Pettigo Village.

Pettigo Village. An Irish Border village divided between Counties Donegal and Fermanagh.

08/09/2026

January 27th 1916. OUTLOOK FOR FARMERS - ARE THEY MAKING BIG PROFITS? Never since the war began has the industrial community in Ireland reached a graver crisis. Foodstuffs are rising rapidly, Meal is almost at a prohibitive price, and unless the farmers bestir themselves ruin may affect many of them before the war be out. We do not wish to be alarmist, but facts must be faced as they are found. About last October the present crisis really began. There was a serious shortage of shipping to Ireland, and the consequence was that freight rose, with the result that the condition of affairs has steadily being getting worse, and if it continue much longer business will be paralysed and the price of all articles of food be at famine rates.
Farmers, no doubt, have made large sums of money through the war. Cattle have been sold at enhanced prices; milk and butter produced at almost the same cost as before the war, have maintained a steady advance of about 50 per cent; and pork reached the record figure of 82s per cwt in Enniskillen market on Tuesday and on yesterday at Irvinestown 83s per cwt. Against all this, feeding stuffs, through the present shortage of shipping and not through traders inflated profits, as some allege have advanced enormously. Meal, the staple fattening food for pigs and fowl, which a short time ago could have been purchased for 13s a cwt, is now at 28s. This price has frightened small farmers, and many have disposed of their pigs and ceased keeping them as they feared a loss. Prices are alarming, but more alarming still are the outlook that supplies may almost altogether cease.
In France the women are able to save all crops by the use of machinery. In the Ballinamallard district the great advantage of machinery has been made evident. There some farmers have binders and potatoes diggers and Mr. E. M. Archdale, D. L., addressing a co-operative conference last week said that his binder which cost him £30 paid for itself the first year and did the work of 20 men. Mr. W. H. West told how he saved 20 acres having one and that it would work in any field in which farm machinery, such as the mowing machine is used. No one would expect a small farmer to purchase a binder or potato digger, but Mr. West urged that poor farmers should cooperate and work on this principle and means are now being taken in certain district to carry out this idea.
Plough then is the watchword. Yellow meal will soon be hardly procurable. Sow oats in the upland and rye in the bog land, also catch crops such as r**e, hybrid turnips and vetches, which make excellent fattening for cattle and pigs and cost a fraction of the cost of meal. Yellow meal has been the groundwork of all our system. The great fundamental asset to the farmers, beef, pork, eggs and butter, depend on it, and now that it will be scarcer, a substitute must be found. At substitute can only be found by the plough.
There is no better manure than lime. 50 years ago every farmer had his own lime kiln. The system of burning line has died out, as artificial manure can be bought or easily and at so low a price. Now prices are up, and recourse is again being had to the burning of lime. The Kesh Co-operative Society has already taken the matter in hand; and in connection with that a Co-operative lime kiln is being organized, to supply the members of the society with burnt lime at a cheap rate. The present state of affairs cannot continue unless disaster is to ensue. Prices of foodstuffs will not decrease: they will increase. I.R.

January 27th 1916. MIGRATING NORTH. EVICTED PROTESTANT TENANTS COME TO SETTLE IN FERMANAGH. Within recent years a number of Protestant farmers have migrated from the Midlands and west of Ireland to the north. During the period before the war, when the Home Rule crisis was at its height, numbers of these farmers sold their holdings and came to Fermanagh to reside. There is now migration taking place, but not from dread of political warfare. The Estates Commissioners, who have purchased the Clanrickarde Estate under the recent Birrell Land Act, which killed land purchase in Ireland, except in congested districts in the west, have compulsory purchased the tenant right of a number of Protestant tenants on this estate. They must leave by the 1st of March next, and a number of them are providing themselves with holdings in Fermanagh. Already some of them have secured a new place of abode, in the Lisbellaw district and others are negotiating for farms in the same neighbourhood. These farmers of the West cannot understand the high price of land in Fermanagh. The land here is not so good as the fattening lands of Galway, but a peaceful and law abiding county attracts purchasers and there is always keen competition. As an example, Mr. P. R. Brown, F.A.S.I., Auctioneer, a few weeks ago sold six and ¼ Irish acres near Lisbellaw for the sum of £600. Almost 100 pounds per acre! It is an immense price, and if the farm had been situated in the west, it might not have fetched £20 an acre. I.R.

