The late William Gillespie

Click on the picture to enlarge

Born in Sessiaghoneill, Ballybofey, the late William Gillespie was the author of many songs and humorous pieces, all relating in some way to his native Finn Valley - and the events surrounding the time in which he lived.

Willie, as he was better known, was educated at the old Sessiaghoneill National School, where he proved to be an able pupil, with a great interest in the affairs of the day and a special love of writing.

Old Sessiaghoneill National School Click on the picture to enlarge

Declining an offer of a teaching post, he opted instead to try his luck in Scotland, where he worked briefly for British Railways - but the pull of pastures green was too strong to keep him away.

On his return home to Ireland, Willie became a small farmer and exporter in Sessiaghoneill, in those days, a thriving hive of industry. He also worked for a time with the IAWS in Ballybofey (The Cope...or for non-nationals, the Co-Operative Society!).

Townland of Meenlaharry

His late wife was Fanny McElwee from Meenlaharry, Cloghan, and together the couple had thirteen children, with only four surviving today. Throughout his long and active life, this remarkable man wrote many songs and poems on local and national topics. Although not all published, they were generally well known and popular in the Finn Valley area...and some much further afield.

His most celebrated ballad, Johnston's Motor Car, received world-wide acclaim, and indeed, the song is still a favourite in Glenfin, and sung in Irish pubs and clubs across the globe.

As a special tribute to the late Willie Gillespie, his sons Seamus (still living in Sessiaghoneill), Patrick and Seán (living in New York) and daughter Peggy (also in New York), we are pleased to include the words of Johnston's Motor Car, together with a midi version of the tune.

The story behind the song, as recounted by the late Liam McMenamin of Glenfin

One time during the Anglo-Irish War some of the IRA needed transport to go from Ballybofey to the Rosses (west Donegal). Click on the picture to enlarge A young man - it was supposed to be one of the Moys of Cloghanmore - went into Cloghan Post Office. He handed in a telegram and told the girl on duty to send it to Dr. Johnston (in Stranorlar). The girl on duty happened to be Anne Jane O'Donnell of Moneen. The telegram asked him (the Doctor) to go quickly to attend Mrs. Boyle, who lived at the Reelin Bridge. He acted promptly as requested. Less than a mile from Boyle's, he arrived at the place where the road was barricaded. That would be at a point about opposite Jimmy Coyle's of Kilraun - across the Reelin River. There the doctor had to hand over his car. Dr Johnston himself Joe McGinley of Falgarrow was spreading top dress on his meadow. He would not have paid much attention to the two cars that were travelling towards Glenties - except for the fact that they were travelling at much higher speed than usual. It was unlikely that Joe realised history was being made before his eyes! The Sessiaghoneill poet, Willie Gillespie, wrote a song on the episode, composed of seven verses. In a short time it became famous as 'Johnston's Motor Car'. During the long hot summer of 1921, the song occupied a very high place in the charts. Dr Johnston's caster hat It was said that the only reference Dr. Johnston resented was: 'You could hear the din going through Glenfin'. He said that his car was a smooth running one! The Donegal Historical Society Museum in Rossnowlagh has the words of Johnston's Motor Car, written in the author's own hand.

L-R: Sessiaghoneill Chapel and RC Graveyard; the old National School ; the new National School
Picture taken in 2002