1966 Farmers' Rights March: remembering the west Cork brigade

The Farmers’ Rights March has a special place in west Cork’s agricultural history. It ensures that those of us who are farming today could do what we enjoy most without fear of persecution and safe in the knowledge that our views would be heard.

The farmers who marched and their families were remembered in west Cork recently and the Irish Farmers Journal spoke to those involved.

Drimoleague/Drinagh NFA branch chair

Now living in Ballydehob, Jim Morris joined the then National Farmers’ Association (NFA) in the early 1960s and was chair of the Drimoleague/Drinagh branch in 1966.

“Rickard Deasy had got the idea from the civil rights marches in the United States and he put the idea to Danny Andrew McCarthy down here. Danny was a larger-than-life character and he insisted it started in west Cork. We left on a Friday and walked for 12 days to reach Dublin on a Wednesday.

“We sang as we marched. Our leader, Seán O’Brien, asked me to sing. I ended up singing ‘Come Along,’ a Scottish marching song, eight times over the last few miles as night fell between Manch and Enniskeane.

“The first two days were the longest, with more than 20 miles each – there were a lot of blisters and sore feet. After that, we were only walking around 15 miles a day. In Cork, we were fed in farmhouses and stayed there too. From Cahir onwards, we were provided with caravans.

“We left Kilcoran Lodge for Cashel. I suppose it was 15 miles. We went all around the Rock of Cashel and into the mart and the caravans were there. The next day was very wet. It was raining all day on the way to Urlingford; there was a flood on the road going through Urlingford bog.

“At the edge of Portlaoise, we met Rickard Deasy again.

“He started with every group. North Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Kerry joined us there from the Limerick-Dublin road. The south Tipperary fellows were with us from Cahir.

‘‘Whenever groups joined up, the fellows who were on the road longest stayed in front so Kerry came in between us and south Tipperary. After that, the Laois and Kildare fellows joined us.

“We held the front the entire time. We walked through the quays in Dublin into Merrion Square. Fachtna O’Callaghan from Rosscarbery and Jack O’Sullivan from Bere Island carried the NFA banner and myself and James Jerry Mike O’Sullivan from Coomhola were right behind carrying the Cork banner.

“It was a great experience and no one could take it away from me.”

Wife of Seán O’Brien

“He talked about doing the march to Dublin. He was all for it and was one of the main organisers. I would say he was regional chair at the time. I thought, ‘Oh my God, away for that much time’.’’

But once they were gone, they were gone, so I thought no more about it.

“I was expecting my second child at the time and my eldest was two. My mother-in-law was here.

‘‘She was an elderly lady but she could milk a cow and she used to mind the little one. She was a great help and the neighbours were very good.

‘‘We were going to the creamery then, the Mealagh branch of Drinagh co-op. It was mostly Kerry cows at the time. They were hand-milked – that was the hard part.

“(Agriculture) Minister (Charlie) Haughey told them to stay at home and not to bother coming to Dublin. He refused to meet them. Tensions were high at the rally in Merrion Square.

‘‘Someone on the platform said give the microphone to Seán. He had an authoritative voice, he was in the FCA for years, reaching the rank of Commandant, and he calmed the situation.

“Years later, the Garda Superintendent on duty in Dublin that day, came to Bantry and he came out here to thank Seán for calming the situation.

“There were a lot of gardaí there and they were worried subversives might take advantage of the crowd. One fellow wanted to get on the platform. He’s in the photographs with a trench coat and broad hat and Seán told him in no uncertain terms what to do with himself and his plans.

“Seán came home straight after the march. He was continuously at meetings after the march to Dublin, then he was out every night all over west Cork looking for people to join NFA before it became IFA.

“Before he passed away, he gave his diary from the march to his grandson, Shane. I had never read it. Seán always said he would love to live until 2016, because he wanted to be here for the 1916 centenary celebrations and the 50th anniversary of the march to Dublin”.

Click on the image for a full-size extract from Seán's diary.

Former west Cork IFA chair

“I was in Bantry that morning with my father and I remember distinctly Rickard Deasy hitting his stick off the road as he left. There was no wavering once the first step was taken.

“When they heard Donegal had started, they got a lot of confidence as they were no longer alone.

“When Kerry started, the walk seemed to be easier as they knew then they were leading a show that was going to be strong.

‘‘Minister Haughey called it at the time a pipsqueak organisation. With 30,000 farmers in Dublin, Rickard Deasy said this is some effort for a pipsqueak organisation.”

Corney Buckley West Cork IFA chair

“There was great commitment from those people. They left their homes and their families to begin what became a major turning point for Irish farming. They started out alone and they pursued it and were joined by other counties as they went up along. They created a momentum that made the government realise that farmers were serious. There was a very strong NFA in west Cork at the time.

‘‘It’s only fitting and right that we honour these 16 men. A plaque will be unveiled in their honour in the square in Bantry.”

The 16 west Cork farmers who marched the 217 miles from Bantry to Dublin in 1966:

*Denotes those who are still alive.

Read more

Farmer writes: remembering those who marched for us

Listen: Making their stand - the rights campaign of 1966