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. O'Gara Irish poem collection compiled 1656

   Sligo · town · Sligo · 1656

   Rev. Fergal O'Gara compiled a collection of Irish poems in the Netherlands in 1656, relating for the most part to subjects connected with Sligo. The collection still existed in private hands in Dublin at the time of writing, containing works including a genealogical poem on the O'Haras and verses addressed to Cathal Oge O'Connor.

   Read the passage

   From 964, when Toichlech O'Gara was Lord of South Ley ney, down to the middle of the last century, the family held a prominent place in Lower Connaught, its last leading members being, Most Reverend Brian O'Gara, who died Archbishop of Tuam in 1740, and most Reverend Michael O'Gara, who occupied the same see at his death in 1748. Omitting many other clerical members of the family, it may be well to mention Rev. Fergal O'Gara, who, in 1656, compiled in the Netherlands a collection of Irish poems, relating, for the most part, to subjects connected with Sligo. The collection still exists, and is in private hands in Dublin.f

   Irriel O'Gara, "chief of his name," is on the list of the inhabitants of Sligo, to whom James I. granted a "general pardon" in the first year of his reign. This Irriel's successor in Coolavin was his grandson Fergal O'Gara, to whose patronage of the Four Masters the world is indebted for their invaluable Annals. John O'Donovan is hard on the Four Masters for their praise of "the Trinity College educated Farrel O'Gara," bub adduces nothing to justify his censure, except the Trinity College education for which O'Gara may have been little accountable, having been left without a guide, or guardian, by

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 192

   As the companion tells it

   As you come through Sligo, this town has deep ties to the O'Gara family, who held a prominent place in Lower Connaught from 964, when Toichlech O'Gara was Lord of South Leyney. One member worth knowing is Reverend Fergal O'Gara, who in 1656 compiled in the Netherlands a collection of Irish poems relating for the most part to subjects connected with Sligo. The collection still exists, in private hands in Dublin. The family gave the church two archbishops of Tuam, Most Reverend Brian O'Gara, who died in 1740, and Most Reverend Michael O'Gara, who occupied the same see at his death in 1748. Another Fergal O'Gara, grandson of Irriel O'Gara, chief of his name, gave his patronage to the Four Masters, to whose invaluable Annals the world is indebted. John O'Donovan was hard on the Four Masters for their praise of this Trinity College educated O'Gara, but adduced nothing to justify his censure except the education itself.

2. Sir Roger Jones builds bridge across the Moy at Banada

   Banada · townland · Sligo

   The Jones family, residing at Banada, took a warm interest in local improvements. Sir Roger Jones was largely responsible for building the bridge across the Moy, which led to many further improvements in the neighbourhood, and his descendants continued this tradition.

   Read the passage

   The heirs of Sir Eoger Jones retained merely the lands which Sir Roger had purchased, and were not indebted for a single acre to the confiscations of the times ; but by residing generally at Banada, and taking a warm interest in everything around them, the Jones family have done more for the parish, than all the grantees of the Restoration put together. The bridge across the Moy, which led the way to many other improvements in the neighbourhood, was in great measure the work of Sir Roger Jones ; and his descendants, following in his footsteps, have always borne the chief part in every undertaking, material or moral, which had for object to benefit their neighbours.

   Even before their change of religion, they were in strong sympathy with the people, but since their conversion to the Catholic faith, the Jones have been always nursing fathers and nursing mothers to them ; and if the parish of Kilmacteige is one of the most religious in Ireland ; and if the religion of the inhabitants is as enlightened as it is fervent, as those, who know that parish best, concur in bearing witness, it is owing very much to the example, the advice, and the pecuniary sacrifices of the Jones family. The ladies who became the wives of the Jones, have shared fully the virtues of the husbands. One of these ladies, who lived more than a hundred years ago, is still known in the neighbourhood as the " good Eleanor Kelly," while the late Mrs. Jones, nee MacDonnell, is often styled the " Mother of the Machabees " for her own spirit of sacrifice, and for the spirit of sacrifice, with which she filled the minds and the hearts of her children ; a spirit rising in 1862 to the height of the sublime, when mother and children 'joined in resigning the

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 77

3. Ahamlish parish name and St. Columba's ford

   Ahamlish · parish · Sligo

   Ahamlish, the most northern parish in County Sligo and the diocese of Elphin, derives its name from 'Ath' (a ford), as confirmed by ancient authorities including a poem attributed to St. Columba referencing 'Ath-Imlaisi.' The original ford cannot now be identified due to changes from draining and cultivation, but was likely near the present Protestant church.

   Read the passage

   Ahamlish is the most northern district of the county Sligo and the most northern parish of the diocese of Elphin. It is often called Eathamlish, and is even so called in the Sligo Survey of 1633, but this is certainly an error; for there is no room for doubting that the first syllable of the name is Ath, as it is invariably so written in all our authorities, including a very old poem ascribed to St. Columba,* and in Irish maps, ancient and modern.f The ath^ or ford, which has given the name^ cannot now be identified, owing to changes in the surface of the soil, effected by draining and cultivation, but it must have been somewhere near the present Protestant church of the parish.

   In point of scenery or fertility, Ahamlish bears no comparison with DrumcliflP. With the exception of the mountain ranges from Benbulben Heel to Kinlough, the Donegal mountains, and the sea, which serve or seem to serve, for the frame of the picture, the whole stretch within view is monotonous and uninteresting. When the traveller, on the way from Sligo, reaches Cooldruman rising ground, and looks northward, he is chilled by the change of scene, finding before him a bleak, bare, cheerless country, instead of the rich smiling landscape through which he has been passing ; so that it was not altogether the spleen that occasioned Carlyle's exclamation at Cooldruman, " Lord

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 24

   As the companion tells it

   You are coming through Ahamlish, the most northern parish in County Sligo and in the diocese of Elphin. The name begins with "Ath," the Irish word for a ford, and a very old poem ascribed to St. Columba writes it as "Ath-Imlaisi." The ford itself can no longer be identified, as draining and cultivation have changed the surface of the soil, but it must have been somewhere near the present Protestant church of the parish. The Sligo Survey of 1633 calls the place Eathamlish, but the authorities are consistent that the first syllable is Ath. The scenery here is a stark contrast to Drumcliff. Except for the mountain ranges from Benbulben to Kinlough, the Donegal mountains, and the sea, the landscape is monotonous. When a traveller coming from Sligo reaches the rising ground at Cooldruman and looks north, the rich smiling country gives way to a bleak, bare, cheerless one. It was here that Carlyle exclaimed, "Lord"—and not without reason.

4. Aughris priory on bold headland

   Aughris · townland · Sligo

   The priory of Aughris stood on the summit of the bold headland of Aughris, though no trace of the structure now remains. St. Molaisse is credited as the founder by tradition and multiple authorities, and from Aughris he spread religion over much of Tireragh and to Innismurray.

   Read the passage

   The priory of Aughris, or Eachros, stood on the summit of the singularly bold headland or bluff of Aughris, where, however, there is now no trace of the structure. Harris, AUemande, and Father Walsh make St. Molaisse the founder, and in this are supported by the tradition of Tireragh, which is clear and positive on the point. O'Donovan, in a note to his Four Masters, under the year 1380, thinks it probable that Donnell O'Dowd, who died that year, was the founder of the priory ; but there is no ground for this opinion, if there be question of the original foundation ; though it may be true, and is likely enough, that Donnell repaired or re-edified the establishment. From Aughris St. Molaisse spread religion over the greater part of Tireragh, notably over the parishes of Templeboy, Killglasse, Kilmacshalgan, and Dromard ; and from it, too, he carried the faith and ordinances of the Gospal to the island of Innismurray, and thence to the mainland on the coast of Carbury.*

   Some affirm and some deny that there was a castle at Aughris; opinions which an Exchequer Inquisition of 158i, taken at Sligo before John Crofton, enables us to reconcile, as it states that the belfry of the church had a castellated finish,! which caused it to appear as a castle to an observer at a

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 220

   As the companion tells it

   Close to Aughris, on the summit of that bold headland, there once stood a priory known as Aughris, or Eachros. Nothing of it remains now. St. Molaisse is credited as its founder by Harris, Allemande, and Father Walsh, and the tradition of Tireragh is clear and positive on that point. O'Donovan, in a note to his Four Masters under the year 1380, thought it probable that Donnell O'Dowd, who died that year, founded the priory. But there is no ground for that opinion if the question is the original foundation, though it may be true, and is likely enough, that Donnell repaired or rebuilt the establishment. From Aughris, St. Molaisse spread religion over the greater part of Tireragh, notably over the parishes of Templeboy, Killglasse, Kilmacshalgan, and Dromard. From here too he carried the faith and ordinances of the Gospel to the island of Innismurray, and thence to the mainland on the coast of Carbury. Some affirm and some deny that there was a castle at Aughris. An Exchequer Inquisition taken at Sligo before John Crofton helps reconcile those opinions, stating that the belfry of the church had a castellated finish, which caused it to appear as a castle to an observer.

5. Ballydrehid landscape transformation from fortress to village

   Ballydrehid · townland · Tipperary

   The castle of Ballydrehid has entirely disappeared, leaving no stone, though its site is still known as the Castle-field. The woods have vanished, the impassable morass of the Curragh is now crossed by a fine road, and two railway bridges—one of stone and one of iron—have been built, the latter spanning the Ballydrehid stream above the old stone bridge that gave the place its name.

   Read the passage

   known by the name of the Castle-field ; the woods have disappeared root and branch ; and it is pleasant to be able to report that the "impassable morass" of the Curragh is now traversed from end to end by one of the finest roads in the province.

   And another improvement, which time has brought with it, is the two railway bridges — one of stone, and of colossal dimensions, crossing the high-road to Sligo ; and the other of iron, spanning the Ballydrehid stream at a height of some fifty feet above the archaic stone bridge, which gave the place its name, and which still remains in situ, being probably the oldest bridge in the province.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 182

6. Ballymote Castle dismantled in 1317

   Ballymote · town · Sligo · 1317

   Under the year 1317, the Four Masters record that the castle of Ath-cliath-an Chorainn was 'demolished,' while the Annals of Loch Cé say it was 'broken down.' Both accounts likely mean the castle was dismantled rather than destroyed, as it was functioning again by 1340.

