The history of Sligo : town and county

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.

1. Seventeenth-century tenancy payments at Knockadalteen

   Knockadalteen · townland · Sligo · 1633

   A 1633 survey recorded that Lord Taaffe set the townland of Knockadalteen, 245 acres near Ballymote, to undertenants for £15 per annum plus extensive payments in kind, including muttons, beef, butter, wheat, malt, hens, eggs, and carriage horses. This illustrates the system of labour and produce obligations that preceded modern money rents.

   Read the passage

   Of Knockadalteen, a townland of 245 acres near Ballymote, on Lord Taaffe's property, we read in the Survey of 1633, &c.: — " He setts it to undertenants for £15 per annum and country charges, 5 fatt muttons, 40 workmen, 1 fatt beefe, 40 quarts of butter, 1 J barrell of wheate, 4 barrells of malte, 20 hennes, with a number of eggs, and 40 horses for carriadge." Landlords who did not use a carriage, and had no gout for puddings or such table delicacies, dispensed with the horses and eggs, but took care to have an equivalent in some other form. Thus Brian M'Teige O'Hart set Maghereconrosse (now Magheranrush), a townland of 270 acres, in Carbury, "for £16 per annum, and 4 barrells of malt, 16 medders of butter, 24 medders of meale, the tbird part to be wheat, a fat mutton upon every tenant, and a chosher at Christmas, and 40 workmen." Here there is no mention of carriage horses or of hens and eggs, but there is, instead, the "cosher" at Christmas, a condition which we find

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 255

2. Sir John Benson's architectural works in Sligo

   Collooney · townland · Sligo · 1810–1851

   Sir John Benson, born in Collooney about 1810, was sent to Dublin by Mr. Cooper to train as an architect. On his return he superintended works at Markrea Castle and designed the Victoria Bridge in Sligo, the Protestant Church at Strandhill, and the Church of the Assumption in Collooney.

   Read the passage

   Sir John was born in CoUooney about 1810, and had reached the age of twenty or twenty-one with little education except what he had received in the village school, or had acquired in desultory reading, to which he was much addicted, when Mr. Cooper meeting him, and discovering in him talents of a high order, sent him to Dublin to a technical school, to be trained for the profession of architect, to which his own artistic tastes strongly attracted him. Sir John remained in Dublin only one year. On his return he was employed by Mr. Cooper to superintend some important works then in progress at Markrea Castle, and executed the commission so as to elicit the admiration of everyone capable of judging such things. About the same time he took in hand, in the neighbourhood, several costly and weighty works — the Victoria Bridge, Sligo; Mr. Sim's magnificent flour and corn mills ; the Protestant Church of Strandhill ; and his cluf d'oeuvre, the Church of the Assumption, Collooney ; and thus left in his native county enduring monuments of his brilliant and versatile talents.

   The organizers of the great Dablin Exhibition of 1851 having invited designs for the Exhibition Building from the architects of the Three Kingdoms, and having offered a valuable prize for the best design, hundreds of architects competed ; and though there were among the competitors men of the highest standing, Sir John Benson, or, as he was then, Mr. John Benson, out-distanced them all, and not only gained easily the offered prize, but received in addition the dignity of knighthood from the Queen, on the day Her Majesty and Prince Albert opened the Exhibition.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 290

3. Sligo to Boyle road through Ballydrehid curragh

   Ballydrehid · townland · Tipperary · 1790–1810

   The road from Sligo to Boyle was completed around the turn of the nineteenth century, with the stretch through the Ballydrehid curragh considered a great engineering feat. When Owen Wynne first proposed the project to the Grand Jury, it was mocked as Utopian because the curragh looked like a lake.

   Read the passage

   The chief existing roads of the county have been made within the last hundred years or thereabouts. That from Sligo to Boyle was begun in the last years of the eighteenth century, and finished in the opening years of the nineteenth. The stretch of it which runs through the Ballydrehid curragh was regarded in its day as a great feat of engineering skill; and there is a tradition that, when Mr. Owen Wynne brought the subject for the first time before the Grand Jury, the project was regarded as Utopian, and received with merriment, the curragh being then covered with water, and looking like a lake.

   The road from Sligo to Ballyfarnon was constructed about the same date as that to Boyle, the one to Tubbercurry a little later, and the road to Ballina about the same time. Of the three main roads through Carbury to Sligo, that on the sea coast from Bunduff to Breaffy is much the oldest, the one passing through Carney coming later, and the road by Cooldruman latest. The cross roads through the parish of Ahamlish were constructed by Nimmo for Lord Palmerston, and many others through the county date from 1846, the "Famine Year."

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 302

4. Tawnagh: St Patrick's church foundation in Tirerrill

   Tawnagh · townland · Sligo

   Tawnagh is the oldest church in the union and probably in all of Tirerrill. Both Tirechan's Annotations in the Book of Armagh and the Tripartite Life record it as a foundation of Saint Patrick, who set Bishop Carellus over the church there.

   Read the passage

   Tawnagh is the oldest church in the union, and, probably, in Tirerrill. It is a foundation of Saint Patrick himself, and is given as such in Tirechan's Annotations in the Book of Armagh, where we read. "Et exiit trans montem filiorum Ailello, et fundavit ecclesiam ibi, id est, Tamnach." (And he went out across the mountain of Tirerrill, and founded a church there, that is Tawnagh.) -f-

   The Tripartite is more detailed in its account: — "Peragravit Sanctus Patricius regionem de Hua noilella, et construxit insignem ecclesiam de Tamnacha ; quae Dei et hominum singulari patrocinio et tutela custoditur. Ecclesise Tamnacensi prefecit Episcopum Carellum, quem juxta Ecclesias consuetudinem in Episcopum ordinarunt Patricius, Bronus, et Bitaeus."J (Saint Patrick travelled through the district of Tirerrill, and erected the great church of Tawnagh, which is under the special protection and care of both God and men. Over the church of Tawnagh he set Bishop Carellus, whom, in accordance with the usage of the church, Patrick Bronus, and Bitseus consecrated a bishop.)

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 134

5. The difficult Curlew Mountains pass

   near Curlew Mountains · mountain or mountain range · Roscommon · 1540–1691

   The route through the Curlew Mountains was nearly impassable due to morasses, woods, and steep gradients. Multiple Irish leaders attempted to improve it—Manus O'Donnell camped on the Curlews in 1540 to level it, and Owen Roe O'Neill employed his army near Boyle in 1648 to prepare it for a march to Sligo—yet in 1691 Lord Granard's soldiers still had to haul the cannon themselves.

   Read the passage

   t " Lord Granard was hard distressed in his march over the Curlieu mountains ; for the draught horses being weak, the men themselves, with great cheerfulness, submitted to be put into the harness, and draw the cannon several miles." — The History of the Life and Reign of William III. By Walter Harris,, p. 332.

   302 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 161

6. Toomour as site of early church founding by St. Patrick

   Toomore · townland · Mayo · 400–600

   Toomour is identified as probably the first church founded by Saint Patrick and his disciples in the Sligo district. The religious house of 'Bishop' Lugid continued St. Patrick's work in the sixth century, and St. Kevin travelled from Wicklow to Toomour seeking religious perfection.

   Read the passage

   Now that the facts in connexion with Toomour are known, it will be admitted, that the spot yields to no other in the county, either in religious or in secular interest. From the religious stand-point we see, first, Saint Patrick and his disciples founding what was probably their first church in the district of Sligo; and, secondly, in the establishment of "Bishop" Lugid, we meet with one of those religious houses which continued and extended, in the sixth century, the great work of St. Patrick ; while the case of St. Kevin, coming all the way from Wicklow to Toomour, illustrates for us a practice, not uncommon in these days, of fervent souls travelling to distant monasteries and distant religious teachers in quest of greater perfection.

   From the secular point of view, we are brought face to face with one of the most momentous battles recorded in the annals of the country — one in which all Connaught was engaged against all Ulster, and in which, **with a countless number of others," the most exalted princes of both provinces were slain. And, what is remarkable at this early period, we find the bodies of the princes, instead of being buried on the battle field, carried religiously to the next cburch, and there deposited in one and the same grave, where, their enmities ended, they have lain together at rest for 917 years. It may be doubted whether any other single grave, containing so many kings or princes, can

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 114

7. Tradition: Banada steeple to fall at O'Hara funeral

   Banada · townland · Sligo · 1488

   An old tradition in the parish held that the steeple of Banada would fall on the occasion of an O'Hara interment, avenging sacrilege committed by members of that family in 1488. Donough Duv, Lord of Leyney Reagh, had resigned his lordship in 1439 to become a religieux at the monastery.

   Read the passage

   founder, accordicg to the same authority, was a father of that Order named Charles ; and though Charles' family is not given, it is pretty certain he was an O'Hara, as well, because Charles, or Cormac, was a favourite name with the O'Haras, as also, because the whole of Leyney belonged to them, so that nothing could be built in it without their concurrence. Another O'Hara, Donough Duv, Lord of Leyney Reagh, resigned the lordship in 1439, and became a religieux in the monastery of Banada, though, fifty years later, members of the same family, evincing very different dispositions from those of Donough Duv, committed murder and sacrilege in the holy place. The conventual buildings have all disappeared, and most of the church, little else now remaining except the tower, which, though standing still in its original height of 70 feet, is so shaken, and has so many stones displaced or cracked, that it is liable to topple down at any moment. It would be well for persons attending the funerals of an O'Hara to have their eyes about them, and to he on the alert while in the graveyard, for there is an old tradition in the parish, that the steeple will fall on the occasion of an O'Hara interment, no doubt to avenge the sacrilege committed, in 1488, by members of that family.

   Banada is the chief burying place of the parish, and contains a goodly number of tombstones, the prevailing names in the inscriptions being O'Donnell, Gallaher,* McCarrick, McManus, Mullarky, McGinn.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 79

8. Tunny and Looby executed at Terenure, St. James' Well (1817)

   Terenure · townland · Dublin · 1817

   John Tunny and Patrick Looby were convicted at the Lent Assizes of 1817 of forcibly robbing the dwelling-house of Henry Smith at Tonelena. They were hanged on Lady Day at Terenure, or St. James' Well, before immense crowds, though they were believed innocent.

   Read the passage

   These eight men suffered the extreme penalty of the law at the old gaol, Albert Street, where public executions usually took place, though on some occasions men were executed at the scene of their crime, as happened in the case of John Tunny and Patrick Looby, convicted at the Lent Assizes of 1817 of entering forcibly the dwelling-house of Henry Smith, at Tonelena, and taking thereout thirty tenpennies, four pairs of sheets, two gowns, three shirts, and one pair of stockings. Both were sentenced to be hanged on the 25 th March (Lady Day) at Terenure, or St. James' Well, where they were executed in the

   484 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 264

9. Two fortresses of Killadoon parish distinguished

   Ballindoon · street · Sligo · 1352–1408

   The parish of Killadoon contained two distinct old fortresses that must not be confused. One, a primitive cashel-style structure, was demolished by Hugh O'Connor in 1352; the other was a comparatively modern castle erected in 1408 by Conor M'Donough.

   Read the passage

   Before quitting the parish of Killadoon, it is well to note that, as we must not, as has been already said, confound the church of Killadoon and the convent of Ballindoon, so we must not regard the two old fortresses of the parish as identical ; for one of them, that demolished by Hugh O'Connor in 1352, was a primitive structure in the style of a cashel, while the other was a comparatively modern castle, being erected in 1408 by Conor M'Donough.*

   Shancoe is the third parish of the union, and is, perhaps, from the circumstances of its origin, the most interesting of the three. It is mentioned both in the Book of Armagh, and in the Tripartite Life of St. Patrick, It was at Shancoe took place the curious occurrence narrated in the following passage

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 146

10. Confederate council of Sligo resolves to attack Manorhamilton

    Manorhamilton · town · Leitrim · 1643

    Against Brian MacDonogh's counsel of caution, the hot-headed faction in the Confederate council of County Sligo prevailed. They resolved to attack Sir Frederick Hamilton without delay at his well-fortified castle at Manorhamilton, disregarding the risk of confronting so formidable an adversary.

