FAMOUS MCGINLEYS

 

Ciothruadh Mag Fhionnghail

c. 1460-1514

MONK & SCRIBE

This is an enigmatic description of the passing nature of time

 

 

 

 

This is one of the earliest known members of our clan, who called himself “the Man from Tory”. He was a noted scribe, monk and man of learning who lived on the beautiful but windswept Tory Island, an island overlooking the Tullaghobegly area. He was the writer of the well known book "Leabhar Chlainne Suibhne" known in English as The Clan Sweeney Book (a book containing personal clan prayers as well as the clan history). He wrote this book in the year 1513 until around June of 1514 for Máire Mhic Shuibhne/Mary Sweeney, wife of the then chieftain of the Sweeneys of Fanad. It is known that he had an assistant (Éanóg Ó Giolláin) who helped him with some of the Latin to Irish translation. Ciothruadh (we know that the Latin form of his name was Cirdicius) stopped work on the book in the year 1514, so possibly Ciothruadh died in that year. There is no record of him after that date. The name was strangely anglicised as Jerome in the seventeenth century, a name that has no relationship to Ciothruadh. Ciothruadh actually means 'a shower/abundance of red hair'. He was, like his counterpart, well versed in the Latin tongue as well as his native Irish. Ciothruadh seemed to have had a close relationship with Máire Mhic Shuibhne, her maiden name was Máire Ní Mháille and she was originally from Connacht (part of the noted Ó Máille/O'Malley clan). She also got Ciothruadh to translate, from Latin into Irish, an old family manuscript from the fourteenth century about ‘St Catherine of Alexandria’. She asked him to complete it within one year, 1513. The book was entitled 'Beatha agus Bás Chaithreach Fina' (The Life and Death of Catherine). She invited him to stay at the Rathmullan Carmelite Priory during that time to complete the work. This was the same year that he was working on "Leabhar Chlainne Suibhne" for her! Ciothruadh put a small amount of his work on St Catherine into the Leabhar Chlainne Suibhne as well. We do not know much about the Priory at that date but we do know that work must have been continuing there on its construction as it is recorded that the Priory was not finally completed until 1516! He is known to have worked on other religious and devotional works for her but none have survived.

Her husband, the clan chief of the Sweeneys of Doe, Ruairí Mac Suibhne, was famed for his patronage of poets and learned men, of whom Ciothruadh was highly regarded. It is recorded that Ruairí Mac Suibhne was buried inside the Priory in 1518 while Máire Mhic Shuibhne was buried there four years later. We have stated before that Ciothruadh Mag Fhionnghail was working at the Priory on devotional and clan material for the Sweeneys, under their patronage. He did not finish the Sweeney book and it is thought that he died in this year (1514). Some historians have presumed that he too was buried inside the Priory. It would be common practice ‘under Brehon Law’ for those under ‘patronage’ to be buried near or with their patrons, especially monks and religious people.

Ciothruadh was also a monk in the Irish church. During the early days of the Celtic or Irish Church it was common for monks in Ireland to be married or have relationships. Many surnames derive from offices of the church such as Mac an Aba/McNabb ‘son of the abbott’, Mac an Easbuig/MacAnespie ‘son of the bishop’, Mac Giolla Easbuig/Gillespie ‘son of the follower of the bishop’ and Mac an Airchinnigh/Nerney ‘son of the erenagh/church warden’. The practice of having wives among the Irish monks was becoming less common within the religious communties in Ireland at this period, but still occurred. Rome of course disliked this and Ireland was slowly becoming more and more under Rome rule. We know that Ciothruadh had more than one wife (his latest at the time of writing the Clan Sweeney Book was Mór Chiar). Her name translates as 'dark haired Mór'. Mór was the most common Irish female name over many centuries and means 'great'. She lived with him during his time in Rathmullan. There was an ancient monastery on Tory Island from ancient times until the year 1595 when it was destroyed by the English. As a monk, living on Tory, he no doubt lived at the monastery. The monastery on Tory was Columban. The island of Tory had a long Columban church tradition. It can be presumed that other McGinley monks or holy people would have frequented this monastery.

The Clan Sweeney Book was only given its name around 1920 when Pól Breathnach/Paul Walsh re-wrote and re-issued the book. Strangely, the vast majority of the book was written by Ciothruadh (mostly religious stuff) and his contribution was left out of the 1920 issue! Prior to that date, for hundreds of years the book was only known by a catalogue number (Manuscript No. 24 P. 25). It was also known unofficially as "Leabhar Diadhacht" meaning 'The Book of Piety'. In the Sweeney Clan Book, Ciothruadh makes occasional personal notes giving us an insight into his life. The many times married monk dedicates his work to his wifes especially his latest Mór Chiar. He also says "I beseech the mercy of God through the intercession of St Catherine the Virgin, and it is not easy to steal me away today from Síle". This wonderful passage suggests that he was 'very friendly' with a woman called Síle/Shiela! He may have been having an affair with her. He mentions that he was working under some difficult conditions with not always the best tools for the job. But he continued to work on. Ciothruadh was no doubt a devotee of St Catherine, or perhaps became so during the time he was studying and translating her works into Irish. It is known that St Catherine held a special place in the hearts of the Sweeney clan and no doubt of the McGinley clan too.

Capt. John McGinley

B.c.1740, fl. 1778

SOLDIER/POLITICIAN

Born John P. McGinley around 1740, John was in America at an early date. We are not sure if he was born in America or Ireland. He may have arrived as a slave, given the early date. He quickly made himself known in American public life. He bought land and settled in Mifflin County in Pennsylvania. John McGinley became one of the important signers at the Second Continental Congress in 1778 (in effect part of the early American Government who opposed British rule). Although he was only a minor player, he still played an important part in early American history. This body of 65 men had been chosen by the Legislature to govern the country. It is not clear however, how he rose to such prominence in the public life of the country.

Those who took part in the Second Continental Congress meetings of 1777 and 1778 were the group of men who adopted the American Declaration of Independance. John McGinley was part of these proceedings although he was not a signer of the document. The Second Continental Congress started on May 10th 1775. The delegates of the 13 colonies gathered in York initially and then in Philadelphia to discuss future issues and to find a path towards independance. They were of the strong opinion that the ties with England were holding back the country. This idea would have no doubt been fueled by Irish nationalist elements. The esteemed delegates included Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin. They elected George Washington as Commander in Chief of their Army. The first meeting (and many others) took place at the York County Court House where the Congress met in 1777 and adopted the Articles of Confederation. This action has led to the claim that York, Pennsylvania was the first capital of the US. The original building was in Centre Square but was pulled down in 1841 (a replica now stands there). Other meetings took place at the splendid State House in Philadelphia.

The Second Continental Congress were also responsible for approving the United States official flag. They passed the First Flag Act on June 4th 1777 saying "The official flag of the United States shall be made of thirteen stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be thirteen stars, while on a blue field, representing a new constellation". John McGinley was present. Many other important and landmark decisions were made at these early meetings that affected America for hundreds of years.

In the following year, 1779, John McGinley rose to the position of captain during the War of Independance. He was given charge of Fort Island Battery (also known as Mud Island Fort). It was a strategic fort during the war with Britain. It was constructed in 1777 with wooden palisades, earthen walls, was star shaped and had three blockhouses and a water battery. Earlier the fort was taken by the British and almost totally destroyed by them. It was regained in 1779 and Capt. John McGinley was put in charge of the fort with a large garrison of men (one report mentions 165 men). It is not known if Capt. John McGinley was part of the 're-taking' of the fort, but it seems possible and that he was given control of it as a reward for his efforts.

Capt. John was a good leader and honest. On more than one occasion, supplies were getting low and the men had not received their pay. Capt. John is on record as having paid out wages to the men from his own funds. He held the fort during difficult times. There are official records that show this. He showed true leadership and courage to his men and never let them down. Another details how he paid for work done on gun carriages at the fort, again payment for the work came from his own funds..."Mr Nesbitt was directed to pay John McGinley 62 pounds,19,41/2, being the balance of his account for work done to gun carriages, to be charged to Congress" Dated February 27th 1777. This was in respect of Mud Island Fort. After 1778 nothing more is recorded of him ("Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania"). By 1795 the fort became known as Fort Mifflin and now, much altered over the years, is a national museum.

Records also show that a Duncan McGinley was imprisoned by the Confederates and during the year 1777 was asking for funds from the north to help him return home to New York. He made an application around the same time as Capt. John was also requesting funding. It may be that they were related. The records run thus...."Gave Duncan McGinly, of Col. Montgomeries Battalion, a returned prisoner from New York, in order to return home, 5 shillings". "Minutes of the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania" dated Jan 17th 1777.

