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Compiled and Published by Ballymote Heritage Group ISSUE No. 51 2018/2019 PRICE €8.00
The Corran
Herald
Annual Publication of Ballymote Heritage Group
Compiled and Published by Ballymote Heritage Group
Editor: Stephen Flanagan
Design, Typesetting and Printing: Orbicon Print, Collooney
Cover Design and Artwork: Brenda Friel
Issue No 51 2018/2019
The Corran Herald wishes to sincerely thank all those who have written
articles or contributed photographys or other material for this issue
2
THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
Contents
Page
Eamonn Barnes (1934 - 2017) 4
Gerry Keaney, Ballymote 4
33 years and 50 issues of The Corran Herald (By Neal Farry) 5
The changing world of the telephone (By Bernie Gilbride) 9
Trial and error: The Second Marquis of Sligo (By Malcolm Billings) 10
Remembering Eugene Gillan 12
The rich history of Earlsfield House, Ballymote (By Sr Nell Chambers) 13
Porcelain’s Journey (By Margaret Perry) 16
Intelligent, urbane, pompous and vain: The life of James Taaffe (By John C McTernan) 17
Remembering John Hannon 17
Parnell almost snatches victory from the jaws of defeat - The North Sligo by-election of 1891 (By Padraig Deignan) 18
Everything ahead of them: Fourth year students of Coláiste Mhuire in 1965 (Courtesy of Maura Cunnane) 23
An Gorta Mór 1845 - 1850: Famine orphan girls from Co. Sligo (By Fiona Doherty) 24
Synge at the Opera House: A reminiscence of Belfast (By Michael J Meehan) 26
A meeting of minds: Pupils from Ballymote visiting friends at St Nathy’s, 1955 27
South Sligo Election 1918 (By Michael Farry) 28
Potato Picking (By Joan Gleeson) 32
Agreement between Ó Domhnaill and Tadhg Ó Conchobhair (By Neal Farry and Donal Gallagher) 33
The Brett family of Sligo and Canada (By Padraig Doddy) 36
Lions and cities, markets and sands: Travels in Africa and Qatar (By Stephen Flanagan) 37
The Cailleach Bherra: A witch through the ages (By Lynda Hart) 41
A medal for Fr Pat 57 years late 43
Michael Doyle (By Padraig McDermott) 43
The Napoleonic signal towers of Rathlee and Carrowmably (By Sam Moore) 44
Pubs of Ballymote in 1910 (By Padraig McDermott) 46
Sligo, Cliffoney, Davitt and the Land League (By Joe Mc Gowan) 47
Earl of Erne’s Sligo estate (By John C McTernan) 49
Lost in translation (By Kathleen Quinn) 50
A Tinker Child (By John Hannon) 50
Why not turn South or West! (By Martin A Timoney) 51
Teeling St, Ballymote (Submitted by Donal Gallagher) 53
Sligo’s avenger of President Lincoln (By John C McTernan) 54
Gore-Booth’s engagement gift 56
Lime-making in kilns - Yesterday’s cottage industry (By Garreth Byrne) 57
The deepest of links (By John Coleman) 58
Irish mythology and its relevance today (By Theresa Kelly) 59
Ballagh Town (By John Hannon) 60
The picnic volcano and tales of old (By Bernie Gilbride) 61
Snapshots of the past from Census information (By Padraig Doddy) 62
Dennisons of Drumcliff, Co. Sligo: Adopted genealogical kin (By Kate Denison Bell) 63
The many places of Saint Féichίn (By Micheál Murphy) 66
The Irish in the American Revolutionary War (By Paul Burns) 68
The death of a brilliant young doctor (Submitted by Padraig McDermott) 69
Deechomede’s Unknown Volunteer (By John McDonagh) 70
The Cock Tavern Kilburn (By John Hannon) 72
Deceit in a crowd (By Kathleen Quinn) 72
Brother Francis McGovern - An outstanding Sligo footballer and much more (By Tommy Kilcoyne) 73
Special places in Paris for the Irish College (Submitted by Neal Farry) 75
28th Ballymote Heritage Weekend 2017 78
First Holy Communion and Confirmation 2018 Knockminna 79
Ballymote Heritage Group 80
3THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
Eamonn Barnes (1934 - 2017)
Prosecutions (DPP). Mr Barnes was King’s Inns. Having been called
the State’s first Director of Public to the Bar in 1958, he served in the
Prosecutions and held the position Attorney General’s Office from 1966
from 1975 until his retirement in 1999. until his appointment as DPP. He was
Mr Barnes was born in Ballymote in instrumental in the foundation in 1995
1934, son of primary school teachers of the International Associations of
John A and Bridget Barnes. John A Prosecutors and served as its president
Barnes was noted for his exceptional from 1996 until his retirement. The
teaching abilities, providing extra Association now has organisational
tuition to pupils outside school hours members in 171 countries around the
and supporting their advancement world.
to further education or employment. On the occasion of his death, his
Eamonn Barnes was very proud of successor Claire Loftus reflected on
his Ballymote origins and was long his significant contribution to Irish
a keen supporter of the Ballymote legal history, setting up the office
Heritage Group, returning regularly of Director of Public Prosecutions,
with his wife Dolores (Do) for the establishing and maintaining its
annual Heritage Weekend. He was statutory independence and the highest
predeceased by Do in 2008. prosecutorial standards. Ballymote
Mr Barnes was educated at Heritage Group extends sympathy to
The Ballymote Heritage Group was Ballymote National School, Eamonn’s family his sons Joe, Paul
saddened in November 2017 to learn Franciscan College, Multyfarnham, and John and daughters Mary Jane
of the death of our Patron Eamonn St Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen, and Ruth.
Barnes, former Director of Public University College Dublin and the Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dilis.
Gerry Keaney, Ballymote
It is with great sympathy and regret Gerry was also an inspirational impressive stage sets for productions
that we note the sad death of Gerry founder member of Ballymote like John B. Keane’s ‘The Field’ and
Keaney, Ballymote, who passed Wanderers F.C. Since this soccer club ‘Many Young Men of 20’. Like the
away during the past year. For over a had no home ground Gerry negotiated characters in the aforementioned
quarter of a century Gerry has been a the temporary use of Healy’s Derroon musical drama, Gerry also was forced
constant and informative supporter of Stud, Tommy Cryan’s field in Carnaree to seek his fortune in England in
all the activities of Ballymote Heritage and Bright’s field in Ardsallagh for the early seventies. He returned to
Group. After completing his education home games. Apart from playing Ballymote about 20 years later. He
in Ballymote Vocational School in the MacArthur Cup and Connacht Cup developed his interest in local history
late 50s Gerry went into the building matches in Abbeyville Park, Sligo, and culture through the local Heritage
trade locally. He soon earned a Gerry arranged challenge matches Group. One of Gerry’s favourite
reputation as a master craftsman and with the White Father Seminarians in pastimes was to converse through
he had the distinction of building new Blacklion, Co. Cavan, Castlerea F.C. the medium of Irish with people of a
houses in Keenaghan, Branchfield and and Castlebar Celtic. Completely similar outlook about sport, politics,
Carrickbanagher. What was unique ignoring the G.A.A’s infamous local stories and especially about the
about this construction activity was ‘Ban’ on ‘foreign games,’ Gerry also fortunes of his beloved soccer club,
that Gerry worked entirely on his frequently togged out for Ballymote’s Sligo Rovers. Gerry was always a
own, completing all the processes of Gaelic football teams. season ticket holder of the Rovers and
building alone and unaided. During Furthermore Gerry was also an could be seen every second Saturday
the early 60s Gerry played the accomplished artist with admirable night in the Showgrounds adding his
accordion in a small Céilí band with sketching ability and his skills were voice to the tumult of the home fans.
