The village of Tulla owed its growth to the buildings on the "Historic Hill" by which name Tulla is known.
The territory of the MacNamaras known as Clancuillean (at first Ui Caisin) extended from the hills of Glendree (Tulla parish) (Gleann Draoi) - portion of the Slieve Aughty range - to the lower portions of the Fergus and Shannon. Numerous MacNamara castles stand as historic landarks. In the parish of Tulla they are situated at Tulla Hill - only the foundation wall - Tyredagh, Miltown (baile Slatraig), Garruragh, Rosslara, Lisofin (Lios Aoda Finn), the remains of a castle at [Bunavoree?]. In the parish of Quin (adjoining Tulla) in the town of Danganbrack (Daingean breac) there is a castle which was the chief stronghold of the MacNamaras. Others are to be found in Teerovannan, parish of Killuran, baile Cuillean, and

There are many Holy Wells around Tulla. There is one in Laharden, Miltown, one in Kiltanon, another in Crag, and another in Tulla.
It is said that Saint Mocolla who is the patron Saint of Tulla founded those wells. In the well in Tulla there is a finger print. It is said that if a person had a sore finger it would be cured if he put his finger into the print.
There are no cows or animals allowed to go near it.

Strong Men.
Patrick White the four roads Tulla,could throw half cwt over the market house beam in Tulla about sixteen feet high.Mattie Hardey Mc Inerney of Derrymore Tulla held the Championship of Newcastle West for six years in succession for weight throwing .He is dead about ten years.
John Loughlin Caherlohan ,Tulla,
(60)could straighten 7cwt, with his arm in his youth .Frank Donlen formerly of Tyreda use to lift a rail of a railway line which was 8 cwt and nobody in the locality at that time was able to compete with him about thirty years ago.Joe Garvey lifted a horse-car off the ground and it loaded with 8 cwt of potatoes.

that the darkness of paganism gave place to the true light of the Gospel. Saint Mochulla was highly reverenced and esteemed judging by the topography of East Clare. He was patron of Tulla itself and of Temple Mochulla in the south-eastern corner of the county possibly in the vicinity of Trough as there is a blessed well in that area that bears his name. Blessed wells - fifteen in number - geographically distributed over East Clare - bear the name Tobar Mochulla. Six of these are in the parish of Tulla and occupy positions to the east, west north and south of the Hill. They are to be found at Tulla, immmediately at the base of the Saint's rampart and in the townlands of Fortanne, Drimleague (Miltown) Cragg, Laharden, Kilgorey. His other wells are at Loughraney, Lough Brighid, Broadford, Clonsheera (near Trough) Ralahine, Rath ( Ráth) (Sixmilebridge) Kilnoe, and Cappavilla.

When saint Mochulla was building his church he was so busy that he had not time "to cook the bit he ate." He had trained this "blessed bull" to go to the monastery in Clonrood for food which he brought in bags (panniers another account states). On one occasion when returning to Tulla he was beset by seven robbers who beat and robbed him. "so the bull roared so loud that he was heared in Tulla." This happened at Classagh hill midway between Tulla and Ennis and overlooking Carrahan. The Saint stopped working and cursed those interfering with the bull. The robbers were immediately changed into seven pillars of limestone. The hill was then called " Knocknafearbrioga " properly "Cnoc na bhFear mBréag " and is known by that name today. Five of the pillars remain.

During the penal days the poor friars were forced to travel about the country seeking sustenance from the people. They travelled in companies and were disguised. They are now spoken of as a travelling company. Well such a travelling company came to Tulla one time. They were weary and thirsty and being refused the quenching of their thirst, the prophesied that no family in Tulla would ever endure to the third generation. Ever since no business establishment in Tulla has remained in possession of the same family to the third generation. On another occasion a travelling company sought relief in Quin. They were refused bread by the inhabitants. The members of the company were much dismayed, and cursed the people

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Biddy Early .She reproved Mr O Keefe for his remarks and said it would not be long until he would want her aid. A short time afterwards Mr O Keefe was driving a horse and cart to Tulla
.The horse shied at Maghera Cross.A terrific wind arose and O Keefe was blown off his cart on to the road where he was found senseless. His son had to solicit Biddy's aid .Reluctantly she consented to give a "bottle "that cured Mr O Keefe .
After being with Biddy for some time ,and after getting a "bottle" which Biddy said would cure her daughter for Biddy had previously looked through her own bottle to discern if the cure would be effective or not.Mrs Murphy set out for home.her way home led her through the village of Tulla .Although it was a fair day in Tulla Mrs Muphy passed through the streets .She recognised nobody ,although she was quite familiar with most of the Tulla people. Neither was she aware of the presence of the fair .She never remembered seeing a beast.Mrs Murphy

There is a little bell which was used during Mass, and an Altar Stone which was used during Mass also, in the old church called Tulla, which was situated on a "tulla". They are now in my father's house. These the priest uses in saying Mass in houses of the district.

