‘Tis Hallow E’en, ‘Tis Hallow E’en,
What memories the night revives
Of many a face and many a scene,
Bright oases throughout our lives.
A father’s stern, though mild rebuke,
Should youthful ardour run too high;
A gentle mother’s smiling look
Surveying our fun with loving eye.
The grass above their graves is green,
God rest their souls this Hallow E’en.
And whilst the whirling apple flew,
In spite of our vain endeavour,
And whilst the candle far more true,
Successful was in kissing over,
And whilst the pinioned diver plunged
For smallest coin with miser’s eye.
And grate with roasting nuts was fringed,
For lover swain and cailín coy
We ne’er forgot when fun was o’er
The prayer for those who’d gone before.
And Hallow E’En may come, may go,
And Time, the soother of all sorrow,
May even change our locks to snow,
E’er comes for us the “no tomorrow.”
But be it late, or be it soon,
At home, abroad, no matter where
Kind heaven, I pray thee, grant the boon
That I may have some friend still there
To say when Hallow comes again,
“God rest his soul this Hallow E’en.
Connacht Tribune 9th November, 1990 p.15
Kinvara was thronged with 600 adult spectators and several hundred children for the Halloween Ghost Parade through the streets last Wednesday night (8 p.m. to 11 p.m.). The full moon shone in all its lunar splendor throughout the spectacle.
A large number of costumed adults took part in the colourful parade which commenced outside the national school, proceeded down Main Street (Sráid na Phooka), and Locoal-Mendon Street and arrived at the quay.
Five mysterious people suitably disguised (Toddie Byrne, Paddy Geraghty, Paddy Ward, Pam Fleming and Stan MacEoin) accompanied the parade. At Locoal-Mendon corner there was a fire eating demonstration by Padraig Breathnach, assisted by Little John Nee of Macnas.
The fantastic scenario at the Quay featured three witches, three leprechauns, a horse led by a headless man, four Fir Bolgs twelve feet tall, a caterpillar and mermaid. The Macnas five piece band provided delightful drum rolls for the antics and acts of the characters.
Sweets (1,650 penny sweets in all), nuts (countless) and fruit by the score were distributed free to the children. The Town Crier, Jeff O’Connell, gave out the commands and comments.
For the visitors to Kinvara on the night the whole show was memorable. It was a credit to the local Community Arts Officer, Pam Fleming.
Mr Mattie Connolly, Kinvara (third from right) submitted five exhibits at Loughrea Show and won five prizes – three firsts and two seconds. With him in the photograph are, left to right; E. Tarpey, Kilrickle, Martin Hallinan, Ardrahan, C. Whoriskey, Ardrahan, Michael Brennan, Craughwell and, on Mr Connolly’s right, Michael Bermingham, Kinvara with Mr Stan Hynes, Loughrea. Connacht Tribune 6th October, 1951; Page: 15
Drawing of a fancy dress costume late 15th – early 16th Century Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) A.E. Popham “The Drawings of Leonardo” Wikimedia Commons
Friday night was Fancy Dress night for Kinvara Carnival and the dancing marquee was crowded for the parade. About 60 contestants took part in the competition which was judged by Mr. Martin Dolan and members of the Premier Aces Orchestra. The judges paid tribute to the excellence of the costumes and to their ingenuity. The following were the prize winners: Most Original:
1. “Retired to Roundstone” – Mr. and Mrs. Kieran Moylan, Kinvara.
2. “If you Drink, don’t Drive” – Miss Anna Fogarty, Tubber.
3. “Mise Lemass – in Dev’s Boots” – Mr. Brendan Nolan, Kinvara.
Most Humorous:
1. “The Joys of Marriage” – Mr. Vincent Byrnes, Kinvara.
2. “What Type will win the Battle for Man” – Mr. Thomas Byrnes, Miss Bridie Quinn and Miss Maureen Muldoon, Kinvara.
3. “Kinvara Marquee Fire Precautions” – Miss Eilis Gleeson, Kinvara.
Most Topical:
1. “Shake Hands with the Devil” – Mr. Brendan Forde and Miss Philomena Forde, Tubber.
2. “Dame Margot Fontaine” – Mr Sean Nolan, Crushoa.
3. “Patterson and Johannson” – Mr John McDonnell and Mr. June Lundon, Kilcolgan.
My home farewell for ever,
Where my affections grew,
In spite of each endeavour
My soul flies back to you;
Retracing mount and valley,
That I crossed in vain despair –
Oh! how it loves to dally
Among the hills of Clare.
I wooed a maid – a brighter
Was not those hills among;
I won her heart – a lighter
Ne’er joined the happy throng.
I go, my heart is broken,
Another land to try
Nor kindly word nor token
From her I loved, have I.
‘The Irish Echo’ of New York has been devoting much attention in recent months to the quite spectacular growth of the newly launched Kinvara-Duras Historical Society which is now causing more than a stir in Irish-American circles. Founded in December following a lecture by Dr. Patrick J. Greene, Weston, Conn., U.S.A. in Stamford – the same lecture was extensively reported in ‘The Connacht Tribune’ when given by Dr. Greene in Seamount College, Kinvara two years ago – the young society has spread its wings rapidly and there is now a substantial membership in Connecticut which has a strong association with Kinvara since famine times.
At the Society’s February 24th film show there were 250 people and they now have a paid up membership of 70 enthusiasts. They are going to have a monthly event from now on covering some of the historical aspects of Ireland, and others of a lighter nature, such as a ceili and social and drama series in the winter and hope the Kinvara people, at home, will be aware of their activities here, so that closer ties can be maintained.
