Connacht Tribune 25th April, 1969 p.1
The Kinvara Handcraft Co-Operative have begun to make preparations for temporary display rooms in Main Street, Kinvara, in the shop of Mrs. Forde. In order to exhibit the large number of hand-knit garments which they have now for sale they will use these rooms until the new building is completed at The Square. North American buyers are expected to visit the display soon.
Connacht Tribune, 7th May, 1910 p.5
(Air: “Ireland, Boys, Hurrah!”)
On through Kinvara town they came,
Those men so loyal and brave,
Each a trusty Irishman;
No traitor, coward or knave –
To drive the grazier’s cattle back
To Cloughalalard that day,
From good old Duras, brave old Duras,
Duras, boys, hurrah!
Chorus
Duras, boys, hurrah! Duras, boys, hurrah!
Here’s to Duras! Brave old Duras!
Duras, boys, hurrah!
Like men of grit they bonded all
To join the cattle-drives;
For all there loved their homes as dear,
Or dearer than their lives.
They loved their country’s glory, too,
And the light of freedom’s day,
In fond old Duras! Brave old Duras!
Duras, boys, hurrah!
Chorus
We’ve heard their praises oft before;
Yes, even from their foes.
We know that nought can check them now,
When once they’ve boldly rose.
Then grazier, grabber, tyrant all,
Make haste to clear away
From grand old Duras! Brave old Duras!
Duras, boys, hurrah!
Chorus
A lovely sea-bound Duras,
And her land so fair and green,
Where peaceful hamlets one time rose
The graziers’ cows are seen.
Dismantled homes bear witness there
Of black eviction’s sway,
In brave old Duras! Lovely Duras!
Duras, boys, hurrah!
Chorus
The West’s awake, the West’s awake,
Thank God that news is true,
From North to South, from East to West
And with a vengeance to.
Oh! with a vengeance in their hearts
For wrongs of many a day,
In brave old Duras! Wronged old Duras!
Duras, boys, hurrah!
Chorus
Those men from Geeha, north and south,
Knockaculleen and Newtown,
From Traught, from Cluish and Cregboy,
All would their lives lay down,
To keep the children of their hearts
From sailing far away,
From dear old Duras, brave old Duras!
Duras, boys, hurrah!
Chorus
Then here’s to Duras once again,
Here’s to her o’er and o’er.
May Heaven protect her in her need
And its gifts upon her pour.
Long may her gallant children live
In freedom’s glorious ray.
In brave old Duras! whipping Duras!
Duras, boys, hurray!
Chorus
BRIDGET BRUEN, KINVARA
Irish Independent 23rd July 1908 P.9
The Board of Guardians of Gort Union will, at their meeting on Saturday, the 1st day of August, appoint a Midwife for the Kinvara Dispensary District, at a salary of £40 per annum.
The person appointed most possess qualifications in Medicine and Surgery, as well as in Midwifery, and must reside in the Town of Kinvara.
Applications, accompanied by copies (only) of testimonials to be lodged with me by 12 o’clock noon on the above date.
Myles J. Burke
Clerk of Union
Clerk’s Office, 18th July, 1908
Connacht Tribune 17th October 1969 p 29
On the invitation of Lady C. Ampthill, Dunguaire Castle, the Athenry Players travelled there on Saturday night and staged a one act play, “Riders to the Sea” for Lady Ampthill and friends. This was followed by a short concert. The production was very favourably received.
Irish Independent 5th January, 1959 p.8 (abridged)
Mr. Kieran Moylan N.T., Kinvara, has many memories and mementoes of a versatile and full career as a teacher, entertainer and businessman. Among his most prized souvenirs is a little book entitled “My Village in Ireland.” It was written by two young people from New York, Sonia and Tim Gidal of Mount Vernon, and was published in New York. What makes it appeal especially to Mr. Moylan is the fact that on a flyleaf is a personal dedication of the book to him by the two authors: “our friend and constant source of information in gratitude for his unwavering co-operation.”
The book is one of a series specially written to bring before American youth a true picture of the life, customs and manners of the young people of other lands. In this particular book, an Irish boy, Patrick, tells in simple language the story of his home, school, work and play – in other words, a complete picture of life in the Irish countryside.
For their view of a typical Irish countryside the authors chose Kinvara, one of the loveliest stretches of countryside we have. They wrote about the children, the postman, the Parish Priest, Mr. Moylan in his school, the potato diggers in the field, fowl keeping, turf-cutting. etc.
During their stay they received invaluable assistance from Mr. Moylan, one of the county’s best known characters. An authority on the area, he is a prominent contributor to pantomime. His accordion is a land-mark (if I may put it that way) and no festive occasion in the whole area would be considered complete without Kieran and his music.
