In this sultry weather the wearied tourist can enjoy a grateful cool beneath the cimmerian recesses of the cavern known by the name of Pouloushe, an appellation taken from the Irish word Pollach, which signifies “hollowed” and the Irish word uisce, which signifies “water”. This truly remarkable cavern is a short distance from the road leading to Kilmacduach church, and about two miles from the town of Kinvarra, to which the reader has been led in one of our former rambles. The entrance to it bears due south-west of Northampton, the neat residence of Mr. Mahon, and east of the cottage of a farmer named Killikelly, on the way leading from Kinvarra to Kilmacduach.
The entire of the district surrounding Pouloushe is a lime-stone one, and it consequently abounds in those underground recesses and caves common to such description of country. The river, which flows through the demesne of Lord Gort at Loughcouter, runs there against a very high and nearly perpendicular rock, beneath which it sinks so instantaneously and completely as seemingly to elude all further observation, and baffle geologists in discovering the course it subsequently takes. It is remarkable to find a large river thus suddenly swallowed up, and, therefore Loughcouter demesne demands a visit from the curious, even though it had not presented any other subject to compensate for the journey from New Quay to Gort. The river subsequently shows itself at some distance, at what are denominated the “Punch-Bowl” and the “Churn,” both of which are well deserving of attention. They are situate about half-a-mile beyond Gort. It afterwards breaks forth again into a full river, from beneath a fine natural arch at a considerable distance, from the Churn and Punch-Bowl. Another river (the name of which I do not remember), flows near to Isert-Kelly, from the direction of Loughrea, and also occasionally hides itself from the light of day in dark underground passages. In all probability, the waters of both rivers unite, and pursue jointly their subterranean meandering until they reach Kinvarra, at which place the reader has been already informed that a flood of fresh water shews itself bursting forth when the tide is out.
The observant eye, although it cannot see the water, can distinctly trace the direction of the Gort river from the last-named place towards Kinvarra, by means of the concave and sunken face the limestone country presents along the line of its course. This sunken and collapsed appearance extends to the breath of about two hundreds yards, and is particularly observable in the neighbourhood of Pouloushe cavern. After passing Killikelly’s farm-house, the tourist proceeds about a quarter-of-a-mile over a bed of limestone, scantily clothed here and there with a mixture of grass, and those small herbs and wild flowers, which delight in attaching themselves to limestone. In traversing this locality you must, however, be cautious where you place your foot, for many and deep narrow fissures open, concealed amongst the rocks and tangled herbage.
The mouth of Pouloushe Cavern is a hole nearly perpendicular, and in the centre of a large and level field of limestone. You descend about thirty feet by this yawning entrance, formed apparently by the accidental falling in of part of the roof of the cavern. Having descended thus far, the traveller enters the mouth of the cave beneath a large, flat, and natural arch of limestone rock. This cavern, which runs from south-east towards north-west, differs, as far as my observation goes, from any yet described in print. As far as the eye can penetrate through the surrounding gloom, nothing presents itself to view save scattered rocks, and an inclined rugged surface of slippery clay beneath the feet. Overhead hangs a stupendous flat ceiling of rock, not resting on pillars or any other visible means of support capable of sustaining the weight of such an expanse of massive stone. The ceiling being flat, low, and smooth, appears almost as if it were the work of art. I have not remarked much stalactite or stalagmite matter here. This, probably, is owing to the river washing it away in winter; but, at all events, as I was not prepared with torches for an underground excursion when I visited it, I felt no disposition to pursue too far an unknown journey amidst darkness, rocks and precipices. The danger too was, perhaps, magnified by the awful view of an impending sheet of rock close overhead apparently unsupported, and ready every moment to fall from above, and bury for ever the too daring foot which had imprudently ventured beneath it. Added to this was the noise of waters wending their way in darkness amongst the rocks, and threatening to bear off in their unknown and gloomy course him who should make a single false step. I could dimly see the river, deep and dark, by the fitful glare thrown from burning straw, which served the place of torches. It seemed to be a considerable stream of water, very deep in some places, and revolving round in many eddies.
