Ballycumber honours late George Griffith with donation to two local groups

The sale of ‘'Down the Decades,’' a book about the life of George Griffith from Clonshanny written by Tom Minnock, Moate native, has raised €1,700 for two local groups.

Cheques of €850 each were presented to Ballycumber Tidy Towns and Boher/Liss Cemetery Maintenance Group respectively.

The book was written by Mr Minnock in conversation with George and with contributions from his wife Daphne and the Griffith family as well as access to his diaries. George was born in 1922 and his life tracked that of the new Irish State. George never left his native Clonshanny giving him a local perspective on community life in the area during a fascinating period in the history of Ireland and the world. Mr Minnock's book is a collection of George's reflections on that century, captured for the most part, during conversation between the two of them, up until George's passing in March 2020.

Mr Minnock recalled that himself and his wife Mary arrived in Clonshanny in the early 2000s as neighbours of George on their own journey down the decades. This community that they joined has embraced and supported them since their arrival.

"It is a privilege to live here and to be blessed with such neighbours and an environment cared for by many volunteering groups," said Tom. “George was a great supporter of community and proud of his area,” said Mr Minnock, stating that it was fitting the two organisations to benefit from the funding reflected the community spirit he supported.

"He would be delighted with the reception that the book received and that the story of his life allows some practical support to be returned to the groups that care for the community he loved so much.”

Tom Griffith, speaking on behalf of the family, welcomed the groups and thanked them for their voluntary work in the community. He recalled the interaction that George had with his many friends especially those involved in farming. He recounted the work ethic that existed in the stories that George told, born out of necessity, but carried out with great humour.

George was delighted to recount the village events down the ages especially the famed frog-eating contest that became not only a national sensation but also went worldwide in an era long before the arrival of social media.

Angela Kelly, who coordinates the Boher/Liss Graveyard Maintenance Grou, thanked the Griffith family for thinking of them and making the generous contribution to their work. She recalled setting up the group and as Liss Graveyard has plots on either side of the church for Roman Catholic and Church of Ireland burials, calling on George to talk about getting volunteers from the Church of Ireland community to take part in the work. Thanks to his influence, a group of volunteers had come together within a week and the two communities have worked together year after year to maintain the plots.

Tony Ennis, on behalf of the Tidy Towns Committee, thanked the Griffith family for their generous contribution which was a welcome surprise and said that they would use the money to support their work in maintaining the village and surrounding area. He added that they would strive to ensure that George's grandchildren would have an area that they would look on with pride.

The evening concluded with refreshments and a song from Georges' neighbour Sean Kennedy.