Tulla was named among the parishes in the diocese of Killaloe in 1302.In 1314 Murchad O'Brien laid waste Clan Cuilean loctrac (lower) - the territory of the Macnamaras because they had sided with his opponent Diarmuid O'Brien, and broke into and despoiled the church of Tulla. (This is at variance with account given in "Memoirs of O'Briens." MacNamaras were on side of Murchad.) In the year 1350 the MacNamaras are said to have commenced the building of a Franciscan monastery in Lisduff in the parish of Tulla. The place where the Hayes family of Lisduff lives is still known as Abbeyhill. They, however, abandoned the idea and changed the site to Quin where they embodied in that mmagnificant building - Quin Abbey- the Normman castle erected earlier there by De Clare, the Norman, of Bunratty.

In 1367 the monastery of Tulla, despoiled in 1350, was re-built by Convarn MacNamara the then Lord of Clancuilean (the territory of the MacNamaras, at first known as Uí Caisín and granted to his son, Teige, a priest. Following him, Macon MacNamara, chief of Clancuilean, 1393-1397 endowed Tulla with a number of lands, forming the "Termon of the Church." These lands included Tulla, Killeen, Lisofin, Clon[teen?], Knockdruimleague, Moymore, Fomerla Kiltanon, Tirsheeda (Tyredagh) Kildonalballagh (now Ardbody or Ardboula), Ballyore, Creggancryen, Drumaghmartin Bunavonee, Furhee, Laughaun, Cutteen and Rine.
The rector of the Parish Church that year (1393) was Macon MacNamara's son, Donchad (Denis) MacNamara. Other priests were Reginald O'Halloran 1407 and Gilbert O'Lane (O'Lean) 1421.

91.
A Saint of this District.9.6.38 Saint Mochulla ,patron saint of Tulla parish was well known and much respected in this district.At a place called Lassana in the parish of Clooney are the remains of seven tall stones varying in height from 4 1/2 feet to 6 feet.They are said to be the bodies of seven robbers .When the saint was building his Church in Tulla ,it is said that he had a blessed bull which he trained to carry provisions and other things.he used to send the bull with bags to Ennis Abbey where the monks used put provisions into them for him .Seven robbers found this out and they planned to rob the bull.They lay in hiding in Lassana Hill and attacked the bull beat him and robbed the bags.The bull roared so loudly that he was heard in Tulla. The saint heard the roar and he prayed and cursed the the one that was at his bull ,as hard as he could and that very minute the

About fifty years ago there were two young men living in the townland of Bavan (a townland in the Omeath district) by the name of John Mullen R.I.P. and the other, Andy Traynor. About the first of June they were on top of Bavan mountain keeping their young cattle out at night. About twelve o'clock at night they heard music a little higher up than they were. They looked round and seen hundreds of little men marching just above them. In the middle of the crowd they were carrying a coffin on their shoulders. The men sat down an(d) watched the crowd for about twenty minutes till they came to a place on the top of Tulla mountain called Carna-vren-ar. They started to dig a grave. When the two men saw that, they made for home as fast as they could. When they came to Tulla Bridge there came a man out from under it about ten feet high and asked them were they night-walkers too. They never heard such a voice in all their life. They got such a fright that they came home and went to bed and did not rise for a week.
Tulla is a townland in the Omeath

Place, Pronounciation, Situation"Malbroc mor", Tulla Mt
Cnoc Ruadh, Cronk Rooa, Tulla Mt
Malaidhe bhan, Mally wan, Tulla Mt
Dara creag, Tulla Mt
Cnoc aibhle, Croc Elva, Corrakitt Mt
Lios a "tigile", Corrakitt Mt
Creag a stalaidhe, on Corrakitt MtCollected by:
Paddy Kane (13)
Tulla,
Omeath.

