The parish of Kilrush has five graveyards. These are an old and a new graveyard in Askamore (half-parish of Kilrush) and an old and a new grave-yard in Kilrush and one old graveyard in Brideswell, (in the half-parish of Askamore) which has been closed for about forty seven years.The old graveyards in Askamore and Kilrush are seldom used except for a burial of an old person who had got permission to be buried there.The graveyards are either square or rectangular in shape.Brideswell old graveyard is partly square shaped but the corners are not pointed. They are all level.Brideswell old graveyard is surrounded with big fir trees. Some shrubs and one sycamore tree are growing in Askamore Cemetry.The oldest date to be found in Askamore graveyard is November 1782. The stone is said to have been brought from Kilcavan old Graveyard - Parish of Tomacork. The stone is an old home-made one and bears the inscription of Elizabeth Doyle. Although the
had been removed it is not known whether the remains were removed or not.The next oldest date in Askamore graveyard is January, 1818. Denis Kirwan is buried there.

A story is told about a big black dog that appeared on the bridge in Askamore, not far from Askamore Church, in the Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford.One night a woman was going home and when she was crossing the bridge at Askamore she saw this black dog walking beside her. He walked along with her as far as the Church, then she found that she had lost her cloak. She turned back to look for it, she saw the dog standing on it, and she took it from under him. He disappeared then and she never saw him again.

The townland of Askamore, Parish of Ferns, Barony of Scarawalsh, is situated at the foot of a mountain called Slievewee.
Its population is in or about seventy , and homesteads twelve. The majority of the houses have slate roofs, but there are some parts of mud wall cabins to be seen.
On the road leading from Askamore to Ballyduff is called the Hill road, you can see the ruins of four houses belonging to Pender's, Kennedy's, Kenny's and Whites who resided there at one time.Some of these people emigrated to America and Austrailia in the famine days and afterwards.
On the Mass path leading from Askamore to Ballybeg are ruins of old cabins also. Chambley's, Moran's and Brennan's, These also left the country.
On the lands of Kiltilahane there is a very ancient old ruins ,which once was a two storey house, occupied by a gentleman named Goodison, who was a landlord of that townland, and when he died the land was divided amongst a number of tenants.Only two in the townland of Askamore are over seventy years. They speak English. The land of Askamore are a mixture of bog and mountain and the lowlands are rich and fertile.

99Old GraveyardsThere are three graveyards in this parish. There are two in Askamore and one in Brideswell. The two in Askamore are in the townland of Askamore and the one that is in Brideswell is in the townland of Brideswell. The two in Askamore are still used but the one in Brideswell is not used. None of the churchyards are round in shape. There are no church ruins in any of them. All of the churchyards are sloping towards the west. There are trees in Brideswell and it contains very old tombs There are crosses in it. The dates go back to the year 1447. There are no iron or wooden crosses there.James Nolan
Ballyconran.

A Body-snatching incident is connected with Askamore old graveyard.The first burial was that of a poor man of the tramp class. Some Doctors or Medical Students were living a few miles distant at Donishall House (now in the possession of the Reid family). When it became known that the burial had taken place two men were engaged to steal the body by night.A portion of the dead man's habit (night-cap) was found in the vicinity of the graveyard, and this led to the discovery of the stolen body.Whenever a burial took place for some time after, a watch was kept for nine nights following lest the body might be stolen.In the Askamore old Graveyard are the grave of three Insurgents who took part in the Rebellion of 1798. These are a Mr. Sheridan of Askamore Parish of Kilrush Co. Wexford; and a Mr. Anderson and Killbride of the same parish.

A strange animal resorted the district of Askamore, Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford, some years ago.
A small white animal covered with dark spots and it resembled a ferret in shape and it was called a Martin. They are seldom seen. They do great destruction to young lambs in the Spring time. When the young lambs were lying down to sleep it stole up, took the lamb by the ear and drank the blood. It was not seen after that.It is told that another strange animal visited the district of Askamore long ago. It was a reindeer. It had very long legs, and nice branchy horns about seven inches long. It roamed the district for several days till it was captured by its owner, and brought home.A large snake also visited the district of Askamore, captured by Rev. Fr. Hickey on the road between Carnew and Coolboy. It measured five feet long and how it came there remained a mistery.

