Memories of Monaghan

After spending a holiday in Co. Monaghan the tourist takes many memories back home with him. An abiding memory is that of the warmth and friendliness of the local people.

Rossmore Forest Park and Loughno Leisure Park attract countless tourists each year. Bragan Scenic Drive, west of Emyvale, is a favourite spot for those who prefer a cycling holiday. Co. Monaghan, with its many streams, rivers and lakes is an angler’s paradise. Lough Muckno is renowned not only as a favourite spot for anglers but also as a centre for water sports, such as water-skiing and canoeing.

Music lovers are well catered for. Country & Western fans head for Castleblaney. The Annual Rhythm & Blues Festival attracts many enthusiasts to Monaghan town. Traditional Irish music lovers are well catered for in most of the towns in the County.

The Patrick Kavanagh Centre in Iniskeen and the Lace - making centres in Carrickmacross and Clones provide the tourist not just with souvenirs but with fond memories of his visit to Co. Monaghan.

Unforgettable Memories:

Undoubtedly the most effective way for the visitor to get a realistic insight into the ‘memories of Monaghan’ is to spend time with some of the local senior citizens and to listen as they recall events of bygone days. They will tell you that while there were good times there were also some that were not so good. They will refer to the ‘Annals of Ulster’ where it is recorded that the Plagues of 549 and 666 were particularly devastating. St. Tierney, who founded an abbey in Clones, died of the plague in 550.

Perhaps the most abiding memory that has been handed down to the present generation is that of the Great Famine. It is estimated that Co. Monaghan lost 40% of her population between 1846 and 1851. Magheracloone was the area worst affected. A Clergyman described the scene during the famine as follows – ‘Thirty funerals passed a certain crossroads in the course of a couple of hours. Corpses are found lying on the roadside or around the hedges’.

The majority of those who were affected by the famine lived in small cabins with mud and straw roofs, most of which leaked in bad weather. When the weather was wet the rain fell on them as they lay in bed. Some didn’t even have a bed and lay on a sop of straw on the floor. When the blight destroyed the potatoes the people tried to survive on stirabout or on broth made of meal, boiled turnips, and water. Hunger soon bred disease. Typhus, dysentery and fever devastated whole communities. In 1847 the fever was rampant and claimed the lives of countless children.

Many of the unfortunate families resorted to the workhouses in Monaghan town, Clones, Castleblaney and Carrickmacross. These were the only official agencies for the distribution of relief. During the famine the workhouses were severely overcrowded and consequently conditions deteriorated. Families were separated. The women and children lived in one section whilst the men lived in separate quarters. Everybody was provided with food but it gradually became scarce as the numbers of inmates rapidly increased. Many of those admitted were already suffering from disease and the workhouse soon became a breeding-ground for infection. Inmates and staff alike succumbed to the fever.

Attempts were made to organise emigration, especially for the children. In 1847 some were sent to England and Australia. In 1849 twenty-four pauper girls from the workhouse in Carrickmacross were sent to Australia. They were given six socks, two shoes, two aprons, needles, thread and 12 ½ p. each for the journey.

The Famine Relief Works was set up to enable men to earn some money with which to support their families. Part of this work involved the task of breaking stones. The amount of their earnings was determined by the size of the heap of stones they had broken. On a good day a man could earn 1p. Dozens of emaciated, fever-stricken men died while working at Dunraymond.

Thousands of men, women and children died in their little cabins and in the workhouses. Many died from hunger whilst others succumbed to disease brought on by starvation. Memories of such events would not be forgotten and remain embedded in the minds of the people of Monaghan.

Memories can Haunt:

The fact that memories abide not only in this life, but also in the next, is clearly documented in the Scriptures. In Luke’s Gospel, Ch. 16, we read of how Jesus told His disciples of a man whose memories haunted him when he was in Hell.

Memories of his lifestyle:

He had been wealthy. He dressed in the finest clothes and feasted on the best of food every day. He remembered how privileged he was in comparison to Lazarus. The dogs licked this hungry beggar’s sores as he lay at the rich man’s gate. He was hoping to be fed with the crumbs that fell from the table.

But in Hell the rich man was reminded that he had to leave all his wealth behind him when he died. He was also reminded that the torments he was now enduring in the fires of Hell could not be eased. So intense was his suffering that at this stage he would even have accepted help from the wretched beggar. Lazarus had left all his sufferings behind and was now rejoicing in Paradise. But the rich man was reminded that nobody could help him now. It was too late.

Memories of his family:

He remembered that he had five brothers at home and that they were just like he had been. He knew that unless they repented of their sins they would one day join him in Hell. So he requested that the beggar leave Paradise and go to tell his brothers of the great danger they were in. But he was reminded that his brothers had the same privilege and opportunity that he had squandered – access to the Scriptures. He was reminded that if they did not believe the Scriptures they would never be persuaded of their need to repent.

Memories can Motivate:

Dear Friend, we all have memories of bygone days. Some of those memories are very precious to us. But perhaps like the rich man there are things we have neglected to do. God forbid that we would wait until it is too late and then spend eternity haunted by our memories and regretting our foolishness. For him it was too late.

But you and I have the opportunity today to put things right. Remember how the rich man finally realised that unless his family believed the message of the Scriptures they, like him, would spend eternity in hell.

Perhaps it is now time for you to think of the many occasions on which you heard the Gospel message?

You remember how clearly it was outlined in the Scriptures:

(a) Everybody is a sinner:

‘There is NONE righteous, no, not one…For ALL have sinned, and come short of the glory of God’. (Romans Ch.3 vs 10, 23)

(b) All sinners are subject to sin’s penalty (eternity in Hell):

‘And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire…(They) shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone’. (Revelation Ch.20 v 15 ; Ch.21 v 8)

(c) Nobody can earn salvation through good works or religious exercises:

‘Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.’ (Titus Ch.3 v 5)

‘For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: NOT OF WORKS, lest any man should boast’. (Ephesians Ch.2 vs 8, 9)

(d) There is only ONE way of salvation:

‘Jesus saith unto him – “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me… For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” ’ (John Ch.14 v 6 ; Ch.3 v 16)

(e) ALL sinners must Repent:

‘But (God) now commandeth ALL men everywhere to repent’.(Acts Ch.17 v 30)

‘Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish’. (Luke Ch.13 v 3)

(f) Only those who put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ will be saved:

‘…Repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ’. (Acts Ch.20 v 21)

‘Therefore being justified by FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’. (Romans Ch.5 v 1)

Friend, the Scriptures remind us of the fact that Jesus suffered and died upon the cross as the Substitute for ALL who will repent of their sins and put their faith in Him –

‘But he was wounded for OUR transgressions, he was bruised for OUR iniquities: The chastisement of OUR peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are healed’. (Isaiah Ch.53 v 5)

Have you neglected to respond to God’s invitation? – ‘Come NOW, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool’. (Isaiah Ch.1 v 18)

Have you neglected to invite Jesus into your life as Saviour and Lord? He said– ‘Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me’. (Revelation Ch.3 v 20)

NOW is the time to respond to God’s invitation. NOW is the time to invite Jesus into your heart. NOW is the time to repent of your sins and to put your faith in Jesus Christ, believing He died upon the cross as YOUR substitute, paying in full the penalty for the guilt of YOUR sins –

‘Behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of Salvation’. (2 Corinthians Ch.6 v 2)

‘Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near’. (Isaiah Ch.55 v 6)

Friend, don’t hesitate! If you do, you may be haunted by your memories as you suffer eternal torments in the fires of Hell.

© Dick Keogh