Local Notes: Fascinating talk about Ice Age sites in Ballyhaunis
Dr Mary Tubridy (centre) explaining a kettle geological system in a field near Ballyhaunis as part of a Heritage Week event organised by Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns.
Ballyhaunis’ unique geological heritage was the subject of a fascinating talk and walking tour organised by Ballyhaunis Tidy Towns for Heritage Week.
During her talk in the Community Hall, Dublin-based ecologist Dr Mary Tubridy explained how the Ballyhaunis to Dunmore region is unique for the network of sand and stone deposits left by the melt of glaciers at the end of the Ice Age over 10,000 years ago. A network of such hills or eskers extends out from the town in all directions. Some have been excavated for sand and stone.
“The stones within the eskers are rounded because they had been dragged along by the glaciers and waterflows of glacier melt,” explained Dr Tubridy.
“During the Ice Age, slow-moving glaciers moved across land carrying materials, like sand, stones and rocks,” she said. “When ice melts, material that has been carried along by the ice separates out into layers – big stones and finer sand - and is dropped, or deposited, in the meltwater.”
A walk after the lecture took the participants to geological sites around the town. One of these was an excavated or partially erased esker behind the Maples housing estate which was levelled for housing and industrial developments in recent decades.
Another Ice Age site visited was a kettle landscape in a field in the Tooraree area where kettle-shaped holes in the ground came about when large chunks of dead ice were buried by deposits of sand and gravel which in turn sank when the ice melted, leaving behind a series of kettle holes that look like a series of small lakes in the field.
Among those making the long journey to the annual commemoration of the death of Michael Collins in Co Cork was local Pakistani-born businessman Usman Sarwar.
Usman was part of a group organised by the Ballyhaunis and Bekan Fine Gael branches which took a bus down south to watch Taoiseach Simon Harris deliver an address at Béal na Bláth on August 25th to mark the 102nd anniversary of the death of Michael Collins.
“It was a good event I must say, especially remembering the history of Ireland and their heroes,” Usman explained. “We should be aware of the things which our past generations did for the country. It was overwhelming for myself as it was my first time going to the Michael Collins trail.”
Usman said he went “not as part of a party, I just went as an individual interested in Irish history". He added that “so far I have found Finè Gael quite welcoming".
“I can't compare [with] other parties as I didn't have any interaction with the others,” added Usman.
Work is underway on the 36th edition of the annual magazine and as usual the committee welcome material - articles, reports, photographs, memorabilia and suggestions etc.
Please note the earlier deadline for submissions this year is September 15th. Please post to Joe Byrne, Achadh Mór, Ballyhaunis, Co Mayo or email to joebyrneaghamore2@gmail.com.
Nicholas Pickering has written from the UK seeking help in tracing his family roots in Ballyhaunis.
“My grandad Martin Mullarkey was born in Ballyhaunis before relocating to England. He died in 1952 so I believe his date of birth would be around October 1880.”
Nicholas has a copy of his grandfather’s parents’ marriage in 1869: Thomas Mullarkey of Polafuka to Bridget Waldron of Kiltobar. The wedding appears to have been celebrated in Cloonfad Church.
He said: “It would be fantastic to find ancestors in Ballyhaunis, so any information or response would be greatly appreciated.”
If anyone would like to reach Nicholas, please get in touch with this column.
Tracy Cunnane, coordinator of Ballyhaunis Sports Hub, congratulates the athletes from the Ballyhaunis area who took part in the National Finals of the Community Games in Carlow.
“It was a massive achievement to make the All-Ireland finals after they progressed from the county finals held in Claremorris. Well done Hazel, Katie, Patrick, Daniel and Heath for doing us all proud. We will have Community Games in the Ballyhaunis area next again soon.”
Congratulations to Jack Coyne who won €540 in the Ballyhaunis GAA 50/50 draw on August 25th.
Several residents of the local International Protection Accommodation Service (IPAS) accommodation centre have had their interviews recently after a wait of up to a year.
Applicants have approached various organisations around the town for letters in support of their application.
“I asked all the Irish organisations I have been involved in for a reference letter, which I then give to my lawyer,” a resident in the centre told this column.
“I have gotten letters from the soccer club and from local groups I volunteered with,” explained a North African asylum seeker who explained that letters of reference “will show you’re making an effort to integrate in Ireland and help the local community".
Asylum seekers are interviewed by Department of Justice officials in an interview lasting up to five hours, in the presence of the applicant’s solicitor who’s typically paid by the state’s legal aid scheme. Under EU and international law, Ireland is obliged to fully examine the facts of an asylum claim before making any substantive decision.
The EU’s Receptions Conditions Directive of 2013 compels member states to provide asylum seekers with decent accommodation, medical assistance and basic needs. Asylum seekers, under the International Protection Act 2015, have a right to appeal any refusal of asylum by taking their case to the International Protection Appeals Tribunal. Government data shows the top three sources of 1,800 asylum applications in Ireland in July were from Nigeria, Jordan and Pakistan.
Plans are afoot for another showing of photographs in December at the Community Hall.
Huge changes in Ballyhaunis lifestyles and demographics were illustrated by a Heritage Week exhibition of photos from the archives of Glynn Photography. Pre-Internet groups like the local musical society featured prominently in the photos, along with annual Christmas parties and a proliferation of pubs, some now closed.
Also shown were photos from sheepdog trials on the land of John Murphy in Lecarrow. There were also shots from the traditional Tuesday sale of calves on the town square as well as farmer protests at the gates of Avonmore (now Dawn Meats).
A Dublin-based recruitment company with offices around the world is seeking workers for meat processing roles in Ballyhaunis and other towns across the country. The Potential Group has launched a social media advertising campaign to draw workers to the agri and food processing sectors, promising a wage of €12.70 per hour as well as assistance in finding accommodation - and one free month of accommodation.
Potential, which has offices in Brazil and Philippines as well as India, Poland and Romania, is one of several recruitment firms seeking to find workers for industries like food processing, healthcare and manufacturing. Non-EU workers who arrive in Ireland on work permits will enjoy greater flexibility from this month due to reforms which will allow permit holders to change employers after nine months. Workers were previously required to stay with an employer for up to two years.
Farmers supplying cattle to Dawn Meats are invited to join an environmental programme co-funded by McDonald’s (a major customer of Dawn) and several state agencies.
The €4 million Activate programme is part of the fast food company’s efforts to reduce the carbon emissions related to its business. Farmers can join Activate through Teagasc, the state farm advisory service, which will advise farms on actions to reduce carbon and methane emissions. The programme is also being supported financially by Bord Bia.
McDonald’s is a major purchaser of beef processed at the Ballyhaunis plant operated by Dawn Meats.
A novel fundraising scheme is working out well for the voluntary bicycle repair crew which will return to the Community Hall next month.
Cycles donated by locals have been refurbished and resold by the volunteers who run the repair clinic at the hall under the auspices of Ballyhaunis Community Council. Funds are used to pay for parts and hall rental expenses. Several adult and children’s cycles remain and can be purchased by calling 087-9777899.
