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
Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy (1836 – 1869), Vol.5 (1850-1853), pp. 355-366;
(abridged excerpt from On Rhyming Rats to Death )
On the death of Dallan Forgaill, the chief ollave, or poet of Erinn, about A.D. 600, Senchan Torpest, a distinguished poet of Connacht, was selected to pronounce the defunct bard’s funeral oration, and was subsequently elected to his place. Senchan formed his establishment of bardic officers and pupils on a larger scale than had been known since the revision of the bardic institution at the great meeting of Dromceat, some twenty years previously. As chief poet, he was entitled to make visitation with his retinue, of any of the provinces and to be entertained at the court of the provincial kings. The honour of being so visited was sought for with pride and satisfaction by the kings of Ireland.
Senchan, having consulted with his people, decided on giving the distinguished preference of their first visitation to his own provincial king, Guaire the Hospitable, king of Connacht. They were received hospitably and joyfully at the king’s palace, at the place now called Gort, in the county of Galway. During the sojourn of Senchan at Gort, his wife, Bridget, on one occasion, sent him a portion of a certain favourite dish. Senchan was not in his apartment when the servant arrived there; but the dish was left there, and the servant returned to her mistress. On Senchan’s return, he found the dish and, eagerly examining it, was sadly disappointed at seeing it contained nothing but a few fragments of gnawed bones.
Shortly after, the same servant returned for the dish, and Senchan asked what its contents had been. The maid explained it to him, and the angry poet threw an unmistakeable glance of suspicion on her. She, under his gaze, at once asserted her own innocence, stating that as no person could have entered the apartment from the time she left until he returned to it, the dish must have been emptied by mice.
Senchan believed the girl’s account and vowed that he would make the mice pay for their depredations, and he composted a metrical satire on them;
Mice, though sharp their snouts,
Are not powerful in battles;
I will bring death on the party
For having eaten Bridget’s present.
Small was the present she made us,
Its loss to her was not great,
Let her have payment from us in a poem,
Let her not refuse the poet’s gratitude!
You mice, which are in the roof of the house,
Arise all of you and fall down.
And thereupon ten mice fell dead on the floor from the roof of the house, in Senchan’s presence. And Senchan said to them: “It was not you that should have been satirized, but the race of cats, and I will satirize them.” And Senchan then pronounced a satire, but not a deadly one, on the chief of the cats of Erinn, who kept his princely residence in the cave of Knowth, near Slane, n the County of Meath.
Hill of Tara Photo: Alison Cassidy Wikimedia Commons
The Catholic Layman Vol. 1, No. 2 (Feb. 1852), pp. 16-18
(abridged)
In the year 433 St. Patrick preached at Tara before Leogaire (or Laoghaire), then the supreme monarch of Ireland, on the celebrated hill of Tara, in the county of Meath, the chief residence of the Irish kings from the first establishment of a monarchical government in this country. The national convention or parliament was then assembled in that place, for the celebration of the great national festival of Tara, called “Baal’s fire.” The force with which St. Patrick urged upon them the truths of the Gospel, was such that, according to some accounts, the king himself became a convert to Christianity, and great multitudes of his subjects, including Dubtach, the arch-poet of the kingdom, and Conall, the King’s brother, soon followed his example. Whatever may have been the immediate effect, the preaching of St. Patrick before King Leogaire at Tara, is one of those facts on which all authorities concur.
On Easter Eve, St. Patrick arrived in the evening at a place called Ferta-fer-feic, now Slane. Having got a tent pitched there, he made preparations for celebrating the festival of Easter, and accordingly lighted the paschal fire about night-fall. It happened that at this very time the King Leogaire and the assembled princes were celebrating a religious festival, of which fire-worship formed a part. There was a standing law that at the time of this festival, no fire should be kindled for a considerable distance all around, until after a great fire should be lighted in the royal palace of Temoria, on Tara. St. Patrick’s paschal fire was, however, lighted before that of the palace, and being seen from the heights of Tara, excited great astonishment. On the king’s inquiring what could be the cause of it, and who could have thus dared to infringe the law, the Magi told him that it was necessary to have that fire extinguished immediately, whereas, if allowed to remain, it would get the better of their fires, and bring about the downfall of his kingdom. Leogaire, enraged and troubled on getting this information, set out for Slane, with a considerable number of followers, and one or two of the principal Magi, for the purpose of exterminating those violators of the law. It was immediately before, and in anticipation of the imminent peril in which he was placed when approaching the stronghold of his Pagan enemies, that a remarkable hymn was composed by St. Patrick, and is said to have been sung by him and his followers as a defence against the plots that beset his path. It is familiarly known by the name of “St. Patrick’s Armour” (Lorica Patricii) and is obviously a prayer for protection from the incantations of his Druidical opponents, who were determined on his destruction. And this is a religious armour to protect the body and soul against demons, and man, and vices.