The following roads are to found in my locality, the Mill Hill, the Coach Road,The Camp Road and the Raheen Lane. The Coach Road is about half a mile beyond Camolin, Parish of Ballyoughter, Co. Wexford.It was the main road from Wexford to Dublin long ago when the people had no other way of travelling except by coach.
It is not the main road now , but it is still used as a back road from Camolin to Courtown Harbour.
The Mill Hill is part of the road between Camolin and Gorey. About 50 years ago, a flour mill was at the foot of this hill. It is a very steep hill and many people have been hurt off bicycles when riding down it. Fortunately nobody was injured.
The Camp Road is part of the road between Ballyduff and Askamore. Long ago the travelling folk used to put for the night in their camps along the side of the road.
The Mass Path leads from Raheen to Askamore across Slieve Gabhair. It serves the people of Shrule, Raheen and Monasootha a short cut to Askamore Mass and school. The distance around the road would be five miles, whereas the journey across the mountain path is only two and a half miles.

Most old women used to make rush candles, or tallow candles. The rush candles were made from a long withered rush, dipped in melted tallow. The tallow candles were made from melted tallow put into a mould. A long cotton wick was placed in the centre. That was left for a while to set, and then the candle was made.
There is still a man in this district who makes ropes. He has a certain spinning wheel for spinning twine into ropes.
Weaving:- Three weavers lived in the townland of Askamore long ago. They used to spin woollen thread and weave it into flannel and frieze. They dyed it different colours and sold it to the local people to make articles of clothing.
Thatching:- A well known thatcher named William Hawkins lived in the locality of Askamore, Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford. Most farmers used to employ him to thatch their houses. He used wheaten straw for thatch, and sally scollips.

About 1795 a family named Kidd resided on a farm at Ballyconran,Parish of Kilrush. They had a hat factory.
Tradition tells us that on one occasion the owner had a man employed levelling a fence on the land. He returned to the house after his days work, and placed a rusty hammer head on the table. He drew his masters (Mr. Kidd) attention to it saying, "that with the last shovelful I threw out I found this."
This find interested the master(Mr. Kidd) very much. He decided that when the man had left for home that night, he himself would make a search of the place where the hammer head was found. It is told that he did so and found hidden treasure,- a considerable amount of gold coins. With portion of the wealth , he purchased a farm in the townland of Askamore, where he carried on the manufacture of hats (same as worn by country men of the periods).
On this farm the same man built two farmhouses, and later on became owner of Askamore mills. He gave a grant of an acre of ground for Parochial house and Cemetry, The present Parochial house was built on this land. The donor was a Protestant.

Hidden Treasure
Not far from the cross-roads which meets the road leading from Askamore in the townland of Kiltillahane,Parish of Kilrush,Co.Wexford.is a small homestead formerly occupied by a family of three brothers named Connors.
One of brothers dreamt on three successive nights of treasure which was hidden near the side of a road, which he passed nightly on his way to play cards. The indicated place in his dreams was near a former monastery near Donishall,Askamore, CO. Wexford.
On searching at the particular spot,he was rather disappointed at only finding some old candle sticks which he took home. The candle sticks were afterwards lent to houses where wakes were held in neighbourhood.
One day a travelling tinker or crafts man, who could make household articles of pewter or other metals, called at house of Connors.
On seeing the candlesticks he offered to cast for them a half dozen spoons, which he was allowed to do. When they were completed ,he was asked what he charged .The reply he gave was,"All that was left of the candle-sticks

The following local fields are in the townland of Askamore and Kiltillahane, Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford.
The Branair: on Mr. Sheridan's land in Askamore.
The Stray Field:on Mr. Kinsella's farm, Munny, Carnew, Co. Wexford. Not far from this field is the Raheen Field. People have gone astray when travelling on dark nights on many occassions, hence the name.Some people attribute this to the "good people "of the Raheen.
The Raheen Field on Mr, Kinsella's land , Munney in the above named townland contains traces of a Raheen- part of the circular ditch can still be seen and a shed for cattle was erected some time ago , but the roof was blown off.
Carnog(Karnog)pronounced locally is the name of a field on Mr. Neill's land of Ballytarsna. It consists of a small hill(smaller than Slievewee). Locals story is told that this was occupied by an outpost or party of detached Insurgents during the campaign of 1798. A man named Finn of the same townland reported their presence there to the British Forces stationed in Carnew. A party called the "Rambling Horse" was despatched from then to reconnoitre..

The roads in this locality are known by the following names, the "Mill Hill", "Munny Hill" and "Munny Lane ", the "Big Road", the "Hill Road", the "Gap", "the Grove Road" and "Minchen Hill.
"The Mill Hill" leads from Munny Lane to the townland of Askamore.
Munny Hill and Munny Lane lead from the Mill Hill to the townland of Ballyellis.
The Big Road is the main road from Ballyellis to Carnew.
"The Hill Road" leads from Askamore to the townland of Ballyduff. Minchen's Hill is the main road from Ballytarsna to the" Mine Bridge". The Mine Bridge leads from Minchen's hill to Carnew/
The Top Road leads from Minchen's Hill to Ballytarsna.. The Gap leads from Ballytarsna across Slievewee to Ballybeg.The Grove road leads from Munbay to Brideswell.
It is said that the Hill road was made during the famine time, to employ a number of men, It is said that their pay was about two shillings a week.

