"The boast of heraldry, the pomps of Pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave;
Await alike th' inevitable hour,
The paths of glory lead but to the grave"

Anyone of our neglected Irish country Churchyards might have inspired that eleagic masterpiece. For there, prince and peasant, chieftain and retainer, all mingle in the common dust of Irish earth.

"Perhaps in this neglected spot is laid
Some heart once pregnant with celestial fire;
Hands that the rod of empire might have sway'd,
Or wak'd to estacy the living lyre."

Apart from their sad character, and the solemn purpose which they serve, there is scarcely one of these old Irish cemeteries unlinked with the nation's history. No matter how obscure, unregarded, or inaccessible they may be in this Age of Progress they are not unworthy of at least "the passing tribute of a sigh." Now that a commendable, if somewhat belated, effort, is being made to restore them to a condition of decency and order, a brief sketch of the two cemeteries near Ferbane, at present undergoing the process, may not be out of place.

Gallen Cemetery

The little cemetery of Gallen, about half an acre in extent, is picturesquely situated on the left bank of the Brosna, within the beautiful demesne of Gallen Priory, and about 300 yards south-east of the Priory itself. Unrivalled scenes of sylvan splendour surround it: not a sound disturbs' its awesome stillness, except the distant murmur of the river, or the crooning of the wind through the trees. The venerable ivy-clad rums of the church, measuring 77 feet by 22 feet, occupy the centre, and within and around cluster the graves -the homes of the silent dead. The eastern gable of the church has well withstood the ravages of time; the massive tracery of its window is still intact. Through its stained glass once flowed the mellow sunshine that warmed the arch above, and made mosaics on the floor and altar below. If they could speak what a tale these sacred walls could tell! In the words of Father Burke, the Prince of Preachers, "they would tell of the glorious days when Ireland's church and Ireland's nationality joined hands; and when the preists and people rose up in a glorious combat for freedom. They would tell us how the wavering were encouraged and strengthened, and the brave and gallant fired with the highest and noblest purpose for God and Ireland; how the vile traitor was detected, and the falsehearted denounced; and how the nation's lifeblood was kept warm, and the wounds were staunched by the wise counsels of the old Franciscan and Dominican Friars." All this, and much more, might these sacred ruins relate, for within them assembled the nation's best and bravest, to practise that faith, in defence of which the blood of our Irish martyrs reddened the moss of our valleys and hillsides. In the dark and evil days of persecution Gallen suffered the full fury of the ruin and devastation. After an illustrious existence of almost eleven centuries, having withstood many a vicissitude, the light of its sanctuary lamp was extinguished about 1650. For almost 300 years it was to remain in darkness and desolation. To-day, thank God, it glows as brightly as in the days gone by. In 1921 the ancient Priory and demesne passed into the possession of its present owners- the Nuns of St. Joseph of Cluny, and thus Gallen has reverted to its pristine use.
It had been thought that on account of its great age and historic associations, some relic of its former glory would be discovered amidst the ruins and debris; but the despoilers did their work well, and not a trace of Gallen's former greatness has been found. A few very ancient stones, rather crudely carved, were dug up, and these have been reverently placed in the sanctuary of the old church. A wonderful improvement has been effected by the work in progress for the past few weeks, and when completed, a debt to the dead long overdue, will have been paid.

Kilreehan Cemetery

Although not as ancient as Gallen, yet the origin of Kilreehan is very remote. It is situate on the right bank of the Brosna, and almost opposite Gallen. About 400 yards away are ruins of the old church of Wheery, whence the parish of Ferbane takes its name. The ruins of Wheery are not as well preserved as those of Gallen; in extent they are also small. Some years ago, during cleaning operations on the Brosna , a small bell was found in the bed of the river, directly opposite the ruins of Wheery. It was in a perfect state of preservation, and the finder, the late Mr John Caheeran, of Endrim, handed it over to the then Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise. This ancient relic is still a treasure of the Diocesan Archives. A small round pan, or crucible, and presumably for the manufacture of Altar Bread, found about the same time, and in the same place, eventually came into the possession of the National Museum.
No ancient monuments have been unearthed at Kilreehan, but there are some notable modern graves. The oldest tomb is dated 25th March, 1760,and a rather quaint little stone marks the grave of a Dr Tobias Matthews, who died in 1780. The grave of Edmund Day, who was hanged for a trivial offence in 1820, is in the centre of the cemetery, and nearby is the grave of Michael Rigney, whose tragic death on St. Patrick's Day, in 1875, was an outstanding Irish crime of the nineteenth century. Near the King vault is the grave of Mrs Beasley, mother of the great sporting family of that name. In an unregarded grave lie the remains of a once well-known public official, who was mainly responsible for the convi-ction of Charles Kickham, the Irish poet and patriot. A quaint, and yet appropriate leg-end, is inscribed on the tomb of one Patrick Fleming, who died in 1828. It reads as follows:-

"Life is a city, full of crooked streets;
Death is the market place, where all sinners meet.
Had life been merchandised, so that men could buy;
Then the rich would live, and the poor would die."

It is a curious fact that in neither cemetery is there a surname beginning with the distinctly Irish prefix of Mac. In Gallen there is one O'Connor, and in Kilreehan one O'Neill.

"By Mac and O, you'll always know true Irishmen they say,
But if the lack the O or Mac, no Irishmen are they."

If these two lines bear any relation to the truth, then there are very few "true Irishmen" around Ferbane. And this pan-city of the Irish prefix is all the more strange when it is recalled that Ferbane district was once the stronghold of the great Mac Coghlan sept, the ruins of whose old baronial residence are still in a state of tolerably good preservation, and are known as Kilcolgan Court. They are situate about two miles from Ferbane, and it was here, in 1790, that the last of the Mac Coghlans passed away -P.F., Ferbane, March 1929.

The crown estate of Kilconcouse was situated in the parish of Kinnitty, King's Co., and comprised 871 acres. This estate differed from Ballykilcline, Irvilloughter and Boughill in that in this case, from 1829 onwards, leases had been granted to the tenants for a twenty-one year term. The rents appeared to have been paid fairly regularly until the year 1846 when the famine intervened. In a report from the secretary of Kinnitty District relief committee, it was started with twelve families of 68 person where without any provisions and 'in most precarious state'. Forty individuals were unable to work. Subscriptions amounting to £35 were contributed by the commissioners of Woods.

In April, 1847, the Commissioners authorised the collector of excise, Parsonstown, 'to give such indulgence in payment to each tenant as their circumstance may require', when a number of tenants appealed for lenience.

The leases foe twenty-one years expire in 1850 when an arrear of rent of £1,531 14s. 9d. had accumulated. It was then decided to remove the 'surplus population'; to redivide the land among those selected from the remaining tenants and to abandon the collection of arrears. The friction and unrest which arose from this redivision was the cause of an inquiry by a select committee of the House of Lords into the management of the estate. Fifty-six persons left Kilconcouse at a cost of £363 19s. 8d.

EMIGRANTS FROM KILCONCOUSE

Itinerary Dublin - Liverpool - New York

Notes:

1. Q.R.O., O.W. Land Revenue Series Letter Books, Report of H. Tyrrell on Distress, c. 21 May 1846.

2. Ibid., Commissioners of Woods to Burke, 8 April 1847.

3. Report from the select committee of the House of Lords . . . into the Management. . . of Kilconcouse, etc., 1854, xxi, 3.

4. All the emigrants from Kilconcouse sailed from Liverpool on the 11 June 1852 with one exception, Patrick Lowry. It is therefore unnecessary to repeat dates of departure with each family group.

5. Q.R.O., Files of Forfeiture Office and Miscellaneous Papers, File No. 5, Burke to Commissioners of Woods, 3 September 1852, states that as Patrick Lowry has only one eye he was judged 'unfit for New York' and was sent to Philadelphia instead.
   

The abbeys and monasteries of Eglish included Drumcullen and Killyon, Rathlibthen (Ralyon) and others. Drumcullen is said to be from Druim, a hill, and Cullion, a holly, for which tree it seems to have been noted; but a more probable derivation is from the Cullen Sept, subordinate chiefs in the neighbourhood. At Killyon, St. Kyran, the elder, founded a nunnery, probably the first in Ireland, for his mother Laidana, and there are remains of a religious establishment on the road from Parsonstown to Kinnitty. Mr. Archdall calls it Killadhuin, which is derived from kill, a cell, and Laidana, St. Kyran's mother's name. Some years ago considerable remains of this nunnery were standing. The loopholes of a flanking tower commanded the outside of two walls of a quadrangle. The remains of the gatehouse shew it to have been capable of being firmly secured with chains. In 1847 there was opened an underground room, in which was found a curious iron key and a number of peculiar-made bottles, besides broken drinking glasses. There were also dug up iron keys of antique shape, knives, short horns, and a cooking hearth. This latter was in the middle of the quadrangle, and consisted of a circular basin about ten feet in diameter, and two and a-half deep. There were stones lying round exhibiting marks of having been subjected to intense heat, and these proved that the people adhered to the last to the primitive custom of their ancestors in their cooking. The only remains now standing of the interesting relic is the crumbling ruin of a gable-wall.

The "manor of Killyon, with the castles, towns and lands of Rathure," were the property of MacCoghlans, in the time of James II., but they forfeited them in the following reign, and they were granted to John Argill, of Ross Castle. It is now the property of John V. Cassidy, J.P.

There is still signs of a large fort in the neighbourhood of Thomastown. These lands were in 1669 granted to Edward Smith, and they are now owned by P. V. Bennett, D.L., who improved the village.

As stated above, St Ciaran, of Saighur, now Seirkierans, established a nunnery. Another origin is given in an old legend, which is characteristic of the times, when facts and fictions were mixed up in grotesque confusion:- "A young lady came most opportunely to Ciaran, and he converted her, and built her a neat little cell close to the monastery, and he invited other holy virgins to visit her, and amongst them the ever-bashful virgin Bruinneach, the daughter of a noble lord of Munster, and Ciaran's mother had been very much attached to her, being a foster-child of her's, and was most amiable and accomplished in her manners. But as the chieftain of the dal Fiachra heard of her extraordinary beauty, he came with a large body of Kearnes and took her away by force of arms. His name was Dima, and he kept her in his castle for a considerable time. . . And Ciaran came to Dima and asked him to allow the lady to return home. But Dima would not allow her to leave him, and said 'she should not go unless the screeching of the Heron awoke him in his bed the next morning. It was then winter, and the ground was thickly covered with snow, except the spot on which Ciaran and his disciples resided.'"

