THE CORRAN HERALD A Ballymote Heritage Group Production Issue No.1 Friday 25th October 1985 PRICE 25p Greetings Ballymote Castle to our Readers EDITORIAL With great pleasure we bring you today this first issue of the Corran Herald, Ballymote's own news- -letter. Taking its name from the ancient barony of Corran of which our town is part, this paper aims to inform, promote and publicise the Ballymote area in every aspect of its existence: its culture, its history, its people and personalities, its community :Ind religious life; its industry and agriculture, its tourist potential, and its hopes for the future. We hope that this paper will provide a heightened awareness of our native area and sense of ident- BA LLYMOTE'S ity, of belonging, of pride. We have MOST FAMOUS LANDMARK much to be proud of in our heritage Ballymote from the past : our Castle and NORMAN CASTLE Abbey, our fine Churches, our Community well-built town, the many remains Built c1300 from history and prehistory in the Council area, our music and dance, etc., etc. By Mrs. Preston We invite you to contact us too It is not hard to be proud of these: if you have information about local Ballymote Parish elected its first they .are all around us if only we personalities or happenings of the Community Council in October look and see and admire and past. Every area has always had its 1984. Its first 18 months were plag- respect. "characters" and its own special ued with the growing pains that arc We have much to be proud of lore; these are part of our heritage. the lot of most ventures. The syst- in our present, most of all our Old photographs or groups or em of election was one that broug- people - especially youth. Being individuals or places would be most ht in many who were not even aw- proud of them means supporting welcome for publication - they will are of what a Community Council our schools, helping out youth be returned safe to you. was about and would'nt have been activities, doing all we can to help Also welcome would be any greatly interested anyhow. These their employment prospects and information about old customs and attended a few meetings then drift- their leisure occupations. practices, old beliefs, old super- ed away. It is hoped that future issues of stitions, folk cures and remedies, this paper will have a Letters Page weather lore, or any other topic Some changes in Committee broug- in which you can share your ideas, that you yourself feel to be of ht a change of policy. Sub-comm- suggestions and criticisms in all the interest. ittees were recognised as legitimate above areas. What do you think of and necessary developments. The Ballymote ? What do you think of This paper looks forward hope- organisation had started to broaden the quality of life it offers its fully to a long existence. We hope its outlook. Linc. has a limited and people? What do you think of our that you will help to make that qualified acceptance. Our Heritage services such as phones, sewerage, existence a true reflection and Group started by two council lighting, water supply, roads, etc? If expression of the life and spirit of members has proved a worthwhile you have something you want to the Ballymote area. venture. hunt page 2. say, write to us. Community Council from page 1 Ballymote Branch Library A survey of the potential of the At a recent meeting of the Club I By James Flanagan area undertaken by a Sub-Commit- was instructed to ascertain whether tee of the Council and financed by the County Council would open a For many years the new Branch AnCo is now complete and will be Branch of the Co Sligo Liabraries at was in the charge of the late Jimmy published soon. 14 young people. our Club ...I would be glad to McFadden. His kindly disposition engaged in the exercise received hear from you at your earliest con- sod his friendly but firm relation- expert training in a variety of skills venience". ship with his reading clientele made in the process. The findings of the him an ideal man for the job. His This extract from a letter written Survey should prove invaluable in administration system may have on September 22nd 1948 by the formulating a plan for further been his own, and it was not unkn- secretary of the then Ballymote developments in the own for his filing cards to be held area. Men's Club, with its Club Rooms in together with safet y pins, but thro- the Loftus Hall, marked the first An ambitious sponsored by ugh the years he gently fostered pain stop towards the establishing of a the Council for the development of and encouraged an interest in