his fellow musicians, Jimmy Brennan, frequently utilised by the Ballymote Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Woodfield, Séamus O’Gara, Cambs Dramatic Society under its producer,
and Brendan McCabe, Castlebaldwin. Liam McGann, for the preparation of
4THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
33 years and 50 issues of
The Corran Herald
By Neal Farry
now known as Ballymote-Doo,
Keash-Culfadda and Bunninadden-
Killaville.
In Eileen’s account we are clearly
and unambiguously informed that the
Herald was the idea of the late Una
Preston. Keenan Johnson Jr proposed
The Corran Herald as a title. Initially
the Herald was perceived as a monthly
or seasonal newsletter that would
highlight current events in the locality
of an archaeological, historical,
musical, entertainment, sporting and
social nature. Very soon the Herald
developed its own dynamic and it
emerged as a periodical with a strong
emphasis on matters of local historical Mrs Una Preston - The prime
interest. Twenty-eight editions were mover behind the compilation of
published during the decade 1985- The Corran Herald
1995. Since 1995 The Corran Herald basis to coincide with the Ballymote
James Flanagan - Editor of The Heritage Weekend during the August
Corran Herald 1985 - 2012 has been published on an annual
Mr James Flanagan, the late
distinguished editor of The Corran
Herald from its launch in October
1985 until his death in 2012, and Mrs
Eileen Tighe, President of Ballymote
Heritage Group, have both given
appropriate and informative updates
on the impressive progress of their
beloved journal, formerly in 1995 on
the occasion of the tenth anniversary
of The Corran Herald (Issue 28), and
latterly in August 2014 (Issue 47).
While our two previous reviewers
have more than adequately portrayed
the Herald’s story, I have inherited the
unenviable task of highlighting the Members of Ballymote Heritage Group in 1992. These people were all
members of the Heritage Group when The Corran Herald was launched in
immense positive contribution that the 1985.
Herald has made to the cultural and Seated: (left to right) Mrs Yvonne Perceval (Vice Chairperson), Mrs Eileen
social narrative of the ancient Tuath Tighe (Chairperson), Dr Stan Casey (President), Mrs Tilly Casey, Mrs
or Barony of Corran, that comprises Carmel Rogers (Secretary), Mrs Betty Conlon (Treasurer)
the ancient parishes of Emlaghfad, Standing: Ms Nuala Rogers, Mr Paddy Horan, Mr Jack Martin, Mr
Kilmorgan, Drumrat, Toomour, Vincent Jordan, Mr James Flanagan (Editor, Corran Herald), Mrs Eileen
White, Mrs Catherine Finn (P.R.O), Mr Gerry Cassidy, Mrs Mary
Kilshalvey, Cloonoghil and Kilturra, Martin, Mrs Anne Harrison, Mrs Mary O’Donnell.
5THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
confirm the dictum that ‘a picture is
worth a thousand words’. Eileen has
also paid a well deserved tribute to
James’ son, Stephen, who has filled
the editorial role since 2012 and who
has maintained and indeed enhanced
the high standard set by his father.
The highly intuitive words of James
Flanagan that describe the function
of The Corran Herald in Ireland are
indeed worthy of quotation: ‘Because
it reflects the aims and ideals of the
Heritage Group, it is naturally most
concerned with matters of local
history, archaeology, culture, folklore
and all the many things that together
make up the unique character of any
Stephen Flanagan - Editor of The given area. And so it has become a Brenda Friel provided the Cover
Corran Herald since 2012 conduit through which has flowed design and artwork for The Corran
Herald
Bank holiday period. It is clear that a vast amount of information on all
the late James Flanagan has proved his these topics into the ever-increasing Ballymote Community Council, Mr
worth as a dedicated and skilled editor. reservoir of the pages of its issues, and Paddy Brady, stressed the power of
Under his stewardship the numbers of hopefully will continue to flow.’ the media and communication by
contributors increased and the quality The first edition of The Corran different groups within a community
of the articles matured as writers were Herald was launched by Mr Ted and communication between that
inspired by every succeeding edition, Nealon TD, Minister for Arts and community and the outside world.
and became confident and anxious to Culture, in the Castle Hotel, on 25 ‘To have a publication which would
place their scripts within the ambit of October 1985. It consisted of 12 be freely available, and completely
James’ vigilant scrutiny. A4 pages and sold for 24 pence. open to all local groups, was a most
In 1995 James Flanagan paid The 2016 edition contained over 90 worthwhile thing,’ concluded Mr
bountiful tributes to the printers pages and was on the bookshelves at Brady.
and typesetters who had compiled €8 per copy. On the occasion of the It is most gratifying to note that the
the finished typed editions of the launch Mr Nealon stated that ‘For inspirational sentiments of the Castle
Herald during its first ten years. far too long the past doings of our Hotel speakers in October 1985 have
These included Fastprint, Ballymote; localities have gone unrecorded and achieved fruition with 50 editions of
Drumlin Publications, Manorhamilton so have been lost to posterity forever. The Corran Herald that have indeed
and the Sligo Champion. Orbicon This need no longer happen. The adhered to the ideals of its founders,
Print, Collooney, has executed the Ballymote Heritage Group is making
design, typesetting and printing since sure it would not happen in this area.’
2008. The cover design and artwork How prophetic!
since 1995 have been the work of The MC Mr Tom McGettrick said
Brenda Friel, Ballymote and Dingle. that the purpose of the publication
Eileen Tighe has noted the was two-fold: ‘To reflect the interests
extraordinary variety and range and ideals of the Heritage Group in
of articles documenting local life, all matters cultural, historical, and
history, archaeology, poetry, music, archaeological and to reflect the
folklore and education that have achievements, the potential and the
been featured in The Corran Herald needs of the local community of today.
since 1985. What has most impressed It could be a platform to all local
me has been the body of compatible groups in which they might inform the
graphics – the photographs, drawings area about their purposes and aims,
and maps that illustrate the textual their problems and their needs.’ Judge Keenan Johnson proposed
contributions and categorically Welcoming the publication of The The Corran Herald as the title of
Corran Herald, the chairman of our journal
6THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
and have reached readers in many far- leading literary lights of our journal Gaffney (journalist), Eoin Butler
flung Irish homes across the globe. since 1985 and these people have (journalist), Michael Bell, Gregory
While our cohort of regular set the tone and shown the qualities Daly, PJ Duffy (Killaville), Padraig
contributors has laboured consistently that other writers soon realised they G. Lane, James Reddiough, Padraig
in the interests of The Corran Herald needed to emulate. Feehily, Máire McDonnell-Garvey,
since 1985, one of the writers in Since over 500 people were Jim Foran (Editor, Sligo Field Club
the first edition is certainly worthy involved in the 50 editions of the Journal), Ted Nealon TD (Minister for
of note. This person was a young Herald, some on just one occasion Culture), Aidan Mannion, Gertrude
Gurteen teenager with literary and others ranging from two efforts O’Reilly, John Higgins, Jim Higgins,
ambitions by the name of Eamonn to 28 entries, it would be invidious of Tommy Kilcoyne and Rory O’Beirne.
