Appreciation: Leslie Matson

Appreciation: Leslie Matson, author who immortalised culture of Blasket Islands

He embedded himself in the community and culture of the west Kerry Gaeltacht

 We thank Noel Buckley for sharing the Appreciation to Leslie Matson which recently appeared in “The Irish Times”.  (S. R.)

Leslie Matson is among that select group of authors who have immortalised in literature the rich culture of the Blasket Islands, along with others such as Robin Flower, Carl Marstrander, Peig Sayers, Tomás Ó Criomhthain and Muiris Ó Súilleabháin.

He was initially drawn to Corca Dhuibhne in 1954 to improve his Irish so he could register as a teacher, staying with the legendary “Kruger” Kavanagh.

Never a man to do things by half, he embedded himself in the community as well as in the culture of the west Kerry Gaeltacht.

His social research on the 125 former inhabitants of the Blasket Islands stands as a valuable resource to scholars for posterity.

He befriended Mártan Ó Catháin, a nephew of Máire “Méiní” Dunleavy (1876-1967) who had been the Blasket midwife for 36 years.

Méiní, not accustomed to the name Leslie, hilariously called him “Italy” and that was how local people greeted him, “Conas atá Italy inniu?”.

Encouraged by Mícheál de Mórdha, Bainisteoir Ionad an Bhlaoscaid, he wrote Méiní, the Blasket Nurse, which was published by Mercier Press in February 1996.

Apart from his social research, he was a renowned linguist, teacher, chorister and a much loved family man. He enjoyed speaking Irish, French, German and Russian, and was widely read in English and French, quoting the classics from memory.

Blaskets

He began his teaching career in Aravon School in Bray followed by Villiers School in Limerick, however most of his teaching career was in Newtown School, Waterford where he taught mainly French and was Senior Master.

From 1977 he spent six years as headmaster of Sligo Grammar School before teaching in Millstreet Community School. He retired at 65 (~1995) and returned to live in Waterford where he continued his work on the Blaskets and on the archives of Newtown School.

[read more …] “Appreciation: Leslie Matson”

Mary Dempsey, New York (née Hickey of Drominahilla)

Passed away on April 15th 2020 at her home in New York, surrounded by her loving family. Mary, daughter of the late Daniel & Margaret Hickey Drominahilla & sister of the late Eileen, Denny & Kevin.

Sadly missed by her loving husband Tommy, her son Danny, her daughter Kelly (Sinisgalli), son in law, daughter in law, grandchildren, brother Con, sister Margaret (Creedon), sisters in law, brothers in law, nephews, nieces, grandnephews, grandnieces, family & many friends. Interment in New York. May She Rest In Peace. [notice] [Condolences]

Heading for Keim Turn (1912)

1912 The road at Keim, with Clara Moutain in the distance

A 1912 photo of a horse and cart making its way down to Keim Turn in the direction of Millstreet. The photo was taken from about 250m above the current entrance to Keim Quarry on the road to Macroom. In the distance is Clara Mountain, with the tree covered Ballyvouskill Hill in the centre and rising towards the left of the photo. In 1993 this dangerous bend was removed when rock was blasted and the road straightened in advance of the Eurovision, and Keim Quarry opened at that time.  [1]
We wonder if the rock on the right of  the photo still there, or has it been consumed by the quarry or the roadworks? If memory is correct, back then the roadside was much steeper where the photo was taken from. [read more …] “Heading for Keim Turn (1912)”