sligo. From Ballymote, County Sligo. Written by Jack Mullen, late of Florida, I shall ne’er forget the day I left, USA and formerly of Teeling Street, ‘Twas there I met this winsome lass, ‘47 in the snow, Ballymote. A vision to behold, Broke my old Dad’s heart and 42 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Catholic Practice in the mid-18th century Parish of Kilross

By Pat O’ Brien

No masse heard this great day, no than Canon O’Rorke’s record that a As its name suggests the townland matins sung last night, pattern was celebrated at the well on of Kilross and the civil parish which No bells to call to pray, no lamps, no the feast of Ss. Peter & Paul, Killeran adopted the name was the Church taper lights, has no known history. Not far away of the Wood, Cill Rois. Long and No chalice, no rich robes, no to the southeast is Killeenduffe, the exclusively seen as the location of a Church, no Chapple drest, little black church, that originally had Premonstratensian cell of the abbey of No vestments precious Coapes, no a suspiciously similar field system that order on Trinity Island in Loch Cé holy water blest 1. which might denote an early church and founded in 1233 by Clarus Mac settlement. Within the townland Mailin, archdeacon of Elphin diocese, Kilross Civil Parish of Castledargan is a legal sub- its name, in fact, recalled a church Kilross names a townland and a civil denomination, Priestown, Baile an of an earlier Christian period. Along parish in the eastern Sligo barony tSagairt, a name about which there with its name, the retrieval of quern of Tirerrill. It consists of fifteen is one only record and no known stones in Kilross graveyard and the townlands, containing 3931.7 acres history. The name may have denoted recent discovery of the decorated base and bounded on the north by Sliabh an association with or the ownership of an early medieval pillar or cross in Da Éan and St John’s parish, by of some land by a priest at any time a nearby field all confirm the presence the parish of Killery in the diocese from a late medieval period onwards. of a church site of greater antiquity. of Ardagh to the east, the parishes The Elphin Census of 1749 records of Ballysumaghan, Ballynakill, the townland of Lugnenerunagh, Log Religious Suppression Kilmacallan and Drumcolumb to the an Oirchinnigh, the hollow of the The dissolution of monasteries took south and by the Unshin River and erenach, a guardianship associated place in Ireland in the years following Ballysadare parish to the west. It is with an early church site but, for which 1536, the cell of Kilross on a date situated in the Roman Catholic parish there is also no other known history. not known. Not long afterwards the of Riverstown, Sooey and Gleann Neighbouring Ballysumaghan, impact of the Reformation was and in the Church of Ireland parish Ballynakill and Drumcolumb all had evident in 1544, two years after the of Taunagh, both in the diocese of early Christian and medieval churches appointment of Bernard O’Higgins Elphin. as , when as he Kilross has had many ecclesiastical said, he was obliged to transfer the connections through history. In its temporalities of the diocese into the northwest there is the early Christian hands of the “schismatical nominee of church site of Killeran with its multi- Henry VIII”, after which he had “to curvilinear field system, its bishop’s seek for safety by flight”. This transfer standing stone, Cloch an Easpaig, was physically evident in 1631 when an infant cillín and a holy well, the Vicar General of the diocese, Toberdoney or Sunday’s Well. Other James Fallon, reported to Rome that “the cathedral still stands, but all its altars, chapels and images have been destroyed, and a protestant altar erected in the centre of the edifice in protestant fashion … while the lawful bishop has not where to lay his head”. Oppression continued in Sligo as Fallon further reported that a minister Townlands of Kilross with authority from the crown to punish offenders, “is very severe on and frequently shared a joint parochial Catholics and supporters of the clergy administration with Kilross at varying … whom he arrests and imprisons on times. the charge of usurping ecclesiastical Baronies of Sligo & Kilross Parish

43 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 authority”. Such oppression waxed thirty-one years until 1778 (2 Anne, c. unions followed the religion of one and waned according to the levels 6; 17 and 18 George III, c. 44). The parent, the mother, Protestant or of military and social turmoil or new landowners consolidated their Catholic. No such mixed unions perceptions of them. possessions and with the , occurred in Kilross. the threat of a Gaelic resurgence Kilross was the most Protestant Base of the tower of the “ruined and subsequent repossession was parish in Tirerrill with 24.3% of church” of Kilross receding. The occasional threats of households being Protestant. Tirerrill In August 1594 the church of Kilross, Stuart pretenders collapsed in 1745 had a table of 13.7%, ranging from by then “another ruined church”, with the defeat of Prince Charles at a low 5.2% in Kilmactranny in the was granted by the Crown as, “a Culloden. It was time to review the south of the barony to a 24.3% high parcel of the possessions of the late strength of the Protestant community. representation in Kilross in the north. house of Canons of the Holy Trinity This general trend would suggest a in Loghkey”, to Robert Harrison of Census of Elphin Diocese 1749 lower representation of Protestants Dublin, together with “… with lands In 1749 Dr. Edward Synge, bishop at the further remove from Sligo belonging”. These possessions of of Elphin, ordered a census of town, which was 48% Protestant. The the Canons of Lough Key together the diocese, listing the parishes, 14.7% Protestant representation in with extensive church properties townlands; professions or trade, the rural parts of St. John’s parish (St. countrywide were payment toward religious denomination2, and numbers John’s included Sligo town), Calry, a debt of £411. 17. 0. for military of children and servants of each Killaspugbrone and Kilmacowen, supplies ‘in the time of the Earl of householder. A man of moderate would question this supposition (see Essex’. In 1618, the ruined church opinion by this time, he was critical Table). No distinction was made of Kilross and associated lands were “of those parts of the penal laws between the different Protestant granted by James I to William Crofton, which had been passed to preserve the denominations in the census. an Elizabethan official. By c.1633 the security of the state, but whose effect Religious denomination by district in 1749 (*mixed denomination) Area Cath. Prot’t Not given Total % Prot’t Strafford Survey of Sligo recorded had been to invade Roman Catholics’ Kilross 88 28 116 24.3 Tirerrill 1113 179 10 1302 13.7 that Kilross, Knockatober and liberty of conscience”. Rural St John’s 517 86 *3 606 14.7 Tullybeg, all part of the possessions The religious affiliation of the Sligo Town 356 312 *11 679 45.9 of Trinity Abbey on Lough Key, had household was recorded as an been granted to William Crofton. additional entry under the head Religious denomination by district Mr. John Fargus was presented with of household entry. Fourteen of in 1749 (*mixed denomination) the parsonage of the parish while the 3,448 heads of household in An influence on the higher Kilross and Knockatober were set Sligo3 did not record their religious proportion of Protestants in Kilross to John Johnson; both clerks of the denomination but none were withheld may have been its proximity to reformed church. These lands were in Kilross. With the exception of the parish of Ballysadare, which ultimately possessed by the Perceval William Cooper Esq., of Tanzyfort included the villages of Ballysadare family when in 1665 George Perceval (Coopershill), all had names of Gaelic and Collooney. The Cooper family (1635-1675) married Mary, daughter origin and followed a mixture of of , who owned much and heir of a later William Crofton. occupations or in the case of some of the land about Collooney, also According to the Books of Survey & widows, none. Of the other thirteen owned much of Kilross by 1749. In Distribution the parish of Kilross had none had a profession that stood to the 1660s, though not definitive of become a totally Protestant owned benefit from religious denomination. religious denomination, 42.7% of land by 1670. Catholics had been excluded from those who qualified to pay Hearth By 1700 the transfer of lands had Parliament, public offices and the Money in the parish of Ballysadare been practically total in Co. Sligo. professions since shortly after the bore British surnames and thus were According to Rev. W. Henry’s account Treaty of Limerick. probably Protestant. of Sligo in 1739, Sligo was a Protestant- There was an additional manuscript owned land, so extensively that it was entry “and wife” recorded in the Penal Laws & Religious Practice claimed that “not one Catholic has a Carbury returns but not in Tirerrill. When the census of Elphin was taken freehold in the county except Baron Spouses of a different religious in 1749 the Penal Laws affecting Taaffe, that valiant German officer denomination were recorded Catholic religious practices had been who is a native of this county”; the separately. In the parishes of Tirerrill operating for over fifty years. In 1697, Rev. Henry having forgotten or not the children of four Protestant houses Catholics exercising ecclesiastical knowing of the Catholic heirs of were Catholic and two Catholic jurisdiction and all regular clergy Terence MacDonagh holding lands households had Protestant children. had been banished and those that in Creevagh, in Tirerrill. Apart from Such results must suggest that in remained after 1 May 1698 were to be the land ownership, Catholics were the Tirerrill parishes, mixed unions imprisoned and ‘transported beyond excluded from leases of more than occurred and that children of these seas’; with return being treasonable

44 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 and the harbouring of clerics leading to few records of priests ministering fines and the confiscation of property in Kilross survive, a single priest (9, William III, c. I). In a discussion serving some or all of the several of the “Catholic Question in the adjacent parishes of Ballynakill, Eighteenth Century”, the historian Ballysumaghan, Drumcolumb and Thomas Bartlett stated that with Kilross. Cornelius O’Sumaghan was “the concurrent denial to Catholics pastor of all four in 16684 . In 1683, of social and political power” these when the clergy of the diocese of laws regarding property-owning, Elphin were communicating their public office and the professions, had concern regarding the behaviour of a the primary purpose of ensuring that priest of Elphin, Daniel Muldune, to “Catholic power would be forever the Internuncio in Brussels, among forlorn”. In similar vein J. G. Simms the fifty-four priests signing the stated that “Protestants … enjoyed a petition were Cornelius Brehane, complete monopoly of political and pastor of Ballynakill and Henry Haert, administrative power”. pastor of Ballysumaghan and Kilross. An early impact of these laws was Despite the difficulties of the time, the departure of many bishops such such as the Titus Oates Plot in 1678 that by 1703 three bishops alone and the execution of Oliver Plunkett remained in Ireland, those of Cashel, in 1681, the administration of the Dromore, and Ferns. Bishop Dominic Elphin diocese was evidenced by 1703 Act registration of priests Burke, O.P. of Elphin (1671-1704) the roles of several other signatories, In 1712, Bryan Higgin was still departed for Louvain in 1701, having Donatus (Donnchadh) Dermott, pastor ministering when William Burke ordained fifty-four priests between of Kilmactranny and Vicar Forane testified that he heard him say Mass 1671 and 1701. Such endeavour of Tirerrill and Felix (Feidhlim?) in the parish of Kilross and that he cannot have been achieved without MacDonnagh, pastor of Kilmacallan lived in Danmer in the parish of much courage and risk in a period and Canon of Elphin. Ballysumaghan (almost certainly of religious suppression and social Doonamurray). He also saw an turmoil. Sometimes in hiding, his Act of 1703 by which priests were itinerant friar, named Gallagher, successor Bishop Ambrose Mac required to register and Thomas Rutlidge celebrate Dermott of Elphin (1707-1717) Following the requirement of the act Mass at Lurgan in the parish of described his circumstances in 1709 to “Prevent the further Growth of Ballysumaghan. Mass was celebrated as being “withdrawn into a mountain, Popery” in 1703 that all priests register widely by secular and regular clergy in God knows to a hovel ... Milk is at the Quarter Sessions by the feast of a “Mass-house near Sligo”, in private available, but no beer ... A little light St. John the Baptist, 24th June, 1704, houses and according to one witness beer would be a gift … I am too old to forty-eight year old Bryan Higgin of in a field. Despite the information travel on foot and I have not sufficient Ballysumaghan and seventy-five year received, the issue of warrants and a money left to buy a horse nor am I old Laughlen Brehune of Ballynakill request for soldiers to apprehend the able to keep a servant”. To what extent complied. Higgin had been ordained priests (which was refused), “no priest the earlier bishops were successful in in 1685 and Brehune in Dublin in 1699 is yet brought in”. hiding from the authorities cannot by Patrick Plunkett of the diocese of In 1731 no secular priests were have been great. In 1712, witnesses Meath, with Brehune’s ordination recorded in either Kilross or at a Sligo inquisition attested to the having extraordinarily taken place Ballysumaghan, though three were presence “of one McDermott in the within two years of the passing of recorded further south in Tirerrill, County of Roscommon who is titular the act excluding bishops. Six priests were huts rather than Mass-houses Bishop of Elphin and one Rourke who had registered in Tirerrill with a were being used for worship. It was is Bishop of and … the said mixture of Irish and English sureties. not until the late 1700s that a thatched bishops doe ordayne severall young Among those providing securities, roof church may have been built by priests”, the act of ordaining young William Burke of Doonamurray and Fr. Patrick Duffy (1746-1831) beside priests defeating the purpose of the Brian MacDonagh of Behy, with the “old road” at Sooey in the civil penal legislation. In a later inquisition MacDonagh being almost certainly parish of Ballynakill and replaced of 1743, Ambrose Gilligan “a reputed from one of the former leading finally by Fr. Luke Cullinan in 1837 friar of the Abbey of Sligoe” gave McDonagh families of Tirerrill. The with a church at Carrowkeel in the evidence that Patrick French was the sureties were guarantors that the same parish. bishop of Elphin and named his Vicar named priest would be of peaceable The attention of the authorities grew General and Dean. behaviour and remain within the and waned with the politics of the Prior to the 1704 registration parish for which they registered. times. Among the priests identified

45 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 in the 1743 inquisition was James Rogers, a Dominican friar of Sligo regular priests, some of whom found Banaghan, parish priest of Kilross and did succumb. By the mid eighteenth it necessary to live under assumed Ballysumaghan. However, no James century, much of the Protestant identities. No Catholics or priests of Banaghan, priest, was recorded in landlord class, reflecting a growing Kilross converted to the Anglican the 1749 Elphin Census though most laxity about the religious penal laws, Church. The Penal Laws succeeded likely he was the James Banaghan, came to loath priest-hunting and in their primary objective, “the labourer of Coopershill, in the nearby discovering. complete monopoly of political and parish of Drumcolumb. Although Teaching by Catholics, except that administrative power” in the hands of twelve priests were identified in of children in their own home, was the Protestant community. Elphin Sligo in 1743, a very reduced forbidden by law since 1695 and A’ raibh tú ar an gcarraig? number of three were surprisingly was not legalised until 1781/1782 (7 Nó a’ bhfaca tú féin mo ghrá? recorded just six years later in 1749 William III, c.4; 23 George III, c.62), Nó a’ bhfaca tú gile agus finne with all residing in Tirerrill, and none consequently little formal education Agus scéimh na mná? 5 in Sligo town or Carbury. Among the was available to the children of My thanks to the staff of Co. Sligo three, was James Pheeny, priest, of Catholic peasants. While calling the Library Local History Archive for Rossmore in Ballynakill. In Elphin penal laws “that mass of wickedness their assistance and patience during diocese as a whole, twenty priests and folly”, Lord Cloncurry in 1849 my research. were recorded on the census whereas judged that “there was, perhaps, no c.100 were otherwise recorded. item so wicked or so foolish as the Further reading: This reduced priest number possibly denial of education to the Roman Beirne, Francis (ed.), 2000: The Diocese reflected the fear of exposure or a Catholic youth of Ireland” which he of Elphin, People, Places and Pilgrimage, repetition of events reported in a called “this cruel and most impolitic Dublin. contemporary newspaper in April restriction”. Reflecting a possible Burke, W.P., 1914: The Irish priests in the 1734 when an unregistered priest consequence, only one Catholic Penal Times, 1660 – 1760, Waterford. had obviously been taken by the teacher was recorded in Elphin Census of the Diocese of Elphin, NAI, M2466 (microfilm in Co. Sligo Local authorities and was rescued by “Irish Sligo in 1749, Patrick McDonough History Archive) Kerns” while being taken to Sligo jail of Culoughtra, Kilmactranny in Wall, Maureen, 1976: The Penal Laws, by a military escort. Priest-catchers south Tirerrill. More teachers may 1691-1760, Dublin Historical Association. were active in Sligo and later in 1750 have existed but may have preferred 1 A verse from the most unusual Wexford one of them, Harrison, was involved obscurity. In 1731 it had been reported carol, This is our Christmas Day, more in an incident in Ballysadare. that there were four Catholic schools fully known as On Christmas Day, the The “Act to prevent the further in the combined parishes of Tirerrill Yeare 1678, when the Clergie were growth of popery” passed in 1703 but no further details were reported. Banish’d in the time of the Plot; “The made it obligatory on converts from As the Mass-houses of the time Plot” being the Popish Plot, concocted by Catholicism to Protestantism to were no more than huts, the schools Titus Oates resulting in an anti-Catholic prove conformity. Conversion to cannot have been any better. Of these hysteria and the execution of Oliver Protestantism and providing proof of teachers of the mid eighteenth century Plunkett among many others. being enrolled as a Protestant restored Cloncurry believed that “several 2 This study will use the term Catholic all rights, property and otherwise, to masters of the hedge schools in the rather than the ‘papist’ denomination the convert. It was a method by which south of Ireland at this period enjoyed used in the census. Catholic landowners could escape considerable local reputation as 3 Unless otherwise stated reference to the machinations of “discoverers” classical and mathematical scholars”. Sligo will describe those parts of Co. Sligo that lie in the diocese of Elphin i.e. who might by law “discover” lands By 1749, the parish of Kilross, the baronies of Tirerrill (less the civil held by Catholics and have them with its ancient religious history, had parish of Ballysadare) and Carbury. confiscated for their own benefit. no Catholic landowners and had the 4 The O’Sumaghan family had been Likewise, the landowner was not second highest population, after Sligo fosterers of Ballysumaghan in earlier obliged to provide for the division of town, of Protestant households. Little is times. the estate by gavelkind among all the known of its religious practices and its 5 “Were you on the rock?/Or did you heirs. Many did have a “conversion priests through the post-Reformation yourself see my love?/Or did you see of convenience”. Despite the virtual times. Penal Law registration of the brightness, the fairness,/Or the exclusion of Catholics from land priests and several inquisitions by beauty of the woman?”. This 17th ownership and the professions, only authorities the primary records of century allegorical love song is said to approx. 0.8% of the 5,797 converts Catholic survival. Ordinations of commemorate the celebration of Mass in countrywide were recorded in County priests continued despite the laws Penal times; Mass being celebrated ar Sligo, fifteen only by 1750; none in and mass was celebrated in houses, an gcarraig; mo ghrá and gile agus finne Kilross. By 1750 no priest in Sligo had huts and in the open fields in several agus scéimh na mná possibly referring to converted, although in 1769 Charles surrounding parishes by diocesan and Mass and the Eucharist.

46 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Rite of Passage for a New Theatre By Michael J Meehan

ONCE I HAD A DREAM…… and …and…there the dream ended, I Hotel. Sligo is covered in snow and ice; woke with a jolt, exhausted, confused Ironically, the Druid play that night a massive storm has cut off power. and trying to find my bearings. This was Shakespeare’s “MUCH ADO There is an eerie silence in the dream or nightmare had been so real, ABOUT NOTHING”. Ten weeks blackout, human activity suspended. I even got up to look out the window. later there was much ado about I struggle along Castle Street through There was no snow, only rain. All this something else at the Hawk’s Well deep snow, crunching through shards happened in early December 1981. Theatre. of glass and ice at the foot of Market Over the years my dreams are always Street, where a truck is buried in a forgotten in the morning, ever the THE PLOT DEVELOPS……… shop front. The Lady Erin monument waking amnesic, but this one I could In March, the Cork Opera House is submerged in a snow drift, her recall in detail, as though I had lived brought a production of Peter defiant upright hand only visible. through it. But there was something Shaffer’s internationally acclaimed On a glacial Harmony Hill, people else different about the dream, it was play “Equus” to Sligo’s new theatre are huddled together, transfixed by to foretell future events! for a week. This 20-year-old play was something on the hillside. Curious eagerly awaited by many, a jewel in and with foreboding, I climb the icy ON TO THE FUTURE………. the crown of the first programme of hill and join the subdued watchers. On 12th January 1982, the Hawk’s events. An enormous horse straddles the Well Theatre in Sligo was officially Two days after the opening, “all roadway, trapped in the snow and ice. opened by the , Dr hell” broke out. The first intimation The animal lies still, frozen into the Patrick Hillary. At the time, I was a I got of any difficulty came on the snow, like a Trojan Horse sheeted in member of the management board of Wednesday morning when two ice. The crowd look on impassively, the new theatre. representatives from the local branch as if stunned by this ice spectacular. Early January that year brought of a religious lay society, came to my I try to rally people into organising heavy snowfalls along the west coast, workplace. They demanded the play the rescue of the horse, but they are that then froze over. West of the be taken off the stage at once, for they indifferent and start to disperse. Then Shannon became isolated, roads were felt duty-bound to protect the people I berate them and demand we look for impassable and travel had virtually of Sligo from this obscene play. shovels and pickaxes and get to work come to a halt. The gateway to the In defence, I pointed to the long on clearing the ice and snow. But no North West, over the Curlews, was run of ‘Equus’ in Dublin and the equipment can be found. blocked. current national tour of the play, all I then see a solution to the problem, A special Presidential train had to be of which caused no offence; that the restore the street lighting and the heat assembled to take Dr Hillary to Sligo. theatre management had a contractual of the lamps will thaw the snow and Preparations for the opening of the obligation with the Cork Opera release the horse. First, mobilise the theatre and the first night production House. An offer of two seats for the crowd to march on the E.S.B. offices by the Druid Company, came under Friday night, to make an objective at Castle Street to demand that street severe pressure. A special dinner for judgement, was declined. lighting is restored at Harmony Hill. the President at House Hotel The play is a psychological thriller, By the time we reach the Office, we had to be abandoned after the starter a study on the passion of wordship are more like a rabble, now joined by course to enable the Presidential party and its absence from modern life. In animal lovers waving placards and to get to the Theatre for the Official the play a stable boy blinds the horses chanting “Save the Horse”. I lead Opening ceremony. Despite the with a hoof-pick. On stage, the horses them into the Office, harassing the near arctic weather, there was a full (Equus) are performed by brown clad staff to produce the General Manager, house for the long-awaited event; an youths with silver cages for heads, they refuse and begin to close the enthusiastic audience acclaimed its they prance and paw with heavy silver Office, which quickly stirs up the new theatre and the first production. hooves. protest to a frenzy. I start to lead a A memorable night ended with an All the commotion was not, of charge over the Reception counter “after show” party at the Southern course, about the horses! A press

47 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 release for the play said, “it had a seduction scene between a boy and a girl, an Eve to the boy’s Adam, in which a brief nude scene develops, where nudity becomes a small truth, chaste as a Durer Painting”. St Patrick’s Day was celebrated that week and the Parish Priest of a local Church delivered a sermon (in Irish) that condemned the play as pagan and foreign to our culture and that the new theatre should have had a traditional Irish Concert instead. The good Father had not seen the play himself but had heard about it from a parishioner. The sermon made front page headlines in the local Press – “PAGAN PLAY AT THE NEW THEATRE”. The paper also printed a letter from a “concerned citizen” with the usual anonymity of name and address with the editor. The local Board members at the theatre were firmly in the sights Hawk’s Well Theatre of “concerned citizen”, “they should be ashamed of themselves” and very opposite, to replace the abnormal hard to buy it) for it did stir up a lot of threateningly “put on notice that any and destructive with something passion and is that not what theatre is further pornographic productions, normal and positive”. “Concerned all about! then the People of Sligo will ensure Citizen” was castigated as “typical As I now read the Press cuttings the life of the theatre will be short- of the self-righteous bigotry that has from the time, I have a sense someone lived”. The Press had sought a tried to stifle free expression in this was out there ‘stirring the pot’. Was statement from the Bishop that said, country for decades” and “that the it a ‘Last Hurrah’ from the old guard “he had made known his protest”. small mindedness and arrogance of or a previous connection of the town Back at the theatre, box office self-styled judges of public morals, to the play? Some years previously business flourished, no walkouts or will be short-lived”. a young Sligo actress, who had once protests, only a rush for remaining That ended the dispute, which was been a teacher in a local school, had tickets. The “mobs” of my dream what proved to be “short-lived”. It starred in the play at the Dublin Gate never materialised. In the next firmly established the new theatre in Theatre. It was said many travelled editions of the local Press, the town Sligo and the North West but was the to see it. rallied to the support of the play and ghost of Shakespeare still hanging the Hawk’s Well. around from the opening night! For One letter revealed something else Correspondence to the newspapers ‘Equus’ played in Sligo the week of of that time, it told the Parish Priest “to – “A true analysis of the play “Equus” Friday 15 March and some should go and organise a concert if he wanted could be of real benefit to our society; have remembered their ‘Julius one and not lecture others to do it”. the problems in the play are very real Caesar’, ‘Beware the Ides of March’. Was the ground already shifting under in our culture today” – “nothing but (Newspaper quotes courtesy of the old parochial Ireland and we did praise for an excellent production, Local Newspaper Archive at Sligo not hear or feel the tremors. (Note – the final applause was just short of County Library). ‘Equus’ by Peter Shaffer at the Dublin a standing ovation”. A methodist Gate Theatre May and December minister wrote – “A powerful piece LOOKING BACK…………… 1977, Edward Mac Liammoir of psychological drama, the whole All that happened over thirty years production. 1982 Cork Opera House thing can surely not be dismissed as ago; was it all just a huge publicity production). pornographic. This play was about the stunt? No, not quite (but it would be

