Long ago three pleasure boats used to go on excursions from Banagher to Killaloe. They used to pass Portumna on the route. A man named Tom Burke was going on an excursion one time, but he was late for the boat. He started to run to Killaloe from Portumna and got there as soon as the boat.
John Harris from Cappasaile, used to go out with his reaping hook every day and cut three roods of corn in the day. He charged the people 3/- an acre. He is still living and in good health. He is 86 years of age.

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Mondays. This particular Sunday there was to be a hurling match in Croom. A team called Libertys from Limerick city were to play a team in Croom. Mick Coll was one of the best men in the Libertys team. That Sunday morning he drove his mail out of Limerick city to Killaloe. He walked back again to Limerick a distance of sixteen miles he had his dinner and ran to Croom a distance of twelve miles. There he hurled with his team and won the match. He walked home to Limerick, ran out to Killaloe and drove back his mail car to Limerick city all in good time.

There are a great many treasures hidden around this district.
It is that years ago when the roads were being made a man named Patrick Ryan found some silver and gold in Castle-Lough between Portroe and Killaloe.
It is said also that on the hill overlooking Killaloe there is an amount of lead and silver which has never been discovered. The name of that hill is "Crag Hill".
People often searched for the silver but never could find any because they did not know the exact spot in which the silver was hidden.

About four years ago five young lads from Killaloe went playing on the canal bank. One of them thought of a plan to go for a swing on the canal gate and the rest of them agreed to go. There was no one around at the time so they went on the gate and began to swing on it. After a while the gate broke and they were all thrown into the water. One of them chanced to cling to a piece of grass and was saved. At last help came and they sent for a diver. The diver came and he dived down to the bottom. He found them near one another at the bottom. The four boys were coffined and buried in one grave in Killaloe Church yard. There was a terrrible conflagration between Birdhill and Castleconell in the year 1925. The republicans went down to the railway to shout a famous man named Captain Stack. When the train was coming the republicans made a sign for the train to stop. The driver would not stop the republicans shot him.
They made all the people get out of the train. When the people were out they burned the train with petrol and tarr. The flames

A sad drowning incident occured on the 15 th of August 1886. Three men left Birdhill and went down to O'Briens Bridge pikefishing. When they arrived at O'Briens Bridge they took drink to an excess. They left O'Briens Bridge on their return journey and nearing Parteen they had a row and the boat got capsized with the result that two men of the three got drowned. Their names were, Mr. Gleeson and Mr. Moonan, and the survirors names was O'Shea from Killaloe. Gleesons body was found within one yard of the shore and Moonans Body was found about 500 yards away from Gleesons.
The next drowning occured in O'Briens Bridge also on the 17.th. of August 1906 and three lives were lost. The day was stormy and the men were warned not to venture out but they persisted in doing so with the above result. It was regatta day in Killaloe and the regatta was abandoned owing to the drowning. Their bodies were not found until late next evening. I did not hear of the mens names that were drowned.

There was no machine for making candles in this area as far as the old people can remember. The only method for making candles in the old times was to collect a number of rushes and strip off the skin, and steep the pet in tallow which was obtained from the fat of a goat. Those candles were called paudeens and the cats often devoured some of them. Those candles would hold lighting for two hours but the light shown from them was very feeble. Soap-making was started in Kingstown bog which is quiet near Annaholty. It was started by two men named Mc.Conson and King from Waterford. My grandmother worked there. As the soap-making was not a success they turned the machinery into the use of making turf. The turf was dug in the raw state and thrown into the machinenery which resembled the present day stone-crusher. The sods came out shaped in lengths about twenty foot long. Those were cut with a knife and spread out to dry. It was afterwards clamped up and removed in wagons by means of a railway which ran from the bog to where the present railway is now. There was a siding there to hold ten waggons which the train from Killaloe would carry away when filled down to Waterford for shipment to England. There was an old woman named Mrs. Ryan living in Annaholty about thrirty years ago. She was the only only spinner that I heard of. She used to spin thread for making jerseys, socks, and stockings. This tread was taken to a weaver named Mr. Gleeson from Killaloe. He used to make lovely shawls which were sold at twelve and sixpece each. The material for manufacturing this fabric was obtained from the local farmers after

saw a large crowd of men about a half a mile ahead of him. They assembled in a field which was then owned by the late Mr. White of Killaloe and in his curiosity he waited for a while to see what they were about to do and after a few minutes he saw forty two men stripped off and they commenced a hurling match which was something similar to the hurling nowadays. After about ten minutes play one side scored a goal. My father was very interested in the game and he stayed there watching them. One of the players hit the ball in his direction and it landed on the railway and one of the players came out after it and he saw my father standing on the ditch and soon after a while one of the players got injured and my father was called on to take his place. He went in and hurled with them and wehn the match was over my father's side were the victors. Then a band entered the field and played the victors to the foord at Mrs. Hayes house. The band and victor's turned back and my father came on his way home until he came to Killaloe cross