During 1842-43 Cooke wrote a series of articles for the Galway Vindicator on the area around New Quay in north Clare. A scrapbook of these articles, with notes (given here in itallics) and illustrations by the author, was donated to Clare County Library.
Saturday next, December 3rd; is the 50th anniversary of the miners’ fight for freedom at Eureka Stockade and a brief narrative of that memorable event at this stage will not be amiss. Specially interesting is it to the Irish-Australians, for the number of Ireland’s sons who took part in the affray and who gave their lives in the effort to cast off the yoke of oppression and tyranny under which the mining classes of Australia then laboured.
Not only were they the leading figures at the Stockade, their names are prominent among the discoverers of the historic goldfields.
In. his ‘History of Ballarat,’ Mr. Withers says ‘the “honour of discovery seems to be tolerably evenly balanced between the two parties (Patrick Connor and Thomas Dunn), though it may perhaps be held, that the balance of priority inclines to tho side of Connor’s party.” It is said in support of Connor’s claim that he was always regarded as leader of the diggers at the meetlngs held in those first days when the authorities made their first demand for licence fees.
It was an Irishman, also Cavonagh by name who made known the deeper and greater treasures that were concealed beneath the pipeclay which had hitherto been considered bottom. This led to such rich discoveries that people poured from all parts of the world on to the Yarrowee, where, in a month or two, 1200 cradles were rocking in one line.
How the Diggers Were Persecuted.
Eureka stockade battle by J. B. Henderson Watercolour 1854 State Library of NSW. Wikimedia Commons
For a time the Victorian Government, taken by surprise, was utterly powerless in tho presence of this unexpected influx of population. It eventually recovered its self-possession, proclaimed the right of the Crown’ to the gold, despatched officials to preserve order, and issued licenses to dig for the, precious metal.
At first the license fee was fixed at £1 10s. per month, but it was soon doubled in the hope of thinning the crowds that continued to travel to the goldfields from all points of the compass. In the course of time this poll-tax, as it really was, assumed a most arbitrary and unjust character. It was levied on every digger, whether successful or unsuccessful. The brutal and insulting manner In which it was enforced became an insupportable grievance and led to a bloody conflict between the outraged diggers and the tyrannical authorities.
The ridiculous idea seemed rooted in tho minds of the governor and his advisors that the goldfield’s population could only be ruled and regulated on military principles. Hence the diggers were allowed no representation whatever in the Victorian Parliament, although the great majority of them were respectable men of good families and education. They were tyrannised over by ignorant and insolent officials, many of whom were originally, expatriated for their crimes, and were afterwards promoted into the ranks of the colonial constabulary. Those ex-convicts took a demonic delight in annoying and insulting the freeborn diggers and straining their petty authority to tho utmost. No sooner had an intending digger arrived on the field than he was compelled to appear before one of these insolent officials, hand over his first monthly payment of £8, and receive in return a licence to the following effect :
GOLD LICENSE:
Ballarat 1853-54 by Eugene von Guérard Wikimedia Commons
No: Date:
The bearer _______________ having paid to me the sum of £3 Sterling on account of the terrltorial revenue, I hereby licence him to dig search for, and remove gold on and from, any such Crown lands as I shall assign to him for that purpose during the month of ____________, 185__. This licence is not transferable and must be produced whenever demanded by rne or any other person acting under the authority of the government.
Slgned _________
Commissioner.
Those licences were demanded suddenly and unexpectedly at all times and places by the officials who were supported by bodies of mounted troopers. Unfortunates who didn’t happen to have their documents on them at the moment would be arrested and chained to logs at the Government camp until friends came forward with monetary assistance. A couple of incidents out of hundreds will show the coarse, reckless and unjustifiable manner in which these ignorant officials carried out the duties entrusted to them, and which eventually drove the gold-fields’ population into open rebellion.
