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Some Notes & Extracts from the Roscommon Herald: 1919 / 1920. Compiled by Monica Paton. 1919 Feb 15th. Roscommon Notes. Gaelic League. The Gaelic League branch is making very satisfactory progress. Two language classes are being conducted, one for beginners and the other for fairly advanced students. Irish dancing is being taught on Saturday evening. Attention is also being devoted to traditional music and the result of this direction will be the demonstration at the annual re-union of the Branch on St. Patrick’s night. RH. 1919 Feb 15th. Sinn Fein Clubs. Ballyfarnon “Robert Emmet” Club, County Roscommon. Mr T. J. Farrell, President, presided. Thanked all those who patronized their Concert and dance on the 2nd instant. South Kilglass “Joseph M. Plunkett Club”, County Roscommon. President Mr John Daly, Patrick Donohoe donated 5s. Vote of sympathy with Mr P. J. Lennon secretary of the North Roscommon Executive as his father had died. RH. 1919 Feb 22nd. Sinn Fein Clubs. Cootehall “W. Pearse” Cumann Na mBan, County Roscommon. Vote of thanks for other clubs for supporting their big dance on 9th. Inst. Lizzie Moffatt, May McDermott secretaries. South Roscommon Sinn Fein . A meeting of the Roscommon Executive was held on Sunday last, Mr C. O’Maille in the chair. The following were elected members of the Standing Committee:-Canon Cummins, Rev Father Finan, CC, Messrs O’Maile and O’Rorke. A deputation consisting of Messrs Coyne, Lennon, O’Maile, Shally and the secretary was appointed to interview Mr Ryan, head organiser of the Anti-Conscription Fund. P. O’Feargail, Secretary. Kiltrustan St. Enda Club, County Roscommon. At a meeting of the above club held on Sunday last Rev Father Roddy presided. Arrangements were made for attending the Irish class which will be opened in the parish during the week. A resolution of sympathy with Mr P. J. Lennon, Secretary North Roscommon Executive, on the death of his father, was proposed by Mr Michael Beirne and seconded by Mr Martin McHugh. It was also decided to have the club reorganised on Sunday, March 2nd, when all members of the parish are requested to attend to appoint new officers for the coming year. Crossna “Tom Clarke”, County Roscommon. Annual meeting was held and the following officers were appointed:- President, Rev M. O’Flanagan; Vice-President, Rev M. J. O’Beirne; Deputy Vice-President, Mr E. Doyle, County Councillor; Treasurer, Mr John McGowan; Secretaries, Mr J. J. Doyle and Mr P. J. Golden. Kilglass “Thomas McDonagh” Cumann, North Roscommon. Mr M. T. Kavanagh, vice-president presided. Several issues under discussion were about land problems. See report for details. Ballyfarnon “Robert Emmet” Club North Roscommon. President, Mr T. J. Farrell. Officer elected were:- T. J. Farrell, President; Joseph O’Rourke and Joseph Reynolds, vice-presidents; James Conlon and Michael Flynn treasurers; J. P. Cunnane and J. Tansey, secretaries. The Dramatic Club going to hold concert in Arigna on Sunday. RH. 1919 April 19th. Strike Troubles in Boyle. Twenty Prisoners Go to Sligo Jail for a Few Days. Detachments of police visited strikers houses and were arrested. The following were arrested:- Charles Mulvany, Abbeytown the secretary of the Boyle Branch of the Irish Transport and General Workers’ Union, I.T.W.U.; he was in employment of Mr J. Gillespie, C.P.S., Boyle when the strike began; Edward Ward, Boyle the far-known jarvey; Thomas Derby, Ballytrasna, a employee of Mr S. Black, Boyle; Thomas Keegan, senior, well-known Republican advocate; John Gormley, Boyle, a employee, when the strike began, of Mr. William Sloan, Boyle; Thomas Gormley, his brother, also in Mr. Sloan’s employment; John Nicholson, Knockarush, in the employment of Mr Tighe, Boyle; Martin Higgins, a direct labour roadman; Patrick Brennan, Ballytrasna, direct labour ganger in the Boyle section; Henry McKay, Drum, Boyle, an employee of Mr John Scott, Boyle, when the strike commenced; Stephen McGarry, Abbeytown, Boyle and tailor in the employment of James Dwyer, Boyle, when the strike began; John Beirne, Abbeytown, Boyle, the well-known driver of the Boyle Convent laundry van, Patrick Spellman, Greatmeadow, in the employment of Mrs. Gannon, Greatmeadow; Henry Baker, junior, Ballytrasna formerly in the employment of the Rev Mr. Watson, Warren. In the early hours of Monday morning the police again made raids. The following were arrested:- James Durcan, Lowparks, Boyle, in