May 2015 – Page 2 – The Burren and Beyond

Galway Bay rescue – 1930

Posted on May 17, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Irish Examiner 26th November, 1930p7

Image; Galway Hooker Kinvara Photo: Cqui Wikimedia Commons — Image; Galway Hooker Kinvara
Photo: Cqui
Wikimedia Commons

The crew of the steam fishing drifter John Summers, which has just arrived in Galway, bring the news of the rescue on Saturday evening, after a thrilling battle with the gale, of the crews of two Connemara open sailing boats conveying turf across Galway Bay to Kinvara.
The John Summers was sailing to Kilronan, Arran Islands, and about two o’clock, when off the South Sound of the islands, two fishing boats were seen. Both were obviously in distress, as a storm had broken suddenly about half an hour before.
It was noticed that the sails of one of the vessels had been torn away and she was being tossed about helplessly. The other Connemara vessel signalled that she was in difficulties also, but as her sails were intact it was decided that they would have to go first to the helpless boat. At this time the two sailing vessels were a few miles apart.
The John Summers set off to the aid of the helpless boat, and when they overtook it they found it was the Columcille, of which the occupants were Coleman Royce and Peter Ridge, of Rosaveel, Connemara. By skilful manoeuvring, and not without a good deal of difficulty, the two men were taken on to the John Summers. The Columcille soon afterwards ran up on the Clare coast and was pounded to pieces on the rocks. Then the John Summers returned to the rescue of the other boat, which in the meantime had been battling bravely against the storm. On coming near it was found that the boat was the Monte, and its occupants were Patrick Sullivan and John McDonagh, of Carraroe, Connemara. In the struggle against the storm Sullivan had been struck on the head with a piece of flying woodwork, and when he and McDonagh were taken on to the John Summers Sullivan was bleeding profusely and was in an exhausted condition. He later recovered. The Monte was taken in tow by the John Summers, but as they were entering Kilronan harbour the Monte cracked as a result of her terrific straining in the storm and she sank.

The John Summers was in charge of Captain Ritchie, and his action and that of his crew has been reported to the National Lifeboat Institution.

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The largest sheep fair in 50 years – Kinvara – 1912

Posted on May 16, 2015May 16, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 26th October, 1912 p5

The sheep fair was held on Thursday, October 17th, and was by long odds one of the largest held in Kinvara for over fifty years. Owing to the depression in the sheep trade for a considerable time, people were afraid it would be impossible to dispose of their stock at any price. All doubts on that point were set at rest the evening before the fair by the great influx of buyers to the town from all points of the compass. Tipperary, Roscommon, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Mayo, sent their quota to swell the big contingent of buyers. Hugs flocks of sheep were driven into the town all through the night, and long before day the town was crowded as it was never crowded before, the fair extending far out the Galway and Clare roads.

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Kinvara Carnival – 1913

Posted on May 15, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 13th September, 1913

FEACH ANSEO
GREAT ATHLETIC AND CYCLING CARNIVAL

The Band of the Galway Pipers will attend and play during the day, dressed in their picturesque Gaelic costumes.
A Dia Saor Eire

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Threshing – 1910

Posted on May 14, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 15th October, 1910 p4

Threshing Machine In Action Photo: Ben Franske Wikimedia Commons — Threshing Machine In Action
Photo: Ben Franske
Wikimedia Commons

The topic of the hour in Duras is the Loughrea Threshing machine that did such wonderful work for a local farmer and a Caherglissane grazier. Some say it belonged to Tener, was commissioned by Ludlow, and worked by Bartly Naughton. Fahy was written in letters as red as blood on the car, and Mr Skehill was in command.

