Two Ballyshannon Men and their Amazing Generosity to their Home Town Remembered

The Sheil Hospital built in 1894 thanks to Dr. Simon Sheil

Two Ballyshannon men who spent their lifetimes working in the local community, deserve to be remembered for their amazing generosity in providing funding for facilities which are benefitting the wider area to this day. They left the modern equivalent of over one million euro  for the  construction of two of the finest buildings in Ballyshannon which are both used for the medical welfare of the wider community in the Ballyshannon area. 

One of the men died in 1852 and left a substantial sum of money for the building of a convent in the town which today houses the newly opened HSE Primary Care Health Centre. The other benefactor died in 1889 and left a substantial sum of money for the building of a hospital for the poor which still survives today as the Sheil Hospital. This hospital is to be extended with a 3 storey extension at the rear to accommodate 80 new bed units. Both buildings are very important parts of the built heritage in the ancient town of Ballyshannon.

Artist impression of 3 storey extension to the Sheil Hospital with 80 new bed units construction to commence in 2020. ( courtesy of John Hayes HSE)

Who were these two men who left huge sums of money for the building of a convent and a hospital?

 Little did they know that they were laying the foundations for the provision of modern facilities for health care in the community. Without their initial generosity who knows if the recent major projects by the HSE would ever have been developed in Ballyshannon?  Dr. Simon Sheil is still remembered as the hospital he endowed is named in his memory; but the second man has been largely forgotten and William Stephens deserves to be remembered also, for providing funds for the building of a convent which served the community since the 19^th century. 

Many people still remember  William Stephens' descendants Cecil Stephens, Postmasrer, at the Hardware and Fancy Goods stores in Castle Street and Brian Stephens in the extensive Drapery store where Saimer Court is today. The impressive  Sheil House still stands on College Street at the entrance to the St. Patrick's Church carpark where the HSE offices are today.

The full story of William Stephens and Simon Sheil and their very generous gift to their hometown is contained in this year's Donegal Annual 2020

This beautiful building was constructed thanks to the bequest of William Stephens.

Renovation and additional buildings  were recently added to the original Convent in Ballyshannon. the character of the original building is beautifully kept as you can see in this image ( Courtesy of John Hayes  HSE)

Full article with rare photographs and lots of information about both men is contained  in the  recently published 2020 Donegal Annual entitled "Two Ballyshannon Philanthropist and their Legacy"  by Anthony Begley. The 2020 Donegal Annual has a wonderful selection of stories and history from all parts of County Donegal. Editor Sean Beattie. 

The Annual is available in A Novel Idea Ballyshannon  and Four Master's Bookshop Donegal Town and also from Una McGarrigle Parkhill Ballyshannon . 

Limited edition quality hardback with dust jacket as above available in A Novel Idea and Local Hands Ballyshannon and Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town. Also available for postage from anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com

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.

A JuniorBallyshannon Brass and Reed Band in Balyshannon in 1973 . Can you recognise anyone?

A Junior  Ballyshannon Brass and Reed  Band in May 1973  in the ESB field on the Knather at the Vocational School Sports Day

front (l.tor.) Ann Duffy, Christine Gallagher, Kieran McShea, Thomas Downey, Thomas Gallagher, Terence Lawne.

Middle row (l.tor.) Bernard Monaghan, Patricia Fox, Eleanor McLoughlin, Brenda Fannon, Helen Hoey, Niall Tuohy, Patrick McShane (instructor)

Back row (l.to.r.) Eileen Hoey, Geraldine McShea, Liam Thomas, Pauric McMahon, Geraldine Monaghan and Bernadette Gallagher

Ballyshannon Imprisonments, Whippings and Transportation to Van Diemen’s Land

                      The Market House in the centre of the bottom photograph 

                       was formerly the Courthouse. In the middle photograph the 

                       steps into the Market House are visible. David Carter's shop

                       mentioned  below was on the left in Castle Street. Note

                       the different types of transport in the photos. 5 at least! Note

                       also the time taken between two of the photographs

Tough sentences handed down by the courts for thefts in Ballyshannon in the 1800s. A number of people transported to Van Diemen's land (now Tasmania) in Australia for stealing clothes. 

Check out the most unusual and incredible crime that inmates of Ballyshannon Workhouse were accused of committing. Unbelievable but true!

Transported to Van Diemen’s Land

Theft of property was viewed very seriously in the past and those brought before the courts faced very severe sentences including being transported to Tasmania (Van Diemen’s Land). The following five people were from the Ballyshannon area and were transported for various acts of stealing. They were sent to prison in Australia on the other side of the world.

• In 1824 Alicia Leonard and Margaret alias Mary McManus were sentenced to seven years transportation for stealing wearing apparel in Ballyshannon. 
• On 7^th August 1833 Margaret McShee stole three dresses belonging to Margaret McAdam a dressmaker in Ballyshannon. She was before Donegal Assizes in March 1834 and was sentenced to be transported for 7 years.
• Ellen Maguire was charged with having stolen goods on her person. She was sentenced to seven years transportation
• On the 23^rd of July 1840 at Donegal Assizes, Thomas Mc Cann was arrested for stealing wearing apparel at Ballyshannon on the 14^th of July. The prisoner pleaded guilty and he said that he was in liquor at the time. His lordship said that in consequence of his being of good behaviour before that date he would sentence him to be transported for seven years! Seven years!

Prison and Public Whipping through Ballyshannon

Damage to property could result in a jail sentence and a public whipping through the streets of Ballyshannon as the first case below indicates

• In 1823 John McGarrigle, James McEntire, Charles Judge, Michael and Owen McGarrigle were charged with pulling down a house near Ballyshannon the property of Mary McGarrigle. All found guilty and were to be imprisoned for a year. They were also to be publicly whipped through the town of Ballyshannon from the Bridge to the Fair Green on the following days- 12^th April, 21^st June, and 18th September.
• Rose Doherty was found in David Carter’s shop with intention to steal and was sentenced to 6 months imprisonment. David Carter was the editor of the local newspaper called “The Ballyshannon Herald” and also owned a shop selling a variety of stationery on Castle Street in the town.
• Terence McCawley was convicted for stealing a pig and was sentenced to four months imprisonment.

A Bizarre Offence at Ballyshannon Workhouse

What charge was brought against some inmates from the Workhouse?

A number of inmates from Ballyshannon Workhouse were brought to the court and charged with theft. They had absconded from the workhouse at different intervals and were charged with stealing the workhouse clothes which they were wearing at the time! Life was certainly tough for those poor inmates.

Ideal local gift a Limited edition quality hardback with dust jacket as above available in A Novel Idea and Local Hands Ballyshannon and Four Masters Bookshop Donegal Town. Also available for postage from anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com

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.