issue - Cloonfad Parish Magazine

Cloonfad 2007
16th Edition
Annual Parish Magazine
Senior Citizens Christmas Party 2006
Row 1: P.J. Tighe, M. McGuire, M. Burke, K. McDonnell, J. Quinn, A. Hosty Row 2: B. Glynn, M. Staunton, M. Mullarkey, K. Cunniffee.
Row 3: D. Mullarkey, P. Merrick, A. Murray, C. McWalter, M. Kearns.Row 4: M. Higgins, M. Jennings, M. Walsh, P. Walsh, M. Waldron.
Row 5: K. Cunniffee, L. Regan. Row 6: M. Mullarkey, N. Jennings, G. Loftus, J. Glynn, P. McCormack, J. McGuire, M. Regan.
Row 7: M. Keane, J. Quinn, M. Groake, M. Staunton.
Contents
Contents
Christmas Greeting .............................................................. P6
Editor’s Words ................................................................... P6
Commitee Members ............................................................ P7
Magazine Goes Online ........................................................... P7
The Coffin Ships .................................................................. P8-9
Cuddles and Care ................................................................ P10
Armagh, Paris and Buttering the Toast .......................................... P10-11
A Way of Life Now Gone Forever ................................................ P12-13
Kiltullagh Hill to Tora Bora ....................................................... P14-15
Graduation ....................................................................... P15
Special Games ................................................................... P16-17
Comboni Missionaries ........................................................... P17
Cutting and Saving the Turf Long Ago ............................................P18
Moral Abuses .................................................................... P18
Christmas Sky ................................................................... P18
Early Years in Cloonfad .......................................................... P19
The Rambling House .............................................................P20-21
The Cloonfad River .............................................................. P21
Here is the Weather Forecast .................................................... P22
Leaving the Big Smoke ......................................................... P23
Life Gallery ...................................................................... P23-24-25
From Ballykilleen to St. Louis ................................................... P26
Scraphead Challenge ........................................................... P27-28
What’s another Year ............................................................ P29
Roscommon has always a special place in Dermot Earley’s Heart .............. P30
Local Band lend support to Western Care ...................................... P31
The Hamilton’s lead St. Patrick’s Day Parade ................................... P31
The Trip of a Lifetime ............................................................ P32
To Hell or To Connaught ........................................................ P33
The Republic of Boredom ....................................................... P34
A Song for Safety ............................................................... P35
The Michael Davitt Group ........................................................ P36-37-38-39-40
A Home Away From Home ....................................................... P41
Simple Flowers Will Do ......................................................... P41
3
Contents
The Mole...................................................................... P42
21st Birthdays................................................................. P42
Wedding photos............................................................... P43-44-45-46
Births/Deaths & Marriages.................................................... P47
Local Organisations
Cloonfad Scenic Walks ...................................................... P48
Cloonfad Cemetery Committee ..............................................P48
Cloonfad Mozambique Partnerships ........................................ P49
Cloonfad Development Association ......................................... P50
Mary Immaculate Queen Prayer Group ..................................... P50
Parish Pastoral Council ......................................................P51
Mayo/Roscommon Hospice Foundation .................................... P51
Community Centre Report .................................................. P52
Bridget Trench’s Knock ......................................................P52
Letter to a Prodical Son ..................................................... P52
Vistors to Cloonfad ......................................................... P53-54
Obituary of the late Mr Common Sense .................................... P54
School Sections
Senior School Tour .......................................................... P55
Junior School Tour ........................................................... P55
Communion and Confirmation Classes 2007 ............................... P56
A conversation with my Gran ................................................ P57
Cloonfad N.S participates in the St Patrick’s Day Parade ................... P57
Art Competition .............................................................. P57
Jokes ...................................................................... P58
Our Playing Field ............................................................. P59
Planting of Trees ............................................................. P59
Green Flag .................................................................. P59
Riverside Remembrance Park .............................................. P59
Showjumping ................................................................. P60
Three R’s ................................................................... P60
4
Contents
Sport
Cloonfad United Season Review 2006 - 2007 .................................. P61-62
Michael Glavey’s GAA Report ................................................... P63
Community Games Report ...................................................... P64
Young Rossies .................................................................. P65-66
Michael Glavey’s U-12’s ........................................................ P67
Logboy
Logboy Photographs
............................................................
P68
Focus Area Cloonkeen/Carramanagh
48 Consective All Ireland Football Final .......................................... P69
Carramanagh’s Longest Living Resident ....................................... P70
Cloonkeen Photographs ........................................................ P70-75
Owen’s Story ................................................................... P76
Paddy Connell’s Story .......................................................... P76
The Cavan Man ................................................................ P77
Cloonkeen ..................................................................... P78
Johnny and Bridget Mullins .................................................... P79
Memories ....................................................................... P79
Looking Back ................................................................... P80
Cloonkeen Thatched Cottages .................................................. P81
The McLoughlin’s ............................................................... P82
My Native Cloonkeen ............................................................ P82
Granlahan
Tales of a Potato Picker ......................................................... P83
A Conversion Experience in Brazil ................................................ P84-85
Following Christ in the Service of Others ......................................... P86-87
Book Reviews by the Children of Granlahan National School ................... P88-89
The life and times of a Ninety Seven Year ‘Young’ lady .......................... P90-91
Patrons 2007 ................................................................... P92-93
Cloonfad Magazine Order Form ................................................ P94
5
Christmas Greetings
Doesn’t time fly? Here we are at the end of 2007, another year just
about over and the 16th Edition of the Cloonfad Magazine reflecting on
events over the past twelve months. Through the pages of this edition
you will see the wealth of talent we have in the community. There are
many different organisations all working to make Cloonfad a great
place in which to live and work. Great changes have taken place in the
infrastructure of Cloonfad over the past few years, new housing estates
have been built, and people from foreign countries are living among us.
It is important that we as Christians, make the effort to welcome them
and help them to become part of our community. There is no better way
to unite a community than to create an identity that will instil a sense of
pride in ones own place and gain recognition for its deeds. I remember
a person telling me it was “your duty” to serve your community and
contribute to the betterment of your fellow parishioners. So many of you in
the Cloonfad area do that and for that we’re eternally grateful.
It is with admiration and with gratitude to the magazine committee that I
welcome this 16th Edition of the Cloonfad Magazine. To the joint editors
Noreen McGuire and Michelle Brennan, I say well done. This magazine is
most professionally produced and appreciated by all. Some members of
the magazine committee have been involved with the magazine since its
inception in 1992. This takes tremendous dedication and loyalty, and to
all involved grateful thanks.
It has been another wonderful year for your support of the Church, both
financially and lending a help and hand when needed. It is always a great
joy to see the ‘Back Up’ help in the Church and Church related activities
week in, week out. To all concerned I say heartfelt thanks.
We had many happy occasions like Baptisms, First Holy Communion,
Confirmation, Marriages and Family events during the year. A remarkable
statistic from our community from October 2006 until October 2007 is
that seventeen marriages involving Cloonfad people took place during
that time. We wish them health and happiness in the years ahead.
As is always the case along with joyful celebrations in the area, we also
had the sad times as the ‘Grim Reaper’ death took some of our dear
loved ones to their eternal home, to those we offer our sympathy, support
and prayer.
Christmas has always been a special time for Irish people. The celebration
of the birth of Jesus is a time for reflection and a time to pull back from all
the pressures of life. A more gentle feeling prevails the mind and so you
can sense that extra friendship in the people around the country. We send
greetings to all our parishioners, sponsors, emigrants and our readers
from outside the area. We thank you for your support always.
Welcome to the 16th of the Annual Cloonfad Parish
Magazine. How quickly this year has gone? It’s only
seems like yesterday that we were producing the
2006 magazine.
After the hugely successful sale of the 2006
magazine before Christmas, work commenced
in January for this issue. The AGM was held in
January and the same crew were re-elected. It’s
amazing to say that there is three people on the
committee who have been there since 1992.
As always a lot of hard work and dedication has
gone into this year’s magazine and it is fantastic to
say after sixteen years a magazine of this quality
and quantity is produced.
But as each year goes on it is getting more difficult
to maintain a constant flow of information. We
continue to emphasis the importance of community
involvement and input. As we always say, there
would be no magazine without you.
We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely
thank the Committee. They are a very dedicated
group of people and we are for ever grateful
for their hardwork. Each and every Committee
member is a pleasure to work with.
Our focus area this year is Cloonkeen and
Carramanagh. Many thanks to the people involved
who put in a lot of time to gathering a tremendous
amount of articles and pictures. We trust the
Cloonkeen and Carramanagh community will enjoy
this section.
During the year, the death of Pat Kenny, our Art
judge occurred. He will be sadly missed for his
tremendous input to the Art Competition. We wish
to extend sincere sympathy to his wife Mary and his
family.
Our sincerest sympathy to all families in our parish
who have lost loved ones during the year.
Thanks to everyone who made a submission to the
magazine. We received a huge amount information
again this year. Unfortunately we could not include
everything, but remaining items will be included in
the next edition.
As we look forward to Christmas 2007, and next year, let us do all we can
to build up the spirit of community and co-operation. So many work so
hard to do that. My wish for all of you is that the Prince of Peace whose
birthday we celebrate on Christmas day may shine into your lives and
homes and that we all may enjoy health, peace and happiness in 2008.
We would like to thank all our sponsors. The
monies we receive from them is a very important
part in the production of the magazine as it
contributes to some costs and therefore enables us
to produce a magazine which is “value for money”.
I have enjoyed my year in Cloonfad/Granlahan and surrounding areas and
thank God for all of you. Wishing you all a very happy, Holy and peaceful
Christmas and every blessing for 2008.
Many thanks to the outlets who sell the magazine.
We appreciate your commitment.
God Bless,
Beannachtai,
Fr. Tommy Commins
6
Editors Words
We hope that you enjoy this year’s edition. On
behalf of the committee we wish you all a very
happy and holy Christmas and peaceful New Year.
Joint Editors
Noreen McGuire and Michelle Brennan
Committee Members 2007
Back Row: Terry Fitzmaurice, Anne Regan, Mary Regan, Michelle Brennan, Anne Jennings, Fr. Tom Commins, Brian
Flately.
Front Row: Jack Ronane, John Pa Burke, Noreen McGuire, Eddie Birmingham.
Missing from Photo: Elaine Bowens, William Lowery, Teresa Birmingham, John Dowling, Francis Greene.
Magazine Goes Online
www.cloonfad.org will be the ultimate Cloonfad website
From now on readers of Cloonfad magazine will be able to log on around the world and read the magazine thanks to a
new website, www.cloonfad.org will store back issues of previous editions of the magazine. Users will also be able to write
comments on the blog and the magazine committee will have their own cloonfad.org email addresses.
The website was designed by Lukas Birk and produced by Mark Godfrey. Austrian-born Lukas is a photographer and designer
currently based in Beijing. A graduate in Digital Arts with Photography at Thames Valley University London he has worked for
Time Out London magazine. His multimedia project, Kafkanistan was the result of several months filming and photographing
war tourists venturing into Afghanistan and the tribal areas of Pakistan. “By using the website readers can also suggest an
article, or write one, just by using the blog or sending an email to the editor,” says Birk. “Website users can use the blog to
write a comment on anything you like or don’t like about the site or the magazine.”
All of the back issues of the Cloonfad Parish Magazine will eventually be posted on the website. The Editorial Committee of
the magazine hope that readers around the world will use the website to keep in touch throughout the year and to make
suggestions on future issues of the magazine. Please add your messages, articles and photos!
7
The Coffin
Ships
John P. Burke
There is a “cumawlya” song with a line
that goes like this, “I have travelled
far, far from my own native land.” As
far as I understand it is of Irish origin,
Ireland is a small country and no
matter where you travel from it won’t
take long to reach the seashore, a
good bicycle should suffice your needs
of travel and don’t forget to bring your
oilskins.
Speaking for myself, between
business, football games and the odd
short holiday, I have done 31 counties
more than once, but there was one
county that seemed to have stayed
out of my reach and that was Co. Cork.
Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Waterford
– hundreds of times, but never Cork.
So this year, 2007, I decided to put it
right. I’m not writing this to tell you
about my travels in Cork county, but
some other aspect altogether.
It was my visit to Skibereen that
brought it to my attention, it could
as well have been Limerick, Galway,
Westport, Ballina or Derry, anywhere
along the western seaboard, but it
happened to be here. People my
age well remember when emigration
was rampant in Ireland in the fifties
and sixties. Compared to their
counterparts one hundred years
earlier, they travelled in luxury. They
were well fortified on departure
having done their medical in Dublin,
somebody in the US to claim them and
look after them and set them up with
a job. That didn’t mean it was any
easier for their fathers and mothers
they left behind, but if their parents
were lucky enough to live that long,
they saw their sons and daughters
make the return trip home many times
for the few weeks holidays and in
some cases the parents were brought
out to the US for their trips, which
helped to make the loss less severe.
All totally different to a hundred years
before that and now I will try to explain
why.
8
Around 1960 in Mrs
Conway’s in Ballyhaunis
late one night, quite a few in late on, a
couple of us drinking coffee and playing
the jukebox in the corner, others having
sandwiches and minerals. In the company
was a man named Tommie Horkan from
Coolnaha, a slightly built and inoffensive
little man, he ordered a rather sizeable
ice cream, about a shillings worth.
The jukebox had died off so Tommie
revved up with the song, “Why I Left Old
Skibbereen”, or to describe his diction
“Old Skib-a-rin”. Well Tommie wasn’t a
fast singer and with a big chunk of ice
cream in one hand and him waving his
arms around to demonstrate his lines,
the ice cream was going soft and dripping
on the floor and running up his arm, he
was making a mess of the floor, not to
mention the mess he was making of
the song. Mrs Conway was trying to get
his attention as to the situation but she
would be as well taking to the counter,
Tommie was enjoying himself and she
wasn’t going to spoil it. Eventually he
wound up and made an attack on the ice
cream, well it was all over his face and
jacket – some things one never forgets.
When I arrived in “Skib-a-rin” I thought of
T.H. To get back to the matter in hand, in
1845 there were eight million people in
Ireland, the vast majority of them were in
an area stretching from Donegal, west of
the Shannon river to Cork, most of them
living on plots of ground of about an acre.
A man, his wife and maybe ten children
had to be fed with potatoes three times
a day off that bit of ground; there was
also the exorbitant rent to be paid to the
landlord. Then the dreaded blight struck
and wiped out the potato crop two years
in succession. Starvation and disease
took over, death was all over the place,
bodies were buried in mass graves with
quick lime scattered on top of them, in
other cases they were piled into the huts
they lived in and the hut set on fire, so as
to prevent disease from spreading.
During this time the big farmers (all British
settlers) were exporting their crops to
Britain and getting rich, it was in stark
contrast to our part of the country. For
those who were able, emigration was the
order of the day, on the “coffin ships”
as they were called and they went to
America every day of the week. I never
heard of anybody coming out alive from
a coffin but some of them survived the
journey to America, the ones that died
on board were thrown overboard. One
boat on leaving Derry, having cleared the
Foyle estuary, toppled over and all 372 on
board drowned, a lot of the relatives were
standing on the headland watching, that
sort of thing was common, but for the most
part further out to sea.
The journey would take six to eight weeks
to complete and a passenger would have
to be in good condition to complete the
journey, food would run short as would
water, disease would spread and so on.
Some passengers couldn’t afford the fares
to escape so they sold themselves to the
captain of the ship and upon reaching
America he sold them on to the slave
traders in the Caribbean for the sugar
plantations, where they stayed until they
were declared free of charge. There is an
island called Montserrat and there are a
lot of Irish names there today, the Irish
slaves integrated with the African free
slaves in that place, with the result that
the Irish are black now also. A few years
ago a volcano erupted on Montserrat
with lava covering half of the island; the
residents on that half had to be evacuated
to other islands so that this island is now
down to half its population.
Those who were lucky to reach the east
coast of the U.S. found themselves no
better off than they were in the place they
left. They were treated the same as the
native Indians and the African Americans.
There was plenty of work alright, but they
had no word of English and their religion
was against them, for the crowd running
that place was the same clique that was
in charge in Ireland. The men got jobs
doing rough work, digging down deep and
climbing up high, which no other would
do and got badly paid, a mere existence,
more often than not they didn’t live
too long. The girls obtained domestic
employment from wealthy families in
big houses, on call 24/7 for a pittance.
There were a lot of tenement dwellings
being vacated and residents moving out
to better housing, these places were up
to ten storeys high and had developed
into slums, the Irish piled into them with a
family to a room.
There was one thing about America that
was not like Ireland, it was big with plenty
of room to move and in time a lot of
emigrants did. It is three thousand miles
from east coast to west coast so there was
plenty of scope to improve their lot, some
of them became farmers, they took over
big tracts of land out west and worked it
and after so many years it became theirs
to own. Others went to the gold fields,
some got lucky - the majority didn’t - but
they lived anyway. The army needed a
lot of men as did the railroads and they
were well capable of pulling their weight
anywhere. In order to get on, a lot of Irish
had to abandon their religion and change
their name spellings, the O’s and Mc’s
were forgotten about.
The ones that stayed in the cities
improved their lot as well, they became
more organised and demanded better
wages. They set up Catholic schools and
churches but it was often they got up in
the morning and saw the lot burned to the
ground. There were no specialist workers
among them, they just took what was
presented to them; the American civil war
was on so some joined up and got paid,
as with all wars a lot of people got killed.
When that was over some stayed with the
gun, they took to robbing banks and trains;
you had the Dalton brothers, the three
Delaneys and the James gang, and they
all died by the gun. Others went to Texas
and got jobs droving big herds of cattle
to Abilene, a task which took about six
months; when the drive was finished they
were all well paid but the problem was it
only took a week to spend it. The Lincoln
County War took place in New Mexico
in the late 1870’s, in which a lot of men
died; the majority of those involved were
Irish. The business people were at war
with the ranchers, the business fraternity
with names like Doran, Murphy and Dillon
had a corrupt sheriff by the name of Brady
backing them up .The ranchers hired Billy
the Kid to fight their cause, his real name
being William Bonney, his father came
from Co. Antrim but changed his name
to Bonney to make life easier for himself.
Billy killed the sheriff; Pat Garret set after
Billy and brought him to trial, he was due
to be hanged on 15 May 1879 but made
a daring escape and got away while they
were setting up the scaffold. With a five
thousand dollar reward on his head Pat
Garret stayed on his heels and after five
months shot him in an isolated hut in the
desert…….. anyway, enough of that.
Over the years on the east coast, through
weight of numbers and willingness to get
on, the Irish made themselves a force to
be reckoned with, I think St. Patrick’s Day
is testimony to that. Sure in little over
one hundred years since the great hunger
didn’t they produce an Irish president, the
African Americans are there five hundred
years and they haven‘t achieved that yet
but give them time.
Back to home, the people from round
Cloonfad probably got away from Galway
but in Skibbereen Bantry would have been
the escape route. In downtown Bantry
on the docks there is a monument of a
man and woman in period dress, both are
watching out to sea against the setting
sun, her with her hand over her eyes
looking into the sun, watching the ship sail
out of Bantry Bay and over the horizon,
no doubt with children on board, never to
see them again and maybe never even
hear anything of them after that. A lot
of our magazines go to Boston and New
York; I hope these readers realize what
comparatively privileged time they had
when they emigrated and even at that it
was tough on everybody.
Skibereen
“Skibereen” is known as the granddaddy
of all Irish famine songs. The town of
Skibereen is situated on the mouth of the
Mizen peninsula in West Cork, where 80
per cent of the population perished in the
famine. The name “Skibereen” became
almost synonymous with the Irish famine,
because of the many stories that appeared
in the London Illustrated News about the
horrors seen by reporters in the area. The
poignancy of the lyrics was a favourite
technique of balladmakers to arouse
sympathy in the audience. The song is set
in America where a young boy asks his
father why he left his native land.
Oh, father dear I ofttimes hear you
speak of Erin’s Isle
Her lofty scenes, her valleys green,
her mountains rude and wild
They say it is a princely place
wherein the king might dwell
So why did you abandon it the
reason to me tell
Oh son I loved my native land with
energy and pride
Until a blight came on the crops the
sheep and the cattle died
The rents and taxes were to pay I
could not them redeem
And that’s the cruel reason why I
left old Skibereen
It’s well I do remember that cold
December day
The landlords and their bailiffs
came to drive us all away
They set my roof on fire with their
demon yellow spleen
And that’s the cruel reason why I
left old Skibereen
Your mother too God rest her soul
lay on the snowy ground
She fainted o’er in anguish form the
desolation ‘round
She never rose but passed away
from life to immortal dream
And she found a quiet grave me
boys in dear old Skibereen
And you were only two years old
and feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with my
friends for you bore your father’s
name
So I wrapped you in my Cóta Mór at
the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh and said goodbye to
dear old Skibereen
‘Tis well I do remember the year of
‘48
When Erin’s sons they rallied ‘round
and battled against the fate
I was hunted through the
mountains as a traitor to the Queen
And that’s another reason why I left
old Silbereen
Oh father dear the day will come
when vengeance loud will call
And Erin’s sons will rise again and
rally one and all
I’ll be the man to lead the van
beneath the flag of green
And loud and high will ring the cry,
revenge for Skibereen
Next year I hope to do a bit on the U.S., for
with God’s help I hope to do the pilgrimage
again; with Knock Airport now open to
America it’s a temptation. I will write on a
9
lighter note.
Cuddles and Care is the name of a new purpose built
child care facility opened in Cloonfad in August 2007
by Miss Joelyn Keane. Designed by local architect
Michael Flatley and constructed by Noel Cosgove
Building Contractors this new building consists of
2,800 sq feet of modern, state of the art child care
facilities. It is designed with an emphasis on care of
children, with learning as its central focus. The crèche
caters for babies from four months old up to children
of five years and offers an after school service for
children aged up to eleven years of age. The facility
can cater for thirty children at any given time and is
open from 7.30a.m to 6.30 p.m.
Cuddles and Care officially opened its doors on August
17th 2007. Fr Tom Commins cut the tape and blessed
the building and all those who would work and stay in
it. The open day was a great success, well attended
by parents, children, neighbours and friends. All the
facilities of the crèche were on view for visitors. All
were impressed with the open plan of the building
and the variety of rooms. These include kitchen,
sleeping room, play rooms, montessori room, specially
designed toilets, staff facilities, ample parking, all
built to HSE Standards. There is CCTV Monitoring
both inside and out side the building and there is an
intercom system.
Cloonfad Creche
As well as a lovely spread of food Joelyn had Barney
The Keane Family pictured at the Official Opening:
and Shrek was there to entertain the children. There
P.J., Christina, Mairead, Margaret, Dolores, Joelyn and Bernie
was also a magic show which had the youngsters
looking on in awe at the tricks performed by Paddy
the Magician. Joelyn’s family were all in attendance to offer her support and together with her staff Lorraine Cummins and
Pamela Murphy provided a hearty welcome for all her guests.
In modern day Ireland where very often both parents from a home are working facilities like Cuddles and Care provide a
great service to communities. They provide a safe and secure environment where children can be cared for and as they grow
older learn through play. Play is one of the most powerful mediums of teaching children and if they do so in a structured
way then its all the better. Cloonfad is a growing community and its good to see facilities such as this grow along with the
increasing number of houses and a growing population.
Armagh, Paris and Buttering the Toast
Annie Hosty.
I went out for my walk that morning after
breakfast and was trotting along happily when
I fell. Now I’m not quiet sure why I fell, I must
It was a balmy day in August, and
have tripped on a stone or something. In that
I was on my holidays. My eldest
split second before I hit the ground I remember
daughter had just returned to Brazil thinking “oh no, hope I don’t break another
after the summer and I was visiting bone”. I landed very heavily on my wrist and one
my next daughter and her husband knee – I managed to bash my face too. Anyway,
in South Armagh for a few days.
I instinctively tried to get up, but I couldn’t. I
Every morning I went for a walk in
struggled and tried my level best but I just could
the beautiful unspoiled countryside not seem to get myself upright. I put my hand
where they lived. I like to go for a
in my pocket for my mobile phone to ring my
walk every day and South Armagh
daughter, but my pocket was empty. My mobile
is indeed beautiful – nearly as nice phone was at home. There was nothing for it
as Moigh!
but to sit on the side of the road (feeling like a
10
right lemon) and wait for some Good
Samaritan to come along.
A Good Samaritan did come along
about 15 minutes later. A lovely
couple in a car stopped. There were
very kind and asked me what had
happened. I told them I had fallen and
couldn’t seem to get up. The woman
asked for direction to my daughter’s
house and she drove away to alert
them while the man stayed with me.
After being sure I had not hurt my
back, he helped me to my feet. Ah,
that was better, I felt much better
being upright (sitting on a stony road
Armagh, Paris and Buttering the toast....
has a limited appeal). Shortly after that,
I was very pleased to see my son-in-law’s
jeep coming towards us. At this point,
I want to say that I was and am most
grateful to that lovely couple. They were
so kind and caring, may God bless them
always.
So I went to hospital – in Craigavon, which
is some distance from my daughter’s
house. There I was X – rayed, examined
and given blessed pain relief, for which I
was most grateful as the pain was quite
severe by then. The doctors and nurses
in the Accident & Emergency section of
Craigavon Hospital were super. Kind,
thoughtful, gentle and caring. Each one
introducing him/herself and explaining
carefully to me what treatment I was about
to have. Again, I will always be grateful to
them for their kindness.
The final diagnosis was: my left wrist was
broken, unquestionable broken and my
right kneecap seemed to have a hairline
fracture. So, a cast was put on my arm
and another on my leg. Now the casts are
know as ‘Plaster of Paris’ – I have to say,
as I gazed at my lumpy left arm and even
lumpier right leg that they did not look
even slightly Parisian! In fact, they were
downright ugly and heavy and lumpy. I
found the one on my leg (hip to ankle) very
heavy indeed – I could hardly move with it
and so I named it “the great monstrosity”
That night, I did manage to doze off – due,
no doubt, to the painkilling medicine I
had been given. However, my sleep was
short lived: I like to sleep on my side
so I went to turn onto my side but, oh, I
couldn’t seem to move. Very strange, so
I tried again. Now, my upper body moved
– but not the lower part. I was stuck! No
amount of struggling or wriggling was
going to help. The great monstrosity of a
cast was incredibly heavy and I couldn’t
possibly move it. (At this point, I have to
say it looked less Parisian than ever) so I
dozed on and off – lying on my back. I was
grateful indeed to see the morning.
Lights came on and there was the sound
of voices and laughter and teacups. I
cheered up immeasurably when I heard
the sound of the teacups. A nice cup of
tea and maybe a slice of toast was just
what I needed. I’d definitely feel better
after a cup of tea. The breakfast tray
arrived and was put on my over – the –
bed hospital table and I eyed it gleefully. I
just couldn’t wait! But first, I had to reach
the tray and that involved getting myself in
a sitting position. Usually a simple task,
however, my movements were hampered
by the great monstrosity of a cast on my
leg and the matching one on my arm. I
tried a couple of times but always when
I got so far, I kind of sagged back down
again. However, I am a very determined
sort of person so I decided if I didn’t try to
move the leg I would be ok – I ended up
sitting up alright – but about halfway down
the bed!
Feeling very triumphant with my
achievement, I pulled the tray toward me
and there was my breakfast. But how to
butter toast with one hand? (Try it, its
nigh impossible) “Never mind” I thought,
“Sure I can manage the cereal” But the
bowl on the tray was filled with the most
peculiar looking object. I peered at it
suspiciously, it was grey/white blob. No
other words to describe it – it was a blob.
I poked it experimentally with the spoon,
and found it was jelly – like. I wondered
what it might be. The other patients were
eating it so I wrested a spoon of the stuff
off the blob and brought it to my mouth –
pah! It was cold porridge! I can not abide
cold porridge. I usually have muesli for my
breakfast, but if I have porridge (which I do
like) it must be soft and fluffy and hot. (I’m
very particular about my porridge) I took
another spoon of the porridge, it only get
worse, it was lumpy too. I gave up on the
porridge. I briefly considered have some
toast, however, I can’t eat dry toast and
anyway by this time the toast was looking a
bit sorrowful so I decided against it.
Later on, my daughter arrived to visit me.
“Did you sleep well Mam?” she asked.
“No, I couldn’t turn onto my side” She
asked why and for answer, I tapped my
leg. “This plaster weights a ton, must be
lead in it” The poor girl then asked if I
had eaten well. I told her of the saga of
me and the porridge and trying to get in a
sitting position. “But how about the toast
Mam, you like toast” My reply was brief
and to the point “Couldn’t butter it, only
one hand you see and I can’t eat it dry”.
“Well” she said firmly, “that won’t happen
again” and it didn’t happen again. From
that day on, my dear daughter visited for
every single meal. She buttered bread,
cut up meat and vegetables, and poured
tea. How I envied her nimble young hands
as she effortlessly did these things! I
must say that I enjoyed my food from then
on, and as my mood improved, so too it
seems, did the food. Porridge was served
for breakfast every morning and it seemed
to be hotter and creamier as time went on.
The nurses were lovely and very good to
me. I appreciated their care very much
indeed. There was only one problem,
I couldn’t seem to understand their
Northern accents and they had equal
difficulty understanding my Western
accent. It made conversation somewhat
difficult. Once again, my daughter to
the rescue. Having lived in Northern
Ireland for several years now, she was
quite accustomed to the accents, so
she became my interpreter! It made life
so much easier. But still, I wanted to
go home. Home to the West, where I
could understand what everyone said
and nobody would be obliged to repeat
everything for me. I wanted to be with my
own people. Before I left it was decided to
remove the “great monstrosity” from my
leg. Oh I was so grateful to be rid of it – I
could have kissed the doctor (its okay,
I didn’t). My leg felt so light after they
removed it, I felt I could now walk – albeit
slowly. So, I bade farewell to Craigovan
Hospital and Northern Ireland. I was going
home – home to Roscommon Hospital.
So me, my goods and chattels and of
course, my beautiful Plaster of Paris cast
were put into my son-in-laws jeep and
we headed for the West. It was a long
journey and I was quite tired by the time
we arrived at Roscommon Hospital. There
was paperwork and all sorts of red tape
because I had come from another country
– Northern Ireland is part of the United
Kingdom while being part of the landmass
of Ireland. Eventually, I was settled in bed.
I spent a few days there and then was
transferred to the Sacred Heart Nursing
home. I was very comfortable there, it’s
sparkling clean and the staff are terrific. I
was soon chatting away to other patients
and I had loads of visitors. It was lovely to
see my other children and grandchildren.
Neighbours and relatives visited me and
those who couldn’t sent me lovely cards
and messages. I really appreciated the
kind thoughts and good wishes. It felt so
good to know so many people cared about
me.
I am still in the Sacred Heart Nursing
Home at the time of writing, however, I
expect to be home again quite soon. My
wrist was very badly broken and I was told
it will take some time to heal – but I am
getting better every day. Buttering toast,
I very much regret to say still defeats me
though! I very much look forward to being
rid of the plaster on my arm and the next
time I go walking in Armagh I will take my
mobile phone with me.
Martin Jennings, Gurteen, Tom McGuire,
Ballykilleen and Pat Jennings, Gurteen
taken in Dublin in 1950.
11
A Way of Life Now Gone Forever
Mickey Ronane, Ballykilleen
My memory goes back to the 8th of
May 1945, the day the Second World
War was ended. The teacher came
into school and told us the war was
over. Ireland and Cloonfad was a
different place back then to what it
is today. There was rationing of food
and other things. Everybody had a
ration book and the shopkeeper took
coupons from it whatever you were
allowed. Three loaves per person
per week or three pounds of flour
in lieu. A few ounces of tea and the
same of sugar and butter were also
rationed, as was petrol and paraffin
oil. Cigarettes were also hard come
by. There was an old lady who lived
in Ballykilleen, Ellie Mongan was her
name. She used to make Cigarettes
of dried tea leaves rolled in paper.
She used to call them “Battlespulls”.
Many a drag she gave me of one of
them as a young boy. There was no
electricity back then so the paraffin
oil was needed to show light in the
houses in the long winter nights,
when the women mended their
family’s clothes, darned socks, knitted
jumpers, etc. Even though there was
rationing of foodstuff, most people
were self sufficient. They would kill
a pig every year, they had their own
potatoes and vegetables. Every
farmer’s wife had a flock of hens so
they had their own eggs and chickens.
The surplus eggs were sold in the
shop to pay for the groceries. Turkeys
were reared and sold at Christmas. In
Cloonfad at the time when I was going
to school there was six shops and they
all did a good business. They were
two carpenter shops, a blacksmith, a
tailor, a dressmaker and a shoemaker.
Lynch’s had a drapery and footwear
business. Kilraine’s had a grocery
and hardware. Floods had grocery,
hardware and drapery business.
McCormack’s had the Post Office and
grocery. Fitzmaurice’s had a bar and
grocery and Birmingham’s had a bar
and grocery. At that time you could
buy the makings of a suit in Cloonfad
and take it to Greene’s, the tailors to
have it made. You could buy a shirt,
tie, underwear, socks and shoes in
Cloonfad. It was the same for the
women. They could buy the material
in Cloonfad for their dresses, coats,
etc and have them made by Babe
McDonagh.
12
Hay
Making
in
1948.
Kilraine’s and Burkes were carpenters,
Tommie Glennon was the blacksmith
and Tommie Brennan the shoemaker.
There were four guards in the barracks.
There was not much crime at that time,
the odd person without a light on their
bicycle, someone without shoes on their
donkey or their name not written on the
shaft of their cart. There would be the
odd fight in the old dance hall on the
Dunmore Road. Maybe the odd drunk
would be taken to the barracks and
locked in the cell which we schoolboys
used to call “The Blackhole” until he
cooled off. All harmless crime indeed.
At the time ninety nine percent of people
went to mass. A lot of them cycled or
walked a long way. A few would have a
horse and trap. The mass was said in
Latin and anyone chosen to serve mass
had to learn quite an amount of Latin as
the responses were in that language. In
the mid sixties it changed to the English
version as it is today. Back then Ireland
depended on agriculture. All the surplus
produce of the land was exported. Even
rabbits were exported to England as
there was a shortage of food after the
war. In 1949 there was five million
pounds worth of rabbits exported but
that trade died out after the outbreak of
Myrxamatosis in early 1953 which wiped
out the rabbit population.
The farm work was nearly all done with
the horse, ploughing, sowing, bringing
home the hay and turf, which was cut by
hand and spread with a wheelbarrow.
There were very few jobs about and
what jobs there were, were poorly paid.
Most of the young people emigrated to
England and America, mostly England
and sent home lots of money which
kept the home fires burning. During the
War years the Government brought in
a compulsory tillage act where farmers
were forced to till a certain percentage of
their land. Around here the holdings were
small and the land was poor so a lot of
people had to rent con-acre to fulfil the
conditions as most of the land was not
suitable for growing wheat. The old age
pension at that time was ten shillings
per week but in 1947 the Government
tried to drop the pension by one shilling
to nine shillings with the result that they
lost the election of 1948 to a coalition
Government. Hard times indeed.
From 1950 onwards rationing ended
and people could go to the shop without
a ration book. The odd car came about
the area. The older people used to hire
a car between them to get to mass on
Sunday as they were no longer able to
walk or cycle. The visiting house was
still a popular place as there was no
television at that time. There was no
piped water then. Everyone drew from
the spring wells that were dotted all
around the countryside. No pollution
then, the water was crystal clear, no
chemicals added. Eighty per cent of
the houses had thatched roofs but from
the early fifties the odd new house was
being built. Small builders started up in
business and gave employment to a few
workers. All of us schoolboys went to
school in our bear feet in summertime.
We all had work to do at home after
school in the evening, help save the
hay, save the turf, the harvest, pack
potatoes in the autumn. From the early
fifties onwards the tractor started to
replace the horse doing the farmwork.
There were no mobile phones, indeed
very few landlines. The only means of
communication was by letter. Manys the
letter was delivered around the area from
the emigrants by the postmen as they cycled
around the countryside with a welcome few
pounds inside. How nice it was to get a
letter in some town or city in England saying
thanks for the money you sent home and
telling you the news of the happenings at
home. The emigrants before my time had it
much harder in the early nineteen hundreds,
especially those who went to America. A
letter often took four to five weeks to reach
its destination as it had to go by ship. There
were no planes at that time. Those people
often worked in New York, Boston or Chicago
while there parents or brother or sister was
being buried here in Ireland and did not
know they had passed on for four or five
weeks until they got the letter from home
telling them the sad news. The older people
will remember the song “The Old Bog Road”,
some of the lines which go like this:
Mickey Ronane serving mass in 1947.
“There was I on
Broadway And heavy was
my load As they carried
out her coffin Down the
Old Bog Road”
That song would apply to a lot of villages
around here at that time. The writer of the
song was an emigrant to New York in the
late eighteen hundreds from Co. Kildare and
returned home from to Ireland in her twilight
years and is buried near Kilcock in Co.
Kildare. There have been a lot of changes in
Ireland since that time. Modern technology
has changed a lot with telephones, mobile
phones, emails, etc.
I have seen a lot of changes in my time
since the day the war ended in 1945. The
children no longer go barefooted to school.
No more do people go visiting houses. No
more boiling the kettle on the turf fire in
the bog and having the tea and sandwiches
made with bacon and homemade bread
and homemade butter. No more the sound
of the corncrake as it went crake – crake,
crake – crake through the meadows at night
and early morning. No more the horse and
cart bringing home the hay or turf. No more
the men making stacks of corn in the garden
or the sound of the trashing machine as
it trashed the corn in the autumn and the
winter. No more the scores of boys and girls
at the railway station as they boarded the
train on their way to England. No more the
cattle being walked to the fair in Ballyhaunis,
Dunmore or Ballinlough.
Ronane’s house in 1945
Best Friends for 50 years: Mary Kirrane and Nell
Prendergast Pollinalty. Both ladies died in 2006, only 5
months apart.
13
Kiltullagh Hill to Tora Bora
BBC’s man in Afghanistan on his days in
Cloonfad, Ballyhaunis
Alastair Leithead is a familiar name to
anyone who tunes in to the BBC. The
conflicts zones of the last decade have
become his home, from bomb-scarred
Baghdad to war weary Kabul. Few
people remember that the avuncular
Brit, a constant presence on BBC
television and radio news shows, spent
two summers around Cloonfad and
Ballyhaunis.
It’s a long way from green and peaceful
Kiltullagh hill to the sandy desert battle
zones of Afghanistan, the troubled
Central Asian state struggling to
emerge from thirty years of war. Born in
Newcastle Upon Tyne, Alistair, 36, came
to Cloonfad in 1991 while he was still
studying for a degree in Geography at
the University of Manchester. “Jarlath
Regan took me up Kiltullagh Hill and
told me it was the highest point in
Roscommon,” he recalls.
Several groups traveled from the
university to conduct research in
Kiltullagh, where a hill capped by a
ruined church is a dominant feature on
the local landscape. “It looked like a
lonesome little church but it turned out
to be quite a significant archaeological
site,” says Alistair. Supervised by several
professors, he and other Manchester
archaeology students excavated the
area beneath a stone inscribed with the
ancient Celtic ogham script which stands
on the highest point of the hill.
Alistair returned to Kiltullagh on his
own in the summer of 1992 and spent
six weeks traveling and working in the
surrounding area. “I went to the archives
in Dublin and researched the family
trees of some people around Cloonfad.
I talked to a lot of the older members of
the community for my research.”
A job behind the bar at the Manor
House hotel in Ballyhaunis helped
sustain his 1992 stay. The geography
undergraduate also helped the local
Regan family save turf and played on the
Ballyhaunis soccer team. “I was in goals
for a cup final and it went to penalties.
I missed my shot at goal but managed
14
By Mark Godfrey
to save one of the
opposing teams so we
won.”
An academic
background in
geography and a
couple of summers
poking around
Irish ecclesiastical
ruins gave Alistair
an itch for a career
as a journalist.
After graduating in
Manchester Alistair
went home to take up
a job as a reporter at
the Newcastle Upon
Thyme Evening News,
a popular title in the
northeast English city.
Two years there led
to a beat at the local
station of the BBC, covering local political
and business news. Producing roles on
the broadcaster’s News 24 TV programme
preceded the Newcastle man moved to
London’s BBC headquarters.
Seeking a change of scene, Alistair flew
to Cape Town, South Africa’s coastal
metropolis, in 1998, where he reported
as a stringer for the BBC. Life changed
when George Bush directed US troops
into Iraq in 2003. Alistair packed his
bags for the first of five reporting stints
in Baghdad. Stints in Johannesburg
and Baghdad were interspersed with a
month Miami covering the destruction of
Hurricane Kathrina which swept through
southern United States in 2005.
Having proven his ability to get the
news out of the chaotic Iraqi war
zone, Leithead’s next assignment was
Afghanistan. A 2006 Taliban resurgence
and thriving heroin poppy cultivation
meant there was plenty to report on.
