Fr. Denis O' Hara (1850-1922) BACK

The picture of Fr. Denis O' Hara, former Parish Priest of Kiltimagh, which survives today, portrays a mild mannered, compassionate man. His soft benign features reveal his benevolent nature, but give little hint of his toughness and determination to get things done when the common good of his parishioners was at stake.

In recent years we, in Kiltimagh Parish, have been celebrating the centenaries of the construction of some of our most prominent buildings, notably the Parish Church and the St. Louis Convent. In researching the history of these institutions, the name of Fr. Denis comes once again to the forefront of our minds, as he was the prime mover, not only in the establishment of these buildings but various other schemes which still survive in the Parish, and for which we all owe him a sincere debt of gratitude.

Fr. Denis was born in Cloonacool, a small village between the River Moy and the foothills of the Ox Mountains, in Co. Sligo, in the year 1850. He was born at a time when conditions were grim in rural Ireland, in the immediate aftermath of the Famine, one of the worst tragedies to befall our people. It is hard for us today, in this age of full and plenty, to appreciate the plight of the people living in misery and utter desolation, while the countryside swarmed with beggars and dispossessed families, all dying from want of food and shelter, while families guarded their crops in the fields, by night.

It is not certain if Fr. Denis or his family experienced any deprivation, but growing up in Cloonacool at this time, he cannot have been untouched by the great want among the small tent farmers who tried desperately to eke out an existence from the unyielding land, and to free themselves from the shackles of poverty. This early encounter with poverty made a lasting impression on him, and explains his total commitment to its eradication in the Parish of Killedan where he served for more than thirty years.

Denis was born into a family of six children. His one sister, Mary, remained single, and devoted her life to the welfare of her brother, Roger who was parish Priest of Kilmovee. Of the three other brothers in the family, Patrick was to stay at home to look after the family farm, while Peter went into business, and James became a doctor and worked on the missions, in Africa.

Coming from a deeply religious family where two of his uncles were priests, it seemed natural that young Denis would follow in their footsteps. To this end, he attended the "Latin" college for a few years. It was sited near the Cathedral, in Ballaghaderreen. In 1867 he began studying for the priesthood at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth. In 1873, he was ordained a priest. He was twenty-three years of age.

He was now ready to commence his ministries, and he arrived in Kiltimagh, a parish of poor people, near the end of 1873. The young curate was to serve in Kiltimagh, under the elderly parish priest, Fr. Leonard, for two years. He was then transferred to Curry where he ministered for another two-year term before his appointment to the parish of Ballaghaderreen. He was to remain here for eleven years.

It was during his time in Ballaghaderreen that the Land League was founded. Fr. Denis became an avid supporter, and was one of the speakers at the Gurteen meeting. His speech, though straightforward and direct, yet revealed his deep understanding of the sorry conditions of the tenant farmer, and the root cause of the wrongs they suffered. Michael Davitt who spoke at the meeting, and writing some years later, said of Fr. Denis:

"Fr. Denis O' Hara began at the Gurteen meeting a career of work for the good of the people, which has never been surpassed, if ever equalled by any priest who has ever laboured with the kindest of Irish hearts and the most level of Irish heads, for the protection and for the material welfare of the Connacht peasantry."

Fr. Denis was to make further speeches at public meetings where he focussed on the injustices endured by the tenant farmer. But this wasn't his only contribution to the work of the Land League. He was treasurer of the local branch, and was involved in the acquisition and division of the Costelloe estate near Ballaghaderreen.

In 1886, Fr. Denis was promoted to the onerous position of administrator of Ballaghaderreen Parish, and two years later when Dr. McCormick, the then bishop of Achonry was transferred to Galway, it seemed that Fr. Denis would succeed him as Bishop of the diocese. However, for some reasons for which there are many opinions, Fr. Denis was not appointed. Fr. Lyster from Sligo became the new bishop, and Fr. Denis was appointed parish priest of Kiltimagh. He was destined to minister here for thirty-four years, until his death in 1922.

Shortly after the time of Fr. Denis's arrival in Kiltimagh, the Balfour Land Act established The Congested Districts Board in 1891. The government appointed a board of commissioners to give aid to designated congested areas in the province of Connacht, and in the counties of Clare, Cork, Donegal, Limerick and Kerry. The board made grants available to improve the infrastructure, to update farming methods, and to give help to local industries, such as fishing and cottage industries. The board was also empowered to purchase estates and have them divided among small farmers.