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Kinvara Horse and Cattle Fair – 1909

Posted on May 13, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 13th November, 1909 p.7

The above well-known horse and cattle fair will be held in accordance with custom on Wednesday, November 17th, 1909 (being the first Wednesday after 11th November). The fair, which has been such a very decided success since it was first started some years ago, has grown from very small dimensions to be one of the most noted held in the locality. It supplies a much-felt want to the farmers in the district, as well as to the multitude of people along by Carron and Ballyvaughan, who have no horse-fair nearer than Athenry or Loughrea.

The prices obtained at last year’s fair for colts and foals, as well as for good-class working horses was far in excess of prices obtained at any of the other local fairs. In the cattle department over 500 calves were disposed of last year at very remunerative prices. As Kinvara is the centre of a horse-breeding district, people from a distance would do well to patronise it. Already promises of support have been received from all quarters, and the supply of horses, foals and cattle at this year’s fair promises to be a record one.

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New Quay Bazaar – 1890

Posted on May 12, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Freeman’s Journal 23rd August, 1890 p.12

Freeman’s Journal 23rd August, 1890 p.12
Among the winning numbers of Bazaar held at New Quay, County Clare, on Thursday 21st August, 1890;

Epergne – Annie Rourke, Corofin, County Clare.
Album – Thomas Fahy, Rhine, Finavara
Two Mufflers – Michael Curtin, Philadelphia
Pinafore – Mr J O’Shea, New Quay.
Picture – Michael Grady, Cahermore
Antimacassar – Mrs Yonge, Bognor, Sussex
A Wax Doll – Mrs Quinn, New Quay, County Clare
Antimacassar – Bridget Connolly, Carnamadra
Glove Box and Handkerchief case – Mary Keane, Aughinish
Pair of socks – Edward Smith, Newport R.I. American
Knitted quilt – Lizzie Nilan, Murty Clough, New Quay
Reading lamp – The Convent, Gort
Smoking Cap – Mrs Tierney, Bridge Street, Gort
Our Lady of Lourdes Statue – Mrs Quinn, Duras Cottage
Pinafore – Honor Glynn, Kinvara
Candlestick – K Keane, Cregg, New Quay
Pin Cushion – Mr D Curran, Dominick St., Galway
Fire Screen – M Sweeney P.P. New Quay
A pair of boots – Miss Mona Kelly, Westport
Fifty years of History – Honor Jordan, New Quay
Holy Water Font – Mrs Keane, Kinvara
Cheese cover and inkstand – Father Usher, Ennistymon
Evening Service – Maggie Foley, Middleton, America
Set of Vestments – Mrs Kerin, Kinvara
Cushion – Anne Shaughnessy, Aughnish
Chest of tea – John Lynch, Gort
A Petticoat – Thomas Gardner, Kilmoran, Gort
A Hearth Rug – Michael McNerny, Bellharbour

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Anti conscription – subscriber refund – 1919

Posted on May 11, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

FREEMANS jOURNAL 14th February, 1919 p2

Carlow National Defence Committee decided to return the anti conscription money to the subscribers
Balintglass committee also unanimously decided to return the subscriptions less ten per cent.
Kinvara (Co Galway) Committee will return the money, less ten per cent, on Monday.
Derry united Irish League last night passed a resolution demanding the return of their money to the subscribers to the Anti Conscription Fund.

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Kinvara Harbour Committee – 1904

Posted on May 10, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Freeman’s Journal 6th February 1904 p 19
At a specially convened meeting of the Kinvara Pier and Harbour Committee held on Sunday last, the Very Rev Thomas Burke, PP in the chair, the following resolution, proposed by Mr Thomas P Corless, JP., MCC and seconded by Mr John Flatley (Flatley and Joyce) was unanimously adopted;
Resolved;
That we, the members of the Kinvara Harbour Committee, desire to thank the Galway County Council for their generous grant of £1,000 towards the improvement of the harbour. That, as the County Council have carried out the conditions mentioned in the letter of their secretary, dated March 6th, 1903 we now call upon Mr Wyndham to at once allocate a sum of £1,200 out of the marine Works Fund to carry out the much-needed improvements of the pier and harbour, as the matter can no longer brook delay.

