outstripped competition. He was stubborn and morose; and subject to furious outbursts of passion. His brother, alone, could change his most wayward mood to a seeming tranquility. From him he feared no rivalry in his hazardous and reckless career, for in him he beheld a gentle and high-souled being that looked up to him more for protection than competition - were not his brother and he twins? And though he never saw his mother, was not O'Kennedy said to be her striking resemblance? And was this not a powerful chain to link him, if possible, still closer to the unassuming child of genius?
Thus grew the youths to the years of maturity, one the admiration and the other the terror of the surrounding country. They had scarcely completed their 20th year when their father died suddenly. On the day of his death O'Kennedy O'Brien was at Holy Island and O'Brien O'Brien was on a fishing excursion on the Connaught shore.
Some time previous to his death Gerald O'Brien made a will to the following effect:-
"Dromineer Castle and the adjoining tract of land were to be the joint property of the two brothers,

with the proviso that O'Kennedy O'Brien should marry and O'Brien O'Brien should continue to be celibate; and that after the decease of both, the reversion of the property should be in favour of the heir to the former. But in case O'Kennedy O'Brien's wife died and left him heirless it was ruled that he could not marry a second time, but that O'Brien O'Brien was to marry and the property was to revert to his heirs (if any) after the demise of O'Kennedy O'Brien. It was also provided that if either party violated any article of the will, that he and his, thereby, forfeited all right and title to the proeprty or any portion thereof.
"It was further provided that in case both parties should die without issue the castle & lands of Dromineer were to be entailed on the Brotherhood of the Seven Churches of the Holy Island".
The brothers reached the house of mourning at dark. O'Kennedy's grief, on finding his father was no more, was immoderate. O'Brien gazed at the pale corpse with apparent indifference. A slight twitching of the features and a transient gloom of countenance were the only observable traces of emotion.
The report of the old man's death being spread abroad, the Castle was soon thronged with retainers and mourners. It is a custom from time immemorial to have amusements and sports at Irish wakes, In the retired parts of Ireland going to a wake is quite a friendly concern,

at a cross-road. It is about four miles from Nenagh and two and a half mile from Dromineer. Here in this school protestants were employed to cheat catholics of their religion. The people supplied soup and food for Catholics who would go into the school. Then they would teach those poor waifs the protestant teachings.
This was a great temptation for the poor dying people of the country-side, but the Light of Faith that Saint Patrick brought to Ireland, still kept alive in those Irish hearts.
At every temptation they gained courage and said bravely "we will die for Christ who died for us".
Although the greater number of the people remained faithful to their religion, there were some who sold their souls for a drink of 'Soup'.
The soup and food distributed in the local 'soup' school was supplied by the Minnits[?] of Annaghbeg, according to tradition. I do not know

There are five graveyards, in this parish, one in Cloughprior, Monsea, Kilodiernan, Dromineer, and Knigh.
None of the graveyards are round in shape - they are oblong.
In the middle of the Cloughprior graveyard there is a mound. It is in the part where the protestants are buried. This mound up to a few years ago was growing nothing but weeds. Mr. Waller got it tilled, and sowed daffodils there.
There are some very old tomb stones in Cloughprior some dating back to 1,847, 1,786, and 1,736. In 1736 a man named James Hogan of Ashley Park who was evicted in the Penal times by a man named White was buried in Cloughprior. The tomb-stone bears the inscription; Sacred to the memory of James Hogan formely of Ashley Park who died

The roads generally got their names from the places through which they run.
The road which runs through Puckane leads from Nenagh to Terryglass and a branch leads from Puckane to Dromineer. The Prospect road runs from Knigh to Carney and thence to Terryglass and Kilbarron.
There is an old road which runs from just at the cross of Claree to the cross of Knigh. It runs through the townland of Prospect, Killard and Knigh. It is called the "Blind Lane". It was the road from Nenagh to Kilbarron and Terryglass. There is another old road near Cloughprior. It starts between Cloughprior and the Cross of Prospect and comes out on the present roads between Carney and the Cross of Ballythomas. It is called the "Dwane's Road".
There is a mass path from Killard to Puckane. It runs through the townland of Killard Lisduff and Puckane.

the local tenants.
4. Captain Bigges Atkinson lives at Ashly Park, Nenagh. They evicted a large number of families. They sold their land to the Land Commission and was divided up also.
5. Mr. Minnit lives at Annabeg, Dromineer. His land was divided up among the tenants. They always lived on friendly terms with the tenants.
6. Mr Headache lives at Peter Field, Puckane. They had no evictions or plantations. Miss Headache has a house in Puckane with as many windows in the house, as days in the year.

About the year 1840 a small boat loaded with delph was coming across Lough Derg from Dromineer into Williamstown Harbour.
Eleven men were on board. On of the men accidentally stepped on portion of the delph + a broken piece pierced the thin bottom. The water poured in and every man was drowned. When the boat was recovered, the cause of the disaster was explained.
NB The foregoing was got from P. Burke Eng T.D., Dromaan, WhitegateIn 1830 three men were drowned in Lough Derg. namely Ogle O'Connor, Willis O'Connor, John Keys and an unknown man were in a sailing boat. A storm arose the boat was capsized & the first three men were drowned. They are burined in the old graveyear of graveyard of Clonrush + a flat tombstone marks this grave.Williamstown House, Dromaan + the police barracks were burned during the troubles times in the year 1930 by the Irish R. army.

