With Writers’ Week approaching We ask ;Have You Ever Read the Real “Quiet Man”!

By David Kissane, Lacca and Ardfert

 

(Painting of Paddy Bawn Enright)

This year marks the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Ballydonoghue’s most famous son, Maurice Walsh (1879-1964).                                                                                 Despite the fact that Maurice was the author of fourteen novels along with collections of stories and other works, he is best remembered as the author of “The Quiet Man”, which was the foundation for the iconic 1952 John Ford film with John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara.

But “The Quiet Man” began life as a mere short story in The Saturday Evening Post in the USA on February 11th, 1933 with Shawn Kelvin as the main character. (That was when John Ford first saw it.) Two years later, the story appeared in a collection of stories called “The Green Rushes” and Walsh by then had changed the main character’s name to Paddy Bawn Enright, a real man who worked on the Walsh farm in Ballydonoghue. When the film was released, the name was changed again to Seán Thornton, played by John Wayne.

But Ballydonoghue can feel a little hard done by in the saga of the history of the film. Tourists throng to Cong in Mayo where the film was made, but very few come to Ballydonoghue where Maurice Walsh’s house still stands with a plaque to commemorate the prolific author. Cong initiated a “Quiet Man Festival” some years ago, but our parish has never had such a festival. The local inspiration for the film seems to have been an event at Listowel fair, where a bully refused to pay his sister’s fortune, and where a fight took place between a local farmer, Quiet Jack McElligott and a jobber who tried to cheat him. These events are hardly ever connected with the “Quiet Man”. And what about Paddy Bawn Enright, the real Quiet Man? Shouldn’t tourists be directed to his home townland, to the “small farm on the first warm shoulder of Knockanore Hill” as Walsh described it in the original story! Add to this the fact that the bulk of Walsh’s work is now out of print and that characters like Thomasheen James O’Doran (based on World War 1 veteran Tom O’Gorman from Asdee who worked for the Walsh family) are likely to vanish from the community memory, it looks like a massive Ballydonoghue contribution to literature and to cinematography could vanish forever!

It has to be said that The Maurice Walsh Memorial Committee did excellent work over the years to highlight the career of Maurice Walsh and was responsible in conjunction with Listowel Writers’ Week for the erection of a monument at Lisselton Cross, but references to this monument are scanty on any website devoted to our Maurice.

 

 (Quiet Man book)

The Original Story

To help bring the original story back home to where it belonged, the following are the opening paragraphs of “The Quiet Man” as it first appeared in The Saturday Evening Post in the USA in 1933:

‘Shawn Kelvin, a blight young man of twenty, went to the States to seek his fortune. And fifteen years later he returned to his native Kerry, his blithness sobered and his youth dried to the core. And whether he had made his fortune or whether he had not nobody could be knowing for certain. For he was a quiet man, not given to talking about himself and the things he had done. A quiet man, under middle size, with strong shoulders and deep-set blue eyes, below brows darker than his dark hair – that was Shawn Kelvin. One shoulder had a habit of hunching slightly higher than the other, and some folks said it came from a habit he had of shielding his eyes in the glare of an open-hearth furnace in a place called Pittsburgh, while others said it used to be a way he had of guarding his chin that time he was a sort of sparring-partner punching bag at a boxing camp.

Shawn Kelvin came home and found he was the last of the Kelvins and that the farm of his forefathers had added its few acres to the ranch of Big Liam O’Grady of

Moyvalla. Shawn took no action to recover his land, though O’Grady had got it meanly. He had had enough of fighting, and all he wanted now was peace. He quietly went among the old and kindly friends and quietly looked about him for the place and peace he wanted, and when the time came quietly produced the money for a neat, handy small farm on the first warm shoulder of Knockanore Hill below the rolling curves of heather. It was not a big place, but it was in good heart and it got all the sun that was going. And best of all, it suited Shawn to the top notch of contentment, for it held the peace that tuned to his quietness, and it commanded the widest view in all Ireland, vale and mountain and the lifting green plain of the Atlantic Sea…’

 

(The Magazine asks that readers submit their favourite Maurice Walsh story for the 2017 edition to help keep the work of our famous writer alive.)