Sweeney, who submitted his version me to acknowledge the work of some
of the Gurteen Community News. of them and ignore the contributions (B): The adult writers are as follows:
Significantly Eamonn is now a prize- of others. Accordingly I have decided Alfie Banks, Eamonn Barnes DPP,
winning journalist with the Sunday to further outline the names of all Kevin Barton, Gordon Beaumont,
Independent specialising in matters contributors in four categories. (A) Eugene Benson, Johnny Benson,
of sport, and he is also a published Contributors who have also written Norah Bermingham, Des Black,
novelist. or edited published books themselves Edward Blake, Elizabeth Boyle,
As a matter of fact I am delighted (B) All adult writers excluding those Gráinne Brehony, Jack Brehony, Anne
to observe and acknowledge that over in category A (C) Contributors who Brennan, Willie Burke, Gareth Byrne,
500 people have contributed to The only submitted photographs, and (D) Donough Cahill, Eugenie Carr, Gerry
Corran Herald in some way since Student writers. Cassidy, Rosie Cassidy, David Casey,
1985. Some of these people were ten- Stan Casey, Mary Cawley, Molly
year-old poets in the local primary (A): Martin A Timoney has edited and Cawley, MB Ní Chianáin, Sr Phil
school while others were professional published a number of significant and Clancy, Eamonn Cody, Tom Coen,
archaeologists, university academics absorbing collections that investigate Brendan Coleman, Bridie Colleran,
and administrators at national level. the archaeology and history of Co Don Conlon, Fr Patrick Conlon OFM,
We had shopkeepers and journalists, Sligo. Mary B Timoney is the author of Niamh Conlon, Ann Conlon, Anne
students and teachers, politicians and a distinguished volume that provides Conlon, Batty Connell, Mick Connell,
the man and woman in the street, excellently drawn narratives of the Dr. Kieran Cooke, Paddy Cooney,
scientists, handymen and housewives, grave memorials of County Sligo Murtagh Corcoran, Joe Coulter,
farmers, fishermen and their advisors, and of Ballintuber old Graveyard Kathleen Cryan, Barthly Cryan,
athletes, golfers, handballers and and the Grave memorials of County Patrick F Cryans, J Anthony Cuming,
footballers, adult poets, story-tellers, Roscommon. John Coleman, a recent John Cunningham, Martin Curley,
curates and bishops, computer experts, chairman of Ballymote Heritage Philomena Currid, James Davey, John
cursive script writers and writers with Group, will publish in the near Davey, Tom Davey, John Dayton,
published books –people from every future the story of Sir Charles Coote, Kate Denison-Bell, John M Dennedy,
walk of life expressing their opinions Earl of Bellamont. Other published John Doddy, Padraig Doddy, Mary
in prose, verse and letters to the editor, authors were Malcolm Billings, B Doddy, Fiona Doherty, Clare
carefully outlining their discoveries Padraig Deignan (Sligo historian), Doohan, Brian Donnelly, Bernie
after exhaustive research, and John Garvin (Joycean scholar), Doyle, Ciara Doyle, Dessie Doyle,
presenting their fascinating stories Cian Harte (Riverstown military Padraig Duffy, Mairéad Dunleavy, Fr
with colour and drama. history), Michael Farry (Co. Sligo John Durkan, Martin Enright, Joyce
If commitment to The Corran 1913 – 1923) & Coolaney, Martin Enright, Kathleen Fairbanks, Neal
Herald were a competitive activity Healy (Cloonlurg short story writer), Farry, Marie Farry-Finlay, Barry Fell,
the gold medal would certainly go James McGuinn (Co Sligo in WWI), Cassie Finn, Seamus Finn, Richard
to the late PJ Duffy of Killaville Dr Patrick Heraughty UCD, Cecil Fitzgerald, Kathleen Fitzmaurice,
who submitted 58 articles. Martin A King (Ballymote journalist), Brian James Flanagan, Anne Flanagan,
Timoney of Keash would be in second Leyden (novelist), John C McTernan Stephen Flanagan, Cathy Flynn,
place with 39 submissions and the late (Co Sligo historian), Joe McGowan Jack Flynn, Mairéad Flynn, Bishop
Tom McGettrick of Ballymote after (culture and history of Co Sligo), Thomas Flynn, Canon Robert Flynn,
34 contributions, would reside in the Dr Charles Mount (archaeologist), Brendan Friel, Nicky Furlong, Ida Jane
bronze medal position. If gives me Prof Nollaig O Muraílle, Prof Nial Gallagher, Margaret Galvin, Bernie
great pleasure to declare that the three Friel (mathematical journals), Nuala Gilbride, Francis Gilbride, Collette
parishes of Corran have produced the Rogers (Ballymote historian), Mary Gildea-Noone, Des Gilhawley, Ursula
7THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
Gilhawley, Eugene Gillan, Cecily O’Dowd, Peadar O’Dowd, Maura Library, Tommy Dyer, James Eccles,
Gilligan, Jack Gilligan, PJ Gilmartin, O’Gara-O’Riordan, Ethna O’Grady, Annie Finan, Margaret Flannery,
Hans Goransson, Mrs Gormley Noel O’Neill, Sandy Perceval, Foley-Kilgannon Collection, Donal
(Carrawloughlin), Joan Gleeson, Yvonne Perceval, Bridget Perry, John Gallagher, Mary Gilhawley, Mary
Mary Guckian, Bridie Gunning, Eoin Perry, TJ Perry, Tom Pilkington, Una Gilligan, Betty Golden, Teresa
Halpin, George Hamilton, Malcolm Preston, Pat Prince, Adrian Regan, Harwood, Frances Heneghan,
Hamilton, Michael Hannan, Michael Leo Regan, Michael F Regan, Mary Maura Horan, Paddy Horan, Irish
Hannon (Keenaghan), John Hannon Reynolds, Máire Ní Riain, Michael Architectural Archive, Marie
(Keenaghan), PJ Hannon, Lynda Roberts, Carmel Rogers, Maeve Johnson, Gerry Keaney, Peter Kearns,
Hart, Alison Healy, Brigid Healy, Rogers, Michael Rogers, Fr Pat Jack Kerins, Bridget Kielty, Kilcaldy
Dan Healy, Rev John Healy, John Rogers CP, Phil Rogers, Monsignor Museum, Louise King, Brendan
Heuston, Harry Horan, Paddy Horan, Val Rogers, Diana Ross, Emer Ryan, Lavin, Lissadell House, Charlie Lyons,
