{"id":167,"date":"2013-06-11T15:16:42","date_gmt":"2013-06-11T15:16:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/?p=167"},"modified":"2014-08-11T15:18:57","modified_gmt":"2014-08-11T15:18:57","slug":"the-wrecking-of-ballinamuck","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/the-wrecking-of-ballinamuck\/","title":{"rendered":"The Wrecking of Ballinamuck"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"The
The Village of Ballinamuck in Longford, the chapels spire can be seen which stands on the site of the mud walled church that was saved from the wrecking crew.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the years before the Famine,
\nGreedy Lord Lorton, God damn the nyeuck*
\nFor the love of money and hatred of man
\nCleared the town of Ballinamuck…
\nLevelled, all bar six houses and church left standing
\nThe latter only after a fight,
\nTo the cold, the young and old,
\nHad but the sky for shelter for the night.<\/p>\n

From the town of Boyle with the Police
\nFor safe escort the wreckers came
\nSleveens and other scum
\nWho knew neither God nor shame,
\nThe rights of Landlords protected in Ireland
\nRefuting Westmeaths and Loritins** charge
\nThe wrongs against the laws of God committed
\nTheir sins both grave and large.<\/p>\n

For God sees all, and Providence
\nCannot be used as a defense
\nThose who twist the words of Christ
\nKnow not God or any sense.
\nIn the pursuit of Mammon
\nAs they cast poor folk upon the road
\nThese folk of fortune ill gotton
\nFurther seeds of hatred sowed.<\/p>\n

Hatred it has a harvest,
\nAs was being reaped upon that time,
\nA harvest that is bitter,
\nLeads but to another crime,
\nNamesless now the victims.
\nTo most folk, but they have names here,
\nFor God, and all decent folk,
\nHold the names of the innocent dear.<\/p>\n

The Widow Nerheny died of a broken heart,
\nIt was the world, her little home, now gone,
\nShe was but one of the common folk,
\nShe was of those folk but one.
\nHer orphans to the charity of the world given,
\nAnd should such not be found,
\nIts the cruel rules of the world,
\nThey would join her in the ground.<\/p>\n

Folk feared for their lots and trembled,
\nNo hope for themselves they saw,
\nTheres no justice for Irishmen in Ireland,
\nAt least not under Britains law.
\nSo men took on themselves revenge to administer
\nEach in his own way,
\nHorrible harvests of hatred pure
\nWere reaped in the wake of this wretched day.<\/p>\n

With Courtenay, the soldiers came,
\nThe locals they offered a pound,
\nTo cover the scandal that had ensued,
\nIf they’d lever their own homes to the ground.
\nSome, knowing resistance was futile,
\nDid as they were bid to do,
\nTook the shillings as offered,
\nTheir actions for their lives they would rue.<\/p>\n

Other men, such as Patrick Hogan,
\nWho to hold his home was set,
\nFor on it hed speant all that he had,
\nAnd built it with his own sweat,
\nBut with an allmighty crash it came tumbling down,
\nSatisfied, the wreckers moved their sights
\nThere was no God in Ballinamuck
\nOn those dark autumn nights.<\/p>\n

These cruel men of no hearts, moved on
\nA mother of six, a Widow, named Donnelly was next
\nSix young, some crippled, more diseased, one she swore
\nAs is understandable, though a child she was, she was vexed.
\nFrom a pig shed they were evicted next,
\nAnd thrown under the open sky
\n“The heavens wept for them” a constable said,
\nFlurrying snowflakes about did fly.<\/p>\n

The men, stiff lipped, proud, silent stood
\nThey shed not a tear, no emotion showed,
\nNot British stiff upper lip, but Irish,
\nMen staunch, bitter, unbowed.
\nTo the exterminators they would give no triumph
\nAs fond memories to themselves keep,
\nThough as I write I wonder how the wreckers,
\nWith themselves at night could in peace sleep.<\/p>\n

The chapel escaped, thanks to folks strong resistance,
\nWho with their lives, before it in protection stood.
\nIn token possessions a piece of plaster from its walls,
\nAnd a bough from a tree take they could.
\nA church proud today on its site stands,
\nA testament to peoples resolve at that time,
\nThat they could not level a house of God
\nWhen they done to the least of His folk so great a crime.<\/p>\n

\"Article
Article on the Ballinamuck evictions, quoted from the Freemans Journal by the Australian newspaper Australasian Chronicle (Sydney, NSW ), Friday 13 September 1839<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\"Freemans<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