    Read the passage

    Brian MacDonogh, who represented the county Sligo in the eventful Parliament of 1G13, and was the last of the MacDonoghs that inhabited Collooney castle, possessed, in the highest degree, the characteristic courage of the family. His lot falling in the dark days of 1641, he took side with his countrymen, and bore a chief part in the capture of Sligo, and the transactions which followed upon the taking of the town. Smarting, like all around him, from the wrongs which had goaded the country into insurrection, he felt, more than many others, the need of caution and system in the contest on which they had entered, and set his face against desultory and tumultuary action, as sure to lead to no permanent result. With such sentiments he was averse to a precipitate attack on Sir Frederick Hamilton's position at Manorhamilton, deeming it wiser to wait till some turn in events offered a better prospect of dealing an effectual blow to so dexterous, unscrupulous, and, withal, so formidable, an adversary. But, as often happens in times of revolution, the hot-headed prevailed over the long-headed in the Confederate council of the county Sligo, and it was decided to beard, without delay, the lion in his den, to grapple with the griffin of Manorhamilton— whether within or without his well-fortified castle.

    In the absence of ^Maj or- General Lucas Taaffe, who was engaged elsewhere, the task of carrying out this resolution was committed to Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Mac Donogh, who was next in military command to Taaffe in the county. This commission MacDonogh accepted, not only without objection, but, with particular satisfaction, resolved, whatever might be thought of the prudence of the undertaking, the responsibility of which he left to others, to do all that one man could to make the forlorn hope a triumph.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 117

11. Land reclamation and housing improvement in Achonry

    Achonry · townland · Sligo · 1850–1900

    Around fifty years before 1900, parts of Achonry parish were covered in primeval heath and jungle with only mud or wattle huts for habitation. Through local industry and a fine limestone subsoil, much land has been reclaimed and solid stone-and-slated houses built, partly with Government loans from the Board of Works.

    Read the passage

    The parish of Achonry divides the south of Le3mey with the parish of Kilmacteige, and stretches, on the south, to Bellaghy, and on the north, to Tireragh. The scenery of the parish, though inferior to that in the lower part of the county, has some striking features of its own. The great plain to the east of Tubbercurry, level as a sheet of water, and stretching away to the horizon, is not without an element of the grand ; the two hills of Mucklety and Knocknashee, more especially the latter, are hardly inferior to any elevation of the county for picturesqueness of outline and richness of colouring ; while the finely curved valley between Knocknashee and the Ox mountains strikes the eye by its beauty, and impresses the imagination as the parent and nurse of the Moy, protecting the tiny infant, while he is getting strength to face the open, where he soon acquires those imposing proportions in which he moves irresistibly along through Leyney, Gallen, and Tyrawley to his rendezvous, with the sea at Killalla. The area of the parish consists of two pretty equal divisions — one moor and mountain, and the other pasture and arable land ; the latter, however, daily gaining on the former, thanks to the industry of the people, and a fine limestone sub-soil, which facilitates and aids the work of reclamation. The result is, that in several places, where, some fifty years ago, there was little but primeval heath and jungle, with, here and there, a mud, or a wattle hut, which served, no one knows how, for family habitation, there are now considerable scopes of good grass and corn land, with some solid stone and slated houses, built in great part quite recently, and with money borrowed

    HISTORY OF SLIGO. 9^

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 47

12. St. Attracta's Hospital at Killaraght

    Killaraght · townland · Sligo

    St. Attracta established a Hospital at Killaraght for the practice of hospitality to travellers, one of the first such institutions in the country. It existed in operation down to the Reformation, when it was suppressed and its possessions granted to Sir John King.

    Read the passage

    In the interests of this work of mercy the Catholic Church has organized hundreds of religious Orders, such as the Freres Hospitaliers and the Soeurs Hospitalieres ; and it is greatly to the honour of St. Attracta that she seems to have been the first in this country, and one of the first in the universal Church,! to organize an institution for the practice of this great religious and social virtue ; for such was the nature of the so-called Hospital which she established at Killaraght, and which existed, apparently, in operation down to the Reformation, when it was suppressed, and its possessions granted to Sir John King, whose descendant, Lord Kingston, is entered in the Quit and Crown Rents Book of 1692, as "Tenant of the Hospital, or Religious House called Termon Killeraght."

    Without going into detail it will be well to notice some occurrences, or alleged occurrences, in the life of Saint Attracta, while dwelling at Killaraght. At the time her fame first spread abroad, it happened that the portion of Leyney adjoining The Gap, in the parish of Kilmacteige, was preyed on by a wild beast, the circumstance creating a panic among the inhabitants. To tran-

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 200

13. Taaffe created Baron of Ballymote and buried in abbey

    Ballymote · town · Sligo · 1621–1642

    Taaffe received large land grants from Elizabeth and James, including the property of Ballymote and abbey lands of Sligo. John Taaffe, eldest son, was created Baron of Ballymote and Viscount of Corran in 1621 and was buried in the abbey of Ballymote upon his death in 1642.

    Read the passage

    who would not submit, and above all, by capturing and hanging Doctor MacEgan, the bishop of Ross, who, ultimus Romanorum, still held out, and induced all he could to hold out, to the bitter end.* In reward for these services, Taaffe received from Elizabeth and James, large grants of lands in the counties of Louth, Cork, Waterford, Longford, Meath, Westmeath, Kildare, Mayo, Tipperary, Queen's County, and Sligo, including the property of Ballymote and the abbeyand abbey lands of Sligo. John,his eldest son, was created Baron of Ballymote and Viscount of Corran, on the 1st August, 1621, and dying on the 9th January, 164)2, was buried in the abbey of Ballymote. John's eldest son, Theobald Viscount Taaffe, was, all through from 164^1 to 1660, in the whirl of the revolution, and, unlike so many others who lost life and property in the contest, came out of it on his feet, and with increased honours and possessions, as Earl of Carlingford. He died in 1677, and was buried in Ballymote.

    During the military movements consequent on the iasurrection of 1641, the castle remained exempt from actual attack ; but, at the close of the war in 1652, it was surrendered, on articles, by Major-General Lucas Taaffe to Sir Charles Coote, the Lord President of Connaught. The following are the *' Articles of Agreement between the Lord President of Connaught, on the one part, and Major-General Luke Taaffe, on the other part i concluded June 24th, 1652 : —

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 87

14. Wesley preaches in Sligo court-house, finds rude congregation

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1785

    John Wesley preached in the new court-house at Sligo in May 1785 and found it the worst congregation he had seen in Ireland, with gentry laughing and talking during his sermon until he openly reproved them, and the rabble being equally rude near the door.

    Read the passage

    His hope of seeing fruit was little realized, for he writes under May 23rd, 1785 : "After a long day's journey, I preached in the new court-house at Sligo, to far the worst congregation that I have seen since I came into the kingdom. Some (miscalled gentry) laughed and talked without fear or shame, till I openly reproved them ; and the rabble were equally rude near the door."-!*

    On the occasion of his last visit to Sligo, which occurred on the 20th May, 1789, he makes this entry, which shows him somewhat less dissatisfied than on previous occasions : " We set out from Castlehar between three and four, and in just twelve hours reached Sligo. There I met S. Pennington once more, with her lovely daughter and son-in-law. I never before saw such a congregation in Sligo, so numerous and so serious. Does there yet another day of visitation appear even for this desolate place V'X

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 269

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up through Sligo now. In May 1785 John Wesley preached in the new court-house here and called it, in his own words, "far the worst congregation that I have seen since I came into the kingdom." People he called the miscalled gentry laughed and talked through the sermon until he openly reproved them, and the rabble near the door were, he said, equally rude. He had hoped to see some fruit from the visit but found little. Four years later, on the 20th of May 1789, he came through Sligo one last time, travelling from Castlehar in twelve hours. This time he met S. Pennington and her daughter and son-in-law, and wrote that he never before saw such a congregation in Sligo, so numerous and so serious. He wondered whether another day of visitation might yet appear, as he put it, for this desolate place.

15. Ballygilgan evictions and assisted emigration, 1834

    Ballygilgan · townland · Sligo · 1834

    In 1834 a lease of Ballygilgan held by middleman Mr. Martin fell in, and Sir Robert Gore Booth arranged with him and Lord Lorton to take the tract, displacing numerous tenants who were fishermen and small land-holders. The displaced occupants received only £2 a head for disturbance and £4 an acre for potato ground, with their passages to America paid as the alternative to an inadequate offer of land elsewhere.

    Read the passage

    All the compensation for disturbance which those unfortunate ereatures received was the passage money, which was at the rate of £2 a head ; while the compensation for improvements was confined to £4 an acre for their patches of potato track ; and though these terms were not so hard as those of certain heartless landlords of the day, who turned their tenants out on

    20 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 19

16. Ahamlish receives religion from Inismurray

    Ahamlish · parish · Sligo · 1666

    Ahamlish is described as indebted for its religion to Inismurray, which itself received the Gospel from Aughris. The rectories of Aughris and Ahamlish were always conjoined and disposed of together in public instruments including King Charles II's 1666 grant.

    Read the passage

    From all this, it appears that Ahamlish is indebted for its religion to Inismurray, and that the island, after receiving itself the Gospel from Aughris, evangelized this district, just as lona evangelized the north of Scotland. As soon as Muredach or Molaise had settled the insular establishment, his zeal carried him to the neighbouring shore, where he set up the cross of which Columba's hymn speaks. About the same time he founded a church there, and, as an endowment, secured the tract of land, called by the inquisitions, the Benan, from, apparently, the little hill at present called Dunan; for we find a similar little hill named, in the Annals of the Four Masters, Benan Breachmagh, go now by the name of Dunan Breaffy. At that time it was easy for the Tireragh saint to obtain the endowment, for the entire seaboard, from the Stags of Broadhaven to the river Erne, belonged to Tireragh chiefs, as it belonged also to the diocese of Killala, the boundaries of ecclesiastical jurisdiction following, and fluctuating with, the boundaries of civil or secular rule.

    Such being the antecedents of Inismurray, it is no great wonder that the inhabitants should have high notions of their island ; but their credulity, on this head, exceeds all bounds ; for they will tell you that a handful of its earth would banish or destroy all the rats and mice in Ireland ; that the water of a well at the north end of the island, when teemed into the sea in a storm, would calm the waves ; that, in case the fires of the island were extinguished, a bit of turf, laid on a flag in one of the ruined churches, would at once ignite, so as to supply the means of relighting the fires ; that if an urgent case of sickness called for the presence of a priest from the mainland during a tempest, the waves would settle the moment the boat of the messenger touched the water, and would continue settled till the priest had arrived, performed his ministry, and returned home ; and, there being separate cemeteries for men and women, that if a male were buried in the cemetery of the females, or a

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 18

    As the companion tells it

    You are coming through the parish of Ahamlish in Sligo. Ahamlish is indebted for its religion to Inismurray. The island received the Gospel from Aughris, and then evangelized this district, just as Iona evangelized the north of Scotland. When Muredach or Molaise had settled the insular establishment, his zeal carried him to the neighbouring shore, where he set up the cross of which Columba's hymn speaks. About the same time he founded a church there, and, as an endowment, secured a tract of land called the Benan, from a little hill apparently the one now called Dunan. The Annals of the Four Masters name a similar hill Benan Breachmagh, now called Dunan Breaffy. At that time the entire seaboard, from the Stags of Broadhaven to the river Erne, belonged to Tireragh chiefs, and also to the diocese of Killala, the boundaries of ecclesiastical jurisdiction following the boundaries of civil rule. The rectories of Aughris and Ahamlish were always conjoined and disposed of together in public instruments, including King Charles II's grant of 1666. The inhabitants of Inismurray had high notions of their island. They believed a handful of its earth would banish all the rats and mice in Ireland. They said the water of a well at the north end of the island, when poured into the sea in a storm, would calm the waves. If the fires of the island were extinguished, a bit of turf laid on a flag in one of the ruined churches would ignite, to relight the fires. If a priest was needed from the mainland during a tempest, the waves would settle the moment the messenger's boat touched the water, and stay settled until the priest arrived, performed his ministry, and returned. There were separate cemeteries for men and women.

