Ronan Killeen interviews Eddie Sommers by Ronan Killeen

Back in 2012 I interview Eddie with my pen and paper. I took a few notes. Some pieces I think are missing but enjoy anyways.

"Taylor's Mill had a turbine underneath. The course of the river had changed. River flows in under the bridge. Trout would be caught down there. The turbine wheels under the river.
The farmers association knocked rates would have to be paid on it. Taylor's mill knocked in the 70's. Sean Broderick would be shouting Irish.
The old boys school teachers house between the school down by the handball alley. Mrs. Woods went teaching in 1940. Whelan came in from Newcaslte."

A list of Athenry Musical Society Show's 2000-2013 by Ronan Killeen (Revised 2018)

Athenry Musical Society's production of 'My Fair Lady' 2004. The scene is 'Ascot' with the Ascot Chorus for the
song 'Ascot Gavotte'.

In the 1950's, the Athenry Musical Society was known as the Athenry Choral Society which performed Gilbert and

Sullivan operettas such as HMS Pinafore; The Mikado; Trail by Jury and The Gondoliers.

After the 1950's the musical society was dormant. However, fast forward to the December of 1997 when a variety

concert was staged in Athenry with a group of singers singing various tunes from musicals. It was proposed 

in 1999 that the musical would be revived by Olive Marie Gardiner. 

Subsequently, a permanent committee was formed and the musical society was brought back into life again. Below is a list of show's done in the 2000's. 

Athenry Musical Society show 2000-2013.

Fiddler on the Roof                                 2000

Anything Goes                                        2001

Oklahoma                                               2002

'Sugar' (some like it hot the musical)     2003

My Fair Lady                                         2004

South Pacific                                          2005

Me and My Girl                                      2006

Guys and Dolls                                       2007

Pirates of Penzance                               2008

Suessical                                                 2009

All Shook Up                                          2010

Athenry Musical Extravaganza              2011

Calamity Jane                                       2012

Sweet Charity                                        2013

Above: 'The Sun Has Got His Hat On' from Athenry Musical Society production of 'Me and My Girl' 2006.

Churches near Athenry and random newspaper clippings by Ronan Killeen

Above: he Archbishop visits Newcastle church, Athenry reported in the 'Freeman's Journal' 21 April 1923. (This is during Irish Civil War period). Below: Newcastle Church

Above: Ryehill Church

Below: newspaper clipping is from the 'Freeman's Journal' 29th June 1918

Athenry 1916:Newspaper accounts in 1914 by Ronan Killeen

Irish Independent 5th June 1914

THE IRISH NATIONAL VOLUNTEERS

_________

RAPID SPREAD OF THE MOVEMENT

_________

BOTH PARTIES UNITED IN KINGSTOWN


"Writing to Mr. Jos (Rooney, secretary of the
Organising committee at Athenry, Sir Roger
Casement says - 'The Irish Volunteers
are now the custodians of their country's manhood.
They are the beginning of an Irish Army - and every
man must feel he is entitled as an Irishman, to step
into his ranks without being questioned, as to
his political opinions, any more than to his
religous views.
Any attempt to hold political inquistions on the political
opinions of the Irish volunteers must be treated as
subversive of displine - a thing not to be tolerated
in a military organisation. We want military efficency,
and to build up a native army, relying on Irish courage
virtue and displine'.
Sir Roger and Colonel Moore are expected to attend a great Galway review
on the 29th."

A Timeline of Athenry Waterworks and Sewage Committee 1912-1918 by Ronan Killeen

September 7th 1912: The townspeople of Athenry were pleased to know waterworks and sewerage scheme passed. Three police had contracted Typhoid which had been allegedly due to the bad sanitary conditions of Athenry barracks.

A statement was brought out that the three men contracted it when they jumped into a pond of water and one man could not get a bed in Galway.

February 8th 1913: The following works were to be carried out after the Loughrea District Council invited tenders for the following; construction of a service resovoir,and pump house; providing and laying cast iron pipes; hydrants; engine pumps; and other works according to plans and specifications prepared by Mr. F. Bergin, B. E., 36 Moorland street, Dublin.

March 1st 1913: A clerk of works was set up for Athenry waterworks was set up which consisted of the following members; Very Rev. Cannon Canton; Rev. R. P. Roe, Rev. Burkitt, R. P Nolan Galway Co. Co., P. McDonagh, D. C., Thomas Ruane and J. T. Kelly were appointed to consider all questions connected with waterworks or sewage in Athenry and to report it to the council.

