We have identified every locality mentioned in this account of the Battle
of Disert, and the country people point out with great accuracy the ford
of the conflict, but give the death of De Clare in a more circumstantial
manner, thus:- It was Conor More O’Hiomhair (now Howard) that suggested
the idea of laying the ambuscade to O’Dea, and offered to conduct
it himself. This having been agreed upon, Howard repaired to the ford,
threw a hurdle over two cross beams of timber on it, fastening it slightly
by pegs to only one of the beams, and so placing the other beam that
one man underneath it could shift it out of its position in an instant,
leaving the hurdle at the same time in apparent security, from above.
He then took his station under the hurdle in a recess cut into the bank
for the occasion, and there waited until De Clare, as stated already,
was crossing the hurdle, when suddenly, removing the beam from below,
the hurdle gave way and De Clare with his horse and many of his followers
fell into the stream, upon which, Howard (Ivor) in an instant chopped
off his head with his battle axe.
I won’t take upon myself to reconcile this with the written account, but
that Conor More Howard performed some remarkable exploit may be inferred from
the local tradition which says that after the battle, some time, as one of O’Dea’s
guests on a certain day was extolling the beauty and spaciousness of his (O’Dea’s)
castle of Disert, wished him to have its full of gold, to which O’Dea instantly
replied that he would prefer its full of Howards.
About a mile east of the Church of Disert they shew a deserted burying
ground, near the Chapel, which they call Mainistir-na-Sratha-Duibhe,
i.e., the Monastery
of the Black Sward, and Cill Lionain or Fhionain. The first of these names
does not appear in the Name Book.
There is a Holy Well near it called Tobar Oireachta at which Stations
are still performed, and they shew a little elevated spot near it
on the north
called
locally Cnocan-na-Croise, Height (Hill) of the Cross, in which formerly
stood a Cross,
part of the shaft of which remains yet standing about two feet in height,
six inches wide and three thick. There is another Well a little to the
east of
this called Tobar an Iarainn, or the Well of the Iron, but why, they do
not know.
It is not a Holy Well.
The ruined Church of Ruadhan stands in the townland
of the same name in this Parish, and measures fifty five feet four inches
in length and nineteen feet six inches in breadth; walls to their original
height excepting the west gable, the top of which is broken off. There
is a pointed doorway in the south side near the west gable, and a square
one in the same side near the east gable. There is a double pointed
window in the east gable, but its mullion is gone. There is a portion
of the north wall elevated six feet above the rest, as if for the purpose
of a ball-alley. There is a little Chapel projecting to the south from
the south west angle, nineteen feet six inches long and sixteen feet
three inches broad having a pointed door in its east side and elevated
tomb in its north end, with a monumental stone over it in the Church
wall, exhibiting the following inscription:-
This Chapel and tomb were erected by Donogh O’Kerine, the son of Dermot
O’Kerine of Owan, for him and his posterities’ use in the year of
our Lord God, 1688.
En mores ante Fores Mundi si queris honores crimina deplores pro me
te deprecor ores.
The O’Griobhthas of Cluain-na-gClochan have a monumental stone
within the Church in the south side wall near the west gable.
