Category: History

Don Oir. James Dwyer, S.P ACAILL I.T.

A Oirmhinnigh Uasail,
chun mé féin a shaoradh, sílim go bhfuil sé riachtanach an drochbhail a chuir tú orm Dé Domhnaigh sé caite ag an Aifreann a chur os comhair an phobail, i dteannta an údair feirge a thug mé dhuit. Tá fhios agat gur fear mé a mhaireann ar mo thionscal, agus dar ndóigh meáim agus íocaim le chuile dhuine is cuma cén creideamh atá aige, chomh fada agus atá sé ionraic ina ghnaithí. Dá bhrí sin, dhíol mé roinnt fataí le lucht an Cholonaí, beart a d’íoc tú go míthrócaireach orm ag an Aifreann, trí mo mhaslú agus mo mhallachtú, agus trí mo dhíbirt as an Séipéal os comhair an phobail mar a dhéanfá le eiriceach. Go deimhin, ní thabharfainn milleán dhuit mallacht a chur orm dá mbeinn chun mo chreideamh a athrú, díreach mar a dhéanann tú le chuile dhuine eile a iompaíonn ina Phrotastúnach, ach ní hamhlaidh an cás dhomsa. Ní dhearna mé ach luach a gcuid airgid a thabhairt dóibh díreach mar a dhéanfainn le éinne eile, agus féadfaidh tú a bheith ag léamh na mallacht go lá philib a’ chleite ach, ní choiscfidh tú mé, mar tá mé cinnte nach ligfidh Dia dhóibh titim orm sa gcás ina bhfuil mé.

Anois, ó tharla gur bhain tú asam é, cuirfidh mé do thréithe suaracha, do chaitheamh anuas ar dhaoine, os comhair an phobail. Tá fhios agat an uair dheiridh a raibh na faoistiní agat in mo theach-sa go ndeacha tú go dtí an chéad bhaile eile, agus gur dhúirt tú leis na comharsan go raibh súil agat go gcaithfidís níos fearr leat ná mar a chaith mise; nach raibh tú ariamh i dteach chomh suarach, gur thug mé ocras duit féin agus dona caiple. Thug tú éitheach, agus tá T. & R. & M’G, triúr duine uasal a thug mé chun dinnéir le comhluadar a dhéanamh leat ar an ócáid sin, mar fhianaise agam. Tá fhios agat gur ar an Aoine a thit sé agus nach bhféadfá feoil a ithe. Dá bhrí sin, réitigh mé lang saillte le haghaidh do dhinnéir agus neart fuisce, agus thug mé neart aráin agus ime agus tae dhuit le haghaidh do bhricfeasta agus do shuipéir, agus ina dhiaidh sin an oiread puins agus a bhí tú ábalta a ól, agus fuair na caiple neart fataí, mar ná raibh aon choirce le fáil. agus sé a raibh de bhuíochas agat orm ná a bheith ag caitheamh anuas orm taobh thiar de mo dhroim.
Is mise, a Dhuine Uasail,
Patrick McHugh,
Dún Eibhir, 5 Iúil, 1839.

