When the trout is rising to the fly, the salmon to the fall.
The boat comes straining on her net, and heavily she creeps,
Cast off, cast off - she feels the oars, and to her berth she sweeps;
Now fore and aft keep hauling, and gathering up the clew.
Till a silver wave of salmon rolls in among the crew.
Then they may sit, with pipes a-lit, and many a joke and 'yarn'
Adieu to Belashanny; and the winding banks of Erne!
William
Allingham in his poem “Adieu to Belashanny,” written in the 19th century,
regretted that due to emigration, many local people would no longer be able to
sit beside the Erne at Ballyshannon to view the sight of salmon trying to leap the spectacular Assaroe
waterfall. Another memory the emigrants
would have carried with them would be that of watching the fishermen in the
Pool hauling in the salmon in their nets. No doubt many local people carried
this picture with them to their new homes far from the winding banks of Erne. Today Allingham's poem is still a poweful image of what was
one of the finest salmon fishing rivers in these islands.
Background to the Court Case
There
was another side to the
idyllic image of fishing on the Erne at Ballyshannon and that was that
the
fisheries were privately controlled originally by landlord and later by
business interests.Crucially for the fishermen who took the court case,
it was established that in the 12th century the Cistercian monks at
Abbey Assaroe had
fishing rights on the Erne and the native Gaelic chieftains the
O’Donnells who
had a castle at Ballyshannon were known as ‘the kings of the fishe.’ No
exclusive fishing rights prevented local people from fishing at that
period.
The
Plantation of the 17th century saw the dispossession of the native owners and
the introduction of planters who took not only land but the rich fishing
grounds on the Erne. The Folliotts who gained control at first, sold their title
to the Conolly estate. Eventually fishing rights were passed on to Moore and Alexander of the Erne Fishery Company who
were to become known as the Derry Company.
Local Fishermen Unable to Fish on the Erne
The salmon boxes located above
the Assaroe Falls were emptied regularly for the Derry Company and the warehouse
buildings (which still survive as the Mulligan building today) were used to cure and store the fish. In earlier times an
ice house overlooking the Assaroe waterfall was used to store the fish.The
Derry
Company did employ some locals to fish for them and they also regularly
hauled in the salmon in their nets at the Pool and further down the
shore.
Most local fishermen could not afford to fish on the Erne. These local fishermen were disappointed as they were deprived from fishing their native waters to earn a livelihood. Yet who would have the courage to do anything about it? Who would take on the system and assert their rights to fish unhindered in the waters which were visible in some instances from their homes? The answer lay with the fishermen from Kildoney who were joined by sympathetic fishermen from a wide area. Matters reached a head in June 1925.
Most local fishermen could not afford to fish on the Erne. These local fishermen were disappointed as they were deprived from fishing their native waters to earn a livelihood. Yet who would have the courage to do anything about it? Who would take on the system and assert their rights to fish unhindered in the waters which were visible in some instances from their homes? The answer lay with the fishermen from Kildoney who were joined by sympathetic fishermen from a wide area. Matters reached a head in June 1925.
Kildoney Boat Sunk by Motor Boat in Channel. Crew Saved.
Cleary.
In June 1925 a telegram with the above sensational
contents was sent by John Cleary, Cashel, to Frank Gallagher, solicitor, who
happened to be in Dublin at the time. Gallagher was the solicitor for the
Kildoney fishermen. On an early June morning in
1925, a chosen crew of local fishermen; John Cleary, Hugh Gavigan, Red Willie Goan, Mickey Mc
Carthy, Willie Morrow and William Phillips, launched their small
tar-and-canvas boat, out into the Erne between the Assaroe Falls and the Bar at
Ballyshannon. A crowd had gathered at the Mall Quay to witness their challenge
to the Fishery Company, including two members of the local Garda Siochána,
who had been notified by the fishermen of their intentions.
