Culture

Páraic & Éanna

Francis Fahy

Francis Fahy was born in Kinvara in 1854. His father was from New Quay in Co Clare and his mother was from Gort.

Francis was very bright at school and he became an assistant teacher in Kinvara boys school when was only 15 years old. At this time he wrote a play to raise funds for the Nationalist cause.

He was forced to emigrate to England and it was here he wrote many of his poems and plays.

He took an active part in Irish cultural and political affairs in London. In 1886, he became the president of the Conradh na Gaeilge(Gaelic league) in London.

While on a return visit in 1889,Francis met his future wife, Agnes Duff, from Limerick. They married in summer in 1891, he was 37 years old. They lived in Clapham in London and Agnes had four sons. One of them, Dermot, unveiled the plaque of Fahy’s place of birth in Kinvara (now Foxes)in 1967.

Francis Fahy never forgot his native Kinvara and the people he knew there and this is reflected in the poems he wrote. He wrote the famous song 'Galway Bay'.

Traditional Irish music

Kinvara has always been a place where traditional music ,dance and song has been an important part of the social fabric of the community. Mrs Murphy recalls the Droney family playing at concerts in Seamount College when she was a student there. Ann Droney also attended Seamount as a boarder. Éanna Droney spoke to his Grandfather Chris about his memories of playing music in Kinvara.

When my Grandad was young he used to cycle from Bellharbour into Johnstons Hall to play for the dances. Everybody cycled back then because they could not afford cars. The bicyles would be going out as far as St Colmans on a good night! Richie Johnston (Mrs Murphy's father) paid the band to play for the dances. Chris went to Kinvara with his brothers Gussie, Jet and Paschal. They did not play any music but were great dancers. My Grandad plays the concertina. He remembers playing at concerts in the Community Centre. There were many great nights of music in Kinvara. My Dad also plays the concertina. He remembers playing in a hotel called Winkles which used to be where Callanans is now. Great musicians used to come to play music in Winkles and often the singer Peatín Keane from Doorus would be there.

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