Going to the Well for Water: The Seamus Ennis Field Diary 1942-1946

8 Donegal – A New Year

8 Donegal – A New Year 15 January to 5 April 19441 Saturday 15.1.44 I left home by train (9.00 A.M.) and went to Derry.2 I was hungry, tired and spent the night there.3 I went to confession and I saw a picture ‘Hitler’s Children’ that was worth seeing. It was an English propaganda film but it showed the Reich in Germany from the beginning.4 Sunday 16.1.44 I attended Mass at 7.00 A.M. and breakfast at eight o’clock and got the bus at nine5 to Gort an Choirce. I went to Mac Gabhann’s house, An Caiseal, Gort an Choirce, where I received a great welcome. Seán Ó hEochaidh was there and his wife [Annie], the daughter of the householder. Seán is staying there at the moment.6 We had dinner and went for a walk to Dinny NFC 1295: 220 Page from Ennis diary 121 Mac Gabhann’s house Boyle’s house. Afterwards the three of us went to Gort an Choirce to fetch both my bags. We had tea on our return and spent the evening talking; I played the pipes for a while for the members of the family.7 Monday 17.1.44 I spent the entire day writing indoors. Wrote a few letters and rewrote the music from Conamara. Spent the evening indoors playing cards with the members of the family. Storm and rain since leaving Dublin. Tuesday 18.1.44 I spent the morning writing indoors. I went to visit Niall Ó Dufaigh in the afternoon. He and his two sisters were in good health. One of them, Máire Bean Mhic Aoidh, had given me a handful of songs in the autumn. They were pleased to see me again. Talking indoors during the evening.8 Wednesday 19.1.44 A bad stormy day. The entire day writing material from the Conamara collection. Niall Ó Dufaigh and some of his relatives (Courtesy Bella Mhic Aoidh) 122 Going to the Well for Water Thursday 20.1.44 Spent the day indoors writing letters and transcribing and the evening playing the pipes. Friday 21.1.44 I spent the day indoors writing the diary, letters and music. Passed the evening with Niall Ó Dufaigh at his house playing music for his friends and sisters and their families, whom he had invited there. Máire Nic Pháidín (Máire Mhór) (87), an old woman from An Bhealtaine, was there and she was so taken with the music I played that she sang a song for us, ‘Seachrán Sí a Bhain Domh san Oíche’ [‘A Fairy Blast Set Me Astray One Night’], and another one, a booleying9 song. I made an arrangement with her to write material down from her tomorrow evening. She is an old woman, bent, rotund and short of breath because of her age, but her voice is still very musical. I have given a more detailed description of her in the book of songs.10 Saturday 22.1.44 I spent the afternoon indoors writing and went to Máire Mhór Nic Pháidín after tea. I wrote five or six songs from her and, as she had to put such effort into singing them, I decided to use Seán’s Ediphone [Ó Niall Ó Dufaigh and his sister Lena (Courtesy Bella Mhic Aoidh) The Séamus Ennis Field Diary 1942–46 123 hEochaidh], because it is much better to use it in a situation such as this. I would not like to be the cause of putting too much heart strain on an old woman like Máire. Sunday 23.1.44 Seán [Ó hEochaidh] spoke a few days ago about organising a piping concert for the local people and he arranged to bring the members of the local branch of Comhaltas Uladh11 together today at Na Croisbhealaí and to make the arrangement. They gathered, Seán, Donncha Ó Baoill and I went there this afternoon and it was decided to hold the concert a week from today. It was decided to include a play and other items and Seán, Dinny and Máire Nic Suibhne (a girl from Na Croisbhealaí) and I were given the task of doing the play. We walked home and had tea at Mac Gabhann’s house and we wrote out a version of a short play, ‘Troid’, by Se...