 

Amos A. McGinley

1778-1856

PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER

The noted Reverend Amos A. McGinley was born on the 4th March 1778, in Fairfield, Pennsylvania. He was the son of John McGinley and Jane Alexander and grandson of the first recorded McGinley in America. He was a very influential figure of the period in the state of Pennsylvania. He was unusually for a McGinley, of the Presbyterian faith. During his lifetime he was probably the most influential Presbyterian Minister in Pennsylvania. During his lifetime, he married over 697 couples and acquired the nickname of ‘The Marrying Parson’. He served in the Lower and Upper Path Valley Churches, Pennsylvania, for many years. He was such a good man that many children, when baptised, were given the name McGinley as a middle name in his honour. On record is Thomas McGinley Campbell born 1805 who was probably the first to be named after him! He went to the classical school of Rev Dobbin in Gettysburg, then on to the reknowned Dickinson College (the first college charted in the 'new' United States). According to the Dickinson College Alumni 1787-1800, Amos A. McGinley graduated from the 'class of 1798' (see www.dickinson.edu). Immediately after college he began the study of theology. He applied for licensure in October 1801. In June of 1803, he was called as pastor of the United Churches of Path Valley and also in June of that year he married Annie Blyth, a local girl of Fairfield. Together they had six children, three of whom died young. According to one source, his preaching style was "instructive and persuasive and characterized by naturalness and simplicity adapted to please and attract". Later in life, when speaking about his first communion, he said "I shall never forget it; it was like heaven begun on earth" His father died when he was about sixteen years old and this was about the same time that religion really grabbed him. According to one source he was said to have remarked, from the pulpit, " had it not been for the prayers and influence of a pious mother, he who now addresses you would not in all human probability be occupying this sacred place". Clearly his mother was the main influence in his young life.

He was one of the leading lights in the development of the greater Fairfield area. We have a note in the history books (History of Cumberland and Adams Counties, Pennsylvania – Warner, Beers and Co 1886), of a James Reid and Amos Maginley (note different spelling) being appointed as the Committee to collect funds for the ‘Savannah Fire Sufferes’ in 1820! He was noted for his great charitable work. He was also recorded as a property owner in Fairfield by the year 1802 as were his brothers Joseph, Ebenezer, John and James! It was not until the year 1822 that large scale building developement took place in Fairfield. The Maria Furnace was built, some other local industries, a school and a Presbyterian church. The church was built in 1823 but was blown down in storms of that same year. In 1825 a second church was built on the say of Amos McGinley after he raised funds for its rebuilding and it continued in use until 1878. Today, on the same spot stands the New Reformed Church of Fairfield since 1878. Amos was an honoured member of the Carlysle Presbytery and for half a century was the amiable, beloved and efficient pastor.

So many children upon baptism were given the middle name of McGinley. The long list of families (only some recorded here) who showed their deep respect for this devout holy man by nameing their children after him include the following...Thomas McGinley Campbell (b. 1805), Daniel McGinley Skinner (b. 1807), John McGinley Walker (b. 1812), Amos McGinley Geddes (b. 1819), Amos McGinley Alexander (b. 1829), Moses McGinley Neely (b. 1832), Jacob McGinley Wilhelm (b. 1837), David McGinley Peterson (b. 1838), Amos McGinley Devor (b. 1842), John McGinley Campbell (b. 1843), James McGinley Cree (b. 1843), Margaret McGinley Miller (b. 1844), John McGinley Appleby (b. 1845), John McGinley Banks (b. 1845), William McGinley Witheroe (b. 1846), Alexander McGinley Skinner (b. 1848), Mary McGinley Walker (b. 1857), James McGinley Witheroe (b. 1870) and Dominick McGinley Doyle (b. 1873). The list contains many Donegal native surnames like Cree, Devor, Doyle and Neely. Amos was also close to the Magee family, like the McGinleys, they too came from Donegal. Three of Patrick Magees sons and many of his grandchildren were married by Amos. On March 27th 1851, after fifty years of service, he retired and moved to Fannettsburg. Aged 78, he died on the evening of May 1st 1856 leaving behind his wife, one son and two daughters. The famous ‘Marrying Parson’ was greatly missed. His remains rest in the burial grounds of the Lower Church where a fine monument marks his life. Amos A. McGinley is mentioned in "The Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature" (John McClintock, 1889).

T.C. McGinley

1830-1887

SCHOLAR/WRITER

T.C. Mcginley was a noted teacher and writer who was born at Meenacross, near Glencolmcille in the south west of Donegal. He was born Thomas Colin McGinley in 1830, but wrote under the pen name of Kinnfaela. He mistakenly thought that his name in Gaelic was Mac Cinnfhaolaidh, of which Kinnfaela was an anglicised spelling minus the mac prefix. His parents were Henry McGinley and Catherine Campbell. His father died around the same time as T. C. was born in 1830 and was brought up by his mother and extended family. He was a very bright pupil and received his first trainer teaching post in 1847 at the age of seventeen at Fintra National School in Ardara. In 1850 he attended the Marlborough Street Training College in Dublin. After his graduation, his first full time post was in Belfast. While in Belfast his interest grew in Irish history, the Gaelic language, republican politics as well as the Greek and Latin languages. In 1855 he was appointed Head Teacher at Croagh National School in Dunkineely, close to his birthplace. He remained as teacher there for the next twenty three years. In 1879 he was Principal Teacher at the Niall Mór School at nearby Killybegs until his death in 1887.

While at the Marlborough Street College in Dublin, he developed a keen interest in music from the noted teacher of music Mr James Gaskin. While in Dublin he was open to more musical styles and influences. He loved all types of music but had a great interest in Irish traditional music. His great musical knowledge led him to be a judge at many Irish music festivals and choral events throughout Co Donegal at the time. His love of the Irish Gaelic language led him to be one of the pioneers in the setting up of the Gaelic League.

He had an avid interest in the history, folklore, fauna, flora and songs of the south west Donegal area. During his many years as a teacher, he spent much of his spare time recording the beauty of his surroundings. These ‘notes’ appeared as a regular feature in the Derry Journal newspaper. In 1867 they were all published as a book entitled ‘The Cliff Scenery of South Western Donegal’. It is both a travel book and a book on the social history of the area. Only one original copy is known to have survived and is now housed in the library of Magee College in Derry. He was on a visit to Derry on May 31st 1867, the same year as the books publication and he met Florence Nightingale who was also on a visit to Magee College. I'm sure they must have discussed his publication! He also produced an important reference work on mathematics, relating to solid and conic geometry. In 1874 he published a Treatise on Biology. It was so impressive that for years it was part of the standard student textbooks for Biology at the Science and Art Department of South Kensington, London.

T.C. McGinley was married to Margaret Sinnot and they had thirteen children! Sadly, seven of his children died from the dreaded T.B. during his own lifetime (he very likely died of it too). Three of his surviving children went on to greatness. The Bishop John B McGinley, who was the Bishop of the Phillipines and later of Fresno, California, Monsignor James McGinley who became Vicar General of the Raphoe Diocese and Leo McGinley who was the Professor of Theology at the Philadelphian Diocesan College, Philladelphia. He taught many of the clergy of south west Donegal including the reknowned Canon Maguire who published the definitive history of the Diocese. As a teacher he glorified the Irish language to his pupils. At this time it was illegal to speak Irish at school and teachers were under orders to punish children who did so!. His love for his native tongue led him to be one of the pioneers in setting up the Gaelic League along with Seán Mac an Bháird, Pádraig Ó Beirn, and Ruairí Mag Fhionnghaile (Roger McGinley), a neighbour, relative and Principal of the new Common National School. T. C. McGinley died on April 11th 1887.

Ben Maginley

1832-1888

CLOWN, ACTOR & SINGER

Benjamin R. Maginley was born on November 18th,1832 in Philadelphia into a typical Irish-American family. He left home aged seventeen determined to be a success. He made his debut as an actor in 1853, aged 21, at the Old Chestnut Theatre, Philadelphia playing Ludovico in “Evadne”. Also in 1853 he was a comedian with 'Napoleon' fosters Theatre, Cleveland , Ohio. By the late 1850’s he was working as a noted actor in Memphis and for a while was the Stage Manager of the New Memphis Theatre Company between the years 1861 and 1864. According to reports in the Memphis Daily Bulletin he was a popular performer who constantly filled concert halls with his multi talents. In the year 1856 Ben was one of the founding members of the National Dramatic Association in America. In the same year he starred in the Peoples Theatre in Cincinnati and worked there on and off until 1878. He was a member of the 'Fair and Thompsons Minstrels' in 1861. In the following year,1862, Ben made his first appearance in New York as Tony in “The French Spy” which was very successful. In the early part of 1864 he married Mary, daughter of Barney Carroll the noted circus rider and trainer. She had a career in her own right. As Madmoiselle Marie, later as Marie Elise, she was a popular equestrian rider for thirteen years. Their wedding was a sensation in circus circles. It was a great distress to him when she died in 1874 in West Chester after only ten years of marriage. This affected him badly but his career as a clown helped him to come to terms with his grief.