January 27th 1916. NOTES. Two infant children are said to die in the United Kingdom for every man killed in the war.
The new German aeroplane, the Fokker, is built for speed and can fly at the rate of 100 miles an hour. It carries a huge engine and can rise in the air with great speed.
Mr. Lort, a farmer who lives near Carnarvon, when charged with not having 25 sheep dipped, said that she did not know whether they were sheep or not, as some of them had six horns, others only four, and were said to be descendants of those which had been found on ships of the Spanish Armada.
The Pope has hitherto appointed an Irish-American to the Archbishopric of Chicago and a departure from the understood rule in the appointment of a prelate named Mundelein has been hailed by the German Press with delight. I.R.

January 27th 1916. DUBLIN SENSATION. NIGHT RAID BY POLICE. SEVERAL HOUSES VISITED AND ARMS AND AMMUNITION REMOVED. A wholesale raid was carried out in Dublin on Saturday by the Dublin police on the residences of a large number of people who it is stated had been suspected for some time past of acting in contravention of the provisions of the Defence of the Realm Act. The raids were a complete surprise, and though the persons concerned expostulated, no resistance was offered, and no arrests were made. The police removed arms, ammunition, and alleged seditious literature, to the Castle where they were impounded. The only name mentioned in the reports of the affair is that of the Countess Markievicz, from whose residence in Rathmines the police are stated to have removed a printing press, with type and paper. This lady, whose husband left Dublin at the outbreak of war to join his regiment in the Russian army, has been a prominent…………… I.R.

January 27th 1916. LISNASKEA, A SHOCKING CASE. DRINKING SEPARATION MONEY. MAGISTRATES LENIENT SENTENCE. Shocking revelations as to how a soldiers young wife, with 25 shillings separation allowance, starved her children and drank all the money, were told in Lisnaskea court on Saturday when the NSPCC prosecuted Mary Molloy aged 24 with neglecting her four children the youngest of whom was six months old. Mr. Winslow, solicitor for the complainants, said that the case had been under the supervision of the NSPCC for almost a year past. Inspector Mallon proved to various visits. The children were poorly clad, barefooted, and filthy. They slept on an old paillasse sacking. Her room was dirty and had no furniture in it. She drank all her money, and two days after she took the pledge from the Parish Priest he found her lying drunk in bed. She received several warnings and was fined twice for drunkenness, and eventually the children had to be taken from her and sent to the Workhouse. Two women witnesses told of defendant’s drunken habits and also of her immorality. She on occasions slept out at night with the baby. The children were covered with vermin and had a scalded ear and sore eyes. Defendant said she did not beat the children which was different from neglect. The chairman Mr. Walker, R.M. said that the case was a bad one and there could be no plea of poverty. Defendant would go to jail for 14 days. I.R.

07/09/2026

January 20th 1916. NOTES. Shop assistants are receiving great criticism and indeed odium for staying at home doing the work of girls and measuring tape or selling ribbon instead of joining the army. At Athy and other Rural Councils they were pointedly referred to. I.R.

The command of battalions at the front is now not to be given to any officer whose age exceeds 40, according to new decision of the military authorities, as the exertions of trench warfare demand useful physical powers.

Half of Armagh L.O. Lodge No 109 has joined the army having given 45 out of 90 members. An Armagh paper gives the names of all the clerk’s in local branches of the Belfast and Ulster Banks which have joined the army, and says that the local branches of the Provincial, Hibernian, and Northern Banks did not supply one. I.R.

January 20th 1916. A RELIC OF 1821. An interesting relic, commemorative of the visit of George 1V to Ireland in 1821 has been found in Lisnaskea. When digging in the garden belonging to Mr. William Richardson, at the rear of the market house, a large medal was found. On the front side was the head of George 1V, and on the reverse side the words “Ireland hails with joy the visit of her Sovereign August 1821.” The medal has been secured by Mr. Peter Costello, Lisnaskea, who is a collector of old and rare coins. Mr. Costello has also a large municipal medal struck to commemorate the er****on of a statue to Napoleon 111. It was taken from a German captured in Lille. I.R.