August 1st 1914: A secretary position for the Athenry Waterworks at a salary of £6 a year was advertised. The duties of the person who will be appointed were to conduct correspondence; on behalf the committee and council, keep minutes, and carry out all order of the committee appertaining to the office.

The postage and and other out of pocket expenses will be allowed, and stationary supplied by the council.

August 10th 1918: Athenry waterworks  committee invite instructions to the payment of water rent by the military at Athenry. Mr. McDonagh said the committee thought 30 shillings per month would be a reasonable sum. There were 300 and 400 soldiers in Athenry who were getting their supply of water daily from the Swangate fountain.

Source: Connacht Tribune 1912-1918

                     

Ronan Killeen interviews Greg Rabbitte by Ronan Killeen

Back in 2010 when I was doing Rural Arts in my B.A. (Ordinary) Degree in Heritage Studies in GMIT, Galway. I decided to work on a project of the Athenry railway station as I always wondered why the buildings looked unique to the railway station.  I got in touch with local railway man the late Greg Rabbittee and interviewed him. As I was writing fast at the time there maybe some pieces I have missed.

"Passenger train 7.55 am passenger train coming from Tuam. I would put on the lamps (Oil). Oil needed every few hours. 73 lamps need to be lit. Home signals; Oater home signals; Distant signals. I had to park at Mellows College. Up at 6.30am, 7.15am started work and finished at 3 o'clock in the day. Station cottage twelve gables and unique to the British Isles. Other men who worked on the railway Peter Scully and Christy Quintan. You would not be appointed if you were not from the area. The Valley Halls and Loughnanes (Referring to those that lived in the railway cottages). At the railway crossing Duanes, Stephen Duane’s family. (Author's note: As far as I know I have been informed by locals that Duanes were up in Ballygurrane station cottage were the level crossing is near the Raheen Woods Hotel).

The railway company rebuild station cottage and  station house. Goods were closed in 1979. Road freight had taken over no freight is carried over. The four man's hut and the oil room near there. Would be signing in for work in the morning."

I asked him about a Mr. Hahesy would was station master at the time of the 30's according to daughter of Mr. Hahesy his daughter Maisie Hahesy addressed her house was Station House in one of the Irish folklore manuscripts. Greg told me that Mr. Hahesy was station master round the 1940's and 1950's and at the time Station Master's would wear swallow tail coates. He also told me about Duffy family who had the Athenry Railway Hotel (Now the Galway Roscommon Education Training Board) from the 1950's and 1980's. Below is a video link of Greg filmed by Athenry resident Tom Curran in 1989. Greg Rabbitte passed away on the 4th August 2013.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOpcGYDwYDo

Fr. Harry Feeney by Ronan Killeen

Fr. Harry Feeney (see Relatives and Friends of Galway 1916 https://www.facebook.com/Athenry2016/photos/pb.1462815837335683.-2207520000.1459940412./1676135819337016/?type=3&theater)

In the last few years I've been meaning to write about Fr. Harry Feeney who has appeared a lot in 1916 research. Fr. Henry (Harry) was a native of Twomileditch, Castlegar, Galway and was born on the 4th March 1889. He was ordained in college chapel  Maynooth on 21 June 1914 by Most Rev. John Harty Archbishop of Cashel.

He was appointed C.C. (Catholic Curate) in Kilcorman Parish (now Clarinbridge) immediately and was serving there at the time of the 1916 Rising.

   Fr. Feeney wrote to Fr. Tully P.P. (Parish Priest) Kilcornan on the 25th of April 1916 as follows:

Dear Fr. Tully,

                          I am going as a chaplain to the Volunteers force. Kindly attend the sick and all...in my absence.

I shall let you know in time if I can be back for Sunday Mass.

Yours,

             H.Feeney

Having joined the volunteers he was present at the taking of Moyode Castle & was there when Rev. Dr. Fahy (professor Maynooth & later UCG) brought news of the surrender of the Dublin rising. After the Easter Rising in 1916, Fr. Feeney hit with the Redemptionists at Esker and after some weeks of overland travel made his way to Mount Mellory Cistercian Monastery. A warrant was issued for his arrest at Gort on the 19 May 1916.

