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| The Donegal Corridor at Ballyshannon on the river Erne |
Seventy years ago Éire or Ireland was neutral in the
Second World War and the period was referred to as The Emergency; and yet
people in the Ballyshannon area witnessed the sights, sounds, censorship and
shortages of the war. Indeed many people who had emigrated to England, U.S.A.
and Australia in the 1930s, and earlier, enlisted in the armies of their
adopted countries and some died and were wounded in the main theatres of the
war. Others who emigrated worked in industries and the caring professions who
provided support to the war effort. Closer to home Northern Ireland was engaged
in the war and a secret arrangement with the British government allowed planes
to fly over Ballyshannon in an area known as the Donegal Corridor. This enabled the allies to provide aerial
support for their shipping fleets in the Atlantic and was also of great benefit
as planes could fly along the Erne to Ballyshannon from places like Castle
Archdale in Fermanagh, and also transatlantic flights had a much shorter
journey than having to avoid Donegal’s airspace. A lucrative black market
resulted in the smuggling of goods back and forth across the border from
Belleek as shortages were a permanent feature of the war. As a result of
censorship people in this area knew little about events concerning the war and
rumours of pending invasion were rife. On the 14th July 1940 reports
that an invasion force were marching along the Port in Ballyshannon proved
false and the noise coming from the Bar was mistaken as the muffled sound of
gunfire!
The Donegal Corridor
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| The Fairy Bridges Bundoran and Tullan strand scene of a tragic plane crash on 23rd January 1944 |
Tullan Strand in Bundoran was to be the scene of an
incident on the 10th May 1943 when a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
landed on the beach having ran out of fuel. Nearby golfers at Bundoran golf
club rushed to the scene and photographs were taken but these were later
confiscated in line with censorship restrictions. The crew and plane were
returned across the border. In instances like this neutrality was not strictly
enforced in the Donegal Corridor. However the crew of a British Handley Page
Halifax Bomber were not so fortunate, when their plane crashed into the cliffs
at the same location in Bundoran on
Sunday 23rd January 1944. The
eight man Canadian crew were all killed and the spot is marked with a memorial
today. On the 19th June 1944 fishermen in their boats witnessed an
American B24 Liberator Bomber travelling upriver on the Erne towards the bridge
at Ballyshannon in search of a landing place. Eventually the plane headed
inland over St. Patrick’s Well and the sound of the plane scraping on stone
ditches could be heard before it crashed in the Abbeylands. Two of the crew
died and the rest were given excellent medical treatment in the Sheil Hospital
under the guidance of Dr. Daly, Dr. Gordon and Sister Fidelma. Cashelard was
the scene of the crash of a Sunderland Flying Boat on 12th August
1944 when two of the Canadian crew lost their lives. The remainder received
medical treatment in the Sheil Hospital. A number of bodies were washed up
along the shoreline as a result of shipping fatalities and a Chinese sailor
called Chu Ning Lai was washed up at Creevy Pier and he was interred in the
Paupers’ Graveyard at Ballyshannon. Radio Officer V.C. Coleman of HMS Patroclus
was washed ashore at Rossnowlagh and is buried in St. Anne’s Churchyard. Older
residents still remember these events which brought the reality of the war a
bit closer to people in this area.
Preparing for Invasion and
Air Attacks
Local discussion on what to do in the event of an air
raid bombing attack, resulted in the identification of cellars which could be
used as air raid shelters. Amongst the places considered were the underground
caves in Munday’s field, the cellars under the old barracks at the bridge and
the souterrains at Dungravenen on the Mall although the latter would have
accommodated a small number of people. There were also cellars along Main
Street and Castle Street. Locally a Parish Council, fire fighters, the Red
Cross, the Local Defence Force (LDF) and the Local Security Force (LSF) were
given roles in protecting the community and many volunteered to serve. Concerns
that an attack on Finner Camp would result in the reservoir there being
destroyed with the loss of water supply for Ballyshannon resulted in the
following comment from Major Myles. “If the Camp was bombed they would want to
be better shots than in some parts of the country. To hit the reservoir the
bomb would have to be dropped at Tullaghan."