17. Ballintrillick: Town of the Three Stones

    near Ballaghnatrillick · population centre · Sligo

    Ballintrillick, meaning 'Town of the Three Stones', was named from three memorial stones that once existed there, though not within living memory. The Vita Tripartita describes how St. Patrick found three pagan pillars at a beautiful spot and inscribed the name of Christ on them in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

    Read the passage

    Ballintrillick signifies the town of the Three Stones, and must have been so called from three memorial stones which once existed in the place, though they have not been there within living memory.

    From the names Trillick — The Three Stones — and Ballintrillick— Town of the Three Stones — as well as from what we read in the Yita Tripartita,* we may infer, that such memorials

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 29

18. Ballydrehid hovels as relic of middleman system

    Ballydrehid · townland · Tipperary

    Some of the houses in Ballydrehid are described as the sorriest makeshifts for human habitation on the entire railway line from Sligo to Dublin. These cabins are a relic of the middleman system, in which landlords let tracts to favourites who sublet to occupying tenants and extracted maximum profit, leaving the occupiers in wretched conditions for nearly a century.

    Read the passage

    The great blot on the village is found in some of its houses, if one can dignify with that name the hovels which strike the eye of the traveller by rail, and which are perhaps the sorriest makeshifts for human habitations that he will meet with on the whole length of the railway from Sligo to Dublin. These cabins are a relic of the middleman system of rural economy, in which the landlord used to let a tract of his estate to some favourite, who sublet it to occupying tenants, and w^ho had only one thought in connexion with the transaction, that is, to extract from the land, and the serfs that laboured it, all the profit he could, while his tenure lasted. Such was the condition of Ball3?drehid for near a century, but now that the property has come again into the hands of the landlord, the tumble-down shanties must disappear. Remove this eyesore, and the great natural advantages of the place will show themselves. With its cincture of pleasant little hills, with the sea waves breaking under its doorsteps and sweetening the air with their ozone, and with the finest views of Ballysadare bay and of the charming hill of Knocknarea always under the eye, Ballydrehid would compare favourably with many other districts of the county, both for salubriousness and for beauty.

    The pretty village of Collooney, as Mr. Inglis calls it, takes the form of a crescent, as it runs along the crest and down the slopes of the hill on which it stands, the Church of

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 182

19. Ballymote Castle commenced by the Red Earl, 1300

    Ballymote · town · Sligo · 1300

    The Four Masters record that the castle of Ath-cliath-an Chorainn (Ballymote) was begun in 1300 by the Red Earl. The town occupied a leading pass into Corran and sat amid rich surrounding lands, making it strategically important.

    Read the passage

    Ballymote, the chief town of Corran, occupies no mean place in the history of the county Sligo. Considering its situation, as the leading pass of the district, and the exceeding richness of the surrounding lands, it must have been always a place of some importance, though the first mention we find of it, in the annals of the county, occurs so late as the year 1300, when it is recorded by the Four Masters, that the castle of Ath-cliath-an Chorainn, that is, Ballymote, was commenced by the Red Earl.

    It was called Ath-cliath-an Chorainn, the hurdle ford of Corran, from the hurdles thrown over the low lying portions of the place, then covered with water, but long since dried, partly by underground drainage, and partly by the diversion of the streams, which overflowed them. The meaning of the modern name, Ballymote, is not agreed on ; for, as the simple English word, moat, little altered in its Irish form, viota or motajh, sio"nifies both a mound and a dyke, the compound word may mean either the Town of the mound, or the Town of the dyke. Those who maintain the former meaning, refer, in confirmation of their view, to the mound, or hillock, of Carrownanty, the townland on which the castle is built ; while those, who prefer the latter, rely on the deep and broad trench, which surrounded the castle down to the close of the 17th century. On the whole, the

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 83

20. Bingham quarters at Sligo Abbey while O'Donnell camps at Glencar

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1595

    Sir Richard Bingham took up quarters in the abbey of Sligo, a position close to the castle he intended to attack, while O'Donnell encamped at Glencar. Skirmishing occurred, resulting in the death of Bingham's nephew Martin.

    Read the passage

    Boused by these proceedings of O'Donnell, and by the formidable combination of the Connaught chiefs, Sir Richard tried to deal a deadly blow to his enemies, by retaking, if possible, the castle of Sligo, which constituted their chief strength. With this design he followed O'Donnell; and when the latter encamped at Glencar, Bingham took up his quarters in the abbey of Sligo, a position admirably suited to his purpose, as it afforded ample shelter to his troops, and stood quite close to the castle which he meant to attack. While here, some skirmishing took place between parties of his troops and those of Red Hugh, the only casualty resulting being the death of a nephew of Sir Richard, a high-spirited, dashing, youth, named Martin, who was slain while closing, in the heat of pursuit, on one of O'DonnelFs meu, as brave as himself, though then retreating in obedience to orders with the object of drawing the English into an ambuscade.

    As there was no chance of carrying on a siege successfully with O'Donnell within a couple of miles of the town, Sir Richard thought to take the castle by means of a well-known military engine, called at the time, the Sow, and resembling the appliance named by the Romans testudo, the main purpose of both being to cover and protect men while engaged under it in sapping and mining operations.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 154

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Sligo now. In 1595, this town became the stage for a standoff between two forces. Sir Richard Bingham, pressed by O'Donnell's rising and the alliance of the Connaught chiefs, set out to retake Sligo castle, which he saw as the key to his enemies' strength. When O'Donnell encamped at Glencar, Bingham took up his quarters in the abbey of Sligo. It suited him well. The abbey stood close to the castle he meant to attack and gave ample shelter to his troops. While he was there, skirmishing broke out between his men and those of Red Hugh O'Donnell. Only one casualty resulted. That was Martin, a nephew of Sir Richard, described as a high-spirited, dashing youth. He was slain while pressing hard in pursuit of one of O'Donnell's men, who was retreating on orders, the plan being to draw the English into an ambush. With O'Donnell camped within a couple of miles of the town, there was no chance of a successful siege. Sir Richard turned to a military engine called the Sow, much like the Roman testudo, built to shield men as they sapped and mined beneath the walls.

21. Blind beggarman's 'Beggar's Benison' at Ballysadare bridge

    Ballysadare · townland · Sligo

    A blind beggarman who stationed himself on the bridge of Ballysadare became famous for the blessing he gave in return for alms, known as the 'Beggar's Benison.' Artists employed by Colonel Burton Conyngham were shown the stone on which the beggar used to sit.

    Read the passage

    Down to fifty or sixty years ago, beggars and *' backaghs " — persons who suffered or shammed lameness, or some other corporal infirmity — infested the public roads, seating themselves at the most frequented points, and remaining there for years, till they became as familiar to travellers as the physical features of the place, so that mendicants who died more than a hundred years ago are still associated with particular spots. A blind beggarman, who had his quarters on the bridge of Ballysadare, distinguished himself so much by the blessing bestowed in return for alms, that it became famous as the " Beggar's Benison," and is thus referred to by the artists employed by

    * In the Sligo Journal of June, 1805, we find the advertisement, **The Mail Coach diligence, accompanied by a well-armed guard, runs from Sligo to Dublin, meeting at Cavan the Mail Coach, where two seats are reserved."

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 303

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here, on the bridge of Ballysadare, a blind beggarman used to take his quarters in times gone by. He became well known for the blessing he would give in return for alms, a blessing so famous it was called the Beggar's Benison. In those days, beggars and people who suffered or feigned lameness would seat themselves at the most frequented points on the roads and stay there for years, becoming as familiar to travellers as the landscape itself. The artists employed by Colonel Burton Conyngham were shown the very stone on which this blind man used to sit.

22. Burial of Manus McDonogh on Trinity Island, Loch Ce

    Trinity Island · townland · Cavan · 1504

    Manus McDonogh, abbot of the monastery of the Trinity on Loch Ce, was buried on Trinity Island after his death at Killadoon in 1504. The Annals of Loch Ce lamented his passing as a great loss to the learned of Ireland.

    Read the passage

    While speaking of the eminent ecclesiastics of the McDonogh family, we must not forget Manus McDonogh, of whom the Annals of Loch Ce, under the year 1504, contains this very laudatory obituary notice: " Manus, son of Brian McDonogh, i.e. J abbot of the monastery of the Trinity on Loch Ce, a man who was the preserving shrine and casket of the bounty and prowess of Erinn, and the man, who of all that had come down from Tomaltach-na-Cairge, had given and presented most to poets and musicians, and to men of every craft, died at Cill Diubhdhuin (Killadoon), et sepultus est in Trinity Island on Loch Ce; and this death of McDonogh 's son is a decapitating blow to the learned of Erinn."

    And they built more, and stronger, castles than any other family of the county Sligo.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 124

23. Catholic-Protestant debate at Easky chapel

    Easky · town · Sligo

    A public religious discussion was held in the Catholic chapel of Easky on 23rd and 24th November, chaired by Michael Fenton of Castletown, between three priests and four Protestant ministers on the propriety of indiscriminate Bible reading and private judgment. Over six hundred persons attended, and proceedings were conducted with great order and ability by the disputants.

    Read the passage

    The discussion was held in the Catholic chapel of Easky, on the 23rd and 24th November, under the chairmanship of Michael Fenton, Esq., of Castletown, and in the presence of more than six hundred persons ; and the proceedings were conducted with great order, impartiality, and firmness by the chairman, and with conspicuous ability by the disputants, though probably with the result, not unusual in such cases, of doing more ill than good both to speakers and listeners.

    It is creditable to the diocese of Killalla that the first three priests there met with were a match and, as many thought, more than a match, in the arena, for the picked and trained controversial athletes opposed to them, including Dr. William Urwick, who enjoyed the reputation in his day of being one of the most eloquent men in Ireland. As this gentleman's name has occurred here, and as he was long connected with Sligo, it may be well to add that he was ordained for the Sligo ministry, on the 19th June, 1816 that he was called by his co-religionists to York-street Chapel, Dublin, in 1826, that he died there on the 16th July, 1868, and that he is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 225

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Easky, this is the town where a public religious debate took place in the Catholic chapel on the 23rd and 24th of November. Michael Fenton of Castletown chaired the proceedings, and more than 600 people attended. Three priests faced four Protestant ministers, arguing over the propriety of indiscriminate Bible reading and private judgment. The chairman conducted things with great order, impartiality and firmness, and the disputants showed conspicuous ability — though the record notes the result probably did more ill than good to speakers and listeners alike. It was said to the credit of the diocese of Killala that the first three priests met there were a match, and many thought more than a match, for the trained controversial athletes opposed to them. Among those ministers was Dr. William Urwick, reckoned one of the most eloquent men in Ireland in his day. He was ordained for the Sligo ministry on the 19th of June 1816, called to York-street Chapel in Dublin in 1826, and died there on the 16th of July 1868. He is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.

24. Community resistance to Gethin burial at Ballindoon abbey

    Ballindoon · street · Sligo

    When the Gethin family attempted to bury a drowned son within the walls of Ballindoon church, local people assembled in great numbers and resisted, forcing interment outside the walls. Ballindoon remains the chief burying place of the M'Donoughs of Tirerrill, with other leading names including Mullany, M'Tiernan, Conellan, and Davey.

    Read the passage

    The Survey of 1633 states in regard to this place : " Andrew Crean has Moore (the townland on which the convent stands), both abbey and land ; it is worth £7 per annum, by reason of the burialls in the abbey and the mill." At the Restoration it was granted to the Kings, who changed the name of Annagh Iveanaghan to Kingsborough, and from whom it passed to the Gethins, the present owners. The interior is still a burying place, but kept by Catholics for their exclusive use ; and, some time ago, when a son of the late Mr. John Gethin was drowned in Lough Arrow, and his family tried to bury him within the walls of the church, the people of the neighbourhood assembled in great numbers, and resisted the efforts of the family, so that the deceased had to be interred outside the walls, where the monument to his memory now stands. It is the chief burying place of the M'Donoughs of Terrerrill, whose names appear on the greater number of the tombstones. The other leading names commemorated being CMullany, M'Tiernan, Conellan, and Davey.

