Brady & McFadden – February 7, 1906, at St Mary’s Church, Killybegs, by the Rev Michael Ward, C.C., Connell Brady, The Island, to Annie, eldest daughter of the late Edward McFadden, Ferbregas, Killybegs.

O’Byrne & Carre. February 11, 1878, at St Mary’s Catholic Church, Killybegs, by the Rev Thomas Slevin, C.C., Mr John O’Byrne, grocer, Skarem, Scotland, to Miss Mary Carre, teacher, Killybegs National School.

Flynn & Cunningham; September 1937: At St Kevin’s Church, Harrington Road, Dublin, the contracting parties being Mr Joseph Flynn, insurance inspector, Donegal, son of Mr Flynn and the late Mrs Flynn, Leitrim, and Miss Margaret Ann Cunningham, daughter of Mr J. Cunningham, Ballyara, Killybegs. The bride was attended by her niece, Miss Mary Frances Cunningham, Killybegs, and the best man was Mr Hugh Flynn, N.T., Fermanagh (brother of the bridegroom).   The bride, who was given away by her brother, Mr John Cunningham, P.C., Killybegs, looked charming in a two-piece navy suit, with hat, veil, gloves and shoes to tone. The bridesmaid wore a white silk frock, with hat, gloves and shoes to match. The officiating clergyman was Very Rev. Archdeacon Grimes, P.P. [Margaret was a sister of Johnny Cunningham, founder of Cunningham’s grocery, hardware, etc., stores, Killybegs]

Dunne & McBrearty. September 30, 1870, at St Mary’s church, Killybegs, by the Rev Mr. Stephens, P.P., Mr John Dunne of H.M. Revenue Cruizer, Fly, Killybegs Bay, to Mary Jane, eldest daughter of Capt. James McBrearty, Schooner Fashion, Killybegs.

McBride & Doherty. August, 1941, In St Mary’s Church, Sergt. Michael McBride, L.D.F. Drill Instructor, Dungloe, and Miss Mary Doherty, eldest daughter of Mr and Mrs Jack Doherty, Killybegs. The bridegroom is the eldest son of Mr and Mrs Denis McBride, Downings. Bridesmaid: Anne Gallagher, Glenties; Best Man: Frank Rogers, Main Street, Killybegs.

Conwell & Coane. February 4, 1869, at St Mary’s Church, Killybegs, by the Rev James Stephens, P.P., assisted by the Rev P. Kelly, C.C., Mr Patrick Conwell, Straleeny, to Miss Ellen Coane, Killybegs.

Hamilton & Hamilton. July 1835, in St Mary’s church, Dublin, Micah Cary, youngest son of Charles Hamilton, Esq., of Ballyfatton, county of Tyrone, to Kate, fifth daughter of the late Richard Hamilton, Esq., of Fintra, Killybegs, county Donegal.

McFadden & O’Donnell. 1 January 1871: In St Mary’s church, Killybegs, by the Rev James Stephens: William McFadden, Craigadoos, (nr St Johnston), and Mary O’Donnell, Port Na Croise, Killybegs.

Boyd & Watson, 24 February 1916: At St John’s Church, Killybegs, by the Rev H. Deazley, John James Boyd, son of Daniel Boyd, Lackaduff, Drumitten, Ardara, to Sophia Watson, daughter of James Watson, Largysillagh, Killybegs.

McElhinney & Strain – July 28, 1909, at St Mary’s Church, Killybegs, by the Rev. D. E. Coyle, C.C., Patrick McElhinney, merchant, Claudy, Derry, to Bridget Ellen Strain, Killybegs.

My readers no doubt have noticed (!) that this blog has been missing for a few weeks. Problem: Laptop decided it wanted to change to Windows 10 instead of 8, and that messed up a lot of things. Also summer (!) weather was against sitting in blogging.

The blog for July 1^st (which did not get published) was to commemorate young Tommy Chesnutt, of The Green, Killybegs, who died aged 21, on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, 1916. Also Paddy Murrin, an uncle of Mary Hegarty and Joey Murrin, who died in that war (5 April 1916); Patrick Hegarty, Granhey, Killybegs, (3 September); and James McCullagh, Aghayeevoge, Killybegs. (27 May 1916). R.I.P.  Several other Killybegs men died in WWI: see my first blog.

 

To get back on track, this report of a children’s concert in the Foresters’ Hall makes easy reading although many of them have passed to their reward:

 

Killybegs Children’s Concert on 3^rd January 1937

The success of the concert was due to the arduous preliminary work of Mrs B. C. Ward, N.T., (and her sister, Imelda Gallagher).   The first item was the opening chorus, An Chuacin Bhinn by Peg Cunningham, Mary Dowds, Katie Murrin, Greta McMenamin, Anna Conwell, Alice Flood, Sarah Gallagher and Joan Cunningham; Johnny Murrin, Josie Ward, Josie Dowds, Seamus McGroarty, Josie Paris, Terence Doherty, and Paddy McMenamin. Feis prizewinners, Little Soldiers by W. Flood, John Murrin, B. McNelis, Hammy Kyles, Liam Conwell, and P. McMenamin, was a treat.

