Ballyshannon Imprisonments, Whippings and Transportation to Van Diemen´s Land

Happy St.Patrick's Day from Ballyshannon to readers in the 30 countries connected to this Ballyshannon Musings blog. Some are from the Ballyshannon area,some have family roots in the area and some have connections to the area. Hope the blog keeps you connected with the Ballyshannon area and that you might make it home for the Year of the Gathering. Anthony Begley. 

Ballyshannon Imprisonments, Whippings and Transportation to Van Diemen’s Land

Theft of property was viewed very seriously in the past and those brought before the courts faced very severe sentences including being transported to Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land). Five of those named below were from the Ballyshannon area and were transported for various acts of stealing. They were sent to prison in Australia on the other side of the world.

 Damage to property could result in a jail sentence and a public whipping through the streets of Ballyshannon as the first case below indicates

The most bizarre and cruel charge was that against inmates who had escaped from the Workhouse in Ballyshannon and their crime was? ---you’d never guess!

Prison and Public Whipping through Ballyshannon

In 1823 John McGarrigle, James McEntire, Charles Judge, Michael and Owen McGarrigle were charged with pulling down a house near Ballyshannon the property of Mary McGarrigle. All found guilty and were to be imprisoned for a year. They were also to be publicly whipped through the town of Ballyshannon from the Bridge to the Fair Green on the following days- 12^th April, 21^st June, and 18th September.

Transported to Van Diemen’s Land

In 1824 Alicia Leonard and Margaret alias Mary McManus were sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing wearing apparel in Ballyshannon. On 7^th August 1833 Margaret McShee stole three dresses belonging to Margaret McAdden a dressmaker in Ballyshannon. She was before Donegal Assizes in March 1834 and was sentenced to be transported for 7 years.

On the 23^rd of July 1840 at Donegal Assizes, Thomas Mc Cann was arrested for stealing wearing apparel at Ballyshannon on the 14^th of July. The prisoner pleaded guilty and he said that he was in liquor at the time. His lordship said that in consequence of his being of good behaviour before that date he would sentence him to be transported for seven years! Seven years!!

Ellen Maguire was charged with having stolen goods on her person. She was sentenced to seven years transportation

Prison

Rose Doherty was found in David Carter’s shop with intention to steal and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. David Carter was the editor of the local newspaper called “The Ballyshannon Herald” and also owned a shop selling a variety of stationery on Castle Street in the town.

Terence McCawley was convicted for stealing a pig and was sentenced to four months imprisonment.

A Shocking Sentence for a Bizarre Offence

What charge was brought against some inmates from the Workhouse?

A number of inmates from Ballyshannon Workhouse were brought to the court and charged with theft. They had absconded from the workhouse at different intervals and were charged with stealing the workhouse clothes which they were wearing at the time! Life was certainly tough for those poor inmates.

Next Blogs: 

Ballyshannon Musings from Australia to Zambia will be posted on 23rd March.
“Eamon de Valera’s Late Late Rally in the Diamond Ballyshannon” will be posted on 30^th March.

The Gathering in Ballyshannon: Google “The Gathering in Ballyshannon” for more details of special events you might like to attend later in the year. Lots happening in Ballyshannon in the summertime including festivals also Ballyshannon 400 celebrating the granting of a town charter in 1613 and the commemoration of the Kildoney Fishermen’s victory in1933.

Ballyshannon Musings:  Please let people with an interest in Ballyshannon and surrounding areas know about this site, particularly people who are not living locally and those who are abroad. The site is called Ballyshannon Musings and there are a number of back issues available on the internet. Copy this link and forward http://ballyshannon-musings.blogspot.ie/ The site can be located on the internet (or by connecting to my Facebook page). New items will be posted every week or two on Ballyshannon Musings during 2013, the year of “The Gathering”. The blogs are not taken from the book below

A New Local History suitable for those at Home and Away 

Anthony Begley, local historian, published a new book entitled: "Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" which reveals newly researched history and genealogy of the town, extending as far as the Rossnowlagh, Cashelard, Corlea, Clyhore, Higginstown and Finner areas. Includes the parishes of Kilbarron and Magh Ene.

