Newsletter No. 27 Autumn 2017

Events and Lectures, Autumn 2017

Field Trip to Clonfert & Meelick

On Saturday, August 5th, a tour of the great churches

at Clonfert (11am) & Meelick (2pm) will be led by Dr

Christy Cunniffe, Galway Community Archaeologist.

Light refreshments will be served. In lieu of fee, par-

ticipants will be requested to donate €10 towards the

development of a Workhouse Centre Museum. Book

in advance please; text/phone 086 407 0851.

SEGAHS Lectures, 8.30pm in

The Irish Workhouse Centre, Portumna.

Tuesday, August 22nd (Lecture)

In the final lecture of our 1916 series, Eoin O’Neil pre-

sents a talk titled ‘The Most Harmless Man in the Bar-

racks’ documenting the life and death of Constable Pat-

rick Whelan—the best-known fatality of the 1916 Ris-

ing in Galway. Eoin is a historian based at Athenry

Heritage Centre, a leading member of Athenry Histori-

cal Network. We are delighted to welcome him to

speak to SEGAHS for the first time.

Details of the remaining Autumn/Winter lectures

will be announced in our Winter edition.

Contents

John Wilson Croker by Caroline Haslam 2

Folklore of Killeen, Ballyshrule by Mary Conroy 3

Tales from the Workhouse 4

Captain George Athy by Clint Williams 5

GAA Heroes of Old - Gort 7

Images of the Past: 'Peasants firing the hedges’ 7

Postcards: Moycullen by Hazel Morrison Pagett 8

Forgotten Famine by Damian Mac Con Uladh 9

Society and Workhouse News 11

Reaching Out for Heritage Week 12

What it says in the Papers 14

Attacking the Barracks (Part 2) by Philip Keane 15

Galwaymen at War by Marie Bennett 18

Recommended Sources in Local History 19

Mapping Kilcorban 19

Poems of Old 20

Larkin Matters: Craughwell 20 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Chairman’s Update

A lot done, more to do! A huge amount has been

achieved by the society this year (see page 11) and, as we

enter the Autumn and Winter period, we will be round-

ing off the year with our usual lectures and events in

partnership with the workhouse.

Ann O’Riordan, Chairperson.

Woodlawn. By Charles W Cole, 1880

Cumann Staire agus Seandálaíochta Oirdheisceart na Gaillimhe

The Irish Workhouse Centre and SEGAHS The seasonal SEGAHS newsletters are published in

partnership with the Irish Workhouse Centre, home of

the society. The Workhouse is open until 31st October

2017, with guided tours seven days a week from 09.30

to 17.00. For more information follow us on facebook

or visit http://irishworkhousecentre.ie/.

The Irish Workhouse Centre, Saint Brigids Road, Portumna, Co Galway. 0909-759200

A centre for the Arts, Community, Education, History, and Tourism

John Wilson Croker – the little-known Galwegian who invented Conservatism Caroline Haslam

In the first half of the 19th century, next to Daniel O’Connell, John Wilson Croker was one of the most influen-

tial Irishman in British and Irish politics. His most significant legacy is his influence on the development of

conservative political ideology and the role he played in developing the Conservative Party. He was one of the

foremost political journalists of his day and hence able to communicate his ideas through the media. Indeed,

Croker was considered one of the most significant ‘spin doctors’ of the 19th century.

Croker was born in Craughwell (pictured right) in 1780 at the home of his mater-

nal grandfather Rev R Rathborne. Croker is relatively unknown in Ireland but his

considerable impact on conservatism is one of the great ironies of British poli-

tics. By 1835 the term ‘The Conservative Party’ was in common usage and its

philosophy was embraced and publicised by Croker’s predominantly Irish circle

of pressmen in Dublin, London, and Edinburgh. He was a radical reformer and

argued for Catholic Emancipation. Croker was patriotically Irish; he believed in

the union with Britain but wanted to improve the state of things for Ireland. He

did not fit into either the Irish nationalist tradition nor the Irish unionist tradition.

Croker had been a distant relation of the Irish political theorist Edmund Burke, who later influenced Croker’s

own thinking. His talents for writing and ideas were soon spotted and he became a pamphleteer which paved the

way for a distinguished career in politics and the media. Croker sat as a Westminster MP for Downpatrick, Ath-

lone, and Dublin University. He held several prestigious appointments, among which was advisor to three Brit-

ish Prime Ministers; George Canning, Robert Peel, and the Duke of Wellington.

Croker’s talent for organisation also led to his appointment as First Secretary of the Admiralty at the age of just

28. In effect, he was the general manager of the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars

Croker was one of the leading historians of the French Revolution and an avid col-

lector of French revolutionary pamphlets and newspapers. He did not support the

revolution but saw it as an example of what could happen to a society when ex-

tremism takes hold. He was sympathetic to the aims of the United Irishmen but was

appalled by the sectarianism that erupted in Wexford in 1798.

These events led Croker to believe that the solution to Ireland’s problems was via

the media rather than invoking extremism. Croker wanted to develop a middle way

between the ‘ultra’ Protestants and ‘ultra’ Catholics who were opposed to concilia-

tion and reform. He tried to find grounds for a new unity that would be the future of

Ireland but one that was disrupted by the increasing Catholicism of Ireland.

Croker died in August 1857, aged 76.

John Wilson Croker: Irish Ideas and the Invention of Modern Conservatism is a book by Dr Robert Portsmouth

in which he researches the political and historical importance of this Galwegian.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Articles

If you have a heritage-related article or query that you would like to share with the society, we would be happy to hear from you. You

can contact us at segahs1@gmail.com, or by visiting our facebook page at www.facebook.com/SEGAHS, by following us on twitter

@SEGAHSIreland, or by coming to one of our lectures or field trips.

Membership

SEGAHS welcomes all new members. As a member of our society you will learn a great deal about your heritage in an interactive way

by having access to regular lectures and gatherings. You do not need to have any qualifications or a high-level knowledge as the won-

derful thing about community and local history is that anyone can get involved. The annual society membership fee is only €20 .

2

The Folklore of Killeen, Ballyshrule, Co Galway Mary Conroy

For those new to local history, ‘Folklore’ references the oral history that is preserved by the people of a culture. It con-

sists of traditions which include customs, beliefs, stories, legends, myths, cures, handcrafts, rituals, proverbs, supersti-

tions, prayers, holyday customs, traditional ways of work and leisure etc. Folklore is essentially stories passed down

from generation to generation orally. It allowed people to give meaning to their lives and surroundings, and it gave peo-

ple a unique identity. Folklore has no single author, rather it emerges from our culture and is carried on by constant re-

telling. The historian R D Abrahams, in the Journal of American Folklore, noted ‘folklore, like any other discipline, has

no justification except as it enables us to better understand ourselves and others’.

