Millstreet.ie

Joe Walsh of Cahir, Co Tipperary sent us this very interesting photo and family history:

“The attached may be of interest. I think they are young Duggans c1905. Agatha (Buckley) Duggan left her pub in the west end to niece Gretta Griffin. Who died c 1992.

My great great grandfather was Jeremiah O’Sullivan of Millstreet (c1840), whose daughter Hannah married Thomas Griffin (from Mayo) and they ran a draper shop in Millstreet (1890s-1940). I think it was Corcorans later. Their daughter Mary Griffin married Jim Walsh of Cahir (where Hannah is buried), and son Tom, who stayed in Millstreet and married a Buckley – their Daughter Gretta ran a pub ‘Tanglewood’ until her death in 1992.”

If you can connect with the photo / history, leave a reply below, or send Joe an email at: <email>

It was a truly wonderful family day for the many who attended the superbly interesting Traditional Craft & Blacksmithing Fair at MCP on Sunday, 5th May 2013. Included here in our cover pictures on the feature is Craftsman supreme J.J. Bohan from West Cork who very kindly created the most attractive LTV2 ironcraftwork since last year’s event at MCP.   Click on images to enlarge.   (S.R.)

Here we share a selection of images from the most enjoyable event at  continue reading…

A wonderful  photo of a Sports Day in Millstreet Town Park in 1976. You have to love the lads running in long pants, jumpers, shirts and ties! Thanks to Tony Kelleher (formerly of Minor Row) who allowed us to use this photo, which he scanned before time got the better of the print.
But, can anyone name the runners? Tony is out in front in the photo above, and Tony is out in front on the national stage these days, as he claimed the National Masters Indoor 800m (M40) title in Athlone on Saturday (Feb 8th) finishing in a time of 2mins  4 secs. He is also national Masters Outdoor Champion which he won last August in Tullamore.

This request for help came in today:

Does anyone have a copy of the book “North Cork Fighting Rebels”. It must have been printed before 1960. I don’t have any other information but I would dearly love to buy/borrow this book if anyone has it.

Best wishes to all for the coming year.

Hannah Kelleher <email>

A new publication from Aubane Historical Society will in the shops this week. Entitled ‘A Millstreet Miscellany (8)’, it’s the latest in the Millstreet Miscellany series that give a unique insight into Millstreet of the past. Below are an overview of the main articles in this edition:

Between the ditches, running on forgotten roads in Ireland
This is a first-hand account of running the Butter Road by Bertie Hart who did the deed in two stages in September and October this year. Bertie hopes that his achievement will encourage other runners to take up the challenger of running this unique route.

Millstreet childhood memories
This article is based on the first chapter of “My Dream from Ireland to America” which is an autobiography of Dr. Sheila O’Sullivan Becker. Sheila comes from Claraghatlea and this is a memoir of her childhood days before she went to England and later America where, among many other things, she became a clinical psychologist and lives there today as a very active octogenarian.

The 1921 Millstreet Train Ambush
This article is reprinted from the “Journal of the Irish Railway Record Society” June 2011 by Oliver Doyle. Oliver is a former Operations Schemes Development Manager for Irish Rail and this is a detailed account of the ambush

A dove at St. Patrick’s Church Millstreet recently (S.R)

“In Irish the word ‘Colum’ signifies a dove. In various parts of the country, holes or caves in rocks, frequented by these birds, are called Pollnagolum (Poll-na-gcolum), the hole or cave of the doves. In the present spoken language colúr [coloor] is the more usual term for the same bird; and it is found more often in names. There is a little river joining the Finnow near Millstreet in Cork, called the Owennagloor, ie Abhainn-na-gcolúr, the river of the pigeons; Annagloor is also a townland in the parish of Drishane.”

from CHAPTER XVIII for The Origin and History of Irish Names of Places by P.W. Joyce (1902) page 301. [view online]

One of the last if not the last donkey derby to be held in the Town park in Millstreet
In the late fifties when young bare back jockeys for glory on their mounts did compete
When donkey racing was popular in Ireland at Autumn carnivals in every country town
Back then to ride the winner of a Donkey Derby transcended one to above local renown

Hopes of a Millstreet win depended on a young teenager who at gaelic football would know of greater fame
From the nearby Tanyard tall and sturdy Humphrey Kelleher his was to become a very famous name
Riding Paddy Den’s black stallion donkey a powerful beast with a mind of his own
One who often kicked and bucked and threw his rider for such behaviour he had become known continue reading…

In 1864, the House of Commons (in London) did a Return of Name and Locality of Convent and Monastic Schools in connection with Commissions of National Education in Ireland for 1863.