"The following morning, although contrary to the bird's nature, a Heron was perched on the top of every house in the Dun, and when Dima heard it he became greatly alarmed, and came in all haste where Ciaran was and knelt down before him, and suffered the lady to return home. . . . And Ciaran brought her to her cell, which is called Cill Liadhain Kill Lyon or Kill Lean]. Still Dima was very much attached to her, and became sorry for parting with her so silly, and he came a second time to take her off by force; but God did not permit him, as it was the wish of Ciaran, his holy mother, and the lady herself; for at the moment that Dima reached the village Bruinneach swooned away and died, and Dima was sorry for that, and addressing Ciaran said to him, 'Why bast thou killed my wedded wife . . . .and now you shall not dwell here."

Ciaran then said to Dima that it was not in his power to do that of himself, but that God may permit him for a season to do evil, and therefore he would not depart, but would remain in spite of him."

"Dima departed in great rage, and threatened to exterminate Ciaran, hut the vengeance of heaven overtook himself for his evil-doings, for on reaching his castle he found it on a blaze of fire, with all the out-offices; and he had a son of whom he was very fond, and in the confusion caused by the fire was forgotten asleep in Dima's bed; but his mother seeing that there was no chance of saving him, cried out in a loud voice and said, 'My loving child, I bequeath thee to Ciaran, of Saighir, and I leave you entirely in his hands;' and when the house fell in and the fire quenched, the infant was found unhurt and asleep; and as Dima saw this he went to where Ciaran and the Bishop Edus were, and he received absolution from Ciaran; and Dima presented him his two sons, viz., Donough, the infant whom Ciaran saved from the fire, and another son, and their posterity for ever after them; as also the monastery, rents, and emoluments arising from interments, And Dima returned to his own house in great joy; and he received many blessings from Ciaran."

Ciaran, not wishing that his foster-sister should so soon depart this world, and knowing that Dima would not annoy her any further, proceeded to where her body had been interred and there prayed to the Lord for her recovery; and she immediately arose from death to life and lived for a long time after."

The parish of Killeigh is situated partly in the barony of Upper Philipstown, but chiefly in that of Geashill. It consists of the union of the former parishes or ecclesiastical districts of Killeigh, Ballykeane and Geashill. This district is noted in both the secular and still more in the ecclesiastical annals of Ireland. The name of Killeigh is common with another ecclesiastical establishment which, according to Colgan, was situated in East Breifny. The Killeigh with which we are at present concerned is situated in Ofalia, and is always distinguished from the other by the addition droma foda. Achadh-dronia-foda signifies the field of the long ridge, and CilI was prefixed after St. Sinchell had erected his church there. The name, as Dr. O’Donovan adds (Note to Four Masters) is very descriptive of the locality, for a remarkable, long, low druim or ridge extends south-west-wards, immediately over the village of Killeigh. The entire of the ancient Ofalia, from Slieve Bloom to the Hill of Allen, and from the Sugar-loaf hill to the Great Heath is a plain nearly as level as the surface of a tranquil sea, and the droma-foda, though not high, becomes a remarkable feature in so level a district.

St. Sinell, or Senchell, one of the most distinguished ecclesiastics of his time, founded a Monastery of Killeigh at the beginning of the sixth century. This monastery became afterwards known as the Priory of the Holy Cross of Canons Regular of St. Augustine. St. Senchell, who is stated to have been St. Patrick’s first convert, was the son of Kennfinnain, and grandson of Inchad, or Finchada, of the royal blood of Leinster (Colgan, Trias. Thaum.) The father of the saint was ninth in descent from Cathair Mor, monarch of Ireland. In both the Martyrology of Tallaght and the Feiliré, St. Aengus notes the 5th of April as the Feast of the first Baptism conferred by St. Patrick in Ireland: —“Baptisma Patricii venit ad Hiberniam.” (Mart. Tall.) “Excellent Patrick’s baptism was kindled in Ireland.” (Feiliré.) On this latter the gloss in the Leabhar Breac adds, “i. Smell, son of Finchad of the Ui-Garrchon, he is the first person Patrick baptised in Ireland.” It is related that St. Ailbe, of Emly, presented him a cell, in which he had himself lived for some time, at Cluain Damh (now Clane, County Kildare). We find St. Senchell afterwards at Killeigh, where he founded a monastery, which in course of time became very celebrated. In order to distinguish him from another St. Senchell, a relative of his, who lived with him at Killeigh (and who is styled Bishop in the litany of St. Aengus), he is usually called senior. Having lived to a good old age, he died on the 26th of March, AD 549, in his monastery at Killeigh, and was interred there. Petrie states that St Kieran and the two Senchells died of the Plague which raged in 549. * In the litany of St. Aengus Ceile De, written in AD. 799, we have evidence of the celebrity and holiness to which this religious establishment had attained. “Thrice fifty holy bishops with twelve pilgrims, under Senchell the elder, a priest; Senchell the younger, a bishop; and the twelve bishops who settled ia Cill Achaidh Dromfota in Hy Failghi. These are the names of the bishops of Cill Achaidh: —Three Budocis, three Canocis, Morgini, six Vedgonis, six Beaunis, six Bibis, nine Glonalis, nine Ercocinis, nine Grucimnis, twelve Uennocis, twelve Contumanis, twelve Onocis, Senchilli, Britanus from Britain, Cerrui, from Armenia. All these I invoke unto my aid through Jesus Christ.” And again: —“ The twelve Conchennaighi, with the two Senchells in Cill Achaidh, I invoke unto my aid through Jesus Christ.” (IE. Record, May, 1867.) The learned editor of this litany (which he copied from a MS. in the archives of St. Isidore’s at Rome), in a note on the eight monastic rules of the early Irish Saints extant, writes as follows “We may add that we have ourselves discovered another, some-what different from these, in the St. Isidore MS. from which this litany is published, and we regret that want of space alone prevents us from laying it before our readers. It is entitled— The Pious Rules and Practices of the School of Senchil. This was Senchil, surnamed the Elder. The Rules and Practices are 38 in number. When we say that an ardent desire of hearing, and offering up the holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and frequent confession were amongst the rules and practices of a school which was celebrated in the first half of the sixth century, we have said enough to prove under what system of education Ireland became ‘another name for piety, and learning in most of the languages of Europe.”

* The Irish Annalists relate that in the year 1163 “Glendalough was burned with the house of Kieran, the house of Kevin, and the Church of the two Senchells.” Commenting on this passage, Petrie writes “I am disposed to conclude that the unnamed Church to the S. of St. Kevin’s house (at Glendalough) is that called by the Annalists “The Regles of the two Senchells.’ I may add that we may infer, with every appearance of probability, that all these buildings were of contemporaneous age, and that, if not erected by the persons whose names they bore, those called after St. Kieran and the two Senchells were erected by St. Kevin in their honour, as, though they were all contemporaneous, and Kevin was the dearest friend of Kieran of Clonmacnoise, he survived both him and the Senchells more than sixty years, having lived, according to Tighernagh, to the extraordinary age of 129.” (Petrie’s Round Towers, p. 436.)

ANNALS OF KILLEIGH

AD. 548. St. Senchell the Elder, son of Ceanannan, Abbot of Cill-Achaidh-Droma-foda, died on the 26th day of March. Thirty and three hundred years was the length of his life. (Four Masters.) Colgan (AL SS., p. 747), thinks this number should be one hundred and thirty. In the Mart. Tal. we find at 26th March, “Sinchelli, Abb. Chilli Achaidh; and at 25th June, “Sinchell Cilli Achaidh.” The former refers to St. Senchell, Senior, the latter to St. Senchell, Junior.

The Feiliré makes the 26th of March the “Feast of the two perennial Sinchells of vast Cill Achid;” to which entry the gloss in the Leabhar Breac adds

“Three hundred years—fine satisfaction!
That was (the elder) Siachelfs lifetime
And thrice ten years brightly
Without sin, without sloth.”

26 March. Sincheall, Abbot of Cill-achaidh-dromfota, i.e., the old Sincheall. It was of him this character was given after his death: -

“The men of heaven, the men of earth,
A surrounding host,
Thought that the day of judgment
Was the Death of Seancheall.
There came not, there will not come from Adam,
One more austere, more strict in piety;
There came not, there will not come, all say it,
Another Saint more welcome to the men of heaven.”
—(Mart. Don)

A.D. 741. Maelanfaidh of Cill-achaidh-Dromafoda, died. (Four Masters.)

A.D. 762. Cubran, Abbot of Cill-achaidh, died. (Id.)

A.D. 791. (recté’ 796, O’D.) Seanchan, Abbot of Cillachaidh -Droma-foda, and of Birra, died. (Id.)

A.D. 795. Tairdhealbhach, Abbot of Cill-Achaidh, died. (Id.)

AD. 800. (recté 805, O’D.) Ciii Achaidh was burned with its new oratory. (Id.) In Annals of Ulster, “AD 804, Cill Achaidh cum Oratorio novo ardescit.”

A.D. 803. (recté 808, O’D.) Faelghus, Abbot of Cill-Achaidh, died. (Four Masters.)

AD. 807. Died, St. Tighernach, Abbot of KiLleigh. (Mac-Geoghegan.) Tighernach, by whom Daire-MelI was founded, Abbot of Cill-Achaidh, died. (Four Masters.) O’Donovan regards this Saint, whose feast was celebrated on the 4th of November, as Abbot of the other Killeigh, in Breffny.

A.D. 825. Dubhdadrich, son of Maeltuile, Abbot of Cillachaidh, died. (Four Masters.)

AD. 830. Died Ceallagh McFynaghty, Abbot of Killeigh. (MacGeoghegan.)

A.D. 832. Reach tabhra, Abbot of Cill-achaidh, died. (Four Masters.)

AD. 840. The destruction of Cill-Achaidh-Droma-foda, by the foreigners. (Id)

A.D. 843. An array was led by the foreigners of Ath-Cliath (the Danes of Dublin) to Cluana-an.Dobhair, and burned the fold of Cill Achaid. Nuadhat, son of Saiger, was martyred by them. (Id) Cluana-an-Dobhair, above referred to, is stated by O’Donovan to be a district near Killeigh. Most probably it is identical with Urney, referred to later on, for which district Clonatogher is another appellation at the present day.

A.D. 844. Robhartach, son of Suibhne, Prior of Cill~achaidh, scribe and wise man, was slain. (Id.)

