|
| |
|
|
|
| |
History (cont) |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
| |
Frenchpark
House:
The French family were originally Norman, who came to Ireland
with Strongbow. A branch of the family settled in Galway and
became wealthy salt merchants. The mid 17th. century was a time
of great upheaval with war, famine and the "Curse of Cromwell."
Many of the native land owners were forced to leave Ireland
for the Continent. The Frenches were one of the families at
this period and acquired a vast estate. They settled at Dun
Gar (Frenchpark) in the 1650’s, where they built a large Jacobean
style house with Dutch bricks imported via Galway. As their
wealth grew, so did Frenchaprk House. Wings and a third storey
were added in the 1700’s. In 1839, Arthur French of Frenchpark
was created the first Baron de Freyne. Frenchpark House was
demolished about thirty years ago. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Cloonshanville
Priory:
Cloonshanville Priory fits into the movement for reform which
began in the Mendicant Monasteries in Connaught after the Black
Death (1348-49). The mendicant friars helped the poor, the sick
and the lepers and provided shelters for pilgrims and travellers.
The Dominican Priory of the Holy Cross is said to have been
founded by McDermot Roe in 1385. The ivy-covered bell-tower
still stands and some ruined walls may be seen. A tall stone
cross with stunted arms is located in a nearby field and may
point to the presence of an earlier ecclesiastical foundation.
An interesting feature is a Piscina in the church. The Piscina
was a basis made from Stone and used for washing the sacred
vessels. It was placed near the altar and a little drain from
it led down to the foundations. Theobald Dillon got possession
of Cloonshanville after the dissolution of the Monasteries.
He rented it to John Davis, who succeeded him as collector of
the Composition Rent in Connacht. The Dominican Community had
to leave and it is thought some went to Rome – and others to
Bayonne and Aquitance (France). |
|
|
|
|
| |
Fairymount:
Neolithic Tomb:
The most lasting legacy of the Neolithic people are their tombs,
frequently located on high ground. Fairymount Hill is the highest
point in Co. Roscommon. A mound covered with earth on the summit
is very possibly a passage grave.
Hill-Forts:
At 586 ft. Fairymount Hill commands a great view of the surrounding
country and would have made a natural defence. Two large interlinked
hill-forts enclose the top of the hill and possibly date from
the Iron Age. Such sites were almost certainly tribal. The chief
and his followers occupied the hill-fort as a palace in time
of place. However, all the tribesmen and their cattle could
be accommodated within its defences in time of danger. Roscommon
Co. Council have built a water tower on part of it.
Cill i Hooley:
St. Lallocc is said to be associated with the coming of Christianity
to Fairymount (Ard Senlis). It seems there was an early ecclesiastical
foundation at Cill I Hooley. There are no ruins of the church,
but is known as sacred ground and was used as a burial place
for unbaptised infants until approx. fifty years ago.
Fairymount Church:
Michael Healy made five windows for Fairymount Church between
1907 and 1910. Healy was one of the most distinguished artists
who worked with an Tur Gloine and most of his work involved
complex aciding. One of Hubert McGoldrick’s best windows depicts
St. Brigid and was made for Fairymount Church in 1922. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Loughglynn:
Loughglynn House:
Theobald Dillon and his successors acquired an estate of almost
3,000 acres, mostly in Co. Mayo. Theobald, an adventurer,
worked for the expansion of Elizabethan control in Connaught
and gained immense personal benefits from it. Later generations
of the family supported the Catholic cause. The second Viscount,
Luke, was a member of the Confederation of Kilkenny. His brother,
Louis, who was a Francisan Friar, became Bishop of Achonry
(1641 – 1645). Another brother, James, went to France, where
he founded the Dillon Regiment. Their famous charge during
the battle of Rauville won the battle for France. His wife,
Mary Talbot, was killed by a shell during the siege of Limerick.
The Dillons became absentee landlords in the mid eighteenth
century, when the Eleventh Viscount married an English heiress.
