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Down Memory Lane 6

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Desmonds, Ballina town GAA champions, 1926. Legendary players in the frame

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Book review of Ballina & Area People written by Matt Moran that recently appeared in UCA News (Union of Catholic Asian News)…. A short summary is reprinted here:

Ballina is a lively town in picturesque County Mayo in the west of Ireland. It lies at the mouth of the River Moy, famous for salmon fishing, near Killala Bay with the Ox Mountains to the east and Nephin Mountain to the west. Situated in the Catholic Diocese of Killala, its population is just over 10,000 people.

One of the most fascinating parts of an area’s history is its people whose stories make up the fabric of the place. The footprints of many people from Ballina and its hinterland have landed all over the world, and their influence is wide. Well-known local historian and author Terry Reilly shines a light on many of these in his new book, Ballina & Area People. He was well placed to write such a social history of his native area having been editor of the local newspaper, The Western People, for almost 30 years.

The footprints and legacy of Irish missionaries are to be found in most countries in the global south, where they have provided services in education, health, special needs, agriculture, income generation, human rights, social justice, peace-building and other areas that impact the dignity of the human person and the protection of the environment. Almost every town or parish in Ireland provided men and women who joined that army of missionary ambassadors who devoted their talents and their lives to supporting the poor and the marginalised in developing countries.

Ballina was no different in that regard, and it is wonderful to see Terry Reilly devoting a chapter of his book to missionaries from the area. He introduces the chapter with a very personal account of the high esteem in which Irish missionaries are held in Africa.

He writes: “The role of our Irish missionaries was brought home in a most dramatic way to me when visiting Robben Island, a bumpy 30-minute ferry ride from Cape Town in South Africa, just a few years after Nelson Mandela’s 27 years’ cruel incarceration had been brought to an end.

“Those who have been there will know that you are taken on a bus tour around the island. It was on one such bus that we were welcomed aboard by a lovely black African woman who had herself suffered under draconian apartheid separation laws. After introducing herself, she asked a question she always posed: ‘Where are you all from?’ The answers that came back confidently included ‘England’, ‘America’, ‘Germany’, ‘Malaysia’, ‘Hong Kong’ … Somewhat shyly I offered, ‘Ireland’. ‘IRELAND, IRELAND!’ our guide exclaimed. ‘The one country that came to the aid of our people confined here when it was a leper colony. Your missionaries and what they did here will never be forgotten. You are most welcome. Do you know there is a place here called the Irish Village?”

Reilly uses the story of Sister Mary McNulty from Rathowen near Killala who joined the Pallottine Sisters to illustrate the innovative work that missionaries undertook in developing countries and how that work is now being continued by local sisters who were recruited by the Irish.

For full review see

Rapidly dwindling stocks of Amazing Mayo Stories, On A Wing and a Prayer and The Green Above the Red, so order these original copies now!

For best prices for Mayo’s Forgotten Famine Girls and Ballina, and One Town, Three Wars & More (all signed by author) see fantastic prices, including postage, through kennys.ie

Thanks to all who have read my books and continue to do so. Your support is never taken for granted. Some of my earlier books are now out of print but may possibly be found by searching the internet.

Happy hunting!
Good health and happiness to all,
Terry

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Other Local Authors

Books by local authors can be sourced. Email me for an up-to-date list of local publications or books about Ballina/Mayo in general.

Blog Calendar

Blog Calendar

Historical Walks of Ballina

Terry Reilly’s Guided Historical Walks of Ballina are held in July/August. Assembly point: Presbyterian Church, Walsh Street, off Pearse Street. A 90 minute walk on which we meet characters from the past, and hear the story behind local landmarks. Dates and times available in local Tourist Office, Cathedral Road, or by contacting me by email Proceeds in aid of local charities.

Your books are gems Terry Reilly.

Apart from being a great read, there were my people, on your pages. You showed me the first photo I’d seen of P.J. Ruttledge, explained why I was connected to Hannick’s pub, delighted me with Mona Curry’s sketches such as the ones showing my great grandfather’s shopfront (and I learnt the shop was established in 1893) and so much more. You even provided me with a little puzzle. I noticed that John Egan & Sons separate my McConn’s shop from Beckett Ltd and must get around to figuring out if that is the Beckett my grandmother McConn married when her husband passed away. It was exciting turning the pages!

Elaine Kelly, Australia

A hit in Brussels!

Councillor Gerry Murray of Charlestown recently put a smile on my face when he recalled visiting Brussels few years ago with Matt Carthy for a meeting with senior officials from the EU Commission. “It was in relation to state aid regulations pertaining to Knock airport. Before getting to the main item on the agenda, Matt (now a TD) thought it might be a good idea if I gave them some background on the airport,” said Gerry.

He went on: “I started to give them the broad strokes of its history, when the two lead Commission officials smiled, opened their files, and produced two copies of your book, ‘On A Wing and a Prayer’. They obviously had done their research, so we just moved on to the main issue on the agenda. After the meeting, we had a coffee and discovered not only had they thoroughly read the book, but they said it gave them a unique insight into the politics and the difficulties in delivering infrastructure to the rural regions of the EU, and very often the impediments that nation-states put in the way. Unlike most books on regional development, they said it was a real page-turner, with wonderful anecdotes and lessons to be learned for Nation-State in terms of how they should engage with their respective regions.”

*On A Wing and a Prayer was published in 2006 and dedicated to the late Monsignor James Horan. It is now almost out of print. See www.terry-reilly.com

Dated February 2021

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