Connecting Through Heritage with Leitrim County Council

School Days & Growing Up in Drumcree In the second part of this Memory Meitheals feature, the conversation moves from mill life to school days and the everyday adventures of growing up in the Drumcree and Glebe area. Florrie Moynihan (née Rowley), Mel Rowley and Gerry Reilly recall the teachers, classrooms, neighbours and small excitements that shaped childhood in rural Leitrim. Stories of fri...

Drumcree Mill: Turning the Wheel of Memory Acheson’s, or Drumcree Mill, is remembered in this first episode of a rich two-part Memory Meitheals feature. Neighbours Florrie Moynihan (née Rowley), her brother Mel Rowley and Gerry Reilly guide us through the bustle, craft and community that once surrounded the mill, sharing memories of its workers and of Albert Acheson, the last miller to keep it tur...

Devilment & Daylight: Tales from Bunnybeg (Part 2) The second instalment of this two-part conversation widens the lens as Vincie and J.J. Mulligan delve deeper into stories of family, neighbours, devilment and events in the local town of Mohill. We hear a lot more family history and of the long-standing traditions of the Eslin area, as they weave archaeology, memory and mischief together in th...

Devilment & Daylight: Tales from Bunnybeg (Part 1) In this wonderfully entertaining first instalment, brothers Vincie and J.J. Mulligan from Bunnybeg, Eslin, share a treasure trove of stories drawn from their childhood in rural Leitrim. Full of devilment, quick wit and colourful detail, their memories introduce us to the local characters who shaped the area and the tall tales that travelled fr...

Songs, Streets & Stories: Mohill in Its Heyday In this warm and lively episode of Memory Meitheals , neighbours Tish Dunleavy and Eilish O’Callaghan bring us back to their childhood on Main Street, Mohill — a time when the town thrived with shops, characters, festivals and constant activity. They share joyful memories of growing up in a street where everyone knew everyone, where local characte...

If you were to ask anyone in or around Mohill, they would undoubtedly speak highly of Michael and Madge Casey, a remarkable couple deeply ingrained in the community through their involvement in various activities over the years. From horse shows to fire services to the Mohill Agricultural Show, the Caseys have left an indelible mark on the town. Michael possesses a wealth of knowledge that can eff...

If you were to ask anyone in or around Mohill, they would undoubtedly speak highly of Michael and Madge Casey, a remarkable couple deeply ingrained in the community through their involvement in various activities over the years. From horse shows to fire services to the Mohill Agricultural Show, the Caseys have left an indelible mark on the town. Michael possesses a wealth of knowledge that can eff...

"They used to say that you could beat a Reynolds out of every bush in South Leitrim" - the wit and extensive knowledge of George Reynolds from Esker, Dromod shines through in this two-part episode. George is accompanied by his sons, Seoirse and Shane, who contribute to the lively conversation. Together, their collective memories paint a vivid picture of local history as they guide us thr...

"They used to say that you could beat a Reynolds out of every bush in South Leitrim" - the wit and extensive knowledge of George Reynolds from Esker, Dromod shines through in this two-part episode. George is accompanied by his sons, Seoirse and Shane, who contribute to the lively conversation. Together, their collective memories paint a vivid picture of local history as they guide us thr...

The 1960s were a challenging time in rural Leitrim, especially for women who faced limitations in earning money while juggling childcare, household responsibilities, and farm work. Despite these obstacles, Rose Hartigan, a mother of eleven, managed to lead a group of talented knitters in the Kilnagross area. These local women learned the aran stitches from her and went on to knit jumpers and cardi...

"Two heads are better than one” and when you have four heads working together, the possibilities are endless. In this special double episode, we delve into the charming village of Drumsna and its surrounding areas. Join us as we hear from four esteemed residents who have deep roots in the community. Colleen Guckian, a longtime resident since the 1950s, shares her wealth of knowledge about the...

"Two heads are better than one” and when you have four heads working together, the possibilities are endless. In this special double episode, we delve into the charming village of Drumsna and its surrounding areas. Join us as we hear from four esteemed residents who have deep roots in the community. Colleen Guckian, a longtime resident since the 1950s, shares her wealth of knowledge about the...

Contributors John Bredin is the Chairman of the Carrick-on-Shannon Historical Society and runs St George’s Heritage Centre in the town. The latter is the former place of worship for the town’s Church of Ireland congregation; now, it celebrates the contribution of the town’s Catholic and Protestant communities, or ‘twin traditions,’ who have lived alongside each other since the town’s inception. Jo...

Contributors Fionnuala Maxwell is a singer and teacher who has made it her mission to promote and recover Leitrim’s musical heritage. She finds the lyrics or music of often forgotten Leitrim songs in historical manuscripts or publications, and performs her own interpretations of them. In this episode she takes us through a song called ‘The Little Hills o’ Leitrim’ which she found in an old Irish-A...

Contributors John Reynolds has had an interest in the farming methods used by his ancestors since he learned them from his grandfather as a young boy. He takes us through the traditional way of sowing and harvesting perhaps the most historically important crop in Leitrim: the potato. Tommy Earley has been farming his family’s plot on the shores of Lough Allen for many years. When he first learned...

Contributors Neil Foulkes has made a 30-year career out of hedge laying, and is an advocate for their maintenance. He knows all about the essential role hedgerows play in providing shelter and nourishment for wildlife in the county. He’s also in awe of their beauty, especially in Leitrim; and calls the Irish landscape a ‘wonder of the world.’ Kate Bismilla is an ecologist working with the Irish Br...

Contributors Donna Gilligan is a museum archaeologist and heritage consultant, who has recently published an authoritative book chapter survey on Leitrim’s prehistory. As part of her work at the National Museum in Dublin, she has also studied prehistoric artefacts from Leitrim found in the museum’s collection. She discusses the significance of several of these objects, and explains the varied grou...