   Read the passage

   Under the year 1317, the Four Masters state, that the castle of Ath-cliath-an Chorainn was " demolished ;" while the Annals of Loch Ce, in relating the same event, use the phrase, " The castle of Ath-cliath in Chorainn was broken down ;" but both, no doubt, mean that the castle was dismantled, not destroyed ; for a few years later, in 1340, we find it serving as an effective fortress, when Turlough O'Connor, King of Connaught, was

   160 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 84

7. Ballymote Castle granted to Sir James Fullerton

   Ballymote · town · Sligo · 1603

   King James granted Ballymote Castle, with its property in Corran and Tirerrill, to Sir James Fullerton in the first year of his reign. Fullerton had previously served as a secret agent in Dublin before being called to England as tutor to the future Charles I.

   Read the passage

   On the removal of the MacDonoghs from Bally mote, George Goodman was made constable of the castle, and we find him signing as such Perrot's Composition with the Sligo chiefs in 1588. The castle, with its property in Corran and Tirerrill, was granted by King James, in the first year of his reign, to Sir James Fullerton, who came to Ireland under circumstances which entitled him to any favour the King could confer.

   Towards the endjof Elizabeth's reign. James, apprehending some opposition in Ireland to his accession to the English throne, despatched James Fullerton and James Hamilton as secret agents to Dublin ; and these gentlemen, to conceal their mission the better, opened a public school in the city, which, being men of rare ability and learning, they conducted with distinguished success, one acting as principal, and the other as usher. On Fullerton's vacating the castle of Ballymote, when called to England to take charge as tutor of Duke Charles, afterwards Charles I., it was passed with its lands^to Sir William Taaffe.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 86

8. Banada Augustinian church and tower

   Banada · townland · Sligo · 1423

   The Augustinian church of Banada was founded in 1423 by a father named Charles, almost certainly an O'Hara. The conventual buildings have disappeared and most of the church, but the tower still stands at 70 feet, though badly shaken and liable to collapse.

   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

9. Battle of Corran, 601 AD

   Corran · barony · Sligo · 601

   Under the year AD 601, the Four Masters recorded the battle of Corran, in which were slain Colga, son of Blathmac, and Fearghus, son of Maelduin, chief of Cinel Cairbre.

   Read the passage

   According to the Four Masters, Dithorba, King of Ireland, was slain in Corran a.m. 4532. The same Annalists record, under the year a.d. 601, " the battle of Corran, wherein were slain Colga, son of Blathmac, and Fearghus, son of Maelduin, chief of Cinel Cairbre ; " and under 701, a battle of still greater proportions, as thus described by the Four Masters; "After Loingseach, son of Aenghus, son of Domhnall, had been eight years in the sovereignty of Ireland, he was slain in the battle of Corann, by Ceallach of Loch Cime (now Lough Hackett),

   * The Irish version of ** The Historia Britonum " of Nennius. Edited, with a Translation and Notes, by James Henthorn Todd, D.D., M.R.I. A., Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. The Introduction and Additional Notes, by the Hon. Algernon Herbert, p. 197.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 82

10. Bent grass planting saves coastal lands near Sligo

    Sligo · town · Sligo

    Lord Palmerston planted bent grass around exposed sandy tracts to stop wind-blown sand, a method adopted by Sir Robert Gore Booth and other landlords, saving thousands of acres between Palmerston's property and Sligo from inundation and restoring them to tillage and pasturage.

    Read the passage

    His measures against the blowing sand were entirely efficacious. Knowing, no doubt, that bent (Agrostis) was successfully employed in parts of the Continent for the purpose, he planted this grass round the edges of the exposed tracts, and soon stopped the ravages of the sand. In this he not only benefited himself and his tenants, but proved himself a public benefactor ; for Sir Eobert Gore Booth, Mr. Gethin, and other landlords, whose lands by the sea-shore had suffered, and were suffering like his, followed his example in planting bent, so that thousands of acres, lying between his property and Sligo, were saved from threatened inundation, and thousands, even after a little, restored to tillage and pasturage.

    * Letter from Lord Palmerston, dated ClifiPoney, September 12th, 1808.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 11

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, you are near coastal lands that were once under threat from blowing sand. Lord Palmerston knew that bent grass was used on the Continent for the same purpose, so he planted it round the edges of the exposed sandy tracts, and it worked. Sir Robert Gore Booth, Mr. Gethin, and other landlords whose seaside lands were suffering followed his example. Thousands of acres lying between Palmerston's property and Sligo were saved from threatened inundation, and in time thousands were restored to tillage and pasturage.

11. Brian MacDonogh's heroism at Collooney

    Collooney · townland · Sligo

    The heroism of Brian MacDonogh is associated with Collooney. The MacDonogh family was noted for their passion for a military life.

    Read the passage

    MacDonoghs, The, 11. 221. Heroism of Brian MacDonogh, Collooney, 222-3. Passion of the MacDonoghs for a military life, 224. A Mac- Donogh at Fontenoy, 225. Counsellor Terence MacDonogh, 226, 227. The Counsellor in private life, 228. His death, burial, and epitaph, 229, 230. Had no children, 231. His own and his wife's wills, 232, 233. The MacDonoghs deserve well of the Church, 234. Their castles,

    235. MacDonoghs on the Continent, in the United States, and in Canada,

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 344

12. Cairn of Knocknarea visible from battlefield

    near Knocknarea · mountain or mountain range · Sligo · 561

    The cairn of Knocknarea, described as still existing at the time of writing, was visible from the ridge of Cooldruman where Columba observed enemy movements before the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne. The enemy army marched around the cairn along the then high-road to the scene of conflict, giving the site great historic value.

    Read the passage

    Had O'Donovan visited the battlefield, and looked from it at the still existing earn of Knocknarea, he would have recognized the great historic value of the line in question, and realized the annoyance of Columba at not being able to reconnoitre the enemy, owing to the mist that magnified or obscured their numbers, and thus gave them an advantage much coveted in w^ar — the advantage which Malcolm aimed at in the order : —

    " Let every soldier hew him down a bough, And bear't before him ; thereby shall we shadow The numbers of our host, and make discovery Err in report of us."

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 6

    As the companion tells it

    That's Knocknarea ahead, the mountain with the great cairn still standing on top. In 561, before the Battle of Cúl Dreimhne, Columba stood on the ridge of Cooldruman and tried to watch the enemy army march past that cairn along the old high-road to the field. A mist hung over everything, magnifying or obscuring their numbers, and Columba could not properly reconnoitre them — a military advantage much coveted in war.

13. Catholic ladies' school on Mail Coach Road, Sligo

    Sligo · town · Sligo

    Bishop Burke and Dean Donlevy opened an exclusively Catholic ladies' school on the Mail Coach Road in Sligo, placing it under Mrs. Doctor Coyne and Miss Madden. Disputes led to both superintendents leaving, and the school was abandoned.

    Read the passage

    In regard to female schools: the Misses McOann, in the beginning of the century, taught a school frequented by Cj-tholic and Protestant pupils. Later, Miss Hart conducted a similar establishment. The good Bishop Burke and Dean Donlevy, feeling the want of an exclusively Catholic Ladies* school, opened one on the Mail Coach Road, and put it under the superintendence of Mrs. Doctor Coyne and the late Mrs. M'Dermot, then Miss Madden. Mrs. Coyne, who was a convert, and who, it appears, had more zeal than discretion wishing to have everything in the school just as she liked, and finding the Dean, who had some will of his own, would not agree to that, retired after a little in high dudgeon from her position ; and, to

    * Doctor William Armstrong is buried in the graveyard attached to tha Protestant church of Collooney, and the following epitaph is inscribed on his tomb : — "William Armstrong, Medical Officer of the Collooney Dispensary District, died on Friday, April 16th, 1875, of fever, taken in the faithful and fearless discharge of his duty, aged 36 years. This monument is erected to his beloved memory by many friends, who knew him and loved him well."

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 247

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, you are on the Mail Coach Road, where Bishop Burke and Dean Donlevy once opened an exclusively Catholic ladies' school. They placed it under Mrs. Doctor Coyne, a convert, and Miss Madden. Mrs. Coyne, it appears, had more zeal than discretion. She wished to have everything in the school just as she liked, but the Dean had some will of his own and would not agree. She retired in high dudgeon from her position, and the school was abandoned.

14. Cistercian abbey of Boyle between two early churches

    Boyle · town · Roscommon

    The new monastery predicted by St. Attracta is identified as the Cistercian abbey of Boyle, whose site lies exactly between the churches of Drumconnel and Assylin. Attracta prophesied that the churches of Dachonna and Conal would suffer revenue loss from its erection.

    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

15. Cloonoghill: recess of the yew tree wood and St. Aidan's house

    Cloonoghill · townland · Roscommon · 500–600

    Cloonoghill, meaning the recess of the yew tree wood, was the site of a religious house established by St. Aidan of Tireragh in Corran, as recorded in Colgan's life of St. Cormac and McFirbis's Tribes and Customs of Hy Fiachrach.

    Read the passage

    The district of Cloonoghill must of old have been covered with yew trees, as the name signifies the recess of the yew tree wood. In Colgan's life of St. Cormac,* it is stated that St. Aidan of Tireragh had a religious house in Corran ; and McFirbis's Tribes and Customs of Hy Fiachrach,t adds the circumstance, that Cloonoghill was the spot where the establishment existed.

    This Aidan was descended from Eochy Breac through Cuboirne, and had for mother Fearamhla,^ who was also the mother of five other saints.§ He is, no doubt, identical with the " Saint Aidan of Loch Uamach," of whom there is mention in the Tripartite Life of Saint Patrick ; || and though Colgan takes Loch Uamach to be some lake "near the river Bonet, in Breffny," there is good reason to think that it is Cloonacleigha lake, which joins Cloonoghill, and which, like Lough Gara and so many other Irish lakes, has changed its name in the course of time. Yery probably it had its old name of Loch Uamha, or Cave lake, from a large and remarkable cave in a little hill to

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 100

16. Collooney ownership from MacDonogh to Cooper family

    Collooney · townland · Sligo · 1727

    Collooney passed from the MacDonoghs, whose last owner Brian M'Donogh was slain at Manorhamilton, to the Cootes, who sold it in 1727 to Joshua Cooper for £16,945, 5s. 6d. The property has remained in the possession of the Markrea (Cooper) family since that sale.

