Scoil: Cill Seanaigh (C)

O.S. Bríd Bean Mhic Consaidín

Bailitheoir: Mary Vaughan

Faisnéiseoir: Mrs Williams, Carrowkeel.

Údar: D’fhéadfadh sé gur Mac Cinn fhéin a chum. Luaitear a chuid comharsain, Mícheál agus Seán Cíosóg, leis an amhrán freisin.

Fonn: Tá fonn nua chumtha ag Philip Fogarty, 2022. Port atá ann.
Thug Marion Gunn an fonn ‘My Old Fenian Gun’ mar shampla d’fhonn a rachfadh leis . Tá sampla den bhfonn sin ón gContae ar fáil anseo agus é á chanadh ag Tom Lenihan ach ní cheapaim gurbh é ‘my old fenian gun’ a bhí mar fhonn leis an amhrán seo. https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/songs/cmc/my_old_fenian_gun_tlenihan.htm

Seo thíos an leagan a rinne Philip Fogarty:

A Chlanna Gael éistigí 's déanfad roinnt cainte
Ar ghníomhartha Mhaicín is neosfad daoibh é:
Go léimfeadh sé geata is ballaí dá aoirde
Is cá bhfuil an peeler a chaitheadh a léim?

'teorainn Bhealach Bhuí thíos is ea thosnaigh an díle
'S ritheadar díreach amach go Tuath Clae;
Ag gabháil an Seanleacan 'sea thug sé good-bye dóibh,
Good night, my black boys, till I meet ye next day.

Shiúladar an Spá, is an Leacht go hInis Díomáin,
Is d'fhág sé croí cráite acu ag Leacht an Mhóinín;
Seacht n-uair' ar an ló ag seonsáil a gcuid éadaigh,
A d'iarraidh deceiving a dhéan'mh ar Mhaicín.

Shiúladar bailte poirt, cuan loingeas in Éirinn
'S na steamers ' bhíodh gléasta faoina gcuid seol;
Mar shúil is go bhfaighidís Maicín uair éicint
Go dtabharfaidís scéal don Bhanríon 'tá i gcoróin.

Atá primate ró-mhór is promoting le déanamh
Ar an gcéad pheeler a dhéanfaidh é a ghabháil;
Ach tá rewarding go deo ar Chill Seanaigh le déanamh,
Mar ní bhfuaireadar scéal air ó chríonna ná óg.

Ná saoiligí 'n aon chor gur aon mholadh bréige
Na cúpla véarsa seo i ndíon le Maicín:
Mar leath fios a ghníomhartha ní fhéadfainnse a inseacht,
Mara bhfaighinnse togha cléirigh 's páipéar chun é a scríobh.

'Sé dúirt Cróinín, an peeler a lean tríd an dtír é,
Go raibh sciatháin ar a chroí, nó 'n slua sí ina dhéidh;
Is gur bhuail sé as distance é breis is trí mhíle,
Nuair a scuabh sé an duíocán trasna 'n ribhéir.

'Sé is mó a chráigh iad gan fáil acu a láimhsiú,
É ag gabháil tríd an sráid ar lockarms an ghiúistís;
Anois achainím ar an Aonmhac 's ar Bhanríon na Naomh gheal
Maicín a thabhairt saor ar n-ais chughainn aríst.

Cill Seanaigh:
https://www.duchas.ie/ga/cbes/4922369/4874923/5080780?ChapterID=4922369

Trascríobh ón gCartlann:

‘ Captain Austin Mac Keen (bailithe ag Mary Vaughan ó Austin Vaughan)

Amongst the most noted personages in Kilshanny during the past half a century, was Austin Mac keen or the "Captain" as he was commonly called. He was a captain in the Fenian movement in 1867 and had several narrow escapes from arrest.
He was the most famous runner of his time and was celebrated in a local ballad for a run of over twenty miles with a police force in hot pursuit. He jumped the Inagh River and the policemen were not able to follow him any farther.
He was a great Irish writer and scholar, and wrote and copied several manuscripts in a fine style of Gaelic writing.
He died in the year 1924 aged about 80 years