AD. 869. Dubhthach, Abbot of Cill-achaidh, scribe, anchorite, and bishop, died. (Id.)

A.D. 871. Died, St. Moylervayn, Abbot of Killeghie, and of the Churches of Tihelly (i.e., Teaqh-Teilli, the house of Teilli, now Tihelly, P. of Durrow, King’s County), and Disert-Dermot, (Castledermott, County Kildare). (MacGeoghegan.)

A.D. 872. Donogh MacMôylduin, Abbot of Killealga, was this year slain in battle by the Danes. (Id.)

A.D. 873. Robhartach Mac-Ua-Cearta, i.e., he from whom Inis-Robhartach (was named), Bishop of Cill-Dara, scribe and Abbot of Cill-achaidh, died. (Four Masters.)

A.D. 876. Becan, son of Garbhan, Prior of Cill-achaidh, died. (Id.)

A.D. 885. Maenach, Abbot of Cill-achaidh Dromata, died. (Id.)

A.D. 901. Furadhran, son of Garbhan, Prior of Cill-achaidh died. (Id.)

A.D. 915. Maelgiric, Abbot of Cill-achaidh, died. (Id.)

A.D. 919. Ceallach, son of Congalach, Abbot of Cill-achaid, died. (Id)

AD. 935. Aireachtach, priest of Cill-achaidh, died. (ld.)

A.D 937. The men of Munster, under Ceallachan, King of Munster, plundered the churches of Cluain-eidhnach (Clonenagh, Queen’s County), and Cillachaidh. (Four Masters.)

A.D. 938. Coibhdeanach, Abbot of Cillachaidh, was drowned in the sea of Delginis Cualann (Dalkey), while fleeing from the foreigners. (Id.)

A.D. 949. Died, Reaghtaury, Abbot of Killeachie. (Mac-Geoghegan.) The Four Masters place his death three years later, and style him Bishop. .AD. 952. Reachtabhra, Bishop and Abbot of Cill-achaidh, died.

A D. 982. Aedh Ua-Mothrain (Hugh O’Moran) successor of the two Sinchells (i.e., Abbot of Killeigh), died. (Four Masters.)

A.D. 1030. Maelodhar Dall, lector of Cill-achaidh, died. (Id.)

AD. 1059. Ua Lorchain, Abbot of Cill-achaidh, died. (Id)

AD. 1080. Numbers of the men of Teathbha, of Muinter- Gearadhain, and of the Cairbre-men came upon a plundering expedition into Ui-Failghe, and they arrived at the Termon of Cill-achaidh. The Ui-Failghe overtook them and slew Guilla-rmuire Ua-Ciardha, Lord of Cairbre and Aedh, grandson of Dubhghall Mac-Finnbharr, Chief of Muintir-Geradhain (Muin-tergeran, N. of County Lougford—O’D.) and others of the nobility besides them. (Four Masters.) This attack upon Killeigh is thus noticed in the Annals of Clonmacnoise: -

“A.D. 1078 (recté 1080, O’D.) The people of Teaffa came to the Termyn-land of Killeachie in Affalie, and preyed and spoiled the whole Termyn-land, and also killed Gillamorie O’Keyrga, King of Carbrey, and the son of Mac Fynharr, chief of the O’Gerans, with many others.”

The Four Masters have the following entry: -
“A.D. 1085. Finn, son of Gussan, son of Gorman, Bishop of Cill-dara, died at Cill-Achaidh.” And Ware (Bishops of Kildare) states that “Finn, son of Gussan, died at Achonry in 1085.” Ware, at the year 1160, states that “Fian (Mac-Tiarchan) O’Gorman, Abbot of the monastery of Greenwood, Bishop of Kildare, died at Killeigh, and was there buried.” The similarity of the names would incline one to suspect a mistake here, and to believe that these entries really refer to the same person. A Bishop of Kildare of this name is given amongst the Prelates who assisted at the Synod of Kells, which met on the 9th March, 1162, as appears from the list taken by Keating from the Annals of Clonenagh (see Lanigan, vol. 4, p. 140.) This would then appear to have been the Bishop of Kildare, who died at Killeigh, and is interred there.

A.D. 1162. The Ui-Dimisaigh (the O’Dempseys)* i.e., Deallach, Cubrogha, and Cuilen, were slain by Maelseachlainn Ua-Conchobhair (O’Conor), lord of Ui-Failghe, in the middle of Cill-achaidh. (Four Masters.)

A.D. 1163. Gillabrighte Ua-Dimusaigh (O’Dempsy), successor to the two Senchills (i.e., Abbot of Killeigh), died. (Id.) And the same authority records that in this same year “the church of the two Senchells was burned.”

A.D. 1212. An army was led by the English of Munster to Roscrea, where they erected a castle. From thence they proceeded to Killeigh, where they were overtaken by Murtough, the son of Brian (O’Conor), and his army, who gave them battle; in which Melaghlin, the son of Cathal Carragh (O’Conor) received wounds of which he died. (Id.)

A.D. 1421. Murrough O’Connor, Lord of Offaly, a man who had gained many victories over those English and Irish who opposed him, after vanquishing the world and the devil, died at his own mansion seat, and was interred in the monastery of Killeigh. (Four Masters.) Another entry at the same date records that “O’Conor Faly retired among the friars of the monastery of Killeigh, and took the habit of a friar. O’Conor was (only) one month among the friars when he died, after a well spent life.” These two entries appear to refer to the same individual.

A.D. 1458. O’Conor Faly, Calvagh More, son of Murrough-namadhman (i.e., Morgan of the Defeats), Lord of Offaly, a man who never refused the countenance of man (whose hospitality was extended to all without exception, O’D.), and who had won more wealth from his English and Irish enemies than any lord in Leinster, died, and Con O’Conor, his son, was elected in his place before his father was buried in the monastery of Killeigh. (Four Masters.)

A.D. 1537. The Deputy, Lord Grey, plundered the Church of Killeigh, and carried away a pair of organs and other articles fitted for the King’s College, and as much glass as sufficed for the glazing of the College of Maynooth. (Colgan, AA. SS., p. 748.) The college referred to was one which Earl Gerald Fitz-Gerald, Lord Deputy, who died in 1513, founded, adjoining the town of Maynooth, for a Provost, Vice-Provost, 3 Priests, 2 Clerks and 3 choristers.

* The site of one of O’Dempsy’s Castles is pointed out at Ballykeane, about six miles N.W. of Portarlington; and not far from his Castle, on the verge of a bog, is a curious entrenchment called the Sconce, said to be the fortification that defended Lord Clonmaliere’s house. O’Dempsy also obtained possession of Lea Castle, originally built by the Fitzgeralds. —(O’Donovan—Note to Four MM.)

‘The Prior of the Monastery of the Holy Cross, at Killeigh, was one of those who had seats in the Irish House of Peers. (Allemande.) An Inquisition, taken 15 days after the feast of St. Michael, 11th Elizab., finds that Phelim O’Connor, the last Abbot, was seized of the Abbey, etc., containing half an acre of land, surrounded by a stone wall; also, an orchard and three gardens, with three messuages, 124 acres of arable land, three of meadow, or moor, thirty-four of pasture, and three of wood and under-wood, in Fentyre and Killeigh ; annual value of each acre, besides reprises, two pence halfpenny; a small plot of ground in the town of Kylleigh, whereon was formerly a mill with a water-course; three messuages and six cottages in Dunfeigh; 20 acres of arable land, called Channon’s land and seven acres of pasture and moor in Dunfeigh aforesaid; annual value of each acre, besides reprises, two pence halfpenny. The said Abbot was also possessed of the following rectories :—Killeigh, with the chapels of Eentyre and Killeigh; annual value, besides reprises, 17s. 6d.; Ballykeane: annual value, besides reprises, 40s.; Urney, annual value, besides reprises, 12d.: a chapel in Tyrine, with three acres of glebe; annual value of each acre, two pence halfpenny. The said rectory of Ballykeane extendeth into the townlands of Ballykeane, Enagban, Kilconye, Corballie, Urney, Ballinboher, Aghenanoghe, Clonyghgawny, Clony-gawniebeg, Tiren, Backecrewe, and Sbaraneure. (Ghief Remembrancer.)

June 28th, 18th Elizabeth. This monastery, with three messuages, six cottages, twenty acres of arable land and seven of pasture, in the town of Donfeigh, in this county, with the tithes, etc., were granted for ever, in capite, to John Lee, at the yearly rent of 45s. 6d. And, 16th May, 1578. This abbey, with all its temporal possessions, etc., was granted to Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare, and his heirs, at the yearly rent of 33s. 4d., he to maintain one able horseman. (Auditor General.) Another Inquisition, taken 20th Feb., 1582, too long for insertion, may be seen in Monast. Hib., amongst the Addenda. An Act of Settlement, dated 7th Feb., 19th Chas. II., confirms to Francis Lye (son of John), of Rathbride, Esq., “the scite, circuit, and precinct of the late monastery or priory house of ye Order of ye Holy Crosse of Killeigh (here the details are set forth,)—To hold for ever, as ye same were granted and confirmed to him by patent dated 10th May, 15th Chas. II., the premises to be held under the same rents, tenures and services, as are reserved in said patent.”

A portion of this monastery still remains, consisting chiefly of a large hall or chamber, about forty-two feet by eighteen, and about eighteen feet high. It is arched roughly in stone, and appears to have had an inner roof of timber, the corbels for the support of which still remain. There is a large circular-headed aperture at the east end, which seems to have been the only window of the apartment. A doorway at the N.W. corner led to this chamber, and also to a stone stair in the solid W. wall. The upper story, to which this gave access, has disappeared with the exception of a few feet of masonry. Some stone windows of Gothic design, appearing to have originally belonged to this portion of the building, have been set as ornaments in the walls of an adjoining modern residence. A transept arch of the old monastic church can be easily traced in the south wall of the present Protestant church. A considerable portion of an extended circular trench, which formerly surrounded this Priory, and probably also the nunnery, may still be observed. The adjoining cemetery is the resting place of many Saints and distinguished personages. The graves of the two Saints Senchel must be here-about, and also the sacred dust of the “thrice fifty holy bishops, with twelve pilgrims, and the twelve bishops who settled in Cill Achaidh Dromfota,” invoked in the litany of St. Aengus. Here too reposes at least one Bishop of Kildare, Finn MacTiercan, or Tierian) who died, as we have seen, at Killeigh, and is interred there. The tombs of many of the great Irish families, who formerly held sway in this neighbourhood, are also to be found in this church-yard, viz. :—The tomb of the O’Conors Faly, with a rough marble slab, exhibiting a long inscription in Latin, but much defaced, beginning:—” Hic jacet Herourn Claro de Stemmate natus, Donatus Patriae cura dolorque suae. Una sepulta jacet tumulo Donati parentum, casta, pudica, pia., haec conjux, materque Johannis necnon Donati mater.” Here is also the place of interment of the Dempseys, Chiefs of Clannialiere. The inscription on the grave of the last who bore the family title is as follows: —“ Here lyeth the body of Maxamilian O’Dempsy, Lord Viscount Clanmaleere, who departed the 30th November, 1690.” Here also is the tomb of the O’Molloys, with a long epitaph; and the monument of the O’Dunnes, chiefs of Hy Regan, with their coat of arms elaborately sculptured. (Note to Four Masters, by O’Donovan.)

