Author: Jane

This Michael Gallagher was my father’s father and Fr Michael Gallagher was his son and a brother of my father’s. My father’s name was Tommy Gallagher. My grandfather was very well off. He had a hooker and used to be whale fishing. He used to go to Donegal and buy stockings and selling the stockings first he hadn’t much to spare, one day here in Corrán where he was living a young man, a stranger to the place came in and that he wanted a few pairs of stockings but that he had no money my grandfather said to him: “Ní artnigim tú, bfuil bannaide a bit agat;” “Mac dé”arfa an strainféar, uad sin amac bí an t-airgead á cárnú ifteac ‘uige aguf ní faca sé lá boct ‘na déid sin gur caillead é.
When his so Fr Micheal was in collage in Maynooth there used to be a day every year that the father’s used to go to see their sons in the collage. They used to have big feast and its how the fathers of the students used to collect among themselves and pay for the dinner. Once my Grandfather was at the dinner, when they began to collect the money my Grandfather stood up and said,”Ná bacaigid leif, glanfaid mife an sgór indui”

A man of the Gallagher’s from Tieraur (Tír an Áir) a townland between Malranny and Newport) who was a parish priest in America and whilst he was there he was among most of his relations from Ballycroy and Achill and they gathered a lot of money for him. His mother’s name was Campbell, a relation of the money to be spent to educate the Gallaghers of Achill, Ballycroy Tiernur or their offspring. For the priesthood and if there was any money left over they were to go to Donegal to the offspring of the Gallaghers there. A good many Gallaghers got the scholarship but there was never a priest of the Gallaghers ordained but they were not Gallaghers -their mothers were some of the Gallaghers- and the first to be ordained from the scholarship fund was a policemans son from Newport, but he was not a Gallagher. He (the parish priest who left the money) came home to Tieraur on a visit and he walked to Achill though Corrán and back again to Tiernaur on foot. He was so gortac that he wouldn’t spend a penny and no wonder he’d have money. This Fr Gallagher was ordained sometime after my uncle (Fr Michael Gallagher ) and it was though Fr Michael recommendation he got the place in America whilst he was at home on his visit he never gave a penny to any of his friends or left them any in his will. There was a good many of the Gallaghers from Achill here who got the scholar ship, but something happened everyone of them before they were ordained, so none of them ever was a priest from it. There must be some mallait or mí-ád on it.

I remember when the monks came to Bun a Corraig (a village in central Achill) and ‘twas near a great flight when they were gathering stories for the monastery. Taws in Gallagher’s land (owners of the Public house is now rented by Mr Michael Lyon) above the road at the little bridge, when the stones were gathered ready for bringing down to Bun a Corraig were they were goin’ to build the monastery the Cashel people and the Bun a Corraig people came to stop the monks from bringing the stones down. When the Corrán people heard it they went down with their horses and carts and asses to bring down the stones for the monks. ‘Twas a woman from Clocmór side (named Grace Gallagher) that got hold of the first stone and then a man named Patten a man named Nolan, she (Grace Gallagher) belonged to FR Gallagher’s people (note on Fr Gallagher later s. m.) when the people below, Cashel and Bun a Corraig people saw that the Corrán people meant business they went home and the monastery was built. The monastery was built a year or two after my uncle (Fr Michael Gallagher) came to Achill. Fr Gallagher came to Achill in 1847.
Most of the Bun a Corraig and Cashel people were “soupers”at that time and that’s why they didn’t want the monastery in Bun a Corraig. But the Corrán people, the most of them anyway were good Catholic’s and they went down to help the monks. The Bishop ordered them that for ever as long as the monastery would be there that a Corrán man would always have Céad Míle Fáilte in the monastery , and plenty to ate and a bed for the night if he wanted it. I don’t know is it so now, any how times are different now and people don’t be travelling long journey on foot like long ‘go.

Both of them were near the chapel to the south of it where the rivers are going down to the shore. They were owned by a family of the Heverins who came from Erris ( probably from Doolough s.m.). Some of their family are living in Belfarsad yet one of the men was married to Patchaco’s daughter. One of the mills was for grinding corn and the other one was only a small one for the thickening flannin. The one for the corn was the nearest to the chapel. Its about 55 years since the big one stopped but the thickening mill was working between 20 or 25 years ago.