(Bailithe ag Mary Vaughan ó Mrs Williams, Carrowkeel)
I
Agus éistidhidh a chomhursain, go ndheinid roinnt cainnte,
Ar ghníomhartha Mackeen, agus neosad díobh é.
Mar do léimeadh sé ballaí, agus geataí dá aoirde iad,
Agus gur fhág sé na Peelers i ndeireadh sa chase.
II
I dteorainn Ballagh Buidhe, do thosnuig an dís úd,
Is do ritheadar díreach amac go Touclea,
Ag droicead a lacan do bhíd sé good bye dhóibh,
I wish you good night boys, I'll meet you next day.
III
Sé Crónain an peele a d;fiadhach go dílís,
Dubhairt go raibh sciathán ar Mackeen mar éanlaithe an aeir,
Nuair a bhuail sé ar distance é breis is trí míle
Is níor mhair sé an peeler a caithfead a léim.
IV
Is brioghmhar mear tapaidh e mo phlannda Milísain
Cun peelers a thraochaint agus iad a d'fhágaint na dheoidh
Ach ar éir is mar mheasaim
Tá greann ag mac de dó,
Ní bheiridh go h-éag air aon peeler fé'n gcróin.
V
Is ar aigig sibh a scéala ac cap "Foran is Neylon
Is Mac Mahon an t-agent,
A dhéanfadh ar mo lón
Nuair a ceapadar i arúgadh,
Ó pósta go pleir-ceart,
As a bpaiste beag sléibh,
Bhí aicí i mBallagh Buidhe.
VI
An áit i na gcomhuigheadh na gaolta agus na peacht sinnsear roimpí
Nár dhein riamh aon claon- act dá dtáinig dá síol,
Ac gceallaim-se fhós díbh má mhaireann mo lon leis
Go bhfaghaidh foran is Neylon an phudar sophléir.’

Tagann an dá leagan anseo thíos ó ‘Foinn, focail, féiniúlachtaí: claochlú cultúir sa Chlár 1850-1950,’ le Philip Fogarty B.Ed. M.A.
Tá an chéad cheann ar fáil freisin in ‘A Chomharsain Éistigí…’ le Marion Gunn.

A:
'Amhrán Agaistín Mhaicín', bailithe ag Seán Mac Mathúna sa bhliain 1931 ó Sheán Ó Laoi, Baile Chonnú, Lios Dún Bhearna (CBÉ 39: 33)

1.
A Chlanna Gael éistigí agus déanfad roinnt cainte
Ar ghníomhartha Mhaicín agus neosfad daoibh é:
Go léimfeadh sé geata agus ballaí dá aoirde
Agus cá bhfuil an peeler a chaitheadh a léim?

2.
Ag teora an Bhealach Bhuí thíos is ea thosnaigh an díle
Agus gur ritheadar díreach amach go Tuath Clae;
Ag gabháil an Seanleacan is ea thug sé good-bye dóibh,
Good night, my black boys, till I meet ye next day.

3.
Shiúladar an Spá, [an] Leacht go hInis Díomáin,
Agus d'fhág sé croí cráite acu ag Leacht an Mhóinín;
Seacht n-uaire ar an ló iad ag seonsáil a gcuid éadaigh,
A d'iarraidh deceiving a dhéanamh ar Mhaicín.

4.
Shiúladar bailte poirt, cuan loingeas in Éirinn
Agus na steamers a bhíodh gléasta faoina gcuid seol;
Mar shúil is go bhfaighidís Maicín uair éicint
Agus go dtabharfaidís scéal air don Bhanríon atá i gcoróin.

5.
Atá primate ró-mhór agus promoting le déanamh
Ar an gcéad pheeler a dhéanfaidh é a ghabháil;
Ach tá rewarding go deo ar Chill Seanaigh le déanamh,
Mar ní bhfuaireadar scéal air ó chríonna ná óg.