A number of land agents administered the estate. The most
notable were Jerrard Strickland and his son Charles. Loughglynn
House was built by Richard, 9th. Viscount Dillon, between
1713 and 1737. It belongs therefore to the early phase of
mansion building that followed the Williamite Wars. It is
Palladian in style and originally had a Mansard roof.
The top storey was removed following a fire in 1896. A demesne
was planted in 1801. This consisted of 80 acres of woodland.
Three avenues led to the house. The principal one stretched
for more than mile to Moyne Crossroads. At the end of the
last century, the house was sold and acquired shortly afterwards
by the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, who were noted for
their "Ateliers" (industrial schools) in France. From 1903,
they provided employment and training for a large number of
local people in their workshops and dairy. Their cheese was
famous.
Loughglynn Lake:
Loughglynn lake was constructed in the early 19th. century
by Jerrard Strickland, land agent to Viscount Dillon. It is
of ornithological interest and is especially important to
wildfowl in dry periods in winter.
Loughglynn Castle:
The remains of a Normal Castle, said to have belonged to the
Fitzgeralds can be seen on the south side of the lake. One
tower still stands. This was later the location of the farmyard
belonging to Loughglynn House.
Site of Loughglynn Ambush:
On the 19th. April, 1921 four I.R.A. men were staying in a
house near Loughglynn wood. When they learned that the Black
and Tans were combing the wood, they attempted to escape.
Two were wounded. Following a drumhead court martial the other,
Bergin and McDermott were shot on the spot.
Duffy Memorial Loughglynn:
Edward Duffy, chief organiser of the Fenian Movement in Connaught
(1862 – 1867), had close associations with this area. His
family home was in Ballaghaderreen. However, two of his sisters
taught in a cottage near where the monument now stands. Duffy
died in Millbank Prison on 17th. of January, 1868. On hearing
of his death, O’Donovan Rose wrote a poem which includes the
lines:-
"In the dead house you are lying Ned and I’d
wake you if I could.
But they’ll ‘wake’ you in Loughglynn Ned, In the cottage by
the wood." |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Tonroe:
The Tonroe Mill and Forge:
An Oats and Corn mill of the 19th. century. Oats, wheat and
barley were transported by farmers to be milled into wholemeal
flour and animal feeds, while the corn was being milled, the
farmer attended to other tasks such as "shoeing" the horse or
repairing farm implements. The mill was operational until the
1950’s.
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Monasteraden:
Monasteraden Graveyard and Souterrains: Monasteraden Graveyard
is unique in that it is the only round graveyard in Ireland.
St. Aidan founded his monastery there.
St.
Aidan’s Church :
This church replaced the former smaller church at Edmondstown
crossroads and was built around 1873. In the eastern corner
of the churchyard the famous burial vault of the McDemott family
can be seen. Interred here are the remains of:
(a) The Right Hon. Hugh, The MacDermott
Prince of Coolavin, who was Privy Councillor and Attorney General
for Ireland.
(b) Charles
Edward: The MacDermott.
(c) Charles
John: The Mac Demott.
(d)
Dermot Francis: The Mac Dermott.
(e)
Hugh Percy Victor (5th son of Right Hon. Hugh MacDermott).
It is well to note that the MacDermotts built the church in
Monasteraden. Also in the grounds of this quaint little churchyard
O’Sullivan Beara stopped on his march from Kerry to the land
of O’Rourke of Breffini. He passed through Ballaghaderreen and
through Monasteraden (Donncha O’Dulaing planted an oak tree
here as he retraced O’Sullivan Beara’s March).
Flannery and Corcoran Monument – Townabrack
Road:
On the roadside between Monasteraden Church and Moygara Castle
stands a monument erected to the memory of Joseph Corcoran and
Brian Flannery who lost their lives at this very spot, on the
2nd. April, 1881. The conflict occurred between two countrymen
named Joseph Corcoran and Brian Flannery and Sergeant Armstrong.