    Miss Eliza M'Donough, the last of the family that inhabited Coolmeen, died in 1883, and was buried in Ballindoon. She

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 145

25. Death of Cormac Mac Donogh, Lord of Tirerrill, 1388

    Tirerrill · barony · Sligo · 1388

    Cormac Mac Donogh, Tanist and Lord of Tirerrill, went on a night raid into Moylurg and was pursued by O'Conor Roe and the sons of Hugh Mac Dermot. Though O'Conor ordered his men to take Mac Donogh prisoner rather than kill him, Mac Donogh refused all quarter and fought until he was slain. The Annals praise him as peerless among his tribe for hospitality and prowess.

    Read the passage

    Cormac Mac Donogh, Tanist of Tirerrill, or, as he is called in the Annals of Loch Ce, Lord of Tirerrill, is the first of the Collooney chiefs of whom we have any account. His death occurred in 1388 ; and the following simple narrative of the event shows well the lofty courage of the man : — " Cormac Mac Donogh, royal champion of Tirerrill,* and its Tanist, went by night on a predatory excursion into Moylurg, and made great preys. O'Conor Roe, the grandson of Felim, the sons of Cathal Oge O'Conor, and the sons of Hugh Mac Dermot, namely Cathal and Cormac, with their forces, followed him in pursuit of the preys. Cormac Mac Donogh betook himself to the rear of his own people, where some of O'Conor's party first made towards him, and unsparingly attacked him ; but O'Conor himself came up with them, and commanded his people not to kill him, if they could take him prisoner ; but Mac Donogh did not

    * Annals of the Four Masters, 1388.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 117

26. Donaghintraine fortress and 1249 conflict

    Donaghintraine · townland · Sligo · 1249

    A great dun or fortress formerly stood at Donaghintraine in the north-west angle of Templeboy parish. In 1249 it was the scene of a conflict between Felim O'Conor and the Berminghams, in which Felim emerged victorious. The place name derives from Dun Contreathain, signifying the Fort of the Hero of the Sea.

    Read the passage

    Templeboy parish lies alongside that of Skreen, and stretches in the form of a triangle from the sea to the summit of the Ox Mountains, the base of the figure resting on the sea, and the apex on the mountain. The top region of the area is, for the most part, naked rock, and the central, wild upland, while the stretch along the shore is good land, equally fit for tillage or pasture. In the north-west angle of the parish is Donaghintraine, where there formerly stood a great dun or fortress, which in 1249 was the scene of some vigorous proceedings between Felim O'Conor and the Berminghams, in which Felim came off the victor. Doaaghintraine — the present name of the place — is a corrupt form of Dun Contreathain, or Dun Cintreathain, the name being written both ways, and signifying, according to the former spelling, the Fort of the Hero of the Sea, and according to the latter, the Fort of the Head of the Sea.

    In the townland of Grangemore there was a small stone castle, twenty-four feet square, considerable ruins of which still remain, showing, in one of the sides, a triangular-headed doorway and a triangular-headed window, and, in the interior, a spiral stone stairway leading to a floor resting on a stone vault. Though it is nowhere stated, there can be hardly any doubt that this building was the grange, which served both as a residence and a store-house to the religious who owned the place.*

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 219

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here in Donaghintraine, a great dun or fortress once stood. This place lies in the north-west angle of Templeboy parish, a parish shaped like a triangle running from the sea to the summit of the Ox Mountains, its base resting on the sea and its apex on the mountain. The top of the parish is mostly naked rock and wild upland, while the stretch along the shore is good land, fit for tillage or pasture. In 1249 this fortress was the scene of some vigorous proceedings between Felim O'Conor and the Berminghams, in which Felim came off the victor. The name Donaghintraine is a corrupt form of Dun Contreathain, or Dun Cintreathain, the name being written both ways. According to the former spelling it signifies the Fort of the Hero of the Sea, and according to the latter, the Fort of the Head of the Sea. Nearby in Grangemore there was a small stone castle, twenty-four feet square, considerable ruins of which still remain. One of the sides shows a triangular-headed doorway and a triangular-headed window, and inside there is a spiral stone stairway leading to a floor resting on a stone vault. Though it is nowhere stated, there can be hardly any doubt that this building was the grange, serving both as a residence and a store-house to the religious who owned the place.

27. Dowd brothers rewarded for hunting Tories in Costello and Gallen

    Gallen · barony · Mayo · 1667

    Donough Dowd and his brother Taltagh, pardoned for their own 'Torying' by Lord Kingston, were then employed against other Tory bands. Lord Dillon's proclamation of October 1667 granted them a reward of one shilling per quarter of tilled land in the Baronies of Costello and Gallen for their service in pursuing rebels.

    Read the passage

    Difficult as the Government found it to break up those bands, and dispose of their leaders, they always succeeded in the long run. The means invariably employed was to bribe one band to act against another, or a member of a band to make away with his chief. As an instance of the former method of proceeding, Donough Dowd and his brother Taltagh, who had been pardoned themselves for their ''Torying" by Lord Kingston, were then set upon other Tories, against whom they did such execution, that Lord Dillon provides for their reward in this Proclamation, dated Oct. 12th, 1667 : *' Whereas I am informed by Sir Francis Gore, Knight, that the Dowds since their submission to the President of Connaught have been very active in pursuit of the Rebels, and have already done considerable service upon them, I consent that they receive Is. per quarter of the tilled land in the Baronies of Costello and Gallon ; provided that Roger Jordan and his brother Edward may have their proportion of same for their good service in apprehending one Gallagher, a notorious rebel."

    The second method was the one most frequently employed, as it was found to be the most effectual. If few cared to meet, in the open, the brave and desperate men that were on their keeping as a party of Tories or Rebels, an ill-affected associate, aware of the many opportunities he had of acting without much risk to himself, was sometimes found willing to betray and murder his chief, and was accordingly engaged by the Government to do the deed. The secret on such occasions was so well kept by all concerned, that it was only in 1868 the names of those who despatched Tory chiefs near two centuries before became known for the first time.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 258

28. Dr. Donlevy's birthplace and early education

    Ballymote · town · Sligo · 1694–1710

    Dr. Donlevy, born about 1694, received his early education in Ballymote before secretly making his way to Paris around 1710 to study for the priesthood. His exact birthplace in County Sligo is uncertain but was most probably either Ballygawley in the parish of Killross or Templehouse in the parish of Kilvarnet, where Donlevy families long resided.

    Read the passage

    Dr. Donlevy was born in or about the year 1694, and received his early education in Ballyrnote. About 1710 he succeeded, in spite of the vigilance of the English authorities, in makino* his way to Paris, where he completed his studies and preparation for the priesthood. On his ordination he was appointed Prefect of the Irish College, or, as it was then called, the Irish Community^ in Paris, an office which he seems to have held till his death, which occurred some time after 1761, the precise date being unknown. The exact spot of the county in which he was born has not been ascertained, but most probably it was either Ballygawley, in the parish of Killross, where there lived long, and until very recently, a respectable family of the name Donlevy, to which, too, the late Dean Donlevy of Sligo belonged, or Templehouse, in the parish of Kilvarnet, where more than one family of the name still resides. While Prefect of the Irish Community, Dr. Donlevy was a valued correspondent of Walter Harris, who acknowledges weighty obligations to him " for many favours received from him, particularly in his transmitting, from time to time, several useful collections out of the King's and other libraries in Parish."

    Charles Phillips being the most distinguished man the town of Sligo has produced in modern times, it is well to give the facts of his life in some little detail. He was born near the close of the last century in the house now occupied by Mr. Josiah Cochrane Davis. His father, who was a Charles too, was a native of Sligo as well as member, for several years, of the Town Council, and died in the year 1800. His mother was a lady named Johnstone, from Fermanagh, who had a sister married to Attorney Walker of Rathcarrick, father of the late Counsellor Roger Walker, and grandfather of Mr. J. F. Walker.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 278

29. Dr. MacParlan's visit to Hazelwood farm

    Hazelwood · street · Galway

    Doctor MacParlan observed extensive farming operations at Hazelwood, noting six ploughs at work, including one drawn by three horses and others by oxen. Mr. Wynne was recognized as a public benefactor for his large-scale employment and the agricultural example he set.

    Read the passage

    carrots, potatoes, cabbages, rape, borecole, etc., all drilled ;* and the scale on which he farmed may be inferred from the fact that, while cultivating so extensive a range of crops, he usually had twenty-five acres under potatoes alone.f Of what Doctor MacParlan saw on a visit to Hazelwood he writes : " I have this day seen at Hazelwood, in full work, six ploughs ; one double plough, drawn by three horses ; four drawn each by two oxen ; and one by one horse ; besides a proportionable number of harrovvs."J In this way Mr. Wynne was a public benefactor, as well by the large employment he gave, as by the good example he set to high and low.

    For the last twenty years or so the agriculture of the county has been either at a stand, or, more frequently, retrograding. To the disuse of local Agricultural and Cattle Shows may be set down much of this evil. While the shows lasted, they furnished the farmer with a powerful motive to excel in tillage and the quality of his cattle, by the prizes they offered, and, still more, perhaps, by the occasion they afforded of gaining some distinction in the eyes of his landlord and of his neighbours. No doubt, tenants do not trouble themselves overmuch just now about the good or the bad opinion of their landlord ; but for this the landlord has to blame, in great part, his own increased and still increasing indifference to the well-being of his tenants, and not a little, perhaps, his indifference to their interests and wishes in this very matter of agricultural shows. Nothing is more common nowadays than to hear the landlord blame his tenants for being so different from the tenants of the past, though he complacently forgets that he is himself still more different from the kind, humane, and sympathizing landlords that preceded him. It is a case for the old reproof, " Cast out first the beam out of thy own eye, and then shalt thou see to cast the mote out of thy brother's eye."

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 254

30. English survivors flee to Athlone after Curlews defeat

    Athlone · town · Westmeath · 1599

    After the disastrous defeat at the Battle of the Curlews, the shattered remnants of Clifford's army fled without pause to Athlone. The cavalry brought up the rear, saving the demoralized infantry from annihilation with a desperate charge over boulders and bog holes.

    Read the passage

    Whoever succeeded the Governor in command allowed neither pause nor stay till he had the shattered remnant of Sir Conyers' army back again in Athlone ; the horse bringing up the rear and reassuring the fugitives, who thought of nothing in their demoralized state except getting beyond the reach of the victorious Irish — whom they imagined to be still in pursuit. After the Roman-like end of the Governor, the only other

    304 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 162

    As the companion tells it

    Athlone, the town ahead on the road, is where the broken survivors of Sir Conyers Clifford's army ended their flight in 1599. After the disaster at the Curlews, whoever took command allowed neither pause nor stay till the shattered remnant was back in Athlone. The cavalry brought up the rear, reassuring the demoralized infantry, who thought of nothing except getting beyond reach of the victorious Irish they imagined were still pursuing them.

31. Farrel O'Gara's Coolavin estates per 1633 Survey

    Coolavin · electoral division · Sligo · 1633

    According to the Survey of 1633, Farrel O'Gara possessed all of Coolavin except Coillemore, which belonged to Mr. Dodwell, and Knocknaskeagh, which was the inheritance of O'Connor Sligo. He ultimately sacrificed his estates for his religion and country.

    Read the passage

    his grandfather's death, his father, Teige O'Gara, heing previously dead. In these circumstances the King granted the wardship of the minor to Sir Theobald Dillon, who soon sent him to Trinity College, in which establishment all minors were brought up Protestants. Had Farrel O'Gara been himself to blame in this, or, if to blame, had he not redeemed his fault, the zealous lay brother Michael O'Clery, who was quite as good a Catholic as O'Donovan, would never have said to O'Gara, as he does in the Dedication of the Four Masters, " I, Michael O'Clery, was well acquainted with your zeal for the glory of God." According to the Survey of 1633, etc., Farrel O'Gara in his day possessed all Coolavin except Coillemore, which belonged to Mr. Dodwell, and Knocknaskeagh, which was the " inheritance of O'Connor Sligo ;" and if he did not pass on this fine estate to his descendants, it was precisely because, when the occasion called for it, he sacrificed all to his religion and country — a sacrifice which should have saved him from the sneer of O'Donovan.