good Branch Library in Bailymote. One part of the reading. The after-Mass Sunday Corran Park G.A.A. month later it was verified by the grounds to provide some badly visit to the Liabrary for the weekly then Parish Priest, VerYCanon needed amenities for the town is reading supply became a high point Rougheen, that accommodation in now under way. Bad in many peoples' lives. town lighting the Hall would be available free of and water supply for an inadequate all charge provided that the neces- town and country Over the years the level of social are problems sary equipment was supplied by the that so far have not been solved in activity in Ballymote increased and County Council. This was agreed spite of desperate efforts, letter- the Liabrary room came to be used and the Branch LibrPry was writing, deputations, interviews etc. for many other purposes. Gradually opened in the Loftus Hall in A plan for full scale development of it became clear that it was no February 1949. local tourism is being considered. longer a suitable location for the Liabrary, and towards the end of 1984 to County Council made avai- Ballymote New Vocational lable in Ballymote Courthouse a School is now finished In spite of many set-backs the Í plans downstairs room which could be Community Council has proved its arc not yet complete for the old used for Library purposes only. worth and when Election time school, but it will still be used to This enabled a bigger bo..kstock (at comes again a more imaginative provide additional facilities. When present 3,500 volumes) to be prov- election system should attract new work is finished the V.E.C. should ided and to be organised and displa• talent and new ideas be in a position to give good serv- yed much more effectively. This ice. step from the lowest point to the highest point of the town app- ears to have been amply justified because the readership has steadily increased throughout 1985. The Martin McGettrick average number of books issued per week has been 416, a significant Insurance Brokers increase on former years. This reflects the growing awareness O'Connell St Ballymote amongst people in general of the very important role played by Specialist in the following Insurance books in education, entertainment, and in the transmission to us of knowledge of the things and the 1... FAMILY CAR AT KEENEST PRICES ways of the past that form part of 2... HOME INSURANCE AT SPECIAL RATES our heritage- At a recent meeting of Our 3... LIFE & FAMILY PROTECTION Heritage Group a suggestion was 4... SELF EMPLOYED PENSION SCHEME made that the town should have a museum. It seems a good idea. 5... INVESTMENTS AT HIGHEST RATES Accommodation should be the main difficulty, ideas from readers Appointed Brokers for Prudential Life would be. welcome. Another inter- as advertised on T.V. esting suggestion related to the question of a Youth Hostel for AGENTS FOR E.B.S..^ 071/83305 the area. it too seems worth consideration. The Street Where You Live By Tom McGettrIck The landing of the French Expedition at Kilcummin in Killala Ulster Bank Bay to assist belatedly in the 1798 Rebellion had repercussions one hundred years later in Ballymote as BALLYMOTE it had in the County and Country. The Sligo Champion of the time reports,- "The dawn of 1898 was celebrated in Ballymote by a number of tar-barrels and bonfires being lit up in various parts of the Ulster Bank town and at twelve o'clock. mid- II ìe fi lendly Lu 1k night, the new fife and drum band under Mr. P. Dennedy paraded the streets etc.... " '98 Clubs or '98 Manager B. Dempsey Centennial Clubs organised comm- emorations in various parts of the county and these celebrations cont Asst. Manager E. Sweeney inued until the close of the year. There was a St. Patrick's Day Procession in Ballymote lead by the Fife and Drum Band with "two splendid horsemen , Rogers and Sheeran with green sashes and hats, On this great occasion Name boards were to be put up at the head". Prominent organisers Matt Hannon, presided. The follow- on November Day with further of this and other events were H. ing arc named as being present, celebrations. If they were put not Markey, Pres. J. C l arke, Jas Walsh, T.Gallagher, P Barlow, B .Cawley, one now remains. Pearse Road has a S.Carroll, J.McGuinness, Jas Hann- J .Kielty, M . Quigley, Patk . Keav- name plaque. If Castle Road and on, J.P., and J.Gilmartin, Sec. ney, T. Kellegher, J.Walsh, Corran Road were added to the list In the month of May came the J .McGuinness, John Clarke, the names would recall the oldest date fixed for the ill-fated Rising.