In the Hands of Brutal Troopers
Father Patrick Smyth was one of the first of the Irish priests to arrive on the Ballarat goldfields. He had a devoted personal attendant named John Gregory, who was one day paying a visit of charity to some Catholic friends. A license hunting party of troopers came up, surrounded the tent in which they were, and the officer in charge “commanded the wretches to come out of the tent and show him their licenses.” Gregory quietly told him that he was the servant of Father Smyth, and had no such document. Tho troopers thereupon profusely damned both him and Father Smyth, and took him into custody. As Gregory was not a very able-bodied man, he asked his captors to take him to the Government Camp at once and not drag him after them all over the diggings in their search for unlicensed miners. This reasonable request was refused with many curses and blows and the poor fellow was compelled to follow the brutal troopers through the whole of the day’s campaign.
Next morning, although it was evident at a glance that Gregory was physically unable to dig for gold, he was fined £5 for having no licence and an additional £5 for having committed an imaginary assault on one of the troopers!
The late Venerable Archdeacon Downing, who came up to Ballarat almost simultaneously with Father Smyth, was frequently the victim of the harsh tyranny of the insolent officials of those early days. On one occasion Father Downing had pitched his tent at the Brown Creek diggings, and, with his coat off, was hard at work digging a trench round it to carry off the water. A brutal trooper, coming up, insisted that the priest was a digger, bailed him up, demanded his license, and subjected him to the grossest indignities.
How the Insurrection Began.
Hotham Governor of Victoria Wikimedia Commons
In addition to this persecution, no miner was allowed to cultivate the smallest portion of land for the maintenance of himself and family. The irresponsible regime soon became intolerable. Tho diggers organised a peaceful and constitutional agitation, having for its purpose the abolition of the oppressive monthly licence fee and the representation of the goldfields in Parliament. They were contemptuously rejected by the new Governor, Sir Charles Hotham, who succeeded Latrobe in June, 1854.
A retired navy captain, he tried to rule the colony like a martinet and, by his headstrong and senseless policy towards the exasperated diggers, he precipitated a collision with the authorities. He professed to regard the agitation on the goldfields as the result of the machinations of foreigners and, in the true spirit of the quarter-deck, defiantly declared his intention to put down all seditious manifestations with a stern hand. The raids by the troopers upon diggers became more numerous and irritating than ever. At last the utmost limits of patience were reached and the probability of a successful insurrection was openly discussed on the goldfields. The agitation came to a crisis on November 29th, 1854 when 12,000 diggers held a meeting on Bakery Hill, Ballarat under the presidency of Mr.Timothy Hayes, one of the most genial and popular Irlshmen on the diggings.
After carrying a series of resolutions setting forth the grievances of the goldfield’s population, and the unavailing efforts to induce the authorities to redress them, the meeting unanimously determined then and there to burn all their licences, and thus bid open defiance to the government. Amidst enthusiastic cheering a huge bonfire was made, and every dlggor, consigned his Crown permit to the flames.
Four of the principal speakers were Lalor, Qulnn, Murnane and Brady, and the most Important resolution agreed to was couched as follows,:—
‘That this meeting being convinced that the obnoxious licence fee is an imposition and an unjustifiable tax on free labour, pledges itself to take immediate steps to abolish the same by at once burning all their licences, and that, in the event of any party being arrested for having no licences, the united people under all circumstances will defend and protect them.’’
The Last Digger-Hunt.
Peter Lalor Wikimedia Commons
The next day witnessed the last “digger hunt” on the Australian goldfields. It was carried out with a great military display in the hope of striking terror into the hearts of the rebellious diggers. Taken unawares, the latter retired as the troops advanced, rallying occasionally and receiving the enemy with a mingled fire of stones and bullets, the day’s work resulting in open war between the miners and the Crown. No sooner had the police and military returned to camp with a number of prisoners than the diggers assembled en masse on Bakery Hill, appointed a council of war, and elected Peter Lalor (son of a late member for Queen’s County, and brother of the then-present member) as their commander-in-chief. A declaration of independence was drawn up and signed, and a blue flag bearing the Southern Cross, in silver, was unfurled.
Under this Lalor took his stand and administered the following oath to his men :
‘We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other, and fight to defend our rights and liberties.’
Encamped With Guns and Pikes.