A daughter of Patchacó’s was married to one of the Heverins that owned this mill. (the mill was in Belfarsad near where the church is today, Belfarsad is near Achill Sound). Patchacó’s name was Pat Mc Neela he was a native of Tóin ré Gaoit,or Claggan(in South Ballycroy). He used to be with Caiptín Ó Máille, he was a better seaman than the Caiptín but he hadn’t the “navigation” like the Caipín, seldom the Caiptín used to go out without him.

In 1847, the year of the famine, Fr Mick was transferred to and given charge of the parish of Achill. Nangle’s mission was at the peak of its power. The story of Mick’s seal for his parishioners had preceded him to Achill and Nangle and his followers proceeded to persecute and annoy the priest in every possible way.
Fr Mick settled in Cashel as being the most suitable centre from which to carry out his duties and Nangle made every effort to root him out of there but failed. As a final resort the acquired the property from the O’ Donnelly of Newport and then he successfully proceeded to evict the priest. He was forced to leave Cashel and he took up residence in the Valley House. Even there the persecutors followed him and the stairs were cut away while the priest was in an upper story. The underhand methods used by Nangle to persecute the priest were displeasing even to certain members of the Prodestant Society of Achill. In those days and Mr William Pike of Derraree gave the evicted priest a small portion of land in Bleanaskill on which to build.
Just as in Islandeady Fr Mick spent himself for his flock and he laboured for them late and early. He even became permanently crippled while attending one of his parishioners on one occasion. He had been called to administer the last rites of the Church to a dying man in Ballinglanna Corraun when he was thrown from his horse and his knee was broken. From that he was compelled to use two sticks
On another occasion he had been called out to Dooega at 1 a.m. to attend a dying man and as there was no regular road to Dooega Village in those days he asked old Mathew Heaney to accompany him while they were away another party called for him to attend a sick person in Meewillan Corraun. The Meewilan party returned home after telling the priests housekeeper that a fire would be lighted in Meewillan if the priest was urgently needed that night. When the priest and Mathew returned from Dooega the signal fire was seen in Meewillan .its meaning was explained to the priest
Who immediately saddled his horse and rode rapidly to Gob na Fearta opposite Meewilan Here he forced the horse into the tide and swam him across the half-mile of intervening sea until he came ashore on Gob na nAistri .He was just in time to administer the last comforting rites to the dying man. The probability is that had he waited to travel the longer but safer road to Belfarsad the patient would have gone to His maker, unfortified by the last Sacrments. Such was Fr Mick Gallagher.one of Achill’s most illustrious sons, who never spared himself night or day in the interests of his people and like his Divine Master whose faithful servant and disciple he was, he favoured not the rich more than the poor.
For the most part, Fr Gallagher’s work was a “labour of love” The contributions from his poverty stricken parishioners never amounted to much. On one occasion his yearly collection in Upper Achill amounted to a mere £5. Were it not for his fathers resources the good Saggart would not be able to live by the Gospel” On another occasion his Easter collection in Lower Achill amounted to15/- He gave the entire collection to a poor man for the relief of the latter’s family.
During Fr Micks period of residence in Bleanaskill he was in the habit of employing two men each year in the spring time to carry out tillage operations on his small holding. Part of their duties was to go to the shore and on the rocky section cut a quantity of sea weed to be used as a fertiliser for potatoes. One spring time, the men working for Fr Mick brought a boat with them to that portion of the shore lying westwards of Cormack’s residence in Currane. Cormack was the landlord and one of the men left the boat to cut sea weed growing on a rock some distance out from the shore.
Cormack clamed this particular rock and the sea weed on it as his particular property.s he summoned Fr Mick trespass and damage. This might appear to be a strange action action on the part of catholic landlord. But Fr Mick was a most bitter opponent of landlordism and his opposition made Cormack bitter and revengeful.
Just as in a previous law suit in which Fr Mick was engaged the case went from court to court until the costs amounted to several hundred pounds and although Cormack offered to settle the whole matter for a nominal _ .Fr Mick feeling he had justice on his side. Stubbornly refused all offers of settlement and the case was finally dismissed. Fr Mick how had to bear his own law costs Here again his fathers savings came to the rescue but by the time the debts were paid the purse was empty.
Fr Mick Gallagher died a comparatively young man being only 60 years but his years on the mission had been most strenuous ones he had worn himself for his people it will be rembered that he broke his knee cap while attending to his sacred duties and because of unskilled attention at the time and because he himself would not give the limb the rest it required to heal properly it told so much against him in the last years of his duties. Sending a younger man to assist him.
On September 2nd 1867 Fr Mick passed to his eternal reward. From Dooagh to Currane from Achill Beg to Tonragee. His people flocked in hundreds to pay their last respects to their beloved Fr Mick when the news of his death reached them. While they stormed heaven in their sweet native Gaelic pleading for eternal repose for his soul.
Before he died he left written instructions that he was to be buried with his father and brother in Kildownet on the day of his funeral Fr Richard Prendergast of Newport wanted to have the remains interred in Kildownet Church. But Wm. Pike intervened and insisted on the terms of the will being carried out.
Fr Mick was placed with his father and brother in old Kildownet cemetery