Afghanistan remains a complicated,
troubled place today, says Alistair.
“Afghans had a lot of expectations in
2001 when international troops came
in and cleared out the Taliban but
unfortunately their expectations haven’t
really been met.”
The capital, Kabul, is doing “quite well,”
says Leithead. “There’s been a lot of
infrastructure put in place.” Cafés and
guesthouses serve a large NGO and
diplomatic community while a wireless
Internet system covering the city allows
Leithead to use his laptop across the city
to keep in touch with the BBC’s London
headquarters. Yet even in Kabul, the
bombs remain frequent. “We’re always
going to the sites of bomb blasts.
Other regions are far more dangerous,
particularly southerly Helmud province.
Alistair recalls the terror of being
caught in an ambush during a reporting
assignment there earlier this year.
A Taliban unit sprayed bullets and rock
propelled grenades while the reporter
and his BBC cameraman were riding in
a British army convoy. “We were taking
cover in a military vehicle packed with
fuel. The bullets were only inches over
our heads so yes it was bloody scary.”
The country’s ethnic and linguistic
diversity make it difficult to rule but
a “fascinating” beat for Alistair. “It’s
a country with huge problems,” says
Alistair. The Pashtuns, who make up the
largest ethnic group, supplied most of
the Taliban’s manpower. Uzbek and Tajik
minorities have taken both sides.
Standing between Russian-controlled Central Asia and the British
ruled India Afghanistan was fought over by both powers. Russia
saw the country as a route to India while the British succeeded in
occupying the country twice before a vicious uprising pushed them
back out.
Graduations
Its strategic location and meddlesome neighbouring powers
continued to stunt Afghanistan’s growth. A Communist-inspired
military revolt finished off the country’s monarchy, which had
ruled since 1747. Russia’s 1979 invasion plunged the country into
a devastating decade of war and repression. After an Americanbacked uprising drove the Russians out in 1989 the country
began its slide into a bloody civil war. An Islamic fundamentalist
movement, the Pakistan-backed Taliban, eventually took control of
Kabul in 1996.
Ultra-extreme in their interpretation of the Koran, the Taliban were
vanquished by a 2001 invasion of western military power but the
country remains shaky. “It’s very complicated and there’s a huge
amount of problems. No one is quite sure where it will go from
here,” says Alistair.
His reporting from the conflict zone puts Leithead in the elite of BBC
reporters working in dangerous places: Baghdad-based Jim Muir
and Charles Havaland, with whom he shares the Afghanistan beat.
Tommy Bowens pictured with his parents Mary
and Sean at the passing out ceremony from the
Garda College in Templemore.
War is also dangerous place to be however: Alistair’s BBC colleague
Alan Johnston, was held by militants for several months in Gaza
earlier this year before being released in a Hamas-arranged rescue.
Alistair’s bravery on the job has been recognized. The BBC crew’s
reportage from the Helmud ambush won them a French award for
war reporting.
From the banks of the Tyne to the waters of the Tigris, via Cloonfad,
and now the dusty villages of Afghanistan, Alistair Leithead has
gone from an ancient church on Kiltullagh to the frontlines of
modern history. He has stories worth telling.
Dr. David Gallagher son of John Gallagher and
Sheila Brennan Newtown who graduated from
U.CD with a PHD in Engineering
Pictured at the top of
Croagh Patrick on Reek
Sunday, July 1992 were
Alastair Leithead, Jaralth
Regan, Olivia Regan and
Marina Bowens.
Sheena Brennan,
Newtown,
Daughter of
Eileen and Sean
Brennan who
graduated from
Templemore
Garda College in
April 2007
15
Special Games
By Mark Godfrey
Woman with Cloonfad roots
was Ireland coach at the Special
Olympics World Games in Shanghai
In a summer of indifferent Irish
national team performances the
country’s Special Olympics team
was determined to bring some gold
home when they left Dublin Airport
on September 27. The flight to
the World Summer Games 2007
in Shanghai was a final lap in a
long road for the clubs and centres
across Ireland who had been
fundraising, training and dreaming
their way to the frenetic business
capital of China.
Family and friends paid an
emotional farewell to 143 athletes
and 55 coaches who spoke in all
the accents of Ireland as they filed
through the security check at Dublin
airport. Nearly 20 hours later, on a
balmy late September afternoon on
the other side of the world the Irish
athletes went to their rooms in the
team hotel in Wuliqiao, a downtown
neighbourhood of European-style
red brick mansions cowering below
soaring glass office towers.
Seeing athletes to their rooms and
helping sort the inevitable lost and
misplaced baggage tangles were
things Jackie Moran had practiced
for nearly as much as the drills on
a bocce, a game closely related to
bowls, which she has coached Irish
Special Olympics athletes for six
years at the Corrib Bowling club in
Galway
Daughter of Johnny Moran from
Lavallyroe, the village on the
outskirts of Cloonfad, Jackie was
“privileged” to wear the Irish
colours as a motor sports coach
for the 2003 World Games, held in
Ireland. Throughout 2007 she bookended a day job as an instructor
and sports director at the Brothers
of Charity in Athenry Jackie with an
evening drive across the county to
teach swimming and basketball to
Special Olympics athletes of Team
South Galway Special Olympics
club in the comfortable east Galway
suburb of Clarinbridge.
Jackie and her husband Thomas
16
Jackie Moran,Head
Coach with four of the
athletes going to China,
From left to right Joe
Walsh Leinster, David
Harris coach, Gary
Diamond, Connaught,
Patricia McNicholas,
Connaught, Carol
O’Rourke Leinster and
Jackie Moran.
both work in County Galway but
she retains close ties to Cloonfad.
“My uncle Mickey Moran lives there,
with his wife Denise and two boys.
We were brought up in Milltown,
County Kildare. Dad died in 1992,
aged 46 and we his family and his
brothers and sisters, knew of his love
for farming and the community of
Cloonfad we decided his final resting
place would be in the cemetery in
Cloonfad.” She keeps close to her
roots. “My brother Sean and sisters
Bernadette and Sinead and me
support and shout for Mayo at many
GAA football matches for him [father]
in his absense.”
Shanghai Stadium. Full of Chinese
dragons, pyrotechnics and East-West
symbolism, the ceremony opened
eight days of competition.
During the final training sessions back
home Irish athletes had been focused
on the fact that they are representing
their county and the sportsmanship
that goes with this responsibility.
Now they were following the Irish flag
in Shanghai Stadium, each wearing
a shamrock on the Irish team strip.
“There was a rush of pride from all
the athletes families and athletes, as
most of the team this is their first
time to represent their county,” says
Jackie.
Mayo and Roscommon were
represented too in the Irish Special
Olympics team. Always clad in their
green-white team strip the squad
used the few days before competition
to take in surrounding Luwan District,
a slice of old Shanghai built by French
colonialists a century ago on the
banks of the Huangpu River. Here
squad members followed local guides
to see the skyline and test Shanghai’s
cuisine of delicately spicy noodles as
well as sweet and savoury dumplings
in large, noisy restaurants opposite
the modern skyline of Pudong which
defines modern Shanghai.
Flags and festivities put away for a
while, Team Ireland now split up and
moved with each sport to districts
around Shanghai where specific
competitions took place. Jacqueline’s
bocce team played their games in
a gymnasium in Jia Ding district.
While athletes were competing
on the field, the Special Olympics
International was using the Games to
increase acceptance of people with
intellectual disabilities in China. The
China Disabled Persons Federation and
the 2007 World Games Organizing
Committee used the fanfare of
competition to get local political
leaders to attend a summit title “The
Well-being of People with Intellectual
Disabilities,” on October 3.
Chinese organizers, who had traveled
to Dublin to watch the 2003 Special
Olympics and replicated several
features of the Irish-organised
Games, such as the system of placing
national teams in particular towns.
“We were housed in hotels not family
homes, but the program was similar,”
says Jackie. “There was time set
aside for training, sightseeing and
shopping around Shanghai. We had
welcome ceremonies and dinners. We
had community visits and visits to
families in the community.”
To equal the opening ceremony of the
2003 Games in Croke Park, Shanghai
had hired acclaimed US television
events director Don Mischer to
produce the October 2 opening
ceremony at the 80,000-capacity
Shanghai was chosen to host this
year’s Special Olympics because
despite the economic growth apparent
in the city, China’s wealthiest, most
intellectually disabled people in
China share little of the hope and
the facilities which most of their
Irish counterparts enjoy. Membership
in local Special Olympics clubs has
increased dramatically most people
with intellectual disabilities live in
miserable conditions, particularly
in rural areas where intellectual
disabilities are regarded as a shameful
taboo.
Special Olympics chief executive
Timothy Shriver has frequently
declared China as the movement’s
“future” and Special Olympics has
energetically courted Chinese political
leadership and media in an effort to
change local perceptions towards
people with intellectual disabilities.
The Special Olympics was founded
in 1967 by Eunice Kennedy Shriver,
a sister of former US president
John F Kennedy, to increase
acceptance in the USA of people
with intellectual disabilities. Her son
Timothy Shriver has energetically
recruited athletes and sponsors,
particularly in developing countries.
One million athletes in 170 countries
are registered in Special Olympics
competitions.
Irish Special Olympics teams
have become meticulous in their
professionalism. Athletes had been
training for the Shanghai competitions
since January, explains Jacqueline.
“Once a month we have been meeting
for weekend training sessions,
between each session athletes train
with their centre. Coaches who fill
out log books which are used as a
communication link between club
coaches and head coaches. This has
been extremely effective.”
Coaches also had to second guess
Chinese weather, food and culture.
Competing in a far Eastern climate
was a drag too: autumn temperatures
in Shanghai exceeded 25 degrees
on some of the nine days the Games
lasted. “We even had a night of
Chinese food, music, and a lesson in
the Chinese language before we left
Ireland.”
In Shanghai training started to
show for Irish athletes who had
each been given a physical exercise
and nutritional program. Irish team
members competed in aquatics,
bowling, basketball, equestrian,
soccer and gymnastics as well as golf
and bocce. Athletes also competed
in badminton and table tennis, both
extremely popular sports in China.
“The world games competition
program is very intense, athletes will
need to be in top physical shape, in
order to first off deal with the long
flight and jet lag,” says Jackie. The
coaching team had invited family to
final training sessions where coaches
tested athletes’ performance under
the stress of competition.
with intellectual disabilities in China,
and elsewhere. A model for the kind
of dedication and energy the Special
Olympics depends on to achieve its
goals, Jackie, now back in Galway,
is hopeful that the Games made a
difference. “Hopefully China hosting
the World Games will make enough
of an impact to change opinions and
make the needed improvements in the
area of intellectual disabilities.”
Comboni Missionaries –
Priests, Sisters, Brothers
On a September Sunday morning as Mayo people were
planning to travel to Croke Park for the All Ireland
Ladies football final Fr. Tom introduced us to Fr Paddy
a native of Scotland. He and his colleagues were visiting
churches in the Tuam diocese to preach about their
missionary work in the poorer countries of the world.
In fact Fr Paddy also had a sporting event on his mind
- the never ending rivalry between Celtic and Rangers
who were also playing that very day. Fr Paddy left
us in no doubt that he would be flying the green and
white just as fervently I’m sure as the Mayo people
were flying the green and red on that particular Sunday
afternoon.
The Comboni Missionaries were founded by St Daniel
Comboni in 1867. Nowadays almost four thousand
Comboni Missionaries of many nationalities work in over
forty different countries world-wide, bringing the good
news of the gospel to the poorest and most abandoned
of the earth.
St Daniel Comboni founded the missionary society only
fourteen years before he died in the Sudan at the early
age of fifty. During his short life, by his enthusiasm
and dedication he inspired leaders of church and state
to commit themselves to the peoples of Africa and
moved others to become missionary priests, sisters and
brothers. Despite witnessing at first hand the disastrous
outcome of many missions in Africa his zeal continued.
Later as bishop of Central Africa he put into action his
plan to make the people of Africa apostles to their own
peoples.
The missionaries like all other orders rely on the support
of those people in the better off countries of the world.
Support requested is not only financial, good will and
prayer is equally important.
Fr Paddy spoke of his own missionary work in Malawi
- the dangers of disease and the extent of the poverty.
He was delighted to hear of the great work done on the
Mozamba project by the people of this parish. When in
Malawi he often had occasion to travel to neighbouring
Mozambique. He praised the theory of the African
people supporting themselves through the likes of the
maize mill project.
The Special Olympics wants better
facilities and recognition for people
17
Cutting and Saving the
Turf Long Ago
By Nora Jennings
In my young days cutting and saving the turf was
hard work. Early May everybody was off to the bog
usually by ass and cart. The men worked hard
cutting the turf. It was cut with an instrument
called a slane which looked a lot like a spade.
There would be someone standing on the bank
catching the sods as they left the cutters slane.
The sods were so cold and we didn’t have rubber
gloves in those days! It was a hard job. This was
called spreading the turf. There was a special
low wooden wheel barrow on which the sods were
placed it was wheeled out and emptied on the
bank until the bank was covered with turf.
After about two weeks the turf had to be scattered
out to help it dry. After a few more weeks the turf
had to be footed. That meant that the turf had to
be put standing, each sod against another, making
a little pole of five or seven sods. This was called a
“Groigeen”. This was to help it dry further.
Next it had to be changed out to the road ready for
bringing home. If the bog was dry you could take it
out with the ass and cart, if not it would have to be
wheeled out in the barrow.
My dad, R.I.P could bring four horse cart loads
home in the day, it was slow work but it meant
we had good fires for the winter. The fire was for
Nora Jennings & her sister Bridie Hosty who loved going to the bog when
she was at home on holiday
heating and cooking. Everybody brought their own food to the bog, also a can
of spring water and a kettle and teapot. About 12 o’clock everybody lit a fire
and put the kettle on. The tea was made in the teapot and tasted great. The
food was usually boiled eggs done on the fire or cold bacon and home make
bread, plain and currant. The youngsters would have custard and rhubarb
brought in jam jars. It was like a picnic. After we had finished our meal we
visited our neighbours at their banks. We had good fun.
There was no shelter from the rain in the bog. When it rained we turned up
the cart and got under it. I loved being in the bog. My daughter in law took me
for a spin there this year and it brought back so many memories, all very good
ones.
It was a very healthy place to spend time in.
May God be with the happy times of long ago.
MORAL
ABUSES
(taken from The Connaught Tribune 1932)
Submitted by Tom Lally
At Dunmore District Court on Tuesday Rev Father Burke,
C.C. objected to the granting of a dance licence for
Cloondalgan Hall. He said he was instructed by Rev.
Cannon Curran to oppose the licence.
He held that no proper supervision existed there. The hall
was seven miles from the Garda Station. A dance hall
should not be tolerated in this particular district, he said.
On moral grounds he was totally opposed to this hall. He
was afraid the granting of a licence would lead to very
grave moral abuses in that locality.
The justice said there was noting in the Act that would
justify him in refusing a license on the grounds stated. If
abuses are discovered there the matter could be brought
under the notice of the Civic Guards.
Father Burke asked if there was any rule under which
school children could be prevented from attending the hall?
The justice said he would put in a condition debarring
children from under 16 from attending unless accompanied
by parents or guardians.
18
Y
K
S
AS
TMMcDonnell
S
I
R
Silent night and the air is dead
CHitted by Liam
m
Sub
He flickers over the garden shed
Triangular hat upon his head
Apocalypse of deer and sledge
And saintly legends spawning
His chariot by bull is lead
Cloven hooves and eye made red
By the sharpened arrow of the hunter – bled
Always dying never dead
Ecliptic legends dawning
The horse of heaven the Zeniths sweep
While all of mortal earth doth sleep
Cassiop’s sliver horn shall peep
Startling pregnant resting sheep
With the Christ child gently yawning
But north goose wing in cold winds mourne
Hovering over the skys north horn
Hide her vulgar cruciform
Salvations lamb should stay unshorn
Till summers days returning
Early Years in Cloonfad
Complied by Margaret Acton (Jennings)
I started school on Friday. What wisdom.
There was no formal preparation, no
Montessori, no co-ed, no parent teachers
meeting, just a lot of common sense. I
can recall the smell of my first school
bag, a leathery smell, with two buckles as
it fitted snugly on my shoulders.
Miss Cunniffe who had a lovely
disposition and never raised voice, very
warmly greeted me. Ann Regan started
at the same time, and somehow between
been third cousins, having grannies
that were first cousins and friends,
and starting school together there is
an unspoken bond between us. Mrs
Flood presented us with an enormous
ice cream, I’d say it was definitely a six
penny, and this palace called school felt
not so bad at all, or as today’s youngsters
would say “cool”.
The school was located were two
dwelling house exist today, across from
Costcutters. It consisted of a big room
and a small room. The small room had
three rather formidable steps, or so
they appeared to a five year old. Junior
infants sat at the front and I wondered
what it would be like to progress up the
steps and reach the dizzy heights of first
and second class.
My grandmother, Agnes Jennings, had a
habit of calling to see me at lunchtime.
On one occasion I invited her in for
the rest of the day. I explained she
could walk behind me and nobody
would notice. She didn’t bite the
bullet and it felt like one of life’s great
disappointments.
I sometimes wonder while I remember
school as such a lively place,
particularly within this small and very
unsophisticated classroom. We made
extraordinary shapes with mala, partook
in plays and concerts both in Irish and
in English. Miss Cunniffe left us to get
married and was replaced by Mrs Fahy.
At this stage I had well progressed up
the stairs and was feeling like a senior,
before moving into the big room for
second class. This was definitely a major
milestone though it passed without
much ado. Mrs Flood introduced us
to the subject predicate and object
and their enlargement and had us all
prepared for secondary education. We
also had other extra curricular activities
especially Irish dancing. Nowadays while
we hear story upon story about physical
ad psychological cruelty bestowed on
children during the fifties, I wonder how
we were so lucky to practically escape all
forms of it, to my memory.
Though the boy’s school adjoined ours,
we had almost no interaction with them
at all, except that we all come out at the
same time. My abiding memory of the
boys was that they appeared to be so big,
almost gigantic, especially while I was
in the small room. I have since looked
through adult eyes at my own to sons,
David and Peter, how the Gurteen’s and
the Lavallyroe’s and the rest of them look
so enormous to me when they were only
Picture taken at Moore’s Stations in Carrowbeg were Patsy
Browne, Rita McHugh, Claire Moore and Mary Kelly
about ten or eleven years old.
We walked two miles home in gangs.
Mary O’Gara was my devoted minder
and did a great job. She was always
there and even advised me how best
to spend your pocket money, the grand
total of a penny. You could get an ice
pop in Floods with that amount, or two
smaller types in Kilraines, mysteriously
,manufactured by Mrs Kilraine herself.
Consumer choice was already taking
shape.
I learned a lot about group dynamics on
that tow-mile journey home every day.
It seemed wise to keep well away from
gigantic eleven year olds and hold on to
Mary.
The village pump provided ample
opportunity for budding scientists or
engineers to experiment on the attempts
to get the water out from a different
exit to the one originally designed. It
seemed utterly thrilling to me to see this
wondrous accomplishment, though I fail
to remember which Einstein achieved it.
These were the days before mobile
phones, texting, sky tv, atm’s, career
guidance, microwaves, central heating,
and probably chips and definitely before
pizza or take away. It was what my boys
referred to as “the olden days”. Though
we lacked some of the modern days
creature comforts, some of us thoroughly
enjoyed aspects of a less sophisticated
time in rural Ireland, and Cloonfad in
particular.
Taken at their Farewell party from the choir were Nan Fleming and Bernie
Donnellan.
19
The Rambling House
By Jack Ronane
We had a rambling house in Ballykilleen
known as Elle’s where the villagers called
into for a chat. Not many papers were
bought so they relied on local news in the
“rambling house”.
Elle had been in America in the beginning
of the last century and she had many
stories to tell. She also liked to have a bit
of a gamble, she played cards (twenty five
and snap).
A couple of younger people would come
in on pension day with the intention of
winning a couple of shillings but Elle was
well able for them as she was well able to
play cards.
We had a character known locally as
Podge. It was at the rambling house that
all the gossip of the day was discussed,
the price of cattle, the weather, the turf,
the local scandals such as they were and
the news from family members in America
and the U.K. There were no papers in this
company, most could not afford to pay for
a paper and fewer still could read one.
There was little to enthuse about at this
stage, poverty was rife and there was little
excitement, but superstition abounded.
Dreaming of Sovereigns
It is against this backround that Podge
went to Elle’s rambling house one winters
night. There was a motley crew around
the fire, a few married men but mostly
old bachelors and no women. There is an
age old superstition in rural Ireland that
if you dream about any matter on three
consecutive nights it will surely come true.
It is a bit like the two magpies for luck or
being crossed by a black cat or if you met
a red headed woman first thing on the
way to the fair you would never sell your
animals.
Podge opened a low key discussion on
sovereigns, their value and how they could
change your life if you had enough of
them. Innocently half an hour later Podge
said that he did not sleep well the night
before as he was dreaming that there
were sovereigns somewhere in the parish
of Kiltullagh. There was no comment. The
talk swung around to other matters and
that was that.
However, it was interesting that there were
a few more neighbours at Elle’s house
the next night. Still no word about dreams
about sovereigns but long pauses in the
conversation. Finally Podge asked had
anybody seen Tom and he hadn’t it out of
his mouth when in walked the two boys.
The suspense was unbelievable. Nobody
could ask the obvious question for fear of
being labelled a fool. An hour went by- so
intense were the ramblers that they let
out the fire and still no word about the
sovereigns.
20
Podge got up to go home and somebody
asked if he had heard anything about the
sovereigns. “Yes “ he said,” I nearly forgot
to tell you that I had a better dream last
night I couldn’t be sure , he said, but it
would appear that there are sovereigns
in John Mongan’s field. Podge said “sure
there are several acres in that field” “I will
see what happens tonight” he said,” “I
better go home early in case it happens
again”
The neighbours not need worry, the third
night there was standing room only in
the kitchen. Bill Maxwell and Tom turned
up and it was like the United Nations
waiting for the President of the United
States to address it.”Any news” said an
old bachelor, Tom.” “Plenty of news” said
Podge, “some good and some bad. The
good news is that I had a disturbed night
with the longest dream I ever had.” In
the dream there were sovereigns in John
Mongan’s field thirty yards due north of
the lone tree in what and is still called the
Lane. Now everybody knew where the lone
tree was and so the dream was correct
in that respect. Podge said not everybody
could dig. In fact he said the digging had
to be done between the unearthly hours
of 2.00am to 5.00am ,only three could
dig and in the dream Podge picked three
candidates that were likely to be the
most gullible of the lot. It is significant
that the three he picked could neither
read or write, would not do well in an I.Q.
test and were certainly not amongst the
literary figures of the time. Podge said
the candidates were not to utter a word
to anybody. Should this happen the
sovereigns would automatically disappear.
There wasn’t much that the rest of the
ramblers could do. A few were more than
a bit sceptical but if the divide was to be
made as agreed they would have to keep
their counsel to themselves. No more
visiting in Elle’s house was recommended
until the dig took place.
The Lone Tree
The three diggers, Podge Tom and Bill met
on a Thursday night at 2.00am under the
shelter of the lone tree. It was a black, wet
winters night but who cared. Bill walked
30 paces due north and the dig began
like the devil. At 5.00am exhausted, wet,
tired and a little cross they called a halt.
There was a big hole and no sovereigns.
The next night all met again and Podge
had a further dream. “Yes” he said,
it appeared that the directions were
not right, the dig should have been 30
paces due south and he also mentioned
something about a fairy fort. Undaunted
the dig started again. The diggers were
getting cranky with one another and the
sweat was pouring out of them. Podge
left early to go home to see if the dream
would continue and made arrangements
to meet the following night. He did not
actually go home, he hid behind a clump
of furze within earshot of the diggers and
they certainly had plenty to hear. Even
the diggers themselves were beginning
to doubt the dream. One said Bill was a
practical joker, which he was. Another
said Tom could not be trusted to join you in
the rosary! The two boys got the messagesomething would have to happen on the
third night. All met again at 2.00am on
Saturday night. The mood was vile, Bill
was told if the sovereigns were not found
by 5.00am both Bill and Tom would be
buried in the two holes. Podge suggested
that they widen the hole already made, the
sovereigns were very close to that. All hope
was gone by 4.00am with only one hour
left their future was disappearing before
their eyes.
A few minutes later a digger doing his stint
at the bottom of the hole thought he heard
the spade hit something. Very gingerly he
poked again, this time the impact of the
spade on the “something” was heard on
top of the ground by the other two men.
The air of excitement got so great that the
two on top were afraid that that the man at
the bottom might be able to claim “finders
keepers,” they both threw themselves
on top of the poor devil at the bottom.
Readers will realise that the deeper you
dig a hole the invariably the bottom gets
narrower. This hole was no different. There
was pandemonium down in the hole. The
man at the bottom was trying to get his
breath whilst the others were trying to
touch what looked like a pot of sovereigns.
Podge, hiding behind the furze, ran to their
rescue and extracted all of them out of the
hole. The storm lamp or lantern was then
lowered into the hole with all eyes piercing
the winter darkness. Podge took absolute
control of the situation. “Stand back boys”
he said, “there is a pot and there are
instructions written in fairy language on
top of it” “Can you read fairy language?”
they enquired. Luckily he could. He told
them that the white writing said that it was
a pot of sovereigns but that if the lid was
taken off it would disappear before their
eyes. Of course all wanted to grab it. Never
a poor day again, images of new bicycles,
new suits, not to speak of better meals
on the table all crossed their minds like
electric pulses.
Tom kept on reading. The sovereigns
could not be divided until the following,
Sunday, after last mass in Cloonfad. Tom
undertook to act as custodian of the find
ably assisted for greater security by
Podge.
Dividing the Sovereigns
Next morning the news hit Cloonfad
about the dig. It was on everybody’s
lips. How much would each man get?
How many would get it? Would it greatly
affect their lives?
Counting the chickens……. it is now
worth pointing out, by sheer coincidence
that Tom wore a brand new suit to mass
that morning. In today’s terms that was
like going to New Zealand for a holiday.
To make matters even worse Jimmy
Mannion took custody of his new bicycle
earlier that week and gave it it’s maiden
voyage to the 8.30am mass earlier that
morning. The tongues were wagging
already. There must be something in
the story. It was also worth pointing out
at this stage that Tom and Bill placed
a skillet full of golden cow muck at the
bottom of the already dug hole that
night before and got a slate to put on
top of it. Believe it or not that slate is
still available today. Tom knew how to
print Roman numerals with chalk -- this
was to become the fairy language. At
precisely 12.30pm after second mass in
Cloonfad the three diggers were sitting
on top of the Cloonfad bridge waiting
for their part of the loot. As the minutes
passed by there was no sign of either
Podge or Tom despite the fact that both
their houses were within a stone’s throw
of the bridge. The diggers could not
take anymore. They marched down to
Podge’s house. After knocking on the
door, Podge’s mother being a sensible
woman who knew her son could pull
tricks on anybody she advised the men
to go home. There were no sovereigns
and she did not know where her son
was. This only made the diggers even
more angry. “We dug out the pot, we
had it in our hands so now we know that
your son and Tom are gone away with
our treasure.”
Police Intervention
Podge threw the pot into a dirty glory
hole at the end of John Mongan’s field
on leaving the site the night before.
Well there was not much else he could
do with it. The lads spent several hours
that Sunday afternoon looking for Podge
and Tom whilst the parish was buzzing
with excitement. When Podge and Tom
couldn’t be found what do you think
the diggers did? They hit for the police
barracks in Ballyhaunis to steak their
claim on the sovereigns and to pull the
whistle on the runaways. For several
days afterwards the police combed the
area. They saw the holes and could be
forgiven for thinking that something did
happen. By now the pot had gone to
the bottom of the glory hole so Podge
could not show where the silly old pot had gone too. The evidence, one way or the
other, was missing. The police took the unusual step of informing the Department of
Social Welfare who immediately stopped the meager old age pension that was paid to
Podge’s elderly mother. This caused ructions in the house for weeks afterwards. It was
only when the police put the boot into Podge with the threat of litigation that led him
to literally wade into the glory hole to return out with the pot, it’s contents and the grid
iron. So incensed was the mother over the withdrawal of her pension and her absolute
belief that Podge caused the whole episode to happen she waited in a strategic
position inside her gates until he was passing, all dressed up in his new suit on the
way to the market in Ballyhaunis. She duly showered him with the nights contents of
the piss pot. And so ended a dramatic event that yielded everything except sovereigns.
This story was recounted to me as a young lad in the early 1960’s and by nobody else
other than Podge himself surrounded by at least seven or eight neighbours on the
occasion of we putting in hay for Tommy.
I was supposed to be earning a few pounds with the tractor .It never stopped raining
for a full month before that and Tommy had only one thing on his mind and that was
to get his hay in. However, when Tommy brought us into the dinner Podge began to tell
us that story and I became so enthralled with it I literally forgot to eat my dinner. It was
only after two long hours that Biddy gave me a touch on the shoulder and said “in the
honour of God will you use whatever little sense you have and go out and bring in the
hay before we lose everything”.
That ended the famous sovereigns. All the characters have gone to their eternal
reward but I cannot imagine Podge acting as a normal angel!
May they all rest in Peace.
THE
CLOONFAD
RIVER
By Peter Roberts
Living midst the monsoon rain,
Leeches, floods and fever pain,
My thoughts fly time and time again
To the winding Cloonfad river.
Cait McCormack
pictured at her
Graduation in 1962.
Past Kirrane’s to Regan’s spring,
Many a trout leaves a spreading ring,
While under the bridge the ripples sing
Of the peaceful Cloonfad river.
Twisting and turning by meadows green,
A dry stone wall, a small boreen,
Perhaps a gentle eyed colleen,
Beside the Cloonfad river.
A few short years and there I’ll be,
Five thousand miles across the sea.
With rod and line, from cares all free,
Fishing the Cloonfad river.
21
Here is the Weather Forecast
It is the 1st of August, 2007, as I am
watching the tail end of the news read
by Bryan Dobson. The main headline: It
was ladies days at the Galway Races and
they got soaked to the skin by a heavy
shower. And on that depressing note,
I will hand you over to the delectable
Evelyn Cusack for the weather forecast.
Evelyn: I am pure sick of this weather,
it’s enough to give you the humps. A
deep trough of low pressure over the
Atlantic is moving in over Ireland where
it will remain stationary for the next year
and a half. It will be blustery, gusterly
and totally disgusterly over that period
for the most part. Christmas day looks
like being the best day of the year, but
if you are going out, don’t forget your
oilskins. Saint Patrick’s Day will be a
bit brighter, with not as much sleet or
high winds. Good Friday, well I think we
can name that Bad Friday for the future
because you will need to wear something
resembling a space suit for that day at
least. We will take a commercial break
because I have to run.
There was a break for a Kit Kat, six
Clydesdales ploughing through the snow
with a load of barrels of Budweiser, we
had a look at them out in Portugal lying
in the sun and dancing the night away.
Lemsip got their message across by
telling us to drink more of their juice to
prevent cold and flu’s. Flavahan’s man
was running down the road with wet
snow hitting him in the face.
Evelyn: I didn’t know if it was something
I ate, but some people say it’s in the air,
a lot of people have it. You should see
the speed Bryan Dobson left the chair.
But back to the thing in hand, rain will
get into all corners for the next while and
maybe a bit longer. The wind will blow
from every direction. The good news is
there won’t be any frost for the month of
August. So that’s it for now, you won’t
be seeing me for the next year as I am
heading to Australia as I have secured a
position shearing sheep. If you had any
cop-on you would get out also. And so
finishes Evelyn.
The summer season of 2007, hasn’t
it been dreadful. To get to the point, it
was the worst I ever saw. 2006 was a
wonderful summer, weeks and weeks
of warm sunshine everyday, sometimes
it was even hot. With all this talk of
Global warming and melting ice, we are
going to get wetter and milder winters
but warmer summers. In January of this
year, some common “amadán” predicted
a great 2007. The newspapers got
hold of it and printed the good news. It
certainly wasn’t Met Eireann who made
22
the forecast, they will give you for five
days and even at that they can get let
down; such is the unpredictability of
our climate.
The Irish people, where some of them
still believe in “the little people” and
“pishrouges“ will believe in anything
they read, I found it annoying to hear
smart people on about this fine year
we were going to have, when I took
it with a pinch of salt. With the way
it turned out they got a reality check,
come next year they will do the same
thing all over again.
The month of April, there was never
anything seen like it, the first weeks
temperatures in the low twenties. As
the month wore on, better it got. May
cooled off a bit with quite a bit of rain,
which was no harm as that was good
for the land. Grass growth was at
record levels, turf that was cut in April
was doing fine, such an abundance
of flowers on trees were never seen
before or might never again. The end
of May and the first days of June the
sunshine took off again. I remember
the 3rd of June, a Sunday, what a
glorious day. I was out travelling over
Castlebar, around Kiltimagh and back.
There were people out everywhere
enjoying the sun. People out walking,
sightseeing, hill climbing, a record
crowd at the races in Roscommon,
the pubs were crowded with people
enjoying a drink. I heard one man say,
“If this is the war, that it may never
end”.
By John P Burke
be any better. The 15th August made up
for it, when there were downpours every
half hour for those who were walking
to knock. It wasn’t until the last week
of August when the weather began to
settle down a bit, that the people began
to get a bit of respite. By that time a lot
of people had made alternative holiday
arrangements and got on planes at Knock
to get away from the depression.
I remember bad summers down thought
the years but 2007 took the biscuit. There
were times when it was bad, farmers got
bad dry hay but this year, they couldn’t get
silage.
I remember 1954 or was it 1955,
September, the heavens opened. There
used to be a lot of oats sown those times.
I remember seeing the oats flooded in
the fields, there was very little of it saved.
Farmers who had stacks in the fields
that were left there, were invaded by a
plague of rats. There were thousands of
them everywhere. That time the Corrib
Drainage Scheme hadn’t reached our
area, and from the bridge over from our
house to Cloonfad would be a lake after
a downpour, only the tops of the fences
could be seen. When the flood started
to subside, there would be pools left in
drains and there would be hundreds of
little sprats (fish) trapped, there left to die.
The “catty-adha” grey heron would have
a royal time for a week or so. The flood
would also bring up a right shoal of trout
from the bigger rivers, which would be
availed of by the locals.
My turf in the bog was getting over
dry, had two days bringing some
home. Wednesday morning didn’t
look good but I went anyways. I had
just landed when it started raining. I
thought it might be only a temporary
thing, little did I know it would be ten
weeks before I would get back again.
Silage making got off to a flying start,
beginning in the middle of May in some
parts of the country. Wednesday, 5th
June, we had some rain, thought it was
only a hiccup, it would threaten to clear
up, only for it to start again and get
worse.
We had a mobile foul cabin at our place
and during the summer it was towed by
the ass down near the river and the geese
and ducks would be housed therein.
They would have to be closed up every
night on account of the fox. I used to like
letting them out in the morning to see
them make a mad dash for the river and
screams of delight from them. One night
the monsoon came and in the morning
the lake was to be seen. I had to wade
through two or three feet of water to open
the door of the cabin. The sight wasn’t a
pretty one, the geese survived but half the
ducks were drowned. Now if you didn’t call
that rotten luck, I don’t know what to say.
Eventually all farm work came to a
halt. The downpours got heavier.
Sports fixtures suffered as a result.
Newspapers showed people in those
places with wellingtons, umbrellas and
raingear.
I like looking at the weather forecast when
the weather is good but not when it is the
other way round. As of now i’m staying
with Martin King. I often think of Evelyn
and how she is managing dagging the
sheep in Australia.
One exception being “reek” Sunday,
where it rains even during fine weather,
it was brilliant for the climb, couldn’t
That’s all for now and I will leave you with
news headlines.
Leaving the big smoke
Growing up in Dublin was great for me
but as you get older and have children
of your own you want what you think
is best for them. I have 5 children and
live in Cloonfad with my partner Tony
and 3 of my children for the last year
. Me and Tony loved to travel around
Ireland and see the countryside. We
always said we would love to live in the
country but never did anything about
it, until last year.
Where we lived in Dublin was very
rough .You didn’t know when the next
person was going to be killed and
what time or day your child would
walk in the door with a syringe stuck
to their finger. It was time to think
about the quality of the life the kids
where having and it was bad. I was
talking to a friend of mine one night
about the whole situation and she
told me how to go about the BIG
MOVE .Apparently she was thinking
about it a few years back but didn’t
have the guts to do it .The following
Monday, when the kids where gone
to school I made a phone call to
Rural Resettlement and explained my
dream. I was giving an appointment
for 2 weeks later which was June 06. I
went to see a man called Derek, who
explained that they look for a house
in the country and I except if I like it
.I told him my preferred location and
asked how long it would take and he
said anything from 2-8 weeks. I have
to say Roscommon was not on my list
but life is full of surprises. I went home
and told the kids and Tony about my
day and needless to say the kids were
not happy .There was nothing else
said on the matter till I got a call from
Derek 2 weeks later .I got the phone
number and address of the house and
Life Gallery
Having had the privilege recently
of caring for our elderly citizens,
I would like to share a few of my
experiences with you. I must begin
by stating that time shared with such
wonderful people has totally enriched
my life. I listen to their stories, some
very sad indeed, what coping skills
they found that help them deal with
whatever life threw at them, but the
single most prominent gift all of them
clearly displayed was their Faith and
travelled to see it. It was in Frenchpark,
a beautiful house but a little too rural.
I went home and rand Derek and told
him I didn’t want that house unless he
was supplying a helicopter with it . He
rang me 2 days later and said he had
another one for me to look at so I took
the details and thanked him for his
time. I have to say I was not hopeful
after the first house but they say good
things come to those who wait and boy
did they come. I arrived in Cloonfad on
the Saturday morning to see this house
and I was hooked. The big move was
on. We moved on the 25th of August
2006. I remember the day so clearly,
it was raining cats and dogs and my 2
eldest kids had left Dublin before me.
I told them they could walk to Cloonfad
from Ballyhaunis in half an hour, they
gave out for a week afterwards. When
they got to the house the key would
not open the door so they went to the
house next door and told the girl their
problem. She was so friendly and even
gave them a cup of tea, this was strange
to them because that does not happen
in Dublin. That girl even collected me
from the train station and I remember
thinking she does not even know me
and she is helping me out, the person is
one of my best friends now. We found it
very difficult at first to even understand
what people where saying, but we soon
coped on. The first night we went to the
local every one turned to see who had
just sat in the pub but they got to know
us and that all stopped but even now
I find myself turning my head to see
who just walked to the pub , its funny
how you pick up habits. When I moved
I remember seeing trailer loads of turf
being driven up and down the village
By Tina Casey
thinking where do you buy that, well now
I know. In Dublin you pushed a button
for instant heat down here you push
a wheelbarrow around the bog to get
your heating. I felt every ache and pain
that I endured the first few days I was
introduced to the bog. Things are done in
lots of different ways in the country, take
my daughter Jasamine for example, she
was making her confirmation this year,
she was in the St Patrick’s Day Parade
in Cloonfad and was all talk about her
outfit, she wanted this skirt, that top
and another colour, well she was in for
a reality check. She came home one
day all annoyed because she had to
wear her uniform for her confirmation. In
Dublin you see girls going up to the alter
in short tops and belts for skirts. She
soon got used to her new way of life and
even joined the football team, now she
is one of the lads and very happy. My
son Martin settled in eventually. He was
used to having street after street to walk
up and down and now he has just one
street but has a lot more happy days. He
is very eager to get used to the country
life, if he is not helping someone herd
cattle he is doing something else, but he
has no problem swapping his city shoes
for a pair of wheelies.
One thing that has being a problem is
getting work but I suppose when we get
a car that will sort it self out. I cant see
me going back to Dublin in the near
future and like they say in Dublin, I am
part of the furniture. I would like to thank
everyone that welcomed us to Cloofad
and say a special thank you to the close
friends we have made for being there
and getting us through the hard times.
A certain man said to me one night, the
best thing you did in Dublin was took the
road to the west, and he was so right.
By Mary Bowens
total trust in God. This devotion was
overwhelming and found in each person
daily. Prayer was the most important
aspect of their daily routine with their
rosary beads always close by.
I eagerly listen and hear how difficult
life was back then, what little comforts
they had, how hard they all worked, both
inside and outside the home, mother’s
rearing large families with no running
water or electricity, while father’s worked
from dawn till dusk tilling the land, sowing
whatever would return the best crop, and
in between seasons working on the rivers
and roads in order to support and provide
life’s essentials for their young family.
Some older members emigrated to
America and other countries to send
home whatever they could gather, helping
to rear their younger siblings. One lovely
23
old lady I met comes to mind. One day
I stood to admire a photograph of a
beautiful young woman on her dressing
table. Looking at it, I first though it was
Audrey Hepburn in one of her famous
cowboy films, beautiful dark hazel eyes
and sallow skin are framed by thick shiny
auburn hair falling gracefully on elegant
slender shoulders. A beautiful smile
displays perfectly white pearly teeth,
making this face film star quality. She
takes it, and holds it in her frail trembling
hand, looks up at me and smiles saying
“that is me agra” . A look of pride but
sadness crossing her aging face “yes that
was taken in the Golden Swan Studies
in Manhattan when I was just 18” then
laying it down she begins to tell her story.