    The next O'Gara calling for notice is Colonel Oliver, who took an active and influential part on the side of King James in the conflict between that monarch and the Prince of Orange, and fought with great distinction at Sligo, at the Boyne, at Athlone, at Aughrim, and at Limerick. Story's History states that Colonel Oliver O'Gara fell at Athlone ; but this is an error, for he not only survived the unfortunate affair of Athlone, but, after having been in the thick of all the subsequent transactions, diplomatic and military, of the campaign, he passed with his regiment when all was over in Ireland to France, where he lived and died universall}' respected. The year of his death is not known, but we find him in 1706 acting as military governor of Montesa in Spain.* Colonel O'Gara had four sons, all of whom were well provided for on the Continent, the fourth being born in France, and baptized at

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 192

32. Fenton-Hillas altercation at wreck on Tireragh coast

    Tireragh · barony · Sligo

    A dispute arose between Major Hillas and John Fenton aboard a wrecked vessel on the Tireragh coast, near Hillas's residence. Hillas had helped save the crew, but when Thomas Fenton arrived with the Castletown yeomanry and seized the wreck, the conflict escalated toward the county's most famous duel.

    Read the passage

    It is commonly thought, and Mr. Oliver Burke, in his Anecdotes of the Connaught Bar, shares the opinion, that the dispute arose about a question of barrister's fees, Mr. Hillas being supposed to be a counsellor, as Mr. Fenton was an attorney, whereas, the fact is, that the unfortunate affair was connected with a wreck which took place on the Tireragh coast, quite close to the residence of Mr. Hillas, who was a military man, a Major in some force, and not a lawyer at all. A report having been sent by a Father Burke to the Major about a vessel in distress, the latter hastened to the shore, went on board the ship, and exerted himself so humanely and effectively, that the magistrates who sat to investigate the salvage claims — Mr. Wynne and Colonel Irwin — attributed " chiefly to his humane and spirited conduct the saving of the crew and the vessel " — the captain being already drowned.

    While Major Hillas was thus engaged, Mr. John Fenton came on board, and an altercation soon occurred between them, of so warm a nature, that Fenton threatened to throw Hillas into the sea. The matter even proceeded so far that Mr. Fenton sent the Major a challenge, but no hostile meeting followed on this occasion. It was two days after this when Mr. Thomas Fenton, accompanied by the Castletown yeomanry, arrived, and, in spite of all opposition, took charge of the wreck — a proceeding which

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 271

33. Fr. Fitzmaurice's survival of French Revolution and burial at Knockbrack

    Knockbrack · townland · Sligo · 1802–1831

    Father Rickard Fitzmaurice, highly esteemed parish priest of Keash, survived a massacre during the French Revolution by hiding in a chimney while his companions were butchered. The trauma left him with a lifelong tremor. He is buried in Knockbrack graveyard and presented a chalice to the parish of Toomour in 1802.

    Read the passage

    t Father Fitzmaurice is also interred in Knockbrack, and his monument is inscribed with the words : —

    ** Pray for the soul of Richard Fitzmaurice,

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 115

34. Hugh Dubh O'Donnell's troops cross the strands, 1536

    near Drumcliff · parish · Sligo · 1536

    The Annals of the Four Masters record that in 1536 Hugh Dubh O'Donnell and his troops marched from Finid across the Drumcliff strand to Fearsat-Reanna-an-Liagain (now Standalone Point), then across the Sligo strand to Coolerra, and through the Ballysadare strand to Tireragh. The route followed ancient strand passes still in use.

    Read the passage

    We learn from the Book of Armagh, the oldest Irish record we possess, and from Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga, that Saint Patrick and his companions made use of these strands in their journeys ; and the Annals of the Four Masters, under the year 1536, in tracing the march of Hugh Dubh O'Donnell and his troops, brings them from Fined across the Drumcliff strand to Fearsat-Reanna-an-Liagain, now Standalone Point ; from Fearsat- Reanna-an-Liagain across the Sligo strand to Coolerra; and from Coolerra through the Ballysadare strand to Tireragh. All these routes were much used till recently ; and the short strand at Drumcliff is still traversed by pedestrians and vehicles of all kinds.

    As has been stated, the present Standalone Point is given, in the Four Masters and the Annals of Loch Ce, as Fearsat- Reanna-an-LiagaiUf a name which the Four Masters themselves, and the compilers of the Annals of Loch Ce, would

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 301

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Drumcliff, you are travelling ground with a long military history. In 1536 the Annals of the Four Masters record Hugh Dubh O'Donnell marching his troops from Finid across the Drumcliff strand to Fearsat-Reanna-an-Liagain, now Standalone Point, then across the Sligo strand to Coolerra, and through the Ballysadare strand to Tireragh. These strand passes were old even then. The Book of Armagh, the oldest Irish record, and Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga both say Saint Patrick and his companions used the same strands on their journeys. The routes were still much travelled in recent times, and the short strand at Drumcliff was still crossed by pedestrians and vehicles of all kinds.

35. Inishmurray islander and the Malediction Stones

    Inishmurray · townland · Sligo · 1898–1899

    An angry islander from Inishmurray, feeling wronged by an associate, recently approached his parish priests seeking permission to 'turn the stones' against the individual. This demonstrates the survival of ancient superstitious practices connected to the island's Malediction Stones.

    Read the passage

    The exact nature of the practices connected with these stones is not known, but judging from what is told of the " Malediction Stones " of Inismurray, it would appear that the stones were manipulated for the purpose either of clearing oneself of a charge, or of fixing one on others, and invoking vengeance for it. It is only a year or two ago that an angry islander of Inismurray, who fancied himself wronged by a person with whom he had some dealing, went to the priests of the parish, and asked them for leave to " turn the stones" on the supposed wrong-doer. In the Bollandist life of St. Kevin of Glendalough (See O'Hanlon, Part 61, p. 41,) there is an account of a man who stole an animal belonging to St. Lugid,^ and of whom it is said, '* Accessit ad signa sacra ut juraret;" and the writer cannot help thinking that the signa sacra in question are no other than the seventeen sea stones which, after the multitudinous accidents of fourteen or fifteen hundred years, may be still seen, safe and undisturbed, on the "altar" of Toomour, the superstitious veneration of the people serving as their safeguard all this time.

    These barbarous and sinful customs, whenever they were introduced, became enormously aggravated about the close of the sixteenth and the earlier years of the seventeenth century, when the Catholic Church was under the ban of the Government, its action paralysed, and its priests in banishment. Other evil practices — drunkenness, magical incantations, keening at wakes and funerals (ulalatus) — extended widely at the same time ; and, in the absence of regular religious ministrations, the country was filled with impostors of all kinds — fortune tellers, soothsayers, " wise men," herb curers, and, godless wretches, who, though laymen, carried about to wells, and fairs, and other scenes of public resort, crosiers, crosses,

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 311

36. John Wesley's bleak assessment of Sligo congregations

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1758–1789

    Rev. John Wesley visited Sligo about a dozen times between 1758 and 1789, preaching at the market house. On 28 May 1765 he recorded a total want of good sense, good manners, and common decency among many hearers, and in 1773 noted soldiers and officers among the congregation.

    Read the passage

    " In the evening I took my usual stand in the market house, but how was the scene changed. I have seen nothing like this since my first entrance into the kingdom. Such a total want of good sense, of good manners, yea, of common decency, was shown by not a few of the hearers."!

    Under the dates of May 19bh,20th, 1773, he says: *^ At Sligo I expected little comfort, as having little expectation of doing any good, and the less as some strollers were acting a play over the market house where I was to preach. At seven I began in our own room. Many of the soldiers, with some officers, were present; and the whole congregation, rich and poor, were so

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 268

    As the companion tells it

    Sligo town was a regular stop for John Wesley between 1758 and 1789, where he preached at the market house. On 28 May 1765 he found the scene changed, recording what he called a total want of good sense, good manners, and common decency among not a few of the hearers. In May 1773 he expected little comfort, as strollers were acting a play over the market house where he was to preach. He began instead in his own room, and soldiers with some officers were present, rich and poor gathered together in the congregation.

37. Kilmorgan graveyard and Edward Hill tombstone, 1716

    Kilmorgan · townland · Sligo · 1716

    The graveyard attached to Kilmorgan old church is used in common by Catholics and Protestants. The oldest tombstone is that of Cornet Edward Hill, who died in 1716 after being drowned while crossing a rivulet riding home from a dinner party. A range of sculptured stones also covers the remains of several Duke family members.

    Read the passage

    The graveyard attached to the ruin is used in common by Catholics and Protestants. The oldest tombstone is that of Cornet Edward Hill, who died in 1716, having been drowned while crossing a rivulet as he was riding home from a dinner party. A range of substantial, well sculptured, stones cover the remains of several members of the Duke family.

    The most curious monument in the place is that of Morgan McDonogh, and is constructed in the form of a little cottage, the dimensions being twelve feet wide, eighteen long, and eight

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 97

38. Longford Castle burned by Williamite forces (1689)

    Longford · town · Longford · 1689

    During the Williamite conflict, Henry Crofton's Catholic-aligned Longford Castle became a threat to Williamites in Tireragh. Lord Kingston, holding Sligo for William, sent picked men under Captains Ormsby and Gore who set fire to the castle and smoked out the defenders.

    Read the passage

    Though the O'Dowds continued to be chiefs of Longford, the McSweenys possessed it in the sixteenth century and the early years of the seventeenth — 1st, as sub-chiefs of the O'Dowds; and, 2nd, as grantees of the monarchs of England ; and it was from them the place passed, it is not well known how, to the Croftons. In the conflict between James and William in 1689, Longford castle was on the side of James, the owner of that day being Henry Crofton, who was an ardent Catholic, as well as a loyal adherent of James. Under this gentleman the castle becoming a thorn in the side of the Williamites of Tireragh, Lord Kingston, who held Sligo for William at the head of a considerable force, despatched, under the command of Captains William Ormsby and Francis Gore, a large party of picked men, who, on their arrival, set fire to the castle, " smoaked out the enemy," as

    the Lord Deputy — 1572— July 16 ;" and under the heading is the Memorandum: *' A copy of John Crofton, his letter ; he is Clerk of the Council there, and at my request took upon him to bake and brew for the garrison." On the margin of letter the words, "For the Lord Burghley." — Kilkenny Archceological Journal, Vol. V., p. 345. * Morrin's Patent and Close Rolls of Elizabeth, p. 26.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 214

    As the companion tells it

    As you come through Longford, the town carries a story from 1689, when the conflict between James and William reached this far. Longford Castle stood on the side of James. Its owner that day was Henry Crofton, an ardent Catholic and a loyal adherent of James. Under Crofton, the castle became a thorn in the side of the Williamites of Tireragh. Lord Kingston, who held Sligo for William at the head of a considerable force, despatched a large party of picked men under the command of Captains William Ormsby and Francis Gore. On their arrival, they set fire to the castle and, in the words of the source, "smoaked out the enemy." Before the Croftons, the McSweenys had possessed Longford through the sixteenth century and the early years of the seventeenth, first as sub-chiefs of the O'Dowds, and then as grantees of the monarchs of England. The place passed from them to the Croftons, though it is not well known how.

39. Morish Caech slain at Ballinode carrying cattle prey

    Bellanode · town · Monaghan · 1598

    Morish Caech McDonogh was killed at Ballinode near Sligo in 1598 while carrying off cattle raided from Breffney O'Rorke in Leitrim. His lands were subsequently declared forfeit as he was 'slain in rebellion.'

    Read the passage

    The fertile district of Cloonamahon, as part of Tirerrill, was under the sway of the MacDonoghs down to the break-up of Celtic rule in the sixteenth century. Morish Caech McDonogh, who resided in Cloonamahon, was named chief of Tirerrill in 1595, by O'Donnell, and exercised authority as such till 1598, when he was slain at Ballinode, near Sligo, as he was carrying off a prey of cattle from Breffney O'Rorke, or Leitrim. With Cloonamahon, Morish Caech owned Markree, Ardcurly, Tubberscanavan, or Mullaghbrine Lisconny, Cartronreagh, Achulback (Coolbock), Knockroe, Knockenarrow, Kinaghan, and Rathgran, in Tirerrill, as well as some lands in Corran, all which were passed by royal grant, in the eighteenth year of James the First, to Francis Annesley, knight and baronet, being then in the gift of the King, as " parcel of the lands of Morish Keagh McDonogh McTeige Trouse, slain in rebellion."