Cycling to Football Final in Glenties
1942
On Friday the first of May 1942 the government order
restricting the use of motor vehicles, except in certain circumstances, came
into effect. Ballyshannon returned to the sounds of life in the late 19th
century however the jaunting cars were not too visible as yet. The bicycle now
became a very important mode of transport with the young folk cycling to the
dances in Bundoran, Belleek or Ballintra. Football and hurling teams cycled to
their matches and a very well remembered match took place on Sunday 17th
of May 1942. Gweedore and Ballyshannon met in the final which was played in
Glenties before a large attendance. The Ballyshannon team had cycled to
Glenties on Saturday evening, leaving the town with a band of enthusiastic
supporters. The Ballyshannon team went into an early lead with a point from
Mick Slevin and a goal by Jack Gallagher.
John McDermott added a further two points. The only score for Gweedore
in the first half was a point by J. Gallagher scored from 70 yards. Half-time saw the Ernesiders in front by 1-3
to 0-1. Three further points were added
to the Ballyshannon tally in the second-half with points by James Daly, John
McDermott and M. Murray. Hugh Gallagher added a second point for the Gweedore
men; but Ballyshannon were worthy winners, in a spirited and skilful match on a
score line of 1-6 to 0-2. The Ballyshannon team were: Hugh Mc Guinness
(goal-keeper), J. McGarrigle, Mick.Melly, Sean Slevin, Paddy O’ Neill, Dan
Doherty, Seamus Slevin, James Daly, B. Gallagher, Mick Slevin (captain), S.
Kane, Jack Gallagher, M.Murray, John McDermott , P.J. Goan. Shortly after the
match the jubilant team began the 30 mile cycle back to Ballyshannon with the
Democrat Cup. Their team spirit showed how to cope with life’s difficulties in
a positive manner.
Rationing and Recycling
Ration books became the order of the day with tea,
sugar, bread, butter and flour in short supply. Going to the bog was now a top
priority and local businesses such as Morgans who had been coal providers now
provided peat. People pined for the days when salt and tallow candles had been
manufactured locally and paraffin was also in short supply. Fortunately those
in the urban areas in Bundoran and Ballyshannon had electricity supplied by
Myles’ who also had timber yards and a hardware shop beside the Erne at
Ballyshannon. A Bundoran chemist J. O’Reilly invented a successful coffee
substitute made from dandelion and local smoking addicts used a plant called
colt’s foot (pronounced “cowl’s fut” by local people) as a cigarette substitute,
although the smell was quite foul. Anderson’s grocery shop on Main Street
advised customers to bring jars for jam, bags for meal, paper for bread, jars
for oil, bags for flour, baskets for everything. Old corsets could be handed in
to the drapery shops and they were forwarded to a factory called Twilfit Regd.
who cleaned them in an acid bath and new corsets were then made. Severe restrictions
were imposed on the amount of material and pockets etc. in garments. In March
1944 a Ballyshannon tailor was summoned under the Emergency Power Order for
producing a jacket with more than three pockets and producing trousers with a
width of more than 20 inches at the end of each leg. He got off with a caution. Cross border
trafficking in household items like the white loaf and eggs was common.
Compulsory tillage was introduced by the government, but not every one liked
being compelled to put in crop. Indeed there were a few instances in this locality of crops being sown
but then neglected.
Local Men fought in World War
11
In the First World War a conservative estimate of 40
men, from the area around the town, died in the war whilst in the Second World
War local fatalities are currently estimated at around 11 men but the number is
probably higher. Allied planes stopped using the Donegal Corridor over
Ballyshannon at midnight on the 3rd of June 1945 and the war was
finally over. Many local men fought in the war and now that censorship was
ending more details emerged about some of those who had served in the allied
armies.
