“GALTEE COME WEST” BRINGS FATHER CASEY TO LIFE!
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My grandmother remembered Fr Casey. She was just seven yeas old when he died, but she recalled a horseman dressed in black and with the distinctive Roman collar, cantering slowly across Abbeyfeale Hill on his way to Cahirhayes, probably to visit a sick parishioner. “That’s Fr Casey.” her mother told her. “That’s the Land League Priest.”
Fr Casey died in 1907 and a monument to his honour was erected in Abbeyfeale in 1910. This monument dominated The Square. It also dominated our lives. We played around it as children. Later on we arranged various assignations under its shadow. It was here that we assembled before travelling out to play in many memorable football matches. And back here again we returned, jubilant if we had won, crestfallen if we had lost. Horse and donkey carts were tethered to the railing that surrounded the plinth. On market days cattle, fowl, vegetables and dairy produce were placed on display around the base. Travelling salesmen exhibited their wares. Women stopped and gossiped. Farmers smoked their pipes and examined livestock Tourists paused to take pictures. Fr Casey’s Monument became the hub and the focal point of the whole town.
But, somewhat surprisingly, very few of us knew a great deal about the man whose image was depicted on the statue. We were aware of course that he had started the local football club, Fr Casey’s, the club that still bears his name. We knew also that he had battled against the tyrant landlords in the area, and that he had formed a band and a temperance society and a branch of the Gaelic League. We read snippets about his life in various local publications down through the years, but that was probably the sum total of our knowledge.
Marian Collins’ massive tome, “Galtee Come West” is an impressive body of work. It contains a wealth of new detail. And, reading it, we can easily imagine the statue of Fr Casey coming to life, stepping down from the stand and mingling once more with his flock. If there should be a sudden upsurge in reported sightings of moving statues in Abbeyfeale following publication of this book - we know who to blame!
Reviewing a book of this size (480 pages) is a daunting undertaking. One can only imagine the time and effort that must have gone in to actually writing it.
The early years of the young William Casey from his birth in Kilbeheny in 1840 up until his ordination to the priesthood 1868 are well documented. He was appointed permanently to Abbeyfeale in 1883 and immediately immersed himself in the life of the community, quickly gaining the trust and respect of all.
The local population was engaged in a deadly land war with foreign landlords who were intent on extracting as much as possible from tenants who had little or nothing left to give. This book chronicles the battles, the successes, the failures, the evictions and the ultimate triumph of justice over tyranny as the country struggled painfully towards eventual independence. And at the heart of this struggle in West Limerick and North Kerry, the leadership qualities of Fr Casey shine through like a burning beacon.
The United Irish League was founded byWilliam O’Brien in 1898 A branch was started in Abbeyfeale shortly afterwards with Fr Casey as chairman. Meetings were held on a regular basis and written reports and minutes of these meetings still survive. Marian Collins has trawled the archives and gives us a fascinating first-hand account of the momentous events that helped to shape and create the modern-day Abbeyfeale town and parish.
Most of the time of the UIL was taken up with helping tenants and labourers acquire their properties and cottages on fair and equitable terms, while dealing with evictions and arbitrating in the numerous disputes and disagreements that occurred. However, other local issues were not neglected. There were discussions on the repair of footpaths in the town and the badly-needed refurbishment of the area around The Square. (Sounds familiar?) Proposals were made for the setting up of a local technical school. An upgraded water supply and sewage system were considered. Concern was expressed that trains had ceased to run on Sundays, thus damaging the Monday morning calf market. (At least they HAD a train service back then.) The poor state of the roads was discussed, and a government proposal to import live cattle from Canada was roundly condemned. A Town Tenants Committee was also set up to assist local traders to purchase their premises and, incredibly, a proposal was made that Richard Ellis should be approached and asked if he would be willing to sell back the town! (A detailed explanation of the events leading up to this are contained in the book.)
There has been slight controversy down through the years over the fact that no creamery was ever established in Abbeyfeale Parish, and Fr Casey has often been blamed, perhaps unjustly, for this. It is true that up to five creameries were built in adjoining parishes, and local farmers and traders must have watched in dismay as foaming tanks of fresh milk were ferried out to Meenahela, Devon Road, Fealesbridge, etc. Father Casey did attempt to establish a Co-operative Poultry Society in the town. This ultimately failed, suggesting that other, more sinister forces, may very well have been at work. It is still interesting to speculate what the economic and social impact of a fully-operational creamery in Abbeyfeale might have been.
Marian Collins offers a reasoned and plausible explanation as to why Fr Casey may have been somewhat reticent in supporting the Dairy Co-operative Movement in the area, but you will have to read the book to find out more.
GAA matters played a large part in the life of the community back then, and this has continued to the present day. Fr Casey was again to the forefront and his involvement and achievements are faithfully chronicled in Galtee Come West. An account of a football match between Abbeyfeale and Knockaderry which was played in Templeglantine on the 26th February 1905, is written in positively Shakespearian prose. It should be required reading for all scribes and sports contributors to local newspapers in order that their already exceptional match reports may be further elevated to new and even higher levels of poetic excellence and style.