Millstreet Presentation National School is listed on page 5 of the report, which lists the lay teachers and monitors how much they were paid, how much the school was paid, and the number of pupils and attendance. Interestingly attendance rate was at 45%, and while it seems low, it was actually quite high for a rural school of the time (I doubt they’d get get away with that these days!!!). What is also interesting is that the lay teachers are all names that are still in Millstreet. Here are the details:

Roll #: 2,278 / Parish: Drishane / School: Millstreet – female / Order: Presentation Nuns
Amount Paid to School – Premiums & Gratitudes 1963: £6
Amount Paid to School – On account of average attendance 1963: £42 10s
# Pupils on Roll: 446 (all Roman Catholic)
# Average attendance: 201 (45%) continue reading…

All Community Members and Individuals interested in learning more about Historic Graves and how to Care for them, Conserve and Record them are invited to take part in an upcoming training programme delivered by IRD Duhallow. This training programme will link in with Archaeologists to ensure that continue reading…

Millstreet Pipe Band played at the 1960 National Hurling League Final between Cork and Tipperary (yes fifty two years ago). A video of the match is now on youTube and includes some footage of our Pipe Band.The drummer pictured above (at 0:34 in the video)  is Donal Lynch of Kippagh, husband of Julia, and whose son, Kevin is the well known button accordion player.   The Match took place in Cork Athletic Grounds (now Páirc Uí Chaoimh).   For this information – our sincere thanks to Tim O’Shea, Founder Member of Millstreet Pipe Band and still playing in mighty style!

We’d like to thank Ted Barrett for letting us know about the video which you can see below:

continue reading…

Mallow man Bertie Harte spoke recently at the Kerryman’s Table (during the Aubane Centenary celebrations) (photo right) about running the Butter Road from Tralee to Millstreet, a distance of 100km.

Today is the day, and he’s currently on route. He left Kerry County Museum in Tralee at 8:50am this morning headed for Castleisland and following the Butter Road he is currently (1pm) near Knocknagree and will continue to Rathmore where he will follow the Clara road for the last section as the main Rathmore to Millstreet road is too busy. He’s running at about 5mph so 3-3:30 should see him in Millstreet. He has a GPS tracker and you can track his current location on greenalp.com

It is hoped to have people greet him at the Wallis Arms Hotel, so please come out and give him your support.

continue reading…

This postcard is of the “Southern View of the Convent of the Infant Jesus, Drishane, Millstreet, Co.Cork”

The original postcard is currently available on eBay.ie

Blessed with glorious sunshine Millstreet’s Annual September Horse Fair took place today, Sunday, 2nd September 2012. The wonderfully colourful standings extended further along the streets that ever before reaching the Church at West End and down to the end of Minor Row.  Here we view the busy scene at 2.35 p.m. in Main Street as photographed from the Bridge.   (S.R.)

Brendan Murphy and I travelled to the various parts of the town and the Fair Field to record this annual tradition for our website and LTV2.   We invite you to join us on our journey earlier this afternoon where we got to meet lots of cheerful people, saw one of the smallest ponies ever continue reading…

Historian supreme, Jack Lane gave an outstanding address at the Kerryman’s Table, Mushera, Millstreet at noon on Sunday, 19th August 2012.   Jack emphasised the importance of the Butter Road and gave a very interesting history of the famous Road.   It was held during Heritage Week 2012 as well as on the very same Sunday as the celebration of the centenary of Aubane N.S..  (S.R.)

While it was raining for part of Jack’s address this did not dampen the spirits of all who attended on the Sunday at this wonderfully picturesque setting.   Jack also introduced continue reading…