The Corran Herald Index Project (By Ursula Gilhawley

across an open field against the 24th’s strong defensive position, and it was almost annihilated. McMillan’s cool leadership cost the Irish Brigade 545 dead and wounded, including three of its five regimental commanders. The Irish Brigade’s commanding officer, General Thomas Meagher, was said by some to have been in no danger, having gone into town to get his horse. (Note: This is disputed. Meagher was wounded in the knee at Antietam, and other accounts had him turning back at the canal because he physically was unable to continue further).

There were many Irish-born and first-generation Irish officers in the Confederate Army. One of the better known was Major General Patrick R. Cleburne from Co. Cork. Cleburne served in the Army of Tennessee and often was compared to the South’s General Stonewall Jackson. He rose from company commander to regiment, and then to brigade and, after leading his troops to victory in several battles and being wounded at least three times, he was promoted to major general. Late in the war he shot himself in the foot, figuratively speaking, by proposing that the South recruit slaves to fight in exchange for their freedom, an idea that could have changed the course of the war but was quickly rejected by the pro-slavery civilian government. Cleburne was killed late in the war.

Another famous, or infamous, Southern officer was Brigadier General John McCausland, who was born in Missouri of Irish parents. Nicknamed “Tiger John,” McCausland was a “never-surrender” leader who fought his way out of many tight spots. He was best known to the North for a July 1864 raid on Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, which he looted and burned when a ransom demand for $500,000 was not paid. McCausland refused to submit even after the war ended and left the USA for Europe and Mexico. Several years later, he rather mysteriously returned with sufficient funds to purchase 6000 acres of farmland in West Virginia. McCausland lived until 1927.

During the war Irish immigration to the South ceased because the ports were blockaded. After the war, it recommenced-but slowly. Eventually, as the South recuperated from its devastation, some Irish survivors of the war rose to prominence in industry and government. Today, more than 140 years after the Civil War ended, there is little difference between the Irish of the two areas, but since “history is written by the victors,” little is heard about the Irish contribution to the South’s cause, and even less has been written.

By Ursula Gilhawley

The first issue of the Corran Herald was launched in the Castle Hotel, Ballymote on the 25th October 1985, by the late Ted Nealon TD, who was then Minister for Arts and Culture. The first edition consisted of twelve A4 pages and sold for twenty-five pence 25p. Initially published several times a year, it is now an annual 90 page publication in its 35th year. Over the course of 52 issues, a wide variety of articles and photographs documenting local life, history, archaeology and culture have been included.

This year, the Heritage Group undertook a project to index all 52 Corran Herald publications. This index is now available on the website (www.ballymoteheritage.com). The index has a search facility which allows users to explore the index by author and subject matter. The index will be an important resource for the appreciation and understanding of Sligo heritage. The Corran Herald has published many original articles and historic photos contributed by local historians and archaeologists over the years. The Index makes this material infinitely more accessible forming a unique resource for both current and future writers and genealogical researchers.

Ballymote Heritage Group would like to thank a number of people and organisations who made this project possible. Working in collaboration with Mark Burns of Sligo Leader and Carmel O’Hara of Ballymote Family Resource Centre, the project was carried out over a few months. Dermot Hayward, who was participating in a Tús Scheme in the B.F.R.C., created an Access database and completed the entry of over 1,500 individual pieces of data, working under the guidance of Carmel O’Hara. The project was overseen by Derek Davey on behalf of the Ballymote Heritage Group.

We would also like to acknowledge the help provided by Ballymote Library by way of the provision of space for meetings relating to the project. OSD provided technical support to the project enabling the uploading of the database to the Ballymote Heritage website. Without the unstinting support of all those mentioned above, this project could not have happened and the Heritage Group wishes to place on record its deep appreciation and thanks for all the help and support provided on this project.

Ballymote Heritage Group would also like to gratefully acknowledge the financial support approved by Sligo County Council under the Community and Voluntary Sector General Grant Scheme 2020.