    O'Connor Sligo was absent, and in alliance with the English when O'Donnell, in 1595, took on himself to appoint chiefs through the county, but on Sir Donogh's return home, he gave the lands of Cloonamahon to a relative of Right Rev. Eugene O'Hart, the famous bishop of Achonry, in whose family they still remained in 1687, when they are recited, in the Partition

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 189

40. Rev. John Yeates and the Milltown Protestant school incident

    Milltown · population centre · Sligo · 1811–1871

    Rev. John Yeates, who succeeded as Vicar of Drumcliff in 1811, was remembered as a straightforward, high-principled man. When visiting Sir Robert Gore Booth's tenants to encourage sending children to the Milltown Protestant school, a tenant named James O'Hara declared his child would never darken the door of that school, and Yeates commended him for his spirit.

    Read the passage

    Rev. John Yeates succeeded in 1811. This parson's name is still popular, as that of a straightforward, high-principled man. It is told of him, that, when he, with Sir Robert Gore Booth's agent, Mr. Dodwell, and a bailiff named Barber, went among Sir Robert's tenants, asking them to send their children to the Milltown Protestant school, and was told, by a man named James O'Hara, that a child of his would never darken the door of that school-house, Mr. Yeates commended him Tor his spirit, and observed, that he was the honestest man they had come across that day.

    Rev. Mr. Crawford succeeded Mr. Yeates, died in 1871, and is buried in Drumcliff, under a stone which bears the inscription : —

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 23

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up through Milltown now. The Milltown Protestant school here was at the centre of a story from 1811, when Rev. John Yeates had just become Vicar of Drumcliff. He was remembered as a straightforward, high-principled man. He went out with Sir Robert Gore Booth's agent, Mr. Dodwell, and a bailiff named Barber, among Sir Robert's tenants, asking them to send their children to the school. One tenant, James O'Hara, told them a child of his would never darken the door of that school-house. Yeates commended him for his spirit and said he was the honestest man they had come across that day. Rev. Mr. Crawford later succeeded Yeates, and died in 1871, buried in Drumcliff.

41. Siege of Templehouse Castle during the 1641 Insurrection

    near Templehouse · population centre · Sligo · 1641–1642

    During the 1641 Insurrection, about 800 men from Leyney, Tirerrill, and Carbury besieged Templehouse Castle from mid-December to mid-February. William Crofton, the owner and occupier, eventually surrendered the castle on articles, though losses during the siege were apparently minimal.

    Read the passage

    surprise, about eight hundred men, belonging chiefly to Leyney, Tirerrill, and Carbury, sat down before it towards the middle of December, and continued the investment to about the middle of February, when Mr. William Crofton, the owner and occupier, surrendered it on articles. The losses during the siege are not recorded, from which, probably, we are warranted in inferring that they were not much ; but some loss of life occurred after the surrender, which calls for a remark or two.

    The conditions of giving up the castle were : first, that Mr. Crofton and his party should be free to remain in it for nine days; second, that in quitting it, they were to, depart with bag and baggage ; and third, that they should have a safe convoy, on the occasion, to Boyle. Unfortunately there arose conflict of opinions as to the meaning of the article authorizing the stay of nine days — Mr. Crofton and his friends holding, that under it, they should have exclusive possession during these days, and the Irish, on the other hand, maintaining that the stipulation gave them a right to be joint possessors of the place for the time. Irritation was the consequence of this misunderstanding ; Mr. Crofton and those with him attempted to eject the Irish in possession; and a quarrel ensued, the outcome of which was that Mr. Oliphant, " a preacher of God's word," and two others, Marriot Careless and wife, were taken out and hanged. Later, when the party were starting for Boyle, a wrangle occurred between a Mr. Wray, "another preacher of God's word," and some of the Irish, when he received a wound, from which, after a few days, he died.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 41

42. Sir Paul Gore arrives in Ireland and escorts Irish chiefs to Athlone

    Athlone · town · Westmeath · 1598–1603

    Sir Paul Gore came from England in 1598 as commander of a troop of horse under Mountjoy. He was entrusted with escorting Rory O'Donnell, one of the last Irish chiefs to submit to Elizabeth, to Athlone, and was rewarded with land grants from both Queen Elizabeth and King James.

    Read the passage

    The Gore Booth family rank among the highest in the country. Sir Paul Gore, or Goore, was the first of them that settled in Ireland. Coming over from England, in 1598, as commander of a troop of horse, he served under Mountjoy, and soon gained the esteem and confidence of that able man. Being charged by him to escort to Athlone, Rory 0*Donnell, and probably. Sir Donough O'Connor, who were the last of the Irish chiefs to submit to Elizabeth, he acquitted himself so well of this delicate commission, that he w^as rewarded, first, with a grant of lands from the Queen, and, secondly, after her death, with another from James.

    While Sir Paul's eldest son, Ealph, is the ancestor of the Earls of Ross; and Arthur, his second son, ancestor of the Earls of Arran ; Francis, the fourth son, is the founder of the Gore Booth family. Sir Francis w^as equally fortunate in politics

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 9

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Athlone, you are following in the footsteps of Sir Paul Gore, who came from England in 1598 as commander of a troop of horse under Mountjoy. Mountjoy charged him with escorting Rory O'Donnell, and probably Sir Donough O'Connor, to this very town. They were the last of the Irish chiefs to submit to Queen Elizabeth, and Gore acquitted himself so well that he was rewarded with a grant of lands from the Queen, and after her death, another from King James. His descendants became the Earls of Ross, the Earls of Arran, and the Gore Booth family.

43. Sir William Taaffe knighted at Kinsale

    Kinsale · town · Cork · 1601–1602

    Sir William Taaffe distinguished himself in Queen Elizabeth's service during the war with Tyrone and was knighted at Kinsale for his gallantry. After the defeat of the Spaniards, he reduced the district to obedience by harrying the country and destroying the cattle that formed the people's only subsistence.

    Read the passage

    Sir William had greatly distinguished himself in the service of the Queen, during the course of the war with Tyrone, but, more especially at Kinsale, where he got knighted for his gallantry in the field. While in that neighbourhood, after the defeat of the Spaniards, he reduced the district to obedience, by harrying the country, by destroying the cattle which formed the people's only subsistence, by striking down ruthlessly all

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 86

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Kinsale, in Cork. During the war with Tyrone in 1601, Sir William Taaffe distinguished himself in Queen Elizabeth's service and was knighted for his gallantry in the field. After the defeat of the Spaniards, he reduced the surrounding district to obedience by harrying the country and destroying the cattle that formed the people's only subsistence.

44. Sligo subscription builds Emancipation Hall for Charles Phillips

    Sligo · town · Sligo

    The people of Sligo honoured their townsman Charles Phillips with an ovation and launched an unusually early subscription for a testimonial recognising his services to Catholic Emancipation. The contributions, supplemented from other parts of Ireland, purchased a valuable silver plate service and left enough surplus to build a fine residence popularly known as Emancipation Hall.

    Read the passage

    Whatever others might think of Phillips, the people of Sligo were proud of their townsman, both as a politician and as a literary man. Whenever he came among them, as on the occasion of the banquet to Mr. Finlay, they gave him an ovation which equalled any given later to Daniel O'Connell. Nor did they show their appreciation by plaudits alone, for what was quite unusual at that early period, they started a subscription with the object of presenting him with a testimonial for his services in the cause of Catholic Emancipation, and contributed so liberally themselves, and procured such and so many contributions from other parts of Ireland, that the proceeds not only

    520 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 283

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, this town once honoured its own Charles Phillips in a remarkable way. The people here were proud of him as both a politician and a literary man, giving him ovations to rival any later shown to Daniel O'Connell. What was unusual for such an early period, they started a subscription for a testimonial recognising his services to Catholic Emancipation. They contributed so liberally themselves, and drew contributions from other parts of Ireland, that the proceeds bought a valuable silver plate service and still left enough surplus to build a fine residence known as Emancipation Hall.

45. Sligo town's successive historical phases

    Sligo · town · Sligo

    The author surveys Sligo's political evolution: under the Fitzgeralds it was a camp for foreign fighters against local Irish chiefs; under the O'Connors a Celtic chieftainship; under Cromwell a garrison that evolved into an oligarchy of Cromwellian landlords ruling the county for over two centuries. By 1900 that landlord system was rapidly passing away.

    Read the passage

    In looking back then on the march of events in the county, there is no great reason to complain, as it has been, on the whole, and, generally, in a forward direction. While the town, with the adjoining district, has passed, as we have seen, through several phases, each new phase has proved in the long run, if not at first, an advance. To say nothing of the state of things which existed anterior to the arrival of the English in the district, Sligo in the time of the Fitzgeralds was a mere camp for the foreigners employed in fighting against the local Irish chiefs. Under the O'Connors it was a Celtic chieftainship like those that flourished at the same time in Scotland. In the days of Cromwell and the Commonwealth it was a garrison for keeping hold of the country ; and it is this garrison which developed through time into the oligarchy of Cromwelliau landlords, who have been the virtual rulers of the county for more than two hundred years, doing with its inhabitants pretty much as they liked in the meantime.

    There is no occasion to be a seer to be able to tell that this latest social phase is fast passing away, and is, at the moment, only a simulacre or ghost of what it once was. Undermined by Mr. Gladstone's Church and land legislation ; discredited by revelations in the law courts, as in the case of Lord Clan-, rickarde ; and looked on with aversion by both legislature and the public, "Cromwellian landlordism" is just now in the con- ■dition of the barren fig-tree, and the order, which is already

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 320

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, the town carries layers of political history. Under the Fitzgeralds, it was a mere camp for foreign mercenaries employed in fighting against the local Irish chiefs. Then under the O'Connors it became a Celtic chieftainship, like those that flourished at the same time in Scotland. In the days of Cromwell and the Commonwealth it served as a garrison for holding the country, and it was that garrison which developed over time into the oligarchy of Cromwellian landlords. These landlords were the virtual rulers of the county for more than 200 years, doing with its inhabitants pretty much as they liked. The book notes that this latest social phase was fast passing away, undermined by Gladstone's Church and land legislation, discredited by revelations in the law courts, and looked on with aversion by both legislature and the public. The author calls it a barren fig-tree, the order already in decline.

46. St. Attracta's attempted settlement at Drumconnel

    Drumconnell · sub-townland · Donegal

    St. Attracta desired to settle near Drumconnel (now called Drum), where her uterine brother Conal had a church. Conal regarded this as an encroachment and enlisted St. Dachonna of Assylin to dissuade her from the project, which he succeeded in doing.

    Read the passage

    Whatever room for doubt there may be with regard to her parentage and native place there can he none as to her characteristic virtue. It was that love of the neighbour which is the fulfilment of the law ; and the moment she reached a place of safety, and was free to act, she devoted herself to the practice of this beneficent virtue. Soon after her arrival in the neighbourhood of Boyle, she desired to fix herself near Drumconnel — now commonly called Drum — where, it is said, her uterine brother, Conal, had a church ; but Conal regarding this intended settlement as a kind of encroachment on his own religious house, got St. Dachonna, of Eas Dachonna, now Assylin, to dissuade Attracta from the project, which that saint succeeded in doing, but not before she told him that his church and that of Conal would soon suffer great loss of revenue from the erection of a new monastery between them. Colgan erroneously places those churches of Dachonna and Conal, as well as the new monastery, in the county Galway, and tries hard to make good his contention ; but had he better knowledge of the county Roscommon ho would have seen that St. Conal's church was the church of Drumconnel, to the south of Boyle ; St. Dachonna's church, that of the place now called Assylin, to the north of Boyle, anciently called Eas Dachonna ; and the new monastery, the Cistercian abbey of Boyle, whose site lies exactly between these two churches. It was after this, Attracta chose for her abode Greagraighe, for so Coolavin was then called, the name still surviving somewhat in the denominations of Greggans and Gregaduf. The spot which she selected was a great thoroughfare at the time, and she selected it precisely because it afforded most scope for her comprehensive charity.f In the times she lived, travel-

    * Acta Sanctorum, p. 753 in Vita S. Cormaci.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 199

47. William Phibbs's mass clearances in Ballysadare, Killaspugbrone and Drumrat

    Ballysadare · townland · Sligo

    William Phibbs of Seafield systematically replaced tenants with cattle and sheep across the parishes of Ballysadare, Killaspugbrone, and Drumrat. Houses and cabins disappeared and field walls were built largely from the stones of demolished dwellings, leaving miles of cleared grass land.

