Tír
na mBláth
Irish Seisiún Newsletter
Thanks to our past editors - Mary Gallacher and Bill Padden
1 2 3
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Sunday April 21, 2024.
Editor Tommy Mac
This week's Seanfhocal (proverb)
May the enemies of Ireland
never meet a friend.
New tunes to learn!
Sadly, Pat and Nancy Lyons have left us for the simmer
But Pat has left us with a new set to learn
That new Set posted on Players Page
Tá dúil ár n-anama sa cheol againn.'
(Music is our soul's desire.)
Sunday's Seisiún
April 21, 2024
Thanks again to
Bob Murphy, Pat Quinn, Randy Powell, Art Jacoby, and Kevin Westley
for supplying photos and info about our sessiuns.
.......Good times - Good tunes
Tom,
Today we had a "swell" session (am I dating myself?) We were anticipating a smallish, summer type session as people just kept rolling in till there were 18+ folks in that back section of the pub playing and singing. Ann Dillon showed up with Cris and Joe, as well as many other welcome players and a great session ensued as a result. Lots of tunes, excellent songs and general craic galore.
On fiddle were Bob, Rex, Caroline, Seamus, Fran, Pat and Cris. Ann and Noreen played accordion and Concertina, Joe on Mandolin, Randy on Bouzouki, Rosemarie, Stephanie and Ann on whistles and flutes, Tom and Chris on Bodhran, Jimmy on spoons, Kevin, Randy, Cris and Joe all sang songs, thanks!
Some of the tunes were: Greenfields of Woodford, Hole in the Hedge / Jimmy's wooden spoons / the Banshee, Maid behind the Bar, Sligo Maid / Swedish Jig / Kesh jig, Lilting Banshee / Sonny Brogan's / Pay the Reckoning, Tripping up the Stairs, unknown / Goat on the Green, Pipe on the Hob / Willy Colemans, Maid on the Meadow / Father Kelly's, Merry Blacksmith / Derry Hornpipe, Fishers Hornpipe / Mountain Road, Humours of Tulla / Maid of Ardagh, Britches full of Stitches, then 7 more polkas to get them out of the way. / the Anthem, the Oakum / John Brennen's, Knotted Cord, Tinkers Daughter / Joe Barnes, the Gypsy Princess Barndance / Father Kelly's 1 and 2, Redigans / King of the Fairies / Home Ruler, Kitty's wedding / Trip to Darrow / Humours of Glendart, Saddle the Pony, SixPenny Money / Battering Ram, Tell Her I Am and a whole slew of others that shall remain synonymous with unknownymous.
Bob M.
Kevin;s photos
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Bobs Photos
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Click any of the above logos to go to that site
.
"That’s
How I Spell Ireland"
Saturdays at 7 to 8 PM EST.
You can listen on 88.7FM or WRHU.org.
For a request please text me on 917 699-4768.
Kevin and Joan Westley
E-Mails Received
Fireny@aol.com
Congratulations on your award Tom. Well deserved! Cheers, Maureen (Toronto)
Thank you Maureen I was thrilled with the honor...Tommy Mac
Another great newsletter! Thanks, Tom. Randy https://roaringkelly.com/
Old Ireland
Each week I will post a (new) OLD photo of what Ireland was like years ago. The photos are taken from a great website called Ireland in the Rare Auld Times. I highly recommend this site. You can sign up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/889110974518793/
If you have any photos of what things were like in old Ireland please send them in and include a story about it if appropriate.
Please don't send things from the above web site. I already have those.
Farmers delivering milk to the creamery.
Circa late 1960's
Ireland Travel
Note: Whenever clicking on a link you will be brought to another web-site. To return here you must click on the BACK arrow.
How to spend 72 hours in Dublin
There is so much to do in Dublin that it is impossible to fit it into just 72 hours, but that shouldn't put you off traveling to Ireland's capital for a long weekend.
IrishCentral Staff @IrishCentral Jan 19, 2024
An aerial view of O'Connell Street and O'Connell Bridge. GETTY
At its best, Dublin is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe and the perfect place to spend a three-day city break.
There is so much to do in Dublin that it is impossible to fit it into just 72 hours, but that shouldn't put you off traveling to Ireland's capital for a long weekend.
Here is IrishCentral's perfect way to spend 72 hours in Dublin.
Day 1:
Start your Dublin getaway with a stroll down the iconic Grafton Street and all its High Street stores, perhaps stopping in Bewley's Cafe for a breakfast to remember.
Weather permitting, a ramble through St. Stephen's Green is a must. With ties to the 1916 Rising, the park is steeped in history, while its natural beauty stands out in all seasons.
Tourism Ireland
As the song goes, Dublin really can be heaven "with coffee at eleven and a stroll in Stephen's Green".
From Stephen's Green, a short walk down Grafton Street will take you back to Trinity College, Ireland's oldest and most prestigious college.
Just standing in Trinity's Front Square, surrounded by a number of majestic buildings, makes the visit worth it, but no trip to Trinity would be complete without visiting the college's iconic Long Room.
Trinity's Long Room. TCD
One of the world's most beautiful libraries, the Long Room is home to the Book of Kells, a breathtaking manuscript dating back to the 9th century.
Dublin Castle is within close walking distance of Trinity and represents a perfect afternoon activity in the heart of Dublin's capital.
From Viking fortress to the seat of British rule in Ireland, the castle is now a place of administrative and stately significance.
Getty
Round off your day with an Irish stew at Kehoes Pub on South Anne Street.
Day 2:
Take a short journey out of the city center to Kilmainham Gaol, one of the most important historical sites Dublin has to offer.
Kilmainham Gaol housed countless Irish political prisoners after numerous failed rebellions against British rule in Ireland and was the site of the executions of 15 leaders of the 1916 Easter Rising.
The fascinating tour offers visitors a magnificent insight into Irish military history.
9
Close by, the Royal Hospital Kilmainham and its stunning grounds offer the perfect location for an afternoon stroll. Built in the 17th century, the hospital is now home to the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
The Royal Hospital also boasts numerous food trucks and eateries, making it the ideal location for a bite of lunch.