On the 14th Dec last the fishing boats of the fishermen of Currane Achill. Were seized by Irish Free State Forces and removed to Westport Quay where they have been retained since.
Complaint has reached us that the fishermen thus deprived of the means of earning a livelihood are in a very bad state and the District Councillor of the division at Westport Workhouse on Thursday to apply that out-door relief be provided for them.
It seems strange that the boats should be retained so long. Their condition has not improved by the lying up atWestport Quay and quite possible some of those boats are now almost worthless.
We trust this matter may receive attention from those in a position to deal with it. The loss of boats in this the cod fishing season is a very serious loss to those poor fisherman.
This report was taken from the Mayo News of March 10th 1923.
Our research tells us that the Free State Army or Black in Tans seized eight boats from Clochan and some older people remember that day and remember seeing the boats going over to Westport one after the other.
The boats seized were. Michael Sheans Michael Jims Michael the Tailors Pat Liams
Michael Phatch Mhor. James Mauds, Pat Mhiceals.
The boats were returned and £8. Compensation paid to the Fishermen.

Rev. Sir,
In justification of my character I think it is necessary to lay before the public the bad usage you have given me at Mass last Sunday and likewise all the provocation I gave you for doing so.
You are aware that I am a man that lives by my industry, and of course I both weigh and pay with every person without regarding what religious opinions they may hold, provided I find them honest in their dealings. I therefore have sold to the Colony people some potatoes, for which you have treated me at Mass in a most unmerciful manner by cursing and abusing me, and then turning me out of the Chapel in presence of all the congregation as you would a complete heretic .
Indeed if I were going to change my religion I would not blame you for cursing me the same as you do every other person that turns Protestant, but this is not the case with me, I only gave them the value of their money the same as I would to any other person, and I won’t be prevented from doing so, and you may curse away as much as you like because I am sure that God won’t suffer them to fall upon me in such a case.
Now as you have put me to it, I shall expose before the public your mean principles, even in the private affairs of your own congregation. You know that the last time that you held confessions in my house, after going to the next village, you told the neighbours there that you hoped they would give yourselves and your horses better usage than I did, that you were never in so poor a house, that I starved both yourself and the horses therefore in repudiation of such a statement I shall only appeal to Messrs. T.& R.& M’G. three respectable persons whom I brought to dinner with you and keep you company on that occasion.
You know that it happened upon a Friday, and ye could eat no meat, I therefore prepared a good seasoned Ling for your dinner, and plenty of whiskey, and I gave you plenty of bread and butter and tea, for breakfast and supper, and after that as much punch as you were able to drink, and the horses got plenty of potatoes, as there was no oats to be got, and all the thanks ye had for me, was to begin to speak bad of me behind my back.
I am, Sir, your humble servant,
Patrick Mc Hugh.
Duniver, July 5, 1839

