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The Corran Herald Issue 26, 1994

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THE s9 CORRAN HERALDI. A Ballymote Heritage Group Production. Issue No. 26 Summer 1994 Price £1.00 Hills may be green far JIM McGARRY away but the rich vari- ety of the hills of Coun- Yes! ty Sligo hold captive the mind and eye of anyone but give ME Sligo reared in that County. From the Curliew Hills in the south to Ben Bulben in the North "The world-wide air was azure every hillock is linked by a gossamer thread of myth, folklore and history. And all the brooks ran gold" Keshcorran, birthplace of Cormac Mac Art, last resting place of Diar- maid and Grainne, is linked to Ben Bulben, named for Gulban a brother of Nial of the Nine Hostages, in the Peace in Our Time death of Diarmaid by Fionn during the treacherous Boar Hunt; while The scourge of war goes on and on Carraig na Spainneach in Streedagh Bay in the shadow of Ben Bulben is Devastating countries far and near. a reminder of the galleon of the A people depressed cry out for peace Spanish Armada wrecked on it in When will the bombings and killing. cease? 1588 and the deceit of Cuellar the The homeless, the hungry, those crippled by strife Spanish Captain befriended by Mac- Just sale for a chance to lead a normal Life. Clancy in his island castle on Lough Nuclear war heads bring sorrow and pain Melvin. Moyturra overlooking Lough Let us replace them with something humane. Arrow scene of the prehistoric Battle When will world Leaders Listen - of Moytura between the Firbolgs and Or will the killings go on? the Tuatha De Dananns and the Instead of weapons of war Megalithic cemetry of Carrowmore Let's create instruments of peace. overshadowed by majestic Misgaun The bomb and the bullet we no longer need, Maeve atop of Knocknarea. Drum- cliff where Columbkille founded a But homes for the homeless - World Leaders Take Heed. Monastery near Cuildevne, site of May Christ in his goodness open each heart, the Battle of the Books in 561 A.D. And guide World Leaders to do their part. and where W.B. Yeats was buried in We hope and pray that we will find 1947. Peace in our World, peace in our time, Lough Gara of the Crannogs and Peace on earth for all mankind. nearby Clogher where St. Attracta established one of her Hospitals and This is the combined effort of Third and Fourth Classes The Princes of Moylurg found refuge Age 9 yrs when their patrimony was sequestered by the English. Mhuire gan Smal, Ballymote, Co. Sligcj',!; Innishmurray, treasure house of prehistory, devastated in one of the C©rran Hera d BALLYMOTE HERITAGE WEEKEND 1994 Organised by Ballymote Heritage Group FRIDAY 29th JULY – MONDAY 1ST AUGUST Teagasc Centre Ballymote The weekend schedule of events is as follows: Friday July 29th. 8.00pm Official Opening by Lord de Ayton of Corran Illustrated Lecture 'ARCHAEOLOGICAL TREASURES OF THE PAST SIX THOUSAND YEARS IN CO. SLIGO' by Martin A. Timoney, B.A., F.R.S.A.I. Saturday July 30th. 10.30am Illustrated Lecture 'EARTHWORK CASTLES IN IRELAND ' by Charles Mount, M.A. M.I.A.P.A. 'THE SITING OF NEOLITHIC & EARLY BRONZE AGE MONUMENTS IN SOUTHERN CO. SLIGO'. Charles Mount, M.A. M.I.P.A. 2.00pm Outing to MONUMENTS IN THE VICINITY OF BALLYMOTE Guides: Dr. Kieran O'Conor,Ph.D.., M.A. ; Charles Mount, M.A. M.I.A.P.A. 8.30pm Lecture 'WHAT IS TRADITIONAL MUSIC?' by Nicholas Carolan, Director Irish Traditional Music Archive Sunday July 31st 2.00pm Outing to THE COOLERA PENINSULA. Sites will include Clover Hill, Carrowmore, Culleenamore and The Glen. Guide: : Joyce Enright, Archaeologist 8.00pm Illustrated Lecture 'ROBERT BOYLE AND HIS AIR PUMP' by Patrick Rollerston, B.A., M.A. Monday August 2nd. 10 30am Illustrated Lecture 'THE O'CONORS OF CONNACHT AND CLONALIS" Pyers O'Connor-Nash, B.A., B.L. 2.00pm Outing to CLONALIS HOUSE, Castlerea Guide: Pyers O'Connor-Nash, B.A., B.L. 8.00pm Illustrated Lecture "ARCHAEOLOGY AND IRISH NATIONALISM" by Etienne Rynne, M.A., M.R.I.A. F.S.A. Professor of Archaeology, UCG earliest raids of the Vikings, where Mac Firbis of Tireragh were compil- tle Dargan across the lake of that men and women were segregated in ing The great Book of Lecan and The name The Hawk's rock from Heath- different churches during life and in Yellow Book of Lecan. field: The waterfall at Baile Easa different cemetries in death. Lissadell where Muireadhach Daire; Memory Harbour at Rosses Tullaghan Hill with its Holy Well O'Dalaigh wrote poetry in the 13th Point; The oyster beds at Culleen- that rises and ebbs with the tide century and Eva Gore in the 20th amore and the breakers