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The Gathering of the Tribes – 1907

Posted on May 9, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Western People 29th June, 1907 p 9

Burren Gentian Photo: EO'D — Burren Gentian
Photo: EO’D

The Gathering of the Tribes
Lines on the Grand Annual Reunion and Games of the Galway Men’s Association at Celtic Park, New York, Sunday 9th June, 1907

Dear Galway of gray cliff and shelving shore,
Today your exiled hosts pass in review;
Today with eager hearts they meet once more
Beneath Columbia’s skies of sunny blue.
How yearning souls today will fill with pride
For Erin cradled ‘mid Atlantic foam;
Where e’er we journey or what e’er betide,
With Irish fervour we are true to home.

From Tuam they’ll come where the great McHale
‘Gainst the tyrant Saxon truth’s gauntlet flung,
He kept the glory of bright Innisfail
Resplendent burning in the Gaelic tongue.
Today his memory is revered with pride
Through Eire’s valleys from strand to strand;
And we far sunder’d over ocean-wide,
Are true to Galway and dear Ireland.

Loughrea and Gort will give a generous share,
Where Sassenach a welcome never found,
My must to Arran flies with fleetness rare
On reverent wing to fight on holy ground.
And bouchals tall will come from Corrib’s wave;
Where hamlets nestle by the waters blue,
From Clifden’s hills that never nurst a slave,
Nor grudge their exiles, fearless bold and true.

From green Killimer and Kinvara gray,
Whose legends tell us of olden time,
When noble Ard-Reigh ruled in regal sway,
And Fionn of Fenian hoses was chief sublime;
His spirit true has lived the ages down
And flames to fire within our exiled throng,
Tho’ far apart from Galway storied town,
Or from the value where stands the Cross of Cong.

Sweet mother of brown hill and Em’rald vale!
Thine exiled hosts today pass in review;
True as their sires when foes they name assail
Their filian hearts beat faithful unto you.
True Irishman where’er your homing place,
From Cork’s famed town to Neagh’s wide-spreading lake,
Come pledge with us the gallant fighting race,
One bumper drink, fill high – The West’s Awake!

Stephen M. Faherty

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Kinvara Dramatic Society – 1958

Posted on May 8, 2015 by The Burren and Beyond

Connacht Tribune 20th December, 1958 p 8

Johnstons, Kinvara EO'D — Johnston’s, Kinvara
EO’D

Kinvara Dramatic Society scored a notable success with “A Damsel From Dublin” which ran for three nights this week to packed houses at Johnston’s Hall, Kinvara.

Under the inspired direction of Mr Kieran Moylan, the play lacked nothing in production and comedy. Kieran himself took the part of the “damsel” and few could have done it better. Paddy Joe Keane played the part of Michael Guinan, “the man of the house” to perfection; Toddy Byrne was an excellent “son of the house” in the role of Michael Junior. In the major male roles Sean Nolan and Brian Clery as two “neighbours” acquitted themselves very well. Joe Regan and Paddy Geraghty carried off their parts as solicitors in excellent fashion. Miss Sally Regan, the female lead, as “Belinda Duffy” and her “mother” played by Miss Bridie Quinn, were excellent. Mrs Margaret Connolly as “Mrs Cleary” was first class.
The evening opened with some catchy choruses by Messrs Kieran Moylan, Toddy Byrne, P.J. Keane and Joe Regan, and the Misses B. Quinn, M. Connolly, F. Halvey, S. Regan and M. Muldoon. Miss Mary Keane and Miss A. O’Shea rendered solos, and Miss Roseen Moylan danced a hornpipe.
Musical selections by Messrs Joe Leary, J.Wade, Bob Gardiner and Syd McPhillips added to the enjoyment.
Miss B. Quinn N.T. who compered the show thanked the audience and artistes.
The production will be staged at Clarenbridge Hall on Sunday next.

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