Scarcely had he given the child to his nurse when one of his retainers tapped at his door. He handed a purse of gold, silver crucifix & a letter in O'Kennedy's hand. He had got them in the basket.
The contents of the letter were:-
"O'Kennedy, thou art childless. To thy care an unfortunate wanderer consigns the orphan daughter of his heart's affections. Train her up as thy own; and as thou doest unto her may God do unto you. Perhaps in happier hours she may be claimed at thy hands by her illfated father."
From that moment O'Kennedy loved the little maid. He christened her Geraldine. Sixteen years had passed and the young maiden knew nought of her birth. One May day a small boat was seen shining on Lough Derg between Dromineer and Islandmore. In the boat were two women and a man.
As the neared the Island the younger lady's glove fell into the water, and while endeavouring to get it she too fell into the lake. The man jumped in after her and seized her. Now, the boat drifted with the current & he could not catch it. He then swam toward the shore. A pilgrim, who heard the shrieks of the other women came to the rescue in his boat. He took them ashore.
The people now learned the man in the 1st boat was a Kevin O'Connor & the young lady was Geraldine.

was overwhelmed with joy at the thought of having his son back safely to him.
Geraldine appeared beside the couch on which Keevan Connors lay and told O'Kennedy O'Brien of her love for this man.
After this Fr. Anselmo went to ask the murderer to confess his sins. He said "Send me here O'Kennedy O'Brien; let the lady Geraldine and the woman Kathleen accompany him."
O'Kennedy appeared and asked what this wretch wanted him for.
"Take that torch-light; hold it above my head, look at these features and say if thou knowest me". O'Kennedy took the torch and recognised his brother, O'Brien O'Brien.
"Send for Geraldine; she is my daughter, and the daughter of my wedded wife, Aileen Moroney, who now fills the the office of menial in thy Castle for her daughter's sake!"
O'Kennedy ordered O'Brien's hands to be freed. O'Brien stalked up and down the prison. Suddenly he stopped and faced O'Kennedy.
"O'Kennedy O'Brien", he exclaimed, "I am come to claim my daughter, the lady Geraldine, at your hands. According to our father's will she, and she alone, is the right and lawful owner of Dromineer

There are many heroes in this and the surrounding parishes, but the most noted of all is Robert M. N. Tisdall. Robert was born at Hazelpoint, Dromineer, of Irish parents, about thirty years ago. He is the swiftest runner in the world to-day.
In his young days Tisdall was a good runner, winning many prizes at local sports. He was educated in Oxford University, where he won several running championships.
After some time he went to Los Angeles, where the Olympic games were held. Here Tisdall won the hurdle race and 100 yards championships. Besides those he won several races in America.
In 1932 Tisdall returned to Ireland. He spent his holidays at his native home in Hazelpoint, on the banks of the Shannon.
During his sojourn in Ireland the people, of his own native Nenagh, to celebrate the occasion of his visit, held a sports. These sports were very well attended. Robert Tisdall himself gave a speech to all the young athletes. He said they, too, would win fame, if they worked hard, as he had done.
Then Tisdall went to Gemany where he won 100 yards championship. At present Robert is in

There once lived in Lahorna a man named James Stapleton. He was considered the strongest man of the day in this parish.
He could lift two men off the ground, one in each hand. He was one of the noted hurlers in the Lahorna De-Wett[?] hurling team.
He could mow one acre of hay or corn in one day.
In a tug-o'-war he could easily pull six strong men.
He was also considered a great swimmer, and in his younger days, he won many prizes for swimming at sports in DromineerSupplied by Peter Cullen Lahorna.

Candles were made in Dromineer. These candles were called 'dips'.
Baskets were made from hazel and sally switches and a 'dog-briar'. Out of the 'dog-briar' they made the bow. Then they twist the switches in and out through the ribs.
No one thatches for his living in this district now. People thatch their own houses now.
There is no rope making carried on in the district but about two years ago a man made a rope out of binding twine.
All the carpenters, Mr. Leamey[?], Mr. Kelly. Mr. Treacy and Mr. Dwyer make care wheels but they never make churns or barrels.
People used to burn lime in kilns. They used to dig a deep hole in the ground and line it with bricks. Then they filled it with collum[?] and stones.

1. The Person who told the Story. Mr. Michael Ryan.
2. Address. 5. Dublin Road, Nenagh. Co. Tipp
3. Age. 82 years.
4. Occupation. Retired. Horse Trainer
5. When incident occurred:- About 20
6. To whom it was told:- Teresa Clandillon (12). Above address.
One time there was a lawyer living in Summerhill and his favourite pastime was fishing. He often went down to Dromineer for this purpose.
He always took a special boatman with him and one time it happened that this man was sick so the lawyer had to hire another man This man's name was Tom.
They set out early in the morning and, needless to say they were very hungry when dinner time arrived They had six eggs for dinner and they made a fire to fry them.
When they were dividing the eggs it fell to Tom to divide them and this was manner in which he did it:-
"Two to me, sir," said Tom "and