In this issue is O'Donovan's account of Durrow from the Westmeath O.S. letters

ANTIQUITIES OF COUNTY WESTMEATH

Tyrrellspass,
October 11th 1837

Sir,
Durrow Parish is in Irish called Doireadh, which is explained as signifying Oakwood, Roboretum. It is said that St. Columb Kille who is the Patron Saint of the Parish and whose day is celebrated in it on the 9th of June, predicted that he would build a Church there, which he accordingly did. The walls of the old Church, I am informed, were repaired for the erection of the Parochial Protestant Church. In the Church yard stands a stone cross about eight or nine feet high, with very long arms. It remains quite perfect and is said to have been brought from the north of Ireland by St. Columb Kille. Near the Church is St Columb Kille's Well, Tobar Choluim Cille, Fons S. Columbae, which was very much frequented until, within those 2 years past the people were prohibited access to the place, on the occasion, by Lord Clondyne (qu? as to orthog. )who is now attempting to exclude the people from the use of the Church yard as a burial ground, thinking it too annoying to have them come so near his court, which lies within ten perches of the Church. But the people are determined not to be prohibited by him, for a number of persons who attended a young man's funeral from Killbeggan a few days ago, broke in his gate, which he took care to have locked against them, a circumstance of course very galling to his Lordship but which he could not resist. There was an attempt made about 60 years ago to put an end to the custom of frequenting the well. On the 8th of June , the day previous to the anniversary of St. Columb's festival, Herbert Stepeny Rozen ( Rossen? -qu? as to orthog. ) who was the proprietor of the place, took care to have the well stopped up, the consequence of which was, that on the morning of the 9th, his house (court) was filled up to the roof with water and not one drop of it would go out on the doors, though opened. Herbert, having no other means to remedy this inconvenience than by opening the well, caused it to be opened, thinking himself very fortunate, if even by doing so, he could save his residence from destruction. The well was frequented since, till within those two years a second prohibition took place, of which mention is made before.

Within twenty perches of the Church to the west are observable the small remains of the walls of the Castle of Durrow, at which Sir Hugo de Lacy met his fatal end. The erection of another castle at the distance of half or three quarters of a mile from the Castle of Durrow, was intended, and a subterraneous passage was to be drawn between them. When this passage was in the progress of being made, Sir Hugo de Lacy happened to be taking a view of the work, and being attacked by two men named Denis Kelly, who had a matlock as a weapon, and Simon Carney, who made use of a spade, was killed on the spot. A three day's battle between the workmen ensued, the work was discontinued and was never afterwards resumed. This account is said to have been taken chiefly from Keting's History of Ireland.

I have no reference to Durrrow from the Annals, all that is said here of it, its Church and Castle, is taken from verbal information. As I have no extracts relating to this place I looked upon it as losing time to visit it, for I fear Mr. O' Donovan has done with his portion of the County and I want to have done as soon as possible. A full investigation of it can be made when we go to the King's County.

In that part of the Parish of Durrow which lies in this County is situated the Townland of Ros-Deala, which is mentioned in the Book of Ballymote and in the Annals of the Four Masters as a place at which a most wonderful phenomenon appeared in the 11th (?) century. A Cloigtheach of fire appeared at night and around it flew, and on top of it perched, a number of birds and among them appeared a bird of extraordinary size, under whose wings the smaller ones, scared at the glowing pillar of fire, hid their heads.

These birds, after having amused themselves with this fiery pillar (as butterflies flutter around a lighted candle) were observed by the astonished inhabitants to fly from it suddenly and to perch on the branches of the oaks of a neighbouring Daibhne (Roboretum) of which the large bird tore the largest tree from the roots, after which he seized upon a grey- hound and flying with him to a sublime height let him suddenly drop down and kill him. Soon after these birds (devils to be sure ) and the fiery pillar disappeared ! (Quoted from memory)

This phenomenon is set down in the Book of Ballymote as one of the thirteen wonders of Ireland and referred to by John Dalton Esq. , the ablest antiquary in Ireland, as proof that the Round Towers of Ireland were fire pillars.

It was a storm of lightning ? It was not Aurora Borealis. Prehaps it was nothing more than a rick of furze, hay or corn which took fire and around which the birds of the wood fluttered. Birds generally flock around a fire, but the oak torn from the roots would seem to indicate a storm. The greyhound was knocked dead by lightning ? The words Cloicteach Teine, however, are very imposing to those who wish to believe in fiery pillars !

Some fiery phenomenon made its appearance which, to a people unacquainted with the laws of nature and the nature of optical delusions, seemed worthy of being recorded among the wonders of Ireland. That is all which can be said about it.