Eamon De Valera, the founder of Fianna Fáil, and the
leader of the Irish government arrived in Ballyshannon on an election campaign
which took him all over the country in 1937. On the 30th of June he
had addressed meetings in Buncrana, Dungloe, Letterkenny and Donegal Town.
Upwards of 2,000 people from a wide area assembled in the Diamond in
Ballyshannon to await his arrival. It was planned that he would speak from one
of the second storey windows of McGonigle’s premises. These public rallies were
the cause of much excitement in the pre-television age when the voters wanted
to support their favourites in the flesh. The Diamond in Ballyshannon and the
Market Yard saw huge rallies with tempers boiling over on occasions between
different parties. A famous rally in the Market Yard in the 1930s with Eoin O Duffy the Blueshirt leader addressing the crowd led to heated exchanges between rival factions. In earlier times Michael Davitt and Charles Stewart Parnell addressed rallies in Ballyshannon.
The Latest
Public Rally Ever in the Diamond
The midnight hour came and there was no sign of De
Valera and to make matters worse it started to rain. However people remained
patient and Seamus McGonigle who had erected a loud-speaker to carry the
speeches, played Irish songs and music to keep the crowd entertained. In the
early hours of Wednesday, Eamon De Valera was welcomed by a torchlight
procession about a mile out the Donegal road. The local Fianna Fáil Fife and
Drum Band led the enthusiastic parade into town where they arrived at 2.20 to a
very enthusiastic welcome, with everyone wishing to greet their leader.
Floodlights,
Bunting and Tricolours
Mr. Tommy McShea, Ardfarna, Bundoran, one of the trio
of Sinn Feiners, who were known as “The Derry Prisoners” and who had been
reprieved from execution during the independence struggle, acted as Chairman at
the meeting in the Diamond. Mr. P. McGonigle N.T. read an address of welcome
from the local Fianna Fáil Cumann. Mr. De Valera then took his stand as he did
in 1918 and 1920 in a window in the second storey of Mrs. James McGonigle’s
premises, the front portion of which was floodlighted and decorated with
Tricolours and mottos of welcome, as well as the street being spanned with
Tricolour flags. De Valera delivered his speech and expressed his
gratitude to all who had waited so long in the rain. The reason for his delay
was that he had been greeted by a similar crowd in Donegal Town. The
Ballyshannon meeting at 2.30 a.m. was the latest public meeting that he had
ever addressed; and it was nothing but enthusiasm for the cause which kept the
people up to such a late hour.
Election and
Referendum
De Valera appealed for support for the candidates in
the Dáil election and also asked for the peoples’ support in the referendum on
the new Irish Constitution (Bunreacht na hÉireann). Brian Brady, Dáil
candidate, and his election agent, Mr. Sean Carty, Devenish West, also spoke. As
Eamon De Valera left for Bundoran he received a rapturous ovation. Patsy O’
Donnell recalled that The Erne Hotel in Market Street was owned by Dan
Gallagher and De Valera regularly dined there on his visits. This is nowadays
Max’s Bar.
Novel use of
Loudspeaker in Ballyshannon
A novel feature of the General Election results of
1937 was that Seamus McGonigle broadcast the radio election results through his
loud speaker system and large crowds gathered in the Diamond from the first
results were announced until the final result was declared. Fianna Fáil won the
election of 1937 and the Irish Constitution was approved by referendum of the
people. In the local constituency, Brian Brady and Cormac Breslin of Fianna
Fáil and Michael Óg McFadden of Fine Gael were elected to the Dáil. In the
constituency of East Donegal Major Sproule Myles of
Ballyshannon was also elected to the Dáil. The Diamond was to be the centrepiece of election fever with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil rallying the troops and the atmosphere was electric in those long forgotten days of open air rallies.
The Gathering in Ballyshannon: Google “The Gathering in Ballyshannon” for more details of special events you might like to attend later in the year. Lots happening in Ballyshannon in the summertime including festivals also Ballyshannon 400 celebrating the granting of a town charter in 1613 and the commemoration of the Kildoney Fishermen’s victory in1933.
Anthony Begley, local historian, published a new book entitled: "Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" which 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.
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 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 strugglle, hydro-electric scheme, Gaelic games, boxing, handball, Boy Scouts, soccer, mummers, characters, organisations, folklore and lots more.
Book Available from The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon/ The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town or can be mailed by Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com tel. 0872351044. Enquiries welcome.
Ballyshannon was also elected to the Dáil. The Diamond was to be the centrepiece of election fever with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil rallying the troops and the atmosphere was electric in those long forgotten days of open air rallies.
The Gathering in Ballyshannon: Google “The Gathering in Ballyshannon” for more details of special events you might like to attend later in the year. Lots happening in Ballyshannon in the summertime including festivals also Ballyshannon 400 celebrating the granting of a town charter in 1613 and the commemoration of the Kildoney Fishermen’s victory in1933.
Next Blog will be posted on Saturday 6th April and will give a catalogue of the blogs which can be viewed on Ballyshannon Musings.
On 13th April the folloowing will be pòsted- "A Forgotten Ballyshannon Golf Course over a Century Ago" The blogs are not taken from the book below
On 13th April the folloowing will be pòsted- "A Forgotten Ballyshannon Golf Course over a Century Ago" The blogs are not taken from the book below
A New
Local History suitable for those at Home and Away
Anthony Begley, local historian, published a new book entitled: "Ballyshannon. Genealogy and History" which 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 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 strugglle, hydro-electric scheme, Gaelic games, boxing, handball, Boy Scouts, soccer, mummers, characters, organisations, folklore and lots more.
Book Available from The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon/ The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town or can be mailed by Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com tel. 0872351044. Enquiries welcome.
