Sometimes researching history is like trying to make a jigsaw that’s missing too many pieces. Sometimes, someone throws a few pieces from a different jigsaw in, just to complicate matters even more. This one such story.
New Arrivals in the neat little town
In May 1896 the Midland Tribune reported…
‘Tuesday last was celebrated by great festivity and rejoicing at Ferbane, the occasion being the arrival of four Sisters of the Order of St. Joseph to found a Convent in the neat little town. The nuns came at the invitation of the esteemed Parish Priest, Very Rev. Canon Sheridan who had prepared for their accommodation in the large vacant building beside the Brusna Bridge’
A Priest and his Parish
Canon Patrick Sherdian was a man who got things done, but he liked things done his way. Ordained in 1855 and stationed at Ferbane from 1875 until his death in 1899, the Canon interested himself in every aspect of his parishioners’ lives. His time in Ferbane was occasioned by conflict, be it with some members of the local home rule organisation, the Board of Guardians or his own curates. Nevertheless, his achievements were substantial. In 1894, he led the successful campaign to save the Clara to Banagher Railway branch line. Having built a national school in High Street, he set out to construct the Church of the Immaculate Conception at Ferbane. Work progressed quickly and the Canon set to work on raising the estimated £7,000 required to complete the job. To accomplish this, he organised a massive raffle and a Grand Bazaar to be held on the last week of May in 1897.
Assertive when he felt the occasion required, Sheridan was nevertheless a skilled networker and he was quick to utilize his connections to bolster his fundraising venture. The local landlord and former Conservative M.P. John Gilbert King agreed to act as President of the Bazaar committee and hundreds of sponsors ranging from the Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, the Earl of Rosse to the Canon’s parishioners provided prizes for the raffle.
The Honourable Member for King’s County
Bernard Charles Molloy was born around 1842 into a family with extensive ties to Clara and Rahan. As young man he had led the soldier’s life, fighting with the Papal armies and later in the French forces. A qualified barrister he had entered parliament in 1880 as a Home Ruler. An advocate of penal reform, his legal business involved him heavily with mining activities in Africa. Molloy regularly acted as a patron for sporting events in his constituency. During the 1890’s he sponsored trophies to be presented at Banagher, Birr and Moneygall. In the run up to the Ferbane Bazaar he appears to have donated two sliver cups. While it is not entirely clear, it appears these were to be presented to the winners of the cycling and football competition.
Ferbane- a centre of attraction
The weeklong Bazaar was to prove a massive success with the Midland Tribune reporting…
‘Many thousands of people assembled to contribute to the success of the church fund and participate in the day’s amusements. From an early hour, long streams of vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians continued to pour into the quiet little town by the Brusna from the different points of the compass. and at the hour announced for the opening of the proceedings the attendance must have numbered several thousands. It is doubtful if Ferbane ever before presented such a scene of animation, or formed a centre of attraction for so many people. Tullamore, Birr, Athlone, and Ballinasloe furnished strong contingents, a special train from the first-mentioned town bringing a large: number, while all the adjoining smaller towns and villages turned out en-masse. The splendid brass band of the Birr Young Men’s Society was present and discoursed a beautiful selection of music, while the Clara Fife and Drum Band also helped to enliven the proceedings. A number of marquees had to be erected in a convenient field at the back of the new church, and here the young ladies having stalls carried on a brisk business. Elsewhere palmistry, a shooting gallery, and refreshment saloon, plied a busy trade.’
There was a variety of sporting contests on display ranging from tug-o-war to donkey derbies to cycling and weight competitions but the main focus soon settled on the Gaelic football tournament.
Remember 97- The Belmont Rangers
The foundation of the GAA in 1884 was to have a massive effect on Irish life, but the organisations early existence was beset by political battles of both internal and external origin. While a number of unrecognized tournaments occurred, the first ‘Official’ King’s County Football Championship was claimed by Tullamore with a one-point victory over Cloghan in 1896. One side hoping to make a name for themselves in both the Ferbane Bazaar and the King’s County Championship were the Belmont Rangers.
They honed their skills in a series of keenly contested challenge games against Banagher in the spring of 1897 and made their competitive debut when they defeated Brosna Rovers in the first round of the Ferbane Bazaar in May. They followed up with a victory over Ballinahown and it appears that they had qualified to contest the Bazaar Final.
In June they defeated Killeigh-Abbey Rovers by five points to nil in the Championship at Mount Bolus. The situation was soon complicated by an objection from Killeigh claiming the Belmont vice-captain had lined out for Cloghan in a championship game against the Island. As a result, Killeigh were awarded the game and Belmont’s dreams of victory in 1897 were dashed. A song putting forward the ‘Belmont Rangers’ case was composed and in the years which followed it was a popular rendition at social events in the locality.
Fast Forward – 2021
There are still many pieces missing from the story. It is not clear if the Ferbane Bazaar Football tournament was ever completed, but the County Championship was concluded when Tullamore overcame Cloghan in a repeat of the 1896 final.
But one important artefact remains.
For many years, one of the cups sponsored by B.C. Molloy remained in the care of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Cluny. In the summer of 2021, 125 years after Fr Sheridan had welcomed them to Ferbane, the sisters began the process of vacating their building on the banks of the Brosna and in 2022 they moved to another premises in the town.
The sisters had always maintained the trophy in pristine condition and during the transfer, Sr. Benedict presented the cup to Brian Flynn a prominent member of the local GAA club and chairman of the An Síolán community group.
The cup is inscribed…
Ferbane Athletic Association
The Soggart a Roon Cup
Presented by
Benard C Molloy M.P.
1897
The Belmont Rangers
Come all ye sporting Irish Gaels and listen to my song,
concerning Belmont Rangers who shamefully were wronged.
To organise a football team under Gaelic rules to play,
the sporting boys around Belmont affiliation fees did pay.
Chorus
We are the Belmont Rangers boys who never were afraid,
For the King’s County Championship, we surely were betrayed.
We envy no Clubs victory; we take it with goodwill,
so remember 97 boys; we’re the Belmont Rangers still.
It was at Ferbane at the Grand Bazaar in May we first were seen,
Against the Brosna Rovers in our jerseys black and green.
The first time for the Sliver Cup, the play was rough and fast,
But against the Belmont Rangers the Rovers could not last.
It was on the following Sunday on the very same football ground,
The second time for the Sliver Cup we were drawn against Ballinahown.
This noble team of footballers they got a great surprise,
When they found themselves defeated by the Belmont Rangers boys
For the King’s County Championship we next did go from home,
To meet the Killeigh Abbey Rovers to Mount Bolus we did roam.
With their bragging and their boating soon did put aside,
It was then they got a trimming from the Belmont Rangers side
So now to conclude and finish and in my sporting song,
I hope you will support our club when hearig how we were wronged.
They lodged an objection of all other club’s desire,
A false accusation that Daly played for hire,
and the news it spread like wildfire that we were disqualified
Supported by the Department of Culture Communications and Sport as part of the Commemorations Series.
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