Monthly Archives: Jul 2013

TYRONE ADVANCE

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The Curragh of Kildare. Racecourse in background.

The Curragh of Kildare. Racecourse in background.

Travelling to Kildare to watch the Lilywhites take on the Red Hands from Tyrone, my route to Newbridge took me past the Curragh. As I approached the town on the motorway, I listened to RTÉ Radio sports coverage and discovered there was a meeting on at The Curragh. I heard the commentary on the 5:40 race (Invesco Pension Consultants Minstrel Stakes) which was won by the 8/11 favourite Darwin, ridden by JP O’Brien.

By the time I reached the entrance to the Curragh military camp, the racegoers were preparing for the main event, the Darley Irish Oaks. So I stopped to look over towards the main stand and I could see that there was a good crowd, judging by the number of cars. For the record, the 6:15 race was won by Johnny Murtagh on Chicquita, at a price of 9/2. A stewards’ inquiry was called after the half-length success but the placings remained unaltered.

Banner at Newbridge Town Hall (former garrison church)

Banner at Newbridge Town Hall (former garrison church)

On then to Newbridge and my first job was to locate the GAA pitch. It couldn’t have been easier. I observed a crowd of Kildare supporters walking down the Main Street and saw them going up a lane beside the Town Hall (an old garrison church), where there was a big banner for Newbridge 200, a bicentenary celebration that started last September and will  become the Newbridge Grassroots Festival. The local Newbridge Kildare Lions Club logo was prominent: well done, fellow Lions.

Parking was found at a nearby private car park at a rate of €1  an hour, which was very reasonable. It took five minutes to walk to the ground. The pubs and shops seemed to be benefitting from the influx of trade. So please, no more sports arenas perched in the middle of nowhere on a ring road or beside a motorway.

The crowd was just under 7500 and they managed to enter and exit without any great problems.

Kildare 0-12 Tyrone 1-11 at St Conleth’s Park, Newbridge. GAA All-Ireland Football Championship Qualifier Round 3

MEMORIES AMIDST THE DRUMLINS

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New Publication Compiles Work of Noted Tydavnet Literary Figure

New Publication Compiles Work of Noted Tydavnet Literary Figure: Northern Standard 19/07/13

“Memories Amidst the Drumlins: Cavan and Monaghan”, a compilation of  the stories and poems of the late Terence O’Gorman of Tullyvogey, Tydavnet, will be officially launched at a function in Monaghan’s Four Seasons Hotel on Friday, August 2nd next. A well-known North Monaghan personality, Mr O’Gorman, who passed away in 2003, had some of his literary contributions published in the columns of this newspaper over the years.

His daughter Patricia Cavanagh, the current President of the ICA in Co. Monaghan, has now brought together dozens of poems and stories penned by her father in a volume that will be launched by the Director of the William Carleton Summer School, Michael Fisher. Over the past two years Patricia has carefully compiled and edited what amounts to a wonderful record of the lifestyle of South Ulster from the 1930s until the turn of the century.

Memories Amidst the Drumlins: Cavan & Monaghan

Memories Amidst the Drumlins: Cavan & Monaghan

Some of the poems were written to mark special occasions such as birthdays and weddings of family and friends and there were also tributes to those who had passed away. This collection is a wonderful tribute to Terence, who came from Lavey in Co. Cavan and who was a familiar figure in and around Tydavnet and Monaghan, where he worked at St Davnet’s Hospital for many years. The book includes a number of poems he wrote for his friends and work colleagues on their retirement from St Davnet’s.  He died in 2003. The 340-page book will retail for €15.

The launch will be performed on the opening day of the William Carleton Summer School events taking place in Monaghan and Emyvale from August 2-4. Terence was a regular visitor to the annual Carleton event as well as attending other literary festivals throughout the country. Patricia Cavanagh spoke about the book at the launch of the William Carleton Summer School programme at the Writers’ Centre in Dublin in June.