“I was the eldest of nine, times were
very hard here money very scarce. My
youngest brother was just born when my
aunt and uncle took me to America. I
remember clearly being so lonely and
cried most of the first week on that
immigrant ship memories of my goodbyes
to my parents at Cove, flooded my mind.
I was just sixteen. I suffered extreme
seasickness but the feeling of loneliness
and now being totally on my own was
worse. I sometimes wished I could die
or that tall ship would even sink like the
Titanic did shortly before. Distinctly I
remember feeling, there’s worst than
death. Eventually we reached Ellis Island.
My aunt and uncle were there to meet
me. I was so happy to see a familiar face
at last. They treated me as their own
daughter and soon got me housekeeping
for a very rich Jewish family in 5th Avenue,
nearby. This picture was their Christmas
present to me.”
“They dressed me up and took me to this
upmarket studio, had this picture taken
and sent it home to my family in Ireland.
How proud my parents were and hung
it on the parlour wall, were it held this
position for many years, until I returned
and had my own home”
“After spending 12 years in New York
and my fortune secured I was told My
Match was Made. – Yes my father had
a husband arranged for me near home.
He wrote me a letter telling me, this
is a good man for you Nora, - a good
provider and saver. He has a nice piece
of land and 2 horses, you won’t want for
anything in that home. So obendiently I
returned and soon married a man almost
24
20 years older. I found being back in
the country very difficult and extremely
lonely. I cried a lot and prayed every
day for strength to go on, worked very
hard helping on the farm, milking cows,
feeding pigs, haymaking, and saving the
turf. “ Helping my husband was what
Good Wives did, I was told daily by my
Mother in Law” Looking back now, God
was very good to me and believe it or not
I even grew to “like” my husband” she
says with a little cheeky smile. “Yes, he
was a good man, God rest him – never
saw me short of anything and was kind
always, providing plenty of fresh food
for the table. We were blessed with
three children, two of them immigrated
to Australia many years ago, they come
to see me as often as they can, but I
understand they have their own lives,
and families now.” Tears fill her eyes
and by now her grief is palatable as she
continues. “I buried my youngest son, a
fine strapping boy in his early twenties
when he contacted the dreaded TB.
There was no cure for that cruel disease
back then. The sanatoriums were full
this was like a great plague sweeping
this country in the forties and fifty’s,
brushing back a tear and taking a deep
breath, she sadly whispers at that time
I wished to die as well, my whole world
crumbled. I cried every day as I walked
to his grave while I sat and prayed for
many hours. Then one spring morning
a strange Peace came over me, and a
voice in my head seamed to say, “You are
selfish, remember Our Children are only
lent to us to care for a while”, then some
times God takes them back. From that
day on I didn’t cry I prayed to him and I
know every day my prayers are answered.
I am happy with the thought I will meet
him again soon.”
What wonderful faith this lady has and
what a wonderful human being she is,
never learning how to cope with life’s
crisis from Text Books, modules, or
endless counselling sessions, but from
experience Living Life with all its troubles
and sadness, and still managing a smile,
and total acceptance of God’s Will. She
is certainly a shining example to all.
Further down the corridor, I enter the
room of a tall stately gentleman, even
now, very advanced in his eighties he still
holds the look of strength. On seeing
him I immediately think to myself this
certainly must have been a fine man
in his prime. His cheerful face and
pleasant smile is a joy to see. He is so
grateful for any little help given, always
ending by saying God Bless You – and
“Yours” his large worn hands, clearly
state how hard this man has worked
all his life, he begins to tell me, “I have
spent most of life in England I know
nearly every part of it having spent sixty
years there. I first went to Scotland
when I was twelve years old, picking
potatoes with my father a three older
brother, I found this work very hard, and
often cried with pains in my fingers. The
first few days were hell till your body got
used to it. A large horse and cart moved
beside you, pressuring you to keep your
basket emptied on time and making sure
you kept up pace with your co-workers.
When we finally got paid, our money was
safely posted in a registered letter to my
mother where it was like Manna From
Heaven and wisely used to feed eight
hungry mouths. I slept in galvanised
huts on bales of straw and often didn’t
sleep at all because of the bitter cold.
On frosty nights my feet were numb and
OH how I longed to be back home sitting
by a warn turf fire, with my mother telling
us ghost stories as she cooked on the
hearth’s stone – Wishful thinking it was
indeed. I knew I must stay the money
was badly needed.”
“I moved into the city next and began
working on the railways. This too was
backbreaking work. A large open wagon
picked us up at six each morning we
travelled for miles, sometimes wet
through, before we even started work.
But those ‘Contractors’ showed no mercy
– work was the name of the game. I
worked with men from almost every
nationality and got on well with most.
I sent money home each week and
brought my younger brothers and sisters
over when they were old enough. I
enjoyed my life he says with a quick smile
– never married, didn’t have the time I
suppose, although I enjoyed dancing and
meeting ‘Lovely Ladies’ in the Irish clubs
and dancehalls – yet never proposed
to any of them. I enjoyed a pint – or
‘two’ and the ‘craic’ with lads I always
paid my way and could look all human
beings straight in the eye for I owed them
nothing. Most of my own family are dead
now, God Rest them. Sometimes I get a
little lonely as my mind wanders back to
bygone days, but I try to remain cheerful.
I enjoy my food, a game of cards and the
local newspaper. I pray a lot.” Again I
leave this room thinking to myself what
a true gentleman this is, what good
qualities he possess, and how many of us
could learn from this example of honest
and dignity.
As I walk past the sitting room door
laughter fills the air, as usual Katie is
entertaining,. This lady is so ‘witty’
and ‘jolly’ she is like a breath of fresh
air. Maureen Potter at her best. Even
now suffering badly from Arthritis and
many other health problems she never
complains. Her motto in life is ‘ Laugh
and the world laughs with you’ – ‘Weep
and you weep alone’, she enjoys the local
radio and often takes the floor displaying
her dancing skills whenever Irish music is
played. Quickly I complement her talent
and good humour, and suddenly she
begins to give a quick history of her life.
She giggles and flashes her eyelashes
announcing “You Know I was a Stunner
in my Hayday’ - never had trouble
getting any man! “We danced in country
houses back then. The war was on and
everything was rationed, there was no
facepowder or rouge to be got anywhere,
and as the fashion trend of the day
required girls to have a beautifully
Peaches and Cream completion. – With
Rosie cheeks being an important feature.
I cleverly improvised using a little flour
and damp red tea papers, when wet
those gave a Lovely Glow to the skin,
especially under the light of the old oil
lamp. I was told on many occasions
I was a ‘Real Smasher’. My mother
God rest her did her utmost encouring
me to join the Louis Nuns in the local
convent highlighting the lovely peaceful
life those holy women led, but I certainly
had different ideas and totally ignored
her wishes. When I became seventeen
I joined my older sister in London and
settled into city life very quickly. We
worked hard in a local factory, earning
good money, but OH! I longed for the
weekends. We spend Saturday ‘dolling’
ourselves up trying new cloths, new
hairstyles, and practicing applying black
eyebrow pencils and bright red lipsticks.
We went to St. Catherine’s local club
every Saturday and Sunday night where
we met everyone from all parts of Ireland
and began new friendships, we surely
lived life to the full. After some time I
met fell in love and eventually married a
John Wayne lookalike, and we returned
to Ireland. Life was wonderful. We
decorated a cottage that my parents
had left us and were so proud to call
this ‘palace’ home. I named it Rose
Cottage this name seemed to fit so well.
Wild flowers adorned the surroundings
and their fragrance filled the air. Our
happiness was totally complete when our
beautiful baby boy arrived the following
spring, but sadly this perfect family unit
was shattered when life dealt a very
cruel blow. My lovely husband died very
suddenly on a cold January evening from
a brain Haemorrhage. I was heartbroken
and thought I would never laugh again.
I felt so lonely but my baby gave me the
strength to survive and a purpose for
living. Life has been good to me since
and I thank God every day for the many
blessings I have received as she clutches
her rosary beads tightly in her withered
hand. My son is the Highlight of my
Life she smiles, as she proudly displays
a photograph of a fine noble looking
gentleman, dressed in black with a white
round colour. Yes she says proudly,
My Son is a Priest of God, and works
with the worlds poorest in the African
missions. I miss him of course but I’m
happy knowing he is doing God’s work in
helping so many under privileged people
I understand they need him much more
than me.”
Suddenly, while passing the kitchen door
I meet little Anna, a small petite dainty
old lady, almost like a China Doll. Her
sliver hair glissens in the sunlight. She
has suffered from Alzheimer’s for the
past decade. She announces “ Just
checking that everything is ok for the
big party tonight.” I, like many others
have been asked this question many
times this morning. In Annie’s mind
very distinguished guests are invited to
dinner and she is very busy insuring all
her kitchen staff are on Full Alert. Having
checked the menu for the last time she
insists Custard be served with the Sherry
Trifle instead of cream. Then rushes to
the bathroom mirror while washing her
hands checks her uniform once more,
making sure its ironed properly and her
apron is well “starched.” “You know”
she whispered “people are judged by
their appearance”. – I like to impress
those dignitaries quickly turning around
enquires, “Do you think the seam on
that stocking is straight like the other
one?” I reassure her she looks great – a
million dollars. Then after a brief pause
and a quick prayer as she passes the
statue of the Sacred Heart she tiptoes
to her room, all the while admiring how
good ‘Her Staff’ have polished the hall
and her private living quarter. This little
old lady even now in her advanced years
still shows elegance and personality,
sadly lacking in today’s busy world.
Her training in Hotel Management has
obviously held her in good stead all her
life.
As I leave this building each day I come
away feeling enriched having been in
their presence, and hearing their life
story. I only hope I will have some of
their dignity and patience when I reach
that time in my life. For indeed, those
people are surely ‘The Salt of the Earth’.
I know when their judgement day arrives,
God will look with special kindness upon
them and order St. Peter to open wide
those Golden Gates to welcome them,
especially when he looks closely at those
‘Hardworking Hands’.
Tina Godfrey, Ballykilleen
and Catherine Boland,
Manchester visiting
Tienanmen Square, Beijing,
in April 2007
25
From
Ballykilleen
to
St. Louis,
a journey of discovery
by Mike McGuire
I feel a strong connection to the people of
Ballykilleen, even though I’m living far away
in St. Louis, Missouri. Two years ago or so,
Ballykilleen was just a word I found written
on my grandpa’s birth certificate.
A serendipitous meeting with an
Irishwoman spurred me to find Ballykilleen.
“You know, you could get an Irish passport!”
the lady told me. The idea consumed
me. I was filled with excitement over the
idea. I hadn’t been seeking citizenship. In
fact, until meeting her, I wasn’t even that
interested in genealogy and I wasn’t even
planning a trip to Ireland.
I always have wanted the Irish connection,
which I knew my late dad would’ve
treasured as well. He loved everything and
everyone Irish and I’m sure he’d probably
be somewhere in Ballykilleen, Cloonfad
or Ballyhaunis today had he known of the
places and the people.
Two weeks later, my application and
family documents were in the mail to the
Irish consulate. Then, I decided to visit
Ballykilleen. I wanted to see the place
and hopefully meet a relative or two.
Plus, I wanted my children to know their
heritage. But, where was it? I couldn’t find
Ballykilleen on the County Mayo map.
I eventually turned to my computer and
I found a posting by Dan McGuire of St.
Louis: “Ballykilleen to St. Louis”. It turned
out I had met him years ago and, at the
time, I didn’t know that our granddads
were first cousins. He introduced me via
the computer to Kevin McGuire--now of
Galway--and we arranged to meet. We
e-mailed several times and Kevin said he
knew exactly where my granddad was born.
Kevin’s a McGuire expert. He knows more
about McGuires than anyone I know, and
I’m sure one day he’ll write a book about it.
I had also made all sorts of other inquiries
via the internet and one of them somehow
landed at the doorstep of Angela McGuire
Waldron. A week before we were to leave for
our vacation, I got a voice mail from Angela:
“Michael, I’m your cousin! I can’t believe it. I
just got the message!”
We couldn’t believe it either. We marveled
over it. I played the message several times
for my mom and in-laws at dinner that
night. We loved her voice. It was kind, sweet
and full of life--just like Angela is when you
meet her.
It turns out being friendly and kind is a
trait everyone in Ballykilleen shares. Kevin
McGuire certainly is generous and kind. He
spent part of a Saturday and all of a Sunday
26
with us. He brought us to Ballykilleen.
“That’s where your granddad was born.”
Wow, we jumped out of the car and
snooped around. I picked up a small
rock, which is now sitting on my mantle,
as a souvenir. Mandy McGuire Taylor and
Mary McGuire came out of the house
to see what was going on. Mandy is my
second cousin and Mary is my great
aunt--she was married to Pat the Yank
and is Angela’s mom.
Mary invited all five of us into her home
and gave us tea and sandwiches. I gave
Mary some pictures of my family and
of my dad. As Mary was looking at my
dad’s photo, it occurred to me, at least
in a sense, my dad was home, in spirit
anyway. He would’ve loved Mary and
Angela, his cousin.
Angela brought us back to visit a few
days later and we explored Mary’s
beautiful farm. My daughters and I even
picked up a chicken. My daughters--as do
my wife and I--love Angela. We talk about
her today as if she lives right next door to
us in St. Louis.
Mary reminded me of my grandmother-who was from Castlebar. Mary is a very
sweet and kind lady. Angela took us into
the house where my grandpa was raised
along with Pat and several other brothers
and sisters. I imagined Thomas McGuire
and Mary Gannon McGuire trying to keep
my grandpa and his siblings in line.
I imagined them playing in the house and
the fields and the fun they must have
had. It must have been heartbreaking for
them to eventually separate and come
here to St. Louis. Perhaps, giving me the
idea to come to Ballykilleen was done by
Uncle Pat and my grandpa in heaven.
Maybe, sending me to Ballykilleen was
their way to somehow start to put the
family back together again.
I’m so grateful to have met my cousins
Angela, Anthony, Carmel, Mandy and her
husband and children, and the other
wonderful Ballykilleen McGuires, such
as Kevin, who has become my friend,
Kevin’s mom and dad and Tina--Kevin’s
neighbor. Tina is exceptionally kind and I
love her Irish smile.
This trip was so much more than I ever
could’ve hoped it to be. I hope one day
for the Ballykilleen McGuires to visit us
here in St. Louis. I’m so grateful for the
people of Ballykilleen.
Three Best Friends: Seamus
Costello, John Martin Kenny and
Micko Walsh (RIP).
Edward Loftus and Sean Corcoran
enjoying a socialable drink in
Keane’s, Cloonfad early this year.
Edward first visit to Keane’s was the
year which it was open in the fifties.
This was his first visit since then.
SCRAPHEAp Challenge
By Tommy Shannon
It’s very difficult to write about the
Scrapheap Challenge without first going
back six or seven years to when all of
this money raising started for me. It
started with Rose Miskell wanting to be
the first lady of Cloonfad – the Mayoral
Election. We had to raise money for her
so we held a panto in Griffin’s lounge.
To our surprise, it was a great success
and we did raise a lot of money. To
cut a long story short, she didn’t get
elected. But that didn’t stop the panto
the next year or the year after... and
it’s still going strong raising money for
the Children’s Hospital in Crumlin and
numerous other charities.
Then the bright idea of Christmas lights
began. I’m not quite sure who thought
it up but when I heard about it I thought
- “not again... more work”, and Lord
was I right. The first year was hard. We
had to design and make brackets. Sean
Miskell and I spent night after cold
night in my small shed working on the
brackets. Then we had to decide where
they should be put. Sincere thanks
to the many people, young and not so
young, who came out on weekends and
long cold evenings to help erect the
lights.
One night at the end of January when
all the Panto cast were out for a meal
in Clonbern, the decision was made
to hold a St. Patricks day parade. The
fact that we had only six weeks to
organize it didn’t dampen our spirits.
So we got stuck in and held race nights
and sold tickets etc. to raise money
for bunting, flags and insurance. That
first parade was a great success and
so it has continued each year since.
The committee is now lead by Maggie
Kirrane and she can stand tall and
be proud of her achievements as
chairperson.
Then there is the work on the
crossroads in Cloonfad. It’s so
dangerous that something had to be
done. I contacted Michael McGreal
and he gave me a very good reception.
I was surprised as I’m not from his
constituency, but nonetheless, he set
the wheels in motion. Let’s hope it
saves a life or two.
It’s a very long way about getting
to the Scrapheap Challenge. It all
started one night I went into Griffin’s.
Pat Godfrey, Alan Murray and Eamon
Ruane were just sitting there sipping
their first pint. It was lashing rain and
miserable outside. Then Alan pipes up
with: “Hi, lads... do ye know what we
should do?” I thought he wanted to
go across to Keanes, but he said “We
should hold a Scrapheap Challenge”.
There was a moment of silence,
then one said yes and we all agreed.
Once again I knew my role and set
to printing posters and sowing the
seed. It didn’t take long for people to
get involved. We set up teams of six.
I got sponsorship cards printed. We
held a meeting where I was elected
chairperson, Bernie Keane secretary
and Pat Kearney was in charge of the
money. We didn’t really know what we
wanted to collect for but we wanted to
do it. Then the idea of a defibulator came
up and it was all systems go. Teams
started coming from surprising and some
not so surprising quarters.
We thank Cloonfad United soccer club for
giving us the use of the ground beside
the pitch to hold the event. When we
started trying to design a track, we didn’t
know where to start. But Tom Kearns and
I started digging and levelling and after
a many’s an evenings hard work we had
a track in place, but through no fault of
our own the rain made it un-drivable. We
tried to hold it on the Sunday of
Roy Folliard
the August Bank Holiday weekend but
had to cancel at the last minute due
to bad weather. Then John Smyth gave
us a digger and we gave it another
facelift. Darragh McDonnell offered to
be the bookie for the day. The trophy for
the event was designed and made by
myself. The idea came to me when Pat
Godfrey and I took an old axle apart off
a lawnmower belonging to Pat Kearney.
When I saw the cog wheels and all the
gears I immediately had the idea of the
trophy in my head. So I set to welding and
put it together.
We held it on Sunday the 2nd September
at Cloonfad soccer pitch. On the day the
weather was fairly good and there was a
marvellous turnout.
First to go around the course was the
green team. Pat Kearney was their driver.
Next was the rust team with Eugene
Gormley driving. Number three was the
red team with Sean Kearney driving
Seamus Staunton’s invention. Thomas
Fagan drove for the pink team who were
fourth to go around. Next up was the blue
team. Matthew Fleming drove their entry.
The purple team’s entry was driven by
Roy Foliard. Then, McGyver himself, Pat
Godfrey had a chance to prove that our
invention would go round the course. We
were the white team. Last but not least
was Sonny McAnulty and the black team
who drove the bath around the course.
Winner of the time trials and €100 were
the pink team. In third place for overall
design and winners of €25 were the rust
team led by Michael Flatley. Pat Carney
came second and took €50 prize money.
The white team came in first place
winning €100 and the trophy, because
we had reverse gears on our invention.
The judges, Dom Murphy and Maurice
McWalter said they had a very difficult job
deciding the winners as all the entries
were so well done. The events of the
day have been forever captured on DVD
thanks to the skills of Gerry Geraghty.
My point to all of this going on is that none
of these events would have happened
without the backroom teams who did
all the running around, phone calls and
organising. The many people that have
been involved in each event would be too
numerous to mention so if you are one of
these people and are reading this then
give yourself a clap on the back.
There is no I in TEAM.
Someone from a neighbouring town said
they could take a leaf out of Cloonfad’s
27
book and that they couldn’t organize anything like the Cloonfad’s.
I have been asked if we are having another one. The answer to that is “I don’t know”. But it’s looking very likely!
We would like to thank each and everyone who got involved and everyone who gave money and raised sponsorship for this
very worthy cause. We thank you all very much.
The total amount raised was €5,546.
Thomas Fagan
Matthew Fleming.
.
Sonny McAnulty.
The Trophy
Sean Kearney.
28
Pat Godfrey and Alan Murray.
What’s Another Year
Did you ever consider when we say that time goes so
quickly? There is a psychological theory behind the
quick passage of time, as we grow older. It is this. If
you take a two-year-old child who lives for a further year,
that last year represents an expansion of its life by half.
Now if you consider a fifty-year-old person who lives for
another year, the last year only represents one fifty of
its lifetime. So time does appear to go more quickly
the older we get. When I am lying on my back under
a vehicle, oil dripping upon my face, I am awash with
mind-boggling thoughts like this.
What has brought me on to this subject is how near next
Christmas is to where last Christmas was. Its never
twelve months is it? If Santa Clause was coming to me
it probably would be longer but since he’s not it doesn’t
seem that long after all. So what’s another year?
Hopefully I have a good many left to do what I do best.
I started early this year and assembled the lights on the
outside of the house. When I did it last year I waited
closer to Christmas and was nearly blown off the roof. Not this time. I hadn’t as much help this year as previous years due
to staffing arrangements but doubtless to say I will have it ready for the 8th of December for lighting up time. As you are
aware the money that is collected is donated the Mayo Roscommon Hospice and the amount collected last year amounted
to 4,475 Euro and this was handed over to Mary Patterson, representative of Hospice. Hundreds of cars stopped outside
my house and most of those donated something to this worthy cause. Let us hope there will be a repeat of last year and
even better.
I would like to extend to all my friends and customers and indeed all those who gave money to Hospice a very Happy
Christmas and every wish to come true in the New Year.
Seamus Staunton and Family
Christmas 2007.
Pictured outside Moore’s in
Carrowbeg in the 1960’s were Pat
Moore, Paddy Doyle and Bert Doyle.
Mary Moore and
Sharon Fitzpatrick
dressed up at Declan
Keadin’s wedding in
December 2006.
Paddy Doyle, originally from Carrowbeg but who
now resides in Birmingham pictured with Mrs.
Griffin, Lisnagroobe, mother of the late Martin
Griffin. This picture was taken in 1924.
29
Roscommon always has a special
place in Dermot Earley’s heart
by Michael Commins
WHEN former Roscommon football
legend Dermot Earley was appointed
as Chief of Staff of the Irish Defences
Forces during the summer, the people of
West Roscommon shared in the honour
bestowed on one of their best known and
favourite sons. The Gorthaganny man who
joined the Defence Forces as a cadet back
in 1965, had reached the very summit of
his career. And that sense of achievement
was palpable among his many friends
back home.
Though living in Newbridge, Co Kildare
with his wife Mary (a Tipperary woman)
and family for many years, Dermot has
never lost his fondness and gra for
Gorthaganny and Roscommon. I retain a
great interest in all things to do with the
home area. The people they’re to continue
to embrace me, and I try to go down as
often as I can. My mother Kitty lives their
all the time and it is great to call down and
meet the old friends, he said.
It was on the football fields of Connacht
and around the country that Dermot
Earley became a household name during
Roscommon’s golden years in the 1970s.
He was a member of the legendary four
in a row Connacht senior champions from
1977-80 and also won a National league
medal with Roscommon as well as two All
Star awards.
He played his final intercounty game for
Roscommon in the 1985 Connacht Final
against Mayo in Hyde Park. Mayo emerged
winners that day but Willie Joe Padden, TJ
Kilgallon and some other members of the
Mayo team, in an emotional gesture, went
over to Dermot at the end of the game and
raised him shoulder high in the middle of
the field. It was a reflection of the respect
they had for the man from Gorthaganny
and the bonds that unite sports people the
country over.
I’m still very passionate about sport. I m
a great believer in the role sport can play
in the development of people. I especially
love to see the young boys and girls
coming through the grades.
The GAA has always been a special part
of my life. You make friends all over the
country. I had many letters and calls from
people who had not been in contact with
me for a long number of years before my
recent appointment. But they are always
there. It was lovely hearing from them all
again.
30
I was involved a bit with the Roscommon
minors last year (2006). It was a
fantastic year and winning the All
Ireland in the replay against Kerry was
a very special day for all of us from
Roscommon they were a magnificent
team. Those days in Croke Park where
we snatched a late draw and that
wonderful display in the replay down in
Ennis are such special memories.
While the Earley name is now
synonymous with Roscommon, both
his parents were from Mayo. His late
father Peadar, who was a teacher in
Gorthaganny school for many years
and who also taught for a few years in
Ballinastanford National School near
Claremorris, was born in Lahardane,
while his mother Kitty was formerly
Byrne from Main Street, Castlebar.
Indeed, Dermot himself was born in the
Byrne family home where his first cousin
Mick Byrne now runs one of Castlebar's
best known pubs.
Dermot has had a distinguished career
with the Irish Defence Forces. He served
a four term as military adviser to the
United National General Secretary in
New York. There were also overseas
and United Nations assignments on
the Golan Heights, the Sinai Desert,
Lebanon, Angola, Western Sahara and
Namibia.
Back in the
1990’s,
John Scally
from South
Roscommon
compiled a
lovely book on
the life and
times of Dermot
Earley, featuring
memories of his
years playing
football for
Roscommon,
and his tours of
duty overseas as
well as various
other aspects of
the life of one of
Roscommon’s most famous sons.
One amusing memory from the book
centred around a young lad from the
Ballinlough area on his first week in
the Army and out on a training stint
at the Curragh. The only person he
recognised was Dermot Earley who
was then a senior officer and who was
passing by. So delighted was the young
lad to see someone from home that he
blurted out How Ya, Dermot!, only to
be reprimanded by whoever the officer
in charge of training was that morning.
Talk about knocking the corners off
you!
In a changing world, Dermot Earley
finds himself at the heartbeat of much
that is going on around the globe.
His new assignment as Chief of Staff
involves a lot of international travel.
Wherever he goes, he commands a
lot of respect and his genial ability to
relate to people have made him many
friends around the world.
There’s no danger in Dermot Earley
ever forgetting his roots. Roscommon
will always have a special place in my
heart. When I cross the Shannon at
Athlone and come into the county, I
still find their’s something relaxing,
welcoming and homely. It never leaves
you. At the end of the day, it really is
all about a sense of identification. And
for Dermot Earley, the primrose and
blue is still the closest to his heart.
And it always will be.
Dermot Earley pictured with Sean
and Eileen Brennan. Also in the
picture is Tommy Markham
THE HAMILTON’S LEAD
Local Band
lend Support to
Western Care
“Good songs for a Good Cause” is the apt title
of the debut 6 track CD which launched on
the 9th September by local band Diesel. All
proceeds from the sale of the CD’s are been
donated to the Western Care Association.
The CD was recorded in Sun Street Studios,
Tuam. It was produced by Declan Lyons,
Anthony Waldron and Kenny Ralph. The
album features a number of classic songs
ranging from Elvis to Bruce Springsteen.
Declan and Padraig Lyons from the band
decided to record a song with their cousin
Robbie Gildea, who often joins them on stage
to sing The Ferryman.
They were then joined by the original
members of Diesel, John Lyons and Anthony
Waldron and the idea of recording a CD for the
Western Care Association was born.
The tracks on the CD include “Burning Love”
sung by Padraig Lyons, “The Ferryman”
rendered by Robbie Gildea, “Van Diemen’s
Land” sung by Anthony Waldron, “Have you
ever seen the rain” performed by John Lyons,
“I won’t back down” by Padraig Lyons, and
“Pay me my money down” which is sung by
Declan Lyons.
The CD is available is various local outlets
and also from Western Care.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE
“Sean & Bridie
Hamilton had
the honour of
leading the
Putnum County
St. Partrick’s
Day Parade on
March 11th this
year. Bridie (nee
Heneghan)and
Sean both grew
up in Cloonfad.
This is an extract
from their local
newspaper”
When the
annual Putnam
County St.
Patrick’s Day
Parade steps off
in Mahopac next
month, Sean &
Bridie Hamilton
will lead the
festivities.
The residents of
southeast who
last November
celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary have been selected by the
Northern Westchester-Putnam St Patrick’s Day Parade Committee as grand
marshals of the parade that has become one of the largest in New York
State.
Sponsored by the Emerald Association, the Irish-American Social Club,
Friendly Sons of St. Patrick, Knights of Columbus, Westchester-Putnum Gaels
and the Fraternal Order of Police – Stephen Driscoll Unit, thousands will
march along Route 6 starting at 2p.m. on March 11th.
At a social gathering last week, the announcement was made that the
Hamiltons had been selected as grand marshals.
Bridge and Sean were both born in Ireland. Bridie remembers meeting her
husband “It was love at first site” she said. Engaged at the age of 18, the
future Mrs. Hamilton emigrated to the U.S. in 1955. the following year, Sean
followed and the couple tied the knot in Brooklyn in 1956. The Hamiltons
resided in the former home of the Dodgers for 16 years raising five children –
Sean, Patrick, Maureen, Daniel and Patricia.
After renting properties for several summers in Putnam County, Sean and
Bridie purchased a home in the Tonetta lake section of Southeast in 1972.
Sean was employed the New York Telephone company for 36 years, retiring in
1992 while Bridie brought a smile and service to patrons at years, retiring in
1998 with 22 years service.
Members of Diesel: John Lyons, Anthony
Waldron, Robbie Gildea (kneeling), Padraig
Lyons and Declan Lyons.
Both continued as volunteers for a variety of organizations. Sean served as
president of the Tonetta Lake Homeowners Association, chapter chairman of
the Putnam American Red Cross as well as president and Vice President of
the Emerald Association.
Bridie works at the food court at the annual Emerald Association Feis as well
as bringing her famous Irish soda bread to meetings of the group. Parade
chairman Patrick Brophy praised Bridie for being “Always willing to lend a
hand and support family, friends and acquaintances. She is a real treasure”
31
THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME
By Catherine Jennings
It all started out when Clodagh
O’Connor from Tulla Co. Clare came
to visit our secondary school in
Dunmore. Clodagh was one of the
main organisers and a leader of four
youth pilgrimages to Medugorje.
She was now organising another
pilgrimage with the help of Michael
Byrne, Ballyhaunis. There was a lot of
enthusiasm and about ten students
from Dunmore decided to do the
pilgrimage. There were also 150
students from other parts of Ireland.
The date was set for Saturday 28th
July. There was a lot of fund raising
to be done to cover the cost of our
trip. There were four students from
Cloonfad, Catherine Jennings, Sharon
Costello, Helena Cummins and Caitlin
Flanagan. Between us we organised
a church gate collection. With the
support and generosity of the local
people we collected €390.00. We
also had fund raising cards. Everyone
who was doing the pilgrimage was
going to climb Croagh Patrick. We all
went out to our local areas selling our
cards. We climbed Croagh Patrick at
the end of June, most of us at that
stage had the cost of our trip. Now
Michael Naughton,
Carramore, Ballyhaunis
pictured on his
Confirmation Day.
32
we just had to wait until the end of July
to go to Medugorje. Clodagh met with
all the students four times before the
pilgrimage. There was a lot of organising
to be done and we learned our own
special song for the trip.
Finally the big day arrived. The bus
picked us up at 1pm in Ballyhaunis
for a 6.50pm flight. We checked in a
4oclock and excitedly waited for our
flight number to be called. By 7oclock
we began to worry, had they forgotten
about us?! At 11 o’clock that night we
were told our flight was cancelled and
would not fly until 9am the following
day. Finally we were on our way but our
happiness was short lived as we were
then told we had to do two refuelling
stops, one in Paris and the other in the
coast of Croatia, this added two hours to
our journey. The upside to this was that
we got to see some beautiful scenery.
At last we arrived, a day late but that did
not dampen our spirits. We could not
wait to start exploring.
temperatures soared to the high
thirties and even as high as 44
degrees, we thought we were in
heaven. We spent most of our time
walking around the town or the
church grounds or sitting out in the
sun at Clumbos restaurant.
During our week there we
experienced many beautiful and
breathtaking things. We climbed
the Apparition hill at night and the
only way I can describe that is “wow,
amazing”. We also went up the steep
slope to the blue cross hill. Both
truly amazing experiences. Not one
person among us once complained of
our time there.
It was the most memorable week
of our lives and it is all thanks to
Clodagh O’Connor, Tulla and Michael
Byrne, Ballyhaunis. A big thanks to
both of them as they really touched
the life’s of all us students – and for
that we are truly grateful.
Our friends whom had arrived the
previous day showed us around. The
Mary Moore ad Ann Keadin enjoying the sunshine in
Medigore in 2006.
To Hell or to
Connaught
By Kevin McGuire
For generations of people in this
area the above phrase will be very
familiar – indeed it was a term
used by my own grandfather in
explanation of how our Fermanagh
name planted to Connaught. Names
such as McDonnell, Quinn, Mullarkey,
Gallagher, Gormley, Mahon, McGough
and McGuire are all of Ulster origin.
This is their story.
In the mid 1600s relations between
the remaining Catholic landowners
and the recently-arrived Protestant
planters had plummeted to an alltime low. In 1641 a number of Ulster
Catholic leaders including O’Neill,
O’Donnell, Maguire, McMahon and
O’Moore decided it was time to stage
a coup d’état by attacking a number
of important military positions. The
events were exacerbated by a poor
harvest and rising rents which might
have lead to the people involved
losing their lands to creditors. As it
turned out the Irish Rising of 1641
was horribly crushed and they lost
their lands anyway.
On October 23rd it was decided that
Conor Maguire and Hugh McMahon
would seize Dublin Castle, while
Phelim O’Neill and Rory O’Moore
would take Derry and other prominent
towns in Ulster. However, an informer
by the name of Owen O’Connolly
told the authorities of the planned
seizures and this subsequently
lead to the arrest of Maguire and
McMahon (it is said that Maguire
was “a rakish youth” and “a poor
organizer”) The two Gaelic chiefs were
held in the Tower of London until they
were executed some months later.
Maguire was a cousin of the powerful
O’Neills through his mother and when
word filtered back of the execution
to Phelim O’Neill it was to have dire
consequences. O’Neill took several
forts in the north of Ireland and also
attacked a number of the houses of
Protestant Planters. Parliamentary
pamphlets claimed that up 100,
000 settlers had been massacred
– though historians Jane Ohlmeyer
and John Kenyon after some recent
research have claimed “a much
more realistic figure is roughly 4,000
deaths” Yet panic had already set in,
and, in an over-reaction by the Dublin
authority, army commanders such
as William St Leger and Sir Charles
Coote (who would later complete a
successful siege of Galway, the last
city in Ireland to fall to Cromwellian
Conquest) were sent in to massacre
the rebels. The English army killed
many thousands of Catholic civilians
throughout the next two years and in
response the rebels attacked and killed
more Protestant settlers. Owen Roe
O’Neill arrived in Ulster from continental
Europe and hanged a number of rebels
for attacks on civilians. As he had spent
many years in the Spanish army he
wanted the conflict fought in line with
the army code of conduct that he had
experienced as a soldier in Europe.
Indeed his couragous and fair war
techniques had a positive effect as in
1646 a treaty was signed between the
Duke of Ormonde and the Catholics.
However, in 1651 Oliver Cromwell would
come to power in England and from
then on the rules of war in Ireland would
change for the worse.
Throughout the 1640 Cromwell had
employed a large army to overcome the
Royalist forces of King Charles I and with
his eventual victory these armies had
to be paid. In 1653 Cromwell and his
Parliament passed the Act of Settlement
which allowed for the transfer of many
hundreds of thousands of acres of land
to be transferred from Irish hands to
English hands. In many cases during the
course of the English Civil War soldiers
from Ireland fighting in European armies
had recruited troops from France,
Poland, Italy and Spain to join the
Royalist cause against Cromwell. The
Ulster gentry were seen as a thorn in
the side of the new ruler of England and
he set out to teach them a lesson. The
Catholic clergy were also on Cromwell’s
hit list as they too owned large tracts of
land. The Puritanical beliefs of Cromwell
put him at odds with the Catholic priests
and he believed that his victory in the
Civil War had been a sign from God
to convert the Irish to Protestantism.
Stories of his hanging of clergy members
have passed through folk speak.
Cromwell proposed that the counties of
the east, north and south of the country
would be used to reward the soldiers
and some special friends in Parliament.
The counties of the west would be used
as internment camps for those who
were dispossessed of their lands – the
counties of Clare, Galway, Roscommon
and Mayo would be used to pen the
Irish in west of the Shannon. All the
confiscated lands were to be transferred
on September 26 1653 and all those
unauthorized Irish were to go to ‘Hell
or to Connaught’ by May 1 1654 – a
period of just under 9 months. There
are stories of families bringing just the
embers of their fire from their homes
in a pot so as that they could light the
hearth in their new homes with it. Given
that the vast majority moved during
winter time it is not incorrect to believe
that many of them may have died as a
result of hypothermia, starvation and
diseases. The families upon arriving in
their new homes in Connaught bandied
together and there was strength in
numbers – which may explain the strong
presence of one particular name in
certain villages in the west, including my
own.
The Act of Settlement contributed to
the fact that Catholic land ownership
in Ireland went from 60% in 1641 to
9% in 1660. There was a bounty of
£20 put on the head of Irish priests
and to be seen assisting a priest was
a crime punishable by death. Special
internment camps were set up in the
windswept island of Inishbofin, off the
Galway coast. In a speech to Parliament
in 1654 Cromwell exclaimed “necessity
hath no law”
The Roundhead soldiers had depleted
Ireland of much of its natural woodland
as this was a valuable cash crop. By
allowing only English shipping in Irish
ports the natural trade of milk, butter,
oatmeal and beef from Irish shores to
the continent of Europe was seriously
curtailed. Ireland’s cattle wealth went
from £4 m to just under £500, 000
during the Cromwell Conquest. By the
beginning of early 1800s the farming
population was to become increasingly
dependant on the potato and this
dependency would lead to awful
consequences some forty years later
with the Great Irish Famine.
The population of Connaught declined
by almost 30% from 1841 to 1851
Any feedback welcomed to:
[email protected]
33
The Republic of Boredom
By John Waters (journalist & eurovision song composer 2007)
In the early weeks and months of the
papacy of Benedict XVI it became
striking that he seemed continually
to use a word we had previously
associated with Catholic clerics more
as a description than an utterance.
The word was “boredom”. All my life,
it had seemed that boredom was
the prescribed demeanor for the
conscientious Christian: if you weren’t
bored you weren’t doing it right. But
Benedict XVI suggested otherwise: he
seemed to believe that boredom is
symptomatic of something unhelpful. As
Cardinal Ratzinger, he could almost be
said to have sprinkled the word through
his writings. He uses it to describe the
demeanor of modern youth, the effect of
changes in Catholic liturgy, the poisoning
and trivialisation of human love by
egotism and lust and the consequences
of a relativist tendency in thinking which
reduces every concept to a cycle of
experimental reflection and subjective
apprehension. We are, he says, bored
by our lives, bored by our attempts to
relieve our boredom, bored by religion,
bored by our own thoughts.
Rocco Buttiglione, a theologian,
philosopher sometime politician, and
confidante of both John Paul II and
Benedict XVI, when asked to explain why
so many young people seemed to love
Pope John Paul II, said that nowadays
we find ourselves stuck in “a Kingdom
of Boredom” and that John Paul had
shown them a way out. Refining this idea
somewhat, Charles Moore, a late convert
to Catholicism in the United Kingdom,
wrote in the Daily Telegraph that, in
the absence of a single identifiable
monarch, “Republic of Boredom” might
be a better phrase.
Boredom, wrote Moore, means the
mood that comes from pointlessness.
It’s symptoms are everywhere - at
airports, in screens, in bars which no
one is watching, in channel-hopping,
in shopping malls, in the halitosis that
breathes from the doors of fast-food
outlets, in the obsession with body
weight. It’s in astrology, in talking
about football because you think you’re
supposed to, in Big Brother, in waiting for
the results of the National Lottery, in
recreational drugs and binge-drinking,
in the devout political/commercial belief
34
that no one has an attention span
of more than 20 seconds, and, to be
honest, in a great deal of feeble
religious liturgy.
Young people are more the victims of
this boredom than any other group,
because advertisers and politicians
regard them as persuadable. The young
themselves, in some respects more
conformist than older people, punish
those of their number who do not
respond to these calls - the requirement
to be cool being the most coercive of all
21st-century social pressures.
It was a brilliant description of the
phenomenon’s symptoms, but less than
enlightening about the cause. For this
we must look to the words of Joseph
Ratzinger. Addressing himself to the
phenomenon of student-left radicalism
that swept Europe in the late 1960s,
and which had its echo in what I have
called the Peter Pan revolution that
transformed Ireland in the 1970s and
1980s, he observed that western youths
clamoring for freedom was a measure
not of their imprisonment, still less
of their passion for the downtrodden
other, but of their cosseted, narcissistic
boredom. Strangely enough, he wrote in
A New Song For the Lord, people from
the dominant nations are in no way
happy with their type of freedom and
power; they feel that they are dependent
on anonymous structures that take
their breath away and this even in those
places where the form of government
assures the greatest possible freedom.
