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| Ownie Greene, Wee Neily Boyle and Paddy Dhonal in Smugglers in 2007 |
May Day Weekend came to the island with a hint of mist in the
air. After weeks of settled weather the
Atlantic front came in with rain showers and the ever present wind. In the 70’s, there were many ferrymen taking
passengers to Arainn Mhor for a fare. These
were the days before the ferry service, and the only set time was the mail boat
leaving Arainn, at 10 each weekday morning from Leabgarrow pier. The Neily Phils had that contract, and still do;
Danny still collects the mail from Noreen and Danny Martin each morning and
delivers the mail from across the sea.
His brother, Wee Neily RIP passed away in 2012 and Sunday 4th
May saw the 2nd remembrance day, a sponsor day for Donegal Hospice. The day was a fitting tribute to Neily who
was a great musician. Neily played the
accordion along with stalwarts Paddy Dhonal and Ownie Greene and he was also a
member of the pipe band, playing the bagpipes.
Dodging the showers the musicians from near and far came to
play their part and they brought young and old with them. Mary (James Mickey Mhor) Rodgers began the
musical extravaganza with Trad na nOg, a collection of fine musicians and
singers, singing sean nos and playing traditional Irish Music. Unforgettable tunes such as Mary Black’s
‘Katie was sung so beautifully that it is still in my head days later.
Bands from around the Rosses came from
Mulladuff, Keadue, Crickamore, Dungloe Seniors, Maghery and of course Arainn
Mhor Pipe band marched in and performed superbly. Smuggler’s Night club AKA John Neilies, Neily
Phils, the hall, and the disco was the venue.
It was a tight squeeze but the MC, Tubbsy, Thomas Costello, who cut his
DJ teeth at the venue kept the tempo up and bands moving. The bands prepared outside in the mist and
waited their turn to perform in the crowded dance hall. The Stacamor’s were there to support their
family, providing refreshments for the bands. Helen came from Manchester to be there with
her brother’s, Mum and uncles. Helen was
accompanied from Manchester by Joe Eddie, Kathleen Gaughan and Tony Patsy. Tony obviously didn’t tell his son, Patrick
where he was going for the weekend as I am sure Patrick would have insisted he
would have to tag along.
There was a range of instruments from whistle, recorder,
accordion, flute, melodica, bagpipes and of course the drums. The tunes were a mixture of the old reliables
such as ‘Mary from Dungloe’, Wearing of the Green’ and Roddy Mc Corley to the
haunting melodies from the Mulladuff flute band. The children were a joy to watch, some
mesmerised, more dancing like there was no one watching. Barney Og Grady kept his family on their
feet, moving with the rhythm just like his Grandad, Barney the Dancer RIP.
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| Darren Boyle and his co dancers |
His cousin Darren O' Donnell, The Maghery band enchanted the crowd with a marching performance in the floor space that remained, to perfect timing with the band. The bands played on down
towards the pier where both Red and Blue ferries freely carried the bands to the mainland once more. The ferries ran till late in the evening allowing mainlanders to enjoy the island craic. The Arainn Mhor pipe
band with Alec leading the charge and Patrick Poolawaddy on the lambeg drum played
magnificently along with my nieces Rachel, Maggie
and many others.
and many others.
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| Arainn Mhor Pipe Band |
A session followed with the Mickey Mhors, a
musically talented Port family, who played with our regular island performers,
Paddy on accordion and Connie on drums.  |
| Cian & Aoibhe Sweeney |
€3,400 was raised on Sunday
with donations and a raffle which had prizes galore. A signed Celtic football shirt was auctioned to
Cian Sweeney who was determined to get it and he did at €105. It was a fun day out and thanks to all who played
their part.
Words by Shirley Gallagher
Photographs by Mary Rodgers
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| Smugglers full to capacity |
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