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SCARIFF NEWS
Aspects of Scariff Child labour awareness event Community Games Fas GAA Minor Club Refugees in Scariff
A number of asylum seeking families are currently residing in Scariff. They began arriving during Easter week and are staying at the Clare Lakelands Hotel. A spokesperson for the Directorate for Asylum Support (under the auspices of the Department of Justice) said that the asylum seekers in Scariff are made up entirely of family units. As we go to press there appears to be 39 people with us and the authorities say this may rise to 65. There are a number of young children in the group and these should be enrolling in local schools shortly. The majority of those in Scariff are from various countries in eastern Europe. The spokesperson also said that at present some 60 refugees are arriving in Ireland seeking asylum every day. The processing of their applications usually begins some three to twelve months after arrival. If some or all of the present group are successful, they will then be eligible to seek employment and set up home where ever they wish. We extend a welcome to our visitors and wish them well during their stay in Scariff.
A Scariff Business at the Turn of the Century
A ledger covering the period 1869 to 1912 has survived and is preserved by Michael McNamara. Another ledger has mysteriously disappeared. The ledger has over eighty accounts and hundreds of cash transactions. The quality of the writing and the phenomenal range of goods make it a joy to read. Anything from an anvil that cost John Hinchy ten shillings in 1900 to violin strings for the Town Hall Committee could be purchased there. The big landholders such as Col. O’Callaghan Westropp in Coolreagh, Edward McLysaght in Raheen, Dr. Sampson in Moynoe and James Wakely in Mountshannon shopped there. Builders and contractors like Mr. Davorn, Miko Scanlan, Mr.O’Sullivan and George Hamilton were regular customers. Tradesmen such as Patrick Minogue a tailor – John McMahon, Pat Grady, and J.Jones carpenters – Michael Minogue, Pat Healy, Larry Kelly, Pat Moloney and James Durack smiths – Pat Walsh and Tommy Hannon masons and Martin Minogue, a plasterer, were all regulars. The Priests Fr. Halpin and Fr. Kelly, from Scariff Rev. McLairn from Tuamgraney and Fr. Hayes from Feakle also purchased regularly. Farmers from Whitegate to Feakle came here. Some exchanged turf, butter and eggs for goods. They got a shilling a dozen for eggs and these were sold in the shop for one shilling and sixpence a dozen. A huge business in bicycles was done and people came from as far away as Limerick to purchase a new Hudson Cycle at £8 or a Humber at £6-15- 0. Other makes on offer were a Pierce model, 3 at £8. A gents Rudge Whitworth could be bought for £5-10-0, a ladies free-wheel Pierce Standard could be bought for £8. Constable Quinn of the R.I.C. treated himself to a top of the range Lucania Model 4 Cycle at ten pounds and nine shillings. A deposit of £1 was all that was required and twelve months interest free credit was allowed. The shop supplied materials to all the schools. In January 1912 Mrs. Lynch N.T. Mountshannon purchased a dozen slates, a box of nibs, a box of slate pencil holders, a box of slate pencils, a dozen No. 2 drawing copies, 2 dozen No. 5 exercise copies and two dozen No. 2 exercise copies. She also bought two copies of Irish History for eight pence, one copy of Bold Robin three and a half pence, one copy of old Irish Stories for four pence, two cookery books for eight pence, one copy of The Lost Fairy for one penny, a prayer book for nine pence and three and a half dozen Catechisms for one shilling and nine pence. It seems to have been a great shop for boots and shoes. In 1912 a pair of boots for a girl cost nine and sixpence, a pair of stockings were sixpence. Adult boots ranged from about seven shillings to thirteen shillings and nine pence. The polish was four pence. Carpet slippers were one and six pence. The boots were given out on approval and rarely returned. In 1912 a hundred weight of coal cost £1-10-0, a pound of candles was four pence, a pair of blankets were twelve shillings, a bird cage was one and six pence and who could forget Senna which was one penny or Castor oil at eleven pence? A hay knife was two and nine pence, Ireland’s Own cost a penny, a shirt was two and eight pence, an ounce of tobacco was four pence, a bed and mattress was £1-8-6, a long –handled shovel one and six pence, a hatchet one and nine pence, a scythe two shillings and nine pence, a hay fork eleven pence, a pound of red lead four pence, a tin kettle one shilling, a hurricane lantern was two and six pence, a white washing brush six pence, a dandruff brush one shilling, hair oil one penny, a quart of machine oil was nine pence, an alarm clock was three shillings, a watch eleven shillings and nine pence, a pair of spectacles were three shillings and six pence, a concertina was £1-5-0, a deck of playing cards two shillings and a Rosary Beads four pence. Anybody could walk in and buy cartridges, gunpowder shot and caps and blasting powder with a coil of fuse. A bag of cement cost five shillings in 1912 and a bottle of Whiskey was two and ten pence. This price range has now been reversed with a bag of cement costing about five pounds and a bottle of whiskey costing nearly £15. Prior to Christmas there was a brisk trade in the ingredients for the Christmas Cake etc. A typical order was one pound of sultanas eight pence, two pounds