In 1907 a young woman from Carrick, who had emigrated to America was at the centre of a national controversy. Mary Cunningham worked as a domestic servant for the famous sculptor Augustus Saint-Gaudins in New Hampshire. It was claimed that Saint-Gaudins used Mary as the model for the new ten-dollar gold coin. At a time when there was still prejudice against the Irish, this caused a national uproar. The critics seemed to have ignored the fact that Saint-Gaudins was himself an Irishman.
The Saint-Gaudins family refused to reveal the model's identity. Another model, Hettie Anderson has also been linked to the coin. The truth may never be known, but the episode has ensured that Mary Cunningham's name will forever be associated with American numismatics.
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Ba i 1907 a bh? bean as an Charraig, a d'imigh ar imirce go Meirice?, i gcro?-l?ir consp?ide n?isi?nta. D'oibrigh Mary Cunningham mar chail?n aimsire don dealbh?ir c?ili?il Augustus Saint-Gaudins i New Hampshire. D?radh gur ?id Saint-Gaudins a h-?omha don bonn ?ir ?r deich dollar. Thosaigh seo raic ag am ina raibh fuath f ar ?ireannaigh. Rinne na namhaid neamhaird den eolas go raibh Saint-Gaudins ? fh?in ina ?ireannach.
Dhi?ltaigh clan Saint-Gaudins a r? c?rbh ? an mhainic?n. Bh? mainic?n eile Hettie Anderson luaite leis an tionscnamh fosta. Is d?cha nach mbeidh an fh?rinne againn ariamh ach is cinnte nach nd?anfar dearmad de aimn Mary Cunningham i gc?rsa? airgeadais St?it Aontaithe Mheirice?.
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[Inset photo captions read]
Until the bridge was built in the middle of the town in 1824 the easiest way to get to Carrick was by boat. Following the building of the bridge the authorities established a Post Office, RIC Barracks and a Revenue station. It was the Revenue station that brought William Allingham, born in Ballyshannon to work in the area. The view of Sliabh a'Laig [Slieve League] from the road outside An Charraig must surely have been the inspiration for his most famous poem, 'The Fairies'-
'With a bridge of white mist,
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys,
From Slieveleague to Rosses;'
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Ba ar bh?d an bealach ba fhusa le ghabhail na Carraige sul ar t?gadh an droichead i 1824. De bharr t?g?il an droichid, bhunaigh na h-?dar?is Oifig an Phoist, staisi?n RIC agus oifig baili?ch?n c?nach. Ba ? an oifig c?nach a th?g William Allingham, as Beal ?tha Seanaidh, na h-?ite. Is cinnte gurbh ? an radharc ? bhealach na Carraige ar Sliabh a'Liag a spreag an d?n is c?ili?ila a chum s? 'The Fairies'-
'With a bridge of white mist,
Columbkill he crosses,
On his stately journeys,
From Slieveleague to Rosses;'
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Before the church of Naomh Columba was built in 1862, local people worshipped at a scathl?n or mass house. Local tradition has it that worshippers carried stones with them to Sunday mass to help build the church.
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Sul ar t?gadh Teach Phobail Naomh Cholumba i 1862, bh?odh bunadh na h-?ite ag gu? ag 'An Sc?thl?n' n? teach an aifrinn. Deirtear gur iompar na daoine cloche leo fhad le Aifreann an Domhnaigh le cuidi? le t?g?il an tS?ip?il.
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Portrait of Augustus Saint-Gaudins, ca. 1890s
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