Curry-Moylough

ARTS/HERITAGE CENTRE

A discussion on the future planning and events at Moylough Arts and Heritage Centre will take place at a special meeting next Thursday night, October 26, at 8.30 p.m. The centre is an asset for all the community young and old, everyone are invited to attend and take an active part.

25 CARD GAMES

The 25 Card games continue at Moylough Arts and Heritage Centre on Wednesday nights. Winner last week with eight games was John Brennan, runners-up with three games Martin Coffey, Pádraig Brennan, Nathy Wims.

PARISH HISTORY PROJECT

Chair, Bernard Brennan welcomed forty-two members and guests to the meeting and thanked Michael O’Hara for making the Yeats Inn facilities available.

Donal Brennan, Leitrim South proposed a vote of sympathy to the Davy family of Powellsborough and Tubbercurry on the tragic loss of Seán’s wife Mairead. Following a fitting tribute by Donal all joined in silent reflection and prayer.

The chairperson gave an update on the historical research work being carried out by the group and listed the presentations to the members and guests over the past eight months. Proposed presentations over the coming months were listed for discussion and all were invited to submit feedback and ideas for further consideration by members and steering group.

Donal and Bernard J Brennan of Leitrim South outlined a well-researched family tree of the ‘Dan Bernie’s’ Brennans, Leitrim South. Detail of five generations were graphically presented, together with a discussion on family activity through the ages, notably lifelong commitment to Curry and Sligo GAA Varied sources used for compiling genealogy information were highlighted.

Michael Howley of Curry and New York gave a poetry reading which reflected work from his published collections. In answer to a question on inspiration for particular works, Michael replied that the experiences of his early years growing up in Curry resonated throughout his poetry. Sharing his poems with a home audience was a highlight of the evening for all. Link to artinoddplaces.org/michael-howley-poetry-overheard/and hear Michael reading poetry on 14th Street.

Fr Gary Howley SPS presenting Curry History titled, ‘Stories and Sources’ enthused his audience with stories on local history of life and times in Curry dating from the 1850s to the early 1900s. Quoting from part of Gary’s presentation, which will be published in full at a later date.

Curry GAA: Club founded in 1886, County Champions 1889: ‘The replayed county final was rearranged for May 19, 1889, in John O’Hara’s field in Coolaney, where Curry faced a determined Sooey team captained by Michael Eagan. The Sligo Champion reported, ‘The members of the Curry Gaelic Club, but 12 months ago a handful of raw Gaels, unskilled in the art of footballing, wear on their breasts since Sunday last the medals provided by the County Committee for the victors.’ Curry Liberators beat Sooey by four points to three. The Sligo Champion. Saturday, May 25, 1889. Page three.

On the Land War: While 1879 is remembered as the year of the Apparition at Knock, Co. Mayo, it was also the year when severe blight affected the potato crop throughout the area and beyond. The ‘Distress’, as it was called, continued during 1880 and was so serious that it led to the creation of a ‘Famine Relief Fund’ and fuelled agitation for land reform. The campaign for reform that started in Co. Mayo in 1879 and lasted till 1903 became known as the Land War and was initiated with a series of monster rallies held at different venues. The Western People estimated a staggering eighteen thousand people attended the third such monster meeting, this one held in Curry, on Sunday, January 18, 1880. A Dominant Church – The Dioceses of Achonry 1818-1960 by Liam Swords, Columba Press, 2004. Page 232.

‘The weather was clear and dry,’ according to the account in the Sligo Champion, with people ‘standing for three hours in an open field (belonging to Bartholomew Naughton) in the sharp, biting air of a January afternoon.’ It noted, ‘The meeting, when all were assembled, could not have numbered less composed contingents from Charlestown, Kilmactigue, Cloonacool, Tubbercurry, Moylough, Drumacool, Ballymote, C.’. The Sligo Champion, Saturday, January 24, 1880. Page four. A feature of Gary’s extensive presentation was a meticulous referencing of all his material.

Following on the formal talks of the meeting members socialised over tea and light refreshments, meeting old friends and sharing experiences past and present. The next meeting takes place at the Yeats Inn, Curry on Tuesday, October 31, at 8 p.m. All with an interest in local history are welcome.