of currants ten pence, two pounds of raisins ten pence, lemon peel three pence, spice two pence, nutmeg one penny, two pounds of sugar six pence, a bottle of port wine two shillings, one dozen half pound candles two shillings and six pence. Friday was traditionally a no meat day and there was a great demand for herrings. A dozen herrings would put you back nine pence. No money was spared on drink, tobacco and food for a wake. A typical order would be one dozen minerals two shillings, a quart of spirits six shillings, a half dozen bottles of wine seven shillings and sixpence, two pounds of tea five shillings, a pound of sugar three pence, five loaves one shilling and eight pence, three pounds of bacon one shilling and ten pence, matches, four ounces tobacco one shilling and three pence and a half barrel of porter with a tap. A gallon of porter cost one and eight pence and a tap was two and six pence. A pint in 1912 was two and a half pence and no doubt the regulars said they would follow it to three pence. Gerard Madden
The Quiz team of Cathal Nash, Luke Lynch, Donal O’Brien and Laura Brody finished in 4th place in the County Finals and were awarded certificates, while the team of Kate Minogue, Tom Grisewood, Kieran Corbett and Mairead Scanlan also performed very well. The U13 Handball team of Keith, Barry Dillon, Sean Hogan, Stephen McGuire, Cathal Nash and Ben McKiernan finished second in their final. The handball team was coached by P.J. Counihan and Mike Hayes. The Set Dancing team who were trained by Kieran Donnellan also performed very well in their competition. The Set team was made up of Aine Joyce, Rachal Grogan, Orla Pearl, Yvonne Pearl, Kate Minogue, Laura Brody, Sarah O’ Donnell and Christina Bugler. Well done to all involved! Derg Community Games Committee would like to thank everybody involved in the preparation of these teams for the County Finals. They would also wish to inform people that the local Area Athletic Day will be held in early May. The Club will also be holding their annual Church Gate Collection in the next couple of weeks. Marie Mcnamara As mentioned in the article in last month’s newsletter, the United Nations child labour project conducted with the Transition Year students in the Scariff Community College was drawing to a close. However, such has been the energy created within this project and the response by the funding organisation to its success, that further events are now in planning. A Child Labour Awareness-Raising Week will be organised from Sunday 13 to Friday 18 May. The week will include a series of events designed to raise awareness within the local and surrounding communities on what child labour really means, why it still exists and what people can do to support the world-wide campaign to eliminate it. This will include a group of Transition Year students going into National Schools to teach classes using the same modules that they worked with themselves in their project. The culmination of the week will be two performances of a piece of drama written and performed by the Transition Year students. The play, called SCREAM, is a powerful piece that captures the terrible despair of small children caught in the downward spiral of poverty and labour. It is very moving and yet, at the same time, offers a message of hope through the creation of awareness and a willingness to take action. A public performance will be given on Friday 18 May, at the community hall in Mountshannon, to which we hope many members of the community will come. A second performance will be given on Saturday 19 May to which representatives of the United Nations, international organisations, the Irish government, education authorities, non-governmental organisations, trade unions, schools, and others, will be invited. The objective of this second performance is to show this group of decision-makers what young people can do given the right support, commitment and motivation. Human rights education is too important to be included in school curricula in an informal manner. It must become part of the core curricula subjects. It will be a fitting end to a wonderful project and it will show the funding organisations just how successful their educational modules can be. Most of all, it will showcase the efforts and hard work of the Transition Year students and the project team. We want it to be a great week and we hope that the community will give the students’ efforts its full support. Posters with further details of the events will be displayed locally once these have been finalised. Fas Clinic Fas Clinic will be held on alternate Tuesdays in the Market house. For appointment please phone 065 6829213 Scariff GAA Notes