He was in bad health. Rev. Dr. Fahy appealed to General Maccready GOC Crown Forces Ireland for  clemency and a pardon was granted. Fr. Feeney. Fr. Feeney was appointed C.C. in Kilcummin (now Oughterard) but constant harrassment from Crown Forces and his poor health resulted in emigration to Los Angeles in 1921.
   He later served in Fruititia, Coloarado. Returning in 1922 he was appointed CC first in Moycullen; and later in Shrule. In 1924 he was appointed P.P. in Shrule.
    Fr. Feeney died on the 15th April 1945 in Shrule and is buried in Shrule Church grounds.


Note: I would like to thank archivist Tom Kilgarriff for information on the life of Fr.Feeney

When Athenry 1916 Centenary Finally Arrived in Athenry 2016! By Ronan Killeen

It was an amazing day in Athenry Monday 28th March 2016 to commemorated the 1916. Great weather; great crowd; great events!  I am not going to go heavy into these events I will let my readers view photos and the videos. Please enjoy.

I would like to thank the following.
Relatives and Friends of Galway 1916.
Athenry Tidy Towns.
Galway County Council.
All who attended and were apart of the events.

Videos's
Love this video! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkgiViZebxQ

Athenry Tidy Towns 1916 Commemorative Garden at Swangate Athenry - blessings!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiCdPEJg78Q



Photograph's
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LkgNRtZb6g

https://www.facebook.com/1538422919763566/photos/ms.c.eJxFkdmRBTEIAzPaQoA48k9sYcae99uFaBkjBYrSNi8XzT~_kSFU1oijatQBolgio7fYAFaZFoQJxImYUlKPqBZwls8NM5E5EPRPkC5JcC8JOZBpsRLJOJCe0kfC7gzoepJldC~_yx5O3B5k5o4DR1160udQGmdqElX4DqEWNS1ue1CJ97RLQeoBsbC06kndyJyf3ALk3zA4KPhXa1Mh0HTJUPxBbzygPMY29a35Fd1kLn3UHYAvsmWufqBM9HKcTXUvBjgdbzt4xjgce~_BXIPhP2BmTCXfxgVaaI~-.bps.a.1700573226881867.1073741882.1538422919763566/1701218293484027/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/1538422919763566/photos/ms.c.eJxF0NkNxDAIBNCOVoCHw~;03tgmIiT~_fOAZringe5HGUy~;3pwPNesEPQqNLyImAqbAEppq4ZCy4zlBC3KxwLFQ0nFxINYI60XqusqAH5oN4tiA0G6bXwIOiAL~_i0HN5y7zs0r7BiksomhenAXov5MfDHgA6WSEK3SLHFB5IQ0hCHMBXxVaCHGqNnH~;d83B~_i6Fin.bps.a.1700573226881867.1073741882.1538422919763566/1700573473548509/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/Galwaycounty/photos/a.1079960512043366.1073741987.555481664491256/1079960552043362/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/Galwaycounty/photos/a.1079966612042756.1073741989.555481664491256/1079966642042753/?type=3&theater

https://www.facebook.com/JoeCreanPhotography/?fref=ts

A Brief History of Athenry Post Office (Revised 2016)

This year marks 230 years since the first Post Office opened in Athenry town, in 1786, and this article seeks to mark same. Athenry would go on to play an important role in the development of the postal service in Galway. Since the start of the nineteenth century, when Joseph Lopdell was Postmaster, Athenry has played a critical role in communications in the region and would remain a head office for postal services in the county until the 1 March 1912 - managing offices as far away as Ballyglunin and elsewhere in South Galway for a period in the early 1900s.
   Early Days It was however a fluctuating role as in 1834 Athenry had been reduced to a sub-office, under Craughwell, following the establishment of the Penny Post between Craughwell and Monivea (through Athenry). It was restored as a ‘Post town and Head Office’ in 1852, and in April 1849 Athenry was given free post delivery. In his work on ‘Galway Postal History’, Jimmy O’Connor (1995) confirmed that N. Browne was Postmaster until 5 May 1821 when he was dismissed (owed £10 16 2½) being replaced by Wm B Persse (on a salary of £25).
  

Technology
Technological advances were pervasive e.g. the system of sending and receiving of telegrams had been first developed privately in 1846. In 1870 the Electric Telegraph Company transferred to state ownership and so the Post Office entered the world of telecommunications. By December of that year the telegraph office of Galway was transferred to the Post Office.
   Next, the Morse System was introduced and used up until 1957 until it was replaced by teleprinters.

