THE community of Creeslough gathered to unveil a special memorial dedicated to corn cutting on Friday evening and to remember the late Ben McFadden, a trojan worker in the community on the first anniversary of his death.
The event organised by the Creeslough Community Association took place at Muckish Terrace.
It was extremely significant because of the history associated with corn cutting locally.
Despite the practice no longer being very common in Creeslough, the village has kept a strong connection with their corn cutting past.
Rev. David Skuce and Fr. John Joe Duffy.
A local pub, Mc Carry’s holds a corn cutting charity event every year.
Corn cutting is synonymous with Creeslough because of the song ‘The Emigrant’s Letter’ by Percy French, better known as ‘Cutting the corn in Creeslough today’, which has been immortalised by Bridie Gallagher.
A section of the great turnout for the unveiling of the Corncutters memorial at Muckish Terrace, Creeslough. Photos: Brendan ‘Tiny’ Vaughan.
The song tells the tale of the tearful goodbye many families are familiar with; therefore the memorial is also an ode to the many people who emigrated from the town.
“But I’m sailing away from the Emerald Isle and a long sort of sigh seemed to come from us all when the waves hit the last bit of auld Donegal.
“Ah, it’s well to be you that is taking your tay (tea), where’ they’re cutting the corn in Creeslough today,” the song lyrics say.
“The song put us on the map,” said Majella McFadden, the newly appointed Chairperson of the Creeslough Community Association (CCA).
Members of the family of the late Ben McFadden at the unveiling.
Parish Priest Fr John Joe Duffy said a great crowd from young to old gathered on Friday evening to remember Ben and say “thank you to a man who stood head and shoulders high in a community that remembers him with thanks for his tremendous generosity.
“A man who worked for his community through his illness, who dreamed only of bettering his community and who sought always to make his community twice as good. Ben dreamt of things that are not yet for the community and believed that one day they too would come to be. A true leader whose greatest legacy is that inspiration he left for all of us to continue to dream things not yet that can be realised for the bettering of our community.
“As a Parish and community, we all thank Bernadette, Majella, Gerard, Peadar and Liam and your families and Ben’s grandchildren Ami, Louie, Naoise, Olivia and Sophia for sharing so much of Ben with us all.”
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