FRANCISCAN MONASTERY AT KLLLEIGH

Of this religious establishment but little is known. In the Annals of the Four Masters it is recorded that in the year “AD. 1393 the Monastery of Kil Achaidh, in the diocese of Kildare, was erected by O’Conor Faly for Franciscan Friars.” This account differs materially from that given by Ware, who assigns the foundation of this house to the time of Edward I. He also records that “Donald O’Bruin, guardian of the Minorites of Killeigh, was appointed Bishop of Clonmacnoise in 1303. After his election he had the Royal assent on the 14th April, 1303, and was restored to the temporals on the 24th June following.” (Ware’s Bishops.) At the general suppression, this monastery was granted to John Allee or Lee. Information regarding whom, will be found in the Chapter on the Parish of Kildare.

Titular Guardians of this House continued to be appointed after the suppression. We find Father Bonaveutura Mellaghlin, Guardian of Killeigh, taking a prominent part in the affairs of the Confederate Catholics in 1651-2. He was chosen as one of their delegates, by the clergy of Leinster, to the General Assembly at Galway; and his name, as Chancellor of the congregation, is affixed to the Acta Congregationis utriusque Cleri Provinciae Lageniae, 25 Maii Anno 1652. (Aphorism. Discov. Vol. III., pp. 11 and 109.) From the Acts of a Chapter of the Friars Minors, held at Dublin, 1717: “Electus est Guardianus in Conveutu Killighy, V. A. P. F. Simon Waters.” And from the Acts of another Chapter, held also in Dublin, in 1729, amongst the Guardians elected, was “In Conventu Killighy, V. A. P. Eugenius Molloy.” A portion of a wall, covered with ivy, on the right of the present road to Tullamore, is all that now remains of this Monastery. The road passes through the former burial-ground. The Rev. James Kinsella, who came as curate to the parish in 1819, and died P.P. in 1859, thus writes: —“ The walls have been pulled down at different periods for building about the village. To the present day portions of cut stone, appearing to be the bases and capitals of columns, etc., are to be seen about the place. Many of these have been taken away to ornament the houses of the poor; some of the more opulent have worked them into their buildings. When first I took notice of these venerable ruins, I could not imagine that the same amount of destruction could have been effected in a century!”

NUNNERY OF KILLEIGH

A convent for Nuns of the Order of St. Augustine was founded at Killeigh by the family of Warren soon after the arrival of the English. (Allemande.) No vestige of this nunnery remains. In the Annals of the Four Masters it is recorded that “AD. 1447, Finola, the daughter of Calvagh O’Conor Faly, and of Margaret, daughter of O’Carroll, who had been first married to O’Donnell, and afterwards to Hugh Boy O’Neill, the most beautiful and stately, the most renowned and illustrious woman of her time in all Ireland, her own mother only excepted, retired from this transitory world to prepare for life eternal, and assumed the yoke of piety and devotion (took the veil) in the monastery of Cill-Achaidh.”

In MacFirbis’s Annals, many remarkable traits are given of this Margaret. Thus, we read of her pilgrimage to the shrine of St. James at Compostella; and also how the English of Trim, having taken several Irishmen, her neighbours, prisoners, and her lord having in his keeping certain English prisoners, “she went to Bealathatrim, and gave all the English prisoners for MacGeoghegan’s son, and for the sons of Art, and that unadvised by Calvagh, and she brought them home.” (Mis. Irish Arch. Soc. Vol. 1., p. 212.) The death of this lady is recorded by the Four Masters: “AD. 1451—Margaret, daughter of O’Carroll, and wife of O’Conor Faly, the best woman of her time in Ireland,—for it was she who had given two invitations of hospitality in the one year to those who sought for rewards (i.e. poets, minstrels, and members of mendicant orders, etc.,) died, after the victory of Unction and Penance, triumphant over the world and the devil; and Phelim O’Conor, son of Calvagh by this Margaret, and heir to the lordship of Offaly, a man of great fame and renown, died, being for a long time ill of a decline. Only one night intervened between the deaths of both.” The following interesting account of the two feasts to the literati of Ireland, above referred to, one of which took place at Killeigh, and the other at Rathangan, County Kildare, is given by that lady’s enthusiastic panegyrist, Duald MacFirbis: “A.D. 1451—A gratious yeare this yeare was, though the glory and solace of the Irish was sett, but the glory of heaven was amplified and extolled therein; and although this is a year of grace (Jubilee) with the Roman Church, it is an ungratious and unglorious year to all the learned of Ireland, both philosophers, poets, guests, strangers, religious persons, souldiers, mendicant or poore orders, and to all manner and sorts of the poor in Ireland; also for the general support of their maintenance’s decease, to wit, Margarett, daughter of Thady O’Carroll, King of Ely, O’Conor Faly, Calvagh’s wife. It is she that twice in one year proclaimed to and commonly invited (i, in the dark dayes of the yeare, to wit, on the feast day of Da Sinchell, in Killachy), all persons, both Irish and Scottish, or rather Albaines, to two general feasts of bestowing both meate and moneyes, with all manner of gifts, whereunto gathered to receive gifts the number of two thousand and seven hundred persons, besides gamesters and poor men, as it was recorded in a roll to that purpose, and that accompt was made thus, ut vidimus, viz.: The cheife kins of each family of the Learned Irish was by Gilla-nanoemhe MacEgan’s hand, the chief Judge to O’Connor, written in the roll, and his adherents and kinsmen, so that the aforesaid number 2,700 was listed in that roll with the Arts of Dan, or poetry, musick and antiquitie. And Maelin O’Maelconry, one of the chief learned of Connaught, was the first written in that roll, and first payed and dieted, or sett to supper, and those of his name after him, and soforth, every one as he was payed was written in that roll, for fear of mistake, and set down to eate afterwards. And Margarett, on the garrots of the greate churche of Da Sinchell, clad in cloath of gould, her dearest friends about her, her clergy and judges too, Calvagh himself on horseback, by the churches outward side, to the end that all things might be done orderly, and each one served successively. And first of all she gave two chalices of gould as offerings that day on the Altar of God Almighty, and she also caused to nurse or foster two young orphans. But so it was. We never saw nor heard neither the like of that day, nor comparable to its glory and solace. And she gave the second inviting proclamation (to every that came not that day) on the feast day of the Assumption of our Blessed Lady Mary in harvest, at or in the Rath Imayn (Rathangan), and so we have been informed that that second day in Rath-Imayn was nothing inferior to the first day. And she was the only woman that has made most of preparing high-ways and erecting bridges, churches, and mass-books, and all manner of things profitable to serve God and her soul, and not that only, but while the world stands, her very many gifts to the Irish and Scottish Nations shall never be numbered. God’s blessings, the blessing of all Saints, and every other blessing from Jerusalem to Inis-Gluair be on her going to heaven, and blessed be he that will reade and heare this, for blessing her soul. Cursed be that sore in her breast that killed Margarett.” (Annal. Clon.)

More than a century later, we find another female of this family distinguishing herself. In the reign of Edward VI., O’Connor Faly was imprisoned in the Tower of London; six years did he languish in this gloomy prison, when Margaret, his daughter, determined to make a personal appeal to the Queen Mary for his deliverance. She proceeded to England on this mission of filial piety in which she was successful. She obtained the release of her father whom she brought back with her to Ireland.

In a field hard-by the village of Killeigh, and within a circuit of a few yards, is a cluster of seven wells, reputed holy, and to which there is considerable recourse for cures, especially for diseases of the eye. The water that is considered of most efficacy in this respect is found in an aperture in a venerable tree that overhangs one of the wells. The supply in this aperture, which is some six feet high, is said never to be exhausted.

URNEY

Urney, whose name (Locus Orationis) indicates its long-standing sacredness, is found mentioned in the Inquisitions as a rectory belonging to the Priory of Killeigh. This place appears to be the same as the Cluain-an-Dobhair, referred to by our Annalists. (Vide supra.) The Martyrologies of Donegal and Tallaght mark the 30th of August, as the feast of Cronan of Cluain-an-Dobhair.

AD. 938. Flann Ua Cathail (O’Cahill) suffered martyrdom at Cluain-an-Dobhair, by the foreigners. (Four Masters.)

A.D. 942. Robhartach, son of Maelcainnigh, Abbot of Cluain-an-Dobhair, died. (Id.)

There is a small portion of the east gable of the ancient church standing. In the circumjacent burial-ground are some interesting epitaphs, dating from 1729. A former P.P. is buried here, with the following inscription over his grave :—“ Here lieth the body of Rev. Edward Kavanagh, Parish Priest of Geashill and Dean of Kildare, who departed this life the 8th day of October, 1769.”

There was another Church in this district, the site of which still bears the name of Kilmalogue, and is the one noted by Dr. MacGeoghegan as Capella dicta Kilmalmoge ejusdem Parochiae (nempé de .Nurny.) This name, the author of Loca Patriciana suggests, may be derived from that of one of the Patrician Saints,—St. Malagh Brit,—uncle to St. David of Minevia, who, with his brothers, came to Ireland to aid St. Patrick in his missionary labours.

BALLYKEANE

Ballykeane was another rectory belonging to the Priory of Killeigh. This Church still survives, in ruins. It measures forty-two feet by twenty interiorly. Portions of the south and west walls are standing. There is a small window in the west gable and a recess on the Epistle side of the former altar.