48 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Sligo Protestants and the Sligo Borough Election of January 1919 by Padraig Deignan

One hundred years ago the people of corporation’s finances.2 It was hardly town were the dirtiest in any part of Sligo, both Protestant and Catholic, Jinks’s fault alone, and expansion the world.7 The Daily Mail criticised came together to pioneer the use of of the town, increased demand for local councillors in Sligo, blaming the a system of voting that has at times services such as cleaning, lighting, financial crisis of the borough on ‘the been the only policy that the various providing water and sanitary facilities utter lack of business instinct’.8 What disparate groups could agree upon. all put a drain on municipal resources. could be done to remedy the finances This article examines the significance Also property in the borough needed of Sligo Borough? The answer came of the Sligo borough election of to be re-evaluated as some property from the group who were contributing January 1919 for the Protestant owners were paying too much and the most towards the upkeep of the and unionist community. It was others were not paying enough.3 town, the top ratepayers, who were an election that saw the first use of When J.M. Wilson, a leading largely Protestants. Proportional Representation (P.R.) unionist, who was travelling around The ratepayers believed that they in Britain and Ireland. Protestant Ireland sounding out the opinions of must achieve political representation unionists were enthusiastically unionists on various issues, visited on the corporation in order to address involved in the Sligo borough election Sligo in June and July 1917, he was the financial problem of Sligo and the election proved to be very keen to comment that Sligo was ‘a Borough. At the end of 1917 many important in allowing them to become bankrupt borough at best, owing to of the more prominent ratepayers, actively involved in local government the disgracefully bad administration including the Protestants and unionists after the end of the First World War. of the corporation’.4 In August 1917 such as James Campbell, a merchant, Why and how did Protestants and James Drury, a Local Government the businessman Arthur Jackson, Hal unionists become so involved in the Board Inspector, conducted an R. Wood-Martin, land and property Sligo borough election and did the use official inquiry into the corporation’s owner, James Hamilton, shop of P.R. facilitate their participation? financial affairs. The inquiry blamed owner, P.C. Kerr, shipping agent and The background to the use of P.R. the poor financial situation of the merchant, Harper Campbell-Perry, in the Sligo borough election of corporation on ‘the neglect of proper flour merchant, James Nelson, shop January 1919 lay in the poor financial administrative procedures’.5 Drury owner, Hugh Sinclair, grocer, Young condition of Sligo Corporation. The suggested that the corporation should Warren, tea merchant and the Catholic financial deprivations caused by the take legal steps to curb financial businessmen John Noone, T.J. Begley, First World War had proved to be a spending. He recommended the repeal Thomas Flanagan, James Connolly, significant catalyst for accelerating the of the Sligo Borough Improvement John Finan, Edward J. Tighe, Thomas already unhealthy financial situation Act of 1869, which was severely Mahon, Bernard McDonagh and of the corporation. However, the limiting the corporation’s ability to William Conmey, refused to pay finances of Sligo Borough appeared raise enough revenue, as it limited charges, and they publicly registered to have been in a bad state before the the corporation’s power to strike and their dissatisfaction with corporation First World War and the war simply levy a borough rate not exceeding maladministration.9 The ratepayers compounded the situation. During 4s 6d in the £.6 This act restricted also decided to take their protest the war the local newspapers in Sligo the corporation’s ability to levy rates further and make an organised criticised the depressing financial for municipal purposes and raise effort to remedy the finances of the administration of Sligo Borough.1 sufficient funds to cover the rising borough. In November 1917 they, In January 1915 Councillor Dudley costs of providing more services along with some leading citizens Hanley, and Councillors Sam in the town with the result that the in Sligo town, formed the Sligo Tarrant and John Roche, both U.I.L. corporation was falling further into Ratepayers Association (S.R.A.). The members, who had defeated Edward debt each year. organisation was largely composed Harte and William Gibbons both of Criticism of conditions in Sligo of businessmen, including many Labour/I.T.G.W.U. in the January town also came from the press in Protestants and unionists, and proved 1915 corporation election, launched Britain and in late 1917 the Daily to be an important step in reviving an attack on the mayor, John Jinks, Mail printed an article on Sligo, the interest of the Sligo Protestant blaming him for the poor state of the maintaining that the streets of the community in local government

49 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 affairs. With the support of the Catholic Transferable Vote. It happened as This was not the first incarnation of Church, the well-known Protestant in the case of many breakthroughs, the Sligo Ratepayers’ Association and and unionist businessman, Arthur by accident, when he asked pupils in early 1911 Protestant businessmen, Jackson was elected as chairman of to elect a students’ committee by including James Campbell, Arthur the S.R.A. and eight others, including standing beside a boy they liked best. Jackson, Col. Wood-Martin, James Canon P.A. Butler, were elected to At first this produced a number of Hamilton, P.C. Kerr, and Harper the S.R.A.’s committee. At the first unequal groups, but soon those in the Campbell Perry, had formed a similar meeting the committee decided that largest group realised that not all of organisation and secured a local it could achieve more by putting them were actually necessary for the plebiscite to get a parliamentary pressure on the corporation rather election of their favourites so they bill to restructure the corporation’s than challenging it directly. The moved on to help other candidates. finances.10 However, the effort got committee passed a resolution stating Thirty four years after Hill’s caught up in the nationalist-unionist ‘that the Association was formed experiment a Danish statesman Carl politics of the time and the plebiscite not for the purpose of crushing the Andrae invented a system by which was defeated by 744 votes to 43311. present corporation in any way. On the STV could be adopted to the secret Shortly before the plebiscite alderman the contrary, it was formed for the ballot and two years later Thomas Hare John Jinks condemned the Ratepayers’ purpose of rendering them assistance introduced it to Britain. John Stuart Association and publicly thanked God and to help them by every means in Mill, the philosopher and economist, that Sligo had a ‘Catholic corporation’ their power to get out of the awful warmly supported the system and and asked ‘are the Tories in this financial difficulty in which the efforts by 200 MPs and the members town to walk upon the Catholics of corporation was placed at the present of the PR Society campaigned to Sligo?’12 Later in May 1911 Thomas time’.15 On 10 November 1917 the have it introduced into England and Scanlon, M.P. called the Ratepayers’ Sligo Independent editorial appealed Wales in the mid-1880s. However, Association ‘a gang of slum landlords’ to the citizens of Sligo ‘irrespective the Liberal leader Gladstone and and John O’Dowd, M.P. dubbed them of creed, class, or politics, to lend his Conservative counterpart Lord ‘a gang of narrow Orange bigots’.13 their enthusiastic support and hearty Salisbury came to an agreement to However, by 1917 the attitude of co-operation to the newly formed establish one member constituencies nationalists in Sligo had changed, Ratepayers Association’.16 The based on equality of population with and with corporation finances in a question now was would the sitting no real change in the voting system. bad way, the S.R.A. were able to win councillors of Sligo Corporation The idea was briefly revived in 1905 the support of all sections of Sligo listen to the advice of the S.R.A. or but did not result in any electoral society. In order to have general would they sit tight and hope that the change. Within the British Empire appeal and win the support of the organisation melted away? It seemed P.R. had been partially introduced into nationalist majority in the town, the that at first the corporation agreed to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in members of the S.R.A. could do with work with the S.R.A. However, they 1896 and was completed by 1907. the support of the Catholic hierarchy. refused to make any alterations to the South Africa had also introduced the The S.R.A. were lucky in this regard rates.17 system into the Senate and provincial and at the first meeting of the S.R.A. a Ultimately the corporation had to councils in 1909. New Zealand had well respected member of the Catholic accept that some kind of action was the system as optional for legislative clergy, Canon P.A. Butler, who had necessary and in January 1918, after and municipal councils in 1914 and long been involved in various political much discussion, the corporation and some provinces of Canada introduced organisations in Sligo, including the the S.R.A. came to an agreement. With optional P.R. during the First World United Irish League (U.I.L.), (the the help of the Local Government War. In 1915 some U.S. cities also principal organising force for the I.P.P. Board (L.G.B.) they arranged to introduced it. in the various Irish constituencies) have a parliamentary bill drafted and Irish interest in P.R. was sparked and the Ancient Order of Hibernians submitted to the House of Commons by the publication of a letter from (A.O.H.), (an organisation set up to which would increase the powers of Lord Leonard Courtney who had protect and defend the rights of Irish the corporation and a new system of been Financial Secretary to the Catholics), supported the organisation election to Sligo Corporation would Treasury in Gladstone’s government, arguing that ‘political sympathies and also be introduced. The new system to former Sligo M.P. Thomas Sexton religious differences are happily cast of election agreed upon was P.R. with in the Freeman’s Journal on 14 aside in a common effort and whole Single Transferable Voting (S.T.V.) January 1911. The letter advocated hearted desire to render whatever help and quota counting.18 the introduction of P.R. into Irish we can to those who are charged with The birth of P.R. had occurred in elections and on 20 April 1911 the the destinies of this grand old town, 1821 when Thomas Wright Hill, Proportional Representation Society and of safeguarding the destinies of its a school teacher, worked out an of Ireland was established. Before citizens’.14 electoral system based on the Single the outbreak of war in August

50 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

1914 its members campaigned for mean that all eight councillors in each unionist’ organisation.26 However, the introduction of P.R.19 Tadhg ward would have to go forward for this did not seem to be the case as Kilgannon, a photographer and election and many candidates could sixty-three nationalists and fifty a nationalist member of Sligo oppose them. A Single Transferable unionists were registered members Corporation, was a strong supporter of Vote (S.T.V.) would allow the voter of S.R.A.27 This indicated that the P.R. Kilgannon argued that P.R. was a to indicate their preferences on the organisation appealed to both political much fairer method of election for the ballot paper, marking a one for the groups and both political traditions representation of minorities than the first preference, a two for their second were almost equally represented. ‘first-past-the-post’ system and in late and so on as to complete the list on the In the weeks before the election 1917 he submitted numerous articles ballot paper. Once a candidate was the Sligo Independent’s sympathies to the Sligo Champion explaining P.R. elected and achieved the quota, their lay firmly with S.R.A. and the paper and advocating its introduction.20 surplus votes could be transferred to called on its readers to vote for the The ‘first-past-the-post’ system used second preferences on the ballot paper S.R.A. candidates.28 As Sligo town in the December 1918 general election and this would allow minority groups was the first municipality in the was a simple majority voting system greater representation.23 to employ P.R. as where a candidate is deemed elected if At a meeting on 13 February 1918 the an electoral system, the election drew they secure more than half the votes. members of Sligo Corporation agreed great interest from all over Britain 21 If two candidates ran for election to the drafting of a parliamentary bill and Ireland.29 There were a total of in a particular constituency, and one to use P.R. in corporation elections twenty-four seats on the corporation candidate received fifty-one per cent and also to amend the Sligo Borough and forty-eight candidates put their of the vote, then he would be deemed Improvement Act of 1869. The names forward. The S.R.A. fielded elected and the forty-nine per cent who amendment to the act would allow eighteen candidates. Sinn Féin put voted for the second candidate would the corporation much more freedom forward thirteen candidates, Labour receive no representation at all. When to adjust rates as they saw fit. On 25 also put forward thirteen candidates there are more than two candidates, February members of S.R.A. met at and four independents sought election. the individual who receives the the Temperance Hall, Sligo, and voted The U.I.L./I.P.P. did not take part in highest number of votes is deemed in support of P.R. and the proposed the election. However, John Jinks, a elected, which means that they have amendments to the 1869 Act. On 28 supporter of the U.I.L., went forward secured a relative majority rather than February a meeting of the citizens as an independent candidate.30 absolute majority. The disadvantages of Sligo took place and also voted At this stage Sinn Féin had largely of the first-past-the-post system are in favour of the new parliamentary superseded the U.I.L. and in effect the that the votes cast for the unsuccessful bill. Thomas Scanlon, M.P. for I.P.P. was no longer the main voice of candidates are lost and the first-past- North Sligo, was also present at this in the county. The the-post system does not encourage meeting and he gave his support to only alternative to Sinn Féin, S.R.A. the representation of minorities.22 the proposed changes. In early July or the independents, was the Labour This meant that Protestants, most of 1918 Scanlon introduced the bill to Party. Labour was well established whose sympathies lay with Protestant/ the House of Commons and on 30 in Sligo and had a strong electoral unionist candidates, and who July 1918 it received the Royal Assent pool to draw on. It which consisted amounted to around fifteen per cent and the Sligo Corporation Act of 1918 of unemployed ex-serviceman, who of the population of Sligo Borough, came into operation allowing the use had just returned to Sligo at the end found it very difficult to obtain of P.R. in Sligo Borough elections.24 of the war and a considerable number representation on the corporation. Elections for Sligo Corporation of semi-employed dockworkers from Sligo Borough was divided into were scheduled to take place on 15 Sligo port, which at its height before three separate wards and eight January 1919 and in early December the war had employed hundreds of councillors represented each ward, 1918 the members of the S.R.A. men on a fulltime and part-time basis. although only two councillors in who were eager to participate in the However, a large number of these each ward had to offer themselves election selected eighteen candidates, voters may have also been inclined for election each January. They were eleven Protestant unionists and seven towards Sinn Féin. The Sligo labour usually only opposed by two other Catholic nationalists.25 The S.R.A. movement had a strong leaning candidates and it was a straight vote would pose a threat to the other towards republicanism, which had to decide the winners in each ward. parties in the election and it was with stretched back to the strike which had The two candidates who received the this in mind that at the end of 1918 the affected Sligo and particularly the port highest and second highest number of mayor, D.M. Hanley, who had been in 1913 and some of the I.T.G.W.U./ votes would be deemed elected, while unanimously elected as the town’s councillors on Sligo the section of the electorate who voted first Sinn Féin mayor in January 1917, Corporation had expressed strong for the other two candidates would made a point of publicly attacking republican views since the 1916 receive no representation. P.R. would S.R.A. calling it an ‘overwhelmingly Rising.31 It also seemed that while

51 candidate was James Connolly for the S.R.A. Transfers from Sinn Féin and Labour candidates helped to get Sinn Féin and Labour candidates elected. Patrick J. Flanagan of Sinn Féin was sixth candidate elected followed by William Hande of Labour and the final candidate elected was William J. Feeney of Sinn Féin. Both of the Labour candidates elected were recognised to have a strong association with Sinn Féin. The voters of the West Ward had elected four S.R.A., two Labour and two Sinn Féin councillors. The S.R.A. won half of the available seats in the West Ward and this reflected the strong middle class electorate in this area of Sligo town.

THE CORRAN HERALDTable 4: January • 2019/2020 1919 Sligo Borough Election, East Ward 8 seats; valid poll: 726; quota: 81. the Labour Party in Sligo wished to Name Party First preference votes Result maintain its own separate identity, the D.M. Hanley Sinn Féin 160 Elected party members agreed with the Sinn Luke Gilligan Sinn Féin 87 Elected Féin policy of Irish self-determination. In the West Ward sixteen candidates, Thomas Fitzpatrick Sinn Féin 73 Elected six S.R.A., five Sinn Féin, three P.N. White Independent 71 Elected Labour and two independents, Michael Nevin Labour 56 Elected contested the eight seats. A total of Gray, James Independent 53 Elected 940 votes were cast in the West Ward Young Warren S.R.A. 51 Elected and 106 was the declared quota. The S.R.A. gained 506 first preference James J. Nelson S.R.A. 41 Not Elected votes, Sinn Féin got 233, Labour Bernard McDonagh S.R.A. 35 Elected gained 165, while the independents Henry Reilly Labour 25 Eliminated did poorly and only got thirty-six first Henry Monson Labour 23 Not Elected preference votes. Harper Campbell Costello Labour 18 Eliminated Perry, the S.R.A. candidate topped Hugh R. Sinclair S.R.A. 16 Eliminated the poll with 169 and was elected after the first count. Over two-thirds William Conmey S.R.A. 8 Eliminated the Labourof hisParty. transfers Labour waswent well to established his fellow in Sligo and Thomashad a strong Mahon electoral poolS.R.A. to draw on5 which Eliminated consistedS.R.A. of unemployed members, ex -serviceman,Percy Campbell who had just returnedO’Riordian to Sligo at the endSinn ofFéin the war 4and a Eliminated considerableKerr, number helping of semihim -employedget elected dockworkers on the from Sligo port, which at its heightSource: before S.C.the, war25 Jan. had 1919. second count, and Edward J. Tighe, January 1919 Sligo Borough Election, East Ward employed hundreds of men on a fulltime and part-time8 basis. seats; However, valid poll: a large 726; number quota: of these81. voters may who was elected on the seventhIn the East Ward sixteen candidates, six S.R.A., four Sinn Féin, four Labour and two independents have alsocount. been inclinedThe fourth towards candidate Sinn Féin, to reachand the SligoSource: labour S.C., movement 25 Jan. had 1919. a strong leaning towards republicanism,the quota which was had Henrystretched Depew back to of the competedthe strike electedwhich for had thewas affectedeight William available Sligo J. Feeneyand seats. particularly of In Sinn total the 726 strongport votes in middle were cast class and electorate the quota wasin this eighty -one. 1913 andLabour some Partyof the andI.T.G.W.U./Labour the fifth candidate PartySinn councillors FéinFéin. received Both on Sligo of343 the Corporationfirst Labour preference candidateshad votes,expressed whicharea strong wasof Sligo by far town. the highest number in this ward, was James Connolly for the S.R.A. elected were recognised to have a In the East Ward sixteen candidates, 31 followed by 124 for the two independent candidates. The S.R.A. got 105 and Labour gained 103 republicanTransfers views since from the Sinn 1916 Féin Rising. and Labour It also seemedstrong that association while the Labour with PartySinn in Féin.Sligo wishedsix S.R.A., to four Sinn Féin, four Labour maintaincandidates its own separate helped identity,to get Sinn the Féinparty andfirstmembers preferenceThe agreed voters votes. with of theThethe Si mayor,nnWest Féin SinnWard policy Féin’s had of IrishD.M.and self Hanley,two- independents got 160 first competedpreference votesfor which determination.Labour candidates elected. Patrickwas almostelected twice four the S.R.A.,number oftwo the quota.Labour Lukethe Gilliganeight availablewas next electedseats. forIn Sinntotal Féin and J. Flanagan of Sinn Féin was sixth and two Sinn Féin councillors. The 726 votes were cast and the quota Hanley’s transfers helped his fellow Sinn Féin Party member Thomas Fitzpatrick, to get elected. candidate electedTable followed 3: January by William 1919 Sligo BoroughS.R.A. Election,won half West of Wardthe available seats was eighty-one. Sinn Féin received Hande of Labour. The final8 seats; candidate validAn poll:independent in 940; the quota: West candidate 106. Ward and White this wasreflected next ele thected 343 followed first by Michaelpreference Nevin votes,for Labour. which Young was by far the highest number in this Name Party Warren Firstand preferenceBernard McDonagh,votes Result two S.R.A. candidates were next elected and an independent ward, followed by 124 for the two Harper Campbell Perry S.R.A. candidate169 James Gray was theElected last to be elected. independentIn the East Ward candidates. Sinn Féin The won S.R.A. three seat s, the Henry Depew Labour 94 Elected 7got 105 and Labour gained 103 first James Connolly S.R.A. 91 Elected preference votes. The mayor, Sinn Percy Campbell Kerr S.R.A. 82 Elected Féin’s D.M. Hanley, got 160 first preference votes which was almost Edward John Tighe S.R.A. 79 Elected twice the number of the quota. Luke William Hande Labour 56 Elected Gilligan was next elected for Sinn John Hughes Sinn Féin 56 Eliminated Féin and Hanley’s transfers helped William Joseph Feeney Sinn Féin 55 Elected his fellow Sinn Féin Party member James Hamilton S.R.A. 51 Not Elected Thomas Fitzpatrick, to get elected. An independent candidate White was Patrick J. Flanagan Sinn Féin 44 Elected next elected followed by Michael Jordan H. Roche Labour 40 Eliminated Nevin for Labour. Young Warren Samuel Tarrant Sinn Féin 38 Eliminated and Bernard McDonagh, two S.R.A. John Finan S.R.A. 34 Eliminated candidates, were next elected and an John Lambert Independent 18 Eliminated independent candidate James Gray was the last to be elected. In the East Thomas Daniel Howley Sinn Féin 18 Eliminated Ward Sinn Féin won three seats, the Andrew Thompson Independent 15 Eliminated S.R.A. won two, the independents got Source: S.C., 25 Jan. 1919. two and Labour secured one seat. This January 1919 Sligo Borough Election, West Ward distribution of seats reflected the split 8 seats; valid poll: 940; quota: 106. working class/middle class electorate In the Source:West Ward S.C., sixteen25 Jan. candidates,1919. six S.R.A., five Sinn Féin, three Labour and two independents, contested the eight seats. A total of 940 votes were cast in the West Ward and 106 52 was the declared quota. The S.R.A. gained 506 first preference votes, Sinn Féin got 233, Labour gained 165, while the independents did poorly and only got thirty-six first preference votes. Harper Campbell Perry, the S.R.A. candidate topped the poll with 169 and was elected after the first count. Over two-thirds of his transfers went to his fellow S.R.A. members, Percy Campbell Kerr, helping him get elected on the second count, and Edward J. Tighe, who was elected on the seventh count. The fourth candidate to reach the quota was Henry Depew of the Labour Party and the fifth

