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The Mail 12th June, 1928 p5
The inhabitants of Eddy Island, about nine miles from Galway, Ireland, have not paid their rates for several years and £2,000 is now due from them.
Many years ago a small army of bailiffs arrived on the island to make seizures of stock but were beaten off by the islanders. Since then no real effort has been made to get the rates.
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WRECK OF H.M. GUNBOAT MAGPIE.
Galway, April 5.
Yesterday morning I telegraphed to you the intelligence of an unfortunate accident to the screw gunboat Magpie (2) ; and since then, the additional particulars I have gained are of little importance, expect that she did not float last night, as expected and that fears are now entertained that she will become a total wreck.
The accident occurred at two o’clock on Sunday morning during the thick hazy weather which then prevailed, and which has existed since that time up to the present. The Magpie, which had for some years acted as tender to the Coastguard ship Hawke,at Queenstown, was on her way from that port to Galway with store to the Coastguard stations in its vicinity. Every necessary precaution had been taken to ensure the safety of the vessel when the mist came on, and Captain Bell (with whom every one in Galway sympathises) was just consulting his chart when the boat went ashore with a crash. It was found she had struck on Crab Island, which lies to the south of the famous cliffs of Moher, on the western coast of Clare; and, although an immediate effort to get her off was made, the heavy Atlantic swell which, at the calmest season, rolls in against the cliffs drove her farther ashore.
The boats were out, and a party landed. They procured a car, and drove across the country to Ballyvaughan, which is on the other side of Galway Bay, and from thence a coastguard boat was despatched to Galway for assistance. Captain Hawkes, R.N., the Inspecting- Commander of Coastguards, at once engaged the Atlantic Company’s steam-tiff Rover to proceed to the scene of the disaster, and the Pilot also got up steam and went down to render any necessary assistance.
The steamers got down at evening, but the weather was so thick that the Rover was obliged to lie under Arran Island, and subsequently Black Head, without getting to the Magpie. Yesterday morning, however, she got to Crab Island, and at high water every effort was made to pull the unfortunate gunboat from her position. There was a tremendous surf, and just at the moment when she was beginning to move a wave struck the Magpie, and, the hawser breaking, she was driven still higher on the beach. It was then deemed useless to make any further attempt, and the Rover returned to Galway yesterday evening.
Previous to the arrival of the tugs the men had dismantled the Magpie, and landed, and I understand her guns, one of them a 68 pounder, were thrown overboard. No further attempt to save her will be made for a couple of days, but the general opinion is that she will become a total wreck.— Saunders.
The Gentleman’s Magazine and historical Chronicle
from January to June, 1810 Vol LXXX p76
Irish and Scotch News
Jan 6
Last week, as a travelling tinker and his wife were passing through Kinvara, they stopped at a public house to take some refreshments; which having done, they were in the act of taking their departure, when the tinker accidentally happened to tread on a favourite dog belonging to the landlady, which so irritated her that she vowed her husband should take revenge. He accordingly did by striking his guest repeatedly and knocking him down. His unfortunate wife was endeavouring to help him up and she received a kick in the belly from a fellow by the name of Ferral, a boatman, which almost instantly deprived her of life. She had a suckling infant at her breast at the time.
Photo: A McCarron
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Samuel Lewis – 1837
DURAS, a parish, in the barony of KILTARTAN, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 16 miles (E. S. E.) from Galway: the population is returned with Kinvarra. This parish, which is situated on the bay of Galway, takes its name from a small fertile island close to the shore, which was granted by Cromwell to Major John Walcot, whose grandson sold it to Mr. French, from whom it descended in the female line to the Baron de Basterot, its present proprietor. A great portion is rocky and incapable of cultivation; but some of the land is very rich and produces excellent wheat. Limestone is abundant, and much is quarried for agricultural and other purposes. The late Mr. French raised embankments in several places to prevent the encroachment of the sea, and built a long bridge to connect the island with the main land; great improvements have also been made by bis successor.
The principal seats are Duras Park, that of P. M. Lynch, Esq.; and Duras House, of the Baron de Basterot. Great numbers of oysters and other fish are taken off the coast, and about a mile and a half to the west of Duras Point a pier has been constructed, which, though dry at low water, is accessible to vessels of 60 or 80 tons’ burden at the return of the tide; the expense of its erection was partly defrayed by a grant from Government. From the west end of the pier a ledge of foul ground extends to Deer Island. Here is a large flour-mill, worked by the tide. The parish is in the diocese of Kilmacduagh; the rectory is partly appropriate to the see, and partly to the benefice of Ardrahan; the vicarage forms part of the union of Kilcolgan; the tithes are included in the composition for Kinvarra, which see.