January 20th 1916. AN ORANGE HALL OPENED IN IRVINESTOWN. SPEECH BY MR. E. M. ARCHDALE. It is questionable if any town for its size in Ireland is as well off for public halls as Irvinestown. There is the Concert Hall, a new Townhall, Mr. Lee’s Hall, and now there is the new Orange Hall, the opening of which took place on Thursday evening last. The need for an Orange Hall has long been felt, as the local brethren of L.O.L. 1270 had no home of their own. Some years ago the building of a hall was discussed and decided upon, and Mr. F. E. Townsend was appointed the architect. The site is within what was known as the grand entrance to Castle Irvine, which had been disused for a long time. It was granted free of cost through the generosity of the W. M., of the lodge, Major C. C. D’Arcy Irvine, J. P. It has seating accommodation for 300 people, and what is so badly needed in most halls, a built up stage, with stage entrance and ante room. It has cost over £400 and of this sum about £100 is required to clear the building of debt. But for the war this sum would have been raised before the opening and the brethren of Lodge 1270 are hopeful of shortly wiping out this debt and intend to let the hall to theatrical companies and for other purposes, so that it will become a source of income as well as a great benefit to the town. I.R.

January 20th 1916. ON A DEAD MAN’S LAP. AIRMAN’S EXPLOIT AT A HEIGHT OF 10,000 FEET. This story is related in the Daily News in a letter just received from a young officer attached to the Royal Flying Corps now a prisoner in Germany. Poor B! I was so sorry he was killed; he writes. He was such a nice boy and only 19. I had a fight with two German aeroplanes and then a shell burst very close to us, and I heard a large piece whizzing past my head. Then the aeroplane started to come down headfirst spinning all the time. We must have dropped to about 5,000 feet in about 20 seconds. I looked around at once and saw poor B with a terrible wound in his head quite dead. I then realized that the only chance of saving my life was to step over into his seat and sit on his lap where I could reach the controls. I managed to get the machine out of that terrible death plunge, switched off the engine and made a good landing on terra firma. We were 10,000 feet up when B was killed and luckily it was this tremendous height that gave me time to think and act. I met one of the pilots of the German machines which attacked me. He could speak English quite well and we shook hands after a most thrilling fight. I brought down his aeroplane with my machine gun and he had to land close to where I landed. There was a bullet through his radiator and petrol tank but neither he nor his observer was touched. F.T.

January 27th 1916. INNISKILLING PRISONERS INTERNED IN GERMANY RENDER THANKS FOR THE GIFTS. Our donations towards the prisoners of war have been greatly increased by the generous donations of Irvinestown per Mrs. D’Arcy Irvine of Castle Irvine and we are sending it out to those for whom it is intended. It is 48 lbs of sugar, 10 lbs of tea, 10 tins of Oxo, 12 packets of cocoa, 2 lbs of candles and 16 tins of sardines. I understand that some tins of condensed milk are on their way also, for all of which we are deeply indebted to our loyal friends in Irvinestown. I.R.

06/09/2026

January 13th 1916. January 13th 1916. LOUGH ERNE DRAINAGE BOARD AND THE BELLEEK POTTERY. The following letter was read at a meeting of the Drainage Board from Mr. Michael Maguire, solicitor, Ballyshannon. January 1, 1916 – I have received instructions from the directors of the Belleek Pottery Works Company limited to inform you that in consequence of the action of the Lough Erne Drainage Board and their servants on Monday last the 27th ult in refusing to alter the level of the lake to such an extent their works were then and still are rendered idle. I am to point out that this is a serious matter for my clients company and for the entire hands employed at the Pottery Works. I am instructed to ask your Board to have the proper water level to the pottery wheel immediately restored otherwise I am to take the necessary steps for an injunction. F.T.

Fermanagh Herald January 15th 1916. WAR NEWS. THE ALLIES HAVE EVACUATED GALLIPOLI AND WITHDRAWN WITHOUT LOSS. The following statement was issued by the War Office on Sunday night: - General Sir Charles Monroe reports that the complete evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula has now been successfully carried out. All guns and howitzers were got away with the exception of 17 worn-out guns which were blown up by us before leaving. The casualties amounted to one British rank and file wounded. There were no casualties among the French troops. General C. Monroe states that the successful accomplishment of this difficult task is due to Generals Birdwood and Davies and to the invaluable assistance rendered in an operation of the highest difficulty by Admiral de Robeck and the Royal Navy.