In 1937 the Irish Folklore Commission together with the Department of Education and the Irish National Teachers Or-

ganisation brought about a scheme in which schoolchildren were encouraged to collect folklore and local history. Over

an eighteen month period some 100,000 children in 5,000 primary schools in the twenty-six counties collected folklore

material in their home districts. The children were instructed to research and write about local history and monuments,

folktales and legends, riddles and proverbs, songs customs and beliefs, games and pastimes, traditional work practises

and crafts etc. The children gathered this information from their parents and grandparents and other older members of

the local community. This is now known as the ‘Schools Manuscript Collection’ and is an invaluable resource for local

historians of more than half a million manuscript pages. Today, Duchas provide online access to a large portion of the

School’s Collection (1937-1938) with new material added on a phased basis. See www.duchas.ie/en/cbes.

We will now examine some examples from the school in Killeen South where the teacher in question was Joseph

Downey. The first collector was Mary Treacy from Brackery South townland and in addition to quite interesting details

on local festival customs (see www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4583322/4579702), Mary also explained the names of local roads.

3

Another contributor was Mary Clarke who provided details on various topics, including the clothing made in the locality

These documents provide a small glimpse into the collection of one of the schools that participated in the schools collec-

tion. Thanks to Duchas.ie, these and many other schools’ folklore collections are now available on the internet. They

provide a primary source that illustrate life in Ireland in the 1900s and beyond. They cover a wide range of topics rele-

vant to Irish people at the time, such as ways to treat illnesses, history, local place-history and customs. By digitalising

these documents we are making further advances in making Irish history folklore more accessible for future generations.

Mary Conroy has recently completed the SEGAHS Certificate in Local History and is contributing to the SEGAHS Journal for the first time.

________________________________________________________________________________________

Tales from the Workhouse

The year 1865 was an extraordinary one in the history of the Workhouse. The master of the Workhouse Henry Ogle,

who had also been fulfilling the role of Union Clerk, absconded leaving his wife who happened to be the Workhouse

matron, behind. His horse and car were found at Parsonstown (Birr).

The reason behind Ogle’s sudden departure was initially un-

clear. However, while it was initially claimed his personal fi-

nances were in ‘good order’ this was premature and the finan-

cial affairs of the Union were in ‘a most unsettled state’.

As reported in the Nenagh Guardian of 15 June 1865 (right),

Ogle’s wife later received a letter from him from Liverpool tell-

ing her to stay with her father until further notice. She ab-

sconded soon after. It is speculated they departed for the U.S.

Ogle’s legacy at Portumna Workhouse is a poisonous one lit-

tered will ill-treatment of inmates extending to court cases

against them for their behaviour. He is just one of several per-

sonalities who will be the focus for an upcoming exhibition by

in-house historian David Broderick in the coming year.

Keep in touch with us on social media for more information.

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In this edition, we are exploring the life of one Galwayman and subsequent generations of his family

making their mark in the ‘New World’. Note that variations of the surname ‘Athy’ in the article reflect

the evolution of the name through the centuries, and through available records.

Captain George Athey and Family – The legacy of one Galwayman in the United States Clint Williams

George Athey was born in Co Galway c.1642, the second son of a Francis Athey. George had an older brother, Walter, a

younger brother, John, and a sister, Susannah. As second and third sons, George and John would not inherit their fa-

ther’s property, participate in the family business, or attain a quality education. Faced with these prospects, they both

elected to indenture themselves to Thomas Dent of Maryland for a period of seven years. This was a common avenue

for young men seeking to emigrate and the duo arrived in Maryland c.1662.1

The New World

George Athey served his seven years in service to Dent and then he bought land in Charles County, Maryland, becom-

ing a tobacco planter.2 He is known to have given land near Broad Creek to build a Protestant Episcopal Church, and

property records for Charles County prior to 1696 show George obtaining property with at least five variations of his

surname i.e. Athee, Aythey, Althey, Aithey, and Athy. In 1696, ‘Prince George’s County’ was created out of land which

had previously been part of Charles and Calvert counties. The settlers who lived in that part of Charles County along the

Potomac River then became residents of Prince George’s County.

Military Career

According to the Proceedings of the Council of Maryland 1694-1697, George became ‘Captain George Athey’ after he

was named Captain of Foot in Piscattoway Parish in the militia of Prince George’s County. The Piscataway Indians

(Native Americans) were not the only Indians the residents of Prince George’s had to deal with during their settlement.

Senecas and other tribes came south into Maryland, sometimes to trade and sometimes to fight. The Maryland provin-

cial government established companies of rangers to patrol the frontier and warn settlers of hostile movements.

These rangers patrolled the area beyond the Anacostia River, venturing as far north as Sugarloaf Mountain and then

moving eastward to meet the Baltimore County Rangers. The settlers were very grateful for this protection, and many

county residents took part in the patrols. Still, from time to time, hostile forces slipped through and families along the

Anacostia River, Rock Creek, and the upper reaches of the Patuxent River were attacked. That said, there were never

any massacres and as the land beyond Prince George’s County was settled, the threat of Indian raids disappeared.

Personal Life

Although the ’New World’ was remarkably well-endowed by nature, life in what would become the United States was

quite challenging. There were endless threats and obstacles from the rugged terrain to the absence of basic comforts and

provisions, and indeed companionship.

George Athey did however marry, twice indeed. His first wife was

Ann and they had two children, John and Elizabeth. After Ann’s death

in Nanjemoy, Maryland, George married Sarah and they also had two

children, Thomas and George. Captain George Athey died in Prince

George’s County prior to 21 December 1710 when his estate was in-

ventoried and appraised. The Galwayman had led a remarkable life

and he would leave a remarkable legacy through his descendants.

Descendants

George Athy Junior, son of Sarah and George Athey, was born in Prince George’s County in 1700. In 1728 he is listed

as ‘taxable’, residing on the north side of Piscataway Creek, Maryland. He married Mary and had two children Robert,

born 1729 and John born 1730. There are very few details on George Jr, probably because he died so young in 1734.

The mentioned Robert Athy, son of Mary and George Athy Jr. was also born in Prince George’s County, Maryland

about 1729 and was orphaned in 1734. He was raised by an uncle, married Ann and had two children, William and

Robert, Jr. He died in Fairfax County, Virginia. He had been a minister, at a time when it must have been a difficult life

in a countryside of such limited infrastructure.

5

Another Military-man

William Athy, son of Ann and Robert Athy was born in 1746 in Prince George’s County. He was a surveyor’s assistant

in Loudoun County (Virginia) in 1773, but enlisted in Captain Thomas West’s First Company, 10th Virginia Regiment

(renumbered as 6th Virginia Regiment in 1778), Continental Line in the summer of 1777. William participated in the

Battle of Stony Point and family legend states the William was at Valley Forge and fought in the Battle of Monmouth –

all iconic battles during the march to independence. He was discharged at Philadelphia in 1780.

