The man behind ‘The Windings of the Moy’

One hundred years ago, in 1923, Rev James Greer, published his famous book, The Windings of the Moy. It was a book that had been in the making for many years and sprang from a series of articles that he had been writing for the Western People at that time. The book became a local classic and occupied pride of place in any house that had a bookshelf, all along the bank of the river Moy.

Eviction to education

James Greer was born in January 1845, in a small cottage at Scurmore, near Enniscrone. Despite being a Famine child, and the victim of an eviction, he lived into his eighties.

The Greers had a small holding of land at Scurmore, a few miles from Enniscrone village. When The Windings of the Moy was republished in 1986, through the enthusiasm of Gertie McHale, in her preface, she gave the following account of the author’s early years.

The author’s father was a boat builder, as well as farming the small acre and they seemed secure, but he died when the children were young and the widow was unable to keep up the rent payments. So, like many other unfortunates at that time, poor Protestants as well as poor Catholics, they were evicted.

Despite this dark period in his life, Greer’s brightness and intelligence paved the way for a brighter future. Gertie McHale, herself a well-known journalist and author, went on to explain that as a young boy, Greer got a place in the school in Skreen, founded by the famous Rev Edward Nangle. The school, now Holy Hill retreat centre, was a place for boys who showed an aptitude to become school teachers.

Having completed his education at Skreen, he won a scholarship to Kildare Place Training College in Dublin. He later graduated with distinction from Trinity College. Having decided to go into the Ministry, he was ordained in February 1866, and was attached as a curate to St McCartan’s in Monaghan for some time before his appointment as Rector of Drum in the Diocese of Clogher. He took his beloved mother to live with him there.

McHale, who took a keen interest in both Rev James and his writings, continued in her preface with the following information.

In 1871, he married Mary Goodwin, obviously his childhood sweetheart as she was the daughter of neighbours of his mother. The family story goes that Mary was emigrating to America and had gone to take ship at Cobh, Co Cork. The Rev. James hastened to Cobh and literally snatched her away and married her there and then and took her home to the Rectory at Drum.

Return to Enniscrone

In Rev. Greer’s later years, he developed poor health; he suffered from insomnia. In an effort to relax and recover, he retired and returned to Enniscrone. Despite certain childhood hardships, he had fond memories of the place and longed to be back there again.

The move, however, did not cure his insomnia and so he spent the long hours of the night reading and writing. Being a man of faith, he read scripture and, in his writings, would include passages at his ease. These references were often made to enhance his descriptions of the local places he best remembered and longed to visit again.

While restless at night, Greer was eager each day to be out and about. He soon undertook a tour of the Ox Mountains and River Moy region. This activity took the author, sometimes on foot but more often by pony and trap, to places such as Killala, Foxford, Swinford and Aclare. He went deep into the heart of the mountains and rambled along rivers visiting places of note as he went. He even made it to the very spot that he believed to be the source of the Moy itself at Knocknashee in Co Sligo.

The Windings of the Moy

Using the pen name, The Moy Salmon, Greer then began to write about his explorations. He created a series of essays that were published weekly in the pages of the Western People. The project was a Godsend for the old man who was now busy night and day with little time to be concerned for his mental health. The clear air of the countryside and the work of essay writing was a joy to him and much of this delight is reflected in his writings.

Eventually, a number of people persuaded Greer to collect his essays and present them in book form. Funds were gathered from family, friends and business people and the book, The Windings of the Moy – With Skreen and Tireagh, was published in 1923. The book was an instant success. There was scarcely a cottage along the length of the river Moy that did not have a treasured copy of the book.

While written in flowery enough language, the appeal of the book was in the fact that all local places were mentioned. Towns and villages were referenced and, in some cases, local characters were highlighted.

At that time, there were not too many books about the local, so Greer’s work presented people with an opportunity for pride and reflection in their own place. It was all a bit like seeing your neighbourhood featured in the pages of National Geographic.

Republished and revisited

Through the interest of Gertie McHale, Greer’s original work was republished in 1986. This project revived interest in the book and its author and once more positioned it on bookshelves locally.

Seeing the book again, many readers were reminded, as I was myself, of hearing their parents speak of the original.

Finding and reading a copy of the republished book, I was struck by the fact that little had really changed along the banks of the river. Sure, there were economic advances and political changes but the old story still fitted today’s scene. I was familiar with all the places described and all the geographical features.

The photographer in me had the idea that these places and scenes could be photographed, almost 100 years later, and the descriptions written by Greer would still make appropriate captions for the new images. My search for the copyright of the original work brought me to Gertie McHale’s door… what a wonderful lady but that’s a story for another day. Gertie was the custodian of the copyright and was happy to give permission for my project.

Following Footsteps

Shortly afterward, I embarked on a campaign of following the footsteps of Greer and photographing the scenes he described, often making my way through rocky pools and over high crags. With a copy of his old book in my hand, I followed his chapters back in time. The whole venture was a joy for me, much as it had been for Greer himself back in the day. I felt I got to know the great man as I followed him and read back over his words. I discovered his likes and dislikes, his passions and desires, and his tiredness in old age. My resultant photographic offering, The Windings of the Moy Revisited, is still available. For more information, email mccarrickpat@gmail.com.

Rev James Greer and his wife lived into old age, being predeceased by some of their eight children. He died in 1929 at the age of 84. Gertie McHale describes Rev Greer nicely in this final summary.

The author’s humanitarian qualities and great sympathy for the sufferings of the poor come through in his writings, as does his deep faith and love of God. He shows a keen interest in nature and history. He expresses annoyance at the lack of perception of our heritage, the destruction of old monuments, and neglect of our antiquities.

* Next week… The Windings of the Moy and the writing style of Rev James Greer.