Kiltimagh Parish was one of these "congested districts," as it was a forsaken village of migratory labourers and their families who shared their filthy hovels with their animals. Indeed, the inhabitants of the parish lived their frugal lives close to the thin line, which separated a bare existence from the constant threats of hunger, and ultimate starvation should there have been a full or partial failure of their crops.

Fr. Denis, a man now in his prime, was to confront this dreadful situation, realising that the welfare of the parishioners was his responsibility. He knew that he had to provide some physical comforts, and also to try to uplift the downcast minds of the peasants. He adopted a holistic approach to the problem. His achievements in the parish of Killedan can, perhaps, be summed up under the following headings:

Sanitation and Hygiene:
The most pressing problem, as Fr. Denis saw it, was the need to segregate people and animals in the homes. To this end he encouraged the small holder to build a wall within the house, which divided man and beast. The next step was to build outhouses where the animals could be sheltered in winter. The Congested Districts Board provided grants for this purpose. But the farmer still insisted on having a manure heap in front of his cottage. It took some persuasion for this manure heap to be moved, as old habits are hard to kill. Sanitary conditions were greatly improved as the result of a piped water scheme and a sewage scheme, which Fr. Denis provided for the town. Gradually there was better hygiene and ultimately better health for the peasants.

Education:
The young people must be educated and given practical skills for life. In 1893, Fr. Denis submitted proposals to the Congested Districts Board for providing technical instruction in the parish. Two years later a new technical school was flourishing in the town. Not content with this success, Fr. Denis persuades the St. Louis sisters, in Monaghan, to establish a convent in Kiltimagh. The first sisters arrived in Kiltimagh, in the year 1897, and were housed in the technical school, as the new convent wasn't yet fully constructed. The sisters started a very successful lace school, and in 1900 a boarding school was opened. One hundred years later they are still involved with education in the town.
Of course, Fr. Denis was also involved with the provision of primary school . Education in the parish, and a number of schools was built. Some of these Schools were located near the parish boundaries where they served neighbouring parishes, too.

Infrastructure:
Fr. Denis was instrumental in the building of roads in the parish, and is especially remembered for the building of the circular roads in the town. This was an amenity not common to all towns. The roads provide access to the rear of the houses and act as useful detours in times of congestion. This project shows his foresight in planning. As well as the roads, Fr. Denis provided gas lighting for the town. He also had a row of cottages built, and we mustn't forget the role he played in the bringing of the railway to Kiltimagh.

Recreation:
The provision of the GAA park was a big task which involved the draining and in filling of a swampy and water logged area, close to the town. Every man in the parish who owned a horse was asked to help by giving a number of days, free of charge, carting stones, and so making the area fit for sports meetings. In addition to the GAA Park, a ball alley was provided on Thomas Street.

Farming:
We've already seen how Fr. Denis became involved with the small farmer as soon as he began his ministry in Kiltimagh. Through the Congested Districts Boars and the Parish Committee Scheme, grants amounting to £7.50 were made available for the construction of new dwellings and out-offices, and the improvements to same. Fr. Denis built a number of mills on suitable locations on rivers, most notably at Glore, where farmers could have their oats, barley or wheat for crushing and grinding. A bigger type of donkey, the Spanish donkey, was introduced to the area so that the farmer could have a stronger animal for the laborious work on the farm. But Fr. Denis was forever looking for new ways of improving the life of the farmer, and he saw the many drainage schemes that he undertook as being the most important in that respect. He said that nothing was as necessary for improving the land as drainage, and for drainage to be successful you must have large areas where this work could be done most efficiently.

Employment:
Having acquired a field on the Swinford Road, Fr. Denis had great plans for the setting up of a factory. Alas, the factory was never built, and the field which became known, as the "factory field" was later divided into plots so that local people could grow potatoes and vegetables.

