Ua Corra was a professor of the black art, who did not hesitate to hold direct communication with the devil. He dragged his wife into a partnership in necromancy. They had three sons who also surrendered themselves to the evil spirit. Their loyalty to his satanic majesty was intense and was not confined to words. Its sincerity was proved by action, and action of a most desperate kind. These three brothers, at the head of a band of desperadoes, burned the churches and monasteries and murdered their inmates. While their hands were still red with the blood of their victims, God, in a vision, gave them a glimpse of the unspeakable torments of hell, which roused them to a deep sense of their guilt, and to an earnest wish to repent.
They entered the monastery of Magh Bile, where, after expiating their crimes by a long course of penance, they resolved to make restitution, as far as possible, for the ruin they had wrought. Accordingly they set to work to restore the churches they had demolished.
While engaged on the church of St. Coman (or Cainin), at Ceann Mara, now Kinvara (a little town pleasantly situated on the Bay of Galway), they witnessed a sunset of unusual magnificence.
The bright orb, as it descended into the Atlantic, turned it into a stripe of gleaming gold. The gorgeous sight inspired the idea of an Elysium, and the enthusiastic brothers determined to go out under that distant horizon, float over those golden waters, and be near the sun as it sank into the waves.
Having fitted up a bark they set sail from Kinvara, and roamed over the mighty water for many years. In their wanderings they came upon islands teeming with nature’s richest and rarest gifts.
Large numbers from various districts in Galway and Clare journeyed to Kinvara on Saturday and Sunday to participate in the annual pilgrimage to St. Kieran’s Bed. at Fraugh Kieran, Duras, Kinvara. St. Kieran’s Bed is charmingly situated close beside the silvery strand at Duras, and commands a splendid view of Galway Bay as far as the Aran Island, with the lofty Burren mountains away in the background. Hundreds of people remained all through Saturday night to do their stations on Sunday and every mode of conveyance from the old Irish jaunting car to the more modern bicycle brought its quota on Sunday. “It is a pity,” our correspondent writes, “that some local Committee would not take charge of the arrangements every year, and see that the religious side of the pilgrimage is strictly observed as its inception dates back centuries.
Francis A. Fahy on Kinvara; (abridged) I left Kinvara in ’73 (1873), a youth of 19. Its scenes, its people, their customs, sports, recreations, their kindliness and affection, their good humour and lightheartedness, their abiding faith in God, are as fresh in my memory after 50 years of exile as things of yesterday, and have ever been the inspiration of my songs. I thank God that I have lived to see the first hues of a new dawn brighten over my native hills.
TOWN OF KINVARA
__________ IMPORTANT AUCTION OF VALUABLE PROPERTY,
Consisting of Dwelling houses, Shops, Stores and Land, held in Fee-Simple, Free of Rent forever.
_________
Sale at Market Square, Kinvara, TUESDAY, APRIL 19TH,
At one o’clock sharp.
Subscriber has been favoured with instructions by Mrs. E. Nally of Thornville, Kinvara, to offer for Sale by Auction all her Property in the Town of Kinvara. The Property consists of 21 Houses, all in perfect repair, and mostly occupied by tenants. This is affording those people an excellent chance of buying and owning their own homes.
DESCRIPTION OF LANDS
All that and those Parts of lands of Dungory West, containing 3a. 1r. 3p., or thereabouts, in the Barony of Kiltartan, Townland of Dungory West, and County of Galway.
There is a beautiful mansion, known as Seamount house, on this portion of the Property. It is in excellent repair, with large out-offices, stables, Hay and Corn Barns, Cow-houses and large closed in yard. There is also two large fruit and vegetable Gardens going with this Mansion. DESCRIPTION OF OTHER LANDS.
8a. 1r. 4p (Irish). Part of the Lands of Cartron, in the Barony of Kiltartan, townland of Cartron, and County of Galway.
All these Lands are in suitable laid out fields, and will be sold in lots to suit purchasers. All these Lands are of the best quality and free from all disease. Immediate possession will be given in both Houses and Lands.
Terms- Purchaser to pay half purchase money on the day of the sale, together with five percent auction fees. Remainder when sale is complete.
For further particulars apply to: BLAKE AND KENNY
Solicitors, Galway
Mr. Thomas O’Shaughnessy, Kinvara, has received a communication that his eldest son, Pvt. Thos. O’Shaughnessy of the Irish Guards, is at present in hospital in England recovering from wounds received out in the war. This is the third time he has been wounded after spending 18 months in the trenches.
A large and most representative meeting of the people of Kinvara was held on Sunday week under the auspices of the United Irish League in the Temperance Hall, Kinvara. Mr Michael Curtain D.C., was voted to the chair. Amongst some of those present were;
Messrs. B.Quinn, D.C. B. Kilkelly, P. Hanlon, M. Melia,
P. Egan, M. Curtin D.C., J. Connor, P. Halvey, P. Cavanagh,
M. Killeen, J. Ballinger, J. Nilan, J. Cavanagh, D.C.
J. Forde, P. Tracy, B. Tannian, J. Hynes, J. Calnan
P. Calnan, T. Gill, J. Keane, F. Lally, P. Linnane
Bartly Bermingham, E. Holland, P. Hynes.
