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 41 2008/2009 ––––––––––––––– The Corran Herald wishes to sincerely thank all those who have written articles or contributed photographs or other material for this Issue 2 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2008/2009 Contents Page Ballymote Heritage Weekend Programme . 2 A Lively Markey Day in Town (PJ Duffy) . 4 A Glimpse from the Past (Dan Healy) . 5 Coleman’s Shop, Ardnaglass (Brendan & Philomena Coleman) … … … … … . 7 Poetry from Scoil Muire gan Smál (S Healy, A Devlin, C Booth) . 8 Buildings, Owners and Occupiers of O’Connell St, Ballymote (Eileen Tighe & Mary B Timoney) . 9 Cornwall – A Connection (Lynda Hart) . 15 The Story of Michael Davitt (Nancy Smyth) … … … . 17 Funeral of Michael Davitt (Nancy Smyth) … … … … … … … . 20 How our Ancestors Got Around and About (PJ Duffy) … … . … … … 21 The Sligo Tradition (Gregory Daly) … … … … . … … … … . 2 A Page of Utah (Stephen Flanagan) … … … . … … … … … … . 26 The Barony of Costello 1585-1900 (Máire McDonnell Garvey) … . 29 Walfrid, The First Celt (Don O’Connor) … … . … … … … … … 1 Oliver O’Gara’s Regiment and the Jacobite Cause (Maura O’Gara-O’Riordan) … . Sligo’s Past Uncovered (Brian Donnelly) … … … . 7 Meldrum’s Account Books, Record of the Social Life of 20th Century Sligo (Mary B Timoney) . 8 Griffiths Valuation 1844 Shancarrigeen or Oldrock (Padraig Doddy) . 9 Irish Language Books in the Collections of the Library of Institute Of Technology, Sligo (James Foran) . 40 Notes on Breeoge Creamery, Kilmacowen, Co Sligo (Martin A Timoney) … . 45 The Shadow of a Dark Mastiff (PJ Duffy) … … … … … . 46 Quotes From the Past (PJ Duffy) … … … … … … … … . … … 48 Where To Go Next (Molly Howard) … … … . … … … … … … 50 “Making History” at Parke’s Castle, July 20th 2007 (Bernie Gilbride) … . … 51 The Pebble (Bernie Gilbride) … … … … . 52 From Kathleen Fairbanks’ Autograph Book 1950 … … … … . … … 52 RZC 101 (Bernie Gilbride) … … … … … . … 5 The Garavogue (Poem) (Bernie Gilbride) … … … … . … … … … 5 An Atlantic Storm (Poem) (Bernie Gilbride) … … … … . … … … 5 Lonely The House Now (Mary Kelly White) … … … … . … … 54 Poet: Get Out For a While, at Least (Terry McDonagh) … … … . 55 Elegy to the Memory of Tommy Keenan (Denis Killoran) … … … . 56 The Will of Archdeacon Terence O’Rorke, 1819-1907 (Martin A Timoney) . 57 Castledargan Golf Course Fairway Names (Martin A Timoney) … . … … . 59 A Find of Rock Crystal at Ballincar, Co Sligo (Martin A Timoney) … . … … 60 John Ormsby Cooke of Kilturra House, Co Sligo (Dr Kieran Cooke) … … . 62 Coola Castle Correction (Martin A Timoney) … … … … … . … … … … … . 64 William Gregory Wood-Martin, Sligo Antiquarian, in 1897 (Martin A Timoney) . 64 Luttrell’s Map of Sligo, 1689: A thoroughly modern view! (Eoin Halpin) . 65 Poetry from Scoil Muire gan Smál (L Muldoon, C Maguire, M Finn) … . 67 Maisie McGovern (John Coleman) … . … … . … … … … . 68 The Claremorris-Collooney Railway (Bridget Timoney) … … . 70 Fóidín Mearbhaill: Carrowcauley/Earlsfield – A Field in Transition (John Langan) … . … … . 72 Mullanashee Mystery – Intriguing Stone Structures (Diana Ross) … . … … … 74 Printing (Niamh Conlon) … … . … 76 Killaraght Early Christian Cross Slab (Mary B Timoney) … … … . 77 Ballymote Heritage Group 2rd AGM ; … … … . … … 80 Sponsors … … … … … . … … … … … … … … . 80 THE CORRAN HERALD • 2008/2009 A Lively Market Day in Town P.J. Duffy Down through the years Ballymote at creating hilarious lines of comedy the cart, untackled it and left it to rest had established for itself a reputation out of the simplest event and one near the sidewalk. for holding one of the best and most of these gentlemen lost no time in Meanwhile, people attending at the successful markets held anywhere in putting in place a stroke of humour market got on with their business and the west of Ireland. People attending that was to survive for decades. The the donkey was soon forgotten. The usually travelled long distances from writer described a chain of farcical owner met up with a customer who over a wide area to either sell or barter sayings and remedies offered by those purchased his bundles of rods and their live poultry, agricultural goods people standing around and involved both men then retired to an adjacent and various other products displayed shopkeepers and people of high social pub for a nice