Spiritual:
One of the first projects, which Fr. Denis undertook on arrival in Kiltimagh, was the building of the new Parish Church. It was built in record time. Some years later, a porch was added. In addition, Fr. Denis built two Parochial Houses.
Of course, all these great efforts demanded time and money in order to bring them to fruition. How did Fr. Denis cram so much into the twenty-four hours of each day? How did he find time for the reading of his daily office and private prayer? We must remember that he had all of his pastoral duties to perform as well as the travelling, planning, consulting, speech making and letter writing which, all the projects undertaken in the parish, demanded. All of his waking hours were most assuredly spent in service, yet then he had the added problem of finding funds in difficult times for his worthwhile schemes. He literally begged for the money all over Ireland, Britain and the United States. He was known to send prayer leaflets to emigrants asking for their help. Later, he wrote letters to newspapers, highlighting the plight of his parishioners and requesting help for them. He would quote various commentators who had come to Kiltimagh about the terrible conditions they found in the parish. His begging campaign was successful, and all donations were acknowledged. And then he saw the advantages of the Congested Districts Board and how it could serve his cause in bringing relief to his poor people.

And so Fr. Denis toiled and the years rolled on until he attained his three score and ten, by which time the troubles were surfacing again in Ireland, with the arrival of the loathed Black and Tans. Although not quartered in the town, yet a few officers arrived at Kiltimagh Station in March 1921 en route to the Ormsby Estate, in Ballinamore. At the Station these few Black and Tan officers were heckled by some youths. It was a rather innocuous affair, but was not viewed by the Black and Tans as such, for within a few days, the spring solstice to be exact, the Tans got their revenge. A lorry load of them arrived in the town where they proceeded to round up all the young men they encountered, marching them to the square and forcing them to kiss the ground. Not content with this public humiliation of the local men, the Tans them marched them to the river Glore, and used their rifle butts to duck the men deep in the water, making sure that they were well and truly immersed.

Greatly incensed at the mistreatment of his parishioners, and also his young curate, Fr. Denis immediately set out fo r Claremorris and took issue with the Commanding officer over the incident. Whether the Tans were disciplined or not, we do not know. However, a few nights later a group of Black and Tans again visited the town. They approached the Parochial House and fired sots through the door and windows. Fr. Denis was uninjured, and hid in a shed for some time, before seeking refuge in the Convent. Some time later he was given a bodyguard by the commander in Claremorris. In a subsequent occurrence, Fr. Denis used his influence when soldiers, with the local constable, surrounded the Church, hoping to arrest Sinn Fein members as they came out from mass. Fr. Denis swept by the constable and murmured: " if you ever had a blind eye, have it now." The Sinn Fein members, disguised as women, escaped without apprehension.

In was the April fair day in Kiltimagh, and Fr. Denis had been suffering from pneumonia for a few days. His chances of recovery were very slight. The streets of Kiltimagh were crowded with men and cattle when the news broke that Fr. Denis had died. Within a short time, the business of the fair was wound up, and the people melted away quietly to their homes. Fr. Denis' business here on earth was over, too. He had gone to his eternal home.

- Aiden Burke

---

A STORY FROM THE GRAVE By Richard Walsh, Main St. Kiltimagh- c 1900 This poem tells of the achievements of Fr. Denis in Kiltimagh. Thanks to Jerry Walsh, formerly of the Raftery Room, for supplying this poem.

1

A victim from the cold, cold grave
Came back again to earth.
He lay twelve years buried there,
And forty more from birth.
Three wishes they were granted him,
The first he would get free,
To spend a brilliant holiday
Where he was wont to be.
With joy peculiar to the dead
He hailed the promised day,
And to the town of Kiltimagh
He quietly made his way.
With hurried march the cemetery
Was soon left far behind.
Another day in the town he loved
Elated heart and mind.

CHORUS


The mountain view was just the same,
The river ran below,
The very clouds above his head
He fancied he could know.
With wonders he was hardened,
And hardened to the core.
Yet he wondered more that morning
Than he ever did before.

2

"At Staball Rise 'twas a great surprise
A winding road to meet.
I looked again to make quite sure
It was the same old street.
By chance above my head I spied,
In letters art might claim,
The spot I loved of yore was changed,
Streeet Aiden was its name.
I read it o'er and o'er again,
It touched my heart with awe,
In numbers one to nigh sixteen
A handsome row I saw.
Where were the rustic cabins old.
Who was it pulled them down?
I pondered for a moment then,
Was it some other town?"