In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Kinvarra; the chapel was erected by the late P. M. Lynch, Esq., and was enlarged and a spire added to it by his son, the present proprietor of Duras Park, by whom it has been also endowed with £10 per annum. On the island of Duras are the remains of an ancient friary, with a burial-ground; and there are the remains of a druidical altar, near which some ancient silver coins have been found.
Photo: Cresswell Archives
CONNAUGHT(abridged)
The town of Kinvara presented an animated appearance Tuesday June 14 in connection with the arrest of six prisoners, Michael Donohoe, Patrick Healy, John Hynes, Thomas Gorman, Bartley Quinn and John Smith for cattle-driving off the lands of Ballyvauleen, Kinvara. The prisoners were arrested here previous Sunday, driving cattle through the town, and were released on Sunday evening and re-arrested about 6 a.m.
From The Dublin Penny Journal, Volume 1, Number 25, December 15, 1832.
The place called Tubber-macduach, or Tobar Mhic-Duach, “the well of Duach’s son,” is situated about a quarter of a mile from Kinvarra, in the County of Galway, on the Loughrea side. Here is a small spring of water, neatly walled in, and shaded by a few hawthorns, in blighted contrast with the verdure of which there appears in the background the remains of a blasted and withered ash, whose aspect indicates that it has long stood companion to the holy fountain. The upper wall, apparently of recent erection, is in form a square of about seven feet to the side, having a small stile for the more easy admission of pilgrims. Beneath the square wall is another of a circular form, fencing in the whole, as represented in the annexed cut.
On the left hand side as you enter by the stile, you find in the interior of the upper wall a small niche, intended for holding a cup, and also serving as a receptacle for the offerings of devotees. Unfortunately for the guardians of the place, however, such tributes now consist of nothing more than a few worthless rags, brass pins, and the like. Mr. Sheehan, who when I visited this spot, resided hard by, caused a handsome stone cross to be erected in front of the well, between it and the high road, and the exertions of the parish priest, (Rev. Mr. Quinn,) were not wanting on the pious occasion.
This well seems to have been formerly the resort of St. Colman, who flourished about the beginning of the seventh century. He was a member of the illustrious house of Hua-Fiacra-Aidne, in Connaught, and was a near relative to Guare,[1] King of that Province, who began his reign about the year 604, and held the sceptre thirty-eight years. The saint was, from his father’s name, Duach, surnamed Mac-Duach, by which appellation he is more generally known than by that of Colman.
The earliest accounts of Colman’s life say that he lived as a hermit in the forests of Burrin, County Clare, attended only by one young clerk, his disciple. Their food was water-cresses and wild herbs–their drink the pure spring–and deer-skins served them for clothes. Having constructed a habitation and oratory encircled with trees, they remained in Burrin forest seven years, without conversing with any other person.
Colman’s reputation becoming very great, he was taken notice of by his relative, Guare, who was a prince[2] of great piety and liberality. He offered Colman as much land as he choosed for the establishment of a religious community, but the Saint, it is said, refused to accept of more than a small spot, on which he afterwards erected a monastery, and where he became bishop. This place was not far from his former habitation, and has, from his name, been called Kilmacduach. The foundation of that church took place in the early part of the reign of Guare, and probably before the year 620. After a life well spent, St. Colman died on the 3rd of February, but the precise year of his demise is unknown. His memory is held in high veneration in the diocese of Kilmacduagh.
From what has been already mentioned, the reader will perceive that the hermitage of Colman, alias Mac-Duach, must have been somewhere in the neighbourhood of the fountain just described, which springs in the barony of Kiltartan, part of the ancient Hy-Fiachra-Aidhne. This well is also near the barony of Burrin,[3] in the forests of which St. Colman is said to have secluded himself. It must likewise be remembered, that he and his attendant are reported to have lived upon water and water herbs, both which Tubbermacduach was capable of furnishing them with. I shall only remark farther, that the parish of Kinvarra, or Kinmarra, in which the spring rises, is a prebend in the diocese[4] of Kilmacduach, which See was, as I have already mentioned, founded by St. Colman.
Most probably this well, (like many others of the same description,) was used by the Saint, whose name it bears, for the purpose of baptizing converts to Christianity. Thus Archbishop Usher (Primord. p. 862-3.) says that St. Patrick baptized his converts in Dublin, including Alphin, the king’s son, in a well near Patrick’s Church, which in after ages became an object of devotion for the faithful, and so continued until it was enclosed within the foundation of a house, in the 17th century.[5]
NOTES:-
[1] Guare’s father was Colman, son of Cobhtach, who was cousin-german of Duach, the father of Saint Colman.– Vide Colg. A.A.S.S. p. 248.
[2] 2. Lanigan’s Eccl. Hist, Tr. 342.
