Tom May, Churches of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora, Galway 2000
In 1939 Bishop Browne purchased a Church of Ireland building in Kinvara for 25 pounds and transferred
it to Noughaval, roofing the new structure with timbers from Galway gaol!
Told by Dilly Finnegan (age 26) to Cissy Shaughnessy
There is hardly a district around Ireland that there are not treasures hidden in. In olden times there was a crock of gold hidden in an old graveyard in Kinvara. It was hidden by an old priest. It was hidden many years and nobody could find it.
Early one morning a man got up early and went working. He was disturbed at his work and was told about the hidden treasure. He went to bed that night and he did not sleep well. He was aroused early in the morning out of his sleep. He got up out of bed and he hurried off to the place where the crock was hidden. When he went to dig the crock with all his might a big man appeared dressed all in white. As soon as the man saw him he ran way with fear.
The value of the hidden treasure is supposed to be about twelve thousand guineas. He tried to purchase the crock of gold many times but all in vain, he had no chance of it. He went away from Kinvara for seven years. At the end of the seven years he returned with hopes of finding the treasure. He tried to dig again but the ghostly man sprang at him with terror. He gave him a slap that put the fear of god in his heart. He went home and promised that he would never go to that haunted spot again. A few nights after the ghost came to the bedside of the man. He left his hand on his face and he died that very minute. The print of the Ghosts hand was to be seen on his face. He was buried in the spot where it happened and nobody goes near it because it is haunted.
Told to Maureen Corless Mountscribe or Moneyscreebagh by Patrick Corless – 16th November 1937
In a rock near our house called Cregnagun there is supposed to be a crock of gold hidden. One day some years ago there was a woman going after sheep and she saw a pot of gold with a large cat taking care of it. She wanted to catch the sheep. She went in to catch the sheep and she did not mind the gold until she was coming back. On her return there was no trace of the crock of gold. It is often since there is light seen shining on an old ruin which is quite close to the place where the crock of gold is hidden. Many nights people pass by that place and they see an old woman crying and a big black dog and a cat which is said to be taking care of the gold.
This selection of lore comes from the duchas.ie website.It comprises part of the National Folklore Collection, property of University College Dublin held in trust for the people of Ireland. Content was collected by local children, carefully transcribed under the supervision of their teachers and forwarded with great pride to form part of the Collection.
Connacht Tribune 29th July 1939 p 13
News had come to hand that legal negotiations are in progress between the trustees of the Sharpe estate and fifty tenants in Kinvara for the purchase of the fifty houses in Kinvara. Mr Comerford, Solicitor, Tuam, is acting for the trustees of the estate and Mr L. E. O’Dea, Solicitor, Galway for the fifty householders. It is understood that the basis of purchase is on similar lines to that pertaining in Loughrea but so far agreement as to the years purchase price has not been reached.
Connacht Tribune 21st January, 1939 p.5
Arising out of a letter from Mr. J.J. Linnane, Bellharbour, that the potato crop in North Clare had been severely damaged by weather conditions this season, the Clare Farmers’ Party requested Dr. Ryan, Minister for Agriculture, to take steps to ensure that an adequate supply of seed potatoes would be available for farmers next season. P. Brassil said that farmers did not always grumble but they certainly made a protest when they saw their hay, corn and other crops flying in the wind and every crow from Kinvara to Bunratty having a peck at their property.
Connacht Tribune 30th September, 1939 p23 (abridged)
At their weekly meeting in the County Buildings, Galway on Saturday, Mr Martin Quinn, chairman, Galway County Council finance committee, gave the tenders for repairs to the Kinvara courthouse to Mr Patrick Burke, Ballinderreen, Kilcolgan at £39. Mr G. Lee, county surveyor, reported that Messrs, Griffin Brothers, Gort, who had tendered at £28.15s were not prepared to carry out the work at that figure as they had made a mistake in the matter. Recently the County Council secured a long lease of the Kinvara Courthouse.
Advocate 5th January, 1939
MR. W. R. HEARST’S COLLECTION (abridged)
LONDON, November 30.
The magnificent collection of silver owned by Mr. William Randolph Hearst, the American newspaper proprietor, and housed at St. Donat’s Castle, will be sold at Christie’s next month. The collection includes the Great Mace and Civic Sword of the City of Galway, which joined Mr. Hearst’s possessions in 1935 at a cost of £5000.
Tho mace, weighing 230 oz., was presented in 1712 to Galway by the Mayor, Edward Eyre. The double-handed sword, with silver pommel, grip, and quillons ornamented with cabochons, had a sheath mounted with silver plates inscribed with the names of Galway Mayors from 1660 to 1841.
NOTE – The sword and mace were later gifted by the Hearst Corporation to the citizens of Galway.
The Burren and Beyond 