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Croí Árainn Mhóir – Scéal an Dr Johnny Duffy

Johnny Duffy with Edel Ní Chuireáin Image Name: Johnny Duffy with Edel Ní Chuireáin Description: Johnny Duffy with Edel Ní Chuireáin

Rugadh Johnny Duffy ar Oileán Árainn Mhór amach ó chósta Thír Chonaill ar an 17 Márta 1933.  Cé gur Scoil Náisiúnta na Leibe Gairbhe an scoil ba chóngaraí dó ar an oileán, chuir a mháthair chuig scoil eile an oileáin é, sin Scoil Athphoirt, le cinntiú go mbeadh Gaeilge mhaith aige agus go mbeadh sé i dteideal deontais na Gaeltachta le freastal ar an mheánscoil agus ar an ollscoil.  D’éirigh leis, agus d’fhreastail sé ar Choláiste Éinde i mBóthar na Trá i nGaillimh. agus cháiligh sé mar dhochtúir in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh.  Chaith sé sealanna ag obair mar dhochtúir sa tír seo, i Londain, sa Mayo Clinic i Meiriceá agus sa Mheánoirthear, sular fhill sé ar chathair na Gaillimhe.  Tá spéis faoi leith aige i gcúrsaí ceoil, agus tá a mhac Caoimhín ina bhall den ghrúpa The Saw Doctors.  Chothaigh sé ceangal idir bunadh Árainn Mhór a chuaigh ar imirce go Beaver Island i Loch Michigan, agus bunadh an oileáin sa bhaile i dTír Chonaill, agus tá nasc láidir idir an dá áit ó shin.  Tá suim faoi leith aige sna sean leigheasanna a bhí ag bunadh Árainn Mhór, agus tá cuimhne aige ar an sean dream a ndéanamh ar an oileán.   Labhair sé le hEdel Ní Chuireáin faoina shaol.

Johnny Duffy was born on Aranmore Island, Árainn Mhór, off the coast of Donegal on 17 March 1933.  He didn’t attend his local school on the island, his mother chose to send him to Scoil Athphoirt instead, to be sure he would get good Irish, and also be entitled to the Gaeltacht grants to go to secondary school and university.  He did well in school, and went on to attend Coláiste Éinde in Salthill i Galway, and then qualified as a doctor in UCG.  He spent time working as a doctor in Ireland, and also in London, in the Mayo Clinic in the US, and in the Middle East, before returning to Galway city.  He has a particular interest in music, and his son Kevin is a member of The Saw Doctors.  Johnny built a connection between those from Arranmore Island who emigrated to Beaver Island in Michigan, and those who remained at home, and that connection remains strong to this day.  He is very interested, too, in the herbal cures that were used on the island, and remembers the old people mixing them when he was young.  He speaks to Edel Ní Chuireáin about his life in the programme today.