Nostalgic trip back to Ballinaclough
The 12th edition of Silvermines Historical Society’s publication, Mining the Past 2024/25, was launched on Friday, November 29, in the Eagle’s Nest, Dolla, and the books are currently on sale in all local outlets.
The cover photograph is a view of the churchyard in Ballinaclough, featuring the turret of the Church of Ireland Church, taken by well-known local photographer, Tom Doherty.
One of the articles in this year’s publication, ‘Silvermines 3’, tells us how an attractive girl from Dolla collided with a young man from London at Dublin airport and ended the tale by getting married to him in Ballinaclough Church of Ireland. Maureen Hodgins and Alan Grainger got married in September 1959, and when their story, written by Alan, appeared in Mining the Past, they decided to pay a nostalgic visit to Ballinaclough and Dolla, and collect the new publication in person.
Representatives of the SHS met them as they came off the motorway at exit 25 and their first port of call was the church, where their wedding took place 65 years ago. Their daughter Emma was their designated driver for the day. They admired the architecture of the church and remembered they had over a hundred guests at the wedding - we all wondered how the church held them all.
HODGINS CONNECTION
Maureen and Emma went to visit the graves of Maureen’s parents in the churchyard and also their cousins' graves, David and Gretta Hodgins. Later in conversation, we remarked that David, the solicitor, was also an accomplished playwright. Not only did they know this but they both were involved in acting in one of his plays many years earlier.
Their next port of call was Maureen’s former family home at Traverstown. The residence was owned by the Hodgins family at that time and Major Thomas Hodgins, Maureen’s father, was a well-known veterinary surgeon in the area. The house is now occupied by Pat Mc Sweeney and coincidentally he is also a veterinary surgeon. Pat was there to greet the Graingers and talk to them about the house.
The final stop was the local bar and grocery in Dolla where Alan and his Best Man Andy had visited all of 65 years ago on the morning of their wedding. The premises, which formerly belonged to the Mackey family, had changed hands in 1957 to the Ryan (Lacken) family, who still own it.
Martin Ryan (L) welcomed the Dublin visitors and served tea and cake beside a good fire. A mixture of stories and memories were shared over tea and Maureen remembered that her mother could buy all their requirements in this local shop. Martin produced a ledger dating back to when the Mackey family owned the premises and opened a page, dating back to February 1949, where the Hodgins family had purchased groceries. After a very interesting morning with the Graingers, having collected the current publication, we wished Alan, Maureen and Emma a safe journey back to Dublin.
You can read Alan’s story, ‘Silvermines 3’ and many more interesting stories in this year’s publication of Mining the Past. The book, priced at €10, is on sale in Eason and John Ryan’s book shop Nenagh. It is also available in all local shops.