School: Knockbride (2)

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1. Skeagh Castle

   

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   Notes on Skeagh Castle alias Skeagh Monastery from James McCaffery (55) and his sister Miss McCaffery of Skeagh, Bailieboro, Co. Cavan.

   James McCaffery says one of his ancestors came to Skeagh in 1641 after he escaped from the Massacre of Island Magee. He had been married to a Protestant and was hidden till he escaped to Cavan. At the same time the families of Coyle, and O'Hanlon also came from the North to Skeagh. Mr. McCaffery says Skeagh Castle or Monastery stood where Thompson's house is at present. The field in front of Thompson's door is called the "Coach Field", and the little field behind he house is called the Pound Field because at the foot of it beside the little stream from Skeagh Lough Lower to Skeagh Lough Upper; there stood a "pound". Near the site of this pound there stood the house of a Robin Adair, a harper. When Cromwell's (?) men came to take Skeagh Monastery, Robin Adair, showed them a weak place in the wall which the soldiers broke through. The monks in the castle fled towards the narrow part of Skeagh Lake Upper, and swam across the lake to Willie Wilson's field where they were killed. There are several mounds on the edge of the lake there which are said to be their graves.
   Robin Adair, for his services, was rewarded by a grant of the Skeagh

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Location

   Skeagh, Co. Cavan

   Collector

   Mrs Lundie

   Gender

   Female

   Occupation

   Teacher

   Address

   Derrydamph, Co. Cavan

   Collector

   Thomas J. Barron

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Teacher

   Informant

   James Mc Caffery

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   55

   Address

   Skeagh, Co. Cavan

   Informant

   Miss Mc Caffery

   Gender

   Female

   Address

   Skeagh, Co. Cavan