6 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

in this part of Sligo town. declared elected without reaching the for their second or third preference, In the North Ward sixteen quota; he had received transfers from while there were many transfers candidates, six S.R.A., four Sinn Féin, Sinn Féin and Labour candidates. The between the Sinn Féin and Labour four Labour and two independents final candidate declared to be elected candidates. The seven Sinn Féin campaigned for eight seats. A total of without reaching the quota was councillors could count on the support 542 votes were cast and the quota was Costello for Sinn Féin. The North of the five Labour councillors, many sixty-one. The six S.R.A. candidates Ward was largely a working class of whom identified themselves with gained 161 first preference votes area of Sligo and this is reflected in republicanism and James Devins, an between them, followed by 154 votes the distribution of seats. The Labour independent councillor, was closely for the two independents. Labour Party won two seats, Sinn Féin got associated with Sinn Féin. This gave got 128 first preference votes and two, independent Sinn Féin secured Sinn Féin and Labour thirteen seats on Sinn Féin gained ninety-eight first one, the independent, John Jinks, got the new corporation, while the S.R.A. preference votes. The large number a seat and the S.R.A. got two. and the other independents had eleven of independent first preference votes The elections passed off very seats between them. was accounted for by the high number peacefully and there was an absence The S.R.A. had secured thirty-seven cast for John Jinks who gained 123 of any trouble in the lead up to the per cent of the vote and eight successful first preference votes and put him election or on polling day. As a result candidates, five Protestants and three sixty-two votes over the quota. The of the media hype, the turnout for the Catholics, were elected for the party. other independent, James Devins, was election had been very high. A total of The successful candidates were the associated with Sinn Féin although 2,208 of the 2,750 who were entitled Protestant unionists, Harper Campbell he was not an official Sinn Féin Party to vote in the three wards went to Perry, Percy Campbell Kerr, Young candidate. Labour’s John Lynch, with the polls, which represented eighty Warren, Arthur Jackson, and Hal R. seventy-two votes had also exceeded percent of the electorate.32 The S.R.A. Wood-Martin, and the Catholics, the quota and was elected on the first had done very well at the polls and had Edward J. Tighe, a merchant; James count. Arthur Jackson and Hal R. received 823 first preference votes in Connolly, a merchant and an agent Wood-Martin, both members of the all three wards, gaining eight seats for for a shipping company, and Bernard S.R.A. were the next two to reach the the party. Sinn Féin gained 674 first McDonagh, a draper.34 The results of quota. Nally, Sinn Féin, was the fifth preference votes and got seven seats. the election proved to be very positive to be elected after picking up transfers Labour got 432 first preference votes for the Protestants and unionists in from many candidates especially from and five seats while the independents Sligo and offered hope for continued Sinn Féin and Labour candidates. got 279 first preference votes and Protestant involvement in local 33 S.R.A.James won two, Devins the independents was next got elected two and after Labour gainedsecured fourone seat. seats. This distribution of seats government affairs in Sligo. picking up transfers from Jinks and The voting patterns indicate that The Sligo Corporation elections reflectedpicking the split upworking votes class/middle from eliminatedclass electorate votersin this part who of Sligochose town. a S.R.A. candidate were the first to use P.R. in Britain Sinn Féin and Labour candidates. for their first preference largely or Ireland and the election results Table 5: January 1919 Sligo Borough Election, North Ward A Labour candidate, Heraghty, was picked another S.R.A. candidate attracted plenty of interest. The 8 seats; valid poll: 542; quota: 61. P.R. Society of Ireland praised the Name Party First preference votes Result results as a triumph and the Sligo John Jinks Independent 123 Elected Independent saluted Mr Humphreys, John Lynch Labour 72 Elected the secretary of the P.R. Society Arthur Jackson S.R.A. 55 Elected of Ireland, maintaining that the Hal R. Wood-Martin S.R.A. 53 Elected ‘success of the system was largely Nally Sinn Féin 43 Elected due to the enthusiasm and energy of James Devins Independent Sinn Féin 32 Elected Mr Humphreys’.35 Humphreys had J. Costello Sinn Féin 31 Elected visited Sligo before the election and James Campbell S.R.A. 30 Not Elected explained in full the details of P.R. Heraghty Labour 22 Elected S.T.V.36 J. Kelly Labour 19 Elminated The Dublin and Sligo newspapers Derrig Labour 15 Eliminated of all shades and opinions were quick Feeney Sinn Féin 12 Eliminated to applaud the success of the new W.J. Kelly Sinn Féin 12 Eliminated electoral system. The Sligo Champion T.J. Begley S.R.A. 9 Eliminated declared that ‘the system has justified Thomas Flanagan S.R.A. 7 Eliminated its adoption. We saw it work; we saw John Noone S.R.A. 7 Eliminated its simplicity; we saw its unerring Source: S.C., 25 Jan. 1919. honesty to the voter all through; and January 1919 Sligo Borough Election, North Ward we saw the result in the final count; In the North8 seats; Ward valid sixteen poll: candidates, 542; quota: six S.R.A., 61. four Sinn Féin, four Labour and two independents and we join in the general expression Source: S.C., 25 Jan. 1919. campaigned for eight seats. A total of 542 votes were cast and the quota was sixty-one. The six S.R.A. candidates gained 161 first preference votes between them, followed53 by 154 votes for the two independents. Labour got 128 first preference votes and Sinn Féin gained ninety-eight first preference votes. The large number of independent first preference votes was accounted for by the high number cast for John Jinks who gained 123 first preference votes and put him sixty-two votes over the quota. The other independent, James Devins, was associated with Sinn Féin although he was not an official Sinn Féin Party candidate. Labour’s John Lynch, with seventy-two votes had also exceeded the quota and was elected on the first count. Arthur Jackson and Hal R. Wood- Martin, both members of the S.R.A. were the next two to reach the quota. Nally, Sinn Féin, was the fifth to be elected after picking up transfers from many candidates especially from Sinn Féin and Labour candidates. James Devins was next elected after picking up transfers from Jinks and picking up votes from eliminated Sinn Féin and Labour candidates. A Labour candidate, Heraghty, was declared elected without reaching the quota; he had received transfers from Sinn Féin and Labour candidates. The final candidate declared to be elected without reaching the quota was 8 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 of those who followed it with an a significant milestone for democracy 57; Daily Mail, 14 Dec. 1917. intelligent interest. It is as easy as in Ireland. The successful introduction 8 Ibid. 9 S.I., 17 Nov. 1917; 24 Nov. 1917; 1 Dec. the old way; it is a big improvement of P.R. in the Sligo election paved the 1917. and it is absolutely fair’. The Sligo way for the employment of P.R. in local 10 Ibid., 18 Mar. 1911. Independent proudly stated that and later national elections throughout 11 Ibid. ‘Sligo has the honour of being the first the country. However, importantly 12 Ibid. 13S.C., 13 May 1911. municipality in Ireland to adopt the for Sligo the use of P.R. and the 14 S.I., 10 Nov. 1917. principle, and everyone agrees that it crisis created by the poor financial 15 Ibid. was a great success’.38 condition of the borough provided 16 Ibid. 17 Ibid., 17 Nov. 1917; 24 Nov. 1917; 1 The Dublin based newspapers were an ideal opportunity for Protestant Dec. 1917. equally impressed and the Irish Times and Catholic businessmen to come 18 John C. McTernan, Olde Sligoe argued that the election ‘has established together outside the divisive politics (Dublin, 1995), p. 528. beyond dispute two big things in of unionism and nationalism, form the 19 Cornelius O’Leary, Irish elections, 1918-77: parties, voters and proportional favour of proportional representation. S.R.A., and commit themselves to a representation (Dublin, 1979), pp 5-6. The first is that it is a thoroughly common cause. Local and immediate 20 John C. McTernan, Olde Sligoe workable system ... The other big financial concerns took precedence (Dublin, 1995), p. 528. thing - and it is really big - is the proof over national political ideology and 21 John Coakley & Michael Gallagher (eds), Politics in the that in proportional representation in a difficult and uncertain period (2nd ed., Dublin, 1993), p. 67. we have the Magna Carta of political for Protestant unionists in Sligo it 22 Ibid. and municipal minorities’.39 The provided a perfect opportunity for 23 Ibid., pp 67-9. Freeman’s Journal praised the 24 An act to amend the provisions for the unionists to pragmatically accept local management of the borough of Sligo fairness of the new system saying that the end of the unionist cause locally 1918 (Sligo Corporation Act) (8 & 9 Geo. ‘the first elections, on the principle and allowed them to focus their time V, c.xxiii (30 July 1918)). of proportional representation by and energy into alternative political 25 S.I., 7 Dec. 1918, ibid., 28 Dec. 1918; Manuscript census returns for Co. Sligo, the single transferable vote, have activity. 1911 (N.A.I., 1911 Census: Microfilm, resulted in the fair representation Padraig Deignan is a PhD graduate S.C.L., M.F./R. 35-45). of all parties’,40 while the Irish of NUI Maynooth. He also has a BA, 26 S.I., 14 Dec. 1918. Independent called for P.R. to be MA and a Higher Diploma in Education 27 Ibid. 28 Ibid., 4 Jan. 1919; 11 Jan. 1919. introduced countrywide, arguing that from NUI Galway and was awarded a 29 S.C., 25 Jan. 1919. ‘proportional representation has given fellowship of the National University 30 Ibid. Sligo a model council. There is no of Ireland. In 2010 he published The 31 Sligo Champion sesquicentenary reason why it should not be equally Protestant Community in Sligo, 1914- supplement, 1836-1986 (Sligo, 1986), p. 41. successful in Dublin and other cities 49 and in 2015 the Land and People in 32 S.C., 25 Jan. 1919. and towns in Ireland’.41 Nineteenth Century Sligo: from Union 33 Ibid. The extraordinary success of the to Local Government. Both books are 34 Ibid.; Manuscript census returns for Co. Sligo, 1911 (N.A.I., 1911 Census: Sligo election was quickly followed available in local bookshops. Microfilm, S.C.L., M.F./R. 35-45). by the adoption of P.R. at national 35 S.I., 18 Jan. 1919. 1 S.C., 23 Jan 1915; S.I., 15 Jan 1916; 36 Ibid. level under the Local Government S.C., 24 June 1916; S.I., 19 May 1917; (Ireland) Act, 1919, which extended 37 S.C., 18 Jan. 1919. S.C., 18 Aug 1917. 38 S.I., 18 Jan. 1919. the principle to the election of 126 2 Ibid., 23 Jan. 1915. 39 Irish Times, 18 Jan. 1919. town and urban district councils and 3 Ibid., 1 Sept. 1917. 40 Freeman’s Journal, 18 Jan. 1919. 4 J.M. Wilson’s tour of Ireland, Co. Sligo, 200 other local authorities, including 41 , 20 Jan. 1919. 28 June 1917-18 July 1917 (P.R.O.N.I., 42 An act for amending local government county councils and rural district J.M. Wilson’s papers, D/989A/9/7). 42 in Ireland (Local Government (Ireland) councils. 5 S.I., 1 Sept. 1917. Act 1919) (9 & 10 Geo. V) c. 19 (3 June The first use of P.R. for the Sligo 6 Ibid. 1919)). 7 Sligo Champion sesquicentenary borough election of January 1919 was supplement, 1836-1986 (Sligo, 1986), p. A Ballymote Bookseller? Submitted by John Coleman Stamp of Bernard Kelly, merchant of O’Connell Street in the early 20th century, on a copy of ‘Sketches by “Boz”’ by Charles Dickens.

[Book given to John Coleman, current occupant of the premises, by Mrs Cassie Finn]

54 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Amazing Tale of Dr. William P. Tonry

By John Mc Donagh

In the last issue of the Corran and Mary was publicly “hanged by the Herald, John C. Mc Ternan wrote an neck” on July 7th 1865 together with interesting historical article about the other three condemned prisoners. the tracking down and shooting of After the execution Anna was Abraham Lincoln’s assassin John ostracised by society in general and Wilkes Booth, by a group of Union for a while she lived in poverty. The soldiers led by Captain Edward boarding house along with six acres Doherty, whose father hailed from of land was sold on June 10th 1869 Sligo. However, it has emerged that and Anna married Professor William in the aftermath of the assassination P. Tonry, a chemist working for the there was another more obscure and Surgeon General’s office, on June totally unrelated connection between 17th. By a strange quirk of fate, he the conspirators and Sligo. had been working in an office at Ford’s Although John Wilkes Booth gained Theatre, (the assassination site) which world-wide notoriety as the actual had been converted into government killer, he was just one of a number Mary Surratt offices shortly after the assassination. of Confederate conspirators who army. After the assassination Mary’s But the honeymoon was short-lived. had planned to kidnap and perhaps only daughter Eugenia Susanna Four days after the marriage was kill President Lincoln, together (Anna) was interrogated at length by made public, in a blatant, spiteful act with Secretary of State William Northern investigators but they could of bigotry and petty discrimination, Seward and other members of his not find sufficient evidence to charge Tonry was fired from his job by cabinet. Because the assassination her and she was released after six the War Office, specifically as a was held to be part of the civil war, weeks in captivity. Anna’s brother consequence of his marriage to Anna the conspirators, when arrested, were John fled, first to Canada and then to Surratt. tried by a military tribunal. In all, France. When he eventually returned eight people were charged and after to Baltimore in 1867 he was charged a highly controversial judgement, with conspiracy and put on trial but four were executed, three got life this time, with the war over it was imprisonment and one got six years the civil authorities that tried him, the hard labour. The four executed were jury failed to reach a verdict and John George Atzerodt, Lewis Powell, was acquitted. David Herold and Mary Surratt, the Anna Surratt pleaded incessantly first woman to be hanged in America with Judge Advocate General Joseph by the Federal Government. Holt and President Johnson to reprieve Mary, a widow, was the boarding her mother but both refused clemency house-keeper in downtown General Joseph Holt Washington where Booth resided and allegedly conspired with the others A report from The Baltimore Sun and where the plot was hatched, or as dated June 17th 1869: President Andrew Johnson, Lincoln’s “Miss Anne Surratt was married successor, declared, “She kept the today at St Patrick’s Church to Mr. nest that hatched the rotten egg.” It Wm. P. Tonry, a chemist employed is abundantly clear that the Surratt in the Surgeon General’s office. The family (former slave holders) were ceremony, which was very private, sympathetic and committed to the was conducted by Rev. Father Walter Confederate struggle. One of Mary’s assisted by Rev. J.J. Keane. The happy sons, John, was engaged in espionage couple started immediately on a bridal and intelligence gathering for the tour north. The bride appeared in Confederate South from his home better health than she has enjoyed for in Washington, while her other son years. It was the desire of the parties Isaac was fighting with General Lee’s President Andrew Johnson that the marriage should be kept

55 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 strictly private and for that reason Army in Washington, “which position banging on the front door to plead for the usual publication of the banns he filled with great ability until he was her mother’s life”** was dispensed with by Archbishop discharged by special order four days I first learned of William Tonry and Spalding. There were no bridesmaids after his marriage to Anna Surratt.” Anna Surratt when a cousin showed me or groomsmen and only a few intimate This order came directly from General a family tree that had been compiled acquaintances of the bride to witness Ulysses S. Grant, Commanding by a distant American cousin of hers. the nuptial ceremony.” Officer of the U.S. army. Amazingly, it showed another link on Tonry used his dismissal as an a different level between a member opportunity to travel through the from her family and a descendant Western states with a view to getting from the Tonry- Surrat marriage. his career going again in one of As somebody very interested in their growing cities. However, he history, the name Surratt immediately desisted and returned to Baltimore resonated with me. I was well aware where he established a laboratory and of the tragic story of Mary Surratt but achieved great success working as an I was totally unaware of the Sligo analytical and consulting chemist and connection. Because the name Tonry chemical expert, winning for himself and Riverstown feature so much an enviable reputation as one of the in our family, I set about trying to most eminent scientists in the United establish a connection. Although I States. failed in this (records from the period In 1871, aged 31 Professor Tonry prior to 1840 are scarce, sketchy and accepted the chair of Analytical and unreliable) I unearthed a remarkable Applied Chemistry, a position which historical story pertaining to a he filled with great ability receiving Riverstown native. It is also worthy Anna Surratt in due course the honorary degree of note that Professor Tonry’s siblings of Doctor of Philosophy. Dr Tonry have Christian names identical to our William P. Tonry MD PhD. Was was engaged by the state as chemical born somewhere in the Riverstown expert in many law suits which made area of Sligo on 16th April 1840. He worldwide headlines. He was the was the oldest child of William and first forensic scientist in the U.S. with Catherine (Brennan) Tonry. William enough expertize and credibility to Sr. is described as a “last maker”* secure many airtight convictions, who immigrated to New Brunswick using his knowledge and ability to sometime in the early 1840s where he successfully prove the prosecution’s continued his trade until 1848 when case. he moved to Boston. Dr and Anna Tonry had four children Professor Tonry attended Saint William, Albert, Reginald and Clara. John’s Public School, Boston and In later life it was a matter of great passed through the Grammar School pride to him that two of his sons in the said city. At the age of sixteen, volunteered and fought in the United his parents sent him to Maryland to States army and” served their country commence his college studies in St. with distinction in the Spanish- Charles College, in Howard County. American war of 1898”, a remarkable After completing the usual curriculum achievement for grandchildren of he entered the Georgetown College executed Confederate conspirator Dr. William P. Tonry , Chestertown for the purpose of pursuing a post Mary Surratt. Transcript MD , 7 Oct 1905 graduate course in moral philosophy Sadly the strain of the assassination and natural science, He completed and her mother’s execution at which family names, so I can feel confident his course in the usual four years and she was present, left poor Anna that Professor Tonry belonged to an was immediately appointed adjunct Surratt Tonry mentally disturbed. Her early branch of our Tonrys. Professor of Chemistry in the same hair turned white and she became * Last- making was a skilled profession college. subject to panic attacks and bouts essential to the production of hand-made footwear Aged twenty six, he was offered of depression. “To this day there are **The sad ghost of Anna Surratt-- and accepted the position of assistant members of the White House staff Washington Oddities and other interesting chemist in the laboratory of the who claim that Anna’s ghost returns stuff Surgeon General of the United States to the White House every July 6th

56 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Fred Conlon and his Sligo Sculptures By Jack Harte

1916 -1923 CO SLIGO MEMORIAL make tourist souvenirs from plaster. problem about those years: Fred was When he left the Vocational School managing to do very little of his own Fred Conlon she successfully lobbied Co Sligo work. So, in 1989 an opportunity arose Fred Conlon was born in the townland VEC to create a scholarship for him to retire from teaching, and he took it. of , near Easkey, in 1943 so that he could attend the National That was when he began to develop and he died in his family home in College of Art in Dublin. His five his own sculpture and produce work Strandhill in 2005. Conlon was widely years there studying art and especially on a prolific scale. Until his death in recognised as one of the finest artists sculpture turned him into an artist of 2005 Fred was highly productive and of his time; the appreciation of his the highest quality. got some major commissions, like the work is widespread; it is featured in He qualified with the College bronze statue of Parnell for Rathdrum, public parks and private collections all Diploma, but also with its Teaching or the stone sculpture outside Bunratty over Ireland and as far away as India Diploma. He recognised the need Castle – the largest stone sculpture and Japan. Yet, no matter how far he to earn his living and teaching was executed in Ireland in over a century. and his work travelled, he was never his preferred option. At the first But it was the commissions he got far from the source of his inspiration, opportunity he returned to Sligo and for pieces in Co Sligo that gave him Co Sligo. took a post in the newly established the greatest satisfaction. Recognition I cannot claim to be an impartial Regional College, now Sligo IT. Fred by your own is sweeter than accolades commentator on Fred and his work. took all responsibilities seriously from afar, no matter how prestigious. Fred was a cousin of mine. We were and gave them priority over his art. Fred was steeped in the traditions of the born next door to one another and So the following years were spent County - folk life, history, Neolithic just a few months apart, and we enthusiastically establishing and landscapes, etc, and he drew on these remained close friends while he lived. building up the Art Department in regardless of where the sculpture was Subsequently I wrote a book on his the College, and nurturing the talent going to be located. When a piece was life and work, Unravelling the Spiral. of all the students who came within for a local site, then there was a happy Fred was from a standard rural his remit. He is remembered as an coming together of inspiration and family of the 1940’s, ten children inspiring teacher and mentor by the purpose. It was appropriate that the of which he was the third youngest. many artists who studied under him final large commission he completed His older siblings were emigrating and proceeded to the very highest before he died of a brain tumour in as soon as they came of age – mid achievement in their own artistic 2005 was sited in . I am teens in those days. He might have careers. listing some of the pieces that are on left too, had not a local enterprising Much as he loved teaching, and view around the county, but there shopkeeper, Eileen Mary Harte, despite the enormous inspiration he are more in neighbouring counties, spotted his talent and engaged him to was to his students, there was a serious Roscommon, Mayo, and Leitrim. 57 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

1916 -1923 CO SLIGO MEMORIAL CASADH NA GEALAÍ (The turning Located on Kennedy Parade, Sligo of the Moon) Town Centre, this monument was This piece was formerly sited in a erected to the memory of the people private garden in Rosses Point but is who died during that troubled period currently located beside Fred’s house of our history from 1916 to 1923. It in Strandhill. He has commented that is laden with symbolic narrative. The the work is based on responses to table-top represents Ireland divided the seascapes and landscapes of his by the inlaid sword, but united by native Co. Sligo. Although abstract, it the handshake of reconciliation. is founded on that which is familiar. The four supporting columns are the four provinces, while the six seats represent the six baronies of County Sligo.

FAOIN SCEACH (Under the Thorn Bush) RÉ NA MARA (Star of the Sea) When the Famine Graveyard, adjacent on Queen Maeve’s cairn on top of to the old Workhouse on the outskirts Knocknarea across Sligo Bay. This of Sligo town was being re-landscaped, significant alignment is in keeping Fred was commissioned to do this with the Neolithic monuments of bronze sculpture to commemorate the Sligo landscape, many of which the victims of this Great Famine of are aligned to the heavenly bodies the 1840’s who were buried there. He at specific and significant moments. chose the image of the ‘sceach’ or lone Knocknarea itself, ‘the mountain thorn bush, familiar but haunting, to of the moon’, was Sligo’s holiest signify the awful fate of the nameless CASADH NA GEALAÍ (The turning of the Moon) mountain in the pre-Christian era. By dead. The ‘sceach’ in Irish folk strange and happy coincidence Fred’s culture was sacred to the people of the It relates to the soft curved forms of own home and studio in Strandhill underworld, the dead and the sidhe, glacial boulders (like the Split Rock are within the same direct alignment. and could not be disturbed. in Killeenduff), the horizon separating land from sky and ocean from MORRISON MEMORIAL mountain, the dishing of valleys, the Fred designed this roadside shrine at roll and swell of the tide. Drumfin to the memory of the great local traditional musician, James RÉ NA MARA (Star of the Sea) Morrison. He incorporated the actual This was Fred’s last sculpture. ‘Milestone’ that inspired Morrison’s Commissioned for a private garden most famous composition. in Rosses Point, it is oriented to focus

FAOIN SCEACH (Under the Thorn Bush) MORRISON MEMORIAL

58 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Or Even Turn North By Martin A. Timoney

No sooner than the 2018 edition of to get a good spread across the passage tomb complex is on the The Corran Herald was released Barony. Location details can be got Knocknarea peninsula. Here than people were asking for a similar on archaeology.ie, Geohive and the Carrowmore has a variety of passage summary of the archaeology, history Discovery series 1:50,000 maps. tombs, at least fifty, in a variety of and landscape of the north of Co. states of preservation, and there is a Sligo. Combing the titles “Why not Mesolithic Visitor Centre to inform you of what is Turn South, or West” and “or Even Evidence for the Mesolithic, 8,000 open to public access. Current dating Turn North”, we get “Why not Turn BC to 4,000 BC, is very hard to is 3,700 to 3,200 BC. Knocknarea is South, or West, or Even Turn North”. recognise and essentially is confined crowned by Miosgán Meadhbha, an Last year’s article should be taken in to small tools of stone – their dwelling enormous cairn that could well cover, conjunction with this one. and burial places continue to prove not just one, but, two passage tombs. It This article addresses those requests elusive. We now believe that people is visible from long distances, making but the point of the 2018 article must were present on this island as early as it one of the most visible monuments not be missed. We have a county, full 8,000 BC. Mesolithic people, our first in the country. Would Maeve get of heritage, so even informed by the settlers, hunted, fished and gathered planning permission today! But please content of this article let the whole their food but their physical presence do not climb on to it and do not take county be recognised for what it has, is not easy to detect. stones off it or away from it. There perhaps sufficient in total for it to be is a satellite cemetery at Barnasrahy. designated a World Heritage Area, a Neolithic The recent reclassification of a tomb landscape with monuments. The Neolithic, 4,100 BC to 2,200 at Ardnaglass unexpectedly extends In assembling this second part it BC, a period that saw the arrival the distribution of passage tombs to constantly struck me how different of farming, pottery and megalithic the north side of Benbulben. The the range of monuments in the north burial monuments, is represented by megalithic complex at Wardhouse is of the county is as compared with portal tombs, court tombs and passage just outside the county near Tullaghan. what is in the south. Carbury is tombs and associated settlement and On the south east side of Sligo the barony of Co. Sligo that from ritual monuments. town there are passage tomb cairns Belladrihid to the Bridge of Bunduff The Maugheraboy causewayed on Belvoir and Cairns Hill. By the on the Leitrim border. This barony enclosure, just south of the Garvoge, in a housing estate, the has some monuments of international Summerhill roundabout, has dates Abbeyquarter passage tomb has a significance and the counts of floating around 4,000 BC. The 1954 Calvary group, a Crucifixion monuments are very high, the highest megalithic structure at Primrose and two statues. in the country for some types. Some of Grange, dating to about 4,000 BC, is The pairing of megalithic tombs was this is a reflection of the Knocknarea- not far from Maugheraboy, either in recognised by Kitchin and Cahalane, Carrowmore-Cairns Hill passage date or indeed in space. members of Sligo Field Club, though tombs. The Archaeological Survey of The Portal tomb at Cloghcor stands with such high numbers this should Ireland website, archaeology.ie, is the on a ridge. Some of the best court tombs not be surprising. The cross-breeding most convenient way of getting the in the country are here. Creeveykeel between the types of megalithic flavour of these riches. The Inventory was restored after excavation in 1935 tombs in Co. Sligo deserves detailed for this Barony, like that for , showing the essentials of a full-court publication. At Cloverhill there is has not been published, though the tomb – it has a two-chamber gallery an orphan monument – some see the fieldwork has been done. within a long cairn. Deerpark has a artwork as Neolithic, others as Iron This then is a look at the major central court, twin galleries at one Age and some wonder is the structure monuments in Carbury, period by end and a single gallery at the other. a 19th century arrangement of genuine period, of those who lived, worked, Other court tombs are at Cloghboley, stones from elsewhere. prayed and died through time, a period Doonshaskin, Moneylahan, The county at large is wonderfully stretching back to the Mesolithic. The Gortnaleck, Killaspugbrone and endowed with some of the best of all sites mentioned are not necessarily Ardnaglass. four types of megalithic tombs – the the visually best, but I have attempted The outstanding Western European total for the county is about 240, not