    Read the passage

    Brian M'Donogh, its last owner, was slain at Manorhamilton. From the MacDonoghs it passed to the Cootes ; and Richard, the second son of old Sir Charles, took his title from it when raised to the peerage at the Restoration, In 1727 the Cootes sold Collooney with various other lands in the county to Joshua Cooper for £16,945, 5s. 6d., and it has remained since in the possession of the Markrea family.

    Having traced a detailed account of Collooney in the History of Ballysadare and Kilvarnet, a few additional observations must suffice here. The Church of the Assumption is the finest parish church in the province of Connaught. The spire is admitted on all hands to be second to no spire in the kingdom for beauty of proportion and effectiveness. The great object of this crowning feature of a church is to raise the thoughts to heaven ; and this the Collooney spire accomplishes as effectually as if it were an animated and intelligent preacher. Uolike, on the one side, those tower finials which drop down upon the tower like extinguishers, and smother the flame they ought to nourish ; and unlike, on the other side, those nondescript, pyramidal excrescences which, without either grace of form or significance of symbol, resemble nothing in nature or art so much as an inverted teetotum, the spire of the Church of the Assumption, shooting up like a thing of life to the skies, acts on the spirit as a magnet acts on matter, and, by a sweet attraction, draws the mind with it in its heavenward direction.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 183

17. Culbertson's great oatmeal and flour mills at Ballysadare

    Ballysadare · townland · Sligo · 1833

    In 1833, Robert Culbertson erected a great oatmeal mill on the right bank of the river at Ballysadare, surpassing all predecessors. He later added a flour mill on the left bank, which supplied shopkeepers and bakers across Sligo, Mayo, Roscommon, and Leitrim for several years.

    Read the passage

    It was in the year 1833 Mr. Robert Culbertson erected, on the right bank of the river, the great oatmeal mill which threw everything that preceded it into the shade, and is still at work, though on a greatly reduced scale. Later he put up, on the left bank of the river, the famous flour mill which, though now wholly idle, supplied for several years after its erection all the shopkeepers and bakers of the county, as well as many in the counties of Mayo, Roscommon, and Leitrim. Unfortunately a fearful and fatal explosion occurred here in 1856 which shot away the roof of the structure, destroyed vast stores of flour and wheat, injured much of the machinery, maimed several of the workmen, and either killed on the spot, or inflicted a lingering death, on nine others.

    One of the most deplorable results of the calamity was that the shock of the occurrence ruined the health of Mr. Culbertson; for though he lived for some time after, it was noticed that he was constantly sinking, so that when he died, everyone laid his death on the disastrous explosion. And it is due to the memory of this large-hearted and tender-hearted man to state that those who knew him well, the writer of these lines among the number, were aware that it was not so much his own losses and troubles that preyed upon his mind and ruined his health, as the loss of life or limb, that had befallen so many of his neighbours.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 178

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here, on the banks of the river at Ballysadare, Robert Culbertson built a great oatmeal mill in 1833, on the right bank. It threw everything that had come before it into the shade, and was still at work years later, though on a greatly reduced scale. Later he put up a flour mill on the left bank, which supplied for several years all the shopkeepers and bakers of the county, and many in Mayo, Roscommon, and Leitrim as well. In 1856 a fearful and fatal explosion occurred. It shot away the roof of the structure, destroyed vast stores of flour and wheat, injured much of the machinery, maimed several of the workmen, and either killed on the spot or inflicted a lingering death on nine others. The shock of the calamity ruined the health of Mr. Culbertson. He lived for some time after, but was constantly sinking, and when he died everyone laid his death on the explosion. Those who knew him well, the writer of these lines among them, were aware that it was not so much his own losses and troubles that preyed upon his mind, as the loss of life or limb that had befallen so many of his neighbours. He is remembered as a large-hearted and tender-hearted man.

18. David Battle's boyhood rescue at Ardcree River

    Ardcree · townland · Sligo

    As a boy, David Battle, later a respected merchant of Thorold, Ontario, fell into the Ardcree River while watching fishermen at a weir sluice. He was swept by the flood into the gap and caught in the fishermen's net, brought safely to land little the worse for the ordeal.

    Read the passage

    Standing one day on the bank of Ardcree river, while fishermen were making ready to lift their net from the sluice or gap of the weir, the lad missed his footing, fell into the water, and was swept away by the flood to the consternation of all present, who gave him up for lost; but Providence was watching over the boy ; for he was moved along by the volume and rush of waters into the gap, so that the fishermen were thus enabled to take him in their net, and bring him safe to land, where, on being examined, he w^as found to be little the worse for his startling sub-aqueous experiences.

    It is gratifying to county Sligo men to find their county having such representatives in the important town of Thorold as Mayor McDonogh and Mr. Battle.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 126

19. Doonamurray Castle captured by O'Donnell, 1516

    Doonamurray · townland · Sligo · 1516

    Doonamurray in the parish of Kilross contained a castle of the O'Connor family captured by O'Donnell in 1516. No remains are now visible; it may be the building now called Drumcondra Castle.

    Read the passage

    7. Doonamurray, in the parish of Kilross, called in the deed of Partition of the O'Connor Sligo estate, Downamoney, alias Downamony, contained a castle of the family, which was captured by O'Donnell in 1516. No remains of this structure are now visible. It may be the building now called Drumcondra Castle.

    8. Behy Edenmore, in the parish of Kilmacallan, another of their castles, was occupied in 1616 by Shane Oge McDonough. The walls are in large part still standing. Sir Gilbert King is landlord. There were other McDonough castles through the baronies of Tirerrill and Corran, but there is no need to describe them here in detail. In a note to his Four Masters, already quoted, O'Donovan remarks, " The family of MacDonoughs have now scarcely any property remaining, and the race have latterly fallen into obscurity."

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 125

20. Drumcliff monastery: a foundation of St. Columba

    near Drumcliff · parish · Sligo

    Drumcliff parish was a place of importance in the past, with its monastery founded by St. Columba. The parish has antiquarian remains and was associated with several saints.

    Read the passage

    Bucks, II. 493. Drumard, Parish of, II. 385. Meaning of name, 391. Longford, 392. Buninna, 397. St. Patrick and Drumard, 398. Drumcliff, Parish of, I. 478. Origin of the name, 487. Saints associated with, 495. A place of importance in the past, 497. Drumcliff monastery a foundation of St. Columba, 498-9. Annals of the monastery, 500. Antiquarian remains in, 503. Castletown in this parish, 504. Lands at foot of Benbulben, 511. Cooldruman, IL 1. Lissadell, 9. Ballycounell, 20. Parish Priests of Drumcliff, 22. Protestant Rectors, 26. Protestant church of, 28. Drumcolumb, Parish of, II. 249. A fragmentary parish, 250. Mass in, during the Penal days, 258. Drumrat, Parish of, II. 201. A grantee in, 202. Drumrat and Toomour separate parishes in 1704, 215. Parish Priests of, 215, 216.

    2r

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 337

    As the companion tells it

    As you travel through Drumcliff parish in Sligo, you're passing a place of importance in the past. St. Columba founded a monastery here, and annals of that monastery survive. Saints were associated with Drumcliff, and antiquarian remain in the parish. Castletown lies within these bounds, and the parish reaches to the foot of Benbulben.

21. Duel on the Mall, Sligo: Gilmor and Captain Irwin

    Sligo · town · Sligo

    James Gilmor and Captain Irwin fought a duel in the garden of the house on the Mall in Sligo where Mrs. St. Leger then resided. Both men were wounded — Irwin through the body and Gilmor in the hip — yet both survived to advanced old age.

    Read the passage

    6. James Gilmor and Captain Irwin. — The meeting took place in the garden of the house in which Mrs. St. Leger now resides on the Mall. Both were hit — Irwin in the body, the ball passing through, and Gilmor in the hip ; and both lived to a very advanced age, Gilmor being 86 at his death, and Captain Irwin 80.

    7. Messrs. Phibbs and Cross fought at the Cartron Hill.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 273

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, you're on the Mall, where James Gilmor and Captain Irwin once fought a duel in the garden of Mrs. St. Leger's house. Both men were hit. Irwin was shot through the body and Gilmor in the hip. Yet both survived to a very advanced age. Gilmor lived to 86 and Captain Irwin to 80.

22. Endemic malignant fever banished by drainage in Kilmacteige

    Kilmacteige · townland · Sligo

    A dangerous malignant fever, mostly of the typhus kind, was long endemic along the mountain side in Kilmacteige, attributed to the wet, cold ground. Drainage and cultivation have almost banished the disease, replacing aquatic plants with productive oats and root crops.

    Read the passage

    pasture farms ; and while the well-fenced fields of cereal and green crops add much to the picturesqueness of the scene, they also give a high idea of the industry and intelligence of the people, who know how to conquer all obstacles, and to carry cultivation up the mountain almost to the top. The unsightly morasses of the lowland are rapidly disappearing before the spade and the plough, so that stretches, which, till recently, grew nothing but aquatic plants, are now yielding fine oats and root crops — with the very important additional result that the draining and other processes of cultivation have almost banished the malignant fevers which appear to have been long endemic in and around these swamps.* It is due to the Messrs. Robinson to say that they may justly claim credit for much of this improvement, as their example in transforming what was, not very long ago, a bleak and barren hill-side, into the fertile, flourishing, and picturesque grounds which now surround their neat lodge, had the effect of opening the eyes of neighbouring farmers and cottiers to what each could do on his own holding. Some small collection of trees, in various stages of growth, have sprung up here and there through the parish. Instead of the naked surface of the land which met the eye in 1816, when the facetious Parson Nelligan observed of Mr. Jones of Banada, *' He can boast of an inheritance which no gentleman within twenty miles of him can exhibit, viz., as many grown trees as constitute a rookery," t there are now clumps of trees or promising plantations to be seen in several places, as at the late Mr. John McCarrick*s, in Cloonbarry, Mr. Robinson's, in Sessu, Lord Harlech's, in Aclare, Mr. N. Irwin's, in Clooncagh, and

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 74

23. Father Fallon's Cromwellian-era hiding in bogs and mountains

    Achonry · townland · Sligo

    Under the Cromwellian regime, Father James Fallon, Vicar Apostolic of Achonry, endured extraordinary privations. He lived in wretched huts scattered through bogs and mountains, forced to move repeatedly when wild goats ate away the shrubs providing his shelter.