Ben was a successful actor for more than a decade. In 1869 he was among a group of speciality artists who attempted to set up a 'London Alhambra' in Tammany Hall. This period included two well received Broadway plays, first was "Hamlet" at the Olympic Theatre in 1870 (Musical and Burlesque) and then in “The Black Crook” at Niblo’s Garden Theatre in 1871 (Musical Extravaganza). Hamlet ran for 72 performances and The Black Crook for 122. 1877 was a very busy year for Ben Maginley. He was doing alot of singing engagements as well as acting in a production called "Rosedale". At this time he was also the Equestrian Director of the very popular Barnum shows.

Ben was also a competent singer who sung to large audiences mostly around the north east of America. In 1867 a small booklet was issued detailing his favourite songs. The booklet entitled "A Collection of Favorite Songs as Sung By Ben Maginley, the Clown and Jester of Great Consolidation". The text comprised 67 pages including the words to several songs. As evidence of his popularity, in the New York Clipper his name appears 16 times between 1887 and 1888, the year of his death. He sang all the popular tunes of the day including some light classical pieces and some old Irish airs.

While working as an actor in New York he was also working in the circus as a very successful clown, his first love. He is best remembered for his long association with the circus in which he was a clown first and foremost but also as a Ringmaster for the world famous Baileys Circus in 1869, an Equestrian Manager/Director with Baileys Circus in 1870 and with Barnums Circus in 1876. He became a Circus Advisor (to Bailey Circus), and Promotor and Circus Owner! He owned his first Circus as early as 1865 with “Ben Maginleys Circus” which was closely followed by “Maginley and Carrolls Circus”, "Maginley Royal Circus" in 1874 and finally as “Maginley and Co Circus” in 1876. His well known circus and menagerie toured all over the United States from 1865 until the early 1880's. During all this time, employed in many positions as well as in his own circus's, singing and acting, he felt most at home as a lovable clown.

In the latter years of his life, Ben Maginley turned his hand to many business ventures, some successful and some not. Although business was not really his strongpoint, he done well as the manager and part financial backer of the old Washington Theatre during the year that Lincoln was assasinated.

Ben Maginley, one of America's best loved early performers died on June 3rd 1888 and received a glowing obituary in the New York Times (June 4th 1888). He was obviously a very busy and productive person able to combine singing, acting and working in the circus at the same time. When he died he was preparing for the new season of acting. Ben Maginley travelled throughout America, visiting every major town and city working in one form or another. John Habberton wrote the play "Deacon Crankett" especially for Ben, recognising his great all round ability. Ben was described as 'a man of cheerful temperament, who had a large circle of friends, he was large in size and large in character'. He was a man of many talents, Actor, Comedian, Performer, Singer, Equestrian Trainer, Circus Advisor, Circus Owner, Business Man….but above all he was one of the finest Clowns of the 19th century.

 

Seán Mhosaí

Mag Fhionnghaile

1848-unknown

MUSICIAN and SEANCHAÍ (STORY TELLER)

 

County Donegal has a long and rich store of traditional music, indeed it is famous for it. The reknowned fiddle player Seán Mhosaí Mag Fhionnghaile a.k.a John Mhosie McGinley is up there with the best of them. The south west of the county has always been the heart of Donegal Fiddle music. By the late 1600’s and early 1700’s, the fiddle or violin, had become firmly established among musicians in Ireland. In Donegal the Sweeney, Doherty, McConnell and McGinley families have a long tradition of the ‘Travelling Fiddler’ and the McGinleys were possibly the earliest local fiddle dynasties. This McGinley family came from Loch Inse, an elevated townland to the west of the road between Carrick and Glencolmcille. One of the most noted of all was the legendary John Mhosie McGinley, a native of the Glencolmcille area. His date of birth is sometimes given as 1848 and his year of death is not known. For centuries Ireland has had a tradition of ‘travelling families’ of musicians. John Mhosie McGinley used to travel around selling fish from his cart which was pulled by a white horse! The horse knew its way around the county very well and John Mhosie would play and compose tunes as he gave the horse the reins! He was a great composer of tunes and a friendly rival of John Doherty’s father, both great musicians in their own right. John Mhosie was also a noted blacksmith, who travelled around the county with his bag of tools at the ready, and would repair any old pots, pans etc that needed to be done at the various households that he called at. His name was known from Glencolmcille to Dunfanaghy. These travelling musicians would find a warm welcome at any fireside and a good meal in return for some melodic entertainment. They were held in high esteem by the people. Some of his tunes are still played today all over the north west of Ireland, but particularly in the south west Donegal area.

We remember John Mhosie through the great tunes that he has left behind for our enjoyment. He is critically acclaimed by traditional music historians and authorities such as the reknowned Caoimhín Mac Aoidh, a legendary modern Donegal fiddler and music archivist who greatly admires the tunes of John Mhosie. Among the many tunes that he composed that have survived are ‘The Rambling Pony’ and ‘The Harvest Moon’ (also known as ‘John McGinleys Reel’). Another much played tune was/is 'The Atlantic Roar', a tune that is also known by its Irish title 'Tuaim na Farraige'. Seán Mhosaí was an Irish speaker. Often called the most remarkable tune performed by the legendary John Doherty, 'The Atlantic Roar' was composed one night as Seán Mhosaí was returning home from a wedding party (in which he entertained the crowd). He was very tired and lay down in a sand dune to take a rest. He then fell asleep. As he slept, the sea kept calling out to him, telling of its melancholy, sad and lonesome story. Seán Mhosaí eventually woke up, he reached for his fiddle and composed the tune instantly. In the tune, the music builds and sweels just like the wild Atlantic ocean. Another tune made famous by John Doherty called 'The Glen Road to Carrick' (based on the 'Chorus Reel') is said to have had its additions done by Seán Mhosaí.

Seán Mhosaí was also a noted story teller. The Story Teller or Seanchaí as we say in Irish, has always had a special place in the hearts of the Gael. Seán was a native Irish speaker and he probably knew little English. He was famous throughout the South West Donegal area as a ‘story teller’ in the ancient Celtic tradition. He would travel from house to house to tell his stories, histories and genealogies. These Seanchaí's were expected to remember and recite family genealogies and histories going back centuries! His pay was most often as much food and drink as he could take and a bed for the night if needed!. The Story telling tradition in Ireland goes back many many centuries and the story tellers were highly regarded members of the community. Seán was related to Roger McGinley (one of the founding members of the Gaelic League) as well as being a relation of the famous T.C. McGinley, the author of ‘The Cliff Scenery of South Western Donegal’. It is believed that Seán contributed some of the narratve found in the book, especially the story relating to ‘The Dying Spaniard’, one of the most noted local stories around the south west Donegal area. The memory of Seán Mhosaí Mag Fhionnghaile is still alive in the south west of Donegal where he was often remembered by the older generations in connection with the folklore surrounding the traditions of pipers/fiddlers associated with caves. Folklore tells us of two reasons of this association. The more plausible is that pipers/fiddlers were used as a means to see how far a cave went (and in what direction). As long as they played their music inside a cave, those outside could work out its size and underground direction!. The other tradition is that pipers/fiddlers were used to smoke out monsters and demons who supposedly lived in the caves. The shrill of the music frightened the beasts!

 

Michael McGinley

1852-1940

POET & LYRICIST

Michael was the celebrated writer of the song ‘The Hills of Glenswilly’, one of the most poignant pieces about emigration and the subject of a much later documentary entitled "Erin's Exiled Daughters". This tune was recorded by many artists, the most notable being The Wolfe Tones. He emigrated himself to New Zealand in the year 1878 aboard the ‘Invercargill’ steam/sail ship. He also wrote another popular tune called ‘An Emigrant's Fairwell’. This was written during his long sea crossing to New Zealand in search of a better life. He was twenty six years of age when he left his homeland, not knowing if he would ever see it again. He was originally from Breenagh in Glenswilly, Co Donegal. He was related to the other famous McGinleys from Glenswilly such as Dr J. P. McGinley, and Cú Uladh McGinley who was his brother.