Dealing with the December lecture in Stamford, U.S.A. ‘The Irish Echo’ had this to say; At the Knights of Columbus Hall, North State Street, Stamford, Connecticut, Patrick J. Greene, M.D. of Weston, presented an illustrated lecture series on the parish history of his native Kinvara. The programme consisted of the earliest documents from the Castle Tithes of 1574, dealing with Dungora castle, stronghold of the O’Hynes, to extract from the 1641 Books of Survey and Distribution, concerned with the confiscation of Irish Lands, whose original parchment documents are housed at the Public Records Office in Dublin. Also included were maps from 1683, 1839 and 1893, Church and Land Records from 1826, the original Kinvara town map of 1849, copies of the Connaught Journal of 1793 and a listing of parish householders, from Griffiths Valuations of 1849, An extensive collection of late 1800’s and early 1900 photographs of old Kinvara and its families as well as the map collection were on exhibit at the adjoining library. Aerial photographs of the parish, its O’Hynes Castles, Ring Forts, and early Christian Churches were also part of the presentation, as well as some striking shots of the underground caverns and subterranean passages, photographed by Dr. Greene. A tribute to Francis. A. Fahy, playwright, poet and author who was in 1854 and wrote the popular Irish songs, The Auld Plaid Shawl, The Queen of Connemara, and many others, were part of the programme. Included in this review were nostalgic photographs from the turn of the century to name but a few, there is ‘Loading Barley at Old Kinvara Quay, 1908’, ‘The Market 1900’, the SS Duras 1900, from the Lawerence Collection, National Library Dublin and ‘The Kinvara Fife and Drum Band 1910’. Dr. Greene has done an extensive research on his project from Irish archive sources, over a period of four years, while living in Ireland, prior to opening his office for General Medical and Surgical practice, in Weston earlier this year. He has presented this in-depth study of his parish at Seamount College, Kinvara previously to an enthusiastic gathering of Kinvara people. Co-ordinating the programme was Dr. Mary Savage, Administrator of the Stamford Public Schools. Both Dr. Greene and Dr. Savage are presently organising ‘The Kinvara-Duras Historical Society’, a project aimed at bringing closer ties between Kinvara people here and at home. A new year gathering of the Society is planned as well as a future trip to Kinvara next summer.
NOTICE TO CONTRACTORS
This Sisters of Mercy at Gort will receive tenders on or before 29th April, for the Erection of Convent, Chapel, and School Buildings at Kinvarra, county Galway, in accordance with plans and specifications prepared by M.A. Hennessy, Esq. Architect, M. Inst., C.E.I., A.R.I.A.I.
Copies of plans &x, may be seen at the Convent, Gort, and at the office of the Architect, 10 Glentworth Street, Limerick.
The lowest or any Tender need not be accepted, and contractors are to tender at their cost.
The magnificent sanctuary lamp, which for over 50 years was one of the attractive fittings in the chapel of Seamount College, Kinvara, is now in Ghana, Africa, beginning another phase in its colourful life. This silver ruby-studded lamp adorned the College chapel from 1926 until 1978 when the people of Kinvara presented the Mercy Order with a new altar and fittings to mark their centenary.
Recently the nuns presented it to the Gort Apostolic Work Society, who provide the foreign missions with altar linens, vestments and sacred vessels. It arrived just on time for their annual exhibition of members’ work. The lamp caught the eye of many of the visitors to the exhibition. A number of offers were made for its purchase and one very substantial sum was turned down. The members decided it should go instead to the missions when, lo and behold, who should walk in but a missionary priest, Father Butler. He was in the process of building a parish church in Ghana and needed a sanctuary lamp. His luck was in. Not alone did he get the lamp but it wasn’t long until the Apostolic Work Society found him a suitable bell also. Father Butler has let the Gort members know he intends to use the services of a native silversmith to make two lamps in another of his churches. Between the ball and the lamps what a lot of history could be tolled!
Getting into difficulties several hundred miles from the Galway coast, with one engine crippled and petrol running out, a Canadian four-engined D.C.4 aircraft succeeded last evening in reaching Tarrea, near Kinvara, on the coast. The pilot and radio officer, both from Montreal, were injured and are in Galway Central Hospital.
It was on its way on a delivery flight to Belgian Airlines, from Labrador to Brussels, and was due to stop at Rineanna. Contact at the Rineanna control tower was lost when the plan was 1,200 miles out over the sea. For several hours planes were out from Shannon Airport, were in search of the missing aircraft, but they were not able to locate it. The D.C.4 crashed into a ploughed field at Tarrea, about two and a half miles from Kinvara, tore through a fence, through two stone walls and across a road. Its propellers were torn off, one wing was torn away and the four engines scattered about the field and roadway.
The pilot, Captain Ainsley, of Montreal, sustained severe, but not serious injuries. Radio Officer Eardley, also of Montreal, received extensive head injuries, and Navigation Officer J.A.Brown, the only other occupant of the aircraft, escaped with slight injuries.
Gardai from Kinvara and Ardrahan were quickly on the scene with many local people, while Dr. J. Greene, medical officer, Kinvara, treated the injured officers, and had the pilot and radio officer removed by ambulance to Galway Central Hospital, where they were stated last night to be comfortable. Military from Renmore Barracks, Galway, rushed to the scene, took charge of the wrecked plane, and collected papers and documents which had been scattered about.
A sailing vessel with a cargo of coal bound from Kinvara was wrecked on the rocks in Galway Bay during the gale yesterday. The crew escaped without injury and the cargo was saved.
The Burren and Beyond 