6.
Ná saoiligí in aon chor gur aon mholadh bréige
Na cúpla véarsa seo i ndíon le Maicín:
Mar leath fios a ghníomhartha ní fhéadfainnse a inseacht,
Mara bhfaighinnse togha cléirigh is páipéar chun é a scríobh.

7.
Mar is planda é a bhfuil faobhar ann is gaisce dá réir ann,
Nár dhein riamh aon chlaonbheart a dtáinig dá aois;
Ach cífidh sibh fós leis, má mhaireann mo leon leis,
Go bhfaighidh Foran agus Neylon an piléar ó Mhaicín.

8.
Mar gheall ar an saothar a cheapadar a dhéanamh
Ar an mbaintreach tréithlag, máthair Mhaicín;
Í a ruaigeadh gan aon cheart [scríofa: 'CHEART'] ó phosta go piléar
Agus ón bpaiste beag sléibhe a bhí aici ins an mBealach Bhuí.

9.
Ag cuir cíos ar reséilí a bhíodh díolta roimh ré aici,
Agus an gála marbh gan aon cheart [scríofa: 'CHEART'] dob éigean dí a dhíol;
...
Mar is í siúd croí na féile, máthair Mhaicín.

10.
Is é a dúirt Cróinín, an peeler a lean tríd an dtír é,
Go raibh sciatháin ar a chroí istigh, nó an slua sí ina dhéidh;
Is gur bhuail sé as distance é breis is trí mhíle,
Nuair a scuabh sé an duíocán trasna an ribhéir.

11.
Sin é is mó a chráigh iad gan fáil acu é a láimhsiú,
É ag gabháil tríd an sráid ar lockarms an ghiúistís;
Anois achainím ar an Aonmhac is ar Bhanríon na Naomh gheal
Maicín a thabhairt saor ar n-ais chughainn aríst.

B.
'Amhrán Mhaicín', bailithe ag Seán Mac Mathúna sa bhliain 1930 ó Mhícheál Ó Flannagán (67) Luach, Dúlainn (CBÉ 38: 192)

1.
A chómharsa, a chroidhe istig air airigh sibh an saothar
Dhein Foran agus Naylon air mháthair Mhaicín
?'bhrise is í raoba is í chuir le fán an tsaoghal seo í
Mar gheall air phaisde beag slé' bhí aici air teóra an Bhealaigh bhuidhe.

2.
... mo phlannda Milésian,
Níor dhin sé aon chlaon bheart a dtáinig dá shaoil (?)
Ach geallaim geallaimse fós duit má mhaireann mo león leis
Go bhfuig Fóran is Nélon an pilér ó Mhacín.

3.
Aig teóra Cilleseana a thosnuig an díle
Agus d'feachadar é díreach amach go Tuathclao
Aig Droichead Da Cumair amach a d'fhág sé goodbye acu
"My dear Irish heroes I'll meet ye next day."

4.
'Sé Crónín, an peeler do lean tríd an tír é
Dubhairt go raibh sgiatháin air a chroidhe mar eanacha an aeir
Aréir mar a mheasaim tá greann aig Mac Dé air
Níl aon "pheeler" fén gCoróin a chaithfeadh an léim.

5.
Tá promotion ró-mhór 7 promoting le deana
Ar an gcéad pheeler a dheanig é ghabháil
Ach rewarding go deó air Cilleseana le deana
Mar ní bhfuaireadar sgeul air ó aosda ná óg.

6.
Anois tá siad crádhte níl fághail acu tnú leis
Tá cluig air a sála ó bheith suibhal na Conntae
Siubhailadar bogaig agus corraig dá aoirde
Fiú an steamer bhí gleusta aig dul chuig an tseóil
Mar súil is go gcasfí leóthe Macín uair éicínt
D'iarra "desavin" a dheana air an léon.