Paradoxically, the cry for liberation,
for a new exodus into the land of
true freedom, sounds particularly
loudly among those who have more
possessions and mobility at their
disposal than we could ever have
imagined before.
Why, he asked, do people take refuge
in drugs? His explanation: Because
the life that presents itself to them
is in reality too shallow, too deficient,
too empty. After all the pleasures, all
the emancipations, and all the hopes
they have pinned to it, there remains a
much-too-little.
What is often missed by the Church in
its attempts to dissuade the faithful
from the secular-materialist path is the
benefit of telling people how, apart from,
as it were, offering an insurance policy
on Eternity, the Christian message can
make their Earthly lives better.
The antidote to boredom is truth,
which is both the Word of Scripture
and, more, the Person of Jesus. But,
whereas truth is an absolute value,
it cannot live if it is not visible in the
actuality of people’s lives.
We all of us are driven by human
passions, instincts, appetites, which
have the paradoxical capacity to gratify
us with a little of what we desire and
destroy us with a little more. John Paul
II, echoing Father Luigi Giussani, wrote
about such impulses as symptoms of
an echo of Heaven within us. Both men
remind us that the pursuit of these
ideals in the world of the material is
doomed to failure and frustration.
There is no line at which satisfaction is
achieved, but only an endless search
for the echo in a confusion of sound
and sensation.
The only way of avoiding this
contradiction is to seek the echo where
it exists: in the soul, in the pursuit of
the wholeness from which human
dignity flows. This is both the blueprint
for happiness and the meaning
of morality. The primordial human
impulse, wrote Joseph Ratzinger, that
no one can deny and which, ultimately,
no one can oppose, is the desire
for happiness, to have a fulfilled,
completed life. And moral action, he
stressed, is not possible in a unilateral,
autonomous way, but develops out of
an encounter with God, the knowledge
of His truth, and the experiencing of
His love. This sounds like something
we’ve heard before, but has about it
a new clarity: God is vital for me, my
identity and my destiny, and rules exist
to save me from errors that will destroy
my happiness. It took
me fifty years of failure before I began
to see this as a possibility in the fog of
my existence.
* The above is an adaptation of a
passage from the forthcoming book by
John Waters, Lapsed Agnostic, which
will be published in November 2007
by Continuum.
A Song for Safety
By Brid Clesham
This year for the first time students of Transition Year represented
Dunmore
Community
School
by taking
part in the
Young Social
Innovators
competition.
YSI is
Ireland’s
largest social
awareness
and activism
programme
for young
people.
Band Members: Eugene Kerrigan, David
Through it,
Staunton, Enda Stricth, Daniel Sommerville,
Vincent Kenny.
young people explore and tackle the
social issues of today in a way that
nurtures active citizenship and their overall social and educational
development.
The topic that Dunmore students decided to tackle was road safety. As
part of this project Enda Stritch wrote a song “A Second Gone Too Long”.
There were many aspects to the project, Keyrings, posters, but Enda added
so much to the project with his very poignant song and the lyrics really
touched many people who have been affected by road accidents. Not only
did Enda write the song but it reached new heights when it was recorded.
This was due to enormous work and time James and Sandra Higgins gave
in producing the CD. The students experienced first hand what is involved
in recording a song.
Enda was on vocals and guitar, Vincent Kenny on vocals, Kevin Clesham
on tambourine, Kevin O’Connor on guitar and the backing vocals were
Katie comer, Cliona Gannon, Mairead Lyons and Diane Murphy.
So successful was the recording that Tommy Marren, Mid-West Radio
interviewed Enda, Katie and their teacher Brid Clesham in the studio on
their project “Raging Roads”. The song was aired many times on Mid-West
and also on Galway Bay FM. Enda and his group sang it for the students in
Dunmore Community School and their CD was played in the local primary
schools during the presentations made by the Transition Year students on
the issue of road safety. The students project was such a success that it
got through to the exhibition in the RDS in May. The CD was presented to
the adjudicators as part of the project. Indeed the adjudicators were loud
in their praise for the efforts and hard work that each student gave the
project.
Lyrics
A Second Gone Too Long
Now you’re a number on a list
Remembered by a few who miss
Stand alone here in my grief
Whish you never got in the seat
Felt a feeling that’s hard to beat
Going so fast without your feet
But then you left without a choice
I’m left here wanna hear your voice
Chorus:
If I could have one more thing to say
It would be for you to stay
I think about you every single day
Going too fast it’s the price you pay
And I’m screaming out in vain
Can’t something take away this pain
Everything has lost its taste
I only wanna see your face
And I’m screaming out in vain
Can’t something take away this pain
Everything has lost its taste
I only wanna see your face
And I’m left here alone
And now nowhere seems like home
And every second that you’re gone
Is a second gone too long
Repeat chorus
And I’m just wasting away
Every minute feels like a day
My mind’s stuck on replay
I don’t think I’ll ever be the same
There is an abundance of talent in the Cloonfad area as in January
Enda, Eugene Kerrigan, Daniel Sommerville, David Staunton and Vincent
Kenny performed a number of songs at the opening ceremony of The
Speak Out Forum in Galway for the The Young Social Innovators. They
were commended for their performance as they were the act to open the
ceremony.
All in all a truly memorable experience for all transitions year in Dunmore
Community School students and all involved.
Andy Nestor explaining a point of law to John and Cora
Dooley at Tommy Lally’s 60th Birthday Party.
35
The Michael Davitt Group
The Michael Davitt Group was a band of the 60’s consisting
of three members, namely Johnny McGarry, Paddy
Fanning, and our own Cloonfad man Mick Maguire (RIP),
all outstanding musicians. Here we get a little insight into
the life and times of that era from the stories of two of the
members Johnny & Paddy, both octogenarians.
They say ‘he who writes little needs to have a great
memory’. As these two men go through the diary of their
musical life, they have no dates written on paper, but they
are firmly embedded in their minds. Such is their memory,
but for those of us whose memory is not so good, I think
it only fair to penn their stories. Alas Mick is no longer
with us as he went to his eternal reward in 2001. His wife
Margaret recalls what she feels music meant to him during
his lifetime.
First Story
The first story we get is from Johnny – the most senior
member of the band. Johnny McGarry is a very busy man
and its not all work, his social calendar is so full that you
have to bide your time to meet with him, but when you do,
you find such an interesting man that the wait is well worth
while. When I asked him where he was born he was proud
to tell me he was born on the 13th June 1919 in Drimbane,
Ballyhaunis, where he still resides. He is the youngest
looking eighty-eight year old I have ever seen. His father
Michael married Catherine Finn from Raith, Aughamore.
Johnny was their only child, he said the music came from his
mother’s side of the family – that she was a beautiful singer.
When Johnny was sixteen years old he started to take
36
By Teresa Birmingham
music lessons
from Michael
Brennan,
Lisduff. The
first instrument
he learned to
play was the
fiddle, or violin
as it’s more
commonly
called now. He
said its one
of the hardest
instruments to
learn as you
have to make
the notes with
your fingers as
you play, whereas most other
instruments
have the notes
already set,
you just have to
press the right
key – he makes
it sound so
simple.
He went
for lessons
three times
a week and said there was no fee, instead they had another
arrangement, which seems to me to have been far more
beneficial to the teacher than getting cash. Johnny helped him
with the farm-work, or any other work around the place. One
special job Johnny remembers with pride was that he drove his
father’s mare and sidecar to bring the Brennans to have their
baby son Michael christened in Logboy Church, an honourable
job indeed for a young farm worker. Having spent two years
with Michael Brennan he moved on to another teacher Johnny
Greese Tarpey, who though disabled was an excellent music
teacher. This time the teacher came to McGarrys three times a
week, but it was the pupil who went with the horse and side car
to collect him and take him back home after each lesson. This
arrangement continued for two years after which time Johnny
was an accomplished musician. He said his mother was really
the one who encouraged him with the music, she loved it and so
did Johnny, and has never lost that love in all the years.
Johnny’s first public appearance in the music world was with
Dick Prendergast, Kilkelly. That was the Dick Prendergast
Orchestra, so that speaks volumes for the quality of Johnny
McGarry’s music, even at such a young age. They travelled miles
and played in dance halls all over, including Peg Gannon’s in
Cloonfad where the waltz’s, fox trots, sets, half sets and quick
steps were enjoyed by all. Johnny played with them for four and
a half years after which time he and Martin Hopkins, Laraganboy
left and set up their own band, they started playing in Toreen
Club House in the 1940’s. That went very well for many years
until McGarry’s dance hall was started in Ballyhaunis, which
was upstairs over the present drapery shop. On seeing how
well these dances were going Mr. McGarry invested in a site and
built a new dance hall and cinema. The Starland Ballroom and
The Star Cinema. The dance hall in Ballyhaunis sounded the
death knell for Tooreen Club House, and it had to close. Some
years later the tide turned again
when Fr.Horan had an new dance hall
built in Toreen and that became the
only place one should be seen on a
Sunday night, that was the big dance
night of the week at that time. Some
of the biggest bands in the country
played there, no expense was spared
in getting the best.
By now music wasn’t the only love of
Johnny’s life, he had met and married
Sarah Comer, Ballybeg. Sarah told
me that before they married she said
to Johnny “now when we’re married
sure you won’t be going off playing
music every week”, and of course
Johnny said “no”. He would not, but
only one week after their wedding
someone came for him to play and off
he went. He was quick to emphasise
that Sarah encouraged him to go.
She says she has no interest in music
and didn’t always bless it, but one
can sense a certain pride even as
she says that. It was lovely to hear
Johnny say that she has been his
strength and support through the
years.
In 1965 Sean Bourke, Irishtown built
a very modern singing lounge there,
so naturally enough he wanted to
have the best musicians playing in
it. Having his research well done he
called to Johnny to ask if he would
play for him and also did he think
Mick McGuire might play. Now
Johnny knew Mick since he played in
Fitzmaurices, and Mick played across
the road in Mulligans in his native
Cloonfad. Of course he couldn’t
answer for Mick and advised Sean
to travel to Cloonfad and talk to
him (no mobile phones back then).
Johnny said if the arrangement
suited Mick then they had a deal.
Soon afterwards Sean returned to
tell Johnny the good news, Mick had
also agreed to the deal. They needed
another musician and so Paddy
Fanning an experienced drummer,
fiddle and saxophone player was
enlisted. Now they had their band,
Sean Bourke himself christened them
“The Michael Davitt Group”.
It was a most fitting name to have
given the band since Michael Davitt
is synonymous with Irishtown and the
Land League, and all three members
of the band were farmers who loved
to work their land. So it was ‘The
Michael Davitt Group’ was born, no
doubt they were christened again on
the night the pub opened with a little
help from Arthur Guinness or maybe
even John Power.
They played in Bourkes on the opening
night to a packed house, that was the
start of their seven and a half years
playing there every Sunday night, where
their music was danced to and enjoyed
by thousands over the years. One night
they arrived in Irishtown with an extra
man who decided to have a look around
while the others busied themselves
bringing in all the equipment from the car.
Paddy said to Sean Bourke “we have the
Sergeant with us to-night”, “very good,
very good” said Sean, they were all to
busy for any more conversation just then,
but the first chance Sean got he asked
Johnny. “Who’s your man and where
is he stationed?”. They didn’t know
was Sean disappointed or delighted to
hear he wasn’t a Sergeant of “An Garda
Siochana” but a farmer who was known
to his friends as “The Sergeant”.
During those years ‘The Michael Davitt
Group’ often played in the supper room
in Tooreen, which was a room off the
main dance hall where tea, sandwiches,
cakes and minerals were served. It was
mostly engaged couples or those doing
a steady line who would frequent that
room. Sometimes a man who was trying
to impress a girl would invite her to the
supper room where he would spend extra
money buying tea and cakes for her.
Occasionally he left the dance hall, his
heart heavy and his pockets light when
his ideas and those of the girl he’d hoped
to impress did not coincide.
On one occasion Fr. McHugh who was
running the dance hall then, called to
Johnny to ask him to play in the supper
room. The Melody aces were playing in
the main hall and it was expected to be a
very big night. Johnny explained he was
very sorry but he couldn’t go, as his wife
was due to give birth at any time. Sarah
was all set for the event right down to
having two apple tarts and scones baked
for when she was away. The priest told
her he’d pray for her and all would be
well. Sarah said to Johnny “you can’t
let down the priest” and so he agreed to
play with his friends Paddy & Mick. On
leaving, the priest spotted the freshly
baked tarts and scones and asked to
take them with him. Johnny said, all that
night all he remembered doing on stage
was praying. As expected the place was
packed for The Melody Aces, even though
it was a Friday night, sometimes the big
bands couldn’t be got on Sunday nights,
so they also had dances on Friday nights.
At the end of the night Johnny said there
was a tea chest full of ten-shilling notes
in the supper room, the takings from the
door. The ten shilling note was red and
a little bigger that the five euro note of
today. As for the tea chest it was a box
made of plywood with a strong foil lining.
In those boxes loose tea was delivered
to the shopkeepers, they measured
approximately 2ft x 2ft x 2.5ft or in
today’s measurements 60x60x80cms.
They had many and varied uses when
empty, but this was the first time I heard
of one used as a cash box, what a sight
it must have been. Johnny said Fr.
McHugh was always a great man to pay,
but that night his generosity knew no
bounds. Whether it was Sarah’s apple
tarts, the fact that he’d taken a husband
away from his wife at such a vital time,
or the excitement of seeing all those
beautiful red notes, no one knows. To
quote Johnny’s words “he stuck his
hand in the tea chest, grabbed a fist
of notes and pushed them in my hand,
then did the same with Paddy & Mick”
- all their prayers were answered. The
following day Sarah went into hospital
and they were blessed with another baby
daughter.
As their family got older all five of them
learned music. I asked Johnny if he
taught them, he said “no, they were
taught by a proper music teacher, Mother
Dympna in Ballyhaunis. They all learned
the piano from her first, then many other
instruments”. One of their daughters is
qualified in music writing, while their son
John taught himself the guitar and piano
accordion.
In the 70’s they formed their own
family band and played together for ten
years. They travelled from Belmullett
to Ballaghadereen three nights a week.
Johnny said he made friends with the
world and his wife through the music and
enjoyed every minute of it.
He still plays and will join in a session
any time or play the fiddle at a party
without any fuss. Paddy J. Tighe and
himself often play together. Paddy J.
plays the accordion and tin whistle.
Johnny is also gifted with a fine tenor
voice and whenever he sings it’s like the
late great Pavorotti, there’s no need for a
microphone.
The McGarry grand children are learning
to play music now, their 12-year-old
granddaughter excelles at the violin.
So it looks like the melodious sounds
of music will live on in the McGarry
homestead and beyond for many years to
come. As the saying goes “IF MUSIC BE
THE FOOD OF LIFE PLAY ON” – like the
“MAESTRO” himself.
IS TREISE DUCHAS NA OILIUNT.
37
Second Story
Paddy Fanning was born in Lisbawn
West, Ballyhaunis in 1924, the only
son in a family of eight children of
Thomas and Nora Fanning. His mother
was from Woodfield near Kilkelly, her
maiden name was O’Brien. Paddy’s
parents were small farmers and as
he said it wasn’t easy to rear eight
children on twenty acres. Some of his
sisters emigrated to London, New York
and New Jersey.
When Paddy was ten years old his
cousin Paddy Forde from Knock who
himself was a great violinist gave
Paddy a violin and taught him how to
play it. He said he couldn’t play by ear
as some musicians can, so he had to
learn all the tunes by note E.G.B.D.F.
He practised a lot and grew to love
music especially traditional music.
After finishing primary school Paddy
worked on a local farm owned by
Anthony & Bernie Lyons. He said they
treated him well, paid him five-shillings
per day and also gave him two good
meals. Their brother Michael a retired
policeman lived with them. They kept
beehives and always had fresh honey
for their bread at teatime. All three
brothers smoked, so one of them
would go to the hive, blow a puff of
smoke into it, that way they could
collect the honey without been stung.
Paddy said Lyons was a great visiting
house and many a frightening tale of
meeting ghosts and fairies at midnight
was told there.
During that time Paddy also went to
night classes in Ballyhaunis learning
woodwork, at a cost of five-shillings
for ten classes. Sean Cleary, father of
Dr.Cleary, Ballyhaunis was his teacher.
Paddy said he learned a lot from him
and still uses the beautiful armchair,
which he made while attending those
classes. The last thing he made at the
class was a beehive, he talks about it
with such fondness, you know it meant
a lot to him. He said it was the best
thing he ever made. He sold it for fiftyshillings, as he needed the money but
regrets having to sell it to this day.
As Paddy got older the thought of
making more money appealed to him,
England beckoned and like so many
more he took the boat to Hollyhead.
By now he was well able to play the
violin, so he took it with him. He was
twenty years of age and this was his
first time away from home.
The first place he worked was on a
farm in Knutsford, he stayed there for
three years. Next it was Manchester
and Warrington where he got work
38
The Michael Davitt Group
Continued......
building houses for the American army. He
remembers seeing three or four hundred
soldiers captured there. After work finished
there he moved on to London.
He never lost the love of music and every
Saturday for two years he went to music school
where he learned to play the saxophone, also
to read and write music. It cost one pound
sterling for each lesson. There they were given
a scale to learn and had to practice, making
sure they knew it for the following Saturday.
Time wasters weren’t tolerated. Paddy became
a very accomplished musician, as well as the
violin he was a master player of the Soprano
Saxophone, the Piano Accordion and the
Drums.
Now Paddy wasn’t going to let his well invested
money be wasted so he began playing in
pubs in London for financial gain. He played
alongside another great musician Cal Hayes
from Limerick. Most Saturdays they had a
wedding to play at, on many occasions they
played in Jimmy Duggan’s hotel in Manchester.
with a cow, and there was an opportunity
of another pound to be made, that mighty
animal had to be brought in from the field.
On arriving late in Irishtown they would be
greeted with a telling off from Sean Bourke
but he soon forgot it when the music
started and his lounge was full. They were
paid thirty-shillings each for playing for the
night. They also got drinks bought for them
especially when the holidaymakers were
home. Since there was so much emigration
in those years, there was hardly any family
who didn’t have people returning for holidays
especially from England and America during
the summer and mainly from England at
Christmas time.
Paddy played in many different venues and
with many musicians amongst whom were
Pete Brownes band from Kiltimagh, Paddy
Warde from Kilnock Cross, he played with
him at the dances in Brickens School. He
played in Peg Gannon’s hall in Cloonfad
with Owen O’Dea and his band, in Paddy
After thirteen years in England, Paddy returned Glennon’s ballroom Dunmore with Bertie
home to continue farming in his native Lisbawn. Murray, Brickens. Paddy Hunt Laraganboy
He wasn’t long home when Johnny McGarry on was another man he played with, he said
hearing of this great saxophone player, called
Paddy was a very talented man and could
to ask if he would join with Mick Maguire and
play any tune after only hearing it two or
himself in a band. That for Paddy was the start three times. He also played in Churchfield
of ‘The Michael Davitt Group’ and also the
House Hotel, Knock with Gus Lannigan
start of a long tradition of playing in Bourkes
from Ballyhaunis. This hotel was owned by
Irishtown, one of the first singing lounges in the the same Jimmy Duggan who Paddy had
West of Ireland.
played for in Manchester. As a member of
‘The Michael Davitt Group’ he played in the
After Sean Bourke returned from Canada he
supper room in Tooreen dance hall. The
bought the business premises from Tommy
youngest person Paddy played in a band
Rattigan which was a small pub and grocery
with was probably John Lyons, Gurrane son
shop. Sean had the whole place renovated,
of Paddy & Celia Lyons. Paddy says every
built a big extension and got rid of the grocery
one of them were brilliant musicians.
shop. At the same time he also bought the old
dance hall in Ballindine and used the maple
Paddy said he was asked recently if he still
floor from it in his lounge in Irishtown.
plays and the answer he gave was “when
I often heard people comment that it was
you come home at 3am, fiddle under your
the best dance floor anywhere. Sean was in
arm, belly full of fish and chips and pension
construction so he knew good quality and didn’t book in your pocket, its time to stop playing”.
let an opportunity to get the best pass him by.
Paddy feels very honoured to have played in
Paddy doesn’t regret not having made
such a prestigious venue on the opening night. music his full time career, he could easily
have been a music teacher but he enjoyed
When Paddy returned from England he bought farming too much to give it up. He along
a white Ford Prefect car, a real posh one, it had with Matt Healy, John Naughton, John
all the extras – a roof rack and a sun visor. A
Duggan and some others were instrumental
Mayo registration, Paddy remembers it well AIZ in bringing pressure to bear in getting
470. Since Paddy was to be the driver to all the Ballyhaunis and Ballinrobe marts set up.
venues for the band he got a hackney license.
Paddy is sorry to see Ballyhaunis mart
The roof rack was invaluable for carrying the
closed, but as he says “that’s the way times
drums. The amplifiers and the rest of the
are now”. “Correct”.
musical instruments fitted in the boot. Paddy
still has the amplifiers and a fine set of drums. He’s content with his life and says he has
the best neighbours anyone could ever ask
Every Sunday night Johnny McGarry was the
to have. He doesn’t drive a car anymore
first to be collected, around 6.30pm as the
but keeps fit and active, he cycles into his
pubs closed at 10pm. Occasionally when
nearest village Bekan where he enjoys a
Paddy arrived he would find that instead of
pint, says its great to give an appetite before
coming towards the car Johnny was heading
dinner. He believes it’s very important to
down the field. There was a simple explanation, keep active and not sit around too much
Johnny owned an Aberdeen Angus bull and was after retiring as the bones just stiffen up.
in the business of bull hire. Well like any good
Judging by what my husband and I saw the
businessman when a farmer arrived in the yard day we called to him that won’t happen to
Third Story
Paddy, he had just painted the roof of a shed, no
bother to him at eighty three years.
He said for anyone who played the saxophone, it was
great for the lungs, as they had always to take such
deep breaths while playing. He also stressed the
importance of knowing when to stop, as playing the
semaphore can put to much pressure on the body as
a person gets older. It looks like Paddy not only could
have been a music teacher, but would also have
made a great health instructor.
Paddy said he made many many friends through his
music, both in England & Ireland, and that some
people who heard him play in England still call to visit
him. He now plays the violin for his own enjoyment
and I’m assured that when family and friends visit
his home, that the music and singing re-echoes as
it did in times past. Oh yes, Paddy is also a great
singer, his favourite song is ‘The Galway Shawl’ which
he sang for us after having told his interesting story.
“Well Done Paddy”, we wish you many more years of
health and happiness to enjoy and to give enjoyment
with your music and singing – LE CUNAMH DE.
Paddy Fanning
playing the
Saxophone in
London 1957.
Mick Maguire was one of our native sons of Cloonfad, born
and reared in a beautifully kept cottage just a short distance
on the Williamstown road from Cloonfad cross roads, he
became one of the greats of accordion players of his time. I
often heard people say he could almost make it talk.
He started playing when he was only four years old, still to
young to hold the accordion on his knees, he sat on the
floor and began to play the accordion belonging to his father
Johnny. It was one of the old fashioned small, black, single
line button accordions, I think it was called a Hohner.
Mick had no formal training for music, he never needed to,
he had that special gift which so many musicians would love
to have, he could play by ear. That is to say that when he
heard a tune a couple of times, he could play it to perfection
without having any notes, how lucky he was. Every chance
he got he was playing the accordion. Anywhere he went he
was asked to play and loved to do so.
As he grew older he worked on the farm and later on spent
some time in England. He went to Grantham, Lincolnshire
where his older brother had a pub. Mick worked for some
time in the pub with him and was known to have entertained
the customers with his musical talents on many occasions.
He treated himself to a bigger button key accordion while in
England.
After he returned home to Cloonfad to take up farming full
time, he was very much in demand for playing music. He
played at many concerts in Cloonfad hall, sounding out the
jigs, reels and hornpipes for the dancers on stage. Music
came very easy to him, he could join in with any other
musicians and feel quite at ease. When-ever there was a
party or some fund raising event Mick was asked to come
along and bring “The Box” with him, when that was said
to Mick he knew they meant the accordion, since it was
affectionately known as “The Box”. Many times the payment
was just “Thank You”!
I remember when I was young, a party was arranged for our
house a very rare happening at that time, but this was a very
special occasion. An uncle of ours was home from America
for the first time in over forty years. All the neighbours and
friends were invited so naturally Mick being our next door
neighbour was there. He was asked to bring “The Box”
along so he might play a few tunes to liven things up a bit.
After everyone had their fill of the delicious food and all the
goodies including jelly and custard, without which no party
was complete, drinks were served. Give us a few tunes
Mick was the request and he willingly obliged. The music
was so uplifting that it wasn’t long until the table and chairs
were pushed back against the wall and the dancing started.
There were people waltzing who hadn’t done so for years,
and when the siege of Ennis got going there were sparks
knocked off the concrete floor. What started off to be a
few tunes continued for hours. Before the night finished
my father suggested we have a song from the oldest man
in the village, who was Mick’s father Johnny Maguire, sure
enough he gave a fine rendition of “The Old Rustic Bridge by
the Mill”. Towards the end of the night it was a bit like the
wedding feast at Cana. With the drink running out, as such
a long night wasn’t planned for, and the miracle was that
39
people whose bones were stiff early in the night, limbered
up once the music started and were out dancing like 25 year
olds. What a night, with everybody enjoying themselves,
they went home tired, but happy. Most of the credit for such
enjoyment was due to Mick for his fine music.
In the early 60’s Mick started playing every week-end in
Mulligans pub in Cloonfad, this time with a little financial
reward, once the owner realised his music was so well liked,
and it drew so many more customers into the pub.
beautiful bride. He didn’t get away without playing a few tunes
even on their wedding day.
Mick continued to play in singing pubs for three or four years
after they married. Margaret and Johnny McGarry’s wife Sarah
became good friends and they often went along together to the
venues in which their husbands were playing.
Margaret said Mick had made so many friends she didn’t know
a fraction of them. She said music was the love of his life, he
wanted to teach her how to play the accordion and even though
she too loves music, and is a good singer, she had no interest in
learning to play music. She told me that she never heard Mick
singing, though she heard that he could sing, and his favourite
song was ‘Give
an Irish Girl
to me’. Even
after Mick
had given up
playing in pubs
for payment,
when ever
they were in
a pub where
a band was
playing, he
was always
asked to go on
stage and play
a few tunes,
he was always
happy to do
so.
In 1965 Mick joined with Johnny McGarry and Paddy
Fanning to form “The Michael Davitt Group”, as told in
Johnny’s story (First Story). They started in Bourkes of
Irishtown. Like his two
friends Mick was also
proud to have played
there on the opening
night. Mick was the
youngest member
of the band. After
a few weeks playing
there Mick realised
he needed a new
accordion. One night
Johnny mentioned
that he saw a lovely
button accordion
in Peter Hannon’s
window in Ballyhaunis.
Sean Bourke heard
him so after closing
time that night he
headed to Ballyhaunis
Margaret
with the band. There
showed me
was business to be
the accordion
done, an accordion
which is still
had to be purchased,
in perfect
delay until morning
condition,
and it may be gone.
she said he
Now Peter Hannon’s
treated it with
was an electrical
Margaret and Mick McGuire on their Wedding Day.
such care polishing it every
goods, a music shop, and a pub. Peter
week with some special oil.
was just finishing the clean up of his pub
when they arrived in Ballyhaunis. They parked outside his
Mick along with so many of the people he entertained, as well
front door and saw the accordion in the window, it looked
as other musicians we remember when we think of music from
like it was begging to be played. Peter Hannon allowed
the past, have gone to their eternal reward, and we hope they
them in only after it was confirmed that it wasn’t late night
are all enjoying God’s heavenly music with Him in his kingdom.
drink they wanted. The accordion was taken off the window
for Mick to examine, it was perfect. Sean Bourke paid out
the twenty pounds requested for this second hand beauty.
Since twenty pounds was a lot of money back then, Mick
wouldn’t be carrying that amount around with him, so he
paid back Sean on their next meeting a week later. Mick
On behalf of Cloonfad Magazine committee I
played that accordion for the seven and a half years he
want to thank Margaret, Johnny & Paddy who
played in Bourkes and for many years after, giving so much
were so generous with their time in giving their
enjoyment everywhere he played it.
stories to put this article together.
40
When ‘The Michael Davit Group’ finished playing in Bourkes,
Mick played with the McGarry family for one year just while
they got settled in as a family band. After that Mick played
in many other lounges to name a few, The Blue Kuku in
Kiltevna and Hestors in Castlerea. The luckiest place of all
for him was playing in Feeney’s, Williamstown where he met
Margaret Power who on the 10th October 1980 became his
A
Home
away from Home
Mountdelvin to Lockwood
Nora was the third born to Michael and Mary Moore,
Mountdelvin. Her childhood was spent helping out at
home. Many jobs had to be done between the farm
and the kitchen.
In the 1940’s Nora emigrated to England. She
spent some time working in Birmingham with her
sisters Bridie and Nancy. They enjoyed the dances
together but missed home and their parents very
much. Later she moved to Huddersfield in Yorkshire
where she joined her brother Tom. It was there that
Nora worked in the Woollen Mills. This work was
very skilful and Nora excelled at her job, contributing
to the weaving and textile industry which was at
it’s height at that time. Nora then met the love of
her life James Timlin, fondly known as Jimmy. He
was a native of Huddersfield and a soldier during
the second world war, something he and Nora were
proud of. On leaving the army Jimmy worked for
David Brown, the famous Tractor Maufacturer. Jimmy
was very knowledgeable about English and Irish
history.
They holidayed at every opportunity in Nora’s
homeplace. Jimmy was well known around Cloonfad
and Garrafrauns. The visits they made were always
looked forward to by their family still at home.
Whoever visited Nora at her home in Lockwood
were met by warmth and hospitality. Upon entering
her home you could not help to notice how house
proud she was and her intriguting collection of dolls.
Needless to say if you stayed for dinner or tea you
looked forward to her Yorkshire pudding and Porter
cake. She was the life and soul and loved having the
craic. She would wind up her nieces and nephews
and always loved a joke.
Nora was heartbroken upon Jimmy’s death in June
2002. She visited his grave everyday and was a
devoted as ever to her beloved Jimmy.
In June 2006, Nora made her final visit home to
Ireland. Nora had a fabulous two weeks here with
her nephew, John Keaveney and his wife Anglea.
John helped her visit her friends and family. Nora’s
faith was important to her.
Picture of John Waldron, Lavallyroe, taken in
Leicester in 1937.
Simple flowers wil do
Submitted by Judith Ronane Finn
Why have so many people got nothing to live for?
Because they have no friendships.
Because they don’t know anybody who likes them.
Because nowhere do they find
an ounce of sympathy and affection.
Because a flower never blooms for them.
And yet flowers work wonders!
No need for expensive or rare flowers.
Common simple flowers will doa smile, a kind word, a simple gesture.
The smallest tiniest flower
given with a warm heart
tells a lovely story.
A pure, sweet story about a small piece of
heaven-on earth,
where the people seem like angels,
where, for every anxiety,
for every pain and for each tear,
there is a soft comfort,
where the people, like flowers, bloom for each other.
Eoin McCormack Jnr
on the far right at
Saint Nathy’s College
in 1963.
Nora Timlin {nee Moore} (RIP), Mountdelvin.
41
Composed by Vera Carter, Lavallyroe at the
age of 11, while in school in Wulloughby,
Waterleys, Leicestershire, recently recalled
at age 93.
21st
Birthdays
The Mole
Little mole, little mole
Living in that deep dark hole
Digging and digging all the day.
Never wasting time away.
Alan Corcoran
Come little mole from that underground place
Come little mole and show your face
Show it too the sunshine bright
Instead of working with all your might
I know you would rather work all day
Than idly waste your time away
Digging and digging that underground cell
Why you do it, I can never tell
Seaside Delight
The waves come rolling, rolling inland,
Up and up the gleaming sand.
Washing the feet of the children
As they scamper hand in hand
Mairead Ronane
Denise Costello
The children love the Ocean wide
They wonder by its restless side
Or go for a long long cooling swin
Until the skies begin to dim
Seamus Brennan
Darren Doyle
Leona Corless
Adrian Jennings
Mary Roche (nee Byrne) Logboy.
Dom Mannion (RIP) Derryhog
and unknown person.
Lorraine Fitzmaurice
Catherine Griffin
42
Wedding Photos
Jennifer Keadin, Cloonfad and Noel
Heneghan, Rathlena, Granlahan who were
married on the 2nd December 2006.
Margaret Duffy, Aughamore and Declan
Keadin, Pollinalty who were married on
the 8th December 2006.
Elaine Gannon, Glenamaddy and
Michael Flatley, Meeltrane who were
married on the 23rd June 2007
Jolene Fleming, Lavallyroe and Dermot
McGuire, Logboy who were married on
the 13th February 2007.
43
Siobhan Madden, Cork and Terence Lynch,
Cork who were married on the 12th April
2007.
Wedding Photos
Elaine Corcoran, Streamstown and Declan Doyle,
Carrowbeg who were married on the 28th April
2007
Laura Jennings, Pollinalty and Eamon
Donnellan, Culkeen who were
married on the 18th August 2007
Elizabeth Cummins, Mount Delvin and Jason
Ronane, Garrafrauns who were married on the
2nd October 2007
Joanne Hosty, Lavallyroe and Dominic
Cody, England who were married on
the 3rd November 2006
Sheena Kirrane, Ballyhaunis and
PJ Fleming, Lavallyroe who were
married on the 4th August 2007
44
Wedding Photos
Karen O’Connor, Templeogue and
Gareth Carolan, Portmarnock who
were married on the 11th August 2007
Jenny Glynn, Corofin,
and George Costello,
Cloonfad Co. Galway who
were married on the 5th
October 2007
Michelle Aldridge and Mike Brice,
Cloonfad who were married on the
22nd September 2007
Bernadette Flanagan, Mount Delvin
and John O’Kane, Navan who were
married on the 28th September 2007
Sinead Clarke, Mount Delvin and David Dolan,
Lorrha, Tipperary who were married on the
15th October 2006.
45
Caroline Clarke, Mountdelvin and
Des Healy, Ballycastle who were
married on the 31st August 2007.
Wedding Photos
Jackie Keane, Granlahan and
Anthony Cosgrove, Mount
Delvin who were married on
the 18th November 2006
Sylvia Keane, Granlahan and
John Broderick, Belmullet who
were married on the 20th April
2007.
Craig and Margaret Williams ,
Granlahan who were married on
the 23rd December 2006.
Rosaleen Neary, Tulrahan and
Michael Grimes, Cork who were
married on the 1st September 2007
Josephine Waldron, Culnacleha and
Kevin McGrath, Ballinrobe who were
married on the 6th October 2007.
Martin Waldron,
Culnacleha and Sandra
Regan, Robeen who
were married on the
28th July 2007.
Rosaleen Lyons, Tulrahan and Paul
Conneally, Willamstown who were
married on the 28th September 2007
46
Births, Deaths, Marriages
NB.. Please note: Dates are from October 2006 to October 2007
WeddingsOctober 2006 – October 2007
14th October 2006
3rd November 2006
18th November 2006
2nd December 2006
8th December 2006
13th February 2007
12th April 2007
28th April 2007
23rd June 2007
4th August 2007
11th August 2007
18th August 2007
31st August 2007
22nd September 2007 28th September 2007
2nd October 2007
5th October 2007
Sinead Clarke, Mount Delvin & David Dolan, Lorrha, Tipperary.
Joanne Hosty, Lavallyroe & Dominic Cody, England.
Jackie Keane, Granlahan and Anthony Cosgrove, Mount Delvin
Jennifer Keadin, Cloonfad & Noel Heneghan, Rathlena, Granlahan
Margaret Duffy, Aughamore & Declan Keadin, Pollinalty.
Jolene Fleming, Lavallyroe & Dermot McGuire, Logboy.
Siobhan Madden, Cork & Terence Lynch, Cork
Elaine Corcoran, Streamstown & Declan Doyle, Carrowbeg
Elaine Gannon, Glenamaddy and Michael Flatley, Meeltrane
Sheena Kirrane, Ballyhaunis & PJ Fleming, Lavallyroe
Karen O’Connor, Templeogue & Gareth Carolan, Portmarnock
Laura Jennings, Pollinalty & Eamon Donnellan, Culkeen
Caroline Clarke, Mount Delvin & Des Healy, Ballycastle, Co. Mayo.
Michelle Aldridge & Mike Brice, Cloonfad
Bernadette Flanagan, Mount Delvin & John O’Kane, Navan
Elizabeth Cummins, Mount Delvin & Jason Ronane, Garrafrauns.
George Costello, Cloonfad & Jenny Glynn, Corofin, Co. Galway.
Weddings from 50 Years Ago
26th September 1956
29th October 1956
26th December 1956
7th January 1957 26th November 1957 Patrick Greene, Rathlena & Rose Flynn, Milltown
James Cunningham, Beagh, Williamstown & Bridgid Greene, Coolcam.
Martin James Donegan, Rathlena & Mary Rushe, Clooncrim.
John Flynn, Rathlena & Mary Margaret Grehan, Clogher.
Tom Paul Tierney, Mount Delvin & Sabina Moran, Curragh.
Births
8th January 2006
1st September 2006
29th September 2006
10th December 2006
27th February 2007
3rd April 2007 20th May 2007
25 May 2007
12th August 2007
20th September 2007 24th September 2007
Deaths
Dylan Christopher Geraghty, Cloonfad
Luke Byrne, Culkeen
Caitlin Anna Rapheal Keadin, Pollinalty
Ailbhe Mary Brennan Conneely, Newtown
Saoirse Mary Casserley, Castlenock, Dublin 15.
Matthew Patrick Coleman, Benmore
Dylan Alan Murray, Kiltevna
Cameron John Costello, Tonragee
Daithi Micheal Gannon, Cornabanny
Niamh Bernadette Donnellan, Lavallyroe
Sean Joseph Thomas Haldane, Meeltrane
October 2006 – October 2007
24th October 2006
15th November 2006
9th December 2006
12th December 2006
14th January 2007
26th March 2007
29th March 2007
30th March 2007
12th May 2007
14th May 2007
16th May 2007
28th June 2007
17th July 2007
18th August 2007
12th October 2007
47
October 2006 – September 2007
Padraic Staunton, Meeltrane
Nell Prendergast, Pollinalty
Eden Joseph Lyons, Cloonfad
Noel Flanagan, Mount Delvin
Winnie Kearns, Ballyhaunis
Adriana Jacoba Jonson, Ballykilleen
Olive Fagan, Cloonfad and Dunboyne
Pat Moore, Mount Delvin
Pat Kenny, Carrowbeg
Miko Walsh, Ballinross
Martin Burke, Culkeen
Vincent Prendergast, Pollinalty
Jimmy Connelly, Bethal
Peter Keane, Cloonfad
Nonie O’Malley, Cloonfad
Son of Pauline Geraghty.
Son of Christopher & Siobhan Byrne.
Daughter of Raymond & Cathy Keadin.
Daughter of Michelle Brennan & John Conneely.
Son of Martin & Mary Casserley.
Son of Conor & Marcella Coleman.
Son of Alan Murray & Christina Keane.
Son of John & Georgina Costello.
Son of Michael & Sharon Gannon.
Daughter of Michael & Deirdre Donnellan.
Son of Jeremy & Catriona Haldane
Deaths from 50 Years Ago (1957)
29th January 1957
2nd February 1957
22nd February 1957
24th February 1957
30th April 1957
20th May 1957
17th June 1957
26th June 1957
12th August 1957
23rd September 1957
3rd October 1957
11th December 1957
22nd December 1957
John Fleming (87) Gurteen
Patrick Cunniffe (89) Gurteen
Brigid Mullarkey (88) Ballinross
Kate Clarke (75) Mount Delvin
John Madden (87) Cloonfad West
Ellen Staunton (79) Cornabanny
James Burke (57) Streamstown
Catherine Rattigan (79) Ballinross
James Burke (78) Meeltrane
James Mongan (67) Coolisker
Kate Mannion (83) Cloonfad
Catherine Brennan (90) Newtown
Joseph Flannery (3) Cloonfad
CLOONFAD SCENIC WALKS
By Sean Corcoran
Despite the unfavourable summer weather the numbers availing
of the Cloonfad scenic walks continue to increase with each
passing season.
The popularity of the walks is now reaching a much wider
audience with the circulation of the Failte Ireland booklet
‘Walking Ireland’.
During the summer a special feature entitled ‘Great Irish
Walks’ was included with the Irish Examiner Newspaper which
highlighted all looped walks on the Island including ‘The
Derrylahan Loop’.
Earlier in the summer the committee submitted a comprehensive
report on this outdoor amenity to the forward planning section
of Roscommon County Council. This submission was made in
response to the councils request for input to the new county
development plan.