Kevin Houser, Molly Howard, Brenda Therese Ryan, JP Scanlon, Dr Matthias Sr. Regina Lydon, Kathleen Martyn,
Howley, Pat Hughes, Geraldine Hunt, Schouten, Annie Shorthouse, Albert Noreen McCrossan, The McDermott
Gabriel Johnson, Keenan Johnson, Siggins, Mairéad Slattery-Cormican, Family, Noel McDermott, Michael
Jack Johnston, Vincent Jordan, Batt Ben Smith, Nancy Smyth, Eamonn McDonagh, Peggy McGettrick, Joan
Keaney, Harry Keaney, Tom Keane, Stafford, John Stewart, Nellie Tansey, McGowan, Maisie McGovern, Ivan
Margaret Kearns, Martin Kellegher, Michael Tarmey, John Taylor, Eileen McNulty, Brian Meehan, Microsoft
Mary Kelly-White, Theresa Kelly, Tighe, Sgt Sean Tighe, Vincent Tighe, Bing Maps, Richard Molloy, Carmel
Sonia Kelly, Brigid Kielty, Jim Kielty, Catherine HM Timoney, Bridget Mullen, Eddie Mullen (Emlagh),
James P Kilcoyne, John Kilcoyne, Timoney, Frank Tivnan, Gerard Tonry, Paddy Mullen, James Mulligan,
Bridget King, Denis Killoran, Sr. Nesta Tuomey, Ailín Ní hUiginn, Jane Seaton F Mulligan, National Library of
Roch Kissane, Rosemary Kitchin, Vial, Clare Walsh, John P Walsh, Ireland, National Museum of Ireland,
Shiela Kivlehan, John Langan, Declan Lesley Webb, Bernadette White, Patti O’Connor, Peter O’Connor, Mae
Lavin, Michael Lavin, Tommy Lavin, Brendan White, Martin Wilson, Mary O’Donnell, Mary O’Dowd, Peter
Tom Lavin, Law Society Gazette, Leo Yulo. O’Rourke, Debbie Perceval, Agnes
Leyden, Pat Leyden, Trudy Lomax, Rogers, Stephen Rogers, Royal Irish
Anne Maguire, Una Mallon-Hoey, (C) Photographs: The majority Academy, May Reynolds, Gabrielle
Bernie Martin-Birney, Colette Martin, of the adult writers also submitted Shiels, Sligo Champion, Sligo
Jack Martin, Mary Martin (Máire photographs that were most helpful County Library, Sligo Field Club,
Uí Mháirtín), Mary Mathews, Leo and indeed essential to provide Una Skinner, N.W. Sprinks, Dolores
Mattimoe, Gerry McCarthy, Fr Liam illumination with their texts. Taheny, Vera Taheny, Barry Tighe,
McDermott, Padraig McDermott, Accordingly I have omitted their Nance Tighe, Villanova University,
Andy Joe McDonagh, Conor names in the following list of Peggy Walsh, Gerry White, Tom
McDonagh, Colette McDonagh, John acknowledgements in the interests of Wynne (Lisananny).
McDonagh, Liam McDonagh, Terry saving space, and I have just identified
McDonagh, David McEllin, Jim those people or sources that have not (D) Students: A number of students
McGarry, Dr Bart McGettrick, Eddie been the providers of written texts. from the four Ballymote Schools,
McGettrick, Martin McGettrick, These are as follows: Army Museum ie Scoil Mhuire gan Smál NS,
Martin McGoldrick, John McGrath, (England), Ballymote Heritage Knockminna NS, Coolbock NS,
Pat McGrath, Feagh McHugh, Patricia Window Exhibition ’96, Ballymote Coláiste Mhuire and Corran College,
McNally, Christina McNamara, Gathering Photo Exhibition (Mary as well as from two national schools
Michael J Meehan, Mercy Sisters Cawley), Pam Benson, Mary Black, in Lucan and West Dublin, submitted
(Ballymote), Miriam Moffitt, Neil Pearse Brady, British Museum, interesting and well-crafted articles
Mongey, Sam Moore, Camilla Annette Caffrey, Sean and Mae Carty, for publication in The Corran
Morrison, Margaret Muldoon, Ned Tilly Casey MPSI, Esther Cassidy, Herald during its earlier years. Here
Mullen, Pat Mullen, Rosaleen Mullen, Maureen Carr-Shiels, John Cawley following are the names of these
MJ Mulligan, Rev Tom Mulligan, NT, Sr Nell Chambers, Brendan young people, most of whom have
Frank Mulvey, Maureen Murphy, Colbert, Coleman Centre (Gurteen), now reached adulthood: Conor Booth,
Michael Murphy, Sandra Murphy, Paddy Conboy, J Condon, Betty Paul Brennan, Turlough Brennan,
Elizabeth Murray, Ronan Murtagh, Conlon, James Connolly, Kathleen Pauline Brett, Tony Burns, Clare
Pat O’Brien, Bridget O’Connell, Don Cryan, Mona Cryan, Aine Daly, Clinton, Orla Cryan, April Devlin,
O’Connor, Fiona O’Connor, Dermot Derek Davey, Paddy Duffy, Derek Ciara Doyle, Marie Donohoe, Enda
O’Donnell, Mary O’Donnell, Larry Droughton, Dunfermline Carnegie Fallon, Molly Finn, Patricia Flanagan,
8THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
Stephen Flannery Jr., Brian Flynn, to ignoring the work of the great number of lines from the ballad:
Aidan Foley, Eilish Friel, Nial Friel, majority of people who have provided
Jenny Gallagher, Mary Gallagher, the literary substance of The Corran I’ve been on the hill now for many a
Oliver Gethins, Joanne Gilligan, Herald during the past 32 years. year
Alison Healy, Noelle Healy, Shaunna In 1995 James Flanagan informed But the boss says he’ll sell me and he
Healy, Deirdre Horan, Dermot Hurley, us that the first 10 issues of The means it, I fear
Diane Keevans, Jackie Kerins, Maura Corran Herald could then be accessed I see by Old Moore there’s a fair in
Killoran, Helen Loughlin, Conor in bound form in Ballymote and the town
Maguire, Naomi Martin, Brian Sligo Libraries and in the National Tomorrow methinks he’ll be driving
McDermott, Gerard McGettrick, Library. Since 2016 all issues of the me down
Declan McGrath, Niamh Mongey, Herald have been on-line and can be So goodbye, beannacht leat, Dear
Lee Muldoon, Sandra Murphy, Sinéad downloaded by keying in ‘The Corran Keash Hill of the coves
Weir, Bridget Timoney, Catherine Herald’ on one’s smartphone, tablet, No more shall I skip through your
H.M. Timoney, Fiona Rogers, 3rd& laptop or desktop computer. heathery groves
4th classes SMGS Ballymote – joint When I read the anonymous ballad Me sheep’s eyes fill with tears and me
poem. The Sheep’s Farewell to Keash Hill lavin’ the fun
It may seem excessive to pay due in Issue No. 13, I begin to totally
It’s the best place in Ireland, Keash,
regard in print to the efforts, great comprehend the harmonious bonds
bar none.
