Ballyshannon Technical School One Hundred Years Ago

Ballyshannon Technical School 1914 was the  first in County Donegal. The school was in the three storey building in the centre foreground, between the Courthouse and the former Methodist Church,  St. Anne's  Church is on top of the hill.

                                                                                                                                                   

Technical/ Vocational education in County Donegal had its beginnings a century ago in Ballyshannon which linked with Letterkenny in providing the first two schools in the county. This article looks back to the early days in the first school on the Mall, Ballyshannon and the people who paved the way for others to follow. The great pioneer of technical education James O’ Neill was the first principal of both Ballyshannon and Letterkenny Technical schools at the same time in 1914. He resided in Ballyshannon and later became the first C.E.O. of Co. Donegal V.E.C. with its offices in Ballyshannon from 1930 to 1949. For almost 40 years the school was situated on the Mall overlooking the renowned Assaroe waterfall.  From 1914 until the era of the Second World War Ballyshannon Technical school provided the only available post-primary education in the community. The only alternative was for those with sufficient income or who won a scholarship to go off to boarding schools. The school was established in a most historic period coinciding with the First World War and the independence struggle. Its legacy to the local community still continues in 2015.

Technical Education from Pettigo to Bundoran 1902  

As early as 1902 James O’ Neill, a native of Larne Co. Antrim, had come to County Donegal as an itinerant woodwork teacher and devoted his life to the provision of technical education  for the people so that they could be self sufficient. Itinerant teachers travelled around the county spending upwards of a month in locally rented accommodation, to which they transported their equipment, enrolled classes and provided hands on service to isolated communities. James O’ Neill travelled extensively throughout the county including Buncrana, Letterkenny, Killybegs, Ardara and Ballyshannon. Local instructors such as Ellen Hannigan in Pettigo were employed to provide crochet classes for four hours a day. By 1914 there were sprigging classes in the courthouse in Pettigo with further classes in Lettercran in a room in Mr. Flood’s house. Meanwhile the Bundoran Co-operative Home Industry and the Bundoran Carrickmacross Lace and Crochet Group taught skills and enabled the students to sell their finished products. Ms. McKenna who was later to be employed in the first technical schools in Ballyshannon and Letterkenny conducted cookery classes in Ballintra. In Belleek a lace group was organised and conducted by Ms. Slevin which operated four hours a day and three days a week.

Ballyshannon had two groups with Ms. Mulligan and Ms. Margaret McMenamin providing instruction in lace and crochet respectively. Classes sold their lace products on the open market but with the outbreak of World War 1 the value of the work dropped and earnings fell by 50%. Early technical education had its humble beginnings in hired accommodation with itinerant teachers and locally based skilled instructors providing a valuable service to people whose education had ended with primary school. The opening of schools in Ballyshannon and Letterkenny in 1914 was to provide the first permanently based technical schools in the county.

Ballyshannon Technical School 1914

In 1914 the two largest towns in the county were selected by County Donegal Joint Technical Instruction Committee to establish the first permanent technical schools. Locally much of the talk in 1914 would have been about men enlisting in the army at Finner Camp and going off to fight on the Western Front in France. The roadway outside the  technical school on the Mall  in Ballyshannon would have been busy with salmon fishermen coming and going, to the Assaroe waterfall and the Mall Quay nearby. James O’Neill was appointed Principal of both Ballyshannon and Letterkenny Technical schools which both opened in October 1914. Undaunted he took on the challenge and commuted between both locations by C.D.R. train. The logistics of running two schools so far apart required military precision and frequent reference to the railway timetables. Mr. O’ Neill was also required to conduct a short course of instruction in some other part of the county during the summer holidays. Generations of local people from the urban and rural areas around Ballyshannon were provided with educational opportunities to follow on from their primary education. 