Michael was known for his cynical views of the establishment, both clerical and lay. He noticed that, on a regular basis, newspapers recorded the death and funeral arrangements of eminent persons and members of the clergy. The papers often went overboard mentioning every single 'dignitary' who attended such funerals in their droves. Those who could not attend, often important businessmen and clergy, even contacted the papers to make their public apologies. This was often done more so for personal reputation. On the otherhand, he noticed that if a death occurred of a pauper or someone from the workhouse, they would be lucky to have two or three people attend their funeral. Michael with wry sense of humour mixed with his feelings of social injustice decided to rectify the situation. In a very famous article published in the Derry Journal, he composed a fictitious account of a funeral of a poor person in which hundreds turned up and included a long list of parish priest from all over Donegal who 'unfortunately' could not attend! This sparked much debate at the time. He highlighted the situation among the poor with the skill of his pen!

He greatly disliked life in New Zealand (he lived on the south Island at Dunedin) as he was simply too homesick and he very quickly returned home after two years. He became a successful farmer and pub owner around the Strabane area in the neighbouring county of Tyrone. He was very influenced by Republican causes after he was subjected to much intimidation by local Protestants. Obviously the English inflicted emigration that he had to endure helped to form his growing political views as well. An avid Nationalist, Michael joined the Fenian Movement and then the Irish Republican Brotherhood. By now, his political views were well re-inforced by daily events happening in Ireland. He wrote another popular tune, the ‘Drumboe Martyrs’ as a memorial to the four Irish patriots who were executed at Drumboe, Stranorlar, Co Donegal during the Irish Civil War. The four Republican soldiers fought against the British but were captured on November 2nd 1922 and taken to Drumboe Castle. They were sentenced to death by firing squad on March 14th 1923 (not on St Patricks day as mentioned in the song). A monument to the men can be seen in Drumboe Woods. Michael McGinley was seventy one years old at the time when he felt obliged to record this event. He died aged eighty eight years of age in 1940.

 

Laurence Ginnell

1854-1923

SINN FÉIN POLITICIAN & PATRIOT

Laurence was born at Clonabrack, near Delvin in Co Westmeath. He is the most noteworthy of the McGinleys who settled in that county from the sixteenth century. He was only educated to standard national school level but afterwards studied privately and eventually was called to the English and Irish bars. At an early date he was interested in the plight of the poor and of the tenant farmers who were evicted from their homes on an almost daily basis in Co Westmeath. Disgusted by the things he saw, he decided to devote his life to helping his ‘people’. He joined the Land League organisation and took a prominent part in their affairs. Later he, along with William O’Brien, formed the United Irish League. He contested the North Westmeath election of 1901 but lost. By the next election in 1906 he was more prominent and won the seat. He held the seat (under Westminster administration and then under Dáil Éireann – the Republics own parliament) until his death in 1923. In 1909 he was expelled from the Irish Parliamentary Party for the offence of asking to see the party accounts! Afterwards he sat as an Independant Nationalist.

Laurence was an early Member of the British Parliament for Co Westmeath, before Irish Independence. Unhappy with the slow pace of change and the lack of democracy for the Irish in their own country, he embarked on a more radical policy of breaking up the estates of the English landlords and giving the land back to the people, the rightful owners. He took part in the ‘cattle driving’ campaigns which occurred just prior to the 1916 Easter Rising. His famous saying was…”The land for the people, the road for the bullock”. His ‘campaign’ was successful. He and his many followers met secretly at night and drove cattle off the lands of the landlords and scattered them far and wide throughout the countryside and up in the mountain pastures. It cost the landlords and the English Government thousands (plus time) to find and collect the cattle. The campaign was continued over many years. It was a weapon that finally broke the back of many English landlords (many returning to their country of origin). Laurence was caught and served six months in jail for his activities.

Laurence regularly ignored English parliamentary rules and often spoke out about the wrongs and evils carried out by the English in his country. After the execution of the 1916 Republican leaders, Laurence Ginnell so angered by this action that he openly condemned the British Government and in a speech lasting thirteen hours accused the British Government of wilful murder. In 1918 he was again imprisoned for six months for inciting the people to start ‘cattle driving’ again! Just after his release he was sentenced to another six months imprisonment for causing ‘an unlawful assembly’!

In 1916 Laurence actively campaigned for the election of Count Plunkett in Co Roscommon. He joined Sinn Fein in 1917 and at their Annual Party Conference that year Laurence McGinnell and W.T. Cosgrave were elected as Honorary Treasurers. De Valera then appointed him as one of his twelve Council of State members.

He was heavily involved in the foundation of Sinn Féin and infact became their first member of Parliament. In the 1918 election he was returned as the Sinn Féin T.D. for North Westmeath. In the first ‘free’ Irish government, he was the first to hold the cabinet post of ‘Director of Propaganda’. He was sent by De Valera to America to co-ordinate Irish activities and support there. He was appointed as Irelands Government Representative in Argentina and South America. Laurence was the Legal Advisor to De Valera and then became his Chief Aid. In 1922 he arrived unannounced in New York where he took forcible possession of the Irish Free State Consulate on Nassau St and proclaimed it the offices of The Irish Republic! He seized the offices along with six others among whom was a representative of the IRA. While in America he died and his remains were brought back to Ireland and laid to rest in Clonarney graveyard near Delvin. The funeral oration was delivered by Pádraig Pearce's mother. A very strong republican, it was said that the Irish flag (a green background with gold writing) that flew over the General Post Office as a sign of Ireland's declaration of independence during the Easter Rising in 1916 was made from his bed clothing!

Laurence was constantly against the Anglo-Irish Treaty which he saw as a false dawn for Irish freedom. In 1922 he was the only Anti-Treaty member to attend the inaugural meeting of the new Provisional Parliament. After asking some tough questions regarding Britains continued involvement in Irish affairs, things got very heated and his own friend W.T. Cosgrave asked for his removal and he was dragged out of the meeting by force!

One incident worth noting was when he went to sign the Visitors Book at Knutsford Jail in England. He signed his name in Irish, Labhrás Mag Fhionnghail, and was fined £100 for ‘breaking the law’! One has to ask, if he was French, Italian, Russian or any other nationality, would he also have been fined? Of course not. Why did the English regard the Irish language as being so threatening to them? A noted patriot and Irish polititian, he was also a great scholar, linguist, historian and writer. He wrote numerous pamphlets and three books, the most important being ‘Land and Liberty’ written while he was in jail in 1908. He explains in the book that Irish matters can only be settled by the Irish people without the presence or interference of the English. Another important book was 'The Brehon Laws-A legal Handbook' in 1894. Laurence Ginnell was also the founder of the 'Irish Literary Society'.

During his time in politics, Laurence was frequently addressed as "The MP for Ireland". In Westminster he was constantly highly critical of Britain's handling of Irish matters, especially the 1916 executions. By May 3rd the executions of the Irish heroes Clarke, Pearse and McDonagh had taken place and Laurence Ginnell denounced the 'shooting of innocent men by the Hunnish Government'. Laurence was described as "an uncouth man, yet learned and industrious" by T. M. Healy. Ginnell's verbal attacks on Britain's position in Ireland angered many, such as Chief Secretary Birrell and the British Under-Secretary for War Harold Tennant.

He frequently visited Irish prisoners of war in Englands jails and is known to have smuggled out various correspondence for them over the years. On one occasion, when the British Government gave a neat and tidy description of the conditions within the cells of Irish political prisoners, the noted Father Browne paid a visit to one of the cells at Kilmainham. He wrote a short report telling the real truth. The cells had no beds and they slept on the floor. Seán Mac Diarmada, for example, used to wrap up coats around his boots to serve as a pillow. The report by Father Browne was handed to Laurence Ginnell who used the information to verbally attack the authorities in the British House of Commons. After the last of the 1916 executions, Laurence addressed the British Parliament referring to them all as 'an assembly stained with the blood of some of my dearest friends for no crime but that of attempting to do for Ireland what you urge the Belgians to do for Belgium'.

 

 

Tim McGinley

1854-1899

BASEBALL STAR

Timothy S. McGinley was born in the year 1854 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Irish parents. Timothy (or Tim as he was known) was a bright young baseball player, whose promising talent was spotted at an early age. He did not attend college but went straight from school into minor league baseball. This was at a time when the sport was young and the rules often changed. He first played with the Philadelphia Centennials in 1875 (The National Association) and The New Haven Elm Citys (The National League) before being talent spotted and moving up to the big leagues with the Boston Red Socks. On April 22nd 1876 Tim started his first game for Boston. His playing career only lasted about two and a half years when it was curtailed by injury. His last game, sadly, was on July 25th in 1876.