It was on that part of the field known Eureka, principally inhabited by Irish diggers, that the fortified camp of the ‘rebels,’ as they were now officially described, was erected. It consisted of an entrenched stockade that was capable of being made a place of great strength if the diggers had had time to utilise its natural advantages. It occupied an area of about an acre, rudely enclosed with strong slabs. Within the stockade drilling now became the main business of the hour; the diggers’ council of war sat almost continuously; blacksmiths were kept at work night and day forging pikes. “Let those who cannot provide themselves with firearms procure a piece of steel five or six inches long, attached to a pole, and that will pierce the tyrants’ hearts,” were the words of the commander-in-chief to his men.
Patrick Curtain was the chosen captain of the pikemen, and Michael Hanrahan was their lieutenant. Meanwhile the authorities were grievously alarmed at the spectre their stupidity, barbarity, and truculent insolence had created. They had never reckoned on the persecuted diggers turning and presenting an unbroken military front to their oppressors. Sir Charles Hotham and his ministers were in an agitated state of perplexity. Melbourne, the capital, was in a panic. The Mayor was swearing-in citizens by the hundred as special constables to resist the victorious diggers. The wild rumour of the hour was that they were marching in a body from Ballarat to pillage the city.
The rebellion was also spreading. Men of the other goldfields were hastening to the relief and assistance of their Ballarat comrades. The authorities of the Government Camp decided to attack the diggers’ stronghold before any of these reinforcements could arrive.
Early on the morning of Sunday, December 3rd, 1854, the assault was made by the combined forces of the military and the police under the command of Colonel Thomas, of the 40th Regiment. The insurgent diggers, commanded by Mr. Peter Lalor, made a brave and desperate resistance. The pikemen (an almost exclusively Irish detachment) stood their ground in double file around the enclosure and repelled several charges of cavalry.
Volley after volley was poured into the stockade and answered by the diggers until their want of ammunition and comparative unpreparedness became apparent. After half an hour’s desperate hand-to-hand fighting, the Eureka stockade was surrounded and carried by storm.
After the Battle: Tho Killed and Wounded.
Reward notice Eureka Wikimedia Commons
The scene that followed was of a brutal and barbarous character. The ruffianly soldiers and troopers behaved towards their discomfited opponents in the most cowardly fashion. Not content with making a large number of them prisoners, they did not scruple in their savage glee even to shoot non-combatants down in cold blood.
The official list of casualties on the diggers’ side reports;
22 killed
12 wounded
125 taken prisoners
These figures must not be accepted as literally accurate. Many lives were sacrificed and many persons wounded in the encounter whose names were not officially recorded. Subjoined are some of the Irishmen who fell or were wounded in this first struggle for freedom on Victorian soil :
KILLED.
John Hynes, County Clare;
John Diamond, County Clare;
Patrick Gittings, County Kilkenny;
Patrick Mullens, County Kilkenny ;
Thomas O’Neil, County Kilkenny;
George Donaghy, County Donegal;
Edward Qulnn, County Cavan ;
William Quinlan, County Cavan.
MORTALLY WOUNDED;
Thaddeus Moore, County Clare;
James Brown, County Wexford;
Edward M’Glynn, County Wexford.
WOUNDED AND SUBSEQUENTLY RECOVERED;
Michael Hanly, County Tlpperary;
Michael O’Neil, County Clare;
Thomas Callanan, County Clare;
Patrick Callainan, County Clare;
James Warner, County Cork;
Luke Sheehan, County Galway;
Michael Morrison, County Galway;
Denis Dynon, County Clare.
Peter Lalor, Queen’s County;
Patrick Hanofln, County Kerry;
How Lalor Fell.
Lalor fought with conspicuous bravery until he received a bullet near the left shoulder. His men then placed him under some protecting slabs in the stockade, where he was found by friends after the engagement lying in a pool of blood. He was taken to a safe retreat and the wounded arm was amputated by a friendly surgeon. Then, under the protection of Father Patrick Smyth, arrangements were made to remove him speedily from the vengeful pursuit of the authorities.
