Connacht Tribune
Burkes return home to revel in their local roots
The inclement weather couldn’t dampen the spirits or the welcome given to numerous Burkes who came from all corners of the west to gather in Colmanstown – to hear of the history of their illustrious ancestors and meet their transatlantic cousins who had flown in from Baltimore.
Bernie and Frank Burke’s Bar in Colmanstown was the ideal venue for the gathering, with families from Kilbride, Roscommon, Headford and Castlehackett, as well as several local Burkes represented.
After the welcoming cuppa and chat, local historian and genealogist Martin Curley, gave a presentation on the origins and history of the local Burkes sharing early 18th century deeds naming the local townlands and parts of Galway city that the family inherited or bought over the centuries as well as their family links with the local O’Kellys.
Former Senator Jarlath McDonagh and Cllr David Collins welcoming the extended Burke Clan to Lackagh Museum.
The 1851 sale of the estate which ended their tenure in Tiaquin and the 1855 Griffith’s Valuation showed the present generation Burke’s ancestral links in Cuddo where the family still own the same plots of land.
Recent DNA tests done by locals with Burke ancestry showed deeper connections between the various families and especially for the US visitors highlighted the links locally to their emigrant ancestors Michael Burke and his wife Bridget nee Burke who lived in Baltimore MD in the mid to late 19th century.
Patsy and Bridget Burke, present owners of the site where the Clanrickarde Burkes installed their cousins as stewards in the place of the O’Kellys in the 16th century, shared their insights and knowledge handed down over the generations about the history of the people and place.
It was here that the future governor of North Carolina, Thomas Burke, was born – and although now a ruin, the grandeur of the building and demesne was still evident for all to marvel at.
It was then onwards to do a local tour via Garbally Castle, scene of a siege in 1503 which led to the battle of Knockdoe, to see what a typical O’Kelly tower house would look like.
Sadly the castle ruins in Tiaquin don’t do its historical significance justice so seeing up close the amazing stone work, the ‘murder hole’ and thick walls in Garbally left a deep impression of what has been lost.
The final part of the tour was to the grave of David Burke and Bridget Griffin in Doonane, ancestor of many of the present-day Burkes in the area.
Patsy and Bridget Burke hosting the visiting group at the Burke Demesne site in Tiaquin.
Back at Burke’s of Colmanstown the day was capped off with a wonderful seisún by Kevin Rohan with locals joining in with song and dance to entertain all.
The visitors were delighted when it turned out that the dancer was one of their closest local relatives – whichh Martin Curley had found out from a DNA match.
Sunday brought better weather and, after a special Mass in Lackagh where Fr John O’Gorman welcomed the guests, it was on to a short introduction to the Museum by Jarlath McDonagh; a brief history of the battle of Knockdoe by Michael Hurley; a welcome from local councillor David Collins, and a personal Burke family reflection by Galway hurling legend Frank Burke who spoke of visiting the English ancestral home of the Burkes in Ely where by coincidence his son now lives and the Burke impact on the parish life.
Museum Manager Breda Murray as always was a great host and after tea and music she shared with the US visitors a historical tour of the parish which was enjoyed by all.
Main photo: Some of the many Burkes who showed up to welcome their Baltimore cousins at Burkes of Colmanstown; included are Gerry Burke (Brideswell), Ozzie and Pat O’Grady (Tiaquin), Mary Margaret and Dermot Burke (Annaghdown), Frank and Bernie Burke, Dennis and Jan Burke (Arizona), Mimi and Tim Burke (Ohio), Brid Burke and Kevin O’Callaghan (Dublin).
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
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