Patrick J. O’ Malley retired president of the Cleveland AFL-CIO Federation of Labour, at one time was the most powerful labour leader in the city. He rose through the ranks to become regional director of the United Auto Workers, a post he held for 19 years until his retirement in 1968.
Mr O’ Malley of Fairview Park was admitted to Lakewood Hospital on Sunday with congestive heart failure and died there yesterday. He was 80 years of age. He was a farm boy, born in County Mayo, Ireland, who first saw trade unionism at work when he was a coalminer in England at the age of 17. Four years later he immigrated to Cleveland where his three sisters had preceded him.
Mr. O’Malley brought with him a brogue and a feisty temperament. Both diminished somewhat through the years. His style as a labour leader was marked by fairness and a give and take. If his temper flared, he was quick to make amends, a long time colleague said. He became a naturalized citizen Jan. 22nd 1932. He had been a member of the Irish Republican Army, fighting the English but did not like to talk about those early days.
His first job here was in the mailing room of The Plain Dealer. He told a reporter about being fired from that job, and three other jobs soon thereafter because of his quick temper. In 1928 he got a job with White Motor Co. as an inventory clerk and timekeeper. When the old CIO union organized there five years later, he was one of the first to sign up. That was the start of his long career in Labour. The union at White became local 32 of the UAW and Mr.O’Malley eventually held every office. He was Cleveland Federation of Labour president from 1958 –1968 on a part time basis. At his retirement as regional director of the UAW in 1968 he became the federation’s full time president.
Ironically, 1968 was the year the UAW withdrew from the national AFL-CIO and Mr O’Malley became a member of the International Association of Machinists to keep his eligibility for the top job, which he held through the early 1970’s. He had also been vice president of the Ohio AFL-CIO.
In his early days in Cleveland he played soccer for Celtics and marched in the back of St. Patrick’s Day parades, playing the bagpipes in a marching band. In 1959 he was grand marshal of the parade.
In 1964 he received the Civic Award from the Greater Cleveland Knight’s of Columbus and in 1968 was named Irish Good Fellow by the Irish Good fellowship Club. He had been on the boards of many civic and welfare groups and in 1970 was appointed foreman of the September term of the county grand jury. In 1967 he received the distinguished service award from the United Appeal of Greater Cleveland. After his retirement he served five years on the Fairview Park board of zoning appeals.
His wife of 53 years, Mary died in 1981. He is survived by daughters Patricia Ratty and Nancy Mc Namara, 10 grand- children and three great grand- children and three sisters, Mary Annie and Betty.
Service will be at 10 a.m. at St.Angela’Merici Catholic Church, 20970 Lorain Rd. Fairview Park.

To compromise is to doubt your own convictions, run the old adage and it’s one that Padraig Joyce might well have coined himself.
Padraig who ?
Sorry we should have said “Seoighthe”, for that’s how he was known the length and breadth of his beloved Achill ,that fair place that he worked so tirelessly for throughout an all too short a life.
“Seoigthe” was born in Mewillian, Currane in 1920. He was educated at Currane N.S. Coláiste Einde, Galway and St. Patrick’s teacher training college in Dublin. He was principal of Derreens N. S. from 1948 to 1982.
He had a consuming life-long interest in the Irish language, Irish culture and Gaelicgames.
Together, they were the aphrodisiacs that gave him such a zest for life, and outside his school and his family, he dedicated his life to all things Irish.
“Seoigthe” was a man of considered opinion, but having made up his mind on an issue, he was steadfast in his views. The logic that he brought to debate in getting his message across often caused ire among his opponents but was rarely successfully challenged. He had an abiding concern for Achill and it’s people and this concern led him to be a founder member of the Achill Civil Rights Association in 1970 and later to the setting up of Comhar Chumann Forbartha Acla. Both are worthy of special articles in themselves, what can be said with certainty is that “Seoighthe” never spared himself in his efforts to achieve the goals of both bodies.
Sport to him meant only one thing, the Gaelic Athletic Association. He had a distinguished career in the Association, first as founder member of Achill G.A.A.Club and long-term administrator, and later as President of the West ;Mayo G.A.A. Board and the Mayo Minor Board. As with all his commitments to his own community his service to the G. A. A. was voluntary and unstinting.
A man of literary bent, it was only natural that he should write. His skills in this area found expression in a book of short stories “Diabhal Smid Bhreige Ann”, published in 1981 by FNT/ Mayo News. He had a long and happy association with “The Mayo News”, contributing to the “Flashes from Achill” for many years. Happily that association continues through his daughter, Dereens School Principal Catherine Seoigthe. His son Micheál, now based in Dublin, was also a valued member of our staff for many years and was the first full-time Advertising Manager appointed with “The Mayo News”.
Pádraig died in 1987 after losing his battle against terminal illness. In an action packed life-time he achieved more than most of his peers and certainly contributed more.
He will always be remembered with fondness and affection at “The Mayo News” and our special centenary supplement would not be complete without this small tribute to him. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.