mikemulvihill

On this Documentary, I catch up with Noel McPartland from Drumshanbo in Co Leitrim where we discuss Drumshanbo in the years gone by and how it has changed compared to present day. We also talk about Noel's work and personal life on a very special show.

The Kiltubrid Pipe Band was formed in 1949, and now in 2019 the band is celebrating its 70th anniversary. I spoke to four surviving members of that first band for this documentary, in which they shared stories on how the band came about and who worked behind the scenes in those very early years. Ireland in 1949 was a much different place to what it is now and it's great to see the band still going and continuing the great tradition. This is part 1 of the story, please search our documentaries for part two available from August 5th 2019.

The Leitrim Gaels story will inform you on how the football club came about, join me as I meet and speak with those involved behind the scenes as we discover how the club got its name and colors and why twenty years on it's a huge success story.

Fr Mychal Judge the first recognized fatality of September 11th 2001, his father came from Keshcarrigan in Co Leitrim and his mother from Drumkerran Co Leitrim. On this documentary I meet with with those involved in the Fr Mychal Judge memorial peace garden in Keshcarrigan. We also discover more about a trip Fr Mychal made to the village a year before he died, and I speak with a man whom Fr Mychal often wrote to.

Margaret Gaffney was born on Christmas Day 1882 in Tully Carrigallen County Leitrim in Ireland. She was one of six children born to William Gaffney and Margaret O’ Rourke. In 1886 William and his wife and three kids moved to Baltimore, and they left three kids at home in Carrigallen with an Uncle. After a few years in America Margaret’s parents died, and her sister, while her brother disappeared. Margaret was taken in by a lady who she met on the boat when travelling to America. Margaret married Charles Haughery and they had a daughter Frances. Charles was not in good health, and as a result they relocated to New Orleans and soon after Charles traveled back to Ireland to County Cork, where he died. Their daughter Frances also died, and once again Margaret was all alone. The next chapter in Margaret’s life dealt with the work that everyone knows her for, through her work with Orphans, Homeless and the Poor. It was during this part of Margaret’s life that she owned a Dairy, Bakery and built Orphanages and a Church. Margaret couldn’t read or write, and when she did her last Will and testament, she signed it with when an ‘X’

On July 29th 2018 I met Members of The Margaret of New Orleans Community Association established to create a memorial cottage at her birthplace Tully, Carrigallen, Co Leitrim. On the documentary ‘Margaret Of New Orleans’ we discuss Margarets Life, the calls to have Margaret Beatified and the work done at Margaret’s birthplace since 2008.

I speak to Des Foley and his son Geróid along with Pat Duffy and Gerry Tully from the F.A.I who visited Keshcarrigan Co Leitrim on Wednesday 6th June 2018, I also speak to Johnny Giles who was with them, for The Johnny Giles Foundation Golf Classic at The Carrick on Shannon Golf Club, Co Roscommon.

Off The Beaten Track, with Mike Mulvihill, was first Broadcast on Shannonside Northern Sound, on Easter Monday, April 17th 2017, and is about The Narrow-gauge Railway, which ran from Belturbet in Co Cavan, to Dromod in Co Leitrim, and also a tramway, which serviced Ballinamore, and ran to Drumshanbo, and later on to Arigna, Co Roscommon.

We’ll hear stories from people, who I met along the way. We’ll also hear just why so many people used The Narrow-gauge, and why it was so important to the local communities.

Thanks to Noel McPartland, for allowing us to share this great photograph, one of many which is on display, in Glimpses of The Past Museum, in Drumshanbo, Co Leitrim.

This show hears stories from some of those who remember what it was like in 1947 when Ireland experienced one of the worst Snow Weather Events recorded to date. The country in some cases came to a complete halt as a result of the bad weather.

Many recalled snow on the ground for the months of February, March, April and May of 1947.

I hope you enjoy listening to this show.

Don't forget to look out for my previous show on The Cavan/Leitrim Narrow-gauge Railway.