Peadar Joe Haughey's cottage in Creggan recently came alive again to the sound of traditional music and a comprehensive lecture on the native speakers of the Sperrins in the 20th century and relevant information as to the rise and fall of the language in the area.

Dr Pádraig Ó Baoighill, of Ranafast, Co. Donegal, who gave the lecture, played tapes of Paddy Laidir McCullagh of Currach an Ailt from recordings he made in Mossey's pub in Gortin in 1957 of the famed storyteller who died in 1958. He also played recordings of Jane McCrory of Glenlark from the archives of RTE and recordings by Gary Pentland of an interview which the late Conn McCullagh (Droit, Gortin), conducted with Ellen Devlin of Leckin.

To supplement the lecture and recordings Dr Peadar MacGabhan of Magee University sang some lovely songs referred to in the lecture such as 'Bean an Fhir Rua' and 'Briseadh Eachdhroime'.

In a lecture, Dr Ó Baoighill talked of Pedar Joe Haughey sitting at the turf fire relating stories to such imminent scholars as Seán Mac Airt of Queen's University, Eamonn Ó Tuathail of Trinity College and Cardinal Thomas Ó Fiaich. Ó Tuathail spent considerable time in Creggan where his main source of information was Eoin Ó Cianain.

Among the other native speakers referred to by Dr Ó Boaighill were Johnny Bán McAleer of Muine na Míol, his first contact with Tyrone Irish, whom he regarded highly and he believed was the last native speaker in the Sperrins, Máire Ni Mhianáin, Cnocán Buí, Padraig McCullagh, Seascán Siúil, John McCullagh, Achadh na Méaragan and Seán O Ceathaltáin, Glenelly whom he all met in the years 1955-57.

He had great praise for the traditional singing of the Tracey's of Binn a Phreachain, for Solomon Ó Muirgheasa and the Gaelic College in Greencastle 1911 and the work of the present day Gaelscoileanna in the area, which Augurs great hope for the future. An important step forward he said was the start of Coláiste na Speirín, the first Gaelic secondary school in Cookstown.

Dr Ó Baoighill has been commissioned by Bord na Leathar Gaeilge to write a book on the native speakers of the Sperrins and he hopes that this book 'Paddy Laídir Mac Culadh agus Gaeltacht Tír Eoghain' will be published with a CD in 2008.

The lecture was part of the Peadar Joe Haughey Summer School 2007 and was organised by a grandson of the famous seanchaí, Francis Clarke of Binn an Phréacháin who was Fear an Toighe at the lecture.

Music and song continued well into the morning, to a blazing log fire outside, while tea was served near by and once againa the Gaeltacht of Tir Eoghain was brought to life. Francis, along with his mother, Elizabeth Clarke (Lizzie Phedar Joe), had been involved in organising similar events in the years before her death in 1995.

Dr Ó Baoighill would welcome information/photos of native speakers of the last century (1900-1980) from people whom he had not the opportunity so far to call with. All photos would be copied, acknowledged and returned.