Pictured right is the sketch George Washington reproving

General Charles Lee at the Battle of Monmouth. The battle

was fought on 28 June 1778 in New Jersey. The Continental

Army under General George Washington attacked the rear

of the British Army column commanded by Lt Gen Henry

Clinton as the British left Monmouth Court House.

A conclusive victory came at Stoney Point a year later (16

July 1779). In a well-executed night attack, a specially cho-

sen group of Washington's Continental Army defeated the

British in a speedy assault on their outpost in Stony Point,

New York (about 30 miles north of New York City). Both

battles speak to William’s capabilities as a soldier.

William married Margaret c.1780. He lived in Leesburg, Loudoun County, Virginia and appears on the tax rolls there

between 1783-88. For his service in the Revolutionary War, he was granted a 50 acre military lot (#3921), one mile west

of George’s Creek near the town of Baton, Alleghany County, Maryland which he sold in 1812. He died in Alleghany

County on 30 October 1818. He and Margaret were the parents of Hezekiah, Thomas (detailed below), Mary, Joseph,

Amy, Ann, and William.

Later Descendants

The mentioned Thomas Athy / Atha was born in Leesburg, Virginia in 1786. He married Abigail Miller in Alleghany

County, Maryland on 29 July 1804. They moved to Champaign County, Ohio in 1809, then to Logan County, Ohio in

1811. Thomas served during the War of 1812 as a private in Captain Joseph Euans’ Company, Ohio Militia, enlisting on

24 February 1813.

This Thomas owned 400 acres on the headwaters of Mac-o-cheek Creek in Logan County and gave one acre of land to

establish the Atha School. He died on 30 October 1870 in Monroe Township, Logan County, Ohio. Thomas and Abigail

were the parents of Susanna, John, Margaret, Mary Ann, Sarah, William, Elizabeth, Joseph T, Nancy Ann, Simeon L,

Thomas, Jr, and Abigail. The many descendants of these extended the legacy of one Galwayman in the New World.

References 1. Frederick A Virkus, Immigrants to America before 1750 indicates an arrival year of 1674)

2. Daughters of the America Colonists, 1949, page 166 states that George was an original patentee of Lands in Maryland.

NOTE: This article has been provided by Clint Williams, with thanks also to Lawrence F Athy, Jr, author of Captain George Athy of

Galway and Maryland and his Descendants: A Guide to the First Six Generations of the Athy-Athey-Atha-Athon Family in America.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Lorrha Dorrha Historical Society

Our neighbours have an impressive programme

for Heritage Week 2017, as follows >

Sat 19th: O’Sullivan Beara re-enactment

(Redwood Castle, 9pm); Wed 23rd: Cures in

Nature (Lorrha Hall, 11am); Folklore-Song-

Poetry (Kelly’s Rathcabbin, 9:30pm); Fri 25th: Fauna-Folklore-Bushcraft (Friar’s Loch, 6pm); Sat 26th: Friar’s Loch

Monster re-enactment (Friar’s Tavern, 9:30pm); Sat 26th: Music with ‘Off-the-Wall’ (Friar’s Tavern, 10:30pm); Sun

27th: Nature Display (Lorrha Hall, 12pm); Nature Photography Competition (Lorrha Hall, 12pm). For more contact

David Broderick or James Heenan at 086 3308172 or 087 2031798.

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GAA Heroes of Old - Gort

On 3 July 1915 the Connacht Tribune reported on Gort’s defeat of Woodford en route to winning the 1914 county title.

Pictured above right is a Gort side from 1913/14. Back Row: J Stankford, P Roche, P J Cooney, P Hayes, E Nestor. Middle

Row: M Trayers, M Touhey (both in suits), J Morrissey, J Fahey, J Hayes (captain), K Fahey, B Gibbs, T Mack, and Fr

Considine. Front Row: J Stankford, T Kelly, J Burke, D Reynolds, M Nestor.

Images of the Past... 'Peasants firing the hedges between Woodford and Loughrea, Galway’, from the Illustrated London

News, 29 Oct 1887.

7

Postcards from the Edge

This edition's postcard comes from Moycullen village, with details courtesy of Hazel Morrison Pagett of the

Moycullen Historical Society.

Pictured right is Main Street, Moycullen,

looking towards Galway City. The pho-

tographer would have been standing on

the road beside what is now the entrance

into Páirc na gCaor estate (opposite

Nico's take-away). The two-storey build-

ing one can see on the left of the post-

card (where there is now a shopping

centre) was the building where the Petty

Sessions were held. It was understood to

be the oldest building in the village and

was owned by the Griffin, Vaughan and

Kyne families, before becoming An

Cearnog Nua. This corner of the cross-

roads is known as Killarainy.

Further along on the left, on the opposite corner of the crossroads in Ballyquirke townland, is a block of two 2-

storey houses, the first belonged to Mannix then Regan families, and the second belonged to the Kearns and

Carter families (Mannix, Kearns and Carters all having a family tie). These amalgamated and renovated build-

ings now house ‘O'Connors Chemist’, ‘CMCC Financial’, and ‘The Art of Blooming’.

In terms of dating the postcard, on the right nearest the photographer (Gortyloughlin townland) there is no Garda

Station and no Co-Op building so the image is certainly pre-1918. Behind where the big tree is on right, one can

see the wall of old handball alley which was built close to gable end of old RIC barracks (now the White Gables

Restaurant). The large chimney stack is on the barracks.

The next row of properties on the opposite side of the Spiddal Road (in Kylebroughlan townland) are largely as

they stand today. First, on the crossroads, is the second oldest property in Moycullen. This was once, like many

others in the village, owned by local landlord Captain the Hon. Campbell, and then became home of the Writer’s

grandfather (Morrison) who came to live in same c.1897 as an RIC Constable. Church of Ireland service was

held on the first floor here from as early as 1852 — a tradition that continued into the early 1960s albeit not as

regularly in the latter years. The next property, a Public House, and at a time in the 1930s doubling-up as a dis-

pensary, was owned by the Cullinane then Lee families. (Note, both these properties recently sold as one lot).

The next property had once been a forge, and then became a shop owned by O'Connor, Keady and Faherty fami-

lies but is now vacant. The last property in that row was another pub owned by the Turner, Caulfield and even-

tually the Regan families. Interestingly, during ownership by the Caulfields in November 1926, Gardaí rented

rooms off the pub for ten months while waiting for their new and current barracks to be completed in 1927. The

Gardaí had arrived from the Phoenix Park in 1923 thinking they could take over the newly-rebuilt RIC barracks

building (following its burning). However, it had been sold to the Kilkelly family of Drimcong House and was

by then occupied by the Jubilee Nurses. The unhappy Gardaí moved to a wing of the Co-Op until a storm in No-

vember 1926 made the building completely unfit for habitation.