This was a period of mass eviction of people from their homes
under foreign rule. Both these families were about to become
dispossessed like several others and on this occasion both Corcoran
and Flannery were shot dead by the police party on the edge
of the roadway, where to cairns, 6 or 7 feet high and 8 feet
apart now mark the fatal spot. Both Flannery and Corcoran are
buried in the old Cemetery in Kilcolman.
Megalithic
Tomb at Shroof, Monasteraden:
This megalithic tomb situated at the top of Townabrack Hill
dates to about 5000 B.C. It was excavated by Dr. Raftery in
the early 1950’s. With over 300 Crannoga found at Lough Gara
archaeologists believe this to be a megalithic graveyard of
some kind or other. |
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Moygara:
Moygara Castle and Souterrain:
After the Anglo-Norman invasion the O’Gara’s were pushed out
of their territory (i.e. centre of territory was the country
north of Castlemore and Ballaghaderreen) into Coolavin. In 1206,
the O’Gara buily Moygara Castle on the side of Mullaghtee. It
was a castellated building 185 feet square, with battlemented
towers, four of which can still be traced. The dwelling and
entrance were on the left side. In 1220-1221 the O’Gara territory,
with the exception of Coolavin and Killaraght was granted by
De Lacy to the De Angulos, Barons of Navan. This take-over was
strongly contested.
The castle was attacked and captured in 1256 by O’Cuisin (one
of Fitzgerald’s Anglo Norman leaders from Sligo town). In 1259,
it was recaptured by the O’Gara’s aided by the O’Connor’s and
was rebuilt. It remained in the possession of the O’Gara’s until
1581 when it was burnt by Malby of Connacht. It is widely believed
that the gates of the castle were thrown into Lough Gara. The
remains of the other two castles are still to be seen, i.e.
the Castle at Cupanagh and Derrbybeg Castle. Fergal O’Gara commissioned
the arrivals of the Fair Masters. The souterrain out of Moygara
Castle was used as an escape route.
Lough
Gara Crannoga:
Crannoga or lake dwellings were popular constructions during
both the Stone Age and the Bronze Age. Over 300 Crannoga were
discovered at Lough Gara and these particular ones date from
500 B.C. to 1000 B.C. Objects including bone pens, combs, glass
beads, bronze ornaments and numerous wooden bowls were found.
Stone causeways formed a path from the shore to the crannog.
Artefacts of a much larger kind than those already mentioned
were found also – polished stone axes, pottery ornaments, spindles,
whorb, rotary querns and iron objects. These Crannoga presented
evidence of metal working and it can therefore be said that
the inhabitants of these crannoga were engaged in industrial
activity.
Templeronan Cemetery:
Situated on the shores of Lough Gara, this cemetery is built
on the site of a former monastic settlement. The graves of some
of the monks are to be seen in this cemetery. The grave of Thomas
McDonagh is also to be seen here. McDonagh was fatally injured
by the Black and tans during the fight for freedom.
Giants Grave and Cul Cnoc (Drimacoo):
Drimacoo, an area overflowing in Folklore and Traditions contains
4 prominent Raths and the Giants Graves. As late as 70 years
ago, groups of fiddlers appeared to anybody crossing the hill
Cul Cnoc, and to this present day people wont cross the hill
after dark. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Grave
Slabs at Carrentemple:
Fourteen sandstone early Christian grave slabs were found mainly
to the south and east of the church within the old graveyard.
Two of the slabs have art that is derived from pagan Celtic
Iron Age Art. One other slab has a design similar to the design
in the Book of Durrow, datable to 650 A.D. It is therefore suggested
that many of these slabs date to the 7th or 8th century. |
|
|
|
|
| |
Kilmovee:
"Caiseals":
There are 7 Celtic Age stone "Caiseals" in Kilmovee, which includes
the largest "Caiseal" in Connaught, located at the rear of the
present day Kilmovee football pitch.