The genealogy material provides detailed guidelines for anyone tracing their roots in the area or anywhere in County Donegal or Ireland. The book contains 500 pages and is richly illustrated with stunning colour, aerial photography, original illustrations and rare photographs of the area not seen before.

Topics include: How to go about Tracing your Roots/The first settlers in the area/ Newly researched history of the town of Ballyshannon and the townlands in Kilbarron and Mágh Éne parishes/ Records of the first travellers and tourists to Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Belleek and Ballintra/An aerial guide to place names along the Erne from Ballyshannon to the Bar/Flora and Fauna of the area/ A history of buildings and housing estates in the locality/Graveyard Inscriptions from the Abbey graveyard, St. Joseph’s and St. Anne’s /Rolling back the years with many memories of the Great Famine, Independence strugglle, hydro-electric scheme, Gaelic games, boxing, handball, Boy Scouts, soccer, mummers, characters, organisations, folklore and lots more.

Book Available from The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon/ The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town or can be mailed by Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com tel. 0872351044. Enquiries welcome.

Ballyshannon Links to Two Unusual Olympic Games

 Ballyshannon Links to Two Unusual Olympic Games

The name of Paul Dolan may not be known to younger generations of Ballyshannon people but the older generation still recall a young boy whom they went to primary school with in the town, later representing Ireland in two Olympic Games. Paul Dolan resided on the Mall and his father was a member of An Garda Síochána (Irish police).

The Rope Walk on the Back Mall: As a young boy attending St. Joseph’s National School in Ballyshannon, in the 1930s, Paul Dolan collected the following folklore from his mother for the national survey which was conducted at that time. :

“Years ago a man named Gillespie was famous for making ropes, twines, fishing lines etc. What is now known as the Back Mall was known then as the Rope Walk. It was there that most of the ropes were made. He also made them in the Market Yard where he lived and where some of his family still reside.”

The Kelly (Gillespie) family still have their home in the Market Yard in Ballyshannon where the famous Gillespie School of Dancing was also located. There was another Rope Walk on the Donegal Road just past Shannon’s Corner restaurant. Paul Dolan attended secondary school in St. Eunan’s College in Letterkenny. The family later moved away from Ballyshannon.

London Olympics 1948: In the London Olympics from the 29^th July-14^th August 1948, Paul Dolan represented Ireland in the 4x 100 metres. Unfortunately his Olympic debut was marred by a dispute between different sporting organisations in Ireland. The National Athletic and Cycling Association of Ireland (NACAI) had claimed the right to represent athletes from the 32 counties and as a result their members were barred from the 1936 Games in Berlin.

However by 1948 when the Olympics were held in London a rival body called the Amateur Athletic Union of Éire (AAUE) recognised the border in Ireland and were recognised by the International Amateur Athletics Federation (IAAF). There were now two teams selected to represent Ireland in the London Olympics and an embarrassing situation developed, with the NACAI team being barred and the AAUE team being recognised as the official team. Paul Dolan was an AAUE athlete and did run in the relay where the team of Dolan, Denroche, Myles and Reardon were unlucky to drop the baton having reached the semi-final.

Helsinki Olympics: This amazing dispute in Irish athletics continued at the Helsinki Games in 1952 and once again, Paul Dolan, through no fault of his own was involved. The Irish Olympic Council refused to accept the nominations of Joe West and Paul Dolan of the AAUE to represent Ireland in Helsinki but the AAUE decided to send the athletes. On arrival they were forced to leave the Irish camp and once again Ireland had two teams representing the country. Dolan, West and a fencing team who were representing the AAUE, a 26 county federation, were not allowed to take part in the parade but did compete in the Helsinki Olympics. Paul Dolan competed in, the 100, 200 and 400 metre events in Helsinki but was unsuccessful.