Derrycastle the residence of Sir. James Spate was at one time one of the finest mansions in Munster. It is situated between Ballina and Portroe overlooking the lordly Shannon. Mr. Spate was a protestant and had particular hate against the priests. On One particular night he was coming from Killaloe and he met the Parish Priest of Killaloe who was the late Rev. Fr. Collier. They had some altercation with regard to Mr. Spate's servants not attending Mass. He abused the priest and spit at him and the priest said to him "Get away you scoundral, when you'll arrive home you'll have something else to trouble you." So he had. When he arrived within a mile of his mansion he saw it in a blazing furnace. Nothing could be done to save it and no one made any attempt to save it. It is an old ruin from that day to this and as a parting shot the priest said "Derrycastle without an heir" and neither was there.
The is an old ruin near where I live. It was originally owned by a family named Ryans and they had the most

including the present parish of Newport, was then assigned to the diocese of Killaloe, to which the small diocese of modern North Tipperary were attached.
But the rule of the Synod could not be rigidly followed in all cases and exceptions were allowed. The evolution of the present dioceses took some time and the Barony of Owney and Ara came in for special consideration. Some of it was taken from the diocese of Killaloe and annexed to Cashel. According to the late Canon Gleeson the explanation seems to be that the Butlers of Ormond annexed the district, because of its proximity to the Abbey of Owney, ie, Abington. The Butlers founded this abbey in 1205 and got extensive grants of land for it from King John. At some subsequent period the Earls of Ormond seem to have appropriated the territories of Dow-Arra, Owney-Mulryan, Kilnelongorte, Dow O'Loyagh and Muskrykry, and so they became with the Ormond country generally, part of the diocese of Cashel. Though the O'Carrols always contested Ormond jurisdiction in civil matters over these territories, the Ecclesiastical arrangement was sanctioned by all concerned, and the diocese of Cashel was extended to embrace what are now the parishes of Newport, Ballinahinch and Ballina, about the

the more fertile mountain slopes. A large part of the present inhabitants of the Hills of Tipperary is directly descended from those gallant heroes who left their happy homes in Tír Connaill to strive and die in the cause of Róisín Dubh.
Eighty nine years later on storied Camáilte gained everlasting renown by giving sanctuary to the immortal Sarsfield and his gallant band on their way to destroy the Williamite siege train at Ballyneety. A local poet and teacher of other days has sung of this famous ride "by Killaloe and Glownculoo and Bun Camáilte Vale". Sarsfield led by the Rapparee Chief Galloping O'Hogan crossed the Shannon at Killaloe and pushed on by Boher until they reached the slope of Keeper Hill. Here they bivouced where Ballyhourigan wood now grows . On the following day they crossed the spur of the range to where the little hamlet of Túr an tSagart nestles in the shelter of Camáilte Vale. Then on by Béal an t-Sléibh (Baleaclave) Bearna Neóiní (Barnadomeeny) Gabhal Mór (Goulmore) to Átha Soluis ford where they crossed the Mulcaire. Then on by Currach Marca (Crockmarka) to Doon, Cullen and Ballyneety.

The strongest man in Killaloe to-day is David Haskett who I am glad to say is still hale and hearty today.
His greatest feat is that of hoisting the bell of Ballina R.C. Church on his shoulder and carrying it up the ladder to its present position.
The most powerful swimmer in this district was the late Michel Scanlan, Killaloe who frequently swam from the Clare shore to the Tipperary shore and back again.
The most noted dancer in this district was a Miss Hurley now dead

beauty. Both had their saintly homes destroyed by the Viking invader. What was left of the former (St. Lua's) had been removed and re-erected, and now lies alongside the Catholic Church at Killaloe, to save its being submerged by the rising waters of the Shannon in consequence of the hydro-electrical scheme. At the beginning of the eleventh century a brother of Brian Boru was Abbot of Iniscalthra.On the Island where Saint Lua's oratory stood there was a holy well and people used to visit it especially on Lady's Day on the 15th August. Many cures were obtained by doing rounds there and reciting prayers. There is a street in Killaloe called Saint Lua Street after the saint.

