School: Ros Cré (B.) (roll number 1594)
- Location:
- Roscrea, Co. Tipperary
- Teacher: D. Nash
Archival Reference
The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0548, Page 221
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- Monahincha, the island in the bog commonly known as the Holy Island is situated about two miles from Roscrea. Long ago there was a lake there which was called Lough Cree but this lake was drained into the river Nore in the ninteenth century and now forms a boundary between Tipperary and Leix.
One this lake were two islands; the Island of the living which was the smaller of the two was a place to where saints went who wanted to live alone - with God. It was called the Island of the living because it was said that no one could die who went on this island. Of course this is not to say that their bodies could not die - it meant that their souls could not die, because Our Lord said "He that eatht of this bread shall live for ever". No woman could go on the large island because she would die. This was often experimented, when men brought female animals on the island but they dropped dead the moment their feet touched the island.
The first to visit the island is said to be St Canic[?] who had a monastery in Agharloe but who went on a retreat each year to Monahincha.
He did not let anyone know where he was but he got letters and messages each day by means of the "Garnawn[?] Bown[?]." This was the White Horse which passed each day without a guide from Agherloe to Mona-(continues on next page)
- Collector
- Liam Meagher
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Rosemary Street, Co. Tipperary
- Informant
- Mr W.M. Maher
- Gender
- Male
- Address
- Rosemary Street, Co. Tipperary