Fermanagh Herald January 15th 1916. THE TURKISH VERSION. A Constantinople telegram of today states that during the night, as the result of a violent battle the British completely evacuated Sedd-El-Bahr, with great losses. Not a single soldier remained behind. The Gallipoli Peninsula is now clear of the enemy. All Constantinople is bedecked with flags to celebrate this victory. Everywhere demonstrations of joy are evident. In the mosques and churches thanksgiving services are being held. During the evening the city was illuminated.

Fermanagh Herald January 15th 1916. THE OPERATIONS. The Dardanelles operations began on February 19, 1915 when a general attack by the Allied squadrons was delivered. The combined land and sea operation as did not begin until April, 25th, following the failure of the naval operations to force their Dardanelles. The memorable landing of troops took place in the early morning when the Irish regiments suffered such terrible losses on what was known as “V” beach.

Fermanagh Herald January 15th 1916. SIR IAN HAMILTON’S FINAL SENSATIONAL DISPATCH ON THE DARDANELLES EXPEDITION. Sir Ian Hamilton had to deal with operations which began in April, and ended, for him, in the second week of October; with a desperate six months campaign, practically every day of which had its full tale of achievements and disappointment; with a prolonged but hopeless contest in which the British lost 4,915 officers and 108,600 men killed and wounded, beside suffering 96,613 casualties from sickness. Hearty optimism as to the success of this or that plan marks Sir Ian Hamilton’s narrative, but always – or nearly always – something accurred to defeat his expectations. On August 15th he could have cleared (he writes) a passage for the fleet to Constantinople if he had been sent reinforcements. His wants were not small. The British divisions alone were 45,000 under establishment strength, and he needed 50,000 fresh rifles. The required help was not sent him, “the reason given being one which prevented me from further insistence.”

January 20th 1916. THE FERMANAGH COUNTY SURVEYOR WRITES ABOUT LOCOMOTION AND THE NEED FOR IMPROVEMENT. Mr. Burkett in a report to the County Council says:- I feel it my duty to put in writing the matter of my own locomotion. I see more and more each day that it is exceedingly bad business your County Surveyor having no speedier means of locomotion than a common bicycle or occasional horse car. It is nothing to me personally, but it is utterly foolish, I think as regards the public. I am quite satisfied to go on as I am, but with all the increasing supervision needed by new methods of work, by the almost hopeless task of trying to get unskilled men to do skilful work, by the increasing difficulty in getting farmers to work at all at their roads, and the gradual breakup of the contract system which is quickly spreading all over Ireland, and by the steadily increasing numbers of roads and works in our own charge about - 50 at present - for all these reasons I must tell you straight bad business is going on in not providing me with better means of supervising the 17 or 20,000 pounds that you spend each year.
Of course I know this is a time of strict economy but that is rather the reason I mention the matter. I am asking for no compliment. It is nothing to me, though after 17 years a complement might not be out of place. I am the only Surveyor in Ireland of 17 years standing, who has not had his position very largely improved. Even before the war I was in every penny of £100 a year worse off than when I came here owing to changing times. I have had to cut down my way of living by that amount and more since the war. I have about 150 more miles to manage and about quadruple the work. I.R.

05/09/2026

Fermanagh Herald January 8th 1916. THE CONSCRIPTION BILL. IRELAND TO BE UNAFFECTED. ULSTER UNIONISTS PROTEST. The Press Association says the Nationalists members receive today definite assurances that there is no intention of applying compulsory military service to Ireland. The Government Bill in its original draft was applicable to all of the United Kingdom. The reference to Ireland was struck out at one of the Cabinet meetings of last week. Irish Unionist are raising a vigorous protest against the exclusion of Ireland. At a meeting of the Irish Unionist members held this evening in the House of Commons, Sir Edward Carson presiding, it was decided to forward to the Prime Minister and to Mr. Bonar Law, copies of a resolution declaring that the Government’s intention to exclude Ireland from the scope of the Bill constituted “an insult and humiliation to the loyal and patriotic population, and an abandonment of the principles of equality and sacrifice and times of war on the part of his Majesty’s subjects.”