After the Battle of the Boyne 1st July 1691 the Irish army retreated to Limerick, General De Ginkel followed on, he was one of William of Orange's General's. On his was to Limerick he passed by Tulla, and rested with his army for one night. To this day a field in Tulla goes by the name of the "Picket Field", which means the camping field.
The people in this area got friendly with them, and he gave them free holds of land for service rendered.

Tulach - Tulla - a little hill
House in Tulla now - 7
" long ago - 12
Five slated houses and 2 thatched.
The Houses gone are, Jack Walsh's,
M Lonergan's, Jude Lewis, Donnachad Phádraigh and Barry's. The walls of Lonergan's, Walsh's Barry's are still standing.
Names of Fields.
The Móínteán; Bill Wyse's Field, Long Ochard, Donnchadh's Field, Páircín Raymond, Páirc an Cleampair, the Liss Field.
Donnchadh Field is called because a workman named Donnchadh Phádraigh Lonargan had a little house at the corner of it. Páirc an Champair was the cause of a dispute between the Landlord of Tulla and Kilgrogy.
The Townsland contains about 200 acres of good land, Two of the houses have clay walls, the others are made of ceent and stone.
In Tulla the cows are baled with a chain round their necks and tied to a pole with a partition between every two.

Hill.
There is a fair green in Tulla but the cattle break out and are sold afterwards on the streets.At the old fairs of Tulla there is a toll paid to a man in the street who bought the custom from the Government some years ago.It is 3d for cattle and 2d for sheep. When a buyer buys an animal he gives some piece of money such ass 2/6 the way the animal would be lucky.The cattle are marked with raddle or a piece of hair cut off their flank.it is not lucky to part with a halter as it is usually sent back.

Many years ago there lived in Tulla a saint named Moculla. He built a monastery on the hill of Tulla behind the Boys National School. People from all parts of Clare came to this man to be educated. It is said that this holy man had a bull and that this bull used to go to Ennis every day for provisions for his master. One day as he was coming from Ennis he was met by robbers somewhere around Caraghan. The robbers, it is said, attacked him and he roared very loudly. St. Moculla heard him roaring and he cursed the robbers. People say the robbers were turned into three stones somewhere near Caraghan school and that these stones can be seen there yet. At one time St. Moculla was at war with

Martain Murphy of Roslara, Tulla was taken by the good people every night for seven years. They used to hurl on Roslara lake and used to fight so hard that he thought the water would be blood instead of water in the morning. He went to Limerick once for a cwt. of meal which cost £1 at that time. There were sports in Tulla the same day and there was a Scotch man there and he got 1st prize for jumping. He boasted that there was not a man in the field, in England or in Ireland to beat him. Martain stepped in and said there was and bet £30 - 1. The first jump Martain took he came on the Scotch man's tracks the second he beat him 4 inches with his over coat on. The Scotch man then took up the money and handed it to Martain. He went to Limerick and

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great to weave and spin, and they made their living by those. Pat Neill who is living presently in Tulla was a son of the "weaver".
Edmond Murphy of Main St. Tulla Co Clare is great for making "scutle" for bringing turf or potatoes. 'Tis a basket made of ozier rods and scollups.
The present Thomas Whelan's mother who lived in Tyredagh Tulla Co. Clare had a mould for making candles and she used to make the candles for house-use. The candles were made by putting a piece of twine in the middle of the mould and by pouring tallow all round it .
Jerry Keefe who lived in Miltown Tulla Co Clare used to burn an amount of lime, and everyone who heard of it bought it from him. Jer Keefe his son who lives in Miltown carries on burning it also. Old Jerry Keefe lived to a great age (80 years) he died twelve or thirteen years ago.
Tommy Murphy of Derrynagullian had a mould for making candles. He used to make candles of tallow of a goat or of a sheep.
Tommy Kennedy used to make cranes, gates, ploughs, and spades.
Larry McNamara of Moymore used to be great for thatching.
James Burke spent all his life time fowling and always the people called him "fowler Burke".

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"Ancient Stones"
There were monks living in the district of Tulla long ago.The monks had a bull trained to bring provisions from Ennis to Tullla.One day when he was on his way to Tulla with provisions he was attacked by robbers.
He roared and one of the monks in Tulla heard him and cursed whoever was at him.Immediately the four robbers were were turned to stone.,and the four stones are still to be seen on the old Spancilhill road.
On the top of Keeragh crag there is a little stone house and everyone who passes that way puts a stone on top of it.,because James Burke died there.