McHugh’s Miscellany Special - St Patrick, Civil War & the Poteen makers’ secret service

As St Patrick’s Day 2023 is here, a quick glance at what is happening here and around the global pond conjures up a most sobering thought in advance of drowning the shamrock.

But how were we reporting on local issues as we published the March 16 edition of the Donegal Democrat, 100 years ago.

Was our sprig of the shamrock even brave enough to raise its head above the ground, as green fought green, leaving only fields of red blood?

The Donegal Democrat Editorial, exactly 100 years ago to this date, was still very much focused on the Civil War.

We were also under military censorship, so inking the pen was not as straightforward as the self professed keyword warriors of our current generation.

It read: “The cost of services in the Free State for the current financial year amounted roughly to thirty nine million pounds whereas the revenue budgeted is for about twenty seven millions.

“This means a deficit of about twelve millions which is very small indeed considering the abnormal circumstances prevailing in the country.

“The payment of compensation awards alone amounts to over ten millions and were this obligation unnecessary there would be only a deficit of two millions. The National Army cost seven and a half millions; which item could be greatly reduced if the Army were not engaged in active service.

Donegal Democrat National Army advert from March 16, 1923

“Signs are rapidly growing that the resistance to the Government is being stemmed and with improvement in the military situation will come improvements in the civil and commercial life of the country.

“At present production is practically at a standstill while consumption is increasing - in other words, we are making little and paying much. There can be no jurisdiction for prolonging the present strife for which we have to pay so dearly.

Ireland, free from foreign restrictions and from internal strife will be one of the most prosperous countries in Europe. Perhaps, when next year’s budget is completed, we may have a happier retrospect than we have today.”

Well, being one of the most prosperous countries in Europe did come knocking, many, many decades later, but sadly still not translating as equitably as it should have done and still does.

The socio economic divisions, the haves and the have nots are still as evident today as they were back then.

But there was a GAA hurling and football match on Paddy’s Day in Ballybofey with a diaspora of Donegal based Civic Guards, the hurlers of Derry and the footballers of Donegal, minus of course the anti-treaty GAA men, who would not have fared well either on or off the fields, football or otherwise, at that time!

Tirconaill GAA County Board fixture 100 years ago in the Donegal Democrat

Elsewhere, there was reference to the death of a National Army soldier, Lieutenant Cannon who had died following “an exchange of shots” at the barracks at Creeslough with the ‘Irregulars’. It was soon after the executions of four anti treaty men at Drumboe, which had been reported in an earlier edition of the paper. 

Under a heading of ‘Poteen Makers’ Secret Service’ at a sitting of Burnfoot District Court it was revealed: “Superintendent McManus of the Civic Guard referred to the great difficulty the authorities experienced in bringing proceedings against people who still worked stills in open places such as commons or bogs.

How the poteen makers avoided the Civic Guard back in 1923

“It was often an utter impossibility to bring the guilt home to the guilty person. After days of arduous work in searching the countryside, the Guard would arrive at still-house to find the wash spilled and the worm, the most important part of the distilling apparatus, gone, for the reason, that the people engaged in the traffic had adopted a system of signalling which was effective for many miles.”

Clearly, it seems that the poteen men were the only ones smiling that particular feast day!