The Spanish Flu and "The Angel of Death"
In the Ballyshannon area there were many topics of conversation and concern one hundred years ago. World War One ended in November 1918 but also in November, a local newspaper “The Donegal Vindicator” was reporting on The Spanish Flu which worldwide, and in the Ballyshannon area, caused more deaths than the war:
“That dread scourge influenza has been working havoc in Ballyshannon. It came in a mild form at first, and when people has just began to think it had abated, during the past week its ravages became more intense, and the Angel of Death has gathered into its fold three of the inhabitants of the place.”
Three other natives of the district also died from influenza in the same week.
Social Distancing has a long history in Ballyshannon
As far back as the cholera epidemic which hit Ireland in 1832 there was local advice by the doctors in Ballyshannon not to congregate at wakes. The disease thrived in confined spaces and while many people followed the advice, others didn't, cholera spread and over 100 people died in the Ballyshannon area alone.
In 1918 speculation, as to how the Spanish Flu spread worldwide centred on returning soldiers from World War One and in the Ballyshannon area, as Christmas approached, there were a lot of men returning from the Western Front.
The Spanish Flu spread where ever there were large gatherings of people in confined spaces. Wakes were considered to be a source of spreading the disease and the 1918 General Election held in December 1918 with larger gatherings and movements of people, also assisted the spread. Even though election rallies were held in the open air people packed into areas like The Diamond in front of The Medical Hall, in the photograph below, and congregated for long periods which helped to spread the flu.
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| A Local Gift for Christmas |
In Ballyshannon Workhouse the number of inmates rose from 123 in September 1918 to 159 in December of the same year. In November 1918 due to the large number of patients with influenza extra women were hired to do the washing. Between September 1918 and June 1919 a total of 35 deaths were recorded in Ballyshannon Workhouse. During the war years 940 soldiers were treated for illnesses in Ballyshannon Workhouse and possibly the large concentration of patients in confined spaces increased the death rate. It has been estimated that over 1,000 people died of the Spanish Flu in County Donegal in 1918-1919. Nationally around 23,000 people died with upwards of 800,000 catching this flu. The number of deaths from the Spanish Flu nationally were estimated at 23,000 much greater than the combined deaths in the 1916 Rising, the War of Independence and the Civil War.
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| Spanish Flu rampant in Ballyshannon Workhouse and in the wider area |
Primary School closed in Bundoran because of Spanish Flu
Joseph Murray, local Director of Intelligence for the Irish Volunteers, was a teacher in Bundoran and recalled how the Spanish Flu allowed him to canvass in the 1918 Election. “In December 1918, my school was closed for a long period, due to a serious outbreak of influenza. I was asked to accept the job of organiser for Sinn Féin in the Killybegs, Teelin, Carrick and Glencolmcille areas during the General Election Campaign. I agreed to do the work and took up residence in Killybegs with a sister of P. J. Ward. Ward, who was elected T.D. and who had a long association with Sinn Fein and later the Volunteer movement, was appointed O/C of our 4th Brigade. Patrick Byrne, a merchant in Killybegs-an uncle of P. J. Ward and a very good speaker-gave me great assistance while I was in the area”.
The Spanish Flu continued into 1919
and by March numbers in the workhouse were 140 with 20 patients in the
infirmary. In March 1919 the local newspaper reported on the deaths of two
young people from influenza.
Christmas Time in Ballyshannon in 1918 Christmas goods were still in scarce supply in the Ballyshannon shops and there was not as much liquor consumed as in other years, partly because of the cost. Nevertheless the shops put up as good a display as possible in what were difficult circumstances coming just after the end of the World War in November 1918. The local newspaper “The Donegal Vindicator” described the mood in the town at Christmas 1918: “There was some little liquor consumed, but not as much as in other years. Perhaps it does not taste as well, or would the reason be that it is too dear? Anyhow the “Old Coleraine” was better in the bottle, as the election fever is not over yet, and a slight breeze would fan the flame, and neither a Sinn Féin nor Parliamentary “black eye” is very imposing. In the town the festive season was duller than ever, not even an Irish Ceilidh, with French dances, to relieve the monotony. No football, and shooting matches were taboo, as D.O.R.A. (Defence of the Realm Act) had put the kibosh on that kind of sport. A tame game of billiards was the only kind of recreation indulged in. A rural band of “mummers” visited the town. A good number of people came home to the town for the Christmas holidays, but in this respect the defenders of the Empire were in the majority, khaki everywhere you turned”. On Christmas morning the masses in St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s Churches were well attended, “and the large numbers who approached the altar rails was edifying. The Altar Committees in both parishes spared neither time nor energy, and the interiors of the Churches reflected credit on the willing workers.” The Christmas congregations in St. Anne’s and the Presbyterian Church were also impressive. |
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Ideal Local gift for Christmas home and away. 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 signed copies, and inscriptions, for postage or collection from anthonyrbegley@hotmail.com |
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