along the though separated from the sea by the century while her sister Constance Coast Road at Mullaghmore; The Ox Mountains. Known as one of the became a national heroine in her fight brooding tang of Lough Talt and the Wonders of Ireland to writers as early to establish an Irish Republic. bleak bite of Raughley Head, jutting as the 9th century. To this unique tapestry of our into the Atlantic; Kilaspugbrone where St. Patrick Gaelic background, and the Scenic Loughs Loman and Ia on the top of lost a tooth and Moygara where the splendour of Glencar Valley with the Slieve Da Ein; the shy deer, knee priceless Moygara Belt was found in a old military road across Lugnagall on deep in bluebells in Ballygawley bog. Both now in the National Muse- one side and the wind swept beauty Wood and the Autumn tints of the um. of Sruth-in-aghaidh-an-Aird, on the bogs of Mullaghaneane. Loch na Suil, the disappearing other; Loch Achree the youngest lake Why go on? Lake and Traigh Eothaile where Balor in Ireland; The Bird Sanctuary at 'Fake to the by- roads of County of the Evil Eye Fought. Aughris Cliffs; Knocknarea as seen Sligo where every bend of the road Church Island, Lough Gill, where from The Lady's Brae; Inisfree from opens up a magical landscape reflect- the 0 'Cuirnins presided oyer a medi- The Green Road; the skeleton of Cas- ing the culture of a nation. 0 0 0 aeyal school of Poetry at the time the Córran Herald 3 > DPP AT HERITAGE GROUP CELEBRATION DINNER Mr Tom McGettrick, first Chair- person of the Group spoke of how very pleased he was to see how it has gone from strength to strength. He spoke glowingly of the Annual Heritage Weekend which has brought lecfurers of the highest cal- ibre to Ballymote and has made the name of Ballymote known all over Ireland. He wished the Group con- tinued success. After the meal, Irish music was provided by Dan Healy, Maura Gar- van and Ciaran O'Reilly. A most relaxed and enjoyable evening was had by all present Since its inaugural meeting in the Castle Hotel, Ballymote, on Wednes- day 30th May 1984, at 8.30pm, the work of the Heritage Group has con- tinued without interruption. Month- ly meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month. Winter Pictured above are Ballymote Heritage Group and guests on the lectures and Summer outings are organised on a regular basis. A her- occasion of their tenth anniversary celebration dinner in the Sligo Park itage Weekend has been organised Hotel. Included are Patron: Eamonn Barnes, DPP and Mrs Dolores on each August Bank Holiday since Barnes„ President: Dr. Stan Casey, Chairperson: Eileen Tighe, Secretary: 1990 and has been outstandingly suc- Cannel Rogers, Treasurer: Betty Conlon; Editor Corran Herald: James cessful. A regular publication, The Flanagan Corran Herald, has been produced since 1985. 0 0 0 "Nothing could please me due to pressure of commitments. more than to have been asked to Also speaking at the dinner, the President of the Heritage Group, Come & Visit the New L oc be patron of this Group which Dr. Stan Casey, referred to the work is dedicated to preserving and accomplished over the years, spoke ran Exp >r of his own concerns in relation to •BA LLYMOTE'. cherishing the past in the Bally- conservation and pollution, and ing StonePatk to mote area, an area of which I referred to the Group's hopes to • Huge Variety Ft eventually have a Heritage Centre have such happy and lasting and Museum in Ballymote. The * Full Breakfast :? memories". Group's Chairperson, Mrs Eileen *Snacks Fresh. Tighe, recalled the early days of the ? * Afternon Tá -. ? So said Mr Eamonn Barnes, the Group and the events that lead to Director of Public Prosecutions, its founding. She paid particular speaking at the recent special cele- tribute to the driving interest and bration dinner held in the Sligo enthusiasm of the late Mrs Una Pre- ston of Carnarea who first suggest- park Hotel to mark the tenth iRiF^tef^ cáteredfot , . Anniversary of the founding of Bal- ed the setting up of such an organi- . : you won't be disappointed. lymote's Heritage Group. Mr sation. She thanked all members of Barnes, Accompanied by his wife the group for their hard work and Stone Park Restaurant Dolores, was attending in his dedication over the years. -'<^ a^ (At Rear);•: capacity as Patron of the Group. Fr. Dan O'Mahony, C.C. Ballymote, .;. ^ ., . The other Patron, Most Rev Dr. spoke of how much he enjoyed the Thomas Flynn, Bishop of Achonry, events of the Heritage Weekend at each Full A La Ca a Monti was unfortunately unable to attend August Bank Holiday.
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