Despite such a short career at the top, it was an eventful one. Tim holds the honour of being the first player in baseball history to score a home run in the Baseball National League. A crowd of more than 3,000 spectators witnessed the event on a day full of drama. On that day his team recorded a 6-5 victory. In this eventful season, Boston finished fourth in the league that year. For the last game of the season, the team were watched by 52,000 fans.

The Boston team was crammed full with Irish-American players. Jim O'Rourke was a good friend of Tim McGinley. O'Rourke had the honour of making the first National League hit, a single wack to the left side of the field, eagerly watched by young McGinley. This was followed by Tim entering the record books with his famous first 'home run'. The team had a strong Irish flavour from the start. Tim Murnane, another Irishman was the backbone of the team and he was the 'players champion'.

Tim McGinley was dark haired, dark eyed, He was 5 feet and 9 inches in height, not too tall or too small. His build and stature was ideal for baseball. He weighed 155 pounds. Tim was draughted into the team to replace the previous hero Jim White, yet another Irish-American. That was a hard act to follow and he done the task to the best of his abilities during his short playing career. One family story recalls how he once tried his hand at Hurling but did not take to it, prefering baseball!

Tim McGinley holds another honour, the first Baseball star to receive a serious injury! In his very first Major League game for Boston, Tim McGinley received a serious eye injury. A wild hard swipe hit Bostons young catcher in the eye in the seventh innings. It severly damaged the thin membrane sack, the capsule of Tenon. This is the part of the eye (according to Greys Anatomy) that allows for free movement. Although he amazingly finished the game, half sighted, he suffered extreme pain and headaches for another 48 hours. It is not recorded why he stopped playing baseball at such a young age, but it most likely was to do with his eye injury. Doctors advised him at the time to take a long period of rest which he clearly ignored, leading to the long term damage to his eye. It is known that his eye never fully recovered from the trauma and he missed a few games with Boston during the season because of it. Tim McGinley later moved out to California where he retired. We do not know anything about him once he settled in California.

Tim McGinley was also one of the first baseball players to attract a recognised fan base. Around Philadelphia he attracted many young ladies due to his handsome good looks. He was always ready to talk to his many fans. A fan club was established in the Philadelphia area and it lasted for a couple of years. No doubt it would have lasted much longer if it were not for his enforced retirement from the sport. Tim McGinley and his friend Tim Murnane, both witty and full of Irish charm, became popular after dinner speakers for a while. It is recognised that Tim was not one of the greatest baseball stars, but was nevertheless a pretty good player. Tim McGinley died on November 2nd in 1899, Oakland, California.

 

 

P.T. McGinley (Cú Uladh)

1856-1942

WRITER, PATRIOT & SENATOR

Born as Peter Toner MacGinley, he would often use the Irish form of his name, variously given wrongly in the media as Peadar Mac Fhionnghaile (wrongly using a ‘c’ instead of a ‘g’), Peadar Mac Fhionnlaoich and even Peadar Mac Fhionnlaoigh. Even the English form of his name was often given as MacGinley or McGinley. He was born in the homeland county of the McGinley’s, Co Donegal. He was a noted writer and protagonist of the Irish Gaelic language. He used the pen name of Cú Uladh which means ‘hound/warrior of Ulster’. He was born on a small farm in the townland of Alt an Iarainn in Glenswilly in the year of 1856. He spoke Irish since childhood and developed a great love for it. His brother was Michael McGinley of ‘The Hills of Glenswilly’ fame.

He attended St Eunans College in Letterkenny and also Blackrock College. He gained the position of Customs and Excise Officer in London. He was eventually transferred back to Glenswilly in 1893 and to Belfast in 1895. While in Belfast, his love of Ireland, the Irish Language and writing grew. He established The Donegal Christmas Annual in 1882 and in it we find some of his early writings in Irish. He wrote many articles on Irish subjects that were printed in many publications. He was a regular contributor to the esteemed Republican periodical Shan Van Vocht (other notable contributors included James Connolly, Douglas Hyde, Arthur Griffiths, Maud Gonne etc). One interesting article entitled ‘An Piobaire Mór at Home’ (about the celebrated Donegal piper Turlough MacSweeney) was printed in the January 1899 issue. He also worked for a while as a Customs and Excise man.

In 1899 Fr Owen O’Growney staged his play “The Passing of Conall” in Belfast and Derry. Peter played a part in the play himself. He was the author of “Eilís agus an Bhean Dhéirce”, an early Irish language play that was produced by Frank and Willy Fay for the Irish Literary Theatre at the Ancient Concert Rooms in Dublin in 1901. An English language version was printed many years later by Robert Hogan in 1970. In 1902 Peter won the Oireachtas (an Irish word meaning Heritage) Prize for “A Handbook of Irish Teaching”, a revolutionary publication aimed at teachers of Irish classes. In 1905 he established a branch of the Gaelic League in Portarlington, Dublin with Fr O’Leary and Fr Brophy.

The Gaelic League was founded in 1893 by Douglas Hyde, Eoin Mac Néill, Seoirse Laoide and Fr Owen O’Growney. In 1895, P.T. McGinley established the first branch in Ulster. Peter spent much time over the next few years travelling around Ulster promoting and starting new branches. He hosted the inaugural meeting in his own home. Eoin Mac Néill had travelled from Dublin to be present. In 1913 he said ‘It is because of the spirit of Nationalism that so many of the people of Ireland learn Irish and have their children learn Irish. And they have that right’. His love for the Irish language showed when he delivered an important lecture on 'Irish Place-Names' in 1925 to the East Belfast branch of the United Irish League, a Home Rule organisation (Irish News articles, 3/12/1912, 10/12/1912, 16/12/1912).

He gained his greatest moment when he was unanimously elected to the distinguished position of the President of the Gaelic League between the years 1923 and 1925. From 1926 until 1928 he was their Tánaiste (second in Command). He was Acting President in 1929 while the actual President was abroad. In 1929 Peter was President of “An Fáinne” (The Ring). He served a second term as President of the Gaelic League during the years 1933 to 1940. He was nominated a Senator in the Irish Government in 1938. During his time as a Senator he always talked through Irish only in the Parliament. In 1925 he said, "nobody had a right to mutilate Ireland, and least of all that little body of foreign colonists in the north-east whose forebears had come to this country for robbery and spoliation".

Peter was active all his life. He also ran for a few years his own furniture business. He also had a printing business and published works by An Seabhach, Pádraig Ó Conaire and Osbern Bergin. He died in 1942 leaving behing a wonderful legacy to Ireland. He left us over 500 articles, essays, poems etc. He was a friend of Eoin Mac Néill, Douglas Hyde (the first President of Ireland), Pádraig Pierce and Maud Gonne, some of the greatest names in early twentieth century Ireland. On the day of his death in July 1942, Liam Ó Buachalla paid tribute to him in the Senate.

 

Brigid McGinley

1863-1894

POETESS

Brigid was a sister of the reknowned P.T. McGinley/Cú Uladh, both hailing from Breenagh in the Glenswilly area. Brigid was to become a very well respected local poet in Co Donegal. She wrote many poems depicting the plight of the down-trodden native people of the county and she aimed to give them some hope for the future. She witnessed daily their way of life, being one of them. She noticed the hardships they endured and the tyranny of the foreign landlords. It was very unusual, and refreshing, to hear the words of one of the 'ordinary people', even moreso from a local woman. Three of her best and most moving pieces of poetry were..."The Stubble Moon", "A Wreath of Shamrocks" (which was dedicated to her brother Michael who emigrated to New Zealand) and "The Swallows Return".

At the age of twenty three, Brigid married a man from nearby Newmills called Patrick Gallagher. They had no offspring. The prospect of gaining any form of higher education in those days was almost nil. The majority would have left school aged between twelve and sixteen in order to quickly earn some money for the family. Times were hard and any financial help was a bonus. Brigid was lucky in that she, for a while, lived in a convent in England. This very different life would certainly have opened up her eyes to the world. It is not known for sure when she first took up poetry, but she showed early promise in this field.

After her stay in England, upon her return to native soil, Brigid established some of the earliest 'native' outlets for poetry and creative writings in Donegal. She established Debating Societies at Illistrin and at Glenswilly which proved to be very popular. Afterwards she was mainly responsible for establishing two important publications in the county, "The Illistrin Budget" and the very popular "Donegal Christmas Annual" which eventually became the "Donegal Annual", a yearly historical/cultural publication still running today. She was popular among her native people but also among liberal Protestant writers. She became close friends with John Greer, a teacher at the Protestant school at Illistrin. He contributed much work to the local press under the nom-de-plume of "Myles Murphy". Ironically they both died in the same month of July 1894. Shortly afterwards, her brother P.T. McGinley/Cú Uladh composed a poem called "Two Singers" in honour of the two of them.