The hymn is recorded in the celebrated M.S. Liber Hymnorum, preserved in the library of Trinity College Dublin. It is written in that ancient dialect of the Irish in which the Brehon laws, and the oldest tracts in the language are written.
(abridged)
The youthful comrades whom we loved, can we forget then? Never!
The heartfelt pressure of each hand remains with us forever.
Though many a mile of sea and land since then our paths may sever.
Can we forget those olden days? No, comrades, never! Never!
Some east and west, some north and south have drifted o’er life’s ocean,
Yet looking back at those fond days each heart throbs with emotion;
Though we be sundered far for years, perhaps, indeed, for ever,
Can we forget those olden days? No, comrade, never, never!
Some gained the rugged hill of fame, while some are toiling lowly;
Their hearts, though withered up, are filled with aspirations holy,
Shall we look coldly down on those who failed in life’s endeavour?
I hear each friendly voice ring out, “No, comrades, never! Never!”
Then here, old comrade take my hand; we’ll drain a glass together.
We care not for the want of wealth, nor troubles heed a feather.
We pledge our comrades in this cup, and wish them joy for ever.
Can we forget those olden days? No, comrades, never! Never! Artane
Kilmacduagh Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki Wikimedia Commons
Kilmacduagh is a parish in the barony of Kiltartan, County Galway. The See of Kilmacduagh, now a part of that of Galway, was founded by St. Colman, who, being son of Duagh, was distinguished from other Colmans, his contemporaries, by the appellation of MacDuagh. He build a monastery and church called after him, Kilmac-Duagh, whence the name of the parish. The latter comprises 6,015 statute acres. Some ancient remains are to be seen in the neighbourhood, including a round tower, which declines about 17 feet from the perpendicular.
In a lake in the parish, called Lough Deehan, the waters having sunk very low in the year 1784 or 1785, a house was discovered in the mud at the bottom, formed of oak timber of great thickness, the sides and roof of which was formed of wattle-work of the same substance: it appeared as if intended to float, and the timer of which is was constructed was perfectly sound.
St. Caimin of Inis-Cealtra, was half brother to King Guaire, and he is also called Coman of the Third Order of the Saints. Dr. Lanigan things the two identical and, if so, Coman was the founder of the Church of Kinvara. He was a great scholar, versed in Hebrew as well as older languages. He composed commentaries on some of the Psalms, and his commentary on Psalm cxviii is to be found in the Franciscan Monastery at Dublin, having been originally in and seen by Sir James Ware in the Franciscan Monastery at Donegal.
THE VOLUNTEERS JOURNAL OR IRISH HERALD 22ND OCTOBER, 1783 P1
Photo: EO’D
For the Volunteers’ Journal – A card (abridged)
A certain libidinous gouty old gentleman, of the aldermanic tribe, not very far from Grafton Street, is desired to desist from his endeavours to seduce the innocent females of his neighbourhood, otherwise, besides having his name and place of abode made public, he shall undergo a surgical operation, to qualify him for becoming, after he has passes the grand climacteric, a pupil of the celebrated signor’s Giordani and Leoni.
Grand climacteric refers to the 63rd year of a persons life.
VOLUNTEERS JOURNAL OF THE IRISH HERALD 4TH JUNE, 1784 PAGE ONE
Photo: EO’D
(abridged)
At a meeting of the Gentlemen, Clergy and other inhabitants of the county of Galway, at Loughrea, on Tuesday the 25th of May, 1784 pursuant to public notice
Colonel PERSSE in the chair, the following resolutions were unanimously agreed to;
1. that to the abundant and constant importation of British draperies, and other fabrics, are principally owing the calamities of our woolen and other manufacturers, and the ? of credit and distress of the far greater part of the landed interest of this kingdom.