The Committee unanimously expressed their strongest condemnation of the communication of the bogus meeting of the Kinvara traders which appeared in the “Tribune,” and which was evidently the work of an inveterate enemy of the National cause. The Chairman said he was glad to see such a large representation from all parts of the parish to lend a helping hand in the project initiated by the friends and well-wishers of their respected president, Mr. T.P.Corless, on Sunday last. The branch would have started the project months ago if their president allowed them, and they were determined to leave no stone unturned until they would show him and their country at large that they were not unmindful of the invaluable services he had rendered his native parish, nor of the many sacrifices he had made on their behalf, and for the sake of the National cause. They were determined to show their practical appreciation of his work as a Nationalist by making the indemnity fund a great success, and they appealed to their fellow Nationalists in outside parishes to lend them a hand.
Downtown Kinvara Photo: EO’D
Mr. Jas Cavanagh, D.C., moved that Mr. Bartly Bermingham, merchant, Kinvara, be elected hon. treasurer to the Indemnity Fund. Mr. John Callaghan, Caherglissaun, seconded, and it was carried unanimously. Mr. Edward Holland and Mr. Michael Connolly, Kinvara, were co-opted on the committee with power to add to their number. Mr. John Holland, Kinvara, was elected hon. sec. along with John Hynes, Killina. The following were appointed to solicit subscriptions through the parishes;
Kinvara Town;
B.Bermingham
M. Connolly
James Cavanagh
P. Hynes
Knockaculeen and Cregboy;
Michael Curtin D.C.
Martin Melia
Cloosh and Kinturla
P. Fahy
J. Kelly
Geeha and Aughnish;
Twilight in Tawnagh Photo: EO’D
Michael Mahon
P. Egan
Martin Glynn
B. Curtin
Nogara;
John Keane
Michael Carty
Parkmore;
Michael Fahy
T. Claherty
E. Hynes
New Line, Currenroo, Shanclogh, Carrownamadra;
P. Whelan
M. Kelly
M. Moran
Funshin and Trellick;
Doorus Photo: EO’D
Joe Hynes
Pat Halvey
John Connor
John Carroll
P. Curtin
Moy and Gortskeagh;
Tom Gorman
Pat Healy
Bartly Quinn
Cappamore and Gortnaclogh
Michael Donohoe
John Flaherty
M. Quinn
Newtown, Boherbee, Cappacasheen;
Jas Cavanagh D.C.
J. Nilan
M. Killeen
P. Cavanagh
J. Ballinger
Ballybuck and Killina and Cahercon;
The Burren, and beyond Photo: EO’D
P. Tracey
B. Tannian
J. Hynes
Jem Joyce
Martin Lynch
Caherglissaun and Carrowmore (Ardrahan)
P. Calnan
J. McNerney
Joe Forde
John Glynn
Cahervoneen, Poulnevia and Cahermore;
P. Lenane
J. Keane
T. Gill
J. Helebert
F. Lally
Loughcurra, Cloonsee, Dungora and Cartron;
Patrick Hynes
Pat Calnan
T. Keane
D. Hanlon.
The following subscriptions were handed in at meeting;
£1 each, John Hynes, John Callanan, Pat Cavanagh (Newtown), Bartly Bermingham, Edward Holand, James Cavanagh, D.C.
10s each – Michael Curtin, D.C.; B. Quinn D.C.
5s each – Martin Melia, Pat Hanlon, P. Hynes, T. Tracey etc.
Freemans Journal October 31st, 1910 p.2 (abridged)
Kinvara Twilight Photo: Norma Scheibe
The outbreak of typhus fever, the first case of which occurred at the village of Cloosh, four miles from Kinvara, about three weeks ago, has made its appearance in other portions of the district within the last week.
Dr. Thomas J. Connolly, B.A., M.B., Medical Officer of the Kinvara Dispensary District, has discovered seven cases of the dread disease during his rounds through the district and he had the patients immediately sent on to the well-equipped Fever Hospital in Gort, where they are progressing as favourably as can be expected. Dr. Connolly is out from early morning, till late at night visiting the houses of the people, and he is leaving no stone unturned to prevent the disease assuming more dangerous proportions.
On Sunday night, the 30th ult., a daring attempt was made to enter an out house of Mr. William Donohoe, shopkeeper, Kinvarra. The parties had succeeded in lifting a large portion of the thatch, and would in all probability have effected an entrance, but fortunately their thievish designs were frustrated by the vigilance of a large bull-dog, whose opportune barking roused the family just in time. The dog gave chase, but owing to a height which he had some difficulty in climbing, he did not succeed in capturing any of them. In the house was stored some wool and a considerable quantity of bacon. Galway Express.
The Burren and Beyond 