Hurling activity has resumed in a very busy manner over the last month. Thankfully the Foot and Mouth to date has been kept at bay and as a result of the enforced lay-off there are now a backlog of fixtures. The Junior A team has recorded three wins against Whitegate, Clooney and last Sunday they overcame Cratloe on a scoreline of 2-12 to 1-11. The team lined out as follows: Michael Long, Mark Pearl, Colm Kavanagh, Dermot Waterstone, Pat Collins, Peadar McMahon, David Jones, Kenny Mason, Barry McNamara, Padraig Brody, Dan Treacy, Michael Rodgers, Michael Madden, Tom Crotty and Robbie Madden. The team, under the guidance of Mark McKenna, showed great determination and skill and led by 1-6 to 1-5 at the break with Michael Madden getting the goal. With the same player always a threat and good scores from play by Dan Treacy, Robbie Madden and Michael Rodgers Scariff deserved their win. Others to shine were Colm Kavanagh, Kenny Mason and David Jones. The game was also noteworthy for the return to action of Edwin Hogan, Terry Madden and Andrew McNamara. With the addition of Padraig Myles, Johnny Colleran, Brian Rodgers and Tim Hogan, all of who missed last Sunday’s game, this team could go a long way. The senior team opened their campaign with a defeat by a more organised Kilmaley team. Scariff’s second game ensured a victory with a hard pressed 1point win over a dogged Broadford side on a score of 3-4 to 2-6. Scariff lined out as follows: Michael Long, Dermot Waterstone, Ger Crotty, P. Collins, Michael Rodgers, Donal Moloney, B. McNamara, D.Treacy, Enda Murphy, Tomas Brady,, Michael Moroney, P. Brody, Mark McKenna, Derek Murphy and Patrick Moroney. On the night, Ger Crotty, who returned after a two-year absence, Dan Treacy and Michael Moroney were best With the Championship less than two months away preparations are underway for the 1st round meeting with Clare and Munster Champions Sixmilebridge. On the inter-county scene, a big win over Limerick hopefully suggests that Clare have got back their level of hunger and determination which will ensure that they will be big players in the Munster Championship this year. With Barry Murphy playing regularly and John Minogue on the sideline all in the parish are hoping that they can ensure that it will be another long and successful year. Youth look back on season of rugby records Under-age rugby in Scariff has finally drawn the curtain on its 2000-2001 season. Finally, because it was a long drawn out season due to two unforeseen factors. Firstly, the bad wet winter which hit all pitches in Munster and which led to continuous cancellations and postponements and also affected training. Secondly, the foot-and-mouth crisis which affected all sporting events. However, the Scariff under-age groups came through intact and with honours. Looking at recent fixtures to begin with, the Under-16 side played its two final matches in recent weeks. They faced Ennis away in their last league match on 4 April for a mid-week encounter. There always seems to be a certain "tension" in the air when Scariff teams meet Ennis which can cloud the game itself. After a three-week lay-off from playing and training and the surge of Spring blood, both sets of young lads seemed determined to make sure that little rugby was played and handbags were swung with vigour. Fortunately, both teams got through to the end of the match with only one red card and no injuries to write home about but plenty that will colour accounts of the match for a few months to come. It was not a pretty sight. Everyone in the Scariff team wanted to get their hands on the oval ball and prove how fit they weren’t. As a result, there was no structure to any attack and massive holes were left in defence which, fortunately, Ennis only passed through once to score the only try of the game. Scariff should have won, but due to a total breakdown in discipline, they did not. A lesson learned one hopes (certainly the coach hopes!). The result was 5-0 to Ennis. The last game of the season, on 15 April, was Scariff’s swift exit from the North Munster Under-16 Cup competition. It was played in Scariff against an incredibly aggressive Thomond side in superb conditions. Because players were reluctant to return to any form of training, the shape of those turning up for the match was abysmal. Excesses in smoking and drinking the night before took their toll during the game. If young men in Scariff cannot begin to enjoy evenings out without being paralytic and with smoke coming out of their eyeballs then we, as a community, are in trouble. Quite frankly, we are already in trouble as it these situations are the rule and not the exception. Scariff began the match with only 14 players for a home game, a shameful situation. However, even with 15 players 10 minutes after kick-off, little difference could be seen. Thomond, on the other hand, were prepared and had around 20 players with them. They were much fitter and stronger and a lot more aggressive which is important in knock-out competitions. The game quickly deteriorated into an unpleasant encounter. Much of the blame lies with Scariff who were so appallingly unfit and slow around the field that they were frequently offside and allowed Thomond to do what they wanted. This being said, the Limerick team were extremely undisciplined and the referee finally had no choice but to end the match 10 minutes early with Thomond the victors by over 30 points. These two final games are best left alone in history and we hope that we can produce more positive outcomes next season. The potential is there in Scariff and the surrounding parishes. However, potential is nothing without discipline in training and in matches. The levels of fitness are incredibly bad. These young men are now of an age of responsibility for their own destinies and state of health. It is too easy to lay the blame elsewhere and too difficult to accept responsibility. How much of this is the course of social change today? Now there’s an interesting debate. In any event, despite the poor end to the season, the coaches at the club are confident for the future. Three teams will be entered into the North Munster leagues next season: Under-14s, Under-16s and Under-18s. We will also be entering the Under-12s for rugby blitzes as a league does not exist for this age group. In a couple of