The Corran Herald COMPILED AND PUBLISHED BY BALLYMOTE HERITAGE GROUP ISSUE NO.43 2010/2011 PRICE €6.00 21st Annual BallymoteBallymote HeritageHeritage WWeekendeekend Friday 30th July to Monday 2rd August 2010 In Coach House Hotel, Ballymote, Co. Sligo. FRIDAY 30st JULY 8.30 p.m OFFICIAL OPENING Michael Doyle Memorial in Ballymote Dr Bruce Arnold, writer and journalist, Chief Critic with the Irish Independent SUNDAY 1st AUGUST LECTURE 2.00 p.m OUTING “Derek Hill: Streedagh and Creevykeel English Painter in Ireland” Guide: Mark Keane, archaeologist Dr Bruce Arnold 8.30 p.m LECTURE “Selling Ballymote: Manuscripts SATURDAY 31st JULY and Society in Northwest Ireland 9.00 a.m OUTING 1500-1550” Co Cavan, including the grave of Professor Raymond Gillespie Bishop Bedell of Kilmore, Church History Department, of Ireland cathedral in Kilmore, NUI Maynooth Catholic cathedral in Cavan town, and Corravahan House. Guide: Frank Tivnan MA, Historian MONDAY 2nd AUGUST 9.00 a.m OUTING 8.30 p.m LECTURE Castletown House and Newbridge “Aspects of Ireland’s Cultural Silverware (including museum) Heritage” Michael Conry, 8.30 p.m LECTURE Soil scientist and agronomist. “Landscapes of Western Ireland: the Large-Scale Influence of Climate” Professor Peter Coxon, MRIA, FTCD, Geography Department, TCD d 071-9133409 t t L n i r P on Supported by c Sligo Co Council Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2010 Orbi Lectures €10.00 Transport available Further information from, for outings 071-9189275 or 071 9183380 The Corran Herald Annual Publication of Ballymote Heritage Group Compiled and Published by Ballymote Heritage Group Editor: James Flanagan Design, Typesetting and Printing: Orbicon Print, Collooney. Cover Design and Artwork: Brenda Friel Issue No 43 2010/2011 ––––––––––––––– The Corran Herald wishes to sincerely thank all those who have written articles or contributed photographs or other material for this Issue THE CORRAN HERALD • 2010/2011 Contents Page Sligo Protestants and the First World War (Padraig Deignan)………………………………………….......… 3 The Colour and Fashion of Death (Niamh Conlon)…..……………………………………….....……………. 10 Margaret Logan (Eugene Gillan) ………………………..……………………………………………………. 11 Materials from the Robinson Estate Office, Sligo (Mary B Timoney) ……..………………………………… 12 Máire McDonnell Garvey 1927-2009 (Dan Healy) ……………………………......…………………………. 14 Craftsmen from Bygone Days who left their Mark on our Landscape (PJ Duffy)…………………...……….. 16 John Black of Sligo and his ‘Tyrone’ Posterity (Jack Johnson) ….…………………………………………… 18 Golden Jubilee of Culfadda Church 1959-2009 (John Higgins) …………………..…………………………. 20 My Search for the Craigs of Spurtown (John McDonagh) ………...…………………………………………. 21 Restoration of 1795 Ballymote Mill (John Perry TD) ……………………………..…………………………. 26 On Death Row (Padraig Doddy) ……………………………………………………………………………… 27 Granary Restoration (PJ Duffy) ……………………………………...……………………………………….. 27 Church of Ireland Missions to Roman Catholics of South Sligo 1850-1900 (Miriam Moffat) ………….…… 28 The Spanish Armada in Sligo (Joe McGowan) ……………………………………………………………….. 37 God’s Country (Leo Mattimoe) ……………………………………………………………………………….. 40 The Templars (Padraig Feehily) ………………………………………………………………………………. 41 The Unnames Cave (Kathleen Fairbanks) ……………………………………………………………………. 43 Come Dancing (Kathleen Fitzmaurice) ………………………………………………………………………. 44 The Remarkable Career of Frank Carty BL TD (Tommy Kilcoyne and Rory O’Beirne)…………………….. 45 Ballymote Man Honoured Again in Perth ……………………………………………………………………..46 The Australian Visitors (Bernie Gilbride) …………………………………………………………………….. 47 Michael Doyle 1846-1928 (Jim Higgins) …………………………………………………………………….. 49 Jim Higgins, President INTO 2010-2011 (Harry Keaney and Neal Farry) …………………………………… 53 St Kevin’s R.C. Church, Keash, Co Sligo, before Renovation (Martin A Timoney) …...……………………. 55 A Country School in the 1930s (Maire Ní Mháirtín) …………………………………………………………. 57 Arabian Nights - Travels in Libya (Stephen Flanagan) ………………………………………………………. 59 Diaries of a Farmer (Mary Kelly-White) ………………………………………………………………………62 May O’Donnell NT 1913-2009 (Bernadette White) …………………………………………………………. 63 Where the Annals of the Four Masters was Written (Gregory Daly) ………………………………………… 64 Ballymote 1834-8 (Ordinance Survey Memoirs) (John Coleman) ………………………………………….. 66 The Tubbercurry ‘Conspirators’ (John C McTernan) ………………………………………………………… 72 Changing Circumstances for the O’Gara Family (Maura O’Gara-O’Riordan)……………........……………. 73 Where’s That? (Buninaddan) (Padraig Doddy) ………………………………………………………………. 79 Ballymote Cinema to be Restored (John Perry TD) ……………………………………………………….... 80 Buildings, Owners, Occupiers West Lord Edward St Ballymote (Eileen Tighe, Mary B Timoney)……..…... 81 Ballymote Handball Alley 1910-2010 (David Casey) ………………………………………………………. 