the employment of Mr. Hugh Stewart; Michael McDermott, St. Patrick’s Street; he was engineman in the Boyle Convent laundry when the strike began; Michael Fury, Mockmoyne, Boyle; he was in the employment of Mr. W. Sloan, Boyle, as a carter, when the strike began; James Killelea, Mockmoyne, a direct labour roadman; Mr Kearns, who gave himself up at the barrack on Monday. When Thomas Keaney, the well-known Republican, was arrested, his wife insisted on lighting a fire, baking bread, and providing a hearty breakfast for her husband before the police took him away. He himself went to great pains dressing and shaving. All the other members of the family sang Republican songs merrily, and this entertainment was varied by speeches. On Tuesday the first prisoners dribbled back to Boyle. Most are on bail. Points from the trial are provided in the report. In the Boles case Mr. Dermot MacDermot, solicitor, in his address to the bench, said Mr. Boles was a successful Protestant draper, and he had no trade dispute with anyone when he suddenly found twenty four pickets lined up in front of his house, preventing people going in. The only suggestion that could be offered as an excuse for this treatment was that other Catholic trades people in the town were jealous of Mr. Bowles and wanted to get his trade by this means, and it was significant that this plot was hatched in the old Catholic Church of Boyle which was given free for this Red Flag business- Mr Atwell-Ah, don’t talk of religion and Boles. This is ridiculous nonsense. He is nothing. He is neither one thing nor the other, and I didn’t know what he is (laughter). Michael McGrath, who worked from time to time in the Royal Hotel garden, and is on strike, was examined as a witness against young Mr. Boles. He said the spray from the fire extinguisher in Mr. Bole’s hit him, and his was all swelled in the morning. Mr D. MacDermot-did you send for the priest and the doctor when you had this terrible injury? I was in bed, sir (laughter). RH. 1919 April 19th. Sinn Fein Clubs. Tarmonbarry “Thomas McBonagh” Cumann, County Roscommon. John Cox presiding. Officers appointed:-President, Mr Peter McGuiness, DC; Vice president, Mr Thomas Hanly; Treasurer, Mr John Cox; Hon secretaries Messrs Sean O’Kelly and Peter Kelly. Kilglass “Thomas McDonagh” Club, County Roscommon. The Kilglass Sinn Fein Dramatic Club will stage the famous Irish comedy “The Lord Mayor” on Sunday 27th of April. The play will be followed by a grand social. Mr M. T. Kavanagh VP, presided. Patrick Burke, secretary. RH. 1919 April 26th. Sinn Fein Clubs. Cootehall Cumann na mBan (County Roscommon). Paid respect to the Michael Keilty, brother of our esteemed President who died of “flu”. Patriotic Irishman who was a violinist. Sympathy to Mollie Judge on the death of her uncle Mr. P. J. Regan. Lizzie Moffatt, May McDermott, secretaries. RH. Tulsk “Major McBride” Club. M. Conroy presiding. Proposal by P. Murray and seconded by T. Cullen stating sympathy for Denis Mannion and Michael Lenahan two respected members of the club as both their brothers had died. RH. Cootehall, P. H. Pearse Club. Vote of sympathy was passed to the relatives of Mrs Morahan, Rockingham: Michael Keilty, Cleheen, and Thomas Gray, Cootehall, on their sad demise. RH. 1919 May 3rd. Sinn Fein Clubs. Kiltrustan (St. Edna) Club, County Roscommon. President Rev Father Roddy. Passed a motion by Mr Bernard Feeney and George L. Lenehan about respected member Peter Lynch whose father had died. Kilglass “MacDonagh” Club. Full list of the names subscribers to the Father O’Flanagan Fund is provided. Drumlion Thomas Davis Club, County Roscommon. Mr B. Gannon, vice president gave list of subscribers to the General Election Fund. Full list of names provided. RH. 1919 May 10th. Sinn Fein Clubs. Kilglass “McDonagh” Club. At a meeting of this club Mr Michael Beirne presided. Fund for Father O’Flanagan collection made. The Dramatic Club will stage a well known and highly popular Irish drama in the Drumlion Hall on Sunday night, May 17th. A splendid social will follow. Gents 2s Ladies 1/6. RH. Cloigne (Cootehall) “Willie Pearse” Cumann Na mBan club met with Lizzie Moffat and May McDermott secretaries. RH. 1919 May 17th. Bilingual Play and Concert in St Mary’s Hall, Ballaghaderreen. If signs of a return to the Gaelic culture and sentiments which have their foundations on our own language were to be looked for in Ballaghaderreen they were to be found in no uncertain manner