years, we hope to launch an Under-20s to provide the bridge between under-age and senior rugby. This was our first season in the North Munster and we performed well enough. Next year, we will do better still. Speaking of potential, our congratulations go to Barry Nugent who was selected for the North Munster squad in their match against West Munster on Easter Monday. North Munster won the game and Barry performed very well. Barry was one of a group of six original players from Scariff who attended a round of rugby clinics in Thomond Park for the selection process. The other five were: Michael O’Brien, Michael Scanlan, Patrick Minogue, Shane McMahon and Conor McNamara. To have one player selected from the group in their first season in league rugby is a great result and reflects well on Scariff. We will be involved in further selections next season and hope to improve enough to catch the selectors’ attention. Well played, Barry! Scariff senior team had a tough encounter on 8 April in the Webb Cup competition. They played Garryowen in Limerick and lost by a considerable margin in the end. The team performed well overall, but particularly in the forwards where Scariff dominated the line-out play. However, Garryowen had a very strong back line and this proved the undoing of the game for Scariff. There is still hope for cup glory for Scariff seniors this season as they face up to Clanwilliam on 22 April in the quarter-finals of the Gleeson Memorial Cup. This is a home fixture which adds an extra advantage to the Scariff side. We wish them well. Nick Grisewood Scariff Minor Club Training has commenced for all the different age groups in the Minor Club. Cravens is a hive of activity most evenings of the week when it is occupied by one of the under-age teams. The under 10’s who have been training in the G.A.A. Hall since January have moved outdoors and have up to 25 enthusiastic lads turning up each Wednesday evening at 7 p.m. The u-15’s started their Championship on Good Friday. They were defeated by a stronger O’Callaghan’s Mills side ending Scariff’s chances, as this is a knock out competition. The u-14’s played their first game on Friday 20th April against our neighbours Whitegate. They were very close for most of the game but Whitegate moved ahead in the last 10 minutes to win. The u-12’s, u-16’s and minors have also started training for their respective Championships. The Club would like to congratulate Patrick Minogue on making the u-16 East Clare Panel who were beaten by a very strong Cork team. Summer Tag Rugby For All As part of the club’s promotional work, we would like to propose the development of tag rugby sessions during the closed season months from May to August. To begin with, we were thinking of holding one evening session a week, yet to be identified but which would not clash with other sports training sessions. If there was enough interest, then this might be developed further. The idea is to have a bit of fun, keep fit (crucial for our under-age players!) and develop eye-ball-hand co-ordination and running with the ball. Tag rugby is a new concept introduced by the International Rugby Board to introduce the sport to new players. It is excellent as an out-of-season sport as it avoids all contact and therefore reduces the possibility of injuries to virtually zero (unless you trip over your own feet!!). Tag rugby involves wearing an elasticated belt around the waist with "tags" (pieces of material) fitted on each side. A tackle is made by a defender pulling a tag from the attacker’s belt. He or she then has to pass the ball or loses possession. By playing with 7 to 10 players on a team on a full-sized rugby pitch, it is an excellent fitness training exercise as well as being a lot of fun. It is fast and involves a lot of skill in attacking play and passing because it is so easy to be "tackled". Because it is non-contact, it means all age groups (within reason) and boys and girls can play. Tag rugby will be run with the under-age rugby teams as of May at the Scariff rugby pitch. If any other potential players turn up, then they too would be welcome to join in. The games will be refereed by a club coach and the clubhouse will open for changing facilities. If there is enough interest, then a mini-league could be run during the summer with different teams. It would complement any other summer sports being played through its aerobic and stamina exercises – and neither would you run the risk of injury. We hope more people will join in and if you are interested and want to know more then please call Nick Grisewood on 921 685 or Tom Broderick on 921095.
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In the 1901 census for Scariff Tom McMahon aged 48 is described as a
publican and shopkeeper. Michael McNamara, the famous Clare hurling trainer, now runs a
very successful pub and restaurant there. Tom lived with his wife Bridget (nee Toomey) and
children Denis, Michael, Pat, and Frank. Also in the house were his father Denis and
brother Pat. Denis later ran the Post Office in Scariff and was a life long friend of Dr.
Edward McLysaght of Raheen. Michael better known as Brud was active in the War of
Independence. He was arrested at Whitegate and murdered on the bridge of Killaloe in
November 1920 along with Alfie Rodgers, Martin Gildea and Michael Egan. Frank McMahon took
over the Business, which was one of the best known in East Clare for many years.
Derg
Community Games have been very active recently, competing in several county finals.