In view of the national recognition of this outdoor facility the
committee felt it was necessary that the Tourism status and
potential of the walks should be an integral part of the new
development plan.
Work has continued on the building of a new resource centre with
the roof completed and doors and windows fitted.
The community is indebted to those who gave their time
voluntarily at the earlier stage of the development.
The project received a timely boost in September with the
announcement of an Arigna Leader grant for phase two of the
building. Once again a lot of work was undertaken in preparing the
application for grant approval.
Our committee greatly appreciate the support received from staff at
Arigna Leader and their colleagues in the Rural Social Scheme.
A lot of energy was expended in finalising details for the drawing
down of grant aid from a Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism
approved grant. Great credit is due to all who worked tirelessly to
ensure that monies provisionally granted are received. We must
acknowledge also the cooperation of the local management of
Coillte Teoranta in meeting conditions set down by the department.
The traditional cottage which is currently being used as a resource
centre had many visitors throughout the year. The arrival of its
Strolling on the
Clogher route
of the Cloonfad
Scenic Walks were
Jayne Ronayne
and Emma
Corcoran with
Pauline, Gemma
and Sophie
Prendergast on
holiday from Spain
owners, the Prendergast family now resident in
Spain during the summer was particularly significant. The support
and generosity of Tony, Pauline and family has left a valuable legacy
to the residents of the Mid Connacht region.
48
The Cloonfad Scenic Walks committee was also included in a new
imitative undertaken by Coillte Teoranta entitled Neighbour wood
Scheme.
This project would involve the provision of an additional walking
route and the renovation of an old stone cottage. Progress on this
enhancement of the Scenic Walks awaits EU approval.
All involved in this project are looking forward to the completion of
the new Resource centre which will add a whole new dimension to
the facility.
Cloonfad Cemetery Committee
By Michael Brennan
The Cloonfad Cemetery Committee would like to thank
the small group of people from the community who
helped to maintain the grounds to a very high standard
again this year. We would also like to acknowledge all
the people who keep their family graves so neat and
tidy which lessens our own workload in maintaining the
grounds.
This was a very challenging year for our committee as
back in June we decided to proceed and have a new
Celtic Cross erected in the cemetery grounds to honour
all our deceased. The biggest problem with this was
the cost and where would we get the money. A decision
was made at the meeting that we would levy each
household in the area with a charge of €50 as a once
off and hope that we would get a positive response.
We looked at different types of crosses and at the end
we decided to place an order with Murphy Monumental
from Glenamaddy. We were promised a delivery of early
September which would mean changing the annual
cemetery mass from early August to September.
Our next challenge was to start the house to house
distribution of envelopes for the collection. We got an
excellent response from all station areas and also from
people living outside the area with family members
buried in the cemetery. We are indeed very thankful to
all for such a very generous response, to date we have
collected a total of €10,800. The cost of the Celtic Cross
was €9,300 which is now fully paid for thanks to the
people who supported the project.
This year we again applied to Roscommon Co. Co. for
grant aid and we are promised a grant later in the year.
Any surplus money we have in the account will be spent
on other projects we plan on carrying out in the future
and also to pay the maintenance costs yearly.
A special word of thanks to Fr Tom Commins for saying
the annual mass in the cemetery on September 15th
and also for blessing the Celtic Cross. We also plan on
having the prayers in the cemetery in November for all
the people buried in the grounds.
We would like to acknowledge the help we received over
the last few months in collecting the money and helping
with the erection of the new Celtic Cross:
Pastoral Council Members
Fr Tom Commins, Anne Regan, Paul Murphy (Contractor),
Pat Heneghan, J P Fleming (Caretaker), Tom Burke,
Dermot McGuire and all our Committee Members
We would like to send our deepest sympathy to all the
families in our community that have lost family members
during the year. May they rest in peace.
Our committee will continue to work each year to help
ensure our cemetery is kept to a very high standard. We
would like if more people would get involved in giving
their time to help keep up the good work that is being
done each year.
Committee Members:
Michael Brennan (Chairman), Secretary (Sean Brennan),
Liam Corless/Sean Brennan (Joint Treasurers), Fr Tom
Commins, Tom Fagan, Terry Fitzmaurice, Francis Greene,
Eddie Birmingham, Pat Kearney, Michael Brennan, Frank
Brennan, Martin Regan, Jarleth Regan, Padraig Cunniffe,
David Nestor and Seamus Costello.
Cloonfad/Mazamba Partnership
Once again the committee of the Cloonfad partnership would like to convey heartfelt thanks to you the community
of Cloonfad and Granlahan for your generosity in sponsoring the fund raising walk which took place on bank holiday
Monday evening May 7th round the scenic Cloonarken route the event was attended by a great many enthusiastic
walkers, a very successful walk and sponsorship, with a final return of €7,259.00.
As you know we have financed the building of two maize mills in Mozambique, the first Mill in Mazamba is up and
running since 2005, a second Mill in Maciamboice, which is in the same general area as Mazamba is now also built
and working, together with a 3000euro contribution from the overseas fund of An Garda Siochana, and 5,200euro
which the committee presented to Fr. Eamon on his visit to the Parish on the weekend of June 24th 2006 together
with some money left over from the first Mill, those two mills are now paid for Total up to this year €17,000. The mills
cost €10,000 each.
This year the Committee has decided with the advice of Fr. Eamon Aylward to finance two pumps plus all the
necessary piping to irrigate the land on the banks of the Zambezi River. This is to facilitate a local farming cooperative in the Chupanga area (this is the place where the Belmullet parish Co. Mayo has financed a mill) as you can
well imagine this irrigation will increase the production of the land many fold and long term. We have also bought two
Braille machines for the Mozambique institute for the Blind which receive young people from all over the Country. The
machines cost €500 each.
Fr. Aylward visited the Parish on the weekend of June 17th this year and was presented with a cheque for €11,000,
this included money left over from 2006, making a total now contributed by you of €28, 000. Father spoke at both
masses and thanked the community for their extreme generosity.
Once again you the community should be justly proud that you have reached out to help those less fortunate people
in Mozambique, we hope that it will be a great joy and consolation to you this Christmas time.
The Committee would like to take this opportunity to thank you one and all for your great generosity over the past 4
years and to wish you all a very happy Christmas and New Year.
Cloonfad / Granlahan Mazamba Patnership Committee presenting a cheque for €10,000 to Fr. Eamon Alyward in June
2007.
Back row: M. Birmingham, T. Hebron, M. Brennan, A. Regan, N. Costello, M. McGuire
Front row: P. Browne, Fr. T. Commins, P. McCormack, P. Birmingham. Fr. Eamon Alyward, T. Godfrey, N. Kelly
Missing from photo: M. Lowery, S. Brennan, E. Brennan.
f
49
Cloonfad Development Association
By Micheal Brennan
The Cloonfad Development Association has continued to work over the past year in developing our village and the surrounding areas with the help of Roscommon County Council. The following are the projects we are actively involved in:
•
Install a new traffic control system at Cloonfad Crossroads in conjunction with Roscommon County Council
•
Planning for a new sewerage treatment plant for the village
•
New signage for traffic control
•
Involved with Cloonfad Scenic Walks to secure grant aid for Resource Centre
•
Traffic calming for the village
We would like to acknowledge the help we receive from Roscommon County Council and also our public representatives
each year in getting the work complete.
The work plan in place at present at the crossroads in the village will hopefully eliminate the dangers we see every week
where some people fail to stop at the stop signs and are very lucky to avoid causing a very serious accident.
We have raised a lot of issues with our local councillor Michael McGrael that need to be actioned especially to have a
person assigned by the Council to maintain and keep our village clean and tidy.
We are delighted to see the large number of people moving into the area to occupy all the new houses been built and we
hope they will add to making our village a more vibrant place to live in for the future. We need new people involved in our
community to help achieve our goals especially with all the different organisations that a small number of people are trying
to keep active.
Chairman –Micheal Brennan
Joint Treasurers - Josie Costelloe, Maggie Kirrane
Secretary - Amanda Howard
PRO - Sean Corcoran
MARY IMMACULATE QUEEN PRAYER GROUP
By Margaret Brennan
This is our seventh year of our very successful prayer group. It’s held every Thursday night from eight to ten p.m. in
the community centre. This has been our venue since the prayer group was founded. Now we are finding ourselves
a little cramped on most nights as the room has filled up due to all the new members. “Thanks God – the more the
better”.
From time to time we have guest speakers, E.G. Philip and Margaret all the way from Australia. We also had Sr. Anne
Maria and Fr. Dan of the Mill Still Fathers.
Just a month ago in our group a family tree mass was concelebrated by Fr. Dan, Fr. Tom and Fr. Burke. A family tree
is a very special event. It is a mass for all our deceased relatives and our ancestors who have gone before us.
This year we have a new addition to our music ministry “Paddy Joe Tighe” who plays the accordion beautifully.
I take this opportunity to say welcome to Paddy Joe and all our new members.
May it go on and on.
God Bless you all.
50
Parish
Pastoral Council
The Parish Pastoral Council has
completed another year and in so doing
helped Fr. Tommy Commins to organise
the Christmas and Easter celebrations,
together with helping at the Senior
Citizens Christmas party. In March
2007, the Council played an integral
part, and was very involved in the Mass
time changes, they worked closely with
Granlahan and Ballinlough Pastoral
Councils.
The Sacrament of Confirmation was
celebrated in Cloonfad Church this year
on March 9th, and the Sacrament of
First Holy Communion on May 13th.
Our thanks to Fr.Tom for such lovely and
meaningful celebrations for the children
and their families. Congratulations to
all the children of the community who
received the Sacraments.
June 2007 completed tenure in office
of the outgoing Council, and in keeping
with the constitution, saw the resignation
of six members ie. Eddie Birmingham,
Marion Fagan, Geraldine Jennings, Terry
Fitzmaurice, Nora Costello, Nan Fleming
and Kathleen Costello. We thank them
for their work and contribution to the
Council during their term in office. The
newly elected members were Amanda
Howard, Michael Kirrane, Liam Corless,
Georgina Costello, William Lowery,
Caroline Gormley and Anne Regan.
At the inaugural meeting of the new and
present Pastoral Council the following
officers were elected. Secretary-Anne
Regan, Chairperson-Pat McCormack,
Vice Chairperson - Sean Brennan,
Treasurer - Gerogina Costello.
The Council discussed the fact that
attention be payed to the spiritual aspect
of the Pastoral Council, this will become
more evident in the coming months as
the Council continue to be connected/
linked directly to the Diocesan
Pastoral Assembly. Consultation with
representatives of Parishes/Pastoral
Councils took place at nine centres
throughout the diocese. These meetings
which were characterised by a spirit
of hope and enthusiasm underlined
the need to put in place a training
programme which will nurture, support
and sustain Pastoral Councils. Areas
to be covered by such a programme
include;
•
Understanding of the role and place of the Pastoral Council;
•
The Spirituality of the Pastoral Council;
•
•
By Anne Regan, Secretary
Skills training in leadership; communications and the effective running of meetings.
Awareness of what supports are available.
A working group has now begun the
task of developing such a programme.
Working groups have also been set up
in the areas of Pastoral Ministry, Youth
and Liturgy. This can only enhance the
way forward for the Cloonfad Parish
Pastoral Council in the future.
Holy Mass was celebrated in Cloonfad
Cemetery in September 2007 to
coincide with the blessing of the
Celtic cross, a beautiful and lasting
monument in honour of the deceased
members of the Cloonfad community.
This was a lovely celebration and indeed
a proud evening for the community.
Our thanks again to Fr. Tom and to the
Cloonfad Cemetery Committee who
organised the erection of the Celtic
Cross.
The lists of Readers, Collectors,
Eucharist ministers, and Church Care
Group will be updated, our thanks to
all whose names are presently on the
lists. Attention needs to be paid to
the Church Care Group, in relation to
organising a better way for this group
to work more effectively. We are still
in need of more people to become
involved in the church, anybody wishing
to become a member of any of the
above groups can do so by contacting
Fr. Tom or any council member.
The Cloonfad Telephone Directory
which was organised by previous
councils, needs to be updated. This is a
scheduled piece of work for the present
council.
We extend a warm welcome to the new
families that have joined the Cloonfad
community. Our sincere condolences to
any family in the community who has
suffered bereavement during the past
year.
As the Pastoral Council begin a new
term of office, we look forward to
representing the people of each station
area, and continue to work closely
with Fr.Tommy Commins, with a view
to furthering the mission of Christ and
his Church in this corner of the Lord’s
Vineyard.
Mayo
Roscommon
Hospice
Foundation
Kiltullagh Support
Group
The Kiltullagh Support Group
organised many fundraising
events over the past year enabling Mayo Roscommon
Hospice to continue to provide its
excellent service to the people of the two
counties.
The President, Mrs Mary McAleese, formally
launched the Seven Day Service for both
counties at a function in the White House
Hotel on 29 May. She praised the work of
the voluntary groups, who work continuously
to raise funds to keep the service going. The
budget for 2007 is approx. €1 million. The
Foundation fund 70% of the service costs in
the two counties.
The fundraising activities of the Kiltullagh
Support Group during the past year
included: raffles, car-boot sales, sales
of work, dances, sale of daffodils and
sunflowers, coffee mornings, Shine a Light
and Christmas cards, New Year’s Eve Ball,
donations, collection boxes and CD sales.
The members of the Kiltullagh Support
Group sincerely thank everyone who helped
and contributed to this essential service and
ask for your continued support towards our
fundraising activities. New members are
always welcome to join the group. Contact
any members for further details:
Chairperson:
Vice Chairperson:
Treasurer:
Assistant Treasurer:
Secretary:
Assistant Secretary:
Kathleen McLoughlin
Eileen O’Connor
Mary Larkin
Chris Neenan
Mary Patterson
Lynda Collier
51
COMMUNITY CENTRE REPORT 2007
It is hard to believe it is over
eleven years since President Mary
Robinson officially opened our
community centre on October 1996.
Since then it has become an integral
part of our community, used by young
and old alike and providing a home for
many local organizations.
In many ways the huge
amount of work and time put in by
the committee prior and during its
building as well as the magnificent
financial support of our community;
was responsible for the building of
a wonderful community spirit which
spilled over and inspired many other
community organizations in their work.
Initially it was built on land
owned by the Archbishop of Tuam
encompassing the grounds of both
St. Patrick’s church and Muire gan
Smal primary school. The ground
was handed over free gratis by the
Archdiocese thus allowing both the
church and school free use of the
centre while it is in use. The trustees
of the centre are the guarantors of this
agreement and have the responsibility for
its upkeep as well as ensuring its fair and
equal use by the general community.
One of the gratifying aspects of
running the centre is to see at close hand
the height of respect displayed by most of
those using it. Generally it is kept in good
condition and is structurally as sound as
the day it was built. The Western Health
board are wonderful tenants, using
Letter to a
Prodical son
Submitted by Marion Jennings
Dear Son,
I write to you yet once again,
You’re though of day and night.
It seems a long long time ago,
The day we had that fight.
You left here with an angry voice,
A heart so full of hate,
For you deserve another chance,
A lesson I learned to late.
With each new day my eyes awake
From dreams of seeing you,
I hear your laugh, I see your face,
I wonder do you dream too?.
52
Your mother’s health was failing,
God took her last Christmas Eve,
A time they say for giving,
A time they say to receive.
the facilities every Wednesday while
providing an invaluable service to all,
particularly the most vulnerable. Our
senior citizens come to the centre on
Wednesday afternoons where they are
cared for by a dedicated group of local
ladies. The playschool use the meeting
room on the remaining four mornings
and have the use of the main hall
on Wednesday afternoons when the
doctor is in residence. The primary
school have the use of the main hall
on all other occasions while the school
is open and considering the growing
enrolment (from 99 pupils in 2006 to
117 in 2007); its facility will be greatly
needed. An after school club has
recently been set up, using the centre
in the evenings up to six o clock.
The main meeting room is
in great demand for meetings but
these must be booked in advance
by contacting the secretary in
order to avoid double bookings. An
upstairs room can be used in case of
emergencies.
The hall is used nightly during the
winter months for a variety of sporting
activities. Badminton is on Tuesday
nights , Golden Oldies soccer on
Thursdays, Secondary school boys
are on Fridays while the ladies soccer
is usually on Wednesdays, Primary
school pupils are catered for on
Monday evenings while the secondary
school girls play on Saturday
evenings. Other groups use the hall on
different occasions. Micheal Glaveys
But if I were to have a wish,
A gift to come my way,
There would be just one my request,
To have you here to stay.
There’s’ waiting for you here the land,
The house and all the rest,
For all I have is yours son,
My one and only best.
And I have left one fatted calf,
The one that wore the bell,
All the wrest have long since gone,
But yours I could not sell.
If you come back to me some day,
I’ll meet you more than half,
With tenderness I’ll hold you close,
And kill that fatted calf.
We’ll rejoice and music make,
And sing the whole night long,
And I will thank my God above
For bringing back my son.
G.A.A club have occasional underage
functions in the hall including their
annual underage presentation
disco. The primary school have their
Christmas concerts and First Holy
Communion functions in the hall
while a number of organizations use
it on Sundays for after mass coffee
mornings.
Bridget Trench’s Knock
Little green fields and brown,
Hill and hollow,
Simple scenes.
Tiny whitewashed cottages,
Dispersed.
Bridget Trench’s Knock.
Scents
Of the rural west.
The soil,
At ploughing time;
Heather perfume,
Carried in the wind;
Newly cut
Grasses.
Haycocks
At haytime.
Turf stacks and
Moorland.
Oats
In the haggard.
Sounds
Of the farmyard;
Barking and
Lowing.
Hens
With their chickens,
Crowding the doorway.
The bell of the Angelus,
Noonday and
Evening;
Cnoc Mhuire folk’s
Gaelic,
A prayer on their lips.
At ease with
Their little;
Homely and
Happy;
Blessing the days with
The breads
On their
Visitors to Cloonfad
Visiting Cloonfad were Mattie and
Maureen Burke from London.
Monaghan Camogie team who played in Tooreen earlier this summer stayed at
Eascai B & B.
Bridget Cummin’s four sisters and one brother with their families visiting for Elizabeth Cummin’s wedding stayed at Eascai B & B.
Visiting Cloonfad from London were Frank and
Margaret Kelly.
Visiting Ballykilleen in August were Michael and Sarah McGuire from Tyrellspass and Michael, Paula and
Katie McNieve from Manchester Also in the picture is Thomas and Vera McGuire.
53
Obituary of the late
Mr Common Sense
Submitted by Sr. Anne Birmingham
Today we mourn the passing of a beloved dear old friend,
Common Sense, who has been with us for many years.
No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth
records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He
will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable
lessons as:
Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
Why the early bird gets the worm;
Life isn’t always fair;
And Maybe it was my fault.
Pictured at the Resource Centre at Easter 2007 were Bride Murray (nee Geraghty,
Meeltrane) with her son Sean, and twin granddaughters from Stockholm, Sweden.
Also in the picture is Margaret Walsh, Parke.
Common Sense lives by simple, sound financial policies
(don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable strategies
(adults, not children, in charge).
His health began to deteriorate rapidly when wellintentioned but overbearing regulations were set in
place. Reports of a 6 – year old boy charged with sexual
harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from
school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher
fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened
his condition.
Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked
teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed
to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined
even further when schools were required to get parental
consent to administer Tylenol, sun lotion or a band-aid to
a student; but could not inform parents when a student
became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
Visiting John Quinn, Mountdelvin was Gerry and Denise
Dignan from Chicago. Also in the picture is Martin Quinn.
Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten
Commandments became contraband; churches became
businesses; and criminals received better treatment than
their victims.
Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend
yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar
could sue you for assault.
Common sense finally gave up the will to live, after a
woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee
was hot. She spilled a little in her lap and was promptly
awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was
preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his
wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son,
Reason.
His is survived by his 3 stepbrothers; I Know My Rights,
Someone Else Is To Blame, and I’m A Victim.
Richie, Kelsie, Jackie and Richard Greene visited the
Resource Centre and the Area during the summer with the
help of Brian Flately.
54
Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he
was gone. If you still remember him, pass this on. If not,
join the majority and do nothing.
Senior School Tour 2007
By Rachel Birmingham and Sarah Jordan.
It was the morning of our school tour
and everyone was excited. The sun
was shining and there was no sign of a
cloud in the sky. We said goodbye to our
parents. It was fun on the bus. Everyone
was playing games.
Our first stop was The Arigna Mines which
are situated in the Curlew Mountains
near Boyle Co. Roscommon. We were
brought on a guided tour of the mines.
Our tour guide was a retired miner and
he told us many stories about his days
working down in the mines. Unfortunately
he had to retire due to ill health like many
of his colleges. The dust from the mines
had caused lung disease. The mines are
now closed because all the best coal was
mined and the rest was of poor quality.
Our guide showed us red lines on the
wall of the mine. This was a seem of iron.
At the end of the tour there was a gift
shop and we were allowed to buy some
souvenirs. We then climbed the curlew mountains before we left the area.
The second part of our tour was a cruise on the river Shannon. We all took
turns to drive the boat. We saw the holiday home of President Mary Mcaleese
and the house where they filmed the T.V. series Fr Ted. The owner of the boat
started up a sing song on the way back and we all joined in with him.
Next we went swimming which was great fun and then on to Supermacs
because with so much fresh air we were all starving. We did our shopping
in Sligo shopping centre and then on to the last part of our day. We went
to climb the Knocknaree Mountain near Sligo. We felt a great sense of
achievement on reaching the top. It was a climb of 700 meters and we
were exhausted and glad to rest on the top. We saw Queen Maeves grave
and looked out
over Sligo Bay.
We could see
Benbulben in the
distance. After
climbing down
we got on the bus
and returned to
Cloonfad.
Senior Pupils cruising on the River Shannon with Mr.
Brendan Cregg (Principal).
JUNIOR SCHOOL TOUR 2007.
The Junior school tour in June 2007 was
to Westport House in County Mayo. Fifty
seven enthusiastic youngsters boarded
Burkes coach at 8 30 a.m. with packed
lunch in one hand and a raincoat in the
other to begin the school tour which
had been looked forward to for so long.
Indeed the weather of summer 2006 was
so unpredictable that we were tempted
to go for an all indoors tour but placing
our trust in the good Lord and the T.V.3
weather man we set off on what was an
overcast but dry morning. Dark clouds
chased us through Claremorris and by
the time we were in Balla sure enough
down came the rain. But luck was
with us as we neared Westport a very
courageous sun peeped from behind the
clouds and was to remain with us for the
majority of the day with the odd shower.
However we managed to find shelter
each time. We reached the gates a little
before opening time and anxious faces
awaited the arrival of the gatekeeper. He
eventually arrived and we were directed
to the bus park where we were delighted
for some fresh air. We were given a map
of the grounds and guidelines to plan out
our day. We first took a train ride around
the grounds to familiarise ourselves with
the amenities. Next it was on to the picnic
area for our lunch. The sun shone brightly
and we decided to take a walk around
the animal park. The animals and poultry
are in enclosures laid out in such a way
that they can be viewed from either side
of the walkways. The Slippery dip was
next. What a slide! Sitting on a canvas
mat and attaining speeds never reached
before brave infants sped to the bottom
of the slide. For some one chance was
enough. Those who were undaunted
queued at the steps, climbed to the
top again and again. Finally calling a
halt to the merriment we went on to
the restaurant for lunch. After lunch
the infants played in the indoor play
area and the older children went to the
log flume ride. This was for them the
highlight of the day.
Chugging slowly to the top in a log boat,
waiting those moments before take off
and then speeding towards an almighty
splash in the water below. Children
and teachers were soaked in the end
but a quick change of clothes saw
everyone ready for the tour of Westport
house itself. Designed by the architects
Richard Cassels and James Wyatt in
the 18th century Westport house is one
of Ireland’s houses open to the public.
It was built and is still privately owned
by the Browne family who are direct
decedents of the famous pirate queen of
Connaught Grace O Malley or Granuaile
as she was often called. Westport house
is built on the foundations of one of
her many castles in the west of Ireland.
Indeed the dungeons under the house
for a part of the original castle. These
dungeons became the most exciting and
scariest part of our tour. Some people
who were very brave early in the day
were not so when we entered the dark
and murky dungeons in the basement of
the house. As we wandered around the
majestic rooms the children wondered at
the furniture and the paintings many of
which are portrait of the ancestors of the
house. The nursery was a great source of
interest especially the baby prams and
the rocking horse. The musician in the
library played us some traditional Irish
tunes.
As we were just about to leave the
majestic house the heavens opened
and we stood and watched the beautiful
gardens awash with rain. Unfortunately
we were also getting soaked and rather
than get wet to the skin we retreated
back into the great reception hallway to
sit out the rain. Our kind bus driver came
as close as he could to collect us (thanks
to the invention of mobile phones).
We boarded the bus tired but happy.
It was almost four o’ clock. We were
very behind schedule at that time but a
quick call to base ensured that parents
wouldn’t be too worried. We had many
sleeping beauties on the way home,
Thanks to the teachers, helpers Joelyn
and Nuala and to our bus driver from
Burkes Coaches and Peggy Prendergast a
great day was had by all. Roll on 2008.
55
Cloonfad Confirmation Class 2007.
Back Row: J. Casey, L. Raftery, C. McAnulty, V. Miskell, Mr. B. Cregg, C. McAnulty, L. Ferguson, S. Lyons, L. Kilgfarriff, C. Kilgarriff, M. Brennan.
Middle Row: A, Kirrane, C. Wright, M. Regan, O. McDonagh, Bishop Michael Neary, K. Geraghty, N. Hunt, H. Flately.
Front Row: S. Morrison, S. Gildea, A. Moran, N. Morrison, J. Brennan, M. Walsh, M. McGuire, T. McGuire.
First Holy Communion
First Holy Communion Class of 2007.
56
Back Row: Joelyn Keane, S.N.A., Jack Reinhardt, Danielle Connolly, Martina Regan, Fr.Tom Commins,
Courtney Mulhall Gibbions, Shane Flanagan, Imelda Burke Flanagan (Class Teacher).
Front Row: Micheala Kirrane, Chloe Brennan, Natasha Finnegan, Jack Howard, Niamh Fleming, Sasika
Kirrane, Shannon Sommerville, Jack Flanagan.
Art Competition.
For the past number of years Cloonfad Magazine and Pat Kenny has sponsored a colouring
competition.
This year that Committee have decided that the theme of the Art Competition is to be
changed. The theme for 2008 Art Competition is of Christmas. It was also decided there
will be only one age prize category, i.e. under ten
You may use any method of colour you wish – crayons, colouring pencils or water colours.
The size of the paintings will be the same for all. When the paintings are complete first,
second and third prizes will be awarded. The size of the picture should be A4. Put your
name and age on a separate piece of paper and attach to your entry. All entries must reach
Mary Regan, Cloonfad by March 1st 2008. Judges decision will be final. Results will be
published in the parish newsletter and the winners will be notified. So children get painting
and Good Luck.
Editor’s note:
During the year, the death of Pat Kenny occurred. Pat was a valuable asset to the
committee. His knowledge of creativity will be sadly missed. Pat was a very dedicated to
his role as the judge of the art competition. He spent many’s a happy day studying all the
drawings submitted.
Senior Competition Winners: Joint first
place: Damien and Michael Lafftery,
Oranmore
Junior Competition Winners:
1st: Darren Raftery, 2nd: Chloe Kirrane,
3rd: Leah Fleming
We wish to thank Bernie Prendergast – Cunnane, Toreen who judged this year competition.
This is a picture
of me and
my gran on
my First Holy
Communion
A conversation with my Gran–Aged 82
By Sasika Kirrane – Age Eight
During this summer I spent a week with my gran. One day when
we were on our own she said she’d tell me about when she was
small. I was amazed to hear she had to get water from the well
before she went to school. My gran loved school. When my gran
was in 5th class, all the children in that class had to write a story
that their parents had told them. They were mostly ghost and fairy
stories. They were called folklore. Then the master got my gran
to re-write all the stories into a big book which was sent to Trinity
College in Dublin. My gran remembers lots of people visiting her
house telling ghost stories and she would have to go to bed with
her oil lamp and she would be afraid to blow it out. As my gran got
older she used to cycle to her local town, which was eight miles
away to do shopping for her mother. She had six brothers and one
sister. One brother died aged fourteen. His name was Tommy.
When her mother had another baby boy she called him Tommy
as well. It was not unusual to do this long ago. Our conversation
came to an end for the dinner was ready. She has so much more
to tell me I just can’t wait.
Cloonfad N.S
participates in
the Cloonfad St.
Patrick’s Day Parade
By
Charlotte Mc Anulty,
Hannah Flatley and Katie Geraghty.
Seven young dancers from Cloonfad N.S. performed
a dance in the St Partrick’s Day Parade from the U.S.
hit High School Musical.
The song was called ‘We’re all in this together’
and the following people played the following
roles – Gabriella Montez – Charlotte McAnulty, Troy
Bolton – Niall Morrison, Sharpay Evans – Aisling
Kirrane with her brother Ryan Evans - Sean Gildea,
Taylor McKenzie – Hannah Flatley, Kelsi Nelson –
Jasamine Casey, Chad Danforth – Katie Geraghty.
We came fifth and Charlotte went up to receive our
plaque and prize money. We enjoyed every minute
even if we did have ‘fallouts’ along the way.
We will all live to do it again and next year we will
dance to a different song.
We were delighted to see High School Musical 2 on
the 21st of September.
Thanks to our parents for allowing us to practice in
each others houses and thanks to Orla McDonagh
and Chelsea McAnulty for holding our banner made
by Maggie Kirrane. Thanks to Vicky Miskill for
carrying our music on such short notice.
57
Jokes
Submitted By Rebecca Walsh
What part of a football pitch smells nicest?
The scenter spot.
Why aren’t football stadiums built in outer space?
Because there’s no atmosphere.
What’s the chilliest ground in the premiership?
Cold Trafford.
How did the football pitch become a triangle?
Someone too the corner.
Which former England player kept up the gas
supply?
Paul Gas Coin
What do a footballer and a magician have in
common?
They both do hat tricks.
Thomas McGuire been presented with the
Student of the Year Award by Fr. Tom Commins in
June 2007.
Which goalkeeper can jump higher than a
crossbar?
All goalkeepers because a crossbar can’t jump.
Why are footballers never invited to dinner?
Because they’re always dribbling.
Why did the footballer hold the boot to his ear?
Because he liked sole music.
What did the traffic light say to the car?
Don’t look now I’m changing.
How do you catch a squirrel?
Climb up a tree and act like a nut.
Teacher: Give me a sentence with “analyze” in it.
Pupil: My sister Anna lies in bed ‘til nine o clock.
Which soldiers smell of salt and pepper?
Seasoned troopers.
What do you call a nervous witch?
A twitch.
Who was the first underwater spy?
James Pond
58
When Dad asked his son how he liked
school he said “I like the going bit and
the coming home bit. It’s the bit in
between that I’m not keen on”.
Teacher asks pupil “Did you miss school
yesterday?
To which the pupil replied “Not very
much”.
Teacher told his class “We will only
have a half day of school this morning.”
“Hurrah” shouted the pupils. “Don’t get
too excited”, said teacher, “the other
half of the school day will be in the
afternoon.
Our
Playing Field
By Sean Gildea
The
Green Flag
By Ciara Kilgarriff
It was the year 1985 Cloonfad N.S. was
playing in the schools championship final. Alan
Birmingham was the captain on that day and
the school won their first ever title. Alan went
on to be a very successful footballer. He played
club football for Michael Glaveys and soccer for
Cloonfad United.
In his memory the pitch near our school wad
named after him. On the day when the green
flag our playing field was officially opened by
Fergal O Donnell. Alan and Fergal were friends
and had played against each other at underage
level
Before the pitch was ever there it was all boggy
land. So the school decided to have it drained,
levelled off and than seeded. The contractor
was Tom Kearns. Soon it was a beautiful
football pitch.
Nowadays it is a great asset to our school. It is
used for all school games, sports day and P.E.
The green flag was raided in Cloonfad National School by Seamus
Moran other wise known as Mike from Fair City. His father came
originally from Lavallyroe. The school band played traditional music
led by Mrs. Bernie Geraghty. The green flag shows us that God gave
us a beautiful world and we should keep it that way. Special thanks
to everyone who helped out on the day. We were very lucky with the
beautiful day for the raising of the green flag.
Receiving the green flag
One Wednesday the fifth and sixth class of last year held a raffle to
decide who was going to Dublin to receive the Green Flag which the
school had got. The venue was The Tailor Hall in Dublin. The names
pulled out were Stephen Morrison, Aron Moran and Chelsea McAnulty.
The journey took three hours. When they arrived there was a meal,
for the people from all the thirty two schools from all over Ireland
who had received the Green Flag. They met Enda Kenny and after
the presentation of the green flag got their photos taken. They then
brought the flag back to Cloonfad and it is now flying high outside our
school.
Planting
of Trees
By Catriona Wright.
With the green school inspection coming to
our school we had some work to do. So in
September 2004 the green school committee
decided to plant a tree in the school grounds
for every family. There were lots of people to
help plant the trees. The types of trees were
Ash, Purple Plum, Birch, Crab Apple and many
others. The trees were planted in the school
grounds by the pitch around the prefab and
in the riverside park. Over one hundred trees
were planted. These trees made the school
grounds look prettier. The green school
inspector who came to our school thought it
was a great idea to plant these trees, And they
are very good for the environment.
A visitor to Cloonfad National School during the year.
Riverside
Remembrance Park
By Aisling Kirrane and Orla McDonagh
The 1st of October 2006 was a very special day for our village. It was the day of the raising of the green flag for our school. This
coincided with the opening of the Alan Birmingham memorial playing field and the opening of the Riverside Remembrance Park.
The park was built and opened as a memorial to all the past pupils of our school who have now passes away. The park consists
of a garden area with steps leading down to the river Dalgan. There is a play area with jungle gym foe small children. We have a
poly tunnel there. The park was opened by the Lord Mayor of Cloonfad Brian Flatley and blessed by Fr T Commins. We are very
proud of our Riverside Park and we
hope it is a fitting tribute to all those past pupils who have passed away R.I.P.
59
Show
Jumping
By Katie McKay
My name is Katie McKay. I am ten years old and I love
horses and show jumping. I have my own pony. His
name is Dandy and he is white with some black spots.
My brother Sean and my sister Kelly Ann do show
jumping too, they have a horse each but my brother
Michael would rather play football. We have a sand
arena and stables in our garden. We practice every day
in it. It’s hard work looking after horses because you
have to clean out their stable every day.
The best part of all is going to shows like Claremorris. I
get very nervous because you have to wait for your turn
to jump and sometimes there are fifty people in front
of you. The jumping round only takes two minutes but
it’s great when you’re doing well and you get two clear
rounds and a rosette.
This year I went to Millstreet in Cork. It’s the first time I’ve jumped in a competition outside of Claremorris. I jumped
on two days. There were fifty people in each competition. There were a total of nine thousand entries which shows
just how big an event it was.
Dandy and I will be competing in the Winter League every Sunday in Claremorris and I can’t wait.
The Three R’s
By Laura Raftery
Reduce
A lot of work went into getting the green flag for our
school. We reduced the amount of rubbish going in our
school bin. We did this by cutting out crisps, sweets, fizzy
drinks, bars etc. and by doing this reduced the amount of
papers and wrappings. Every pupil brought fruit every day
instead and now we have a healthy eating policy in our
school.
Re-Use
Rebacca Melia who sang her heart out with
“Where did Rudolph Go”.
It also made a big difference when we started to bring
home our drinks bottle and reuse them daily. We also
reused our tinfoil for sandwiches. Everyone did a little
and it helped a lot. Also we used all old paper for art and
photocopied on both sides of the sheets of paper. This
reduced the amount of paper being used.
Recycle
We collected our left over fruit skins in containers and
each day they were emptied into the compost bin. This
compost will be used to grow vegetables in our organic
garden.
Nicholas Melia who entertained the audience as
“Professor Melia” from Oxford University with his
lecture on the Mystery of the Universe.
60
Cloonfad United Season Review
2006 -2007
By Dermot Burke (Secretary)
2007 was a year when much needed
stability arrived at the club both on and off
the playing field. With a dedicated youthful
and hardworking committee now in place,
the return of underage football in a number
of grades, more control over our finances
and generally the feel good factor, which is
beginning to sweep through the club again,
will hopefully be the base to have a great
year in 2008. One of the highlights of the
year was the wonderfully successful “night
at the dogs” at the Galway Greyhound
Track on the 30th June. It was great to
see so many Cloonfad people out of town
in the one place having a great time. The
club intends to have another fundraiser
there again next year around the same
time. Thanks also to all the lads who went
through the pain of been waxed during
last Christmas which also brought in a few
“handy” euros.
When out and about people often ask
committee members what became of the
grant money? Well in a nut shell almost
€96,000 went on the lights and €28,000
was spent on the pitch excavation. Other
monies raised by the club went towards
the purchase of land plus legal expenses.
However, to move onto the next phase of
the development we will have to wait until
we receive another grant whenever that
will be. On the bright side, the day to day
running of the club is going rather well.
The first team again secured their Premier
Division status thanks to a play off victory
over Shiven Rovers. Things were going well
until a disaster of a day in February when
Heatmerchants came to Cloonfad and beat
us 2-1 which sent us
into a relegation fight for
the rest of the season.
Defeats to Glen Celtic
and Moore United meant
we went to Moylough
knowing that we just had
to win to avoid the drop
automatically. Thankfully
David Kearney headed
in Nigel Prendergast’s
free kick with 11
minutes left, to a huge
sigh of relief from the
Cloonfad faithful on
the sidelines, who may
have thought we would
have never scored in
a game we dominated. The playoff was
another nervous affair and we got lucky
early on when Shiven missed a penalty.
However when we were awarded one soon
after, Aidan O’Boyle made no mistake.
Just before half time Martin McGuire
made it 2-0 with a diving header. Shiven
had a couple of near misses in the 2nd
half before we broke away to score with
Keavney again scoring a fine goal. We
had bad luck in the four cup competitors
draws. Three of them that knocked us out
went on to win it out.
The “B” team managed by Mickey
Jennings made a great start to the season
and had a number of high scoring wins.
Promotion to the 2nd division looked on
for a while until the stronger first team
outfits of Loughglynn Utd and Lisnamult
Celtic began to tell and they went on to
clinch the top two spots. Hopefully in the
next few seasons a few more of the “B”
side can force their way into the first team
panel.
Better news on the underage front where
we seem to be making a bit of resurgence.
This year we fielded at the under 10,
11, 12, 13 & 15 age group. In the past
few years due to financial pressure and
people unwilling to take on a manager role
it sort of fell to one side. However, the
committee noted that something had to
be done or the club would be left seriously
red faced. It paid off in abundance
before a match was even played as there
was plenty of interest from players and
parents from Cloonfad and beyond. On
the pitch pride of place goes to the U-14
side managed by David Mullarkey
and assisted by Eugene Burke and
Patrick Jennings. They finished
third in a highly competitive
Premier Division and went on to
win the Divisional Cup beating arch
rivals Roscommon Town 2-1 in a
pulsating final. Two great goals by
Glennon and Stephen Morrison
set them on their way. At the back
Shane O’Malley and John Noone
look to be two great players for the
future.
The U-12’s managed by Dermot
Burke, Gerry Geraghty and Nigel
Prendergast got to the Division
final only to be beaten by a
stronger Roscommon Town on
the day. With only a small panel
to choose from they played every
game when other club’s were conceding
or optioning not to travel. Thanks
especially to Liam and Celia Griffin from
Irishtown for without them we would not
have had an U-12 side. Thanks also
to Noel Heneghan and others who had
the U-10 show back on the road again.
They had many an enjoyable Friday
night during the summer and played a
good number of non-competitive games
against other clubs. Although you would
have thought the Harps crowd thought
the World Cup was at stake (and Nessan
too). The U-11 and U-15 side managed
by Abed Asialia have yet to begin their
season.
Another notable day was when the U-13’s
were brought to Croke Park for the win
Cloonfad United
Team 2007-08
Back Row: David
Mullarkey, David Keaveney, Aidan Keadin, Cormac Costello, Aidan O’Boyle, Darren Prendergast, P. J. Fleming.Front row: Daryl Conneely,
Michael McKay, Declan Birmingham, Danny Flately, David Birmingham, Alan Glynn, Paddy Faltely.
61
over Slovakia. Cheers to the FAI
for the cheap tickets (just €10)
and to the adults who came along
during the day.
Next season the club will be 30
years old. Let’s hope we will be
able to mark it with more progress
and a trophy would be nice as well.