In 1914 the search for a building to house the first technical school resulted in the selection of a three storey building on the Mall beside the Courthouse. The building had originally been a warehouse in close proximity to the harbour at the Mall Quay. The building was leased from the Sheil Trustees and was to be the home of the technical school until the present building was constructed on College Street in 1952. (Subsequently the building on the Mall was to be the home of the Catholic Club, the Boxing Club and the local library. The site is nowadays occupied by a private residence between the Tyrhugh Centre and the former Methodist Church). John McCaffrey, architect, who had previously been Principal of Armagh Technical School, planned the alterations to the building in 1914. On the ground floor were the Mechanical Drawing, Manual Instruction and Metalwork rooms; the first floor housed the Domestic Science room while the second floor had the Commercial Department and an Art room. There were a number of offices, stores and toilets. Ballyshannon Technical school had a most attractive location as it directly overlooked the Assaroe waterfall which was the most beautiful natural attraction in the town.

The Technical School on the Mall was to provide exceptionally high standards in draughtsmanship, carpentry, joinery and metalwork and many local offices and businesses were to benefit from the skills learned in the typing and commercial departments in the school. Brother Hugh Gallagher O.F.M. a native of Mullinaleck Co. Leitrim, recalled attending the Technical School on the Mall where he made a horse cart under the guidance of Louis Emerson, which he later drove home from the school. The school also provided skills for those who were forced to emigrate in search of employment and many emigrants and older members of the community acknowledge the educational opportunities they received and which equipped them to find employment. Many successful local businesses credit their origins to the Technical School.

Educational Opportunities in the era of the First World War

By November 1914 a total of 144 students were enrolled in Ballyshannon Technical School on the Mall which must be some kind of record as the proposal to open the school was taken in April of the same year. This enrolment also reflected the demand for further education in the community. Students were drawn from a wide catchment,  encompassing the areas in and around the town, extending to Bundoran and Kinlough areas and out to the Rossnowlagh and  Ballintra areas. Fermanagh students were also a significant feature in the school and the bicycle was widely used as a means of transport. It was to be a further 50 years and more before school transport enabled generations of students from the wider area to go on to second level education with progression to third level. In 1914 students had a choice of four main courses of study in the school namely; Commercial, Domestic, Farmers and Building Trades plus an Introductory Course. To encourage wider participation and to make education accessible to all, the school had enlightened scholarship schemes. The top 15 students who obtained highest marks for attendance and homework in the session 1914/1915 were given free education in the following year. As many families would have had economic difficulties, another enlightened grant was that given to students who had over 80% attendance as they had half their examination fees paid for Department and RSA examinations.James O'Neill, although not a native speaker,had a tremendous love of the Irish language and the Gaelic League, and ensured that staff and students throughout the county were given Irish courses to keep the language alive.

School Life and the Commute to Letterkenny

In 1914 classes in Ballyshannon Technical school began at 3 p.m. for day students and night classes commenced at 7.30 p.m. Some staff including the Principal commuted between Ballyshannon and Letterkenny and taught classes in both schools. On the 12^th April 1915 Ms. McKenna, the Domestic Economy instructor, had a predicament which she solved in a novel manner. She had missed a train at Letterkenny on her way to teach in Ballyshannon and was unable to arrive there before 8 o’clock. She wired instructions to one of the students to conduct classes until her arrival! Some staff who are still remembered from the school on the Mall include Mr. O’ Neill, the Principal, Ms. Hilda Boyle, Mr. T.W. Smyth, Ms. K. McKenna, Ms. O’ Doherty, Charlie Stuart and  Louis Emerson. Mr. Francis Doherty N.T. Creevy National School taught the Introductory Course in the evenings after completing his days work in the primary school. Michael Walsh was the secretary and Patrick Patton and his son were caretakers in succession in the school on the Mall. In subsequent periods Louis Emerson and Paddy Gallagher  who both  arrived in the county during the 1930’s were to continue the pioneering role of technical education in Ballyshannon.

Paddy Tunney, renowned author, ballad writer, historian and singer recalled in his book “The Stone Fiddle” attending the old Technical School on the Mall. After finishing primary school he and many others cycled in the Belleek road to Ballyshannon and the following are a few of his reminiscences of the school and one of his teachers, Ms. Hilda Boyle:

"When I finished school in Derryhallow, my course was set for Ballyshanny on the winding banks of Erne, where at the Vocational school; a wry old bachelor from Oughterdrum told me that headsheaf would be put on my learning. My abiding memory of the school on the Mall is the music of Casca Aodh Ruaidh that filled our ears as we listened to Ms. Hilda’s recitation of Herrick’s “Fair Daffodils” or struggled with her dissertation on self-balancing ledgers. In the school on the Mall overlooking famed Assaroe, we gathered to garner wisdom and learning.”