59 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 the 5,000 stated in one official county museums for the output of pottery and county a few visits, some for raiding publication on the county. bronze and gold objects. These two (Inishmurray), others for trading So much for the glorious places of periods produced a great wealth of (Killaspugbrone). the dead – the places of the living, ornaments, tools and weapons, many dwellings, ritual, industrial, are on display in our National Museum of Early Christian Settlement much more elusive. Among these Ireland, a few are in Sligo Museum. Turning to the places of the living there are the chert working hut sites on There is no hillfort so far recognised are many ringforts (Rathedmond, Knocknarea, itself ringed on the east in Carbury. Promontory forts are to Ballymuldoory, Tully, Rathcarrick, side by a series of banks of Neolithic be seen on Mullaghmore Head but Lecarrow, Breeoge, Carrowcrinn, age. Some of the lowest layers of the that at Knocklane really does show Cleveragh Demesne), and cashels shell middens, mainly of oyster, along the format at its best. Fullacht Fiadha, (Castlegal, Cashelgarran, Deerpark). the shores of the three Sligo bays cooking places, are at Lislarry, The only crannógs are at the west end may go back this far in time. Some Rahelly, Barnaribbon and Srarevagh. of Glencar Lake; this part of county at Culleenamore have been excavated Peat seen at several locations along Sligo lacks an abundance of lakes and showing them to be prehistoric; there the Sligo coastline indicates great no crannóg has been recognised in the are others, such as at Streedagh and changes from distant millennia. boglands here. Drumcliffe Bay, that could be of all Bronze Age activity has been recorded or any period. The massive henge at in the foreshore peat at Staad. Medieval Religious Lisnalurg is of Late Neolithic or Early The next major change began in the Bronze Age date. Early Christian Religious 12th century and lasted to the 16th From towards the end of the The introduction of Christianity in the century. Major monastic orders built Neolithic and into the Early Bronze late 4th century AD heralded a new abbeys and friaries. For Carbury the Age we have wedge tombs. There era. The Early Christian period, from only such foundation is that by the are examples at Coolbeg, Drum, St. Patrick to the Normans, is named Dominicans in 1252 at the east side Drumkillsellagh, Deerpark and by some as the Early Medieval, with of Sligo town. It has a Visitor Centre Formoyle. That at Streedagh is within the High Medieval being from the where one can learn of the features of a ring cairn and there is another ring Normans onwards to the 17th century. the building, the great east window, cairn on the sand flats at Edenreagh. Churches initially were of timber the slender lights on the south side, the There is a four poster at Bunduff. and were replaced, some more than decorated altar, the O’Connor Sligo once, some with stone, and some sites Butler chantry chapel, the cloisters and Bronze Age and Iron Age continue from the Early Christian into the domestic buildings. The O’Crean These many Neolithic monuments are the Medieval proper. altar tomb, the O’Connor Sligo Butler indicative of a sizeable population. Inishmurray, with many decorated monument above the high altar and The visible follow-on into the Early cross slabs and churches within a many sculptured memorials are also Bronze Age, and again in the Early cashel, and , with a cross worthy of your time. There are simpler Iron Age, comes in the form of earthen slab, a round tower and all or parts of churches at Staad, Ballintemple, barrows and cairns. The monuments three high crosses, are of International Killaspugbrone and Keeloges but as of the Bronze Age, 2,500 BC to about status. The location of the Battle of with most church buildings of the 600 BC, and the Iron Age, from 700 the Books is in Culdrumman north early centuries they get altered, added BC to 500 AD, are mounds, barrows of Drumcliffe. Kilmacannon has one to and even subtracted from over the and cairns. There are several in cross pillar, Keelty had a cross slab, centuries. Dating church buildings and near the Carrowmore Passage which is now in National Museum can be hazardous. Tomb cemetery - Culleenamore, of Ireland after an authorised trip to Tobernaveen, Barnasrahy, Graigue, Germany, Ballinphull has a small Medieval settlement Breeoge Cummeen and Carrowmore cross pillar with a Christian swastika Moated sites, rectilinear semi- itself. There are some, even large – the design has been replicated in defended farmsteads, a new form in ones, in Breaghwy, Moneygold, recent years on a roadside pillar on the High Medieval period and very Lisadell, Gortarowey, Mount Edward the way into Mullaghmore; the ogham frequently seen through Leinster and and across the Maugherow Peninsula. on it is also modern. Derryleehan has Munster, are now being considered to In Carbury there is a wide range of the foundations of an early oratory be an adoption by the Irish of an Anglo- types of barrows, only one of which within a ruinous cashel. Ballintemple Norman introduction. There are has been excavated in modern times. is undatable, but the name suggests examples at Kilmacannon, Drumcliffe The Bronze Age is best seen in an early site. The Vikings paid our South, Clonderry and Glackbawn; that

60 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 at Glen Upper is beside the crannog at us believe, Catholics still used parts Sligo Abbey, Thomas Phillips in Quay the west end of Glencar Lake, most of the abbeys and friaries and also St. for his Prospect of Sligo in 1685, likely to be High Medieval, a pattern simple churches were built through Henry Luttrell for his boundary of the seen also at Cloonacleigha Lake south the 17th and 18th centuries, long town in 1689, George Gabriel Stokes of Templehouse Lake. Ringforts, before Catholic Emancipation in the mathematician, William Higgins cashels and crannógs continued in use 1829. In the early decades of the the initiator of the Periodic Table of through the High Medieval period and 19th century, the Board of First Fruits Elements, Sir John Benson and St. maybe later. There may have been endowed many churches and glebe Ledger for Hyde Bridge. early corn mills on Dernish Island and houses. St. John’s Cathedral in Sligo For Sligo town one should consult Inishmurray. town is multiperiod, Fiona Gallagher’s Streets of Sligo and was involved in its present format, Gallagher and Marie-Louise Legge’ Medieval Castles and it has monuments and memorials Irish Historical Towns Atlas of Sligo. Carbury lacks surviving good early inside and outside. John McTernan has published widely castles. The enormous castle of Sligo, Some of our Sligo graveyards, on the county. built by Richard de Burgh in 1310, is Drumcliffe, Sligo Abbey, St. John’s, only to be seen in Thomas Phillips’ Kilmacowen and Clogher More, Scenery Prospect of Sligo from 1685. Some have memorials noteworthy for We Sligo people are so used to seeing remains of it were found beside the their decoration more than for the landscape of our county that most Town Hall. The castle at Grange RC their inscriptions. Holy wells, as of us only appreciate it when seen in church suffered from an explosion in at Ballinphull, Urlaur, Scarden different light or when a visitor asks 1689. Castletown is no more than and Tobernalt, have been places of us about it. Lough Gill has Church a ruinous pile. The late castle at devotion for centuries, with some Island, Cottage Island and Inishfree, Dunfore is wrapped up in bushes and having their origin in pagan times. and there are great views from the ivy. There are seventeenth century There are sweat houses at Ardnaglass Green Road. Glencar is in a deep castles at Ardtarmon (restored, not Upper, Barnadearg, Gortnaleck, glacial valley, with spectacular cliffs, open to the public) and Ballincar. Barnaribbon, Cooldrumman Upper waterfall – there is a viewing space and Moneylaghan. on the main road on the south side. Post-Medieval Set out with trees on northern slopes Three Spanish Armada ships were 17th to 19th centuries is a triquetra, the Trinity Knot. The wrecked at Streedagh in 1588. A There were Napoleonic lookout spectacular shape of Benbulben, replica prow of a ship in stone at the towers at Knocklane and Streedagh, flat top, steep cliffs, looking like the entrance to Streedagh commemorates the foundations of which are just prow of a ship, gets much exposure, that event as do recent visits by the recognisable. The route to Coney to the exclusion of some of the other Spanish Navy. Some still believe Island is marked by pillars, and dramatic landscapes of Carbury. One that twelve Spaniards were hung opposite Rosses Point the Metal Man wonders why Knocknarea gets so from the windows of Staad Abbey. It points the way. There are remnants little used in promoting Sligo. The is much more likely that there was a of a salt industry at Coolbeg, Milk circuit near the base of the mountain, medieval church at Ahamlish prior to Harbour and Mullaghmore. near Rathcarrick, St. Anne’s and the present Church of Ireland church Lissadell has Gore-Booth and Yeats Culleenamore, gives one set of views. and that is where the Spaniards met connections. Hazelwood for Wynne, From farther out, from Raghly, their end. An Armada visitor facility by Cassels 1730, is major Irish Lissadell, from within Sligo town is developing at Grange. Georgian building. Classiebawn is a itself, and from Tireragh, the view There are four 17th century bastioned nineteenth century castle by Rawson can be totally different. The shape of forts known in Carbury. There are Carroll, formerly of Palmerston and the mountain changes, with Maeve o 360 views of much of north Sligo Mountbatten. not always visible. Mullaghmore from the Green Fort on Connaughton Those from an antiquarian Head, Streedagh, and Road on the north side of Sligo town. background deserving of a wall Knocklane, and the coastal villages The Stone Fort succeeded Sligo Castle plaque would include Rev. William of Mullaghmore, Rosses Point and and preceded the Town Hall. There Henry on John St., Henry McCarrick Strandhill are all worthy of a long are newly recognised bastioned forts in Dominick St., Andrew Maiben visit. on Coney Island and near the shore in near the Town Hall, Owen Wynne in ‘You cannot live on scenery’, so the Doonfore. the Market Yard and at Hazelwood, saying goes, even if endowed with Despite what some would have Elinor Butler in her chantry chapel at monuments, but the county could live

61 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 better off the combination of scenery way of thinking. The ending of last year’s article with monuments, all good reason to Most monuments are on the encouraged all who have interaction come, to stay, to stay longer, and bring private property of farmers, so with visitors to Sligo to know what memories that entice you to come do ask for permission for access. is in their area, be able to talk a little back, again and again. The Wild Some monuments are state-owned about the heritage of this county and Atlantic Way is one of the great tourist National Monuments, others are where one can learn more about it successes, but as can be implied in in the ownership or care of Sligo and get access to it. Those thoughts these two articles, why are there not County Council. As always, you equally apply to anybody meeting spur routes deep into the many other should respect the property as well as and greeting those they deal with, places of heritage in the country! taking care of yourself – the surface not just in this barony of Carbury, but Over the years media attention to the of our monuments, and particularly anywhere on this Island of ours. archaeological and historical heritage our graveyards, are, by their nature, of Co Sligo has been seen as a means uneven, so you are advised, if needs There is a mantra in the tourist of increasing our tourist numbers, be! There are many walking routes business: more so than for its own value. Walsh being developed across the county: Heads on Beds, in Dedicated to Sligo (2013) totals in Carbury there is the Queen Maeve Bums on Seats, well over 6,000 monuments for all Trail, Killaspugbrone, Slish Wood, Feet on Streets, the county. In combination with Dooney Rock, Historic Walking but dare I add some reasons later buildings these monuments Tour of Sligo, Garvogue River Walk, reflect 10,000 years of settlement in Carns Hill, Rosses Point Coastal Eyes on Sights, the county, itself naturally endowed Way, Hazelwood, Deer Park, Sruth in Memories that Last, with wonderful geology, botany, Aghaidh an Aird, Benbulben Forest Eyes on Sites, flora and fauna. The words of James Walk, and Mullaghmore Head Walk. Pictures to take, Fergusson, architect and antiquarian, Adjacent monuments, as everywhere, A Longing to Stay, from 1872 and Wendy Lyons, a can be identified from the Ordnance If not, to Return, Soon. conservation architect, from 2017 in Survey of Ireland’s Discovery Series Sligo Field Club Journal, Vol. 3, iv, maps. ought to be embedded in our daily

Lord Edward Street Ballymote during Big Snow 1947 Submitted By Oliver Farry 62 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 William Rowan Hamilton: Ireland’s Greatest Ever Scientist

By Nial Friel

A eureka moment At the age of eighteen he entered the theory of quanternions was born. Arguably, the greatest scientific Trinity College to study Mathematics Hamilton’s etching on Broom Bridge breakthrough by an Irish scientist and Classics, both of which he excelled did not survive the passage of time. occurred on an Autumn morning in in. In fact, he was appointed Professor However, a plaque was later unveiled October 1843, as William Rowan Astronomy prior to his graduation! by An Taoiseach Éamon de Valera on Hamilton walked along the Royal A unique achievement surely. He 13 November 1958. It is interesting Canal with his wife Helen on route subsequently took up residency at to note that de Valera was himself a to the Royal Irish Academy. On the Dunsink Observatory where he mathematician and also student of that morning Hamilton’s mind was remained for the rest of his life. quaternions. A picture of this plaque concentrated on a mathematical is shown below. theory which he had been struggling The discovery of quanternions with for some time. In a moment So what was vexing Hamilton’s mind 3-D geometry in the digital age: of inspiration Hamilton suddenly as he walked along the Royal Canal? from sat navs to space missions. made a breakthrough. So excited For some time Hamilton was working So why was Hamilton’s discovery was Hamilton that he immediately on a complex mathematical theory and important? To answer this, we need carved his discovery, a key equation, was frustrated by his lack of progress. to give some background to algebra! onto Broom Bridge, in Cabra. He was particularly interested in We are all familiar with the idea that This discovery has led to countless the link between so-called complex the order in which real numbers are applications in diverse contexts from numbers and geometry. Complex multiplied doesn’t matter. Multiplying the Apollo space mission to 3-D numbers can be described by two two by three yields the same results computer graphics. He can surely lay dimensions. Yet, these weren’t as when one multiplies three by claim to be one of the greatest Irish sufficient for his theory. He attempted two. However order often matters in scientists of all time. to work on an extension of complex every day life. Putting on a pair of number to three dimension, but this shoes before a pair of socks is quite too proved unsuccessful. However a different result to first putting on a on that fateful morning on October pair of socks and then shoes! It turns 16th, while walking with his wife out that the order of multiplication along the Royal Canal, Hamilton also matters for Hamiltons system of suddenly had what could be described quaternions and this was the essential as a ‘Eureka’ moment. Hamilton element of his theory. (Quanternion would later describe this moment as because this number system has “a spark flashed forth”. His insight four components.) This was quite a William Rowan Hamilton was to realise that extending complex departure from what was understood numbers to four dimensions was the and accepted at that time. Hamilton Early life: a child prodigy breakthrough that was needed and so showed that his new number system William Rowan Hamilton was born had incredible application for 3-D in Dublin on August 4th, 1805. At geometry, especially the theory for the age of three, William was sent to the rotation of objects. The theory live with his Uncle, James Hamilton, of Quaterions has found wide and who ran a school in Talbot’s Castle unanticipated use throughout the in Trim, Co. Meath. A child prodigy sciences. In fact, it is interesting to and polymath, it is reported that appreciate that applications of his William mastered several languages discovery was not fully realised until by the age of thirteen. These included the digital age in which we now live. European and classical languages, Hamilton could surely have never but remarkably also Persian, Arabic Plaque commemorating Hamilton’s predicted just how impactful his walk among others. William also had an discovery: Broom Bridge, Royal on the fateful morning in 1843 would incredible aptitude for Mathematics. Canal, Cabra, Co. Dublin be!

63 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Dobharchú: Hound of the Deep By Joe Mc Gowan

Do fearsome creatures of incredible These stories are not just old wives southern Sweden. He was sent to the strength inhabit the deep waters of tales of long ago: A report in the Irish neighbouring kingdom of Denmark our lakes and seas? Sightings of a Times of August 30th 2000 related where a blood-crazed monster was water monster swimming in Loch that workers filleting fish for market terrorising the countryside, butchering Ness in north central Scotland were found a human head inside a 5.2 foot and gorging itself on King Hrothgar’s recorded as far back as the 15th codfish in Queensland, Australia. subjects. The bodies he couldn’t eat century. Investigators today display Following the discovery, a search for he kept in a pouch which he carried photographic evidence to prove a lost trawler fisherman, who had gone with him. Beowolf vanquished the the claim while others maintain the missing from his boat in unexplained brute tearing off his arm and shoulder pictures are fake. Sonar probes of circumstances, was called off. ‘ On in the process. Victory celebrations the lake have proven inconclusive. preparing the fish they observed the were cut short when Grendel’s equally Controversy raging around the claim remains inside and contacted police,’ monstrous mother arrived to wreak generates a tourism windfall of five Det. Sgt. David Miles told reporters. vengeance. It killed a royal counsellor million pounds a year for the Scottish Did water monsters large enough and dragged his body, as well as treasury from hopefuls, binoculars to threaten life exist at one time in the hewn-off limb of her son, to her and cameras in hand, wishful of a Glenade Lake, Co. Leitrim? Do they underwater lair. Beowolf, a strong sighting. still reside in its depths? The story, swimmer, pursued the creature, cut In the great mysterious depths of which had its gruesome finale in the the head from the body and returned the ocean, right now, a creature with shadow of Benbulben mountain, tells to Hrothgar’s court in triumph. eyes the size of dinner plates patiently of a horrific encounter that happened There are many records of human awaits its next meal in the Stygian along its shores many years ago ago, encounters with beings of the deep, black, unseen by human eyes. It fears still puzzles and fascinates. Inspiring some benevolent, some evil. In the no creature. The flesh on its vast discussion and speculation, the Rosses of Donegal the Dobharchú bullet-shaped body spasmodically question as to what really happened (otter) killed and ate Sheila, the sister changes colour, flushing in multi- then or what secrets may still lie hidden of Sean O Donnell at a place called coloured pulses. Framing its beak- under the placid waters of this Leitrim Ros na mBallán. When Sean went like jaws are eight muscular tentacles lake has never been fully answered. there to meet her all he found was a as thick as tree trunks; they are lined The story tells of a fierce struggle to bag of bones. Vowing to kill the beast with powerful suckers ready to lash the death between the Mc Loughlin he laid a trap by arranging a pile of out and seize a victim. Here, the sun’s brothers of Glenade and ‘that fierce stones and placing Sheila’s red cloak light never penetrates and the water brute the whistling Dobharchú’ : on top. He waited in hiding nearby. above presses down with a mass of The Dobharchú came in from the sea several metric tons. ‘The rocks and dells rang with its at nightfall and seeing the cloak, made Seamen’s stories that tell of such yells, the eagles screamed in dread; for it. Sean Ruadh, as he was known, voracious monsters rising from the The ploughman left his horses alone, waited until the brute was almost abyss to pluck humans from the decks the fishes too ‘tis said, above him, took aim and killed the are numerous. Ancient woodcuts Away from the mountain streams animal.1 show these giant squid, huge pulpy though far, went rushing to the sea. John Baxter’s late 16th century map creatures with ten radiating arms, Nature’s laws did almost pause for records the sighting by the armies rising from the water to grasp a death or victory.’ of Clan O’Donnell of ‘two water luckless ship, a screaming human horses of a huge bigness’ near their held aloft by a curling tentacle. They Sea and lake monsters have always encampment on the shores of Glencar are no figment of the imagination. inspired fear. One of the earliest and Lake. The largest such creature on record, best known accounts, written between A creature resembling a ‘big black Architeuthis Longimanus, measuring AD 700 and 1000, is the Anglo-Saxon boar’ inhabited the depths of Urlaur 57 feet in length, was disgorged from tale of the Norse hero Beowolf’s lake in the parish of Kilmovee in the deep and washed ashore in the struggle with the lake monster Co. Sligo. The prior in the nearby Cook Strait in New Zealand in 1887. Grendel. Seamus Heaney published a Dominican Abbey sprinkled it with The largest specimen recorded in modern translation of the epic. holy water in the belief it was the these islands measured an impressive Beowolf was a warrior and nephew devil. When the monster retaliated by 25 feet. of Hygelac, king of what is now spitting out a litter of banbhs at them 64 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 they realised this was a formidable the lake shore. Knowing she didn’t the animal to where he found him. beast and sent for the bishop. The belong to any local farmer he decided Next morning when Padraig still bishop attempted to banish the fiend, to stable her until an owner came had not returned from the lake his who was now joined by a companion. along. neighbours went out to look for him. To his astonishment, the creature As he fed and looked after her he Searching all over the countryside they informed the cleric that he was once became extremely fond of the mare eventually found his body, ‘all gory his pet hound fed on meat he refused as she had a very gentle nature. Time and mangled lying in the waters of the to the poor people, ‘who were weak went on and as no one showed up Lochaun, called from that day Loch with hunger’. The two unrepentant to make a claim he worked her with Padraig Ruadh’. The black horse that, demons then set up a hideous plough and cart. Gradually his luck ‘shone like a crow’ was never seen screeching and kept at it until the improved, his stock of cattle increased again. Was the mysterious animal the friars went stone deaf. and each year the mare had a foal for Dobharchú in a different guise or was The holy men were on the point of which he got a good price. He had Padraig set upon by another monster leaving the monastery for good when good reason to be satisfied with his of the lake on his way home? Vague it was revealed to them in a dream newly found fortune and traced it all tales are told of a water horse which that Donagh O’ Grady, a piper from to the lucky day when he found the gives its name to Loch an Chapaill Tavraun, could help them. When, strange horse. During all the years (Lake of the Horse) on the same ridge. after a long search, they eventually she was with him he was kind to her, The details of the incident are unclear found their saviour drunk in a shebeen never having cause to strike her a to this day and there has never been a they must have thought the dream blow. logical explanation for the murder of more of a nightmare than a revelation. One day, when riding her to the Padraig Ruadh Meguinney. O’Grady, equally unimpressed with lake, preoccupied with his thoughts The legend of the Dobharchú (Water the importance of his holy visitors and impatient to get on with the day’s hound) stems from the bestial murder or their dilemna, flatly refused to go work, he struck her with the bridle. of Grainne Ni Conalai at Glenade anywhere until he had another few She screamed and leaped in the air. Lake on September 24th 1722. The drinks. Instantly all the foals she ever reared details were well known one time and In his own good time he made came around her. The mare with the the ballad sung at fairs on the streets his way to Lake Urlaur. Tuning the man on her back, followed by all the of Kinlough. Some say she went to pipes he took up position on the shore foals, dashed headlong into the lake. the lake to wash clothes; the ballad and commenced to play. The wild Next day the farmers heart was seen tells she went to bathe. It is no matter. notes that floated out across the water floating on the surface of the water. When she failed to return, her husband attracted the two monsters closer and From then on it was named Loch an Traolach Mac Lochlainn went to look closer. When they came close to the Chroi, (Lake of the Heart). for her. He was aghast when he found enchanted piper a bolt of lightning Few are aware of a similar incident her body lying by the lake with the from a clear sky struck them dead, thus in neighbouring Glenaniff that took ‘beast lying asleep on her mangled bringing to an end their persecution the life of a young man of the Padraig breast’! of the priests, and haunting of Urlaur Ruadh branch of the Meguinney or This and the chase that ensued lake.2 Mc Guinness family. It happened in would have little credibility today Not all creatures that came from the year 1700. if it were not for the tombstone the water were so fearsome, but Patrick Tohall of Knappaghmore, marking the grave of Grace Connolly. persons encountering them needed to Sligo researched the incident in 1944. Although worn smooth now, it can be wary. Thirteen miles on the Sligo Acording to his findings, young still be seen at the old cemetery of side of Dromore West there is a lake Padraig went out on an early spring Conwell near Kinlough. A carving on called Loch an Chroi. From ancient morning to the plateau overlooking the stone clearly shows a strange beast times it had the reputation of being the lake to bring down his own mare being stabbed by a dagger. Tohall spellbound. for the day’s work. He found her claims a similar monument existed at A farmer who had a sizeable tract grazing on the shores of the little lake one time not so far away in Kilroosk of mountain and bog in that area fell on the boundaries of Gortenachurry cemetery. Broken and lost around into bad luck. Cattle died on him; and Carrowrevagh and was surprised 1922 it may have been the inspiration when he replaced them they too to see a shining black stallion for the Conwell memorial, or indeed expired. Spring came around and he accompanying her. The strange horse evidence of yet another monster! didn’t have even a horse to plough the was a powerful looking animal so on According to Patrick Doherty, of land. One evening as he walked his an instant’s impulse Padraig decided Glenade, local lore records that the property deep in thought, wondering to take the black steed instead of the chase, which started at Frank Mc how things could go so wrong, he white. His work finished for the day, Sharry’s, faltered at Caiseal-bán stone noticed a black mare grazing along he left home in the evening to return fort when Mac Lochlainn was forced

65 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 to stop with the blacksmith there to replace a lost horseshoe. When the enraged monster caught up with them the horses were hurriedly drawn across the entrance to form a barrier. Giving the terrified man a sword the blacksmith advised him, ‘When the creature charges the horse he’ll put his head right out through him. As soon as he does this you be quick and cut his head off.’ Patrick insists the story’s credibility is proven by the carved image of a hand and arm holding a sword engraved on Grace Conolly’s tombstone in Conwell cemetery. Cashelgarron

Glenade Lake. © Joe Mc Gowan horse are said to lie buried nearby. What he there found made his heart race The words of the following poem For Traolach spied his wife prostrate reinforce Patrick’s assertions. Because the beast had ate and ate Dobharchu: the gravestone of They form part of the legend And like all beasts he went to rest Grace Connolly depicting the And lay there on Dobharchú © Joe Mc Gowan surrounding an event which His victim’s breast. excites discussion and controversy stone fort, near where the chase ended to the present day. The words of and the Dobharchú met its gory end, McLoughlin hurried to his home For his wife’s death he must atone, still stands today nestled on a height the ballad, skilfully put together His anger cleansed him of all fear under the sheltering prow of bare by a hedge schoolmaster of the As he reached down to grab his spear Benbulben’s head. Both monster and time, bring the story vividly to And to the lake he made great haste life. The scribe’s name is lost to For now the beast he planned to waste us, and the circumstances of his And creeping up he stabbed and existence, but his voice speaks lunged eloquently across the centuries as into the beast clearly as if the words were penned his spear he plunged. yesterday. They are an articulate and enduring tribute to the event But as the beast near death did screech The sound into the lake did reach and to his genius: And there awakened in the mire Another like the one expired. The Legend of The Dabharchú From forty feet he made his way And landed where his species lay The year was seventeen twenty two To get McLoughlin When first appeared the Dabharchú was his aim From Glenade Lake, a Devil from The chase began Hell ‘Twould end in pain. And at the spot, poor Grace she fell. While washing clothes, McLoughlin on his horse had fled She was surprised His brother by his side tis said And the Dabharchú They travelled hard but could not Cashelgarron Fort: where the Caused her demise. shake Dobharchu was killed © Joe Mc The Dabharchú from Glenade Lake, Gowan Her husband came in search of Grace 66 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

And so the legend does report And so the Dobharchu was slain, 1 The Story of the Rosses, Ben At a place called Cashelgarren Fort He died in agony and pain, O’Donnell, p18-22. Sean O the brothers in their hour of need The beast was buried where he fell Donnell or ‘Sean Mac Mhanuis Óig closed off the entrance with their Beneath Ben Bulbens famous pell. Ó’Donnell’, as he was known, was steed. Grace lies buried in Conwal, married to a sister of Brian O’Rourke A marked slab placed on top recalls, of Breffni. The Annals of the Four The Dabharchú was closing in, The beast. Masters record that he killed Manus The horses would not bother him, O’Donnell, a cousin of Red Hugh He ran beneath their bodies spent, Now a caveat please take from me, O’Donnell’s, in 1589. McLoughlin’s sword from scabbard Remember Grace who once lived free 2 Adapted from Legends of Saints and rent For in the evening while its still, Sinners, Douglas Hyde, pp127-35 As through the air the beast he flew Listen for a cry so shrill McLoughlin’s sword the monster And do not venture near the lake slew. For a Dobharchu your life could take © Michael O’Connor 2008 Taaffe Sun Dial Submitted by John Coleman 17th century slate sun dial from Ballymote inscribed with the name of Francis Taaffe. The Taaffe Family, Barons of Ballymote and Viscounts of Corran, owned Ballymote in the 17th and early 18th century.