Hidden TreasureTreasure is supposed to be hidden at three points under the surface of the water in the River Shannon and Lough Derg near Killaloe. (1) In Foleys angle beside the main road, 2 1/2 miles north of Killaloe. (2) 200 yards yards north-east from Parker's boathouse, townland of Ballyvally (3) in a marsh adjoining Cok's trench in an area known as Bailboru near Brian's Boru's forth. In connection with (1) the story is as follows. At a depth of ten feet under the surface of the water it is said that rough logs of wood laid side by side may be seen on a clear sunny day. These are believed to cover a wooden stairway which leads to a cave far below the bottom of the lake. The treasure concealed here is believed to be Danish in origin. Bands of Danes who plundered and robbed along the shores of the lake and believed to have concealed their plunder at this point. This would have been a very suitable place to conceal treasure as the point is even to the present day well concealed by a deep wood and is well in off the main line of the lake. The depth of the lake has

the southern end of the town "Shantrad", the old street.
The only evidence of plague dates back to 1847, the year of the famine. Cholera is said to have broken out among the inhabitants and unfortunate victims were found dead along the road leading from Killaloe to Ballyvalley, their mouths green from trying to eat grass on the roadside, about two hundred yards due south-west from our school (Killaloe) Boy's there is a small field still called the "Hospital" field. Here eighty-six unfortunate victims of the cholera are said to have been thrown uncoffined into the grave. There is record of one murder which dates back to about 1820. A soldier returning home from the Battle of Waterloo thought that his young sweetheart was unfaithfully to him. He stabbed her to death beside a well where she was getting some water. This well is situated

Patrick Noonan of Killaloe who is now dead was a great nail maker he lived on the Canal Bank where he carried on his trade. It was not by machine he made those nails but by hand which was the old fashioned way.
Tim Maher of Killaloe who is now dead was a great firkin maker. Coopering was a profitable business at that time as butter fetched a high price in the market. There were no creameries at that time and all butter was packed into these wooden firkins and sen to the nearest market town to be sold by the broker to the butter merchant.
Long ago the people used to make there own candels in there own homes. They melted tallo

remains intact by leaves cluster about it and the hue of the stone has been toned by time and wether. The doorway is in the west gable and consists of four highly wrought stone arches with a comon keystone. The fine architecture of this doorway is set in relief by unadorned facade formed by the wall itself and the stone roof tapering to a point. A window in the last gable is ornamented in the style know as Irish Romanesque architecture. The Church is not unlike St Columalles's house at Kells.
The oratory of St. Flannan so full of intrest to the antiquarian is cherished by the people of the diocese of Killaloe as a memento of that Saint and Bishop.
Another Oratory built by Saint Lua which stood on a small Island on the Shannon below Killaloe. It had to be removed

of Killaloe where he lived.There was some miracle attached to his journey to Rome and he also performed a lot on his return from Rome.To the present day his name still lives on the cathedral of his diocese the cathedral church of St Flannan of Killaloe.

On the 18th December, is celebrated the feast of St Flannan, who is the patron St of Killaloe.
He was born in the year 610. He was son of Lurlough prince of Lhomand.
He entered a monastry in Killaloe, under St Molua and after a short time he was made Abbot.
In the year 641 priests and people assembled and requested that Flannan should be their Bishop. He went

On the 18th December will be celebrated the feast of St. Flannan patron St. of the Diocese of Killaloe.He was born in the year 610. He was son of Tulough prince of Thomond. He entered a monastery in Killaloe under St. Molua and after a short time he was made Abbot.In the year 641 priests and people assembled and requested that Flannan should be their Bishop. He went to Rome and was

Torpahy of Cooscaun ate his breakfast in his own house and walked to Limerick, and was back to his supper in the evening again walking. Geerin of Bubla [?} had a horse that brought him to Killaloe in two hours. After milking the cowes you should put a cross on the cows with the milk for luck. Forty years ago there was very thick ice on the Shannon, and a man named Stanly roak a bicycle to Tipperary across the Shannon on the ice. To dream of a party is a sign of a wake.