 

 (Green Rushes front cover)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It happened at Hegarty’s Hall

By Mossie Walsh, Guhard

(BPM 2014) 

 

 

While I’m sure funny things happened at Hegarty’s Hall, I recall two funny incidents, which as Eamon Kelly would say are “pure true”. One night when there was a big crowd there, Seán Downes arrived at the hall in good form. He crossed the floor to where the girls were sitting on the Ballybunion side. He started at the top near the bandstand and proceeded to ask each one down along, and despite being a good dancer he did not succeed in getting a partner.

All of a sudden he dropped down on the floor near where the girls were. They surrounded him as he lay stretched out. One of them, being a nurse was very concerned in case it was a heart attack, knelt down beside him and gave him the “kiss of life”, which seemed to go on for a good while. By this time a big crowd had gathered, suddenly Seán sat up, amazing everybody and said “carry on, that’s lovely, I hadn’t it as good in years”. His acting over, he got a round of applause. He wasn’t short of dancing partners for the rest of the night! They were relieved and delighted because like Lazarus, he had come back from the dead.

 

At another dance, again a very funny thing happened. Jerdie O’Connor, Bud O’Connor and myself were chatting when the late Eamie Kissane came in and joined in the conversation. The band was playing a lovely waltz but the dancers were shy on taking to the floor. Eamie was merry and being the character he was, Jerdie and Bud were betting with him that he wouldn’t cross the floor and ask a girl to dance.

“No problem” says Eamie “if you will come with me Mossie”. There were two newcomers present that night and Eamie said we would ask those two “clients”, which was Eamie’s word. They both agreed to dance and we had the floor to ourselves for a while. Eamie appeared to be getting into difficulty with his woman, as they didn’t seem to be compatible. Next thing Eamie was abandoned and he came back to the boys.

When that dance was over I asked Eamie what had happened?

Eamie, not to be outdone, says very seriously “you didn’t see at all what happened to me and my client”. “Turning at the top near the bandstand , what did she do but put her high heel shoe into the fold of my trouser leg and stayed that way all around the floor. She nearly had the trouser brought off of me, I told her to sit down and I went back to the boys”.

That was the story he told us, which caused a lot of laughter. A crowd gathered around as he retold it several times and added “I’d say ‘twas her first time at a dance and she hasn’t a clue” and of course Eamie couldn’t be wrong!

 

Recalling the bands who played at Hegarty’s Hall, in my opinion The Vanguard Six was the best. I enjoyed many a good night there.

 

A Tribute to Thomas O’Connor

Thomas O’Connor, Glouria (9/09/1959 – 6/07/2016)

tom-o%27connorMy father was an extraordinary man. He led an extraordinary life and had extraordinary ways. He will be missed in a way greater than any words can explain. Since his death on July 6th, our lives have been met with unintelligible loss.
My father will forever be missed.

Thomas Kieran O’Connor was born in Glouria, Lisselton to parents, Patrick and Mary (nee Walsh, Lenamore, Ballylongford) in 1959. A native of Glouria, his love was always for the land and the outdoors. More than nature and the freedom of fresh air, Tom loved his family more than life itself.
Tom grew up with his brother, Connie (RIP) and sisters, Maureen and Eileen. Two other siblings, Jim and Margaret, died in infancy. He attended Coolard National School and then went on to Listowel Technical School for a short time. At a young age Tom went to work, milking cows at Fitzgerald’s, later roofing and then began his role in Kerry Group which lasted for thirty-two years up until he took ill in 2013.
Tom was a hard-working man and always enjoyed the craic with his many friends. It was something he missed when he was on leave and appreciated the kindness and continued presence of his treasured colleagues who visited our home or met up in The Kingdom for a pint or “The Eggstand” as he famously christened it.
Tom always worked the family farm in Glouria and was a man who always favoured a Zetor. He had a 1978 Zetor Crystal 8011 with which he drew bales and brought home the turf from Dirha bog on many occasions. His famous tractor was his old 20 diesel Ferguson on which he had great enjoyment, complete with his straw hat, spreading manure. His most recent and comfortable Zetor 7441 brought him peace as, on some of his lowest days, he went out for a leisurely drive in the locality.