AT RAHEEN

There is an humble chapel still in use, having a burial-place attached. Amongst those interred here is a former pastor; the following is the epitaph :—“ Beneath this stone lie the remains of the Rev. William Kennedy, Dean of Kildare and Rector of Geashill, etc., who departed this life on the 8th September, 1795, aged 69. In requie aeterna, potiatur Luce superna.”

TEAMPUL TYRINE

Is the site of an ancient church of which nothing now remains if we except mounds that mark its outlines. A Protestant church has been built here. There is an ancient place of interment attached. We find here the grave of a priest with the following inscription :—“ Lord have mercy on ye soul of ye Rev. John Dempsy, who departed this life ye 2nd July, 1793, aged 76 years.” The tradition regarding him is that he was a native of the county Wexford, that he officiated in this parish, and that he was a “great performer on the Irish pipes!” In an adjoining field there are two wells, accounted Blessed. They are still resorted to, though much less than formerly, by people seeking to be cured. The custom was to use the upper one for internal, and the lower one for external application. The 24th of June seems to have been the special feast day.

AT VENTYRE,

A short distance from the village of Killeigh, formerly stood a chapel, as we see by one of the Inquisitions already quoted. This has completely disappeared. It was replaced by the humble thatched chapel of the penal times, of which no vestige now remains; but there are old inhabitants still living who heard Mass in it in their childhood, previous to the building, in 1808, of the present respectable and commodious parish church.

AT KILLURIN,

Within five and a half miles of Frankford, a ruin, probably that of a church and monastic house, is to be seen. Interments used to take place here, and were continued up to some thirty years ago; in later times none but unbaptized infants were interred here; we find the chapel of Killurin, Capella de Killurine, in Dr. MacGeoghegan’s List. (See Vol. I., P. 260.)

This ruin is very solidly built, and appears to he very ancient. Under date, 1532, the Four Masters record that “O’Carroll drew his cliamhain (father-in-law), the Earl of Kildare, Lord Justice of Ireland, against the sons of John (O’Carroll); and they took the castle of Cill-Iurin.” O’Donovan adds: “No ruins of the walls of this castle now remain; but the intrenchments which surrounded it are still to be seen.” This castle is shown in the old map of Leix and Offaly, made in the reign of Philip and Mary.

In 1821, a friar, probably the locum tenens of the Franciscans, established himself at Killurin. Judging from the sub-joined letter, which has been found amongst that prelate’s papers, Dr. Doyle, the bishop, appears not to have looked favourably on the enterprise
“My Lord,—I received your favour, and from the tenor of it had to regret the omission of more than one circumstance of not small importance in my late letter. Your Lordship disapproves of the establishment of a house in which a single Religious resides, without the advantages of conventual discipline or regular domestic occupation. Nothing can be more just, but it is my settled plan, and which, aided by Divine Providence, I shall most faithfully execute, to render the establishment at Killuran in no wise obnoxious to such objection. I intend to have a small chapel annexed, in which that portion of the neighbouring parishioners, when by necessity or circumstances they cannot attend their parish chapel, may on Sundays and holidays, have the benefit of assisting at Mass and hearing the Word of God; or, at least, whither they may send their children to be instructed in the Christian doctrine; and as to domestic life, I mean, even before I am joined by one or two other Priests, which will not be a distant day, to associate with me some devout Laics who wish to consecrate themselves to God in religion, and whose office will be (for one of them, at least) to teach gratis, under my own direction, the poor children of the vicinity, instruct them in the duties of our holy Religion, and prepare them for the Sacraments. I must now apologize to your Lordship for this new trouble, but it seemed advisable to acquaint you with these circumstances, as the statement must alter the complexion of the whole matter. Allow me to add a request that you will favour me with a line at your convenience, and to assure you of the respect, with which I have the honour to be, my Lord, your Lordship’s very humble and obedient servant,—Br. John Joseph Donovan.
Tullamore, Oct. 30th, 1821.”

Near the village of Killeigh are two places having a melancholy interest in connection with the times of religious persecution. One is called Fagan’s Field. Here in a hollow a white-thorn marks the spot where a priest, probably of that name, was suddenly set upon and massacred whilst offering the Holy Sacrifice. A second spot is pointed out where another ecclesiastic—tradition says he was a Vicar Apostolic—was pursued and murdered, but whether from hatred of the Catholic religion, or for the sake of plunder, does not transpire. Probably the twofold motive instigated the sacrilegious act.

AT ANAHARVEY

Is an ancient and very extensive burial-ground surrounded by a fosse. No marks of a church having existed here are visible, unless such can be inferred from the large quantity of stones scattered about. Immediately adjoining the graveyard is a large artificial mound, apparently sepulchral. Inscriptions date from 1740. One headstone, facing in the direction opposite to the rest, seems to mark the resting-place of a priest. The inscription, which is in Latin, is nothing more than a salutary reminder of the swiftness with which life passes: Cito pede labitur octas. This is probably the grave of Father Edward Fox, the PP. registered in 1704. Within a few perches of the modern church of Ballinagar a large stone is pointed out as having been used as an altar in the times of persecution.

GEASHILL.

Here stood the church of St. Mary’s, which also was a rectory of the Priory of Holy Cross. Its site is probably that now occupied by the Protestant church. This neighbourhood was the scene of some important, and decisive military events in the far distant past. In the Annals of Ireland we read that in the year of the world 3501, “a dispute arose at the end of this year between Eremhon and Emhear, in consequence of which a battle was fought between them on the brink of the Bri-Damh at Tochereterda-mhagh,* and this was called the battle of Geisill. The battle was gained by Emhear, and he fell therein. There fell also three distinguished chieftains of the people of Eremon in the same battle—Gorsten, Setgha, and Suirghe were their names. After this, Eremhon assumed the sovereignty.” (Four Masters.) In a note, Dr. O’Donovan remarks that this Bri-Damh, i.e., the Hill of the Oxen, is the place referred to in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, as mons-damh, but there is no elevation near Geashill higher than 355 feet. In the description of this battle, preserved in the Dinnsenchus, it is stated that there were many mounds in this place in which Heber and the other chiefs were interred.

* Tochareterda mhah means the causeway between the two plains, a name partly preserved in that of Ballintogher, near Geashill.

The accuracy of the statement in the Dinnsenchus has been remarkably confirmed by the great quantities of human bones found in the locality, popularly pointed out as the scene of this engagement. The writer had an interesting conversation with a person who rents a small farm adjoining. This man, some twenty-seven years ago, whilst engaged in removing, for agricultural purposes, a mound on his land, came upon a structure composed of large stones, placed upright, and forming an oblong vault or recess. Within was found embedded in yellow clay the full skeleton of a man. There can be little doubt of this being the resting-place of a warrior of distinction, and it is not unwarranted to suppose it the grave of Heber himself. What strangely suggestive subject for reflection, to be thus brought, as it were, face to face with an event that synchronizes with the banishment of Tarquinius Superbus and his hated race, from Rome, and the memorable victory of Marathon; an event that was almost contemporaneous with the return of the captive Jews from Babylon: a battle that was lost and won full 450 years before Caesar set his foot in Britain!

It was in the reign of Eithrial, son of Irial the prophet, son of Eremon, who fell in battle in A.M. 3549, that Magh Geisille (the plain of Geashill) was cleared of wood by the Offalians. (Four Masters.)

Conmael, son of Emer, who fell in the battle of Emania, in A.M. 3579, is recorded to have fought a battle at Geashill, in which fell Palaph, son of Eremon (ld). And in comparatively modern times, viz., “A.D. 596, Suibhne, son of Colman-Beg, Lord of Meath, was slain by Aedh Slaine at Bri-damh” (identified by O’Donovan as in the parish and barony of Geashill). Adamnan distinctly notes this killing of Suibhne by the King Aedh Slaine, in his Life of Columbcille, lib. c. 14, where he states that St. Columbkille had forewarned him that his reign should be but a short one, unless he refrained from the guilt of fratricide.

It was at a Synod held, most probably, at Geasliill, about the year 550, that sentence of excommunication is related to have been passed on St. Columba. Dr. Lanigan (Eccl. Hist., II, c. II) ridicules the old story of the saint’s quarrel with his fellow-saint, Finian, about the copying of his book, and of the very unsaintly conduct attributed to him which led to the battle of Culdremni. Lanigan gives cogent reasons for disbelieving the whole story; amongst others, that the said battle did not take place till several years later. The following is from Life, by Adamnan :—“ A certain synod,” he says, “had issued a sentence of excommunication, not justly, as afterwards appeared, against Columba, on account of some venial and excusable proceedings. On his arrival at said synod, Brendan, who had seen him at a distance, rose up and saluted him with great respect, and embraced him. Some of the elders then, taking Brendan apart, expostulated with him for his having shown such attention to a person whom they had excommunicated. He replied: ‘If you had seen what the Lord has been pleased to make manifest to me this day concerning this elect of His, whom you are dishonouring, you would have never passed that sentence, whereas the Lord does not in any manner excommunicate him, in virtue of your wrong sentence, but rather still exalts him more and more.’ On their asking how this could be, he told them that he saw a luminous pillar advancing before this man of God, when on his way, and holy angels accompanying him through the plain. ‘Therefore,’ he added, ‘I dare not treat with contempt him whom I see pre-ordained by God as a guide of nations to life.’ Upon which the proceedings were withdrawn, and the whole synod paid him the greatest respect and veneration.” This synod was held at a place called Hiseilte, or the district of Scilte, which Colgan conjectures, with every appearance of justice, to have been the same as Maggesilde in Leinster, afterwards contracted into Geisille, now Geashill.

In the year 1306, a great slaughter was made in Offaly, near to the castle of Geashill, the 13th day of April, upon O’Connor and his friends by the O’Dempseys, in the which were slain a great number of men. (Holinshed’s Chronicle.) In the year 1307, the robbers that dwelt in the parts of Offaly, razed the castle of Geashill. (ld.)

On St. Valentine’s day (1317), the Scots, under Edward Bruce, are at Geashill, in Offaly, suffering greatly from hunger, so that many perished. (Grace’s Annals.)

