"Damnable Racket" Could Flare Into a "Damnable Riot’"
Dear Editor:
What a surprise to read your April 06 article headlined “Irish farmer gives land to travellers.” The farmer in question is from Carnaross, County Meath, which is my home town.
This is the same Barney Kearney that I worked for as a boy, picking stones and potatoes, while I skinned my knees to the bone. I thinned turnips for two bob a day on his 65-acres, working side-by-side with the travellers (“tinkers” we called them then), who were being paid even less.
Was this one of the “sins” he referred to? And was it a sin when he didn’t step up to the plate when the local GAA club and soccer club were looking for a couple of acres to use as a playing field?
There was also the time when his “friends” the travellers ambushed a number of local farmers as they tried to get horses off their property. Or was it a sin when they sold a donkey to a local man for £10 and came back that same night and stole the donkey from his garden?
A damnable racket in the local community should be the result of Kearney’s actions as there are lots of fine people in Carnaross who do give “two hoots” about their land and their community.
It may not be used as a “halting site” now according to the “spokesman” but spokesmen change like the weather. A heritage park to highlight “traveller culture,” what a novel idea!
With the culture and traditions described above, I am sure if this plan goes ahead the “damnable racket” will turn into a “damnable riot,” mostly by the property owners in the area who don’t want to wake up some morning beside a junkyard.
I think Kearney should light a few more candles and pray for more guidance, perhaps in his own church or have a few words with his parish priest Fr.Casey who could probably forgive most of his sins.
He could maybe also explain to him that giving his farm to the travellers may not be enough to avoid the “damnable racket” at the golden gate when he tries to get in.
Now, some of you may say that it is none of my business as I have been gone from Carnaross for 32 years, but I was born and raised in Carnaross and I am still proud to call it my “home town.”
Yours sincerely,
Tom Morris
Sherwood Park, Alberta
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