WHAT ABOUT THIS: ‘Sheep’s head as an economical and nourishing dish does not get anything like the consideration it deserves.  Properly boiled, it will make a delicious and plentiful dinner for a fairly large family, while the water in which it is cooked will give stock for almost a week’s supply of soup. Many people consider the brains a great delicacy.

TO COOK THE HEAD.    Steep the head in plenty of cold, salted water for a couple of hours and wash out all the blood.  Remove the brains and tongue.  Tie the head in muslin, put it into a large saucepan and well cover with cold water.  Bring slowly to the boil, and simmer gently for three hours, skimming occasionally.  If you wish to have soup to serve before the head, add a few herbs and a dessert-spoonful of pearl barley, when you put the head in the pot, and half an hour or so before the head is cooked, add come diced vegetables – carrots, a little turnip, and sliced onions.  Take out the head and remove the muslin (the idea of the muslin is to prevent the small sharp bones from mixing with the stock or soup) and serve with a good parsley sauce.  If you have boiled the head without the addition of vegetables, etc., pour the liquid into a delph basin and when cold remove any fat and use the stock as a foundation for various soups during the week.

THE BRAINS.  Tie the brains in muslin and par-boil in slightly salted water, then roll in egg and breadcrumbs or just coat with a batter and roll in breadcrumbs.  Fry to a golden brown and serve with toast’. (1942).

ST PATRICK’S DAY COLLECTION, KILCAR – THANKS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS.

Rev Father P. Logue, Kilcar, in acknowledging subscriptions as below, returns his most profound gratitude to all those who liberally contributed towards the collection on St Patrick’s Day to wipe out a debt of £300 incurred by him in purchase of a Bell, building Belfry, etc:

 

Five Pounds Each:

His Grace, Most Rev Dr. McGettigan, Primate of all Ireland.

The Most Rev. Dr. Logue, Bishop of the Diocese

Mr James Johnson, New York (Four pounds)

Mr Joseph McLoone, Esq., J.P., Donegal (2 guineas)

Two Pounds Each:

Very Rev. Monsignor Stephens, P.P., Killybegs

Joseph Gallagher, Esq., T.C., Letterkenny

Mr James O’Byrne, Colorado

One Pound Each:

William J. O’Doherty, E.C., Maryport

Mr J. Murphy, Bell Founder, Dublin

Very Rev. James McFadden, P.P., V.F., Falcarragh;

Very Rev. Daniel McGee, P.P., Glenties;

Very Rev. Charles O’Donnell, P.P., V.F., Ardara;

Rev. Francis B. Gallagher, P. P., Rosguill;

Very Rev. Patrick O’Donnell, Professor, Maynooth;

Rev. Bernard Kelly, P.P., Dunfanaghy; Rev. Patrick

Daly, P.P., Ballintra;

Mr Peter Kelly, The Mall, Ballyshannon;

Mr Ross Hastings, Londonderry;

