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.
I toast I give – a health I pledge
Here’s to the girls of Galway!
May sorrow blunt its pointed edge
For them, the girls of Galway!
The fleet of foot – the sweet of smile
The warm of heart – the free from guile
Oh, the genuine daughters of the Isle
Are they, the girls of Galway!
Should you a token ask, by which
You’ll know the girls of Galway
Whom grade and beauty most enrich
These are the girls of Galway!
Descended from the noble race
Of Celt and Spaniard, you can trace
Their lineage in each speaking face
Of the dark-eyed girls of Galway!
Dianas in the hunting field
Are they, the girls of Galway!
‘Gainst craven fear their hearts are steeled
Courageous girls of Galway!
And yet no Amazons are they,
But loving, soft and womanly.
Who can withstand their witchery
The lovely girls of Galway?
With more than Andalusian pride
Step out the girls of Galway!
Oh, ‘mid a thousand else beside,
I’d know the girls of Galway!
Where Pleasure holds her festive sway
No eye so bright, no laugh so gay,
No wit so sparkling in its play
As theirs, the girls of Galway!
Impulsive, open as the day,
Are they, the girls of Galway!
Possessed of every generous trait,
Are they, the girls of Galway!
And naught ignoble, base, or mean,
Finds place where every act’s a queen,
Their very “faults to virtue loan”
The high souled girls of Galway!
Then may they proudly flourish long,
The graceful girls of Galway!
The theme of poetry and song,
The peerless of Galway!
Oh, you may search from Pole to Pole,
Ere you can find the perfect whole
Of charms unique and generous soul
To march the girls of Galway!
A toast I give – a health I pledge
Here’s to the girls of Galway!
May sorrow blunt its pointed edge
For them, the girls of Galway!
The fleet of foot, the sweet of smile
The warm of heart, the free from guile
Oh, the genuine daughters of the Isle
Are they the girls of Galway!
A. McC
Mr Duffy asked the Chief Secretary whether he was aware that seizures for rent have taken place with the past week in the town of Kinvara; whether the Sharpe estate, on which the seizures have taken place, is at present being sold to the agricultural tenants; and whether he will advise the Estates Commissioners to include the Town Tenants in the general settlement of the property:
Mr Birrell:
I am informed by the police authorities that seizures for rent were made last week in the case of two publicans in Kinvara. The Estates Commissioners cannot identify the estate referred to in the question as pending for sale before them.
SHARPE ESTATE STRUGGLE – KINVARA’S RALLY ROUND NATIONAL STANDARD
Magnificent monster meeting – other estates involved in the fight
Not for many a year has such a display of enthusiasm been witnessed in Kinvara as that which characterised the monster meeting held on Sunday last under the auspices of the United Irish League and of the Town Tenant’s League. It was as if the town of the Auld Plaid Shawl had suddenly thrown off the lethargy that has hung over it for the past decade, and once again taken its proper place in the agitation for a people’s rights, and as if her sons had girded on their armour and taken their position in the fighting race of this nation.
The Tostal Committee for Kinvara have arranged the following events for the Tostal:
Sunday, April, 12th:
Gaelic football match between Kinvara and Bellharbour;
Juvenile sports;
Tostal dance and fancy dress parade in Kinvara New Hall.
Sunday, April, 19th:
Seven-a-side hurling competition;
During the week ended Saturday, April, 18th, a dance will be staged.
The Burren and Beyond 