137The story of Austin Toole of Askamore as related by Mr. Edward Balfe Ex N.T.
his Great Grandson.

My Uncle, James Doran, Askamore, Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford, told me that he had a great adventure when he was about twenty years of age.One dark night, about twelve o'clock, he was going home from Carnew to Ballyellis in the Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford. When he reached Dowser's Hill, in the same townsland, he heard something walking behind him. He suddenly turned around, and, to his surprise, he saw an animal beside him. It was a black dog as big as a calf. It followed him about a quarter of a mile along the road home, and it suddenly disappeared into a field on the roadside. It was not heard of afterwards by anybody.The man was greatly frightened and reached home perspiring.

About one hundred years there was a school in Miss O Neill's yard. This school was thatched and there were two teachers in it, their names were Master and Mrs. Nolan. The master was born in Bunclody and the Mistress was born in Clologue. The education was addition, subtraction, grammar, mensuration, reading and writing long and short division. The writing they did on slates. The pay for the Master was sixty pounds and fifty pounds for the Mistress.
There was another old school in Kilrush Graveyard. And there was no Master in it but a Mistress, and her name was Miss King. Very little Irish was spoken at that time. The teacher never slapped the scholars, as it would be hard to get them go again if they did.
About two miles from Askamore there is a

there is an old school in what is known as Ballyellis. People never remember the names of the teachers, as I suppose they were strangers. They did the writing on slates, because in those years England ruled them. Also very little Irish was spoken.
There is another old school in Askamore. The education was reading, writing, sums, subtraction, and other classes of schoolwork. A Land League was held there years ago. But now the Protestants have it for holding meetings. The people do not like it so well.

There is a holy well called Tobar-Muire. It belonged to the Church which was situated there years ago. There has been several people cured by using the water. The most recent of all was a man cured of Diabetes. A man went to dig a shore and when night came he went. When he came back in the morning the shore was filled in. And could never be dug out any more. There is also a holy-well in the half parish of Askamore in the townsland of Brides-Well. It is dedicated to Saint Brigid. There is an imprint of the Saint's foot on a stone at the well.
There is also a holy-well in Knockanure.

Manufacture of spades;- A man named Sunderland lived in Baltifarrel, parish of Monaseed, Co. Wexford, which is about two miles from Carnew, on the road to Gorey. One of this mans' sons named Joe set up a small Foundry where he made parts of farm machinery and spades.
Weaving:- Aman named Mr. Rochford lived in Askamore in the parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford. He had two looms set up in the kitchen where he wove flax into linen.At that time farmers sowed small portions of flax.
When it was grown high enough they pulled it and made it into sheaves. Then they steeped it in bog water for so many days, after that it was brought home. When properly dry, the farmers broke it with a flax wheel. The weaver wove it into thread and then the woman of the made shirts, table-cloths, and sheets.
Candle making:-Rush candles were made in the houses of some people. They had to peel the rush, and dip it in melted grease. When it was cool, the rush was taken out and a cotton wick was placed in the centre.

7015. Mr Jeremiah Morrissey's great grandfather lived in Ryland. In '98 he fought at Askamore. His wife was undressing one of the children at the fire preparing it for bed. Suddenly and noiselessly the door opened and a man walked in. It was the child's father. He said nothing but went into the room from the door and was never seen alive again.
He had been killed in the fight that day.Anna Ronan
Story told by :-
Mr Jeremiah Morrisey/
Ryland Road,
Bunclody.

The following fields are to be found in the townsland of Askamore, Parish of Kilrush, Co. Wexford."Bob's Knock" is on Mr. Sheridan's land. It got its name from an old man that lived there named Robert Kelly."Charter's Lawn" is to be found on Mr. Sheridan's land. Long ago a man named Mr. Charter had his residence in one corner of the field. The old ruin of the dwelling house can be seen on it still,and the field around is called the "lawn"."Brathford's Field" on Mr. Charley Sheridan's farm got its name from a person named Brathford who was shot there. It was said he was fowling one day on Slievewee when his gun went off accidentally."The Grove" Mr. Doran has a field called the grove. In former days this field contained trees. It is now in possession of the Forestry Department and planted with trees."The Lady;s Walk"This is a circular path near the top of Slievewee and is called the lady's walk. In former days young people from many parts used to gather on the last Sunday of July and play music and dance.