In the years prior to the border being established, Ballyshannon was the market town and educational centre for areas such as Belleek and Garrison in County Fermanagh. Concerns were expressed in the 1920s during the Boundary Commission review that the border would hamper the local economy by cutting off part of the town’s natural hinterland in County Fermanagh. 

Gaelic Football team in Ballyshannon Technical school 1936/1937
Front (l.tor.) P.McIntyre, J.Gallagher, H.Maguire, J.McGahern (captain), J.Feely, J.Gallinagh, S.Cleary, E.McIntyre
back (l.tor.) F.Grimes, S.Slevin, B.Loughlin, K. Connolly, L.Slevin, J.McGarrigle, W.O'Donnell

 Legacy of Vocational/ Technical Education in the Ballyshannon Area

At the very beginning of the 20^th century teachers travelled out to local communities such as Bundoran, Belleek, Ballintra and Pettigo and provided educational training in technical skills for the people. By 1914 with the opening of the Technical School on the Mall in Ballyshannon, generations of local people were equipped for the world of work and for highly valued apprenticeships. Later in 1952 with the building of a new Technical/ Vocational school on College Street, a new era of educational opportunity gradually opened up, with technical and academic subjects to Leaving Certificate level, and with computerisation and commercial courses to equip students for a fast changing world. New opportunities also opened up for access to 3^rd Level and all this was made possible by the pioneers who laid the foundations a century ago in the old school on the Mall. James O'Neill died on 12th July 1951 at his residence in College Street opposite the Vocational school. He is buried with his wife Ellen  in Abbey Assaroe in his adopted Ballyshannon.

 

Ballyshannon Vocational/Technical School has left a lasting legacy in the local community through its involvement with the establishment of Magh Ene College in Bundoran and with the amalgamation of the three post-primary schools in Ballyshannon to form Coláiste Cholmcille in 2000. The Technical School building in College Street Ballyshannon still provides for the changing needs of the local community and is now renamed The Adult Education and Training Centre. County Donegal V.E.C. has taken on a broader role and today is called Donegal Education and Training Board guided by current C.E.O Mr. Shaun Purcell. Today there are fifteen schools in the county with seven Adult Education and Training Centres, Gartan Outdoor Education Centre and many resources and facilities to meet the ever changing needs in the county. Errigal College is a continuation of Letterkenny Technical School founded alongside Ballyshannon in 1914 and   celebrates a century of continuous second level education in 2014/2015. The school will be marking its centenary with  a commemorative book and Ballyshannon Vocational/ Technical School published a book prior to the amalgamation of the three schools in Ballyshannon. Major changes and developments have occurred in the past one hundred years since the  foundations of technical education were laid in County Donegal, by that great educational pioneer, James O’Neill and his team  in Ballyshannon 1914. For further information on the history of the Ballyshannon area log on to ballyshannonmusing.blogspot.com

A  Local History Book suitable for those at Home and Away
"Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" 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. It contains the full story of  The Green Lady which  was recently performed in Ballyshannon  to great acclaim. 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.
Also available from Anthony Begley for postal enquiries email anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com

Christmas in Ballyshannon 125 years ago

Journey through the streets of the  town and enjoy the Christmas shopping in Ballyshannon 125 years ago. Do any of the business premises survive in 2014?

Christmas Shopping in Ballyshannon in 1889

Christmas in 1889 saw lots of optimism with many business premises and private residences decorated for the festive season. As you journey through the streets of Ballyshannon in 1889 you can’t help but notice the large number of shops in the main thoroughfares.  There were a lot more shops in 1889 than in 2014 but some shops were smaller, in a few cases a front room in a house. For a more complete list of business premises check out The Ulster Directory of 1880 contained in “Ballyshannon Genealogy and History” noted at the end of the article.