The extensive estates formerly belonging to the Irish princely family of O’Conor Faly, came into the possession of the present proprietor, Lord Digby, by the marriage, on the 8th July, 1615, of Sir Robert Digby, of Coleshill, Warwickshire, to the Lady Lettice, daughter and heir to Gerard, Lord Offaley, who died before his father, Gerald, eleventh Earl of Kildare. She was created Baroness of Offaley for life, and brought into this family the barony, lordship, manor, and territory of Geashill, with the monastery of Killeigb, the rectory and prebend of Geashill, and all the hereditaments within the said barony, which were the inheritance of her grandfather, Gerald, Earl of Kildare, the same being confirmed to her and her heirs by the award of King James I., bearing date 11th July, 1619. She had seven sons, of whom Robert, the eldest, was created Lord Digby of Geashill. This lady, who survived her husband, sustained a siege of several months’ duration in her castle of Geashill in 1642. It was conducted by Lewis O’Dempsey, Lord Clanmaliere, and his followers.

In the first attempt Henry Dempsie, brother of the Lord Clanmalier, and others, subscribed and sent her the following summons:-
“We, his Majesty’s loyal subjects, at the present employed in his Highness’s service for the sacking of this your castle, you are therefore to deliver unto us the free possession of your said castle, promising faithfully that your ladyship, together with the rest within your said castle resiant, shall have a reasonable composition; otherwise, upon the non-yielding of the castle, we do assure you that we will burn the whole town, kill all the Protestants, and spare neither man, woman, nor child, upon taking the castle by compulsion. Consider, Madam, of this our offer, and impute not the blame of your own folly unto us. Think not that here we brag. Your ladyship, upon submission, shall have a safe convoy to secure you from the hands of your enemies, and to lead you whither you please. A speedy reply is desired with all expedition, and thus we surcease.
“Henrie Dempsie, Charles Dempsie, Andrew FitzPatrick, Conn. Dempsie, Phelim Dempsie, Ja. MacDonnell, John Vicars.”

To this summons she returned this answer:-
“I received your letter, wherein you threaten to sack this my castle by his Majesty’s authority. I have ever been a loyal subject, and a good neighbour among you, and therefore cannot but wonder at such an assault. I thank you for your offer of a convoy, wherein I hold little safety; and therefore my resolution is, that being free from offending his Majesty, or doing wrong to any of you, I will live and die innocently, and will do the best I can to defend my own, leaving the issue to God. Although I have been, and still am desirous to avoid the shedding of Christian blood, yet, being provoked, your threats shall no whit dismay me.”

After two months, the Lord Viscount Clanmalier brought a great piece of ordnance (to the making of which, as it was credibly reported, there went seven score pots and pans, which was cast three times by an Irishman from Athboy before they brought it to that perfection in which it was at Geashill) and sent another summons to her Ladyship in these words:- “Noble Madam, it was never my intention to offer you any injury, before you were pleased to begin with me, for it is well known, if I were so disposed, you had not been at this time at Geashill; so as I find you are not sensible of the courtesies always expressed unto you, since the beginning of this commotion: however I will not thirst after revenge, but out of my loving and wonted respects still towards you, I am pleased and desirous to give you fair quarter, if you please to accept thereof, both for yourself children, and grandchildren, and likewise for your goods. And I will undertake to send a safe convoy with you and them, either to Dublin, or to any of the next adjoining garrisons, either of which to be at your own election. And if you be not pleased to accept of this offer, I hope you will not impute the blame unto me, if you be not fairly dealt withal, for I expect to have the command of your house before I stir from hence. And if you please to send any of your gentlemen of your house to me, I am desirous to confer thereof at large. And so expecting your speedy answer, I rest your loving cousin,—Lewis Glanmaleroe.

“P.S.—Madam. There are other gentlemen now in this town, whose names are hereunto subscribed, who do join and unite themselves to this mine offer unto yon. Lewis Glanmaleroe, Art. O’Molloy, Henry Dempsie, Edwd. Connor, Cha. Connor, Daniel Doyne, John Mac-William.”

To this letter Lady Offaley sent the following answer:-
“My Lord,—I little expected such a salute from a kinsman, whom I have ever respected, you being not ignorant of the great damages I have received from your followers of Glanmaleroe, so as you can’t but know in your own conscience, that I am innocent of doing you any injury, unless you count it an injury for my people to bring back a small quantity of mine own goods where they found them, and with them, some others of such men as had done me all the injury they can devise, as may appear by their own letter. I am offered a convoy by those that formerly besieged me, and I hope you have more honour than to follow their example, by seeking her ruin that never wronged you. However, I am still of the same mind, and can think no place safer than my own house, wherein, if I perish by your means, the guilt will light on you, and I doubt not, but I shall receive a crown of martyrdom, dying innocently. God, I trust, will take a poor widow into his protection from all those which, without cause, are risen up against me. Your poor kinswoman, Lettice Offaley. “If the conference you desire, do but concern the contents of this letter, I think this answer will give you full satisfaction, and I hope you will withdraw your hand and show your power in more noble actions.”

After his Lordship had received this answer, he discharged his piece of ordnance against the castle, which at the first shot broke and flew in pieces; but his men continued with their muskets and other arms, to fire until the evening when they took away the broken ordnance, and marched off in the night. But before his departure his Lordship sent the following letter:-
“To my noble cousin the Lady Lettice, Baroness of Offaley. Madam,—I received your letter, and am still tender of your good and welfare, though you give no credit thereunto. And, whereas, you do understand by relation, that my piece of Ordnance did not prosper; I believe you will be sensible of the hazard and loss you are likely to sustain thereby, unless you will be better advised to accept the kind offer which I mentioned in my letter unto you in the morning; if not, expect no further favour at my hands, and so I rest your Ladyship’s loving cousin, Lewis Glanmaleroe.”

To which my Lady returned answer by one of her own men, who was kept prisoner:
“My Lord,—Your second summons I have received, and should be glad to find you tender of my good. For your piece of Ordnance I never disputed how it prospered, presuming you would rather make use of it for your own defence or against enemies, than to try your strength against a poor widow of your own blood. But since you have bent it against me, let the blood which shall be shed be required at their hands that seek it; for my part, my conscience tells me that I am innocent, and wishing you so, too, I rest your cousin,—Lettice Offaley.”

Notwithstanding all these menaces and attacks, she held out with great spirit until fetched away safe by Sir Richard Grenville, in October, 1642. (Archdall’s Peerage, Vol. 6, p. 280.)

The church of Geashill was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is so given in Dr. MacGeoghegan’s list, and in the Chancery Rolls, Henry VIII. and Edward VI. ln an Inquisition taken at Castlegeashill, 23rd October, 1612, it is styled the church of St. Brigid; but this appears to be erroneous. The Four Masters record the death, in 1523, of John O’Mooney, “who was parson of Geashill, and a canon chorister of Kildare, a clergyman of the greatest fame and renown in the upper part of Leinster.” Reference is made to him in the Rental Book of Gerald, 9th Earl of Kildare, 1518 :—“ Shan O’Mony, p’son (parson) of Geisill, yerly vi. melsh kyne.” The successor of Father O’Mooney, would appear to have been Gerald Whash. We find in the Patent Rolls, circa 1541, the Presentation of Thomas FitzGerald to the rectory of the parish church of B. V. Mary of Geashill, in Offaly, vacant by the death of Gerald Whash, and belonging to the King’s presentation, pleno jure.

CLONEYGOWAN,

(Cluan,-na-Gamhan i.e. “the pasturage of the calves”), in this parish, was one of the residences of the once powerful family of O’Dempsey. The Four Masters record at the year 1576, that “Owny, the son of Hugh O’Dempsey, was treacherously slain in his own residence of Cluain-na-n Gamhan.” The same is found in Dowling’s Annals, under date 1577 :—“ Eugenius McHugh O’Dempsie, do Clonagoony, miles ac dominus do Glanmolyra, fuit, in castro suo ibidem, interfectus per Lysac McNeill y Moardha.”

Dr. Ross MacGeoghegan, whose mother was daughter of Dempsey, Lord Clanmaliere, was born at Cloneygowan, in 1580; this was also the birthplace of Dr. Edmund Dempsey, Bishop of Leighlin.

SUCCESSION OF PASTORS.

From the Registration of Parish Priests, made in 1704, it appears that: EDWARD F0X, residing at Shranure, aged 54, ordained in April, 1680, at Balyna, by Dr. Forstall, Bishop of Kildare, was Parish Priest of Geashill, Ballykean, and Killaderry; his sureties were Owen Fox of Shranure, and John Dunne of Ballymacrossen, gents. The time when Father Fox died is unknown. EDWARD KAVANAGH most probably succeeded. He lived to be 80 years of age, and died on the 8th of October, 1769, and was buried at Urney. WILLIAM KENNEDY was the next PP. He died on the 8th September, 1795, aged 69, and is interred at Raheen.

JAMES DOWLING succeeded. He died on the 15th August, 1825, aged 75 years, and was buried at Ballinagar, where a very fine church of Gothic design has been erected, and where a tablet bears the following inscription to his memory: “Rove-rendi Jacobi Dowling, septuagenarii, qui XV. Augusti die, Salutis Anno MDCCCXX V., in Domino obdormivit, quod mortale fuit, hic impositum, jacet. Parochianis de Geashill et Killeigh suae commissis curae plusquam triginta annos, exemplum praestitit, ut qui bene munus sacrosanctum sibi in fidem, a Christo Domino delegatum, perceperit, et studiose coluerit.”

REV. JAMES KINSELLA was appointed P.P. in 1825, and died June 24th, 1859, aged 66.
The REV. JOHN NOLAN, succeeded, and was translated to Kildare, July 27th, 1867.
REV. MARCUS DOWLING was next P.P. He died September 9th, 1873, and was succeeded by
The REV. HUGH MAHON, who was translated to Portarlington in March, 1875, and was succeeded by
The REV. JOSEPH DONOHOE, the present respected P.P.

Killeigh Abbey ruins
Killeigh, celebrated as having been for many centuries a great centre of religious life, dates from a very early period. Its original name was Achaid Droma Foda, meaning "The field of the long ridge," a name peculiarly descriptive of the locality - Killeigh being overhung by a long ridge standing out prominently from that extensive plain which stretches from Slieve Bloom to the hill of Allen.

In 6th century St. Sincheall, the elder, built a church which gave the place the name Cill-achaid-droma-foda; Cill being the Irish for church. "Droma-foda" was still retained to distinguish it from another Cill-achaidh, also situated in Co. Offaly in those times. The present name, Killeigh, is merely a modified form of Cill-achaidh.

