When they enter upon the field twas then you'd see the sight.
All dressed in uniform with their hurleys raised on high.
and by their gallant captain's orders, they will face them man for man.
And tis then you'll see the hurling with Crecora 21.Twas over at Cahernorry, it was there they proved the men.
The Shule team they got ready to hurl against them.
They did their best you may depent, bu their efforts were in vain.
For without a doubt the ball flew out, by those hurlers of great fame.They went to Clare and beat them there, as I can understand.
They hurled the brave O'Gonnelloe and beat them out of hand.
They thrashed them all where'er they went, my boys that's the rub.
May the heaven smile, upon the soil, that reared Crecora club.And now I'm on the finish I think its nearly time.
There a pattern to poestaster and their verse is out of rhyme.
They thought for to dispraise those boys, but now they must give up.
For they took the away at Patrick's Well and won the silver cup.

In the townland of Killonahan, about two miles due West of Crecora school, on the Ballyluskey by-road, and about four hundred yards to the East of the main Limerick to Croom road, stands this Cahir.Its internal diameter is 54 yards. The wall is 14 feet thick and in places is 8 feet in height. The building is constructed of cobble stones on a limestone foundation and the entrance which faces towards the North, is 4 feet high. It is rather featureless due unfortunately to the stones being removed for road material.In the vicinity stands an old churchyard and in it there are only three graves. ANother interesting sight is St Senan's well. It is said that the "Headless Coach" travels from the Cahir along the Ballyluskey road to Coultar every night. At an eerie place, near the churchyard, people often saw strange sights and heard queer footsteps and sounds.

copper coins to silver. He liked big money as he had no fancy for three penny bits, six penny bits or even shillings. How enlightened we got since his time.
I remember his visits to Crecora school when Mr. Daly was teaching there and when he used complain all the bad boys to "Mick the Spud". Mick used keep prodding his big stick on the boards of the school-room. The pupils used be scared by his appearance and were greatly relieved at his departure.
The sounding of that stick often recurred to me when years after I heard the sound of the staff of Limerick Citys night watchmen now abolished. Mr. Daly often used jocosely try to barter with Mick by presenting him with his new rattan cane in exchange for the cudgel, but Mick would not part with his staff on any account. There was many a country dog knew the smack of Micks weapon as he often rewarded it with sore ribs for any undue hostility to his approach, and the dogs around Creora at that time were a mannerly lot.

penalty of the Law - execution for her murder. One was a gentleman lover and the other his boatman. the remains of the former lie in Crecora Churchyard, within the precincts of some ruins. This gentleman belonged to a family who held influence in those far off days. Consequently his body must have been allowed to his friends for private interment.
Thoumpeen na Wellina lies in the farm of Mr. Ned Lane. Where the "Colleen Bawn" used to visit was close to the little stream near Pat Keating's house.

When they enter upon the field 'twas then you'd see the sight,All dressed in uniform, with their hurleys raised on high,And by their gallant captain's orders, they will face them, man for manAnd tis then you'll see the hurling with Crecora 21.
* * *
'Twas over at Cahernorry, it was there they proved the menThe Skule team they got ready to hurl against themThey did their best, you may depend but their efforts were in vainFor without a doubt, the ball flew out, by those hurlers of great fame
* * *
They went to Clare and beat them there, as I can understand,They hurled the brave O Gunnelloes (?) and beat them out of hand.They thrashed them all where'er they went, my boys that's the rub,May the heaven smile, upon the soil, that reared Crecora Club.
* * *
And now I'm on the finish I think its nearly time,There's a pattern to poestaster, their verse is out of rhyme.They thought for to dispraise those boys, but now, they must give upFor they took the sway at Patrick's Well and won the Silver Cup.
Ainm an Scoláire:- Seán Ó Finn
Seoladh:- Gort na LiomoidheAinmh an té a tugh an t-adhbhar san:-
Mairtín h-Aínín,
Seoladh:- Craobh Cumhra

