Kearns, Dominick, Notes on and reminisces from Tom Harris, Portumna c.1942
One hardback notebook and a copybook with draft handwritten draft [newsletter or newspaper] articles or accounts, written by [Dominick Kearns], on a variety of topics, primarily on Tom Harris (c. 1845 - c. 1942), and his memories, ‘…and now I will let Tom in his own graphic words recall pleasant memories of his youthful days. “Oh Father, said Tom, ‘This is no gaiety or social life now in our county homes like what I remember 50 years ago. The County places are getting awful lonesome and it is no wonder the young people are leaving and going away from the old homes…” (GS19/04/2, f17)’.
Also includes Menu from the Westpark Hotel, Portumna with annotation ‘Opening Dinner for [Dunton] 20 Oct 1970, with the signatures of some attendees on the reverse.
The copybook (with ‘items of interest’ list appended at the back) includes stories relating football and hurling, and various families and characters (such as Johnny Farrell, ‘the best shot in the parish…’) in the Portumna district. (Notebook appears to be notes on oral recordings from Tom, prior to his death) (GS19/04/1).
The 2nd notebook (GS19/04/2) includes what appear to be two versions of the story, written following the death of Harris, one of which reads,
"I have already quoted in these pages the name of that grand old man of Portumna, Tom Harris, .... that he has been recently called to is external reward by the Master whom he served so loyally for well-nigh a century. I am free to dwell in a more intimate manner on his character and experiences on his prowess as an athlete (1p)
He was born in [Capposale] …. About 5 ft 10” in height …. Champion high jumper of East Galway. A skilled oarsman and swimmer and an outstanding Gaelic sportsman. It was his boast that he could stand erect head back on his hands beneath the bar___ …
His prowess of endurance in swimming underwater was not one of the most remarkable features of this athlete. Up to his ninety-fifty year he could be seen regularly plunging in the water of the Shannon. “I miss the water!”, his voice lamented after he had been warned by Dr Kearny that his hear was not as strong at ninety as it had been at seventy (2-3ff),
He held that the climate conditions of the county had changed very considerable during his life-time, quoting the fact that in his early years heavy frosts before and after Christmas were the general rule. Again & again he…… the River Shannon, but also Lough Derg go thickly covered with ice that the farmers were able to bring their life-stock across its frozen waters. He recalled a great hurling match between Galway and Tipperary players on the frozen surface of Lough Derg. In those days, according to Tom, Portumna could boast of many expert skaters who thronged the late in pursuit of winter sport which was continued until the early hours of the morning…. (3pf).
Life in the old days cannot be better portrayed than in the simple language of old Tom who thus records pleasant memories of his youthful years commenting on the changed condition of rural life today, old Tom says “Our Father, the county….” (5f)
In October 1924 a very large representative member presided over by Monsignor Page was held in Portumna to take steps towards the furnishing the Parish with a much-needed Parochial Hall. The An ambitious plan of reconstructing the old Bridewell and the yard attached into a Parochial Hall this was effected by [reason], the old prison by a few weeks and spanning them with a roof enclosing a space of 70 feet long by 40 feet [wide]… (6f)
The next stage was taken by the Town Development who petitioned the County Council for a public water supply….’(GS19/4/2, 9f).