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You are > Home > Erris heroes in ‘foreign’ lands
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Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Erris heroes in ‘foreign’ lands
By: Rosemarie Mangan
The Western People’s Erris Exile of the Year Award recognises emigrants from the Barony of Erris who have achieved greatness in their adopted countries. ROSEMARIE MANGAN reflects on the history of emigration from the peninsula and on the importance of the Erris Exile of the Year Award.
We all know that the Great Famine was an infamous period of emigration, particularly in the West of Ireland. Indeed, during this time, more people left Mayo than any other county in Ireland. However, this large-scale emigration continued throughout the late 1900s and the first half of the 20th century.
In 1901, the population of Mayo was 199,166. These figures fell from 161,349 (1936) to 133,052 (1956). Today, there are approximately 110,000 living in Mayo. Put simply, since 1851, almost 195,000 people have left the county.
There are 1.2 million Irish born people living outside Ireland and it is thought that there are more people of Mayo extraction worldwide than from any other county. Since the Barony of Erris constitutes such a large part of Mayo, it is inevitable that its inhabitants were, and still are, deeply affected by emigration. The population of Erris in 1901 was approximately 14,000. Today, it is about 12,000.
It is not surprising that recent studies have shown that the money emigrants sent back home amounted to millions. Indeed, €5.5 billion (in today’s figures) was sent home from Britain alone. Today, we appreciate the fact that countless Irish men and women have made a crucial contribution to life in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. So, it is with the Erris Exile of the Year Award that, in some small way, we can recognise these people formally and give them the praise that they deserve.
All four of the previous Erris Exile award winners share something in common ˆ the way in which they have helped to promote Erris through various activities. For example, they may have organised fundraising events for Mayo/Erris groups, or arranged gatherings for Erris people in their adopted countries. Our first winner was Sadie Brady (née McDonagh), who left Geesala in 1959 for Coventry. A fluent speaker of Gaeilge, she has organised weekly Irish classes. Bridget Looney (née McGuire), a native of Dooyork, won the award the following year. She has run the well-known Abbey Pub in Chicago with her husband, Tom, since 1989. She returns home to visit two or three times a year.
The winner for the year 2002 was Mary Frances Kerrigan (neé Gallagher), a native of Muingmore. She runs a pub in London with her husband, Vincent, and has been active in fundraising for many Erris projects over the years. Last year‚s winner was Mary Turner Monaghan, who lives in New Jersey with her husband, Bill. The Faulmore native has been involved in countless charitable fundraisers over the years, and has been very committed to the GAA and to the Mayo team.
Many of our emigrants, fortunately, have had positive experiences in their adopted countries. However, for quite a few, it has resulted in loneliness and isolation. Some of our hard-working ancestors are now in ill-health, and they are unable to visit Ireland any more. Some people, such as Dr. Jerry Crowley and the Mayo Emigrant Liaison Committee, are trying to help these people, either by bringing them home, or raising money to provide holidays here for them. We must remember these people ˆ the ones that did not fare as well as our esteemed award winners.
L Nominations for the Erris Person of the Year and Erris Exile of the Year Award should be submitted to the Western People before February 27th.
Profiles of the Erris Exile of the Year award winners
1999: Sadie Brady
Mrs. Brady, who returns home two or three times a year, is now a Justice of the Peace on Coventry Magistrates' Bench. Speaking of the award, she says, "I was thrilled and delighted to win – the competition was so high – it was a night I’ll never forget."
2000: Bridget Looney
Mrs. Looney, who left Erris in 1973, has been applauded for her work in her adopted city of Chicago. She broadcasts all the popular Irish sports matches in her pub, and helps Irish newcomers to find accommodation and jobs in the city.
2001: Mary Frances Kerrigan
Mrs. Kerrigan, who runs Kerrigan‚s pub in Hendon, London, left Erris in 1970 and returns to visit 7 or 8 times a year. She says that she was "totally surprised" to win and that the gala celebration was "one of the best nights ever". Mary Frances continues to help Erris people in London, as she has always done.
2002: Mary Turner Monaghan
Mrs. Turner Monaghan, a nurse in New Jersey, has been commended for her work with the homeless, the ill, the disadvantaged, the young and the old. At the gala celebration in Geesala, the MC said that she "works with the poorest of the poor but her spirit is the richest of the rich".
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