He died in 548, at the great age of three hundred and thirty years, according to the annals of the Four Masters, though, as Colgan thinks, this is probably a misprint for one hundred and thirty. He is, therefore, the patron saint of the village; and the "Seven Blessed Wells," celebrated for their supposed healing properties, are dedicated to him. Owing to constant feuds between the many clans among whom the country was divided, Killeigh, like most of the other ancient religious establishments, passed through very varying fortunes. In 800 it was burned, together with a new oratory just completed; again in 840, and also in 843 it was plundered. In 937 the King of Cashel attacked it, and took prisoner the abbot, who, the following year, while fleeing from the enemy, was drowned at Dalkey. In 1212 there was a great battle fought in the neighbourhood, between the English of Munster and Murtough, son of Brian O'Connor.

In 1393 that endless warrior, O'Connor Faly, added to the original buildings by founding a monastery for Franciscan Friars, which increased its importance, as it became the third largest in the kingdom. The ruins of this monastery may now be seen standing behind the present Church of Ireland church. They are of great interest, and afford a rare example of an early style of Irish architecture. The roof, in a good state of preservation, is formed of rough hewn stones, and the remains of some fine arches are still visible.

The present dwelling-house, supposed by Petrie to have been the chapel, is probably all that remains of the new building. During alterations, made at the latter end of the 19th century on his marriage by John W Tarleton, the then owner, several interesting things were found, which, if Petrie's ideas be correct, were possibly those of high dignitaries of the abbey, as they would probably be buried in the vicinity of the High Altar, which would stand in this part of the building. There was also an arch found, supposed to have been the entrance to a subterranean passage. All the remains thus discovered were carefully removed to the churchyard, adjoining St. Sincheall's church, a place of great interest, as being the burial place of many of the local families. Contemporary with the foundation of the monastery, or possibly a little earlier, there was a nunnery founded, as some say by the Warren family.

In 1447, Finola, daughter of Calvagh O'Connor Faly, took the veil here, about whom it is said that she was the most beautiful woman in Ireland. At the suppression of monasteries in the reign of Henry VIII, Killeigh was probably, as was the case with the other monasteries in Ireland and England, reduced almost to a ruin, and the lands fell to the Crown. In 1578, it was rented to Gerald, Earl of Kildare and his heirs, and afterwards by marriage with this family, it came into possession of the Digbys. Early in the sixteenth century the lands of Fenter, near Killeigh, were granted to Gilbert Tarleton, of Hazelwood, near Liverpool, who in about 1641, obtained a lease of the property from the Digbys, and turned the ruins of the abbey into a house, and restored the present Church of Ireland church.

What has happened to the vast amount of stones that must have been used up in this fine abbey is not known, but probably they were worked into the present residence, and also made free use of in the building of the houses in the village. Some beautifully carved stones are said to have been found in the garden, which give some idea of what it must have been in former times, before the hands of the spoliators reduced it to ruin.

Daingean was originally christened Philipstown in 1556 when it was established as the capital town in the land that was planted by Queen Mary Tudor in King’s County. It was so named after her husband, Philip The Second, of Spain.

The town was once the seat of the O’Connor clan, who were chieftains of the surrounding area of Offaly. Its current name ‘Daingean’ means fortress, a name which it derived from the mediaeval island fortress of O’Connor Faly.

In 1883 Tullamore replaced Daingean as the focal point of the county. As a result Philipstown was demoted from capital town to village and as a result lost most of its political status. It was in 1922, with the foundation of the Free State that the village was renamed Daingean, at the same time as County Offaly replaced the old King’s County.

Daingean has long boasted a strong status as a Midlands town and this was never more evident than at the start of the 20th Century when Daingean displayed at various points a number of important public buildings including the courthouse, the government reformatory, a military barracks, a Protestant Church and a Catholic Church. Of these buildings all can still be seen in various states but few are still used for their original functions within the village.

The Grand Canal, as with so many other Offaly towns, provides the backdrop for Daingean’s scenic walkways on the outskirts of the town.

The bridge at the end of the village separates the public institutions, that took the form of the barracks and later the reformatory, from the heartland of the village itself. The canal is a widely used amenity within Daingean village, with summer bringing many tourists to the area to enjoy the benefits of the local waterways and what the village has to offer in heritage.

An "Every Inch" article.

Pagans will come over the slow sea.
Of Erin's sons great slaughter there will be;
Strange abbots over each church and school;
Great power will be theirs, and long their rule.

In every imperfect translation this is one of the 204 stanzas of a poem in the Irish language composed in the Parish of Clonbullogue. The poem, written in prophetic vein about the seventh century is said to have been doubly accurate, for it speaks first of the pagan Northmen, and then of a new denomination of Christians, represented by the English of the sixteenth and subsequent centuries. Experts concluded from internal evidence that the work was not a fabrication, with hind sight in more modern times after the events had happened.

The important thing from our point of view, is that here is a piece of authentic Gaelic literature belonging to the Midlands that has never been exploited and given publicity and recognition as it certainly would have been if it had emanated from ome more favoured source. The once prominent Clonbullogue sunk into obscurity, utterly despised by the ruling foreigners who knew nothing of its former greatness and neglected by native scholars who concentrated on the big centres of population or the great names already written-up and did little fresh research.

A Famous Wood

Within the Clonbullogue parish as at present constituted is a river that in Irish was called Gabhal, meaning a fork formed where tow streams joined. This river formerly flowed through a famous wood called Fidh Gaibhle the wood at the gabhal or fork. That word fidh meant wood before the word coill came into general use. For instance in Wexford we have Cnoc Fidh na gCaor the hill of the berry-covered wood - which in ignorant English translation, became Vinegar Hill! O'Heerin in his topographical poem, refers to Green Fidh Gaibhle. It had the tallest and straightest trees in the whole country.

Keating and other early writers tell of how when Brian Boru proposed the construction of a great fleet the surveyors sent out to pick the finest timber for masts chose Fidh Gaibhle trees. In fact the story tells that when the King of Leinster insisted that the men of Offaly should be given first place in hauling their own tree trunks to Kincora a dispute broke out which eventually led to the Battle of Clontarf. It should have been mentioned that this is the area north of Portarlington which includes Clonsast. Earlier this year we wrote of St. Brachan founder of a monastery there. He was friend of St. Abban to whom we referred quite recently as an employer of the famous mastercraftman, Goban-Soar. No doubt such an expert would appriciate the excellent timber grown in Fidh Gaibhle, in the present parish of Clonbullogue.

New Proprietors

The names of this district are frequent and prominent in our records, but unfortunately, many of the entries do not, of themselves, give much information. For instance, the Four Masters, under date A.D. 1141, tell of the death of Donach, Son of the Blind Man of Fidh Gaibhle at the hands of the people of Offaly. When it comes to English Inquisitions, relating to the seizure and plantation of lands we get a much clearer view of what was going on. In 1678 it was stated in evidence at Philipstown (now Daingean) that prior to 1641 Charles O'Connor had held 945 acres there; John and Martha Nelson had been granted 197 acres by Royal Letters; 638 acres had been granted to Rudolph Rochford which passed to Richard Warburton; 601 acres to Peter Purefoy; 86 acres to Robert Marshall. But by reason of his late rebellion the said Charles O'Connor lost his 945 acres which were sequestered into the hands of the King.

In a Return made in 1731, Rev. Boyle Travers, Protestant Rector of Rathangan and Clonmore (which includes part of this area) notes; "I bless God for the comforting assurance I have that there is no reputed friary, nunnery, friars, nuns or Popish schools". Then in 1883, Father Comerford wrote: "The village of Clonbullogue which is situated on the Little Barrow presents a decayed and ruinous appearance, some of the larger houses having been burned during the rebellion of 1798. The village is sometimes referred to a Purefoy's Place, from the family who got lands there and by whom it was largely built.

Research Needed

A great deal more research is needed, and hordes of educated young people are rising up to do the job. Cloncrane is half-a-mile from Clonbullogue and has a church in ruins. Was that the original parish church site? Killnantick had a church, but what do we know about it? Even about it's name? Ballynakill was an ancient parish in its own right, but a smaller portion of it went with Edenderry, which townlands in the modern Clonbullogue unit formerly belonged to Ballynakill? When was the division made?

Father Comerford, the diocesan historian suggested over eighty-five years ago that instead of a village there being called Brackna, meaning a speckled place, it should really be Fearann Bhreachain the land of St. Brackan. And then we are warned by Joyce and others that we must not suppose the place named Clonbullogue to be meadow of bullocks, or meadow of loaves but meadow of sacks. Very well, but what kind of sacks were they, or what were they used for?

The castle and its lands were granted in the reign of Charles II. to Garrett Moore, descended from Rory Oge O'Moore, the chief of ancient Leix. One of his descendants married Margaret, daughter of the sixth Earl of Clanricarde. At Meelick, in the Moore family burial place, there is a slab stating:

"Here lies Sir John More my grandfather who died in the month of May, 1631. Also here lies Dame Margaret More otherwise De Burgo, my wife, who died in the month of February 1671, daughter of Richard, Earl of Clanricarde, in whose memory I Garrett More, Colonel in the King's Army and faithful to the last, have caused to be constructed the tomb in which others of my family are also interred."

Cogan -- Diocese of Meath, ancient and modern

This union comprises the parishes of Killbride, situated in the barony of Kilcoursey, King’s County, and Ardnorcher, or Horsleap, located partly in the barony of Kilcoursey, but chiefly in that of Moycashel, County Westmeath.

Kilbride

A church and convent were founded here by St. Bridget, and there is a tradition amongst the people that this was the first church erected by her after her religious profession, on the hill of Usny. There are still some remains of an old monastery and chapel; and the fragments of a church in the cemetery, quite contiguous, measure fifty-two in length by twenty-four. Some years back, with the permission of the church-warden of that day, many of the stones of convent and church were carried away to build a house, and, by the providence of God, this house has been converted into a convent—the Sisters of Mercy are living there to-day. Thus, the mission of St. Bridget is still perpetuated amongst the people of Kilbride, or Clara, and the youth, as of old, are trained up in habits of virtue and industry.

Ardnurcher, or Ath-an-urchair, has been called also Horseleap, and the tradition of the place is, that it derives this name from the fact of Sir Hugh de Lacy having leaped on horseback over the drawbridge, making his escape from pursuit. The Four Masters record the erection of a castle here in the year 1192. The old church of Ardnurcher was levelled in the seventeenth century, and a Protestant house of worship was erected on the site. In the graveyard rest Rev. Mr. Sheeran, formerly pastor of Tubber, Rev. Kedagh Dempsey, Rev. Patrick Fallon, and many other ecelesiastics whose names are not now remembered. Over Rev. Mr. Dempsey is a stone, with the following:

“Pray for the soul of the
Rev. Kedaugh Dempsey,
who departed this life December
the 25th, 1753, aged 50 years.
Erected by his sister, Bridget Dempsey.”