and small, of such a large number and profound merriment which
As I told you above, to the butcher’s
of enthusiastic scribes. To fail to do reside in the hearts and minds of the
I’m bound
so, however, or to merely observe people of Corran and that lead them
But I’ll be back here next week at four
the offerings of our elite, whoever to espouse living in and loving their
shillings a pound
they may be, would be tantamount native place. I conclude by quoting a
The changing world of the telephone
By Bernie Gilbride
Today it’s difficult to imagine a still with a handle to wind but much phones. Having no wires, they fit
world without phones, but they really clearer and more convenient. After snugly into pockets or handbags and
seemed magical when we got our first another year or two the Post Office connect directly with whom we wish
one way back in the early 50s. removed the handle, replacing it with to speak. No go-between or exchange
We knew all about the wonderful a flat face dial and finger slots to be lady now.
invention by Bell in 1876, and had moved around. The modern phone The powers that be tell me our
learned that his first message along was gradually coming into being. television sets will be our modern
the wire was, ‘Mr Watson, come We had that phone until a few years house phone, activated by voice,
here, I want you.’ Edison improved ago. It was a very solid job, black in having the person with whom we
on the invention so much that phones colour and very weighty, with a most speak on screen. No more answering
became very common and popular. distinctive tone and ring, so much so the phone with hair in curlers, or
Our first phone hung on the wall. that I seldom needed to give my name wearing the old comfy dressing-
It had a handle one wound to get the as family and friends recognised the gown. It will be only full gear, make-
attention of the lady at the exchange, tone. Eventually it lost its sound and up, the lot, when this becomes the
through which all calls were made had to be replaced. vogue, alas!
at that time. This could take quite The new phone is gleaming white, I wonder will I live long enough to
a few minutes if she was busy. The with more buttons than I know what to see this change and if I don’t, I do hope
voice of the person on the other end do with. It has a lovely light handset, the phone company up above has been
was often crackly and indistinct, but unlike the old one which was so heavy doing its research and keeping up with
nevertheless a phone was a marvellous one’s arm would be dead if one had a modern developments, and I am not
new way to communicate, especially long conversation with a friend. back again winding handles.
long distance or abroad. Now I believe even this modern one
After a couple of years this model is about to become obsolete. Already
was replaced with a table phone, our mobiles are replacing our house
9THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
Trial and error:
The Second Marquis of Sligo
By Malcolm Billings
I confess that I shuddered a little
walking into this famous building.
There is nothing cosy about its echoing
Victorian entrance, the grand hall, and
the corridors that lead to the courts are
carpeted but stark. The courtrooms
have a ‘no nonsense’ feel about them.
Inevitable, I suppose, given that some
of the most notorious criminals end up
here. The role-call inlcudes murderers
such as Dr Crippen and John Christie.
William Joyce, who broadcast Nazi
propaganda, and was called Lord Haw
Haw, was tried here after the Second
World War. Four centuries of crooked
politicians and paedophiles also met
Justice here.
I was not on trial when I sat on a
bench in Number 1 court, along with
Westport House, Co Mayo many paying members of the public,
Westport house, the seat of the the Old Bailey – the Central Criminal to see a re-enactment of a trial that
Marquis of Sligo, changed hands Court – in the City of London. In took place in 1812. In the dock was the
in January 2017. It had been in the this building, and its predecessors, flamboyant Second Marquis of Sligo,
Browne family for almost 300 years. some of the most spectacular villains standing trial for hijacking several of
In affluent times the best architects over the centuries have been tried, the crew of two British naval vessels.
of the day remodelled the house and convicted, imprisoned, and, after their But what on earth was going on here?
successive generations stuffed it with trial, executed at Newgate prison. The old Bailey raises money for
superb furniture and objects. good causes and the re-enactments are
Most of the furniture and fittings a comparatively new idea to capitalise
went with the sale of the house to a on a wealth of material in which,
local family in the tourism business. we, the public, could play a part. I
The Hughes family own and run the glanced around the court at severe
successful Hotel Westport along with looking judges, court officials, and
other businesses in Ireland. It looks the barristers for the prosecution and
like a neat fit for Westport, although defence. They were not actors but the
many people interested in the survival real thing! Many were retired judges
and protection of Ireland’s heritage and barristers who were interested in
lobbied hard to persuade the state to acting and who dabbled in amateur
acquire the house and estate. As it is, theatricals. The Old Bailey had
a modest acreage was bought by the scooped them up to take part in the re-
Irish Government and the Hughes enactments.
Group has announced an intention to Defence Council Messrs Dauncy,
invest €50 million to develop tourism Dampier and Scarlets sought to
in the area. convince the jury that the noble
My interest in the second Marquis Marquis had no knowledge of the
of Sligo was sparked by an event at The Old Bailey, London alleged bribery and corruption,
10THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
pointing out that he was a very young ship the Pylades, along with a large faced trial at the Old Baily. However
man, newly come from the seats of number of antiquities he had collected the young earl was hardly restrained,
learning and who only wished to add along the way in Greece. His charted and was free to come and go until the
to his knowledge of history. ship could only be described as a rust trial began. He kept himself busy: “I
True up to a point, as I discovered bucket with an incompetent, drunken won a bet that I could not gallop my
from digging into the background crew. And that’s where the legal path coach from London to Holyhead in
of the case against the Marquis. He began that led to the dock in the Old 35 hours. I won and I was a thousand
had followed in the footsteps of Lord Bailey in 1812. Sligo (i.e. the Marquis) guineas better off.”
Elgin (of Parthenon marbles fame) to needed a competent and trustworthy When the case came to be heard in
a site in Greece that also fascinated crew and he rashly resorted to a press Court, the Defence Council argued
the young Marquis – the impressive gang. the Earl’s innocence, but was not
beehive construction believed to be the The court heard in evidence that successful.
12th century BC tomb of Agamemnon, the Marquis sent two of his liveried DEFENCE COUNCIL: “At a time
king of the Greeks in Homer’s servants to persuade some naval when all this happened Lord Sligo
Odyssey. Elgin had already dug his ratings from two British warships to was a very young man, hardly come
way into the tomb and had extracted join his lordship’s enterprise. Plied of age and had hired a brig for the
some architectural fragments but not with drink the sailors woke up the purpose of making a voyage through
the fabled treasure. next day when the Pylades was at the Mediterranean and visiting the
Greek islands so famous in ancient
history. Newly come from the seats of
learning, such was the laudable object
in which he was in eager pursuit.
No motives of disloyalty could be
imputed on behalf of my client; let
me say his offence was against the
letter of the law. He is anxious to be
liberated of deliberate seduction and
trusts the jury to deliver a verdict in
his favour.”
SLIGO: “I wish to express contrition
for my folly and rashness, my lord.”
FOREMAN OF THE JURY:
“Guilty.”
