Bunnán www.tourmakeady.com
THE history of Bunaun Oratory began in January, 1941, when work commenced there on a new dance hall. The site had been obtained from the Land Commission and under the aegis of Pr. John Colleran, who was curate in Tourmakeady at the time, the hall was completed and ready for opening on Easter Sunday, 1941.
Myles Joyce was the contractor and also acted as overseer and co-ordinator of the large group of voluntary workers. These included: Tom Lydon, Martin Costello, Dan Higgins, Dan Heneghan, Peter Mulroe, Martin Maree, Stephen Donoghue, Dan Prendergast, Michael Prendergast, Michael Lydon, Michael Whelan, Sean O'Neill, Mattie Heneghan and Pat Lydon.
As a result of all this voluntary labour and the free gravel brought by horse and cart from the river, the cost of the whole undertaking was merely £350. (Interestingly, a tradesman's wage at the time was between 5/- and 7/6.)
At first a battery gramophone supplied the music for the dances and Tilly Lamps provided the light. When it became clear that live music was preferred, Patrick Flanagan of Barnahowna was employed - for the princely sum of 5/- a night. Willie Keane and Tony Timoney also played there, as did Billy Newell from Partry. And for such a feast of craic agus ceol one had to part with 2d. on weeknights and 4d. (toistiún) on Sundays! Nevertheless, such exorbitant priced didn't deter people from walking from Glensaul or from Tourmakeady. People even came by boat from Kilbride.
Ach ni thugann rud ar bith ach seal and this mecca yielded place to the new the new hall built in Tourmakeady in 1951. The sound of revelry by night in the Bunaun ceased; the light fantastic was no longer tripped. No doubt it would have become an abandoned wreck but for the fact that it was put to new use and given a new lease of life.
It was converted into a Mass centre and Fr. Tom Canning celebrated mass for the first time there and since then it has been used as an Oratory by Frs. Pat Henry, Colm Burke and Deasún O Grógáin.
In the late 1960s the place was revamped, again by voluntary labour under the guidance of Pádraic Coyne and Pádraic O Máille ... a raised Sanctuary area, altar facing the congregation, a new ceiling, gas heating, carpeting, old church seats from Athenry. More recently, in the Spring and early Summer of this year, Pádraic Coyne directed operations in another renovation job: enlarge windows, new doors, new gable, new carpeting and paint work. And once again, due to the trojan voluntary work of both women and men, costs were kept to a minimum.
Myles Joyce was the contractor and also acted as overseer and co-ordinator of the large group of voluntary workers. These included: Tom Lydon, Martin Costello, Dan Higgins, Dan Heneghan, Peter Mulroe, Martin Maree, Stephen Donoghue, Dan Prendergast, Michael Prendergast, Michael Lydon, Michael Whelan, Sean O'Neill, Mattie Heneghan and Pat Lydon.
As a result of all this voluntary labour and the free gravel brought by horse and cart from the river, the cost of the whole undertaking was merely £350. (Interestingly, a tradesman's wage at the time was between 5/- and 7/6.)
At first a battery gramophone supplied the music for the dances and Tilly Lamps provided the light. When it became clear that live music was preferred, Patrick Flanagan of Barnahowna was employed - for the princely sum of 5/- a night. Willie Keane and Tony Timoney also played there, as did Billy Newell from Partry. And for such a feast of craic agus ceol one had to part with 2d. on weeknights and 4d. (toistiún) on Sundays! Nevertheless, such exorbitant priced didn't deter people from walking from Glensaul or from Tourmakeady. People even came by boat from Kilbride.
Ach ni thugann rud ar bith ach seal and this mecca yielded place to the new the new hall built in Tourmakeady in 1951. The sound of revelry by night in the Bunaun ceased; the light fantastic was no longer tripped. No doubt it would have become an abandoned wreck but for the fact that it was put to new use and given a new lease of life.
It was converted into a Mass centre and Fr. Tom Canning celebrated mass for the first time there and since then it has been used as an Oratory by Frs. Pat Henry, Colm Burke and Deasún O Grógáin.
In the late 1960s the place was revamped, again by voluntary labour under the guidance of Pádraic Coyne and Pádraic O Máille ... a raised Sanctuary area, altar facing the congregation, a new ceiling, gas heating, carpeting, old church seats from Athenry. More recently, in the Spring and early Summer of this year, Pádraic Coyne directed operations in another renovation job: enlarge windows, new doors, new gable, new carpeting and paint work. And once again, due to the trojan voluntary work of both women and men, costs were kept to a minimum.
