Fore Abbey - A Wonder of Westmeath

Pictures by Michael Fagan

A mound of churches that exists in the heart of the Irish midlands is an historical place of stones beside the village of Fore, County Westmeath, writes David Flynn.
The French Benedictine abbey ruin is situated within a valley and beneath two hills, and it appears that the stones are deliberately built into the hill.  Also, it almost appears that the abbey has grown out of the stone-filled hill.
The broken and in some parts roofless ruin, has many nooks and crannies all among its more than four walls.  The stone surrounding hosts history from other centuries involving monks, vikings and the people of the nearby village of Fore.

High in the hills behind the abbey is rich green forestry, all marrying nature together around the grounds, which is also surrounded by grazing cattle.
The abbey was founded around the year 630, which is almost 90 years after the founding of Clonmacnoise in the adjoining County Offaly.  Between the eighth and twelfth centuries, Fore Abbey was destroyed many times by Vikings.  However most of the stone building today in Fore Abbey is from the 15^th century and has been restored since the 1940s by various groups including the county council, FAS teams, and the Office of Public Works. 

The Abbey is also noted for what the local population call its seven wonders: 1. A monastery built upon a bog, 2, the mill without a race, 3 water that flows uphill, 4, the tree with three branches that won’t burn, 5, the water that doesn’t boil in St. Fechin’s holy well, 6, the anchorite in a cell, 7, the lintel-stone raised by St. Fechin’s prayers.’

 

STREETE PARISH PARK VINTAGE DAY - Sunday, July 12th, 2015

The fun filled Vintage Day which is now in its 14th year, is one of the most popular family days in the Irish Midlands.

Streete, Co. Westmeath boasts one of the most renowned Vintage Shows in Ireland and has also become well known as a fun day out for families and folk of all ages.  The village’s Vintage Day is so well renowned that two years after it was set up, Streete obtained the All Ireland Vintage Society Rally (2005) and now a full decade on, it comes full circle again with Streete hosting the Irish Vintage Society All Ireland 2015 this July 12th.

This year the rally will feature some of the most interesting vehicles in Ireland, such as vintage cars, tractors, motorcycles, stationary engines, and many more, including from another era – horse drawn equipment.  A huge turnout of vehicles is expected on the day, not just because of the All Ireland Rally, but because of the name the Streete Show has developed over the past decade.

Thousands of folk turned up on the 2005 day, and the same and more is expected this year.  Expected on the day from all over Ireland are a minimum of 500 cars as well as at least 100 tractors.  There will also be many vintage “stand alone” engines.  The annual charity Tractor Run around the district is one of the most popular events on Saturday, 11th, the day before the Sunday Vintage Day and it will commence at 4 p.m. from the Streete Parish Park Community Centre and Sports Complex.

Some novel beauties like Model Railway working display will be set up and operated by its owner, Michael Leek and there will also be an opportunity to see some tinsmiths at work.

Everything on the day is built in and around the Community Centre and Sports Complex which is an important resource for the youth of the area.  The Sports Centre itself allows for many sporting pursuits.  A jaunting car with Clydesdale horses will be present on the day, which is another opportunity not experienced every day.  Children’s entertainment will also be on site and it’s important to point out that Order of Malta members will be in attendance on the day, giving of their generous time for the safety of all in the vicinity.

Streete Parish Park members will be supporting the local Tractor Run with support from many neighbouring clubs.  The Tractor Run followed by a BBQ in memory of local man, Philip Moran and as said above the approximate 20 mile Run will take place on the Saturday, starting at 4 p.m.  Funds raised on the day will be donated to the Irish Heart Foundation, St. Mary’s Catholic Church and the local Church of Ireland in Streete.

There is overnight supervised parking for tractors etc. on Saturday night.  There will be a display of early 1900’s vehicles, including steam engines.  Another must see is the Ladies Tractor Build at 3p.m. on Sunday when a group of women from Virginia, Co. Cavan called “THE HEATHER ANGELS” will be dismantling and rebuilding a tractor.