THE JUDGE, Sir William Scott: “I
have now to discharge the painful duty
of pronouncing upon your lordship
the sentence of the law. To descend to
The Tomb of Agamemnon in Greece practices of artifice and dissimulation
The Marquis had gained the ear of sea, so the deal was done, along with to accomplish so unworthy a design,
a local official and mounted his own enticement of money and clothes. is surely little becoming to the title
exploration, focusing on the imposing After a chase across the sea, the that you bear. But my lord from the
green marble pillars at the entrance. Marquis was arrested for this crime – penitence you have shown, the court
The following quotes are based on especially serious in time of war. may be satisfied that you are prepared
published Old Bailey records, as told When the trial began, evidence in future to set a bright example
by the re-enactment. about locking the ratings below deck to your fellow subjects. And that a
The Marquis of Sligo: “My men to keep them out of sight when the painful admonition should be given in
went to work with pick axes and Pylades was inspected by a naval your person as a warning to those who
saws and wrenched the pillars from boarding party proved to be damaging hereafter might be tempted to offend.
the tomb ready to be loaded into my to his Lordship’s plea of innocence. “The court has therefore ordered
ship. Thoughtless greedy vandalism? Added to this was the fact that, that you, the Marquis of Sligo, pay to
Certainly not! I was saving them for sensing deeper trouble, he had them your sovereign Lord, the King, a fine
posterity as Lord Elgin had done some put ashore and then set sail leaving of £5,000 and that you be committed
years earlier with the marbles on the them stranded. The sailors made their to His Majesty’s Prison of Newgate
Parthenon in Athens.” way to the nearest British consul and for four calendar months until such
The pillars were loaded onto his raised the alarm. Sligo was caught and fine be paid.”
11THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
His Lordship bowed and was was more like a bawdy house banquet Once released, the saga of the boyish
conducted from the bar. with as much claret as a man could wealthy land owner (he had had no
However, conditions must have possible want.” trouble paying the fine) took what we
been tolerable at Newgate, according As for the marble pillars, they might describe as a Barbara Cartland
to a comment attributed to Baron disappeared into the basement of twist. The Earl’s mother, the Dowager
Broughton, a Member of Parliament Westport House, to be rediscovered Marchioness, who had attended all the
and friend of Byron. “I had dinner 90 years later and presented to the sessions of the trial, announced that
with the Marquis of Sligo last night, British Museum. she planned to marry the Judge who
on 17 February. To my astonishment it had successfully protected her son
from the full rigours of the law.
The Marquis’s spell in prison
seemed to mark a change in his life.
His career prospects were enhanced
and he was appointed governor of
Jamaica. He was the first of the
plantation landowners to set free his
slaves after 1833, when slaving was
abolished by act of Parliament. The
Marquis helped a fellow landowner
to establish the first town for freed
slaves. He is remembered in Jamaica
today as the Great Emancipator. The
town called Sligoville still thrives as
I discovered when I visited to record
a heritage programme for the BBC.
My producer, Brigid O’Hara, and I,
called at Sligoville’s secondary school
where the head teacher mustered the
school choir. She told us that when the
11th Marquis of Sligo, Jeremy Ullick
Browne (1939-2014), visited the
school a few years before us, some
children, who knew the family as
Browne, and pronounced it ‘Brownee’,
held hands with the famous visitors
declaring “Brownee, that’s our name!
We must be related.
The marble pillars now at the British Museum (Picture by author)
Remembering Eugene Gillan
The members of Ballymote Heritage Kerry, Inishtrahull, off Donegal and were ‘The Island of Inistearacht’,
Group were deeply saddened to the Old Head of Kinsale. Eugene ‘Dominic Gilligan and the United
hear of the death Eugene Gillen last was a founder member of the Kinsale Irishmen’, ‘Dr. Dominic Burke’, ‘The
December in Kinsale. Eugene was a Museum and he was curator of that Aud’, ‘The Wailing Women’, ‘The
native of Rosses Point. He worked museum for many years. He was a Duirling Boats’, ‘Margaret Logan’,
with the Irish Lights organisation. regular speaker at cultural events and ‘The Gillan Longcars’ and ‘Journey
He served in many lighthouse he contributed articles to a number to Belmullet’. Ar dheis Dé go raibh
stations around the Irish coast and he of historical and cultural journals. a anam.
particularly loved the lighthouses on Among the articles that Eugene
remote islands such as Tiaracht, off published in ‘The Corran Herald’
12THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
The rich history of Earlsfield
House, Ballymote
By Sr Nell Chambers
The stately Earlsfield House, which the gate lodge and the main house. by low golden box-hedges gave
was the home of the Sisters of Mercy While the primary school was being colour and richness to the garden. The
for over a hundred years, has a long refurbished in 1951 we had class in garden was always alive with bees
history. It was built in 1775 by the this wood. Each pupil brought a light and butterflies. An interesting feature
Fitzmaurices. The story is told that the wooden box to sit on. If the weather of the garden was the greenhouse at
stones were taken from the old castle was wet we went either to the Loftus the very end of the garden, where
and the Franciscan Abbey to build Hall or the basement of the convent. black and green grapes hung from the
Earlsfield House. The parish priest, My biggest thrill was to visit the ceiling and potted plants were laid
Rev Andrew Donlevy PP, protested walled garden carefully tended by out in neat rows on a long table. We
on account of the Abbey stones, and Paddy Killoran. I can still remember bought a bag of apples for a few pence
his words were prophetic: ‘You have the perfumed scent of the fruit and and in time got to know the tree with
taken stones from a consecrated flowers on opening the latch of the the sweetest apples! The grapes were
building; they shall one day revert little wooden door leading into the not for sale but Paddy Killoran who
to a consecrated community.’ The garden. It was like stepping into lived a few doors away from me often
Sisters of Mercy took up residence in paradise, as the sun always seemed threw a small bunch into my bag of
Earlsfield House in 1904. to shine in the garden. Apple and pear apples – a great treat for any youngster.
Thomas Fitzmaurice, son of John trees lined the walls, blackcurrant and Sadly this all disappeared, apart from
Fitzmaurice, 1st Earl of Shelbourne, gooseberry bushes were divided by the garden wall. The wooded area on
built Earlsfield House in 1775. The neat little paths. A variety of flowers the entrance avenue was cleared to
town and surrounding area was and shrubs in flowerbeds bordered make way for the secondary school
bought in 1745 by John Fitzmaurice,
1st Earl of Shelbourne (1706-1761),
and second son of the 1st Earl of
Kerry, and probably for this reason
they named the estate Earlsfield Estate
and the house Earlsfield House. The
name is still in use in the area. John
Petty Fitzmaurice brought the linen
industry to Ballymote and he brought
Protestant families from Ireland to
run it. Local people also worked in
the linen factories, mostly women.
He had houses built for them in what
is still sometimes called Newtown.
However, for the most part he was an
absentee landlord and had installed
James Bridgeham, Esq, Brigade-
Mayor of Yeomanry for the County
of Sligo in Earlsfield House as their
deputy and lord-of-the-manor.