During the year our lotto was won
by Kevin Hegarty from Kilkerrin
which stood at €10,400. Well
done Kevin!! Thanks to all those
who sponsor our lotto, either biweekly or yearly. Thanks as well
to the excellent committee who
during the last year began to throw
a bit of shape on the grounds. A
special thanks to all the people
who brought their cars to underage
games, all summer saving the club
a lot of money on buses. We would
not be without Nessan Burke who
still after all these years has the
enthausim of 20 people. Thanks
Nessan for all the hours you put in
upkeeping the grounds and selling
tickets. The club is indebted to Colin
Jennings for his sponsorship of the new
upgrade at the pitch.
U-12 Division Cup Finalist
Back Row: Dermot Burke, John Lyons, Donal Ronayne, Michael Walsh, James Brennan,
Niall Morrison, Sean Gildea, Christopher Ryan Gerry Geraghty.
Front row: Dylan Keadin, Gerald Griffin, James McDonagh, Jason Coyne, Paul Finnegan,
Shane Fagan, Ronan Gannon.
The present club officers are:
President
Johnny Moran
Vice President
Nessan Burke
Chairperson
P.J. Fleming
Secretary
Dermot Burke
Treasurer Sean Jennings
P.R.O.
Daryl Geraghty
Committee
John Conneely, David Mullarkey, Mickey
Jennings, Gerry Geraghty, Noel Heneghan,
Aidan Keadin and Eugene Burke
U-14 Premier Division Cup Winners
Back Row: Eugene Burke, Jamie Geraghty, James Quinn, Ryan Cummins, John Noone,
Mark Roynane, Andrew Glennon, Shane O’Malley, David Mullarkey, Patrick Jennings.
Front Row: Donal Ronayne, Thomas Quinn, Luke McDermott, Michael Brady, John Lyons,
Stephen Morrison, Lewis Seddon, Sammy Asialia.
62
MICHAEL
GLAVEY G.A.A
1956 - 2007
Roscommon Under 14 Ladies Players
Joanne Cregg and Ciara McDonnell →
Our Club looks back on another hectic
but successful year. It started off in
January celebrating our 50 years in
existence as a football club. After a
number of meetings and extensive
planning we marked the occasion with a
very well attended social night out in our
sports complex. Dermot Earley launched
our souvenir booklet which contains
some fine contributions from past,
present and former players and officials
of our Club.
2007 saw Roscommon & Leitrim
counties host Feile Peil na hEireann.
This is an All Ireland competition with
the cream of the 32 Counties taking part
at Under 14 Boys and Girls competition
at 8 different divisions. As a Club we
were honoured to be in Division 1 Boys
but this meant we were in for serious
competition. A separate committee
was set up to plan and attend regional
meetings. The weekend began on the
Friday afternoon and we travelled to
Carrick on Shannon for the big parade.
We hosted Kilcummin from Kerry who
travelled in large numbers to Ballinlough
for the weekend. The majority were
hosted by local families within the Club.
Indeed our club was selected as one
of the regional venues for games on
the Saturday morning with Kilcummin,
Douglas, Co. Cork, Roscommon Gaels
and ourselves battling it out to advance
to the semi final stage. While it was
a fantastic experience for our young
players they acquitted themselves very
well with our host team Kilcummin
advancing to the semi finals in Boyle on
the same day. On the Saturday night we
laid on a buffet in the White House Hotel
for our visitors, players, officials and
mentors and a great night was had by all.
Our local team representation included
Shane O Malley, Andrew Glennon, Ryan
Cummins and Stephen Morrison
No sooner was Feile over when the real
action at Club level began. We fielded
teams at Under 8 mixed, U.10 mixed,
U.12, U.14, U.16, Minor, Junior and
Intermediate men. For the female players
we fielded teams at U.12, U.14, U.16,
Minor and Senior. Our Under 12 boys
reached the final of the Championship
but lost to a much stronger St. Croans
team. Our Under 14 boys reached the
semi final of the Championship and
won the League final in a nail biting
encounter against a much fancied St
Dominic’s team. Our Junior men reached
the Northern semi final while our
Intermediate team have advanced to the
County final against St Dominic’s. Our
Under 8 and Under 10 boys and girls were
coached every Saturday morning and took
part in a number of challenges and blitzes
over the summer months. They wrapped
up their season winning the U10 Brennan
blitz hosted by the Club on an annual
basis. Sincere thanks to all our coaches
who give so freely of their time and it is
encouraging to say the least to see many
new faces on the pitch this year lending
a hand.
Not to be out done our Under 16 ladies
under the management of husband
and wife team Martin and Mary Regan
assisted by Finbar Brady have reached
the County final also. Our Senior ladies
have to battle it out again with Clann na
nGael in the Shield Final after drawing the
first encounter. Our Minor ladies and our
Mens Under 21 have yet to commence
their competitions. All in all while it is
an exceptionally busy year on the pitch
our Club provides a great facility for the
young and not so young players in our
community. We are indebted to the many
coaches at all grades who make this
possible. Indeed all our officers must be
complimented for their ongoing voluntary
commitment.
For a small rural Club 2007 was a unique
year with 3 local players, Eugene Stritch,
Darren O’Malley and Kevin Cummins
featuring together on the County Minor
team. Sonny McAnulty also from
Cloonfad had the honour of winning a Fr.
Manning Cup medal at Under 16. We are
also honoured to have Brendan Cregg
as Roscommon Minor Board Chairman.
Brendan has given so much to football to
both boys and girls in the area. Brendan
also managed the Under 14 Roscommon
county girls. Joanne Cregg, Ciara
McDonnell and Ann Marie Heneghan
represented Cloonfad on this panel that
reached an All Ireland B final. We had
representation too on the Under 16
county team with Hannah Donnegan and
Lisa Walsh (Ballinlough) and Fiona Brady
donning the County jersey also.
Congratulations to our many
Player of the Year award
winners from the locality. James
Brennan and Hannah Flatley
received the Under 12 boys and
girls award.
Jack Swannick got the Under 16
boys, Michelle Neenan received
the Under 14 girls. Jason
Brennan earned the Minor title
while his mother Eileen got the Club
Person of the year. Dermot Earley,
Chief of Staff of the Army and
former club player was awarded the
Hall of Fame Award. His late father,
Peadar, was a founding member
of our Club in 1956 and on the
occasion of the 50th anniversary it
was a fitting accolade to the man
that never forgot his roots with our
club no matter where he travelled or
worked.
As a Club we are indebted to a great
number of sponsors and it would be
unfair to single any individual sponsor
out. All sponsorship in any form is really
appreciated.
Our sincere thanks to our lotto teams
and supporters who loyally support us,
be it in the envelope or annual lotto.
Annual lotto can be obtained at any time
for €40 per annum for 26 draws. We are
fortunate to have two very efficient ladies
as Secretary and Treasurer. Both Valerie
Murray and Eileen Brennan are excellent
administrators whose work is never
ending. Plans are well advanced for a Race
Night on November 3rd in Ballinlough and I
know it will receive your support by buying
a horse for €20.
Looking back we had many happy
occasions during 2007 but it was also
tinged with sadness on the passing of one
of our Presidents and former player, Miko
Walshe from Mountdelvin. Miko was our
definition of a gentleman and so it was
fitting to see so many of our members
both young and old form a guard of honour
at his funeral. To his extended family we
offer our sympathies on the loss of a great
gael. We tender our sympathies to all
families within our community who have
lost loved ones over the past 12 months.
Club Officers
Chairman
Vice Chair: Secretary
Treasurer;
Asst Treasurer:
P.R.O
Sean Brennan
James Coyne
Valerie Murray
Eileen Brennan
Patricia Brown
Francis Keane
63
64
under 12 girls competitions. Ciara
Horan, Sandra Forde and myself
managed the girls and we had a good
campaign defeating Loughglynn before
losing to Four Roads.
Tom Ruane, James Heneghan, Gerry
McDonagh and Kurt Rheinhardt
trained the boys and they did really
well defeating Ballintubber to reach
the county semi
final before losing
to Four Roads in
an unbelievably
wet, cold and
windy evening.
The management
are to be
congratulated
in that game,
because they put
the health and
safety of their
players before
winning and took
their team off the
field in the second
half.
Next year our
community games
will be up and
running again and
I appeal to more people to get involved.
There are many sports that could be
entered if we had the personnel to get
involved, so with the necessary help
Kiltullagh could possibly have teams in
volleyball, tennis, swimming, handball,
rugby ,badminton, chess, draughts,
art, to name but a few. If anybody out
there has the interest, never mind the
expertise (that will come with time),
please get involved – we need you.
Joanne Cregg reading the pledge
`as gaeilge`
q
2007 was another busy and
really well and some showed real promise
active year for Kiltullagh
for the future. Quite a number reached semi
community games. As has
finals and finals and three won medals;
been the case for the past
Stephen Connolly took bronze in the very
number of years our parish
competitive Under 10 hurdles, Niall Morrison
games were held in Cloonfad won our first ever medal in cycling when
sportsfield and I am delighted he won bronze in the under 12 event and
to say were attended once
Joanne took gold in the under 16 marathon.
again by a large crowd of
The following reached finals and were
children and their parents.
Almost every child
in the locality
participated in a
variety of sports
between athletics,
field events, and
gaelic football.
Athletics however
remains the
centrepiece of the
community games
with a wide range of events
ranging from under 8 to
under 17 races with the
winners going forward to
represent our parish in
the county finals in Boyle.
Most of our great Irish
athletes were discovered
in community games and
Kiltullagh athletes at parade before county final
the opportunity is there for all
young people to participate and
unlucky not to win medals; James McDonagh
compete at the highest level if they
in the under 10 200 metres, Martina Regan
so wish. More important however is
in the under 8 200 metres and Charlotte
the enjoyment that can be obtained
McAnulty in the under12 800 metres. The
from taking part, representing our
following also competed in track and field
community and meeting others from
events,; Hannah Flatley, Orla McDonagh,
other communities who are doing
Katie Geraghty, Liam Cregg, Noel McGuire,
likewise. This year a large group of
Sean Gildea, Micheal Gormley, Caitriona
local athletes qualified for the county
Wright, Jasmine Casey, Vicky Miskell, Declan
finals and a great crowd of parents,
McDonagh, Cathal Heneghan, Natasha
family members and supporters
Finnegan, Chelsea McAnulty, Hannah
travelled to Boyle to support the young Flanagan, Amy Brady, Ciara McDonnell,
participants. Kiltullagh was definitely
Catherine Flately, Michael Walsh, Maeve
one of the best supported areas this
Regan and Chloe Brennan.
year and a notable and heart-warming Ann Marie and Joseph Hoy participated
development in recent years is the
in the shot putt event.
number of our supporters who wait to
Joanne qualified for the All Ireland finals
the very end to cheer on the very last
in the 7k marathon event in Mosney
athletes in their events.
and despite being underage for the
The county finals took place on
event again next year, did very well
Saturday and Sunday on the first
finishing in 19th position out of a total
weekend in June and although it is a
of 40 runners. This event was run on
busy two days, after twenty one years
the open roads around Mosney and the
of being our area organiser and team
athletes were led by a police car and
trainer, I think I am getting used to
followed by an ambulance. The girls
it. This year our area had the added
event incidentally was won by the Meath
honour of being selected to read the
representative who was a niece of the great
pledge ’as gaeilge’ and Joanne Cregg
Sonia o Sullivan.
our most experienced competitor did
In the gaelic football events we took part
the honours. All of our runners did
in both events, the under 10 boys and the
Sports
COMMUNITYBy Brendan
GAMES
REPORT 2007
Cregg, Area Organiser
YOUNG ROSSIES
Cloonfad is certainly playing its part in
the rising tide of Roscommon’s football
prospects over the past few years. Much
has been written about the magical odyssey
of our minor team in 2006, a journey
that brought the county unexpected and
incredible success beyond our wildest
dreams. This year brought wonderful
success too and a bunch of young Rossies
from Cloonfad were part and parcel of the
growing optimism and self belief that now
seems to permeate through all underage
county teams.
As chairman of the county minor board
for the past four years and vice chairman
for the previous seven I have witnessed
and been part of many disappointments
at underage level down the years. The
appointment of Fergal O Donnell as manager
two years ago was the catalyst of a change
in our fortunes. I knew Fergal for some time
and any time I met him, I was impressed by
his sheer knowledge of players and football
in general. For example, he could name
almost every player that played for Micheal
Glaveys down the years even at underage
level. But Fergal was not appointed for his
knowledge, but for his personal integrity and
passion for his county; traits that were sadly
missing in Roscommon football at the time.
I felt that a new role model was needed, a
man who by the example of his own playing
career would inspire a new generation of
Roscommon men with the same qualities he
espoused himself, honesty, commitment and
pride in the county jersey.
Several journeys were made to his house
in Boyle in an attempt to convince him to
take the position. It was a huge commitment
for a man with a young family and career
and it was with great disappointment that
I took a call from him some time later
telling me he could not accept the job. I
immediately and instinctively called his
commitment to his county into question,
and as the phone went dead I felt that by
my comments, I had lost a friend. A few days
later he rang again and informed me that
my questioning of his love for his county had
led him to change his mind. It was a time he
said for all Roscommon men to stand up and
be counted and he was going to take the job.
Many months later he would jokingly remind
me that he was shocked to find out that
after doing some research, that the county
chairman who had questioned his loyalty
was in fact a ‘blow in’ to Roscommon!
I was shortly to realise that with Fergal
we got more than we bargained for. He was
not simply a great leader and role model;
he was also a tremendous organiser and
an astute and clever tactician. But his
greatest gift which is and will always be, is
his ability to inspire those around him. It was
truly wonderful to see those young minors
under his charge being influenced in such a
dramatic way, to see them grow and mature
as young men, to see them face down
seemingly insurmountable odds with bravery
and assurance and to see them conduct
themselves at all times with such honour and
dignity.
The championship campaign of 2006
which eventually led to All Ireland success
began on Saturday June 24th in Dr. Hyde
Park, Roscommon.
Our opponents
were Galway who
we had not beaten
for over a decade
and several defeats
in challenge
matches and a
poor campaign in
the Connacht minor
league gave us little
hope of an upset.
It was an emotional
By Brendan Cregg
clear that the young Rossies were
giving them as good as they got . As
the team left the field to go to the
dressing room, I watched as a crowd
of supporters made their way to the
tunnel and cheered them as they left
the field. It was their way of saying
– you are doing us proud and were
Roscommon County Minors 2007; Eugene Stritch, Kevin
Cummins and Darren O’Malley. Also pictured on the right is
Sonny McAnulty, a County Under 16 player
day for me. My father, God rests him,
passed away the day before. Fergal rang
me on the morning of the match to offer his
condolences and I knew he was surprised
when I told him I was going to be there.
It was difficult to give my speech in the
dressing room that evening, but I told the
players to grasp this great opportunity and
not let it slip through their hands and I think
my presence may have helped them a little.
The game was just a haze but afterward I can
vividly remember supporters coming up, both
to console and congratulate me at the same
time. I am not a deeply religious person but I
do believe Paddy Cregg had something to do
with the result. He knew how much that team
meant to me and having a great love for
‘Gods county’ as he called it ( his own father
hailed from Foxboro , Ballinlough), I knew he
would have wanted me to be in the Hyde that
evening , because I am convinced that he
was there also.
One of the great joys of that magical
journey which brought us fantastic success
in Castlebar, Tullamore, Croke Park and
Ennis was to share a seat on the plane
with a young Cloonfad lad, a past pupil of
our school, Darren O Malley. Darren came
into the panel during the Summer and
immediately made himself at home and fitted
in very well .He is a confident young man as
a goalie needs to be and there was never
a doubt that he would conduct himself well
between the posts if called upon.
As the journey continued a great rapport
grew between the team and supporters. This
was never more evident than in Croke Park
in the semi final against Meath. Meath were
fancied to beat us and go on to contest the
final against Kerry but by half time it was
behind you all the way! The crowd grew as
we drew with Kerry in a memorable final and
then multiplied to huge proportions for the
replay in Ennis. On that wet September day
a brave young team inspired by a wonderful
manager and exhorted by a crowd of nearly
twenty thousand supporters achieved the
unbelievable and defeated Kerry to win the All
Ireland for the first time in 55 years.
There was a big Cloonfad
contingent in Ennis and many more who
unfortunately because of the traffic did not
reach their destination. But it was wonderful
for all our supporters that we had the replay
and with it came the opportunity for so many,
particularly the young to see their heroes
in the flesh and to witness the never to be
forgotten miracle that was Ennis. As the
rain beat down in Roscommon that night,
thousands more turned out to be drenched
and to salute their homecoming heroes. And
somewhere that night I lost track of Darren
but I think he returned home to Teresa and
John later in the week!
The Tom Markham cup had no
sooner been won than we were on the road
again with the celebrations and the tour
of Roscommon schools. In a painstakingly
difficult exercise the cup was brought to every
school and club in the county within a few
weeks. I am delighted to say that for the ten
months or so that cup was in our county it
never attended a function in a pub and no
alcoholic drink was poured into it. This is
something that has brought us tributes from
far and wide and set standards all over the
country regarding how young sportsmen
should celebrate. One of the most bizarre
requests I received was from a fellow in
Carrick on Shannon who wanted the cup for
65
66
very committed bunch to work with. It
was absolutely marvellous and I enjoyed
every minute I spent with this vibrant
and brilliant panel and we went on to
have some great days; winning the
All Ireland blitz in Mullingar, defeating
Waterford and Tipperary in the All Ireland
quarter and semi finals respectfully.
Unfortunately we lost the final by a single
score to Wicklow in a game we could
have won and (as the way with girls!);
there were lots of tears afterwards. As
a reward for their efforts we brought
them to the All Ireland ladies finals in
Croke park and they were a joy to spend
the day with, singing and laughing and
having fun as girls of that age do. From
what I encountered this year with this
group , Roscommon ladies football has
a bright future and hopefully those two
young ladies, Joanne and Ciara, and
indeed many more from Cloonfad will be
part of it.
I have been very fortunate over the past
few years to spend time with so many
wonderful young people and to enjoy
with them so many wonderful occasions.
Travelling with those young people to
training and to matches gave me a terrific
insight into their various personalities and it
was joyful to watch and see them grow and
mature as young adults. It has been hugely
time consuming, taking up literally seven days
a week, but if there were eight days in the
Sports
way on the Castlerea to Kilkelly road, over
the very bridge underneath which, my late
grandfather once carved his initials as he
sheltered from the rain; I almost crashed
the car when I heard Willie Hegarty scream
on the radio that young Darren McDermott
from Loughglynn had crashed home the
goal that eventually beat Mayo.
In the Connactht final we were
extremely unlucky to lose to Galway, having
our captain Paul Garvey unfairly sent to the
line in the second half. Galway, however to
their credit went on to win the All Ireland
and with them go our congratulations. We
had a second chance in the quarter final
against Laois but an injury to our talismanic
player Donie Shine negated our chances
and our campaign was over.
Looking back, it was a good year, made
all the more so by the contributions of
the Cloonfad three, who I must say, were
a credit to all, with their commitment,
dedication and excellent behaviour.
Cloonfad’s role in Roscommon
success this year however did not end there.
Sonny McAnulty made quite a name for
himself on the Roscommon under 16 team
who had a successful year reaching the
semi final of the Ted Webb cup and winning
the coveted Fr.Manning Cup. Manager Gary
Wynne expressed the view early in their
campaign that he saw Sonny as a pivotal
player for the team and his displays in both
competitions were ample proof of that. A tall
athletic midfielder, he literally covered every
blade of grass, displaying an outstanding
workrate, combined with high fielding and a
propensity to come forward and get scores.
The Fr. Manning cup is a competition that
takes in all the counties which make up
the diocese of Clonmacnoise; Longford,
Westmeath , Offaly, Roscommon, Leitrim
and Sligo. It has been in operation for 45
years, but unbelievably this year the G.A.A.
decided not to run it. I am delighted to say
that an appeal from yours truly directly to
Croke Park, aided by a fair bit of lobbying,
managed to get the competition back on
track. Roscommon defeated Westmeath in
a wonderfully contested final and in doing
so gave notice of another excellent team
ready to take the mantle of the minors of
‘06 and ‘07.
Ladies football has had a wonderful
tradition in Cloonfad since Micheal Glaveys
ladies were set up in 1990. Since that
time several players have represented
Roscommon, Caroline Burke, Mairead
Keane and Siobhan Cummins to name
but a few. Not to be outdone this year,
two young girls kept the flag flying, playing
on the under 14 girls team who enjoyed
wonderful success, winning the All Ireland
blitz and reaching the All lreland B final.
Joanne Cregg and Ciara McDonnell were
the stars of Cloonfad school girls team who
won our first ever Roscommon schoolgirls
title in 2004 and the county under 12
title with Micheal Glaveys the same year.
I was approached to manage this team
and (as if I had not enough on!), but soon
discovered that I had a very talented and
q
his 21st which was on a riverboat,
but I declined having visions of
Tom Markham floating towards the
Shannon estuary the next day!
With the celebrations came
some wonderful opportunities and
by far the best of those was a trip
to Chicago with some players and
officials. A wonderful time was spent
in the Windy city but the highlight was
definitely a visit to see a Cloonfad
man, Tom Lally in hospital.
Tom who was generally regarded as
Roscommon’s number one supporter
in Chicago was delighted to see
the cup in his hospital bed and the
nurses informed me that it was the
best medicine he could get. The
young players were very impressed
by Tom’s keen mind and knowledge
of Roscommon and the visit made
a lasting impression on them.
Unfortunately Tom, God rest him, has
passed away since this visit.
No sooner had the celebrations
ended than trials and training began
for the new team of 2007. Joining
Darren on the panel this year were two
more Cloonfad lads, Kevin Cummins
and Eugene Stritch. It was very unusual
to have three players from the same village
and past pupils of the same school on
the panel and I must say it made me very
proud indeed. Kevin was probably the best
footballer who ever went through Cloonfad
school having played on two school teams
who won the Cuman na mBunscoil finals.
With Darren and Eugene he was also the
star of the school six a side soccer team who
in 2002 who the Roscommon, Connaught
and All Ireland titles. Eugene is a real
prospect for the future having starred for the
county under 16s last year and like Darren
had the added bonus of being underage
again next year. Each of these lads in their
different ways added something to the panel
of 2007. Darren was first choice goalie and
despite going through a shaky period early
in the year, came good in the championship
and never put a foot wrong in any of the
big matches. Kevin added a swagger to the
team and played at full forward with skill and
panache. He was particularly outstanding
against Sligo and thereafter became popular
with the supporters whose decibel level
raised whenever he was on the ball.
Eugene, very popular and liked by players
and management alike, was close to the
starting line up in all the games, but his time
will come.
Having come through the Leitrim and
Sligo tests, the big exam was the Connacht
semi final against Mayo. Again, as with
last year, this crucial first encounter was
in Dr. Hyde Park and significantly for me,
on the anniversary of my dad’s death. To
defeat Mayo, one of the giants of underage
football, two years in a row, would be a
massive achievement and yet as I watched
the first half, it looked very possible as the
young Rossies tore into them. I left at half
time to attend the mass and as I made my
Tom Lally (RIP), native of Cloonfad and
Roscommon No 1’s supporter in Chicago.
He is pictured here with Roscommon
Minors David Flynn (Captain), Steven
Ormsby (Vice Captain), Charlie Warde
(Secetary) and Brendan Cregg (Chairman).
week I would take all of them too, because the
rewards are great and cannot be measured
in anything tangible or material. Cloonfad
had produced some outstandingly talented
footballers over the past few years but much
more importantly committed mannerly and
pleasant young people and there are many
more like the six above who will make their
names in the years ahead. As the Roscommon
minors of 2006 lit the flame that still burns in
our county and inspires others to reach for the
stars, similarly Cloonfad’s stars of 2007 have
set standards in sporting achievement and
general demeanour that hopefully will inspire
others to follow in their footsteps.
Roll on 2008
MICHAEL GLAVEY’s under 12’s
By James Brennan
The Michael Glaveys under 12’s boys team
had a great season this year. From Cloonfad
myself, Sean Gildea, Shane Fagan, Michael
Walsh and Niall Morrison were on the team.
We started the league at home against St
Croan’s. But unfortunately we lost. We then
went on to play St. Barry’s and we won this
match by fifteen points. Next we played
Elphin in Elphin and we had a comfortable
win. After that we played Eire Og in a great
game of football but Eire Og won on that day.
We then travelled to play St Failthleachs.
In terrible conditions Glavey’s came out
winners. We finished third in the league
table.
With our managers Pat Morris, Gerry
Coffey and Michael Coll we went into the
championship with all guns blazing. We
played St. Faithleachs in the first game
which we won by two points. We then played
Elphin and ran out winners by a margin of
ten points. We then played Shannon Gaels
in a great match. We were behind with
about three minutes to go when Michael
Walsh popped up and scored a great goal
giving us a well earned win. We next played
a determined Kilbride side that were unbeaten
to date. It was neck and neck all the way through
but in the end we won and earned a place in the
division three county final. We were all over the
moon.
In the final we played St. Croans in Hyde Park. It
was a big day for all of us. We were all looking for
our first county medal. When the day came and the
game got underway Croans got off to a good start
and Glaveys didn’t register any score in the first
half. We tried but there was no way to fight back. It
ended in a win for St Croans with the score of 6-9
to 2-3. We were all very disappointed.
Despite this disappointment it was a very enjoyable
year and we had the consolation of having a party
afterwards in our community centre in Ballinlough.
We also received some wonderful gear thanks to
our generous sponsors Pat Morris and Gerry Coffey
who were also our managers.
Roscommon Supporters: Eileen Brennan, Michael Brennan, Michelle
Brennan, Chole Brennan, Brendan Cregg, Sean Brennan, Jason Brennan,
Dorothy Straeter.
Micko Walsh (RIP) and Micko
McDonnell togged out in the
Seventy’s.
67
Logboy
q
The Tully Family,
Tulrahan, 1930:
Mary, Ann, Kate
(McDonnell),
Nell, Betty and
John.
Luke and Kathleen
Mannion, Derryhog,
Tulrahan who celebrated
their 40th Wedding
Anniversary on the 29th
July 2007 with a party for
their Friends and Family
in Keane’s Cloonfad.
Tom Ruane, Anna Ruane and
Annie McAuliffe pictured in
Derryhod Bog in July 1997.
A Fairy Bush in Full
Flower In Ruane’s,
Logboy in June 2007.
68
48 Consecutive All Ireland Football Finals
By Padraig Mannion, Carramanagh
I have always had a great interest in
Gaelic games. The first All Ireland final
I remember clearly is the 1952 final
between Cavan and Meath. Cavan
won – in fact, they have not won an
All Ireland since. Something unique
about that final is that there were three
Maguire brothers playing – Des and
Liam Maguire played for the successful
Cavan team while their younger brother
Brendan was on the Meath side. This is
something unlikely to be repeated.
At that time nobody in Carramanagh
had a radio. My father had made
arrangements that we would listen
to the commentary in Katie Keadin’s
house in Cloonfad East. The remains
of the house still stands. I can still
remember my father carrying me on his
shoulders across Sliabh Dart Mountain.
As we approached Keadin’s house we
could hear the golden voice of Micheal
O’Hehir announcing the lineout for both
teams. I suppose you could say the
seed of my love for Gaelic football was
sown that day in 1952 in Cloonfad.
I attended my first All-Ireland in 1963
as I moved to Dublin earlier that year.
Galway lost to Dublin narrowly that day
but glory was to follow. They won three
in a row in ’64 ’65 and ’66. There were
mixed emotions of joy and sorrow in
Croke Park when Galway won in 1964.
John Donnellan (Dunmore McHales)
received the Sam Maguire cup not
knowing that his father had died in the
Paddy
Mannion,
Carramangh,
taken on the
19th August
1983.
Niall Tierney
who won a
U-14 county
medal with
Dunmore
McHales
Hogan stand just before half time.
I lived in Dublin until 1972 so it was fairly
easy for me to attend finals especially
as tickets were not always necessary
in those years. However, the 1972 All
Ireland final was a draw between Offaly
and Kerry. I was not too happy with the
result as it is always more difficult to get
tickets for a replay. However, I got one
and saw Offaly win well. Obtaining tickets
has become more difficult but I have
managed to get one for every All Ireland
football final since 1963 to the present
day including the four replays. That is a
total of 48 All Ireland Football Finals in
a row. I have also attended 20 hurling
finals.
The late Peter Keane (RIP) was my
travelling companion for many journeys
to Croke
Park. We both
followed the
Championship
closely and
speculated
about which
teams would
qualify for the
All Ireland final.
I usually arrived
in Keane’s at
9am where
Peter would
be anxiously
waiting. He
always had
enough sandwiches to
Lily Rabbittee (nee Mannion), Padraic Mannion,
keep us going for a week,
Winifred McHugh-Mannion and John Mannion.
never mind a day. The journey
would always be short when
travelling with him as the game
would be analysed in great detail.
His insight on players and trainers
was always worth noting. Indeed,
his knowledge of GAA was second
to none. We always stopped in
Fagan’s in Mullingar for the grub
on the way home. Luckily Galway
won a few times over the years so
that made the journey’s back to
Cloonfad all the more enjoyable.
Peter travelled to at least twenty
five finals with me and the journey
will never be the same again
without him. Others who have
travelled with me to Croke Park
were Francie Keane, John Cribben
and Mickey Ronane.
While I have always had a huge
interest in GAA, I only played for a
few years myself in Dublin. I played
for Donnybrook, a junior club which are
not in existence anymore. Although
the football has always been played
in Carramanagh, to my knowledge, no
county championship medal was won
until July of this year. My next door
neighbour Niall Tierney won a U-14
county medal with Dunmore McHales. Of
course, his pedigree is good as his Aunt
Sally Tierney is the mother of Dairymaid
Blake, the centre half back on the Galway
team.
I hope I will continue to gain as much
enjoyment from Gaelic games and intend
to extend my record of 48 Consecutive All
– Irelands.
69
Carramanagh’s Longest Living Resident
By Padraig Mannion, Carramanagh
My great-grandmother Bridget Keely was born in 1813 (two years
before the Battle of Waterloo) in “Ould Street”, Carramanagh. She
worked on Ronans’ dairy farm in Loorah. On the farm Bridget made
butter, salting it and packing it in crooks (firkins) for sale. She
spoke only Irish. Tradition says Bridget once walked twelve miles
to Tuam and carried home a live lamb on her back for a ewe. She
married John Reilly on the 14th January 1848 in Dunmore parish
church. Ireland was being ravaged by the famine at the time. She
subsequently had six children. Her youngest
child was Winfred Reilly-McHugh who was my
grandmother.
Bridget passed away in 1920 at the ripe old
age of 107. To live to be over a hundred now
is regarded as a huge achievement but it
is was an even greater one that time as life
expectancy was much lower. My late uncle
Jack McHugh related the story to me of how
he helped to carry her coffin as a 13 year
old boy. It might seem a long time between
1813 and 2007 but there have only been two
owners of the homestead in Carramanagh
between her and me – namely my
grandmother and mother. We are fortunate to
have a photograph of my great-grandmother,
Bridget Keely – Reilly with my mother Winifred
McHugh-Mannion. This photo was taken in
1918.
John McLoughlin, Bill Berry and Jim McLoughlin.
Pictured is Bridget Keely–Reilly and
Winifred McHugh-Mannion.
Pictured in Keane’s Bar, Cloonfad: Mrs. Stonelake,
Mary McLoughlin, John and Harry Stonelake, person at
the end of the bar is unknown. Also behind the bar is
the late Mick Keane
The Mullarkey Family, Cloonkeen: Andy, Declan,
Paddy, Gerry, Mary, Michael and Alice.
70
John and Catherine McLoughlin
(RIP), Cloonkeen
Baby Jimmy McLoughlin,
Cloonkeen.
Catherine Kate McLoughlin, Cloonkeen with Baby
Colette on her Christening Day in July 1964.
Taken in the summer of 1951 were Paddy Mullarkey
{Marks} (RIP) with Baby Jimmy McLoughlin sitting on John
McLoughlin’s (Hop) mowing machine.
John McLoughlin’s house is in the background.
Teresa Mullarkey, aged 58.
The McLoughlin Family, Cloonkeen
Maureen, Patsy, Jimmy, John, Bernie, Kathleen (RIP), Margaret, Carmel, Frances, Teresa,
Kate.
71
Pictured in their School Photo of 1971 were Carmel,
Frances, Teresa and Colette McLoughlin
q
Jimmy, John and Patsy McLoughlin
Bernie, John, Kathleen (RIP), Margaret, Carmel and
Francis McLoughlin
Hugh Mullarkey, Cloonkeen
Kate Mullarkey {Marks} (RIP), Cloonkeen.
Taken in 1960.
Kate McLoughlin, Mary Sheridan, Bridie Quinn
and Sandra Mullarkey, daughter of Mike
Mullarkey, Cloonkeen.
Martin
Connell
with his
horse
72
Tom Flaherty and John Joe Rushe (RIP)
Four Generations;- Michelle Finnegan, Margaret
Flaherty, PJ Finnegan, Kate Mullarkey and
Natasha Finnegan.
Pictured in August 1971 were Delia and Ann
Flaherty, Mary Duignan (nee McLoughlin,
Cloonkeen) and a friend of the famly.
Hubert Mullarkey, Joe Mullarkey, Mary Mullarkey
pictured with their Father James Mullarkey
James Mullarkey, Martin Connell and Joe Mullarkey.
School Photograph taken in Mountdelvin National School:
Joe, Hubert, James, Bridie and Martin Mullarkey.
The Old Square in Cloonkeen with John and Mary
McLoughlin’s house in the background.
Mullarkey Family, Cloonkeen,
Taken in 1956 approx;
Back Row: Mary Delia, John
and Neighbour Paddy Connell.
Middle Row: Alice, Mary,
Michael, Paddy and John.
Front Row: Gerry, Andrew,
Declan and Martin.
73
Packie Canney, Owen Mullarkey with
their Grandson Ronan Canney
John and Mary McLoughlin’s Grandchildren
q
Bridget Mullarkey with her Daughter in 1900.
Phil, Aunt Delia, Mother, Jim Rushe, Aunt Margaret Kilgarriff
and her son from Cloonkeen. This picture was taken in 1959
on Phil’s first time home from Texas.
Pictured in the 1950’s: John McLoughlin, Cloonkeen, Jim Callaghan and
Michael Gurren, Charlestown, Owen Mullarkey, Cloonkeen.
74
Bridget Monaghan {nee McIntyre} (RIP), John
Mullarkey (RIP), Kitty Kilgarriff {nee Connell} and
Katherine McLoughlin {nee McLoughlin} (RIP).
Margaret Kilgarriff, Bernadette McLoughlin, Maureen McLoughlin, Ann
Monaghan, Ger Sheridan, Joe Mullarkey, Pake Staunton, Paddy Connell
and John Kilgarriff.
Katherine Cunnane {nee
Mullarkey} (RIP), Mary
McIntrye, Bridget Monaghan
{nee McIntyre} (RIP).
James McIntyre, Mary
McIntyre and Bridget
Monaghan {nee McIntyre}
(RIP)
The walls of Connell’s Old Thatched House in Cloonkeen.
Pictured taken at Michael and Patricia
Kilgarriff’s Wedding in 1988: Mary,
Bridie, Paddy and Ann Connell,
Cloonkeen
75
Owen’s Story Paddy
Connell’s
Story
As told to a Committee Member
This is a story from Owen Carroll Mullarkey, Kilmacinella, who was
originally from Cloonkeen.
I was born in 1922 in Cloonkeen, my father’s name was Patrick
and my mother’s name was Mary. There were six of us in family.
There were five houses near us in Croagh Park Cloonkeen, John
Fareagh, O’Sullivan’s, John Keaveney, Nicholas Connelly and
Michael Mullarkey. Most of them moved to a new place down
Roscommon. The last of the O’Sullivan’s died in Cloonkeen,
she was known as Peg O’Sullivan. I went Laureagh school boy’s
and girl’s (mixed). The teacher’s name’s were Eddie Kilkenny,
Cloonen near Mannion’s Mill, Margaret Donlon, Flaskagh, Mrs.
Greaney, Sion Hill and a Miss Joyce. The Joyces were heads for
the McDonagh’s then, their was on the Garrafrauns Road from
Dunmore. A king man lived near the Joyce’s, he was a bard,
people were afraid of him if he had anything against you, he would
make up a poem about you. The school numbers were falling and
it became a three teacher school after Miss Joyce married a farmer
from Tuam. They were eight of us in my class, Owen Mullarkey
my cousin, Bridie Connell, Mary Connell, Cloonkeen, Celia Flynn,
Jimmy Mullarkey and Mary O’Toole, Cappagh, Tommy Rodger,
Derrymore and Johnny McLoughlin Carramanagh. The parents of
the children brought a cart load of turf to the school each year and
when the turf was all used each pupil brought in two sods.
There was a sand pit or I suppose it was more of a daub pit in
Cloonkeen. It was used for building the road in over the mountains.
When it was cleaned out the men of the village built a ball alley
there. The back wall was built with stone and then plastered. The
side walls of the alley were scored down with a spade from the
remaining sides of the pit. One spot on the floor was concreted
for serving the ball. Good stone masons was John McLoughlin,
Jim McIntire and John Fahy. John Fahy amazed us as how lively he
was on his feet playing handball and he was an old man then. Big
crowds attended the alley on Sundays during the summer. They
came from Cloonfad, Carramanagh and Cappagh as well as all the
men and young lads from Cloonkeen.
The old people never spoke of the famine but they often mentioned
the Black and Tans they were afraid of them, they mentioned a
corfu on at that time.
I went to England in 1950. I worked for farmers in Preston for
the hay and in Peterborough for the harvest, potatoes and beet.
Men I worked with were Johnny McLoughlin and Frank Murray,
Carramanagh, Tommy McLoughlin and Bernie s Brian Mullarkey
Cloonkeen. I also worked with Tom Scahill, Pollinalty.
I also worked for the Wimpy outside Manchester in Limeside,
Hollinwood. You took 82 bus to Allsaints and then took the Q bus to
the job. There was a hundred men working on the job and I didn’t know
any of them. I spent three years working in England but I always came
home for Christmas.
I got married in 1954 to Treasa Rattigan. We had five girls and two boys.
In 1991, my wife died, I miss her a lot. The family are very good to me.
In 2001, my son in law Brendan Canney, Josies husband died. He was a
nice friendly lad and very intelligent. He could turn his hand to anything.
He went to school with Pat Rabbittee, the ex Labour leader. The
Cloonkeen people were easy to get on with, no big disputes in the village.
As regards trespass, if you saw someone’s cattle in your land you turned
them out a put them back in their owners land or if you saw someone’s
cattle in your neighbours land you also turned them out and then people
got together and fenced.
Owen told me a few years ago that when to Fianna Fail came to power
first that the men of Cloonkeen village made a bonfire, made up a band
and marched around the village and around the villages nearby. Owen
76 marched with them, he was only a young lad then.
Thanks Owen for your lovely story.
as told to a commitee member
My name is Paddy Connell. I was born in 1918 in
Cloonkeen. I was the only son in a family of five. My
father’s name was John and my mother’s name was
Mary.
I went to Luragh School in the Carramangh Road. I
liked Irish and can still follow the Irish news on the
television. My grandfather could speak Irish but my
father hadn’t any. My grandfather would have gone
to the hedge school. When I was young I worked in
Lenmenagh bog in the summer months. Ten miles
on bad bicycle and that was each way. The pay for
cutting turf was £2 and doing any other work with the
turf was £1 five shilling. I went to England in 1937
to Oldham. I came home in 1939. The war was on
hat then and there was damage of being enlisted
into the army. I went back again to England in 1942.
Workers were needed in England and there was some
agreement with the Irish Government that they were
exempt from the army. They advertised in Ireland
looking for workers. We were given a voucher going
back, it was only then we realised we were going to
Scotland. We worked for the Air Ministery, building air
dromes. We were kind of in the army. You could be
moved around to any place at short notice. The basic
wage was six pounds but you could earn seven or
eight on overtime. I worked with every nationality and
found them easy to work with.
It was easier working for an English ganger, the Irish
ganger was hard to work for.
I also worked out on the farms at the beet, potatoes
and hay and I also worked with Jim and Pat McIntyre
from Cloonkeen and a Keaveney man from Miltown, a
distant relation. There wasn’t many coloured people
in England at that time. They came in later years
when some of them country’s got independence, they
were free to enter England. I was staying with my
sister Ann at the time.
I say people living in the thirty one houses in
Cloonkeen at one time. I heard that there was very
nearly fifty houses in the village at one time.
I came home from England in 1954. My father had
passed away and I stayed farming after that. They
were striping the land then. The land commission
were making the holdings more compact with all the
land together for each farmer. They also built a new
house for each family.
When I got the pension in 1985 I went for a month’s
holiday to England every year until 2000. Three of
them years I went over to my niece in France.
It was easy going to England and not too expensive.
Catch the bus at the mountain to Galway. Then get
the train in Galway to Dun Laoghire Pier, go on the
boat and then get the train to my sisters, half price for
pensioners.
