Remembering the life and times of a forgotten Mayo hero

A BOOK on the life of forgotten Mayo hero Arthur Muffeny has been launched.

The attendance at Mayo County Library included former Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Dr. Michael Neary, Archbishop Emeritus of Tuam.

Written and published by Castlebar native Colm MacDonnell and Ballina woman Yvonne Ahearn Kevany, the book provides a revealing insight into a businessman who not only made a big contribution to the local economy but was also a loyal supporter of Michael Davitt, Charles Stuart Parnell and others in the Land League during a hugely significant time in Irish history.

Arthur Muffeny was, the book tells us, a truly remarkable man. He developed various businesses in Ballina and was well recognised as a builder who had improved both the form and function of the town’s infrastructure.

Charitable in the extreme, he created employment for hundreds of people over a long lifetime, and still found the time and energy to campaign against the iniquitous system of land tenure which then existed in John Bull’s Other Island.

Yet, as Yyonne explained: "I always felt that my great-grandfather was missing from the history books so I took on the massive task of researching everywhere I could to find out as much as possible about this incredible philanthropist. I was not disappointed."

Muffeny was a successful businessman in the 19th century. He had retail outlets, a sawmill, a foundry, and building interests, but his principal passion was care and concern for the local people.

A source of inspiration to the marginalised, he built several of what would now be described as social houses and also the Town Hall, which brought the new form of entertainment, in terms of the cinema, to the recreation starved population of Ballina.

The most visible landmark he created was probably the Maid of Erin monument, popularly known as the Humbert Monument, which now stands outside Dunnes Stores, on the lead-in to Bohernasup Road.

The ceremonies associated with the laying of the foundation stone included the presence of the renowned Maud Gonne, to whom Muffeny presented a spinning wheel which can be seen at Westport’s Clew Bay Heritage Centre.

He also proposed multiple street name changes which eventually took place after the foundation of the State.

President of the Ballina branch of the Land League, and appearing on platforms with Davitt and Parnell, he attracted unwelcome attention and animosity from Dublin Castle and the other arms of the colonial administration.

He spent terms in Castlebar and Kilmainham gaols.

Convicted in 1898, he was sentenced for denouncing, inter alia, jury packing and the act of land grabbing, unfortunately common in those days, in other words ‘making seditious speeches’.

His son-in-law James Ahearn, an ardent Nationalist, served with distinction on the Harbour Board and the Urban Council and, as a Peace Commissioner, following the establishment of the Free State Government.

Ballina has no memorial to commemorate Muffeny’s life and achievements. It is intended to place a plaque on Arthur Muffeny’s former residence.

A committee considering the proposal has had tremendous support from former cathaoirleach of the Castlebar Municipal District, Seamus Weir, Councillor Mark Duffy, Declan Turnbull, head of Municipal District, and other local elected councillors.

The council has also authorised a clean-up and painting of House League Avenue and Land League Lane.

Co-author Colum wrote how Arthur's actions attracted a lot of international and local press coverage.

He lived to be 76, at a time when the average male life expectancy in Ireland was 52 years.

During a long life, he had experienced considerable economic success and unjust deprivation of freedom.

Small in stature but large in achievement and courage, he faced down a policy to make Ireland nothing more than Britain’s cabbage garden.

Arthur was twice a guest of Her Imperial Majesty’s Government. The first was under the 1881 Coercion Act, which allowed for internment without trial.

The accused were those suspected of involvement in the Land War. In fact, anybody. Habeas Corpus was suspended under the Act.

Kilmainham Gaol was specially prepared for an influx of these high profile prisoners – a hotel keeper, a medical student, a teacher, many farmers, an auctioneer, a gunsmith, and a commercial traveller found themselves locked up.

The Dundee Advertiser of June 1881 noted that one internee, Arthur Muffeny, was a Town Commissioner of Ballina and former President of the Ballina branch of the Irish National Land League.

During his 1881 incarceration, Muffeny complained to the Chief Secretary for Ireland, W.E. Forster, that he had been refused permission to attend his court cases at Ballina, being detained in HM prison.

His cases had thus fallen through. He was instantly released - he served five months instead of six.

His second incarceration was in December 1899, when he was again sentenced to six calendar months in Castlebar gaol. Muffeny and a Mr. Maguire had denounced an act of land grabbing when a Mr. Hughes took possession of his cousin’s farm.

The charge against Muffeny this time was one of ‘conspiracy’. He was released a month early, when the Lord Lieutenant commuted his sentence.

En route from the station to the gaol at Castlebar, the police had asked him to sit beside some convicted felons - decent, ordinary criminals, all being conveyed in the same brake.

Muffeny refused, scathingly taking offence at the implied insult, declaring he was no criminal but suffering for the noble cause of patriotism.

The book is a wonderful read and is available in Castlebar at Mayo Books and Eason's, Main Street.