Shopping in the Port

In 1889 the Port area in Ballyshannon was a thriving hub of business but alas the street surface left a lot to be desired. The post office and the Vindicator newspaper were on East Port and a host of local business premises were decorated for Christmas. A local correspondent for “The Donegal Vindicator” has left a descriptive account of Christmas shopping  in the busy town of Ballyshannon in 1889, although space prohibited the reporter listing all businesses:

The two Ports, East and West, though somewhat narrow, did their best to enliven the dullness caused by the thick layer of mud always there. At the extreme West Mr. P. Kelly’s premises were tastefully decorated with the orthodox evergreen, Mr. Peter Campbell’s leather warehouse being also tastefully done up.  Mr. J. Gillespie’s grocery establishment was also prettily adorned with evergreen.  At the Bridge end Mr. James Moohan had his extensive premises fancifully festooned, the decorations from lack of window space being principally inside the shop. Down the East Port Mr. Rapmund has expended great taste in ornamentation, as had also Mrs. Breslin, even the Post Office contriving to throw some brightness on its stern official aspect.  Mr. J. Ward’s two establishments were nicely done up, and across the way Mrs. Cunion’s drapery establishment was a glow of everygreen and holly.  Next door the “Vindicator” looked dull, gloomy and forbidding, as befits a Nationalist newspaper office in these days of prison dungeons and removeable law.  Right over the way, however, Mr. William Maguire’s premises made up for the dark spot by a glow of light and colour, set off with holly and evergreens.Mr. James Brown’s shop was very prettily decorated wiith the usual green.  The other shops along the Bridge were all decorated more or less and some of them looked really charming. 

It becomes evident as you follow the reporter through the main thoroughfares of Ballyshannon, how few of the families who ran businesses in 1889 are still in business today. This indicates, as much as anything does, the massive changes which have taken place in the past 125 years.

The Far Side

One of the great mysteries of life in Ballyshannon is, that no matter what side of the river Erne you were living on, you were said by the locals to be from ‘the far side.’ So crossing the bridge we come to the barracks on ‘the far side’ and the shops on the Main Street. The first building on your left is still called the old barracks, although it had not been used by the military since way before the Great Famine of the 1840s.

So that you can get your bearings in 2012  the old barracks is occupied by Diarmaid Keon (DKP) auctioneers and Erne Carpets today, the premises of Robert Sweeney listed below were located where the Bank of Ireland is today. P.B. Stephen’s ‘emporium’ is where Mary McGuinness has the town’s bookshop called ‘The Novel Idea’.

The newspaper correspondent having crossed the 14 -arch bridge  resumed his descriptions of shops commencing at the bottom of the Main Street:

Crossing the Erne swollen by recent rains, the first place to catch the eye is Mr. John Cassidy’s licensed premises, and here quite an unusual array of floral decorations were to be seen and next door Mr. Potter had made a pretty show.The premises of Mr. M. Flanagan command attention. They make some thing like a pantomimic transformation scene, and especially after nightfall proved very attractive. Some of the choicest goods in the haberdashery line are here displayed amid a judicious arrangement of evergreens and large featherly plumes of foreign grasses.  When lighted up at night the effect is very pleasing and attractive.  The interior is also redolent of the festive season.The premises of  Mr. Michael  Cassidy, butcher, were also adorned in a most artistic manner. In the “barrack” decorations were necessarily confined to the interior, and Mr. Patterson, the courteous manager, must be complimented on the dazzling appearance presented on entering. Mr. John Stephens’ establishment was also handsomely ‘got up’ with evergreens and holly, not to speak of the tempting array of Christmas goods set off to such advantage.

Mr. Robert Sweeney’s large premises were decorated in every corner, and the windows displayed great taste in arrangement and style. Every Christmas novelty in the drapery line was procurrable here.  Mr. McClelland also had his place very beautifully decorated. Only a passing notice can be given to the premises up this fashionable thoroughfare. Mr. Renison’s premises sported a profusion of holly and evergreens, and Mr. Lipsett’s recent battles did not prevent him from flourishing the season’s emblems. Mrs. Mulhern’s premises were tastefully arranged.  Returning down the opposite side the nice arrangement of Messrs. Forde companies premises was noted. Mr. John Daly had an abundant show of evergreen interspersed with his Christmas stock of fancy drapery goods, nor was the boot and shoe department neglected.  Mr. Hegarty’s jewellery establishment also bore  witness to the festive seson in the shape of holly and evergreen.