January 13th 1916. ENNISKILLEN YACHT CLUB. MEMBERS IN THE ARMY. It transpired at the annual meeting of the Enniskillen Yacht Club that eighteen of its members have joined the army since the outbreak of the war. As a gesture of appreciation the Club recently decided to send each of them a gift of ci******es and to***co at Christmas. The club has invested £200 in the War Loan. They have received lengthy replies from many of the recipients such as Major C. F. Falls, M.A. and Lieutenant H. C. Gordon. F.T.

January 13th 1916. COMING ULSTER LAWSUITS FOR THE FOUR COURTS. In the court of Mr. Justice Barton a very interesting litigation arising out of the will of the late Mr. Jeremiah Jordan M.P. for South Fermanagh (who died possessed of considerable property principally in the town of Enniskillen) may develop. The short title of the case is Buchanan vs. Hamilton, and it was only opened last sitting to be adjourned for argument this month on the supplemental or amended someone’s. The testator left a number of charitable bequests, chiefly to Methodist institutions and he also left an annuity to the North and South Fermanagh National Registration Committee. The will was a very lengthy and peculiar document in which the testator gives directions as to his mode of burial and the kind of grave in which he should be interred. He directed that it should be built in brick, that no clay was to go on his coffin but said only in the smallest quantity consistent with sanitation. A very large Bar is engaged but it was hinted when the case was mentioned last December that efforts might be made to arrange a settlement. F.T.

January 13th 1916. THE FERMANAGH TIMES CONTAINS OVER SIX COLUMNS OR PRACTICALLY A FALL PAGE MORE LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS THAN ANY OTHER NEWSPAPER PRINTED IN ENNISKILLEN. F.T.

January 13th 1916. ENNISKILLEN POST OFFICE. AN OLD LINK BROKEN. For a period extending for over 60 years the family of Presley have been identified with Enniskillen Post Office but now the link has been broken at least temporarily by the fact that both John Presley and George Presley have joined the Army Service Corps and gone to do their bit in the great war. Both had considerable service in our local Post Office, the former being there over 25 years, while their father, the late Mr. John Presley acted as postmen in Enniskillen for over 35 years and was exceedingly popular with people of all classes and creeds. F.T.

January 13th 1916. BRITISH FARMERS RED CROSS FUND. FERMANAGH’S CONTRIBUTION A SPLENDID RESPONSE. Dear Sir, The response to this from County Fermanagh has been most satisfactory. At present with as approximate returns from three districts not yet complete the amount contributed is upwards of £800 which speaks well for the generosity of our farming community. I have read correspondence regarding Belcoo district the last issues. The people of that locality are second to none for real hospitality and generosity as is proverbial with all Irishmen. Their failure to respond to this very deserving appeal is simply the want of organisation of the local Committee. F.T.

04/09/2026

January 6th 1916. THE DARDANELLES. THE WITHDRAWAL. THE TURKS OUTWITTED IN A BRILLIANT OPERATION. The withdrawal in the Dardanelles was the most difficult and dangerous work that has yet been undertaken in this campaign. It was completed in the small hours of the 28th Inst. The entire reserve of ammunition and nearly all the stores were removed from the beaches under the eyes and guns of a powerful Turkish army which had never realized that the operation had begun until some hours after the last officers of the naval beach parties had shipped us to their packet boats and steamed away. Lord Kitchener in November brought the fact home to most of us that the whole position here was under review by the highest authorities. That the withdrawal could be done without a loss at all entered into no one’s calculation.
The problem was to withdraw divisions and their gear occupying a front of roughly 20,000 yards in length, which was hardly anywhere more than 500 yards, and at some places not more than 50 yards from the enemies trenches, and embark them from beaches which were nowhere beyond field gun range of the enemy positions, and in places actually not more than 50 yards from the enemies trenches and embark them from beaches which were nowhere beyond field gun range of the enemy positions and in places actually within rifle range of them.. The Turks occupied higher ground and nearly all of the Suvla Bay area was visible to them. The suffering of the men from cold, wet and exposure had been so severe that thousands had to be sent away to recover, and frostbite became for a while as bad as it had been last year in Flanders. The sufferings of the Turks were at least as bad. I.R.

