Notes
Note for: Joseph Gallagher, 8 AUG 1882 - 19 DEC 1970 Index
Note: Joseph's Address:Claudyhouse Bunbeg P.O. County Donegal, Ireland.
Joseph was living with daughter Nellie in 1953.
Died at age 89 per funeral card in Aunt Angie Mulherin's possession.
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The following notes provided by Neil Gallagher:
1882 - 1970:
Joseph was born in Magheralosk. Married Madge Coll, fromMeenderrygamph, on 3 January 1906. They had 12 children. Their 4thchild, Bridget (Bridie) died from TB in Ireland on 1 November 1939 atthe age of 27. Their 10th child, Joseph, died when only 23 days old.His death certificate recorded cause of death - Marasmus.
Joseph was very interested in Gaelic football and was often on thetouch line cheering on Gweedore's team to victory.
Joseph was born on the 8th August 1882 in Magheralosk. In the farflung parish of Gweedore, come weal or woe, never relaxed its grip onthe mother tongue. A native speaker he grew up to embellish much ofthe folklore of which Gweedore is renowned. He started school inKnockastolar at the tender age of four. He developed into a man ofmuch tradition and enterprise. He went to the St Patrick's trainingcollege in Drumcondra, Dublin. Emerging in 1902 after two yearsstudies with flying colours - a teacher in his own right.
He got his first "call" at twenty two, to Gola Island, the birth placeof his mother Mary McGarvey, off the Gweedore coast.
The school house was in a fair condition of repair, though devoid ofthese elementary amenities as common in schools today. Gola was afairly populous island in those distant days and the school averageranged from 60-65 pupils. The new teacher had a happy smooth timeamong the islanders through the "winter" months often accompanied bySevere storms made his treasure no picnic. Every morning from thestart of October until spring, the Gola children could be seen makingtheir way to school carrying their sods of turf which kept the firegoing. The arrangement was that each child brought two sods. Islandchildren went to school at the tender age of four and stayed untilthey were sixteen.
Joseph stayed on Gola for six years. He had a night school regularlyevery week. Those attending sometimes included old pupils back for a"refresher" course. But it was entirely a mans world.
In 1910 he sailed from Gola for the last time to take up anappointment at Dunlewy where he stayed for about six years. Followingthat he took up an appointment as principal at Bunanivar, Bunbeg, alsoin the Gweedore parish. There he taught for fourteen years andcontinued the night classes for the men folk. He made only one otherchange before he reached retirement age. He took over theprincipalship of Knockastolar where he had gone to school himself.Joseph married Madge Coll while teaching on Gola and had to supplementhis slender income by fishing. A neighbour gave him a small bit ofland on which he grew potatoes and vegetables. It was a crucial periodwhen strict economy was necessary. He practised thrift and managed tosave a little money. With this he was able to buy a dwelling house andsmall farm when he returned to teach on the mainland. Later he builtanother house in Dunlewy and sold it when leaving. Then Claudy Housein Bunbeg. While Claudy House was being built he lived for a while ina house in Bunbeg Harbour and also in a house called "Maireads" justnext to Claudy House.
Joseph would have told you it was a hard, unrelenting struggle. But hemanaged to pull through all and rear and educate a family of eleven.
Unfortunately his wife Madge died in 1934, at the age of 51, beforethey could enjoy retirement with each other.
Like all the teachers of the early days, Joseph regularly rode hisbicycle, a form of recreation he practised until he was 75 years ofage. Even then it was not by choice, his family decided to remove thebicycle for his own safety.
He was still hale and hearty after a lifetime of devoted service tothe cause of education. Like his colleagues on the retired list helived to see great and radical changes in what had been his sphere ofwork. These changes have all been for the better, Educationalopportunities are now many and valuable. A big and happy contrast tothe dismal, depressing days of 1904 when the youthful Joseph sat atthat desk as principal of the Gola school.
After Joseph retired he opened a confectionery shop in a building justin front of his son Manus's home in Knockastolar. He would ride hisbicycle half a mile from Claudy House to open the shop every day.After he died his son Patrick looked after the shop.
Joseph went to Lourdes, France, for many years and also afterretirement went to mass every day.
He was going to Lourdes at the time when Joe Louis was the heavyweightboxing champion of the world and he acquired the nickname "JoeLourdes".
Sadly after the death of Joseph also Nellie and Pat Arnold who livedwith Joseph for many years Claudy House was sold. Firstly to peoplenamed Friel, then the Gillispie sisters Anne and Grace, renowned fortheir republican sympathies and imprisonment in the UK. They ran awindow blind / curtain business from Claudy House. The windows are nowboarded and the Gallagher family do not know who now owns ClaudyHouse. (Oct.1997 ).
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The following newspaper article about Joseph was sent to me by NeilGallagher:
It was carried in the Irish Independent July 21, 1947.
The fishing fleet sailed out to greet Mr De Valera when he arrived onthe Corvette Macha at Tory Island off the north coast. On the pier hewas met by Rev. J McDyer and an address in Irish was read by Mr JGallagher NT(National Teacher). Later, the Macha sailed to theHebridean Island of Barry where Mr De Valera was greeted by localauthorities and brought on a tour of the island.
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