The Church of Killcross lies in ruins in the Townland of that name;
the west gable and small bits of the side walls only remain, the gable
having a pointed doorway in it, five feet ten inches high and two feet
two inches wide, built up with cut stone. The foundations of the building
measure twenty one feet in length and twelve in breadth. There is a large
carn on the same Townland about sixty yards in circumference and about
ten feet in height, called after the name of the Townland.
There is a reputed Holy Well in the Townland of Derraharrin called
after the Townland name. There is a small burying ground in the townland
of Killeen, hence
the Townland name. There is a Holy Well in the Townland of Mucanais and a small
burial place for children. Another burial place for children and a Holy Well
in the Townland of Drumanoor. Another burial place for children in the Townland
of Garryvohill (Garbh-Eochaill).
There is a small lake between Baile na gConnachtach
and Ballyashee Townlands called Loch Iona into which the peasantry drive
sick cattle on Mondays and Thursdays for the recovery of their health.
There is a thorn-tree growing on its bank of which the bark is bitten
to cure the toothache, while a Station is performed at the Little Well
(Tobar Iona) under it. There is a small burial place for children in
Knocknakille in the Townland of Ballyen. There is a Holy Well in the
Townland of Mogowna called after the Patron of Kilnaboy. There is a
cromleac partly prostrated in the Townland of Cnockaleassa. There is
a burial place in the Townland of Killeacan, from which the Townland
derives its name. There is a small burial place in the Townland of Tirnea
called after the Saint Mac Duach. There is a small burial place for
children in the Townland of Rannahan. There is a Well on the Townland
of Clontohill called Tobar-na-bFhiana, but not considered by any person
that I enquired from, a Holy Well. A small burial place for children
in Killcrossfadda, in the Townland of Drumanoor, according to Name Book
673, page 26.
There is a small burial place for children in the Townland of Kilkee,
from which the Townland takes its name. There is a holy well in the
Townland of
Soheen,
called Tobar a tSagairt, or Priest’s Well. There is a burying ground in
the Village of Eidhneach, in the Townland of Carrow-keele, called Teampall-duv-na-h-Eidhnighe.
The Castles of Dysert and Ballygriffy in this Parish, both in good
preservation, are mentioned in the list of Castles in the Barony
of Tully O’Dea, evidently
made out in the reign of Queen Elizabeth and now preserved in the MS. Library
of Trinity College Dublin, E. 2, 14, the former inhabited by Donell Mael O’Dea,
and the latter by O’Griobhtha.
Part of the walls of an old castle remain in the Townland of Kilkee,
another of the same description in the Townland of Dromore, another
of the same
description in the Townland of Cahermacrea, and another in like condition
in the Townland
of Mogowna.
The following notices of Tully O’Dea, which is situated about three miles
north of Disert O’Dea, occurs in the Annals of the Four
Masters:-
A.D. 1114. Donnell O’Loughlin led an army to Rath Ceannaoith
(Rathkenny) and Eochaidh O’Mahony came (McMahon of Oriel) with
the Ulidians, to his camp, and Donogh O’Loingsigh with the Dalcassians,
and Hugh O’Rourke with the men of Breifny, and Morogh O’Melaghlin
with the men of Meath, and they marched then, all parties over Athlone
to Dun-Leodha (Ballinasloe) where Torlogh O’Conor with the Connacians
and Niall Meg Loghlin (Donnell’s own son) with the nobles of Kenel
Connell, came to his Assembly. They all went after that to Tealach nDeadhaidh
(Tully O’Dea) in Dalcais, where they made a twelve months’ armistice
with the men of Munster, after which Donnell O’Loghlin passed through
Connaught to his own house.
Other notices of this district shall come when we have investigated
more of the neighbouring territories.
I remain, Sir,
Your
obedient servant
Eugene
O’Curry
There is an old Church in the Townland of Aughrim, in the Parish
of Disert, called in Irish Teampall Aodha Mic Conaill, i.e., the Church
of Hugh, son of
Connell, but why so called nobody now remembers.
The western gable and about nine feet of the northern wall attached
to it are level with the ground, the other parts remain in good preservation.
It
is fifty
feet long and fourteen and a half feet broad. At the distance of seven
feet from the west end, on the south side, is placed a doorway, which
is
angular
and half closed up with mason work and rubbish rendering it difficult
to be measured. It would appear however to have been wider at the
bottom than
at
the top. Three feet seven inches from this to the east is a pointed doorway
of cut limestone, seven feet eight inches high and five feet wide on
the inside, and six and a half feet high and three feet three inches
wide on
the outside.
At the distance of four feet nine inches from the east gable, in the
south side, is a broken topped window which appears to have been
round at top.
It was about three feet ten inches high and six and a half inches wide
on the
outside. The window in the east gable appears to be round topped, but
it is so covered with ivy that it cannot be closely examined. The
walls of
the Church
are about twelve feet high and two feet nine inches thick, built of large
irregularly shaped field stones.
Strangers and children only are buried here now.
Eugene
Curry.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Miltown Malbay,
October 25th 1839.
Dear Sir,
We have arrived here and find that we can finish the district within
reach of this village in about three days. We are determined to be
constantly in
the field as long as the weather remains fine, and to write every night,
and on wet days when we cannot venture out. I am very much afraid that
the snow
will overtake us in the mountains of Sliabh Echtghe as it did last winter
at Glendalough, but I trust we will not be lost now till all is finished.
It is with the greatest difficulty that we could get a single dirty
room here to write in, and I am glad to find that our delay will
not be long.
To-morrow
we shall visit the tomb of Conan on the summit of the Callan mountain,
and move to Kilkee on Sunday or Monday.
Please to direct all letters etc., for us thither, until we give further
notice of our proceedings.
Your obedient servant,
John O’Donovan