Pádraig S. Ó Máille

Ba é Patrick J. O’Malley, iar-uachtarán an Cleveland AFL-CIO Federation of Labour, an ceannaire ceardchumainn ba chumhachtaí sa gcathair tráth den tsaol. Bhí sé ag baint céim i ndiaidh céime amach san United Auto Workers nó gur shroich sé post an stiúrthóra réigiúnach, post a choinnigh sé ar feadh naoi mbliana déag nó gur éirigh sé as obair i 1968.
Tugadh an tUasal Ó Máille as Páirc Fairview chuig ospidéal Lakewood Dé Domhnaigh de bharr taom croí agus bhásaigh sé ansin inné. Bhí sé cheithre scór bliain. Ba mac feilméara beag as Co. Mhuigheo, Éirinn, é, a fuair a chéad-amharc ar cheardchumannachas nuair a bhí sé ag obair i mianaigh guail Shasana, agus gan d’aois aige ach seacht mbliana déag. Cheithre bliana ina dhiaidh sin d’imigh sé go Cleveland, áit a raibh a thriúr deirfiúr curtha futhú, ach níor fhág sé an chanúint ná an tadhd ina dhiaidh, cé is moite gur mhaolaíodar leis na blianta. Ba cheannaire díreach a raibh ligean chuige agus uaidh aige é, agus má bhuail tadhd féin é ba ghearr uaidh a leithscéal a ghabháil, a dúirt sean-chomhleacaí leis.
Fuair sé saorántacht Mheiriceá ar an 22ú d’Eanair 1932. Bhí sé ina bhall d’Arm na Poblachta, ag troid na Sasanach, ach sin tréimhse dá shaol nach labhraíodh sé air. I seomra poist an Plain Dealer a fuair sé a chéad phost anseo. D’inis sé féin do thuairisceoir faoina bhriseadh as an bpost sin agus as trí cinn eile gairid ina dhiaidh de bharr a chuid tadhda. I 1928 fuair sé post mar chléireach liostála agus maor ama. Nuair a heagraíodh ceardchumann an tsean-CIO ann chúig bhliana ina dhiaidh sin, bhí sé ar cheann dena chéad daoine a chuaigh isteach ann. Ba shin ba tús lena bhlianta fada ag plé leis an gCeardchumannachas. Baistíodh Cumann Áitiúil 32 den UAW ar cheardchumann White, agus ní raibh post oifigigh ag imeacht nach bhfuair an Uasal Ó Máille i rith na mblianta. Bhí sé ina uachtarán páirt-aimseartha ar an Cleveland Federation of Labour ó 1958 go 1968, ach nuair a d’éirigh sé as a phost mar stiúrthóir réigiúnach an UAW i 1968, ceapadh ina uachtarán lán-aimseartha é. Aisteach go leor, ba i 1968 a tharraing an UAW amach as an AFL-CIO náisiúnta, agus déanadh ball den International Association of Machinists don Uasal Ó Máille, chun go mbeadh sé i dteideal an phoist is airde, post a choinnigh sé go tús na seachtóidí. Bhí sé ina leas-uachtarán freisin ar an Ohio AFL-CIO.
D’imir sé sacar le Celtics sna chéad bhlianta dó i Cleveland, agus mháirseáil sé i bparáideanna Lá le Pádraig ag casadh na bpíopaí i mbanna máirseála. Ba é a bhí mar ard-mhaor ar an bparáid i 1959. Bhronn an Greater Cleveland Knights of Columbanus Duais Chathartha air i 1964, agus i 1968 d’ainmnigh an Irish Good Fellowship Club ina Irish Good Fellow é. Bhí sé ar bhord a lán grúpaí cathartha agus leasa shóisialta, agus i 1970 cuireadh i gceannas ard-ghiúiré an chontae é do théarma Mheán Fhómhair. Sa mbliain 1967 bhronn an United Appeal of Greater Cleveland duais seirbhíse oirirc air. Tréis éirí as obair dó chaith sé chúig bhliana ar bhord achomhairce criosála Pháirc Fairview. Bhásaigh a bhean Mary, tréis trí bliana agus leathchéad a bheith caite pósta acu, i 1981. D’fhág sé beirt iníon, Patricia Ratty agus Nancy McNamara, ina dhiaidh, i dteannta le deichniúr garchlainne, triúr iar-gharchlainne, agus triúr deirfiúr, Mary, Annie agus Betty. Beidh an tseirbhís ag 10.00 a.m. in Eaglais Caitliceach N. Angela Merici, 20970 Br. Lorain, Páirc Fairview.

Seoighe: Fear Ildánach (© an Mayo News)

