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!
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Mr. Thomas O’Shaughnessy, Kinvara, has received a communication that his eldest son, Pvt. Thos. O’Shaughnessy of the Irish Guards, is at present in hospital in England recovering from wounds received out in the war. This is the third time he has been wounded after spending 18 months in the trenches.
A large and most representative meeting of the people of Kinvara was held on Sunday week under the auspices of the United Irish League in the Temperance Hall, Kinvara. Mr Michael Curtain D.C., was voted to the chair. Amongst some of those present were;
Messrs. B.Quinn, D.C. B. Kilkelly, P. Hanlon, M. Melia,
P. Egan, M. Curtin D.C., J. Connor, P. Halvey, P. Cavanagh,
M. Killeen, J. Ballinger, J. Nilan, J. Cavanagh, D.C.
J. Forde, P. Tracy, B. Tannian, J. Hynes, J. Calnan
P. Calnan, T. Gill, J. Keane, F. Lally, P. Linnane
Bartly Bermingham, E. Holland, P. Hynes.
The Committee unanimously expressed their strongest condemnation of the communication of the bogus meeting of the Kinvara traders which appeared in the “Tribune,” and which was evidently the work of an inveterate enemy of the National cause. The Chairman said he was glad to see such a large representation from all parts of the parish to lend a helping hand in the project initiated by the friends and well-wishers of their respected president, Mr. T.P.Corless, on Sunday last. The branch would have started the project months ago if their president allowed them, and they were determined to leave no stone unturned until they would show him and their country at large that they were not unmindful of the invaluable services he had rendered his native parish, nor of the many sacrifices he had made on their behalf, and for the sake of the National cause. They were determined to show their practical appreciation of his work as a Nationalist by making the indemnity fund a great success, and they appealed to their fellow Nationalists in outside parishes to lend them a hand.
Downtown Kinvara Photo: EO’D
Mr. Jas Cavanagh, D.C., moved that Mr. Bartly Bermingham, merchant, Kinvara, be elected hon. treasurer to the Indemnity Fund. Mr. John Callaghan, Caherglissaun, seconded, and it was carried unanimously. Mr. Edward Holland and Mr. Michael Connolly, Kinvara, were co-opted on the committee with power to add to their number. Mr. John Holland, Kinvara, was elected hon. sec. along with John Hynes, Killina. The following were appointed to solicit subscriptions through the parishes;
Kinvara Town;
B.Bermingham
M. Connolly
James Cavanagh
P. Hynes
Knockaculeen and Cregboy;
Michael Curtin D.C.
Martin Melia
Cloosh and Kinturla
P. Fahy
J. Kelly
Geeha and Aughnish;
Twilight in Tawnagh Photo: EO’D
Michael Mahon
P. Egan
Martin Glynn
B. Curtin
Nogara;
John Keane
Michael Carty
Parkmore;
Michael Fahy
T. Claherty
E. Hynes
New Line, Currenroo, Shanclogh, Carrownamadra;
P. Whelan
M. Kelly
M. Moran
Funshin and Trellick;
Doorus Photo: EO’D
Joe Hynes
Pat Halvey
John Connor
John Carroll
P. Curtin
Moy and Gortskeagh;
Tom Gorman
Pat Healy
Bartly Quinn
Cappamore and Gortnaclogh
Michael Donohoe
John Flaherty
M. Quinn
Newtown, Boherbee, Cappacasheen;
Jas Cavanagh D.C.
J. Nilan
M. Killeen
P. Cavanagh
J. Ballinger
Ballybuck and Killina and Cahercon;
The Burren, and beyond Photo: EO’D
P. Tracey
B. Tannian
J. Hynes
Jem Joyce
Martin Lynch
Caherglissaun and Carrowmore (Ardrahan)
P. Calnan
J. McNerney
Joe Forde
John Glynn
Cahervoneen, Poulnevia and Cahermore;
P. Lenane
J. Keane
T. Gill
J. Helebert
F. Lally
Loughcurra, Cloonsee, Dungora and Cartron;
Patrick Hynes
Pat Calnan
T. Keane
D. Hanlon.
The following subscriptions were handed in at meeting;
£1 each, John Hynes, John Callanan, Pat Cavanagh (Newtown), Bartly Bermingham, Edward Holand, James Cavanagh, D.C.
10s each – Michael Curtin, D.C.; B. Quinn D.C.
5s each – Martin Melia, Pat Hanlon, P. Hynes, T. Tracey etc.
The Burren and Beyond 