Black John

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History of the conquerers of Ireland over the ages

Irish Ways and Irish Laws

Part 1 of a radio documentary by Maccana Teoranta.
This is the story of a 20th Century Irish traveller known as Black John Maughan.

In this documentary, we celebrate our nation’s traveller culture through conversation with one of its famous characters. We discuss the heyday of the traveller culture and ponder its current decline. This is the story of a 20th Century Irish traveller known as Black John Maughan.
It is an epic journey that starts high up on the front seat of a traveller wagon along one of Ireland’s winding roads in the 1930’s and with a little boy sitting by his father’s side. This young boy will come to know these roads as his home and will live a life on the fringes of society. He will one day become the ‘King of the Gypsies’.
Black John, now in his seventies, brings us back to his childhood day; his romancing days, his fighting days; to the good days and the bad days.
We hear from his wife and also the woman who gave birth to her before her own 14th birthday, Black John’s mother in law. 
The programme is presented by producer Kevin McCann who gives Black John the space to tell his story in his own way.
The listener will picture Black John Maughan as a smiling nice old man who celebrates  the gift of life.
‘White Gypsy Boy, Black Gypsy King’ charts a life precious to a culture soon lost.

Edited by Sarah Keating. Written / Produced by Kevin McCann


White Gypsy Boy, Black Gypsy King Part 1

Part 2 of radio documentary on Black John Maughn - King of the Gypsies. 

Edited by Sarah Keating. Written / Produced by Kevin McCann

The funeral takes place this morning in Cavan Town of the well respected Traveller ‘Black John’ Maughan with large numbers of relatives, friends and members of the wider Travelling and settled communities expected pay their respects.

At the time of going to print yesterday (Tuesday) preparations were in place for the St Patrick’s Day removal of John from Townsparks, Cavan Town, who passed away on Monday morning following illness.

Since news of his passing broke, heartfelt tributes have been paid to John by family members and representatives of Traveller advocacy groups.

Originally from Mayo, John moved to the Cavan-Monaghan region as a teenager with his father and grandfather, Tom, who had served in World War II with the Connaught Rangers.

Horses

Known for “turning his hand to anything”, in particular a love for trading and training horses, Mr Maughan stayed in Cavan where he married wife Brigid (nee Mongan), also a native of Mayo.

Together, over the next 50 years, they reared their family of 15 children, seven boys and eight girls, as well as two grandchildren.

The couple count among their family 89 grandchildren, 140 great grandchildren and four great-great grandchildren.

Mr Maughan passed away peacefully on Monday last, March 16, at Cavan hospital following illness.

“He was a great family man. He loved his children and loved having his family around him.

“We were led and said by him,” daughter Jacqueline told The Anglo-Celt on Tuesday. She added that all the Maughan family would like to thank all staff connected to the Oncology Unit at Cavan General Hospital and nurses and staff at Medical 1, who cared for Mr Maughan in his final days.

‘An absolute gentleman’

Ita Madden of the Cavan Traveller Interagency Group said Mr Maughan will be sadly missed.

“He was an absolute gentleman. He drew a lot of respect from people, not just in every community, not just the Travelling community. He travelled and was known the length and the breadth of the country and loved to talk about his experiences. He was a private man, as well, but full of fun,” she said.

Large funeral

Mr Maughan’s funeral is set to be one of the largest the region has seen for many, many years, with family and friends from both the Travelling and settled communities set to pay their respects. The removal by horse-drawn carriage took place from Mr Maughan’s home in Townparks to the Cathedral of SS Patrick and Felim, Cavan, yesterday evening, Tuesday, March 17.

Requiem Mass take places later today, Wednesday, March 18, at 11am, with interment afterwards at Cullies Cemetery.

- See more at: http://www.anglocelt.ie/news/roundup/articles/2015/03/18/4036417-funeral-of-black-john-maughan-takes-place/#sthash.LJ3CjrVt.dpuf

Part 2 Radio doc - White Gypsy Boy, Black Gypsy King

‘RADIO ARTISTRY AT ITS VERY BEST’ – SUNDAY INDEPENDENT

2015 PPI National Award winner for Radio Drama (Ireland)


Produced in 2015 by Maccana Teoranta, this drama series for national radio explores 10 inner dramas from 5 Irish women and 5 Irish men.

'One man in a coma and the whole town wants to talk to him'.

1	A doctor who has betrayed her childhood dreams defends her high status as she is too invested to turn back.
2	A butcher tells the coma victim ‘I really enjoying inflicting misery on people’, then considers an apology to his wife and customers.
3	A young girl next door confesses to becoming a school bully in order to survive in her new school.
4	A once-popular priest seeks forgiveness for causing the suicide of one of his sinful flock.
5	A mother of a coma victim whispers her sin in his ear, that her wish to be rid of him may indeed have come true in a cruel way.
6	A father apologises to his son for neglecting him and hopes for a cycle of paternal abuse to be ended.
7	On their anniversary, a coma victim is told by his loyal girlfriend that she has been tempted by infidelity for the first time at a recent disco.
8	A selfish mé-féiner reveals to his best friend who lies in a coma, his plan to once again get out of trouble.
9	A psychiatric patient with a new lease of life visits her friend in a coma to reveal that she is discarding her old friends, starting with him.
10	A football manager who blames one of his substitution decisions for John’s coma, finally absolves himself from the years of guilt.

Created, Written and Produced by Kevin McCann
Series 1 : Story consultant - Peter Murphy
Editor : Séamus Callagy

COMA - Radio Drama Series    One man in a coma           and the whole town wants to talk to him.

Basic Structure Of TV Story

Drama and Documentary - Production Company.

White Gypsy Boy, Black Gypsy King Part 1

Maccana Teoranta

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