ROVERS DRAW

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Shamrock Rovers v UCD

Shamrock Rovers v UCD

SHAMROCK ROVERS 1 UCD 1  Airtricity Premier League

A nice summer evening at Tallaght Stadium in South Dublin, with short-sleeve shirts being the order of the day in the Mediterranean-style heat. The groundsman had obviously been working overtime watering the grass. This was an oasis of green in a city where every back garden seemed to be parched brown. The match programme explained how there was a water well situated at one side of the ground and it was in constant use, much to the consternation of Bohemian FC during a recent visit, apparently, who did not appreciate the sprinklers being on during their warm-up.

There seemed to be a very good atmosphere in the main stand, with plenty of young people there with their parents or minders. Some of them took part in a mini soccer game at half time, displaying their skills for all to see. This is a great way to encourage new support, by bringing in children and making them feel welcome. It was noticeable that a number of Rovers’ supporters were non-Irish nationals whose children were possibly born in Ireland. There were also strong warnings in the programme that racist behaviour of any kind would not be tolerated by the club. Full marks to Rovers for their approach.

Shamrock Rovers v UCD

Shamrock Rovers v UCD

Rovers star on the day was a 29 year-old Libyan Eamon Zayed, who was signed by the club earlier this month. He has played for a number of League of Ireland clubs. The player, capped 12 times at under 21 level for the Republic of Ireland, has in recent years gained valuable international football experience playing with Libya whilst playing his club football in Iran. In 2011 the striker signed for Tehran Pro League club Persepolis where he was part of their Asian Football Confederation Champions League squad.

Shamrock Rovers v UCD

Shamrock Rovers v UCD

Zayed’s score in the 24th minute gave Rovers a good start. The students did not look as sharp in the first half as they had done three weeks ago against Cork City at Belfield. Their equaliser in the second half came against the run of play. In fact, I was looking down at this picture I had just taken on my iphone when College through Robbie Benson had the ball in the net in the 65th minute. I put on my AFC Wimbledon polo shirt this morning when I left Belfast and it was coincidental that I wore it to the match, but I am always glad to support both the real Dons and Rovers. By the way, you can see a sort of worried look on the face of the Rovers supporter behind me with a green cap!

Michael Fisher at Tallaght Stadium (main stand)

Michael Fisher at Tallaght Stadium (main stand)

So the spoils were shared and Rovers dropped two valuable points, which will not please their manager Trevor Croly. By the way the referee (and I thought he did a good job) was from Monaghan, Paul McLaughlin, who it turns out is a Garda from Inishowen, Co.Donegal. He has been on the League of Ireland referee panel since 2008.

Shamrock Rovers Manager Trevor Croly

Shamrock Rovers Manager Trevor Croly

WILLIAM CARLETON LAUNCH

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William Carleton Summer School Launch at Corick House, Clogher: Sam Craig, Isabel Orr & Liam Foley, Committee Members

William Carleton Summer School Launch at Corick House, Clogher:
Sam Craig, Isabel Orr & Liam Foley, Committee Members

Lively Programme for Carleton Summer School: Ulster Herald Thursday July 18th 2013

Tom McGurk returns to his Tyrone roots to appear at what promises to be one of the liveliest William Carleton summer school programmes in Clogher next month. It will include three nights of music of various types, including a session by a young female Irish traditional group Síoda.  

Tom McGurk returns to his roots

Tom McGurk returns to his roots

A native of Brockagh near the shore of Lough Neagh, Tom McGurk is one of the most distinguished journalists and broadcasters in Ireland. He will be in conversation with Aidan Fee (like him, a past pupil of St Patrick’s College Armagh) on the subject of ‘Northern Ireland, Past and Present’ on the opening day of the school at Corick House Hotel on Monday 5th August at 4:30pm. As a student at Queen’s University Belfast, he was active in the civil rights campaign in 1968 and was involved with the People’s Democracy group.