It will cost €10 for adults for the day and children are free, which will make the outing more attractive for a family outing.  A special souvenir brochure will be available at a minimum cost if required.  There will be live music and entertainment on the outdoor stage as well as an area suitable for dancing should you wish.

The atmosphere will be Irish Vintage and it promises to be a most enjoyable day for everyone from a toddler to much much older folk.  There will be entertainment for all and as well, there will be entertainment in all the local pubs and food and accommodation in some.  Food will be available all day on site.

The Irish Vintage Reps Michael and Maureen Cole expect to have an outdoor stand with all IVS literature and insurance details.  There will be many displays etc. and many tea stalls, cake stalls as well as a great selection of crafts too many to mention.

Come and see John Reynolds from County Leitrim, who will have his Horse and Barrel Wagon on display, as he demonstrates the original skill of cooking and baking outdoors.  You can sample some bacon and cabbage, cooked on site in a skillet.
The ever popular Dog Show will take place at 3p.m. with nine classes which is being sponsored by well known Oliver Kelleher (Castlebar Ltd).
 For some excitement there will be mouse racing and much more.  The location of the site is 4 miles off the N4 from Rathowen Church.
The site is on around 12 acres of farmland not including ten acres for parking (with plenty of room for disabled parking).  The Vintage Day site is just 56 km from Athlone, 75km from Dublin on the N4 and 25km from Mullingar, also on the N4.  Signposts will be at many points from the nearby towns of Edgeworthstown, Castlepollard and Granard.

Pictures from past Streete Vintage Days taken by Michael Fagan

Derryglad - A Gem from Ireland’s Past

Pic: Davey O'Connor

 Close to the border of the midlands and west is Derryglad Folk Museum which encompasses 5,000 artefacts from the last hundred years or so.  The folk museum is situated within eyesight from Curraghboy village, which is about seven miles from Athlone town.

Pic: Davey O'Connor

The museum has its own storyteller, Charlie Finneran, who gives individual attention to each of the folk who happen upon the popular museum on the country road.  Charlie has become an institution in himself, and has proven himself a big hit with visitors to the folk museum, writes David Flynn.
Charlie built the museum on his own land, and filled it with original artefacts from the past.
Signs to many of the Roscommon villages adorn the grounds of Derryglad Folk museum, showing its support for its native and surrounding homeplaces on this acre of history.

Pic: Michael Fagan

As you enter the driveway, you spy the old black bicycle and green post-box on the wall and around the corner from there is an old skillet pot over a fireplace. 

Pic: Orla Donnelly

In front of there is a telephone box, and inside the museum, you'll find an old phone with the button A and button B.  Outside the building is a monument of remembrance for legendary Roscommon footballer, Dermot Early.
One of the highlights of the centre is a clever replica of the old McCormack’s photography and sweet shop, which resided in Church Street, Athlone from 1948 to 2002.  Here you can see old photographs of familiar faces on the walls of the replica building.  Cameras, all from the film age are there on display, just like we were still in the 20^th century. 

Pic: Davey O'Connor

Following on you encounter a great array of farm machinery and an old schoolroom, which looks so real, you can see yourself back in the desk with the inkwell.  Around the schoolroom are tin whistles, the old map, religious artefacts, and the old suitcase schoolbags.

The main body of the museum houses many old household objects, like washboards, earthenware hot water bottles, a settle-bed, ration books, war medals, and butter churns, to name a few out of thousands.   This is probably the highlights of the museum, with its numerous memories of old Ireland.

Pic: Michael Fagan

 

Sport is featured to a great degree in the Derryglad museum, with heroes such as Jimmy Murray of Knockcroghery and Gerry O’Malley of St. Brigid's honoured with photographs and old footballs. 

Pic: Orla Donnelly

Memories of various shops from the midlands are also there, like an old chemist called the Medical Hall’. The chemist, which has potions from another day displays old wares such as carbolic soap, and something called ‘Asthma Cigarettes’.

