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Irish American Mom

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Introducing “Fields of Rye” By Des Garvin

January 8, 2017 by Irish American Mom 10 Comments

County Mayo is the setting for Des Garvin’s new book, Fields of Rye, based on the folklore and genealogy of Shrataggle and its surrounding villages.

Two hundred years of family histories are shared, including stories of the two prominent families in the area, the Garvins and the O’Malleys.  Other family names from the area include the O’Tooles, the Dohertys, the Maddens, the McAndrews, the O’Boyles and the Kavanaghs.

Srudawaccon Bay in northwestern County Mayo.

Image Credit

A folklore section incorporates over 150 photographs collected from the area, many of which are extremely rare.  And so today, I’m thrilled to publish a guest post by Mattie Lennon, introducing Des Garvin, the author and researcher of this important piece of Irish history and heritage….

 

Introducing Fields of Rye by Des Garvin

A Guest Post By Mattie Lennon.

 

Des Garvin was born and reared in the townland of Shrataggle, County Mayo.  In his recently published book “Fields of Rye”, he uses Shrataggle as a blackboard to illustrate life in all of rural Ireland in the last century and before.

Des Garvin – Author of “Fields of Rye.”

Traditional music was always one of his passions and he has been a leading light in Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireannn for many decades.   Involved in Peace Groups in Northern Ireland for thirty years his leadership ability became evident as a young teenager.

When Rural  Electrification was introduced to his native heath, the Ground Rents proposed by the ESB was exorbitant.

He tells us…

“ . . . the ground rent on our house was calculated at £15  and that was payable every two months. Today, that is roughly the equivalent of €290, and it was extortion plain and simple.”

It was highly unlikely that any of  Des’s neighbours would sign up. Out of economic necessity there were forced to say no.  Tony Blair said that the art of leadership is to say no but Des wouldn’t agree.

The young boy from Strataggle convinced all and sundry to say “yes”  despite the  outrageous price quoted,  “ at least until the lines arrived in the village.”

 

The result?

 

The ESB was left with no choice but to join the village to the network.  As luck would have it, between the beginning of the project and the houses of Shrataggle being connected, the government of the day introduced a subsidy which reduced the ground rent to £2 every two months.

The island of Inishlyre, in Clew Bay, County Mayo, was only connected to the national grid in September 2000. Obviously they didn’t ever have a young Des Garvin living there!

Cliffs near the Céide Fields in northern County Mayo.

Image Credit

An in-depth genealogical analysis of Garvins, O’Malleys,  Cormacks,  Gilroys and every other family that inhabited Des’s part of Mayo for centuries makes this book a collector’s item.

A photo gallery of 157 images contains pictures – including   “ The Bridge at Shrataggle and Last Rick of Hay”-  that would, otherwise, have been lost but are now moments frozen in time and recorded  for posterity.

Ross Port Ferry Pier in northwestern County Mayo.

Image Credit

Catherine Garvin from Shrataggle:

 

97 year-old Catherine Garvin, from Shrataggle, has been living in New York since 1939. She educated herself and had a very successful career in the travel trade and later the legal and banking business.

She was one of 40 travel agents on board, in April 1958, when Aer Lingus introduced its trans-Atlantic service with the Seaboard Super Constellation.

A few months ago Des interviewed her for his book. She told him of how she attended secretarial school after arriving in New York and became proficient in shorthand and typing.

And . . . whether cutting turf in Mullach Padda Bhain or negotiating with people who were key figures in the Good Friday agreement, Des Garvin would leave no stone unturned .  He gave the Shrataggle nonagenarian a sentence and asked her to reproduce it in Pitman shorthand .  She produced the result, . . . in moments.”

Des Garvin at the book’s official launch.

The Garvin Family:

 

The author doesn’t go overboard in blowing the trumpet of his own family. Although he does point out that his aunt Anne, who worked as a cook in the Royal Victoria Club in Leeds,  was responsible for introducing chips and Yorkshire pudding to Shrataggle.

Some years ago  Councillor Joe Mellett, said of John Healy, that other great writer from Mayo :

 

“He’s a guy that we can associate with especially in bad times.

He made the rest of the country aware of what was happening then.”  

 

The comment also describes Des Garvin. Wren-boys, Cillins, Missioners, blasting with gelignite , illicit distilling and travelling shows  feature. It’s all there in this book.