67 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Moth Records from a Ballymote Garden

By Michael Bell

This article will summarize moth moths that are then funnelled into the difficult or impossible to identify records from my back garden on the container where they remain until even if viewed under a magnifying edge of Ballymote that have been morning when they can be examined glass. Some species require dissection made since 2009. Moths, along with and released unharmed. The light under a microscope to be determined. butterflies, make up the insect order source is a mercury vapour bulb which Identification can also be made more Lepidoptera. The division of moths emits a relatively high proportion of difficult by variation within a species and butterflies is a somewhat arbitrary light as ultra violet making it more and the fact that moths, like butterflies, one with little basis in science. attractive to moths. There are various lose their markings and colour over Butterflies, due to their diurnal habits reasons put forward as to why moths time as wing-scales are easily worn and often bright colours, are generally and some other insects fly towards off. better known, though many moth light, none of which are satisfactory to To date I have recorded 297 species of species can be observed flying by my mind, so I will leave that question moths in my back garden, comprising day also. There are about 180,000 unanswered here except to say it is 216 macro-moths and 81 micro-moths. described species of butterflies and probably more accurate to state that It is worth noting, by comparison, moths worldwide with over 160,000 bright lights ‘confuse’ rather than that only 11 species of butterfly have of those being moths. In Ireland ‘attract’ such insects. been recorded in the same garden. 45 species of butterfly have been With the large number of moth The garden is rather unremarkable, recorded to date with 34 considered to species it can be quite a challenge to being small and in an estate on the be either resident or regular migrants. identify a catch in the morning and as edge of town. This illustrates the For many people it is a surprise to it is not uncommon to catch several great diversity of moth species that learn that 1,435 species of moths have hundred moths during warm summer are to be found in almost any habitat. been recorded in this country. nights it can be quite time consuming The garden does benefit from having Just as butterflies and moths have going through the contents the next a mature hedge comprising mostly been separated largely as a matter of day. Fortunately there are excellent Hawthorn but also including elder, convenience, moths have been further guides available with the most popular ivy and bramble which undoubtedly divided into macro-moths and micro- and best general guide being Field supports an abundance of moths as moths (or simply macros and micros) Guide to the Moths of Great Britain they are important food plants for the with even less scientific justification. and Ireland (Waring et al. 2009). This caterpillars of many species. A few In general, the micros consist of guide just covers the macro-moths but birch, willow and a rowan tree have the relatively more primitive moth is wonderfully illustrated with lots of also been planted within the last 10 to families and tend to be small, though information on range, flight season, 12 years. As my wife will attest, I am there are many exceptions to this life-cycle etc. Up until recently it was not an overly keen gardener and the rule. As might be expected, the prohibitively expensive for many to resulting slightly unkempt garden is macros were better studied by early acquire identification guides to cover certainly of benefit to insect life. lepidopterists and as such have been all of the micro-moths as they are All my moth records are sent to given vernacular or common names, much more of a specialist subject with MothsIreland (www.mothsireland. whereas the lesser studied micros are most guides being costly and at best com), who gather records from mostly only known by their scientific only covering one or two families. lepidopterists and the general public names. To make matters even more However, in 2012 the Field Guide from across Ireland. The collated confusing, some of the most primitive to the Micro-moths of Great Britain data has been used to create maps moth families consist of relatively and Ireland (Sterling et al. 2012) was showing the distribution of all species large moths and have become published. Over 1,000 species are across Ireland on a 10 km grid with ‘honorary’ macros! illustrated in superb detail and this the Ballymote square now being the I first began recording moths in guide has greatly increased the interest best represented hectad in Co Sligo. 2009 after acquiring a moth trap. The in micro-moths among amateur Most of the records from the garden trap is basically a container with a lepidopterists. That being said, many are of well-recorded species though special light bulb on top which attracts micros (and quite a few macros) are there have been a few rarities found

68 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 including several first records for Co Others are best appreciated under attention to easily over-looked moths Sligo. a magnifying glass when intricate has led to several new county records Perhaps many moth recorders first markings are revealed. Paying more such as Incurvaria masculella which become interested in their subject has a forewing length of a mere 6-8 after a chance encounter with some mm. of the more spectacular species. Moth recording can become quite The hawk-moths (Sphingidae) are a an addiction with new discoveries family containg several large stunning waiting at every turn. It provides a species. My own favourite is the window into an often over-looked and Elephant Hawk-moth (Deilephila under-appreciated facet of biodiversity elpenor) that surrounds us everyday. Hopefully the records from my garden go a small way to helping better understand moth distribution in the country.

Buff-tip - resembles a broken birch twig and the Red Sword-grass (Xylena vetusta) also have amazing camouflage. It is often difficult to convince someone seeing these species for the first time that they are in fact looking at an insect and not a piece of dead wood. Another Elephant Hawk-moth - a total of peculiarity, the Chinese Character six recorded on one night which is (Cilix glaucata) adorned with exquisite pink stripes that look like they must have been painted by an artist’s brush. Finding one in my moth trap is always a pleasure though on one occasion I had nine individuals! Another striking Robinson Moth Trap moth is the Garden Tiger (Arctia caja) Sterling, P., Parsons, M. and As mentioned earlier the micro- Lewington, R. (2012) Field guide to moths tend to be smaller and less the micro-moths of Great Britain and studied, though as my interest in Ireland. Gillingham: British Wildlife moths has expanded I have taken an Publishing. increasing interest in recording them. Some, such as the Small Magpie Chinese Character - one of the Waring, P., Townsend, M. and smaller macro-moths has evolved to (Eurrhypara hortulata) mimic a bird dropping and in doing so Lewington, R. (2009) Field guide to has become much smaller than other the moths of Great Britain and Ireland. closely related species in the same Dorset: British Wildlife Publishing. family.

Garden Tiger with bold black and white cryptic markings on its forewings. When disturbed they Small Magpie - one of the large reveal bright red underwings that and more familiar micro-moths warn of their toxicity to potential are relatively large with distinctive predators. Many moths, such as the markings and are instantly reconisable. Diurnea fagella - a common micro- Buff-tip (Phalera bucephala) moth(2) Greyscale 69 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Did The Punishment Fit The Crime? By John C. Mc Ternan

In the aftermath of the Famine many tenanted lands in excess of 2,000. apprehended. Hall-Dare in a letter to large estates found themselves in the local Press, stated that he had “no serious financial trouble. Some Mutual Hostility reason to think that any of them (i.e. managed to survive while others Soon after Hall-Dare took possession his tenants) had a hand in it. “It is my became so encumbered that they had to relations between himself and wish to live at Templehouse in peace be sold off to clear accumulated debts. Christopher L’Estrange became and friendship with my neighbours”, In the case of the Perceval family and somewhat strained. A dispute arose he wrote “and my tenants are aware the Templehouse estate the problems as to the ownership of a quantity of that in any matter which affects them I created by the heavy expenditure turf, valued at £17-6-6, which the am always ready to attend to …”. incurred by Colonel Alexander latter had saved on the Templehouse In the autumn of 1859 Hall-Dare took Perceval in successive county election bog for his own use but which Hall- into his employment a game keeper campaigns between 1822 and 1841 Dare had taken possession of. Legal called Thomas Montague who had were further exasperated by a sharp action followed, and the case was a young wife, Elizabeth. They were decline in income from estate rentals heard at Ballymote Quarter Sessions both English and took up their abode in the late Forties and succeeding in October, 1858. This was the in a cottage on the estate. Shortly years. beginning of a mutual hostility after their arrival the proprietor of towards each other which, in due Templehouse had occasion to severely course, played a not significant role in reprimand Montague about his general the eventful return of the Percevals to behaviour, particularly his addiction Templehouse. to drink. The relationship between In the succeeding months the landlord and game keeper had further relationship between Hall-Dare and deteriorated by the following spring his tenants rapidly deteriorated when and this was the background to an he deprived them of the free turbary episode that had serious repercussions rights they had enjoyed under the for the proprietor of Templehouse. Percevals. In addition, court orders On the afternoon of March 8th were obtained for the eviction of a 1860, Hall-Dare entered the game number of tenants for arrears of rent. keeper’s cottage. Thomas Montague This litigation aroused much ill- was absent but his wife, Elizabeth was feeling locally, and in the autumn of there attending to the household duties. 1859 threatening notices, addressed to After an exchange of information Colonel Alexander Perceval , M.P. of Templehouse © Sligo Champion Hall – Dare, were posted on his hall concerning the whereabouts of her door and other vantage points on the husband Hall-Dare advanced towards By the early ‘fifties the Templehouse demesne. The opening lines of the Mrs. Montague, caught hold of her holding was so heavily encumbered script went as follows: and allegedly took “improper liberties that the owner Philip Perceval, son of Hall – Dare, I dare to address you with her person” against her will and Colonel Alexander M.P. had no option with these few lines, As I think you are consent. On her husband’s return she but to offer the estate for sale in the let run long enough with your Tyrany. confided the happening to him but said Incumbered Estates Court in 1855. What the poor tenants were not nothing of the incident to the other Robert Welsey Hall-Dare, a resident accustom to So I strongly recommend employees on the estate. Two days landed proprietor in Essex expressed you to quit Templehouse … later the Montagues went to Coolaney an interest in the property. He visited and called on the Clerk of the Petty Templehouse and was shown over Reward offered Sessions Court. In his presence she the estate by Christopher L’Estrange, When news of the sinister development made a sworn statement of what had Agent for the Percevals. By 1857 became known to his fellow occurred and paid him one shilling, six negotiations had reached a conclusion Magistrates throughout the county, pence to cover the cost of the stamp and in April 1858, the purchase they rallied behind him and offered a on the summons and the remainder to money of £80,000 was lodged in the reward of £150 for intelligence leading cover the usual delivery charge. Court. The conveyance was quickly to the apprehension and conviction of On the morning of the following executed by the Commissioners and the person or persons responsible for Tuesday the Montagues went to Sligo in May of that year Hall-Dare became the notices. Despite this tempting where they retained the services the new owner of Templehouse along offer no information was forthcoming of Michael Gethin, Solicitor. That with its demesne of 568 acres and from any source and nobody was ever afternoon Gethin proceeded to 70 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

Coolaney only to discover that no to the court of Queens Bench on the original deposition. In the words summons had been served on Hall- grounds that he was most unlikely to of one commentator, she gave her Dare. At the subsequent trial it was obtain a fair hearing in Ballymote. In evidence “with the utmost concern”. revealed that the summons had not his affidavit, heard by Judge Hayes on Her husband was then sworn and he been served because St. George Jones March 27th, he also complained that corroborated his wife’s evidence. Martin of Cultibar House, himself the charge against him had been heard William Alexander of Somerton, a Magistrate, had refused to sign at the Petty Sessions without him been who was an employee of Christopher it, as required by law, he being of summoned to attend and had he been L’Estrange, was also examined. the opinion that the case should be present, would be able to show that Edward Pollock, solicitor for the postponed on account of the shortness there was no case against him. Defence, in a long and sometimes of the interval which would elapse He further stated that by purchasing passionate address to the jury, stated between serving the summons and the the Templehouse estate he had that the charge against Hall-Dare – hearing. incurred the wrath of parties in “a man of position and character, Coolaney Petty Sessions took the neighbourhood and as a result, a Justice of the Peace and a Grand place as scheduled on the following he would not be given “a fair and Juror of County Sligo” – was nothing morning, Wednesday, March 15th. impartial trial” from the persons who more than a fabrication and a gross As the Montagues were setting out normally act as jurors at Ballymote. conspiracy. “Those who were on their way to the court, they were He further believed that Christopher associated with making this ridiculous accosted by a policeman near the L’Estrange, who had been Colonel charge behind his back concocting Templehouse gate who advised them Perceval’s Agent and who had taken this information at the Petty Sessions, not to go any further as the case would the information against him, was would make any sane man laugh. not be heard. He then handed them “a personal enemy of his”. Judge They got their malice gratified and one shilling, presumably a refund of Hayes turned down the petition for they sent the man for trial behind his what they had paid for the summons a change of trial as a sufficient case back”, he said. A number of witnesses on the previous Saturday. had not been made to satisfy him that for the defence, all employees of Hall there would not be a fair hearing. The – Dare, were then examined. They all Not represented Quarter Sessions which opened in the testified, that although they had been The Montagues ignored the Courthouse in Ballymote on Friday working beside or in close proximity policeman’s advice and proceeded March 31st, were presided over by to Montague’s cottage on the afternoon to Coolaney where they found the Hartstronge Robinson, Barrister and in question, they neither saw nor heard Court in session, presided over by Chairman of the County. He was anything unusual. Furthermore, the Christopher L’Estrange, J.P.. After accompanied on the bench by the plaintiff never mentioned the incident an exchange of views between the following Magistrates: St. George to any of her neighbours on the estate. justice and Gethin, Solicitor for the Jones Martin, Cultibar House; Charles Hall-Dare was not called to the Montagues, it was decided to proceed Wm Cooper, M.P., Coopershill; witness box, but at the conclusion with the taking of information from George Armstrong, Chaffpool and of the examination of witnesses for Elizabeth Montague – this despite the John H. Wynne, Sligo. A jury of the defence, an application to accept fact that the person against whom the twelve, consisting of both Catholic as evidence a statement made by the charge was being made was neither and Protestant jurors, were duly accused was refused on the grounds present, nor represented. When sworn. that it had been lodged in the lower Montague’s desposition was duly Court. read and signed, the Court directed Court Crowded In the course of his charge to the Jury, that Hall-Dare be returned for trial at The Court was crowded to capacity presiding Barrister Robinson said “… Ballymote Quarter Sessions on March long before proceedings commenced. I can give very little assistances … It 30th 1860. On the following day The charge, that of an alleged assault is entirely one for your consideration, L’Estrange sent a message to Hall- of an indecent nature on the person and it will depend upon credit whether Dare, through Richard Opherts, J.P., of Elizabeth Montague, a married you believe Elizabeth Montague – informing him of the charge and the woman, having been read, Hall- whether you believe she is telling the impending proceedings. Dare pleaded ‘Not Guilty’. After the truth. If you believe that Mr Hall- When the news of the accusations plaintiff’s solicitor had declined to Dare commited the alleged assault made against the proprietor of make the usual opening statement, the upon her you should convict him; but Templehouse leaked out, the already prosecutrix, Elizabeth Montague, was if you have a reasonable doubt, you widespread hostility against him in the first to be called to give evidence. should give him the benefit and acquit the Ballymote area was inflamed She was examined and cross- him”. still further. Aware of the growing examined at length by both the After an absence of one and a half local prejudice Hall-Dare petitioned opposing solicitor and by members hours, the Jury reached their verdict. the Consolidated Court in Dublin to from the Bench, and remained firm They found Robert Welsey Hall- have the impending trial switched as to the truth and accuracy of her Dare ‘Guilty of a common assault’.

71 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

In pronouncing the sentence the evidence who have not expressed Richard Olipherts J.P., Carrowmore, presiding barrister addressed the surprise at the severity of the sentence Ballisodare, alone publicly accused as follows: which it was thought fit to pass championed the cause of the “Mr Hall-Dare, a very painful duty upon this unfortunate gentleman”, imprisoned Hall-Dare. In the weeks develops upon me but it is one which commented the ‘Independent’. following the conviction he wrote I cannot shrink from discharging. I “In this instance we are not certain long letters to both the local and and my brother Magistrates, have that would have been passed over national Press seeking ‘justice’ for his consulted, and though we are very at worst, as an impudent jest, had fellow Magistrate. However his pleas unwilling to deal heavily on you, we the offender been a man of humble fell on deaf ears and Hall-Dare was find it our duty to impose a punishment station, has been turned into a criminal left to complete his sentence in Sligo which will mark our disapprobation, offence, simply because Hall-Dare Gaol. and show to the people that, no was a man of high position, a Justice While these events were taking matter how high the position of a of the Peace, and not a very popular place a scion of the Percevals, namely person unfortunately guilty of such landed proprietor in a county which Alexander the third son of Colonel an offence, still he is amenable to the he is a comparative stranger … We are Perceval, M.P., was engaging himself law, and that the law must take its of the opinion- one shared by other with much success in the tea trade in course with regard to him. After the Magistrates that have the imposition far – off China where he had gone best consideration we have been able of a fine would have been ample some years earlier with the intention to give the case, and taking all the punishment for the mild description of earning sufficient money to redeem circumstances into account, we feel of the assault commited”. the ancestral home. His venture was it our duty to pass this sentence on The Editor of the ‘Chronicle’ shared most successful and by 1860 he had you – that you be imprisoned in the this view point: “Upon a review of realised a small fortune. County Gaol for one calendar month – the whole case, there appears to be In January 1861, the “Champion”, that you pay a fine of £5 to the Queen abundant grounds for coming to the quoting a Dublin contemporary, broke and £10 for expenses incurred by the conclusion that the verdict of the Jury the news that the former estate of prosecutrix”. was not warranted by the evidence, the late Colonel Perceval had been and that great injustice has been re-purchased by a member of the Followed by mob done to Mr Hall- Dare … the story family – Alexander Perceval of the After the court had risen Deputy of the prosecutrix is improbable. house of Jardine Matheson & Co. of Sheriff Cogan escorted Hall-Dare to Her conduct and that of her husband Hong Kong. Two months later, March Doyle’s Hotel. On the way they were subsequent to the date of the alleged 25th, Alexander Perceval through his followed by a mob shouting abuse and occurrence, was not that of a person agent Christopher L’Estrange, took denunciation against the convicted desirous of obtaining redress for possession of the Templehouse estate landed proprietor. Later that evening an inquiry, but is capable of a very from the late owner, Robert W. Hall- the prisoner was conveyed to Sligo different explanation…” Dare. The occasion was marked by and placed behind bars in Cranmore The ‘Sligo Champion’ on the other much popular feeling and rejoicement as it was commonly called. hand took a different stance. It was as large crowds assembled on the The conviction of Robert W. Hall- satisfied that justice had been done and Fairgreen at Templehouse to celebrate Dare, and more especially his sentence seen to be done in the case. It based the departure of Hall-Dare and to a term of imprisonment, was the its conclusion on the following facts: welcome the return of the Percevals to subject of much adverse criticism There was no evidence of conspiracy Templehouse. in the local press – the Champion against Hall-Dare; the Magistrates excluded. were all Protestants and the Jury was “There are few who have read the ‘mixed’.

The McGovern Family of Ballymote Submitted by John Coleman

The McGovern Family carried out a business in Market Street until the early 20th century and a history of the family has recently been deposited in Ballymote Library, Sligo Library and the National Library in Dublin.