among the huge crowd which overflowing St. Mary’s hall on Sunday night 4th. The night’s programme was a bilingual play and an exclusively Irish concert. The venture was a new and rather bold one, for although Irish plays have been held there before, an exclusive Irish concert was never. Well might the doubting spirits have questioned before-hand the wisdom of such a course, but such doubts were waived aside by the unselfish, enthusiastic self-sacrificing class of the Gaelic League there as being foolish and groundless, and as a consequence of their efforts on Sunday night, credit must be given to them of adding foresight to their other gifts. For scarcely ever, in so marked a degree were doubts so effectively set aside, were hopes realised, was confidence rewarded. In the achievements of that happy result, credit must be given where credit is due. To anyone who knew the trouble and pains which each and all of those engaged in the night’s entertainment underwent during rehearsals and practices it could not but be a source of astonishment to note their wonderful sincerity, their extraordinary self sacrifices, their noble zeal in trying to do something real for the language of their sires. To such a one well might the wish spring up “Oh that all Irish men and Irish women were such as these”. Was it any wonder that such devotion was assigned its proper merits by a Ballaghaderreen audience? The play selected was in Irish Patrick O’Ryan. Briefly it is as follows:- a well to-do farmer in our Anglicised Irishmen, in order to secure an English planter called George Swiggin’s as his son-in-law, recommends his daughter máire to give up Irish in favour of English, or what he calls in his own words “the only rale livin’ language of education”, máire assisted by her mother Bridget, refuses: Swiggin’s is proved beyond doubt to be the villain and cheat in the presence of Patrick himself, who at first refuses to believe it; the disillusionment takes place when Patrick calls down severe penalties on himself should anyone hear him speak a word of English in the future, Audience followed it with close attention and most frequently applauded were those statements made in the Irish language. After the play a very high-class concert was gone through and every single artists, from child of tender years to men were given a vociferous applause amid imperative demands for “areesh”. All performed wonderfully. At the end Father McCarrick speaking in Irish, thanked the large audience for their appreciation of the entertainment, and also for the splendid response given by the people of Ballaghaderreen to the Language Week Collection. The singing of ????? by the artistes, joined by the audience all standing, terminated and enjoyable night’s entertainment. RH. 1919 May 17th. Ballaghaderreen Notes (East Mayo). Dramatic Entertainment. The members of Ballaghaderreen Gaelic league deserve to be highly congratulated on the success which attended a dramatic entertainment in St. Mary’s Hall on Sunday night. The bilingual which was presented in a faultless manner, was followed with interest by a corded house, and not the least interesting scene was that in which Messrs Sharkey and Farrell as police sergeant and constable made merry at the expense of the force, direct “hits” being the ‘mental notes’ meaning of kidnapping a policeman’s conscience, and his chances of promotion of possessed such a thing. The entertainment was thoroughly Irish and the unstinted applause which punctuated the proceedings shows that Ballaghaderreen audience, welcomes a programme “racy of the soil”, RH, 1919 May 17th. News in Brief. Four strikers-Messrs T. Farlowe, W. Martin, James Turbitt, and M. Spellman-were arrested in Boyle on Wednesday on a charge of unlawful assembly in Boyle on the night of Easter Saturday. They allegedly took part in a midnight procession from which stones were thrown and which broke windows. Defendants remanded on bail to next petty sessions. (James Turbitt was the brother of Katherine Turbitt and an IRA man. See Kathleen Hegarty Thorne page 446 for his IRB activity). (1901 census Boyle Town Ross Lane. Household Turbitt James(40) Coachbuilder/married Mary(42) wife-Hugh(20) coachbuilder-James Joseph(15) scholar-Mary Alice(14) scholar-Maggie Jane(12) scholar-Catherine(8)-Annie(6) scholar-Thomas(5) scholar. 