From Knockdrummagh to Ardrush

Our journey begins at the home of Michael and Peggy McDonagh which stands as sentinel at the junction of the Ennis Road and our road. Travelling eastwards we come to the home of Seán and Chrissie Reidy and family. Across the road on the right was the home of Francie and Lizzie Curtin. Francie died (R.I.P.) and Lizzie went to live in Miltown Malbay. The house is now unoccupied. On the left again is the home of the McCarthy family. Pat died (R.I.P.) and Susan and her sons reside there. It was once the home of Mr. Andrew McMahon (R.I.P.).

We now cross the bridge into Cullinagh townland passing the home of local school teacher Mary Mee. Mary married John Hogan from Kilfenora. Both are now dead and the house is now owned by Mary’s nephew Seán Reidy and is usually rented out. Next door is the home of Micko and Mary Conneely and family. Micko and Mary died (R.I.P.) and it is now owned by their son John and daughter Biddy who both reside in the United Kingdom. This house is also leased to other families on a temporary basis. We now reach the new home of Eoin Hynes, Teresa and son Eoin. Teresa died a few years ago at a very young age (R.I.P.) and Eoin continues to live there. The house stands at the junction where a road to the right leads down past the home of Tommy and Mary Hogan and family to the junction of the Corofin/ Ennistymon road at the West Clare Railway Bridge.

Back on our road on the right we come to the ruins of the Quinn family home. This family died out or left. One of the Quinn boys played with the famous Clouna Football team of the 1890s. On the left is the road to Cahruclough leading past the Coughlan, O’Mara, Conway, Joe Conneely and Liz Conneely homes to join the Cahersherkin road at Crosse’s house.

Our road now enters the townland of Tierleheen and our first stop is the home of Pat and Biddy Clune (R.I.P.) who were for many years custodians of St. Columba’s Church, Clouna – a tradition which is ably carried on by the present owner, their son Paddy. We now have reached the most important building on our journey which is Clouna Church. This Church was built in 1848 and since then has been the continued place of worship for the people of the Parish of Clouna and beyond.

Up the hill on the left again we reach the home of P.J. and Brigid O’Looney. Brigid died recently (R.I.P.). The O’Looneys kept a little shop there until a few years ago which was a great convenience to all locals.

As we go up the hill we come to the townland of Russa. On the right is the home of J.J. and May O’Regan. May died recently (R.I.P.) and both Brigid and May are sorely missed. We now reach Russa Cross. On the right a short road leads to the Corofin/Ennistymon road. On the left is an old burial ground as the road goes past Clouna School, the homes of Gerard Malone and family, Val Flaherty, Mary Neylon, Dan Organ and family, John Shannon and Patrick and Sadie Kelleher to where it joins the Cahersherkin/Ennistymon road. Back at Russa Cross on the right is the remains of the home of Johnny (Priest) Rynne and family. In our youth it contained a little shop selling cigarettes, sweets, groceries etc. All this family have now died out (R.I.P.). On the right again was the home of Pat Jack Clune and his sister Nonie. It is now the property of Tom and Stella Flanagan and family. The Flanagans built a new home next door where they now reside.

We now enter Clouna South and reach the home of Jimmy and Mary Rynne and family, now lived in by their son Paddy. Next door is the home of Mickey Davy Rynne, wife Bridget and family, now owned and occupied by their son Seán. Still on the left is the home of John and Nora Barry and family. John died recently (R.I.P.) and Nora continues to live there. Before the Barry family came to live there it was the home of Johnny and Greta Rynne who migrated to Co. Meath but returned on their death (R.I.P.) to be buried in Clouna graveyard. On the left again a little avenue leads to the home of Francie McNamara, his wife Bridget and family. Further on again on the left was the home of the Kenneally family now all deceased and the house is now the property of the O’Looney family and again is leased on occasions when needed.

As we go up the hill on the left is the home of Jimmy and Kathy Kelleher. Jimmy died a few years ago and the home is now unoccupied. Across the road is the new home of Dan O’Looney, wife and family. On the left is the home of Michael McNamara, wife Marian and son Enda. Across the road was a Holy Well where we did “rounds” on our young days. Alas this Holy Well has now dried up and only the tree remains.

We have now reached Clouna Graveyeard, that hallowed ground which holds the graves and bones of all our ancestors – Go ndeanfaidh Dia tróchaire ortha go léir.

As we go down the hill into Clouna North we come to a road on the left leading to the home of Tommo Rynne (R.I.P.) now owned by the Fitzpatrick family, the home of Brid, Joseph and Teresa Rynne and lastly the home of the McCaw family. They transferred to a farm in Quin and the home came into the possession of Mickey Casey and is now occupied by an English family. Back on the road on the left is the avenue leading to the home of Pakie Mullins, Nonie and family. This family transferred to Willbrook and the house is now a ruin. Next door was the home of Micko Martin McNamara who died some time ago and that house is also derelict.

Next we come to the new home of P.J. and Margaret McNamara and family. Behind this house is the avenue leading to the home of Davo and Paddy Rynne now both deceased. The house has been restored and is now the home of Joseph McNamara and their nephew, wife and family. Next door was the home of Mattie and Kathleen O’Donohue. They both died not so long ago and the house is now owned by the Hynes family of Cloncoul but is unoccupied. Next on the left is the home of Jimmy and May McCormack. Jimmy died some years ago (R.I.P.) and May continues to live in the home.

We have now reached the junction where our road veers to the right. Straight ahead is the townland of Ardrush where an avenue leads to homes of Tom Russell and family, Michael and Mary Davoran and family and the home of Tommy Marrinan. It also contains the remains of the homes of the Haran and Flanagan families now all deceased.

Back on the road again we pass on the right the home of Paddy Howard and we then reach journeys end where our road meets the Corofin/Ennistymon road at Marrinan’s Cross known to all locals as Seán Ógs Cross.

We hope you enjoyed this trip down memory lane with us.

Ennistymon Parish Magazine 2002