The Dolan family were connected to the Wood’s family who had a public house on the Mall which is presently owned by Terry and Betty McIntyre. Paul Dolan’s sister married John Giles, the Irish international soccer player and manager and current broadcaster. 

Next Blog: “Ballyshannon Whippings, Imprisonments and Transportation to Van Diemen's Land" will be posted on the  16th  March.

The Gathering in Ballyshannon: Google “The Gathering in Ballyshannon” for more details of special events you might like to attend later in the year. Lots happening in Ballyshannon in the summertime including festivals also Ballyshannon 400 celebrating the granting of a town charter in 1613 and the commemoration of the Kildoney Fishermen’s victory in1933.

Ballyshannon Musings:  Please let people with an interest in Ballyshannon and surrounding areas know about this site, particularly people who are not living locally and those who are abroad. The site is called Ballyshannon Musings and there are a number of back issues available on the internet. Copy this link and forward http://ballyshannon-musings.blogspot.ie/ The site can be located on the internet (or by connecting to my Facebook page). New items will be posted every week or two on Ballyshannon Musings during 2013, the year of “The Gathering”. 

A New Local History suitable for those at Home and Away 

Anthony Begley, local historian, published a new book entitled: "Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" which reveals newly researched history and genealogy of the town, extending as far as the Rossnowlagh, Cashelard, Corlea, Clyhore, Higginstown and Finner areas. Includes the parishes of Kilbarron and Magh Ene.

The genealogy material provides detailed guidelines for anyone tracing their roots in the area or anywhere in County Donegal or Ireland. The book contains 500 pages and is richly illustrated with stunning colour, aerial photography, original illustrations and rare photographs of the area not seen before.

Topics include: How to go about Tracing your Roots/The first settlers in the area/ Newly researched history of the town of Ballyshannon and the townlands in Kilbarron and Mágh Éne parishes/ Records of the first travellers and tourists to Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Belleek and Ballintra/An aerial guide to place names along the Erne from Ballyshannon to the Bar/Flora and Fauna of the area/ A history of buildings and housing estates in the locality/Graveyard Inscriptions from the Abbey graveyard, St. Joseph’s and St. Anne’s /Rolling back the years with many memories of the Great Famine, Independence strugglle, hydro-electric scheme, Gaelic games, boxing, handball, Boy Scouts, soccer, mummers, characters, organisations, folklore and lots more.

Book Available from The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon/ The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town or from  Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com tel. 0872351044. Enquiries welcome.

Early Drama Groups and Ballyshannon Playwrights

Early Drama Groups and Ballyshannon Playwrights

Ballyshannon Amateur Dramatic Club

This blog briefly looks back to early generations of actors and playwrights who laid the foundation for what is still today an important part of Ballyshannon life. The drama movement in Ballyshannon can be clearly traced back to the 1880s when Bernard Kelly of the Port, the first nationalist Member of Parliament for South Donegal, was a member of The Ballyshannon Amateur Dramatic Club and indeed Kelly also wrote poetry. Kelly is buried at St. Joseph’s on the Rock, just beside the Rock Hall which was a popular venue for plays and concerts. No doubt the drama movement goes back much further but records are scarce.

John McAdam and the Rock Hall

John (Pa) McAdam, editor of “The Donegal Vindicator,” produced countless plays in the Rock Hall. He was responsible for the old Dramatic Club who staged “The Colleen Bawn” and “Ara-na-Pogue” in the Rock Hall around 1904. He was an all round producer who taught  the local actors how to talk, walk and more importantly stand still. He devised the costumes and painted the scenery and even acted  parts in the plays^.

John (Pa) McAdam was recalled by Gerard Sweeny of The Commercial Hotel in his memoirs:

Pa McAdam, the proprietor of The Donegal Vindicator, a fat little man, usually spent a while each day in our kitchen, with his back to the range, particularly in winter, warming himself. Smoking a big fat cigar, hands in pockets, moving up and down on his heels for exercise, and telling all the news and receiving plenty from the kitchen staff. ---- He was a wonderful character. 