Crossing over, Mr. P.B. Stephens’ fancy emporium is reached, and a truly dazzling sight meets the gaze.  The variety here ranges from the tiny toy to the choicest article in usefulness.  Noticeable amongst them being the rarest speciments of parian ware from the world renowned Belleek Pottery.  Farther up, the premises of Mr. Edward Stephens are choicely decorated. Floral ornamentations are also seen in the shops of Mr. McNulty, Mr. Mulrine, Mr. C. Campbell, Mr. J. Kelly and Mrs. Gallagher.  It would be impossible to chronicle and comment upon all. Down the Mall the attractive premises of Mr. Trimble are tastefully and elaborately decorated with moustached monkeys, mirth provoking clowns and other appropriate emblems, suitable for the establishment. Though somewhat out of the beaten track the premises of Mr. Myles must not be forgotten.  The decorations were on a fine scale and thoroughly artistic, obtaining no aid, however, from the nature of his goods, ironmongery and such like, being perhaps the most difficult of all to show off with any effect.

Mr. Lipsett’s ‘recent battles’ above refers to a disagreement which he had over the Inspector Martin plaque which can be seen today in St. Anne’s Church. Trimble’s on the Mall named above were a newspaper family who still print “The Impartial Reporter” in Enniskillen. Ballyshannon had 2 newspaper at the time with McAdam’s Donegal Vindicator on the Port and Trimble’s Donegal Independent its rival on the Mall.

In 1889 few people were seen to be under the influence of alcohol during the festive season and there were no disturbances of any kind. Business premises in the town closed for Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day 
 unlike in modern times where the holiday is generally longer. 






25% reduction in book price for Christmas  2014.  Book available in Novel Idea, Pearse and Rory O'Neill,  Cleary's Garage, Ballyshannon Museum, Local Hands and Four Masters Bookshop. 

Signed hard back and soft back books available at special  price from Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com  Enquiries welcome for postal  details.

Ideal local gift for Christmas and other special occasions. 

 

A  Local History Book suitable for those at Home and Away

A new book entitled: "Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" 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.

It contains the full story of  The Green Lady which  was recently performed in Ballyshannon  to great acclaim. 

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.

Happy Christmas 2014 to all who follow or come across Ballyshannon Musings wherever you are in the world. Anthony Begley.

A busy year for Ballyshannon history up to Christmas 2014

Ballyshannon book at 25% reduction for Christmas. Available at €15  from Novel Idea/ Ballyshannon Museum/ Cleary's garage/ Pearse and Rory O' Neills and Four Master's Bookshop. Also available by post for details contact anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com 500 pages with lots of  photographs including colour aerial images.

Ballyshannon history is vibrant and had a really good year in 2014. The attendances at events surpassed any previous year and it was great to see so many younger people attending. Interest in the town hopefully can be channelled into support for business enterprises. To paraphrase a visitor to the ancient town of Ballyshannon; the town has been here long before our time and will be here when we have passed on. Ballyshannon has durability and a heritage which will hopefully sustain it in the future as it has in difficult periods in the past. Visitors I have met this year from Australia, USA, Canada, the Far East, Europe and Great Britain are all amazed that such a relatively small town has such a rich history. Ballyshannon Musings blog continues to connect with thousands of hits being made from all corners of the world where there are people with roots in Ballyshannon and surrounding areas or an interest in County Donegal. 

Looking Back on 2014 

Memories of an Historic Convent Building in Ballyshannon – Good News for Ballyshannon  

This was the most popular blog of the year on Ballyshannon Musings and was a good news story for Ballyshannon as the building will become a health centre with investment of over €6 million. Work is progressing well and the facade and character of this impressive and historic building will be preserved for future generations.

