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School: Clara (2)

Location:
Clara, Co. Offaly
Teacher:
Bean Mhic Thomáis
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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0807, Page 440

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The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0807, Page 440

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  1. Story of Hugh de Lacy

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    [This legend is pretty general. I first heard it from Tommy Flattery p. 11]
    When the Normans came to Ireland i=1169-1172 the king gave a piece of land to each chief.
    He gave Westmeath and Offaly then called the Province of Meath to Hugh de Lacy. Then when Hugh came to take up his part of the country he found the people did not want him so he had to fight against them.
    In order to keep his soldiers safe he had to build castles. He built on in Kilclare and another in Horseleap. These castles were built with stone and there was a moat around the castle so that it would be hard for an enemy to attack the castle.
    When Horseleap castle was attacked the enemy managed to cross the moat. So Hugh de Lacy jumped the castle wall and moat on his horse.
    The village off of Horseleap is called after that.
    He also built a castle near Durrow and it is said he took the stones of Durrow Abbey to build it. Hugh used to visit this castle as it was being erected. A man named Fox went to
    (continues on next page)
    Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.
    History Edit
    Language
    English
    Collector
    George Whitehead
    Gender
    Male
    Address
    Erry (Maryborough), Co. Offaly