The following story was told to me about an enchanted Island which is supposed to seen off this coast of Clare, about opposite Carrigaholt. There was a captain of a trading ship walking up and down the docks at Limerick one day, and another man that was also there came up to him and said "will you bring a cargo of provisions as far as Carrigaholt for me" and he said "I will of course provided you will pay me ten "bob" a ton. At last they agreed and the captain got his ship loaded and set off for Carrigaholt.
It was about two hours going there and during all this time the man that was with him never spoke as much as one word to him, but he was always walking up and down, and looking down on the floor, so the captain concluded that he wasn't a right man atall, that he must be a man from the other world.
When he came opposite Carrigaholt he saw the most beautiful Island that he ever saw. Then the man came back to the captain and told him to unload the cargo of provisions on the banks of the Island. When he had it unloaded the man invited the captain to his for tea and until he get his money. So he went with him to his house and got the finest cup of tea that he ever drank, and then

There was once a priest living with his brother in Carrigaholt. At the same time there used to be a devil attacking the people on the road. The priest's brother had a gun and he used to go out hunting. One evening when he was out the priest thought it getting late and that something must have happened to his brother when he was not coming home. He got a bottle of holy water and went out to meet him. A mile west of Carrigaholt he met him on the road and the devil before him. He made the sign of the cross and sprinkled the holy water and prayed for a long time. At last the devil disappeared and it is said he banished him to Murray's island in Moveen away from all people and every night at twelve o clock the crows are frightened on the island and they leave it until morning.

(Doonbeg Parish) to Scattery Island (Inis-Cathaigh) St Senan founded many Churches throughout his Diocese and often (in his capacity of Bishops) made a tour of inspection of the Convents and Monasteries established by him. During those tours he converted many to the true faith - thus fulfilling to the letter the prophecy of St Patrick. It was during one of these tours that he died (somewhere around Carrigaholt). When on his last inspection tour to the extreme west of his Diocese he called at a Convent in Querin (Carrigaholt Parish) and Nuns there - probably feeling that his end was near - asked him to leave them some relic of him. He promised that he would do so on his return journey but he died before he returned. When his sacred body was being carried back for interment in "Inis Cathaigh" it was laid for one night in the Convent Chapel of Querrin and a second thumb grew during the night on one of his hands. The nuns took this as a fulfilment of his promise to leave them a relic and removed it. Tradition states that while his body lay in the Coffin (which had no lid on) and while his clergy were discussing the election of his successor - one of them expressed surprised that he (St Senan) did not nominate his successor during his life-time - Senan sat up and named St Odo as his successor. His body lay for twelve days in one of the Churches founded by him in Inis Cathaigh and showed no sign of decomposition during that period. Tradition also tells us that during the twelve days

(roughly West Clare) who were allowed to bury their dead there. It is said that the earth taken from this Churchyard or St Senan's Bed has the power of Banishing farm pests.
St Senan founded many Churches, Monasteries and Convents throughout his Diocese and often made a tour of inspection to these Convents and Monasteries During these tours he converted many people to the true Faith - fulfilling to the letter the prophecy of St Patrick. It was during one of these tours that he died - somewhere around Carrigaholt. When on his final journey to the convents and monasteries to the West he visited a Convent at Querrin (Carrigaholt parish) and the Nuns there begged of him to leave them some relic of his visit. He said he would when he would be returning to Scattery. He died in on of the Convents in the extreme West of the County and when it was being taken home his body rested for one night in the Convent Church at Querrin (before mentioned). A second thumb grew during the night on one of the hands and the Nuns taking this as the fulfilment of the Saint's promise to them cut it off and preserved it as a relic of him. His body lay in an open coffin in Cattery Island for twelve days and during that time there was no decomposition. Strange appearances were seen in the sky during those 12 days. The other ecclesiastic's of Scattery Island were one of these days around St Senan's coffin and one of them said it was surprising that he did not name his successor before his death. He then sat up in the coffin and named St Odo as his successor after which he laid 'back again' and shortly after was buried

she used to capture him and kill him. Every person coming from Carrigaholt to the east had to cross the ford because there was no other part of the river narrow or shallow enough to be passed.
One night a man was going to Carrigaholt from Doonbeg. His name was McMahon. He was on horseback and as he was passing the ford called "cailleach" jumped up behind him on the horse.
He drew a knife that he had in a bell and stuck it through the cailleach and she shouted to him "pull it and stick it again" but he did not and then she fell off the horse. He stayed that night in a house owned by James

The Castle known as Kilkee Castle was on the top of the hill behind the West End Hotel. The site can still be seen.
It is said that Kilkee Castle and Carrigaholt Castle were both used as granaries for Cromwells soldiers, in 1767.
It is also said that Ireton Cromwell son- in- law came to Carrigaholt Castle. Crossing the Slob he got wet and developed a serious illness and died soon after in Limerick.
After the death of Charles McDonnell his widow lived in the tower of the Castle until her death.