Leagan Eile:

Scoil: Dúlainn, Co. an Chláir.
O.S. Tadhg Ó Seasnáin
Bailitheoir: Seán Ó Loinsigh
Faisnéiseoir: Pádraig Ó Loinsigh, Ballysallagh

Amhrán Mhac Ceín
https://www.duchas.ie/ga/cbes/4922366/4874743

Trascríobh ón gcartlann:

Éistigí liomsa a chomharsa
Go ndéanadh roinnt cainnte
Ar a glaonn beart
Ceap fútran agus Néillean agus Mc Mahon
An tadhgaint, (an t-agent)
Do dhéanamh ar máthari Mac Cinn…..

Ó ‘A Chomharsain Éistigí…’, le Marion Gunn. Tá an t-amhrán ar fad ann. Níl ach an chéad dá véarsa tugtha agam anseo:

Tagann an t-ábhar eile seo go léir thíos ó: ‘Foinn, focail, féiniúlachtaí: claochlú cultúir sa Chlár 1850-1950,’ Tra´chtas i gcomhair Ph.D. sa Nua-Ghaeilge le Philip Fogarty B.Ed. M.A

‘Ághstin Mackeen:
called the Hayro (Hero) a legendary figure in the district. He lived in Kilshanny. Was leader of local Fenians. He was a great runner. The local R.I.C. were unable to come up with him. The R.I.C. G.H.Q. send down one of their best runners to catch him, but he failed to capture him. There is a local ballad commerating the pursuit. Dái?? only remembers a line of it. 'Ag Droicead Ath Cuma' Spectacle bridge he bade them good night. I'll meet you next day etc. Macín had seven charm cures. he possessed also what people call the Black Book of Magic: he used this from time to time to work some of his wonders. He had Cure of Rua. borradhpiast – farcy – galar buí. an déid chincough and sprain.

Pat Keane Lisdoon related to me that he went to him for Rash Cure. He asked him did you bring any unsalted butter with you. He did not. Well I'll take the salt out of some I have. He put some of this into a matchbox and told him to take home and rub round the Rash. He took down the Big book and said from it some words to himself [He was setting the charm] He was cured. He was supposed to go three times to him. Two Mondays and 1 Thursday or vice versa.
ar lean

Aguisín C1 (c) ar lean

A farmer went to him for Jaundice cure. He set the charm and he said to farmer If any little thing happens to your stock don't take any notice of it. A young colt belonging to him died soon after.

A. Macín had a dispute with a neighbour. She ... was brought to law. A young man from district was to give evidence in favour of McKeen. This man went to where Court was held but did not go into Court house. The case was settled. Some time after this man was visiting McKeen's house. McKeen said to him, You did not come to the courthouse on such a day. 'I did' says the man. 'You did not' says McKeen. They went on that way for some time. "I will see very soon, if you were there" says McKeen. He went into inner room and brought out his Black Book. He read out of it for some time. and he brought up young man through the floor. McKeen then knew that young man was there.

A fowler was in the house one day and McKeen asked him would he like to see a rat cutting its own throat. He threw a razor on the floor and set the charm and the rat appeared and proceeded to cut its throat with razor.

Á bhar bailithe ag an mBráthair P.T. Ó Riain sa bhliain 1958 i Lios Dún Bhearna (CBÉ 1517: 179)

(iii)

Bhí sagart ann fadó, agus sé an ainm a bhí air ná an t-athair Maicín. Agus lá dá raibh sé taréis an Aifrinn do rádh tháinig na saighdiúrí air agus leanadar é, agus capadh amhránm mar gheall air. Nuair a tháinig sé abhaile chonnaich sé go raibh a thighe (?) go léir leagaithe, agus fuair sé a mháthair ar thaobh an bhóthair agus a croidhe briste.
[...]
Máire Ní Mhathúna, 80 de bhlianaibh, Litir Uí Cheallaigh, Sráid na Cathrach

Á bhar as Bailiúchán na Scol 1937-1938; Scoil Leitir Uí Cheallaigh, Sráid na Cathrach (uimhir rolla 9229); Múinteoir: Seosamh Mac Dáibhid (CBÉ s612: 89-91)