72 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Rover Returns....unexpectedly

By Mary Kelly White

Tom sat at one end of the kitchen table children he had? Where he lived? But kind of music did he play and was he and watched his father pour the stew he bit his lip and instead asked him part of a Band? into two massive bowls. It smelled about the Re-union. Tom answered the last question good. “Will there be a big crowd down first telling Eddie that he was a sole “Get that inside you lad” Eddie said. there tonight? guitarist, that he did not belong to a “It will carry you for the night. There “Well it was well advertised anyway. Band and that he played all sorts of will be plenty of sandwiches and It was in the local newspaper, and music, American Country, a bit of cakes and tea down there, but I like in the Church bulletin, and I don’t Rock. to go prepared. I’m not gone on the know how many letters were mailed “Where are you from?” Eddie asked. sweet stuff.” from the Roll Books. They have been “Originally from Ireland, my parents Tom watched his father sadly; preparing for this for the past twelve are Irish, but I grew up in America.” his worn knuckled hands, and the months. “And where are you staying?” Eddie cockeyed way that he held the spoon. “And what kind of programme will asked. Arthritis I suppose, he thought; no they have?” Tom asked. “Nowhere yet, I just got here today. hair but he had his teeth; agile enough “Well the Mass will be celebrated in Is there a Hotel or Guest House for his age, but what age was he 60? the Hall like a Station Mass, and then around, or Bed and Breakfast would 70? Tom didn’t know. when the Mass is over I suppose they be all right. I got a seat on from the From this position Tom could see will make a few presentations, and village on the School Bus.” all around the kitchen; the big Aga then the supper. It will be good I’m “I was thinking I recognised you”. cooker with the tea-towels on the sure. If herself was here I’d know Eddie said. “So you just got a lift rail, the grandfather clock still ticking more about it but she’s not”. from the Village but you are not living away over the Mantle; The May Tom got a lump in his throat in the village?” Altar with the same old statues – The listening to his own father talking “No” Tom said. “I am just passing Blessed Virgin, the Child of Prague or about his own mother as if Tom was a through. I saw posters all over the was it Christ the King? Black Martin, stranger, but he held his breath. Eddie place for the Reunion and an invitation and the little red lamp, only it wasn’t a lifted the two bowls and put them into for musicians so here I am.” lamp any more. It was a tiny red cross the sink. He took a Delph teapot from “Isn’t it well for you” Eddie said, in a glass dome. More progress, Tom the back of the cooker, rinsed it out “Foot loose and fancy free, sling a thought. The window was different, with water from the boiling kettle, guitar over your shoulder and off you bigger, and brighter and instead of the put two teaspoons of dry tea into the go.” lace curtains that his mother used to pot, and then filled it well full with the Tom wanted to use the bathroom but spend so much time washing, ironing, boiling water. That was the first time he did not want to make a bee-line to and settling into place, there was an that Tom had seen dry tea since the it just like that. off-white Venetian blind. There was last time that Tom had eaten at home. “Can I use your facilities?” He asked. bareness about the kitchen. When He wondered if people still read the “Sure you can second on the left.” he was around there were clothes on leaves but he did not ask. He was Imagine that. Tom thought! The every chair. His mother was never tempted to wash the few dishes in second on the left in his own house. done giving out about the clothes, return for the meal but Eddie said they The first on the left had been the boy’s ordering them to hang their jackets in could wait until after the tea. He lifted room, him and John. Their two names the press and to put their laundry into his big yellow mug and placed it on on the door, the little brass name plates the basket especially the socks. But the stove, and then he pulled out a tin that they had purchased on their first they passed no heed to her and she box with a pipe and tobacco in it. If school tour. Tom hesitated for a few would gather them up herself, threaten he cracks the match on the sole of his seconds before going into the toilet. to put the lot on the fire then put them shoe I think I’ll burst, Tom thought. “You don’t smoke! Do you take a away herself. At least Tom had saved Eddie slouched into the big leather drink?” Eddie asked. her that while he was away. easy chair, cracked the match on his “No” Tom answered. There was a small pile of shoes shoe and between the first few puffs “No bad habits.” Eddie said. in the corner, kid’s shoes and kid’s he fired a list of questions at Tom; “None that show.” Tom laughed. wellingtons, pink wellingtons. So his How did he get there, he didn’t The bathroom was the same except brother John had a girl, Tom thought. hear a car? How did he hear about the for the Shower over the old bath. A He was longing to ask his father about Reunion? Where did he come from? plastic curtain looking like lace hung John; who did he marry? How many Had he relatives in Glenabhann? What around the bath and a matching curtain

73 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 hung on the window. Same wired musician is always welcome in any was playing the role to perfection glass in the window as if anyone sort of group” Tom said. just as he had done as a dad. There is would try breaking and entering “I see” Eddie said, hanging the definitely one girl Tom thought. I bet through such a tiny window. But it is tea-cloth on the stove rail. He had my dad is spoiling her rotten. Back in not the safety thing, he thought, it is emptied the sink while Tom was in the room Tom opened the two doors of all about modesty. Heaven forbid that the bathroom. the big wardrobe as wide as possible. a peeping Tom should see what goes “It’s time for me to throw a shape on Kid’s stuff here too, Tom thought. on in a bathroom, and now with the myself, if you come out here after me He admired the shoe section at the shower the possibility of an all naked I’ll show you where you can sleep” bottom of the press and he wondered body. Eternal damnation! But it is my Eddie said. whose bright idea that was? When own parents I am thinking about. It It was the first room on the left, his he closed the wardrobe doors he was is, God forgive me for such thoughts. very own room where he had spent right beside the room door and in the “If you have nowhere to stay sure the first fifteen years of his life. He evening light he spotted the two brass you might as well stay here.” Eddie closed the door behind him and he name-plates high up on the door. Tom said when Tom returned. “I’m here stood there with his back against the and John he traced the names with his on my own and there is plenty of door while he took it all in. The two slender white fingers while tears filled room. That’s settled.” iron beds with the modern duvets; no his eyes. He couldn’t believe that Tom was well pleased. He wanted Foxford blankets no patchwork quilts. his parents had gone to the trouble of more than anything else to go through Scooby Doo and Mini Mouse in the removing them from the outside and the house again but he was determined beds instead of John and him. Tom replacing them the inside of the door. to be patient. walked to the window and there he It was as if they did not wish to let “You’re travelling light.” Eddie said. saw a children’s swing and a small go of them. Tom lay on the bed facing “Passing through.” Tom answered. bike. He could see a dolls-house the ceiling. His whole life passed “What do you go under, are you a and even a tree-house at the end of across his mind; from the fun on the singer that we should know?” Eddie the garden. No vegetables, scallions, farm, to school through the fields, the persisted. or rhubarb, just close mown green, boarding colleges. He blamed that, “I am more an artist than a singer. green grass on the lawn. It was clear for his being stranded in America. The Guitar is useful in company. A that his dad was now a grandad and

Mercy Sisters

Submitted by Pauline Brett

(Left-Right): Sister Teresa, Sister Albeus & Sister Patrick all of whom taught in the old St. Mary’s Secondary School and later in Coláiste Mhuire.

74 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 INISHMURRAY By Bernie Gilbride

The postcard picture of a stone wall, called to mind my first and only visit to Inishmurray Island, famous for its stone structures, churches and dwellings, dating back to the 6th century. Founded by Saint Molaise, as a monastic settlement, it was inhabited up to 1948. On the morning in question we were told to be on Mullaghmore quay side at 9.30 am and then, weather, tide, and sea swell being favourable, we would be taken across to the island.. Picnics had been prepared, raincoats, drew the boat alongside a rocky its called. Within the massive stone hats, heavy shoes, and warm jackets ledge onto which we stepped ashore. walls -- four metres high and three stowed just in case , even though it Clambering up the rocks, we reached metres wide - we found it contained was June. the only ‘street’ on the island, now a about one—third of an acre, divided The morning was overcast, but not grassy road with cottages in a sheltered by smaller walls, contained three raining. On the quay side we waited position facing the mainland. Some churches, three beehive structures as the incoming tide lifted our boat, of which were in a remarkably good and three stations. The latter station then climbed aboard. As we left the condition, others had gradually fallen included the famous ‘cursing stones’ harbour the sun came out, much to into disrepair. Walking through the comprising about 50 cross inscribed our delight forecasting a warm sunny village l couldn’t help thinking of the round stones and two upright ones. day. Turning left at the pier head people who had lived there until 1948 History relates that these stones we passed to the rear of Classiebawn when the island was vacated. Had were once used to put a curse on an Castle looking so magnificent, with they felt very isolated l wondered.? enemy but care had to be taken in the Mountain Range as its Or had it instilled in them a sense of cursing someone because, if the curse background. Then headed straight security, belonging and safety among was not merited, it came back on the for the island. their very own people. perpetrator. I was almost afraid to I was not prepared for how different Four of our passengers had been even touch the stones, let alone turn the land and coastline looked from a born and reared on the island. Some or examine them so I viewed them as boat. The mountains looked much of them had just returned from others lifted and examined them. higher and seemed to form a semi- America on holiday. One had a There was also ‘The House of circle around Donegal and Sligo Bays. small can of red paint with him as he Fire’ with its flagstone hearth which Sliabh League, Dartry, Ben Weskin, intended writing his newest grand is reputed to spontaneously ignite a , Benbulbin, Knocknarea, child’s name on the porch of his old sod of turf or log if required or should and the , seemed to home, where all other names had been all fires on the lsland be extinguished continue in one unbroken line all recorded since leaving the island. for any reason. This had been tested the way from Killybegs to Aughris At the end of the village street by a man who disbelieved the story Head. As we left the lea of the land stood the old school, now a museum, and throwing something to test it and cut through the water, spray arose housing many old headstones together had clothing burned when it ignited on all sides and in our wake a white with desks and forms from the school instantly. road appeared, ever widening as we itself. Artifacts bearing ancient There were cells in the walls where chugged along until it became once carvings had been stolen from the the monks sometimes slept should again part of the ocean. Island graveyard and sold abroad in they so wish. Outside the wall was An hour later we were approaching the past. Those remaining are now a sweat house where water from an the island, a lovely sight, sitting in safely preserved and are accessible to nearby spring was heated by means the calm sea, with the sun shining visitors and other interested parties. of hot stones, the monk’s equivalent and gentle waves breaking on its Having lunched in glorious of our modern sauna with the sea as rocky shore. There is no landing sunshine, we proceeded to the their shower. pier on lnishmurray so the captain monastic settlement ‘The Cashel’ as Of the many wells on the island, 75 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 one is said to have the power to calm silence, l could imagine l could hear again to embark on our homeward the sea in an emergency by some of its the chant of the monks at matins journey. The sinking sun cast a golden water being thrown over the waves or or vespers and even visualise them pathway over a calm sea. Sensing swell , should it be necessary to launch coming towards me in their open- our reluctance to leave this tranquil, a boat in a storm perhaps, or to bring toed sandals, wide sleeves, hands sacred place, the captain guided his a sick islander to hospital. Listening clasped in prayer. I could see them in boat slowly along the rocky shoreline to such stories on a beautiful sunny their cells or in the beehive structures, to allow a few last photographs to be day was enthralling, but to think of writing and illustrating manuscripts, taken of the island. them being enacted on a dark winter using dyes they had made from the For me, these are treasured memories night with gale force winds howling heathers and lichens of the island, of an exceptional experience. For while trying to launch a boat -- a very each letter and illustration perfectly our American companions ,those last different matter, very frightening formed, or painted, as can be seen in photographs, must surely be poignant indeed. manuscripts that have survived. souvenirs of a journey to their old For me, an outstanding memory of Seeing our boat returning to the homesteads on that magical island, our trip was the peace and tranquillity rocky ledge to collect us, we knew it just seven miles off the coast of Sligo, of the whole island. Standing in was time to clamber down the rocks in the north Atlantic ocean.

Remembering the Gate Lodge at Earlsfield House and Davey’s of “The Flash”

By Owen Duffy

Having read with interest, the to locate information concerning and married Maria Hatrick from wonderful article written by Sr Nell her great grandfather who resided Co Donegal. In 1895 James, Maria Chambers in last year’s issue of The in Ballymote in the 1890’s. His and their two young sons returned Corran Herald concerning the history name was James Davis. After initial from Scotland and James took up of Earlsfield House, memories came investigation it was established that the position of gardener at Earlsfield flooding back of the time spent in the James who was born in North Sligo in House, having been appointed by Convent Secondary School and of the 1856, trained as a Gardener (probably Francis Gethin, son of Captain high regard which all pupils had for in the Gore Booth gardens on Lissadell Richard Gethin. James Davis and his the Gate lodge and it’s occupants in the estate) He later emigrated to Scotland family took up residence in the Gate 1960’s. Residents of the Gate Lodge then were Paddy Golden, originally form Templevanney and his wife Kathleen. Paddy was employed as a farm hand on the Convent farm. He also tended the walled in garden where the supply of fruit and vegetables for Convent use were produced. Paddy and Kathleen always welcomed students into their house, maybe for ‘a heat’ of their roaring fire on cold Winter’s day or for a treat of hot or a ‘Beauty of Bath’ apple. Their kindness will not be forgotten. In September of last year a lady from Devon, England named Teresa Neely contacted Ballymote Heritage 25 inch map of Earlsfield showing the gate lodge, and Hugh Davey’s house Group with the purpose of attempting as part of Earlsfield townland.

76 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

Lodge in 1895 and lived there until the taking over of Earlsfield House by Rev Canon Loftus in 1902. At this stage the Davis family moved down to Branchfield where James Davis worked as a farmhand on Ann Dennedy’s farm. When the Sisters of Mercy took up residence in Earlsfield House they soon appointed Paddy Killoran as “Gardener” and in the early years Paddy and his family lived in the gate lodge (1911 census). We were delighted to be able to shed some light on the origins of Teresa Neely’s ancestors and we look forward to welcoming her to Ballymote during 2019.

Davey’s of Earlsfield Picture of the Gate lodge at Earlsfield House taken in the 1960s As can be seen from the 25 inch Ordinance Survey map, the only other boy. Mrs Annie Mary Brennan was in his address was finally recorded as house that existed in the Townland fact a daughter of Hugh & Kate Davey “Earlsfield, Ballymote” on his Civil of Earlsfield or Carrowcauly was the of “The Flash” death record. house occupied by Hugh and Kate The last of the Davey family Just like Earlsfield House Gate Davey and their large family in the members to live in that very pretty Lodge which was demolished in the 1890’s. thatched cottage at “The Flash” was 1980s, the pretty thatched cottage that Hugh Davey and his wife Kate Michael Davey son of Hugh and Kate. belonged to the Davey family of the raised a large family in this house that Michael died on the 1st December Flash was demolished shortly after became known locally as “Davey’s of 1966. Of interest is the fact that Michael Davey’s death. the Flash” for obvious reasons from the photograph. In the earlier part of the last century the locals referred to the location of Daveys house as being in the townland of “Cummeen”,which locals referred to as being the smallest townland in Ireland. Maybe the reason for that was that they were not allowed to use the address of “Earlsfield” which was reserved for the landlord’s residence. The Davis family of The Gate Lodge and the Davey family of Cummeen or “The Flash” formed a very close friendship prior to the Davis family moving down to Branchfield in 1902. Sometime in the 1920’s the Davis family emigrated to England but continued to return on vacation to Ballymote. Derek Davey of Ballymote Heritage remembers some members of a Davis family visiting from England and holidaying with the Brennan’s of Marren Park when he was a young Hugh Davey’s house in Earlsfield townland (photo courtesy Tommy Breheny)

77 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Ballymote Sports Report from the Sligo Champion August 3rd 1901

Submitted by David Casey

UNDER ICA AND IAAA RULES 39 4/5th seconds. Eight started. bell, and he had a bad fall, but for The above sports were brought about Two Miles Bicycle Handicap which he would have been third. on Wednesday last, under most (Open) – Prizes—1st, kettle and spirit Mears punctured but secured another auspicious circumstances. Though the lamp; 2nd, cruet stand; 3rd, field machine on which he finished second. weather had been unfavourable for the glass. G Anderson, 120 yds, 1st; W H Time-14 minutes 50 seconds. two days previous- and Thursday was Anderson, Alfresco, 300 yds, 2nd ; P One-Legged Cycle Race, 2 laps wet also- the clerk of the weather was J Gaynor, 300 yds, 3rd. Seven started. –Prizes-1st, suit of tweed ; 2nd, on his best behaviour on Wednesday. Gaynor led for half the distance, when spirit flask ; 3rd , preserve dish- G The result was that there was a very W H Anderson took up the running, Anderson, 1st ; P J Keaney, Dublin, big attendance, the grand stand being but was caught at a lap to go by G 2nd ; T J Horan, 3rd. Won easily. crowded with the youth and beauty Anderson, who won a fine race by two of the district, while the nicely laid lengths. Time 5 minutes 43 seconds. ATHLETIC EVENTS out track the whole way round was Two Miles Bicycle Race (confined 220 Yards. Flat Handicap (confined to lined with people. Sport all through to the Ballymote C C) – Prizes— 1st, boys under 16 years of age, resident was good, the track was in excellent suit of tweed; 2nd, barometer; 3rd, in the parish)-1st, prize, watch; 2nd, order and some very fine finishes set of carvers. W Cregan, Ballymote, watch; 3rd, watch. John Anderson, were witnessed. The committee and scr. 1st; P J Murphy, ditto, scr. 2nd. Ballymote, 1st; P J Dockery, secretary are to be congratulated Murphy made all the running until the Ballymote, 2nd; Michael Gilmartin, on the perfection with which they bell, when Cregan made a great sprint Ballymote, 3rd. About fifteen started. carried out all the arrangements. The and won as he pleased. Anderson caught Dockery in the Ballaghaderreen brass band played 3 Miles Bicycle Race Handicap straight and won by a yard. a nice selection of music at intervals (Open) – Prizes – 1st, Clock; 2nd, 100 Yards Open Handicap - 1st during the day. Teapot; 3rd, biscuit barrel; P J Gaynor, prize, suit of tweed; 2nd, half-dozen 400 yds. 1st; W A. Anderson, 400 knives and forks; 3rd, alarm clock. CYCLING EVENTS yds. 2nd; J Reid 350 yds. 3rd. Seven First heat-P J Kelly, Dublin, 7 yards, Half-Mile Bicycle Race (open) started. At two laps, G Anderson 1st; W J Wimsey, Ballymote, 8 yards, Handicap –Prizes – 1st, salad fell at the corner and was unable to 2nd. Second heat-R Petit, Sligo, 10 bowl; 2nd, fish knife and fork; 3rd, proceed. Shortly afterwards Reid yds. 1st; H. Davitt, Boyle, 9 ½ yds. 2nd. cigarette and match box – J Reid, assumed command and made a strong Third heat-J J McGovern, Ballymote, Mullinabreena, 90 yds., 1st; PJ pace until three laps from home when 10 yds. 1st; F J Keenan, Sligo, 10 yds. Gaynor, Riverstown, 100 yds., 2nd ; Gaynor with a great sprint got in front, 2nd. Fourth heat-T J Cunlisk, Sligo, George A Anderson, Sligo, 80 yds., which position he maintained until walked over. Final heat-Petit, 1st; 3rd. Seven started. Gaynor led for one the finish winning easily. Time –8 Kelly, 2nd; Cunlisk, 3rd. Cunlisk got lap when Reid came to the front, and minutes 40 seconds. away, but was caught after quarter of riding very strongly, won by several 5 Miles Bicycle Race Handicap – the journey by Petit, who was closely lengths; third close up. Time – 1 1st, prize, Tea service (Presented by J followed by Kelly. Petit won a good minute -20 1/2 seconds. A Perry, Sligo) ; 2nd, prize – Electro- race by half a yard. Time-10.3 seconds. One Mile Bicycle Handicap (open)- plated teapot ; 3rd, prize –case of Some disappointment was expressed Prizes- 1st, spirit lamp and kettle ; carvers-W A Anderson, Dublin, 550 by those taking second place in the 2nd, biscuit barrel ; 3rd, brief bag – yds. 1st; -Meares, Longford, 375 heats that they were not eligible for PJ Gaynor, Riverstown, 200 yds, 1st ; yds.2nd; J T Horan, Sligo, 500 yds. the final. Now this was no fault of the WH Anderson, Alfresco, 180 yds, 2 ; 3rd. Gaynor and Anderson made Executive, as it was plainly stated on G Anderson, Sligo, 80 yds, 3. Gaynor, pace alternately until 2 miles to go the programme that winners of heats who got an excellent start, led from when Horan went to the front and should compete in the final. the first, but after completing three- kept there up to a mile from the finish 220 yards flat handicap (open). quarters of a mile, W Anderson drew when Anderson sprinted to the front First prize, cruet stand ; 2nd , musical up and a splendid race ensued, Gaynor and kept the lead he attained to the clock ; 3rd, butter cooler. First heat-R. winning by 5 yards. Time- 2 minutes finish. Gaynor’s tyre burst after the Petit, Sligo, 1st; P J Kelly, Dublin, 10

78 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 yards, 2nd; H Davitt, Boyle, 16 yards, Ballaghaderreen, 50 yards, 2nd; F 440 yards flat handicap (open). First 3rd. Second heat, J J Cawley, Sligo, Golden, Sligo, 50 yards, 3rd. F prize, electro-plated teapot; 2nd, prize 16 yards, 1st; J Reynolds, Ballymote, Golden led for quarter of the journey, 1 dozen. Knives and forks; 3rd, clock. 17 yards, 2nd; C T Henderson, Sligo, McGovern drew to the front and made J Cusack, Granard, 1st; Kelly, Dublin, 14 yards, 3rd. Third heat-P J Cusack, a popular win by 10 yards. Time, 2 2nd; JJ McGovern, Ballymote, Granard, 13 yards, 1st; F J Keenan, minutes 10 seconds. 3rd. Cusack after covering half the Sligo, 18 yards, and T O’Donnell, 440 yards flat handicap (open) distance, jumped to the front and won Ballymote, 17 Yards, dead heat. Final (confined to a radius of 12 miles.) by two yards. Time, 53 seconds. heat, Cusack, 1st; Petit, 2nd; Kelly, First prize, suit of tweed; 2nd, musical Throwing 56 lb. weight (handicap) 3rd. Keenan led, but was caught by clock; 3rd, alarm clock. H Davitt, – First prize, Gladstone bag; 2nd, Petit until entering the straight, when Boyle, 30 yards, 1st; T O’Donnell, clock. T O’Donnell, Gurteen, 22 ft. 10 Cusack, sprinting grandly, won by Mullaghroe, 20 yards, 2nd; M J in., 1st. H O’Donnell, Gurteen, 22 ft. three yards. Time, 24.2 seconds. Wimsey, Ballymote 30 yards, 3rd. 6 in., 2nd. Eight competed. Half-mile flat handicap (open). Davitt forged to the front after 50 First prize, clock; 2nd, biscuit barrel yards, and maintaining the lead Note abbreviations: ICA (Irish Cycling ; 3rd, clock. First heat, J J McGovern, throughout, won a grand race by six Association) and IAAA (Irish Amateur Ballymote, 55 yards, 1st; Halloran, yards. Time 56 seconds. Athletic Association)

Chavelier O’Gorman of Auxerre Tom Carroll

Photo courtesy of John Perry, Ballymote. Submitted by Paddy Egan. This photo is of a portrait of Chavelier O’Gorman of Auxerre. In 1774 O’Gorman bought the Book of Ballymote from a millwright’s widow in Drogheda for £20. He presented the manuscript to the Royal Irish Academy in 1785.

Tom Carroll (pictured) lived in O’Connell Street, Ballymote across the road from the Garda Barracks. His father Andy Carroll and he worked in The Mill, Ballymote. Tom’s mother was Mary Boyle from Ardconnell, Ballymote.

79 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 The Corkrans of Corkran’s Mall: An old Sligo family

By John C Mc Tiernan

The surname Corkran can be traced in Edward, who was a Palmerston Land riverside promenade stretching from Sligo to the early 18th century when Agent in the 1750’s, was described the Abbey ruins to the bridge in they emerged as a wealthy Catholic as “both active and progressive” Bridge Street. Although possessing merchant family who had extensive and one who displayed considerable considerable property of his own, by land holdings on the Palmerston knowledge in the management of the mid-century he was experiencing estate. Although occasionally seen a large landed estate. His brother, financial difficulties and in November as being rather impertinent, their James, was an importer of flaxseed 1776 he absconded to Manchester religion and politics did not hinder and in partnership with Vernon with a mistress, taking with him in the appointment of three of the name Davys & Co, brewers. He was also the region of £2000, comprising in succession, sons of Thomas the a Town & Harbour Commissioner for the most part the rent monies elder, as Land Agents to the extensive and Secretary of the local branch of he had collected in his capacity in Palmerston estate in north Sligo, the London Hibernian Society. A Palmerston’s Land Agent. On learning namely, Francis 1726 – 1751; Edward century later Alexander Corkran, a of this development he was removed 1751 – 1769 and Thomas 1770 – 1776. ship owner and importer in Quay from his post and only avoided arrest Thomas senior, the patriarch of Street, was a member of a Committee by surrendering the securities he had the family, died in 1731. Shortly appointed to uphold the good standing absconded with. Over the following before his death his name occurs in and character of the Sligo merchants years he gradually repaid the monies the records of the Provost’s Court against allegations levelled at them he had unlawfully closed on by selling regarding the exchange of a strip of by Robert Holmes, the Collector of off part of his Sligo properties. ground adjacent to the bridge in Bridge the Port. Lewis Corkran established Corkran returned to Sligo in late Street that subsequently facilitated the his own business in London in the 1783, or early the following year, and completion of a riverside promenade, 1730’s and subsequently settled in the lost no time in re-commencing the known as Corkran’s Mall, which he East Indies where his son, also Lewis building of the riverside promenade had planned but was not completed became a prominent member of the which in his own words “had been so until half a century later by his son, Bombay Borough Council in addition pleasing to John Wynne of Hazelwood Thomas Corkran. As the foremost to being connected with the East India and others when first mooted by my Catholic merchant of his day the name Company. late father”. In the following July of Thomas, senior, appears on several Thomas Corkran, jun., succeeded there were allegations that Corkran documents relating to the renewal of his brother, Edward, as Palmerston’s was using stones from the fabric of the Mass House lease. land agent, a post he occupied for the Abbey, digging up foundations The linen industry was thriving six years, 1770 – 1776. For reasons and making breaches in walls. He in Sligo in the early 18th century unclear, he was known as “Thomas also had closed up an old passage principally through the enterprise Gallda” (Thomas the anglized). It to the river. He was also accused of of both the Corkran and Knox may be that he was born in England building on the Abbey grounds, an families who were in the forefront but most probably that he resided accusation he strongly denied, stating as manufacturers, bleachers and there for a time with members of that he had stopped work temporarily exporters. In 1817 the Corkrans his family who had settled in the as the lease on the site, which was were operators of bleach yards, a mill London area. Contemporary records then in the possession of his uncle and a bleach green at . state that he was “wealthy, proud and in Bombay, had elapsed and he was Although the linen industry had pompous”. He married a Fitzgerald of waiting to hear from him. declined locally in the mid to late 18th Turlough, Castlebar, by whom he had At that stage he had already built century, the Corkrans were still in the issue, including a son, Henry, born in some houses, others were planned and forefront of the industry locally. April 1784, one of whose sponsors only one was ready for occupation. As The local trade directories, published was none other than Lord Palmerston. he had already run out of money and in the opening decades of the 18th Following his father’s death Thomas was in debt to the timber merchants, it century, listed several members of “Gallda” lost no time in bringing to was imperative that he raised money the extended Corkran family who fruition the ambitious developments for that purpose. This he achieved by were both prominent local merchants already embarked upon by Thomas selling off woods he had purchased and to the forefront in public affairs. senior, namely, the building of a from John Knox some years earlier.