Cycling the roads of northwestern County Mayo.

Image Credit

In my working days Des was my boss for a number of years and am I glad that I didn’t ever cross swords with him.

What would be the point of taking on somebody who, when barely out of short trousers, convinced a stubborn rural community to take action against a semi- State body that would result in an 87% reduction in ground rents?

 

More Information About Fields of Rye:

 

Des Garvin has created a website for his new book with all the details about Fields of Rye.

The book can be ordered directly from Des through his purchase page.

There’s also a wonderful gallery of photos, giving us a glimpse of County Mayo and her people, both past and present.

A big thank you to Des and Mattie for sharing this wonderful book with us today.  Recording our history at a local level is a vital endeavor, if future generations are to understand the depth of their unique heritage.

Slán agus beannacht,

(Goodbye and blessings)

 

Irish American Mom

http://www.irishamericanmom.com/2013/09/13/irish-cottage-windows/

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Filed Under: Books, Entertainment, Genealogy, Irish Life Tagged With: County Mayo, Des Garvin, Fields of Rye, Ireland's Coastline, Irish Books, Irish Folklore, Irish Genealogy, Irish History, Irish Rural Life, Mattie Lennon, Shrattagle

Comments

  1. Patty O'John says

    January 8, 2017 at 11:53 am

    Fields of Rye book looks great. Will have to get it. My family The Gannon’s & Boyles come from Co Mayo. We visited Mayo & went to Cong, Croag Patrick & many other County’s. My sister Anne hiked Croag Patrick Mountain to the little Chapel above.
    Went to famine Memorial. Luv luv luv My Ancestoral Country!!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      January 8, 2017 at 4:01 pm

      Hi Patty – What a beautiful ancestral county to call you home to Ireland. It sounds like you truly did the grand tour of Mayo. Perhaps you even have relatives mentioned in this book, since the Boyles are one of the clans included.
      All the best, and thanks as always for stopping by.
      Mairéad

      Reply
  2. John E Carroll says

    January 8, 2017 at 1:09 pm

    My grandmother, Ellen Tonra Carroll, came from Castlebar, in Co. Mayo. My family always said she was ,”…from Mayo, God help us.” It was very poor in the early 1900’s. I’ll have to get the book!

    Jack Carroll, author of The Mooncoin Tales

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      January 8, 2017 at 4:04 pm

      Hi John – I too heard the expression “…from Mayo, God help us.”. There was poverty throughout Ireland in the early 20th century, but I believe Mayo was exceptionally hard hit.
      Your book sounds very interesting too. If you would ever like to share your writing here on my blog just let me know. We’d love to hear about your inspirations in a guest post.
      Take care,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  3. Martha Green-Ponce I says

    January 8, 2017 at 2:58 pm

    How do you get a copy of Fields of Ry

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      January 8, 2017 at 4:00 pm

      Hi Martha – Here’s the link to the purchase page for Fields of Rye …
      http://www.shrataggle.com/purchase-the-book/
      Thanks so much for checking out this post and book.
      All the best,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  4. irishnannie says

    January 11, 2017 at 3:12 pm

    My sense is that Des’ book holds treasures never thought of by so many of us. His experiences are amazing…such a peek so deep into culture, tradition, and history…bein’ Irish!
    The pic of Des with Dr. Caulfield is a spectacular nod, given all that his(Seamus) Dad(Patrick) gave to the world with his work with the Ceide Fields!
    This is like findin’ Finney’s gold!
    Can’t wait to own the book…Thank you and God bless you, Mairead and Mattie and Des!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      January 14, 2017 at 6:43 pm

      Hi Irishannie – This book truly is a cultural treasure, especially for anyone with roots in County Mayo. But it also has so much to offer anyone who wishes to learn about rural life in Ireland in years gone by. It is a wonderful glimpse into the past.
      All the best,
      Mairéad

      Reply
  5. Trees Rotteveel says

    April 6, 2017 at 4:27 pm

    What a beautiful photos of county Mayo!

    Reply
    • Irish American Mom says

      April 10, 2017 at 4:26 pm

      Hi Trees – I’m so glad you like these photos of beautiful Mayo. It is a magnificent corner of the world.
      Best wishes,
      Mairéad

      Reply

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