In the background of the photo, just out of view at the end of the above row of properties, (you can see the clear-

ing of its entrance) was the first staging post between Galway and Clifden for the Bianconi coach. This public

house (once an agent for the Cunard White Star Line and also a Post Office) was owned by Geraghtys, Kelletts,

Foxes and Cunningham families and is now ‘The Coach House Bar’.

And one final comment .... have you noticed the poles along the roadway in the postcard? Yes, Moycullen even

had a telegraph service from the late 1890s!

8

Forgotten Famine, Forgotten Assistance Steve Dolan & Damian Mac Con Uladh

As covered in previous editions of this journal, the 1822 famine in Co Galway was catastrophic, with thousands

left dead. The surviving descriptions of potato crop failure mirror the later famine, as did the establishment of

some food kitchens, which, however, proved ineffectual against the huge numbers requiring aid.

In contrast with the ‘Great Hunger’ of two decades later, something approaching a proportionate response in terms

of financial and other support was forthcoming from Britain, with charitable donations for aid being administered

from London.

Among the ‘Papers relating to Famine in Galway’ [MSS 7475/1] held at the Guildhall Library in London are let-

ters relating to the Proceedings of the Woodford Committee for the Parishes of Ballinakill, Leitrim, and Duniry,

dated the 5 June 1822 to 6 July 1822 (inclusive).

The Chief Magistrate, Major Thomas D’Arcy, who was Treasurer of the Woodford Committee issued the followed

letter and minutes of the committee to the central committee in London in July 1822:

It will appear by the accompanying resolutions of the Woodford Committee on their last day of meeting that 773

Families now require aid in the parish of Ballinakill alone, of this amount 674 having 3345 individuals, have been

receiving assistance, so that they have now 99 Families more to be supplied from the funds, and for this purpose

the works to give the additional employment and food, have been laid out by the Committee.

In the Parishes of Leitrim and Duniry jointly 279 Families consisting of 1395 Individuals have been receiving as-

sistance and 30 more are added to their list this week, and additional works have been laid out for this purpose as

in Ballinakill, so that the present Funds of the union of the three Parishes will be exhausted by the 20th Instant.

Gratuitous relief has been given to 112 families having 560 helpless individuals who have no person able to work

for their support.

Thos. D’Arcy

Treasurer

At a meeting held at Woodford for the purpose of considering the subject of charity, this 3rd day of July 1822 – the

Committee present –

Major Thomas D’Arcy, Chief Magistrate in the Chair

Sir John Burke Bart., being present

Captain Henry Pigott

Richard Magan, Esq

Doctor Egain

Revd Thos Fallon, PP

Revd Michl Clarke, PP

Revd Richd Flood, Sectry

Resolved , that it appears to this committee that on the strictest investigation there are at the least 773 families con-

sisting of an average of five to each family, 3865 individuals, in the most wretched state of starvation and distress,

whom the funds of this committee must be immediately applied to relieve, and we believe on as [?] we have di-

rected the Clergymen to take that at our next meeting this number wile be considerably increased.

However from the statement before us, it appears we have about a fortnight’s provision to relieve the poor, and if

our funds are not added to before that period, we apprehend considerable numbers must die of want. With a view

to render the aid as useful to the public as possible we have selected six stations for public works, at which only

such persons shall he employed as have a written certificate from their Clergyman or Member of the Committee as

being distressed objects, and those stations are so selected as to give relief to the different poor in this extensive

parish.

9

We hope and Trust that a sum of £300 pounds would cary [sic] this Parish, consisting of 10,638 persons to the end

of the season, or until the new crop comes in, but from the great increase of distress which appears this day, we

cannot promise this with any certainty, and we feel it our most painful duty to communicate that from the testimony

of the Reverend Mr Flood and the Reverend Mr Clarke, Protestant and Roman Catholic Clergymen, who have per-

sonally ascertained the fact, that above 40 acres of land of the poorest people who, their dung at their Doors, have

been untilled for want of seed, Potatoes, and this only refers to one division of this Parish.

We request that our Chairman, Mayor D’Arcy, Lord Riverston and Sir John Burke who are present at this meet-

ing, will communicate there our resolutions to the Central Committee of which they are members, and obtain for

us without delay the sum of £300 as above required.

An estimate of the application of the remainder of our funds for the coming fortnight –

It will also again be about £20 weekly to fund those who are unable to [?] in their own support.

Signed on behalf of the Committee, Thos D’Arcy Chairman & Treasurer.

Also enclosed was the leader page of the

Connaught Journal, 18 July 1822. There is

little doubt but that the county and region

was in a state of crisis and the Freeman’s

Journal of 26 June 1822 (pictured) gives a

fleeting indication of same.

The extent of fatalities in different areas of

the county, often through typhus, continues

to be speculated upon with areas of the west

of the country also severely affected.

That more of the one million people who were living on the verge of starvation in July 1822 did not perish was

undoubtedly due to the corrective actions taken. A counter argument however remains the fact that was ‘a famine

in the midst of abundance’. In terms of the funds and indeed food provided, it is true that much of this very same

produce had been exported some months before. As noted by Henry Stafford Persse at the time, “what does all this

generosity amount to, a few tons and pounds sent to relieve the starving people. Why send any? Why not leave the

people their own?”. In any event, money and funds were sent in response to the crisis and that level of response

would not be matched in the required manner two decades later when the county and country faced crisis again.

(Six) Work-stations Amount Supervised by

Borogue Hill £30 Mr Fallon

at £15 per week

Dalystown 30 Major D’Arcy

at 15 do

Woodford to the River Shannon 30 Mr Clarke at 15 do

Part of road leading from Portumna to Gort 20 Captain Pigott at 10 do

A new line of road which is to join Lord Riverston

road that leads to Ennis

20 Rev Mr Flood

Rev Mr Clarke

and Mr Fox

at 10 do

From Woodford to Cappa 20 Mr Connolly

Mr Magan

at 10 do

[total] £150 [total] £75

10

Society and Workhouse News

The group photo (right, taken by Theo Hanley) is

at Ballymore Castle, Lawrencetown, during the

April field trip as part of the Community Archae-

ology Seminar. Among the large attendance were

various SEGAHS members.

Many thanks to Marty Naughton owner of Bally-

more for allowing us access to his tower house.

Thanks also to the Lawrencetown Community for

both a wonderful conference and community

gathering. A new benchmark for these events!