Ballyshannon Town Clock- a Landmark since 1878  

The elements wreaked havoc on the facade of the town clock and led to the dramatic closure of the town centre for a few days in February 2014. Again there was tremendous interest in the history of the building and this was the second most popular blog of the year. Hopefully like the convent building it can have a happy ending with time restored to Ballyshannon. 

Famine Orphan Girls’ Memorial Opened in 2014

Nineteen orphan girls who went from Ballyshannon workhouse to Sydney in Australia were commemorated at a memorial constructed from March to May 2014. This was a project dear to my heart but would not have been accomplished but for the support of Paddy Donagher and the team we assembled. This was one of the final events supported by Ballyshannon Town Council before their demise. Thanks are due to all who supported the project and Mary Daly, Town Clerk, who co-ordinated much of the funding for a fitting memorial to these forgotten girls. I published a short book entitled “From Ballyshannon to Australia. Memories of Famine Orphan Girls” which tells of links made over the past 30 years and connections with many of the great great grandchildren of the orphans in Australia today. During the summer Paddy Donagher also found time to publish a short book entitled “Kildoney and the Erne Fishermen. The Court Case. A History 1607-2013 and the memorial at the Mall Quay will ensure their heroism will not be forgotten. 

Reopening of the Rock Hall 

In June the oldest surviving hall in Ballyshannon reopened its doors after a wonderful restoration job was completed. Great credit is due to the hall committee for their persistence in getting the project completed with the support of Fr. Frank and Canon Ramon. The history of the hall is included in a blog entitled “Early Movies, Drama and more in Ballyshannon” which can be found in the archive for June 2014. Marc McMenamin a local historian and broadcaster interviewed me in a short piece for RTE Radio1’s “History Show” on Bracey Daniels a pioneer of Irish cinema who is buried in the Rock graveyard and who showed his travelling movies in the Rock Hall back in the 1920s. 

Last Link with old Ballyshannon Broken 

 Fr. Ambrose O’Gorman led an active life for over a century and had clear memories of British soldiers marching though the town of Ballyshannon on their way to Finner. This popular cleric is recalled in a blog entitled “Last link with old Ballyshannon broken” which can be found in July 2014. 

First History Walk over the 3 Bridges in Ballyshannon 

On the August Bank Holiday Monday a large crowd assembled to make history as their historic journey took them over the 3 bridges in the town namely; Allingham bridge, Red Hugh O’ Donnell bridge and Assaroe footbridge. The walk also included East and West Port an area with great character and potential for street markets etc. Welcome refreshments were served in the Bridge End bar. The event was part of the successful Ballyshannon Live Festival organised by Backing Ballyshannon.

Great Great Grandchild of Famine Orphan visits Ballyshannon Memorial 

Pam Barker a great great grandchild of one of the 19 orphans who left Ballyshannon for Sydney in 1848 visited the memorial in September 2014 to remember her relative Mary Ann McDermott who had left for Australia with her sister Sally. Both sisters were from Belleek and were inmates of Ballyshannon workhouse. All 19 girls are commemorated at the memorial and on the day of Pam’s visit roses were laid by local women for each of the 19 girls as part of a moving ceremony. Despite being held the day before the All-Ireland football final, with Donegal participating, there was a great crowd to welcome her back to her homeland and Pam and her husband Peter fully appreciated the interest shown. Joy O’ Neill, a great great grandchild of another orphan Jane Carberry, has also visited the Orphan Girls’ Memorial in 2014 and a number of other descendants of the orphan girls are planning trips from Australia in 2015. 

Largest Gathering Ever at a History Talk 

 The Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon housed around 250 people for a talk I gave entitled “Ballyshannon’s ghostly past including links to Dracula and Frankenstein” as a memorial talk for the annual Emerson Lecture in memory of my good friends Louis and Kathleen Emerson. The talk also featured a short play on Ballyshannon’s best known ghost celebrity “The Green Lady” featuring Patricia Keane and Conor Beattie. The play was kindly written by Soinbhe Lally the well known Rossnowlagh based writer. The full story is told in my Book “Ballyshannon Genealogy and History” which is receiving a well earned revival in interest!! About two years ago a walk with a similar theme attracted a tremendous crowd and our ghostly past seems to be of great interest to a wide range of people. Connections to Frankenstein and Dracula have also generated great interest. The talk on ghostly Ballyshannon formed part of a most successful Allingham Arts festival and I was honoured to be invited to pay a special tribute to the late Cecil Stephens a great townsman and historian. Needless to say the tribute event to Cecil was also packed to capacity in recognition of his contribution to the arts and to his native Ballyshanny. 

