Barnacarroll commemorates Butte Mining Disaster of 1917

FAMILY TIES  Grandchildren, grandnephews and relations of Michael Conroy at the commemoration event with the organising committee, front, from left: Philomena Flatley, Tess Watkins (Buckinghamshire), Carolyn Donaldson (Norfolk), Kathleen Bowles (Surrey), Marilyn Leadbetter (Hertfordshire). Back, from left: Jarlath Sweeney (organising committee), Eva O’Sullivan, TJ Keane (organising committee), Finbarr Toal (Dundalk), Fr Martin O’Connor, Peter Corcoran (New York), Eamonn Corcoran (San Francisco), Michael Corcoran (Mayo Abbey), Michael Conroy (Somerset) and Antoinette Keane (organising Committee).  Pic: Trish Forde

Michael Commins

THE flag of Montana fluttered in the evening breeze outside Barnacarroll Church on Friday evening for the very first time. Inside the church, a capacity congregation had gathered for the special centenary Mass in memory of the 168 people who lost their lives in the Butte Speculator Granite Mine Disaster, one hundred years to the day on June 9, 1917.
Michael Conroy from Mace, Barnacarroll, was among those who died on that tragic occasion. Michael, along with Peter Sheridan from Skerrymore, Co Monaghan, were station tenders whose cage became engulfed in flames as they were lowered down into the mine in a vain attempt to carry off a heroic rescue.
Fr Martin O’Connor, PP, Ballindine, and a cousin of the late Michael Conroy, said the last few weeks had been a journey of discovery. During the ceremony, Fr Martin blessed the brass plate, which replicated Michael Conroy’s headstone placed by US based relations at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Butte. This will be erected at Barnacarroll graveyard, a short distance from Michael’s birthplace.
Direct descendants of the Conroy and Sheridan families participated in the celebration as gift bearers and in reciting readings and prayers.  These included John Sweeney, Helen Flatley, FionnΡn Sweeney, Megan Charles, Maeve Tuohy, Deacon Casey, Nathan Casey, Tara Prendergast, Eva O’Sullivan, Michael Conroy, Carolyn Donaldson, Eamon Corcoran, Peter Corcoran, Teresa Watkins Conroy, Kathleen Bowles Conroy, Finbar Toal, Padraig Sweeney, Michael Corcoran and Marilyn (Conroy) Leadbetter.

Moving tributes
During the Mass, Fr Martin O’Connor paid moving tributes to Michael and Peter and also included Peter Hastings from Drummin, Westport, and John Brady also from Mayo, and the 168 men who lost their lives so tragically in June, 1917.
Antoinette Keane (Conroy) welcomed the grandchildren of Michael Conroy and Peter who came over from England and Dundalk together with Michael’s grandnephews who travelled over from the United States especially for the occasion.
 “Michael Conroy died tragically while trying to rescue his fellow-workers in America’s worst mining disaster. The true courage of a person is its readiness for sacrifice in the service of others. They displayed a great presence of mind in their spur of the moment decision to go into the shaft cage to rescue their colleagues
“Their heroic deed lives on in our hearts and minds. They will never be forgotten. They are heroes forever and we salute them,” said Antoinette. 
Jarlath Sweeney told the congregation the story began last Easter when his cousin, Ellen Stephens-O’Neill, informed him of the heroic endeavours of Michael Conroy and Peter Sheridan in the Butte Speculator Granite Mountain Mine Disaster.
“With great support and help from Antoinette Keane and her husband TJ, along with many people involved with this evening’s commemoration, we have put together this fitting tribute to both Michael and Peter and all of the other native sons that lost their lives in this great tragedy,” he said.
“Michael Conroy’s sister, Bridget Delia, was married to my granduncle, Thomas Francis Sweeney. Thomas’ niece, Rita Sweeney-Lasser, now resident in Florida, along with Loretta Sweeney-Johnston and Geraldine Sweeney-Hughes, placed the memorial stone in Michael Conroy’s unmarked grave in 2009 in his honour, at the Holy Cross Cemetery.
“Special thanks to Tom Forde and Deirdre Heneghan and the pupils at Barnacarroll NS for producing the Mass Booklet and to MΡire Ní Deinnide and MΡire Ní Mhurchú and rang a tri agus rang a ceathair for their research work, which is on display at the Community Centre,” added Jarlath.
At a gathering and reception in the nearby Community Centre, Michael Conroy’s grandson, Michael Edward Peter Conroy, expressed grateful thanks on behalf his family to all who had brought about this special commemoration service in Mayo.
Anne Sheridan from Louth, on behalf of Peter Sheridan’s grandchildren, also joined in the special words of thanks.
The Montana Standard daily newspaper featured a front page story on Friday by Tracy Thornton entitled ‘Journey to honor heroic miners stretches from Ireland to Butte’ with a photo of Antoinette Keane and Jarlath Sweeney and their role in organising the commemoration ceremony in Mayo.