Aguisín C1 (d)

Tuairisc chuig Oifig na Constáblachta i leith Agaistín Mhaicín, 29 Márta 1869

Return of outrages reported to the Constabulary Office
No. 2 – Details of Firing at the Person Reported in the Year 1869
Clare 29th March
No. 26

Thomas Horan, farmer, was fired at on the public road, about 2.30pm, by Austin Mackeen; the bullet entered his coat and vest, and grazed his breastbone, but did him no injury. After firing the shot, Mackeen commenced reloading the pistol, and pursued Horan; who ran a distance of about forty yards and took refuge in the house of the Rev. M. Barrilly, P.P. Horan is related to the accused, and it was with the greatest difficulty that he was prevailed on to swear an information. On the case being investigated before the Magistrates, the injured man retracted the information he had previously given, and the witnesses who could have given material evidence, denied all knowledge of the matter; this resulted entirely from intimidation, which was brought to bear on prosecutor and witnesses. Mackeen was therefore discharged.

Ábhar as Return of outrages reported to Constabulary Office in Ireland, 1869, ‘No. 2 – Details of Firing at the Person Reported in the Year 1869’, Leathanach 15; House of Commons 1870 (60) LVII.353 (DIPPAM/EPPI, 2017).

Aguisín C1 (e)

Agaistín Maicín – tuairiscí na linne

Baintear formhór an ábhair seo as The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser. Dáileadh agus clódh an téacs chomh maith, agus é giorraithe, i nuachtáin thar lear; mar shampla The Mercury, an Tasmáin, 11 Meitheamh 1869, agus The Colonist, an Nua-Shéalainn, 25 Meitheamh 1869. Tugtar Foran nó Horan, de réir an fhoilsiúcháin, ar an duine a ndeachaigh Maicín i ngleic leis.

(i)

The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Dé Luain 5 Aibreán 1869
Lch. 3

Alleged Attempt to Shoot

A man named Thomas Foran, whose son-in-law, Laurence Neylan, it is alleged, had been endeavouring to get possession of some land, which is at present occupied by a widow named McKeane, near Ennistymon, was on Monday, according to the information given to the police, fired at in the open day, and the bullet passed through his clothes, without any injury to the body. Foran was, it is stated, present at the time the possession was demanded, and it was on his return from that the occurrence took place. The widow's son is the person deposed to by Foran, and has been chased by the Ennistymon police, but succeeded in making his escape up to the present.

(ii)

The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Dé Luain 8 Aibreán 1869
Lch. 3