Gerard Darcy, R.A.F., East Port was a prisoner of war
for 3 years in Italy, escaped and made his way over the Alps, travelling by
night into Switzerland, where he was employed in a factory until repatriation.
Richard Davis, Corp., R.Inn. Fus. Sminver, captured in
Greece, and imprisoned in same camp as Charlie McBride relieved by Allies and
was on way home in June 1945.
Charlie McBride, formerly TÃrconaill Street was in the
Australian forces, wounded at Crete and taken prisoner by the Germans, one of
the first batch to be repatriated to Australia.
Patrick J., Neil, Frank and
William Doherty, four brothers originally from
Erne Street, all served in the American army overseas.
Pte. Harry
Hutton, born at Lisahully, was
awarded the Military Medal.
Eddie and Michael McManus
were in the American forces, sons of Michael McManus; Johnnie McManus, born Erne
Street, another son of Michael McManus, Glasgow, was at the battle of Dunkirk
and one of the escort of Queen Wilhemina, made Tank Commander after D- Day and
named his tank “Ballyshannon”, was decorated for bravery. Johnnie McManus was a
well known boxer and spent some time as a prisoner of war in Germany.
Robert Bradford Myles, Lieut., R. Inn.
Fus. was awarded the Military Cross for his courage and leadership on May 15th
1944 on the Gustav line.
Thomas J. Myles, Serg., R.A.M.C., Legaltion, was awarded
the Distinguished Conduct Medal . On March 26th 1944 during n attack
on enemy positions near Maungdaw-Buthidaung road, this N.C.O. was in command of
attached section of Indian Field ambulance. During the attack he moved with the
leading position and immediately went forward treating and evacuating each
casualty as it occurred.
Fred Patchell,
Lanc. Sergt., R.A.M.C. wounded in China; Henry
Patchell, Staff Serg. R.A.S.C.
wounded in Africa.
T.R. Stubbs Captain, Transport Corps, Danby wounded in the Middle East.
Some Local Soldiers who died
in World War11
James Barron, Cashelard, U.S.A., wounded in France but
drowned on the way back to U.S.A.
Patrick Darcy, R.Inn.Fus. West Port
Jack Fannon,
Pte., R.Inn.Fus., Ballinacarrick, died in Burma Road, China
Thomas Edward Lapsley, Pte., R. Inns. Fus., Abbey View Tce.
P. Mc Gonigle, R.A.F., Mall
Willie McCafferty, West Port, died in India
Flight Sergeant Mulroney, R.A.F. killed in air raid, nephew of John
James McGloin, Abbey
M. O’Reilly killed in action, son of Mrs. O’ Reilly,
O.S., Main Street
A. Ramage, Lieut., Laputa
G.E, Roper, Capt., U.S.A. Paratroops
Eddie Taite Gnr. R.O.A., Erne Street, died in Holland.
Eddie Taite had been an accomplished cornet player in Ballyshannon Brass and
Reed Band prior to the war.
Forgotten Memories
During the era of the earlier First World War
1914-1918, many local people enlisted in Finner Camp which was occupied by the
British Army, at the time, and the sight of soldiers marching through Bundoran
and Ballyshannon on their way to the Great Northern Railway station or to
church was a regular sight for local people. The independence struggle from
1916-1921 resulted in those who fought in the First World War being largely
forgotten except by their families.
Those local people who fought in the Second
World War 1939-1945 were mostly living abroad when they enlisted, and there was
no local discussion about their involvement, due to Ireland’s neutrality and
censorship of the media. For different reasons those local people who fought in
both World Wars were for the most part forgotten.
A Local History Book suitable for those at Home and Away
"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. It contains the full
story of The Green Lady which was recently performed in Ballyshannon
to great acclaim. 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. Available in Novel Idea, Museum and Local Hands in Ballyshannon and 4 Masters Bookshop Donegal Town.
Also available from Anthony Begley for postal enquiries email anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com
