Month: March 2016

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The Soldiers of Cumann na mBan-1916

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Kinvara Branch of Cumann na mBan had eight members, including:

Cumann na mBan brooch
Cumann na mBan clasp

Miss Kate Fogarty
Mary Hynes, Dungora, Kinvara
Miss Aggie Staunton, Clooas, (sic.) Kinvara
Miss Mary Fogarty, Kinvara
Miss P. Regan, Kinvara
Margaret Johnston, Kinvara

The Soldiers of Cumann na mBan
by Brian O’Higgins
All honour to Óglaigh na hÉireann
All praise to the men of our race,
Who, in days of betrayal and slavery,
Saved Eire from shame and disgrace.
But do not forget in your praising,
Of them and the deeds they have done,
Their loyal and true-hearted comrades,
The Soldiers of Cumann na mBan!

Chorus

They stand for the honour of Ireland,
As their sisters in days that are gone,
And they’ll march with their brothers to freedom,
The Soldiers of Cumann na mBan.

No great-hearted daughter of Ireland,
Who died for her sake long ago,
Who stood in the gap of her danger,
Defying the Sassenach foe,
Was ever more gallant or worthy,
Of glory in high sounding rann,
Than the comrades of Óglaigh na hÉireann
The Soldiers of cumman na mBan!

Chorus

O, high beat the hearts of our Mother,
The day she had longed for is nigh,
When the sunlight of joy and of freedom,
Shall glow in the eastern sky;
And none shall be honoured more proudly,
That morning by chieftain and clan,
Than the daughters who served in her danger,
The Soldiers of Cumann na mBan!

Chorus

Brian O’Higgins (1882-1963) penned the lyrics of
The Soldiers of Cumann na mBan in the week immediately prior the 1916 Rising
This song has been arranged and recorded by Joseph Forde.

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St. Patrick’s Day – 1824

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

THE CONNAUGHT JOURNAL – 18th March 18, 1824land

ST. PATRICK’S DAY
[From the Irishman] (abridged)
We do not believe the memory of our Patron Saint was ever more honoured in the town of Belfast than it was on Wednesday last. Parties of 12,20,30 and 40 met to celebrate the christian labours of our Irish Saint. A large and highly respectable party, containing about 40 persons, dined at Falloon’s Tavern, in Sugar-house entry. The chair was filled on this occasion by James M’Clean, Esq.- Vice President, John Lawless, Esq.

It was a night of harmony, good humour, and good sense. The following toasts were given alternately by the President and Vice-President:-
“The Memory of St. Patrick.”
“The People-the only legitimate source of Royal authority.”
“Civil and Religious Freedom to all men of all climes and denominations.”
“The Friends of Freedom in Spain-may they soon resume the station they
deserve in their native land.”
“The People of Greece-may their great name be once more restored to the
world they have so long illuminated.”
“The United States of America-the unanswerable proof to mankind that their
peace and happiness are ever best secured by the participation of equal rights
and privileges.”
“A Free Press- the poor man’s protection-the Tyrant’s terror.”
“The President of the United States, James Monroe-may the Country over
which he presides for ever be the terror of the Tyrants of Europe.”
“The memories of Grattan, and Curran, and Ponsonby, the eloquent and
uncorrupted advocaters of Ireland’s Freedom.”
“Charles Sugrue, Esq., and the Chamber of Commerce of Cork.”
“The Independent Citizens of Galway.”
“Doctor Tennent.”
“The Stewards who regulated the present celebration of St. Patrick.”

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Kynmara, Ballinclare – 1502

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Tuam Herald 26th May, 1888 p4Kinvara pier
In 1501 a Bull of excommunication against certain malefactors in the College of St Nicholas at Galway was addressed by Pope Alexander to the Archbishop of Tuam and the bishops of Clonfert and “Melipotamus.” The document details the full penalties of that dread punishment, and is too long for reproduction here. The mention of this See carries our mind to the great Irishman Cardinal Wiseman who before his translation to Westminster held this title in “partibus infidelium”.