During her short life (she died aged only thirty one), Brigid contributed much to the poetry history of north Donegal. She wrote extensively about the rights of the people, about the terrible landlords attacking their so called right to control the land. She was a consistant contributor to the local press, both in prose and in verse. She lived during the period of 'Landlordism', of 'Poverty' and of 'The Land War', so it is no surprise that such topics should influence her writings. According to many, her poetry contained a racy style coupled with a sincere simplicity. The late William Harkin in his book "North-West Donegal" paid her a glowing tribute under the heading of "Poetess of Donegal". He was referring, in particular to two poems that were published in the "Donegal Christmas Annual" called "The Maid of Rutland Isle" and also "The Hills of Donegal". Harkin said....."At a time when verse makers are so often found upon the rack straining after forced conceits and out-of-the-way modes of expression, by way of showing their claims to originality, it is refreshing to meet with a writer who can at one be forcible without being affected, impressive without being maudlin, and pictureque without being showy or fantastic." He compliments her style of telling a story as well as her descriptive touches and her ability to transport the reader into the heart of the Donegal landscape and experience. Brigid McGinley....Poetess of Glenswilly....died in 1894.

William J. McGinley

1864-1947

SUPREME SECRETARY OF

THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

William J. McGinley was born in Cooperstown, New York on the 11th of April, 1864 to Irish parents Patrick McGinley and Elizabeth Doyle McGinley. He was educated at Cooperstown Union School and Academy. William went on to become one of the most influential Catholics in his day in America. After his schooling, which was above average but not spectacular, he became a Deputy Postmaster in Cooperstown. Shortly afterwards he moved to New York City and at first he got employment in a building firm. Later William was employed by the Finance Department of the City of New York, a position which he was to hold for many years.

Always a devoted Catholic, William joined the Knights of Columbus in April of 1897. The Knights of Columbus are an influential fraternal organization of Catholics. They were set up by Irishman Father Michael J. McGivney in 1882 and are recognised as a 'Catholic fraternal benefit organisation'. Their original principals (and still today) are 'Charity, Unity and Fraternity'. William J. McGinley served as a Charter Member of the New Amsterdam Council No. 217 and later served as the First Warden of that council. He was soon to be elected as the Deputy Grand Knight. From the years 1899 to 1901 William served as Grand Knight after his years of fundraising for Catholic charities and causes was recognised. By the year 1907 he was appointed as Master of the Fourth Degree for the Second New York District. He was given the great honour, in 1909, of being elected as Supreme Secretary of the Knights of Columbus (for the whole of America). William served as Supreme Secretary with great distinction until 1939. He was most active in this roll in the 1920's when he often wrote in defence of the Catholic cause against verbal (and sometime physical attacks) by the Klu Klux Clan on Catholicism and Catholics. During his time as the Supreme Secretary, William was responsible for setting up an educational fund given out to students of American history and studies. He was trying to promote the study of America's history, from the angle of the people.

Williams great charitable work, for all faiths, was being recognised not just in America but much further afield too. During his period, much money was raised for war relief charities. He received many distinctive honours such as the Papal Decoration of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Sylvester. He was also presented with the Knight Commander of the Order of St Gregory the Great. William also received from the Government of France, the Legion of Honour, an award that he was particularly thankful for. Belgium also recognised him with the Order of Leopold 11. William J. McGinley died on April 19th 1947 aged eighty three. He is buried in the cemetry at Cooperstown, New York.

Walter McGinley

1869-1932

OIL TYCOON, MULTI-MILLIONNAIRE,

CINEMA PIONEER, PHILANTHROPIST

Walter was born in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania on November 17th 1869 and as a youth he had a great love for the travelling circus after his father John W. took him to his first circus. He entered into this profession for many years, very successfully. He held down some pretty important positions such as Executive and Manager with Ringling Brothers Circus, Wallace Brothers Circus and Sells-Floto Circus. He achieved great international note in the year 1908 when he took an American circus on tour throughout Europe. Visiting such places as Berlin, Dublin, London, Paris and the Riviera, his tour was hugely popular and financially very successful. At school he showed an aptitude for business and law. He became one of the best known legal adjusters in the circus world. During this period he visited nearly every city and town in America.

Walter was a very clever businessman, alway looking out for a new challenge. In the early part of the twentieth century a new form of entertainment was born, the Cinema. Many people at the time, press, public and even actors scoffed at this 'new' invention. Many performance theatres refused to show motion pictures. Often, early films were shown in small rented halls or vacant stores. The profit margin at this time was very small. But Walter had a different view of the future. He was among the very earliest figures in America to recognise the possibilities in motion pictures. He became one of the earliest to establish a chain of proper movie theatres in America! He played a crucial role in the early developement of the cinema in America and therefore the world.

He was a very important and successful race horse owner in the early 1900's, some say the most successful in America. He had much success in America, England, Ireland and throughout Europe. His racing stable was renowned across America. He also was highly successful at dog racing and had one of the finest kennels in the country winning many coveted prizes. Walter was highly regarded in the sporting world. He became friends with the enigmatic Lucky Baldwin who invited him to his celebrated ranch at Sierra Madre. He moved to California in 1915. He became the Manager of Baldwin Stocker properties. Through his involvement with the Baldwin Stocker's, he became interested in property buying/ developement and the oil industry. He bought some land from Lucky Baldwin and struck it rich! He eventually was President of his own powerful oil corporation, The McGinley Oil Company, of which he was the sole owner. He was the successful developer of thirty six productive oil wells! At this point in his career he was one of the richest men in America. He had a keen business instinct that made every enterprise he touched very profitable.

Walter McGinley was, in the first quarter of the twentieth century, an internationally reknowned figure in the entertainment and sporting worlds as well as one of America's richest men. He was great friends with Richard Croker and Big Jim Sullivan the world famous Irish-American boxer. The trio would often get together at Crockers celebrated estate in Ireland. He was also a big gambler and won much more than he lost. In August 1925 he placed a $25,000 bet on a baseball game as well as losing another $25,000 bet on a Jack Dempsey fight! His friends included Lucky Baldwin (millionaire tycoon, developer, pioneer and 'founding father' of Acadia town in California), Jack Dempsey (Irish-American boxing champion), Big Jim Sullivan (Irish-American boxing champion), John Strong (celebrated Governor of Alaska) and many more. Many stars of showbusiness and sport stayed with him at his impressive residence which was designed by the noted American architect Emmett G. Martin in the early 1920's. He gave several millions of Dollars to charity, alway quietly and modestly, without publicity. Walter T. McGinley, circus executive, circus manager, legal adjuster, entreprenuer, gambler, race horse owner, oil man etc died on September 18th 1932 at his home in Santa Monica, California. His obituary appeared in the Los Angeles Times and a good biography including a photograph appeared in the book "California of the South: A History" by John Steven McGroarty 1935. Of all his successes and achievements, perhaps his greatest was his millions that he gave to many charities!

Roger A. McGinley

1870-1936

MONSIGNOR

The Right Reverend Monsignor Roger A. Mcginley was born in New York City on August 6th in 1870 to immigrant Irish parents. Roger was baptised in the Holy Cross Church, New York City on the same day. He was educated at the prestigious St Laurents College in Montreal and also at Seton Hall in East Orange County, New Jersey where he studied philosophy. Roger was to become a much loved and well respected figure among the whole community in New Jersey and also New York. He had an early calling to religion and was ordained as a Catholic priest on June 8th 1895 at St Patricks Pro–Cathedral, Newark. A man of great character, he was known to be a kind man, of good values and a devoted Catholic. He was interested in Irish history and culture. He had a special devotion to St Michael, probably after he became Curate at St Michaels Church in Jersey City. Later he was Curate at St Josephs and then he organized St Brigids in New Durham.

The well known landmark of McGinley Square in Jersey City, New Jersey is dedicated to his memory, as befits a man of his great stature. Found high up on a wall in McGinleys Square is a reproduction of him in stone. It was named after him thanks to a resolution passed on February 3rd 1953 by the City Commision of Jersey City. In 1912 it was determined that there was a need for a new parish in the area. The established parish of St Josephs was split in two and St Aedans was formed. Father Roger A. McGinley was chosen to be its new pastor. Father Roger was given almost a 'free hand' in this new parish. He was directly responsible for the major job of planning and developing the new parish of St Aedans, which was named after an important Irish saint. The changes in this previously small populated area was nothing short of phenominal. He was responsible for the Tuers Avenue school and church building and many more.