Paidin Fionn, solo, by Anna Conwell, Killybegs, was well received.

Old Black Joe (Darkie song) by Josie Paris, Paddy Dowds, Hammy Kyles, Bernard McNelis, Josie Dowds and Paddy McMenamin, was a scream.

The Garden Gate, song, by Nora Conwell, Killybegs, was loudly applauded. Rallying Song, Bernard McNelis, Paddy McMenamin, Seamus McGroarty, Paddy Dowds, Josie Ward, Frankie Rogers and Francis McNelis, revealed promising talent.

Alice Blue Gown by Anna Conwell and senior girls provided no end of amusement.

Barefoot Days, solo, by Terence Doherty won merited applause.

Tenting Tonight, (action song) by Terence O’Doherty, Frankie Rogers, Josie Ward, Josie Dowds and John Murrin, was of a high standard. Polly Wolly Doodle was pleasantly sung by Kathleen Flood. A cowboy song was rendered in winning style by the senior boy pupils of the Niall Mor School.

Play – The Pensioner, Cast: Peg Cunningham, Lena Cunningham, Seamus McGroarty, and Josie Paris, impressed the audience by their wonderfully true interpretation.

Junior chorus: Samhradh by Veronica Dowds, Nora Conwell, Clare Cunningham, Sally Flood, Bridie Cunningham, Mary McGinn, Mary Molloy, Sheena Cannon, and Kathleen Flood; Sean McMenamin, Con Breslin, Denis Kinsella, Liam Conwell, Seamus Murrin, and Frankie McMenamin. This item charmed the audience. Scout Song, by the Killybegs Catholic Boy Scouts, was worthy of prolonged applause.

Eight Little Mothers, (action song) by Bridie Cunningham, Bridie Murrin, Sally Flood, Mary McGinn, Ethna Fagan, Kathleen Gallagher, M. Molloy, Sheena Cannon, and Clare Cunningham, provoked much laughter.

Model Parliament, (action song): T. Doherty as Mr Speaker; John Murrin as Prime Minister; Paddy McMenamin as Parliamentary Policeman, was enthusiastically received.

Could we but Rule, (action song) by Peg Cunningham, Bridie McGroarty, Bridie Murrin, Greta McMenamin, Nora Conwell, Moira Molloy, Annie Kenny, and Mary O’Donnell was faultlessly performed.

Miss Nora Conwell was heard to advantage in solos, Sky Lark and Mammy Mine.

Gipsies, by Anna Conwell, Nora Conwell, Bridie McGroarty, Sarah Gallagher, Mary Cunningham, and Annie Kenny reflected credit upon themselves and their teacher.

Sailor’s action song and sailor’s hornpipe by Frank Rogers, Josie Dowds, Bernard McNelis, Francis McNelis, Terence Doherty, Josie Ward and John Murrin was a pleasant item. Twenty Miles from Nowhere, Cowboy song: Hammy Kyles, Paddy McMenamin, Paddy Dowds, Frank McNelis, Josie Paris, and Seamus McGroarty, was deservedly applauded.

Dirty Boys (action song) by senior boys and girls of the Niall Mor School gave the audience some side-splitting laughter. Closing chorus, Samhradh, by the first prize-winners of the Donegal Feis last year received a hearty encore.

During the intervals Edward, Patrick and Michael Hegarty (violinists) entertained the audience with selections of Irish traditional music.

B.C. Ward, N.T., and Miss Imelda Gallagher were accompanists. Brian McNelis, N.T., Killybegs, discharged the duties of M.C.

[I assume the Josie Ward above was Surgeon Joey Ward who died in New York in July 2012]

DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL. The above Council invites applications for the following positions: Carndonagh District Hospital: (a) One General Trained Nurse with   C.M.B.  Qualifications. Donegal District Hospital: (b) One General Trained Nurse with Fever Qualifications. St Columba’s Tuberculosis Hospital, Killybegs: (c) One General Trained Nurse with experience in Tuberculosis Nursing. Salary Scale: £122 per annum, increasing by annual increments of £10 to £142 per annum, plus temporary allowance of £41 18s 0d.  In addition, rations, apartments, fuel and light and uniform allowance are provided at a value of £112 per annum, making a gross initial annual salary of £275 18s 0d.  The following additional allowances will also be payable: Post (a) – £10 per annum. Post (b) – £20 per annum. Post (c) – Service allowance at the rate of £10 per annum plus a further allowance of £10 per annum to holders of the T.B. Diploma or the T. A. Certificate. Application forms with conditions of appointment and particulars of above-named whole-time pensionable positions may be had from the undersigned, with whom completed application forms must be lodged not later than TWELVE o’clock, Noon on SATURDAY, the 12th APRIL, 1952. T. J. McManus, County Secretary, County House, Lifford, 26th March 1952.