Long ago there lived in Carrigaholt a man called "Tagh Caoc" Ua Mahon. He was the owner of Carrigaholt Castle for a while. He owned many ships.
He used to have a big crew in the ship with him. He used to carry them into the castle, and when all of them were inside he used to let off a trap he had set for them and they were all captured by him. Then he used to lead them into a secret tunnel that was in the castle and kill all of them. He then used to go and take all the rich things that were in the ship, and then sink

There are many stories of strong men who lived in this locality long ago. Thomas Reidy who lived in Boloughera was a strong man. He was weighing corn with others one day at John Chamber's who lived in Derrynalicka. He took two bags weighing 20 stone each, one under each arm and left them into a horse-cart. Anyone then present could not accomplish such a feat.
Michael Fox of Derrynaguihy was a great runner. He beat all competitors near and far. He challenged a neighbour on horseback to run him to Kilrush a distance of nine miles for £1. The challenge was accepted and "Mickey" as he as popularly called, beat the man on horseback.
Muirisín Fód Deirr lived in the most westerly house in the Carrigaholt Peninsula. He dreamt three times that should he go to Limerick City he would get a great sum of money at the bridge entering the city. He started for Limerick City and reached it before night fall. He spent two days walking up and down the length of the bridge, and was thinking, that if he had no success on the morrow, he would return home. He was on the bridge the third day when a man, who saw him the previous days there, asked him was he looking for anything. He replied "I dreamt I would get a big sum of money at this bridge." "Go home you fool" replied the man, "I dreamt that I would get a sum of money under a whitethorn bush in a haggard at the back of Muirisín Fód Deire's house in Carrigaholt and I never went there." The following morn Muirsín started for home and

After the process of weaving came the tucking of the cloth thus woven. In most cases this was done in the houses, and in other cases it was done by mills called "Tucking Mills". These were often attached to the grinding mills. In this parish of Kilmurry Ibrickane there were 4 such mills operating about 80 yrs ago. There is but one operating at present. Until quite recently the process of tucking was carried on in the district lying between Carrigaholt and Loop Head.

were drowned except one man, and the wave washed him on shore. That night his brother dreamt that the passengers were drowned, and that his brother was saved. So the next day he went to Corlas point and he found him there. After that the Banshee was heard crying from Carrigaholt to Corlas point.

was the Head Agent for the Landlord, Mr Weatby. Marcus Keane, taking the law into his own hands got the roof taken off the houses and the Altar thrown on the roadside. On the third occasion Father Meehan went to say Mass in his new chapel he found it roofless. It was no use for Father Meehan to take Marcus Keane to court. He had then to say Mass in the open. He knew if he said Mass in any house in Kilbaha that house would soon be roofless. Two carts were put standing on heels and sheets were thrown over the shaft so as to form a protection for the Altar while the priest was saying the Mass.One morning in 1852 I visited Father Meehan to find out where he was to say Mass on that on that morning. Father Meehan said: "Well Tom, I have a new idea. I was in Kilrush on yesterday and I travelled to Kilkee in Moore's Omnibus. It struck me that if I made something like Moore's omnibus I could say Mass in it in Kilbaha". Moore owned a hotel in Kilkee and had cabs plying between Kilkee and Cappa to take visitors to and from his hotel.Father Meehan got Owen Collins, a Carrigaholt carpenter to build what is known as the Little Ark. It was built on the street in Carrigaholt opposite Collin's house as his shop was too small

Off Carrigaholt, County Clare, on the Shannon is the (alleged) buried town of "Cill Staifín", buried beneath the waves. When a child St Senan and his mother one night were refused hospitality or even shelter and driven out of that village of Cill Staifín. Senen cursed it and soon an earthquake came and buried that town with all its inhabitants under the waves.

