It's a long way from Tipperary

February 4, 2005 7:03 AM

It was 125 years ago today that the story of the Black Donnellys reached its horrible end. This dark chapter of Canadian history is a cross between Little House on the Prairie and an angry mob, complete with ghost stories and punk rock.
posted by phirleh (16 comments total)

This is fascinating, thank you so much for sharing!
posted by headspace at 7:40 AM on February 4, 2005

I've never heard this story before. A large part of what makes it so fascinating is all the conflicting details. If the Donnellys were so hated, how is it that Mrs. Donnelly could get a petition signed by her neighbors to commute her husband's death sentence into seven years in prison?

The definitive web site has yet to be born, although the first link is pretty good.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 7:56 AM on February 4, 2005

I have to apologize about the quality of the websites, they kind of smell of angelfire. I first heard of the Black Donnellys punk band as an overnight DJ at the University of Western Ontario, then later on discovered the true nature of the story. Years later I came back to London for a friend's wedding at the Middlesex County Courthouse and found that this was where the final trial of the killers took place.
posted by phirleh at 8:17 AM on February 4, 2005

phirleh; Nice. What a surprise to see this on the blue. The story is very much a part of my family history as they had settled in Ilderton in Middlesex a long, long time ago. My grandmother is actually great-old friends with a Donnelly of distant-near relation.
posted by helvetica at 8:23 AM on February 4, 2005

This is a interesting story, thank you for posting it. Is the site still under construction? I expected more to the story after part 3.
posted by boymilo at 8:52 AM on February 4, 2005

My grandfather's family settled in and around Lucan, and I remember my mother having a book on the Donelly's. Indeed, I've been aware of the story for as long as I can remember. For some reason my mother let me read the book she had when I was a child, which was a very graphic description. It included layouts of their house and where each body was found and in what condition. Creeped me the hell out.
posted by aclevername at 9:07 AM on February 4, 2005

Fascinating, particularly the aspect about James' life on the lam.

Puts me in mind of a sort of non-quite-as-political version of Eric Rudolph.
posted by hifiparasol at 9:19 AM on February 4, 2005

boymilo, theres some more info on the aftermath at this courtv site that gets into the trial. Its interesting to see people here who have some sort of connection to this incident and where it took place.
posted by phirleh at 9:44 AM on February 4, 2005

Reminded me of Pretty Boy Floyd and Woody Guthrie's great song:

Yes, as through this world I've wandered
I've seen lots of funny men;
Some will rob you with a six-gun,
And some with a fountain pen.

And as through your life you travel,
Yes, as through your life you roam,
You won't never see an outlaw
Drive a family from their home.

It's too bad the first page link is not a bit better. I had some trouble following the transitions, but the story is great. Thanks for the link.
posted by OmieWise at 10:36 AM on February 4, 2005

hifiparasol-

Thanks for the Rudolph link. I had not seen it, but for the three years before the Olympics I lived in Nantahala. I have no doubt he was helped by folks from that area. It's a very close knit community.
posted by OmieWise at 10:54 AM on February 4, 2005

Fascinating and tragic. Thanks.
posted by mudpuppie at 10:56 AM on February 4, 2005

aclevername; I happen to be of the McIntosh family from that area. It was (to my not-so-up-to-date memory) my great-great (or maybe even great x3) grandfather McIntosh who settled in that area. I'd be kind to hear a bit more of your family from the area if you don't mind divulging.
posted by helvetica at 10:58 AM on February 4, 2005

I've been wondering about the Donnellys since I heard the song Steve Earle did about them on "The Hard Way." Thanks for posting.
posted by stet at 11:15 AM on February 4, 2005

Helvetica: My grandfather was a McCarty. He was born in/around Lucan, his parents (1x great for me) immigrated over from Ireland. I'm not exactly sure where from, off hand, I'd have to go to my mother for the detail. But certainly Irish, as was most of Lucan, to my understanding.
posted by aclevername at 11:16 AM on February 4, 2005

It also reminds me somewhat of the Mountain Meadows Massacre. And why do these history pages (to borrow a turn of phrase from phirleh) always seem to have the stench of angelfire on them?

What's interesting about the Donnelly story to me is that James disguised himself as a woman so he wouldn't be spotted (perhaps thinking he would be mistaken from afar for his wife or one of her friends). It kind of smacks of gang members dressing alike so the cops won't be able to pick the one they're looking for out of a crowd.

And Omiewise, I know what you mean about close-knit, rural communities. I just moved into one, and the folks around here seem to be able to spot a city boy from a million miles.
posted by hifiparasol at 1:26 PM on February 4, 2005

The Donnelly Album: The Complete and Authentic Account of Canada's Famous Feuding Family (ISBN:1895565618) is an interesting read if anyone is interested. - I've got a couple books on the Donnellys, and this is the one that doesn't suck.

props to phirlen. nice post.

posted by login at 4:57 PM on February 4, 2005