    Read the passage

    "While it must be admitted that more than one of the Phibbs family have always acted justly and humanely by their tenants, it is certaiD, on the other hand, that some of them have been among the most objectionable landlords in the county. The leading principle of action with the late Mr. William Phibbs of Seafield, as a landlord, seems to have been the substitution everywhere of cattle and sheep for human beings; and the miles upon miles of " cleared " grass land, left by him in the parishes of Ballysadare, Killaspugbrone, and Drumrat, are there to show how effectually he carried this inhuman principle into practice.

    Wherever he had the power, houses and cabins disappeared, and interminable field walls, built in great]'part with the stones of demolished houses, rose up in their place.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 107

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here, William Phibbs of Seafield cleared the land of people and put cattle and sheep in their place. He did it across the parishes of Ballysadare, Killaspugbrone, and Drumrat, and the miles of cleared grassland were there to show how thoroughly he carried it out. Wherever he had the power, houses and cabins disappeared, and long field walls rose in their place, built in great part with the stones of the demolished houses. The book notes that while more than one of the Phibbs family acted justly by their tenants, some were among the most objectionable landlords in the county, and William Phibbs was one of them.

48. Falsified accounts of attack on Sir Frederick Hamilton at Sligo

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1642–1643

    The author argues that William Walsh's testimony regarding events in Sligo town was false, citing that Sir Lucas Taaffe—whom Walsh made the leader of the party that attacked Sir Frederick Hamilton—was not present at all, but was engaged in the service of the Kilkenny Confederation elsewhere, as proved by a letter found in the pocket of the slain Brian McDonogh.

    Read the passage

    Transactions in the town of Sligo were magnified and falsified like those of Templehouse. The falseness of William Walsh's evidence, who is the only witness Miss Hickson produces regarding Sligo, may be inferred from the fact that. Sir Lucas TaafFe, whom Walsh makes the head and front of the party that attacked Sir Frederick Hamilton, or, rather, that accepted Sir Frederick's challenge of battle, was not in the party at all, being engaged, at the time, in the service of the Kilkenny Confederation, in another part of the country, as appears from a letter of his found in the pocket of Brian McDonogh, after being slain, and printed in Sir Frederick Hamilton's " Relation." The witness's account of the way he was able to report the proceedings of the Irish chiefs in their alleged

    88

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 45

    As the companion tells it

    Sligo town was the scene of a disputed episode in 1642 to 1643. The only witness produced for what happened here was William Walsh, but his account was magnified and falsified. He named Sir Lucas Taaffe as the head of the party that attacked Sir Frederick Hamilton, or rather accepted Hamilton's challenge of battle. But Taaffe was not there at all. He was serving the Kilkenny Confederation in another part of the country, as a letter of his found in the pocket of Brian McDonogh after McDonogh was slain makes clear. That letter was printed in Sir Frederick Hamilton's own "Relation."

49. O'Rorke and O'Connor dispute over Ballintogher Castle

    Ballintogher · town · Sligo · 1567–1577

    After the expulsion of the English in the fourteenth century the O'Rorkes held Ballintogher until Elizabeth directed an inquiry in 1567 into Sir Donnell O'Connor's complaint against O'Rorke for detaining the castle. In 1577 O'Connor Sligo, with Sir Nicholas Malby and an army, finally took the place.

    Read the passage

    we learn from the Four Masters, under the year 1266, that the *' borough of Bal an tachair was burned that year by Flann Roe OTlynn, and many of the English of the town were slain by him." On the expulsion of the English in the fourteenth century, the O'Rorkes took possession of the place, and held it down to the time of Elizabeth, who, in a letter, dated 26th Jan. 1567, directed the Lords Justices of Ireland to examine the complaint made by Sir Donnell O'Connor against O'Wrarch (O'Rorke) for " deteyning from him the Castell of Bayleintochair." This letter produced no effect at the time, for it was ten years later, that is, in 1577, that O'Connor Sligo, with Sir Nicholas Malby and an army of both English and Irish took the place. Falling next into the hands of the MacDonoghs, it escheated soon to the Queen by their dying without heirs, general or special. In 1617 the town of Ballintogher with various adjoining lands was granted to Sir William Taaffe ; and in a new patent, passed by that sagacious man in 1620, the lands conveyed by the grant were created the Manor of Ballintogher. About 1630 they were purchased by Sir Thomas Wenman ; and the Survey of 1633 describes them as the *' inheritance of Sir Thomas Wenman, Knight, lately purchased from the Lord Viscount Taaffe, whose father obtained letters patent from King James for the whole Lordship of Ballintogher, containing nineteen quarters, all which Sir Thomas Wenman had bought two years past. It pays the King £15 sterling per annum, and ten groats homage." The denominations of the quarters are Gortlaunan, Tobbernany, Altbellada, Crossbeoy, Drommore, Casheloer, Tirtooicke, Raghian, Levalley, Rathnaree, Drumconrie, Corney, Kiltecranan, Ravelvoine, Lishcrossan, Carrownadallar, Aghrish, Dromcalrey, and Carownagh.

    As a part of the O'Connor Sligo estate this property was granted in 1687 by Charles II. to the Earl of Strafford and Sir Thomas Radcliffe, and passed, from their representatives, by purchase, to Rev. Doctor John Leslie, one of those bellicose ecclesiastics that we sometimes find coming to the front in

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 174

50. Ballinafad Castle changes hands in 1640s conflicts

    Ballinafad · townland · Sligo · 1642–1652

    Ballinafad Castle changed masters during the 1641 Insurrection, being surrendered to the Irish in 1642 for want of water. By 1652 it was in the hands of Colonel William Taafe, whose company was to benefit from the surrender terms of Drumrusk to the Cromwellians.

    Read the passage

    In the constableship he was succeeded the same year by Henry Fletcher, who had ten warders under him for the guard of the castle. Ballinafad castle changed masters in the proceedings, which followed upon the Insurrection of 1641, being surrendered in 1642 to the Irish, for, it is said, want of water; and it was in 1652 in the hands of Colonel William TaafFe, who, as was stipulated in the articles for the surrender of Drumrusk to the victorious Cromwellians, was '* with his company to be admitted to the benefit of said articles on the surrender of Ballinafad."§

    The castle, being a recent erection, continued habitable after the other old castles of the county — except that of Ballymote, which was in private hands — had fall-en into ruins, so that all the county Sligo Chancery inquisitions of Charles I. were held either in this castle or in the abbey of Sligo, the number held in each of these places being about equal. We learn from the Cromwellian Census of 1659, that in that year Henry Hughes, gent., was the Titulado of Ballinafad, that the population of the

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 164

51. Birth of Francis Taaffe at Ballymote, 1639

    Ballymote · town · Sligo · 1639

    Francis Taaffe, later Earl of Carlingford, was born at Ballymote in 1639. He became one of the most famous military men in Europe, distinguishing himself at the Relief of Vienna in 1683 and earning the admiration of William III, who restored his title and possessions.

    Read the passage

    Among the children of the first Earl of Carlingford, were two sons, Nicholas and Francis, each of whom became, in time, Earl of Carlingford. Nicholas lost his life at the Boyne fighting for James ; and Francis, the next earl, was one of the most famous men of Europe in his day. Born at Ballymote, in 1639 ; receiving his early education at Olmutz, in Germany ; after quitting Olmutz, serving as page to the Emperor of Garmany; tutor for several years to the Duke of Lorrain's eldest son, Prince Leopold; and passing all his after life in war, he displayed, on a score of battlefields, as captain, as colonel, as field-marshal, a mastery of the art of war and an exuberance of natural bravery which were the admiration of friends and foes.

    At the Relief of Vienna, in 1683, he commanded the left wing of the Christian army, which was the great object of the enemy's attack, and cut his way through several regiments of Turks and Tartars, on to the head-quarters of the Grand Vizier, Cara-Mustapha, where he gained the trophy of which the London Neivs-Letter, of the date, says : — ^' In the garden of Somerset House was set up, for his Majesty's use, one of the

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 87

52. Castleconor as O'Dowd seat and 1371 expulsion

    Castleconor · townland · Laois · 1371

    Castleconor, named from the castle of the son of Conor, was a chief seat of the O'Dowds occupied by the chief or tanist. In 1371 Donnell O'Dowd drove the English from the castle after more than a century of occupation and distributed its lands to his family and followers.

    Read the passage

    time of the Composition of Sir John Perrott with the Sligo chiefs, when Edmund O'Dowd of Kilglass was chief, and David O'Dowd of Castleconor, tanist or heir apparent. The English, who had occupied this and other castles of Tireragh for more than a century, were driven from it in 1371 by Donnell O'Dowd, who took it to himself, and disposed of its lands to his family and followers. Under the Cromwellian regime John Nicholson was Titulado of Castleconor and Newtown, and Lewis Wingfield of Scormore ; and at the Eestoration these Tituladoes, with Robert Morgan, Lord Collooney and Lewis Wingfield, received grants of most of the parish — Wingfield getting the castle of Castleconor, and Robert Morgan that of Ballicottle, which was built by Donnell O'Dowd, chief of his name, in the year 1417.

    The original church was at Castleconor, and is entered in the Taxation of 1307 as Castroconor, and valued at eight marks, a higher valuation even than that of Kilglass. Killanley — called from a patron saint or founder named Ainle, or Fainle — is the site of another old church, and serves at present for a place of burial.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 227

53. Cholera epidemic of 1832 in Sligo

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1832

    Sligo town suffered a cholera epidemic in 1832. The index also notes streets and buildings of the town, as well as Rev. John Wesley's observations on Sligo people.

    Read the passage

    Sir Charles Coote takes the place, 160. The Archbishop of Tuam, Malachy Qiieely, tries to recover the town, but is defeated and slain, 163. Generals Preston and Owen Roe O'Neil decline attempting recovery of Sligo, 170, 171. Surrendered to the Parliamentary forces, 176. The Cromwellians erect a new fort, 188. End of the O'Connor regime, 204. Sarsfield takes the town, 216. Lord Granard recovers it for the Williamites, 220. Treatment of Sligo Catholics, 220- 240. The Abbey, 241-297. The Church of St. John, 298-318. The Borough of Sligo, 318-347. The Harbour, Quays, and Fishery, 348- 360. The Cholera of 1832, 379. Streets and buildings, 383-416. Rev. John Wesley on Sligo people, 494. Charles Phillips, 511. Sligo newsjmpers, 541, 542, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548.

    Smith, Erasmus, II. 437.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 348

    As the companion tells it

    Sligo town was struck by a cholera epidemic in 1832. The book this comes from lists it among the events of the town's history, but gives no further detail here, only a page reference. The same index notes that Rev. John Wesley recorded his observations on the people of Sligo, though again the passage itself is not provided.

54. Church of Skreen founded by St. Adamnan

    Skreen · parish · Sligo · 600–704

    The church of Skreen was founded in the seventh century by St. Adamnan, who died in 704. Its name derives from the Latin 'Scriniun,' a shrine, because Adamnan's shrine containing relics of Irish saints was deposited there. The church was built on a site previously granted to St. Columba.

    Read the passage

    The church of Skreen was founded in the seventh century by St. Adamnan, who died in 704, and got its name from the Latin word Scriniuni, a shrine, because in it was deposited Adamnan's shrine. Two shrines of Adamnan are mentioned in old writings — one inclosing the bones of Adamnan himself, and the other containing various relics of saints collected by him, and deposited in this church of Skreen,* which seems to have been erected to receive and preserve them, as the Sainte Chaioelle in Paris was erected by Saint Louis for the relics brought from the east.