The Phoenix Park, the largest urban park in Europe, is the perfect way to spend your second evening in Dublin.
Located just a seven-minute drive from Kilmainham Gaol, the park is home to a herd of approximately 600 deer and features a number of scenic walking routes.
Visitors can gaze at Áras an Uachtaráin, the residence of the Irish President, or take an evening trip to Dublin Zoo.
9 Ireland's Content Pool
Head back into the city center afterward for a bit to eat in Tapas de Lola on Camden Street.
Day 3:
A trip to the Guinness Storehouse is an
absolute must during any visit to Dublin. The fascinating brewing experience tells the story of Ireland's most famous export and gives visitors an opportunity to enjoy a pint of the Black Stuff high above Dublin's rooftops in the 360-degree Gravity Bar.
9 Gravity Bar at the Guinness Storehouse. Ireland's Content Pool
If you have time, a trip to 14 Henrietta Street on the north side of the River Liffey is well worth a visit in the afternoon.
The house, which is now Ireland's tenement museum, is one of the newer additions to Dublin's lengthy list of attractions, but it offers a fascinating journey through three centuries of social history.
9 A hallway of a former tenement building on Henrietta Street.
Located close by is the newly-pedestrianized Capel Street, featuring dozens of outdoor pubs and restaurants in the warmer months. There is no better way to round off a three-day trip to Dublin than an evening meal in one of the many eateries along the bustling street and enjoying a view of Dublin's magnificent city hall in the distance.
9 Rolling News
If your visit to Dublin is spoiled by bad weather, a trip to EPIC: The Irish Emigration Museum is the perfect substitute for one of the park strolls.
Travel Quiz
Can you identify this site and it's location in Ireland?
Answer in next week's Newsletter
Last weeks Travel Quiz answer
St Columbs Cathedral
Derry City
getty
Irish Language
IRISH WORD OR PROVERB
"Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras"
Which translates literally to
"Hunger is a great sauce".
Click here to listen to how a native Irish speaker would say it
Free Irish Classes
The classes are over zoom and are held at 12:00 eastern time the 1 st Sunday of every month.
The next class is May 5th.
It is basic conversational Irish and open to learners of all ages, especially beginners.
All are invited either to participate privately or to meet at tim Finnegans at 12:00 prior to the regular Sunday session.
Hope to see you there!
slan go foill. Le dea ghui,
Anita
click below to register
Irish chef Rachel Allen's pork with cream and watercress recipe
The health benefits of watercress have been known since ancient times. This simple and quick pork dish is just great!
Rachel Allen @IrishCentral Oct 17, 2023
Pork with cream and watercress. GETTY IMAGES
The health benefits of watercress have been well known since ancient times, and this simple and quick pork dish is a great way to cook the peppery powerhouse leafy green.
Once in a while one stumbles upon a classic yet timeless dish that embodies the perfect fusion of flavors, and the pork with cream and watercress recipe by Rachel Allen is undoubtedly one such gem. Watercress, celebrated for its peppery zest and remarkable nutritional value, is the star of this recipe.
Combined with succulent pork fillet, creamy indulgence, and a touch of Dijon mustard, this dish promises an unforgettable dining experience. This updated version of a beloved classic offers a quick and simple approach to unleash the culinary magic.
Pork with cream and watercress recipe from Rachel Allen Serves 4-6 as a main course
Ingredients
1 oz butter
1 large clove of garlic, peeled and crushed or finely grated
1 bunch of spring onions (about 3½oz), sliced (¼in) thick
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1lb 2 oz pork fillet (about 1 pork fillet), trimmed, sliced in half horizontally and cut into 0.5-1cm (¼-½in) thick slices
6 fl oz double or regular cream
2 oz watercress, leaves and some stalks, chopped ½ tsp
Dijon mustard
Method
Place a frying pan or sauté pan on a medium heat and add the butter. When the butter melts and foams, tip in the garlic and spring onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook for about 2 minutes until almost softened.
Add the pork slices and cook on a high heat for a minute or two on either side.
Add the cream, bring to the boil and allow to bubble for 1-2 minutes until the pork is cooked.
Add the watercress and mustard, stir to mix and season to taste.
Add 2-3 tablespoons of water if the sauce is too thick.
Serve with green vegetables and mashed potatoes - recipe here.
*Originally published in March 2016. Updated in October 2023.
Enjoy
If you have a cherished family Irish recipie share it with us.
And if there's a story that goes with it.....even
better! mail click here
Fireny@aol.com
filíocht pronounced FILL-ee-uhkht meaning Poetry
Tommy Mac here....This poem in important for all the Irish but especially the displaced Irish. The immigrants kept their Irish roots through their music.
And that is why organizations like Tír na mBláth and our parent organization Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) are so important. Support them now....
The Irish Emigrant
by Eavan Boland
Like oil lamps, we put them out the back —
of our houses, of our minds. We had lights
better than, newer than and then
a time came, this time and now
we need them. Their dread, makeshift example:
they would have thrived on our necessities.
What they survived we could not even live.
By their lights now it is time to
imagine how they stood there, what they stood with,
that their possessions may become our power:
Cardboard. Iron. Their hardships parceled in them.
Patience. Fortitude. Long-suffering
in the bruise-colored dusk of the New World.
And all the old songs. And nothing to lose.
Irish poet, author, and professor Eavan Frances
Boland passed away at her home in Dublin on April 27, 2020 at the age of 75.
Born in Dublin, Boland was the director of creative writing at Stanford University
for 21 years and a recipient of the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry. Boland
wrote “The Emigrant Irish,“ one of the great poems of emigration and how hard
it was for the Irish forced to leave. Former Irish President Mary Robinson used
it as her “Light in the Window” initiative to always have a light shining for
emigrants welcoming them home in her presidential residence, Aras an Uachtarain.
The greatest Irish emigrant poem by the late Eavan Boland Eavan Boland's The Emigrant Irish encapsulates a deep understanding of the emigrant experience that is often misunderstood. Niall O'Dowd @niallodowd
Born in Dublin, Boland was the director of creative writing at Stanford University for 21 years and a recipient of the Lannan Literary Award for Poetry.