1911 census. Turbitt James 55 Male ,Turbitt Mary 58 Female, Turbitt James Joseph 26 Male, Turbitt Molly 24 Female, Turbitt Maggie 22 Female, Turbitt Cassie 18 Female, Turbitt Annie 16 Female, Turbitt Tommie 15 Male. Then there was an argument about whether eleven men could picket a house at the same time although remaining orderly was argued in the Boyle strike case. There should only be two but left to the Judge of Assize to resolve. RH. 1919 May 17th. Charge of Unlawful Assembly. Full report of the arrest of the above four men when windows were broken in the town as a strike possession marched through the town. James Turbitt is described as a coachbuilder. Thomas Farlowe, who was a foreman in Mr Scott’s establishment took a prominent part in the strike. He is a native of Florencecourt, Enniskillen, the most Orange part of Fermanagh. William Martin managed a bread and provision shop for the strikers. He is a protestant and comes from Banbridge in County Down, a strong orange quarter. James Turbitt, Boyle was arrested and spent some time in jail at the time of the raid for arms on Rockingham House. He was arrested outside the court. He expressed great indignation, and said he was innocent and not there. Michael Spellman is a workman of Mr Hugh Stewart’s at Boyle mills. (See 1911 census for full details of him and family. He was a corn merchant and miller). Spellman went out on strike but has returned to work. (1911 census Residents of house number 2 in Termon part of Boyle Urban, Roscommon. Michael’s occupation is a labourer.) Very Full report of the proceedings provided. Charge against them was one of unlawful assembly. List of shops whose windows had been broken was provided by witnesses. Such as the Royal Hotel which still stands in Boyle beside the River Boyle. About 100-150 persons in the crowd that night. RH. 1919 May 24th. The Sharkey Sisters Again Raided. Military and police raided the premises of the Misses Sharkey, Strokestown and removed all the goods from the shop with the exception of some religious articles such as statues and prayer-books. RH. (See also RH report of Sinn Fein club that gave their support to Sharkey’s & KHT).
1919 May 24th. Sinn Fein Clubs. Reorganisation of Carniska Club, County Roscommon. Committee as follows:- President Mr Thomas Murray; Treasurer, John Ryder; Secretary, Walter Noone. 1919 May 31st. Sinn Fein Clubs. Kiltrustan “St Enda” Club, County Roscommon. Rev Father Fallon presided. Resolution proposed by John McLoughlin seconded by Thomas O’Neil expressing their sympathy to George Lenehan by the death of his brother. (See KHT page 351 for Lenehan’s bio.). 1919 May 25th. Gaelic League Concert in Ballinasloe prohibited. Sometime in the 1920s the organisation of Gaelic League classes came under the County Councils. 1919 July 5th. How Land is Valued in Roscommon. The Practice of the Congested District Board. This is a very long report from the Land Commission Court, Four Courts, Dublin. RH. 1919 July 26th. The Boyle Strike Cases. The Breaking of Windows in Boyle. Dispute now settled and Mr Justice Dodd disposed of unlawful assembly and let them go despite them having been sentenced to three months imprisonment. RH. 1919 Aug 30th. Interesting Roscommon Marriage. Mr Dan O’Rourke, NT, married. Dan O’Rourke, NT, Tarmon, Castlerea, married Miss Mary McCloskey, NT, Kilmurry, Castlerea. RH. 1919 Aug 30th. Crossna and Rev Father O’Flanagan. At a meeting held in the Hall the audience expressed their congratulations on his restoration at the Mission; and they looked on his suspension as cruel and unjust. RH. 1919 Aug 30th. Roscommon Feis for 1920. The project of holding a large Feis was considered at a largely attended meeting at which Rev M. O’Flanagan presided. To proceed holding a two day Feis in May. RH. 1919 Sept 6th. The Roscommon Irish Teacher. Owing to the great demand for Miss Coyle’s plays she has condescended to have them published at an early date. All her plays and writings are most amusing. One of her recent plays is “John’s dignity was lowered because he could not learn his own language”. Another of her plays is “Remember ’47-how Biddy and Michael tricked the peeler and his wife”. Etc. Miss Coyle is an enthusiastic supporter of the Gaelic League for many years. Having passed her examinations and got her degrees in arts, she taught successfully under the Intermediate Board until 1918, when she was imprisoned and deprived of all her examinations papers. She is now teaching Irish successfully and energetically in the Roscommon district. We wish her every success and look forward for her plays. RH. 1919 Sept 6th. News