A lover of the simple things in life, Tom always took great satisfaction in what he had and, whether it was a streak of bacon or a Mint Aero, he was content.
Tom met his life-long partner, Jane in 1979 and after a seven-year romance, married in October 1986. They were the definition of best friends and gave marriage true meaning. In both sickness and in health they were inseparable. Patrick was born in 1988, Deirdre in 1995 and twins, Maria and Margaret in 1996. To say Tom was a family man is an understatement. He did all of the things that great fathers do. The light of his life were his grandchildren, Jack and Mollie. Having to spend a lot of time at home, they were a great source of strength to battle his illness. He had an exceptional love for them and they in turn adored him. He loved his faithful friend, Missy also, even though he swore he would never get a dog!
Tom carried himself in a way that others admired. Defeat wasn’t in his vocabulary, never a pessimist, always the optimist. He continued to live life the way he always did. He was ever witty and even humorous as he would make light of a situation with his one-liners. He found a strength that his family admired. His illness will not be what we will dwell on, as it is not what defined him. He always defied the odds. He was small in stature but a giant in every way imaginable. He was brave, exceptional and daring. Most of all he was nothing less than heroic.

Our father was taken from us at the young age of fifty six. The light of our lives is gone. The centre of our world no more. His shoes by the stove, the tractor in the farmyard, an empty bed and a little less laughter. We are grateful for the time shared and the memories will forever live on. We are left with an unconscionable feeling of emptiness and a huge void that nobody will ever fill.

We are proud of our father and glad he has found peace.
(Maria O’Connor on behalf of the O’Connor family)

Poem


Walk a little slower Daddy,
said the child so small,
I’m following in your footsteps
and I don’t want to fall,
sometimes your steps are very fast,
sometimes they are hard to see,
so walk a little slower, Daddy,
for you are leading me.
Someday when I am all grown up,
you are what I want to be,
then I will have a little child
who will want to follow me.
I would want to lead just right
and know that I was true,
so walk a little slower, Daddy,
for I must follow you!

Anon

The BPM / Maurice Walsh Creative Writing Competition 2016 – Joint Third Place

Bud

By Hilda Shanahan Francis, Ballybunnion

“As the rain falls on all fields” Bible
Some where
Some day
A bud slowly opens and the dice is thrown.
Will you taste the red seed of the pomegranate?
Or the bitter seed of the lemon
Will the bud of love open
The bud of romance
The bud of friendship
And as hamlet says
The friends thou hast, and their adoption tried
Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel.
The bud of courage
Buncrana
The bud of evil
Brussells
The bud of youth
The tragedy of Erasmus students
Buds
Bus crash
Between Barcelona and Valencia
Somewhere
Someday
Eureka
The bud blossoms
And you have found it all
Love, friendship the vibrancy of life
Alas soon –to soon
Somewhere
Someday
The blossom withers
Will you face the challenge?
Or run away
To destiny
But the bud that opens
As the bud opens
Afar, afar.
Is it a whisper or a roar you hear?
Only you have the answer
Taste the bud
The cup
The trophy of life
It is yours to take

Ballydonoghue’s Kerry Minors 1940-2013 By Jim Finnerty, Glouria

Ballydonoghue’s Kerry Minors 1940-2013 By Jim Finnerty, Glouria

1940 : Mick Finucane : Munster final, Kerry 1-3 Clare 1-2 but beaten in All Ireland semi-final

1941: Eddie Dowling : first round Munster chp, Kerry beat Cork. Munster final – Kerry 7-5 Waterford 2-1. All Ireland semi-final, Kerry beaten by Roscommon

1949 : Tom Keane : first round Munster chp, Kerry 1-10 Clare 1-6. Munster final, Kerry 0-7 Cork 0-5

1957 : Jer D O’Connor : first round Munster chp, Kerry 3-8 Tipperary 1-11. Munster final, Kerry 1-5 Cork 0-5. All Ireland semi-final, beaten.
1958 : Jer D O’Connor : first round Munster chp, Kerry 3-5 Clare 2-3. Munster semi-final, Kerry 3-6 Cork 1-6. Munster final, Kerry 3-11 Waterford 0-4

1963 : Billy Nolan : first round Munster chp, Kerry 4-20 Limerick 1-0. Munster final, Kerry 0-8 Cork 0-8. Replay, Kerry 0-11 Cork 0-9. All Ireland semi final, ……………………………………………………………………………………….All Ireland final, Kerry 1-10 Westmeath 0-2 (Captain, Tommy O’Hanlon, Tarbert)