Boland wrote “The Emigrant Irish,“ one of the great poems of emigration and how hard it was for the Irish forced to leave. Former Irish President Mary Robinson used it as her “Light in the Window” initiative to always have a light shining for emigrants welcoming them home in her presidential residence, Aras an Uachtarain.
It is a profound poem, one I never tire of reading. It encapsulates a deep understanding of that emigrant experience often misunderstood by those who remained in Ireland.
Here it is, with my observations coming first before every stanza.
"The Emigrant Irish" by Eavan Boland
Boland lays bare the sad fact that many Irish forgot the millions of forced leave takers as soon as they had gone, that they and their trials and tribulations were old hat and there were lots more shiny objects to focus on in a thoroughly modern Ireland. Emigrants were like old oil lamps, no longer useful to remember.
Like oil lamps, we put them out the back
of our houses, of our minds. We had lights
better than, newer than and then a time came, this time and now
we need them. Their dread, makeshift example:
they would have thrived on our necessities.
However, we need to remember what they went through, as Boland said, “What they survived, tragedies such as famine, cholera, pestilence, we in the modern era could never have lived through.
What they survived we could not even live.
“Their possessions may become our power” is among the most powerful lines in the poem, a plea to understand them and by understanding them deepening our ability to understand ourselves and others.
By their lights now it is time to
imagine how they stood there, what they stood with,
that their possessions may become our power:
Cardboard. Iron. Their hardships parceled in them.
Boland writes it is time that far from forgetting them we must embrace them like never before, standing with their cheap suitcases ready to embark from Ireland with nothing to bring but their own drive and belief. By embracing their experience we learn how profound the struggle was and the success.
Patience. Fortitude. Long-suffering
in the bruise-colored dusk of the New World.
And all the old songs. And nothing to lose.
The final lines are especially evocative -- the old songs they took with them on their journey sustained them in their incredible voyage, and their songs can continue to inspire us all again, especially at this time when such heavy concerns weigh on us all. The poem tells us that our people have all been here before, in the midst of darkness and chaos and we found our way out. Our generation can learn from that and also succeed.
Stories and Tales
THE ORIGINS OF AN IRISH ROYAL FAMILY.
submitted by Lawrence Mahoney
Have you ever heard of Finn McCool? How about old Irish tales such as "The Cattle Raid of Cooley"? Many of these famous tales and characters come from around the north-east of this island - a place that used to be known as the "Kingdom of the Ulaidh".
In fact, this ancient Irish kingdom and people give the modern province of Ulster its name. The MacDunleavys were the last Kings of the Ulaidh. Their power base was around the town of Downpatrick. In the 1000's they took on the surname of MacDunleavy (from the Irish "Mac Duinnshléibhe").
The Dunleavys and the Ulaidh had an illustrious past - full of champions, raids and heroic victories and defeats - many of which are recorded in "The Annals of Ulster".
A branch of the family were also skilled hereditary medics. However, by the 1100's their kingdom was under pressure from the rising power of the O'Neills and so shrank back into the heartland around south County Down.
By the time the Normans arrived in the late 1100's their days in power were numbered. They fought for their territory for another sixty years. However, by the mid 1200s the majority of the family were granted exile in the Kingdom of Tyrconnell - some becoming hereditary Medics to the local O'Donnell chieftains. Some others went to nearby Scotland where they often assumed the surname Dunlop.
AN IRISH ROYAL FAMILY IN EXILE. In Tyrconnell (modern County Donegal) the Dunleavys also assumed the nickname from where they came - "Ulidh", and over time some branches went by the name of "Son of the Ulsterman" (Mac an Ultaigh) - which later anglicised as McNulty.
During this time, the reputation of the medic family members grew considerably. With the "Flight of the Earls" in 1607, and the end of the era of Gaelic Chieftains, most of the Dunleavys and McNultys left Tyrconnell to head south into Connacht - mostly settling around south Donegal, Sligo and Mayo.
By this time, the Dunleavys were leaving both their royal and medical past behind them. Life in the 1600s was challenging for most Gaelic families in the west of Ireland. Through most of that time they were stripped of their lands, titles, language and ability to participate in the higher levels of society.
Then the Great Famine of the 1840s gutted this part of the world of much of its population and humanity. Families like the Dunleavys scraped by for as long as they could, but those who did not emigrate in the mid 1800s often later felt the pull to join earlier generations of their kin in the slums of Liverpool and London, the canal works of Canada, labouring in the fierce New South Wales sun - or mining the coal pits of Pennsylvania.
And so it has been with many Irish families down through the centuries. If it were not for the great emigrations of the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s, many of these family names and stories would not now be known around the world. So, before the Dunlavys, Dunleavys, McNultys, Dunlops and McAleavys (from the original MacDunshléibhe family) emigrated, they had quite a journey throughout the island of Ireland. Some stayed around their area of origin (like Joe Dunlavy's Armagh ancestors) while others remained in Donegal, Mayo or Sligo. Here's to the MacDunleavys - once the Royal Kings of the Ulaidh.
So, Joe - thank you sharing the story of your Dunlavy and Farrell ancestors - and I am sure the many Dunlavy ancestors of yours are delighted that you celebrate the birth at sea of young John Dunlavy (born September 1, 1774). It seems appropriate that he was born on a journey - given all the journeys that his ancestors undertook in their ancient homeland!
That's it for this week.
Slán until next week, Mike.
WATCH:
James Stephens - the life of a Fenian on the run
Who was James Stephens? Irish history expert Davy Holden brings us through the life of the founder of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
IrishCentral Staff @IrishCentral Feb 14, 2024
James Stephens. PUBLIC DOMAIN
Davy Holden, an expert on Irish history based in Co Kilkenny, shares with IrishCentral the story of James Stephens, the founder of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.
Holden tells IrishCentral: "On St. Patrick's Day 1858, in a timber yard on Lombard Street in Dublin City, a Kilkenny man by the name of James Stephens founded a secret Irish revolutionary organisation known as the Irish Republican Brotherhood (IRB).
"The main aim of the IRB was to establish an independent Irish republic by way of armed insurrection.