At a meeting of the Limerick County Board in February 2005, Fr Casey presided and condemned misconduct on the field of play, and also the continued abuse of referees, and suggested that the guilty culprits should be expelled from the association. Legend has it that Fr Casey was not averse to causing a bit of a rumpus himself whenever his beloved team was doing badly. However, rumours of his wading in to opposition players and spectators with whip flailing are greatly exaggerated. We are sure that the Reverend Father was always a model of decorum, and conducted himself in an exemplary manner as he diligently patrolled the sidelines.
The concluding chapters of Galtee Come West deal in depth with the death and funeral of Fr Casey and the subsequent raising of a monument to his honour in The Square.
Fr Casey passed away on the 29th December 1907. Tributes immediately poured in from all parts of the country, and an estimated 15,000 people attended his funeral and burial under the main aisle of St Mary’s Church on Saturday 3rd January. Marian Collins has compiled an impressive list of all the clergy, chief mourners and dignitaries who attended the interment. Fr Casey’s Last Will and Testament is faithfully recorded and is a fascinating read in itself, containing some very startling bequests and donations.
Two weeks after the funeral, a meeting was held in the Temperance Hall at which the Fr Casey Memorial Committee was formed with the aim of organizing funds for the erection of a suitable monument to their fallen pastor. Contributions began arriving in from all over the world and the book contains details of all donations to the fund, many of them from very unlikely sources. The monument was finally unveiled on the 29th December 1910.
Marian Collins has produced an impressive body of work on the life and times of Father William Casey. The book is set to become a standard reference for all historians researching this particular period in West Limerick. It will also be of immense value to those of us who take a keen interest in the history of our town and parish, and would make an ideal gift for any of our people living overseas. Indeed, it is a significant addition to anyone’s personal library. Our knowledge of Fr Casey, and our respect for him has been greatly enhanced by reading Galtee Come West - so much so, that we may even desist from tethering our donkeys to the railing in future!
*Galtee Come West by Marian Collins is available from Anne Lyons, Abbeyfeale and other local outlets, priced €30, or you can order direct from Marian Collins, Dromin McTurlough, Newcastle West Co. Limerick.
RUGBY
Action in the Six Nations commences on Saturday when Ireland face Italy in Croke Park, Kick-off 2pm.
Following the Rugby World Cup, Ireland enter this competition more in hope than with any great expectations. They must pay daunting visits to both Twickenham and Stade de France, and the elusive Grand Slam seems well beyond their reach for this season. (I will be happy to eat my words should they prove me wrong, although I categorically refuse, as someone suggested, to parade naked around The Square!)
Paddy Power are laying 1/1 Ireland with a -18 point start. (They must be joking!) Betting on the championship is 11/8 France, 9/4 England and 9/2 Ireland. England are 5/4 to win the Triple Crown with Ireland at 7/2 and no winner 15/8. France are 3/1 for the Grand Slam with England at 11/2 and Ireland at 16/1.
Ireland should win on Saturday. They then travel to France on the following Saturday where victory against the Blues looks well beyond them.
Meanwhile, Abbeyfeale recorded a fine 19-7 over Thurles in the second round of the Munster |Junior Cup at The Grove on Sunday.. The home side conceded an early try and trailed 7-3 at the break. However, helped by a Brian Prendiville try midway through the second half, they finally ran out deserving winners
FINBAR WRIGHT CONCERT
A full house is expected for the Finbar Wright Welcome Spring concert in the Church of the Assumption, Abbeyfeale on this Friday night, 1st February. Doors open at 7.15pm and further details are available from 085-7568809.
DANCING:
Classes have resumed at the Community Centre and continue each Friday night between 9.15 pm and 11pm.
SOCIAL;
Fr Casey GAA Club Annual Social takes place in the clubhouse on Saturday 9th January. The meal will be served at 9pm and music will be provided by Joe O’Keefe. Card games continue in the clubhouse on Friday nights from 9pm.
SOCCER;
Abbeyfeale Utd A defeated Galbally 3-1 at Riverside Park on Sunday in the Munster Junior Cup with goals from Seamus Lenihan, Joe Weir and Paul Doherty.
GAA
With confidence at a low ebb following a one point defeat by Clare in the final of the McGrath Cup last Sunday, Limerick senior footballers kick off the league campaign when they entertain Louth at the Gaelic Grounds at the weekend. It would seem that Limerick footballing fortunes are experiencing a bit of a slump at present. Their main aim now must be promotion from division 3 and a win on Sunday is vital if they are to achieve this. They are outsiders at 9/1 to win division 3, with Louth second favourites behind Down at 4/1, so a win for Limerick could prove a great boost. Incidentally, Paddy Power are quoting them at 500/1 to win the All Ireland. There are no flies on Paddy!