refreshing drink. on the market square. It was in many standing who weren’t next or near the The real drama of the day began aspects a way of life that was totally place that day. when both men later emerged from imperative for the survival of the rural the pub to find that the donkey had community. Ever since the period of Tom Carroll came shouting gone missing and all efforts to find the mid eighteen hundreds markets “Take the ass from the cart him failed in the short term. He was, were held without fail on Thursdays And get him some brandy however, later located wandering on of each week, and except in very To pep up his heart”. the roadway out in the Carrownanty inclement weather large crowds area. It seems that what happened of people always turned up for a Up from the corner was, when the market was over people successful day’s trading. Came Salt Man O’Brien gradually began to disperse, the place There was the story of a simple Saying “Give the wee donkey quietened down, and the wee donkey event that took place during a market A glass of red wine”. got up and headed for home. After day in town in the early years of the finding him its owner returned him to last century. It happened during the Jamesy Frazer came along the spot where the cart was parked, month of May when a middle aged In his clawhammer frock harnessed him, put him under the cart man from the Clooncoose area arrived Saying “Give the poor animal and headed off for home, quite satisfied at the market place with his donkey Some dillisk and rock”. that everything had eventually turned and cart that contained a few bundles out fine. of rods which he intended offering for Bernie Kelly came by But some other people found the sale at the market. Sally rods (also With a curve in his back whole episode quite amusing, and called osier rods) were always in good Saying “Get out to the country when the rhyme emerged it soon demand at the time and were mostly And find a good quack”. became a favourite party piece at used for making scallops for holding functions and gatherings held around thatch together on the roofs of rural Luke Hayden spoke up the countryside, for decades dwelling houses. Just before he came Saying he’d much prefer afterwards. within a short distance of the market- If they got a safe dose house his donkey flopped down on From that good chemist Kerr. Note: Jamesy Frazer was a dignified the surface of the street and all efforts old gentleman who resided at to get him to stand up again proved Miss Hawksby dropped in Lower Wolfe Tone St. He usually fruitless. With a boater flat hat dressed in the garb of the nobility. The whole matter was a totally Saying “The poor animal is starved A clawhammer frock was a three insignificant occurrence and was He’s as thin as a lath”. quarter coat fashionable among old something that was perhaps frequently gentlemen in the eighteen and early happening out in the country and Across from his store nineteen hundreds. away from the public gaze. But the Came a cool William Kane Miss Hawksby was a lady of good fact of the matter was there were Saying “His limbs they are twitching standing who resided in Teeling St. a lot of curious people about on the That beast is in pain”. near the courthouse. In her day she day and most of them came along to and her family had a genuine interest have a look and find out what was In from Keash, cycling, in animal welfare. happening. Even some shopkeepers Came the bould Joe Devine Above story and rhyme were related whose premises were situated close He said “Give him some potion to the writer during the period of the by came along to find out why people And he will be fine”. late nineteen forties by a person who were drawn so closely together. was actually at the market when the Many people standing by had offered Up spoke Stephen Brett incident took place. suggestions as to what remedy might From Carrowcushacly, be successful in helping the animal to Saying “Go to John R’s for ginger Note: Dillisk and rock were, on the get up on its feet again. And give it a try”. day, being sold on a stall right beside Of course the whole episode where the donkey collapsed. would be quickly forgotten but for the fact that numbered among these All efforts to get the donkey to stand standing around were a couple of up failed for the time being. The J.V. Kerr was a renowned chemist who good.