A few days after the storming of the stockade, Patrick Carroll, an Irish carrier, arrived in Ballarat with a load of goods from Geelong, and on the return trip he had a solitary passenger, the man for whose body, dead or alive, the Government emissaries were scouring the country in all directions. Carroll did his best to conceal the fugitive leader under a tarpaulin and the boughs of trees. By keeping as far as possible from the frequented roads and driving through lonely bush tracks, he succeeded in reaching Geelong without having attracted any hostile notice. Camping outside the town until night came on, the faithful Irishman drove his distressed compatriot to the appointed place of refuge.
Though a large money reward was offered by the Government for Lalor’s apprehension, and his place of concealment was well known to many, not a solitary scrap of information did the Government receive, so loyal and hearty was the sympathy of the people at large with the oppressed diggers and the cause for which they had suffered.
The Trial for High Treason.
A memorial stone for those who died in the Eureka Stockade. Construction of the monument in Ballarat was completed in 1886. Imagen: Wikimedia Commons
The captured diggers were taken to Melbourne and tried for high treason. Though the authorities resorted to the hideous system of packed juries, and though every Irishman and citizen suspected of sympathy with the miners was told to stand aside, the current of popular opinion was so powerful that prisoner after prisoner was acquitted, amid tho ringing cheers of a crowded court and the more boisterous demonstrations of satisfaction from the thousands outside.
Freedom and Honours
Eventually the State trials were wisely abandoned by the Crown. The proclamations of outlawry against Mr. Lalor and his fellow leaders were unconditionally withdrawn. Tho concealed chiefs came forth into the light of day once more. A Royal Commission, with the late Sir John O’Shanassy as one of its principal members, was appointed to inquire into the grievances of the miners. The oppressive license fee was soon abolished on their recommendation. Parliamentary representation was given to the goldfields, and before the first anniversary of the storming of the Eureka stockade came round, Mr Lalor was one of the members for Ballarat, and the mining population was as quiet, law-abiding, and industrious as any other section of the community.
Peter Lalor became Speaker of the Victorian Parliament, and his statue in Speaker’s robes now stands in Stuart street, Ballarat, the proudest possession of the citizens. There is also a magnificent monument at Bakery Hill, Eureka, to commemorate the memory of those who lost their lives in the insurrection.
The armed resistance of the diggers paved the way for democratic freedom in the Australian colonies and Irishmen played the most important part in that exciting episode. To this day Irishmen continue to be the backbone and sinew of the flourishing city of Ballarat that has developed front he thousands of diggers’ tents in 1854.
The most interesting handball contest that ever was brought off in the West of Ireland will come off at the great tournament organised by the Athenry Handball Committee on Sunday, August 29th. All the great exponents of this grand old game in the country presently have promised to attend, and some fine games may be expected. The committee have left no stone unturned to make this tournament a success. They are offering three beautiful gold medals to the winners, and three very good silver medals to the runners-up; and the Athenry ball court has undergone a special course of preparation for the event, a large amount of money having been spent upon it.
The rubber is to be the best of five games, and teams to consist of three players each. All entries close with the Hon. Sec, Mr L Lardner, Church Street, Athenry, on Wednesday, August 25th. Entrance fee, 5s, each team. We understand that a team from Tuam will compete at the handball tournament and will be represented by J. Sheehy, M. Flannelly and M. Hession.
FJ masthead Wikimedia Commons The Ogden Standard, 22nd January, 1918 p12
The Irish World, The Gaelic-American and the Freeman’s Journal, three of the leading weekly publications in this country espousing the cause of Irish independence have been barred from the mails – it was learned from the editors of these papers today.
From the Roll of Honour, the 1916 Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook and the Frongoch Camp list
Flying free EO’D
The Roll of Honour, the 1916 Sinn Fein Rebellion Handbook and the Frongoch Camp List identifies men and women who fought in the 1916 rebellion in Dublin and countrywide. The list runs to over 6,000 names and is not exhaustive. It details where men and women were interned/exiled in the aftermath of the rebellion.
Kinvara/Gort/Kilcolgan/Ardrahan/Loughcurra/Doorus/Peterswell volunteers are listed below. Please contact me if you see an error or omission and I will update immediately.