The highlight of his great work, what he will be best remembered for, was the construction of the magnificent church building in the late 1920’s and early 1930's. The cornerstone to this impressive building was laid on June 15th 1930 and the church was dedicated on October 4th 1931. It was an instant success with the local community. Today it remains one of the finest and grandest churches in Jersey City, or in the north east of America. The older church held nearly 200 people while this glorious new setting could hold 1,400. The people of New Jersey owe a dept of gratitude to this genuine, caring man who changed the face of their city, for the betterment of all. The growth of the parish continued rapidly as Catholics from the lower city moved into the area. Despite all the great building and development achieved under his guidance, the parish was free from dept during these years of growth.

Roger's deep devotion to St Michael led him to start an annual pilgrimage to the shrine St Michaels in Montreal. The first was held in 1927 when over a thousand people travelled to the Canadian city to show their devotion. The aura around Father McGinley was strong enough for many thousands to follow him each year. By the following year the pilgrimage was extended to four days and even more devotee's attended. When the Depression arrived, it affected many people very badly and the custom was, regretably, abandoned.

The Right Reverend Monsignor Roger A. McGinley died on April 24th 1936. He was elevated to the position of Monsignor in April of 1934. For many years he was also the chaplain for the Jersey City Fire Department. His funeral was a major affair for the citizens of Jersey City. The great and the good turned out in their thousands for the solemn moment and among the pall bearers who turned out for his large funeral was Mayor Frank Hague (the Jersey City Mayor for thirty years) and the noted Senator A. Harry Moore who also became the Governor of New Jersey. (Information from Archdiocese Archives of Newark at Seton Hall University).

Monsignor McGinley had many pastimes, the most important being close contacts with family and friends. He loved sports such as fishing and football. The Monsignor kept in close contact with his family throughout his life. He was also a dog lover and prided himself on winning trophies with his dogs.

John B. McGinley

1871-1969

BISHOP

Born John Bernard McGinley in the year 1871 on August 17th, he is generally remembered as John B. McGinley. He was a son of the noted scholar and writer T.C. McGinley. He was brought up in the beautiful south western part of Co Donegal, being most likely born in Meenacross like his family had been for generations, although his birthplace is recorded as Croagh (not too far away) according to Catholic-hierarchy.com, a respectable source on Catholic Bishops, Priests etc. He entered into the religious life and wanted to become a priest. He was to become the first Bishop of the Phillipines and later went on to become the highly regarded Bishop of Fresno in California. John Bernard was consecrated in the year 1910.

John B. McGinley was highly regarded among his peers and was a friend of the reknowned Canon Maguire author of "The History of the Diocese of Raphoe". John B McGinley is mentioned in this definative work on the diocese. The graveyard at Dromore in the parish of Inver, south Donegal was consecrated on September 9th 1911, not long after he was ordained a priest.

His preparation for the priesthood began at Blackrock College near Dublin. When he finished his studies there, he was accepted by Archbishop Patrick Ryan for the expanding Archdiocese of Philadelphia, where so many Irish and McGinleys had gone before. He continued his studies at the North American College in Rome and was ordained in the Corsini Chapel of St John Lateran's Basilica on June 8th 1895. Shortly after obtaining his doctorate from the Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide in 1896, he journeyed to America where he became curate at Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Philadelphia. Two years later, John B. was named Professor of Classics and Moral Theology at St. Charles Seminary.

Bishop John showed how influential a person he was when in 1912, as Bishop of the Phillipines, he contacted many important friends and admirers in Ireland and America looking for donations for the building of a convent. His name alone brought in many thousands of dollars to the project. At St Scholastica's College at Alpay, in the Phillipines, the first 'Daughters House' opened its doors in 1912. The convent was called 'Academia de Sta Ines' named after his sister Agnes McGinley who was a large benefactor to the building fund (Ines is Spanish for Agnes). Bishop John personally took control of the fund raising efforts. Both Bishop John B. McGinley and his sister Agnes McGinley are well remembered in the Phillipines.

In 1922, the new Catholic diocese of Monterey/Fresno in California was established and Bishop John B. McGinley was chosen to become its first ‘shepherd’ in the year 1924. St Therese was recently canonized a saint by Pope Pius XI in 1925. Bishop McGinley happened to be in Rome at the time of her canonization and he asked for an audience with the Pope. John asked the Pope to name St Therese as the Principal Patronese of the Monterey/Fresno Diocese. Pope Pius XI granted him his wish on the condition that one church and one parish in the diocese should be named after her. Bishop McGinley officiated at the opening of the new St Therese Church at Floradora near Wishon on May 2nd 1926 (although the first mass was celebrated on Christmas Day 1925 before the completion of the church). After the formal dedications to St Therese, Bishop McGinley featured in a ceremony unveiling a statue of the saint. He blessed the statue which was made, at great expence, by artisans from Lisieux, her homeland. Bishop John McGinley served many more fruitful years within the Catholic church in America but never forgot his homeland or his family back in Donegal.

Bishop John B. McGinley was ordained a priest on June 8th 1895, appointed Bishop of Nueva Caceres, Phillipines on April 2nd 1910, appointed Bishop of Monteray/Fresno on March 24th 1924, appointed Bishop of Croae on September 26th 1932 and died on October 18th 1969 aged 98 as Bishop Emeritus of Monteray. He returned home to Donegal from America to retire after a long and active life serving the church. His last few years saw him blind and confined to a wheelchair. His mind was as active as ever and he spent many a night recalling his adventures in the Phillipines and America to friends and neighbours. Many important dignitaries, priests and nuns from various parts of the world would often come to see him in his latter years.

By all accounts, Bishop John B. McGinley was a clever and resourceful man, well remembered in the Phillipines especially, where he worked tirelessly with the poor of that country. He retired to a house still known as ‘The Bishops House’ in Killybegs, south Donegal, not too far from his birthplace. It is a large two story house which for years now has been the offices of the Killybegs Fishermans Organization. He died aged ninety eight at Killybegs on October 18th 1969. Bishop McGinley governed his diocese of Fresno which contained an area of 45,000 square miles, more than all of Ireland!, a point that he was always happy to bring to a conversation in his retirement years! Whenever there is any mention of McGinleys, usually in surname history books, the name of Bishop John B. McGinley is always to the fore.

 

Dr. J. P. McGinley

1894-1974

DOCTOR & POLITICIAN

Joseph Patrick McGinley was born at Breenagh, about seven miles west of Letterkenny in Glenswilly. The date was 23rd April 1894 and the country was still ruled from Westminster. His father was Patrick (brother of Cú Uladh and Bridget). He had two sister, Susie and Bridget. His primary education was at Trian Caol National School while his secondary education was at the recently opened St Eunan's College in Letterkenny. Although his father Pat, born at the time of the Great Famine was a fluent Gaelic speaker, the tide of English was lapping at the doors of the local people and J.P could not be termed a fluent Gaelic speaker. In later years his life was too busy to catch up on the language.

His father had a shop and small farm and exported woollen socks to Scotland. J.P's sisters were nurses and it was they who encouraged him to take up medicine. Although Catholics comprised 90% of the population, there were very few of them doctors; for this reason the clergy were anxious that more would become doctors. In 1911 he went to Queen's University Belfast where he took to medicine like a fish to water and in 1916 won a Gold Medal 'for distinguished answering on the disease of infancy and childhood'.

The McGinleys were of the opinion that England had overstayed her welcome in Ireland by six or seven hundred years and that their rule had been divisive, obnoxious and unfair. When Eoin Mac Neill formed the Irish National Volunteers in 1913, J.P and hundreds of others joined and drilled under the instructions of the veteran of the Boer War. His father was chairman of the company. When John Redmond invited the Volunteers to join the British Army to fight in the First World War (in return for a promise of Home Rule), some did. J.P. and others throughout Ireland would have nothing to do with the British. His motto was 'Neither King nor Kaiser'. In 1917 he establishe a company of Irish Volunteers in Letterkenny. this was a precarious step for him as it could have ruined his career. Nevertheless he took part in a few raids for much needed arms. Generally the local Irish Volunteers made it difficult for the British to enforce their rule. After the 1918 elections the Sinn Fein representatives did not go over to Westminster but set up their own government in Dublin. The Minister for Finance, Michael Collins, floated an Irish Government loan and J.P. was arrested for advocating this 'illegal' loan in public. He spent six months in Derry and Mountjoy jails between 1919 and mid 1920.