Another Bull relating to the parish of Tiraglas and the Vicariates of Kynmara (Kinvara) and Ballinclare (Ballyclera) is addressed by same Pope to three canons of Clonefert, Florence O’Genwayn, Thaddeus Macyachayn, and Gubertus Macmylord. It issued from Rome and bears date 9th of December, 1502

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Kinvara – 1916

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Connacht Tribune 1st July 1916 p.4

Burren
Photo: EO’D

Although there was no disturbance of any kind in Kinvara or district during the recent Rising, the entire population maintaining an attitude of perfect calm throughout, over a score of arrests were made by the local police. In spite of representations by Mr. W.J.Duffy M.P., and others, scarcely any of those interned have as yet been released. During the week Ml. Stanton of Cloonasee, was released and arrived home quite unexpectedly on Tuesday evening.

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Told by the waves – 1893

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Supplement to the Cork Examiner 19th November, 1893

Kinvara sea
Kinvara Harbour Photo: EO’D

I was a child but the sea was old,
Gay and old was the roaring sea,
When first his mighty waters rolled
At my restless feet and sang to me;
I was a child, but the washing waves
In their wailing grief or their fitful play,
Called my name in the hollow caves,
And told me stories of yesterday.

Of a strange old time, I know not when,
Of a distant land, I knew not where!
Of a Home beyond the reach of my fondest pray’r,
I was a child, but the grey old sea
Told of a time that was long of yore
Told of a past Eternity
Like the great infinity before

Long have I trodden his beaches bare,
Gathered his sea-weeds brown and wild,
Scattered his spray from my waving hair
As though I were still a little child,
But now no more does the ocean tell
His mystic tales of the Past to me,
For I hear in his ceaseless surge and swell
The call of a far Futurity.

Arthur L. Salmer

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Deportation – 1915

Posted on by The Burren and Beyond

Irish Examiner 15th July, 1915 p.5

Burren1
The Burren Photo:

Dublin, Wednesday.
The “Evening Mail” says:-
The Government have ordered two organisers of the Irish Volunteers to leave Ireland, and it is understood they will refuse to obey.
Inquiries at the Headquarters today elicited the fact that Mr. Ernest Blythe and Mr. Liam Mellows have been served with expatriation orders, signed by Major-General Friend, commanding his Majesty’s forces in Ireland.
According to the terms of the order, Messrs. Blythe and Mellows are requested to leave this country before 10 o’clock p.m. on Saturday next, 17th inst. On the 20th they will have to report to the military authorities where they intend to reside, and, if the place is approved of, they will not be allowed to leave the district or country without permission. No charge has been made against either of the men, who have been re-organising companies of the Volunteers in various parts of Ireland. The order was served upon Mr. Blythe early on Monday morning at a hotel in Ennistymon, County Clare. District-Inspector O’Brien and a number of other policemen entered his bedroom before he had arisen. Having read the document, the proposed deportee left by the next train for Dublin. Mr. Mellows was in Athenry when the police conveyed to him the instructions of the Commander-in-Chief. Both men state quite positively that they will not leave Ireland.
Deportation orders have been served upon a number of other men in the Irish Volunteers, but in those cases they were only prohibited from entering certain areas.
Last night Mr. Pim, better known by his nom-de-plume “A. Newman,” a Belfast author, received an order from the military authorities to leave Ireland. Mr. Pim was connected with the Irish Volunteer movement in Ulster.

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Kinvara – 1925

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Irish Independent 14th August, 1925 p.1

Kinvara telegraph
Kinvara c 1950 Cresswell archives

GOVERNMENT NOTICES
Department of Posts and Telegraphs
Notice is hereby given, pursuant to the Provisions of the Telegraph Acts, 1863 to 1920, that the Minister of Posts and Telegraphs having obtained the consent in the behalf of the body having the control of the public road described below, intends to place a Telegraphic Line over and along the said public road, and for that purpose to erect and maintain posts in and upon the same under the powers conferred on him by the said Telegraph Acts.
BY COMMAND OF THE MINISTER FOR POSTS AND TELEGRAPHS
Main Street, from existing line to Civic Guard Barracks, Kinvara, Co. Galway