Tom’s RTE television credits include presenting programmes like ‘Tangents’, ‘Last House’, ‘Folio’ and he currently anchors major RTE sports coverage especially rugby. He played rugby for Ulster. In Britain, he fronted ‘Granada Reports’ and reported for ‘Channel 4 News’ and ‘Newsnight’ on BBC2. In the late 1980s he was Foreign Correspondent with ‘The Mail On Sunday’ (London) reporting from Latin America, Africa and the USA and he covered the end of the ‘Cold War’ in Europe.

His extensive radio credits include presenting ‘Start the Week’ on BBC Radio 4 and a wide variety of interview and current affairs programmes with RTE. His screen writing credits include the television dramas ‘Dear Sarah’ (Thames TV/RTE) and ‘The Need to Know’ (BBC TV). He is also a poet and is a columnist with The Sunday Business Post in Dublin.

Síoda will perform at the Rathmore Bar, Main street Clogher (opposite the Cathedral) at 8pm on Monday 5th August. Admission free. They are a young and vibrant Irish traditional band. They have been making waves on the traditional music scene throughout Ireland for the last year. The band is comprised of Emma Robinson on flute, whistles and vocals, Joanna Boyle on banjo, guitar and vocals, Alana Flynn on bodhran, vocals and dancing, Rosie Ferguson on fiddle, vocals and dancing and the only male in the line-up Conor Murphy on guitar and vocals. Coupled with the singing and playing, the band contains an all Ireland champion Irish Dancer, creating an all-round exhibition of Irish culture. The band have featured on numerous radio and television programmes, including BBC Radio Ulster’s ‘Blas Ceoil’, UTV, U105 and TG4’s ‘Geantrai’. Síoda will be joined by well-lnown singer and broadcaster Seosaimhín Ní Bheaglaoich.

Wednesday 7th August will be an opportunity to meet the two Marys….Mary O’Rourke and Mary Kenny. Both will be speaking on a day devoted mainly to dealing with the past. From the sectarianism of Carleton’s time in the Clogher Valley of the early 19th Century up to modern Ireland. The first topic that day (7th) will be the Orange Order. Politics Professor Jon Tonge from Liverpool University is an expert on the subject, author of a book on Orangeism and Britishness. Commentators Alex Kane and Dr Margaret O’Callaghan will be contributing to a discussion afterwards.

Former Fianna Fáil Minister Mary O’Rourke will talk about her Memoir concerning her life as a politician and how different political strands can be accommodated. Another guest is Dublin-born poet Siobhan Campbell, currently working with US Army veterans to set down their experiences in writing. The closing sessions will be devoted to the Carson story, the great unionist leader. Actor and playwright Paddy Scully will present extracts from his one-man show ‘Lord Edward Carson Reflects’. Author and playwright Mary Kenny will talk about ‘Carson, Irishman, Unionist and Dubliner’.

The international aspect of the summer school will be reinstated with the presence of Professor Thomas O’Grady, Director of Irish Studies at the University of Massachusetts in Boston. He will talk about Carleton’s story ‘The Donagh’ on Monday 5th August. Honorary Director, Professor Owen Dudley Edwards, will give a talk on Carleton, Irish Literature and Caesar Otway, the Protestant clergyman who influenced Carleton to convert to the Anglican church in order to get his writings published.

The question of language will be discussed on Tuesday 6th August. Dr Ciaran Mac Murchaidh, St Patrick’s Drumcondra, will speak about the use of Irish in the Clogher Valley in the era of Carleton’s youth. Dr Ian Adamson from Belfast will present a paper on Ulster Scots. The William Carleton Society President Jack Johnston will talk about Augher from the time of plantation landlord Sir Thomas Ridgeway to George Duffy, the Miller. The Miller’s daughter, Anne Duffy, Carleton’s earliest love, is the subject of a story by Josephine Treanor, who is related to her.

In a session devoted to literature, four writers will discuss their works:  Ciaran Collins from Kinsale, Co.Cork, ‘The Gamal’, Patricia Craig from Belfast, ‘Twisted Root’, Anthony Quinn from Tyrone,’Disappeared’ and Tony Bailie from Co.Down, ‘A Verse to Murder’. 

