[In pencil:]
Ballinakill, Killian, Killeroran, Ahascragh, Athleague, and Taughboy parishes described; with the remarkable objects therein noticed.
There is nothing remarked respecting Athleague and Taughboy Parishes, with the exception of (what relates to) the portion of them in Galway County.
All these parishes compose the Barony of Killian.
Sir,
Ballinakill parish in the barony of Killian, is bounded by the parish of Killian in the same barony, and by Killosolan, Moylough and Kilkerrin parishes in the barony of Tiaquin.
It is (in Irish) called Baile na CiLLe = villa Cellae, but the name most commonly used among the people, for this parish, is Aghyart, Ach ui Airt, ager nepotis Arti, the field of O'Hart, which name is invariably applied to the burying ground wherein the ruins of the old church are remaining.
The greater part of its two sidewalls, is standing; the two gables are entirely demolished; no doorway, or window is seen on the ruin.
On the boundary of the townlands of Longford and Castlegar, lies St. Brigid's well, at which a patron was held on the first Sunday in August.
KILLIAN PARISH
This parish is bounded by the parishes of Killroran, and Ballinakill in the barony of Killian; by Killosolan and Kilkerrin in the barony of Tiaquin and by Kilbegnet in the barony of Ballymoe.
The Irish name of it is Cill Litheáin, the Church of Lithean, Cella S. Litheani. Is there a Saint of this name mentioned in the AA.SS., in the Calendar, or in any other ecclesiastical history?
Considerable portions of the side-walls of the old Church of Killian are still to be seen; the gables have been totally destroyed. On one of the side walls, is a door 5½ feet high, and originally 3 feet broad; from one side of which, the stones have been partly removed.
It presents this form externally.
Saint Brendan's festival is celebrated on the 16nth of May in this Parish.
Saint Brendan's well lies at a village called 'Woodly' in Creggaun-na-groggey, {Creagan na Gruagaighe}, now called also St. Brendans, where there is likewise a small burying place.
A patron is held here on the just mentioned day.
Killian has given name to the barony
KILLERORAN PARISH
The Irish name of this parish is Cill Rórain, the Church of S. Roran (Saint Fuaradhráin), who, it is traditionally said, got the edifice erected in one night. Is there a Saint Roran on the list of Irish Saints?
Killroran old Church lies in ruins, and is near 15 yards long by 7 yds. broad.
On one gable, which is reduced to the same height with the side-walls, is an opening, now a breach 3 feet broad at the ground, and battered on both sides from near the ground, and running the extent of the present height. There is an opening on one of the side walls, commencing within 2½ feet of the ground, and running to the top of it. This was originally a window, which was apparently lancet, and 3 feet broad.
In one end of the church, inside, is a tomb, at which stands a stone with this inscription.
HERE LYETH THE BODY
OF JOHN KELLY ESQR. OF
CASTLEKELLY, WHO
DEPARTED THIS LIFE ON THE
THIRD OF MARCH 1813 IN THE
62ND YEAR OF HIS AGE; HE
LIVED, BELOVED & DIED
UNIVERSALLY LAMENTED.
On a slate fixed in the corner of the tomb, is inscribed. -
SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF
LEONORA MARY
THE WIFE OF
THE REVD. ARMSTRONG KELLY
OF CASTLEKELLY.
SHE WAS A WARM AND FAITHFUL FRIEND,
A KIND RELATION,
A TENDER AND ANXIOUS MOTHER,
AND A MOST AFFECTIONATE WIFE.
SHE RESIGNED HER SOUL TO GOD
ON THE 20TH OF MAY 1823
IN THE 48TH YEAR OF HER AGE,
IN FIRM HOPE OF HIS MERCY THROUGH,
THE MEDIATION AND ATONEMENT,
OF OUR BLESSED SAVIOUR.
HER REMAINS ARE DEPOSITED
WITHIN THIS VAULT.
At this tomb, there was, it appears, an entrance on the sidewall of the old Church.
The site of Ballygar Castle, is (as) yet shown in the townland of Ballygar Béul. Atha Ghártha. The Blakes are said to have been proprietors of it.
In Ballinvoher North townland, is a holy well called Tobar Buidhe, Toberbwee, the waters of which, cures the Jaundice; from which circumstance, arises the name.
Persons attend at it, on Sundays before the rising of the sun.
The patron day of the Parish of Killroran, is the 10nth of May; but I could not learn the name of the Saint, in whose honor, it was held.
The patron has dwindled (been elevated?) into a market, which is now held on the 10nth of May at Ballinamore, where principally fowl and also other light articles are sold on the occasion.
AHASCRAGH PARISH
The local Irish name of this parish, is, Ath 'Scra, [pronounced as one syllable). The ancient name was, it is said, Áth h-Oiscir, which is explained as signifying the ford of Oscar, who is said to have finished a battle here from which circumstance the place took the name. The very spot that originally obtained the name, is pointed out on Ascragh River within a quarter of a mile from Ascragh bridge to the S.E.
The proper form of the name is Ath Escir according to the local pronunciation. It signifies the ford of the Esker, that is hill.
The bridge on Ahascragh river has six arches on it. This river rises out of a well in a place called Civil fort, derives afterwards a tribute from a bog, through which it passes in Ballymacdhuach Parish, and joins the Suck at Coish (Cois) near Ballinasloe.
In the Annals of the Four Masters, it is recorded that A.D. 788 - 'Cuan of Ath-Escrach, died'. And at the year 1307, it is stated by the same writers that,
The greater portion (number) of the English of Roscommon were slain at Ath-esgrach Cuan by Donogh Muimhneach O'Kelly Lord of Hy-Maine, where Philip Muinder {Montyre} John Muinder and Maiu Driu {Mathew Drew} and many others whose names are not mentioned, were slain, and Dermott Gall McDermott, Cormac McCeithearnaigh of Roscommon, were taken prisoners, but afterwards set at liberty. They afterwards made peace.