A monument to Rev. Mr. Fallon has the following inscription:

“0 Lord, have mercy on the soul of the Rev. Patrick Fallon, who departed this life on Sunday, the 13th day of July, 1823, aged 35 years. This stone was erected as a testimony of regard to his pious, learned, and charitable memory, by his affectionate father, Michael Fallon.”

There are several other remarkable places in the union of Clara, besides those already mentioned—viz., Temple Macateer, Tigh-Bhrigdhe, Syonan, Lismoyny, and Gageborough.

Temple-Macateer --There was a church founded here, in the present parish of Ardnurcher, by the celebrated St. Kieran, of Clonmacnoise, which was called, after him, “Teampul mhic a’t saoir”, or “the church of the son of the artificer.” The ruin stands still on a townland, to which it gives name, and hence St. Kieran is supposed to have been the ancient patron-saint of Ardnurcher. St David has been the patron-saint for several centuries, and there is a holy well dedicated to him at Ballinlaban, which is still much frequented.

Tigh-Bhrigdhe, or “Bridget’s House.”—A small chapel stood here, on the townland of Ardnurcher, dedicated to St. Bridget, which in latter years has been pulled down and uprooted. St. Bridget’s well is still here, and is occasionally frequented.

Syonan —St. Adamnan, Abbot of Iona, the biographer of St. Columba, preached on a hill here to his relatives, the race of Fiacha, son of Niall, on the occasion of his visit to Ireland. In commemoration of this event the place has been called Suide-Adamnain., or the seat of St. Adainian. — (See Dr. Reeve’s Adamnan; Appendix to Preface, lxv; Four Masters, at A.D. 703.)

Lismoyne, or Lismoyny, is remarkable as having been the residence of Conell Mac Geoghegan, translator of the Annals of Clonmacnoise.

Gageborough—A convent was founded here by Matilda de Lacy, in the thirteenth century.

The Franciscan Monastery

This religious house, called the Monastery of Lehinch, in the parish of Kilbride, was commenced on the feast of St. Lewis, 25th of August, 1821, by Brother Lewis M. Delahunt, who was admitted by Dr. Plunket, and placed under the guardianship of Very Rev. Luke Doyle, then pastor of the parish. The founder had about twenty acres of land, which farm has been since augmented, and some of this is fee-simple property. Brother Benedict Farmer, and Brother Patrick Ryan, members of the Mount-Bellew Monastery, arrived in May, 1848, and received from Brother Lewis Delahunt the proprietorship of the place. Brother Patrick Ryan collected several thousand pounds in America for the monastery, and may be said to have sacrificed his life in the cause. The first stone of the new monastery was laid on the feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin, by the Rev. Patrick Barry, in the twenty-second year of the episcopacy of Dr. Cantwell. This beautiful building cost about £4,000, and is a model in its way of symmetry and architecture. The community consists of lay brothers, who take the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience—who till the land, teach school, dispense charity in proportion to their means, edify by the holiness of their lives, and stimulate to industry, morality, and discipline, by their praiseworthy example. Brother Patrick Ryan and Brother Felix Mairs died on the festival of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, 1854.

Brother Bonaventure Strahan died on the 24th of May, 1862; Brother Paul M’Cormack, in March, 1889; Brother Patrick Delahunt, in April, 1841; Brother Jerome Roch-fort, in March, 1840; and Brother Michael Egan, on the 4th of June, 1842.

In the cemetery of the monastery are several tombs commemorating the deceased members of the brotherhood, the simple inscriptions on which cannot fail to touch the heart:

“Deus meus et omnia.
0 Jesus, Son of the living God,
have mercy on the soul of Brother
Patrick Ryan, who departed this
life on the feast of the Assumption
of the Blessed Virgin Mary,
A.D. 1854, in the 33rd year of his age,
and 16th from his entrance into religion.”

“Dens meus et omnia.
O Jesus, son of the living God,
have mercy on the soul of Brother
Felix Mairs, who departed this life
On the feast of the Assumption of the B. V. M.,
Anno Domini, 1854.”

Several priests have been interred likewise in this graveyard—viz. Rev. Mr. Molloy, formerly pastor of Rahin; Rev. Mr. Barry, late pastor of Clara; also Rev. Messrs. Egan, Kelly, and Ryan. A monument commemorates Father Egan, with the following inscription:

“Sacred to the memory of the
Rev. Michael Egan, who departed
this life on the 2nd day of May,
1849, in the 45th year of his age,
and 19th of his ministry.
Kind, benevolent, and warm-hearted
in private life attentive, laborious, and truly exemplary
in the faithful discharge of each duty of his sacred calling,
he died equally revered and lamented
by all who ever knew him. Requiescat in pace.
Amen.”

The Rev. Mr. Egan was born in the neighbourhood, studied in Spain, officiated as curate in Eglish, Ballimore, and Milltown. He was a Franciscan friar.

The Rev. Roger Kelly was born in this parish, and completed his studies in St. Jarlath’s, Tuam. He officiated as curate in Rochfort-bridge, Dunboyne, &c., and died of decline in 1848.

The Rev. Peter Ryan was born in the parish of Clara, studied in Navan and Maynooth, and was ordained in 1851. He officiated as curate in Frankford and Tullamore, caught fever in the discharge of his sacred duties, and departed this life, universally regretted, in 1864. His remains were interred in his father’s tomb, in the grave-yard of the monastery, and over both is a monument, with the following inscription:

“Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen.
Erected by his sons in memory of
William Ryan, of the Parks,
who died March 10th, 1858, aged 69 years.
Beneath are also deposited
the mortal remains of his
beloved son, the Rev. Peter Ryan,
who died on the 1st of September, 1863,
in the 11th year of his ministry, and the 36th of his age.
May they rest in peace. Amen.”

Chapels

In the dread penal times, the pastors of Clara suffered innumerable persecutions from the priest-hunters with which this neighbourhood abounded. Mass, in those days: was celebrated on the Erry hills, and continued so until sites for humble mud-wall chapels were tolerated at Aughamore and Horseleap. Since then religion has sensibly progressed. Chalices — There are two venerable heirlooms still used in. the parish. The first has the following inscription on the pedestal:

“Orate pro Cornelio Fallono, S. T. Doctore, 1651.”

What a depth of reflection this expressive inscription suggests! Surely, during the persecuting reign of Cromwell, the Rev. Cornelius Fallon, Doctor of Theology, required fervent prayers. The second has the following inscription:

“R. D. Eugenius Geoghegan me fieri fecit, anno 1770, ad usum Parochiae de Horseleap ea conditione ut utentes annua-tim offerant Duo Sacrificia pro ejus anima.”

Pastors.

In 1704, Rev. James Dillon was registered at Mullingar as “Popish priest of Ardnorcher and Kilbride.” He was ordained at Ballyleoge, County Galway, in 1688, by Dr. Keogh, Bishop of Clonfert, lived at Moycashel the year of the Registration, was then forty-five years of age, and had for “sureties,” in accordance with the penal law, John Herald of Kilbeggan, and Aghery Shell of Ballykilroe.

According to the traditions of the people, this Father Dillon was a confessor who suffered much for the faith. He lived in. times when the priest was at the mercy of the common informer, and when betraying his whereabouts and leading to his arrest were deemed by Parliament an. honourable service. The law guaranteed protection to the registering priests of 1704, but the law had no scruple in breaking faith, when it found that all its machinations to entrap these men into the oath of abjuration proved a signal failure. Of the Fathers and Guardians of the Irish Church of that day very few met with more unrelenting persecution than Father Dillon of Ardnorcher. This was owing, amongst other causes, to the persevering activity of a priest-hunter, named Lowe of Newtown, who pursued him with the scent of the blood-hound. There are very dark stories handed down respecting the low devices which this vile informer and priest-hound adopted to find out the haunts and hiding places of the Catholic clergy, and the lonely places where, at day-break, they ventured to perform the sacred ceremonies. On one occasion he bribed a woman to induce her husband to feign sickness, had himself concealed in the house in order to see the priest administer the Sacrament, and thus have evidence against him. The unfortunate man consented, took to his bed, sent for the priest, but, by a terrible retribution, when the priest arrived the man was dead. On another occasion he arrested Father James Dillon as he was celebrating Mass, had him tied with ropes, and in this plight marched him into the gaol of Mullingar. Father Dillon took ill, and for some time his life was despaired of; and to this circumstance he was chiefly indebted for his subsequent liberation.

The year of Father Dillon’s death is unknown to me, but I was told he was buried in the church-yard of Kilbride.

The Rev. Nicholas Travers, O.P., succeeded. This pastor was related to Father Dillon, joined the Dominican order, and officiated as curate under his predecessor. He died on the 29th March, 1798, aged ninety, and was buried in. the grave-yard of Kilbride. His headstone has the following inscription:

“Here lie the remains of the Rev. Father and Brother in Christ Nicholas Travers, of the Order of Preachers, Professed for the Convent of Longford in 1720, and afterwards promoted to the care of Kilbride and Horseleap, wherein about 40 years he with zeal and piety advanced the honour and glory of God, and died on the 29th of March, 1793, regretted by all, who will, it is hoped, pray for his eternal rest.”

Rev. James Daly succeeded. He died on the 29th of March, 1805, and was buried in the church-yard of Kilbride. Over his remains a monument has been placed with the following:

“This monument was erected by
Joseph Daly, in memory of his
brother, Rev. James Daly,
late Pastor of Kilbride and Horseleap,
who departed this life March 29th, 1805,
Aged 60 years.
Requiescat in pace. Amen.”

Rev. Thomas Walsh was appointed on the 30th of March, same year. He died on the 1st of May, 1810, and was buried in the church-yard of Killare. Over his remains is a monument with the following inscription:

“0 Lord have mercy on the soul of
The Rev. Thomas Walsh, P.P. of
Kilbride and Horseleap, who departed
this life May 1st, 1810, aged 46 years.
This monument was erected to his memory
by the Rev. James Egan.
May he rest in peace.”

Rev. James Wyer succeeded. In 1820 Rev. James Sheerran was administrator. Early in 1822 Father Wyer was translated to the union of Tubber, died in 1823, and was buried in Castletown-Geoghegan. Very