There will be entertainment each evening, including a concert at Fivemiletown Wesleyan Hall, opposite the creamery, at 8pm on Wednesday 7th August. Murley Silver Band, a local group, will be joined by Monaghan Gospel Choir, with a star guest, Gloria, famous for her recording of ‘One Day at a Time’. The previous evening (Tuesday 6th) at 8:30pm at Somers cafe, Fardross (Clogher Valley Caravan Park), the sound of bagpipers Jim Brady and Frank Gildernew along with the young pipes and drums Ulster Scots group will mix with the sound of Irish traditional musicians, the McKenna family from Clogher. The Clogher Valley ramblers have also organised a Carleton walk to finish at Fardross in time for the entertainment (departing Corick House 7pm for summer school participants). All evening events are FREE and are part-funded by the EU’s PEACE III Programme for PEACE and Reconciliation through the ‘Shared History Shared Future’ Project administered by Dungannon and South Tyrone Borough Council.

On Thursday 8th there will be a literary tour to Fermanagh including the Crom estate and Enniskillen. Cost £30 to include snack, light lunch and evening meal. Departing Corick House 10am sharp. Bookable via tour guide Frank McHugh e: f.mchugh4@btinternet.com.

The full programme can be found on our website, www.williamcarletonsociety.org or by contacting wcarletonsociety@gmail.com

WIND FARMS

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Clogher Valley with Knockmany in distance

Clogher Valley with Knockmany in distance

My journey today was close to the Carleton trail, looking towards Knockmany hill near Clogher in County Tyrone. But there was a very different view on the other side of the road between Fintona and Fivemiletown: a wind farm. Opinions about this form of ‘green’ energy are divided. But this is just one of the views I had on top of the mountain (well hill, actually!).

Wind Farm near Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone

Wind Farm near Fivemiletown, Co. Tyrone

NINETY NOT OUT

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Helping to cut the birthday cake: with Bridie McGuire (left)

Helping to cut the birthday cake: with Bridie McGuire (left)

Congratulations to Bridie McGuire, Castleblayney, County Monaghan, who was 90 last Friday, 12th July. Her family made a ‘This is Your Life’ presentation to her. They asked me to fill the role of Eamonn Andrews, which I gladly did, in view of the link between us through my grandfather, John F. Smyth from Conabury. More details in The Northern Standard.

INNISKEEN ROAD: JULY EVENING

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ALL PHOTOGRAPHS ARE COPYRIGHT MICHAEL FISHER © MMXIII AND MUST NOT BE REPRODUCED IN ANY WAY WITHOUT PERMISSION

Bikes on the road to Billy Brennan's Barn, Inniskeen

Bikes on the road to Billy Brennan’s Barn, Inniskeen Photo: © Michael Fisher

The bicycles go by in twos and threes –
There’s a dance in Billy Brennan’s barn to-night,
And there’s the half-talk code of mysteries
And the wink-and-elbow language of delight.
Half-past eight and there is not a spot
Upon a mile of road, no shadow thrown
That might turn out a man or woman, not
A footfall tapping secrecies of stone.
I have what every poet hates in spite
Of all the solemn talk of contemplation.
Oh, Alexander Selkirk knew the plight
Of being king and government and nation.
A road, a mile of kingdom, I am king
Of banks and stones and every blooming thing.
Patrick Kavanagh Inniskeen Road: July Evening 

Bikes on the road to Billy Brennan's Barn, Inniskeen

Bikes on the road to Billy Brennan’s Barn, Inniskeen Photo: © Michael Fisher

This was an enjoyable visit to Patrick Kavanagh country in Inniskeen, South Monaghan. The Patrick Kavanagh Centre organised a Gathering event based on Kavanagh’s poem quoted above, Inniskeen Road: July Evening. So it was a chance to get the High Nellies back into action over a 7.5km route through and around the village. I joined the walkers. The weather was really hot, so plenty of liquid was required en route to prevent dehydration, including a welcome cup of tea at Billy Brennan’s Barn. A great idea for a festival.