Meanwhile, our ‘Field Trip’ took place on Sunday, May 14th. The day was led by Dr Christy Cunniffe (CC) and

this year took us to Woodford and the Aughtys. Pictured below is CC and members and guests.

From June 3rd to July 8th (Saturdays), we provided a free local history course.

The aim of the course was to provide individuals with the skill-sets to use dif-

ferent heritage resources and to share their knowledge with locals and tourists.

On June 10th, the Workhouse hosted a conference on the history of Portumna

and its Waterways. This free conference, supported by Waterways Ireland,

showcased the role that Lough Derg and the Shannon have played in the his-

tory of the region. Speakers were Donal Boland, Declan Kelly, Dolores

O’Shea, CC, and Aron Donnolly. There was also a Lego workshop for chil-

dren, late tours, an exploration dome, a ‘fun day’ and various family events.

On July 8th, our primary event of the year, the conference on Landed Estates

was a huge success. One hundred attendees included our fifty special guests

from NUIG’s International Student Programme. The Speakers this year were

John Joe Conwell, Dr David Fleming from UL, Donal Burke, CC, David Brod-

erick, and Damien O’Connor.

11

Reaching Out for Heritage Week

As reigning national champions, the Irish

Workhouse Centre are pulling out all the

stops ‘reaching out’ again this year and

have a broad programme of events planned.

This year the Irish Workhouse Centre are

hosting nine events, providing nine events in

other counties and towns, and publishing

nine special and free booklets.

At the Workhouse...

Sat 19th (12-4): Folklore, Fossils, and the Forge. When we think of nature we immediately think of the ‘Great Out-

doors’ but our relationship with the natural world is much more complicated. This is a series of interactive displays.

Sun 20th (10:30-2:30): Reaching Out: Autism Day . Enjoy exhibits and tours in a relaxed, ‘lights up - sounds down’

atmosphere. Hands-on demonstrations. SNA resources on-site. Sensory-friendly Session

Mon 21st (10am to 4pm): Lá Gaeilge. A day dedicated to the Irish Language, ag labhairt the cupla focail, and with

tours through Irish (on the hour) with Nuala Conroy.

Tue 22nd (11:30-12:30 and 1:30-2:30) : Artefacts Day . Aileen O'Dowd of the Irish Workhouse Centre presents a

special talk on workhouse objects, as the centre begins the road to museum status.

Wed 23rd (12:30 to 3:30): Sounds of the Workhouse . Come and listen to our special composition for Heritage

Week by local musician Ian Garner. Learn about the natural sounds which once resounded through the workhouse.

Thu 24th (1-6): Who do you think you are? Come to 'Genealogy Thursday'. Genealogists and historians will be on-

hand to give advice on the resources available and give tips on growing your family tree.

Fri 25th (12-5): Cures in Nature . David Broderick of the Lorrha-Dorrha Historical Society presents an exhibition on

traditional cures in nature.

Sat 26th (9:30-5): Workhouse Heritage Day . To mark heritage week, the Workhouse are offering free guided tours

for families on August 25th. Tours take place every hour on the hour from 10am to 4pm.

Sun 27th (12-1 and 2-3): Chase a fairy, find a bee… Biodiversity Bee event where the Flower Fairy show us the

flowers the bees love and why they love them. Come see the bees and their hotel.

The Workhouse ‘On Tour’...

Sat 19th (All Saints Heritage centre, 12pm): Clonburmen in the British Army . Notwithstanding the enduring con-

flict between the British and the Irish, the latter have fought the former's wars for centuries. This is the story of Clon-

bur men in that dynamic.

Sat 19th (Crossroads Community Centre, 2pm): Congmen in Crown Forces in C19 . This lecture seeks to high-

light the role played by Cong men in the history of the world while serving in crown forces.

Sat 19th (Ruane’s of Glentane, 7:30pm): The Inn of Glentane . Lecture on the 'Inn of Glentane', a business steeped

in Irish history and culture, and also on the monuments of the region..

Tues 22nd (Athenry Heritage Centre, 4:30pm): Athenry 200 . In the first of five lectures (over the next five years),

Steve Dolan will present a study of Athenry town in 1821.

Wed 23rd (Ballinasloe Library 2:30): Cricket in Co Galway . A special lecture by Steve Dolan on the history of

cricket in Co Galway with a special focus on Ballinasloe, Ireland's oldest club.

Thu 24th (Birr Library 11:30): The Head Family and their Legacy. Lecture by David Broderick of the Irish

Workhouse Centre in Portumna on William Henry Head and family of Derrylahan Park.

Thu 24th (Scariff Library, 12pm): The Workhouses of the Region . A lecture on the Workhouses system, with spe-

cific focus on Scariff, and on the other Workhouses of the region.

Thu 24th (Loughrea Library, 2:30 to 6pm) : Exhibition (Loughrea Workhouse History) . An exhibition telling the

story of Loughrea Workhouse from earliest times to its evolution into its current incarnation.

Fri 25th (Kilbarron Hall, 8pm): Kilbarron Terryglass Soldiers in HM Forces. The legacy of British rule in Ireland

has meant that soldiers fighting for the British are seen very differently to the broader ‘Wild Geese’. This lecture

seeks to recognise these men as soldiers as it traces their records.

12

Workhouse Publications for Heritage Week...

Sat 19th: The Inscriptions of Portumna Priory . Launch of a free booklet by Aileen O'Dowd of the Irish Workhouse

Centre on the Inscriptions from Portumna Priory. The booklet will be available at Portumna Library from 12pm.

Sat 19th: Clonburmen in the British Army. In addition to a lecture on the subject, a special commemorative booklet

has been produced telling the story of Clonbur men in British forces.

Sat 19th: Congmen in Crown Forces in C19 . This booklet, launched in Cong, seeks to highlight the role played by

Cong men in the history of the world while serving in crown forces.

Sat 19th: The Inn of Glentane . Booklet on the 'Inn of Glentane', a business steeped in Irish history and culture, and

also on the monuments of the region.

Tue 22nd: The most harmless man in the barracks . Launch of free Workhouse booklet, (at 8:30pm) 'Caught on the

Wrong Side of Revolution', on Constable Patrick Whelan, by local historian Eoin O'Neill .

Thu 24th: The Workhouses of the Region . The simultaneous launch of free booklet by Irish Workhouse Centre

staff, at both Loughrea and Scariff libraries, on the workhouses in the region.

Sat 26th: Folklore Booklet . To mark heritage week, David Broderick of the IWC has prepared a very special booklet

of folklore gathered from National Schools in the region.

Sun 27th: Booklet on Meelick Medieval Church. Launch of free booklet by Galway Community Archaeologist, Dr

Christy Cunniffe at 12pm at Meelick, on Meelick Medieval Church.