    Read the passage

    Under the Cromwellian regime, Father Fallon endured extraordinary privations and sufferings, living, through the bogs and mountains, in wretched huts, which, we are told, he was obliged, from time to time, to quit for other shelter, when wild goats had eaten away the weeds or shrubs, which served for a

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 59

24. Father Owen O'Connor of Castlegal

    Castlegal · townland · Sligo · 1819–1850

    Father Owen O'Connor was born at Castlegal and belonged to a family tracing descent from the O'Connors, Lords of Carbury and Sligo. After serving as curate in Magherow and Killglass, illness forced his return to Castlegal, where he died in 1850 aged 31.

    Read the passage

    Before passing away from the Parish Priests interred in Drumcliff, and from the thousand religious committed to its consecrated earth, between the days of St. ColuQiba and the Reformation, we must take note of Father Owen O'Connor's grave. Father Owen was a native of the parish, being born at Castlegal, and belonged to a family which could trace its descent back to a branch of the O'Connors, who were, for centuries. Lords of Carbury and Sligo. After his ordination he served for some time as curate in Magherow, and, next, in KiDglass, where he became so ill, that he had to quit the mission and return to Castlegal. Though young in years when he died, he was ripe

    24 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 21

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here was the birthplace of Father Owen O'Connor, whose grave lies in Drumcliff. He belonged to a family that traced its descent back to the O'Connors, who were for centuries Lords of Carbury and Sligo. After his ordination he served as curate in Magherow and then in Killglass, where he became so ill he had to return to Castlegal. He died in 1850, aged 31.

25. Father Pat Moraghan buried at Rathcormac church

    Rathcormack · population centre · Sligo · 1879

    Father Pat Moraghan, who resigned his parish of Aughrim in 1871 due to ill health, died in 1879 and was buried in Rathcormac church. His brother Father Andrew raised a cut-stone monument over his remains and installed a stained-glass window on the Gospel side of the high altar as a memorial.

    Read the passage

    In this church rests all that is mortal of the gentle and amiable Father Pat Moraghan. Resigning, in 1871, his parish of Aughrim, on account of ill health, he withdrew to the friendly home of his good brother. Father Andrew, who, after caring him tenderly for the eight years he still lived, surrounding his death-bed with all the helps and consolations of religion, and celebrating his obsequies with edifying solemnity, provided for the preservation of his memory : first, by raising over his remains a cut stone monument, with the following simple, but tasteful inscription : —

    26 HISTORY OF SLTGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 22

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Rathcormack, the church here holds the remains of Father Pat Moraghan, who died in 1879. He had resigned his parish of Aughrim in 1871 on account of ill health and withdrawn to the home of his brother, Father Andrew, who cared for him tenderly for the eight years he still lived. Father Andrew raised a cut-stone monument over his remains and installed a stained-glass window on the Gospel side of the high altar as a memorial.

26. First Ribbonmen trial in County Sligo

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1819

    The Ribbon association appeared before judges in County Sligo for the first time at the Summer Assizes of 1819. Three men were convicted of rising armed by night to terrorize the public.

    Read the passage

    Though the Threshers' association received its death-blow from the Special Commission that sat in 1806, it lingered on for a few years more, and, even in its moribund state, gave proof of life in a carding or two, which received their merited retribution. The Threshers had no sooner retired finally from the scene, than the Ribbonmen appeared, and took the vacant place ; and, it is well to know that, as far as appears, the Ribbon association figured for the first time before the Judges in the county Sligo, at the Summer Assizes of 1819, when Peter Leydeu, John Dyer, and Patrick Gormly, who had been committed by Reverend John Garrett and Major Bridgham, were convicted '* of rising and appearing armed by night to the terror of his Majesty's subjects, against peace and statute," of "assuming the name and denomination of Ribbon men, the same not being usually

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 264

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo town, you're travelling where the Ribbon association first came before the judges in this county. The Threshers had faded after the Special Commission of 1806, and the Ribbonmen took their place. At the Summer Assizes of 1819, Peter Leyden, John Dyer, and Patrick Gormly faced trial here. They'd been committed by Reverend John Garrett and Major Bridgham, and were convicted, in the words of the record, of "rising and appearing armed by night to the terror of his Majesty's subjects, against peace and statute," and of assuming the name and denomination of Ribbonmen.

27. Glencar: waterfall and the mysterious Sruthan-ail-an-ard

    Glencar · electoral division · Sligo

    Glencar is described with its waterfall and the mysterious Sruthan-ail-an-ard. The river of Glencar possesses historical interest.

    Read the passage

    naturce, 424. Glencar, Description of, I. 488. Its waterfall, and the mysterious Sruthan-ail-an-ard^ 489. The river of, possesses historical interest, 490. Glenavoagh, II. 149, 375. Glenu-Fathroimh, I. 145. Glynn, Mr., and the Chemical Works

    of Collooney, I. 17. Goodman, Very Rev. Dr., I. 284. His natural and acquired gifts ; an instance of, 285. His grave in Holy Cross Convent, 287. Gore-Booth family : they come to reside at Lissadell, II. 11. The family one of the highest in the country, 14. Sir Paul Gore, 15. Sir Robert Gore Booth, 16. Sir Henry and Lady Gore Booth's charity and benevolence, 17-18. Colonel Henry and Sir Francis Gore friendly to the royal cause in the 17th century, I. 172. Propensities of the family — a Lady Gore, II. 14. The Gore Booths and Ballymote, 171. Gore, Mr. E., M.R.I.A., F.R.A.S., a

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 339

28. Holy well and Passion cross at Monasteraden

    near Monasterredan · population centre · Sligo

    A holy well associated with a saint's festival on 11th August features a wall carving of Christ on the cross with the instruments of the Passion, attributed to a local artist of the 16th or early 17th century. Great crowds once gathered here for the station exercises, and even in 1900 a score or two of pious people still attended.

    Read the passage

    on the cross, with the instruments of the Passion carved on either side of him — a piece of work which does honour to some local artist of the sixteenth, or the earlier years, of the seventeenth century. On the top of this wall is a row of those mysterious rounded stones, which one meets with in so many other places of the county, as Toomour, Inismurray, and Killerry. Till within the last few years great crowds gathered here on the Saint's festival, the 11th August ; and it is said, that things passed off at this well more decorously than in several other places, where serious abuses not unfrequently occurred. Even still a score or two of pious people may be seen on the 11th August, going through the exercises of the station.

    In the same townland, and within the MacDermot*s demesne, stands a fine example of the cashel, which may be the Rath- Clochair mentioned by the Four Masters, a.m. 4328. It has a diameter of ninety feet interior measurement, is constructed of the stone of the district — sandstone for the most part — and contains in the thickness of the wall a spacious cave, which runs a good way round, if not the whole way. At present the structure is much dilapidated, but one may judge from some parts of it, that the original height was about twelve feet. The planting, in and round this interesting piece of antiquity, mars not a little its appearance and effect.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 207

29. Improvement in diet and living conditions of Sligo poor

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1800–1900

    By the end of the nineteenth century, the diet of the poor in County Sligo had improved markedly from the potatoes-and-salt meals common at the century's start. Bread, butter, tea, and occasional eggs or American bacon now supplemented the potato, while tables and delf plates replaced the floor basket.

    Read the passage

    food. No one would put up in these days with the potatoes and salt, which not unfrequently formed the poor man's meal in the first years of the current century ; nor with the potatoes and salt herring, or potatoes and buttermilk, which, more commonly, served about the same time for the dinner and the breakfast of labourers and their families. You might travel now through the whole county without meeting an instance of the " poor man's meal," as described by Arthur Young something more than a century ago : — " The potato basket placed on the floor, the whole family upon their hams around it, devouring a quantity almost incredible, the beggar seating himself to it with a hearty welcome, the pig taking his share as readily as the wife, the cocks, hens, turkeys, geese, the cur, the cat, and perhaps the cow — and all partaking of the same dish."

    With this picture under the eye one can appreciate the progress that has been made as well in regard to the meal itself as to the serving-up of it. If the potato forms still the chief article, the piece de resistance, of the poor man's dinner, the sweet milk, the bit of butter, the occasional egg, or the slice of American bacon which accompanies it, gives it a palatableness and nutritiousness which it lacked in the past ; while the breakfast of bread, butter, and tea, and the supper of stirabout, or of bread and milk, give the diet of the day the variety so conducive to health and enjoyment.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 320

    As the companion tells it

    Coming through Sligo, it's worth knowing how much life changed here for the poor over the 1800s. At the start of the century a labourer's family might eat nothing but potatoes and salt for one meal, and potatoes with salt herring or buttermilk for the next. Arthur Young described the scene from a century before that: the potato basket placed on the floor, the whole family crouching around it, the pig, the cocks and hens, the turkeys and geese, the dog and cat, perhaps the cow too, all sharing the same dish. By the end of the century the potato was still the chief part of dinner, but now it came with sweet milk, a bit of butter, an occasional egg, or a slice of American bacon. Breakfast had become bread, butter, and tea, and supper was stirabout or bread and milk. Tables and delf plates had replaced the floor basket, and you could travel the whole county without finding that old scene anymore.

30. Inishmurray island described in 1779: rock, thin soil, livestock

    Inishmurray · townland · Sligo · 1779

    In 1779 Beranger and Bigari described Inishmurray as a rocky island with about 130 acres of thin soil supporting a few cows, horses and sheep, plus some arable land producing about 20 barrels of corn. The island had only five houses and 45–46 inhabitants who were all fishermen.

