History of Connemara by Michael Gibbons
Part 3: From Medieval times to the 20th century
John D'Arcy, like
many Connemara families was of Norman-French origin. Others include
Joyces, Burkes, Morrises, Guys, De Courcey, De Lapp, Barrys, Staunton
and Gibbons, all still local names. Though the Normans themselves failed
to capture Connemara, one of their frontier castles survives in Joyce
Country on Lough Corrib; Hen's Castle. In Mediaeval times Connemara
was ruled by the O'Cadhlas who were later pushed out by the 'Ferocious'
O'Flahertys, who built a series of castles along the coast, the most
famous at Bunowen where Gráinne Uí Mháille (Grainuale)
lived for a time when married to Donal ''An Chogaigh'' O'Flaherty. These
were sea going clans, with castles on Inishbofin and Clare Island and
at Renvyle and Ballyinahinch. In 1588 at least two of the Spanish Armada
ships were wrecked off the Connemara coast; the Falcon Blanco and the
Conception. Tradition has it that some of the horses escapes from the
ships and formed part of the brood stock of the now famous Connemara
Pony.
During the Cromwellian and Jacobite wars
of the seventeenth century Connemara saw many changes. Inishbofin was
taken, and the superb star-shaped fort at the mouth of the harbour was
built. The Gaelic lords, defeated and broken, were evicted and replaced
by an influx of new landlords who came from the east in Cromwell's policy
of 'To Hell or to Connaught'. Most of the native Irish lords
fled to France, some though disposessed continued a lucrative smuggling
trade of wine, sherry and wool to Nantes and other western French towns.
In the early 1800s Connemara had twelve landlord families. The Martins
of Ballyinahinch owned the largest landed estate in Ireland, some 200,000
acres, which encompassed most of Connemara. The most famous of them
was Richard better known as Humanity Dick or Trigger Dick, a famous
duelist and animal rights campaigner. In 1825, when MP for the area,
he succeeded in getting the Martin's Act passed which gave protection
to horses and is the basis for all animal rights legislation. Like many
of the old landed families, the Martins and the D'Arcys were bankrupted
by the great famine and forced to sell up.
The population which had increased steadily in the eighteenth and nineteenth
centuries was one of the highest population densities in Ireland. Connemara
supported huge numbers, largely based on the success of the all important
potato crop and the fishing industry. Access to high mountain pastures
and the shoreline was also vital for economic survival. When the potato
blight destroyed crops it also destroyed a way of life. Amid the horrors
of successive famines and some of the worst winters of the nineteenth
century the population collapsed in the years 1845-52. A haunting reminder
of these times are found in the many deserted farms, villages and graves
that are scattered throughout the Clifden area.
In the early part of this century Connemara was at
the cutting edge of the world's transport and communication industry.
In 1907 Marconi established the first transatlantic telegraph
station, just south of Clifden. Little survives of the sprawling industrial
complex as it was burnt in 1921. In June 1919 the first successful transatlantic
flight landed beside the station, having flown from Newfoundland, and
was piloted by two British pilots, Alcock and Brown. Their magnificent
achievement won them a £10,000 prize and a knighthood.
Clifden is the heart and soul of Connemara with a vibrant social and
cultural base. It is home to the world famous Connemara Pony Show,
held in the old Fair Green since 1947 on the third Thursday of August
each year. Clifden also hosts the longest running and a nationally important
Community Arts Festival (last week in September each year). A
haven for writers, artists and film-makers, botanists and archaeologists,
an ideal base for animal lovers with abundant sea life and the region's
largest seal colony on our doorstep, otters to be seen in every river
with whales and dolphin a common sight from our angling and ferry boats.
Clifden is the ideal base for your holidays - for a great day out here
are some suggestions: go on an archaeological or mountain walk from
the Connemara Walking Centre
or visit Dan O Hara's Heritage Farm or Clifden Animal Farm, Kylemore
Abbey or the National Park, play a round of golf, do some pony trekking
or go shark fishing or island hopping, shop 'til you drop, buying locally-
produced tweeds and marble or enjoy our many sandy beaches, enjoy a
great day fresh water fishing (permits for Clifden anglers from Stanley's).
Whether you are interested in an activity holiday which included everything
from sea sports to mountain walking or leisurely cultural activities
including poetry reading or painting or simply enjoying the Caint, Ceoil
agus Craic in our world famous pubs and restaurants, Clifden is the
place for you.
This article copyright © Michael Gibbons 1995