January 6th 1916. OLD FERMANAGH ROADS. Perhaps the oldest in all the Lough Erne country was one discovered 6 feet deep overgrown with peat a few years ago in a bog near Abohill in the barony of Glenawley, near Mullaghdun. There was laid bare a distinct roadway of trees cut in two, as if to carry traffic through the soft portion of an ancient track. Mr. Jason Coulter, of Brockagh Bridge and others saw it, and the purpose of the blocks of timber was only too plainly visible, as they rested on other blocks. The roadway was also seen in Rossmacawinny bog further on. In the ancient times travellers or marauding bands made their way from one prominent object in the landscape to the other; and the direction of this road seem to indicate that it had led from Belmore Mountain to Benaughlin. The townland of Tents is elevated, and the word Tents signifies a light, and a light on Tents hill would guide a wayfarer by night along this road towards Belmore. For so far it is the only primitive road of the kind which has been laid bare in the country. I.R.

January 6th 1916. DISPATCH ABOUT SUVLA BAY. HOW THE LANDING WAS EFFECTED. DESCRIPTION OF A SPLENDID FAILURE. WHY OPERATIONS DID NOT SUCCEED. General Sir Ian Hamilton’s dispatch dealing with the Suvla Bay operations, and the historic part played by the 10th (Irish) division has been issued. The dispatch deals in much detail with the operations leading up to and following the landing of the 10th Division, and give special praise to the great gallantry of the Irish regiments. Having described the brilliant work of the 10th Division and mentioned the incomparable 29th Division he explained that he cabled to the War Office for reinforcements at once which were not sent him. “It seemed humanly speaking,” he adds “a certainty that if this help would have been sent at once we could have cleared a passage for our fleet to Constantinople. I.R.

Fermanagh Herald January 8th 1916. OBITER DICTA, (ED. BY THE WAY). JOTTINGS. The attempt of the Enniskillen Guardians to amalgamate the Unions in Fermanagh was discussed by the Lisnaskea Guardians on Saturday. The proposition was opposed at this meeting on the grounds that no facts or figures were produced by the proposers of the scheme to show that saving would be affected by the proposal. On a vote it was decided to postpone the question of sending delegates on hold until such time as figures would be shown that would go to prove that the proposal would be a financial success. At the same meeting Dr. Annesley, medical officer, Derrylin, applied for and obtained one year's leave of absence as he had obtained a commission in the R.A.M.C. He suggested that Dr. Knox, Lisnaskea, should be appointed as a successor at the same salary.
An enthusiastic meeting of the South Fermanagh Executive of the U. I. L. was held in Enniskillen on last Thursday. In his speech to the meeting Mr. Crumley, MP, dealt with the conscription topic and said that the people of Ireland and won the hearts of the British democracy through the acts of Irishmen on the battlefields. He said that the Irish Party would oppose conscription by every means in their power. Resolutions were passed expressing renewed confidence in Mr. Redmond and his colleagues and expressing approval at the action of the party; also expressing satisfaction at the establishment of the new paper Ireland in New York.
On last Thursday evening the Enniskillen Catholic Ladies’ Society regaled the children of the Enniskillen Workhouse to a splendid an evening’s amusement, consisting of singing, dancing, and games. The thoughtfulness of this estimable society is deserving of the highest commendation at the hands of the townspeople
On Monday evening the Ballyshannon hurlers gave a farewell dance to one of the members, Mr. Patrick Daly, son of Mister P. Daly, contractor, Ballyshannon. The club also presented Mr. Daly with a handsome dressing case as a token of their esteem. Mr. Daly left on Tuesday morning for Cahirciveen, where he is going to study wireless telegraphy.

