THMF Trekking To Meath Project
The Meath Land Commission Heritage Group
(MLCHG)
Our aims
We are dedicated to compiling a publication containing stories, photos and the heritage of the Land Commission Resettlement Programme within the county. If you have a story, a photograph or any documents for possible inclusion in the publication, please forward to or talk to us at Trim Haymaking Festival, Sunday 18 June 2017
MEATH'S FIRST EVER LAND COMMISSION INFORMATION DAY
The Meath Land Commission Heritage Group (MLCHG) will hold at Scurlogstown Olympiad (Ltd) Haymaking Festival, Trim, on Sunday 18 June 2017
The aim of the event is primarily to collect information relating to the Land Commission Resettlement Programme within the county, which operated from the 1920s to the mid-1970s.The MLCHG are very eager to hear stories or get photographs or insights from individuals from each parish within the county (all documents, photographs and other memorabilia can be copied on the day and originals retained by their owners).
We will showpiece stories, photographs and the heritage of the Land Commission Resettlement Programme that have already been collected. From its foundation, the Land Commission has left a notable and permanent imprint on the county, as well as influencing the agricultural, social, economic and sporting life of a great many parishes in Meath and the surrounding areas. Those who have a story to relate are now a ‘diminishing generation’. With this in mind, the aim of the MLCHG is to record and document the personal stories ofthose remaining for both present and future generations. In the view of MLCHG, it is vital that the experiences and stories of these families are not lost. The event (commencing at 1pm) promises to be of great interest, not only to the Land Commission families, but also to the wider community. All are welcome.
Facilitators on the day:
Michael Durkan (087 2126879),
Michael Kenny (087 2549540)
Claire McGing (086 3342812).
We look forward to seeing you at the
Scurlogstown Annual Haymaking Festival in Trim on Sunday 18 June.
Go raibh maith agat.
For information, please contact:
Pat Farrelly (Chief Organiser, MLCHG)
086 3843380
Dessie McKay (Chairman, MLCHG) 086
8057201
Joseph O’Brien (Archivist) 086
1767006
Colm O’Connor (PRO) 087 2227745
Important Roles Played By Women
The MLCHG has interviewed 19 families to date and a most interesting and surprising trend is emerging: that is how influential the women were in the push for resettlement. For some it was the hope that the move would be for the betterment of their offspring. For others, as in the case of Mary Higgins and Brigid Murtagh, it was a move back to their heritage. Both were successful in their own right in acquiring a LC farm even though neither were registered landholders.
MARY HIGGINS
Mary was successful in acquiring a farm for her family in the mid 1960s when the local de stacpoole Estate at Tobertynan, Longwood was divided. The Land Commission records of the time described her as an “excellent congest in her own right”. Her family had rented land on the estate for many years.
BRIGID AND MATT MURTAGH
Brigid, in her own right, applied to the LC inspectorate for a farm on the Allenstown Estate, Bohermeen in the late 1930’s. Having, through her grandmother, a connection with Allenstown House she successfully pursued her case and was allocated a division of land in 1936 which they moved to in 1940. Now the second and third generation of Murtaghs run the very successful Causey Farm enterprise close by at Fordstown.
BRIDGET CAREY
Bridget Carey’s long battle with the LC inspectorate in North Mayo finally paid off when in 1943, Bridget and her husband and family of 14 were moved from Carrowmore, Belmullet, Co. Mayo to Commons Road, Fairyhouse, Ratoath. Here she is seen sprinkling Holy water around her new home in Ratoath.
Photo from front page Irish Press 27th March 1943
JULIA AND PAT MCTIGUE
In 1965 Julia, on returning home to Kilmaine, Co Mayo after inspecting a LC farm on offer at Rackenstown, Dunshaughlin sat her family down and exclaimed “we are moving to a lovely new home in Co Meath, but it is up to the family as well what they want to do”.
AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE
THE IRISH LAND COMMISSION
A project to accumulate information on all families who were given land in Meath under the Irish Land Commission.
Trim Heritage Co-Op is currently engaged in a project to accumulate information on all families who were given land in Meath under the Irish Land Commission. Deposited records of the now defunct Irish Land Commission are not yet catalogued or generally available for public inspection.
The best existing finding aid was compiled by the National Library of Ireland but is accessible only in the National Library.
Our aim is to create an Achieve of Information for the Meath Area named “Trekking to Meath” Much research work has already been completed by our enthusiastic volunteers in all parishes throughout the county but we would encourage everyone with relevant information to make contact with us below.
The content of the information required is as follows:
– Name of Estates divided by the Irish Land Commission
– Names of families who acquired Land
Our goal is to create an Accessible Achieve for future generations while we still have “word of mouth” memoirs.
This is deemed to be a worthwhile project with the back-up of many people and organisations throughout County Meath”.
Please contact us with any information you may have that could be beneficial to this project.
Trim Heritage Co-Op,
Maudlins,