    Read the passage

    " Inismurray is a rock rising out of the sea, which goes sloping gently and like steps to the edge of the water on the east side towards the main shore, but on the west is high, craggy, and all precipice, with some small heads advancing on the sea, through which the fury of the waves have perforated large holes, not unlike ancient arches, where the sea roars horridly in tempestuous weather. About 130 acres are covered with a thin soil of about 5 or 6 inches deep, which produces grass to feed about 4 or 5 cows, as many horses, and 30 sheep ; there is also some arable land that produces about 20 barrels of corn, besides some garden stuflf; the houses are 5 in number, and as many barns j and the inhabitants 45 or 46, including children. They are all fishermen, and sell their cargoes on the mainland. They have inhabited this island, from father to son, for upwards of 600 years, and when crowded send the supernumerary to seek their fortune on shore ; they only speak Irish, except one man and an old woman ; they are very hospitable to strangers, will treat and lodge them without reward ; they love Colonel Irwin (by whose means they have been exempted from some county charges), and who, every year, pays them a visit, by which they never lose. There is an abbey, as it is called, very rude, a church, and some other old buildings, said to have been erected by St. Molash and Columbkill ; the figure, or statue, in wood, of the first, they have there in a cell, and have daubed him all over with red paint to make him look handsome. Mr. Bigarry described his holiness upon the spot. They have many traditions, which were all gathered in Irish by our interpreter, and filled some pages of paper.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 26

31. John Foster of Collooney and the Suffering Loyalists of 1798

    Collooney · townland · Sligo · 1798–1887

    John Foster, a native of Collooney, died in Toronto in 1887 as the oldest and most esteemed magistrate of the Dominion of Canada. His father's name appears on the list of Suffering Loyalists of 1798, connecting the family to the political upheavals of that year.

    Read the passage

    John Foster, another native of Collooney, died in Toronto in 1887, being, as was said in the newspapers, "the oldest and most esteemed magistrate" of the Dominion of Canada at the time of bis death. The name of his father will be found on the list, given in the Appendix, of the Suffering Loyalists of 1798.

    Dr. Charles Benson, of the talented Collooney family of that name, made his medical studies in Dublin, where also he practised his profession, and attained such eminence, that he was elected President of the College of Surgeons, as also

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 291

32. Killadoon church and its Lough Key monastery link

    Killadoon · townland · Sligo · 1504

    The parish of Killadoon takes its name from the old church of Cill-Duibhdhuin, mentioned in the Four Masters at 1504 when Manus MacDonough, abbot of the Blessed Trinity monastery on Lough Key, died there. The church was appropriate to that monastery and later granted to William Crofton by James I.

    Read the passage

    The parish of Killadoon has its name from the old church of Cill-Duibhdhuin — the church of Doyne, or probably, Devine —mentioned in the following entry of the Four Masters at the year 1504 : — " Manus, the son of Brian MacDonough, abbot of the monastery of the Blessed Trinity on Lough Key, repertory and repository of the wisdom and knowledge of Connaught, died at Cill-Duibhdhuin, and was buried in the monastery of the Blessed Trinity on Lough Key."

    This church was appropriate to the monastery of the Blessed Trinity in Lough Key, and, in the grant of James L to William Crofton of the possessions of that monastery, is mentioned as " the site, ambit, and precinct of the cell, or chapel, of Kilvegoone {sic)^ in the said barony of Tirerrill, with one half quarter of land and the tithes ; the rectory of Kilvegoone, with the tithes, parcel of the possessions of the said monastery/'f The church of Kilvegoone, or Killadoon, must be distinguished from the abbey, or convent, of Ballindoon, with which it is often confounded.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 144

33. Kilmacallan church and Templemore burial ground

    Kilmacallan · parish · Sligo

    The old church of Kilmacallan, known as Templemore, appears in medieval taxation records and in Elizabeth's grant to Eugene O'Connor. Its rectory was appropriate to the Priory of Inchmacnerin in Lough Key. The church walls still stand in good preservation and it remains one of the most frequented burying places in the county.

    Read the passage

    Killinicallen, a rectory in Elphin diocese."* The rectory of Kilmacallan was appropriate to the Priory of Inchmacnerin in Loch Ce. The old church of Kilmacallan goes by the name of Templemore ; its walls still stand, and in good preservation. It is one of the most frequented burying places of the county.

    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-

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 134

34. Kilmacallane Protestant church built at Riverstown 1817

    Riverstown · town · Sligo · 1817

    The existing Protestant church of Kilmacallane at Riverstown was built in 1817 on a gift of £900 and a loan of £500. Previously the old Catholic church of Tawnagh was used for Protestant worship, its interior plastered to conceal its original purpose.

    Read the passage

    The existing Protestant church of Kilmacallane, at Kiverstown, was built in 1817 on a gift of £900, and a loan of £500. Previously to the erection of this edifice, the old Catholic church of Tawnagh was used for Protestant worship, the interior being plaistered so as to hide away all memorials of its original destination. It was only a few years ago, on some of the plaster falling off, a holy water stoup was found in situ. The addition of a porch and vestry was made to the building in 1768, when, as an inscribed slab inserted in the western gable informs us, John Dodd and William Cooper were churchwardens.

    Kilmacallane was a prebendal church under the establishment, and the succession of prebendaries, according to Cotton's Fasti (Vol. IV., p. 149), was as follows : — 1634, Milo Summer; 1666, Edmund Rowlatt; 1722, Thomas Walls, D.D. ; 1750, James Blair ; 1755, Eichard Doherty ; 1760, Robert Curtis, M.A. ; 1799, Thomas Hackett, B.A. Rev. Thomas Hackett held the prebend for 42 years, and is given in Erc's Register as incumbent of the extensive union of Boyle, Tawnagh, Kilmacallane, DrumcoUum, Kilross, Aghanagh, Ballynakill, and Ballysummaghan. In Sergeant Shoe's book on the Irish Church, the ascertained cost of Ballysummaghan Protestant church is set down at £1,223. There have been recent improvements which must have cost a good sum.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 138

35. Kilmurrough land ownership changes, 1632–Restoration

    Kilmorgan · townland · Sligo · 1632–1660

    In 1632 Kilmurrough was owned by Dominick Martin, Owen Hurrochy, Lord Taaffe, William Dowdall, the bishop of Achonry, and four MacDonoghs. At the Restoration most Catholic proprietors disappeared, replaced by Lord Collooney, John Clifford, John Boswell, and Francis King.

    Read the passage

    Dominick Martin, Owen Hurrochy (now Haraghy), Lord TaafFe, William Dowdall, the bishop of Achonry, and four members of the MacDonogh sept, were owners of Kilmurrough in 1632, but the four McDonoghs and the other Papists, except Lord Taaffe, disappeared at the Restoration, while Lord CoUooney, John Clifford, John Boswell, and Francis King, took their place as proprietors. Under the Commonwealth John Duke, Robert Duke, John Geale, Donnell Conellan, John Clifford, Edward Hill, Henry Bierast, and John Houlder, were

    188 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 97

36. Knocknashee hill and fairy tradition

    Knocknashee · mountain or mountain range · Sligo

    Knocknashee, a limestone hill of bold elevation and picturesque outline, was regarded by local tradition as the headquarters of the 'Good People' (fairies) in Lower Connacht. Its name means 'Hill of the Fairy mansion or palace,' and it yields stone of excellent quality used in the parochial house and new parish church.

    Read the passage

    Knocknashee is a very striking feature in the landscape, and with its bold elevation, its picturesque outline, and the fine prospect it commands, richly deserves the high honour which the "Good People" have paid it, by making it their headquarters in Lower Connaught. It is of limestone formation, and yields stone of excellent quality, as may be seen in the parochial house, and the new parish church, where it is the material employed.

    The soil of the parish is, in general, of medium quality ; while much of what lies in the immediate neighbourhood of the old church of Achonry, has the reputation of being equal in fertility to the best land in the country. The inhabitants tell you, sa luxuriant is the growth of grass there, that what is cropped by the cattle during the day, is more than restored by the rest and moisture of the night, like that of which Virgil speaks : —

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 61

37. MacDonnells establish castles at Rathlee and Rosslee in Easky

    Rathlee · townland · Sligo · 1400–1603

    The MacDonnells, galloglass constables from the Hebrides, established themselves at Rathlee and Rosslee in the parish of Easky by the fifteenth century, building castles and acquiring considerable landed possessions. Their descendants were recorded as knights and gentlemen there in James I's General Pardon of 1603.

    Read the passage

    The MacDonnells, like the MacSweenys, were constables of galloglasses, and came from Scotland, where the family were Lords of the Hebrides. As they are not mentioned in the Topographical poem of Giolla losa More M'Firbis, or in Dudley M'Firbis's Genealogy of the Hy-Fiachrach, it is safe to infer that they had no lands in Tireragh up to the fifteenth century ; but about that time they fixed themselves at Kathlee and Eosslee, in the parish of Easky, where they had castles and considerable landed possessions, and where we find their descendants in 1603 under the names of Albanagh and Mac- Donnel], described, in James the First's General Pardon, as Henry Albanagh, of Kathlee, Gent. ; Edward Oge Albanagh, of the same, Knight ; and Pbillippo Albanagh, of the same, Knight ; and Moelmory McDonnell, of Rosslee, Gent. ; Dowell M'Donnell, of the same, Knight; and Randal McDonnell of the same. Knight. From a Chancery Inquisition taken at Sligo, 20th April, 1617, it appears that Hubert Albinagh and Allen

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 211

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere close to Rathlee, the MacDonnells put down roots in the fifteenth century. They were galloglass constables from the Hebrides, where their family were Lords of the Isles. They fixed themselves here at Rathlee and at Rosslee in the parish of Easky, building castles and acquiring considerable landed possessions. By 1603, under James the First's General Pardon, their descendants were recorded as knights and gentlemen of this place. Henry Albanagh of Rathlee was named a gentleman, Edward Oge Albanagh and Phillippo Albanagh were named knights. At Rosslee, Moelmory McDonnell was a gentleman, and Dowell M'Donnell and Randal McDonnell were knights. A Chancery Inquisition taken at Sligo on the 20th of April 1617 names Hubert Albinagh and Allen among them.