When the
fishermen shot their net the Erne fishery motorboat appeared on the scene,
rammed and sank their boat, seized their nets and accompanied them to the Mall
Quay where the fishermen were greeted with acclaim. The fishermen and their
legal team of Frank Gallagher and James Mc Loone now faced court proceedings,
which they had envisaged when they commenced their actions.
Legal Arguments
The District Court, The
High Court and the Supreme Court had to adjudicate on the merits of the legal
arguments on both sides. Indeed an appeal was subsequently made to the Privy
Council in England which was to place the case in an international setting. (The
Irish government abolished this right of appeal to the Privy Council at the time).
Local people in Kildoney and the surrounding
Ballyshannon area were to become legal experts, as they discussed the merits of
the Magna Carta, the Brehon Laws and the Privy Council. No other incident in
our history provoked such legal debates and discussions with the history of
Ballyshannon and the Erne Fisheries being examined and discussed. It was established that at the time of the
death of Henry 11 in 1189 Donegal was an unconquered Gaelic stronghold and as such
exclusive fishing rights should not subsequently have been recognised. The Brehon Laws
also backed up this claim.
Victory for the Local Fishermen
The courts found in favour of the Kildoney fishermen after protracted legal arguments. Great celebrations followed on the Mall Quay on the evening of 5th August 1933.
Frank Gallagher spoke passionately of their struggle:
The courts found in favour of the Kildoney fishermen after protracted legal arguments. Great celebrations followed on the Mall Quay on the evening of 5th August 1933.
Frank Gallagher spoke passionately of their struggle:
By our magnificent fight, we have righted a grievous wrong, a wrong that has root three hundred years and more. No longer would native fishermen have to trawl the open ocean for fish in canvas boats while all the river-mouths around the coast were in the hands of foreigners with their spurious fishing rights.
The legal challenge was brought by the following men who will be commemorated on the memorial on 4th August 2013:
John Cleary, Francis Coughlin, Patrick Coughlin, John Daly, Michael Daly, Richard Davis Jnr, Alex Duncan, Charles Furey, James Furey, Hugh Gavigan, John Gavigan Snr, Gerard Gillespie, James Gillespie, John Gillespie, Patrick Gillespie, Charles Gallogley, James Gallogley, John Goan, Patrick Goan, Willie Goan Snr, Joe Grimes, Patrick Haughey, William Hilley, Bernard Holland, James Keenan, Joseph Keenan, Michael Kennedy, William Kennedy, Alex Mc Cafferty, John Mc Cafferty, Patrick Mc Cafferty, Red John Mc Cafferty, John Mc Carty, Michael Mc Carty, Darby Mc Groarty, Frank Mc Neely, Tom Mc Neely, Michael Mc Phelim, Hugh Mooney, William Morrow(Legs), William Morrow, William Phillips, James Scanlon. Frank Gallagher, Master Keegan and Frank Gettins will also be commemorated on the memorial.
Memorial to be Unveiled Sunday 4th August 2013
The courageous campaign led by the Kildoney fishermen revealed that local people had rights to the natural resources of the river. It is appropriate that 80 years later, an impressive memorial to the memory of all who supported this fight will be unveiled by Cis Daly, Kildoney, at the Mall Quay on Sunday 4th August 2013. The event is being organised by their descendants, neighbours and the wider community. All welcome.
Farewell
to you, Kildoney lads, and them that
pull an oar,
A lug - sail set, or haul a net, from the Point to Mullaghmore
From Killybegs to bold Slieve-League, that ocean-mountain steep,
Six
hundred yards in air aloft, six hundred in the deep,A lug - sail set, or haul a net, from the Point to Mullaghmore
From Killybegs to bold Slieve-League, that ocean-mountain steep,
From Dooran to the Fairy Bridge, and round by Tullen strand,
Level and long, and white with waves, where gull and curlew stand;
Head out to sea when on your lee the breakers you discern!-
Adieu to all the billowy coast, and winding banks of Erne!
