50% Reduction on postage for orders for this book to all destinations. Genuine special offer from author.
Ideal local gift for all special occasions.
Available at The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon, Ballyshannon and District Museum and The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town.
Available at The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon, Ballyshannon and District Museum and The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town.
A New 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.
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.
Topics include: How
to go about Tracing your Roots/The first settlers in the area/ Newly
researched history of the town of Ballyshannon and the townlands in
Kilbarron and Mágh Éne parishes/ Records
of the first travellers and tourists to Ballyshannon, Bundoran,
Belleek, Rossnowlagh and Ballintra/An aerial guide to place names along
the Erne from Ballyshannon to the Bar/Flora and Fauna of the area/ A
history of buildings and housing estates in the locality/Graveyard
Inscriptions from the Abbey graveyard, St. Joseph’s and St. Anne’s
/Rolling back the years with many memories of the Great Famine,
Independence struggle, hydro-electric scheme, Gaelic games, boxing,
handball, Boy Scouts, soccer, mummers, characters, organisations,
folklore and lots more.
Ten Rarely Asked Questions about the Ballyshannon Area
The questions (and
answers) below are based on the history of the Ballyshannon area and have
probably never been asked before. Ballyshannon is a very ancient, historic town
and in November 2012, as part of the very successful Allingham Festival, a talk
entitled “Forty Shades of Ballyshannon” drew a capacity crowd to the Abbey
Centre and once again proved that there is huge interest in the history of the
area. Conor Carney and Patricia Keane
added to the event with their professional readings and songs of old Ballyshannon.
This talk was in memory of Louis and Kathleen Emerson who did tremendous work
in keeping history alive in Ballyshannon and Co. Donegal. Most of the questions
below were discussed at the talk in November and so this time I include the
answers.
1. According to legend who was
involved in the first case of adultery in Ireland?
Ballyshannon
lays claim to being the oldest town in Ireland with Parthalon and his followers
settling here in prehistoric times. Unfortunately the annals record that his
wife Dealgnait was unfaithful with a manservant Topa. (The full story is
contained in the book “Ballyshannon Genealogy and History” listed above).
2. Where was a 2,000 year old French
sword found in Ballyshannon?
This
sword was found in their nets by fishermen in the harbour at Ballyshannon
around 1916. The sword was given to local historian Hugh Allingham, later sold
to Andrew Lowry, a noted Donegal antiquarian, and today is in the National
Museum in Dublin. This is called the Ballyshannon Sword Hilt as the piece of
blade found became detached. A 2,000 year old sword from the La Tene period
proves that trading at Ballyshannon goes back a long, long way. A copy of the
sword hilt can be seen in The County Museum in Letterkenny and in Ballyshannon and District Museum.
3. Who had the first licence for a pub
in Ballyshannon?
This
goes back to 1629 when Michael Folliott, a son of the first Baron of
Ballyshannon and Robert Dillon, second Earl of Roscommon, were given the first
licence to set up taverns, sell wines and to make liquor in Ballyshannon.
4. This man was put in prison for
eloping with a young lady and is remembered in a ballad?
The
man in question was Willie Reilly and he eloped with Helen Folliott (Folliard)
of Wardtown Castle which overlooks the Erne estuary near Ballyshannon. She was
called The Colleen Bawn and there is a famous ballad devoted to the couple who
were associated with Wardtown. Older people in the locality can still recite
the ballad beginning:
“Oh
rise up Willie Reilly and come along with me”
William
Carleton wrote about their elopement and what followed. This is not to be
confused with other tales of Colleen Bawns in other parts of the country. It’s
about time our Colleen Bawn was recognised. The impressive shell of Wardtown
Castle can still be seen today.
5. What local woman disguised as a man
became a national celebrity for a short time?
This
true romantic tale could be made into a blockbuster movie. The lady was Anne
Jane Thornton (1817-1877) who disguised herself as a sailor to leave
Ballyshannon in search of her lover in America. Her adventures became public in
“The Times” newspaper in London in 1835 and she became a celebrity for a time.
6. Who came to Ballyshannon in 1922
and are still here 90 years later?
The
Garda Síochána (police) arrived in College Street on the 13th
October 1922 to take up residence in the former R.I.C. Barracks. (This building
is now the home of Mary and Benedict Dorrian)
7. In the 1930s “sitting out in cars”
was declared illegal. And the reason?
Last
week’s blog discussed this topic and it would appear that it was feared the
morals of the country would be in danger if couples were allowed sit in cars
outside dance halls at the time!
8. What Ballyshannon telegram led to
an international debate?
This
was a telegram sent by John Cleary to Frank Gallagher, solicitor for the
fishermen, at the height of the affair concerning the Kildoney fishermen and
others. They fought for the rights of local people to fish in the channel at
Ballyshannon.
This
event will be commemorated in 2013 on the 80th anniversary of the
winning of the case in 1933. A plaque will be unveiled at the Mall Quay on
Monday 5th August 2013 with lots of events on the day. Google “The Gathering in
Ballyshannon” for more details. It is hoped that people will return from abroad
and elsewhere in Ireland to mark the unveiling of a memorial to those involved
in this victory for the people. Hope to see you there. I will devote a blog to
this historic event in 2013.
9. Where was the first public library
located in Ballyshannon in 1948?
Sixty
four years ago, on the 22nd December 1948, the first public library
was opened in the old workhouse building on the Rock. Interestingly the library
was run on a voluntary basis for a period at the beginning.
10.
What
was a Belashannighan?
This
was a name invented by internationally known author Seamus McManus who was
originally from Mountcharles Co. Donegal. A Belashannighan was a person who
loved the old town of Ballyshannon and who was, “proud of their great, true and
beloved poet,” William Allingham. You don’t need to be born in the area to be a
Belashannighan. So greetings Belashannighans wherever you are.
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