Parish of Killeany (b)

I find no Holy Well dedicated to St. Eindé in this Parish, but there is one called after St. Colman in the Townland of Caher-Makerilla.

There is in the Townland of Ballygastell a small burial place for children called the Kill of Ballygastell, but I do not believe that it is the site of a Church.

In the Townland of Ballyconnoe in this Parish is shewn the ruins of the house of O’Connoe or O’Conway More, after whom this Townland was named, and who, as tradition avers, used to hold a market near this house while he flourished. In the Caithreim Thoirdhealbhaigh or Wars of Torlogh O’Brien, written by John, the son of Rory Magrath in the year 1459, this family is called O’Conduibh.

There is a modern Roman Catholic Chapel situated in this Townland of Ballyconnoe, called the Chapel of Tuath Mhachaire, because Tuath Mhachaire, which is the name of an ancient Territory comprising the Parishes of Kilmoone and Killeaney, is now a Roman Catholic Parish belonging to this Chapel.

There is no ruin of a Castle in this Parish, and the only remains of antiquity now visible there besides the old Church just described, are those of stone cahers of which there are three, but in a state of great dilapidation. These are:-

1. Caher Mic Erilla, i.e., the Caher of the Son of Irial, a large fort in a Townland to which it gives its name.
2. Caher-Maan (Cathair Meadhoin), i.e., the Middle Caher, a large fort in a Townland of the same name, and
3. Caher-na-Teinné, i.e., the Fort of the Fire, in the Townland of Lislarheenbeg.

In the Townland of Coolea-more in this Parish there is a Cromlech called as usual by the vulgar appellation of Leaba Dhiarmada agus Graine, i.e., the Bed of Dermot and Grainé. The Welsh antiquaries generally call monuments of this description Cromlechs, from their crom or sloping position, but when the covering flags are laid perfectly horizontal I don’t think they should be called by that name, unless indeed it can be proved that they are altars consecrated in time of Paganism to the God Crom, but this has not been proved, though often asserted, and it will yet be made appear from the Book of Lismore that these remarkable monuments were erected as tombs over heroes slain in battle. See my letter on the Table of the Giants near Ballina-Tirawley.