Easter Memories (By Bernie Gilbride

Dargan, to the rural churchyard at Ballysumaghan between Sooey and Ballyfarnan.

James C. Hosie (also known as John Hosie Junior) was born at Castle Dargan and died there on 27 November 1997, aged 78 years. His wife Kathleen (nee Irvine) died in November 2008. In 1998 Kathleen Hosie sold the remaining 145 acres of Castle Dargan demesne and the nineteen acres of Carrigeenboy near the gate-lodge to Dermot Fallon of Ballinacarrow, Co. Sligo.

The Hosies had come from Scotland to Sligo as entrepreneurs and, although they became landowners, they were keen merchants and rural industrialists. John C. Hosie also had warehouses at the railway stations in Manorhamilton and Glenfarne. Agricultural produce like eggs, butter, poultry and seasonal vegetables was bought from farmers in Sligo and North Leirim and sent by rail and ship, via Derry and Belfast, to Glasgow and Liverpool. The owners of Breiffni Mills were regarded as good employers. Many labourers worked permanently and others were taken on temporarily during busy

periods. 9

The family connection with Scotland was a vital factor in the success of the Hosies as merchants and rural industrialists. On a number of occasions nephews came to Ireland to help in the business. In Scotland, cousins assisted with import-export activities.

On a family tombstone in Ballysumaghan churchyard not far from Sooey these Hosie names and dates are recorded.

During the 19th and 20th centuries, several Sligo-Leitrim Hosies emigrated to North America, Britain and further afield. A death notice that appeared on 3rd April 2010 in the Irish Times recorded the death of Audrey Elizabeth Pillai (daughter of John C. Hosie and Kathleen Hosie of Castle Dargan) in Australia, aged 67. Today, some Hosie descendants of Castle Dargan continue to live happily in Ireland.

1.Owenmore River Proposed Arterial Drainage Environmental Impact Assessment, by Goodwillie, Buckley and Douglas 1992 (p.119) 2. Some Recorded Place-names of Castledargan by Pat O’Brien, The Corran Herald 2005/2006 p.p. 13-16 3. www.castledargan.com/about us by Patrick E. O’Brien (2020) 4. In the Shadow of Sliabh Dá Ēan: Ballintogher and its Surroundings (2009) p.91 5. Sligo: The Light of Bygone Days by John C. McTernan (2009) 6. Milling in Dromahair: A Short Overview by Garreth Byrne Leitrim Guardian 2020 7. p.p. 71-73 8. Sligo Independent 27 October 1888 9. Sligo Independent 19 March 1910 The auctioneer’s advertisement also appeared in the Sligo Champion a few times. 10. Conversation, February 2020, with former County Councillor John McTiernan, whose father lived in Manorhamilton.

I am grateful to Michele Cashman and Patrick E. O’Brien at Sligo Local Studies library for help with my research. Mary Conefrey of the Leitrim Library archives in Ballinamore looked up data on the death of James Alexander Hosie.

*Garreth Byrne is a member of Dromahair Heritage Group & also serves on Dromahair Developmenttidy towns committee.

By Bernie Gilbride

Cold, wet, storm, rain. Trees sway in the wind Forsythia butter cup yellow, Daffodils bend their heads To the black earth.

Easter long ago Family home, house full of life, Buzzing with laughter and fun, Lots of work to be done. Garden organised Lawn mower oiled, humming, Flower beds dug, freshened, For Summer planting.

Aroma of cooking fills the air, Roast lamb, mint sauce, Rhubarb crumble, fresh cream Chocolate eggs, sweets inside. Easter, all delight in life, Being Home, little dog barking, Cat in arms purring, Happy times will last forever.

Alas, alas, all things change, Time does not stand still, Last time for all at home together, Unrealised then, Gone, now just ‘MEMORIES.’