Most medical students would get little experience in surgery, but WW1 was in progress and the facilities for treating wounded soldiers were inadequate, so places like Belfast took some casualties and final year students were needed to help. this was where J.P. got his taste for surgery. There were no surgical facilities in Co Donegal - certainly not for the less well off. So when peace had returned and the new independant Ireland was up and running he opened the old Fever Hospital in Letterkenny for surgery in 1923. In this antiquated building he performed general surgery (tonsils, appendix, amputations etc) until he retired in 1960. Many's the time he had to travel with a nurse to a remote part of the county to perform an operation on a kitchen table!

When he qualified in 1916 the priest in Letterkenny urged him to apply for the vacant job of 'dispensary doctor'. But mere qualifications in those days was not enough. The decision was made by The Board of Guardians, divided up between two groups, Nationalist and Unionist. J.P had to canvass the Nationalist side to make sure they would all attend and vote for him. The Nationalists won. The appointment had to be ratified by the British Authorities in Dublin Castle. They refused to sanction the appointment on the grounds that he should have been out at the front attending to soldiers. There ensued a battle of wits, until the end of the war, where he claimed to be the rightful appointee. In 1918 he was eventually sanctioned and remained in the position until his retirement. For most of the time he was both a surgeon and general practitioner. He done operations in the morning and attended sick calls in the afternoon and was often called out to remote spots at night! To do all this work he must have had the constitution and stamina of an ox.

He served as an Irish MP in the second Irish Parliament in 1921 and 1922 where he supported Michael Collins. Dr McGinley was on the committee which set up the new police force An Garda Síochána in February 1922. He arranged the transfer of many police barracks in Donegal from the previous British police force, the Royal Irish Constabulary to the new force in 1922 and the proudest moment of his life was when he met the first batch if unarmed Garda Síochána at Letterkenny Station and marched with them through Letterkenny in September 1922. He did everything in his power to help the nascent Irish army to get established. In 1923 he resigned from the Government to concentrate on his medical career.

As coroner for west Donegal he presided over inquests into some major tragedies. Firstly the deaths resulting from the Lough Swilly Railway Train by a violent storm on January 31st 1925 as it crossed the Viaduct at Creeslough. He treated many of the injured in the District Hospital. The next tragedy was the drowning of 19 people when returning from Arainn Mhor Island on November 8th 1935. The third terrible tragedy was during WW2 in May 1943 when a mine was washed up on the strand near Anagry. It exploded when one of the spikes was pulled by some curious onlookers.

In december 1973 he tripped in the dark on a step and had to be taken to hospital. On the last day of January 1974 he passed away. In 1927 he married Madeline Sweeney of Dungloe, thus keeping up the Sweeney connection of centuries. According to his son Niall McGinley "Dr McGinley used to say that the McGinleys made swords, which gives me the idea that they may have crafted armour for the Sweeneys for centuries, thus creating a bond". An amusing climpse of the man can be seen in this little anecdote. Once in the 1940's while attending to a patient in his surgery attached to his house, a young boy of five or six rushed into the surgery where a woman was getting dressed. "Doctor, Doctor, my fathers dead"!...."Out" roared J.P...."But Doctor he's lying on the floor and Mammy doesn't know what to do"...."Get out. Tell your mother I'll be over in a minute". The boy ran home and J.P's tall frame followed. He got a firemans grip on the man carried him upstairs and plonked him on the bed. He said to the woman "Why did you ever marry that man!". Having known that the man was only drunk and in the habit of spending all his pay on a Friday night, thus J.P. shared the peoples burdens.

 

 

Phyllis McGinley

1905-1978

POET, AUTHOR & PULITZER PRIZE WINNER

Born on March 21st 1905, Phyllis Louise McGinley was a unique Irish–American writer, principly of childrens books, but some of her her books were also aimed at women. She was also a highly regarded poet. Born in Ontario, Oregan, (her parents were Daniel McGinley and Julia Kiesel McGinley) she moved with her family to Colorado aged three. After her father died, the family moved to Ogden, Ohio. She studied at the University of Southern California and the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. While at Utah University she started seriously to write short stories and poetry under various pseudonyms. She twice won awards for her work while at the University. She graduated with her University Diploma in 1927.

She taught briefly back in Ogden. By this time she was selling some of her work and this helped her to decide to move to New York to be closer to the American literary world. She taught for a year at a junior high school in New Rochelle, New York and then was the Poetry Editor for 'Town and Country'. She gave this up when her career as a writer and poet took off.

She married Charles Hayden in 1937 and they then moved to Larchmont, New York. This suburban landscape and way of life heavily influenced much of her work throughout her life. Her poems were published in many periodicals and newspapers such as The New Yorker and The New York Herald Tribune. Even as a teenager she had poems published in notable magazines such as the Atlantic. Her poetry celebrates simple suburban life and domestic home life, something that touched the hearts of millions. At an early date her work was noted for its light whimsical style. She also wrote the lyrics for the musical revue ‘Small Wonder’ in 1948.

For many years she was dismissed as simply a childrens writer, but in 1954, The Love Letters of Phyllis McGinley won the Edna Saint Vincent Millay Memorial Award. In 1955 she got the praise and recognition she deserved when she was elected a member of the ‘National Academy of Arts and Letters’. She won the Catholic Institute of the Press Award (1960), the Laetare Medal from the University of Notre Dame (1964) and the Catholic Book Club's Campion Award (1967). She received many 'honorary' Doctor of Letters awards from such esteemed establishments as the Boston College, Dartmouth College, Smith College, Wheaton College, Wilson College, Marquette University and St John's University.

Among her collected works of poems are ‘On the Contrary’ 1934, ‘One More Manhattan’ 1937, ‘Husbands are Difficult’ 1941, 'Stones From a Glass House' 1946, ‘Times Three; Selected Verse from Three Decades’ 1960 (for which she won the coveted Pulitzer Prize), 'Confessions of a Reluctant Optimist' 1973 and many more. She was the first person to win the coveted Pulitzer prize for 'light verse'. Among her childrens books are ‘The Horse that Lived Upstairs’ 1944, ‘All Around the Town’ 1948, ‘Blunderbus’ 1951 and ‘How Mrs Santa Claus Saved Christmas’ in 1963. Much of her work is still in print and various books have been written about her such as ‘Phyllis McGinley’ by Linda Wagner-Martin (Twayne Publishers, 1971). Her first book of verse was published in 1934 and was followed by seventeen more books, all selling very well. Her last book was "Saint Watching" published in 1969. One of the best writers and poets of her generation, Phyllis had her image on the front cover of the reknowned TIME Magazine as well as getting her own Postage Stamp (The Oregan State Commemorative Stamp).

Phyllis McGinley was famous for her 'one liners' and quotes. Some of her best include; 'Getting along with men is'nt whats important. The vital knowledge is how to get along with a man, one man'..... 'words can sting like anything, but silence breaks the heart'..... 'Gossip is'nt scandal and its not merely malicious. Its chatter about the human race by lovers of the same'..... 'Praise is warming and desirable. But it is an earned thing. It has to be deserved, like a hug from a child'..... and 'of one thing I am certain, the body is not the measure of healing, peace is the measure'. Phyllis McGinley died on February 22nd 1978.

Laurence J. McGinley

1905-1992

TEACHER, THEOLOGIAN

Born Laurence Joseph McGinley on September 6th 1905, Laurence went on to become one of the most important and influential churchmen in the north east of America. He was the celebrated President of Fordham University from 1949 to 1963 and this is how he is best remembered. He was born in Manhattan to James and Alice (McCabe). His father was a noted man also, being the Chief of Staff to the Commisioner of Accounts for New York City.

The Very Rev. Laurence J. McGinley entered into the Society of Jesuits in 1922 at St Andrews-on-Hudson, Poughkeepsie and Woodstock College in Maryland. He was ordained a priest in 1935. He received his licentiate in Sacred Theology in 1936. In 1937 he began graduate work in Rome at the famed Gregorian University and Biblical Institute. He received his Doctorate in Sacred Theology in 1939. For a few months prior to the outbreak iof the second Anglo-German War, he ran, in his spare time, the Vatican City radio station!

Laurence returned to America at the start of the war to teach at Woodstock College. He also edited "Theological Studies" a noted Jesuit publication. He wrote many religious and scholarly works for various newspapers and religious periodicals such as the Jesuit publishers over the years. One piece of note was "Form-Criticism of the Synoptic Healing Naratives; A Study in the Theories of Martin Dibelius and Rudolph Bultmann" (an important three page review in the Journal of Biblical Liter