40 Shades of Ballyshannon and All- Ireland Drama 

I was joined by two stalwarts Conor Carney and Patricia Keane to interpret the history of Ballyshannon in an hour in Dicey Reillys in December 2014. Conor and Patricia, as always, brilliantly interpreted the history through verse, song and story to complement my narrative. This formed part of the sell out All-Ireland one act Drama festival held in Ballyshannon 

Forthcoming Events in early 2015 

On the 11th January 2015 on RTE Radio 1’s “History Show” at 6 p.m. there will be a short feature recorded during Pam Barker’s visit to Ballyshannon for the Famine Orphan Memorial ceremony in September 2014. Marc McMenamin is the interviewer. The Drew University conference featuring visitors from USA takes place in January 2015 and I will be speaking about the orphan girls who were commemorated at the Memorial opened in Ballyshannon in 2014. Ballyshannon technical school celebrates its centenary and was the first technical school to be opened in County Donegal. It was also the first post-primary school opened in Ballyshannon. A blog will tell the story in January 2015.

Anthony Begley : anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com

Special event to mark a nostalgic return to Ballyshannon 1848-2014 .

 A special event with music, history and floral tributes will be held at the newly opened Famine Orphan Girls’ Memorial beside the workhouse in Ballyshannon on Saturday 20^th September at 3 p.m. This event will welcome a descendant of one of 19 orphan girls who will all be commemorated at the commemoration. Refreshments will be served afterwards in the Rock Hall. All are welcome to this historic event.

Two orphan girls called McDermott from Belleek were part of a group of 19 orphans from the Ballyshannon, Belleek and Kinlough areas who were shipped to Australia in 1848 at the height of the Famine. Pam Barker a great great grandchild of one of the orphan girls Mary Ann McDermott is paying a nostalgic visit to the Orphan Girls’ Memorial on Saturday 20^th September. The McDermott sisters landed in Sydney in February 1849 on a ship called The Inchinnan carrying girls from a number of Irish workhouses. Mary was a house servant and could read and write. Sarah was also a house servant but could not read or write. Both girls were Catholics and had no relatives in Australia. 

Mary Ann McDermott married a Yorkshire man called Matthew Lester, a tailor, on the 10^th February 1851 at East Maitland New South Wale. Mary Anne’s first marriage ceremony was in the Catholic Church and her sister Sarah was one of the witnesses to the marriage. On the 12^th December 1851 she had another marriage ceremony to Matthew Lester from Hull, Yorkshire, at St. Peter’s East Maitland, an Anglican Church. They had ten children many of whom died in childhood: James Walter, Matthew, Robert, Rachel, Rebecca Ruth Rachel, Robert, James, Teresa (died young) and another Teresa. Mary Ann died on the 18^th December 1909 at East Maitland. Mary Ann had a difficult life but was a survivor who lived for upwards of 60 years in Australia.

“From Ballyshannon to Australia”

This is the title of a short book by Anthony Begley which tells of the world the 19 orphans left behind in Ballyshannon in 1848 and the lives they experienced on landing in Sydney in February 1849. The book has lots of images from home and abroad and descendants tell the stories of how the 19 girls survived in Australia. The book will be available at the event and also in The Novel Idea, Ballyshannon Museum and in Pearse and Rory O’ Neill’s premises.   

 

"Ballyshannon Genealogy and History" by Anthony Begley is a local history book for all special occasions available at The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon, Ballyshannon and District Museum and The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town. The book covers the history of the town and surrounding areas including both local parishes. There is lots of material to assist in tracing your roots . The book of 500 pages has lots of rare images and sketches many of which are in colour.