86 Heritage Group 25th AGM …………………………………………………………………………………… 93 Sponsors ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 93 2 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2010/2011 Sligo Protestants and the First World War by Padraig Deignan In the years before the outbreak of supporter of the I.P.P., had founded a Unionist to do the same.8 However, the First World War in 1914, most branch of the Irish Volunteers in Sligo Cooper, a passionate defender of the of the Protestant population of Sligo and by the beginning of August there union may also have been under the town and county were campaigning in were over 3,000 members of the Sligo impression that cooperation between defence of the union between Ireland Volunteers.5 Nationalists and Unionists in the and Britain. The total population Britain’s declaration of war on war effort could possibly persuade of Sligo town at the time was about 4 August 1914 prevented conflict Nationalists to revise their position on 11,000 of which over 1,700, or over between Nationalists and Unionists Home Rule. 15 percent were members of Protestant and both the Ulster Volunteers and the At the start of the war Sligo Churches.1 The total population of Irish Volunteers were encouraged by Unionists were trying to gain the County Sligo at the time was over their political leaders to support Britain support of Nationalists both militarily 84,000 and Protestants numbered about in wartime. and politically in the war. In August 8,000 or approximately 10 percent of In an editorial on 8 August 1914 1914, Philip Perceval, a Protestant the total.2 The Protestant population of the Sligo Independent, a supporter of landowner and a leader of the Sligo Sligo was more of a community than a Irish Unionism, praised both the Ulster Unionist Alliance, approached the class. However, for all Protestants in Volunteers and the Irish Volunteers mayor of Sligo, John Jinks, with the Sligo, their respective churches proved for backing Britain.6 The Sligo suggestion that a meeting should be to be the most important for fostering Independent was always wary of the held to form a committee of Unionists community spirit and whatever their fact that it expressed the sentiments of and Nationalists to assist the poor class status the majority of Sligo the Protestant and Unionist minority during the war. This meeting took Protestants were Unionist and were in Sligo and wished to give the place on 5 August 1914, and was opposed to the Third Home Rule Bill. impression at the start of the war that attended by many leading Nationalists Before the First World War Unionists the differences between Nationalists and Unionists.9 in Ireland were represented by the Irish and Unionists were not as fundamental The meeting seemed like a genuine Unionist Party and the Irish Unionist as many believed. effort by Unionists to assist wartime Alliance (I.U.A.). Unionism was well A typical example of many Unionists distress and to work on an equal basis organised in Sligo and by the end of from the south and west of Ireland with Nationalists and both Nationalists February 1914 the total membership at the start of the First World War and Unionists praised each other in their of the I.U.A. in Sligo had reached over was the Sligo Unionist, Major Bryan speeches. However Perceval who was 3,000.3 There was never a sufficient Cooper. Cooper was a member of a instrumental in organising the meeting Unionist vote in Sligo to secure the large Protestant landowning family in was still a committed Unionist and the election of an M.P. from the county in Sligo and until December 1910 Cooper meeting could also be interpreted as a the early part of the twentieth century. had been an M.P. representing South tactic by Sligo Unionists to actively However, Unionists were able to County Dublin and he had campaigned engage Nationalists in the war effort gain representation on Sligo Borough in Britain and Ireland against Home with the ultimate hope that collective Corporation through Robert Smylie.4 Rule.7 Cooper was impressed by involvement may persuade Nationalists On 25 May 1914 the Irish Redmond’s promise of support for that if Ireland remained a part of the Parliamentary Party (I.P.P.) under John Britain and immediately informed the United Kingdom the country could Redmond secured self-government for press of his intention to join the National stand up against outside threats. Ireland when the House of Commons Volunteers and urged every Sligo Another important meeting in passed the Irish Home Rule Bill August 1914 attended by Nationalists for the third time only requiring the and Unionists, was held in Calry king’s signature to become law. Irish village, four miles from Sligo town.10 Unionists led by Edward Carson were The purpose of the meeting was to determined to continue to resist Home form a corps of