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Photo: Doon Fort, Loughadoon, Co. Donegal | Courtesy Anna McNeill
By Rónán Galvin
Kate Sweeney, lilter and melodeon player, was born around the year 1810 in the townland of Meenmore, outside Dungloe in west Donegal. It is not known if a match was made, but Kate married into the McHugh house at Doon Lough, almost 20 miles further south in the parish of Inishkeel. Here, in the shadow of Doon fort, Kate brought a rich store of tunes, unique versions of highlands, mazurkas along with rhymes and songs. It is said in parts of south-west Donegal that it was often the women who, in the 19th century, carried the tradition through lilting, particularly in the days before instruments were affordable.
In this playlist we hear from Francie McHugh; fiddle player, farmer, boatman and grandson of Kate Sweeney. Francie was born on 9th June, 1906, just in time to remember Kate who died at 104 years of age. Here, Francie relays how Kate passed tunes on to the Simey Doherty clan on their way travelling through, and in later decades after Kate had died, the Doherty’s passed the tunes back to her descendants. Other aspects of tradition are recounted, including the custom of Kate playing the melodeon as she led a ‘convoy’ for several miles along the road for an emigrant bound for America.
Francie lived all his life at Doon Lough where he farmed and for decades, ferried hoards of visitors by boat to Doon fort, also known as O’Boyle’s fort. He married Annie Ward and together they raised 14 children, many of whom play music. Francie was over 80 years old in the recordings and had hurt his wrist the year before, but he provides us with a snapshot of a rich, local tradition of dance music. It would not have reached the wider world but for Caoimhín Mac Aoidh’s 1986 recording and this opportunity to make it available through ITMA and Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
*Thanks to Bridget Herron and Paula Harvey for additional information and the image of Doon fort. Doon fort is not currently open to the public due to ongoing work.
This project is possible thanks to funding from the Arts Council of Northern Ireland.
