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Mr Thomas Fahy

The Burren Wikimedia Commons
The Burren
Wikimedia Commons
NEW ZEALAND TABLET VOL XXII IS 6 – 7th June, 1895 p21

Mr Thomas Fahy, one of the oldest, best known, and most esteemed of the Irish residents at Clapham, London, died at 33 Leppoc road, the residence of his son, Mr F. A. Fahy (the popular Irish poet and humourist), on Ash Wednesday. Mr Fahy’s circle of friends extended far beyond Clapham. Indeed, in every part of London the news of the death of this kindly, genial, and most lovable of Irishmen, was heard with the deepest regret. He was born close on 80 years ago at Burren, Clare, but most of his long life was spent in Kinvara a town on an inlet of Galway Bay, famous as the home of The little Irish Colleen,” of his son’s charming and popular ballad, “The ould plaid shawl.” He was emigration agent for the district during the exodus that followed the famine of ’48, and he booked thousands for the land of the Stars and Stripes. He was the medium through which thousands of pounds reached the hands of the lrish emigrants’ relatives. His remains are interred in the Catholic cemetery at Mortlake, on the Upper Thames, and close to the remarkable tomb, in the form of a tent, of that famous Galway man, Sir Frederick Burton, the Eastern explorer and Orientalist. Kilkenny.

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Kinvara 1902

Ballybranigan, Kinvara Photo: Norma Scheibe
Ballybranigan, Kinvara
Photo: Norma Scheibe

EVENING STAR 3RD MAY 1902 

KINVARA

From E.P. STANTON  Donahoe’s Magazine (abridged)

Kinvara was, and probably is yet, an Irish-speaking district, for, although the national school has been an institution there ever since the planting of that intellectual exotic in Irish soil, the old ways and the old ideals have, nevertheless, held their own.  The Celtic spirit breathes in “ould Kinvara” still, and why should it not?  Within sight of what have been aptly called “The Last Fortress of the Celt”  – the Islands of Arran – and almost within sound of the league long breakers that encircle them with a belt of foam, it is not to be wondered at that the principles that made those islands saintly and storied should linger in the vicinity of Kinvara.  Therefore, it is safe to assume that it is as Celtic and Catholic today as it ever was.

There are two fairs held there yearly, and there is the weekly market.  At these the business used to be conducted principally in the old tongue.  This is possibly the case to this day.  The religion of the community being what it is, “God save you, kindly sir” of the ballad is the well-known and universal salutation, turned into English for the purpose of the rhythm.

The braedheen cloak and the plaid shawl, former for matrons and the latter for young women, are yet characteristic articles of female attire, and a picturesque garb they make in that quaint town and neighbourhood.

Note; The ballad is “The Auld Plaid Shawl” by Francis A. Fahy (1854-1935)