Critical Viewpoints on the Making of County Mayo's Commemorative
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Localised Pasts and Presents: Critical Viewpoints on The Making of County Mayo’s Commemorative Heritages Michael Quinn B.A. Thesis submitted in fulfilment o f the requirements for the Master of Arts Degree in Humanities (Heritage Studies), at the Galway-Mayo Institute o f Technology, Galway Supervisor of Research: Dr. Mark McCarthy > döJl I hereby declare that this is my own work Submitted to the Higher Education and Training Awards Council, October 2006 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ................................................................................................... i GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS .............................................................................. ii LIST OF FIGURES AND APPENDICES .....................................................................iii ABSTRACT ..............................................................................................................................iv MAP OF COUNTY MAYO LOCATIONS REFERRED TO IN THESIS v CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................................1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................2 The C o u n ty ..................................................................................................................................3 Structure of the Thesis ............................................................................................................ 6 R e fe re n c e s.................................................................................................................................10 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................... 11 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 12 Historiographical Perspectives on Commemoration ..................................................12 Céide Fields/‘Mayo 5000’ .................................................................................................. 16 The Fam ine ...............................................................................................................................16 The 1798 Rebellion ................................................................................................................19 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................... 22 R e fe re n c e s................................................................................................................................ 24 CHAPTER THREE METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................. 26 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 27 Researching the Céide Fields/‘Mayo 5000’ Activities ..............................................28 Researching the Famine Commemorations ...................................................................29 Researching the 1798 Rebellion Commemorations....................................................31 Other Evidence ........................................................................................... 32 R e fe re n c e s.................................................................................................................................33 CHAPTER FOUR COMMEMORATION OR FABRICATION?: THE CÉIDE FIELDS AND ‘M A Y O 5000’ ACTIVITIES ........................................................................................... 34 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 35 Céide Fields .............................................................................................................................36 ‘Mayo 5000’ .............................................................................................................................54 C o n c lu s io n ................................................................................................................... 68 R e fe re n c e s................................................................................................................................ 71 CHAPTER FIVE REMEMBRANCE OF CALAMITY: THE GREAT FAMINE COMMEMORATIONS ....................................................................................................74 Introduction ..............................................................................................................................75 History of the Famine ...........................................................................................................76 The Famine in County Mayo ............................................................................................. 82 Page History of Famine Commemorations............................................................................... 86 Famine Commemorations in the 1990s .......................................................................... 92 Famine Commemoration in Mayo ....................................................................................94 Mayo’s links to Exported Commemorations .............................................................. 112 Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 117 R e fe re n c e s...............................................................................................................................120 CHAPTER SIX THE MEMORIALISATION OF THE 1798 REBELLION ........................... 124 Introduction ............................................................................................................................ 125 The Rebellion of 1798 ........................................................................................................126 The French Campaign in the W est..................................................................................127 Commemoration of the Rebellion in 1848 ................................................................... 132 The C e n te n a ry ........................................................................................................................134 The mid-Twentieth Century and the Commemorations of 1948 ..........................148 The Late Twentieth Century .............................................................................................161 Conclusion ...................................................................................... 171 R e fe re n c e s...............................................................................................................................175 CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSION ...................................................................................................................179 R e fe re n c e s...............................................................................................................................190 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................... 191 BIBLIOGRAPHY 206 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In researching and compiling this work I have received the assistance and cooperation of a number of people to whom I am indebted. Firstly to my supervisor Dr. Mark McCarthy whose door was always open, and whose time, diligence and patience are greatly appreciated. Thanks also to the staff of Heritage Studies at GMIT who have both helped and enlightened me over the past number of years. To the staff of both GMIT and Mayo libraries whose service is duly acknowledged, especially that of Ivor Hamrock. Particular mention is deserving of the following: Greta Byrne, Manager Ceide Fields centre, Harry Hughes of the Westport Famine Commemoration Group, Jack Loftus of the Mayo Film and Video Club, Joe Murray of AFrI, Noel O’Neil of the Mayo Archaeological and Historical Society, Brian Quinn, CEO Mayo Naturally, the Sculptors’ Society of Ireland, Gary Wynne curator of the Wynne photographic collection. A special mention to family and friends who aided and abetted me along the way: Maureen Quinn, Dermot McCambridge, Grainne Lynch, John Kerrigan, Caroline Masterson, Matt Kelly and Trevor Keppel - many thanks guys. Finally, my deepest and warmest appreciation to Caitriona - for so much. GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS AIB Allied Irish Bank AFrI Action from Ireland EC European Community ESB Electricity Supply Board EU European Union GAA Gaelic Athletic Association IRA Irish Republican Army IRB Irish Republican Brotherhood FAS Forasa Aiseanna Saothair (State training and employment authority) FCA An Forsa Cosanta Aitiuil (Reserve defence forces) MP Member of Parliament OPW Office of Public Works RTC Regional Technical College RTE Radio Telefis Eireann (Public service broadcaster) TD Teachta Dail (Member of Irish Parliament UDC Urban District Council LIST OF FIGURES AND APPENDICES F ig u res Fig. 1. Ceide Fields centre Fig. 2. Section of the interpretive display at Ceide Fields Fig. 3. View of Ceide Fields from centre Fig. 4. Tony Murphy’s ‘Court Henge’ Fig. 5. Participants in the AFrI Doolough-Louisburgh Famine Walk, 2004 Fig. 6. National Famine Memorial, Murrisk, Westport Fig. 7. Slievemore