in Brief. County Roscommon. Rev Father M. O’Flanagan is to preside at Keadue Feis. RH. 1919 Sept 6th. Boyle Show. The revival of the Boyle show this year-none being held last year as military were encamped on the show grounds-was most successful from every point of view. Full details provided of the winners and prizes. RH. 1919 Sept 13th. Keadue Feis (North Roscommon). A Great Success. Big Crowds Visit Keadue. Speeches by Rev P, Meehan, PP, and Rev M. O’Flanagan, CC. Father O’Flanagan and the “The Wooden Board”. A very large report on the Feis is provided. A pretty village in the North Eastern corner of Roscommon where very successful Feis was held. Rev O’ Flanagan presided over the Feis and acted as an adjudicator in many of the competitions having motored down from Roscommon. He delivered a speech which kept his audience in continuous cheers and laughter. Rev Meehan is also a fine Irish scholar. Feature of the proceedings was on the platform was Mrs Leyden who lives near Keadue and is a native speaker. She conversed with Eamon Conway, (but described as a gentleman from Waterford further in the report) Carrick-on-Shannon also Irish speaker which was enjoyed by the audience. Ladies of the local Cumann na mBan gave able assistance, and their management of the tea tent greatly convenienced the visitors. The honorary secretaries Pádraig O’Duibgeannain and Sean MagFloin, led to great success. The dance in the evening was highly patronised. Adjudicators. Irish language history-Rev O’Flanagan, and Mr A. J. Lavin; industrial section Mrs McCarthy, Boyle and Mr Hyde; music, Mr M. Loclain, Ballymote; dancing Mr. B. Henry, Ballymote. Father Meehan’s Speech. He referred to the history of Queen Maeve of Connacht, which he said, he had recently been reading, and he claimed that Father O’Flanagan was one of the decedents of her clan who fought on the right bank of the Suck (Cheers). He then introduced Father O’Flanagan. Father O’Flanagan’s Speech. The cheering and hand-clapping lasted for several minutes when he came forward. He made an eloquent appeal in Irish then spoke in English. One of the defects we must remove was the neglect of our language and the greatest tribute they could pay her was that they should make a golden path to her door to learn the language from her (applause). Some Galway speakers in Roscommon who brought back the seed of the language and one of them said we have “brought the seed now sow the crop”. It was the Irish language in the past which inspired our people to great and noble deeds it was the revival of the Irish language that had brought change today. Who were the men that died rather than be slaves of the enemy? (cheers). Padraig Pearse learned the Irish language in Connemara. His stories, which were written in Irish, were widely known and read and have been translated into different languages. He then related events to the times of Queen Maeve, Cúculainn, and Ferdia and the Red Branch Knights. Eight or nine years ago when I was in America-(A voice:”I wish you were in it now” and cheers). Father O’Flanagan-I hope you are not getting tired of me. So soon. (Laughter and cries of “no, no”). He went on to say that he called to see Teddy Roosevelt; one of his grandmothers was Irish and he spoke of Maeve and Cúculainn. He told more about this. Much more about the teaching of Irish by the parents and in the school. Many more antidotes provided in his speech. Much about Cúchulainn and his great deeds. They also told us that the soul of Ireland would never be saved until the language of Ireland would be revived. Therefore he appealed to the parents of the children to see that they are taught the Irish language in school. It was the duty, of parents and teachers and of those high up to see to the education of the children-to see that the children learned Irish. Then example of Poland provided. “I hope to God the day will come when the children will pelt their books and slates at any teacher or inspector or any other Anglicising force that will try to keep the language of their country in the grace” (loud cheers). Then tells a tale about his visit to County Kilkenny. Coming along on the motor car from Roscommon, when passing through Tulsk, Elphin, and Croghan, he said to himself there was many a man through the world who has read the history of Ireland, and who has read about Queen Maeve and Ferdia, and about all the heroes who still time and again who would give a lot for an opportunity of treading on