Tea and a hooley at Billy Brennan's Barn, Inniskeen

Tea and a hooley at Billy Brennan’s Barn, Inniskeen Photo: © Michael Fisher

NATIONAL DAY OF COMMEMORATION

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Commemoration at Kilmainham Photo: RTE News

Commemoration at Kilmainham Photo: RTE News

Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins led the national Day of Commemoration ceremony this morning at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin. Similar ceremonies took place at seven other locations across the state. The multi-faith and military ceremonies honoured all Irishmen and Irishwomen who died in wars or on service with the United Nations. The Dublin event was attended by the President, the Taoiseach, the Government and Council of State, as well as members of the diplomatic corps, Defence Forces, veterans’ organisations, the judiciary and Northern Ireland representatives. In this latter category it was interesting to note the presence of the Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt along with the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Máirtín Ó Muilleoir of Sinn Féin.

I watched the service which was broadcast live on RTE1 television. The military part of the ceremony was carried out with great precision and the music played by the Army No.1 Band under the baton of Lt Col. Mark Armstrong added to the solemnity of the occasion.

VIRGINIA, Co. CAVAN

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Taylo(u)r Coat of Arms (Marquis of Headfort)

With Cavan beating Fermanagh in the All-Ireland Championship qualifier and with the Virginia Show fast approaching in little over a month’s time, I found a suitable contribution today from blogger ‘Lord Belmont’ on the history of landowners the Marquesses of Headfort. It was originally published in July 2011 and is one of a series of such interesting articles on his website relating the story of the Big Houses of Ulster….
Virginia Park
THE MARQUESSES OF HEADFORT WERE MAJOR LANDOWNERS IN COUNTY CAVAN, WITH 14,220 ACRES

The first of this family who went over to Ireland was:

THOMAS TAYLOUR, who being a close friend of the celebrated Sir William Petty, accompanied him thither, in 1653.

This Thomas was the son of John Taylour, of Battle, in Sussex, and grandson of Thomas Taylour, of Ringmere, in that parish, who died at Stoneham, in that county, in 1629, aged 70.

Thomas, the grandson, jointly undertook, and perfected, the Down Survey, although the maps were published in the name of Sir William Petty only.

In 1660, he sold his lands in England, and purchased others in County Meath; and, after the Restoration, was appointed a sub-commissioner of the court of Claims, 1664-66.

After some intermediate employments, he officiated as vice-treasurer at war, during the suspension of the Lord Ranelagh, in 1681, in which office he died of dropsy and jaundice in 1682, aged 51.

His only surviving son, THOMAS TAYLOUR was created a baronet in 1704 and appointed a member of the Privy Council in 1726.

His grandson, THOMAS, 3rd Baronet, born in 1724, was raised to the peerage as Baron Headfort, in 1760; and advanced to a viscountcy, as Viscount Headfort, in 1762. Lord Headfort was further advanced, in 1766, to the dignity of an earldom, as Earl of Bective, in 1766. His eldest son, THOMAS, 2nd Earl, KP, was created MARQUESS OF HEADFORT in return for his support in passing the Act of Union, in 1800.

His seat, Headfort House, in County Meath, was the only Adam house in Ireland. In 1901 the 4th Marquess, an eminent horticulturist, caused a sensation when he converted to Rome to marry a showgirl called Rosie Boote. A figure of great dignity, she remained the dominant personality in the family during young Michael’s youth and early adult life. Virginia, in the county of Cavan, was named after ELIZABETH I, “the Virgin Queen”. It owes its origin to the plantation of Ulster in 1609. The lands eventually passed into the possession of Lucas Plunkett, Earl of Bective, a Roman Catholic, who was later created Earl of Fingall.