03/09/2026

17-1-1925. Fermanagh Herald.
IRISH POSTAL FACILITIES IN THE EIGHTEENTH CENTURY.
Dublin and its environs apparently was not free from mail robberies as far back as 1788. In that year it was presented to the Lord Lieutenant that mail robberies were being frequently committed in the first stages out of Dublin. The mails being conveyed in open carts, driven by boys from twelve to fifteen years of age. They “were easy prey to the gangs of villains who infest every road leading into Dublin.”
A glance at the early difficulties of the Irish post office will not be without interest. At the end of the eighteenth century County Derry had only three post offices - Derry, Coleraine and Magherafelt. County Donegal had three—Ballyshannon, Raphoe and Letterkenny. These places being on the main trading routes were then thriving market towns.
Cork, Belfast, Limerick and Waterford had a daily delivery of letters. Galway, Wexford, Derry and Enniskillen had a post three times a week. Ennis in the County Clare was the only town in the Banner county to have a postal delivery. The County Mayo was penetrated twice weekly by a post rider, who went as far as Castlebar from whence post messengers carried the mails, on to Newport and the other to Killala. Sligo was the only town in the county to have a post. Carrick-on-Shannon had a post, the only one in Co., Leitrim, twice a week.
Mail coaches were introduced in 1780, and were confined at first to the Cork and Belfast roads. Before the introduction of the mail coach the mail bags were conveyed mostly by boys for very little remuneration, but some were supplied with ponies or mules. There were no contracts for the conveyance of mails. Three and a half miles per hour was the official speed of this outfit on the road.
The frequent robberies of mail bags no doubt caused misgivings in some quarters tantamount to the famous Keady “delay” hence the appeal to the Lord Lieutenant. It was proposed as an alternative that “covered carts be built and stout resolute men be employed to drive them.” The mail coach system was then adopted, and in urging its adoption the question of increased cost involved was explained away by an assurance that the difference would be more than saved by “a diminution in the cost of prosecuting felons for mail robberies.” The saving, however, and the expected area of security was slow in arriving. The mail coaches were frequently robbed on the highways and Ulster worked up quite a reputation for itself in this respect. As well as the mails highwaymen found dealers and merchants travelling with money on these conveyances.
On the Derry-Enniskillen-Sligo route especially for years gangs of highwaymen plundered the mail coaches. Four of the greatest terrorists on this route were Rainey, Atcheson, McQuaid and Prionsias Dubh. The latter, a handsome villain, hailed from the Fermanagh-Donegal border. His name was McHugh and he was hanged in Galway about 1820. The others were hanged in, or rather outside, Derry Jail after a series of exploits that put Dick Turpin in the shade.
The mail service has made wonderful strides since those days, and in spite of grumblers it is as near perfection as such an intricate and jointed service can be with its infinite ramifications dependent more or less on trains and weather conditions.

12-12-1925. Fermanagh Herald.
PETTIGO.
INTERESTING LICENSING CASE.
At Ballyshannon Circuit Court, Margt. Waters, publican, Pettigo appealed against the decision of the District Justice fining her 10/6d and endorsing her licence, for selling, as alleged, a naggin of whisky to a boy named Joseph Waters, (Winters?) under 18 years of age.
Giving evidence for the State, the boy stated that he bought the whisky for a man named Bartley Loughlin. Mr. Walers, husband of the publican, who supplied the drink, did not ask him for his age.
Guard Patrick O’Neill stated the birth certificate of the boy’s age was submitted to the District Court, but witness did not bring it to the Circuit Court. As far as he knew the Sergeant at Pettigo had it.
Mr. McMenamin asked the Judge to adjourn the case for the production of the certificate, but his Lordship refused to do so.
Cross-examining the boy (Winters} Mr. Ramage, solicitor for the defence, asked “Do you shave?” I do (Laughter).
How long are you shaving ? Not very long.
The Judge—What, do you shave? I do.
The Judge—And you cannot remember how long since you commenced to shave? It is not a year.
The Judge—Do you know what age you are? I cannot say.
The Judge—Do you think you are under 18 years ? I do.
John Waters, who supplied the drink, said he asked the boy if he were over 18 years of age and he said he was. The boy looked over 18 years.
The Judge upheld Mr. Ramge’s contention that the publican or her husband did not supply the boy with drink knowing he was wider age, and reversed the decision of the District Justice.
DRUMKEERAN AND DOWRA.
Tho monthly cattle fair in Dowra on 3rd inst. showed a slight increase both in the number of cattle exposed for sale, and in the prices offered. Young store cattle were in steady demand, and fetched their price accordingly. This of course considering the cattle restrictions on foot and mouth disease points to the very palpable fact of a scarcity of cattle in the country.

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20 Boa Island Road Belleek
Enniskillen
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