The funeral of the last local resident of a Carna townland has sounded a warning for the future of native communities
While many areas of west Connemara have a plethora of holiday homes, the native population is dwindling
A funeral in Roundstone last week has signified the changing face of rural townlands along the Atlantic coastline.
A townland has a sacred place in rural Ireland. It is the smallest unit in the administration system but it is the biggest place in the world for those who were born there.
James McDonagh from the townland of Founachree in the parish of Roundstone passed away last week.
He was laid to rest near the gleaming white sands of the Gurteen beaches, his life over after 4 score year on this earth.
But with James’s passing, the townland of Founachree died in another way. For he was the last native of that townland perched over the Atlantic. There were seven houses and seven native families once.
They were denuded by death and emigration.
The houses became second homes, or holiday homes. The new tenants keep the lights on sometimes and they are all welcome in the community.
But the change is a striking social story.
There may be more Founachrees in Connemara as years go by.
Máirtín Ó Catháin for Galway Bay FM in Connemara.