Deir an seanfhocal gur easpa iontaobhais ionat féin é an géilleadh, agus is ceann é nach gcuirfeá thar Phádraig Joyce féin a chumadh. Cén Pádraig? Tá aiféala orainn; Seoighe ba chóir dúinn a rá, an t-ainm a raibh aithne agus eolas air ar fud Acla, an áit aoibhinn ar oibrigh sé chomh dúthrachtach sin ar a shon ar feadh a shaoil. Rugadh Seoighe i Maigh Mhuilinn ar an gCorrán i 1920. Fuair sé a chuid oideachais i Scoil Náisiúnta an Chorráin, i gColáiste Éinne i nGaillimh, agus i gColáiste Oiliúna Phádraigh i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bhí sé ina phríomhoide ar Scoil Náisiúnta na nDoiríní ó 1948 go dtí 1982. Bhí a chroí agus a anam sa teanga Ghaeilge, sa gcultúr agus sna cluichí gaelacha, agus b’iadsan b’ardú meanman dó. Thug sé a shaol, taobh amuigh den scoil agus dá chlann, do chuile ní Gaelach. Ba fhear é Seoighe a mhachnaigh go doimhin, agus nuair a bhí a intinn déanta suas aige ar cheist, ba dheacair é a bhogadh. Ba mhinic a réasúnaíocht ag cur oilc ar dhaoine a bhí i gcoinne a dhearcadh ar an saol, ach b’annamh a buadh air.
Bhí cúram shíoraí air faoi Acaill agus mhuintir Acla, agus b’shin í an chúis go raibh sé ina bhall de bhunaitheoirí Ghluaiseacht Chearta Sibhialta Acla i 1970, agus ina dhiaidh sin i gcur Chomhar Chumann Forbartha Acla ar a bhonnaibh. Is fiú aiste dá gcuid féin gach aon cheann acu, ach is féidir a rá gan bhréag nár spáráil Seoighe é féin san iarracht spriocanna gach aon ghrúpa a shroichint. Chomh fada agus bhain sé leisean, ní raibh aon chluichí eile ann ach cluichí Chumann Luthchleas Gael. Bhí sé ard sa gCumann, ar dtús mar bhall de bhunaitheoirí agus mar bhainisteoir fhad-théarmach Chlub Acla de Chumann Luthchleas Gael, agus ina dhiaidh sin mar Uachtarán ar Bhord Chumann Luthchleas Gael Mhuigheo Thiar, agus ar Bhord Mhionúir Mhuigheo. Dála a sheirbhís dá phobal féin, is go deonach dúthrachtach a bhí a sheirbhís do C.L.G. Bhí féith na scríbhneoireachta ann agus ní raibh sé ach nádúrtha go gcuirfeadh sé peann ar phár. Diabhal Smid Bhréige Ann , cnuasach de ghearrscéalta a d’fhoilsigh FNT/Mayo News i 1981, a bhí ar cheann de thorthaí na féithe sin. Bhí baint fhada shásúil aige leis an Mayo News, ag scríobh do Flashes from Achill ar feadh na mblianta. Ar ámharaí an tsaoil, tá a iníon, Catherine Seoighe, príomhoide Scoil Náisiúnta na nDoiríní, ag leanacht a loirg. Bhí a mhac Mícheál, atá lonnaithe i mBaile Átha Cliath anois, ar fhoireann an Mayo News ar feadh na mblianta, agus ba é an chéad Bhainisteoir Fógraíochta lán-aimseartha a ceapadh anseo é.
Bhásaigh Pádraig i 1987 tréis tinneas marfach. Chruthaigh sé níos fearr ná an chuid is mó dá chomhaoisigh, agus is cinnte gur thug sé níos mó le linn a shaoil shár-ghníomhach. Is go caoin ceanúil a chuimhneofar air sa Mayo News, agus ní bheadh an t-eagrán comórtha céad bliain seo iomlán gan an teastas seo a thabhairt air. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.