"With the mass emigration of Irish people to the United States during the years of the Great Hunger, a sister organisation was founded across the pond, the Fenian Brotherhood.
"Throughout the 1860s, the Fenians became known for events such as the invasion of Canada, the Fenian Rising of 1867, and the Manchester Martyrs, just to name a few."
In his video "The Life of a Fenian On The Run," Davy Holden talks through the life of the founder of 'Fenianism' James Stephens, beginning in his hometown of Kilkenny:
About Davy Holden
Davy Holden is an Irish history content creator hailing from south Kilkenny. With a passion for Ireland and its diaspora, he began creating videos in August 2022. In a year and a half, he amassed over 375,000 followers, released his debut book, traveled to the United States to perform Irish history workshops, and spoke at multiple universities and schools. Holden's aim is to make Irish history come alive through the lens of his camera and to preserve the stories passed down from our ancestors, ensuring they are never forgotten.
You can learn more about Davy Holden on his website, YouTube, and Instagram profiles.
The Greatest IRISH WAR Movie:
The Wind That Shakes The Barley
Davy Holden@davyholden
The Texas ranch with Donegal connections
IrishCentral Contributor John
Joe McGinley looks at the Irish connections to JA Ranch in Texas.
John Joe McGinley Contributor @IrishWiseGuys Mar 11, 2024
J A Ranch Headquarters, Main House, Paloduro, Armstrong County, Texas. PUBLIC DOMAIN
The JA Ranch in the Palo Duro Canyon in Armstrong County, Texas is one of the largest cattle ranches in Texas and a United States National historic landmark. It also has links with Donegal and one of Ireland's most notorious landlords, John George Adair, the builder of Glenveagh Castle in Co Donegal and the mastermind of the infamous Derryveagh evictions of 47 families of 1861.
The history of the Ranch was forged by three individuals, the legendary cattleman Charles Goodnight, the Irish land owner John George Adair known by Donegal locals as Black Jack, and his wife Cordelia, a New York socialite and daughter of a Civil War Union general.
Goodnight was an American rancher, cattle driver, and pioneer of the ranching industry in Texas. He was born on March 5, 1836, in Macoupin County, Illinois. Goodnight started his career in ranching at an early age and moved to Texas in 1857 to work as a cowboy and later became a Texas Ranger.
At the outbreak of the American Civil War, he joined the Confederate States Army. He spent most of his war years as a scout in a frontier regiment engaging in conflict with native American tribes.
After the war, he saw an opportunity to round up cattle that had roamed freely during the years of the conflict.
In 1866, along with his partner, Oliver Loving, Goodnight established the Goodnight-Loving Trail, a cattle drive route from Texas to Colorado. This trail became one of the major routes used to transport cattle from the southern Plains to northern markets. The partnership ended tragically when Loving was killed by Native Americans during a cattle drive in 1867.
Goodnight continued to expand his cattle business now in partnership with another legendary cattle man John Chisum and ex-confederate colonel to supply the United States Army with beef.
In April 1874, on a guided buffalo hunt in eastern Colorado near Pueblo, Goodnight met Jack Adair and his wife Cordelia.
During the hunt, Goodnight regaled the couple with stories of the Palo Duro Country southeast of Amarillo, Texas. He described land that was ideal for grazing cattle on the open range. The cattle had ample grass in summer and could over winter in mild conditions protected by canyon walls. The land also had flowing rivers as well as outstanding natural beauty.
Goodnight was not just passing time with his wealthy clients on the Buffalo hunt, he was trying to attract a partner to help him establish a cattle ranch in Palo Duro.
Adair and his wife were intrigued and looking for investment opportunities, but they were not so stupid as to buy land they had not seen. They decided that they would travel with Goodnight and his wife to see the proposed ranch for themselves.
In May 1877, Charles and Mary Goodnight, the Adairs, four cowboys, 100 Durham bulls, and four wagonloads of provisions set off for the Texas panhandle.
The journey took twelve days and was not without adventure. Local outlaws had heard of the wealthy investors from the east and decided to kidnap the Adairs. They even went so far as to have a hideout established to hold them prisoner. Goodnight, who was a man with many friends, heard rumours of the plot and arranged for an escort for the party from the US cavalry. The kidnappers decided to end their scheme and the danger was averted.
Adair's legendary ill temper hampered the trip as he fell out with the cowboys who resented his high-handed treatment of them. Again, Goodnight came to the rescue intervening to ensure the cowboys did not beat up his potential partner. Goodnight would later reflect that sometimes he regretted not fighting Adair himself!
In contrast, while Adair was making enemies Cornelia was making friends and enjoying the spectacular beauty of the west. When the Adair's came to the Palo Duro, they realised Goodnight was not exaggerating and they immediately realised the potential the land offered and decided to establish a cattle ranch.
It was Cornelia Adair who picked out the site for the ranch house and so it is her rather than Jack who can be regarded as the true founder of the ranch.
Goodnight and Jack now talked about how the ranch would be established and financed. Adair saw the enormous potential and was keen to invest. Adair proposed that he would provide two-thirds of the capital and Goodnight the remainder. Adair offered Goodnight a shrewd deal. He would borrow his one-third share at 10 percent interest from Adair. Goodnight would be the daily manager of the ranch and supply the starting cattle.
He would also draw an annual salary of $2,500.
It was Goodnight's suggestion that the ranch be named the "JA" for the initials of his financial partner, Jack Adair. Goodnight began buying up additional land around Palo Duro Canyon, making sure the tracts were good for grazing and had enough water.
The following year, Goodnight drove the first JA herd north to the railhead at Dodge City, Kansas. By 1882 the ranch had grown to 93,000 acres and had realized a profit of $512,000. In its peak year in 1883, the ranch encompassed 1,335,000 acres (5,400 square kilometres) in portions of six Texas counties and boasted 100,000 head of cattle.
Jack only visited the ranch three times in his life, his real love was his estate in Donegal, and he began to use the profits he had made in Texas to make his dream of a rival to Balmoral in the hills of Donegal a reality, which would become known as Glenveagh Castle.