APPOINTMENT OF HOUSE PHYSICIAN AT ST. COLUMBA’S TUBERCULOSIS HOSPITAL, KILLYBEGS, CO. DONEGAL. APPLICATIONS are invited for the post of House Physician at St. Columba’s Tuberculosis Hospital, Killybegs. The appointment will be on a six months basis with remuneration at the rate of £200 per annum, plus rations, apartments, fuel, light and laundry, together with appropriate temporary bonus. Application forms and full particulars of the post may be obtained from the undersigned to whom completed application forms must be returned not later than Friday, the 26th September, 1952. T. J. McMANUS, County Secretary, County Council Offices, Lifford.  8th September 1952.

DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL. VACANCIES FOR DOMESTIC STAFF. APPLICATIONS are invited from suitable persons for a number of whole-time permanent and pensionable posts on the Domestic Staff of St Columba’s Hospital, Killybegs. Salary is at the rate of £195 18s 0d., rising to £204 18s. 0d. per annum, inclusive of temporary allowance payable at present. Full board and residence is provided for which a deduction of £34 per annum from salary will be made. Further particulars and forms of application may be obtained from the undersigned with whom completed application forms must be lodged on or before 2nd May 1952. T. J. McMANUS, County Secretary, County House, Lifford. 18th April 1952.

 

DONEGAL COUNTY COUNCIL APPOINTMENT OF AMBULANCE DRIVERS. Applications are invited from suitably qualified persons for appointment to the following post: Ambulance Driver attached to St Columba’s Hospital, Killybegs. Applicants must be over 21 years, and under 45 years on the 1st September 1952, possess a standard of education equivalent to that of National School VII Standard, and be competent and experienced driver, capable of carrying out running repairs. Remuneration: At the rate of £301. 18s  0d. per annum which is inclusive of the temporary allowance at present payable as well as the allowance in lieu of uniform, rations and apartments. Application Forms and full particulars from the undersigned with whom completed Forms must be lodged not later than MONDAY 1st SEPTEMBER, 1952. T. J. McManus, County Secretary, Donegal County Council, County House, Lifford.  14th August 1952.

SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT KILLYBEGS

On Friday night, November 11, 1898, a fisherman, John Byrne of Bavin, Kilcar, met with a serious accident at the new boatslip in Killybegs.  Mr Byrne, with a number of other fishermen from Teelin, Kilcar, St John’s Point, etc., was engaged in fishing herring in and around Killybegs Harbour. About nine o’clock that night he returned from shooting his nets, moored his boat to the slip, and started for his boarding-house.  The night was pitch dark, so much so that Byrne could not find his way, and before he had gone twenty yards he accidentally fell over the side of the slip, falling a distance of about twenty-five feet.  He sustained serious injuries to his back and ankle.  It was nothing short of a miracle that he was not killed there and then, as the portion of the shore on which he fell was covered with broken bottles, delph, and scraps of iron, which found their way there from some of the neighbouring public houses.  That was the second accident of the kind which happened there within a few years, a respected merchant, Michael McGill, having lost his life in this very spot in February 1892.  Owing to the absence of a light on the slip, even on the darkest winter night, the place was exceedingly dangerous when so many fishermen were passing to and fro at all hours of the night.  The slip was subject to dues, and it was left to the fishermen to insist on a lamp being placed somewhere upon it.

Whilst working in his store at the back of the shop in Killybegs, Mr Willie Hegarty heard a strange chirping noise in the attic and on going to investigate disturbed a strange bird from its nest in a box.  There were several eggs in the nest.  Mr Hegarty said that the bird, which is a strange bluish colour and small, is not usually seen in this part of the country.  (May 1954)

Mr Con Gillespie, Meenreagh & Sheila Shovelin, Meenabull, Killybegs, 4^th daughter of James Shovelin.  Bridesmaid: Bridget.  Best man: Andrew Hegarty, Meenreagh, nephew of the groom. June 1937.

The marriage of Mr P. C. Brady and Miss Cassie Deery, natives of Killybegs, took place at St Gregory’s New York, U.S.A.  Miss Pauline Cacho was bridesmaid, and Mr William Paget acted in the capacity of groomsman.  Mr Brady, who is employed at Mr J. C. Mannif’s café, 40, Strand, 2^nd Avenue, New York, is a thorough Irishman, and always takes an active part in any movement for the welfare of his country.  Mr Brady organised the present Donegal Men’s Association in New York city.  He is also a member of the A.O.H.  Mr Brady spent seven years in Glasgow before going to New York.  During his time in Glasgow he was a member of the United Irish League.  June 1908.