CHORUS

3

"A glance along the wide main street,
With mingled joys and fears,
How had those buildings stately quaint
Sprung up in such few years.
I raised my eyes above the doors,
And studied the contents
Which gave such little pedigree
Of worthy occupants.
There were Morrin, Son and Harrison
Whose names seemed rather queer.
Another sign did serve to show
A Sheridan lived there.
The Macs and O's were photoed up
On many board and wall,
But for those good old Irish named
'Twere not the town at all.

CHORUS

4

The tumult of the day went on ,
I heard a bellman bawl:
A busy meet of beekeepers
Was in the new town-hall.
An Irish poster on a gate
So new yet so antique,
Said a meeting of the Gaelic branch
Would be held on Sunday week.
With the literary assemblies,
The young men associates,
Where lectures were delivered
And discussions and debates.
A singing class, a cycling club,
Cricket bat and ball.
No wonder that I wondered then,
If it was the town at all.

CHORUS

5

A stately convent next in view,
'Twas wonderful to think.
It had sixteen buildings besides
Connected with its link.
An infant school, a boarding school,
And yet another place
Where several hundred comely girls
Were working making lace.
With masons and with carpenters,
Perhaps they will never stop,
A splendid convent chapel tall
Was hurrying to the top.
With garden house and laundry huge,
And boundary convent wall
'Twas only when I closed my eyes,
It was the town at all.

CHORUS

6

A new church on the other side,
So spacious and so high,
With bells and spire on top of it,
Methinks it touched the sky.
With stained glass windows all around
And pillars in a row,
If you've not seen its seated aisles,
To see them you should go.
Telegraph poles along the street,
Securely bedded down.
A railway train doth puff its way
Into this rising town.
Its merchants are successful,
With them it is no stunt,
To keep the boasted dash and pluck
Of Kilti to the front.

CHORUS

7

A hundred boarders for a walk
Have left the boarding school,
While two good sisters in the rear
Enforce the golden rule.
Some forty boys do hurry on
To the music hall so grand.,
To practise ( it was evening)
In the Kiltimagh brass band.
The ladies throng another hall
No wonder they are proud,
Of late their music talents fine
Did earn them praises loud.
If you could hear the brass band play
And singing choir call,
I know with me you would agree,
'twas not the town at all.

CHORUS

8

A common on the Pollagh Road,
Was also taken in.
It was a waste in history,
From Adam down to then.
A lofty wall enclosed it now,
I entered by a stair.
To my surprise before my eyes
A paradise was there.
A playing field on the river- bank
Cut bright green and bare,
To see more curiosities
Around the park I went.
I viewed the whole interior
So perfectly arranged.
I bowed my head to industry,
How everything was changed.

CHORUS

9

A racecourse on the outer line
And then a walk so fair,
A cycle track well used I ween
For many wheels were there.
A ballcourt and a football field,
And finger board I found,
And on it writ in letters large:
'Don't cross the bowling ground'.
The river flowing by the park,
For such a place was slow.
Its bank curves were cut away
That it might faster flow.
It smoothly glides on its course
And then it gets a fall.
I never saw the likes of it
In Kiltimagh at all.

CHORUS

10

I see the Parish , it is changed,
Just like unto the town.
That Carrick lake it is dried up,
And Kiltibo dried down.
The humblest little dwellinghouse
Would glad your heart to see,
Sweet flower- beds are growing now
Where dunghills used to be.
Neat shrubberies were planted round
To add to each abode,
And every boreen rough and rude
Was made into a road.
There's a special place for worship
In every home so bright,
An altar with a picture lit
By ever-burning light.
But wonders of all wonders then
I could not believe at all,
'Twas Father Denis O'Hara
Who made those changes all.

CHORUS

11

A few days more my penance o'er,
To heaven I'll be gone.
If favours they are granted there,
They'll not deny me one:
That he who brought such happiness
On those who around him lived,
Will get rewards in that good land,
Rewards earth cannot give.
When some fair day- not from the clay
His full account be given,
I'll read it loud, with feelings proud
To the holy court of Heaven.
A higher seat will then be mine
When I claim I am a friend,
My holiday is ending now,
My rhyme must also end."



BACK