The Cavan Man
Interviewed by a Committee Member
I went to see the
Cavan man Tom
Sheridan that lived
in Cloonkeen for
years. Tom said
he was born in
Moher, New Inn,
Ballyjamesduff in
Co. Cavan. His
father John was
a postman, his
mothers name was
Mary. One thing
Tom can remember
from those times every one with
hens got a letter, that was everyone.
His father had to deliver the letters
on his bicycle in all kinds of weather.
Tom was born in 1931. He went to
school in Stacknickabo School. A
master Kelly from Galway and a Miss
Conaghty had taught them. I won’t
say anything about the teachers.
But god knows they should have
been working in a cattle mart. Class
mates Benny Sherdian, Pockie Reilly,
Matt Stratford, Pat Reilly and Pat the
tailor Smith.
Tom had the height of praise for
English people, English gangers and
landladies. But some of the Irish
gangers were tough. The Cloonkeen
families all had nick names. It was
same where he left in Cavan, a lot of
Reilly’s. Tom went to England about
1950, the rations were still going.
He worked for different firms. Taylor
Woodrow and Longs for 2 shillings
and nine and half pence an hour.
One of the tales he had was cleaning
windows in a factory up high, you would
be watching out that no one from home
saw you. It was a woman’s job them
times. It wasn’t easy to get work and you
took what you could get. He also worked
at Heathrow Airport.
Mary Fahy Mullarkey from Cloonkeen
went to England in the fifties. She
worked in the BSA factory making parts
for bicycles. She loved working there.
While in England she and Tom met
and married. They returned to live in
Cloonkeen where they worked hard and
raised their family of two sons and two
daughters. Mary remembers her school
in Luragh. Class mates Bridie & Teresa
Tierney, they
kept bees, they
always had
honey on their
bread. They
were from
Cappagh. Other
class mates
were Josephine
Keaveney
Margaret Rushe
Carramangh.
Tom said he
never hears of
Knock Shrine or
Croagh Patrick
until he came to
Cloonkeen. Tom
worked in the forestry, as well as working
their own farm, mainly dry stock farming.
Men he worked with were Jimmy Burke,
Paddy Jennings, Mick Concannon,
Frank Neenan. Frank talked me into
parting with ten pounds for a share in
Ballyhaunis Mart, it went bust later.
Martin Jennings, Ger Glennon, Pake
Rattigan, John Martin Kenny, John
Cummins and
Tom Corless.
Tom loved
the game of
football and is
proud of and
can name all
the team of
1947 who won
the All Ireland.
Mary said she
heard at the
visiting house
that some
of the men in the village went
to England for the cutting and
saving of the hay. John Farragh
from the village brought his own
sythe with him to England. He
took off the blade and darness
and wrapped in a bag around
the pole. She also heard the
story of a man that was keen
on a girl that lived in a house
on the way from town. One
day going to town he picked up
the courage and knocked on
the door and asked to light the
pipe. They let him in and he
got excited and put his hand in
his own pocket and lit the pipe
with his own matches. He had
made a mess of it.
Mary mentioned nick names,
there was a method at the back
of them, Mary said. They went
by the name of Fahy Mullarkey,
a Fahy woman from Lavallyroe
married into the house. A
Greene woman from Gurteen
married in McLoughlin’s
house. They were known as the Greene
McLoughlin’s. A Hopkins woman married
into the other McLoughlins. The Collier
Mullarkey, the man worked in the coal
mines in England. It was a great way of
distinguishing different families of the
same name. A few years ago, Tom and
Mary moved into Dunmore town where
they have everything very convenient for
themselves. They enjoy life and often
head off on the bus for a day in Galway
but they especially enjoy the visits from
their family and their grandchildren. They
don’t forget Cloonkeen and often come
back to spend a day there as they did for
so many years.
77
There is many different tellings
of how the people came to
Cloonkeen. I will give you Des
Rushes version and opinion
after he had a talk with Owen
Mullarkey on the 16th of
October 1982 in Owen’s house
in Ballinross in these words.
For the beginning of the story
I must go to Enniskilleen,
the time of the plantation of
Ulster. A number of families
including a strong contingent
of Mullarkey’s and including
McLoughlin’s, McIntyre’s and
Connell’s were evicted from
the Enniskilleen area to make
room for the planters. The
nearest refugee was thought
to be County Sligo. On arrival
there, the place was already
overrun with evicted families
from other parts of the North.
They had a few houses to carry
the old and the very young
as well as a small number of
domestic livestock. They were
supposed to have stayed in
Sligo for a few years, how many
nobody knows. A Knox Gore is
mentioned and a Cuff man is
mentioned, a bit mixed up.
Whoever told them of the land
in County Galway knew it was
of very little value so it was
offered to this group. They hit
the long rod through a barren
countryside and eventually
arrived in Cloonkeen where
they built four shelters, one
possibly for each family group.
After the first group settled in,
two other groups came later.
Both groups had Mullarkey’s in
them. One settled in Cappagh,
one the east side of Cloonkeen,
GRIFFITH VALUATION
one settled in Ballinross and in
Creagh Park part of Cloonkeen.
There was six Mullarkey’s
households in Ballinross at the time
of the Griffith Valuation. That is Des
Rushe’s version of how the people
came to Cloonkeen as told to him by
Owen Mullarkey.
I can remember being in a queue
outside Athleague meat factory
waiting to let lambs off, talking to
a young fellow from Sligo. I was
listening to the death notices on the
radio. There was one Mullarkey
death read out and I said ye have
no Mullarkey name in Sligo. He
said that there was a village called
Maghera in the mountains and
maybe some of the Mullarkey’s
settled there. That may not be the
right spelling of the village name.
It would be interesting to know where in the
north of Ireland did the people of Cloonkeen
come from. I heard of County Antrim
mentioned and an island off the coast.
Perhaps when things settle more up in the
North we might get more information
Cloonkeen was known as an Ulster village.
Pictured at Tommy Lally’s 60th Birthday
Party were: Liam Corless, Tommy Lally, John
Glesson and Michael Commins.
This is an extract from
a book on the history of
Clonbern.
78
JOHNNY & BRIDGET MULLINS
By Eddie Birmingham
I went to see Johnny &
Bridget Mullins. Bridget
was born in Cloonkeen,
she said there were 32
houses in Cloonkeen when
she left, that was in 1952
when set got married.
Johnny and Bridget Mullins
She had four brothers
and like them she went
to school in Louragh. She
brought her two sods of
turf with her when the turf
ran out. They had to walk
to school across the mountain, hail, rain or snow about two miles
each way. Some others from the village she went to school with
were Mary Sheridan, the McLoughlin girls and John McLoughlin.
They did English, Irish, Arithmetic, Religion and they also learned
knitting, sewing and cookery.
She met John at the dance hall in Cloonfad and fell in love with
him. They used also meet in Paddy Glennons hall in Dunmore.
She said that their was noting could beat the house dances that
they were great!!
John and Bridget got married in 1952 with no big wedding or
no big reception. They had ten in family, six girls and four boys.
They have twenty two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
John said he went to Shanballymore school. Mr. Donovan and
Miss Cunniffe taught there. Mr. Donovan was a Cork man, he
built a house in Dumore on the Garrafrauns road. Miss Cunniffe
lived near the school. Some pupils he went to school with were
Pake & Jimmy Melia, Willie McWalter, Jack Kenny and Matt
Haverty. John’s fathers name was Michael and his mothers was
Annie Bownes from Dunblaney.
John and Bridget worked hard, they had twenty five acres. On two
acres of that he grew sugar beet an acre of potatoes and a few
acres of oats. It was a jennet John had for the farm work first,
then he got two horses and later he bred them. He also got into
piebald donkeys but said he had got out of them before they got
dear. They had two sows and used sell the bonham’s. Bridget
said that she kept turkeys, geese and duck. She also kept a
lot of hens, she sold eggs to Lally in Garrafrauns and Howley in
Dunmore.
No running water on tap, the drinking water came from a fine
spring well on their land. You had to be self-sufficient - no waste
them times she said. All the clothes were bought in Reynolds,
Dunmore, no going off to big towns for shopping.
John worked for the council for a while. He also worked at
Farragher’s pit driving a loading shovel Bridget said he was good
at fixing engines.
When Bridge was young she had lovely red hair and I heard
her described as a real beauty and she still is a lovely lady. We
wish herself and John many more years of health and happiness
together.
MEMORIES
By Kitty Fahy (nee Mullarkey, Cloonkeen)
“Lonely I wander through scenes of my childhood”.
So goes the words of the old song and that’s exactly
how I feel when ever take a trip down memory lane.
My mind wanders back to a dazzling white washed
cottage with a thatched roof of golden straw. Doors
and window frames painted red. When you stepped
in side on to a flagged floor a big turf fire greeted you
on an open hearth, blue smoke curling to the sky.
That’s my picture of the house I was born in, in the
townland of Cloonkeen. Now its just an earthly
mound beneath a white thorn tree. If that tree could
only talk – what stories would abound.
My four brothers, two sisters and I went to school
in Shanballymore, through the fields in hail, rain or
snow. Not quite as romantic as in Alice Taylors book
“To school through the fields” but we enjoyed those
days and had many friends there. We had very good
teachers too, even though we didn’t appreciate it
at the time as we left the classroom. The palms of
our hands still stinging from the slaps we got for
not knowing our Irish spelling or grammar etc. We
really enjoyed the walk home from school, finding
birds nests, catching fish in the little river which we
crossed over every day or picking bilberries and wild
strawberries in the mountain areas – a great lesson
in nature.
We always had a chat with our neighbours who
were working in the fields especially Peter and John
whose house we passed everyday. How we annoyed
Peter to sing for us the songs which were popular
at the time. In other words “Top of the Pops”. They
owned a radio which we didn’t have in our house
at the time. One song that comes to mind was
“She wears red feathers and a Hula Hula skirt”
Peter would sing it for us and knew every worked.
Nowadays whenever I hear that song being played
on Mid West Radio, I think of Peter and stop and say
a little prayer for him.
During school holidays we were always kept
busy, saving the turf and hay and harvesting the
corn. An air of excitement always prevailed when
my father announced that the thrasher was coming. Sure
enough on a cold autumn morning the big wooden thrasher
would pull into our haggard and a meitheal of able-bodied men
following behind. Soon the tut tut of the engine and the drone
of the thrasher could be heard for miles around. When all the
thrashing was done and the meitheal fed, it moved on to our
neighbours haggard and the process started all over again.
Later some of the corn would be taken to Corcorans Mill to be
ground into oatmeal, which provided porridge for the breakfast
for the whole year.
Times have changed so much in the past fifty years. The biggest
change in my mind was rural electrification. The flick of a small
switch which brough the electric light into the humble homes of
rural Ireland and paved the way for the Ireland we have today
and the “Celtic Tiger”.
I wonder does anyone remember the names of fields in
Cloonkeen. Here is a little verse I wrote about them, but I can’t
79
remember all of the names.
Looking Back
80
This is a story from a taped
interview in 2004 with Bridget
Monaghan two years before she
died. She was ninety years at
that time. Because Cloonkeen
is the focus area in our
magazine this year her daughter
Ann Finnegan has kindly given
permission to publish her
mother’s story.
Even though Bridget lived
through two world wars and had
witnessed much hardship she
had a great sense of humour,
she was delighted when I visited
her and said the Cloonkeen and
Ballinross people always got on
very well together.
Bridget said that since she was
six years old that she could
remember that her mother was
an invalid. She said they had
no money and the doctors had
to be paid – that there was no
medical cards then and no work
was to be got in Ireland. They
hadn’t anyone in England or
America to help them, so her
father had to go to England to
work.
She said she had to miss a
lot of time from school as she
got older as her mother was
bedridden. When she was ten
years old she was summoned
three times for bad school
attendance and she had to go
to court in Dunmore. The day
of the court some people from
Cloonkeen village went with her.
Paddy Molloy from Dunmore
told her she had to speak up
for herself and he said to the
guard who summoned her, you
should be ashamed of yourself
bringing this little girl to court.
She said she was very nervous
but explained the reason she
was missing school was that
she was taking care of her
invalid mother. The judge was
sympathtic towards her, he gave
her a shilling and said to her
go down the town and buy sweets for
yourself. The next case the mother of
the pupil started giving out to the judge,
Bridget remembered the judge saying to
the woman “fined ten shillings”.
She recalled so many different things
she had seen and witnessed in her
lifetime. She saw the hedge school at
the fence which divides Cappagh and
Cloonkeen. She also saw the Sappers
Pole – it was made with timber and a
ring of stones around it. She said you
could see seven churches from that
point it was near where the Cloonkeen
mast is now. She said that some of the
seats in the balcony of Dunmore Church
were reserved for big shots in the town.
Her father wasn’t impressed with that
idea.
There was a round fort in John
Mullarkey's (Jacks) field before the land
commission stripped it, she thought it had
an underground entrance.
She remembered the road been made in
over the mountain. The men of the village
worked there when it was being built. It was
made on the track where the donkey used
to travel with the cleeves, so it was called
the crooked road. Before it was made
she remembered a man with appendicitis
been carried out the main road on a door
with blankets on it. He had to go in the
ambulance but there was no way it could
come into the village.
The first car in the mountain road to the
village was when John McLoughlin's parents
got married. When they were coming back
from the church to their house the people of
the village met them with burning straw and
furs and followed them to the house. It was
their way of celebrating the marriage – no
hotels or no fancy weddings then she said.
It was all match-making one time she said,
they met in town and that was that. She
told a tale of one match-making do she
heard about. She said they were not from
Cloonkeen village. They met at the church,
there was a good lot of men there and the
girl asked the match maker which of them
is it, when the man was pointed out to her,
she said he has a very bad suit on him – the
answer she got was, “as bad as it is its not
his own it’s a borrowed one”
Bridget met her husband Pat (Sonny) at the
dances in Peg Gannon’s hall in Cloonfad.
He was from Streamstown, when they
married he left his home and moved into
Cloonkeen, he got on well with all his new
neighbours. Bridget was very happy to see
her grandson Padraig with his wife and
family having built their house on the site
where her husband was born and reared.
Pat and Bridget worked hard. She said that
one year everything went against them,
four cattle, four calves and a springing cow
died on them, they were left with one cow
and two calves. She said even the hens
died whatever sort of cloud it was. But
they never lost their trust in God. When
something serious was troubling Bridget
she’d go to the church and pray. On her way
home if she met a friend she’d tell them
what she was worrying her, she used say “a
trouble shared is a trouble halved”.
Pat had to go to England working that time
even though he wasn’t in great health. She
said they had great luck the years after.
When the creamery started they were one
of the first in the area to start sending
milk. Pat bought the ten gallon cans
with the donkey and cart to the collection
point which was the bridge at the head of
Ballinross Road. The cans had to be left
on the wall of the bridge to be lifted on to
the tractor drawn trailer and brought to
Claremorris creamery.
She told a story of a family of Mullarkey’s
known as the Colliers. One of them spent
a few years in England working down the
mines. Apparently he got educated while
over there, Bridget said he was great, he
knew everything he was like a lawyer. Perhaps
a Hob Lawyer would describe him best.
Bridget attended fairs in Ballyhaunis,
Glenamaddy and Dunmore in her time. She
was the first person from the village to bring
cattle to a mart in Tuam. She said the way into
it was very dirty then, but she got £150 for
a bullock, it was the talk of the village. She
said it was a big change from the time of the
economic war when things were very bad. You
could bring cattle to a fair and never be asked
how much you wanted for a beast – bring them
home and it was the same again at the next
months fair. She said the rates had to be paid,
it was a hard life but finished off by saying
“still, we are here yet.”
Bridget didn’t just look back on the gloomy
side of life, she loved company and when
the singing pubs started she used to walk
to The Three Counties in Cloonfad on some
Sunday nights. She said she could never drink
much especially whiskey, just a bottle of No.
1 (barley wine), it was supposed to be good
for the kidneys. A few friends and herself
would meet up namely Sarah Jennings, Mount
Delvin, Bridget Maher, Kiltevna, Mary Jennings,
Cornabanny, Dell Jennings, Gurteen and Eileen
McGuire, Ballykilleen. They’d enjoy the music,
singing and dancing, it was a great night when
they all got together having a few laughs.
Bridget was delighted to see how well all her
neighbours were doing and the lovely houses
that were built in the village. She remembered
her mother telling her that when the people
came to the village first, after Cromwell said
“To Hell or to Connaught”, they had very little
possessions and hardly any stock. They made
some sort of shelter for themselves and they
pulled heather to make beds.
Bridget lived all her life in Cloonkeen and for
that reason she was known by her maiden
name of Bridget McIntyre to all her neighbours.
Her husband died in 1979 at the age of sixty
nine, after a long illness. She was the last
of the McIntyre’s in Cloonkeen being predeceased by her only sister Mary in 2005.
Her family always meant so much to her and
she loved having them around her. In her
last years though her sight was failing and
sometime she couldn’t distinguish a face –
she always recognised the voice of neighbours
and friends, and made them feel so welcome
in her home. She would say to her daughter
Ann or grand-daughter Geraldine, who were so
good for been with her every day, put on the
kettle for them and give them a mug of tea.
She had a big heart.
In August 2006 she went to join those who
had gone before her to their eternal home in
heaven. May God rest them all.
Thanks Ann for allowing her story to be printed.
Cloonkeen
Thatched Cottages
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
John Comer
John McLoughlin (Hopkins)
John McIntyre
James McIntyre
Mike Hernon
Mullarkey (Billy)
John Mullarkey (Wren)
John Mullarkey (Strenth)
John Mullarkey (Fahy)
Pat Mullarkey (Tom)
Martin Connell
Hugh Mullarkey
Edward Mullarkey (Brian)
Regans
John Farragh
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Peg O’Sullivan
Nicohlas Con
John Keaveney
Patrick Mullarkey (Carroll)
Michael Mullarkey (Collier)
Mick Connell
Keating
Michael Con
John Kilgarriff
Michael Ned Mullarkey
Pat Connell
Pat Burke
Brian McLoughlin
John Mullarkey (Jack)
Connelly
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
Michael Connell
Owen Mullarkey (Terry)
Brian Rodger
Pat Burke
Martin Keaveney
Hugh Mullarkey (Marks)
Owen Connell
Owen McLoughlin (Greenes)
Paddy McLoughlin (Harry)
81
THE McLOUGHLINS
Author Unknown
Thinking back now to when we were young living in
Cloonkeen, we had an idyllic childhood. Every household
had large families, up to eleven children in some. In
my early days we lived in a two-bedroom cottage. There
were ten of us and how we managed is a mystery. When
we moved to a four-bedroom house we thought it was a
mansion and to us it was, even though we had no running
water or electricity.
We usually started school when we were six years old,
walking there and back every day – a distance of two
miles, three on a bad day! In the winter time we had to
carry a sod of turf each for the school fire. If we turned up
at school without the turf we got four slaps, not nice on a
frosty morning.
After school we had plenty of work to do at home, milking
the cows, feeding the calves and other animals. I
remember milking a cow into a mug when I was about six
years old. We each had our own jobs to do in the morning,
then we moved to our homework, have our porridge and be
in bed at nine every night.
In the springtime we spent hours in the meadows picking
stones so they wouldn’t break the mower. The hay was cut
by a mowing machine pulled by horses, once it was cut we
would have to go out and pick the “docks” and “thistles in
the field. (Fussy Cows!). we turned the hay several times
and then it was made into stacks and the whole field would
have to be raked. We ended up with blisters on our hands.
We also went and helped the neighbours with their hay, we
didn’t mind that so much because we got tea and biscuits.
Back when we had long hot summers there was always so
much to do and we’d spend weeks in the bog saving turf
and hoping it would rain so we could go home. All the work
on the farm was done with machinery drawn by horses,
ploughing, harrowing and mowing. Oats and barley were
cut by scythe, we would tie it into sheaves and “stook” it.
The turf was brought home by donkey and cart and reeked
in the garden. We grew all our own vegetables so we had to
weed the garden regularly. We also had to pick the potatoes
and store them in “pits” in the garden, covered with straw and clay.
Even though we did have a lot of work to do, we just did it. It was the
same for every family and we all helped each other out. We did find
time to play and run in the fields despite all the work.
We didn’t really have toys as such, we made up our own games and
used stone for dolls which we dressed up in clothes. We would play
hopscotch and skipping. On wet days we played indoors, drawing
pictures, having tea parties and playing “shop”. We didn’t have a T.V.
so in the long winter nights we would have a sing song round a big
open fire. We would listen to “Ceili house” on the radio on Saturday
nights and have a dance round the kitchen. The men would meet in
each others houses and play cards.
Times have changed since I was young but I have very fond memories
of my childhood in Cloonkeen.
82
My Native Cloonkeen
As I travel around Ireland
From Cork to Kildare
From Dublin to Kerry
And over to Clare
But in all of my travels
No place have I seen
To equal the beauty of my native
Cloonkeen.
Where I spent my childhood
In that village serene
With its mountains and valleys
And meadows so green
Where the fields all were named
And as Geilge too
Bear with me a moment
I’ll name but a few.
Crugaweelin, Gort, Eimin
Lae na bPilibin too
Brings back happy memories
Of folk I once knew
Pairc na gClich, Cruacha Beaga
And old Curragh Mor
And away in the distance
In Shanballymore
There was Aitin and Ochta
All full of wild flower
But the loveliest of all
Was old Cul an Our
There was Tuar and Ait Sean bhaile
Down in the glen
Where stillborn were buried
Sure they had no sin
And its oft’ in my minds eye
As I wander at will
I walk in the mountain
And climb the big hill
I can see Gort na bPrearhan
Crobh Rock and Miun bhui
Likewise Garrai Com
And the old fairy tree.
But now I’m an exile
In a land far away
My steps getting shorter
My hair turning grey
But its my dearest wish
To go back o’er the foam
And again see that dear place
I’ve always called home.
Tales of a Potato Picker
By Tom Finnegan
Around the 8th of September each year,
when the farm work was finished at home,
there wasn’t an awful lot more to be done.
I had seen people coming home from
England, having made piles if money, if
the new suit was anything to go by. So I
decided that this was the life for me.
On the 7th September, I couldn’t believe
my luck, when the bossman approached
me with the news that one of his gang was
unable to make the trip to England. So I
didn’t have to be asked twice to take him
up on his offer. I set off for Ballyhaunis,
with my bundle of clothes under my arm,
bought a suitcase, threw the bundle of
clothes into it and set off for the station.
My ticket to Grimsby cost me the grand
total of £4.10.
The foreman met us at the station in
Grimsby and took us to our lodgings,
where we unpacked. The house was a
three bedroom two storey, with sitting
room, kitchen and bathroom. There were
two single beds in each of the bedrooms.
We had an open fire to heat the house and
a back boiler to heat the water. So we felt
very comfortable in our new surroundings.
Our first job was to contact the shopkeeper
to announce our arrival. As he supplied us
with our nicotine, as well as other things, it
was important for him to know how many
smokers and non-smokers were in the
group. Each smoker then got a packet of
20 cigarettes. Our grocery list was then
made out- 22 loaves, 2 dozen eggs, 8
tins of soup, 2 legs of lamb, 4 pounds of
rashers and 22 packets of sliced cheese.
This may seem like an enormous amount
of food, but it was to last us two days and
as we worked very long hours and the
work was very hard, we needed to keep
our energy levels up.
Monday morning saw us up and dressed
at 5.45 a.m. to be in the potato field at
6.45 a.m. The six of us took our place
beside the trailer- two in front and
two at either side. Our first job was to
pick three acres of potatoes per daybackbreaking work, but the money was
good, so we persevered. We had a break
at 10.00a.m., during which we consumed
half of the bread and cheese. Our lunch
break was at 1.00p.m .- a mere halfhour, during which we barely had time to
demolish the lamb. No time for relaxing
and relishing there! On days when the
weather was good and the brightness
did not fade until late, we had a second
break at 4.00p.m. and worked on for as
long as we could see ahead of us. For
our trouble, we were coming out with
£20 an acre.On Saturday, we finished
at noon and having gone home, eaten
and spruced up for the night, we were
taken by taxi to the Post Office, where we
bought our registered envelope to send
some money home. The letter that went
with it was just a matter of a few lines
to let the folks back home know that we
were still alive. After the first week, we
paid a visit to the tailor, to be measured
up for the famous new suit- a symbol
of our newfound wealth on our return
journey home. Of course it took weeks
paying off £2 or £3 a week before we
could lay claim to this prized possession.
On Saturday afternoon we went shopping
or window shopping and generally ended
up in a pub for a few pints. These few
pints dragged on and before the night
was out we could end up doing a pubcrawl with a singsong, a bit of music and
dancing and the odd game of darts along
the way. On Sunday morning, coming as
we did from good Catholic homes, we did
not neglect our religion, but hired a taxi to
take us to the nearest church for Mass- a
journey of about five or six miles.
Thinking back, we were a very organized
group of fellas - in fact very much the
modern man- taking turns with the
cooking and cleaning. Two
lads stayed at home to do the
cooking- making use of both
the gas and electric cookers.
While the lamb boiled slowly
on the gas for the lunch the
following day, the steak was
sizzling away on the pan
on the electric cooker. On
Saturday afternoons two
stayed at home to do the
cleaning, joining up with
the rest of the gang later on
before the pub crawl. The
other four lads went to the
local to quench their thirst
after the dust of the day.
Not forgetting the workers at
home, the four who went out,
brought back a few bottles for
them.
As the potato-picking season
was coming to a close, round
the beginning or middle
of November, depending
on the weather, the local
publican would organize a
dart competition between the
ploughmen and the potato
pickers. In appreciation of
our custom during our stay in
the area, he would give us a
good send off. On the night
of the dart competition, there
would be drinks on the house
plus the traditional baked
potato and hard boiled eggs
– something which was very
foreign to us coming from the
west of Ireland.
To this day, when I look
back on my time as a potato
picker, I do so with very fond
memories.
Sisters meet at Communion in Granlahan 2007:
Margaret Flately, Mary Flately Cregg and Bernie Donnellan.
83
A CONVERSION
EXPERIENCE IN
BRAZIL
By Michael Greene, Corrisloustia, Granlahan.
It is a privilege to write for the
2007 Cloonfad Magazine.
And an invitation to write
about my experience as a priest
in South America between 1964
and 1979 is impossible to refuse.
For the opportunity I am grateful to
Fr Tom and his assistants who suggested
that what I have to say may be of interest
to the Christian communities of Cloonfad,
Granlahan and Ballinlough. I would
hope also that it might help to provoke
reflection and renewal.
1964 was the year that this parish
sent two priests to Brazil – Fr Jimmy
Henaghan and myself. We went in answer
to Pope John XXIII’s call for missionaries
from Europe to save the Church in Latin
America. Brazil then had a population
of 70 million (it now has more than 170
million!), and with over 90% claiming to
be Catholic, it was the largest Catholic
church in the world. It was seen to be
under threat from two enemies.
On the one hand social and economic
conditions of the people were so bad that
it was judged to be ripe for communism.
Capitalism of the western world had
not only failed the working masses but
blatantly continued to exploit them. Just
before we arrived in ’64, the military,
backed by the USA, had overthrown the
democratically elected government and
set up a dictatorship to guarantee that
10% of the population would continue
in power as it had for 500 years. The
same was happening in most other
South American countries at that time.
On the other hand, foreign populist
evangelical groups were beginning to
make inroads into the religious beliefs
of the people, taking advantage of the
traditional unenlightened Catholic Faith,
a massive shortage of priests and the life
situation so miserable and dependent
that whoever offered a magic solution,
a magic god or a magic church was
guaranteed immediate success.
We were part of the 60s’ generation, fired
with enthusiasm as we arrived in Brazil.
We too were going to change the world,
nothing less! But first and foremost, as
missionaries, we were going to supply
84
what was missing: a
priestly presence, the
Sacraments especially
Baptism, Marriage,
the Eucharist and
Anointing of the sick.
And boy, did we supply
them!
The first few years we
hardly did anything else. Everywhere we
went there were crowds waiting, scores
to be baptized, dozens to be married,
and sermons to be preached in a foreign
language. God help the people! Very often
we would discover later that they had not
a clue what we were trying to say. Correct
Portuguese learned from the book was
not always the language of the people!
It took time but as the years went
on we began to feel that the simple
administration of sacraments was not
everything the people needed. Slowly
it began to dawn on some of us that
with all our best intentions we might be
confirming in their minds an unchristian
thinking built up over centuries of poverty
and total dependence on something
superior and more powerful – whether
that be the rich and powerful minority
controlling their lives or a God who would
solve their problems if not here on earth,
certainly in the afterlife.
By simply supplying the sacraments, were
we not being perceived as magicians?
For example, very often parents would
bring a child to be baptized because it
was uncontrollable at home? And walking
the dusty roads and streets in our clerical
robes in tropical heat, were we not
distancing ourselves from their reality
and thereby confirming the myth in their
mind of some kind of superior being on
whom they could depend? Gradually we
began to realize that religion (Catholic or
otherwise) was a refuge where the people
learned to accept things as they were.
Every day we would hear them explaining
away their suffering as being the will
of God. They would tell us that Jesus
suffered and died so that we would
learn to suffer too. There was no word of
the resurrection, of Jesus’ victory over
suffering and death, of good over evil.
Their faith in god was unshakeable and
the religion they were born into (Catholic)
was the religion they would die in. But
their defeatist mentality in accepting
everything as being the will of God did
not come from the gospel of Jesus.
Through no fault of their own, they were
still somewhere in the Old Testament.
Their God was not yet one of themselves
from Nazareth. He was their God, their
almighty God, but nobody seemed to
have told them yet that He was with
them in their everyday struggle through
life….that he was the son of a carpenter
up the road,……that he was born in a
stable because his parents had been
refused accommodation in the guest
houses……that he gathered around
himself a group of people from the
outcasts of society, such as lepers,
beggars, tax collectors, prostitutes,
prisoners, blind persons etc…. and
announced to them that he had come
to free them !!!! ….and that society (civil
and religious) felt so threatened by this
that it organized his trial and condemned
him to die as a common criminal.....
and that he conquered all on the third
day…….
Nobody seemed to have preached Jesus’
announcement that he had come to fulfil
the prophecy of Isaiah:
HE HAS SENT ME TO BRING THE GOOD NEWS TO THE POOR
TO PROCLAIM LIBERTY TO CAPTIVES,
AND TO THE BLIND NEW SIGHT,
TO SET THE DOWNTRODDEN FREE,
TO PROCLAIM THE LORD’S YEAR OF FAVOUR.
And to tell the truth, neither had we!
Hadn’t we gone there to administer the
sacraments?
The life conditions of 80% of the Brazilian
population had no natural explanation.
It is a continental-size country blessed
with endless mineral wealth, rich land,
heat and water. Poverty does not fall from
heaven. It can only be manmade. But
these loving and lovely people had been
programmed to accept all as God’s will.
Jesus’ announcement of the Good News
to the poor must have something to say
about that!
Tremendous debate and reflection was
going on everywhere among Christians
in the wake of Vatican II, nowhere more
than in Latin America. There especially
the Church began to convert itself and
rediscover its role in a world where
the lack of social justice and dignity
contradicted her essential message of
brotherhood. Bishops (some, not all!)
began to give up their rich palaces and
many priests and nuns moved out of their
institutional convents and sought ways
to be closer to their people. We found
ourselves being converted. Yes, converted
from a religion which ignored the real life
of people for hundreds of years to the
religion of Jesus who announced that He
had come so that all would have “life and
life in abundance”.
The more we got to know the life
conditions of the people and discover
the real reasons for such
conditions, the more our own
faith in a loving God refused
to accept such a world as
normal, much less as the
will of God. The wedding of
these two elements – our own
faith in a God of Love and a
real vision of the people’s
reality – was the foundation
of a new church. It is a church
enlightened by the Gospel, a
church of service and above
all a church truly of the people
and, in some dioceses, with
a declared preference for the
poor.
This church usually is a
natural group of 10, 20 or 50
people from a neighbourhood
or workplace. They meet to
hear what the Word of God
is telling them about their
lives and world, and what it is asking
them to do to bring about His kingdom
of fraternity “on earth as it is in heaven”.
The members of the group then share
with each other their reflections. A leader
coordinates and brings together the
thoughts of the group so that no individual
dominates. The final result is the thinking
and reflection of the community. With
or without a priest, they finally celebrate
joyfully the guaranteed victory of Love, of
Truth and of Justice.
As naturally as the sun
rises each day, the fruits
of a living faith soon
appear: community teams
are formed for different
purposes according to the
needs as felt by the people
themselves; voluntary
groups to visit the sick;
study groups to know better
the Bible, the Church and
their own history; pressure
groups to demand basic
social services for the
community, etc. etc. Some
individuals might join organizations such
as the land reform movement or even
political parties…..but all motivated from a
basic Christian outlook of service to their
Rio’s impressive Roman Catholic
Cathedral (Page Opposite). Close to the
Cathedral and to the rich in Rio, the poor
build their own world of Shantytowns (This
Page),
while Jesus looks down on it all……..
brothers and sisters.
A new wind is blowing. The church
in Brazil now in most places is more
a people’s church and the “powers
that be” must trust the Holy Spirit to
guide it. This church no longer gives
its blessing to the ‘status quo’ or to
10% of the population who own up to
85% of the wealth. The Word of Jesus
challenges us all. It also challenges
our world. If we don’t feel challenged
by the Gospel, it can only be because
we are not hearing. His Word is our
Light but if we shine His Light like a
torch into the clouds, we will not be
able to see between the rocks and
potholes of our everyday life. His Light
only helps if it shows us where and
how to walk through life’s path.
Never again must our Christian
observance be separated from life!
In Nazareth of Galilee heaven and
earth were joined. God became Man.
For the sake of humanity, let’s never
again separate them! Let’s never
again hide Him behind golden vessels
and awe inspiring cathedrals! In His
Church His message of Love to rich
and poor can only be clear when
the poor are in the central position.
Without Him the poor and sick and
blind and miserable and landless
and handicapped of this world will
only multiply and will always be
marginalized and worth less………
85
Following
Christ in
the Service
of Others
The following talk was delivered
by Guest Speaker - Gerry Glennon,
Broadcaster, Mid West Radio, at
the Knock Shrine National Novena
in August 2007. The Theme of the
Novena was “The Joy of Following
Christ”
Twenty eight years ago last June 4th
I stood at the back of chapel four
here in the Basilica with my dad and
2,500 other children from right around
the Archdiocese. The year was 1979, the
centenary of the apparition of Our Lady
here at Knock Shrine and as part of the
Centenary celebrations it was decided
that all candidates for Confirmation that
year would be sealed with the gift of the
Holy Spirit here at Knock.
I know that one of the gifts of the Holy
Spirit is courage. So for the next 15
minutes I’m afraid I’m going to have the
Holy Spirit under severe pressure dishing
out the courage on me as I stand before
you today on this Holy Ground, but as John
Michael Talbot sings on Holy ground the
Lord is always present, and as all your
faces gleam back at me you certainly
look like a fine group of warm welcoming
people.
I want to read you the following….
Here is a man who was born in a stable
in an obscure village. The child of a
peasant, he grew up in another obscure
village. He worked in a carpenter’s shop
until he was 30 and then for three years
he was a traveling preacher. He never
wrote a book, he never owned a home,
he never had a family, he never went to
college, he never put his foot in a big city,
he never went more than 100 miles from
the place where he was born, he never
did one of the things that we consider to
usually accompany greatness, he had no
credentials but himself.
While he was still a young man the tide of
popular opinion turned against him, his
friends ran away, one of them denied him,
he was turned over to the enemy, he went
through the mockery of a trial, he was
nailed to the cross between two thieves.
While he was dying his executioners
gambled for the only piece of property
he had on earth and that was his cloak.
When he was dead he was laid to rest in
a borrowed grave through the pity of a
friend. Twenty wide centuries have come
and gone and today he is the corner stone
of the human race and the keystone of
the Kingdom of God. When I say that all
the armies that ever marched, that all
the navies that were ever built, all the
parliaments that ever sat, and all the
Kings and Queens that ever reigned have
not affected the lives of the human race
as powerfully as this one solitary life.
The first time I heard that wonderful piece
86
was at a midnight Christmas Mass in a
church on the side of a hill on a bleak
winter’s night as it was just about to snow,
and I was fascinated with the piece. I got
to thinking that even if you didn’t have an
ounce of religion or faith in you, you would
have to be drawn in by this one solitary
life that we know of course was the life of
Jesus. From the beginning Jesus turned
the world on it’s head with his thinking
and teaching, coming into the world as a
small helpless baby so that all who came
to visit him in the stable had to look down
on him in the manger, rather than looking
up at this huge figure in the sky that we
associate with greatness, then spending
30 years of his life as a carpenter with
Mary and Joseph. Simple and humble
in the service of others, neighbours and
friends spending the last 3 years of his
life on earth in public service preaching,
teaching, healing, listening, advising and
walking humbly among all classes and
creeds until the night of the Last Supper,
when he chose to wash the feet of his
disciples and then on Good Friday laying
down his life on a cross, so that we may
be able to share in the banquet of eternal
life. Here before us we have the life of
the King of Kings totally in the service of
others, totally available to accept Gods will
and even though he was divine also totally
human in his acceptance of the fathers
will, and all carried out by the age of 33.
What a remarkable life by any stretch
of the imagination especially in these
days when we are completely fascinated
by fame and celebrity, when if Victoria
Beckham decides to blow her nose in
public the sale of tissues goes through
the roof, or if the likes of U2 launch a CD
we have a million copies bought before
we know where we are and we’re already
calling it a classic. In the modern world
we have built up a huge desire within
ourselves to worship at the altar of fame
and celebrity and yet the greatest of them
all, the son of man has in many cases
been left on the margins.
Why is that the case, why is it so uncool
to talk about Jesus. Why do we get all
nervous and embarrassed in conversation
whenever it may turn around to faith or
religion and the man from Galilee? Have
our lives become so full and busy that
there is absolutely no room for the things
of the next Kingdom, so full that is until
something goes wrong, and then most
of us are back on our knees making
promises and deals, going on pilgrimages
and climbing holy mountains quicker
than Muhammad Ali said he could turn
off a light in a room. I often think that
Jesus must have a wonderful sense of
humour because the lovely thing about
him is that when we have contrition in
our hearts he accepts us back with open
arms every time. He sees the flaw in all
of us, he knows that we are all weak and
he understands the psychology of sin. He
waits gently by, ready to greet us again
when we stray off the path. He offers us
the chance again, I love the line that says,
”Every Saint has a past and every sinner
has a future”. It’s a line that is so full of
hope and no matter how tough things are
and no matter how hard the going might
be there is always light at the end of the
tunnel.
In our modern world we have become
obsessed with lots of things- fame, fashion,
money, drugs, one up manship and greed
have all become the order of the day. We
have become Cravers of everything and a
good part of our lives are spent wishing for
more. I wish I had a bigger house, I wish I
could go on three holidays a year, I wish I
had three cars in the driveway and all of this
wishing has created a great irony in our lives
because in many ways we have become cash
rich and time poor, we have every labour
saving device under the sun and yet we
never seem to be as busy. We never had as
many forms and methods of communication
and yet there has never has been as much
loneliness, and isolation and depression
and saddest of all, suicide. In our modern
society we have become obsessed with the
next everything, and in our rush to have it
we have missed out on the most important
part of all “The here and now”. The Present,
no coincidence it’s called the present either.
God’s daily gift to us. Yesterday is history,
tomorrow is a mystery all we have is now,
but we have no time to enjoy it we are on the
treadmill of life and its very hard for any of
us to slow it down, myself included.
Now it would be very easy to start the blame
game but the reality is we are all capable we
have all bought into this life and from once
you buy in its very hard to change direction.
It’s hard to say enough is enough. I believe
though that in his own humble way Jesus
offers the alternative. Everyday he says to us
I stand at the thresh hold of your life, I offer
you the opportunity to let me into your life,
or to say no thanks, not today Lord maybe
tomorrow when things aren’t as busy. People
often say to me I wish I had more faith, or I
wish I could pray more, or I wish I could get
more out of Mass. Now I’m no theologian
but usually I say maybe you’re trying too
hard because in our instant busy lives we
want results and we want them now. So if
we invite Jesus in we’re not inviting him in
for the craic, we want and expect immediate
results but we forget that Jesus does not
work in chronos the time of the clock, he
works kairos in his own spiritual time, so that
from once you invite Jesus into your lives he
will start the transformation in his own time
and in his own way and you know something
it’s the easiest invitation you will ever make.
It’s one line - Jesus I invite you into my life to
do with me what you will. For me, personally,
the power of that line recited even once a
day has been truly life transforming. In his
time he will set about working in your lives
in ways you could never imagine, because
you see all Jesus wants to do is love us, all
he wants to do is share our burdens, all he
wants to do is be a companion on the road
of life but usually we are afraid. It’s very
hard, as the saying goes to let go and let
God. Along the way we seem to have lost the
message that the news is good, his message
is one of love not hate, his message is one
of light not darkness, his message is one
of hope not despair and it’s only when your
back is to the wall, and if you really believe
in him as your Lord and Saviour, that you
will see that when you look back on a critical
part of your life that there will only be one
set of footprints in the sands of time and
they won’t be yours.
