Pipers from Philadelphia, Frank Watson, William Watson and Thomas Connor play at the graveside in Ardara of John Ruddy, the Donegal man murdered at Duffy’s Cut. The Donegal News’ coverage of the funeral, as written by Harry Walsh, will feature in a new book chronicling the history of six south Donegal parishes.
SOCIAL, religious, education, political and sporting events from a number of parishes in South West Donegal down through the years have been brought to life in a new book to be published this autumn.
“A Chronology of the Development of Ardara, Doochary, Downstrands, Fintown, Glenties and Lettermacaward” is the latest work by Tom Plunkett, principal of St. Conal’s N.S., Narin, Portnoo.
This 100-page chronology, features events from earliest times until 2019 and all profits will be donated to the Board of Management of St. Conal’s N.S.
Speaking to the Donegal News this week Mr Plunkett said he hoped that this book can be a useful starting point for those wishing to locate information on the history of this region.
“One may merely dip one’s toes in a particular period or read the chronology from start to finish. It will catalogue the growth of the villages and towns mentioned in the title, note incidents during the War of Independence and the Civil War, record the deaths of men lost in the Great War, illustrate the local political agitation of the late 1800s and early 1900s and tease out controversies which, at times, garnered national attention,” he said.
The work charts the development of the local communities and to record how some areas prospered at various times, while others suffered setbacks.
When reading the entries for a given year, the reader can get a sense of how the people are interacting with each other, while fashioning a social, political, commercial, sporting and cultural life for themselves.
The splendid research of several top-notch local historians is acknowledged throughout, not to mention the treasure troves that are Dearcadh and Dúchas magazines.
A citation to the fact in question is always provided, so the reader can locate the source material and explore further.
A random sample of the entries below illustrates the form the book will take.
1809
On December 13th, 1809, the ‘Diana’ out of Liverpool was wrecked on Narin Strand on its way to Barbados. Its cargo and fittings were sold on January 29, 1810 at the Portnoo Stores. (Dublin Evening Post, January 23rd, 1810; Conal Shovlin, “The Diana of Liverpool”, Dearcadh 2008)
1834
A Catholic Church was erected in Fintown under the direction of Fr. Daniel Coyle. It replaced a scálán which was situated behind the police barracks. Bishop Patrick McGettigan of Raphoe consecrated the building. (Canon Maguire, “History of the Diocese of Raphoe”, 1920, Vol. 1, p. 482; Donegal News, December 17th, 1988)
1864
“Ducarry” (Doochary) Salmon and Eel Fishery was put up for sale in January by its joint owners, the Marquess of Conyngham and Hewetson Henry Reynolds. The sale offer included the Ice House and Caretaker’s House. (Belfast Morning News, January 6th)
1896
Rev. James Scanlan, C.C. received “a handsome testimonial in the shape of a well-filled purse of sovereigns from the parishioners of Lettermacaward” (Donegal Independent, March 6th)
1907
Patrick Pearse visited Donegal in July, staying in Glenties on July 4th and travelling on to Ardara the next day where he dined in the Nesbitt Arms. He sent a postcard from Ardara to his mother featuring the view from Glengesh. (Canon Liam McCaul, “Padraic Pearse in Ardara”, Dearcadh 1985; Lochlann McGill, “In Conall’s Footsteps”, 1992 & 2001, pp. 240-241)
1936
The Fintown Pioneer Total Abstinence Association Brass Band was established by Fr. John Deeney and it lasted until 1943. (Liam Briody, “Glenties and Inniskeel – A Study of Glenties Town and Inniskeel Parish” (1986) p. 191)
1970
A combined Glenties and Ardara side won the County Minor football title for the second year running against Buncrana. Ardara won the Junior County Championship in October. (“Idir Peil agus Pobal”, 2004, pp. 304-310)
2013
Inishowen man, John Ruddy was buried in Ardara 181 years after he was murdered at Duffy’s Cut near Philadelphia where he briefly worked on building railroads. (Donegal News, March 3rd; Harry Walsh, “Donegal Man Killed Building America Finally Gets Proper Burial”, Dearcadh 2013)
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