38. MacDonogh marches from Creevelea to attack Manorhamilton, April 1643

    Creevelea · townland · Leitrim · 1643

    On Easter Saturday, 1 April 1643, Lieutenant-Colonel Brian Mac Donogh set out from the Irish camp at Creevelea near Dromahair to carry out the Confederate council's resolution to attack Sir Frederick Hamilton at Manorhamilton. His command proceeded in three divisions, and MacDonogh accepted the forlorn hope with determination to make it a triumph.

    Read the passage

    On the 1st April, 1643, which was Easter Saturday, he set out from Creevelea, near Dromahair, the camp of the Irish, his command proceeding in three divisions — the first division com-

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 117

39. MacSweenys acquire extensive lands across Tireragh

    Ardnaglass · townland · Sligo

    By the reign of James I, the MacSweeny family, originally galloglass mercenaries without land, had acquired extensive possessions scattered across multiple townlands in Tireragh including Ardnaglass, Carrowcashel, and Tanrego, and held high social standing as gentlemen.

    Read the passage

    They became, however, rooted in the soil in the reign of Elizabeth, or perhaps earlier, as we find them in the beginning of James the First's reign, scattered over the district, having extensive possessions in Dunneil, Dunnycofify, Ardnaglass, Longford, Altenelvick, Carrowcashel, and Tanrego, and occupying high social standing, being generally classed as gentlemen in the General Pardon of that monarch to the inhabitants of the county Sligo.

    The MacDonnells, like the MacSweenys, were constables of galloglasses, and came from Scotland, where the family were Lords of the Hebrides. As they are not mentioned in the Topographical poem of Giolla losa More M'Firbis, or in Dudley M'Firbis's Genealogy of the Hy-Fiachrach, it is safe to infer that they had no lands in Tireragh up to the fifteenth century ; but about that time they fixed themselves at Kathlee and Eosslee, in the parish of Easky, where they had castles and considerable landed possessions, and where we find their descendants in 1603 under the names of Albanagh and Mac- Donnel], described, in James the First's General Pardon, as Henry Albanagh, of Kathlee, Gent. ; Edward Oge Albanagh, of the same, Knight ; and Pbillippo Albanagh, of the same, Knight ; and Moelmory McDonnell, of Rosslee, Gent. ; Dowell M'Donnell, of the same, Knight; and Randal McDonnell of the same. Knight. From a Chancery Inquisition taken at Sligo, 20th April, 1617, it appears that Hubert Albinagh and Allen

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 211

40. Maurice Fitzgerald builds Sligo Castle

    Sligo · town · Sligo · 1245

    In 1245 Maurice Fitzgerald built the castle of Sligo, as recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters. This was among the earliest stone castles erected in Connaught by the Anglo-Normans.

    Read the passage

    All this time there was hardly a stone house in the county except some churches, which served not only for places of worship, but sometimes for ecclesiastical residences * sometimes for prisons or fortresses,t and often for storehouses of provisions.J The first castle of stone and mortar in the county was built at Collooney,§ no doubt, by Turlough O'Conor, who was then King of Connaught ; and no other, in all likelihood, was erected till after the arrival of the Anglo-Normans. The Annals of the Four Masters record that the Barons of Erin came to Connaught in 1237 and "commenced erecting castles there." || In 1245 Maurice Fitzgerald built the castle of Sligoj^f in 1263 Walter Burke erected the castle of Templehouse or Ath Angaile;** and about the same time he and other English constructed timber castles in Leyney and Tireragh, at Rath Ard creeve, Banada, Buninna, and other places ; took forcible possession of these districts ; and expelled the O'Haras, O'Dowds, and other hereditary chiefs.

    While these structures were building, no improvement could be made in the residences of the people, as the country was in a state of constant war. Nor is there any reason to think that such houses as existed in the town of Sligo, between the fourteenth and the seventeenth century, came near, either in appearance or value, to those which were burned down in 1396, and which the Four Masters extol so highly for their

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 251

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, you are travelling through a town whose castle was built in 1245 by Maurice Fitzgerald. The Annals of the Four Masters record it, and it was among the earliest stone castles the Anglo-Normans raised in Connaught. Before this, there was hardly a stone house in the whole county except churches, which served not only for worship but sometimes as prisons, fortresses, or storehouses. The first stone castle in the county had been built at Collooney, likely by Turlough O'Conor, then King of Connaught, and no other followed until the Anglo-Normans arrived. The Four Masters say the Barons of Erin came to Connaught in 1237 and, as the annals put it, commenced erecting castles there. Fitzgerald's castle at Sligo came eight years later. Walter Burke followed with the castle of Templehouse in 1263, and he and others built timber castles across Leyney and Tireragh, taking the districts by force and expelling the O'Haras, the O'Dowds, and other hereditary chiefs. While these structures were going up, the country was in constant war, and no improvement came to ordinary people's homes. Even centuries later, the houses in Sligo town did not match those burned down in 1396, which the Four Masters praised so highly.

41. Muredach or Molaise founds Inismurray monastery

    Inishmurray · townland · Sligo

    The monastic establishment on Inismurray is attributed to Muredach, also identified with Molaise, who likely came from Tireragh. The islanders neglect Muredach as a patron but constantly honour Molaise, suggesting the two names belong to one person whose festival falls on the same day, 12th of August.

    Read the passage

    In the Indenture of Composition between Sir John Perrot and the Sligo chiefs, it is stated that there is in the barony of Carbury a quantity of land called the " Benan, 4 quarters, belonging to her Msiiesty in right of the abbey of Aghrosse;" and in several public instruments of a later date, as in King Charles the Second's grant in 1666 to Lord William Strafiford and Thomas Radcliffe ; and in the Tripartite Indenture between Lord Strafford, Joshua Wilson, and Dr. Leslie, the rectories of Aughris and Ahamlish are always conjoined and disposed of together. From what has been said, then, it appears sufficiently certain that the Muredach and Molaise of Inismurray came from Tireragh, and not, as some would have it, from Devenish ; and now, to go a step further, it is probable that these two names belong to one and the same person — Muredach having the second name of Molaise, as Fechin had the second name of Moecca ; as Carthagus had the second name of Mochuda; and as other old Irish saints had similar second names. The incidence, in the Martyrologies, of the festival of Muredach and that of Molaise on one and the same day, the 12th of August, goes far to establish this probability ; and the identity of the saints would explain a fact, otherwise rather unaccountable, namely, the neglect by the islanders, of Muredach, of whom they never think or speak, though, apparently, the founder of their monastic establishment, and therefore their natural patron, while they are always talking of, and magnifying, Molaise, who can have no such claims on their remembrance, unless he is Muredach, honoured by them under the name of Molaise. Whether, however, they are two

    * Exchequer inquisition taken at Sligo by John Crofton, on the 17th March, 1584. The words of the inquisition are, " quod vicaria de ecclesia de Aghuralya in barronia de CarbriaB cum 1 qur terroe ut gleba diet vicariae ac 1 parva insula ibi in alto mare spectant ad dictum prioratum de Acheras."

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 18

42. Nuns visit sick at Tubbercurry workhouse

    Tobercurry · town · Sligo

    The nuns established in Kilmacteige by the Jones family visited the sick in the workhouse of Tubbercurry and in private houses for miles around, continuing the family's legacy of service to the poor and suffering after the Jones departure.

    Read the passage

    education they give in the convent schools, by the visits they make the sick, in the workhouse of Tubbercurry, and in private houses for miles round, and by their management of the Industrial school, opened in 1882, where about sixty little girls, either quite uneducated or miseducated when received, are moulded by the plastic hands of the Sisters, into useful members of society, and edifying members of the church.

    The wild glen called The Gap, is under many respects as interesting a spot as there is in the parish. The whole valley is commonly called The Gap, but the name applies more particularly to a short stretch between two spurs of the mountain, which rise vis-a-vis at the coniines of the two counties, and contain between them the public highway. The road through the Glen is winding, and at every turn the traveller comes upon new and magnificent combinations of the picturesque, formed chiefly by the ever varying aspects of the mountain elevations — some, naked rock, some, clothed with rich heath, and one, the towering Crwmmits, green and grassy for the entire height of the 1,300 feet to which it rises. About midway in the passage across the range. Lough Talt comes suddenly in view, and with the exception of two tiny islets, forms an unbroken sheet of water of about a mile long, and half a mile wide, one end looking sombre, owing to the shadow thrown on it by Crummus, the " alt " that gives the lake its name, while the other end, which is out of the shadow, scintillates in brightness ; this difference telling, it is said, on the trout with which the lake teems; those that frequent the region of the shadow, being unsightly to the eye and insipid to the taste, while the form and flavour of the others are all that an epicure could desire.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 78

43. O'Donnell captures Castlemore-Costello fortress

    Castlemore · townland · Carlow · 1595

    On an August foray through county Sligo and part of the barony of Costello in Mayo, O'Donnell stopped to take the fortress of Castlemore-Costello from the English before marching on to county Galway to ravage the lands of the Birminghams and Clanrickarde.

    Read the passage

    The plan of operations being arranged, the Connaught chiefs retired to their respective territories, while O'Donnell returned to Donegal to organize a new expedition to Connaught. The foray came off in August ; and instead of following the route through the county Leitrim, which he had been obliged to take on the last two occasions, he passed this time straight through the county Sligo, and a part of the barony of Costello in Mayo, where he stopped to take from the English the fortress of Cas-

    288 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 154

44. O'Dowds, McSweenys, and Croftons at Longford Castle

    Longford · town · Longford · 1500–1625

    Longford was ruled by the O'Dowd chiefs, but the McSweenys possessed it through the sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, first as sub-chiefs and then as royal grantees. The place eventually passed to the Crofton family by unclear means.

