Emyvale Then And Now The following cutting from the Northern Standard of 21st April 1961, and printed here with their permission, was sent to me by Ms. A. O’Hagan and we think that some of the older generation from around Emyvale will find it interesting but the younger generation should be interested too and compare then with now. Emyvale Then and Now. The returned exile might be surprised on entering Emyvale from the Monaghan Road. The old stone bridge, which weathered the storms and floods of centuries, has been replaced by an up-to- date metal one. Some might have nostalgic memories as the old Bridge was a meeting place for ‘the boys’ of the village. Here they were wont to plan different kinds of activities, some good and some not so good. The top of the bridge was flat and made an excellent seat. It was a kind of forum for the older members of the community. One old man usually started off “I was reading in the paper etc” and the subject was thrown open for discussion. Going ‘up the town’, Scarna or Sgairbh Na Geaorach, to give it its full ancient name, presents a very different picture to that seen at the beginning of the century. Many fine houses have been built and pretty bungalows take the place of the old thatched houses. These were mostly one-storey high with small windows. Some had a half- door over which the inmates could lean and watch the world go by. There was often a stone outside the door and a very comfortable seat it was on a Summer’s evening. To return to the present. A bus now runs daily between Emyvale and Monaghan. In the old days the jaunting cars went to Monaghan very Monday. They were simply loaded down with passengers and baskets of eggs and butter. The jaunting car reminds me of my first entry into Emyvale. I would be about nine years old and a most terrifying experience it was sitting on that jaunting car from Glasslough to Emyvale, holding on to the ‘dicky’ for dear life and expecting to be thrown onto the road every minute. Frank the Baron’s Hill stands sentinel on the east side of the town. It was the scene of many a bonfire in the days of yore. By the way, Frank the Baron, whose real name was McKenna, claimed that his great great grandfather was a baron on the Leslie estate. There were many interesting characters in Emyvale 50 or 60 years ago. Margaret the apple woman lived in a little house almost opposite to where the present Town Hall now stands. She attended fairs and markets with a great basket of gooseberries or apples. She kept a basket of gooseberries near the door and one could get a half-pint tinful for a half-penny. Running to the pump for a can of water meant good measure. Nearby live Ned the showmaker. He always dressed up on Sunday, white waist-coat, soft hat tilted over one eye and boots polished to perfection. Paddy the creel maker lived further up. He had been in Glasgow in his youth and ‘wrought’ at the Town head. Paddy never married and for this reason. He couldn’t thole the smell of bacon much less the taste. He was afraid if he brought in a wife she might start to fry bacon and that would be the end of Paddy’s peaceful existence. But the most outstanding character was Alec – he did odd jobs about the town. One side line was bisom making. He’d start off about five o’clock on a Summer’s morning. Out over Curthein, which always gave him an appetite, so he said, and on to the mountains. Here he would gather a great load of heather, get it on to his back and start for home, a distance of four or five miles. He’d stop to rest at several houses and was always welcome, as he was considered the best storyteller in the country. Back in Scarna he’s start to make the bisoms. On Monday he’s take a load on his back, and walk to Monaghan, a distance of six miles. Here he’d sell the bisoms for a penny or twopence each. Alec’s house was a rendezvous for all interested in the art of storytelling. One night a crowd gathered in and one man told about a wonderful fish he caught in Lough Neagh. I don’t remember how long it was but it was beyond anything ever heard of. “Ah” says Alec, “that’s nothing. I mind one time I went out to Emy Loch to fish. I threw out the line and waited. It wasn’t very long till I got a bite and I pulled in but begob I was nearly pulled off my feet into the water. I managed at last to get the fish out, and a powerful one it was. Me wee terrier was running round the fish and if it didn’t open its big mouth and swallowed her. “ Well a while after I went down to Emy to try me luck again. I threw in the line, got a bite and then the tussle began. The big fish pulled me up and down the bank but I hung on and at last got it out of the water. Then I out with me knife and ripped it up the middle. Out jumped the terrier and three pups and do you know what I’m going to tell you, if it hadn’t been for the mother the pups would have ate me”. Market house lane is still to be seen round from the Post Office. In days gone by a Fair was held in Scarna but there was so much fighting and brawling it was discontinued. I cannot vouch for the truth of this story. There was a very old house where the dispensary now stands. It belonged to the Neills. The last owner told me the following story. Two brothers and a sister of the Neill family were living there in the early part of the last century. They were in the habit of sitting up very late. One night a knock came to the door. John, the elder brother, opened it and there stood a traveller. He asked if he might come in and wait for the stage coach which passed through the town early in the morning. John said “Surely” and soon the man was sitting at the fire warming himself. He was badly in need of food and rest and Margaret, the sister, gave him some supper. As