Disorderly
There were sometimes ‘performance issues’ as in March 1852 when Mr Neptune Persse (Postmaster 1831-52) was warned on his intemperate habits (drinking on duty), while in 1883 the Postmistress, Mary Anne Rushe, was warned for neglecting her duties after she had refused to issue a Money Order or Postal Order to Joseph Biggar MP at 7 p.m.

Shooting
In 1913 a telegraph messenger, Patrick Shea, who had been employed to convey mails from Athenry to Attymon was shot at when passing Clonkun. With pellets in his head and back, Shea was brought to the postmaster of Galway W.G. Todd, and then to the Galway Infirmary where he was examined by Dr. Colohon who was medical officer to the postal authorities. Three years later (1916), in rationalisations, two Postman positions were abolished in the town.

Raids
In the 1920s Athenry Post Office experienced raids. The first one happened on 25 April 1922 with £200 stolen, and the second happened on 14 December 1923 with the raiders had getting away with c. £282, and £170 in cash. Dispute On Sunday 10 March 1935 a meeting was called in Athenry to protest against the wage claim which had been on behalf of the National Executive in view of low wages being paid. The Post Office at this time was on the right hand side of the square i.e. where AIB is today.

Sources

O'Connor, J, 'Aspects of Galway's Postal History 1638- 1984', JGAHS Vol. 44 (1992). O'Connor, J, ‘Galway Postal History’, JGAHS Vol. 47 (1995). 1913 and 1935 Irish Times Online Archive

Postal Workers in the Athenry Area from the 1901 census

Michael Feeney, Aux postman, Ballygurran South.
Michael Heavy, Postman, Athenry Town.
Michael Duffy, R Postman GPO Dept., Caheroyan.
Thomas Barrett, Post Office Official, Athenry Town.
Owen Judge, Postmaster, Athenry Town.
Margaret O'Reilly,Post Office Clerk, Athenry Town.
John O' Reilly,Rural Postman,Athenry Town.
Tom O'Reilly, Rural Postman, Athenry Town.
Pat O'Reilly,Rural Postman,Athenry Town.
James O'Reilly, Rural Postman,Athenry Town.
John West, Post Office Clerk,Athenry Town.
Patrick McNamara,Postman, Athenry Town.
Thomas McInerney, R Postman GPO D, Ballygurran Sth.
Ellen Dooly, Post Office Clerk, Athenry Town.
John Coleman, PO Pensioner,Athenry Town.

Note: Barrett was born in Dublin, Judge in Mayo, O’Reilly in Cavan, West in Sligo, and McInerney in the East Indies

Religon in Athenry: The Wesley Visits extract by Ronan Killeen

"On Tuesday 17th, Wesley travelled through Crusheen and Gort to the village of Kilchreest, where he received an invitation from Colonel Persse to visit him in Roxborough House. From Roxborough the Colonel drove him to preach at Kilchreest. 

  Then he returned with his host, 'but the house being full of genteel company', Wesley was out of his element, as he had not an opportunity to speak upon spiritual things. Next morning he had reached Athenry by 6 a.m. 

  On the road he heard that a little girl - Mary Brooke 'had sat up all night, and had walked two miles to see him, so he took her into his carriage, and was surprised to find her continually rejoicing in God'.

   According to an account in the Wesleyan Magazine (1845), she was converted at the age of  twelve, and lived a consistent Christian life in Dublin for more than sixty years.
   He breakfasted in Athenry, had dinner in Carmorris (probably Cahermorris House) and reached Ballinarobe at 4 p.m.

In A History of Methodism in Ireland: Vol. II by C. H. Crookshank a paragraph writes "At Athenry, the Catholics eagerly purchased all the Testaments that were for sale. 

The following extract is from Wesley's One and Twenty Visits to Ireland: A Short Survey by Robert Hare & A History of Methodism in Ireland: Vol. II by C. H. Crookshank

Thank You Readers by Ronan Killeen

For the past five years I have been working on this blog. I would like to thank all those who have interacted with the blog by reading my articles. The site has been viewed an estimate of 74,000 times all around the world which include the USA, Ireland, UK, Russia, Germany, Australia, France, Ukraine, Canada, New Zealand and many other countries.

When I get more time I will be revising old articles and adding new ones. Thank you readers for regularly reading my articles.