H1495 : Johnston's Corner, Stranorlar

taken 13 years ago, near to Stranorlar, Co Donegal, Ireland

Johnston's Corner, Stranorlar
Johnston's Corner, Stranorlar
The Emo filling station and Mace shop are built on the site where the late Dr Johnston's residence stood at the corner of Meetinghouse Street and Pound Street

There is a plaque in the wall in front of the Emo column H1495 : Johnston's Corner and "Johnston's Motor Car", Stranorlar

One local gentleman reminded me about the connection with him and the song "Johnston's Motor Car". The background to this is Johnston's Motor Car is an Irish rebel song written by William Gillespie based on the commandeering of a motor car belonging to a Doctor Johnston by the IRA in 1921.

The song was very popular in Ireland in the 1920s before being rediscovered and covered by bands like The Dubliners and Flying Column (music group), although the more modern versions have slightly different lyrics; Johnston is often replaced with Johnson as well, as in the Clancy Brothers version.

The song describes how an IRA unit needed transport to a town over fifty miles away, but had no car to carry them. They decided to call out Doctor Johnston and then ambush him and his car at a railway bridge and commandeer the car for the IRA. The song is based on real events.

The two versions can be seen here LinkExternal link
Creative Commons Licence [Some Rights Reserved]   © Copyright Kenneth Allen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
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H1495, 61 images   (more nearby search)
Photographer
Date Taken
Friday, 19 November, 2010   (more nearby)
Submitted
Sunday, 21 November, 2010
Category
Road scene   (more nearby)
Subject Location
Irish: geotagged! H 149 952 [100m precision]
WGS84: 54:48.3145N 7:46.0681W
Camera Location
Irish: geotagged! H 149 952
View Direction
North-northeast (about 22 degrees)
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