80 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

On the completion of the Riverside Corkran established himself in local a rather trivial disagreement in public Promenade or Corkran’s Mall, as it history as the builder of two fine and resulted in a separation and his was subsequently known, he then thoroughfares, both of which he had departure, with his two sons, to the built a double-sided row of houses completed by 1783. In the words of West Indies where others of the name at right angles to the Mall already county historian, Terence O’ Rorke, had already settled. As far as can be completed, linking Bridge Street “he was one of the first in modern established the year was 1800 and with the Castle Street/ Abbey Street times to give an impetus to building nothing further is known as to the fate junction, which he named Thomas St. in Sligo”. of Thomas ‘Gallda’ Corkran or his from his Christian name, or possibly Thomas ‘Gallda’s’ final years in offspring. Their departure heralded that of his late father. Sligo appear to have been uneventful the end of the family’s long and Despite all the problems he had to a point, that is until he and his eventful association with Sligo. encountered, Thomas ‘Gallda’ wife had what appears to have been My Australian Family By Maree O’Dowd

One sunny summer’s day about 30 school in William’s house. of visiting the homeland of her father years ago an Australian priest named One of the brothers, John, married but shortly before her death she said Fr. Jim Kierce called to the home of Ellen Maria Folwell. They had three to her son “ do you think I might pass my aunt in Boyle looking for ‘his children, Annie, Dorothy and John over Ireland on my way to heaven?’. I roots’. He had a lot of valuable junior. They left Australia and went like to think she did. Sadly Fr. Jim too research already completed and to South Africa but sadly no trace of passed to his eternal reward last year suddenly we found a very interesting their descendants can be found today. at the grand old age of 90+. story of an Australian family we did Hopefully someday a distant South It took over a hundred years and five not even know existed. African cousin might turn up on our generations of my family for history to Back in the 1880s when our country doorstep looking, like Fr. Jim, for repeat itself but in 1997 my daughter, had just recovered from the Great ‘his/her roots”! Fidelma O’Dowd from Keenaghan, Famine, my great grandmother’s Owen, who died in 1934, married Ballymote went “down-under” with four brothers left their small holding Catherine Featherstone. They raised a bunch of friends. She subsequently outside Boyle on the Roscommon/ four sons and gave them the family met and married a Sydneysider called Sligo border near the parish of names of John, Bartholomew, James Stephen Hunt and like her great great Killaraght and headed off to a new life and Owen. grand uncles a century before her, is (never to return) in a faraway place James, who died in 1946, married now living her life far away from her, called Victoria in Australia. They Elizabeth Delahunty and had one native shores. I like to think that the were Owen, James, John and William daughter and two sons, one of whom spirits of my forebears, who sleep Keaveny. The aforementioned Fr. married a Mary O’Dowd. Their peacefully beneath the hot antipodean Kierce is the grandson of James. daughter Elizabeth later became the sun, watch over our next generation of They arrived in the Southern mother of Fr. Jim. Australians - my granddaughter Holly Hemisphere with little but their youth, William, who died in 1940, married Hunt, born to Fidelma and Stephen in physical strength, staunch Catholic Catherine Furlong and together 2001, her sister Suzie-Maree in 2003, faith and their willingness to work they reared two daughters, Eileen followed by her Irish-named brothers hard. They settled in a rural area and Mary. The descendants of the Dermot, Aidan and Rory. My other of Victoria called Iona where other original emigrants are now spread daughter Belinda, with her husband Irish people had already established all across Australia and interestingly Conor O’Dea, emigrated to Sydney in themselves. Each of them was given they include a couple of priests and 2007 and they have since added Iseult a plot of land provided they drained, nuns while the family who remained and Ultan to our far-flung tribe. This cultivated and made it arable. This in Ireland didn’t manage to beget any is the story of my family but it could they seem to have achieved in no sons or daughters for the church. easily be that of tens of thousands small measure as they were given During one memorable visit to of Irish people whose descendants more and more land to continue their Australia in 1997 I had the great can be found today in every corner good work of reclamation. There was privilege of visiting the graves of my of the globe. The American poet, neither church nor school there so they ancestors in Iona. I also met about 40 Carl August Sandburg, who died in organised a priest from Melbourne cousins at a reunion organised by Fr. 1967, once wrote “when a society or to come periodically on horseback Jim at his home in Greensborough a civilisation perishes, one condition to celebrate mass in the front room near Melbourne. Fr. Jim’s mother can always be found - they forget of Owen’s house where marriages, passed away in November 1993 just 5 where they came from”. I hope my christenings and other rites were also days short of her 100th birthday. She Australian descendants never forget conducted. They also started a small had never realised her life-long dream where they came from. 81 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Bram Stoker in Ballymote By Dr. Marion McGarry

Did Bram Stoker ever visit Sligo Sligo “a city of the dead”3 and heard crammed and noisy conditions in the town? The Dracula author’s mother of cholera victims being buried while courtrooms. If you sat in on one of was from Old Market street and still alive, of one catholic priest these sessions “you could find yourself her mother and brother (Bram’s wielding a whip to protect victims next to the beer-breathed man arrested grandmother and uncle) are buried in from such a fate, of people dropping for public drunkenness the night the churchyard of St. John’s cathedral. dead in the street and of whole before, leaning against the wall might During his life, was Bram ever inclined families being wiped out within hours. be a local landholder determined to pop up, out of curiosity, to see the The courthouse was turned into an to have something done about the town where his mother grew up, and emergency coffin-making workshop. goat wandering on his land.”5 The the graves of his relatives? I have There were sickly smells from the Illustrated London News described found no evidence that he did – not decomposing dead. Her family were the high drama of the mundane scene yet - but I was delighted to discover spared but she could not fail to have at the petty sessions day in Clonmel that not only did he visit the county been traumatized. in 1853: of Sligo, he came to our local town of Later, she married and moved “the clerk cried: “Tymothy Nowlan Ballymote. This article explores what to Dublin and had children. Bram against Barney Brannan”. Ballymote was like, and where Stoker was born in 1847, he later attended There was a buzz of excitement in was in his life when he spent a night in TCD and started working for Dublin the court which subsided into a dead the town in 1877. Castle as a civil servant in 1865. silence as the parties proceeded from In 1873, perhaps still haunted by their respective positions to the front Stoker’s mother and Sligo’s cholera her experiences, Charlotte wrote an of the judicial seat. Tim Nolan (the epidemic of 1832 essay “Experiences of the Cholera complainant) his head enveloped in To set the scene for the Stoker/Sligo of Ireland” a highly regarded and bandages, rose slowly and, leaning on connection we must briefly go back credible first-hand account of Sligo’s the arm of his spouse, advanced with to 1832. It is generally accepted outbreak. difficulty, as if his injuries were even by Stoker scholars that his mother Having worked for many years in more serious than they appeared to Charlotte’s stories of Sligo’s cholera Dublin castle for the petty sessions be, and they were followed by Paddy epidemic were hugely influential courts service, Bram was promoted, Phelan, their witness an old peaceable in his horror writing. I have argued and his role saw him travel the looking farmer, who by mark of elsewhere that Count Dracula can be country using the new train network. respect was accommodated with a read as the personification of Sligo’s His journeys took him to the west of chair”6 cholera1 . Ireland to places that an urbane young It was the clerk of the petty Cholera was the nightmare disease Dubliner, even today, might would sessions, not the judge, who was of the early nineteenth century. consider quite otherworldly! firmly in charge of proceedings. This Europe was first visited by the is where Stoker came in: in 1877 epidemic in 1832 and Sligo was the The Petty Sessions Stoker became an inspector of petty worst affected provincial town in all The petty sessions are now obsolete sessions. Between 1877 and 1878 of Ireland (or Britain) in that year. but in the nineteenth century they were his job was to monitor the duties of In six weeks alone, the town was an important part of the Irish courts the other clerks in the system. The devastated by the disease. There is service. They were also the lowest counties he visited were Kerry, Mayo, still uncertainty about the exact death courts in Ireland involving civil and Sligo and Monaghan and the towns toll with estimates varying from 650 criminal cases. Although presided were Limerick, Wexford, Howth and to up to 1500. The wealthy and middle over by a magistrate, the sessions Dundalk7. It was dull work but he saw classes, who were usually unaffected were run by clerks who oversaw all all sorts of colourful characters and he by the many diseases and famines the paperwork and ensured the session got to travel, (which he loved) even if that occurred in the country at the ran correctly. Typical crimes tried in it was just around the country. time, were equally at risk from this these courts were indeed ‘petty’: The Duties of Clerks of Petty one. Adding to its horror, the cause they included drunkenness, straying Sessions in Ireland was published in or cure of the disease was not fully animals, local acts of nuisance, 1879 and was Stoker’s first book. It understood, and it offered a slow and revenue or tax issues, assault and served as a sort of instruction manual agonizing death.2 destruction of property4. for clerks of these courts. It would Bram’s mother Charlotte was On a regular sessions day dozens have been a tedious undertaking and aged 14 during Sligo’s epidemic and of cases might be heard. The legal Stoker himself later described the witnessed terrible things. She called profession complained about the hot, book as “dry as dust”. Stoker would

82 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 have been busily working on this in 1877, perhaps bringing drafts of the book with him on his travels. Stoker in 1877 The most famous photograph of Bram Stoker shows him old and rather grumpy looking - it belies the fact that he was a genial man who liked a joke and had a wide circle of friends. Yet this persona did mask a more thoughtful person, who had remarked on the prettiness of girls but

Image of Flannery’s Hotel in a Postcard county Sligo. It had wide streets, fine It had been completed in 186013 and churches and it is still notable for its occupied a prominent elevated site, array of shopfronts in the traditional located up stone steps. It remains an vernacular style. When Stoker visited unshowy but dignified building with in 1877 it was thriving, with new a dominant hipped roof and round- buildings and facilities. headed windows. In 1862, the arrival of the railway He, like other visiting court staff, proved a boost for the town’s status would have been booked into the and fortunes. Today the station best hotel in the town, which was remains a fine example of Victorian Flannerys. The hotel closed in railway architecture10. It is likely the early twentieth century14 and Stoker arrived at the station, a is now Johnson’s furniture15. Its stone’s throw from the town, before interiors on the two upper floors Bram Stoker walking the short distance to town. remain largely preserved behind the who aged 30 hadn’t yet had a serious He would have immediately seen the modern additions of PVC windows. relationship, who longed to be by the magnificent ruin of Ballymote castle Fine wrought iron fireplaces, floral 11 sea8 and who was deeply moved by the (c.1300) . He would have passed the wallpaper, wainscoting, wooden poetry of Walt Whitman. He enjoyed fine Roman catholic church, recently window reveals and a dumb waiter are the company of the Lady Wilde and completed in 1864, and alongside it still preserved largely as Stoker would her husband - both antiquarians with the ruined Franciscan Friary (c.1440) have seen it. Rooms were large, with 12 interests in Irish folklore. He was a before walking up Teeling street two windows. It would have been voracious library researcher, too of where the courthouse was located. more luxurious compared to the wide-ranging topics. From 1871 he kept various journals - he wrote brief notes on unusual dreams he had, jokes he heard, descriptions of local characters, all perhaps to inspire his later creative writing9. He especially like to capture the various dialects heard during his travels around Ireland. It is in these journals we find evidence for his trip to county Sligo, to Collooney and Ballymote, as courts inspector.

Ballymote: a fine market town Ballymote was and is a compact market town and a hub for the agricultural community located in the surrounding countryside of south Image of Furniture Store in Modern Times 83 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 town’s other accommodation – there did he ever visit Sligo town? There is Lost Journals of Bram Stoker: the Dublin was a smaller and more down-market currently no evidence to say that he did. Years, London (Robson Press 2012), 16. Future historical research might change p.239. coaching inn nearby But Flannerys 8 He was an excellent swimmer and was the ‘good’ hotel - the one that the this. But he was so tantalizingly close– frequently took day trips out to Bray and judges stayed in when they came to three stops away on the train - why Greystones by train while living in Dublin. Ballymote for the courts service and wouldn’t he - just a day trip perhaps? But 9 Some of his journals were recently then again, why would he? His living found and published by Dacre Stoker and it was conveniently located on Lord Elizabeth Miller, The Lost Journals of Edward Street around the corner from relatives had left the town and there was Bram Stoker: the Dublin Years, London the courthouse. no-one but the dead left in Sligo for him (Robson Press 2012). He may have got to Ballymote to visit. Unless he was fueled by a morbid 10 For more, see: http://www. early, did his inspection, stayed over, curiosity aroused from his mother’s tales buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search. 17 jsp?type=images&county=SL® travelled to Collooney next day of Sligo’s cholera. And yet, Bram did not no=32314002 to inspect that and then got the train need to go to the places that inspired his 11 It was where the Book of Ballymote home. But perhaps he stayed two writing – he never visited Transylvania was written in the 14th century. For more evenings? And what did he do in the or the Carpathian Mountains to write on this see: https://www.ria.ie/book- 18 ballymote evening(s) he stayed? Perhaps he Dracula – it was all based on library 12 Teeling street was where Matthew dined in the hotel and returned to his research. Perhaps his mother’s description Phibbs had lived and murdered three room to work on his book or on his in Experiences of the Cholera in Ireland people in one night. He was hanged in journals. In other places he stayed in was vivid enough for Sligo’s past horrors 1861 in Sligo Gaol. He gained notoriety and was dubbed the ‘Ballymote Slasher’. he noted he characters he saw loitering to rest uneasily in his imagination and 13 For more see: http://www. outside his hotels (as in Limerick)19. inspire him in the future. buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?typ Exactly what Bram Stoker thought Postscript: e=record&county=SL®no=32314016 about Ballymote is not known, but he Sligo Dracula Society aims to highlight 14 More research on my part remains to the historical connections between Bram be done on the hotel’s operational dates did have some withering comments and to investigate whether any records about the neighboring town of Stoker, Dracula and Sligo’s cholera epidemic of 1832. For more see: www. such as guest books remain. Collooney. This he described as ‘the sligobramstoker.weebly.com or email: 15 The National Inventory of Irish most unbusy place in Ireland’ and [email protected] Architecture lists this as originally being a To follow on social media see: domestic house – but local historian John the sleepy local policeman looked Coleman (along with others) say this was to him like a scarecrow stuffed with Twitter: @SligoStoker / Facebook: @ SligoBramStokerSociety / Instagram: the location of Flannerys. http://www. straw. His notes on the town reflect his Sligo Dracula Society buildingsofireland.ie/niah/search.jsp?typ keen ear for dialect, he quoted one local 1 Marion McGarry, ‘Dracula = Cholera: e=record&county=SL®no=32314025 how Sligo’s 1832 epidemic represents 16 A number of buildings in the town still referring to the political parties as going have coach arches to permit entry through “round an’ round an’ round an’ round, Stokers famous character’, in Journal of Medical Humanities, Vol 40, Issue 3, to the rear. jist for all the world like a dog lookin’ December 2019 (forthcoming). 17 Stoker was in Collooney perhaps for a for the head of his bed”20 . Similarly, he 2 Cholera is caused by contaminated day-trip to inspect their sessions-records. wrote: “in Ballymote (Co. Sligo) 1877 drinking water. In Sligo, like many other The small town is the next stop on the train towards Sligo from Ballymote. I heard an angry man outside the hotel towns, the disease was aggravated by the Garavogue river, which was the chief 18 More information is required here on say: ‘the nagurs, the nagurs, the dhirty source of the town’s drinking water but the duties of inspectors: did they pore nagurs. They wouldn’t give yet not so was polluted with the town’s sewage. over documents after hours or did they much as a biled nail for yer coffin”’21 . 3 Charlotte Stoker wrote Experiences of just work during court time? I also need to examine train timetables to see how He was tickled at local names discovered the Cholera in Ireland an unpublished account, in 1873. It is an important first- frequently or infrequently trains travelled in investigation to a title of a property at hand account of Sligo’s cholera epidemic. on the lines. Carrowkeel (near Ballymote) he “found 4 Irish petty sessions court could impose 19 It is unlikely he visited inns or pubs to one man who flourished about 1690-1732 a maximum of 1 year’s imprisonment, and drink. Stoker was not a keen consumer of 22 the usual punishments were fines, being alcohol. called Tumultuous McDonagh” . 20 Dacre Stoker and Elizabeth Miller, The After he visited Ballymote, life was soon bound to keep the peace for a certain period or short prison sentences. More Lost Journals of Bram Stoker: the Dublin going to change dramatically for Stoker. serious, would be heard in the Quarter Years, London (Robson Press 2012), The following year, in quick succession - Sessions or in the Assizes, known in p.254. Ireland as the Commission Court. 21 Dacre Stoker and Elizabeth Miller, The he was offered a job managing the famous Lost Journals of Bram Stoker: the Dublin Lyceum theatre in London, and he married 5 Abigail Rieley, ‘Complete Irish Petty Sessions Court Records Now Online’, Years, London (Robson Press 2012), the beautiful Florence Balcombe. This Dec 23, 2014 on Irish Central on https:// p.255. was all exciting compared to the boring www.irishcentral.com/roots/complete- 22 Dacre Stoker and Elizabeth Miller, The irish-petty-sessions-court-records-now- Lost Journals of Bram Stoker: the Dublin job based in Dublin Castle and the middle- Years, London (Robson Press 2012), class future it had offered. It led to a new online [14/05/2019]. 6 Taken from a transcript by Irish p.100. In the actual records of the petty departure for him as an author not of dry Genealogy Toolkit at https://www.irish- sessions, there is a James Tumultuous legal tomes but of horror fiction, the most genealogy-toolkit.com/support-files/a- McDonagh recorded who was noted as a witness in the Ballymote records in 1880. famous of which, Dracula (1897) ensured scene-at-an-irish-petty-sessions,-1853-- his fame, if not necessarily fortune. transcription---secure.pdf 7 Dacre Stoker and Elizabeth Miller, The And still we come back to the question: 84 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 Supreme Court Justice and Senior U.S. Democratic Leader Had South Sligo Roots

By Owen Duffy

Griffith Valuation for Sragh 1857 on 20th February 1860 and Thomas & Johnny and three girls namely Annie, Bridget took over a share of this farm. Mary-Kate and Bea-Agnes. All The complete Heher /McGlynn farm three girls emigrated. Dominick died was eventually transferred into the in Spring 1949 at 82 years. Johnny Heher name in1875. never married and continued to live Patrick Heher and his young bride and farm in Ragwood. His jovial Harry Heher Annie started their married life in a nature, hospitality and friendship are two roomed thatched cottage on the still talked about in the Gurteen area. In 1932, the year of Franklin D side of the hill in Sragh close to where Johnny died on the 29th November Roosevelt’s election as President of the Great Western railway line would 2002 in Sligo General Hospital and the United States, Harry Heher who shortly be built. Patrick and Annie was buried in Gurteen New Cemetery. was the son of a south Sligo emigrant Heher had two sons in family, namely and a Democratic State Chairman was John born in 1862 and Dominick born The Legal Eagles of Sragh elected Supreme Court Justice for the on 8th March 1867. (The keeping of The Heher family were recognised in state of New Jersey. He served in this civil birth records only commenced in the 1860’s – 1900 period as the legal position until his retirement in 1959. 1864 in Ireland). authority in the Sragh-Seefin area and The Heher family of which Harry John Heher emigrated to the United regularly took on the job of writing Heher was descended had its roots States as a young man of 24 years in to the landlord or his agent re Rental in the small townland in South 1886. Dominick remained in Sragh agreements of holdings for the locals Sligo called Sragh which lies close and worked on the family farm with in the area or letters re disputes over to the and the his parents. Dominick and John’s tenants’ rights. They also assisted Roscommon border. In earlier times mother Annie died on 20th of March locals in the preparation of wills and Sragh was also known as Derrylahan 1908. Dominick married Catherine various letters to emigrants etc. and (Tithe Applotments Records of Reid from Ragwood, Gurteen on so, it comes as no surprise that this 1823 – 1837). In the Tithes, Pat and 4th February 1913. However, expertise was handed down to Patrick John Heher farmed on a tenant farm sadness struck when Dominick’s and Annie Heher’s eldest son John in Sragh (1824), paying seventeen wife Catherine died shortly after Heher and his descendants in the shillings and six pence tithe for same. their marriage in July 1914. Further U.S.A. In the Griffith Valuation of 1857, John sadness was to follow with the John Heher was born in 1862 in Heher now shared the tenant farm death of his father Patrick in 1915 the family home in Sragh. All that with Peter McGlynn in Sragh. at 90 years of age. After his death remains of the home is a heap of stones John Heher’s son named Patrick Dominick then settled on the Reid beside the spot where their house once (born C1825) married Anne McGlynn farm in Ragwood and remarried on stood. At the young age of 24, John in circa 1860 and so increased the 25th January 1915 to Anne Knott emigrated to the United States in possible hold on this Heher/McGlynn from the neighbouring townland of 1886 and after a short time in Boston, share farm. In addition, Thomas Drury Cloonlaheen. Dominick and his wife Providence and Philadelphia he settled married Patrick’s sister Bridget Heher Anne raised their family of one boy down in Trenton, New Jersey. On 14th 85 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

July 1892 he joined Trenton police 1922, 1924 and 1926. In 1928 Al Smith Depression Recovery Programme in Department. John’s dedicated work got the Democratic nomination to run what was termed “The New Deal”. ethic eventually led him to becoming for President of the United States and In the year 1932, during Roosevelt’s Lieutenant of Trenton Police received major support from Harry presidential campaign, New Jersey Department’s Detective Bureau. John Heher at the Democratic Convention Governor Harry Moore appointed had married prior to joining the police in Hueston, Texas. Chairing the New Harry Heher as an Associate Justice on 2nd April 1888. He married Anne Jersey State Convention in May 1928, of the New Jersey Court of Errors Spellman who had also emigrated in Harry Heher described Governor and Appeals which became known 1883 from his native Gurteen to New Al Smith as “The foe of corruption after 1947 as the New Jersey Supreme Jersey. John and Anne’s children in high places, and low” and as “the Court. Harry was reappointed to the were: Harry born on 20th March vigorous champion of local self- bench in 1942, 1947 and 1954. Harry 1889, Anna born 1892, John L born government”. (Buffalo evening Heher retired as supreme court justice 1894, Mary born 1898, Agnes born news May 23rd, 1928) Al Smith was on 20th March 1959 having served 1902 and Helen 1904. (from 1920 U.S defeated in the 1928 presidential twenty-seven years with distinction. Census details). Both Harry and John election by the republican candidate (The Hacketstown Gazette 1959). went on to become lawyers. Their Herbert Hoover. In this election the father John died on 12th August 1937 protestant / Anglican voters feared Family life age 74 years. that Smith would answer to the Pope Harry Heher married Anne Egan on and not to the US Constitution. Also, 5th August 1925. Anne’s Irish parents married in Co Tipperary and went to Harry Heher (Born 1889) his anti-prohibition policy cost him the United States shortly afterwards As was the practice at the time Harry dearly especially in the southern and settled in Trenton, New Jersey. read law with a Trenton Lawyer states. Following the election of Harry and Anne had three children, instead of attending Law School. Hoover, the USA went into the great Harry Heher Jr born in 1921 (died He was admitted to the New Jersey depression in August 1929 with the 2002), John Robert Heher born in bar in 1911. Shortly after beginning stock market crash in October. By the 1930 (Died 2011) and Garrett Martin to practice law in Trenton Harry end of the year 1300 banks had failed. Heher, born in 1935 (died in 2014) all three sons followed in their father’s became very active in democratic On 11th December 1930 the Bank footsteps, studied Law and pursued party politics and served on the of the United States failed. This was very successful careers. Mercer County Executive Democratic the fourth largest bank in the nation. Retired Supreme Court Justice Committee from 1915 to February The problems were compounded by and noted Democratic leader Harry 1922. On February 21st, 1922 Harry “The dust bowl drought” which hit Heher died on 17th October 1972 in was unanimously elected as Chairman 23 southern states most severely with Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He was of the New Jersey State Democratic farm production lost. laid to rest in Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Committee. (Obituary, New York In 1928 Franklin D Roosevelt took Trenton, Mercer county, New Jersey, USA. Times October 19th, 1932). He served over as governor of New York from more than ten years at the head of Al Smith. At the 1932 democratic References: the New Jersey State Democratic national convention in Chicago, Report of the Chief of Police Trenton organisation. In 1924 he was the Al Smith sought the presidential Police Dept. district delegate to the Democratic nomination again but was defeated by The Patterson Morning Call: Wed National Convention in New York Roosevelt, his former ally and backer. 22nd Feb 1922 and was the New Jersey member of Al Smith campaigned afterwards The Philadelphia Inquirer: 13th August 1937. its famous resolutions committee. He for Roosevelt. Harry Heher the New Cancellation Books at the Valuation was also the New Jersey delegate to Jersey democratic state chairman and Office, Dublin the National Convention in Hueston, New Jersey Governor Harry Moore Tithe Applotment Records 1823 - Texas in 1928 and in Chicago in 1932. hosted Franklin D Roosevelt on his 1837 Harry was also a very close friend election campaign at Sea Girt. “This Griffith Valuation of 1857. of Alfred (Al) Smith. Al’s mother was is Governor Moore’s tribute to a The Hackettstown Gazette New Catherine Mulvihill (the daughter of great governor” Harry Heher said in Jersey Jan 1st, 1939. Buffalo Evening News: Thurs 10th Irish emigrants from Co Westmeath) introducing Franklin D Roosevelt to October 1935. Al grew up on the lower side of the podium. He added “New Jersey Oral history Mr Eddie Harte, Sragh, East Manhattan. Al Smith was a will be happy to support him, and Co Sligo. devout catholic. In later years he was New Jersey will be one of the states Niagara Falls Gazette: Wed 23rd May appointed a “Papal Chamberlain of the that will make his election sure”. 1928. Sword and Cape”, one of the highest Roosevelt addressed the enormous The Story of New Jersey: Page 25. honours which the Papacy bestowed crowds of people who had amassed Civil birth death and marriage records. on a layman. Al Smith was appointed to show their support. Roosevelt was Oral history and assistance: Garrett Walsh Heher, Connecticut. Governor of New York at the state elected President of the United States Brooklyn Daily Eagle, New York: election of 1918. He was re-elected in in the 1932 election and started the August 29th, 1937

86 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 30 Years of Ballymote Heritage Weekend 1990 – 2018

The first Heritage Weekend of the Ballymote Heritage Group took place in August 1990 (Friday 3 August to Monday 6 August). The Heritage Group had been founded on 30 May 1984 and the first Corran Herald was published on 25 October 1985. This year we are celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of the Heritage Weekend.Aseries of lectures and outings has been held each August holiday weekend since 1990, attracting a wide audience and appealing to both an academic and non-academic audience. It has been highly recommended over the years for the quality of lectures and outings covering history, archaeology, culture and folklore. Many people, prominent in public and academic life, have officially opened and spoken at the Heritage weekend over the years. In the 2018/2019 issue of the Corran Herald (Issue 51) Neal Farry traced the history of the 50 Issues of the Corran Herald and outlined the contributions made by writers over 33 years and 50 Issues. This year, in honour of 30 years of the Ballymote Heritage Weekend, we are including a listing of speakers at the Heritage Weekend each year since 1990. The listing demonstrates the exceptional calibre of speakers over the years and the wide range of topics covered. We are indebted to all the speakers and the past volunteers who have allowed the Ballymote Heritage Group to continue an unbroken tradition over 30 years of a weekend of lectures at the August holiday weekend. We have all been enriched by the experience and hope that the tradition will continue for another thirty years under the guidance of the next generation of volunteers.

