*Genealogist, Dr Jane Hall0ran-Ryan.
FAMINE ORPHAN girls from Scariff are among the gripping stories of people and place that will be told at the upcoming Scariff Harbour Festival.
An historical and cultural recognition of how the village and its hinterland evolved, the trials and tribulations of its inhabitants and the story of the local church building with its striking stain-glassed windows will be put under the microscope by local historians.
A two-hour, leisurely walk through the centuries will highlight the period between 1825-1855 and address the relaxation of the Penal Laws and the arrival and consequences of Catholic Emancipation. It will also reference the local iron works and the importance of the grain and flour mills in the lives and survival of the people. On the town trail from the church to the docks, mention will also be given to the much earlier Battle of Scariff.
Led by Micheál Pearl and his brother Martin, it follows a very successful and well-attended Famine Walk and Workhouse Tour at last year’s festival. “This walk is also an emotional journey though times past in Scariff and the east Clare area. In preparation, we were conscious of the lives of our own ancestors, what our people endured and we will relive them through story, re-enactment, music and song,” Micheál said.
Separately, in this the 200th Anniversary year of the Sacred Heart Church, Micheál and Martin will outline the history of the church, the famous stain-glassed windows and the inspiration behind their designs. Created by Richard King from the famous Harry Clarke Studios in Dublin, there are four sets of two beautiful windows, gifted by James Reeves of New York, in memory of his parents who lived in Waterpark, Scariff.
During the overall renovation of the church in the year 2000, extensive restoration and relocation of the windows to their present position occurred. They now display the intricate tracery and glass work with its striking colours to maximum effect. The windows mainly include images of the Irish saints: St. Caimin, St. Flannan, St Colman, St Brigid, St. Augustine as well as St. Clare & St. Anthony of Padua.
Dr. Jane Halloran-Ryan, a Tulla-based genealogist, history tutor at Mary Immaculate College and Chair of Clare Roots Society, will complete the history brief for the 2025 festival. She will give an illustrated talk in the Edna O’Brien Library where she will remember the Famine Orphan Girls from Scariff. These brave and heroic teenagers travelled under the supervision of Dr. Charles Strutt on board the Thomas Arbuthnot Ship across the high seas to Australia on an emigration scheme in 1849/50 and many settled in the Yass region, south-west of Sydney.
Eleven Scariff girls between the ages of thirteen and sixteen were among the 100 plus mainly west of Ireland girls, who dared to imagine a life other than the poverty and desolation of post famine Clare. Scariff family names, such as Davies, White, Ryan, Farrell, Hickey, Considine, McNamara, Lister, Roughan and Gorman feature in a book called ‘A Decent Set of Girls’ by Australian academics, Dr. Richard Reid & Cheryl Mongan. Jane will focus on two of those girls, Mary Anne Roughan and Bridget Davies, who had relatives in Australia at the time of their emigration.
In addition, Jane will provide free individual genealogy sessions on both Saturday and Sunday at the Community Co-op for people interested in pursuing their own family history. These will be especially helpful, not only for starters, but also for people who may be facing search blocks along the way. Information on and access to relevant websites will be available. Pre-booking is required for genealogy sessions – see festival programme on www.scariff.ie.