2. that to alleviate as much as in us lies, the mischiefs attendant on the use of such British fabrics, we hereby pledge ourselves to our country and to each other that we will not, from this day, directly or indirectly, either by ourselves or others, import, purchase, wear, consume or in any manner use the woollen or other fabrics or manufactured goods of Great Britain, neither shall we permit the same to be bought, used or worn by our families, servants or others over whom we have any influence, until the Protecting Duties in this kingdom, in favour of its manufacturers, be equal to those now in England in similar cases.
If anyone breaches the agreement we shall in such case not only break off all manner of dealing and connection with such person or persons, but we shall publish his/her or their names as base and treacherous enemies to their country.
If at any time hereafter the journeymen or other working manufacturers of this kingdom should enter into unlawful agreements or combinations to raise their usual wages or that the clothiers, manufacturers or other dealers should raise the prices of their manufacture of goods beyond their usual and just value, we shall in all such cases look upon ourselves as disengaged from, and no longer bound by this agreement.
WILLIAM PERSSE, CHAIRMAN AND JAMES JOYCE, SECRETARY.
Kilcolgan Farm Vice-President Roveagh Branch answers Mr. St. George.
Mr Thomas.Kilkelly of Rhynn, Kilcolgan writes in reply to a letter which appeared in our correspondence columns under the above heading, signed by R. St. George, in which reference has been made to a “Mr. Kilkelly.”
I have, (he says), taken it for granted that I must be the individual referred to, I being Vice-President of the Roveagh branch U.I.L. I have no desire to enter into a controversy especially with a dying remnant of landlordism, whose reputation and records are unique. Now he asks me would I allow a sub tenant of mine to owe £380, without eviction, as Mrs Greally owed his father. This, with other statements, is untrue. We admit there was £50 due of Mrs Greally when her persecution began. An offer of £40 was made as a settlement but rejected, hence the lamentable eviction took place.
Cast out on the roadside with her delicate husband and a family of five, they gathered their belongings a distance away and erected a temporary structure with some sticks and boards against the battlements of Kilcolgan bridge, close by, to secure shelter. The newly erected shed was soiled(sic.) and cast into the river and the rapid current did its part. They subsequently entered the arch of a bridge at the same place and the river being a tidal one, at each swelling of the tide, they had to depart and re-enter it as it abated, Under these circumstances her young family, being unable to endure such trying hardship; contracted consumption until four of her unhappy lot went down into their graves – martyrs in their cause.
Sometime after, her now deceased husband planted a rood of potatoes on the holding. When about to blossom the St Georges clan ploughed them up and, to secure their decay, harrowed them. Some short time after this poor Mr Greally died, and I will leave my readers to think what should be his dying words.
Subsequently at the Petty Sessions Court in Ardrahan 13 decrees had been granted against her for which she paid this penalty of seven days in jail. She had been again brought to Oranmore and Kinvara Petty Sessions, and in all was imprisoned on six occasions. After the death of the predecessor of the present Richard, Mrs Greally again took possession of her old homestead,when she was again brought into the Four Courts where she was unable to defend her claim, and again dispossessed. Some arrangements were arrived at where she was allowed to retain, and live in the house under very stringent restrictions. The present R. St.George was admitted tenant through the intervention of his grand mother. Mrs. Greally had occasion to be away from home and on her return she found her cot burned to the ground and all her belongings.
Should St.George have any doubt as to accuracy of the foregoing observations, I’d appeal to him to interview Mrs Greally, who now resides in Oranmore, and I have no doubt she will convince him of the facts and probably more than what I have detailed.
Now, as regards the resolution which he referred to, passed at a meeting of the Roveagh branch.U.I. League expressing condemnation of certain methods adopted by certain people. This, it appears, aroused the indignation of the ex-policeman, and consequently he approached a National Press to expose his grievance by the omission of facts and figures, and the deduction of 300 acres down to sixty. l would be grateful if he would produce his receipt for the sum of £90, which he asserts he was at a loss through the action of the U.I.League, which forced him to leave the force. If he had counselled with me prior to his departure, I may have advised him, but now I emphatically decline to do so. He left out his nice station in Macroom, and came to Kilcolgan to declare war against the people and their organisation. Well, as regards his offer in reply to Mr. Corbett’s letter, this is a deliberate lie. He offered us the bone but retained the flesh; if however, he is under the impression that he made the offer of those farms by paying him the rent, I hope there is nothing to prevent his goodness to do so again, when he will have the views of those who appear, in his estimation as land sharks. He should have substituted the word landlord sharks, but it seems his taste for the word was gone. I can assure Mr. St. George that our organisation is not little but formidable and impregnable and Nationalist to the core, having neither selfish motives nor vindictive aspirations. but honesty and justice. which we will uphold and maintain within constitutional methods, until Mrs Greally is secure from her persecutors, and the 300 acres are parcelled out to the deserving and needy in the locality. Then, and not till then, shall a flag of truce be raised.