[3] Burren barony was formerly denominated Hy-Lochlean, and was part of Corcumruaidhe district. The ancient proprietors of it were the O’Loghlins, of the race of Ir, by Fergus-Riogh and Maude, Queen of Connaught.–See Seward Top. Hib. title Burren, and Macgeogh. Hist. d’Irl. fo. 215.
[4] Harris’s Ware’s Bishops at Kilmacduach.
[5] See 1. Mac Geoghagan Hist. d’Irl. 258. to the like effect.
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Another Shocking Atrocity. FROM THE CORRESPONDENT OF THE LONDON ‘DAILY NEWS.’ GALWAY, Thursday.
A sensational story of the burning of the house of a widow and the stripping and ill-treatment of seven young men who were inside at the time comes from Caheroncen, (Cahercon)Kinvarra.
Mrs. Bridget Quinn was visited in the evening by 14 men, supposed to be members of one of the divisions of Crown forces. They were dressed in civilian clothes and wore false moustaches. They arrived in a motor lorry, and declared that they were looking for the murderers of policemen.
To seven men who were playing cards in the house they shouted ‘hands up,’ and, covering them with rifles and revolvers, took them outside, where they were kept under guard while the house was searched. Then the men were compelled to strip and lie flat on the ground.
They declare that all that was in their clothes was taken, and the clothes burned.The house of Mrs. Quinn was burned to tho ground, and, having implored the raiders, she was permitted to free a team of horses in a stable.
The naked men were told to sing ‘God Save the King.’ They stated that they did not know the words, and the National Anthem was then sung for them, and they were compelled to repeat it, and then told to clear off, shots being discharged after them.
A doctor who attended fhem subsequently told me their bodies bore marks, and, although they had not been seriously hurt, they were in a very nervous condition. No member of the Crown forces has ever been attacked in the district.
Creative Commons
With feelings of deep regret, says the Galway Vindicator, we record the demise of the Rev. John Lennon P.P., which sad event occurred on the 11th ult. at his residence, Ballinderreen. Father Lennon had been for a long period paster of the parish of Ballinderreen, and to his strenuous exertions are due the splendid repairs of the parish chapel, and the erection of a national school in the parish The school and chapel, also the residence of Father Lennon, are on the estate of Charles St. George, Esq., of Tyrone House, and to his unbounded liberality Father Lennon owed the restoration of the chapel, the erection of the national school and numerous other laudable works which have been completed through his instrumentality. We would draw the attention of the public to the friendly relations which existed between Mr St. George and the Rev. Mr Lennon and advise others of our landed proprietors to follow the example so noble set them by this highly popular gentleman. That he is one of the best – if not the best – of our western landlords, the absence of “notices to quit,” evictions, and their concomitant result – emigration – and the flourishing state of his tenantry, amply testify. We understand that the Rev. Mr Geoghegan, R.C.A., Kinvara, succeeds Father Lennon in the parish.
COMHAIRLE CHONTAE NA GAILLIMHE
MINUTES OF LOUGHREA AREA COMMITTEE MEETING
HELD AT LOUGHREA REGIONAL OFFICES ON THURSDAY 20th SEPTEMBER, 2012
Kinvara
Cllr Fahy advised that he and Cllr Feeney attended a meeting of Kinvara Community Council where Deputy Colm Keaveney was also present, concerns were raised regarding the N67 road realignment project, the old road becomes a lay-by and leads to concerns of illegal parking.
Kinvara Sewage Scheme
In reply to Cllr. Fahy’s, query regarding the Kinvara Sewage Scheme, Mr. Cullen advised that the 20% local funding is a local contribution from Galway County Council, he advised that discussions are well advanced regarding attaining a Site for the Treatment plant.
Water Services Investment Programmes
Kinvara
Mr. Cullen advised that site investigation and ecological survey work has commenced, which will lead to contract documents being prepared and moved along to the tender process.
Galway County Council Archives ‘…to acquire, preserve and make accessible the documentary memory of county Galway’ U:\Archives – Collection Management\Descriptive Lists\Poor Law Unions\G01-12 Gort PLU2, 2009-11.doc ix
By January 1848 temporary fever hospitals were established in Kinvarra and Killeenavau (G01/12/7, p28). In April 1848 the Board accepted the tender of Martin Linnane ‘for the erection of Fever sheds near Kinvarra for one hundred patients at one pound two shillings per foot lineal measurement…’ (G01/12/7, p122). The Board at this time also accepted the tender of Michael Nilan for the erection of fever sheds adjoining the Workhouse, costs divided as follows, Office sheds at £1.1.6 per foot, fever sheds including bedsteads at £1.3.6 per foot, finding and setting boilers at £1.6 pre gallon, and clothes stores £0.12.6 per foot (G01/12/7, p124).
Ar dheis Dé go raibh siad
The Burren and Beyond 