John Glynn Duras, Kinvara Co. Galway, Richmond Barracks to Wandsworth May 8th 1916
John Glynn Kinvara, Co Galway, Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
P Rian Forde, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway Richmond Barracks to Glasgow 19th May, 1916
P Hanbury Dongoran, Kinvara, Co. Galway Richmond Barracks to Wandsworth May 8th 1916
Patrick Hanbury, Kinvara, Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Daniel Kelleher, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
James Kelleher, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
John Kelleher, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Martin Kelleher, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Daniel Kelleher, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Martin Kellerker (sp), Gort Richmond Barracks to Perth May 19, 1916
Thomas Kelley, Peterswell, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
J Callinan, Kinvara, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp, June/July 1916
James Coen, Ballycholin, Gort Richmond Barracks to Perth 19th May, 1916
John Coen, Ardrahan, Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp, June/July 1916
John Coen, Ballymaguire, Ardrahan, Farmaer Richmond Barracks to Lewis, 19th May, 1916
John Coen, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp, June/July 1916
Martin Coen, Gort, Co Galway Frongock Detention Camp, June/July 1916
Patrick J Fahy, Kinvara, Co. Galway Richmond Barracks to Wandsworth, 8th May 1016
Henlon David Loughcurra, Kinvara Galway Richmond Barracks to Wakefield June 1st 1916
Peter Howley, Peterswell, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
William Howley, Peterswell, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas McInerney Kinvara Co Galway, Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas McInerney, Cashenmoore, Kinvara, Richmond Barracks to Knutsford June 1 1916
Michael O’Conlon Kinvara Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Michael O’Dea, Kilcolgan Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Michael O’Dea Stradbally Kilcolgan, Richmond Barracks to Wandsworth June 1, 1916
Patrick Joseph O’Dea, Kilcolgan Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas O’Dea, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas O’Dea Stradbally Kilcolgan, farmer, Richmond Barracks to Knutsford June 15 1916
David O’Hanlon Kinvara Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Michael Silver Rathbairn Ardrahan farmer Richmond Barracks to Knutsford June 6 1916
Patrick Silver Ardrahan Richmond Barracks to Knutsford June 1 1916
John Whelan, Duras Kinvara, Co Galway Richmond Barracks to Wandsworth May 8th 1916
John Whelan Kinvara Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Patrick Burke, Kinvara, Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Patrick Burke, Kinvara, Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Peter Burke, Kinvara, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas Burke, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas Burke, Lurgin, Gort Richmond Barracks to Perth 19th May 1916
John Bindon, Kilcolgan, Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas Bindon, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Michael Cuniffe, Gort, Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Thomas Cuniffe, Gort, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Martin Hynes, Durns, Kinvara Co. Galway farmer Richmond Barracks to Woking 19th May 1916
Martin Hynes Kinvara Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Stephen Leech Kinvara, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Stephen Leech Loughcurra Kinvara Co. Galway Richmond Barracks to Wandsworth 8th May, 1916
T Stephenson Gort Co Galway Richmond Barracks to Glasgow may 19, 1916
Thomas Stephenson Gort Co Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Michael Sylver Ardrahan Co. Galway Frongock Detention Camp June July 1916
Patrick Sylver Ardrahan Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Bryan O’Connor, Gort, Co Galway. Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
John Loughrey Gort Co Galway, Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
John Kilkelly, Canshow, Kinvara (sp) Richmond Barracks to Knutsford 1st June, 1916
John Kilkelly, Kinvara, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Michael Kilkelly, Kinvara Co. Galway Richmond Barracks to Glasgow 19th May, 1916
Michael Kilkelly, Towna, Kinnaird (sp) Richmond Barracks to Wandsworth 8th May 1916
P Kikelly, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway Richmond Barracks to Glasgow 19th May, 1916
Patrick Kilkelly, Kinvara, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp, June/July 1916
T Kilkelly, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp, June/July 1916
John Fahey, Lurgin, Gort Richmond Barracks to Perth 19th May 1016
Michael Fahey, Lurgin, Gort Richmond Barracks to Perth 19th May 1916
Thomas Brennan, Kilcolgan, Co. Galway Frongoch Detention Camp June/July 1916
Dennis McNamara, a shopkeeper at Ennis, Ireland, has been sentenced to twenty weeks’ imprisonment for selling copies of United Ireland, William O’Brien’s paper, the selling of which has been proclaimed. This is the first instance in which a person has been prosecuted for selling papers.
