Decade of Centenaries Programme 2020-23
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 […]
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 […]
Whilst not a whole lot is known about Francis J. Cox’s early years, we hear him tell Tom Munnelly in 1971 that he had a brother and sister and that he was the youngest in the family. He mentions that his brother was shot in Flanders and that his mother […]
Drumkeeran’s Mary McPartlan was born in 1955 and is one of Leitrim’s better known traditional singers, having released albums and toured with theatre groups and musicians, including Sean Keane. She was a powerful advocate for traditional music and artists and was the instigator of TG4’s Gradam awards for traditional Irish […]
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 […]
John “Jacko” Reilly was a traditional ballad singer who was born in 1926 in Carrick-on-Shannon. Although, he lived out his latter years as a settled traveller in Boyle, there are many who have clear memories of his ballad singing in and around the town of Carrick. Find out more Tom […]
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 […]
Maureen McNabola (nee McCrann) from Corlea, Kilnagross was a fine ballad singer who sadly passed away in 2022. She had a rich store of traditional ballads, some popular, well-known songs and others lesser known Leitrim ballads. Maureen’s first public singing appearance was in 1941 when she sang at An Tostal […]
Born in 1909 in Drumshanbo North, between the parishes of Aughavas and Cloone, Nan Fitzpatrick was one of nine children born to James and Rosie Fitzpatrick. They lived on a small farm and she attended Cloonsarn School. She couldn’t miss having an interest in music and song as her family […]
“Reynolds, George Nugent (c.1767–1802), poet, wit, and head of the Reynolds family of Loughscur, was born at Letterfine, Co. Leitrim, son of George Reynolds (d. 1786), also called George Nugent Reynolds or ‘Squire’ Reynolds, and Jane Reynolds (née Connell) from Cranary, Co. Longford. He lived most of his life at Letterfine House, […]