In April 1914 the Ballyshannon Amateur Dramatic Club produced “The Shaughran” with the following cast: A.J. Reaper, P.J. Stephens, Cecil Stephens, J. J. O’ Dowd, Patrick Croal, (father of Premier Players’ producer Patsy Croal), J.J. Stephens, James Kelly, Bernard Brady, Miss E. Stephens, Miss S. Croal, N.T., Miss Bella Lynch and Miss O’ Daly.

The Rock Hall was officially opened on the 25^th March 1892 and for many years was the mecca for drama, dance and variety and is recalled with great affection by older residents of the area. It also became a cinema for some time before the days of the Erne Cinema and the Abbey Cinema which both came on stream in 1946.

De La Salle Brothers

In January 1914 the De La Salle Brothers produced “Benson” with the following cast: P.J. Munday, E. Higgins, J. Higgins, W. McGinley, J. Martin, F. McLoughlin, M. Walsh, P. Monaghan, John Cleary, (afterwards producer with the Premier Players founded in 1932), G. Kelly, W. Ward, H. Dolan, Luke McGinley, John Daly, T. Stephens, J. McGowan, Alby Munday and Mrs. P. Connolly. The De La Salle Brothers had only arrived in Ballyshannon in 1912 to open a primary school.

Playwrights

D.V. Stephens

Ballyshannon produced at least three playwrights in the early decades of the 20^th century. D.V. (Vincent) Stephens was producer and scenery designer in early drama productions in Ballyshannon. Later in life he organised the Bundoran Drama Festival. His play, “To Whom this Glen”, took first place for manuscript at Cork Drama Festival. He also wrote a radio play entitled “St. Columcille.” Vincent Stephens was also responsible for publishing Canon Maguire’s history of the town called, “Ballyshannon. Past and Present.”

Thomas Ward and the 98 Hall

Thomas Edward Ward of Market Street was a well known Ballyshannon poet and artist who wrote and produced “The Child of the Tempest” in the ’98 Hall. He also painted the scenery. Among the cast were: E.D. McAdam, L. Weir, S. Lee, S Martin and P. Ward. Thomas Ward published 2 books of his poetry. He lived in what is now Sean Ógs bar and the family at one time also owned what is now McGrath’s Bridge Bar. The following is an extract from his poem entitled, “Eventide” (Written in the Harbour Ballyshannon)

Nought but the rippling of the Erne breaks the silence here,

A holy peace reigns over all, the skies above are clear,

Yet clearer are the waters that silently doth flow

Beside the purple meadows where the blossoms gently grow;

Where faded sunbeams scatter their rays out far and wide,

And a clank of weary oars sound o’er the silent tide.

The 98 Hall was built in memory of the centenary of the 1798 Rebellion. It was officially opened by Belfast politician Joe Devlin who was a leader of The Ancient Order of Hibernians (A.O.H.). To commemorate the 150^th anniversary of 1798 a plaque was designed by Phil McGroarty, monumental sculptor, from Rossnowlagh . The plaque was unveiled on the front of the building on the 27^th December 1948 by Martin Bernard McGowan a former T.D. for Sligo-Leitrim.  

Ms. E.D. McAdam

Miss E.D. McAdam of “The Donegal Vindicator” newspaper who had acted in Ward’s play also wrote a play entitled; “The Hearts of Tyrconnell.” She produced the play to packed audiences in the ’98 Hall. Amongst the cast were: Miss McAdam, Mrs. J.J. Kilfedder, Miss Bella McAllister, Miss May McAllister, J.J. Kilfedder, W. Gallagher, P. Darcy, Danny Downey, B. Lyons and Matt Gilfedder. She was following in the footsteps of her father John (Pa) McAdam, both in drama and also in the newspaper business.