    The church was built on a site previously granted to Saint Columba. The Life of St. Farannan (Act. Sanctorum, p. 337,) relates that, when Columba visited Tireragh, after the convention of Drumceat, Tipraid, the chief of Tireragh, granted him three pleasant (amcena) places, one called, in later times, Killchuana, another Altfarannan, and the third Cnoc-na-maoile ; the last name, after the erection of a church on the spot, being changed into Serin- Adamnan, now Skreen.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 217

    As the companion tells it

    Up ahead you're coming into the parish of Skreen, where a church was founded in the seventh century by St. Adamnan, who died in 704. The name comes from the Latin word Scriniuni, meaning a shrine, because Adamnan's shrine was deposited there. Old writings mention two shrines of Adamnan, one holding his own bones and the other containing relics of various saints he had collected, and the church seems to have been built to receive and preserve them. The site itself had earlier been granted to St. Columba. The Life of St. Farannan relates that when Columba visited Tireragh after the convention of Drumceat, Tipraid, the chief of Tireragh, granted him three places, and the third, Cnoc-na-maoile, became Serin-Adamnan after a church was built on the spot, now called Skreen.

55. Confederate council resolves to attack Manorhamilton, 1642-43

    Manorhamilton · town · Leitrim · 1642–1643

    Despite Brian MacDonogh's caution about engaging the formidable Sir Frederick Hamilton at his well-fortified Manorhamilton castle, the hot-headed faction in the Confederate council of County Sligo prevailed. The council decided to attack Hamilton without delay, committing the task to Lieutenant-Colonel Brian MacDonogh in the absence of Major-General Lucas Taaffe.

    Read the passage

    Brian MacDonogh, who represented the county Sligo in the eventful Parliament of 1G13, and was the last of the MacDonoghs that inhabited Collooney castle, possessed, in the highest degree, the characteristic courage of the family. His lot falling in the dark days of 1641, he took side with his countrymen, and bore a chief part in the capture of Sligo, and the transactions which followed upon the taking of the town. Smarting, like all around him, from the wrongs which had goaded the country into insurrection, he felt, more than many others, the need of caution and system in the contest on which they had entered, and set his face against desultory and tumultuary action, as sure to lead to no permanent result. With such sentiments he was averse to a precipitate attack on Sir Frederick Hamilton's position at Manorhamilton, deeming it wiser to wait till some turn in events offered a better prospect of dealing an effectual blow to so dexterous, unscrupulous, and, withal, so formidable, an adversary. But, as often happens in times of revolution, the hot-headed prevailed over the long-headed in the Confederate council of the county Sligo, and it was decided to beard, without delay, the lion in his den, to grapple with the griffin of Manorhamilton— whether within or without his well-fortified castle.

    In the absence of ^Maj or- General Lucas Taaffe, who was engaged elsewhere, the task of carrying out this resolution was committed to Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Mac Donogh, who was next in military command to Taaffe in the county. This commission MacDonogh accepted, not only without objection, but, with particular satisfaction, resolved, whatever might be thought of the prudence of the undertaking, the responsibility of which he left to others, to do all that one man could to make the forlorn hope a triumph.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 117

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, you are in a town whose capture in the insurrection of 1641 owed much to Brian MacDonogh, the last of the MacDonoghs to inhabit Collooney castle. He took the side of his countrymen and bore a chief part in taking the town and the events that followed. More than many around him, he felt the need for caution and system in the contest, and set his face against desultory action as sure to lead to no permanent result. With such sentiments he was averse to a precipitate attack on Sir Frederick Hamilton's position at Manorhamilton, deeming it wiser to wait till some turn in events offered a better prospect of dealing an effectual blow to so formidable an adversary. But the hot-headed prevailed over the long-headed in the Confederate council of county Sligo, and it was decided to beard the lion in his den without delay. In the absence of Major-General Lucas Taaffe, the task fell to Lieutenant-Colonel Brian MacDonogh, next in military command to Taaffe in the county. He accepted the commission with particular satisfaction, leaving the question of its prudence to others, but resolved to do all that one man could to make the forlorn hope a triumph.

56. Death of Manus McDonogh at Killadoon, 1504

    Killadoon · townland · Sligo · 1504

    Manus McDonogh, abbot of the monastery of the Trinity on Loch Ce and a celebrated patron of poets and craftsmen, died at Killadoon in 1504. The Annals of Loch Ce called his death 'a decapitating blow to the learned of Erinn.'

    Read the passage

    While speaking of the eminent ecclesiastics of the McDonogh family, we must not forget Manus McDonogh, of whom the Annals of Loch Ce, under the year 1504, contains this very laudatory obituary notice: " Manus, son of Brian McDonogh, i.e. J abbot of the monastery of the Trinity on Loch Ce, a man who was the preserving shrine and casket of the bounty and prowess of Erinn, and the man, who of all that had come down from Tomaltach-na-Cairge, had given and presented most to poets and musicians, and to men of every craft, died at Cill Diubhdhuin (Killadoon), et sepultus est in Trinity Island on Loch Ce; and this death of McDonogh 's son is a decapitating blow to the learned of Erinn."

    And they built more, and stronger, castles than any other family of the county Sligo.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 124

57. Ecclesiastical cashel ruins on Inishmurray

    Inishmurray · townland · Sligo · 500–700

    The ruins of a religious establishment founded by fervent souls of the sixth or seventh centuries form the great object of interest on Inishmurray. A cashel or stone wall of sandstone flags, about eight feet thick, enclosing half an acre and rising to fifteen feet at its highest points, surrounds the ruins; O'Donovan held it to be of Pagan origin, but the author argues convincingly against this.

    Read the passage

    But while nothing solid can be alleged in favour of O'Donovan*s assertion, there are convincing reasons against it. The cashel is built of sandstone flags, is, on an average, about eight feet thick, encloses an area of half an acre or so, and, though much dilapidated in parts, is fifteen feet at the highest points, which would go far to show this to have been the original height of the entire structure; and the very fact, that so remarkable a building is not mentioned in our early annals, as a relic of pre-Christian times, is a good proof that it had no existence in these times ; for had it existed, it must have been often seen from the well frequented shore near which it lay, and, having been seen, could hardly fail to receive some notice in primitive Irish writings.

    Again, its composition disproves the pre-historic character; for instead of being " composed of unhewn masses rudely built

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 15

58. Famine relief efforts of 1822 in Sligo and Ballysadare

    Ballysadare · townland · Sligo · 1822

    During the terrible famine of 1822, when people were perishing from starvation and fever, Edward Synge Cooper expended £150 a week on employment, remitted £200 to the Sligo Relief Committee, paid £100 for seed potatoes, and distributed a weekly sum in the parish of Ballysadare.

    Read the passage

    While he relieved ordinary distress with his small pieces of silver, rendered always doubly valuable by the smile and kind word that accompanied the gift, he was ready to make any and every pecuniary sacrifice a crisis might call for ; and in the terrible famine of 1822, when people were perishing on all sides of starvation and fever, he expended £150 a week on employment, remitted £200 in cash to the Sligo Kelief Committee, paid out £100 in the purchase of seed potatoes, and distributed a weekly sum, which must have been considerable, in the parish of Ballysadare. (Vol. I., p. 404.)

    More than half a century before the cathedral and town-hall clocks were erected, he had a magnificent town clock manufactured for Sligo; and it was only when the local authorities failed to agree among themselves, as to the place in which it should be put up, and got embroiled in contention over the

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 187

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here, in the terrible famine of 1822, people were perishing on all sides from starvation and fever. Edward Synge Cooper spent £150 a week on employment, gave £200 to the Sligo Relief Committee, paid £100 for seed potatoes, and distributed a weekly sum in the parish of Ballysadare. He also handed out small pieces of silver to those in ordinary distress, and the source says they were "doubly valuable by the smile and kind word that accompanied the gift."

59. Father John Doddy's defiance and parish tumults in Buninadden

    near Bunnanaddan · population centre · Sligo

    Father John Doddy, parish priest of Buninadden, conflicted with civil authorities by officiating at a prohibited marriage and with ecclesiastical authorities by disregarding their injunctions. His resistance caused deplorable tumults in the parish and involved numerous followers in disobedience and schism before he and his partisans eventually returned to their duty.

    Read the passage

    ing at a prohibited marriage, and, next, with the ecclesiastical authorities, by disregarding and resisting their inj unctions. This resistance to his superiors, occasioned deplorable tumults in the parish, and involved his abettors and followers, who were numerous, in the guilt of disobedience and schism. It is pleasant to be able to add that, after a time, he and his partizans had the grace of returning to their duty.

    Reverend Bernard O'Kane, so well remembered for his learning and accomplishments, was the next incumbent. Though his pastorate was troubled by the agitation kept up in the parish in connexion with Father Doddy, he found time and means to build the handsome and commodious parish church of Buninadden previously to his promotion to the parish of Emlaghfad or Bally mote, where he succeeded Dr. Durcan, in 1832.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 105

60. Grange castle and cottages built by Hugh O'Hart, 1604

    Grange · town · Sligo · 1604

    An inquisition of 1604 recorded that Hugh O'Hart built a new castle and seven cottages in the town of Grange, in O'Connor Sligo's country. The place had been called Grange Muinter Hart after the O'Harts who held it as assigns of the O'Connors, and the family remained numerous in the area as shopkeepers and farmers.

    Read the passage

    Grange was always a place of some importance, as it stood right in the thoroughfare between Donegal and Sligo. It was the most populous spot in the district, except Bradcullen, at the taking of the census of 1659. As has been stated, Grange belonged, according to law, to the abbey of Boyle, down to the dissolution of monasteries ; though long before that time the O'Harts, as assigns of the O'Connors, had got into possession of it, and thus obtained for it the name of Grange Muinter Hart. The place throve under the O'Harts, for we read in the inquisition of 1604, that " a new castle and seven cottages were built by Hugh O'Hart, in the town of Grange, in O'Connor Sligo's country." This was the castle referred to in the survey of 1633, where, in describing Grange, it is said, " There is an old castle built upon it ;" for there is nothing to show that the place ever had any other castle, except that for which it was indebted to Hugh O'Hart. It is a pleasure to add, that the O'Harts, or as they now call themselves, the Harts, are still numerous in and near Grange, and, if they are no longer the lords and rulers of the district, that they occupy highly respectable positions in it, both as shopkeepers and farmers.

    The Thomas Soden who obtained Grange, being a persona grata to the Usurpers, was the Titulado of the district, under the Commonw^ealth. Having thus got possession, he kept so firm a grip of the property, that the shock of the Restoration was not able to relax the hold, so that he transmitted Grange as well as the island of Dernish (dair-inis, oak island,) to his descendants, who, as thorough-^Daced Cromwellians, have since occupied a prominent position in the county, and have had a share of the good things going, some of them being magistrates, some high sheriffs, and one (Thomas Soden) provost of Sligo for several years.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 27

    As the companion tells it

    You are coming through Grange, a town on the old thoroughfare between Donegal and Sligo. In 1604 an inquisition recorded that Hugh O'Hart built a new castle and seven cottages here, in O'Connor Sligo's country. The survey of 1633 spoke of "an old castle built upon it," and there is nothing to show the place ever had any other castle except the one Hugh O'Hart built. The town had belonged to the abbey of Boyle down to the dissolution of the monasteries, but long before that the O'Harts had got into possession as assigns of the O'Connors. It took its name from them: Grange Muinter Hart. It throve under the O'Harts, and at the census of 1659 it was the most populous spot in the district except Bradcullen. Later, Thomas Soden obtained the place. He was the Titulado of the district under the Commonwealth, and he kept so firm a grip that the Restoration did not loosen his hold. He transmitted the town and the island of Dernish, which means oak island, to his descendants. They remained prominent in the county, some as magistrates, some as high sheriffs, and one, Thomas Soden, as provost of Sligo for several years. The O'Harts, who now call themselves the Harts, were still numerous in and near the area, no longer lords of the district but shopkeepers and farmers.