Decatur Daily Republican 24th February, 1888
(abridged)
An exhibition of the cruelty of the present rule in Ireland was afforded Wednesday in the adjoining towns of Milltown and Millbay, over in County Clare. A number of people of the neighboring parishes attempted to distribute two hundred and sixty car-loads of turf and the same amount of potatoes among the families of eleven men, who are at present serving terms of imprisonment, having been sentenced for alleged crimes against the coercion law. The police, however, stopped the proceedings, and would not allow the humane work to continue.
——————————-
Marquess of Clanricarde 24 May 1900 by Leslie Ward – Published in Vanity Fair, 24 May 1900. Wikimedia Commons
21st August, 1915
Marquis of Clanricarde Compromises. (abridged)
After litigation extending over some four or five years the legal proceedings in connection with the expropriation of the octogenarian Marquis of Clanricarde through compulsory sale from his estates in County Galway to his tenants, have been brought to a close by means of a compromise according to the terms of which he is to receive $1,200,000 for the property. This is not a large sum considering that the estates were formerly rated as yielding a rental of near $100,000 per annum.
But of course the fact that Lord Clanricarde is 84 years of age and has no direct heir will have been taken into consideration by him in consenting to accept this sum.
Few people know Lord Clarnricarde personally. He lives the life of a hermit in London in a dingy set of chambers in the Albany, off Piccadilly, and never goes out into society. Yet there is no member of the House of Lords whose name has been so frequently before the public. Half the agrarian crimes in Ireland during the past four decades have been due to his merciless and relentless cruelty toward the tenantry on his extensive estates on the Emerald Isle. Hundreds of thousands of dollars-probably millions- have been spent by the government in executing the decrees of eviction which he obtained from the courts against his tenants for the nonpayment of rent.
Freeman’s Journal 26th December 1885 p45 (abridged)
UilleannPipes photo: ‘Ganainm’ Wikimedia Commons
In every district of Ireland there is, or was a generation ago, always one musician who, by reasons of his superior skill, received a kind of patent of nobility and whose name was always spoken in association with that of his locality. In this way the subject of our sketch was known as the Piper of Galway.
Who that lived or travelled thirty odd years ago, in the city or the hills, in the fastnesses of Connemara, or by the shores of Lough Corrib and Lough Con, did not feel his bosom bound with gladness or melt in sorrow at the sweet strains of his matchless and inimitable pipes. His memory was wonderfully retentive and he could perform on his instrument thousands of airs, especially those of his native land. “Felim’s Death on the Field of Athrenee,” and “Red Hugh’s March to the Curlew Mountains,” he played with wonderful and enchanting power; from the Ros Catha of the warlike bard to the saddening symphonies of the “Coolun,” or the plaintive pleading tenderness of the “Molly Asthore,” he was equally and eminently famed. The music of Carolan and the melodies of Moore were all in the gift of this poor blind piper of Galway.
A more interesting character was seldom met with – a man deprived by fate of eyesight, yet by the light of his mind tracked his journey through life in one continued stream of sunshine, beloved by many and respected by all whose respect was worth possessing. Despite his humble condition and the loss of sight (which would be deemed by most persons as one of the greatest of human calamities) he was a happy man.
He was always singing, in sunny weather sprightly airs, and in gloomy weather pathetic ones; but he never looked sad, except when a tale of sorrow excited his pity or when he was about to separate from friends.
Perhaps the most eminent trait in his character (independent of his musical one) was his habitual, we might say, his constitutional benevolence. Many anecdotes of his goodness are told. He was always a temperate and prudent man and would never lower the dignity of his professional character by playing in a tap-room or any place where drunkenness was known. He had a great love of approbation, a high opinion of his musical talents, a strong feeling of decent pride and a great love of country. Green be the shamrocks on his grave.
The Burren and Beyond 