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Inishowen (Its History, Traditions, and Antiquities By Maghtochair)
I came across this book in Moville Library. I appear to be the last
person in Moville to read this book, as everyone I have spoken to
recently has read it. For anyone out there who may have missed it,
I am selecting a few passages, and if you enjoy these tasters take
a look at our Publications
page for where to get the book.
Convent
of the Sisters of Mercy
Cooley
Drung
Greencastle
Parish of Moville
Town
of Moville
Upper
Moville
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Publishers Note
Michael Harkin
My grandfather, Michael Harkin, was born on the 19th March 1830
at Tirnaleague, Cardonagh. The farm is still in the Harkin family
but only traces remain of the house in which he was born. He wrote
under the pen name "Maghtochair". In 1867 he published
"Inishowen, its History, Traditions and Antiquities".
Much of the material had previously appeared in articles in the
Derry Journal. They were so well received that he decided to assemble
them in book-form.
In his early life he taught in Glassalts National School. Later
he took up duty in a workhouse school in Offaly, where his salary
was £20 per year. It was while working here that he met his
future wife Sara Hazlett, who was a Quaker. Shortly after his marriage
he returned to Carndonagh with his Quaker bride, They lived in Chapel
Street. He started writing articles for the Derry Journal on local
history. A very thorough man he went to endless trouble in preparing
his work. He gathered a lot of information from the leading seanachies
of Inishowen. He travelled around on a Jaunting car and was a familiar
figure in the remote parts of the peninsula. Being found of reading
he usually carried books of prose and poetry on his journeys. He
was also Postmaster in Carndonagh. The post office was then in Chapel
St. He played an active part in the management of the Loan Fund.
It is a pity that he did not continue writing. He died in early
May 1898.
With the widespread interest in local history today I hope that
this book will be enjoyed by many because it contains information
difficult to find elsewhere. It should be of particular interest
for those Inishowen people who now live in distant parts.
Peggy Harkin Simpson
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