1965: Tony Flavin : first round Munster chp, Kerry 1-15 Tipperary 0-4. Munster final, Kerry 3-11 Cork 1-15. All Ireland final, Derry 2-8 Kerry 2-4
1967 : Eamon Kissane and Johnny Bunyan : First round Munster chp, Kerry 4-10 Tipperary 3-11. Munster final, Cork 2-8 Kerry 0-2
1969 : Tom Barry: first round Munster chp, Kerry 3-14 Tipperary 0-3. Munster final, Cork 3-11 Kerry 1-11
1970: Jer Browne : first round Munster chp, Kerry 2-12 Waterford 0-5. Munster final, Kerry 4-9 Cork 1-11. All Ireland semi-final, Kerry won. All Ireland final, Kerry 2-5 Galway 1-8. Replay, Kerry 1-10 Galway 1-11

1973 : Stephen O’Carroll (Causeway) : Munster semi-final, Kerry 0 – 13 Tipperary 2 – 7. Replay, Kerry 0 – 14 Tipperary 0 – 5. Munster final, Kerry 3 – 5 Cork 1 – 13.
1974 : Stephen O’Carroll : Munster semi-final, Kerry 4 – 18 Waterford 0 – 0.
Munster final, Kerry 1 – 6 Cork 0 – 13

1975 : Robert Bunyan (captain) and PJ Houlihan
Munster semi-final, Kerry 6-23 Tipperary 0-5. Munster final, Kerry 3-7 Cork 1-11. All Ireland final, Kerry 1-10 Tyrone 0-4
1976 : Robert Bunyan and PJ Houlihan : first round Munster chp, Kerry 4-18 New York 1-3. Munster semi-final, Kerry 3-10 Waterford 3-7. Munster final, Cork 0-10 Kerry 1-5

411 S BD 2012

1977 : Nix Riordan : Munster semi-final, Kerry 2-8 Limerick 2-7. Munster final, Cork 1-7 Kerry 1-3 1978 : Nix Riordan : Munster semi-final, Kerry 1-13 Tipperary 1-7. Munster final, Kerry 1-4 Cork 0-6. All Ireland semi-final, beaten……………………………………………….

 

 

 

 

1979 : Pa Foley (Tarbert) : Munster semi-final, Kerry 1 – 11 Clare 0 – 7. Munster final, Kerry 3 – 6 Cork 2 – 9. Replay, Kerry 1 – 11 Cork 1 – 5. All Ireland semi-final, won. All Ireland final, Dublin 0 – 10 Kerry 1 – 6

1980 : Micheál Kissane and Dinno Dowling : first round Munster chp, Kerry 5-15 Waterford 0-3. Munster semi-final, Kerry 4-8 Tipperary 3-9. Munster final, Kerry 1-12 Cork 1-10. Beat Meath in All Ireland semi final. All Ireland final, Kerry 3-12 Derry 0-11

1981 : Kieran Walsh and Micheál Kissane : first round Munster chp, Kerry 1-10 Clare 0-3. Semi-final, Kerry 3-15 Limerick 3-4. Munster final, Kerry 1-5 Cork 0-9

1982 : Jim O’Donnell : Munster final, Kerry 1-11 Cork 0-5. All Ireland semi-final, won.
All Ireland final, Kerry 1-5 Dublin 1-11

1985 : John Mulvihill : first round Munster chp, Kerry 3-6 Clare 1-5. Semi-final, Kerry 3-15 Limerick 3-4. Munster final, Cork 1-8 Kerry 0-4. Special league medal when Kerry beat Tipperary 1-8 to 0-2

1988 : Liam O’Flaherty : first round Munster chp, Kerry 1-15 Limerick 1-1. Munster semi-final, Kerry 2-16 Waterford 1-3. Munster final, Kerry 1-8 Cork 0-10. All Ireland final, Kerry 2-5 Dublin 0-5

1989 : William O’Donnell : first round Munster chp, Kerry 2-11 Waterford 0-6. Munster final, Kerry 2-10 Cork 2-9. All Ireland semi-final, beaten
1990 : first round Munster chp, Kerry 2-13 Tipperary 2-5. Munster semi-final, Kerry 6-11 Clare 0-9. Munster final, Kerry 2-11 Cork 0-3. All Ireland final, Meath 2-11 Kerry 2-9

2003 : Martin O’Mahony : first round Munster chp, Kerry 2-13 Tipperary 1-7. Second round, Kerry 3-10 Limerick 2-5. Third round, Kerry 0-21 Waterford 1-9. Fourth round, Kerry 1-11 Cork 2-12. Fifth round, Kerry 1-10 Clare 0-4. Munster final, Kerry 1-14 Cork 0-10. All Ireland semi-final, Kerry 2-10 Laois 2-15

