THE LAST OF THE NAME by Charles McGlinchey. 1986

     In great luck, I recently found a used, water stained copy of The Last of the Name, by Charles McGlinchey of Clonmany in Inishowen. McGlinchey was born here in 1861, a short eight years before my grandfather's birth in nearby Iskaheen. A weaver and story teller, McGlinchey's chronicles of everyday life in Inishowen has helped me to understand my grandparents and others of their cohort. There is a warm feeling to read the continual references to Dohertys and McLaughlins that stream through this book. The book, first published in 1986, is a good and quick read, and I hope all of my relatives will obtain a copy for their libraries. Here are a couple of excerts:
     "It was a common thing to walk to Derry in times ago and people thought nothing of it. I heard of a Clonmany woman heading for Derry up over Pinch one morning and she fell  in with a banvil [group] of men cutting turf about Lagsalach. She told them her errand was to get a pair of shears. One of them said he'd lend her a pair, but she said when she was that far she'd go on. She was a mile from home at that time and had the best part of thirty in front of her. She was back with the shears before the men stopped cutting that evening. But all the women weren't as far travelled. Some of them never left the townland they were reared in unless to go to chapel. There was a woman from Altahall one time and she got to the top of Pinch. She saw the Swilly and the hills of Fanad beyond. She says, 'Who would think the world was so big? And there's America lying over there, you that broke many a mother's heart'."
And:
     "But my time on this world must be getting short. The people I knew and grew up along with are nearly all gone before me. Over our grave there was always an old quarry flag, but it was getting sunk in the ground with grass growing over it. So ten or twelve years ago I gave an order for a new one to Owen Roddy.The making of it cost 5 pounds, but I was out the best part of 6 pounds to get it erected, with the price of drink and all. A pound doesn't go far on drink these times.
     So, whenever I die, they will know where to bury me. And after my day the grave will not be opened again, for I'm the last of the name. And when I do go and fall in with Paddy Mor Roddy and Ogaster and Eibhlin O Kerrigan and all the rest, sure I'll be no stranger to them."

Charles McGlinchy died in 1954, at age 94.
                                                                                                                                        Roger Doherty