The Cause of the enmity was the burning of the town by Edmond Butler {"then deputy of Ireland" M.G.}
Archdall in his Monasticon writes, 'We find that (St.) Cuan of Ath-ascrath, died A.D. 788{a} - AA. SS. p. 251.
Saint Cavan's {Caomhan), day was till very lately celebrated in this parish on the 15nth of October. At his well which lies in the townland of Castlegar East, about 1 mile from Ascragh town, (a) patron was held annually on this day. The Parish Priest prevents his parishioners from frequenting it at present.
It is possible, and perhaps probable that this was originally St. Cuan's well, and that it was by a certain degree of change in the pronunciation made, Tobar Caomhain, instead of Tobar Cúain.
On what day did the festival of each of these Saints fall? Did Saint Cuan's fall on the 15nth of October? (Cuan on the 15th of October according to the Irish Calendar of the O'Clerys. - J.O'D.)
In the old church yard of Ahascragh, which lies, attached to the rear of Mrs. Duffy's Hotel in Ahascragh town, there is not a vestige of the old Church, at present to be seen. There are (however) persons, as yet living, who saw the ruins some years ago.
Lady well lies in the South end of Ahascragh town near the Chapel. The Parish Priest prevents people from frequenting it also.
In Eglish townland in this parish stand the ruins of Eglish Abbey respecting the founder of which, I could obtain no information. The name is pronounced in Irish, always, Éiglis, i.e. ecclesia.
This building, as appears from the ruins, was considerably extensive; on some of the walls of the apartments, are seen small quadrangular openings, the largest of which does not exceed 2 feet by 6 inches.
All the other features, which consist of some windows, and one door throughout the whole extent of the ruin, exhibit the pointed style.
ATHLEAGUE PARISH
The local pronunciation of this name in the County of Galway is Ath an Líag, the ford of the Stone.
In Abbeygray townland in this parish, is the site of the Monastery which gave it name. The site is within Abbeygray fort, at which there was a burying ground. Abbeygray is a translation of the Irish name, which is Mainisteair na Liatha
There was a Church in Coolaspuddaun townland, called Carraigín, Carrageen Church, where there is at present a burying place.
[Written landscape in left-hand margin:] In the western part of the Demesne of Mucklin in this Parish, lies a small grave yard called Cold well Lisheen which is an (indirect) translation of Lisin na h-Abhanna Fuáire, literally the Lisheen of the Cold River. It is frequently called Lisín nA b-paistidh, the Lisheen of the children, because children are interred therein.
TAUGHBOY PARISH
This name is in Irish, Tigh Buidhe which would signify yellow-house; but it is said it should be Tigh Baoithin that is the house of Saint Baoitin.
Within a quarter of a mile of Ahascragh town on the road to Tuam, a Mrs. Rodgers lives, who is the daughter of - Crannelly, the last man, according to her, that had Bachall Ghriollain {Griollan's Crozier} in his possession. She remembers to have seen it frequently with her father, who used, on being paid 5 shillings, to carry it to any place in the neighbourhood, and administer an oath on it to persons, who wished to clear themselves in (before) the eyes of the public from any crime with which they might have been charged. He always on such occasions, carried it in his bosom; and after the oaths were taken on it, he brought it on the first opportunity to the Chapel, laid it on the altar, and got (it) prepared for use again by the priests reconsecrating it, after such profane use.
Crannelly was able to observe by some signs exhibited by the Bachall, when a person approached it to swear falsely thereon, and used to detain such a person from swearing, telling him to stand back; and to let some other one come forward; till all the persons, whatever number they might consist of, had taken their oaths.
He could observe by these signs, when ever one applied for the use of it, who, though being actually guilty, intended to impose himself as an innocent, but falsely accused person, by taking his oath, which served as an undoubted index of his integrity, if no
miraculous signs followed, calculated to make the contrary impression (which would fix itself) equally as strong.
The usual manner in which, this relic expressed its disapprobation of the justness of an oath, was by glowing with such intense heat as to render it impracticable for the forswearer to hold it in his hand.
Crannelly kept it always clad with some kind of cloth; and Mrs. Rodgers, is certain, he used to cover the outside always with clean (white) linen. She is (not) sure whether the inner part of the dress, consisted of linen, or not; but says, it wore and was renewed occasionally, or at certain periods. Crannelly never (during his life time) parted (with) the relic by night; he had it under his head whilst (he) slept.
The part his daughter saw, uncovered of this crozier, appeared to her to be brass, or copper ({in her words}) {'like what is in the half-pence'). It exhibited the figure of a human face; was about one yard in length, and about three pounds weight.
This is all the information I could glean from Mrs. Rodgers respecting this relic.
Mrs. Crannelly, the relict of Mrs. Rodger's brother, now living in a little cabin, to the Left of the road leading from Ahascragh to Ballinasloe, and near the Chapel, which is immediately at the town, informed me, that she often heard that the brother of Mrs. Rodgers, did away with the bachall, in consequence of Father O'Conor, who was the predecessor of the present Parish Priest, having spoken very sever(e)ly from the altar, against the family, for giving it out to be sworn upon, in as much as such a practice tended to do much harm.
[Written landscape in left-hand margin:] It is a general impression in the neighbourhood that the bachall 'has been put astray'. Some persons say that Mrs. Rodgers herself, had it, after her father's; death; and that she threw it along the neighbouring river, when the Priest spoke against such an use of it, as was made.
T. O'Conor