Conflict in Knocknagoshel

Bands belt it out

They took their music seriously in Knocknagoshel in those years – too seriously perhaps! August 1913 saw an unusual case come up before Mr. E. M. P. Wynne, R.M., presiding at a special court in Castleisland. The subject was assault arising out of a dispute between members of rival Fife and Drum bands in Knocknagoshel. Timothy Warren was up for using abusive and threatening language towards C.D. O’Connor on May 18. Mr O’Connor stated that he was a publican and on the day, mentioned Warren said that if a man owed him 10s he would process him for a pound. Warren, being already bound to the peace in sums of £10 and two sureties of £5 each was ordered to find sureties himself in £30 and two sureties of £15 each.

Timothy Warren had a cross case against C.D. O’Connor for a similar offence on the same date. In his evidence he said that O’Connor said he was the cause of his father’s and mother’s deaths. O’Connor was bound to the peace himself in £10 and two sureties of £5 each.

Michael Browne, Ballinacurtin, Knocknagoshel, summoned John Morrissey, Ahane, David Connell and John Doody junior for assault on May 19. After hearing the evidence, Mr. Wynne convicted Morrissey of assault and fined him 5s and bound him to the peace. David Connell was dealt with likewise. The case against Warren was dismissed, there being no evidence that they assaulted Browne. In a case brought by Richard Shea, Ballinacurtin, John Doody was fined 5s and would have been bound to the peace if present. In the same case John Morrissey, Timothy Warren and David Connell had assault charges dismissed. But this was all handbag stuff when compared with incidents later on the night of May 19. At a gathering at the Cross at about 10.30pm Michael Browne struck Timmy Warren with an iron bar. John Morrissey went to his assistance and Richard Shea struck him from behind. Morrissey wound up in Tralee Workhouse Infirmary where he had to have two and a half inches of bone removed from his skull due to a blow from an implement. He survived. On the same occasion, Michael Browne was seen firing shots from a revolver!

The late Judge Bob Aherne who found his roots in Lyreacrompane through www.Lyreacrompane.com and opened the Dan Paddy Andy Festival in 2008 33

Pictured above at the 2011 Dan Paddy Andy Festival is the late Tommy Flanagan with Rose of Tralee, Clare Kambamattu. Tommy travelled from Dublin to the Festival each year to entertain us with his Tommy’s Country Road Show. He travelled regularly to the continent with the biggest names in Country and Irish music where he was the warm up act for them. Tommy got on well with everyone and was looking forward to being back with us to celebrate the 15th Festival. Ar dheis dé go raibh a anam.

Oh the heat of the fire and the warmth of the people and the snugness of the place

The crackle of the flame puts a glow on the face Heats up the tongue and out flow the tales

Of gallivanting and blackguarding rustling cattle and sheep Walking home from Ballybunion after a court and a sleep

Affairs of the nation or those of a saint From high ground or low sure the devil who cares

Of priest or parishioner Good Samaritan or thief Makes no difference whatsoever all get the same treat

Of glory and fame No matter the game Victory and celebration defeat and shame

No need for a reason t’will not be treason Imaginations are boundless all are fair game

You’ll not hear no better in the vales of mankind When it comes to enlightenment Ballythefireside is without peer

Ah can’t I see by your eyes you’ve absorbed much tonight Sure t’was all true and great and entertaining no doubt

No exaggeration, no lies no insincerity or jeer Nothing but the truth will you ever hear

And if you believe that then God blesh you my dear Of what entered my ear I’d be careful what I’d repeat

Ballythefireside alights the world Again tonight

Brendan Hegarty Co Donegal

Lovely Young Ladies in Lyreacrompane

By John Duggan from Co Longford. (Submitted by Thomas F Leen, Clounainetagh)

If you’re ever in Kerry with nothing to do And you’re not into Football or drinking strong brew There’s a grand little place that I’d love you to see A few miles off the road from Listowel to Tralee. I will always remember the day I called there I was making my way from Killorglin's Puck Fair, Having sold a few sheep from my little red van I just sought some diversion in Lyreacrompane.

Where the lovely Stack Mountains are pretty and fair You can smell the sweet heather and breathe the fresh air. You can dance and be merry from dusk until dawn With the lovely young ladies in Lyreacrompane

In a quaint little tavern I sat myself down With a few lads from Lyrea and famed Renagown. And there by the fireside who did I see It was Dan Paddy Andy himself and John B. Old Dan was a matchmaker most of his life And ‘twas many a man he fixed up with a wife. I was heading for forty the following year So I thought to my self – have a word in his ear.

Where the lovely Stack Mountains are pretty and fair…

It was plain and direct the advice that I got So I left and went over the road in a trot. ‘Twas a grand summers evening I picture it still As I stopped at a bridge at the foot of a hill Then over the road came a vision so rare Of a lovely young lady with long flowing hair She was driving her cows and was shushing them on And I bade her "Good evening" in Lyreacrompane.

Where the lovely Stack Mountains are pretty and fair…

Well, it’s strange what will happen when traveling through life For that lovely young lady has long been my wife. I was not a believer in love at first sight Oh, but Dan Paddy Andy had proved to be right For an arrow from Cupid went straight through my heart And from that day to this we were never apart. And although she is older and the years have passed on She’s the loveliest lady from Lyreacrompane.

Where the lovely Stack Mountains are pretty and fair You can smell the sweet heather and breathe the fresh air. You can dance and be merry from dusk until dawn With the lovely young ladies in Lyreacrompane 34