Pic: Orla Donnelly

 

Out the side door, you can walk into a colourful area of well-preserved farm machinery, ploughs, and tools of other ages.

Pic: Michael Fagan

Charlie is there throughout the whole acre of history.  He is there for guidance or just a sociable chat.  Derryglad is a magnificent journey into a past that we thought was long gone, and which we thought we would never see again.

http://www.derrygladfolkmuseum.com/

 

The WW1 Christmas Day Truce

At Christmas 2002, I published a story in ‘Ireland’s Eye’ magazine, about a song written by an Irish writer, about the truce that happened between Allie and German soldiers during the early days of WW1.    

This Christmas song is still doing the rounds of the airwaves, and in the intervening years since 2002 it has been recorded to great acclaim by Daniel O’Donnell and Tommy Fleming.    

In the 1970’s, the writer of the song, Cormac McConnell wrote about ‘The Christmas Man’ which also features on theirishsod.com  Many things have changed from when I originally wrote the story, including the death of Cormac’s brother Sean.

 

Honoured in Song: Christmas Day Truce 1915

Writer and broadaster Cormac McConnell is the author of a lovely Christmas song that is currently filtering through the airwaves.  The lovely ballad tells the tale of a long-forgotten WW1 Christmas Day incident.

This Christmas a song which has been getting as much airplay as last year’s Robbie Williams/Nicole Kidman No. 1 hit, ‘Something Stupid’, is a lovely ballad entitled ‘Silent Night 1915’, which depicts the story of Germany and the Allies calling a truce and socialising together.
Cormac, who is the brother of Irish Times Agricultural Correspondent, Sean McConnell and Mickey McConnell, who wrote the classic rebel song ‘Only Our Rivers Run Free’, is well-known in the world of music and journalism. 
He fell into the story of the incident of Christmas Day 1915 while watching a television documentary one night a number of years ago.  It was reported that one of the young German soldiers sung ‘Silent Night’ on that Christmas Day.
“They all hugged each other, exchanged gifts and played a game of soccer,” said Cormac, about the historic occasion.
Cormac today lectures in communications at NUI Galway and holds down a five times weekly show on Clare FM.
The journalist was inspired to write a song about the unique WW1 event, and the ballad is now showing all the signs of becoming an Irish classic. 
“There is no footage of it, but on the night of the documentary it touched me and my life went in a flash, and I wrote it immediately,” recalled Cormac.  “I remember walking around the room writing it.”
He proudly said that when he first sang the number to an audience in a music pub, - “there were tears in their eyes,”.
Cormac wasn’t confident enough to record the song himself, but gave it to the fine tenor, Jerry Lynch, who gives great power to the beautiful ballad.   The lovely tune has got lots of airplay on Val Joyce’s Late Date programme on RTE Radio 1 and on the main local radio stations this Christmas.
“I’m generally very proud of it,” says Cormac. 

 

 

Coffee Table Book on Westmeath Houses

A large book comprising around 700 photos of many local houses, which are almost as many years old was launched last month in Athlone.
Athlone historian, Donal O’Brien researched, photographed, and wrote ‘The Houses and Landed Families of Westmeath’.  The work is a perfect resource for students of local history, and for the pure enjoyment of those interested in particular local houses of history in the county.
The coffee table style book was launched by another Athlone historian, Gearoid O’Brien at the Prince of Wales, Hotel.  The houses featured in the book are catalogued alphabetically and begin at Abbey House in Athlone, and end with two Woodville Houses, one in Lissywollen, Athone and the other in Mullingar.   
Donal is a native of St. Francis Terrace, Athlone, and was one of five children of Harry and May O’Brien.    
At the Prince of Wales Hotel last month, the room was crowded with family, friends and neighbours of Donal’s, which included many devotees of local history.
“He has left no stone unturned in his search for information.  Quite often in the course of his researches he caught out earlier writers who had perhaps jumped to conclusions or mixed up two different houses,” said Gearoid about Donal’s authorship of the new history book. “Through the pages of this wonderful book we can trace the various movements in Irish architecture through the last 300 years as evidenced by the great houses of Westmeath.  Quite apart from the houses is the great deal of information on the families who lived in the houses – this includes amusing stories and anecdotes about many of the landed families of Westmeath.”
Gearoid made a prediction about Donal’s book.  He said that in 100 years, people will be talking about Donal O’Brien – the man who wrote ‘The Man and Landed Families of Westmeath’.
The book is available in the Left Bank Antiques shop, Main Street, Athlone (next to Sean's Bar), and other local shops, or directly from Donal.   