Earlsfield House is situated on a hill
with a panoramic view of the town. As
a youngster in the 1950s I remember
the quaint little gate lodge where
Paddy Golden and his wife lived. A
wooded area stretched out between A view of the building from the air (image from myhome.ie)
13THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
and the gate lodge was demolished at House to cheer and acknowledge the was opened by Dr Douglas Hyde, first
a later date. However, the house is still kindness of Sir Henry Gore-Booth. As President of Ireland, in 1934.
extant, and despite a few structural a youngster, the hill leading up to the A private secondary school had
changes on the inside it still retains original convent entrance was called existed in the town since 1939 and
some distinctive characteristics of the ‘The Captain’s Brae’, now renamed was situated in the middle house
big house – the spiral staircase leading Pearse Road. Slater records Earlsfort of the three houses built by John
to the landing of the main bedrooms, House as the seat of Francis Gethin Thomas Regan on the Keash Road,
the servants’ quarters on the other side in 1894. The Land (Purchase) Act of now occupied by Mr Padraic Golden.
of the house, the narrow back-stairs 1903 set the conditions for the break- The school was set up by Miss Rose
used by the servants, the big kitchen up of large estates and gradually Gonley. Miss Consie Connelly,
and food storeroom in the basement, devolved to rural landowners and who later married the businessman
the cellar now converted into a small tenants ownership of the lands. Mr Paddy Rogers, taught in it. Mrs
storeroom for cleaning agents and The Sisters of Mercy came to Una Price Connolly RIP who lived
recycling bins, a reception room Ballymote in 1902 at the invitation in Carrownanty also taught in the
off the front hall and a large room of Canon Loftus PP, after whom school in 1941. Sr Assumpta Brehony
(possibly a drawing-room) which is the Loftus Hall is named. When the attended this school as did Evelyn
now the chapel, and other rooms that Sisters came, they lived in Castle Kerins from Carrigans who later
could tell their own story. Lodge near Ballymote Castle. They became a Franciscan Missionary.
In 1833 the town of Ballymote and opened a private school for girls in In September 1942 the Sisters of
the Fitzmaurices’ properties changed Castle Lodge and later moved to the Mercy opened a secondary school in
ownership. Sir Robert Gore-Booth, Loftus Hall, which was the parish Ballymote. Sr Francis Keating was the
grandfather of Countess Markievicz, chapel before the new Church of principal of the new secondary school.
bought the estate for 130,000 pounds. the Immaculate Conception was A room in the convent was used as a
In the mid 19th century Earlsfeld consecrated in 1864. The Newtown classroom as well as a small building
House was the home of the Dodwell school of the 1840s moved to this old at the back of the convent which
family, agents of many great estates RIC chapel in 1864 (later the Loftus was originally a glasshouse. In 1943
in the west of Ireland. Captain George Hall). Michael Doyle, who was co- work started on the conversion of the
Dodwell acted as an agent for Sir founder of the INTO, taught in this glasshouse into a solid classroom, so
Robert Gore Booth who too was an school. His statue is in Teeling Street. the school moved into ‘Beechmount
absentee landlord for the most part, The Sisters of Mercy resided in House’, a house next to the cinema
spending his time in Westminster. Castle Lodge near the Church and where Mrs Kathleen Cryan lived until
This was a time of poverty and misery the parish priest lived in Earlsfield she passed away this year. Sr Ursula
for the tenants, confirmed in a letter of House. In order to be near the church Flannery taught in Beechmount
thanks for donations for the ‘starving he exchanged houses with the sisters, House. The school moved back to the
poor of the parish’, to the editor of The who paid him £2,000 for the bigger new classroom in 1944. Miss Gonley’s
Freeman’s Journal by Fr Denis Tighe residence. The Sisters moved to school closed and she moved to the
PP of Ballymote in 1863. When Sir Earlsfield House in 1904. An armchair convent school. She taught a sister
Robert died in 1876, Sir Henry Gore- with an engraving ‘Céad Míle Fáilte of Sr Rosarii Cryan in the convent
Booth inherited the estate. He was 1904’ still remains in the Convent school – Nance Tighe, still living in
an explorer, but when in Sligo was Chapel. Ballymote. Miss Una Price taught in
very interested in his tenants and was In 1915 Canon Batty Quinn PP had the convent for three months before
described by The Sligo Champion on the present Girls’ Primary School emigrating to the Isle of Wight,
6 Dec 1879 as a ‘kind and generous built on the Earlsfield Estate land, and England. Mrs Price Connolly died in
landlord’. By 1879 he had most of the the Sisters moved from the Loftus 2017. Mrs Consie Connelly Rogers,
rents down to the Griffith Valuation, Hall to the new Primary school. The who had married, gave up teaching
for which Davitt and Parnell had only boys’ Primary School, which is now in 1941. Colaíste Muire was one of
just begun to fight for, on the Land the Pastoral Centre, was built in 1914, the first voluntary secondary schools,
League platforms, throughout the and the boys moved from the Loftus in the West of Ireland, to become co-
rest of Ireland. This same year while Hall to the new school. In the 1920s educational in 1955.