At the Parish Church of Killybegs, by the Rev John G. Ball,  Charles Southcott, 21, bachelor, Private in the Marines, H. M. Gunboat Blazer, and Ellen Jane Hamilton, 21, spinster, farmer’s daughter, Tullycullion, Bruckless.  Witnesses: Alexander Walker & Thomas Evans. 19 July 1866.

Conwell & Martin.  At St Columba’s Church, Long Tower, Derry, by the Rev Father Faulkner, C.C., Bernard Charles Conwell, of Killybegs, to Rosetta (Etta), youngest daughter of Denis Martin, 68 Foyle St., Derry. April 2^nd, 1923. [Bernard was a son of Thomas and Rose Conwell, Straleeny, and was born in 1902]

Daniel Currie, Rathlin Island & Isabella Greenlaw, ‘Scottish Hill’, daughter of William Greenlaw, by Rev J. Howard Deazeley, in St John’s Church, Killybegs. Bridesmaid: Emily Morrow; Groomsman: Robert Greenlaw, brother of the bride. 12 October 1905.

Gallagher & McCloskey. At St Mary’s Catholic Church, Killybegs, by the Rev. Michael Martin, P.P., V.F., Willie Gallagher, gauger, Carricknamohill, Killybegs, to Mary, eldest daughter of Mr Arthur McCloskey, Castletown, Dunkineely. September 25 1894.

At the Parish Church of Killybegs, by License, by the Rev Wm. Lodge, Rector & Vicar, John Kennedy, parish of Conwall, and Susan McIlwaine, spinster, servant, daughter of Albert McIlwaine of Killybegs.  Witnesses: James McIlwaine & Thomas Philipps.  22^nd July 1851,

Guckion & Hegarty, at the Roman Catholic Church, Killaghtee, by the Rev. Thomas Slevin, C.C., Mr James Guckion, R.I.C., to Miss Catherine Hegarty, teacher, Killybegs N.S. July 24, 1876.  [Catherine was a daughter of Master James Hegarty of the Commons School]

At Fitzroy avenue Presbyterian Church, Belfast, by the Rev William Colquhoun, B.A., assisted by the Rev William Irwin, D.D, Castlerock, uncle of the bride, and Rev James Mitchell, B. A., Great George’s street, John Harris, manager, Ulster Bank, Killybegs, son of the late Samuel Harris, Roebank, Kircubbin, to Mary Helen (Nellie), daughter of the later Rev James B. Huston, Aghadowey, and Mrs Huston, 60 Botanic Avenue, Belfast.  June 24, 1902.

At Killaghtee: John Strain & Mary Ann Blain. Witnesses: Charles Blain & A. Slevin. 2 February 1879.

At the residence of the bride’s father, by the Rev D.E. Coyle, P.P., Stranorlar, Mr Francis McCloskey, Fyafannan House, Killybegs, to Susannah, eldest daughter of Mr Patrick Kerrigan, Curraughmoan, Stranorlar. 10 June 1851.

At the Church of the Visitation, Killybegs, by the Very Rev James Stephens, P.P., V.F., Mr Bernard Mulloy, Crove, Kilcar, to Miss Susan McCahill, youngest daughter of the late Mr Matthew McCahill, Stragar, Killybegs. 22 January 1865.

This Fair was held on Tuesday, 19^th July 1870, with a large attendance.  Springers met with a ready sale, prices varying from £7 5s to £12 each; dry cows in good condition were quickly bought up for grass, from £7 to £10 each, according to condition and size; two-year-old heifers met with a ready sale, from £6 to £7 5s each.  There was very little demand for anything inferior.  There were a few lots of good yearling heifers and bullocks exhibited, but in very few instances exchanged owners.  There were several lots of sheep, some of which were sold for 16s each; but, on the whole, the demand was bad, owing to the very low condition in which they appeared.  It was almost impossible to get fat sheep, which were very scarce then.  The pig market was well supplied.  The prices were however so low that people refused to sell.  Young pigs were in great demand, and readily sold from 17s to 24s each.  There was a very good supply of cabbage plants, which sold from 5d to 6d per hundred.  Notwithstanding the immense concourse of people who attended this old-established fair, everything passed off very quietly.  No disturbance whatever took place, and there were only a few instances of intoxication, which were looked after by the constabulary, so that, on the whole, we may be proud of the peace and harmony which prevail in the large district of country surrounding the ancient corporation of Killybegs.