Photo: EO’D ©
Burren buddies
Photo: EO’D ©
Author: The Burren and Beyond
B.A., M.A.(Archaeology); Regional Tour Guide; Dip. Radio Media Tech; H.Dip. Computer Science.
Burren wildlife
Kinvara 1992
Connacht Tribune July 7th July, 1992 p6
The people of Kinvara have asked Councillor Toddie Byrne to raise with Galway County Council the condition of the old Church of Ireland graveyard at New Road, Kinvara. This graveyard has an unknown number of graves with only two headstones still erect over the graves of Joseph Staunton (died November 3, 1866, aged 66 years) and Eliza Jackson (died January 2, 1866, aged 60 years).
The public disquiet surrounds the manner in which walls and ground surface of the graveyard were interfered with.
They have asked Councillor Toddy Byrne to bring the matter to the attention of the County Engineer, Mr. P. Flood. This week Councillor Byrne, following his representations to Mr. Flood, expects the matter to be resolved.
Bridget Kilkelly – 1888
The Irish Standard, 17th March, 1888. p4
Crushna, (sic.)
Kinvara,
Co. Galway,
February, 18th, 1888.
Dear Mr. Editor,
I was very much surprised at not seeing my name among all my fellow prisoners under “Bloody Balfours” Crimes act. I enclose you my summons, and hope you will give my name at your earliest convenience as I suffered one month’s imprisonment in Galway Jail, although I offered bail and my parish priest was willing to go security for me. I would not trouble you only I am about going out to Australia to my brothers, and I wish that they would know through the medium of your widely circulated paper that I was as willing to fight for poor old Ireland as any other girl in it.
Yours very truly,
Bridget Kilkelly.
The Freeman apologises to Miss Kilkelly for the omission, but is pleased that the unintentional error should have brought forth a phase of the struggle which may have been hitherto somewhat overlooked.
St. Coman – 1912
Tuam Herald 26th October, 1912, p4 (abridged).
Another branch of the Magraths had some possessions in the vicinity of Kinvara, in the district of Hy-Fiachra-Aidhne, County of Galway, but a few only of their descendants are to be met with in that county at the present day. Of this branch the church of Kinvara was the burial place, and until late years this sacred edifice, the foundation of St. Coman, of whom mention is made in the ancient tale known as the Imramh, or Expedition of the sons of Ua Corra, was exclusively the place of interment of the Magrather O’Hynes. The possessions of the Hy-Fiachrain Magraths lay around the Bally magrath, near Ardrahan; but the proprietors thereof, having taken an active part in the disturbances of 1641-9, the lands of Balymagrath and Kilteenan were granted by Cromwell to the family of Taylour, or Taylor.
Kinvara – 1909
St. Coman’s – Magrather O’Hynes – 1912
Tuam Herald 26th October, 1912, p4
(abridged).
Another branch of the Magraths had some possessions in the vicinity of Kinvara, in the district of Hy-Fiachra-Aidhne, County of Galway, but a few only of their descendants are to be met with in that county at the present day. Of this branch the church of Kinvara was the burial place, and until late years this sacred edifice, the foundation of St. Coman, of whom mention is made in the ancient tale known as the Imramh, or Expedition of the sons of Ua Corra, was exclusively the place of interment of the Magrather O’Hynes. The possessions of the Hy-Fiachrain Magraths lay around the Bally magrath, near Ardrahan; but the proprietors thereof, having taken an active part in the disturbances of 1641-9, the lands of Balymagrath and Kilteenan were granted by Cromwell to the family of Taylour, or Taylor.
St Coman’s Church – 1975
Connacht Tribune 28th November, 1975. p6
Assistant County Manager, Mr. John Howlett, accompanied by Councillor Toddie Byrne, Rev. M. Brennan, C.C. and Mrs M. Monahan and Mr. Paddy Geraghty, Town Representatives on the Community Council, inspected the old church of St. Coman, Kinvara. They had in mind the possibility of doing up the church and making it accessible to the public.
The Horseman – Ballinderreen 1938
From Duchas.ie 
Collected 1937/1938
Ballinderreen, Co. Galway. Teacher: Treasa Bean Uí Bheirn
Collected by Rose Niland from Martin Kelly, Tyrone, Co. Galway
About fifty years ago a horse-man used to pass the Ballinderreen road towards Kilcolgan every night. A certain woman used to look out after it so she lost the sight of one of her eyes. My grandfather and a few companions were coming from a dance from James St. Georges about two o’clock one night and as they were coming back at Glynn’s they heard a galloping horseman coming towards them. They said it must be some man going to the Loughrea horse fair. So when the horseman was within five or six yards of them they moved in one side of the road to let it pass. They heard something like a breeze of wind passing between them and the wall but they saw nothing. Just a few yards behind them they heard the horse galloping again. They knew then that it was no living person that was in it but the fairy horseman that used to pass the way every night.
The Long Black Hand
Duchas.ie
1937/1938 – Duchas.ie
Ballyglass West, Co. Galway – collected by Paddy Moylan
Long ago there lived a woman in the parish of Ballindereen in a place a place called Cloughballymore This was a terrible witch who lived in the side of a tree in the night time and in an underground passage in the day time.
She was called the Long black hand because she had a big black hand. She used to kill everyone that would pass from setting sun till dawn and they used to be found dead on the side of the road and their skin used to be black.
About that time there lived a rich man who had a lot of money and land in the same place. The witch was interfering too much with him.
One night he had a great feast and a very brave man was in it called “O Hynes” He said he would kill her if he got a good horse and a sword.
He got them and he went to where she lived and when he arrived at the gates “are you within he cried” “I am and soon will be with you the elf replied”
The she made a drive for him but she caught the horse by the tail but he struck her and cut the hand in two. “Another blow my gallant knight if I survive you’ll die” said the Long Black Hand. “O no he said I think that one will do.”
She followed him home and was telling him to give her back her hand.
She was never seen again by anyone and O Hynes got a lot of money from the rich man, but he died soon after those events
The Burren and Beyond 