Sun 27th: The Lawrences of Lawrencetown. Launch of a free booklet by local historian Aron Donnolly, of the Irish

Workhouse Centre, on the Lawrence family of Lawrencetown. Launch at Pardy’s Bar, Lawrencetown at 7:30 pm

Other Selected Events in our Region

Please be advised these were the only events brought to our attention at printing. For more see www.heritageweek.ie.

Saturday 19th:

- Abbey Village sees ‘A Sense of Place’ at the Abbey Community Centre, Abbey, Loughrea, 3pm - 6pm

- Nature Walk at Thoor Ballylee, Yeats Thoor Ballylee Society, 2pm - 4pm

- Mannion Clan Historical Trail, Mannion Clan Association, meet at Mannion's Bar , Abbeyknockmoy, 2pm - 6pm

Sunday 20th:

- Hands of History, Portumna Castle & Gardens, 3pm - 5pm

- Athenry's Walled Towns Day, Athenry Arts & Heritage Centre (at Athenry Community Park), 1pm - 5pm

- Portrait of a Landlord, Shannon Heritage Tours, Esker Schoolhouse, Eyrecourt Road, Banagher, 3pm - 5pm

Monday 21st:

- Heritage Talk and Display Photos at the Walled Garden Demense Mountbellew, 6:30pm - 8pm

- Exploring East Galway’s Past, Woodford Heritage Centre, Woodford, 2:30pm - 3:30pm. This is the first of a series

of five lectures, one each day from the 21st to the 26th with a range of top speakers. Warmly recommended.

Tuesday 22nd:

- Woodlawn's Water Features at Killaan Cross - Golden Mile - Woodlawn N.S, 6:30pm - 8:30pm

- Athenry Art & Nature Project by Eoin O Neill / Athenry HC, Monivea Woods / Town Cafe/ Skylark , 12pm - 4pm

Wednesday 23rd:

- Tours of Claregalway Franciscan Friary with Claregalway Historical and Cultural Society, 7pm - 8pm

Thursday 24th:

OPW 185 Exhibition at Portumna Castle & Gardens, 9:30 - 5pm (week long)

Friday 25th:

Loughrea Medieval Festival 2017 at various locations in Loughrea, 7:30pm - 10:30pm (and on Sat and Sun)

Connemara's Railway 1895-1935 with Kathleen Villiers-Tuthill in Oughterard Courthouse Centre, 8pm - 9:30pm

Saturday 26th:

- Moyglass Grouse Project Open Day at O'Connors Pub, Moyglass, Co. Galway, 7:30pm - 9pm

- By the Banks of the Clare at Lackagh Museum, 8:30pm - 10:30pm

- 17th Century Land Settlement, Loughrea Medieval Festival, Loughrea Library, 2pm - 3pm

Sunday 27th:

- Heritage Walking Tour, Loughrea Medieval Festival, at Clonfert Diocesan Museum Loughrea, 12:45pm - 1:45pm

- Free Guided Tours of the Castle at Portumna Castle & Gardens, 9:30am - 5pm

13

What it says in the Papers—Bloody Murder in the Eighteenth Century

We are repeatedly asked about the availability of eighteenth century newspapers with various readers noting that

neither www.irishnewsarchive.com nor www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk currently provide a range of titles

from that era. In fact, it is the Burney Collection, not yet available to the general public which holds the widest

range of titles. Currently, that database is only available to academics and full-time students in third-level insti-

tutions. Readers however are referred to our previous volumes i.e. volume 13 (Autumn 2013), volume 14

(Spring 2014), volume 15 (Summer 2014), and indeed later editions for selected articles. All our previous edi-

tions remain freely available at http://www.clonfert.org/download.htm

London Packet, 11 February 1782 London Chronicle, 1 February 1785

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Local History Course

The University of Limerick, in partnership with the

Irish Workhouse Centre, are planning on running a

fully accredited Certificate in Local History (akin to a

diploma) at the Workhouse.

This is an opportunity for all in our region to achieve a

qualification as a local historian. The award is also

ideal for those who may wish to go on to do the MA,

but who may not have a qualification in history.

All those interested are asked to phone / text 086

4070851 or email sakdolan@hotmail.com ASAP for

further details.

14

Given the dearth of surviving Irish titles in the eight-

eenth century, it is the ‘echoes’ of articles from Irish

titles carried in British titles that provide greatest in-

terest, and what better than murder to interest the

reader.

Pictured are just two such articles (refer to the men-

tioned editions, above, for others) referencing mur-

ders in Ballinasloe in the 1780s. As more and more

court records become digitised (on genealogy web-

sites) research into this aspect of our region’s some-

times unpalatable history will become easier.

In the second of a two part series on the War of Independence, Philip Keane chronicles attacks on the

RIC in Co Galway.

Attacking the Barracks: A chronology of attacks on the Galway RIC, 1920-21—Part 2 Philip Keane

Autumn 1920: Ambushes

The apparent subtext of an internal police report in October 1920 indicates that the constable writing the re-

port blamed newly recruited policemen for some of the conflict. He noted individuals ‘wearing policemen’s

caps and capes’ and ‘speaking with English accents’ were suspected of the murder of a Publican at Coshla,

Athenry.5d Five IRA men had already been killed in Galway West in September and October; while nation-

ally, a total of 25 policemen were killed in September, including 6 from Co Galway.

On October 27th 1920, a lorry load of policemen passing through Loughrea opened fire, apparently indis-

criminately. They returned later that evening, intoxicated, and again opened fire. This time, among others,

they wounded a child of an ex-service man and two small children, ironically the sons of members of the local

constabulary. Many now saw no difference between ‘regular RIC’, RIC Auxiliaries’, or Black & Tans’.

The Chief Secretary made little of the incident in Parliament claiming that the police had been shot at, how-

ever it was evident there were now divisions within the force. If the Crown forces hadn’t been shot at previ-

ously, they certainly were three nights later. In an ambush on a RIC patrol at Castledaly, between Peterswell

and Kilchreest barracks, one constable was shot dead.6l

All the while barracks continued to be attacked, notably Rosmuck barracks was blown-up in the far west,4i

and Ballinakill Barracks damaged in the far east.6k

Irish Independent, 2 November 1920 Freeman’s Journal, 9 December 1920

Winter 1920: Half-drunk or Whole-mad Soldiery

By now the numbers of RIC men resigning had grown and much of the remaining trust the public had in the

force ended in November. Firstly, a young mother was shot in the stomach, apparently by the RIC, as she sat

holding her child by the roadside near Kiltartan. Only two London newspapers covered the murder, and even

then referred to it as ‘a tragedy’.6m That event, together with burnings and shootings in Kiltartan and the rape

of sisters in front of their family gave rise to Yeats’ poem ‘Reprisals’.9 The murder of a Clergyman from east

Galway in the west followed. All classes and creeds were horrified by the evident collusion of the RIC.