2004 : Colin O’Mahony : first round Munster chp, Kerry 1-10 Clare 0-4. Munster semi-final, Kerry 1-13 Tipperary 1-5. Munster final, Kerry 0-9 Cork 0-9. Replay, Kerry 0-13 Cork 1-7. All Ireland semi-final, Kerry 1-10 Limerick 1-8. All Ireland final, Kerry 0-10 Tipperary 0-12
2005 : Colin O’Mahony : first round Munster chp, Kerry 2-16 Limerick 1-7. Munster semi-final, Kerry 1-17 Clare 2-6. Munster final, Cork 3-8 Kerry 1-11. All Ireland qtr final, Kerry 0-14 Laois 1-4. All Ireland semi-final, Kerry 0-14 Mayo 1-12.
2011 : Diarmuid Behan : Munster quarter-final, Kerry 4-16 Waterford 0-6. Semi-final, Kerry 3-8 Tipperary 2-12

2013 : Darragh O’Shea : first round Munster chp, Kerry 2-10 Cork 2-10. Replay , Kerry 0-10 Cork 3-6. Munster qtr final , Kerry 0-15 Clare 0-9. Munster semi, Kerry 1-15 Waterford 1-6. Munster final, Kerry 0-15 Tipperary 0-10. All Ireland qtr-final, Kerry 1-12, Tyrone 0-17 (after extra time)

(If any reader has any comments or memories of Ballydonoghue’s minor stars, please contact the Magazine.)

Half-Forgotten Words and Phrases Compiled by Jim Finnerty, Glouria

Half-Forgotten Words and Phrases Compiled by Jim Finnerty, Glouria

047Shank’s mare – On foot
Griddle – A circular flat cast iron disc used for baking bread
Brand – Three-legged stool used for putting griddle on
Winds – Cocks of hay
Raker – Farm machine pulled by a horse for clean raking of meadows of hay
Side delivery – Farm machine pulled by a horse, used for turning or the rowing-in of hay
Mangolds – A root fodder for animal feed
Haveler/Tumbler – Machine pulled by a horse for collecting hay for wynd-making
Haycar – A flat-bodied car for drawing wynds of hay
Sleán – A spade-like implement used for turf-cutting
Pulper – Hand operated machine for pulping turnips and mangolds
Thongs/Fongs – Shoes laces made from leather
Tilly-lamp – Paraffin lamp in widespread use before the rural electrification scheme was introduced
Thatch – Straw/reed used for covering houses before slates and tiles became popular
Scallop – made from willow and used to secure thatch to the roof
Common car – Horse or donkey’s car with iron-band wheels
The Púca – A ghost
The Boody Man – A fictitious man used to scare children
Banshee – A wailing cry, usually heard before a death
Wireless – Radio
Time-piece – Clock or watch
Carabunkle – A boil-like lump or sore
Sciortán – Small blood-sucking insect that attaches itself to the most tender part of the body!
Pointers – Triangular-shaped bread made from fine maize meal, better known as “yellow meal”
Pandy – Mashed potatoes
Skillet – Small cast iron pot used in an open fire
Stampey or Boxty – Cake made from potatoes and flour
High Nelly – Bicycle
Ciotóg – Left-handed/footed
The yellow pole – A sign indicating that one is approaching a school
Drain pipes – narrow-legged trousers
Winkle pickers – Pointed-toe shoes popular in the 60s
Hob nails – Boots with soles lined with studs and tips
Panny – A tin cup
Muller – Saucepan
The Stripper – The cow whose milk was used for the house
Gligín – A fool or an idiot
In a pucker – Not knowing what to do
A Balbhán – A person who speaks indistinctly
Half or full tierce – Barrel of porter
Firkin – Nine gallons of porter or ale
A Medium (pronounced Meeghum) – A glass or half pint of porter or ale
A Pony – A wine glass full of porter/half glass of porter
The Convey – Escorting a girl home after a dance
Dexter – Small breed of cow
Dexta – Ford tractor
The New Line – The main road linking Listowel to Ballybunion
The Bonham – Term commonly used for the “ace of hearts” in card-playing
Station Mass – Mass held in each townland of the parish twice a year (spring and autumn stations)
Losset – Wooden implement used in baking
Landrace – Breed of pigs
Rinso – Washing powder
Gruel – Maize meal boiled in milk