Mr Edward Kelly, Londonderry

Mr Manus McFadden, Glenswilly

Messrs Irvine & Co., Belfast

Thomas F. Brady, Inspector of Fisheries

Mr Hugh O’Donnell, N.T., Letterkenny

Messrs O’Connor & Cullin, Sligo

Messrs J. Arnott & Co., Belfast

Mr Daniel Elliott, Omagh

Mr James Sweeney, Dungloe

Mr P. Gallagher, Solicitor, Strabane

Mr Francis McGlade, Belfast

Rev Edward Gibbons, C.C., Fintown

Mr James Diamond, Milford

Miss Bessie Gavigan, Brooklyn

Rev John Boyle, P.P., Tamney, Fanad

Mr Patrick Sheil, Belfast

Mr John McCristall, Omagh

Rev Hugh A. Gallagher, Ballyshannon

Mr Connell Meehan, Kilcar

Mr Charles Bradley, Donegal

Mr James Murray, Dundalk

Rev. Father Rice, Adm., Armagh

Rev. Father McNeese, Armagh

Rev. Father Oliver, Armagh

Rev. Father McGeeney, Armagh

Rev. Charles McGlynn, P.P., Dungloe

Very Rev. J. McMenamin, P.P., Stranorlar

Miss Mary Coleman, Killybegs

Mr Alexander Coane, Ballyshannon

Henry Thynne, Esq., R.M., Donegal

Mr Charles Rogers, Killybes

Very Rev. Michael Coyne, Armagh

Rev. Michael Martin, P.P., St Johnston

Rev. Hugh McFadden, P.P., Donegal

Rev. James Gallagher (The Store) Letterkenny

Mr James Gallagher, N.T., Kilcar

Mrs Sinnott, Killybegs

Mrs Coane, Killybegs

Mr William Drummond, Killybegs

Mr T. C. MacGinley, N.T., Killybegs

Mr John C. Ward, N.T., Killybegs

Mr Patrick Conwell, Killybegs

Mr James Coane, Killybegs

Mr Neal McLoone, Killybegs

Mr John McGarrigle, Killybegs

Very Rev. Daniel Spence, P.P., Ballyshannon

Rev. Edward Cassidy, Glencolumbkille

Rev. Francis W. Gallagher, P.P., Carrick

Rev. James McFadden, P.P., Gweedore

C. McNamara, Inspector of National Schools

Mr James McShane, Dunkineely

Mr Neal McGinley, Kilcar

C. O’Doherty, Esq., C.E., Teelin Pier

Mrs Margaret Devine, New York

Rev Hugh O’Gara McShane, Wilmington, Pa.

Messrs A. A. Watt & Co., Londonderry

Mr James Clarke, England (17 shillings)

Ten Shillings Each:

Mr John McGinley, Falcarragh

Mr John Gettins, Dunkineely

Mr Roger McGinley, N.T., Croagh

Miss Meehan (Hotel), Donegal

Mr John Stephens, senior, Ballyshannon

Mr Ringland, Ulster Bank, Belfast

Rev. Edw Maguire, Seminary, Letterkenny

Mrs Byrnham, Carrick

Clarke, Esq., Sub-Inspector, R.I.C.

Mr John Gilgar, Fintra

Rev. John Doherty, C.C., Rathmullan

Rev. Patrick Kelly, C.C., Ballyshannon

Mr Charles Mulloy, Glenties

T. Paul, Esq., Ulster Bank, Glenties

Rev. William Sheridan, Letterkenny

Mr Hugh O’Donnell, Derry

Mr Patrick Breslin, Derry

Mr Hugh McMenamin, Lifford

Rev. Hugh Devine, P.P., Kilmacrenan

Thomas C. Hope, Ulster Bank, Killybegs

Rev. A. McNelis, C.C., Gweedore

Mr James Dunleavy, Donegal

Rev. Patrick McCafferty, C.C., Kilmacrenan

Rev James Scanlon, Seminary, Letterkenny

Rev. Joseph Boyle, C.C., Lettermacaward

Mr Robert Sweeney, Ballyshannon

Rev. Edward McDevitt, Stranorlar

Rev. John Sweeney, C.C., Ardara

Mr Hugh Cunningham, Killybegs

Charles M. Boyle, C.E., Ballyshannon

Rev. George Doherty, C.C., Inver

Mr Edward McFadden, Letterkenny

Rev. Patrick McCay, St Johnston

Rev. Father Hegarty, Gartan

Mr Daniel McVeigh, Letterkenny

Mr Bernard Cannon, Killybegs

Mr Michael Doherty, Letterkenny

Mr Francis McHugh, Kilcar

Mr Patrick Doherty, Buggah

Mr Hugh O’Gara, P.L.G., Kilcar

Mr Dane, Sub-Constable, R.I.C.