Imirce Acla agus leathinis an Chorráin

Is beag duine a bhí ag dul ar imirce as Acaill roimh 1880. Is amhlaidh a théadh na fir soir faoin tír ag spailpínteacht. Thógtaí ar aonaigh iad le haghaidh an tséasúir. Ach mhéadaigh ar an imirce go mór thréis 1880, agus ba é an t-údar a bhí leis seo ná ardú mór sa gcíos, lobhadh na bhfataí, agus teacht bealach taistil níos fearr. Is i dtús na n-ocht déag ochtóidí a thosaigh daoine ag tarraingt ar Albain. Is trí shiúl a gcos, 100 míle go Sligeach, agus ar bhád as sin go Glascú, a théadh na spailpiní. D’oibridís dona feilméirí fataí ó Mheitheamh go Samhain agus ansin d’fhillidís abhaile. San aimsir dheiridh, cuireadh bád ó ch’aon ait, ó Acaill agus ó Chathair na Mart, ar fáil dena spailpíní. In 1894 leagadh ráille traenach go hAcaill, rud a d’fhág bealach taistil díreach go Baile Átha Cliath, agus as sin bád go Glascú ag na spailpíní. I Mí an Mheithimh 1911 d’fhág 2,100 oibrí Acaill chun fataí a phiocadh in Albain, dream a dtugtaí na “tattie hokers” orthu.
Thosnaigh daoine ag imeacht go Meiriceá as Acaill ins na hocht déag ochtóidí. Bhí tógáil Chanáil Erie faoi lántseoil ag an am. Cheangail sé abhainn an Hudson i Nua Eabhrach le Loch Erie, atá ar cheann dena Locha Móra. Bhí na mílte, fir Acla ina measc, ag obair ar an tógáil seo. Stop an chanáil i gCleveland, Ohio, agus chuir na fir oibre futhú ansin nuair a bhí an obair críochnaithe. Sa lá atá inniu ann, tá 30,000 ainm de bhunadh cheantair Acla in eolairí teileafóin Cleveland; mar shampla, Ó Gallchóir, Ó Maolfhabhail, Mac Fhionntaoch, Mac Suibhne, Mac Conmara, de Búrca, Ó Domhnaill, Ó Cuireagáin, Seoighe, Ó Fearraigh, Ó Cathaláin, agus go leor eile.
I dtús an 20ú haois, d’oibrigh an chuid is sine den mhuirín agus beagnach chuile athair clainne in Acaill ar fheilmeacha éagsúla i Shasana, agus ar theacht an gheimhridh d’fhillidís ar Éirinn. Thugadh buachaillí óga, mná agus cailíní a n-aghaidh ar Albain suas go dtí deireadh na gcaogaidí. Tréis an Dara Cogadh Mór chuaigh go leor d’fhir Acla ag obair ar na foirgnimh i Sasana, agus is amhlaidh atá go dtí an lá atá inniu ann. Thagadh na fir oibre sin abhaile ar chuairt ghearr chuig a muintir faoi Nollaig agus sa Samhraidh. Ach ó dheireadh na seascaidí tá patrún na himirce as Acaill athraithe, agus sén chúis is mó leis seo ná an t-oideachas. San am a caitheadh d’fhágadh daoine óga an scoil tréis na bunscoile. Ach anois ní fhágann daoine óga nó go bhfuil an Ard Teistiméireacht déanta acu, agus san am sin féin is beag acu a théann ar imirce. Leanann siad ar aghaidh leis an oideachas, rud a fhágann go mbíonn deis ar phostanna níos fearr acu. Faigheann a lán obair i mBaile Átha Cliath, i nGaillimh, i Luimneach, agus go deimhin, imíonn siad go Sasana, an Ghearmáin, agus go Meiriceá má tá an t-ádh orthu víosa a fháil. Is beag a fhilleann ar Acaill chun socrú síos ann, agus dá bhrí sin tá an pobal ag dul i léig go tapaidh.

Daonra Acla: 1911 – 6,800
Daonra Acla: 1991 – 2,800

Bás in Acaill: 1995 – 101
Breith in Acaill: 1995 – 8

Taispeánann daonáireamh beag a rinne Grúpa Pobail Loch Gael (Fast) daonra leathinis an Chorráin san lá atá inniu ann. Tá sé roinnte ina hocht gcuid. Siad na coda sin ná Réamhscoil 20, Scoil Náisiúnta 97, Meánscoil 86, Ardscoil 40, Fostaithe 172, Dífhostaithe 108, Mná tí 81, Pinsinéirí 166, rud a fhágann an daonra timpeall 770. Ach níl aithreacha ná buachaillí óga a mb’éigean dóibh dul thar lear ag saothrú san áireamh anseo.