the place sacred by their footprints. Here we are living in the mist of these historic surroundings yet know nothing about them, because the school, the teacher was teaching all about the Obi, the Yenissei, and the Lena (laughter)- and about all the rivers in the world but nothing about Ireland. He then recalls further all the things and places they were taught about. The other day he was out a couple of miles from Roscommon and he came across an old man of about 80 years of age that used to make pottery in the old days. However the Scotch invented machinery that could make the crockery cheaper and men children from Ireland went over to Scotland. Now the Gaelic League was bringing the men of Ireland back to Ireland itself and teaching them their own language was not gibberish. He remembers his next door neighbours changing their names from Irish to English. We learned to despise our own language and looked upon it as gibberish. Now thanks be to God, we have found it is the richest and finest language in Europe, and now we are able to appreciate Mrs Leyden who thank God, is left in our midst with the gift of our language on her tongue and I hope that women will be honoured for the great gift, she has carried down to us today (cheers) and that the people living near her will go to her and learn it. There is only one pledge in Ireland better than Father Mathew’s and the people can see going about with a ring in their coats have it, and if you hear me and my friend Andrew Lavin talking English you will know we are breaking the pledge (laughter). It should be the ambition of every man, woman and child in Ireland to learn the language. I was very proud indeed to be able to be told by the girls of Cootehall amongst whom I have worked, that they are making great progress with Irish-though I would rather have called the place Clegna than Cootehall because, after all, the Cootes were not much good (laughter). I was glad to see they have kept alive the Irish class in Cootehall, and that it is a credit to the district, and what made me pounder than this, they told me they used to practice talking Irish going to school and coming home. I hope when I come around again I shall see a lot of these good girls wear the Fainne. I was out in a house near Roscommon where there was a fairly young man and woman there, and they had eight children; ranging from a few months to 25 years and I was sorry to see that both parents could speak fluent Irish none of the children could speak it. They could not make anything out of the children growing up because when you speak it to them they would they will say “Musha, phats that?” (laughter). People must learn to speak Irish even if it is only a few words and speak these each day. If the children spoke Irish the language would spread throughout the country and we would very soon have an Irish-speaking country again, and as soon as we had that we would have Ireland free (cheers). They were given two remedies; we were told to be free; that we may be strong. Some said don’t try to make any improvement in anything until we are free, and when the country is free we would become strong. The other remedy was to make improvements in everything and then the country would get its freedom. Father O’Flanagan concluded-I have a third motto better than any of the two, and I will give you the third motto here today: be Irish, and if you are Irish enough you will be strong and free together (loud cheers). Father Meehan’s Reminder. Father Meehan, who was again received with applause, O’Flanagan’s time is limited, and he must leave us. He has promised to come to the next Feis and we will keep him to his promise. He congratulated him and said that he hoped he would come to the next Feis. List of events provided with the prize winners. Sections were-Industries, Instrumental Music, Dancing, Irish Language. RH. 1919 Sept 13th. St. Nathy’s College, Ballaghaderreen. A list of the names of the successful candidates at the recent Broderick Examinations. RH. 1919 Sept 13th. Pearse Memorial. Aeridheacht in Ballaghaderreen. People to give their support to a most worthy cause in aid of the Pearse Memorial (Sgoil Eanua) to be held in the sports field. Mr Pearse will be present to deliver an address. Many prominent speakers, Irish sings, dances and recitations and a number of juvenile athletic events. Committee are confident that the people will support the object now dearest to the heart of mother Ireland’s Patrick and