Special Offer on Postage

50% Reduction on postage for orders for this book to all destinations. Genuine special offer from author. Signed hard back and soft back books available at special  price for postal delivery or collection. Book Available from Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com  Enquiries welcome for postal and other details

First History Walk along the Erne Bridges at Ballyshannon

On Monday 4^th August 2014 the first ever history walk taking in the three bridges in Ballyshannon will be held. Aodh Ruadh (Red Hugh) O’Donnell’s bridge, William Allingham Bridge and the Assaroe footbridge are close to  the centre of town and from these bridges can be seen much of historic Ballyshannon. Along the way the walk will lead to Ballyhanna where the amazing excavations took place during the building of the by-pass. Memories will be brought to life of incidents along the Port, which was until the 1940s the main routes to and from Northern Ireland and to Bundoran, Sligo and the West. 

Open invitation to all to gather at the Market Yard at 3 p.m. and join the walk. The event is part of a week of events organised as Ballyshannon Live. Check for further details of other events. 

Many events will be recalled including:

1.      Red Hugh O’ Donnell’s connections with the town

2.      Corry McGinty eel weir

3.      Kathleen’s Falls and its history

4.      Ballyhanna a forgotten cemetery

5.      Curious link between the Convent and the Flight of the Earls

6.      Patrick Sarsfield in Ballyshannon

7.      Murders in the Port

8.      The Night of the Big Wind

9.      Bianconi and the Vanyard

10.  Rogan’s Fly Tying Craft

11.  The site of The Donegal Vindicator

12.  Memories of the War of Independence

13.  Eoin O’ Duffy and the Blueshirts

14.  Early days of the movies

15.  The Hydro-Electric Scheme

And much much more-------------

Forthcoming Events

Saturday 20^th September Nostalgic Famine Visit: A great-great grandchild of one of the Famine orphan girls will be welcomed to Ballyshannon on Saturday 20^th September in the afternoon. The orphan girls are commemorated at the Memorial opened in May of this year beside the Workhouse. We hope that lots of people from a wide  area will attend this emotional visit and there will be music, song and stories to mark the visit. All are welcome to attend to welcome home a descendant of an orphan girl who left Ballyshannon at the height of the Famine in October 1848. Further details later.

Friday 7^th November Ghostly Talk: As part of the Allingham Arts Week-end a talk entitled “Ballyshannon’s ghostly past including links to Dracula and Frankstein” will be given in the Abbey Arts Centre at 8.30 p.m. The talk by Anthony Begley will be given in memory of Kathleen and Louis Emerson of County Donegal Historical Society. All welcome to attend.

Please spread the word about the events above as support is always needed.

 

A local history book for all special occasions available at The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon, Ballyshannon and District Museum and The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town.

50% Reduction on postage for orders for this book to all destinations. Genuine special offer from author. Signed hard back and soft back books available at special  price for postal delivery or collection. Book Available from Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com  Enquiries welcome for postal and other details

The Top Ten most popular Blogs on the Ballyshannon area

Ballyshannon Musings continues to be popular worldwide with  Ireland, United States of America and United Kingdom being the top 3 countries. Other countries with a sizeable readership include Australia, Canada, France, Spain and Germany.Worlwide there are upwards of 50 countries where people are reading the blogs.

The following list shows the most popular blogs which have been read by people worlwide in the past year. Why not check out any you have missed in the archive on Ballyshannon Musings.

Top Ten Blogs in the Past Year (July 2013- July 2014)

1. Memories of an historic convent building
2. Ten rarely asked questions about Ballyshannon
3. Ballyshannon Town Clock-a landmark since 1878
4. Ballyshannon a market town in Famine times
5. Last link with old Ballyshannon broken
6. Opening of Famine orphan girls' memorial
7. Christmas in Ballyshannon 1889
8. Kildoney fishermen's victory
9. Cures of bygone days
10. A unique diary of Ballyshannon life in the 1840's

 

A local history book for all special occasions available at The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon, Ballyshannon and District Museum and The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town.

50% Reduction on postage for orders for this book to all destinations. Genuine special offer from author. Signed hard back and soft back books available at special  price for postal delivery or collection. Book Available from Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com  Enquiries welcome for postal and other details