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Cloonfad
Extracts from the
Cloonfad Parish Annual


These are extracts which may be of particular interest to the
O'Dwyer, Kelly and Fahey families.


Colette Fahey (m. Purcell): Growing up in Cloonfad PDF 468KB
Cousin Colette recounts growing up in Cloonfad in the 1930s and 1940s and finally moving into the big town (Ballyhaunis).

Frank Fahey: Cloonfad, USA, Knock & Ballintubber PDF 148KB
Fr. Frank Fahey remembers growing up in Cloonfad, his collaboration with Father Peyton in the USA, his term in Knock with Canon Horan and the Pope's visit, and, finally, his current assignment in Ballintubber Abbey. I met Father Peyton myself at the World Fair in Brussels in 1958, at the Vatican City Pavillion. Impressive guy, as Fr. Frank attests.

Des Fahey: Returning the Pope's visit PDF 566KB
Fr. Des Fahey joins in the "Return Visit" where some 2,000 Irish people visit the Pope in Rome as a return visit to his visit to Ireland in 1979. the centenary of Our Lady's apparition in Knock in 1879. These were the fist group entertained by the Pope shortly after the assassination attempt on him in 1981.

Anne Hussey: Memories of Lavallyroe. PDF 294KB
Anne Hussey recalls the early years of the twentieth century in Lavallyroe and Cloonfad: education, religious practice, recreation, farming, the lime kiln, lodging the priest, and the Fahey priests.

James Horan: Mémoire of Cloonfad PDF 602KB
An extract from Monsignor Horan's mémoires recounting his time in Cloonfad.

Local Historian: Families of Cloonfad Upper PDF 201KB
A local historian, in conversation with Jack Ronane and Anne Regan, outlines some of the families in Cloonfad Upper, including the coming of Fahey the teacher.

Davitt Centenary in Irishtown PDF 112KB
Margaret Prendergast and Billy Freely recap the centenary celebrations of Davitt's death held in Irishtown in 2006. Cousin Thérèse was present at the celebrations which included a pageant of episodes in Davitt's life and which went on into the following day.

United Irish League in Ballyhaunis PDF 460KB
Michael Delaney's involvement with the United Irish League which eventually completed the work of the Land League and led to Wyndham's Land Act.

Kathleen Boyle: Garrafrauns in her time PDF 405KB
Kathleen McWalter, née Boyle, retiring postmistress in Garrafrauns, recalls the Garrafrauns of her day.

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