Desperate Agrarian Outrage at Kilshanny

Last week, before the public mind had recovered from its sense of horror, occasioned by the late fearful murder of Mr. Toppin at Boffanna, in Tipperary, the people of this county were startled by a daring and desperate attempt to shoot a farmer, named Thomas Horan, who lives at a place called Monreel, about 10 miles from Ennis, and about 4 from the scene of the occurrence, which took place at Kilshanny, midway between Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna. The particulars of this unhappy episode, as gathered from authentic sources, appear to be as follow:- The name of the man charged with the crime is one Austin McKean, who, with his widowed mother and two brothers, occupy a farm at Kilshanny under Capt Crowe, who is at present in India with his regiment. A portion of this holding, to the extent of 24 acres, is composed of bog, eight of which have been reclaimed by being set as mock ground, and it was now sought to hand over to another tenant on the property, about five acres of the unclaimed portion. Notice to quit having expired the agent proceeded to the land to demand possession, and on his way thither he called at the house of Horan, whose son-in-law, a man named Neylan, was anxious to obtain the five acres in question, and took him upon his car. On arriving at Kilshanny, Horan went to the house of Neylan, and the agent proceeded to the land held by the McKean's. The widow and her sons came out of the house, and upon his demanding possession he was met by the reply from Austin McKean that "the land would not be given without a life." The agent thereupon withdrew; but, before doing so, cautioned McKean against any act of violence. It would seem that after he had retired, Austin McKean proceeded a short distance from his own house in the direction of the chapel, where he met Horan and demanded why he had "brought a rascal of an agent to take away his land?" Horan was about to reply, when McKean suddenly drew a pistol and presented it at his breast, exclaiming "take that." Horan swerved on one side as quickly as possible when the charge exploded. The ball penetrated his clothes on the right side, struck upon the breast-bone, and, taking a circular direction, glanced off. Although Horan received only a superficial wound; his nervous system has been much shaken. Horan states, in addition, that after the shot, which occurred within 25 yards of the chapel and the same distance from the house of the parish priest, into which he rushed for protection, McKean proceeded to reload his pistol. The agent, after waiting some time for Horan, was cautioned not to go in that direction, as something serious had occurred. Information of the transaction was immediately conveyed to the police authorities in Ennistymon, when a party was despatched in pursuit of McKean. They were, however, observed before reaching the widow's house, and he at once made off. The police followed him in hot haste and kept him in view until they arrived at Spectacle Bridge, near Lisdoonvarna, a distance of three miles, where he entered a wood, and thus for a time succeeded in baffling pursuit. No one experienced more kindness at the hands of the agent than the widow herself; and in seeking to obtain possession of the five acres of bog referred to, he considered that it was comparatively worthless to her, although she appears to have placed a higher value upon it. However, he thought her conduct obstinate, and took legal proceedings for its possession. No doubt the knowledge that Neylan wanted the land operated to encourage this resistance, which terminated in the manner we have described. The occurrence has caused great anxiety in the county, and Horan's escape is regarded as nothing less than miraculous.

(iii)

The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Dé Luain 12 Aibreán 1869
Lch. 3

Alleged Outrage at Kilshanny

To the Editor of the Clare Journal

Sir, – In your last issue an article under a heading, "Desperate," in more senses that [sic] one, caught my attention. The heading was as follows:- "Desperate Agrarian Outrage at Kilshanny." Under such a heading we are not surprised to find that the writer turns a recent Tipperary murder to account, as an embellishment to his story. For some those stories of "Agrarian Outrage," "Late Fearful Murders," "Awful Tragedies," &c., possess greater attractions than the most interesting episodes in the "Vicar of Wakefield," especially when "gathered from authentic sources." Such persons seem to share the instincts of the vulture and condor; and can smell a murder at any distance. And with such the writer in your journal seems to manifest an inclination to fraternise. However, it is some relief to find that at the end of his graphic sketch, he assures us that we live in an age of miracles; and that the intelligent and truth-loving people of Clare regard Foran's escape from death as "nothing less than a miracle." Let us then assume that there shall be few so temerarious as to doubt the truth of heavenly interposition, in favour of this native of Monreel; as the writer assures the public that "the ball penetrated the clothes on the right side, struck upon the chest bone, and taking a circular direction, glanced off!!" After such an occurrence, what wonder Mr Foran should find his nerves much shaken. Were he as brave as Sir John Falstaff it could not be otherwise. And with that worthy knight he might exclaim – "I have 'scaped by a miracle – I am eight times thrust through the doublet – four through the hose – Eccesignum!"
This thrilling production, sir, is based on those facts which your correspondent has "from authentic sources." Your correspondent's veracity we do not question; but we regret that he has been so precipitate as to make such an attack on McKeane's character on such flimsy evidence. Does he know that the report of the shot was heard by no one, though discharged within "25 yards of the priest's house?" Does he know that a credible witness who saw Foran just after flying for refuge to the priest's house, failed after a minute examination to discover any mark whatever to indicate that his clothes were holed either by a ball or by shot? With a knowledge of these facts, we believe he would allow the "Desperate Agrarian Outrage at Kilshanny to pass unnoticed. The fact that "the ball struck upon the chest bone and taking a circular direction glanced off may be explained, accounted for, quite to your correspondent's satisfaction, by assuming miraculous intervention. Such an assumption will scarcely satisfy those who from actual observation saw that this wound was but an insignificant black mark slightly swollen. The traces on Foran's face, immediately after seeking the right of sanctuary in the priest's house, were any but those of fear. However, of this we make no account, for Foran may be one of those stoical men, who, like Macbeth, can face the Hyrcan tiger with unshaken nerve.
Your correspondent seems to make no account of the attempt at ejection. Foran's connection with it – he makes light of too – though some consider it of rather an ambigious nature. His ideas of justice and "kindness" seem to be so erroneous as to lead him into contradictory statements. He tells us "that no one experienced more kindness from the agent than the widow herself." In the minds of most sensible men such a statement will be at variance with the attempt to deprive her of her holding, and that conviction will not be weakened when they know that she had her rent paid in advance.
Did your correspondent forget that Austin McKean has a right to the character of a good man until incontestible facts be adduced to establish his guilt? Perhaps in the absence of such facts the widow's son is undeserving of your correspondent's sympathy as long as he is an obstacle to the aggrandisement of grasping farmers.
A.B.C.
[The above letter has been sent to us for publications we and give it for what it is worth. the statement referred to may or may not be hereafter sustained, but we have no reason at present to suppose that they are at variance with facts. At all events, the negative speculations in which our correspondent indulges, are not calculated to remove that impression, in the absence of more conclusive proof. It seems to us, in fact, that he would have the public believe the whole transaction to be a myth, notwithstanding the sworn testimony of Horan. Looking at the letter, as a whole, and from the statements put forward and the suggestions volunteered, it is very questionable, indeed, if such documents are not calculated to produce a contrary effect to that intended. – Ed. C. J.]