Don’t get me wrong life is tough and
everyday trials and tribulations will come
your way and sometimes out of the blue.
Two years ago this month my mother
was admitted to hospital with a minor
complaint and even though she had some
other medical problems in her life she did
her best to live a full, normal, active life.
One week into her hospital stay all was
well and mom was responding very well
to her treatment. We, as a family, went
to see her every night and I traveled up
on the Tuesday night to find her in top
form, joking and laughing and telling me
about her new friends she had made on
the ward. About 10pm she said you go
home now because it’s busy at work and
you need your rest so off I went. About
5 o’clock the next morning I thought I
heard the phone ringing but I wasn’t sure,
however, I got up and just as I got to it, it
rang off. My heart sank because you know
when a phone rings at that time the news
isn’t usually good. I picked up the phone
only to hear a message from a staff nurse
in the hospital saying that my mother
was gravely ill and to call immediately. I
can’t remember dialing the number but
somehow I managed it, to be greeted
by a nurse that said my mother had
taken a sudden turn and was gravely ill.
Immediately I asked if she was dead, but
the nurse in her wisdom said you better
get here as quickly as you can. Somehow
or other though you know instinctively
when someone very close to you is gone,
but I so wanted to believe the nurse that
she was still with us. I woke my dad and
on our way to the hospital we collected
my sister and arrived about 25 minutes
later. As I was the one driving they went
ahead of me while I parked the car and
as I was going into the ward I could see
members of staff had come to greet them
and usher them into a side office. I knew
then it was all over and after sympathies
and shock, because it had all been so
sudden we asked if we could see mom
and we were led to her bed, the same
bed I had seen her in 7 hours earlier full
of the joys of life. The staff had laid mom
out in her best nightdress with her rosary
beads and a little flower in her hand.
She was still warm but at the same time
all the vestiges of the mortal coil were
leaving mom, except for the faintest smile
on her face. For those of you who have
seen your mom dead for the first time the
thoughts and feelings are inexplicable, but
I remember clearly that morning amidst all
the tears and sadness, I felt what can only
be described as a jolt to my system in that
I could almost feel the Spirit of my mom
leave us only to be replaced immediately
by a very strong feeling of calmness and
peace, and the assurance that Jesus was
present through it all and most definitely
in charge. Three days later we buried mom
and just as we were laying her coffin in the
ground even though it had been a dull day
I remember looking up into the sky and
seeing the most vivid sun complete with
rays emerging from one cloud passing
through the sky and disappearing behind
another cloud, the coming and going, do
not despair all is well.
Fourteen weeks later I came home from
doing an outside broadcast one Friday
night to find the lights on in the house
which I thought was unusual because
my dad always went to bed after the Late
Late show regardless as he said himself
whether it was any good or not.
When I went into the kitchen he was sitting
in his chair looking desperately ill and his
first words to me were Thank God you’re
home. I prayed for you to come home. The
next thing he said was I’m awfully sick and
in pain, indeed I knew from his colour that
all was far from well and when I mentioned
getting a doctor he immediately said yes.
While I waited for the doctor I called my
sister and her husband and my other sister
in England. Shortly afterwards the doctor
arrived and initially diagnosed a stone
going through his kidney. After 2 injections
dad lay on the couch and got some relief
from the pain but about 5 minutes later
he began to go off in a semi-coma. The
doctor took his blood pressure, to discover
it was dropping rapidly. Panic Stations. An
ambulance was sent for immediately but
our dad was slipping away and we couldn’t
believe it. The Last words he spoke were
to thank the doctor for all his help and
after that my sister, Regina and I held his
hand, all he could do was squeeze our
respective hand in response to a question.
We were completely stunned, how could
this be happening to us so soon again
after our mom, and this was a man who
in his 69 years of life had only spent one
night ever in hospital. Shortly afterwards
the ambulance arrived and despite the
best efforts of all the medical team four
hours after our dad’s illness had begun
he was dead from an aneurysm. Fourteen
weeks later we found ourselves back in
the same hospital again saying goodbye
and thanking a parent for all they’ve done
for us. But again the one feeling through
it all, despite the tears and sadness and a
certain anger this time was the presence
of a loving Jesus who provided strength
and direction to go through again the leave
taking of a loved one.
I remember clearly that it was a cold, rainy,
wintry November night with the winds
howling outside and yet as this drama was
unfolding inside there was a calmness
and dignity about if all with a clear feeling
that Jesus was in charge, and that the
great mystery of life and death were being
played out again before our eyes. After dad
was buried and everyone had gone their
separate ways, I arrived home from work
the first evening after going back to see the
floor around the letter box covered in Mass
cards and Christmas cards you see it was
two weeks away from Christmas and while
the tears welled up in my eyes a smile
also broke across my face because right
in front of my eyes even though we were
approaching Christmas I was witnessing
the most powerful symbol of Easter. With
the Mass cards of my parent’s lives and
the Christmas cards heralding the birth of
our Saviour all strewn together on the floor.
The message was clear the Alpha and the
Omega. Jesus words I am the beginning
and the end.
It doesn’t make a bit of difference where
you come from or what you do; following
Christ is the greatest joy and the toughest
challenge. People will say to me how do
you do it, I say I don’t know because not a
day goes by that I don’t blot my copybook,
not a day goes by that I don’t fall on the
road, and not a day goes by that I am not
worthy but I place myself entirely
in his hands. One of the great
joys of doing the work that I do on
the local Mid West Radio Service
is that you get to meet the most
remarkable people that you could
ever ask to meet. Some of them in
dire circumstances either through ill
health or poverty or social conditions
or what ever it may be, but through
it all they smile and sometimes hold
on by their very fingertips in hope
that around the corner it will be
different. These are the people of
real faith, these are the people who
are walking the walk everyday of their
lives and yet despite their trouble,
they can smile and laugh and find
joy in the little things they can do for
themselves.
As people we must realise we are
all in this together and this is the only
show in town. We are all part of the mystical
body of Christ and every single one of us
has a vital role to play. Everyone of us is
unique, born totally in the image of God with
the skills and talents that no other human
has and remember that while on this
journey through life Christ has no eyes only
your eyes, no hands only your hands, no
mouth only your mouth. If you have faltered
on the journey don’t worry, don’t be afraid
to begin again. Later in this ceremony
Jesus will be brought through the Basilica
in the monstrance, begin again from today,
try again to follow Christ as best you can
and leave this Holy Ground renewed and
refreshed in the knowledge that he loves
you and every part of you. Yes, it’s a journey
and maybe even now a day’s a journey less
traveled, but you know something, the joy
of following Christ can put joy in your heart
and a spring in your step that has to be truly
experienced to be believed.
John Maloney of Lowberry,
Granlahan, with his friend the Rt.
Honourable The Lady Baroness,
Deriree Politi-Scalinci-Des-Skeby in
the La Brasserie, Brompton Road,
SW3, recently.
87
Book Reviews by the Children of Granlanhan National School
“The Great Trolley Race”
The name of my book if “The Great Trolley Race”.
The Author of my book is Lorraine Francis and
illustrated by Derry Dillon.
The Great Trolley Race is a very good book.
It was an easy book to read.
It was nearly Easter and they were all very excited
for the great trolley race. They made the trolleys
with a wooden door and pram’s wheels.
The children’s names in this book are called Benny
Rica, Frankie Denis and Barrow. Sandra Harvey was
new to the town. She was quite bold. Tony was their
champion. Sandra Harvey had short dark black hair
and looked like a boy. Sandra’s Dad owned a new
grocery shop in the Main Street. It was Saturday
morning. They were having the race in Dead Man’s
Hill, it was called Dead Man’s Hill because there was
a graveyard. Whoever won the race got their hands
on a enormous Easter egg. But disaster strikes when
a coal truck hits Tony’s trolley. They need a new
set of wheels quickly. The trolley race starts in five
minutes. They fixed the trolley up as they got to the
starting line and off they go. Sandra is going very
fast Sandra pulled a rope and got out of control and
Tony won.
Reviewed by:
Dearbhla Phillips 3rd Class
I reviewed a book called “Giraffe and Pelly and me”. It was
written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Quentin Blake,
published by Puffin. It has 70 pages and is suitable for
eight to eleven year olds. The main characters are Giraffe,
Pelly, Monkey and Billy.
The story is about a ladderless window cleaning company. A
Giraffe for a ladder, a pelican for a bucket and a monkey
for a cleaner and of course a boy for a business man. They
all cleaned windows for Rolls – Royce who is a rich man
that lives in a mansion. It took a long time because there
were zoo windows. While they were cleaning they noticed
a robber in the princess room. He was stealing her jewels!
The pelican flew up and captured the robber in his mouth.
The robber had a pistol and shot a hole in the pelican’s
beak. The pelican opened his mouth and the police came and
hand cuffed the thief.
I would recommend this book for children aged 8 – 11 and
for people who like adventures. My name is Mark Phillips
and I think this book is excellent.
“Fantastic Mr. Fox”
Title of the Book. “The Woeful Second World War”
by Terry Deary.
My name is Riona Kearney and I read this book called
“Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl. It is illustrated by Quentin
Blake and published by George Allen. This was the best book I
have read in a while. I would rate it 10 out of 10. It would be
suitable for 8 – 12 years. This book is about Boggis Bunce and
Bean who are trying to catch Mr. Fox. Then the farmers said
we are going to dig up where he lives. When Mr. Fox found
out what they were doing he dug to where the three farmers
kept their food. Mr. Fox brought them back and they had a
massive feast. All his friends were there scoffing themselves.
Then Mr. Fox said we do not need to go outside again!!!!
Illustrated by Martin Brown
Reviewed by: Cian Ruane Class: 3rd
Reviewed by Riona Kearney
4th Class.
This book is suitable for boys and girls aged 8 – 11
years and children that like trolley racing.
“The Woeful Second
World War”
This book is about the Second World War. This
book tells you what it was like for the people in the
war. The story is about a poor little girl that is
on her way home when she meets a blind man. The
man gave her a note to give to someone. He would
not let her open it or tell anyone about it. So the
little girl delivered it before the sun went down.
I like this book because it teaches you about the
war and it is also very funny in some parts. My
favourite part of the book was home horrors. I
think I would be suitable for ages 8 to 11. Hope
you enjoy it as much as I did.
88
“Giraffe and Pelly and me”
“The Giggler Treatment”
My name is Seán Burke. I am in 6th class. I am reviewing a
book by Roddy Doyle, titled “The Giggler Treatment”. It is a
good book to read. This book is illustrated by Brian Ajhar.
This book if very funny. It is about a man called Mister Mack
who works in a biscuit factory. His favourite biscuit is Fig-Roll.
One morning when he was going to work he saw a sea gull.
The sea gull did not like fish. The main characters are the sea
gull Mister Mack, Robbie and Jimmy. Every night when Mister
Mack eats fig-rolls he dreams about cream crackers.
I think this book is very funny but rude. I would recommend
it to 12 year old age group. I would recommend it for boys. If
you were never going to read a book again read this one.
First Holy Communion class of 2007.
“Dragon Stories”
My name is Shane Seddon.
Margaret Clarke is the author and illustrator of the
book. The title of my book is called “Dragon Stories”.
The story is about a man called Han who was doing
his day-to-day job sweeping the floor outside the
gates of the city called Wu in China. Suddenly a
little fat old man walked to the gate and wanted to
see the Mandarin of the city. All the old man wanted
was a bowl of rice and a cup of green tea. The little
old man saw the enemy of the city the houseman and
the old man said “if you give me some rice and some
green tea I will turn into a dragon”. The old man
turned into a dragon and saved the city.
Teacher Ann Shannon, Fr. Joe Feeney, Joanne
Coffey, Cian Ruane, Dearbhla Phillips and Kevin
Heneghan.
I would recommend this book for children aged 13 –
15 years old. If you are into fantasy books then this
is the book for you. I would rate this book ten out
of ten. I liked this book because it made you think
that you were actually in the book.
“Jimmy and
the Leprechaun Trap”
My name is Thomas Kilboyle
I am in Sixth Class.
I am reviewing a book called “Jimmy and the
Leprechaun Trap” written by Dan Kissane, published
by O’Brien Press.
This book is about a young boy called Jimmy who
is busy helping his father with lambing. He had to
stay there because if something went wrong his Dad
would be angry. Jimmy was waiting and waiting still
nothing went wrong. After a while Jimmy left. Just
as he was walking out the gate he spotted something
he never spotted before. At the end he saw a
leprechaun. He made a trap. The leprechaun trap
looked like an old bicycle crossed with a beer crate.
If a leprechaun stood on it he would jump in a beer
crate. The wheel spokes would be the lid.
James, Seamus and Sean Burke from Grange, Granlahan pictured
at the 2007 Castlerea Agricultural Show with their prize winning
Clydesdale Mare (Rosehall Jess).
I would rate the book 10/10 suitable for boys 10 –
13.
89
The life and times of a NINETYSEVEN YEAR ‘Young’ lady.
Delia Greene (nee Knight),
Corrisloustia, Granlahan was born
on 8th January 1910 in Rathlena,
Co. Roscommon. She is the
fifth youngest of a family of nine
siblings, and the only surviving
member. Baptised in Ballinlough
by Fr. McDermot, her father was
Edward Knight and her Mother Ellen
Kilboyle. She attended an all girls’
school in Granlahan, there were no
mixed schools then. Her teachers
were Mrs Kelly, Mrs Flanagan
and Mrs Greene. There were
approximately 30 girls in her class,
her school friends were Mary Kilraine, and
a Rattigan girl from Corrisloustia. They
learned English, Sums, Cookery one day
per week, Knitting, Sewing, Irish came in
then, and we were killed for it, says Delia.
There was no secondary school that time,
once you finished national school you had
to travel to get work, to send home money
to our parents, that’s all changed in today’s
world, she says.
Social outings at the time were walking to
the dance in Cloonfad, or going to house
dances held in local houses. She recalls
that this was the best part of her young
life, going to house dances was great fun,
wondering who you would pick up on the
night. You had to walk everywhere, there
wasn’t a car in sight, hardly even a bike.
There were big families in every house
then Delia says “there were eleven, twelve
and thirteen children in every house in her
youth”.
Delia has seen Ireland through good and
bad times, during the bad times people had
to work very hard. She remembers how her
poor mother and all the women that time
had to work so hard to rear their families.
She remembers seeing women ploughing
with two horses. Delia herself had to work
hard as a young girl on the farm, and in
the bog. She spread turf, scattered it,
footed it, and changed it out with the ass
and cleaves to drier ground. Times have
changed, Delia recalls “when we came in
from school we had to go out in the field,
we would knock turnips, or pull out beet,
we worked hard. The girls were the oldest
and had to do the work, the lads were
young ones”
Delia left for America for New York in 1929,
at the age of nineteen years. The journey
at that time was by boat, which left from
Cobh in Cork. She says “There were no
such things as planes that time”. The
journey took fourteen days to Ellis Island in
New York. She went by hackney, Michael
Kirrane from Williamstown, took her to
Cobh from Rathlena. The fare on the boat
was over 20 pounds (old money) for a
one-way fare. During Delia’s seven years
in America, she worked as a housekeeper
and a waitress, she never liked it as she
was used to working out whilst at home,
and thought it was terrible to be in all the
time. The norm at the time was that you
lived in with the family, usually Jewish
people. They were very nice people and
you got very good food. They would get a
90
By Anne Regan and
Eddie Birmingham
half-day off in the week and
one Sunday in the month.
She says “Half a day off and
nowadays they can go touring
and everything”. These were
the terms and conditions of
the employment. She earned
$40 per month, kept a few
dollars for herself to buy as
she says ‘Style’, and sent
the remainder home to her
parents. Delia remembers
seeing job adverts in the
papers and on windows “No
Irish need apply”.
She saw America in bad times
too, as she lived in New York
for seven years during the depression
between 1929 and 1937. People in
America advised her to go back to Ireland
for a few years until things improved,
and to come back again. Delia bought
her return ticket in May 1937 and left for
Ireland, anyone that would tell her that she
was going to stay in Ireland would be crazy,
but low and behold the most important
thing in her life happened, she met her
future husband, Roddy Greene from
Grange. Delia came home from USA in
May and she married Roddy in November
that same year. She met Roddy at a dance
in Cloonfad and she says “it was love at
first sight, and I couldn’t go back. I had
nice boyfriends in America, but once I met
Roddy they didn’t cost me a thought”.
Matchmaking was very popular at that
time but as Delia says “There was no one
making my match, I made my own. There
was plenty more men who thought they
would get inside, but there was no one for
me only Roddy. He was a lovely quite, mild
man, and very good looking. I never met a
man since like him”.
Delia married Roddy in 1937 at the age
of twenty-seven, they had a party at the
house, for family and neighbours and they
all had a great day and night. It was held
in the old house, and the foundation of
the present house was down, and it was
built the next spring. They spent their first
Christmas in the old house. As a married
woman she worked out in the farm helping
her husband, they were very happy and
made their own fun. They had seven
children, five sons and two daughters.
While Delia was in America her little Sister
Agnes died in a fire accident. Delia recalls
the sad story.. “She was burned in a fire
in the home. It was the day of her birthday
and she’d die or put on this light dress
(her confirmation dress) on the Sunday.
My mother was lying down in bed upstairs
after the dinner. Agnes was doing her
homework, and there was never a worse
fire down as that day. She went upstairs to
her mother, and as she was coming down
the stairs her dress caught fire and she
was burned. She was fourteen years of
age”. Delia’s lost two brothers at a young
age, Michael aged seven years died from
dyptheria (this we are told was caused by
well water, everybody dipping buckets into
the well), and Patrick aged seven months
died from whooping cough. When children
died back then, the people didn’t know what
they died of. It used to be said that the
‘fairies brought them’
Roddy was given the place in Corrisloustia
from an Uncle. He loved farming and was a
good farmer. He loved working the land with
the horses, ploughing the fields, harrowing,
and making drills. They always kept a horse,
usually an Irish Draught mare. Roddy was
a good man to work a horse, even if he
was wild he could manage him. The land
was good and they used to sow everything,
it was all home produce that was how the
family was reared. She recalls..”I had to
carry on farming on my own, with my seven
children when Roddy died. I am not able to
do anything anymore”, (mind you she is only
97 years!). We reminded her that she had
a great housekeeper in her son Pat, he was
waiting on her, and us, hand and foot. She
said “in my day I wouldn’t have him in here,
I couldn’t stand a man around the house.
Outside is the place for them. I loved to work
outside and inside when I could. I loved
cooking and preparing meals for them when
they all came to visit”. Delia was expecting
her Daughter, her Son and their families the
day we visited, as they were coming home to
attend an anniversary Mass the next day, for
her late husband Roddy and her Sons, Rory &
Jarlath R.I.P.
As part of their farming practice, the
Greene’s sent milk to the creamery,
they made there own churn and butter.
That’s how the family was reared, and
how they lived. They had all their own
food, potatoes, vegetables, cauliflower,
cabbage, carrots and everything. They had
their own pigs, they would sell some and
keep one for killing at Christmas. They
would bring in the sow in the back kitchen
when the pig was littering. As was normal
practice, when the piglets were born, their
teeth were removed immediately with a
pinchers. They also had their own fowl,
so they were self sufficient with all organic
produce, fine fresh food says Delia, (must
account for longevity!). No such thing as
spraying the produce at that time. Delia
always baked her own bread, and said
that she baked up to lately. She used to
bake a cake for herself and Pat, a small
cake and it used to do for two days. She
loves her own bread. When she was
rearing her family, she baked her bread
in the big black oven over the open fire.
She had two ovens going at the same
time. “There was no range in my day, not
many baking nowadays, but I think maybe
it’s for the better, if it lasts”, says Delia.
There is nothing like your own bread, with
your own butter. Delia used to make the
“butter balls” for the Stations and special
occasions. Pat recalls bringing in the
fresh water for making the butter. The
water they used was mainly from a local
well which had a pump at the end of the
road. They had to carry cans and buckets
of water from the pump up to the house.
They had to bring barrels of water to the
fields for the cattle.
Eddie asked Delia if she could sing or play
music, she said “singing round the house
only, I love music but did not play, nor did
my husband”.
Delia lived through two “World Wars”, as
mentioned already, she lived in America
during the depression and she recalls
seeing the finest of Irish lads being
sent off to Ireland, they got themselves
deported, they couldn’t get a job, no
money, no nothing. They had aunts out
their who kept them as long as they could,
and then they had to let them go home to
Ireland. She saw America in bad times,
and says “you’d pick up nothing in America
soft”.
Delia remembers hearing of the famine,
her Grandparents lived though it but never
spoke about it. She knew that ‘evictions’
took place, but did not personally know
of any family that was evicted in her area.
She remembers the ‘Black-n-Tans’, where
groups would come to the house looking
for someone, you couldn’t have a light
on in the house or anything for fear that
they would come in. She remembers the
curfews, it was frightening times.
Roddy died at the age of 54 from kidney
failure however Pat confirmed that he had
never suffered in his life from kidney or
any other problems. He spent two weeks
in Roscommon hospital before being sent
to Jervis Street where he died in 1968. He
left his home by ambulance and anyone
that would see him walking to it would say
that there was not much wrong with him.
Delia thought that he was only going for a
chest x-ray. The medical people told Delia
that she had a pet made of him and that it
was arthritis he had.
Delia recalls with sadness the loosing of
her two sons who lived in England. Her
husband had died before them. She says
“he missed it all, I was left to see it all, I
lost two fine sons (Rory & Jarlath), they
never sent me an empty envelope, they
came home every year to visit, my life
was very hard, and very sad. I never will
get over it”. One died of a massive heart
attack and the other died of cancer.
Fr. Tommy Commins visits Delia on the
First Fridays, and she recalls with fondness
his visits. She told us that he was a lovely
man. She said I tell him stories from my
youth and my life. She confirmed that he
loves being in Cloonfad and Granlahan.
One particular Friday Fr. Tom asked her
if she would do an article for Cloonfad
magazine, she made nothing of it at the
time, but here she is today parting with her
life story, thanks to Fr. Tom.
Delia told us that she was at an 80th
birthday party the night before we visited
in her neighbours’ house, Mrs Conroy
was celebrating her birthday, and she did
not get home until 3.30am (not bad for a
97year old!). She met so many people but
could not remember some of them. Young
people go away and when they come back
they have changed. Fr. Tom reminded her
at the party that Eddie and Anne were
coming the next day to do the interview,
she says “forget it”.
Delia chatted to us about when she used
go to the pub in Granlahan with her lads
when they would be home from England.
She remembered being in McHugh’s pub,
Mrs McHugh used to have cooked chickens
and you could not go home without a
chicken, as the smell was so good. Mrs
McHugh was a great woman.
Delia told us that her son Michael was in
the priesthood, he joined when he was
twenty-four years of age. He was a Priest
for twenty-two years in Brazil. He met
a girl from Brazil, fell in love and left the
Priesthood, he later married and now lives
with his wife and three children in Cork.
He is still very involved with the Church,
he is a Reader, a Eucharist Minister and
helps out in his parish as much as he
can, and even to this day you can know
that he was a Priest. He wouldn’t say a
wrong word, as he is so mild and quite,
like his Father, she says. Delia recalls that
she was very disappointed when Michael
decided to leave the priesthood, as she
had made sacrifices to put him there, and
in those times things were different to
nowadays. She remembers the Monks in
the monastery in Granlahan and a full line
of them going to Mass on Sunday morning,
they were all looked up to at that time.
People were afraid of the Priests then and
you wouldn’t dare talk to them like we talk
to Fr. Tom now, they are only human says
Delia.
She told us that she had two girls, and that
they are the two best girls in Ireland. Mary
lives in Cork and Kathleen lives in Meath.
Kathleen comes to visit every two weeks
and helps with outstanding housework and
chores. Her son Pat lives with Delia on a
full time basis. He lived in Manchester and
in Aberdeen in Scotland for nine years, but
returned to the homestead thirty years
ago. Pat left Ireland in 1967, he was
seventeen years of age. It was the
year of the ‘Foot & Mouth’ disease,
and he couldn’t come home for
Christmas. Little did he know that this
was the last time that all the family
would be together, as his Dad (Roddy)
died in 1968, at the young age of fifty
four, and this broke the family chain.
Pat works locally during the day and
returns in the evening, and is with his
mother at night. Pat told us that his
mother is capable of getting herself
up, dresses and looks after herself
during the day. If Pat has the dinner
started for the evening, Delia is able
to look after it, and she loves food and
cooking, and was always a great cook
in her time. She has a home help
(Rose Kelly) that comes in two days
per week to help her with her chores,
Rose is a lovely woman and Delia
looks forward to her arriving. Delia still
attends Mass occasionally. (Imagine that
at 97 years of age!).
Delia walked to Knock in her youth from
Rathlena three times, and climbed
Croagh Patrick once. She visited the
USA three times since she got married,
and visited England several times on
holiday, she joked and says, “There’s
nothing that I didn’t do”. Pat her son
climbs Croagh Patrick every year for the
past twenty years. Delia remembers her
two sons (Rory & Jarlath RIP) walking to
Knock from Corrisloustia. They used to
walk off ahead a mile and lie down on
the road then and wait for the rest of us.
Delia talked to us about courting in
her day, she said you would not even
hold hands with your boyfriend, or your
husband in public, it was not approved
of, not like it is today. “The young
ones, they’d kill you out, all you need
is patience”, says Delia. In our day you
could not bring a man within miles of
the house, it was so stupid, and then we
went back to America and we didn’t have
‘Bi Ba’ in our heads. They were awful
ould times, but everyone was in the
same boat then.
Anne asked Delia what is her recipe for
longevity? She replied “Plenty of hard
work and a good diet”.
Cloonfad magazine would like to thank
Delia most sincerely for giving us the
opportunity to hear her story, and for
the hospitality shown to us by her and
Pat during our recent visit. We wish her
continued good health and happiness
for the future.
91
PATRONS
The Cloonfad Magazine Committee want to thank our Patrons for their support. We ask our readers to support our Patrons. A
very special thanks to all our Patrons who contributed over and above the standard fee. Your generosity is much appreciated.
ABBEY VIEW Dry Cleaners & Launderette Ballyhaunis & Dunmore
( 086 ) 0826052
AIB.B.ALLYHAUNIS, Proud of our past – looking to our future
(094) 9630464
ALBANY, Curtains & Blinds, The Square, Claremorris…………………….
094) 9362783
ANTHONY, John , Windows, UPVC Windows, Doors and Conservatories
094 9632977/086 3606613
AUSTIN GROGAN & SONS LTD., Ballyhaunis ………………………..
(094) 9630072
BALLYHAUNIS & DISTRICT CREDIT UNION, Main St, Ballyhaunis ……
(094) 9630998
BALLYHAUNIS PLANT HIRE, Abbeyquarter, Ballyhaunis ……………. (094) 96 30979/9631021
BALLYHAUNIS Tile and Flooring, Cave, Ballyhaunis…
(094) 9630503
BANK OF IRELAND, Ballyhaunis, Co. Mayo………………
(094) 9630073
BAYLEAF DEVELOPMENTS LTD. West view Housing Estate
(094)9646320
BIRMINGHAM KEVIN, Ballinross ………………………….
BK INSTALLATIONS, Cloonfad…………
(094) 9646948 / 087 2379942
BRENNAN FURNITURE, Kitchen & Bedroom Furniture, Hundred Acres, Cloonfad
(094) 9646291
BRENNAN TILING Cloonfad Ballyhaunis Commercial & Domestic
(086) 8295928
C&M INTERIORS, Carpets, Furniture, Bedding, The Square, Claremorris……
(094) 9362205
CAMPBELL PADRAIC, Bar & Lounge, Ballinlough…………………
(094) 9640404
CAR DISMANTLERS, Kevin McNamara, Dublin Rd, Ballyhaunis….
(094) 9630439
Cnoc Rour B&B. Lavallyroe, Ballyhaunis,
00353 872392967
COFFEY GERRY, Auctioneer & Valuer, Grange, Granlahan…………..
(094) 9640237
COLLERAN’S PHARMACY, Bridge Street, Ballyhaunis………..
(094) 9630028
COMMINS, FR. Tom, Cloonfad
…………………………
(094) 9646007
CONNAUGHT GOLD CO-OP STORE Ballyhaunis………
(094) 9630166
CONNOLLYS DUBLIN 20
CONNOLLY KITCHENS LTD.,Galway, Rd., Ballyhaunis,
Ph/Fax(094)9630237
CORRIB SIMMENTAL HERD, Martin Regan, Cloonfad 0868216253/ (094)9646240
COSTELLO & GALLAGHER CONSTRUCTION LTD., Pollaphuca Cloonfad
(086) 8196140
COSTELLO MOTORS (GALWAY) LTD, Main Hyundia Dealer, Garrafrauns, Dunmore
(093) 38049
COSTELLO SEAMUS, Lavallyroe, Cloonfad…..
(094) 9646111
CS REFRIGERATION LTD, Fairymount ,Castlerea, Co Roscommon………… Tel. (094) 9870702 Fax 9870703
CUMMINS, PADDY, Plasterer, Mountdelvin …………………………….
087 8299894 (094) 9646288
CUNNINGHAMS LONDIS, Ballyhaunis…....Hot food all day every day (094) 9630162/30730
CURLEY’S CHEMIST, Main Street, Ballyhaunis ……………….
(094) 9630110
CRANN FURNITURE, Ballykilleen, Cloonfad ……………………….
(086) 3818160 / (086) 1541333
DALY’S ELECTRICAL, Tuam ……………
(093) 24370
DAWN MILK, SEAMUS JENNINGS, Agent ,Pollinalty, Cloonfad
(094) 9646058
DELANEY Sand & Gravel, Beaugh, Curragh West, Dunmore & Milltown, Ballinlough (094) 9643217/086 2600182
DELANEYS Hardware, Fuel, Building Materials, Bridge St. & Hazelhill, Ballyhaunis (094) 9630296
D.G.ROOFING & TOOL HIRE Williamstown
(094) 9643355
DONNELLAN TEXACO SERVICE STATION, Shop 7am-11pm, Ballyhaunis…. (094) 9631151
EDDIE MURPHY & SONS MENSWEAR, Upper Main Street, Ballyhaunis…….
(094) 9630651
EGAN’S SERVICE STATION, Early & Late,lotto agents Bridge St, Dunmore (093) 38158
EPS, PUMPING & Treatment Systems, Ballyhaunis……………..
Fax (094) 9630761 Tel(094) 9630226
EURO SPAR, Dunmore, Co. Galway……………………
(093) 38242/39159
FINNS FOOTWARE, Main St, Ballyhaunis & Kiltimagh ……. (094) 9681970 & 9630141
FAGAN, GER, 1ST AND 2ND Fixing, Fitted Kitchens, Wardrobes etc.
086 1042435
FITZMAURICE TERENCE, Motor Repairs, Tonragee ……………. 087 6716201 (094) 9646157
FITZMAURICE’S, Bar & Lounge, Ballinlough……………..
(094) 9640068
FLEMING PADRAIC, Plasterer, Cloonfad ……………………………
(094) 9646141
FLEMING,.P. M .P. J. Plasterers ,LTD Cloonfad ……………………………….
(094) 9646124
FLEMING Seamus, Stop Cabs & Minibus, 24Hr Service,Lavallyroe, Cloonfad, (086) 8195500 (094) 9646040
FLEMING TOM, Plasterer, Cloonfad ………………………………….
(094) 9646146
FLEMING’S ‘EASCAI’ Bed & Breakfast, Lavallyroe, Cloonfad
(094) 9646040
FLYNNS COSTCUTTERS Supermarket, Newsagents CLOONFAD, Tel/Fax (094) 9646090/9646934
GALLAGHER & SONS LTD, Builders, Providers, Wholesale & Retail, Main St, Ballyhaunis (094) 9630020
GANLEY Sean, Ganley Financial Services ltd, Property Sales & Lettings, Ballinlough 086 2627187 (094) 9640954
GEM NEWSAGENTS, Grocery, Toys, Jewellry & Souveniers & Alma’s Hairdressing, Ballyhaunis (094) 9630840
GMG Ironworks, Specialists in Gates, Railings, Mobile Welding and all your Welding Needs 087 9510697
GORMLEY Castle Catering Ltd. School and Industrial Catering Specialists 091 792854 087 2792070
92
GORMLEY MARK,Construction LTD. Lowberry, Granlahan,
086 2793139
GRASSCARE MACHINERY LTD., Ballyhaunis ……………….
(094)9630572
GREENSPRINT OFFSET PRINTERS, Main Street, Ballyhaunis………
(094)9630597
GRIFFIN INN, Bar & Lounge, Take Away, Cloonfad………………………
(094)9646213
HANNONS Daybreak Dunmore, Deli, Home Fuels, Petrol & Diesel Open 7am 10pm
(093) 38199
HARVEST FRESH, Fruit & Veg, Main St, Ballyhaunis……………….
(094)9630736
HAVERTY GERRY, Garage, Cloonfad…..
(094)9646268
HAZEL, Breakfast, Lunch & A-la-carte, parties, functions, meetings etc. Main St, Ballyhaunis (094)96 30885
HENEGHANS, Carpet and Furniture, Ballyhaunis
(094) 9630770
HILLSIDE TAVERN, Granlahan…………
(094) 9640016
IRISES FLORIST, Inferflora – Flowers for all occasions, Ballyhaunis
(094) 9630015
NOEL SLATTERY’S BAR & LOUNGE, Cloonfad ……………………………
(094)9646915
J.G’S BARBER SHOP, Barrick Street, Ballyhaunis
087 2450079
JOE O’NEILL, SOUND SYSTEMS, Glenamaddy.
(094) 9659022
JOYCE OIL/CAMPUS OIL, Newtown, Claremorris…………
087 8159449 (094) 72797
KEADIN PADRAIC, Plant Hire, Sand & Gravel Contractor, Cloonfad….
(094) 9646088
KEADIN SEAMUS & ANNE, “St Martins”, Cloonfad.
(0907) 46063
KEANE FRANCIS, BUS HIRE –, Cloonfad……….
086 8379990
KEANE’S Bar & Lounge, Off Licence, Farm Supplies, Petrol & Diesel, Undertaker
(094) 9646012
Kevin and Mary Maloney, Hill Top Recording Studios, Cloonfad
087 2774346
(094)9646287
KILGARRIFF KITCHENS, Cloonkeen, Dunmore…………
(093) 38383
KING BYRNE SCHOOL OF DANCING, Ann Byrne ……………
094) 9646056
KIRRANE BROTHERS, Seamless Gutters, Ballyglass……
(094) 9646079
KIRRANE AUCTIONEERING, LTD. Knox Street, Ballyhaunis Caroline
(087) 230440 /
LUNT’S, Specialist in auto body repair and spray painting, Sales & Service, Cloonfad (086) 2542665 (094) 9646350
MARKS MEATS, Dunmore. Top Quality Meats……………..
(093) 39766
MARTHA KEARNS Lavallyroe Weight Management , Nutritional Health, Sport energy (087 9251402
MCCORMACK’S POST OFFICE, Family Grocer, Lotto Agent …
(094) 9646001
MCDONNELL MICHAEL, Plastering Contractor, Ballinross, Cloonfad………..
(094) 9646197
McGARRY’S WOMENS WEAR, Main Street, Ballyhaunis…………………
(094) 9630084
MCHUGH TERENCE, Victualler, Abbey Street, Ballyhaunis ……………….
(094) 9630061
MEADOWLANDS NURSING HOME, Purpose Build 24hr Nursing Care, Cloonfad
(094) 9646332
Michael Greene, Whitehall Park, Highgate, London
Mick and Maureen Mulheir, Oran
MICHAEL J. WEBB BUTCHERS, Main St, Ballyhaunis …………………
(094) 9630003
MORAN’S , Sweets, Ices, Fancy Goods, Fuel Merchants, Main St, Ballyhaunis
(094) 9630493
MURPHY AUTO SALES, Statoil, 24HR, Breakdown Service, Car Sales, Car Hire…
(094) 9630307
NEW IMAGES HAIR STUDIO,Cloonfad Ladies & GentsHair Styling Open Mon.-Sat..
(094) 9646979
NEWSROUND, Main Street, Ballyhaunis …………………………..
(094) 9630897
NOEL’S BARBER SHOP, Knox Street, Ballyhaunis ……………….
087 6415039
O’CONNORS, Grocery & Bar, Ballinlough……………..
(094) 9640025
JOHN O’MALLEY & SONS LTD,BUTCHER, xpress stop shop, Cloonfad ………
(094)9646024
OAK BAR, (Delaneys), Ballyhaunis…………………..
(094) 9630099
PATTERSON NOEL, Animal Health Centre, Ballyhaunis ………….
(094) 9630113
PHILLIP’S DEPARTMENT & SHOE STORE,Ballyhaunis & Claremorris (094) 96 72020 (094) 96 30368
PHILLIPS EAMON BUTCHERS, Ballyhaunis…………..
(094) 9630381
PRENDERGAST MINI-BUS, Peggy, Cloonfad…….
086 2518301 (094) 9646021
RDK CONSTRUCTION, Building & Civil Engineering Contractors Raymond & Declan Keadin (086) 8752590, (094) 96 46063
REGAN KITCHENS LTD, Fitted Kitchens & Bedroom Furniture ….. 086 2569893 / (091) 751000
REGAN OLIVER, New York, USA…………………….
ROCHFORD MOTORS, ‘Test Drive the All New Pajero Now’,DOE Test Centre, Knock Rd,Ballyhaunis (094) 9630163/30570
RONAYNES CLOONFAD…..
086 8338866
RYAN’S SUPER VALU, Main Street, Ballyhaunis…………………..
(094) 9630359
STAUNTON’S GARAGE, Sales & Service, 24hr. Breakdown Service ………
(094) 9646030
STEPHANIES, HOUSE OF BEAUTY Cloonfad ,For that special beauty treatment.
(094 ) 9646181
STIRA FOLDING ATTIC STAIRS LTD., Mft of Attic Stairs,Dunmore, Co. Galway.
(093) 38055
STRITCH JOE, Melltrane, Cloonfad………………………………..
(094) 9646203
TOMAS & MARY BURKE, Cloonfad ……………
(094) 9646019
TOM KEARNS Plant Hire & Ground works
087 2528894
VALS BIASTRO & BILLABONG BAR, BALLYHAUNIS
094) 9630068
WALSH SEAMLESS GUTTER, Alum & PVC, Soffit, Slate Edging, Ballyglass, Ballyhaunis (094) 9646266
WEST-TEC Security Systems, Domestic & Commercial Security Systems
(094) 9632656 / 086 9141321
Back Cover: New Celtic Cross erected in Cloonfad cemetery in September 2007.
93
CLOONFAD MAGAZINE ORDER FORM
PLEASE FORWARD ME … COPY(S) OF CLOONFAD 2008
(PLEASE USE BLOCK LETTERS)
NAME: …………………………………………………….
ADDRESS:………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ENCLOSED, PLEASE FIND € ……………
PRICE OF MAGAZINE PLUS POSTAGE
WITHIN IRELAND €8.00 ENGLAND €10.00
ELSEWHERE €14.00
SEND COMPLETED FORM WITH REMITTANCE TO:
EDITOR, CLOONFAD MAGAZINE, CLOONFAD, BALLYHAUNIS, CO. ROSCOMMON, IRELAND.
Order must be received by November 1st to ensure shipment by Christmas
CLOONFAD MAGAZINE ORDER FORM
PLEASE FORWARD ME … COPY(S) OF CLOONFAD 2008
(PLEASE USE BLOCK LETTERS)
NAME: …………………………………………………….
ADDRESS:………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
ENCLOSED, PLEASE FIND € ……………
PRICE OF MAGAZINE PLUS POSTAGE
WITHIN IRELAND €8.00 ENGLAND €10.00
ELSEWHERE €14.00
SEND COMPLETED FORM WITH REMITTANCE TO:
EDITOR, CLOONFAD MAGAZINE, CLOONFAD, BALLYHAUNIS, CO. ROSCOMMON, IRELAND.
Order must be received by November 1st to ensure shipment by Christmas
94
Junior Infants 2007-2008
Back row: Alex O Connor, Jason Reinhardt, Conor Kinnarney, Sean Keadin,
Daniel Fagan, Lewis Gaynor, Patrick Mannion. Front Row : Saoirse Bermingham, Nadine Conolly, Hannah Burke,
Megan Hanley, Ava Kirrane, Antonia Murphy, Amy Mullarkey, Claire Flemming, Siobhan Conroy
6th Class 2006 – 2007
Back Row: Maeve Regan, Michael Walsh, Chelsea McAnunlty, Thomas McGuire, Michael McGuire, Vicky Miskell, Teacher
Mr. Brendan Cregg.
Front Row: Louise Kilgarriff, Sandra Lyons, Aron Moran, Martina Brennan, Jasmine Casey, Nicola Hunt.