The Cattle Drive at Mullaghmore - Easter Week 1916

Where was my father?

My earliest recollection of the cattle drive at Mullaghmore was getting up early one morning and asking my mother where my father was. She said he was gone to milk the cow. He was taken early that morning to serve four months in Galway jail for his part in the cattle drive. There were nineteen men arrested at that time.

Four men sentenced to four months in Galway jail

The drive took place on April 20th 1916 during the historic week of the rising. Four men from Mullaghmore were sentenced to four months in Galway jail. They were all married men with young families. The others were allowed out to see how they would behave. The four sentenced were Thomas McHugh, Martin Boyle, Thomas Donoghue and Paddy McHugh. One of them owned only 6 acres of land. They were released in 9 weeks to see how they would behave. Among the other men who took part in the drive were Luke Lyons, Thomas Laffey, John Lane, Conor Lane, John McHugh, Thomas Kelly, John Carrick, Thomas Quinn, Michael Finnerty and William Ward. While they were in jail the neighbours ensured that all their farm work was done.

Land League comes to the rescue

Stocks belonging to William Ward, Ballinastack were taken to pay the expenses of the court. William Ward was a member of the Land League under the chairmanship of Mr. Peter Burke who had funds and paid the amount due so that his stock was returned to William Ward.

Home to a Hero’s welcome

The four men were released after nine weeks in Galway in jail. On their return home they were met by a group of musicians led by the late Eddie Dempsey and his band. Bonfires and banners greeted them. I was just six years old at the time. I remember my father was so happy to see me, he carried me on his shoulders all the way home.

A Happy Ending

The story of drive had a happy ending as the land always known as Grow was taken over by Land
Commission and divided among them. A man named Fleming from Barnaderg grazed it for 26 years.
A Mullaghmore man named Patsy Heavy at the time of the cattle drive wrote the following verses.

We are those four old hero’s

And I mean to let you know

We spent nine weeks in Galway jail

For the clearing out of Grow

It was at a private meeting those hero’s did agree

To drive old Mr. Fleming down to Barney

Just going down to Barney it is a funny sight

To see old feeble Fleming preparing for a fight

Paddy Mc Hugh walked up to him

And this to him did say

Now my boy keep quiet

For your home is not too far away