Jack Adair died in 1885. His wife Cordelia now took an intense personal interest in the growth and operation of the ranch and continued the partnership with Charles Goodnight. Together they raised Angus, Hereford, and Santa Gertrudis cattle. Goodnight, an innovator in the cattle industry, experimented with crossbreeding techniques to develop better beef cattle suited for the harsh Texas climate.
When the Goodnight-Adair partnership dissolved in 1887, Goodnight took the 140,000-acre Quitaque ranch and 20,000 cattle for his share in the business.
Cordelia passed away in September 1921, and she is buried beside her husband in Killenard, Co Laois, Ireland.
To this day, the JA Ranch is still run by her descendants.
Cornelia is well remembered in both America and Ireland, while to this day, the name 'Black Jack' Adair is said with scorn in Donegal, especially around Glenveagh, where the name of "Black Jack" Adair is forever a curse in the county of Donegal.
As for Charles Goodnight, sadly, he suffered financial ruin when he lost his life's savings when the Mexican silver mine he invested in was nationalised by the Mexican government. He was forced to sell his ranch in 1919 to an oilman friend, W. J. McAlister, with the provision that Goodnight and his wife could stay in their home until they both died. Goodnight passed away on December 12, 1929.
Today, the JA Ranch is still privately owned and operated. While its size has significantly reduced from its original extent, it continues to raise cattle and uphold the traditions of the historic ranching era in Texas. The ranch's historical significance earned it a designation as a National Historic Landmark in 1960.
The JA Ranch played a pivotal role in the development of the cattle industry in Texas, contributing to the state's rich ranching heritage. Its impact on cattle breeding and ranching methods is still highly regarded, solidifying its place in Texas history.
This article was submitted to the IrishCentral contributors network by a member of the global Irish community. To become an IrishCentral contributor click here.
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This Week in the History of the Irish:
April 7 through April 13
Posted by The Wild Geese
LUAIN -- On April 15, 1848, in Dublin, Thomas
Francis Meagher presented the tricolor national flag of Ireland to the public
for
the first time at a meeting of the Young Ireland Party. Meagher had recently
gone to Paris with an Irish delegation sent to congratulate the French republicans
on their successful revolution. Inspired by the tricolor French flag, he came
up with a similar design for the Irish flag, with orange, white, and green stripes.
The colors symbolized the uniting of the two traditions in one new nation. Few
realize though, that Meagher's original flag had the orange stripe closest to
the staff. That flag was nearly forgotten following the Young Irelander's failed
rising later in '48. The Fenians, the next Irish revolutionary movement, used
the traditional green field and golden harp motif for its flags. But in 1916,
Meagher's flag was resurrected by the Irish Volunteers and later by Sinn Fein.
With the green stripe closest to the staff, Thomas Francis Meagher's tricolor
became the official flag of the 26 counties of the Irish Republic. Until recently,
the display of the tricolor flag was illegal in the six occupied counties of
Northern Ireland.
MÁIRT
-- On April 16, 1746, a battle was fought in Scotland that would have long-term
implications for Ireland, as well as Scotland. It ended "Bonnie" Prince Charlie's
Jacobite uprising, known in Scotland as simply, "The '45." It was the battle
of "Culloden Moor." Elements of the Irish Brigade of France fought well in the
losing cause that day. The Irish in France gave Charles all the support they
could during "The '45," though some of their efforts were thwarted. Over 400
men from six infantry regiments and a detachment of Fitzjames' cavalry regiment
joined "Bonnie" Prince in Scotland in '45, but many hundreds more were turned
back by the British Navy. These Irish veterans were fresh off the victory at
Fontenoy, where their late charge on the Duke of Cumberland's attacking force
had been one of the decisive factors. Though initially successful, by April
1646 "Bonnie" Prince and his army were clearly in trouble. As he confronted
the British at Culloden, a large portion of his exhausted, freezing forces had
melted away to their homes. Facing about 9,000 veteran British soldiers under
the same Duke of Cumberland who had been defeated at Fontenoy less than a year
earlier, Prince Charles' army numbered about 4,000. Retreat would seem to have
been the best course of action. "Bonnie" Prince Charlie ordered an attack. With
moors on both sides, the Jacobites were forced into a narrow front. British
artillery and massed musketry did tremendous damage to their formations. The
Prince's army was soon in full retreat. Colonel O'Shea, with 60 troopers of
Fitzjames' horse stopped 500 British dragoons who came dangerously close to
capturing the Prince, and on the left of the line, the men of the combined Irish
regiments, under the command of Brigadier Stapleton, were the last off the field,
covering the retreat of Prince Charles and the remnants of his army. Stapleton
was mortally wounded during that action. The Irish had given their blood to
the cause of a Stuart King for the last time. Most of the surviving Irish surrendered
at Inverness. The Prince himself eventually managed to make his escape to France.
Read
more about the Irish Brigade of France.
DEARDAOIN -- On April 18, 1690, five regiments
of Irishmen set sail from Ireland for France. These soldiers, about 5,400 in
all,
would form the nucleus of France's famed Irish Brigade. The Irishmen were sent
in exchange for about 6,000 of King Louis XIV's well-trained French soldiers.
Louis wanted to support James II in his quest to regain the British crown from
William of Orange, but he could ill-afford the loss of 6,000 soldiers during
his own struggle with William on the continent.
Right Justin McCarthy, Lord Mountcashel
Louis demanded Irish replacements, ill trained though they might be, in exchange. The Irish regiments sailed out on the same ships that landed the French troops under Count de Lauzun. Soon after arriving in France, the five regiments would be reorganized into three, commanded by Justin MacCarthy (Lord Mountcashel), Daniel O'Brien, and Arthur Dillon, whose family would continue in command of this regiment for a hundred years. Mountcashel would command this first Irish Brigade. Mountcashel had grown up in France and became fluent in the French tongue after his father had lost everything due to his participation in the fight against Cromwell and subsequent exile to France. Mountcashel's brigade was joined by Sarsfield's men in late 1691. The Irish Brigade would carry on in French service for 100 years and amass a record equaled by few military organizations in history. Like Sarsfield, Mountcashel did not survive for very long in French service. Very shortly after his arrival in France, on September 11, 1690, he was seriously wounded in the chest fighting in Savoy near Mountiers de Tarentaise. Although he recovered from this wound and continued to command the brigade, the wound continued to hamper McCarthy. In 1694, he left the brigade, seeking relief from his wounds in the baths at Baréges in the Pyrenees. Unfortunately, Justin McCarthy, Lord Mountcashel, died there July 1, just short of a year after Patrick Sarsfield was killed at the Battle of Landen. Read more about the Irish Brigade of France.