‘Tattie Hokers’

On our arrival at Coarse Clay Farm we were each given a big double sized sack. This was our mattress which we had to pack with straw. We were also given three blankets . From our trunks we took the sheets and pillows our caring mothers had packed. They had been well advised about all the things we would need by previous ‘tattie hokers’. So we also carried our own pottery, cutlery and table cloths (which were serviceable oil cloths the fashion of the day). Soon we had unpacked and set up our sleeping apartment, it looked like a hospital ward and the eating bothy like a canteen. We took pride in the appearance of our accommodation. We had one luxury – electricity.
On Our first evening the local policeman arrived and collected our permits. He brought them back the following afternoon and we had permission to stay three months in agricultural work. We were also given yellow identity cards. Our permits were also used to get ration cards. People with no settled address were given ration cards not books. We had permission three months but if anyone broke the law they were deported immediately. It did not take much for an Irishman to break the Scottish law. There were many Irishmen deported. At the end of three months we had to report to the police to get an extension to our permits.
On our first morning we were all tired and could have slept for hours on our straw mattress. Instead we heard our morning call. It was dawn and the forelady, as she was known, gage us the ‘shout’. The forelady was an older woman who did the bothy housekeeping and was paid Five shillings extra for the ‘shout’.
Out in the fields we dug the potatoes with potato grapes or diggers. This manual digging was called ‘hoking’. We worked in pairs one digging and one gathering. The young boy or girl that gathered had to wear what was called a .brath’ which was a rough potato sack opened and used around the body like an apron. On damp days the soil Stuck to the ‘brath’ and made it heavy and damp and uncomfortable. We were allowed ten minutes break in what was called a quarter and one hour for dinner. We were allowed our dinner hour when we worked four hours and this could be seven in the morning as we often started before three a.m. We worked for eight hours each day and usually finished early afternoon. After a snack on coming back to the bothy, we all went to bed until late afternoon when we gat up and had our main meal. The rest of the evening was free..
In the evenings we would mix with other squads who worked on neighbouring farms. We went to visit them or they came to There were many squads from Donegal. We found them friendly and entertaining people and great at Irish. Amongst them and ourselves were many musicians so the first thing we would do was to raise money for a melodeon or a violin. We would raffle a pack of cards or a bag of rationed sweets. We had many enjoyable evenings. We also had Saturday afternoon off which we used for going to our nearest town or village to shop and send our savings home to our families. We sent our savings by T.M.O (Telegraphic Money Orders). Because all the squads in Scotland and the seasonal workers in Lancashire sent their T.M.Os late on Saturday the Post offices in Achill were allowed to open on Sunday mornings to take their T.M.Os. When the money was sent we would say that ‘the money is all gone around by the lighthouse’. Our gaffer was a good man and made sure that the young ones always sent their money passed the lighthouse. He didn’t want them getting into bad habits while they were in his care.
We made friends with lots of people including local Scottish young people by attending their village halls and joining the Scottish dancing. We also made friends with many of the P.O.W.s (prisoners of war) who were sent from their camps to help on the farms.
German prisoners were all very young and never had enough to eat or never enough cigarettes. We often gave them our B.U. bread units (our bread ration). Working on the farm gave them a chance to steal coarse potato sacks which they made into slippers and sold. They once stole an old coat of mine and a few days later it was offered to me as a fine pair of slippers!
estants The Priest would curse them of the altar. One man went to work on the Protestant Church, at station time, people were asked to pay a half crown (two shillings and six pence), the man went up to pay his dues, he put his money on the table and told the priest where he got it, the Priest looked at him but he took the Ministers money anyway.

Turas na Cruiche.

Penance that was put on a man if he got a girl into trouble (pregnant). He would have to go around the Church on top of Croagh Patrick so many times on his hands and knees, and say so many rosarys
How this penance was stopped was a man went to confessions and told the Priest he had got a girl into trouble and he said to the Priest he had if he had put the penance of the reek on him he would come back and make every girl in the place pregnant, that finished that penance. In those days people were not allowed to work for Protestants The Priest would curse them of the altar. One man went to work on the Protestant Church, at station time, people were asked to pay a half crown (two shillings and six pence), the man went up to pay his dues, he put his money on the table and told the priest where he got it, the Priest looked at him but he took the Ministers money anyway.