Ogham Stone: An Ogham Stone, found in a wall in Kilmovee is
now mounted beside "The Three Wells." "The Three Wells" are
reputed to have sprung up when St. Mobhi struck the ground with
his staff when he had no water to baptise the local people.
Brooklawn House: The first residence of the Bishop of Achonry
in the Ballaghaderreen area.
The Glebe: The residence of the Protestant Rector for Ballaghaderreen.
When the French army was marching east from Killala to Longford,
the battalion came through Kilmovee to cross the River Lung.
Local farmers joined the batallion to fight off the enemy. When
the batallion was defeated, the local farmers’ lands were confiscated
and given to the Protestant Church.
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Urlaur
Abbey and Pattern:
The Dominican Friary (Abbey) at Urlaur was founded in 1434.
A papal bill dated 18th. March, 1434 issued by Pope Eugene IV
granted Fr. William Nangle and Fr. Thomas O’Grogan permission
to remain in Urlaur and erect a regular monastery. Edmond Costello
and his wife, Fineola Cusa, daughter of O’Connor Dun were generous
benefactors and they financed the building of the Abbey. It
became the burial place of the Costellos, their sephulcre was
located near the altar.
The friary is situated on the Northern shore of Urlaur lake
about 9 miles from Castlemore. Perhaps its remote and beautiful
location was what attracted the friars here and there are frequent
reference to novices coming here from all over Connacht. The
Dominicans were mendicant friars. This friary fits into a reform
movement that was especially strong in the West of Ireland in
the 15th. Century. The reformers were called observants and
they strove to follow the rule of their order strictly. The
austere vision that inspired them seems to be reflected in the
strong pure lines of the architecture. The remains of the church
and of the domestic buildings are very fine.
The church is rectangular in shape. There are openings (doorways)
in the west and south walls. Eighteenth century prints show
a beautiful east window and three gothic arches separating the
Nave from a recessed area. An interesting feature is the aperture,
where lepers could hear Mass. On the south are the other buildings
of the friary. Up the steps, on the second floor, was the dormitory
where the friars slept. Below, the refectory, kitchens and other
conventional buildings, the end part was the boathouse for a
quick escape. aur is still held each year on the 4th. August
to remember the feast of St. Dominic, testifies to the enduring
mark the Friars made. The chief duty of the Dominicans was to
preach. They became closely integrated with local communities
and the people warmed to them. They also helped the sick and
lepers and provided shelter for pilgrims and travellers though
living on charity themselves. Each Dominican house had its own
territory in which it had the right to beg. Its seclusion helped
Urlaur to weather the dark storms of oppression.
Most monasteries in the West escaped suppression until the reign
of James 1. The long delayed blow fell on Urlaur in 1608. An
inquisition was held in that year and another in 1610. The friary
was declared suppressed and its lands given to an adventurer,
Sir Edward Fisher. Later it passed into the hands of Sir Theobald
Dillon. But the friars went on living quietly at Urlaur. Things
got worse with the coming of Cromwell. Fr. Dominic Dillon and
Fr. Richard Overton of Urlaur were put to death at Drogheda.
A Fr. Mac Costello was also killed by the Cromwellians and Fr.
Gerard Dillon died in prison. Yet in the midst of turmoil and
terror, on August 16th. 1654, eleven Dominicans met at Urlaur
to regulate the affairs of the Order. In 1698 the friars had
to flee the Friary again because of the Penal Laws. Despite
the threat of transportation and possibly death, five friars
remained in the area including Fr. Pierce Costello and Fr. Redmond
Costello. By the late 18th. century the Friary was in ruins
and the community was dwindling. The last friar was Fr. Patrick
Sharley who died in 1843.
Acknowledgements
to Mr. Paddy McGarry, Bernie Jordan, Michael Mulligan and Ann
O’Brien. |
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
