After Oscar Wilde, Roger Casement (1864-1916) is probably the most famous LGBTQ+ person in Irish history. His connections with the Cloughaneely area go back, at least, to 1904 when he attended a meeting of Conradh na Gaeilge in Dublin at which the establishment of a Coláiste Ghaeilge in Ulster was proposed.
Later, along with a number of women friends from Co. Antrim – mná na nGlinntí as they were known, he had a central role in the organisation of Coláiste Uladh when it was founded in 1906 in Ardaí Beag near Gort an Choirce; he was described as its ‘real founder’. We are told that: ‘The Gaeltacht dearest to his heart was Cloughaneely’ (Nollaig Mac Congail, quoted by Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh). He spent some time in Cloich Cheann Fhaola in August 1907 and the following month toured the other Donegal Gaeltachts.
When the house used initially proved to be too small for the number of students attending the Coláiste, Casement proposed the building of a new hall and contributed £80 himself as well as helping to raise other funds. Later he sent additional sums of money and gave prizes and presents for the students.
The new Coláiste Uladh was opened in 1909 in Gort an Choirce with Casement in attendance. He made several later visits to the area, staying among other places in Cill Ulta and walking from there to the Coláiste. He visited Tory in 1912. On the morning of his execution in London, 3 August 1916, mass was said in the church in Gort an Choirce for the repose of his soul.
Cé is moite de Oscar Wilde, is dócha gurbh é Roger Casement (1864 – 1916) an duine aiteach is cailliúla i stair na hÉireann. Téann an nasc idir Casement agus ceantar Chloich Cheann Fhaola siar go 1904 ar a laghad, tráth ar fhreastal sé cruinniú de chuid Chonradh na Gaeilge i mBÁC inar moladh go mbunófaí Coláiste Ghaelach i gCúige Uladh.
Níos moille, in éineacht le cairde mná ó Chontae Aontroma – mná na nGlinntí mar ab fhearr aithne orthu – bhí ról lárnach aige i mbunú Choláiste Uladh ar an Ardaí Bheag, gar le Gort a’ Choirce. Bhíothas ann a mhaígh gurbh é Casement ‘fíorbhunaitheoir an Choláiste’. Deirtear linn gurbh í ‘an Ghaeltacht ab ansa leis’ ná Cloich Cheann Fhaola (Nollaig Mac Congail, luaite ag Seosamh Ó Ceallaigh). Chaith sé tréimhse i gCloich Cheann Fhaola i Mí Lúnasa, 1907 agus thug sé camchuairt ar cheantair Ghaeltachta eile an Chontae an mhí dar gcionn.
Nuair a tharla go raibh an teach a bhí in úsáid acu róbheag do líon na mac léinn ag freastal ar an Choláiste, mhol Casement go dtógófaí halla úr agus chuir £80 dá chuid airgid féin ar fáil a fhad agus a thiomsaigh sé airgead ó fhoinsí eile chuige. Lean sé ar aghaidh ag cur airgid ar fáil don togra agus thug duaiseanna agus brontannais do na mic léinn.
Fosclaíodh an Coláiste Uladh úr i nGort a’ Choirce, agus bhí Casement é féin i láthair. Thug sé go leor cuairteanna eile ar an cheantar, ag fanach i gCill Ulta i measc áiteanna eile. Thug sé cuairt ar Thoraigh in 1912. Ar mhaidin ar cuireadh chun báis i Londain é, ar an 3 Lúnasa 1916, léadh aifreann i dTeach Pobail Ghort a’ Choirce do shuaimneas a anamna.