SATHAIRN -- On April 20, 1772, William Lawless,
revolutionary and officer in Napolean's Irish Legion (a soldier of the Irish
Legion, left), was born in Dublin. Lawless was educated as a surgeon and later
joined the United Irishmen, becoming a close friend of Lord Edward Fitzgerald.
He fled to France in 1798 and served with the French army in Holland. Lawless
was appointed a captain when Napoleon formed the Irish Legion in 1803. He was
decorated by Napoleon for bravery at the siege of Flushing and promoted to lieutenant
colonel and given command of the 1st Battalion of the Legion. In 1812, he was
promoted to colonel and commanded the entire Legion. On August 21, 1813, at
the battle of Lowenberg, Lawless was severely wounded, losing a leg. He retired
to his country house in Tours. When the Bourbons were restored to the throne
in 1814 he was placed on half-pay with the rank of Brig. Gen. Lawless died on
Dec. 25, 1824, at the age of 52, and was buried at Pere Lachaise. William Lawless
honorably served the French army. He was 
one
of the best officers of the last large French unit of The Wild Geese.
VOICES
"A National Flag is the most sacred thing a nation can possess." --Thomas Francis Meagher
Cold winds on the moors blow. Warm the enemy's fires glow. Like the harvest of Culloden, Pain and fear and death grow. -- From "Culloden's Harvest" by Alastair McDonald
'Our levies [soldiers] . . . in a short time, with the discipline and order prevailing in France, will be the best in the world.' -- Justin MacCarthy, Lord Mountcashel, on the potential of the soldiers of the first Irish Brigade of France
News of Interest
Tommy Mac here...Although it was reported at the time of this fire that fire exits were illegally chained closed, the owners of the club ware not only "not held accountable", but they were given compensation because the fire was originally mistakenly attributed to arson. The victims and their families were not compensated.
Stardust victims’ families call for State apology
after “unlawful” verdict returned
Families of the victims of the Stardust tragedy, who feel "vindicated" by the jury's ruling, are calling for a State apology.
Kerry O'Shea @kerry_oshea Apr 18, 2024
April 18, 2024: Supporters and family members of the 48 people who were killed in the Stardust tragedy gather in Dublin's Garden of Remembrance to celebrate the verdict. ROLLINGNEWS.IE
Families of the victims of the Stardust tragedy, where 48 people were killed in a fire in a North Dublin nightclub on February 14, 1981, are calling for a State apology after an inquest’s jury ruled that the deaths were “unlawful.”
“We, the families, need a meaningful public apology from the Irish state,” Maurice Frazer, whose sister Thelma Frazer was among the 48 people killed in the Stardust tragedy, told reporters in Dublin on Thursday after the verdict was announced.
Frazer added: "Throughout this journey, families have endured the unbearable pain of losing parents, siblings, and cherished friends, even decades later.
"For those decades, our hearts and minds have been shattered, and the mental toll has been overwhelming and exhausting."
Alison Croker, whose sister Jacqueline Croker died that night, tearfully told reporters: “I feel vindicated today that we’ve got truth, we’ve got the justice.
“And now I think it’s time that the Irish State actually apologize to each and every one of us for the systematic abuse that we’ve been put through, having to relive this.” The PA reports that Ireland's Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said the families' call for an apology would be discussed at Cabinet.
Earlier on Thursday, a jury ruled that the deaths of 48 people in the fire at the Stardust nightclub in Dublin on February 14, 1981, were "unlawful."
More than 800 people were inside the Stardust nightclub when a fire broke out in the early hours of Valentine's Day in 1981. 48 people, aged between 16 and 26, were killed, and more than 200 people suffered injuries.
Thursday's verdict was in stark contrast with the original verdict of the 1982 Keane Tribunal, which ruled that the fire was "probably" started deliberately. Families of the victims challenged that ruling and it was officially struck from the record in 2009.
In 2019, Ireland's Attorney General ordered fresh inquests which began in April 2023.
Families of the victims cheered after the 12-person jury delivered the verdict in the Pillar Room on the grounds of the Rotunda Hospital in Dublin on Thursday afternoon.
Coroner Myra Cullinane, who noted that the inquests were the longest-running inquests in the history of the Irish State, said that the jury had heard very difficult testimony.
Cullinane acknowledged the relatives' ongoing grief and said the inquests took place largely because of their persistence.
READ MORE Stardust inquest rules 48 deaths in 1981 nightclub blaze were "unlawful killings"
Thursday's verdict prompted responses from Ireland's leading politicians.
Taoiseach Simon Harris said in part: "The Government will consider this verdict in full and the recommendations of the jury. I want to acknowledge and thank the coroner, and her team and the jurors.
"48 young people never came home that night, but as Taoiseach I want to say this to their families; You never gave up on justice for them, you never let Ireland forget about them. They were never alone, and our country owes you a great debt for that."
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said: "This is a huge moment for the victims’ families, and an important day for the country as the Stardust tragedy is seared on the collective consciousness of the Irish people.
"The tenacity of those families and their success in securing this verdict at inquest has been a service to all."
Minister McEntee, who said she sympathizes with the families, said in a statement that the Government will now consider the verdict and recommendations of the Jury.
TD Mary Lou McDonald, the President of Sinn Fein, said in part: "Now each family has the comfort of knowing the truth of that night and why their loved one died.
"It has been a long and heartbreaking road for victims’ families and survivors.
"They have overcome countless, cruel obstacles and diversions, including those put up by the Irish State."
Co Kerry men hanged for murder in 1882
set to receive Presidential pardons
Sylvester Poff and James Barrett are set to receive Presidential pardons after they were wrongfully convicted of murder in Co Kerry in 1882.
