School: Sliabh na Cille (roll number 14513)

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1. In the Penal Times

   

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   Another version of the last story gives the name of the hunted priest as Father Mc Gowan but the more common tradition is that his name was Father Ambrose Cassidy. He was, I have heard, a native of Blacklion District of Co. Cavan. He was the last hunted priest in this parish. He was here in 1798.

   It is said that when he was pursued by the yeomen that he stood behind a holly bush. The yeomen passed by but they did not see him - except one man who noticed his hiding place. This man was called Cullen.

   In some years afterwards when the priests got their freedom, the priest met Cullen who asked the priest if he remembered the day he was behind the holly bush. The priest said he did and then Cullen said that he saw him. The priest replied that he could not have seen him unless he was baptised. Cullen replied that he never heard that he was. He said, however, that he was sickly when he was young and that he was in charge of a Catholic nurse. He said that the nurse was still alive and that he would go to see her. She told him that she got leave from his parents to get him baptised as he was delicate when young.

   (Michael Flynn from his father, Michael Flynn of Carntulla.)

   Some people say that this nurse baptised him secretly herself in case he would die.

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. time
      1. historical periods by name (~25)
         1. penal times (~4,335)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Michael Flynn

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Carntullagh, Co. Leitrim

   Informant

   Michael Flynn

   Relation

   Parent

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Carntullagh, Co. Leitrim