The murder of a member of the Tuam IRA at Earl’s Island Barracks,6n and the arrest, torture and murder of

brothers near Shanaglish bookended the November bloodshed which also saw three IRA men killed. Three

more IRA men were killed in December. In explaining the fact that discipline in the RIC appeared to have

been absent in bloody reprisals, it is worth stressing that they were under constant attack. The reports of IRA

activity in Galway that was returned to RIC headquarters in Dublin were scant and often detached from real-

ity. These returns omit any mention of events on the ground and even claimed that matters were improving.5d

15

Spring 1921: Police on the Run

The Catholic Church had eventually become more outspoken in their criticisms of the RIC and that, coupled

with on-going threats to constables,4j saw morale drop and resignations increase further. In January, in the

western region, the attempted murder of two RIC men at Kilconly was followed by an ambush at Kilroe

wounding four.5e In February, three soldiers were shot in Woodford (1W) and a note left alongside their

corpses stating that they had been spies.6p In Limerick, two Galway-born constables were among 11 killed in

an ambush in one of the biggest attacks on the RIC in the country.

On March 16th 1921, two constables were shot at Clifden,6q with two others injured.5e Savage and misdirected

reprisals followed including the shooting of a retired constable and the killing of an ex-army officer.4k Vio-

lence continued4l with nine IRA men killed by crown forces in the first four months of the year. It was appar-

ent that these reprisals were now being sanctioned at the highest levels and the police were also now being

accused of shameless looting.10

Two RIC men were shot and wounded near Milltown Barracks in April 6r and two months later two more

were shot dead there.6s Also in April, Headford Barracks was ‘attacked with bombs and rifle fire at 2:15am’.6t

Later that month, there were altercations along the Galway-Clare border with at least four bridges destroyed.5f

In the west, fourteen RIC men were ambushed at Maam with one killed,5f while another ambush outside

Loughrea saw the RIC fortunate to escape with their lives.5f

As one would expect, the police reports were particularly vague about the killing of any IRA members and

generally attributed them to ‘masked men’, while there is inversely much detail on IRA killings.5f At all times,

it is worth stressing the brutality of both sides when committing these acts.

Connacht Tribune, 9 April 1921 Connacht Tribune, 5 November 1921

Final Bloodshed

The RIC District Inspector, his wife. and two military officers were killed by the IRA near Gort in May 1921.

The relief party was also ambushed with another constable killed. There was also an ambush near Spiddal

Barracks with shots exchanged there in May 1921, and with pleas to open a strong barracks at Kinvara falling

on deaf ears.6u

Two constables, both Galway-men, were killed in Sligo and another killed in Wicklow in July 1921. There

were also fatalities within the Galway force, including a suicide in July 1921.6v Several IRA men were also

killed in the run-up to the truce of July 11th. The ‘war’ was over for many but the story of the RIC did not end

overnight and barracks continued to be evacuated as at Eyrecourt.4m

By the end of the conflict, the Black and Tans and RIC Auxiliaries accounted for a disproportionally-high,

147 of 330 crown deaths, from July 1920;11 albeit the number of RIC fatalities was nonetheless very high.

16

The End of the Affair

Following the signing of the treaty and the estab-

lishment of the Free State, many ex-members of

the RIC were left with little alternative but to seek

work abroad. Ireland was an unforgiving place in

this period and attacks on ex-RIC men, perhaps

regardless of their behaviour during the War for

Independence, followed. Examples occurred at

Ballinasloe4n and notably at Gort where some ex-

constables were ordered from their homes.4o

While issues there and Portumna (pictured right)

were reported, the ‘border’ location of these three

towns should be borne in mind and the threats

may also have been coming from further afield.

Many of these constables, under threat of death, were supplied with modest removal expenses by the British

government to relocate to other parts of the UK (for married men and their families). Those who stayed risked

their lives and indeed some paid with their lives as in an attack in March 1922 in Galway city where two con-

stables were killed, with a third wounded.4p

Many others chose to stay. It may be that these men had taken a passive approach in the critical years, and in-

deed some were actively republican themselves. Indeed, there is a well-documented case of a Ballinasloe na-

tive who fought in the subsequent Civil War on the anti-treaty side.4q

For many Irishmen today, there is little to distinguish the RIC from the barbaric forces of the Black-and-Tans.

The latter were, in truth, a poorly trained and ill-disciplined rabble whose actions would spark a bloody spiral

of violence. As we face into marking the War for Independence, it appears unjust to equate the actions or leg-

acy of these two groups as being similar. Instead, this article would not be complete without remembering the

twenty-seven RIC men from Galway who were killed between 1919 and 1922.12

References 1. Publications by the likes of Fergus Campbell and Conor McNamara are warmly recommended.

2. There are many websites established by the descendants of R.I.C., including at: http://www.royalirishconstabulary.com/ and

http://irishconstabulary.com/.

3. Philip Keane, ‘The other side of the story’, in the SEGAHS Newsletter vol. 23, Autumn 2016, pp 16-17.

4. Connacht Tribune (a) 10 Oct 1919, (b) 17 Jan 1920, (c) 01 May 1920, (d) 03 July 1920, (e) 26 June 1920, (f) 10 July 1920, (g) 17

July 1920, (h) 31 July 1920, (i) 11 Sept 1920, (j) 09 Apr 1921, (k) 12 Nov 1921, (l) 02 Apr 1921, (m) 05 Nov 1921, (n) CT 10 June

1922, (o) CT 17 June 1922, (p) CT 18 Mar 1922, (q) 14 Oct 1922.

5. National Archives UK. Irish Government Police Reports 1914-1921, Ref: CO904/Boxed 92-102, 148-156A.

(a) Sep-Dec 1919, CO 904/110 Police Reports: Inspector Generals & County Inspector’s Monthly Confidential Reports.

(b) Apr-July 1920, CO 904/148 Police Reports: Weekly Summaries of Outrages Against the Police and Returns of Recruitment.

(c) June-Aug 1920, CO 904/112 Police Reports: Inspector Generals & County Inspector’s Monthly Confidential Reports.

(d) Oct-Dec 1920, CO 904/113 Police Reports: Inspector Generals & County Inspector’s Monthly Confidential Reports.

(e) Jan-March 1921, CO 904/114 Police Reports: Inspector Generals & County Inspector’s Monthly Confidential Reports.

(f) April-June 1921, CO 904/115 Police Reports: Inspector Generals & County Inspector’s Monthly Confidential Reports.