The Right Hon. Archer Martyn, Justice of the Count of Appeal of British Columbia, writes as follows on his kinsmen of Tullyra Castle and Dongorey;
In the Record Office, among the grants pursuant to Privy Seal, there is one dated at Westminster, February 21, 1615, to Oliver Martyn, of Kinvarra, gentleman, of the Castle of Kinvarra, and the parcels of Kinvarra, Ballybranegan and Knocknechollin, containing 1 quarter, etc, in the Barony of Kiltaraght (Kiltartan) in the county of Galway, to hold of the Earl of Clanricard, by the like tenure as by inquisition taken at Loghreogh (Loughrea), 16th September, 1607.
And on the same day there was also granted to the said Oliver the privilege of holding a Saturday Market at Kinvarra. This shows (says my well-informed informant) that Richard’s possession of Kinvara Castle, that is Dunguaire, was confirmed as early as 1615 and doubtless he must have purchased it from its O’Heyne proprietor at an early date, because there was then no question of forfeiture, nor any marriage between the families, that I have ever heard suggested. Foster’s Irish Chieftains, pp 188, 432, gives some particulars of Doonguara, and says that Richard Martyn (several times mayor of Galway) got Dunguara Castle, near Kinvarra, from the chief of the sept of O’Hynes and that his first residence in the county was that place, and that he later was granted Tullyra (Tulira) by King Charles. He was succeeded by his son Oliver, the Jacobite M.P.
In the indenture of Connaught, given in full in O’Flaherty’s “West Connaught,” p.323 the exact reference to Oene Montagh O’Heine, of Downgorye, otherwise O’Heine – that is Eoghan Mantach (tootless). Three years after the said composition, Dunguaire was in the possession of Hughe Boye O’Heine, son and heir of said Owen, on 23rd July, 1588, XXX of Elizabeth, as is shown by the grant on p.405 of “Hy Fiachrach.”
Then we learn from the Civil Survey of 1641 (“Hy Fiachrach” p.405) that in that year there was no Heyne living in Dunguaire, though a long list of Kiltartan O’Heynes is given, with their residences, which shows that Dunguaire had already passed from them.
The exact reference in the 1617 grant is as follows:
“Grant to Oliver Martyn of Kinvarra, gent. In Killaraght (Kiltartan) barony the castle of Kinvarra, and the parcels of Kinvarra, Ballybranegan, and Knockechollen, containing 1 quarter eleven-twelfths of Crossoby Clowassy;
1 quarter, Lecarrowoughteraghmong, Scribagh, and Downan;
half quarter Killinkyeny;
1 quarter, half of Cahirseraley quarter;
one-fourth of the half of quarter of Sessinnegarby, Townincallagh half card.
Fannaby half card;
Mabery Kighobirr half card to hold Saturday market at Kinvarra, and a court of free powder, and the usual tools; rent 10s Irish;
To hold according to an inquisition taken at Loughreagh, 16th September, 1617.
In Joyce’s “Names of Places,” vol.ii, pp 194-6, the following note on Guaire Aidhe, and a p.195 says;
“Half a mile east of Kinvarra, on the seashore, stands an ancient circular fort, one of those so common in most parts of Ireland, and this is all that remains of the hospitable palace of Durlas. Moreover it has lost the old name and is now known by the equivalent name of Dun Guaire, or, as it is anglicised, Dongorey, Guara’s fortress. A modern castle, built by the O’Heynes – modern as compared with the earthen circumvallation – stands in the middle of the ford and occupies the very site of the house of Guara the Hospitable.
Dalton, in his “Statistical Survey of Galway” (1824?7) says(p.466) the castle of Kinvarra is in good preservation.
Joyce, in “Irish names of Places”. p.522, speaking of the origin of Kinvarra, says;
“The highest point reached by the tide in a river was sometimes designated by the term Ceann-mara i.e. the head of the sea; from a spot of this kind on the River Roughty, the town of Kenmare, in Kerry, received its name; and Kinvarra, in Galway, originated in the same way, for the Four Masters call it Ceannmhara.
The Burren and Beyond 