Oídhce an Ghála 1903

Diarmuid Ó Gealbháin a raibh cónaí air i Sosadh i mBaile ‘n Sceilg a d’aithris an fonn seo faoi oíche mhór gála a rinne scrios ollmhór mórthimpeall na dúiche. File agus siúinéir ab ea Ó Gealbháin a rinne go leor filíochta agus a bhí os cionn trí fichid bliain d’aois nuair a cailleadh é. Baineann an fonn seo le stoirm ghaoithe a rinne an t-uafás dochair agus damáiste. Aneas a shéid an ghaoth ó Charraig Lomáin agus tharraing sí crainn agus toir amach as an talamh agus leibhéal sí Cathair Saidhbhín agus oileán Dairbhre. Bhí an “araicéin” chomh láidir sin nach raibh sceach, fál ná crann fágtha slán ó Chorcaigh aduaidh. Chruthaigh an stoirm an oiread damáiste gur mian leis an reacaire cuntas a fháil ó gach cearn den tír faoin ár atá déanta. Cuirtear síos go lom ar dhíonta réabtha, tintreacha, fir ag ceangail síos ábhair, scaoll a bheith ar pháistí agus mná ag gol. Cuirtear fógairt amach leis go dtiocfadh fir oibre as gach áit sa tír chun cabhrú leis an obair dheisiúcháin agus gealltar go mbeadh pingin dheas le déanamh ag gach pluiméir agus siúinéir leis an obair mhór ar fad a bheidh le déanamh.

This piece was recounted by Diarmuid Ó Gealbháin from Sussa in Ballinskelligs and involves a hurricane from the year 1903 that caused havoc and destruction around the country. Ó Gealbháin was a poet and a carpenter who lived until he was over sixty years of age. This piece and another about a landlord named O’Mahoney are the only pieces from him that people in the locality can recall. The destruction wrought by this hurricane is described in vivid detail. It blew south from the Skelligs and the Lemon Rock and tore trees and bushes from the ground. It leveled Cahirciveen and Valentia island and was of such force that there wasn’t a bush, hedge or tree left standing from Cork all the way southwards. The reciter wishes to hear about the wreckage caused by the storm from other parts of Ireland and describes roofs coming off houses and lightening strikes, men trying to tie down materials, children terrifed and women crying. There is also an announcement for workmen to come and help with the repair from “Caiseal go Bóinn” and a promise that there is not a plumber nor a carpenter in the whole of Ireland who won’t make a nice bit of money with all the work to be done.