Thomas Kerrigan

Mainistir Bhaile an Chláir – Pádraig Ó Néill Doegen Records Web Project, Royal Irish Academy

 

Mainister Bhaile Chláir Verse 1

 

Mainister Bhaile Chláir Verse 2

Beginnings

Thomas was a local poet who was born in Caherlea, Claregalway. A good many of his poems were known to the generation that has now almost passed away and fragments of them may still be found. He had not the music of Raftery or his easy fluency but his poems are valuable for the insight they gave of the local conditions in his time. His best known poem is ‘Mainistir Bhaile Chláir’ — Claregalway Friary.

An Preabaire (a strong lively man) was a stone mason by trade and was said to have worked as such at the building of the previous parish church. He was said to have been a tall man, much taller than the average and a good hurler and athlete. A long distance jump, which he made, is said not to have been equalled or exceeded since. The spot at which it was made, in the fields called an Turloch Iseal to the east of the road from Carnmore crossroads to the Oranmore railway station, is still pointed out.

An Preabaire died in the village of Caherlea. He carved stone bedposts for himself which still survive. He was also engaged in carving a stone to be placed on his grave, but died before completing it. It is still pointed out in Caherlea.

The story of how he came to be called Preabaire, which means a lively active person, is interesting. There was a family of the ubiquitous Blakes in Summerfield near Cahergowan village who were of the gentry class. On this occasion there was some celebration there and the Preabaire was amongst those present. He asked one of the Blake ladies to dance with him and she did so. It was a daring thing for a man in his station to do but the lady was highly pleased with his audacity and no doubt skill as a dancer and in thanking him she said ‘Baistim se Preabaire fir ort’ and the name remained with him while he lived.

He is also remembered for his humour and jokes as when one day himself and John Fox from Caherlea were in Galway and some of the British soldiers were playing soccer in Eyre Square. They had never seen soccer before and when the ball came out over the wall they got it and thus brought the first soccer ball to Claregalway. It is said that the football was being kicked around in Fox’s turlough until the great famine.

Thomas Kerrigan died between 1920 and 1930. After his death ten ballads were attributed to him, best known of which is “The Abbey of Claregalway” which was published in 1919 by Mrs Eileen Costello, Tuam.