born in Kilrush. His father Billy Meehan was an attorney and had his office in Brian Dwyer's house Market Square Kilrush.Fr Meehan was a little above middle height, stout, muscular, no loose flesh. He was a good athlete. I saw him in front of his own door take a hurley and strike the ball into the air out of sight nine or 10 times without moving a foot - standing on the same spot. He had a gun and was a good fowler. I had a gun and was also a good shot. He often called at the school and took me fowling with him. Father Meehan said on three occasions "Tom, don't fire a shot till I miss, then you fire till you miss, and so on".
Father Meehan was a very good shot, the best around except Corney Curtin - Kilkee. Snipe was the principal game. He lived where Canon McMahon lives at present.Father Meehan was curate in Kilrush before coming to Carrigaholt. I knew him in Kilrush. He was the priest that heard my first confession when I was seven years old.When Father Malachy Duggan died in 1849 Father Meehan was appointed Parish priest of Carrigaholt. He was very fond of singing

Gold is supposed to be buried in Chair hill. A search was made for it some time ago and they found an under ground tunnel they say within that tunnel there is tied a chain and at the end of that chain in the middle of the lake is a barrel of gold. Some time ago a man from Carrigaholt came there one morning and he was walking around the lake when a man who lived near passed by. He asked the stranger if he was looking for something and he replied that he dreamed three succeeding nights that if he came to Cahermurphy lake he would find a black stick sticking out of the bank and he would find tied to it a barrel of gold. The neighbour said that he could show him that easily and they both went to the place where the neighbour had seen the black stick hundreds of times. When they came there they could not find it. They walked round the lake but still could not find it. The stranger went

Father Meehan lived in the parish of Carrigaholt. When he lived there, there was no school, nor a chapel there. It was 1847 the time of the famine. He is remembered and famous for the little ark he built. He was put out of the church, and he built a little wooden shed, placed it on wheels, put two windows in the side of it so that the people could see and hear mass. He took it down to the sea shore, because the land by the sea did not belong to any one, and used to say mass. It is preserved in Killala church.

Killmacduan and murdered the priest and people. When the native of the place heard of the massacre. They rushed to Johns Lane which extended from the church to Dumore Castle and aided by the McMahon's army of Dunbeag defeated and annihilated army. But soon the joy raging was quelled by reinforcements of the enemy who left behind them a valley of death. But their sacrifice was not without its reward for they blocked the English to such an extent that Lord Clare OBrien was able to escape from Carrigaholt to Belgium where he defeated the English at Fontenoy. And hence it is said that a Clare man jumps with joy at the word "Fontenoy". Killard is an extensive parish and within its limits are many historic remains of bygone day's Dumore with its sixteen forts and Munmore with its sixteen lakes form parochial centre. Eight of these forts are to be seen unto this day.

them. This is supposed to be dedicated to St Brendan.
In Carrigaholt there is a Well built at the bottom of a steep cliff. There is a fish supposed to be in this well and any person who sees the fish will get the intention of his prayers.

Long ago there lived in Kilbaha three chiefs and their sister. They built three castles, one at Dun Dallon, another near Cross and another in Carrigaholt, and one of the chiefs lived in each castle. The sister lived with the one in Cross. There was a man in Kerry who had magic and he wanted to bring away the girl but the brothers would not let him. One day cattle raiders came from Liscannor and drove away all the cattle and when the chiefs heard it they followed them and left a druid minding the girl. Near, where the castle was, in the Shannon, there ws an island and a beautiful village in it named Cill Stiophin. The druid lighted a candle as it was his way of working his magic. The Kerry man sent a serpent to quench the candle and caused the druid to sleep. The Kerry man was coming across in his boat when the druid awoke and seeing the candle quenched he

Long ago there was a woman sick in Thrus Clieve and at twelve oclock in the night they sent for the priest to Carrigaholt. At that time there were no lights. When the priest was going up Moyarta Hill the pony shied and suddenly two candles came one on each ear of the pony and gave light to him until he came near the house. When he was leaving the house again one of the people offered to go with him but he said "I have lights with me" but they did not understand what he ment. The lights stayed with him until he arrived at home.

are soft and green. The root is scraped and mixed with tow (or shredded canvas bag) and applied as a poultice to the broken leg + kept in place by means of splints. The poultice hardens and after a few days can be removed. I often saw this cure used in Dangaw, Kickishen (Co Clare). In 1917 at an Irish Course in Carrigaholt, Seán Toíbín gave lectures in [?]. One day he produced a specimen (leaves only) which I recognised as "cumfree" and which he, to my surprise called "lup na zcnáin mbrisie[?]". He thought that the cure lay in the leaves and received with interest the account of method used in East Clare. None of those present had ever heard of this cure. I find it is not known in this district.