Migration and Diaspora
DONEGAL IMMIGRANTS FINALLY LAID TO REST AFTER TOUCHING CEREMONY March 9, 2012
A group of Donegal immigrants, who died in suspicious circumstances in America, have finally been laid to rest.
The men and women, known as Duffy’s Cut, all died while working on the American railways in the 1800s.
The 57 men and women, all immigrants from Donegal as well as some from Derry and Tyrone, were found buried in a mass grave near Philadelphia.
The group were believed to have died from disease including cholera but it later transpired that many of them died violent deaths.
Their bodiesas well as artifacts including coffins nails were discovered during a dig 30ft below railway lines but most could not be reached because of fears of the ground collapsing.
University of Pennsylvania anthropologist Janet Monge found proof of violence in all the remains, including one skull injury that appears to be a bullet wound.
All had been working for contractor Philip Duffy who ordered the bodies dumped en masse in the railroad fill.
Immaculata University, in collaboration with West Laurel Hill Cemetery, yesterday (FRI) held a memorial for the workers as well as burying the remains of those which have been located.
The memorial and burial at the cemetery in Lower Merion included a viewing of the five caskets containing the unearthed bodies from the excavation site.
The burial service was attended by Immaculata President Sister R. Patricia Fadden, Irish Ambassador to the United States Michael Collins.
It included bagpipers and the erection of a 10ft Celtic Cross.
Immaculata History Department Chairman William Watson, who has led efforts to study the site with his brother Frank and others over the past 10 years, maintains some, if not all, of the workers were killed by vigilanties because they were sick.
“We hope this ceremony will bring peace to the souls of the men and woman of Duffy’s Cut after almost 180 years of ignominious repose,” said Watson.
Árainn Mhóir - Aran Island - Arranmore Island
ARRANMORE, an island, in the parish of TEMPLECROAN, barony of BOYLAGH, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 3 miles (W. N. W.) from Rutland 5 containing, in 1834, 1141 inhabitants. This is the largest of a group of islands called the Rosses, lying off the north-west coast, about two miles from the shore, in lat. 54° 51' 45" (N.), and lon. 8° 31' 45" (W.): it is three miles in length and three in breadth, and is about nine miles distant from the mainland; comprising, according to the Ordnance survey, 4355 statute acres, of which about 650 only are under cultivation and in pasture, and the remainder is rugged mountain. In 1784 a large herring fishery was carried on successfully on this part of the coast, in which 400 sail of vessels and about 1000 small boats were employed; but within the last thirty or forty years it has been entirely discontinued. On the north point of the island, which is a large rock of granite, was formerly a lighthouse, fitted up with an improved apparatus in 1817 by the corporation for the improvements of the port of Dublin, which has since been removed to Tory Island; the house remains, but is not lighted. There is good anchorage on the east side of the island in an open roadstead. In the R. C. divisions this place forms part of the parish of Templenane or Templecroder, in which is the chapel, where divine service is performed every third Sunday.
(Extract from A Topographical Dictionary Of Ireland by Samuel Lewis, 1837)
Updated 20 Mar 2011
Births, Marriages and Deaths
Births & Baptisms Births on Arranmore Island 1864-1907 (698 entries)
Marriages Marriages St Mary's Belcruit and in the Civil Register Deaths Deaths on Arranmore Island 1864-1870 (112 entries)
Books
Arranmore in Books and Published Works, held at the Donegal County Library Fadó, A Memoir of Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness By Kevin O'Donnell
Census
1841/51 Census Census Search Forms/Old Age Pension Applications
1901/1911 Census Index 1901 A to G & J to W 1911 A to G & H to W
1901/1911 Census Transcriptions 1901 Aphort - 1911 Aphort 1901 Ballintra - 1911 Ballintra 1901 Cloghcor - 1911 Cloghcor 1901 Fallagowan - 1911 Fallagowan 1901 Gortgarra - 1911 Gortgarra 1901 Illion - 1911 Illion 1901 Leabgarrow - 1911 Leabgarow 1901 Leabrannagh - 1911 Leabrannagh 1901 Lighthouse Lot - 1911 Lighthouse Lot 1901 Plughoge - 1911 Plughoge 1901 Rannagh and Toories - 1911 Rannagh and Toories
Events Affecting Arranmore Islanders
The Sinking of the Vernon, Lake Michigan, WI, USA, 29 Oct 1887 The Johnstown, Pennsylvania, Flood 31 May 1889 Eastland Disaster, Chicago, 24 Jul 1915 Irish Famine Report from Arranmore Island, 1847 The Owencarrow Viaduct Train Crash 30 Jan 1925 The Arranmore Boating Tragedy 9 Nov 1935
Families
Boyle, Conaghan, Rodgers, Coll, O'Donnell, Gallagher, & McCauley of Árainn Mhór Island O'Donnells of Arranmore
Headstone Inscriptions
Land
Hearth Money Roll 1665 1828 Tithe Applotment Book 1857 Griffith's Valuation 1857 Griffith's Valuation index 1857 Griffith's Valuation online Detailed Aphort Ballintra (complete) Cloghcor Fallagowan Gortgarra Illion (complete) Leabgarrow Leabrannagh Lighthouse Lot (soon) Plughoge (complete) Rannagh & Toories Sheep Park
Links
Beaver Island, Michigan - The Way it was: The Arranmore Connection Beaver Island History - Helen Collar Papers Comharchumann Oileán Árainn Mhóir
Maps
Ordnance Survey 1835 Arranmore Island (609kb) Parish Parish Map & Data (Bob Hilchey)
Media
Highland Radio - Arranmore new Newspaper Articles Photographs and Videos
Researchers
Brant - O'Donnell & Ward from Ballintra - Email Jim - Conaghan from Aran Island and Gallagher from Inishkeeragh - Email Jim D - Boyle (Leabgarrow), Conaghan, Gallagher, Coll (Ballintra), Rodgers (Illion), O'Donnell (Aphort), McCauley (Fallagowan) - Website (RIP Jim - 18 Nov 2008)
Townlands