3rd – 6th August 1990 “The Franciscans in Ireland” – Fr Pat – Fr Pat Conlan, OFM Franciscan Official Opening: Mr Eamon Barnes Conlan O.F.M. Journalist and Historian, Cork D.P.P. What is the quality of our Surface and Official Closing: Ted Nealon T.D. 31st July to 3rd August 1992 Ground Waters in the Northwest? - Official Opening: Dr Seamus Caulfield, J.P. Timpson, B.A. Head of School of Lectures: Professor of Archaeology U.C.D. Science, R.T.C., Sligo The Road to Compostela – Frank Tivnan Irish Victorian Architecture – Frederick Burial Monuments of Sligo- 4,000yrs Lectures: O’Dwyer, Architect, and Architectural B.C. to present – Mary B. Timoney, Sligo at War 1689-1691 – Dr Harman Historian O.P.W. Archaeologist. Murtagh – M.A., M., Litt., Ph.D.,Dip, Jack Yeats and Sligo – Bruce Arnold, The Book of Ballymote and related E.I. Solicitor Literary Editor Irish Independent and manuscripts - Brid Dolan, Librarian Ceide Fields: Its Ancient and Recent Author Biography of Jack Yeats Royal Irish Academy Development - Dr Seamus Caulfield, Religious History of the Diocese of Professor of Archaeology U.C.D. Achonry – Bishop Flynn Turlough O Carolan and his Sligo Patrons 29th July – 1st August 1994 The Archaeological Heritage of Sligo – John McTernan, Sligo Co. Librarian Official Opening: Lord de Ayton of and North West – An Overview - Michael The Origin and History of Place Names - Corran, Ph.D., B.Sc., M.I.C.E. Gibbons, Archaeologist with O.P.W. Tom McGettrick Irish Georgian Houses - Derry O Connell, Lectures: 2nd-5th August 1991 M.R.I.A.I. and M.R.U.P., Architect Archaeological Treasures of the Past Six Official Opening: The Hon. Desmond Folklife: The National Collection – Dr Thousand Years in Co Sligo – Guinness, President of the Georgian Anne O’Dowd, Irish Folklife Division, Martin Timoney, B.A., F.R.S.A.I. Society of Ireland National Museum of Ireland. Earthwork Castles in Ireland – Dr Kieran O’Connor, Ph.D., M.A. Lectures: 29th July to 2nd August 1993 The Siting of Neolithic and Early Bronze Our National Heritage? Cecil A. King Official Opening: Dr Hubert McDermott, Age Monuments in Southern Sligo – Cistercian Abbey of Boyle – Frank Professor of English, U.C.G. Charles Mount, M.A., M.I.A.P.A. Tivnan, Historian. What is ? “Ireland from St Patrick to the Lectures: – Nicholas Carolan, Director Irish Reformation” or “Why we, the Irish are Treasures of the National Museum of Traditional Music Archive. different”- Ireland – Dr Pat Wallace, Director of the Robert Boyle and his Air Pumps – Patrick Etienne Rynne, M.A., M.R.I.A., F.S.A., National Museum of Ireland Rolleston, B.A., M.A. Professor of Archaeology, U.C.G. Irish High Crosses – Frank Tivnan, M.A., The O’Connors of Connacht and Clonalis Emigration - Bishop Flynn H.D.E., Historian, St Mary’s College, – Pyers O’Connor-Nash, B.A., B.L. The Battle of the Curlews – Col. C. Boyle. Archaeology and Irish Nationalism – Mattimoe. Irish Franciscan Medieval Architecture Etienne Rynne, M.A., M.R.I.A., F.S.A.,

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Professor of Archaeology, University Lectures: “Not Just Old Bones”; Aspects of Early College, Galway. Farming for the Crusades: Templar Medieval Burial Practice – Malcolm & Hospitaller Estates Rediscovered – Conway, Consultant Archaeologist. 4th -7th August 1995 Malcolm Billings. History of Fresco – Bernard McDonagh, Official Opening: Bruce Arnold, Literary The Geology and Landscapes of the A.N.C.A. Editor Irish Independent. Ballymote Area – Conor MacDermott, Early Christian Irish Art and Architecture Archaeological Survey of Ireland. – Dr. Peter Harbison, M.R.I.A., H.R.H.A., Lectures: Early Monastic Sites of Co Sligo – Martin F.F.A. (London). Jack Yeats – On the Road to Fame – A. Timoney and Mary B. Timoney, The Art of the Gaelic Revival – Etienne Bruce Arnold Archaeologists. Rynne, M.A., M.R.I.A., F.S.A. Ballymote Norman Castle – Dr. John A. The Story of the Franciscans in Ballymote Claffey - Tom McGettrick, Historian 4th- 7th August 2000 The Medieval Town of Sligo – John Megaliths and Metals in Ireland and Official Opening: Paul Doyle, Manager/ Bradley, Department of Archaeology, Western Europe – Lord Dayton, Baron of Keeper, Irish Folk Life Division, National University College, Dublin Corran. Museum of Ireland. Famine and Emigration – Sligo Carrowmore Excavations – Professor Experience – John McTernan, Former Goran Burenhult, Stockholm University. Lectures: Sligo County Librarian Simony, Sacrilege and Perjury: Turlough Park House and the National The Spanish Armada in Ireland – Archbishop Marsh and his Library – Museum of Ireland – Paul Doyle, Laurence Flanagan, Author and Former Dr. Muriel McCarthy, Keeper Marsh’s National Museum of Ireland Keeper of Antiquities, Ulster Museum. Library. “From the Purple Ox Mountains Right The Relationship between our Heritage Down to the Sea” – Martin A. Timoney, and the Environment – a Moulding 31stJuly- 3rdAugust 1998 B.A., FRSAI, MIAPA, Archaeologist and Process – Professor Emer Colleran, Dept Official Opening: John Redmill Mary B Timoney, B.A., Archaeologist. of Microbiology, University College Conservation Architect, Historic Women in Ireland: 1500 to 1800 – Dr Galway. Buildings Consultant Mary O’Dowd, Queen’s University, Special Guest: Sile de Valera, Minister Belfast. for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Millennium Lecture: The Influence of 2nd –5th August 1996 Christianity on Society, Culture and Official Opening: Jack Gilligan, Dublin Lectures: Politics for the Last Two Thousand Years City Arts Officer “Life in the Irish Country House” John – Fr John Durkan, LSS, BD, BSc, HDE, Redmill Conservation Architect. Lecturer - The Western Theological Lectures: The Origin of Soils and Landscapes Institute, Co Galway. Irish Art of the Early Medieval Period of Co Sligo – Michael Walsh, National Ancestors, Passage Tombs and Mountains 7th-9th Centuries A.D – Michael Ryan, Soil Survey of Ireland and Soil Research in Neolithic Sligo – Dr Stefan Bergh, M.A., PhD FSA, MRIA, Director & Officer, Teagasc. Research Fellow, Swedish Foundation Librarian, The Chester Beatty Library. The Last Invasion of Ireland- Events in for International Research. The Taaffes of Corran – Neal Farry, NT. Mayo and Sligo 1798 – John McTernan, “A Most Distressful Country” – Some Former County Librarian. 3rd – 6th August 2001 Oral Traditions about the Famine in Co Fashions in 19th Century Ireland- Official Opening: Liam Healy, Deputy Sligo – Bairbre Ni Fhloinn, Department Mairead Dunlevy, Acting Keeper Chairman Independent News and Media. of Irish Folklore, University College, Arts and Industrial Division, National Dublin. Museum. Lectures: How Domestic Ceramics are Made and Swift in Love- Untangling the Dean and John Synge and Irish Nationalism – Dr Decorated – Patrick Rolleston, B.A., Hester Van Homrigh – Bruce Arnold, Bruce Arnold, Author and Journalist. M.A. Literary Editor Independent. Dating the Past – Tree Rings, Carbon 14 Touring the Irish Highlands, 19th and Ice Cores - John Dayton, BSc, PhD, Century Tourism in the West of Ireland 30th July – 2nd August 1999 Baron of Corran. – Colleen Dube, The National Museum. Official Opening: Raymond Keaveney, From Sligo to Valparaiso – John Maiben Sources for Genealogy and Local History Director of the National Gallery of Gilmartin, MA. in The National Archives – Gregory O’ Ireland. Jane Austen’s Irish Friend – Jeffry Connor, Archivist, National Archives. Lefroy, Carrickglass Manor. Lectures: 1st- 4th August 1997 Recent and Forthcoming Developments 2nd-5th August 2002 Official Opening: Malcolm Billings, at the National Gallery of Ireland – Official Opening: Douglas Jordan, B.BC. Broadcaster and Writer Raymond Keaveney, Director of the Registrar of Bórd Fáilte National Gallery of Ireland.

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Lectures: 1st – 4th August 2008 Building to Amaze, Amuse and Appal - Lectures: Official Opening: Malcolm Billings, John Redmill, Conservation Architect, The Architecture of Irish Gardens from BBC Broadcaster and Author Historic Buildings Consultant. the Restoration to the Romantic Age – Comhrá na dTonn – History of Irish Desmond Fitzgerald. Lectures: Music 1691-1935, Illustrated with An Introduction to Ireland’s Industrial The Heritage and Archaeology of Fiddle and Flute – Máire Nic Domhnaill Archaeology – Paul Duffy, BE, LLB, American Patriotism – Malcolm Billings Gairbhí. CEng, FIEI Archaeology of the Sligo Relief Road Later Medieval Settlement in Gaelic Mullaghfarna, Ireland’s Largest Stone and Other Road Project Discoveries – Ireland – Dr Kieran O’Connor, Dept. of Village! – Dr Stefan Bergh, Lecturer, Michael McDonagh MA, MIAI, Senior Archaeology, NUI Galway. Dept. of Archaeology, NUI Galway. Archaeologist, National Roads Authority. The First Crusade - Malcolm Billings, From Ireland to Antarctica – 100 years Transport Improvement and the Changing Broadcaster and Author, Presenter of the of Shackletons visiting Antarctica 1650-1850 – Dr BBC World Service Series, Heritage. – Jonathan Shackleton, Lecturer Arnold Horner, Lecturer in Geography, and Family Historian for the Irish School of Geography, Planning and 1st– 4th August 2003 Shackletons. Environmental Policy UCD. Official Opening: Professor Barry The Placenames of Corran – Dr Nollaig Raftery. Department of Archaeology, 4th – 7th August 2006 O Muraile, Senior Lecturer in the School UCD. Official Opening: Malcolm Billings, of Irish, NUI Galway. Broadcaster and Author. Lectures: 31st July – 3rd August 2009 “Problems of Celtic Ireland” – Professor Lectures: Official Opening: Dr Kieran O’Connor, Barry Raferty The History and Archaeology of the Department of Archaeology, NUI, “Out of the Ordinary – Vernacular Hejaz Railway (that once carried pilgrims Galway. Buildings in the North-West “- Bairbre to Mecca – Malcolm Billings. Ni Fhloinn, M.A., Dept. of Irish Folklore, Rural Settlement in Anglo Norman Lectures: UCD. Ireland – Dr Kieran O’Connor. The Rock of Lough Key – Dr Kieran “Lough Gara Through Time” – Dr. Art and Patronage in Later Medieval O’Connor Christina Fredengren Ireland – Dr Rachel Moss, Lecturer Michael Davitt – The Man – Michael “Dreams Long Hoarded” – The Arts in Irish Art Research Centre, Trinity Comer. and Crafts Movement in Ireland during College, Dublin. Protestant Missions in Connemara 1848- the Celtic Revival – Dr Nicola Gordon “As your Lordship already has the Venus 1937 – Dr Miriam Moffitt, Postdoctoral Bowe, Faculty of History of Art and – the Lord Charlemont great collection Research Fellow at NUI Maynooth. Design, NCAD. of paintings, furniture, books and other Books and Reading in Sligo in the Early objects” – John Redmill, Dip. Arch. 19th Century – Dr Charles Benson, 30th July – 2nd August 2004 FRIAI, Conservation Architect, Historic Keeper of Early Printed Books, TCD. Official Opening: Malcolm Billings, Buildings Consultant. Broadcaster and Author, Presenter of the BBC World Services Series “Heritage”. 3rd – 6th August 2007 30th July – 2nd August 2010 Official Opening: Rory Sherlock, MA Official Opening: Dr Bruce Arnold, Lectures: MIAI, Doctoral Researcher NUIG. Writer and Journalist, Chief Critic with Herculaneum and Vesuvius – Malcolm the Irish Independent. Billings Lectures: Beannada, Skreen and Carrowmore, The Moygara Castle and the Architecture of Lecture: Legacies of Irwin, Diamond and Walker Medieval County Sligo – Rory Sherlock. “Derek Hill: English Painter in Ireland”- – Martin & Mary Timoney, Research Lamenting the Dead in the Irish and Dr Bruce Arnold. Archaeologists. European Tradition – Brendán O “Aspects of Ireland’s Cultural Heritage” Imagining the Landscape: Sligo and the Madagáin, formerly Professor of Irish at – Michael Conroy, Soil Scientist and artist, a view real or imagined – Ciarán NUIG. Agronomist. MacGonigal, Art Historian and Critic. “Oh no! Not another Old Ruin” – “Selling Ballymote. Manuscripts and James Joyce and the Publication of Loughlin Kealy, Professor Architecture Society in Northwest Ireland 1500- Ulysses – Laura Weldon, National Co- at UCD. 1550”- Ordinator of Rejoice Dublin 2004. Later Medieval Wall Painting in Ireland Professor Raymond Gillespie, History – Karena Morton, Conservator of Department, NUI Maynooth. 29th July – 1st August 2005 Archaeological Finds and Wall Paintings, “Landscapes of Western Ireland: The Official Opening: Desmond Fitzgerald, Lecturer in Archaeology at Sligo IT. Large-Scale Influence of Climate” – Knight of the Glin, Author and Historian Professor Peter Coxen, MRIA, FTCD,

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Geography Department, TCD. 1 – Mary Kenny, Author and Journalist. 4th – 7th August 2017 The Fadden More Psalter – John Official Opening: Dr Patrick Wallace, 29thJuly – 1st August 2011 Gillis, Senior Book and Manuscript former Director of the National Museum Official Opening: Peta Taaffe Conservator, Trinity College, Dublin. of Ireland. Sligo’s Hidden Bridges – Gary Salter, Lectures: Conservation Engineer, Senior Executive Lectures: A Family Called Taaffe – Peta Taaffe Engineer, Sligo County Council. The Museum, Past, Present and Future “When the Shopping was Good: Family Names in the Place-names of – Dr Patrick Wallace, former Director of Woolworths and the Irish Main Street” – Sligo – Dr Conchubhar O Crualaoich the National Museum of Ireland. Barbara Walsh PhD. “Re-imagining the Classical House as Eva Gore Booth, Champion of the 30th July – 3rd August 2015 a Gothic Castle – Francis Johnston at Worker – Cllr Ruth Illingworth, MA, Official Opening: Dr Eamonn P Kelly, Markree Castle in the Early Nineteenth Historian. Former Keeper of Irish Antiquities, Century” – Dr Judith Hill, Architectural Lawlessness Prevails Everywhere: South National Museum of Ireland. Historian. Sligo 1918-1921 – Michael Farry PhD. “Monastic Ireland- A Gift of the Nile!” Lectures: – Alf Monaghan, a long-term observer 3rd – 6th August 2012 Secrets of the Bog Bodies – Dr Eamonn P of Middle Eastern affairs, including Official Opening: Dr Edward Kelly, Former Keeper of Irish Antiquities, the emergence of early Christianity McParland, Architectural Historian National Museum of Ireland. there and the influence of the Eastern (Lecturer Emeritus, Trinity College, The Art of Medieval North-West Ireland Mediterranean on Irish Christianity. Dublin). - Professor Rachel Moss. Department “Ancient pathways: The Bealach of the History of Art and Architecture, Buidhe, the Red Earl’s Road and Lectures: Trinity College, Dublin and Editor of Bóthar an Chorainn in Counties Sligo What is Classical Architecture? – Dr Medieval Volume of Art and Architecture and Roscommon” – Sam Moore, Edward McParland of Ireland published by the Royal Irish Archaeologist, Institute of Technology, Myths and Monuments from Moytura Academy/Yale University Press. Sligo. to Keshcorran, Co Sligo – Sam Moore, Buildings of South Ulster – Armagh, Archaeologist. Cavan and Monaghan – Kevin Mulligan, 3rd – 6th August 2018 The Titanic – Stephen Cameron, Architectural Historian, author of South Official Opening: Mary E. Daly, Historian Ulster volume in The Buildings of Professor Emerita UCD. President Ballymote, Sligo & The Great War – Ireland Series. Royal Irish Academy 2014-2017. Kevin Myers, Journalist, Writer and Sligo and Home Rule, 1886-1912 – Dr Historian. Padraig Deignan, author of Land and Lectures: People in Nineteenth Century Sligo: Female Suffrage and the Irish Revolution, 1st– 5th August 2013 from Union to Local Government. 1912-22 – Professor Mary E. Daly, Official Opening: Malcolm Billings, Professor Emerita UCD. President Journalist, Radio Producer and Author. 28th July – 1st August 2016 Royal Irish Academy 2014-2017.- Official Opening: Anne Haverty, “A Sacred Island Before Christianity” Lectures: Novelist, Poet and Biographer. – Alf Monaghan. Alf has worked on Vartan of Nazareth: Missionary and Economic Development in the Near Medical Pioneer in the Nineteenth Lectures: East. His years there triggered a deep Century Middle East – Malcolm Billings. “Being Miss Gore-Booth”. Anne interest in the origins of religion and the The Railways of County Sligo – Peter Haverty, Novelist, Poet and Biographer influence of early Near Eastern religion Bowen – Walsh, Railway Historian of Constance Markieviez. in Ireland. Bram Stoker, Dracula and the Sligo The Knights Templar in Ireland and “The Clergy and the First Crusade” – Connection – Paul Murray, Retired Temple House: from Templar Castle Malcolm Billings, former Presenter of Diplomat & Author of From the Shadow to New English Mansion – Dr Paul BBC Radio 4 current affairs programmes of Dracula: A Life of Bram Stoker. Naessens, Archaeologist. and Presenter/Producer of archaeological The Sligo Port Strike of 1913 – Dr “The History of the World in the Book programmes on BBC World Service. Padraig Deignan, Author & Historian of Ballymote” – Dr Elizabeth Boyle, “The Last Lord Coloony (Collooney) Head of Department of Early Irish, NUI, aka Sir Charles Coote, Earl of Bellamont 31st July – 4thAugust 2014 Maynooth. (1738-1800)” – John Coleman, M Litt, Official Opening: Mary Kenny, Author Recent Investigations of “La Juliana” who is working on a biography of the and Journalist. a Spanish Armada ship wrecked off Earl of Bellamont. Streedagh in 1588 – Fionnbarr Moore, Lectures: National Monuments Service. Poets and Priests of Ireland in World War

90 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020 First Communion 2019

Knockminna N.S. First Holy Communion 2019 Back (Left-Right): Annette Caffrey(Sch Sec),Michelle Brennan (ClassTeacher) , Louise King (Principal) ,Fr. James McDonagh (P.P.) , Rosemary Cloherty (Class Teacher) , Aoife Mc Donagh (Teacher). Middle Row(Left-Right): Thomas Irwin, Amy Connaghan, Nicole Porter, Michaela Brehony, Cara Higgins. Front Row(Left-Right): Annelies Rooney, Lauren Yvonne Golden-Gallagher, Eva Burdett, Esther Mullen, William Porter, Cian Drury,Michael Ryan, Sierra Kenny. Altar Servers:(Left-Right) Tom Cassidy, Fiachra Duignan.

Scoil Mhuire gan Smál Communion 2019 Back (Left-Right): Fr James McDonagh, Summer Sweeney, Peter Gannon Cohen, Saoirse Ivers Brehony, Leon Warren, Michael Meehan, Shane Waters, Julia Strechowska, Diarmaid Vahey, Shauna Donoghue, Khloe Barden, Teacher: Ms. O’Gara Middle Row(Left-Right): Aoibhinn Rigney, Julia Dudziak, Ciara Keenan, Sarra Davey, Dylan Cannon, Ryan Irwin, Lauren Hever, Laura Hegarty Front Row(Left-Right): Isabel Mc Glinchey, Ellen Sweeney, Aidan Maxwell, Olivia Falinska, Lauren Oogan, Cora Flannery, Ryan Sweeney, Jessika Klaman, Aidan O’Brien, Katie Young. 91 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2019/2020

Ballymote Heritage Group Patrons Mattie Casey Judge Keenan Johnson Officers President Eileen Tighe

Chairperson & PRO Neal Farry

Vice-Chairperson Tom Lavin

Secretary Annette Caffrey

Treasurers Pam Benson

Editor of The Corran Herald Fiona Dunleavy Members Desmond Black, Mary Black, Olive Byrne, David Casey, Gerry Cassidy, John Coleman, Paddy Conboy, Derek Davey, Fiona Doherty, Owen Duffy, Anne Flanagan, Brenda Friel, Noreen Friel, Ursula Gilhawley, Anne Henry, Neil Henry, Carmel McGettrick, Eddie O’Gorman, Mary O’Gorman, John Perry, Marie Perry, Nuala Rogers, Carmel Rogers, Michael Rogers. Sponsors of Ballymote Heritage Weekend

Principal Sponsor Casey’s Pharmacy

Sponsors John Cawley Steve Lemken Michael & Carmel Rogers Eddie & Mary O’Gorman Tente Ltd

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