staying in Earlsfield House, as a guest Mr Quigley had a small school in his In the 1930s and 1940s Mrs William
of his agent, Captain Gethin, hundreds home in Teeling Street, catering for Pettipiece, who lived near the primary
of tenant farmers from the countryside around 15 pupils who had finished in school, brought down the turf in the
flocked into Ballymote and marched the primary school. The Vocational morning to light the stoves in the
in torchlight procession to Earlsfield School, one of the first in Co Sligo, classrooms of the convent primary
14THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
school. I remember the stoves when while she gave the lesson. Sr Jarlath Sr Margaret Mc Cann
I was in the junior classes and the Moran, who worked in the convent Sr Bernadette Mc Carrick
country children drying their clothes kitchen, kept a juicy bone for him. Sr Mary Coyle
at them, when they got wet, having The door is now blocked up and the Sisters who worked in the Secondary
walked to school in the rain. The music room is an office. School
classrooms got storage heating in the In the 1970s Aideen Gore-Booth, a Sr M Frances Keating-1942
early 1950s. niece of Countess Markievicz, who Sr M Ursula Flannery-1942
A lady named Jane O’Keeffe who lived in Lissadell House, visited the Sr M Albeus O’ Halloran
was deaf and dumb will be fondly convent a few times. She was a very Sr M Parick Cawley-Principal
remembered by pupils of the primary gracious lady and was very kind to the Sr Regina Lydon
school in the 1950s and 1960s. We had students. I was brought on a visit to Sr Assumpta Brehony
our own sign language with Jane and Lissadell House from Ballaghaderreen Sr Teresa Nugent
she had signs to identify the sisters in the 1980s. She allowed them to Sr Virigilius Watson
in the school and also Monsignor play the piano that WB Yeats played Sr Paul Kerins
Roughneen. We were kept au fait with when he stayed there. A French Sr Veronica Cassidy-Principal
some of their comings and goings. couple, direct descendants of the Sr Ann O’Connor
When the lunch bell rang, Jane would Fitzmaurices, also came to see the Sr James Lothar
always appear with a big jug of piping convent in the 1970s. Sr Vincent Horan
hot cocoa from the convent, for all Who knows what future lies ahead Sr Athanatius Reynolds
who couldn’t go home for lunch. Jane for Earlsfield House! My wish is that Sr Bernadette O’Grady-Principal
was from Thomastown and is buried it will again change ownership as in Sr Scholastica Mc Cann
in Ballymote. the past and live a full and fruitful life. Sr Ethna O’Grady
Another feature of convent life in Sr Agatha Durkin
the 1940s and 50s was the laundry Sisters who worked in the Primary Sr Kathleen Shiels-Principal
situated at the back of the convent, School Sr Attracta Shiels
which gave employment to ladies Sr Margaret Mary Daly – 1902 Sr Margaret Mc Cann
from the surrounding area: Mrs Sr Vincent Ahearn – 1902 Sr Phyllis Kilcoyne-Principal
Martin Davey and Joanie Brennan, Sr Patricia Moylan – 1902 Sr Neil Chambers
Marren Park, Mrs Coyle and Mrs Sr Calasanctius Cassidy – 1902 (on Sr Mary Leavy
Margaret Coen, Deroon, worked in loan from the Convent of Mercy, Sr Margaret Killoran-Principal
the laundry. Sr Catherine Kennedy set Tralee) Sr Loreto Hogge-Principal
up the laundry in an old galvanised Sr M Aloysius O’Connell Sr Dominic O’Shaughnessy
iron shed which had been used for Sr Raphael Scollard Sr Benedict Sheridan
grinding corn on the estate. She also Sr M Baptist Whelan
helped young people find placements Sr M Eden Casey Other Sisters who lived in Ballymote
in England to train as nurses. When Sr Mary de Sales Gould Convent
Sr Catherine was transferred to Sr Mary Laurentia Dore Sr Teresita Casey
Collooney in the early 40s, Sr Brendan Sr Mary Patrick O’ Malley-Principal Sr Immaculata Durkin
Sweeney took her place in the laundry. Sr M Stanislaus O’ Halloran Sr Attracta Kilcawley
Vincent Finan collected and delivered Sr M Philomena O’Dea Sr Joachim Gallagher
the laundry in the town in a small van, Sr M Bernadette Dorr Sr Aine Mc Garty
drawn by a donkey, as did John Mc Sr M Gabriel Kelly – Principal Sr Josephine Mc Cann
Gettrick, who lived with Mrs Davey Sr Finian Kelly Sr Phil Clancy
and her daughter Annie, at the time Sr Ann Houlihan Sr Mary Gallagher
in the Convent gate lodge. Nothing Sr Rose Lafferty
remains of the laundry now except a Sr M Agnes O’Grady-Principal Before the closure of the Convent
high wall leading into a field. Sr M Gertrude Gallagher-Principal of Mercy in Ballymote in 2017, the
On the garden side of the convent Sr Enda O’Donnell following Sisters lived there:
were steps leading up to a music room. Sr Margaret Torsney-Principal
In the early years of the convent, Sr Sr Goretti Chambers Sr Regina Leydon
Vincent Ahearne taught music there. Sr Frances Mc Nicholas- Principal Sr Nell Chambers
In the 1950s and 60s Sr Cecilia Sr Ann O’Connor –Principal Sr Loreto Hogge
O’Halloran taught music there also. Sr Eileen Scanlon Sr Elizabeth Mc Nicholas
Her dog sat outside the music room Sr Regina Leydon –Principal
15THE CORRAN HERALD • 2018/2019
Porcelain’s Journey
By Margaret Perry
I’ve been writing stories since
childhood and I had been writing
plays in earnest for about four years
when my breakthrough came with a
phone call from the Abbey Theatre
saying they were going to produce
my play Porcelain. Playwriting is a
strange art; like all types of writing
it is, at first, a solitary activity. Just
you and the page. But a play is never
finished until it’s placed in front of
an audience, and the steps involved
in getting it from the page to a room
full of people are numerous and
involve the creative brains of lots of
other people – not only the actors and
director, but producers, set, lighting Margaret Perry
and sound designers, stage managers, who anyone really is – whether a least ten London theatres. Not every
marketing teams, press officers, I constant and unchanging ‘you’ exists idea I have will stick, but this play
could go on. As the opening night of at all. In the image of the changeling kept turning in the back of my mind.
Porcelain drew close, I discovered that I found a way to explore these ideas And for every few ‘no’s, I got some
one of the stage assistants had spent about depression and self on stage, by ‘maybe’s, and found mentors and
his Saturday driving around Northern weaving Bridget’s story in 1895 with champions within the theatre industry.
Ireland looking for wallpaper for the the story of Hat, a young Irish woman Their advice and encouragement
stage that was the exact right shade living now who doesn’t feel ‘herself’ was crucial as I kept rewriting the
of yellow. To have set such a huge either. script, getting each draft a little closer
collaborative process in motion from To have my first professional to what I wanted to say and how I
some words that I put on a page alone production of one of my plays at the wanted to say it. Having the play be
in my bedroom, or in coffee shops, on Abbey was a dream come true in plucked from the pile and produced at
the train, in snatched moments of time every respect. It is rare for a theatre our National Theatre in the space of
over the four years it took me to write to produce a script sent to them out of a whirlwind three months felt like the
this play, never fails to humble and the blue; it’s what every playwright moment when the top of a stubborn jar
astonish me. hopes will happen when they send one seems to slip off easily, after hours of
I wrote Porcelain because I wanted in. I am still pinching myself to have fruitless twisting. But I try to remind
to talk about depression and the way had this happen to me. It has turned myself that it’s the twisting that did it,
it can make you feel like a stranger playwriting from a dream into a real along with a little bit of luck.
in your own skin. I came across the career for me (though I still have a I’ve got plenty of other ideas on
story of Bridget Cleary in 2016, when part-time job to help pay the bills; it’s the boil at the moment and I hope
I was 26, the age she was when she surely no surprise to anyone that it is Porcelain won’t be my last time at
was burned to death by her husband in very, very hard to make a full-time the Abbey. Meanwhile, I am just
1895. She had been acting strangely living from writing plays alone). It happy to not need a full-time day job
and taken to her bed. Her husband also meant the play was published, at the moment; the money I got from
believed she had been stolen away so that it can be performed again in my Abbey commission has bought
by the fairies and replaced by a future, I hope. me time and space to think, read and
changeling – a sort of copy of her That being said, the myth of the write. To be able to spend most of these
that looked and sounded just like ‘big break’ can sometimes elide the summer days at my desk, dreaming of
her, but wasn’t really her. Michael amount of work it takes to get to a new stories to tell, is a gift. Dreaming
thought Bridget was ‘not herself’; place where opportunity can find of that moment when the lights go
I wondered if she might have been you. Before Porcelain was read by down, and we all sit waiting to watch
depressed. I also started to wonder the Abbey, it was turned down by at a story unfurl from the dark.
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