Night Pastimes

Night pastimes were knitting and spinning. The wool was bought in large hanks, enough to make two jumpers. The men would hold the hanks for winding.
The houses had flagged floors, the women used to put four pegs down in a square for the warp and weft.
The men wore flannel trousers they only had one pair and when they had that pair worn they would get another pair. People came from all over Achill and other areas to thicken the friez (material).
There was also a milling stone , it was used for grinding the oats. This was done at night and given to the people in famine times. They did this at night because the Catholics were not allowed food. If the British found out they would be thrown out of their homes. That’s why the land is as it is to-day a piece here and there.
Some families were thrown out and sent to Belmullet and old Pat Sweeney got them back. They would stay in the neighbours house until they got their own place
The people ate grass if they had a long wait for the boat that would come with food. The skipper was a man by the name of Pat McNeela from Derrens, he was a pirate. Some people died on the shore in Belfarsad and was buried there. The stones are there to mark the graves.
The Heffernan brothers made coffins for some of the famine victims. People are advised not to go to the shore at night.

Achill Fashions

Many of the young women one sees about Achill are undoubtedly handsome-one or two we saw would be called beauties in any country-and they have dark blue eyes, deep red hair perfect complexions, features, figure, and carriage. And then another charm has to be added: the voices of Achill men, women, and children are always low-pitched, softly modulated, and musical-rather remarkable characteristics when one considers the open air life they lead, and the windy, boisterous climate of the Island. But hard work and open-air life soon destroy boudoir-like beauty, leaving, however, always the graceful carriage and pleasant voice. The women’s dress of Achill consists of bodices, skirts, and shawls, hats and boots being more conspicuous by their absence. The colours affected are gorgeous. Reds of all shades, from that associated with the Post Office to the pale, washed-out tint; purple of the most deeply imperial to the salty; magentas and a colour called “puce” are likewise in vogue, as is also a vivid blue. Their blankets are home-made, of wool from the mountain sheep, and “natural wool” coloured. The woollen skirts are generally home-made, and dyed in various and locally fashionable shades with dyes purchased from Westport. The yellows and browns and a prevalent mustard colour for the men’s homespun are obtained by boiling a lichen which grows on the rocks at Kim Bay. On Sundays and festivals the better-to-do women wear the well known large, cover-all, Irish cloaks, generally deep blue in colour when going to or returning from mass.

Caiptín Ó Máille (1941)

I seen the Caiptín Ó Máille indeed and I remember the day as I do today, I was 14 or 15 years at the time. He was going on crutches when I seen him but he was a fine tall man. I seen him comin’up the Kildownet road (a village east of Achill Island) from lower Achill and he was on his way to Clare Island. He stopped for the night in the public house that was that time in Kildownet behind at the chapel, we all went in to see him because we heard so much about him before he was tellin’ stories about his life but I don’t remember any of the stories now. The house was full because all the village went in to see him. There is a new house now at the chapel (north side) and the public house was where the stable is now between the new house and the chapel. He was related to the O’Malleys of Clare Island and lower Achill. I never heard that he was married or that he had a family, maybe he was married he used to put out cargoes at Corrán. He had a whisker but indeed he seemed to be a fine man when he was young. The last cargo he brought was sunk at Poll na Ráite near Newport. They sunk her (the ship) themsel’ when they saw the revenue comin’and no escape. The name of the ship was “The Sloopeen Vaughan” and there was a song made about her,I knew it once but I’m afraid I won’t be able to say it now.

Mac Neela and the Caíptín Ó Máille (1941)

Mac Neela was from Lower Achill some people said but more said he was from Claggan (a place South Ballycroy). I b’lieve mesel’ he was from Claggan. He used to be with Páidín Bán(‘ac Cormac) sometimes but he used to be with the Caiptín Ó Máille most of the time. He was a great seaman and people used to say that was a better seaman than the Caiptín. Their ship would be drowned once only for Mac Neela. They were comin’from Flush with a cargo ,the wind favoured them all the way and they were six hours too soon or sooner than they thought . Mac Neela was on deck and he shouted that Sliab Mór was in sight and he called the Caiptín Ó Máille up to see it but he couldn’t ,he ordered Mac Neela down to get the supper and when he came up again Sliab Mór was plain to be seen, only for Mac Neela was on watch that time the the ship would be in smidhreens on the wild rocks at Achill Head.