Willie Pearse. RH. 1919 Oct 4th. Ballaghaderreen Notes. Gaelic Classes. The Gaelic classes, which have been attended with such a large measure of success in St. Mary’s Hall here on Tuesday evening. Being so successful last year the promoters hope that the attendance will be even larger during the course, and a hearty cead mile failte will be extended to all comers. Full particulars will be made known. RH. 1919 Nov 15th. Concert in Boyle. Big Success for St. Vincent De Paul Society. The grand Concert was in aid of the Society and was held in St. Patrick’s Hall, Boyle. Local talent and also Mr Loftus, Ballymote, C. F. Ryan, Belfast and Mr J. P. Feely. The proceeds will be devoted to the relief of the Poor of Boyle during the coming Winter. Accompanist-Mr E. C. McGee. Large audience and representative of widely divergent political opinion. Considering the programme was by amateurs only the various items of song, dance and music were highly credible. The young lady soloists were:- Gertie Cox, Miss B. McManus, Miss E. Dwyer, and gents were Mr J. P. Loftus, Mr. C. F. Ryan, Mr J. P. Feely, Mr Bradley. Instrumental music Mr E. C. Magee. Miss A. Devine pianist, Master P. O’Rourke on the violin. John O’Rourke told Irish tales by famous Irish poets. Chorus in the singing was the boys from the Convent School, Boyle. Gertie Cox sang “The Dear Little Shamrock”, “Until We Meet Again”, and “When you Come Home”. Miss E. Dwyer amongst her songs “Two Irish Eyes” and “Flight of Ages”. She had a sweet and good voice. Mr Loftus, the popular Ballymote NT made his first appearance before a Boyle audience. Sweet tenor voice. “Love Thee Dearest”, and “Shule Agra” in Gaelic. Mr C. F. Ryan, Belfast had a bass voice which was good for songs of the rolling sea. “Asleep in the Deep”, and love song “Because”. John P. Feely. Memories of his many successful school day concerts came back as we listened to him-memories of the days when he sang as a promising youngster under the tuition of the Presentation Brothers. One of his best songs was Swan’s £Roses Bring Memories of You”. Recalls memories of the past and sang tenderly. To be candid, we did not like his second song; we find American ragtime, with its absurd accompaniment of wording irritating. Mr Bradley Boyle won most applause with widely popular “Danny Boy”. He sang “The Foggy Dew”. John O’Rorke is an elocutionist. Mr E. C. McGee the popular organist in St. Joseph’s. "The Coulin". We had two vocal duets one “Erin the tear” and “The Dead Who Died for Ireland” sung by W Wynne, and C. Feely. Plus other pieces. Thanked support of the public. RH. 1919 Nov 15th. News in Brief. Ballinameen Sinn Fein Club. The club is to open an Irish class; and express the hope that all the boys and girls in the district will attend and acquire a knowledge of their country’s language. RH. 1920 Jan 10th. Irish classes for children were to restart in St. Patrick’s school, Ballaghaderreen. The classes are to be taught by a Mr Padraic O’Donnell. Parents are requested to send their children punctually as this is a splendid opportunity for the youngsters of acquiring knowledge of the mother tongue. Classes will be open as usually on Saturday. The Irish classes in different districts will be re-opened from Monday next. SD. 1920 April 3rd. Irish Classes. There will be Irish classes at 6 to 8 O’clock on Sunday evenings to be held by Mr Padraic O’Donnell. This will be an excellent opportunity for shop assistants to obtain knowledge of their ‘natural language’. SD. 1920 May 8th. Military Honours for a ’67 Man. John McGreevy, DC, who had reached the fine age of 85 years, was laid to rest in the churchyard on Tuesday. Funeral was imposing with a Tricolour covered the coffin and the breastplate was inscribed in Irish. The Sean Mac Diarmada Band played in the front of the procession with muffled drums. Volunteers carried the remains and formed a guard of honour. The Transport Workers, Sinn Fein Club, Town Commissioners and District Council were also represented. Prayers were recited in Irish by Father O’Flanagan. Mr Greevy was a fighter to the last. In 1908 he was beaten by one vote for the Roscommon County. In 1911 defeated by 11 votes. He was everywhere popular and loved by the workers whose cause he always espoused. When funeral passed by the Military and Police barracks they saluted. Three volleys were fired over the grave. RH. Abbreviations: RH = Roscommon Herald. KHT = Kathleen Hegarty Thorne "They Put the Flag a Flyin". |