(iv)

The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Dé Luain 19 Aibreán 1869
Lch. 3

Austin McKean, charged with having fired at the man Horan, at Kilshanny, surrendered himself to John B. MacNamara, Esq., J.P., Rock Lodge, Liscannor, on Saturday, by whom he was lodged in jail at Ennistymon. It is rumoured that McKean was vociferously cheered on his way through the town and that his progress was characterised by a triumphant ovation. if there be any truth in this rumour, it is much to be regretted that such a manifestation of feeling should have occurred in a locality hitherto singularly free from crimes like that with which McKean stands charged. It can do no good at best, and may probably do harm. His case will doubtless receive serious and careful investigation, and the less conspicuously the people evince their sympathy under such circumstances the better; for if McKean be guilty of the act of violence laid to his charge, it is out of place and unseasonable; and if he be innocent – which we sincerely hope he may be able to prove – it can only prejudice the calm and impartial administration of justice.

(v)

The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Dé Luain 22 Aibreán 1869
Lch. 3

Several summonses have been issued in connection with the Kilshanny outrage, and the case will be investigated before the magistrates on Saturday. It is now stated that Horan, the person at whom McKean is alleged to have directed the shot, will also be cited. We have much pleasure in being able to add that the shouting and cheering with which McKean was greeted when proceeding through Ennistymon after his surrender to J.B. Macnamara, Esq. was initiated by women and continued by boys. The fact of its being market day may explain the presence of the crowd; and we are assured that although there was a number of men amongst them when outside the police barrack, very few of them exhibited any sympathy on the occasion.

(vi)

The Clare Journal and Ennis Advertiser, Dé Luain 26 Aibreán 1869
Lch. 3

We learn that Austin McKean, charged with shooting at the man Horan, and who surrendered himself upwards of a week ago, was brought before the magistrates at Ennistymon on Saturday. The proceedings were of a protracted character, and the investigation, which was conducted with closed doors, resulted in a further adjournment, bail being accepted for McKean's appearance on Monday next.

(vii)

The Limerick Chronicle, Tráthnóna Dé Sathairn, 8 Bealtaine 1869
(uimhir an leathanach ar iarraidh)

Ennis Inquiry

At the recent inquiry before the magistrates Austin McKeane, charged by Thomas Horan with attempting to shoot him on 29th March last, was discharged, Horan having failed to identify him.