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Local choir's poignant tribute to
Duffy's Cut
24.05.13
MOVILLE Gospel are busy
rehearsing for their Summer Festival debut in Ardara
this Bank Holiday Sunday 2nd June.
The 30 strong Choir which has taken Inishowen by
storm over the last few years are bring their own
brand of uplifting music to the diverse Melting Pot
Festival where they will sing at morning Mass
followed by a full concert later in the day.
One interesting feature of their visit to south west
Donegal is Ardara’s connection with the Duffy’s Cut
massacre in Pennyslvania in 1832.
The atrocity involved the murder of 57 Irish workers
(mostly from Donegal, Derry and Tyrone) who had only
recently landed in Boston to work on the railway and
contracted cholera. The victims were buried in a
mass grave. The grave was only discovered six years
ago and the one identified victim John Ruddy, a
native of Inishowen, was buried in Ardara in March
this year. |
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Moville Gospel Choir. |
Moville Gospel Choir
member Leo McCauley wrote his song '57 Ghosts' about
Duffy’s Cut a few years ago. On hearing that John
Ruddy was now buried in the church that the choir
would be performing Leo set about getting permission
to sing the song on the day.
“I sent the song to Vincent Gallagher in USA in
whose family plot Ruddy is buried and he
wholeheartedly backed the idea of singing it on the
day. I also rang parish priest, Canon Laverty and he
also had no objection.
"This is particularly poignant in that John Ruddy
was originally from Inishowen and here we are, a
choir from his home area, coming to sing at his
graveside," added Leo.
"The song chronicles the terrible events at Duffy’s
cut and culminates in the victims wishing to be
brought home. We are happy that at least John is now
home in Donegal.
“On a personal note it is a proud day for me to sing
this song accompanied by such a talented choir and
musicians and anyone who sees us at Mass or in
concert later in the day will have a brilliant
experience, I can guarantee that!” he added. |
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