Connact Sentinel 13th October, 1959 p.1
A New Zealand holiday party in Ireland during the summer had a chat with Mr. Ml. Leech of Kinvara, who gave them information about the district and about North Clare into which they were then travelling. The holiday makers then went on their way. Now Mr. Leech has their thanks in verse – in twenty lines of verse, penned by one of the party. Here are the last four lines:
And gentle-voiced people with warm, friendly smile,
With strangers chat kindly should they idle a while.
Life’s unhurried, has meaning and peace that is rare,
In lovely Kinvara near lone County Clare.
Nation 27th June, 1874 P4 (abridged)
Ua Corra was a professor of the black art, who did not hesitate to hold direct communication with the devil. He dragged his wife into a partnership in necromancy. They had three sons who also surrendered themselves to the evil spirit. Their loyalty to his satanic majesty was intense and was not confined to words. Its sincerity was proved by action, and action of a most desperate kind. These three brothers, at the head of a band of desperadoes, burned the churches and monasteries and murdered their inmates. While their hands were still red with the blood of their victims, God, in a vision, gave them a glimpse of the unspeakable torments of hell, which roused them to a deep sense of their guilt, and to an earnest wish to repent.
They entered the monastery of Magh Bile, where, after expiating their crimes by a long course of penance, they resolved to make restitution, as far as possible, for the ruin they had wrought. Accordingly they set to work to restore the churches they had demolished.
While engaged on the church of St. Coman (or Cainin), at Ceann Mara, now Kinvara (a little town pleasantly situated on the Bay of Galway), they witnessed a sunset of unusual magnificence.
The bright orb, as it descended into the Atlantic, turned it into a stripe of gleaming gold. The gorgeous sight inspired the idea of an Elysium, and the enthusiastic brothers determined to go out under that distant horizon, float over those golden waters, and be near the sun as it sank into the waves.
Having fitted up a bark they set sail from Kinvara, and roamed over the mighty water for many years. In their wanderings they came upon islands teeming with nature’s richest and rarest gifts.
Connacht Tribune 10th August, 1918 p.2
Large numbers from various districts in Galway and Clare journeyed to Kinvara on Saturday and Sunday to participate in the annual pilgrimage to St. Kieran’s Bed. at Fraugh Kieran, Duras, Kinvara. St. Kieran’s Bed is charmingly situated close beside the silvery strand at Duras, and commands a splendid view of Galway Bay as far as the Aran Island, with the lofty Burren mountains away in the background. Hundreds of people remained all through Saturday night to do their stations on Sunday and every mode of conveyance from the old Irish jaunting car to the more modern bicycle brought its quota on Sunday. “It is a pity,” our correspondent writes, “that some local Committee would not take charge of the arrangements every year, and see that the religious side of the pilgrimage is strictly observed as its inception dates back centuries.
Connacht Tribune 8th March, 1924 p.14
Francis A. Fahy on Kinvara; (abridged)
I left Kinvara in ’73 (1873), a youth of 19. Its scenes, its people, their customs, sports, recreations, their kindliness and affection, their good humour and lightheartedness, their abiding faith in God, are as fresh in my memory after 50 years of exile as things of yesterday, and have ever been the inspiration of my songs. I thank God that I have lived to see the first hues of a new dawn brighten over my native hills.
TOWN OF KINVARA
__________
IMPORTANT AUCTION OF VALUABLE PROPERTY,
Consisting of Dwelling houses, Shops, Stores and Land, held in Fee-Simple, Free of Rent forever.
_________
Sale at Market Square, Kinvara,
TUESDAY, APRIL 19TH,
At one o’clock sharp.
Subscriber has been favoured with instructions by Mrs. E. Nally of Thornville, Kinvara, to offer for Sale by Auction all her Property in the Town of Kinvara. The Property consists of 21 Houses, all in perfect repair, and mostly occupied by tenants. This is affording those people an excellent chance of buying and owning their own homes.
DESCRIPTION OF LANDS
All that and those Parts of lands of Dungory West, containing 3a. 1r. 3p., or thereabouts, in the Barony of Kiltartan, Townland of Dungory West, and County of Galway.
There is a beautiful mansion, known as Seamount house, on this portion of the Property. It is in excellent repair, with large out-offices, stables, Hay and Corn Barns, Cow-houses and large closed in yard. There is also two large fruit and vegetable Gardens going with this Mansion.
DESCRIPTION OF OTHER LANDS.
8a. 1r. 4p (Irish). Part of the Lands of Cartron, in the Barony of Kiltartan, townland of Cartron, and County of Galway.
All these Lands are in suitable laid out fields, and will be sold in lots to suit purchasers. All these Lands are of the best quality and free from all disease. Immediate possession will be given in both Houses and Lands.
Terms- Purchaser to pay half purchase money on the day of the sale, together with five percent auction fees. Remainder when sale is complete.
For further particulars apply to:
BLAKE AND KENNY
Solicitors, Galway
Connacht Tribune April 9th, 1921 p.1 (abridged)
The Burren and Beyond 