* Nyeuck – local dialect meaning a good for nothing. Hibero-English and Ulster Scots
\n** Westmeath and Loritin – two landed families who claimed Melbournes – the prime ministers – government did not protect landlords property rights in Ireland<\/address>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the years before the Famine, Greedy Lord Lorton, God damn the nyeuck* For the love of money and hatred of man Cleared the town of Ballinamuck… Levelled, all bar six houses and church left standing The latter only after a fight, To the cold, the young and old, Had …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[249,161,250,247,2342,248,251],"class_list":["post-167","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-north-longford","tag-anglo-irish","tag-ballinamuck","tag-land-war","tag-longford-poems","tag-north-longford","tag-poems-on-longford","tag-tenants-rights","column","twocol"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7EI4f-2H","jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":373,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/shed-undrawn-ballinamuck\/","url_meta":{"origin":167,"position":0},"title":"Shed, Undrawn, Ballinamuck","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"20th August 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"I seek to draw a picture here A shed, roof caving in, Its gable end seen through the door By the artist sitting within. Gentle rain comes trickling down To spite the beauty there I saw With pencils and paper there in hand And time - now shed can I\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Art Inspired Poetry"","block_context":{"text":"Art Inspired Poetry","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/art-inspired-poetry\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":5048,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/blackbirds-at-ballinamuck-sing-in-the-trees\/","url_meta":{"origin":167,"position":1},"title":"Blackbirds at Ballinamuck Sing in The Trees","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"3rd September 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The blackbirds at Ballinamuck sing among the trees Where the rebels, prone, were slain, English cavalry chased through where horses could run To kill the walking wounded who remain. It was Irelands 'Field of Blackbirds', Inspiring folk to fight to this day and for coming days... Both sides look back\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "1798 Rebellion"","block_context":{"text":"1798 Rebellion","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/irelands-wars\/1798-rebellion\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Edenmore Bog looking to Arvagh in Cavan","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Edenmore-Bog-looking-to-Arvagh-in-Cavan.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Edenmore-Bog-looking-to-Arvagh-in-Cavan.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Edenmore-Bog-looking-to-Arvagh-in-Cavan.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Edenmore-Bog-looking-to-Arvagh-in-Cavan.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Edenmore-Bog-looking-to-Arvagh-in-Cavan.jpg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Edenmore-Bog-looking-to-Arvagh-in-Cavan.jpg?resize=1400%2C800&ssl=1 4x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3015,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/death-of-and-at-garristown-and-its-horse-fair\/","url_meta":{"origin":167,"position":2},"title":"Death of and at Garristown and its Horse Fair","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"21st July 2016","format":false,"excerpt":"The sad and tragic story of the demise and the cause of the demise of Garristown Horse Fair, and as an apperant consequence, the village itself, from the Irish Folklore Commission, retold in verse below. In Longford of old the story is told Close by Gaige Crossroads there Now fallen\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Longford"","block_context":{"text":"Longford","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/ireland\/longford\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Gaigue near Ballinamuck in Longford - the approximate location of Garristown","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gaigue-near-Ballinamuck-in-Longford-the-approximate-location-of-Garristown.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gaigue-near-Ballinamuck-in-Longford-the-approximate-location-of-Garristown.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gaigue-near-Ballinamuck-in-Longford-the-approximate-location-of-Garristown.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gaigue-near-Ballinamuck-in-Longford-the-approximate-location-of-Garristown.jpg?resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/07\/Gaigue-near-Ballinamuck-in-Longford-the-approximate-location-of-Garristown.jpg?resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4312,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/walk-at-lough-annagh-remembered\/","url_meta":{"origin":167,"position":3},"title":"Walk at Lough Annagh Remembered","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"6th March 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A rather melancholic reflection I remember while walking last year at Annagh Lake. Life indeed tames us all... or am I just feeling old? As the sun set and the night crept in The lights shone bright of the passing cars By Lough Annagh I sat on the summers evening\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Life"","block_context":{"text":"Life","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/life\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Annagh Lake in North Longford near Ballinamuck","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Annagh-Lake-in-North-Longford-near-Ballinamuck-1024x362.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Annagh-Lake-in-North-Longford-near-Ballinamuck-1024x362.jpg?resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Annagh-Lake-in-North-Longford-near-Ballinamuck-1024x362.jpg?resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4016,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/culture-night-in-cafe-45-longford-leads-in-literature-and-arts\/","url_meta":{"origin":167,"position":4},"title":"Culture Night in Cafe 45 – Longford Leads in Literature and Arts","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"29th September 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"This Culture Night I was in Longford reading with Longford Writers Group who I joined lately, in Cafe 45, after which I ran into friends from Tullamore of all places, before visiting the art exhibit in Providers. While at home after I was listening to a show from Cavan where\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blog"","block_context":{"text":"Blog","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/blog\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Longford Writers in Cafe 45 for Culture Night 2017 - Photo Montage by Sally Martin","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.writingsinrhyme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Longford-Writers-in-Cafe-45-for-Culture-Night-2017-Photo-Montage-by-Sally-Martin-300x171.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1546,"url":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/she-walks-not-the-paths-i-find-familiar\/","url_meta":{"origin":167,"position":5},"title":"She Walks Not the Paths I Find Familiar","author":"Tom\u00e1s \u00d3 C\u00e1rthaigh","date":"18th March 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"She walks not the paths I find familiar Underfoot clear ground and sound stone That I have walked heretofor in life Foot worn slabs trod often and alone. She walks the paths of the briars and the shadows Where rocks to trip exist and mud to slip Path of the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Love Poems"","block_context":{"text":"Love Poems","link":"https:\/\/writingsinrhyme.com\/index.php\/category\/love-poems\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Hers are not the paths sound underfoot... but of the moor, the bog, with all the hazards of walking life... Photo: Bog at Edenmore, Ballinamuck, Co. 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