Mayo migration tale captured in new book
The book details the story of families from Erris and Tourmakeady who made the move to Gibbstown in Co Meath.
This Saturday sees the Mayo launch of a book that details the migration of families from Belmullet and Tourmakeady to Gibbstown in Co Meath more than 80 years ago.
'Ceann Scríbe Baile Ghib - Destination Gibbstown' recalls the journey of these families from Fanad and Gweedore in Co Donegal, Belmullet and Tourmakeady in Co Mayo, Ballinskellig in West Kerry and the Bearra Peninsula in West Cork to Gibbstown, where the large Gerrard Estate was being divided. All who moved were native Irish speakers, many of them with no English.
The book will be launched in Erris on Saturday, August 17 at Áras Inis Gluaire at 5pm. The book’s authors and the Gibbstown community will be in attendance.
Family members of the first generation of those Gibbstown families have come together to publish the book. It was researched and written by Máire Uí Chasaide, Máire Ní Chonchúir, Anraí Mac Garaidh, Máirín Ní Shiadhail, Éilín Nic an tSithigh, and Máire Nic an tSithigh.
in 1937, the Land Commission divided the Gerrard Estate in Gibbstown into 22-acre farms, and among those to receive land were 59 Irish-speaking families from the western counties of Cork, Donegal, Kerry and Mayo. They, in turn, gave up their farms to be divided among those who remained in these congested areas. Difficult decisions were made by elderly heads of families to accept the offer for the benefit of their children and future generations.
It gives an insight into the emotions their ancestors experienced as they faced the unfamiliar. For many, the heartache of bidding farewell to relatives and friends for what they knew was the final time showed immense courage and strength of character. Their sacrifice was immeasurable. The younger travellers were excited as they looked forward to a new adventure. However, the transition was not without challenges.
The Western People covered the migration from North Mayo with a reporter from the newspaper travelling to Erris on the morning that members of 12 families set off on the long journey to their new homes in Co Meath. The report, which is published in the book, makes for poignant reading almost 90 years later.
See next week's Western People for a feature on the migrants' remarkable journey and the challenges they encountered along the way.