he ate, he said he was a priest. The Neills took his word for it and they made up a bed for him by the fire. When their guest was asleep the Neills noticed his boots were badly worn and as they were shoemakers they fell to and soled them. Margaret washed and mended his socks, which he had hung up to dry. When the priest awoke in the morning he was more than grateful and went on his way refreshed and rested. The Glasslough road brings memories of Spring time when the ditches were covered with primroses. I still recall the thrill of finding a robin’s nest in a bush hear the river. In Summer the wild rose ran riot and the sweet-scented woodbine was a delight especially after rain fell. The great attraction for children was the broad river. In Summer it was almost dried up, and easily crossed. The girls spent happy hours making houses under the hawthorn bushes while the boys went further up the river to try their luck at fishing for sticklebacks. There was a wishing stone on the far side of the river. The girls usually paid it a visit. The procedure was – kiss the stone and make a secret wish. The number of wishes was restricted to three. The ‘Wood’ is a short distance from the town and a very beautiful spot it is in Summer time. It once formed part of the Anketell estate. The river flows through from the Bragan Mountains on to the town on its way to the Blackwater. The ladies bathing pool is still to be seen. A great tree overshadows the river here and it certainly was an ideal place to bathe in on a hot Summer day. Half way between the wood and the town, at a fork in the road, there stood an old house at the beginning of the century. The Ogilvey family lived here. It was the wash-house for the Anketells. The old tubs were unearthed when the present owner was rebuilding. The Anketells have long since disappeared. The estate, like so many more, has been divided up among the tenants. Yes, Emyvale, or Scarnageera, has certainly changed since the day, when a beggar, who had not fared very well in the town, looked back as he crossed the bridge and exclaimed: “Oh Emyvale , sweet Emyvale, if you were as free from sin as you are from male (meal), you’d be the happy Emyvale.” Signed by A. Perrett. It would be great if anyone could add to what is written here by giving more information on the families mentioned and site of the washhouse, some info on A. Perrett, etc. etc. Let us know if you can give us any more info and thanks to Angela for sending me this.

There has been quite a response from emyvale.net readers to this article and at the bottom of the page we will include interesting additional information - scroll down to read the added stories.

Additional information: From Gerard and Patrick McKenna, via Joe Fields: Francis ‘Baron’ Mc Kenna, Derrygasson, mentioned in the article, was born abt 1827 and died there in 1899. He was married to Catherine Mc Kenna born abt 1824 and died in 1904. Francis and Catherine had two daughters Bridget ‘Baron’ Mc Kenna b.1859 and Mary ‘Baron’ Mc Kenna b.1861. Bridget married Bernard Gormley of the Gate House, Cormeen on the Rossmore estate in Corracrin in 1880, and, Mary married Felix Fields of Mullaloughan in 1890. Descendants of the Fields family still live in Derrygasson. Also, in the article Francis claimed that his great great grandfather was a baron on the Leslie estate. According to the Public Record Office Northern Ireland, on the 7th of July 1733 an Edward Mc Kenna of Kilfahavon, Co. Monaghan surrendered his lease of lands in Emy to Robert Leslie of Castle Leslie. In 1883 Philip Mc Kenna, Drogheda, who claimed descent from Shane of Drumbanagher, was researching the Mc Kenna’s and met with Edward Mc Kenna of Dernahinch, called “The Baron” and took down the following information: Edward Mc Kenna of Dernahinch, “The Baron” aged 50 in ’83 | 1833 Son of Edward who died in 1854 aged | 1772 Son of James who died in 1817 aged 86 | 1731 Son of Patrick who lived at Kilfahavon | 1700 Son of Hugh -------------------------------------- | 1670 Son of Denis or Donohoe ---------------------------- | 1640 Son of Emonn or Edmund ------------------------- | 1610 Son of Ross ------------------------------------- | 1580 Son of Sleight Emonn Buidhe --------- | 1550 Edward of Dernahinch b.1833 married Anne Treanor. They had seven children, Margaret, Edward, Joseph, Catherine, Sarah, Ellen and Agnes. Margaret married Francis Mc Cormack, publican, Emyvale and Ellen married Peter Mc Phillips, Monaghan. (Irish Civil Records) Other references to the ‘Baron’ Mc Kenna’s: Tithe Applotment 1826 Patt Mc Kenna (Baron), Derryellen; James Mc Kenna (Baron) Cavan Cope; Patt Mc Kenna (Baron), Kilfahavon National Archives Netherlands: Patrick Baron de MacKenna, Sargent in the Dutch army in 1764 registered as being from ‘Skaranageragh’ and served in the Dutch East Indies (Indonesia). Francois Baron de Mackenna, Officer in the Dutch Military 1765. Edward Baron de MacKenna, ‘Kilvaleven’ (Kilfahavon?), married Jacoba Catharina Keijser in Groningen in 1762 and married Adriana van Boxtel in Groningen in 1763. He was a captain in the Prince of Orange grenadiers and served in the Dutch East Indies. Authors: Gerard Mc Kenna, Patrick Mac Cionnaith; Thanks to Joseph Fields Packie Hughes: Patrick Phillips better known as Paddy was born 15/12/1880, learned his trade of shoemaker/cobbler from his father John, living in a white washed cottage which is where “Gort an Cobelera” is now located in the village. In the late 40’s as a young boy living opposite his home/workplace, I would spend many evenings in his company, gobsmacked by his stories of olden times. Relative to your recent extract from the Northern Standard re. Emyvale, he told me that the ladies from