Location: Bornacoola

Scór Liatroma

Competitions Scór competitions were established by the GAA in 1969 “to promote Ireland’s traditional pastimes and culture while offering club members the chance to meet up, have fun and represent their club during the winter months while Football and Hurling had ceased.” There are eight events in Scór that cover […]

Tom Mulligan – Fiddle Player & Piper

Tom P. Mulligan was born in Currycramp, Bornacoola in 1915 into a family of two brothers and four sisters. He had a unique regional style of fiddle playing which was influenced by his father, also Thomas and by his neighbour, fiddle-master, Jack Conboy. Tom came from musical ancestry – his […]

Tomás Ó Máille – Irish Spoken in Leitrim

Ó Máille, Tomás (1880–1938), an Irish scholar and professor of Irish at University College Galway , was born 30 March 1880 in Muintir Eoin near Leenaun, Co. Galway. He was the first professor of Irish at University College Galway from 1909 until his death in 1938 Find out more  Ó […]

Leitrim GAA – Songs & Ballads

Come All Ye Gallant Sportsmen “Come raise three cheers for the Hugh O Neills That brave and gallant band. And double three for the captain bold Who holds them in command. Of all the Irish Gaelic boys Of stalwart limb and frame The Bornacoola slashing team Has earned the greatest […]

Tom Moran & Family– Ballad Singer

Thomas Moran was born in 1876 in Drumrahill, Eslin and was often known around the place as “Old Moran the ballad singer”. He had a vast repertoire of ballads and it is not clear where he acquired so many of these songs, although it is mentioned that he got many […]

The Narrow Gauge

The Cavan & Leitrim Railway “The Cavan, Leitrim & Roscommon Light Railway & Tramway” opened in 1887, to serve the more remote parts of those three counties. Owing to the withdrawal of support for a “baronial guarantee” from the Roscommon Jury, “Roscommon” was dropped from the original title and the […]

Céilí Bands

Cloone Céilí Band Probably the most “famous” céilí band in Leitrim’s history was Cloone Céilí Band.  Owing to Fr. Peter Conefrey’s championing of traditional music and his ability to command national attention – Cloone Céili Band, founded by Conefrey and as pictured here appeared on RTÉ radio for a special […]

Lily Moffatt – Musician, Mentor & Promoter

Mrs Lily Moffatt (nee Frayne/Freyne) was a great advocate for traditional music and dance. As a prominent member of Cumann na mBan and a lifelong republican, Lily had a unique insight into local political happenings in and round Leitrim and Roscommon from the years before and following the 1916 Rising. […]

Lord Leitrim

Much has been written about William Sydney Clements, the 3rd Earl of Leitrim known most commonly as “Lord Leitrim”. Probably most famous due to his assassination in 1878, Clements also gained infamy because of his treatment of tenants and his supposed mistreatment of women. Lough Rynn Estate itself wouldn’t have […]

Bernard Gray – Poet and Ballad Writer

One of the most prolific collections of poems, ballads and songs from County Leitrim is that compiled by poet Bernard Gray and printed by John Rourke and sons in Carrick on Shannon in 1909 – “Songs and Stories of Leitrim” As well as many poems and ballads written by Gray […]