    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

    Up ahead, the road passes through the town of Longford. This place was ruled by the O'Dowd chiefs, but it was the McSweenys who possessed it through the sixteenth century and the early years of the seventeenth. They held it first as sub-chiefs under the O'Dowds, and then as grantees of the monarchs of England. From the McSweenys the place passed to the Croftons, though it is not well known how that transfer came about. One John Crofton appears in a memorandum dated July 1572, described as Clerk of the Council, who at someone's request took upon himself to bake and brew for the garrison. A letter of his was marked for the Lord Burghley. Later, in the conflict between James and William in 1689, Longford Castle stood on the side of James. The owner of that day was Henry Crofton, an ardent Catholic and a loyal adherent of James. Under him 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, sent a large party of picked men under Captains William Ormsby and Francis Gore. On their arrival they set fire to the castle and, as the record says, smoked out the enemy.

45. Owen Wynne offers reward for swan destruction at Hazelwood

    Hazelwood · street · Galway · 1793

    Owen Wynne of Hazelwood offered a reward of ten guineas for the conviction of persons who shot an old swan, destroyed four young ones, and robbed two nests near Hazelwood. He described the swans as one of the principal ornaments of the lake.

    Read the passage

    Some of the advertisements of the time are curious. In one Mr. Owen Wynne, Hazel wood, offers "a reward of 10 guineas for the conviction of the person or persons who shot near Hazelwood an old swan, and destroyed four young ones, and robbed two nests within these months ; and he hopes for the assistance of the neighbours in detecting the villains who thus wantonly and malevolently destroyed one of the principal ornaments of the lake."

    2. Charles Kelly, surgeon and apothecary, "invites the custom, of his friends and the public,"

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 295

46. Priory of Aughris, aka Kylraaltin, in Tireragh

    Aughris · townland · Sligo

    The priory of Acheras (Aughris), also known as Kylraaltin, in the barony of Tireragh, was associated with St. Molaise as its founder. A 1584 Exchequer inquisition found it to be the property of the Queen, with the vicarage of Ahamlish and a small island in the high sea belonging to it.

    Read the passage

    jury find that " the priory of Acheras, alias Kylraaltin, in the barony of Tireragh, is the property of the Queen, and that the vicarage of the church of Ahamlish (Aghumlys), in the barony of Carbury, with one quarter of glebe land, and one small island situate in the high sea, belong to the aforesaid priory."*

    In the Indenture of Composition between Sir John Perrot and the Sligo chiefs, it is stated that there is in the barony of Carbury a quantity of land called the " Benan, 4 quarters, belonging to her Msiiesty in right of the abbey of Aghrosse;" and in several public instruments of a later date, as in King Charles the Second's grant in 1666 to Lord William Strafiford and Thomas Radcliffe ; and in the Tripartite Indenture between Lord Strafford, Joshua Wilson, and Dr. Leslie, the rectories of Aughris and Ahamlish are always conjoined and disposed of together. From what has been said, then, it appears sufficiently certain that the Muredach and Molaise of Inismurray came from Tireragh, and not, as some would have it, from Devenish ; and now, to go a step further, it is probable that these two names belong to one and the same person — Muredach having the second name of Molaise, as Fechin had the second name of Moecca ; as Carthagus had the second name of Mochuda; and as other old Irish saints had similar second names. The incidence, in the Martyrologies, of the festival of Muredach and that of Molaise on one and the same day, the 12th of August, goes far to establish this probability ; and the identity of the saints would explain a fact, otherwise rather unaccountable, namely, the neglect by the islanders, of Muredach, of whom they never think or speak, though, apparently, the founder of their monastic establishment, and therefore their natural patron, while they are always talking of, and magnifying, Molaise, who can have no such claims on their remembrance, unless he is Muredach, honoured by them under the name of Molaise. Whether, however, they are two

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 18

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here stood the priory of Aughris, also known as Kylraaltin, in the barony of Tireragh. St. Molaise is associated as its founder. A 1584 Exchequer inquisition found the priory to be the property of the Queen, and that the vicarage of the church of Ahamlish in the barony of Carbury, with one quarter of glebe land and one small island situated in the high sea, belonged to it. In the Indenture of Composition between Sir John Perrot and the Sligo chiefs, land called the Benan, four quarters in the barony of Carbury, is recorded as belonging to her Majesty in right of the abbey of Aughris. Later grants, including King Charles the Second's grant in 1666 to Lord William Strafford and Thomas Radcliffe, always conjoined the rectories of Aughris and Ahamlish and disposed of them together. The book argues that Muredach and Molaise of Inismurray came from Tireragh rather than Devenish, and that these two names may belong to one and the same person, Muredach having the second name of Molaise. The Martyrologies place the festival of both saints on the same day, the 12th of August, which the author says goes far to establish this. The islanders of Inismurray never speak of Muredach, though he was apparently the founder of their monastic establishment, while they always talk of Molaise. If the two are one, that would explain it.

47. Ruined church of Kilmacteige between two rivers

    Kilmacteige · townland · Sligo · 1489

    The parish of Kilmacteige takes its name from a ruined church meaning 'church of the son of Teige,' possibly founded by Cormac, son of Teige, who died in 1489. The church stood between the Abhan Leenane and Belclare rivers on the site of the present Protestant church, where ruins may still be seen.

    Read the passage

    The parish of Kilmacteige, which has an area of 32,533 acres, and a population of 6,403 souls, is so called from the old ruined church of Kilmacteige, which signifies the church of the son of Teige, who must have been its founder or patron. "Who this Teige was is not known, though it is pretty certain that he belonged to the O'Hara family, the toparchs of the district. In the Four Masters we read, under the year 1489, " The son of O'Hara of the Plain, i.e., Cormac, son of Teige, died ; " and it is not unlikely that this Cormac, " son of Teige/' was the founder of the church in question : a supposition which gains some countenance from the fact that Kilmacteige is not mentioned in the Taxation of 1309. In old documents * the church is mentioned as *' Kilmacteige, alias. Inter duos fluvios " (Between the two Rivers), the alias name coming from the situation of the building between the two streams, Abhan Leenane and the Belclare river. The structure stood on the site of the present Protestant church, where some ruins may still be seen. Some say it was an ecclesiastical college, but there is nothing to bear out that opinion in old documents, which always describe it as a rectory and a vicarage, and never as a place of education.

    A considerable part, perhaps half the area of the parish, consists of mountain and bog. The Ox Mountains run through the west and south-west of it, while most of the lowlan d is bog — much of which is now reclaimed, with, however, large stretches still untouched. At this part of the range the Ox Mountain descends in gentle slopes, which are now broken up into tillage and

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 74

48. Saint Patrick's journeys across the Sligo strands

    Ballysadare · townland · Sligo

    According to the Book of Armagh and Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga, Saint Patrick and his companions used the strand passes of Drumcliff, Sligo, and Ballysadare in their journeys through the area. These routes were much used until recently, linking early Christian tradition to the ancient landscape.

    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

    Close to Ballysadare, Saint Patrick and his companions crossed the strand on their journeys through this coast. The Book of Armagh, the oldest Irish record we possess, and Colgan's Trias Thaumaturga tell us Patrick used the strand passes of Drumcliff, Sligo, and this one. The Annals of the Four Masters, under the year 1536, trace Hugh Dubh O'Donnell and his troops along these same routes, from Fined across the Drumcliff strand to Standalone Point, then across the Sligo strand to Coolerra, and through this strand to Tireragh. These routes were much used until recently, and the short strand at Drumcliff is still crossed by pedestrians and vehicles of all kinds.

49. Sir Paul Gore and the Island Magee massacre

    near Island Magee · parish · Antrim

    Sir Paul Gore was reputed to have played a part in the massacre of Island Magee, which the text identifies with Tory Island, leaving what the author calls a dark spot on his character.

    Read the passage

    In the Gore Booth pedigree, occur the names of some men of distinguished ability. Sir Paul himself, from the manner in which he demeaned himself, as servitor ; as undertaker ; in war and in politics ; under Elizabeth and under James ; must have been a man of vigorous and versatile talents, though the part he is supposed to have had in the massacre of Island Magee, now Tory Island, has left a dark spot on his character.!

    A far greater man, a man second to no one of his time, was

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 10

50. Sir Philip Perceval's acquisitions and losses in 1641

    near Templehouse · population centre · Sligo · 1641

    Sir Philip Perceval, son of Ralph, took a leading part in the transactions of 1641 and acquired large estates during those revolutionary days, but eventually lost more than he had gained. The Perceval family descended from Ascelin Goval de Perceval who accompanied William the Conqueror, and the first to settle in Ireland was Richard Perceval, who gained favour with Queen Elizabeth through service connected with the Spanish Armada.

    Read the passage

    Ralph's son, Sir Philip, took a leading part in the transactions of 1641, and after acquiring large estates in these revolutionary days, lost, eventually, more than he had gained. It was his

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 36

51. Sir Roger Jones owner of Tubbercurry

    Tobercurry · town · Sligo

    Sir Roger Jones was noted as owner of Tubbercurry. His descendants, the Banada Jones, were not indebted for a single acre to confiscation and made sacrifices for religion.

    Read the passage

    Jones, Sir Roger, the leading Anglo- Norman of his day in Sligo, I. 301. Founder of St. John's church, 301. His monument, 303. Showed more zeal for his religion than its ministers did, 304. Owner of Tubbercurry, II. 126. His descendants, the Banada Jones, not indebted for a single acre to confiscation, 146. Their sacrifices for religion, 147. Their place of interment, 151.

    Jones, The Very Rev. Daniel, I. 370 ;

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 341

52. Sligo Fever Hospital erected by Cooper

    Sligo · town · Sligo

    Edward Synge Cooper funded the erection of the Fever Hospital of Sligo at his nearly exclusive cost. The author considers it a more honourable memorial to him than any grand mausoleum.

