Sunday, August 10, 2008

8,9,10 August 2008 - visited National Library, RDS and Horse Show. Photographer Ed Ross will restore 2 photos one of Gortgowan, Moville and the other of Cochrane group meeting Lord Shaftesbury c 1900. Letter thanks Capt Cochrane for the hospitality he showed Shafterbury. Letter date not clear and unsure if Cochrane or Shafterbury are in the photo. I think one person in the group looks like a member of the Moville business family of McCandless, who owned a shop at the top of the town near old ESB office. Crowded photo with lots of history. Shaftesbury gives Belfast Castle as his address.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Tuesday 5 August 2008 - visit to Tory Island from Magheraroarty pier on Turasmara ferry with about 75 pasengers, half of them American. Patsy Dan Rogers greeted everyone on the pier with a handshake. Hired bicycle to tour island for a mere 15 euro after eisc and scealloga in cafe, which I badly needed after a bumpy voyage in Tory Sound. Viewed Derek Hill's "hut" - really a mini stone built, tile roofed caravan type structure with dramatic views. Stone road leads there with evidence of previous use of site possibly under British rule. Missed Protestant graveyard with 8 sailors from Wasp and the engineer. Photographed Round Tower, Tau cross and some houses including McRuarie's shop which I used in "Donegal in Old Photos". Visit to church and supermarker, where the customers all spoke Irish. On two occasions when I addresed islanders in Irish they replied immediately in English. Less bumpy ride home but very glad to be back on dry land.

Wednesday 6 August 2008 - Purchased colour ariel view of the house and also one showing landscape out to Glengad from the air. Trees look very good.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

Monday June 23 2008
Mercy Archives, Bessbrook, Newry. Photographed furniture carved by Donegal nuns c. 1900 : chairs, stools, episcopal chair, writing desk, ducks. Also viewed Cardinal Logue's harp, monstrances, pictures, delphware and crucifixes from around the county. A real hidden archive of a spiritual world which has undergone immense change. Part of Cottage Industries article. Nuns spent two hours per day on Recreation eg lace, embroidery or carving and also taught evening classes, probably for nothing. A forgotten part of our heritage.


Wednesday 25 June 2008
4 pm - Consultation Magee College : CDB were involved in purchase of 40 estates in the county - impressive but forgotten.
7 pm - Forest Walk at Lisnagran on Maguire forest to view forest road at Drumkeen.


Friday 27 June 2008
Launch of P Wilson's book on McGee in Culdaff by John Hume who compared him to Tone. Powerpoint looked well, including McGee safe house (Parochial House) in Kindroyhead. Priests later moved to Redford, then Bocan. Fr. McGlinchey was the last priest to live there; he died in 1897.


Saturday 28 June 2008
8 am - Derry airport
11 am -Took group of 30 on McGee walk at Tremone Bay and viewed McGee stone at beach, including gg-grandson of McGee, Mr Quinn from Switzerland and D. Wilson, author of book.
6 pm - Beach Restaurant, Buncrana.
10 pm - Culdaff again - ME AND D'ARCY McGEE, with apologies to Bobby.


Monday 30 June 2008
Buncrana - Rathmullan ferry. Reference to Maguire Home Industries in Carrigart, near site of former Mulroy Bay boatyard used by CDB. Visit to Glen (former army barracks for Doe Castle) but had to return to Carrigart. Noted construction of Mulroy Bridge.

Tuesday 1 July 2008
Fallers Jewellers Derry - gold and silve replicas of Inishowen crosses. Recommended inclusion of Cloncha broken cross and Drumaville cross-slab. Impressive collection which will appear in book form later.
Updated article of industries regarding role of Mrs. Hamilton of Brownhall, Ballintra in promoting knitting of socks and gloves. See article in Donegal Annual 2008, due 1 March 2009. Visited Brownhall in June on Field Day.

Wednesday 2 july 2008
Updated and improved my website at CGI Moville, where I got DHS constitution designed.

Tuesday, June 10, 2008

donegal history

Hello
Working on my research on Congested Districts in Donegal and on an article for publication on cottage industries.

June 11 2008

Re-checked the proofs of the book on Dr.O'Donnell, Bishop of Raphoe. Continued reading THE FREEMAN'S JOURNAL of the 1890s and 1900s and got some new info on the land and Home Rule questions. Swift McNeill MP for south Donegal and Isaac Butt were both Protestants but were elected by a Catholic population to Westminster - a comforting thought for the minority in arms over the possibility of Ireland becoming independent.

June 12 2008
Completed a short paragraph on Augustine Birrell Chief Secretary 1907-11. Birrel got more cash for land sales and many Donegal tenants benefitted. He belonged to the new Liberal government of Campbell-Bannerman which included LLoyd George, Asquith and Churchill, but he did not want to be in Ireland. Carrowmena lands were vested by Judicial Order on 15 February 1893, probably based on the 1891 Land Act which established the CDB. Drumaville lands were vested in 1889, probably based on the 1881 Land Act. This involved the Land Estates Court.

June 13 2008
10 am - on ICR FM talking about Macklin. Got proofs in the afternoon delivered to Carn.
8 pm - Launch 19th Macklin School at 8 pm with Gordon Fulton and Brian Friel. Good crowd. Showed DEAD LONG ENOUGH, made in Culdaff area two years ago.

June 14 2008
Printed out ch. 7

June 15
Discussed article on Raphoe Royal School for Annual with author - 400th anniversary.

Thursday 19 June 2008
Depart at 7.20 am for Wexford Arts Centre via Dublin. Stayed at Faithlegg Hotel, travelling there by Ballyhack-Passage East ferry (9 euro single).

Friday 20 June 2008
Visit tomb of family of Young Irelander Thomas Francis Meagher (Meagher of the Sword) at Faithlegg. Via Waterford - Kilkenny -Portlaoise - Athlone - Sligo - Culdaff : 967 kilometres. Called at Mountmellick Lace Museum but closed in the afternoon, as workers are voluntary.

Saturday 21 June 2008
Seminar on vernacular architecture at Culdaff with Prof FH Allen, and others. Large attendance.

Sunday 22 June 2008
Further additions to industries article for Donegal Annual following visit to Mountmellick.