Rev. Michael Kelly, P.P., Killymard

Mr Patrick McIntyre, N.T., Carrick

Mr Patrick Boyle N.T., Teelin

Mr Francis Cassidy, Carrick

Mr Thomas McShane, Carrick

Mr James Craig, N.T., Malinbeg

Mr Patrick Murray, N.T., Roxboro’

Mr Patrick McLaughlin, Castlemurray

Mrs Ann McGinty, Donegal

Rev. J. R. Collins, P.P., Ramelton

Mr John Cannon, Carrick

Mr Francis Carr, N.T., Coguish

Five Shillings Each:

Mr John Fisher, N.T., Ardara

Mr Bird, Ballintra

Miss B. Doherty, Boston

Mr Christopher Byrne, Kilcar

Mr Edward Doherty, Buggah

Mr John McMullan, Leitir

Mr Joseph McIntyre, Kilcar

Mrs Patrick McIntyre, Kilcar

Mrs Bridget Doherty, Kilcar

Mrs Bridget McGinley, Kilcar

Mr Peasly, R.I.C., Kilcar

Mr Haul, R.I.C., Kilcar

Mr Dunnovan, Kilcar

Mr Michael McFadden, Kilcar

Mr McNelis, America

Mr John McShane, Meenticherahan

Mr Neal Carr, Bavin

Mr Hugh Kelly, Killybegs (7 shillings)

Mr Patrick Gallagher, N.T., Shalvey

Mr James Carr, N.T., Mucross

Mr Andrew Coyle, Ballyshannon

Mrs C. Byrne, Killybegs

Eight Shillings Each:

A Son of Kilcar (America)

A Girl of Kilcar

(April 1882)

 

 

MY SWEET KILLYBEGS.

 

My dear Killybegs, I’m thinking about you,

As I lay down my head on my pillow to rest,

And e’er my eyes open to the dawn of the morning

In dreams I’ll be there in that town I love best.

 

I can see through my slumbers the home I was born in,

And the cradle that rock’d me standing still by the wall,

But I miss the kind friends off the seats lying vacant,

Who comes nightly to ceilidhe in droll Donegal.

 

Father is gone and mother has followed,

Who looked on my childhood with joy and with care,

Ah, no! I can’t stay, I must go, I’m but dreaming,

How sad on awaking for I’ll not be there.

 

Ah! There’s the old school in off the road-side,

The name o’er the door I barely can trace,

And the kindly old Master who taught me my lessons,

Is dead long, I know, may his soul rest in peace.

 

I can see from the window of that darling old homestead

That beautiful harbour reflecting the town,

With naught to disturb its placid blue waters

But the lapping of swans from Lough-head swimming down.

 

Croughlin and Carin sit watching each other

As they used to some score and a half years ago,

And flowers bloom as fair all along Carntullagh,

And larks sing as loud over lovelyBenroe.

 

And out there by Roshin, waves they are hushing,

And racing each other to first kiss the shore.

With Drimanoo booming up out in the distance

Resisting the spray from off wild Bulligmore.

 

Roscorkin and Fintra, Largy and Shalvey,

Towney and Muckross, how my heart grieved,

When I took my last look on your sweet smiling meadows

From lovely immortal, far-famed Slieveleague.

 

And yet I’ll return to see their fair faces

That dwell in those places, but, alas! some are dead,

Their fond memories I’ll cherish with pent-up devotion

From fair Killybegs to the cliffs of Glenhead.

 

Yes, I’ll go back when my dream it is over,

If God gives me strength there I’ll recline

In the bosom of you, my sweet native village,

I’ll burn out life’s taper in that dear home of mine.

 

When the cold hand of death wraps his mantle around me

Then lay me to rest in the graveyardclose by

Where my friends they shall come to pray for and mourn me,

And there, with the swift winds,Breathe sigh for sigh.

 

And in silence I hear their sweet supplication

To the King of kings who rules over all,

beseeching his blessing on my sweet native village,

And all round the borders of droll Donegal.

JAMES CONWELL (Shoemaker)

St Catherine’s Road, Killybegs.