    Read the passage

    Under the impulse of this noble feeling, he set his face against those sectarian societies, whether secret or open, which more, perhaps, than anything else, have served to estrange Irishmen from one another ; and while others of his class often use two weights and two measures in their conduct, censuring such societies, if formed by those who differ from themselves, but excusing and patronising them if organised by their friends, this honest man condemned all secret confederacies alike, and held in the same abhorrence the Orangeman and the Ribbonman. In small things, as well as in great, his benevolence showed itself — in the sixpences and shillings he was in the habit of distributing, with his own hand, a couple of times a week, to scores of poor pensioners of his in CoUooney, Tubberscanavin, and Ballysadare, as well as in the erection, at his exclusive, or nearly exclusive, cost (Vol. I., p. 402,)* of the Fever Hospital of Sligo, which is a more honourable memorial of him, than would be a mausoleum as gorgeous as that of the Kiog of Caria.

    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.)

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 187

    As the companion tells it

    As you pass through Sligo, one of the buildings here stands as a memorial to Edward Synge Cooper, a man the author of the history of Sligo considered more honest than most of his class. Cooper condemned all secret societies alike, holding the Orangeman and the Ribbonman in the same abhorrence, and he backed that principle with his own money. He funded the erection of the Fever Hospital of Sligo at his nearly exclusive cost, and the author calls it a more honourable memorial to him than any grand mausoleum could be. His benevolence showed in small things too. A couple of times a week he handed out sixpences and shillings from his own hand to scores of poor pensioners in Collooney, Tubberscanavin, and Ballysadare, and the author notes that the smile and kind word he gave with each coin made the gift doubly valuable. In the famine of 1822, when people were perishing on all sides of starvation and fever, he spent 150 pounds a week on employment, sent 200 pounds in cash to the Sligo Relief Committee, paid out 100 pounds for seed potatoes, and distributed a weekly sum in the parish of Ballysadare.

53. Srath-an-fherain identified as Shramore, diocese boundary

    Shramore · street · Galway · 1291

    The Synod of Rathbreasil fixed Srath-an-fherain as a boundary of the diocese of Killala. The Four Masters record at 1291 that Srath-an-fherain and Aenach Tiroilella are adjoining districts, leading to the identification of Srath-an-fherain with the townland now called Shramore.

    Read the passage

    This rectification is the more useful, as it leads to the identification of the place called Srath-an-fherain (literally, the Srath of the land, or the great Srath), which the Synod of Rathbreasil fixed as one of the boundaries of the diocese of Killala, and which has not been correctly identified ; for, as we learn from the Four Masters, at the year 1291, that the Aenach Tiroilella and Srath-an-fherain are adjoining districts,! we are warranted in concluding that the latter is the place now called Shramore (the great Shrath), which, in fact, adjoins, on the south, Cut na hraher, or, the ancient Aenach.

    * The family of the tenant who rented the spot at the time refered to, still call it The Aenach,

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 130

54. Templar claims and Crown seizure of Templehouse Castle

    near Templehouse · population centre · Sligo

    The Templars held a rectory near Templehouse Castle, likely first endowed by Walter Burke. English lawyers later manipulated this ecclesiastical claim to extend it over the castle and its lands, securing the valuable property for the king as a Crown escheat.

    Read the passage

    We are not told how the Templars came by the rectory, but we may take it, that Walter Burke first endowed it, and then conferred it on the Temple, in the same way as some Anglo- Norman chief of Sligo, very probably the Red Earl, bestowed the rectory, Inter duos pontes, on the Priory of Saint John, outside of Newgate. A rectory, which was merely an ecclesiastical living, given by way of endowment, was a very different thing from a Commandery or Preceptory, which would be an establishment occupied by the Templars, and ruled by a superior, termed a commander ; but English lawyers, finding the Templars having a claim on a rectory in the neighbourhood of Templehouse Castle and lands, adroitly extended and manipulated the claim, so as to make it cover the castle and lands, and thus secure for the king, as an escheat of the Crown, this valuable property.

    In the Insurrection of 1641 the castle of Templehouse was besieged and captured by the Irish. Failing to take it by

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 40

55. Templehouse Commandery Claims and O'Hara Dispossession

    near Templehouse · population centre · Sligo · 1578–1618

    State documents from 1578, 1593, and 1618 describe Templehouse as first a Templar commandery and then a Hospitaller possession. The author argues these records resulted from fraud or error, possibly exploiting the alias name Cloon Tempul of the adjoining townland Rabane, to dispossess the O'Haras of their ancestral lands.

    Read the passage

    Passing over minor difficulties, which admit an easy solution, a more formidable objection is found in state documents — the lease, in 1578, to Thomas Chester and George Goodman ; the inquisition sped before Eichard Boyle, at Ballymote, in 1593 ; and the grant, or re-grant, to William Crofton, on the 14th July, 1618 ; Templehouse being described in all three, as at

    76 HISTORY OF SLIGO.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 39

56. Templevanny as chief cemetery and populous settlement

    Templevanny · townland · Sligo

    Templevanny, a later foundation by the monks of Boyle, became the chief cemetery of the district, while Toomour churchyard was nearly deserted. At the time of James I's pardon, Templevanny was the most populous spot in the parish of Toomour with numerous inhabitants listed.

    Read the passage

    The churchyard of Toomour is nearly deserted as a burying place, there being now only one or two families in the parish which continue to bury in it. Templevanny, though a much later foundation — being a work of the monks of Boyle — is at present the chief cemetery of the district.

    At the date of James the First's pardon to Donnogh O'Connor and others, Templevanny was the most populous spot in the parish of Toomour, the following inhabitants receiving then the royal pardon ; — " Owen Grany McMoylronie finn, of Templevanny, gent ; Keodagh McMoyleronie Fin, of the same, kerne ; Brian Boy McMoyleronie Fin of the same, kerne ; Rory Oge McMoyleronie Fin of the same, kerne ; Arte McGilly worin, of the same, labourer ; GilledufFe McBrian Buy, of the same, labourer ; Will Boy O'Gibbalaine, of the same, kerne ; Donald McGilly worn e, of the same, kerne ; Moriasse McGilly woraine, of the same,'labourer ; Edward McGilly woraine, of the same, kerne ; Moriertagh Glas McMoilrony Finn, of the same, labourer ; Cahall Duffe McDwalty, of the same, labourer ; Dermot O'Lapane, of the same, labourer."

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 115

57. Tempul Muire, church of the women, on Inismurray

    Inishmurray · townland · Sligo

    Outside the cashel on Inismurray stands Tempul Muire (Church of Mary), also called Tempul n-mbhan or church of the women. Though not as old as the structures within the enclosure, it dates from a time when monks were still on the island and women were forbidden to enter the cloister.

    Read the passage

    Outside the cashel are various antiquities and curiosities, as Tempul Muire — Church of Mary — or Tempul n-mbhan — church of the women — a building, which, though not so old as the structures within the inclosure, must date from a time, when monks were still in the island, and women were forbidden to pass the cloister ; fifteen objects ranged round the margin of the island, and described by O'Donovan, as "crosses, stations, and earns;" St. Molaise's well, which is to Inismurray, what the Kilsellagh stream is to Sligo, serving as an unfailing and abundant supply of water the whole year round ; and "some small heads of rock, advancing on the sea, through which the fury of the waves have perforated large holes, not unlike ancient arches, where the sea roars horridly in tempestuous weather/'f

    As nothing certain is known of the founder of this establishment, it is to be regretted that those who write about Inismurray avoid investigating the point. Without giving any reasons for their opinions, some of these waiters take the foundation to be the w^ork of Molaise and Columba, some of Molaise alone, and others, of Muredach alone — the person after whom the island is called.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 17

58. The Priory — Curran's villa near Dublin

    The Priory · street · Dublin

    The Priory, a country villa about four miles from Dublin, was the residence of Curran, Master of the Rolls, who first invited the young and briefless barrister Charles Phillips to dinner there, launching their lifelong intimate friendship.

    Read the passage

    * "When I was called to the Bar," says Phillips, in his "Recollections of Curran and Some of his Contemporaries," " Curran was on the Bench ; and not only bagless but briefless, I was one day with many an associate taking the idle round of the Four Courts, when a common friend told me he was commissioned by the Master of the Rolls to invite me to dinner that day at the Priory, a little country villa about four miles from Dublin. Those who recollect their first introduction to a really great man, may easily comprehend my delight and

    my consternation The moment, however, he perceived me, he took me by the

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 281

59. Thrashers agitation and Father Rush's struggles in Buninadden

    near Bunnanaddan · population centre · Sligo

    Father Rush, as parish priest of Buninadden, had to contend with the Thrashers movement, labouring to keep parishioners away from these men and to save those who had joined them from the penal consequences of their acts. The anecdote of his dog Bunty injuring a duck and the priest being physically seized by an irreligious parishioner illustrates the rude social conditions he faced.

    Read the passage

    Like other priests of the period, the pastor of Buninadden, had much trouble with the Thrashers ; labouring, first, to keep his parishioners away from these misguided men, and, next, to save from the penal consequences of their acts, such of them as, deaf to his advice, entangled themselves in the meshes of the law.

    An anecdote is told of Father Rush, which throws a strong side light on the kind of people he, and, no doubt, other priests of those rude times, had sometimes to deal with : —

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 104

60. Town clock set up in St. Paul's church tower, Collooney

    Collooney · townland · Sligo

    Edward Synge Cooper had a magnificent town clock manufactured for Sligo. When local authorities could not agree on where to place it, he redirected it to the tower of St. Paul's church in Collooney, where it regulated the daily duties of two generations of workers.

    Read the passage

    matter, he changed its destination, and had it set up in the tower of St. Paul's church, Collooney, where it has been since beneficially employed in regulating the daily duties of two generations of labourers and mechanics in that great business centre.

    We must not omit to mention, in illustration of his principle of the " even keel '' in dealing with Catholics and Protestants, that upon the vestry of Collooney having some repairs done in the Protestant church of the place, which, as was customary at the time, were effected largely at the expense of Catholics, Mr. Cooper, at his own cost, put up an expensive entrance gate before the Catholic chapel; and when the vestry on another occasion decided on paying the sexton of the Protestant church a substantial annual salary, he engaged to pay, and did pay while he lived, to the clerk or sexton of the Catholic chapel an annuity of like amount out of his own pocket. Such acts account for the place which Mr. Edward Synge Cooper has always held in the hearts of his Catholic neighbours.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 187