It can also be said that Lucas Plunkett, along with his son Christopher, frustrated the plans of the Government to proceed with the development of the town and its incorporation during his tenure. He was sympathetic to the rebel Irish and sided with them against the planters during the 1641 Rebellion and the Williamite Wars of 1688-91, earning him the label of ‘traitor’.

Consequently it fell to Thomas, 1st Marquess of Headfort, and his successors, to fulfil the patent in relation to the development of the town in the second half of the 18th century and 19th century – the patent which was originally granted to Captain Ridgeway in 1612. Lord Headfort maintained a beautiful park beside Ramor Lough, where he had a hunting lodge (above) in plain, rambling, Picturesque cottage style; a two-storey house with a three-bay centre and single-storey, three-bay wings. The family often stayed here during the summer or autumn months, between 1750 and 1939.

The former hunting lodge is now a hotel, located on the shores of Lough Ramor. The Headforts also owned 12,851 acres in Westmorland and 7,544 acres in County Meath. (Blog: Lord Belmont)

Tom Doorley pointed out on twitter @tomdoorley that the current (7th) Marquis of Headfort, Thomas Michael Ronald Christopher (Taylour), Earl of Bective, born in 1959, is an estate agent in West London. Thanks also to Tom, there’s a bit of family history in an obituary in the Daily Telegraph for the 6th Marquis, who died in December 2005, aged 73. Tom also recommends a book by Lingard Goulding on The Story of Headfort School.

In a further development it was drawn to my attention by @ThisIsCavan that the Anglo-Celt newspaper in Cavan reports that the Park Hotel, recently on the market for €900,000 with its 28 bedrooms and nine-hole golf course in a 93 acre parkland setting beside Lough Ramor, had now been purchased by a leading London restaurateur in Mayfair, Richard Corrigan.

FRANCHISE FOOTBALL

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Fulham FC

Fulham FC

News tonight of two developments in the world of English soccer. First in London with this statement from Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of Harrods and for the past sixteen years, owner of a leading football club:-

“My time of serving as the custodian of Fulham Football Club would one day come to an end, and I feel that time has now arrived”.

The Club which has a ground alongside the River Thames at Putney, Craven Cottage, has been sold to Shahid Khan, Chief Executive of Flex-N-Gate Group and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League in the United States. The transaction has been approved by the Barclays Premier League.  Khan assumes 100 per cent ownership of the club, debt-free, as of today. In a statement to AP, Khan said his priority was to ensure the club & Craven Cottage each have a viable and sustainable Premiership League future.

Meanwhile the Dons Trust, owners of League 2 side AFC Wimbledon, have expressed concern about recent developments at Coventry City FC. Chair of the Trust, Matt Breach, said that Coventry’s move to ground-share at Northampton Town “could be extremely dangerous for football”. The Football League has permitted the would-be owners of Coventry City to move the Club to Northampton for three years, citing Wimbledon’s previous move to Selhurst Park in 1991 as a precedent.

Matt Breach said:-

“In 1992, the then owners of Wimbledon Football Club were given permission to move the Club, supposedly temporarily, to Crystal Palace FC’s Selhurst Park. This was meant to be a ground share which would end with a new stadium in our home borough. But this move and the lack of proper oversight by the football authorities fostered the conditions for the stealing of our Club and its permanent removal to Milton Keynes. We’re extremely worried that in agreeing to this move, the Football League has not thought out the potential consequences, which could be catastrophic for Coventry City and its fans and community, but also could be extremely dangerous for football as a whole.”

Talking about the achievements of AFC Wimbledon under fan ownership, Matt added:-

“That we’re only now realistically seeking a return to Plough Lane, where our own demise commenced, shows just how long it can take to reconnect and rebuild those links. Although we’re very proud of what we’ve achieved under fan ownership we need to be honest and say that the cause was a failure  by the football authorities to police the game properly”, he said.

There have been more twists in the saga, as Sky Blues fan Robin Sheeran pointed out to me. The latest twist is set out in the Coventry Telegraph: “Ricoh Arena to sue Northampton Town if it hosts Coventry City ‘home’ matches“.