The Ballyshannon Players in the 1930s

Eighty years ago the Rock Hall was the major venue for drama and variety shows in the town. The Ballyshannon Players regularly performed plays by George Sheils including a three act comedy called “The New Gossoon”. The cast included; Mary Monaghan, Ignatius O’ Gorman, Harry Brady, John Cleary, Lily Daly, Seamus Martin, Meg Gillespie, Jim McFadden and Patsy Daly. They certainly gave value for money as along with Sheil’s three act play, a one act farce called “The Duplicity of David” by J. Bernard McCarthy was performed on the 6^th January 1933. The cast included Mary Monaghan, Alby Munday, Tommy McGuinness, Mary Fox and Paddy McShea. Audiences got great value for their money in those pre-television days as there were also singers and dancers accompanied by a small orchestra on the programme. The night concluded with The National Anthem.

Modern Times in the Abbey

The Premier Players reached the pinnacle of amateur drama in 1961 when under producer P.J. (Patsy) Croal they won the Open All-Ireland Final with “Old Road” achieving professional standards. There have also been successes in All-Ireland one act competitions. Soinbhe Lally who resides in Rossnowlagh, is a prolific author and has also written plays which have been successfully performed. Amongst her plays have been “The Dark Daughter”, “Donalbain” and a number of plays for national radio.

Jim and Ailis McIntyre, relatives of Thomas (Tommy) Ward, a playwright named above, are currently members of Ballyshannon Drama Society, a group who won the All-Ireland Drama Final for “Steel Magnolias” in 2011. The drama movement still thrives in Ballyshannon and has a proud history with the Annual Drama Festival in the Abbey Centre every March.

Next Blog:  “Ballyshannon Links to Two Unusual Olympic Games” will be posted on 9^th March.

The Gathering in Ballyshannon: Google “The Gathering in Ballyshannon” for more details of special events you might like to attend later in the year. Lots happening in Ballyshannon in the summertime including:

Music Festivals----------Ballyshannon 400 celebrating the granting of a town charter in 1613---- The Commemoration of the Kildoney Fishermen’s victory on behalf of the people in 1933.

Ballyshannon Musings:  Please let people with an interest in Ballyshannon and surrounding areas know about this site, particularly people who are not living locally and those who are abroad. The site is called Ballyshannon Musings and there are a number of back issues available on the internet. Copy this link and forward http://ballyshannon-musings.blogspot.ie/ The site can be located on the internet (or by connecting to my Facebook page). New items will be posted every fortnight on Ballyshannon Musings during 2013, the year of “The Gathering”.

New Local History Book: “Ballyshannon Genealogy and History” by Anthony Begley has newly researched history on the Ballyshannon area in the 19^th and 20th centuries including fishing, sport, tourism, social history, flora and fauna, The Independence struggle, The Emergency, buildings, townland history and lots of reminiscences. Contains 500 pages with much material on how to trace your roots. All the gravestone inscriptions in the 3 local cemeteries are recorded and indexed for ease of location. Includes history of all the parish of Kilbarron and the local parts of Mágh Ene parish (formerly Innismacsaint parish).

Available from The Novel Idea Ballyshannon/The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town 

or can be ordered on line from anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com   A limited number of hardbacks also available. Enquiries welcome.

Ballyshannon Musings 20 Countries Connected

Ballyshannon Musings 20 Countries Connected

This past week has seen the greatest increase in the number of hits since the blog commenced. Tales and human interest stories about the Ballyshannon area will continue to be posted for the year of the Gathering.

 20 Countries are now connected with the blog and hopefully you will spread the news to increase the numbers viewing and the number of countries involved. Pass on this link to one or two people and the word will spread. http://ballyshannon-musings.blogspot.ie/

 

Click on the link above if you want to view the latest blogs.

Next Week-End’s Blog will trace the early history of plays, actors, drama and play writing in the Rock Hall and 98 Hall in Ballyshannon before the Abbey Centre was built.

  

The following 20 Countries are linked to Ballyshannon Musings by family connections with the area or just by an interest in the locality.

Australia

Barbados

Canada

France

Germany

Ghana

Hong Kong/China

Ireland

Italy

Netherlands

Norway

Russia

Spain

Switzerland

Taiwan

U.S.A.

Ukraine

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Zambia