Halloween Witch Visits Athlone

Halloween is only hours away, and Athlone has gotten its early and annual visit from the Halloween Witch.  Over the past thirty years, she has visited The Cova shop in Athlone, just before the holy eve of October 31^st.
She sits on guard at the shop for the week leading up to Halloween, greeting folk with a hollow, yet hearty and piercing laugh whenever she hears a loud noise.
She appears to be harmless, and her laugh can be heard all over the Ballymahon Road.  Where she comes from or where she goes, nobody knows, but she has her broomstick, so can travel.
“To me, a witch is a woman that is capable of letting her intuition take hold of her actions, that communes with her environment, that isn't afraid of facing challenges.”
― Paulo Coelho

60 Years of Waterways Recorded in New Book

Last week at a ceremony at Athlone town library, a new book was launched which celebrates sixty years of the Inland Waterways Association of Ireland, including anecdotes about the involvement and achievement of Athlone members in the Association.
The association is sixty years old this year, and the first meeting in the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin in 1954 elected Col. Harry Rice as their President.  Rice wrote ‘Thanks For the Memory’ - the seminal book on Lough Ree in the 1950s.
Siobhan Bigley, who was MC, introduced the current president, Carmel Meegan who told the gathering that today the IWAI boasts a membership of 3,500, who carry on the work of their predecessors.
“The commitment of each and every member of the Association has seen the achievement of many great feats and overcome many challenges which has ensured that boats can still enjoy free access on the inland waterways from Limerick to Belleek and further afield,” said the President.
After welcoming Athlone’s Deputy Mayor, Cllr. Aengus O’Rourke, and the large gathering, the President said the new book, ‘IWAI and the Waterways of Ireland’ by Brian Cassells, is a marvellous insight into the Association and a formal record of its sixty year history and is “a must have for anyone with an interest in Ireland's wonderful inland waterways.”
Peter Williams, from Tipperary, is a grandson of the late Col. Rice, and he told some interesting stories about his grandfather’s history.
“My grandfather was born in 1893 and went to school in Enniskillen, studied medicine in TCD, and was in the war until it ended on 11/11/1919,” said Peter.  “He went to India, got sick, and survived it all.”
He told that his grandfather’s wife’s family owned the Prince of Wales Hotel, and his sister was Gertrude Chapman, who was well known in Athlone.
“When he retired he spent many years charting the lake, and had a friendship with Sean McBride and many others and he wanted to bring tourists in, to make a contribution to the economy,” said Peter.  “He was a proud Irishman, and kept going through thick and thin, and was able to enjoy the fruit of his labours, and may the flame he lit be kept alive.”
The book was launched by RTE personality, Manchan Magan, who said while he had travelled to every corner of the world making programmes, he still had to discover much of the Irish waterways.
“We have ignored our inland waterways, but something glorious is happening now, because the Irish people are beginning to reconnect with our lands, because over the last few years, we haven’t had too much money to go abroad, so we have turned inland,” said Manchan.  “The Irish were immersed in lakes, mountains and hills, and we turned our back on that, but we are inspired to see what we have.  Every month we see new and tiny businesses coming up around this, and there is a ripple of a tide of a whole new era.”