IrishCentral Staff @IrishCentral
.Ireland's Minister for Justice Helen McEntee says the two Co Kerry men were wrongfully convicted. ROLLINGNEWS.IE
Ireland's Minister for Justice Helen McEntee TD secured Government approval on Tuesday, April 16 to recommend to President Higgins to grant a posthumous presidential pardon to Sylvester Poff and James Barrett.
Poff and Barrett were convicted of the murder of Thomas Browne in October 1882 and were both executed in January 1883. Ireland's Department of Justice said on Tuesday that given a number of factors in this case, and based upon the detailed Report received from Dr. Niamh Howlin,
Minister McEntee and her government colleagues decided to recommend to the President that he exercise his right to pardon, contained in Article 13.6 of the Constitution on the grounds their convictions were unsafe.
The granting of a Presidential Pardon is a right which should be offered only in the most deserving of circumstances, the Department noted.
Minister McEntee said on Tuesday: “This is a very rare occurrence and a very high bar must be reached for the Government to recommend to the president that he exercise this right.
“Having considered the findings in Dr Howlin’s report, the trial, conviction, and execution of Mr. Poff and Mr. Barrett were unfair by the standards of the time.
“Both men were wrongfully convicted and suffered the harshest penalty under the law of the time in what can now be attributed to a miscarriage of justice.
“I would like to acknowledge the work done by the Castleisland District Heritage Inc. Michael O’Donohue Memorial Project in bringing this case to my Department.”
Details of the case, according to Ireland's Department of Justice
The 1880s in Ireland brought frequent agitation for land reform, which often developed into agrarian violence, with outrages pertaining to matters such as landlords, evictions, rent strikes, and boycotts, known as the Land War.
In May 1882, the murders of Lord Frederick Cavendish, the Chief Secretary, and his Under Secretary, T.H. Burke were carried out in the Phoenix Park in Dublin. Referred to as the Phoenix Park Murders, they were the catalyst for the legislative response to the growing agrarian unrest.
The Prevention of Crime (Ireland) Act 1882 (1882 Act) was a piece of coercive legislation passed in July 1882 in the aftermath of the Phoenix Park murders to clamp down on crimes such as “treason, murder, arson, attacks on dwelling-houses and crimes of aggravated violence.” Co Kerry and the area around Castleisland in particular, was experiencing a great deal of unrest and violence during this period.
On October 3, 1882, Thomas Browne was murdered while working in one of his fields in Dromulton, near Scartaglin in Co Kerry. Two men in dark coats, seen from behind, shot him several times.
Sylvester Poff and James Barrett, who did not match the descriptions of the assailants, were known to be in the vicinity at the time. The two men were arrested following a statement by a neighbour that they had seen them enter the field where Browne was shot.
The prosecution case largely rested on the evidence of a neighbour, whose story changed as the case progressed and who could not be regarded as a reliable witness.
Poff and Barrett were tried twice before special juries in Cork for the murder of Browne after the jury in the first trial failed to reach agreement on a verdict. Poff and Barrett were convicted of the murder of Browne in December 1882 and, despite petitions for mercy to the Lord Lieutenant, they were hanged in Tralee Gaol in January 1883.
Expert report
Dr. Niamh Howlin, an expert in 19th Century trial law and an Associate Professor in the Sutherland School of Law, UCD, was engaged by the Department of Justice to undertake an independent external review of the case and to advise upon the safety of the conviction or otherwise, with clear reference to the prevailing standards at the time.
Dr. Howlin's examination concluded that a number of factors, including in the investigation and procedures around the trial, led her to form the opinion that Poff's and Barrett's convictions were unsafe. These factors included: a ‘packed jury,' evidential deficiencies (including conflicting witness testimony), no motive, and that other lines of enquiry appear to have been neglected during the investigation and trial.
In addition, the report found that there was no direct evidence against Poff and Barrett, with the case resting on the circumstantial and contradictory evidence of one witness.
Dr Howlin concluded her report by stating: "A twenty-first century criminal court would not convict Poff and Barrett on the basis of the evidence which was presented by the Crown in 1882. The convictions were also inconsistent with the legal standards of the period.
“They were convicted on the basis of evidence which was both circumstantial and weak. The trials and conviction of Poff and Barrett included legal and procedural deficiencies which were ‘so inconsistent with the legal standards of the period and so objectively unsatisfactory and unfair, that they render the conviction unsafe.”
Posthumous Presidential Pardons in Ireland
This is the fourth occasion that a posthumous Presidential Pardon could be awarded. The first posthumous Presidential Pardon was awarded by President Higgins to Harry Gleeson in 2015.
The second posthumous Presidential Pardon, and the first to be granted for events which occurred prior to the formation of the State, was granted to Myles Joyce in April 2018, who was executed having been found guilty of involvement in the Maamtrasna murders in 1882.
The third posthumous pardon was awarded to John Twiss in 2021.
The threshold to recommend a Presidential Pardon is high and, since 1937, only seven Presidential Pardons have been awarded.
Bloody Sunday families slam PPS decision
to not prosecute former soldiers accused of lying
Families of Bloody Sunday victims said the PPS decision not to prosecute soldiers accused of lying "is an affront to the rule of law."
IrishCentral Staff @IrishCentral Apr 19, 2024
January 30, 1972: Scenes from Bloody Sunday in Derry. GETTY IMAGES
Northern Ireland’s Public Prosecution Service (PPS) announced on Friday, April 19 that it will not to prosecute 16 individuals in relation to allegations of false evidence relating to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
The PPS said in a statement on Friday that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) previously submitted an investigation file to the PPS in relation to allegations of murder and attempted murder on Bloody Sunday.
Those reported included former soldiers and alleged members of the Official IRA and a decision to prosecute one soldier, known as Soldier F, issued in 2019.
At the time, the PPS explained that consideration would also then be given as to whether the Test for Prosecution was met in respect of allegations that those reported had given false evidence in connection with the Bloody Sunday Inquiry.
The prosecution team, which included senior independent counsel, has now carefully considered all the available evidence in the investigation file and the content of the Report of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry in respect of allegations of the giving of false evidence.
