Owen Doonan was reared in Stramatt, Kinawley, Co. Fermanagh, and he initially describes the primitive conditions which prevailed at that time for the family, and the difficulty experienced by Catholics in gaining employment. He married in 1960 and moved across the Border to Townagh, Dernacrive. Once the Troubles began, travel became difficult as concessions roads were cratered and steel strips stretched across the roads, and one had great difficulty in managing daily life. Owen’s two brothers, John and Pat, both suffered traumatic experiences during the Troubles. John Doonan, who lived with his family on the farm at Kinawley, had his tractor, trailer and jeep taken one night for use in the transporting of explosives, while the family was detained by the IRA. John’s wife, Anne, who was a teacher, recognised the perpetrators, whom she had taught. The home of Pat Doonan, who lived with his young family on the Cavan Fermanagh border at Cloghoug was used against the family’s wishes for the storage of guns and to harbour IRA members.
This collection, carried out by Irish Life and Lore on behalf of Cavan County Library Service, is funded by the EU Special EU Programmes Body Peace IV fund under the objective to build positive relations with people from different backgrounds and communities to support peace and reconciliation.
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