William Allingham
Further details from Paddy Donagher Abbey Lane Ballyshannon, paddydonagher@gmail.com Telephone 00353 719851815. Tom McNeely, Kildoney and Joe Roper, Corker. Full details of week-end events on website
Date for Your Diary
Famine Walk Monday 5th August 2013
On
Monday 5th August 2013 at 2.30 p.m. I will be conducting a Famine Walk
from the Paupers' Graveyard to the Workhouse in Ballyshannon. The
meeting point is the Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon and I hope you can
make it as part of the Ballyshannon 400 Week. On the Famine Walk we will
hear stories from the Great Famine of the 1840s and recall the
suffering endured by our ancestors in this area. All welcome. The pace
will be leisurely.The workhouse at Ballyshannon housed people from:
- The Belleek area as far as Churchill, Devenish and Boho in County Fermanagh
- Kinlough, Glenade and Tullaghan areas in County Leitrim
- Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Ballintra and Rossnowlagh areas in County Donegal.
If you know anyone from the areas above please invite them to come along to remember people from their area who are forgotten today, some of whom would be buried in the Paupers’ graveyard.
Anthony
Begley
Upcoming Blogs July
Lots Happening for Ballyshannon 400 Gathering and Other Events
Check out the events/venues you can attend in the summer in Ballyshannon and later in the year :
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.
If you know anyone from the areas above please invite them to come along to remember people from their area who are forgotten today, some of whom would be buried in the Paupers’ graveyard.
The blogs are original and are not taken from the book above.
20th July
“Local Customs for Special Days”
27th July "Cholera and Famine in the Ballyshannon Area."
Blogs for August 2013 will be listed next week.
Check out the events/venues you can attend in the summer in Ballyshannon and later in the year :
- http://donegalgathering.com/july-august/august-2013/ballyshannon-400/
- http://donegalgathering.com/tag/the-kildoney-mens-case/
- http://ballyshannonfolkfestival.com/
- http://www.ballyshannonshow.com/
- http://www.ballyshannonmuseum.com/
- https://www.facebook.com/LocalHands
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.
Date for Your Diary
Famine Walk 5th August 2013
On
Monday 5th August 2013 at 2.30 p.m. I will be conducting a Famine Walk
from the Paupers' Graveyard to the Workhouse in Ballyshannon. The
meeting point is the Abbey Centre in Ballyshannon and I hope you can
make it as part of the Ballyshannon 400 Week. On the Famine Walk we will
hear stories from the Great Famine of the 1840s and recall the
suffering endured by our ancestors in this area. All welcome. The pace
will be leisurely.The workhouse at Ballyshannon housed people from:
- The Belleek area as far as Churchill, Devenish and Boho in County Fermanagh
- Kinlough, Glenade and Tullaghan areas in County Leitrim
- Ballyshannon, Bundoran, Ballintra and Rossnowlagh areas in CountyDonegal.
If you know anyone from the areas above please invite them to come along to remember people from their area who are forgotten today, some of whom would be buried in the Paupers’ graveyard.
Anthony Begley
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.
Book Available from
Anthony Begley West Rock Ballyshannon. anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com
Enquiries welcome for postal and other details. Also available at
The Novel Idea Bookshop Ballyshannon, Ballyshannon and District Museum,
Ballyshannon Tourist Office, The Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town.
The blogs are original and are not taken from the book above.
Ballyshannon Musings: Good
to hear that people from the Ballyshannon area are enjoying the blog
worldwide and the site has received thousands of hits. Please let people
with an interest in Ballyshannon and surrounding areas know about this
site, particularly people who are not living locally and those who are
abroad. The site is called Ballyshannon Musings and there are a number
of back issues available on the internet. Copy this link and it can be
googled at http://ballyshannon-musings.blogspot.ie/ The
site can be located on the internet (or by connecting to my Facebook
page). New items will be posted every week on Ballyshannon Musings
during 2013, the year of “The Gathering”.
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