The prosecution team has determined that the available evidence is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of conviction of any suspect considered, which include 15 former soldiers and one former alleged member of the Official IRA.
PPS Senior Public Prosecutor John O’Neill said: “All decisions on whether or not to prosecute are taken by independently and impartially applying the Test for Prosecution.
"The standard of proof needed for a criminal prosecution is high. For a conviction, the prosecution must establish beyond a reasonable doubt, through available and admissible evidence, the commission of a criminal offence by the suspect. “After careful consideration, it has been concluded that the available evidence in this case is insufficient to provide a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction of any suspect for offences in relation to the giving of false evidence.
“The decision making involved the consideration of a vast amount of material. Consideration of the allegations of false evidence presented particularly complex evidential and legal issues, all of which were thoroughly analysed by the prosecution team.
“Three particular issues arose. Firstly, although the Bloody Sunday Inquiry may have rejected the evidence of individuals, it did not always express those findings in terms amounting to the criminal standard of proof. That is the standard which the PPS must consider.
"Secondly, many of the findings related to the rejection of accounts given by former soldiers in 1972. The PPS has concluded that, for a number of legal reasons, those accounts from 1972 would not be admissible in criminal proceedings today.
"Thirdly, the full amount of evidence upon which the Bloody Sunday Inquiry based its findings is not generally available to the prosecution today. Issues arise in respect of the admissibility of evidence and its availability, since not all witnesses who provided evidence to the Inquiry provided witness statements to the PSNI.
“I wish to make clear that these decisions not to prosecute in no way undermine the findings of the Bloody Sunday Inquiry that those killed or injured were not posing a threat to any of the soldiers.
“We acknowledge that these prosecutorial decisions will be disappointing to the victims and families involved, and that this may be another difficult day for them. We have written to them to explain in detail the reasons for the decisions. We would like to provide assurance that these decisions were taken impartially, independently and only after the most thorough and careful consideration of all available evidence and the relevant legal issues.”
Ciarán Shiels of Madden & Finucane, the Belfast law firm that represents the majority of the families of the people murdered and the people wounded at the Bloody Sunday, said in a statement that the Bloody Sunday families are "very disappointed" but "certainly not fooled" by the PPS decision.
Shiels said: “Anyone who closely observed the evidence given at the Bloody Sunday Inquiry will know that members of 1 Para, and indeed senior military officers in command positions within the British Army in 1972, both individually and collectively, perverted the course of justice by concealing the criminal behaviour of their colleagues in Support Company of 1 Para, thereby ensuring that they would evade prosecution for their crimes.
“Those who gave dishonest evidence on oath also committed perjury and were clearly outside the scope of the assurance against self incrimination provided by the Attorney General at the outset of the Inquiry, which was designed to facilitate the provision of truthful evidence to the Inquiry to assist that Inquiry to reach its proper findings.
“A major cause for concern arose last week when police informed the families of the persons referred to the PPS for prosecution and not one officer in a position of command on Bloody Sunday, in particular Captain Mike Jackson, featured. The families made serious and detailed allegations in relation to Mike Jackson’s conduct on Bloody Sunday. He had personally interviewed those who admitted firing live rounds in the rear of his APC before the Paras had even departed the Bogside and was recalled to the Bloody Sunday Inquiry to explain omissions in his evidence. Jackson was the chief architect and puppeteer in relation to the British Army’s cover up on Bloody Sunday, yet a file does not appear to have been submitted in relation to him.
“It is of course regrettable that this decision has been communicated to us only today, some 14 years after the Inquiry’s unequivocal findings, but less than two weeks before the effective enactment date of the morally bankrupt Legacy legislation designed specifically to allow British army veterans to escape justice for its criminal actions in the north of Ireland.
“We will carefully consider the reasons we have received today and do not rule out the prospect of further legal action.”
John Kelly, whose 17-year-old brother Michael was murdered on Bloody Sunday, said on behalf of the Bloody Sunday families and wounded: “The families of Bloody Sunday who sit here today disappointed and perplexed by this decision not to prosecute a single soldier for perjury ask themselves rhetorically: 'Why is it that the people of Derry cannot forget the events of Bloody Sunday, yet the Parachute Regiment, who caused all of the deaths and injury on that day, apparently cannot recall it?’
“The answer to this question is quite simple but painfully obvious.
“The British Army lied its way through the conflict in the north.
“Accountability was never an option.
“And it is clear from the events of Bloody Sunday that killing unarmed civilians and lying about the circumstances of those murders never operated as a bar to individual promotions for soldiers, but in fact helped endear themselves to their superior officers and authorities.
“We consider that today’s ruling by the PPS is an affront to the rule of law and a continuation of the injustice that was perpetrated on Bloody Sunday.”
You can watch Ciarán Shiels and family members speaking at press conference responding to the PPS decision here:
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A Little Humor 
Sean in a hotel
Sean checks into a hotel for the first time in his life and goes up to his room. Five minutes later he calls the desk and says,
"Ya have given me a room with no exit. How do I leave?"
The desk clerk says, "Sir, that's absurd. Have you looked for the door?"
Sean replies "Well, there's one door that leads to the bathroom.
There's a second door that goes into the closet.
And there's a door I haven't tried,
but it has a 'do not disturb sign on it."
From Lawrence Mahoney
From my wife Donna
Are you old enough to remember....
Only in Ireland
Welcome to
Tír na mBláth
(Land of Flowers)
Tír na mBláth is one of hundreds of branches throughout the
world of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann (CCÉ) pronounced "kol-tus kyol-tori
air-in", the largest group involved
in the preservation of Irish music, dance and song.
Our board and membership is made up of Irish, Irish descendants, and all those who support, celebrate and take pride in the preservation of Irish culture.
We also aim to promote good will and citizenship.
Facebook page is at Tír na mBláth
Our meetings and several events are held at Tim Finnegan's Irish Pub in Delray Beach Florida.
Well, that's it for this week.
Slán go fóill
Slawn guh foh-ill!
(see you soon)!
Fireny@aol.com
...
Sláinte, Tom Guldner (Tommy Mac)
Slán agus beannacht, (Good-bye and blessings)
Number of visitors to this website since Sept 2022
..