6. Irish Independent (a) 25 Sept 1919 (b) 13 Nov 1919, (c) 18 Dec 1919, (d) 25 Feb 1920, (e) 01 Mar 1920, (f) 06 Apr 1920, (g) 17

Apr 1920, (h) 02 June 1920, (i) 05 July 1920, (j) 23 July 1920, (k) 15 Oct 1920, (l) 01 Nov 1920, (m) 04 Nov 1920, (n) 26 Nov

1920, (p) 23 Feb 1921, (q) 24 Mar 1921, (r) 21 Apr 1921, (s) 29 June 1921, (t) 02 May 1921, (u) 16 May 1921, (v) 13 July 1921.

7. Bureau of Military History, Statement of Officer IV and IRA, Galway, 1913 -1921, WS Ref #: 874 and #1138.

8. Galway Express, 4 Sept 1920.

9. Pethica, James, ‘Yeats’ Perfect Man’ in the Dublin Review Vol. 34 (2009, The Dublin Review, Dublin). See also http://

thedublinreview.com/perfect-man/ .

10. Leeson, M D, The Black and Tans: British Police and Auxiliaries in the Irish War of Independence 1920-21 (2012, Oxford Uni-

versity Press).

11. Lowe, W J, The War against the RIC 1919-21 (Academic journal article from Eire-Ireland: a Journal of Irish Studies); Spring

2002, Volume 37.

12. Abbott, R,Police Casualties in Ireland 1919-1922 (2000, Mercier Press, Dublin).

17

Galwaymen at War Marie Bennett

In the latest in our series, we focus on substantial battles involving Galwaymen in Italy, the Germany, Spain, Virginia,

and Egypt.

255 Years Ago

The Battle of Wilhelmsthal (Wilhelmstadt) in north-west Germany

took place on 24 June 1762 during the Seven Years' War when France

were defeated by combined British, Prussian, and allied forces.

Among the 1500 French soldiers killed or wounded was Galway’s

Bernard Kelly who suffered a sabre wound to his right shoulder.

Kelly recovered from his wounds however, and he survived and in-

deed lived for another quarter of a century in France. Also injured

(and again recovered) was his fellow countyman Francis Fahy. Pic-

tured right is the British 5th Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Wil-

helmstahl (anonymous).

205 Years Ago

The Battle of Salamanca, made famous by Tolstoy's War and Peace,

which saw a hard-fought Anglo-Portuguese victory over the French in

Spain took place on 22 July 1812. Among the wounded victors was

Athenry’s John Eagan of the 11th foot who lost his eye in a gunpow-

der explosion. In total, the Allied losses were 5,000 (with 3,129 Brit-

ish dead or wounded), whereas the French suffered about 13,000

dead, wounded, and captured. Thereafter, the 11th regiment became

known as ‘the Bloody Eleventh’. More fortunate was Roger Mitchell

from Kiltollough, one of eight Loughreamen to enlist in the 11th in

1808 alone, who survived to discharge. Pictured is the ‘Battle of Sala-

manca’ by William Heath.

155 Years Ago

The Battle of Fair Oaks (Battle of Seven Pines) took place on 31 May

1862 in Virginia during the Peninsula Campaign of the American

Civil War. Among the wounded in Confederate ranks (another re-

minder that so many Irish fought on both sides) was Richard B Jordan

from Gort, who was captured. It was arguably an inconclusive albeit

bloody battle, with both sides suffering more than 5,000 casualties

and losses. Pictured right is ‘The Battle of Fair Oaks’ by Currier and

Ives (1862).

135 Years Ago

On 13 Sept 1882 in the Battle of Tel-al-Kebir in north-east Egypt,

British forces soundly defeated the Egyptian army. Among the victors

in British ranks was Privates Patrick Griffin from Menlough and

James Meara from Portumna. Meara was a fine soldier who had been

decorated already in New Zealand and who would be again decorated

here, as would Griffin. Pictured right is a painting of the ‘Foot Guards

at the Battle of Tel El Kebir’ by Richard Caton Woodville. Official

British figures gave a total of 57 troops killed, against two thousand

Egyptians. Indeed some reports suggested that the British army had

suffered more casualties due to heatstroke than enemy action.

18

Recommended Sources in Local History

The catalogues and repositories of museums, libraries, archives, and galleries are a treasure trove for local histori-

ans. In fact, one cannot avoid coming across gems from the county when one searches databases on-line, many of

which include colour photographs and detailed descriptions of their artefacts from the county.

Pictured below, from top left (top row), are the web-site hits for Galway or Galway-related material in the web-sites

of the National Library, the National Museum, and the National Gallery. Middle row is the National Archives, the

British Library, and the site of the British Museum. And the bottom row has the sites of the British National Gallery,

the British National Archives, and the site of the Met Museum in New York.

One could spend hours viewing images of Galway interest online so, as with any research, so it is important to be

disciplined and plan ahead. Be ready to use multiple sources, even sometimes when they appear to offer the same

information. Altogether different types of websites are those associated with on-line sales or auctions, from the high-

end—Whytes (http://whytes.ie/) to the likes of Amazon, eBay, etc and these too are all worth searching.

Kilcorban

Congratulations to the Kilcorban Cemetery Group who have begun map-

ping that burial ground with the assistance of Galway Community Archae-

ologist Dr Christy Cunniffe. On July 28th last, despite the threat of thun-

der and a wet start, they began mapping Kilcorban graveyard. Jackie,

Margaret and Aileen learnt how to use the plane table and alidade and

were naturals. It is timely to note that the booklet on Kilcorban Priory has

been re-printed in recent weeks and is now on sale.

19

Larkin matters… Craughwell

_________________________________________________________________________________________

Poems of Old

The following is the final verse in a song com-

posed by Charles McDonnell and printed in the

Connaught Journal, 29 September 1836.

Here let us now a happier crown

We will drink success to Clifden town

But when we venture for to sip

Or on our goblets place our lip

We’ll join in one hurrah hip hip

__________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Is eagras deonach é Cumann Staire agus Seandálaíochta Oirdheisceart na Gaillimhe (SEGAHS) a bunaíodh chun bua na staire,

na seandálaíochta agus an bhéaloidis in Oirdheisceat na Gaillimhe a chun chun cinn. Is fédir teagmháil a dhéanamh leis an chumann

ag an seoladh ríomhphoist segahs1@gmail.com, ar an suíomh Idirlín www.facebook.com/SEGAHS, nó trí chabaireacht linn ar twit-

ter ag @SEGAHSIreland.

South East Galway Archaeological & Historical Society (SEGAHS) is a voluntary organisation highlighting the richness of the

history, archaeology, and folklore of South East Galway. If you would like to make contact, you can do so by e-mailing us at se-

gahs1@gmail.com, by visiting our webpage at www.facebook.com/SEGAHS, or by following us on twitter @SEGAHSIreland.

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