When they enter upon the field 'twas then you'd see the sight,All dressed in uniform, with their hurleys raised on high,And by their gallant captain's orders, they will face them, man for manAnd tis then you'll see the hurling with Crecora 21.
* * *
'Twas over at Cahernorry, it was there they proved the menThe Skule team they got ready to hurl against themThey did their best, you may depend but their efforts were in vainFor without a doubt, the ball flew out, by those hurlers of great fame
* * *
They went to Clare and beat them there, as I can understand,They hurled the brave O Gunnelloes (?) and beat them out of hand.They thrashed them all where'er they went, my boys that's the rub,May the heaven smile, upon the soil, that reared Crecora Club.
* * *
And now I'm on the finish I think its nearly time,There's a pattern to poestaster, their verse is out of rhyme.They thought for to dispraise those boys, but now, they must give upFor they took the sway at Patrick's Well and won the Silver Cup.
Ainm an Scoláire:- Seán Ó Finn
Seoladh:- Gort na Liomoidhe
Ainmh an té a tugh an t-adhbhar san:-Mairtín h-Aínín,Seoladh:- Craobh Cumhra

When a school boy I knew this old woman who had reached a remarkable age. All aroud this part agreed that she had exceeded the century mark.She lived on charity and stayed at certain houses which belonged to poor people for the most part. I have never seen her wearing boots, nothing but old stockings, in Winter as well Summer. She must have been a very robust woman like the grand old people of her day. She always carried a small tin can - half gallon measure, and this was as black as the funnel of a steamer. She was a good Catholic and was a familiar figure in the congregation at the midday Mass at Crecora Chapel on Sundays. She usually knelt in the centre where no pews then existed, and

Local Place Names.Thomas Boland VII standard,
Patrickswell, N.S. Co. Limerick.
Patrickswell.
I know a field. It is near Patrickswell station house. It is called the "Liosard", which means the "High Fort". The "fort" is still to be seen. It is higher than the rest of the field. It is round. There is a large bank outside it. There are now bushes growing on the bank. The "fort" is covered with beautiful beech trees. The "ban side", is said to be heard around this field when people around here are going to die. Lime was also one time burned in this field. How I know this is because the lime kiln can still be seen.
Barnakyle - Bearna Coille. - From the wood at Green Mount. A river which runs through to join the Shannon made the gap.
Green Mount - There is a height near the big house in the wood. it is very green. This is why it is called Greenmount.
Tobar Padraig. - the well was where the village pump is now situated.
Patrickswell. - From the well, blessed by St. Patrick. No rounds are done at well, and a pump is situated in the place of well.
Craobh Cumra. - Crecora.
From some bay trees and pines near the cross roads.
Four Elms. - From four elm trees situated on the road-side.
I believe these four elm trees can still be seen. They are very old. They are also very stout. The foxhounds meet there two or three times every year.
This school is built in the parish of Crecora - Craobh Cumra. - the

(1)"Long ago there was a hurling team in Newtown and one in Patrickswell. The one in Patrickswell was called St. Patrick's team and the one in Newtown was called the "Plan of Campaign". The players were James Keane, Mick Rahilly, Pat Purcell, and John Brinn. The rest are dead. Paddy Houlihan was captain. This team often played against Crecora. The Newtown team was famous. Sometimes they called themselves the "OGunnels" (from Carrigogunnel). There were no football matches played then.There made their own hurleys from ash. These were the best hurleys. They played with a hurling ball made by a shoemaker. Since then there are no townland matches only inter-parish matches."

man, a great jumper, dancer, footballer, hurler, and boxer.
One day, while crossing the River Shannon to Kilrush in a boat carrying a cargo of potatoes one bag of his cargo of potatoes fell into the water, and he dived in after it, and the man who was with him thought that he was drowned. After a while he came up again with the bag of potatoes to Kilrush.
It is thirty six years since he died. He was buried in Crecora near Limerick. His father was brought to this locality by the landlord and given a plot of ground at Creeves and there he built his thatched cabin which served as a school room. His son helped the neighbours and worked from early morning till dark, for a few pence.
While holding a razor between his two hands he could jump forwards and backwards over it. He could race a grey hound and also a man on horseback for a mile. For futher information see page 71.

Hurling and Football Matches.They never won a championship but in cup matches they beat all the best teams in Limerick at the time. Most members of the team are dead but their captain and vice -captain are still alive today. John Madigan, Ardlahan was captain one year but the following year Mr. Cahill was the captain. In the two years those men captained the team they beat such teams as Crecora, Askeaton, Mungret, South Libertys, Plan-of Campaigns, St. Michaels and last but not least the Faugh-a-Ballaghs who were the Old Kildimos.Peggy O'Brien.Michael O'Brien. Age 49.

"There was a road from Croom Castle to the Court at Ferrybridge. The old people of 40 years ago could tell you the way it ran. They were always talking about Lady Pin-dowdall who held the Old Court in Kilfinny against the Irish" (Statement from Ed. O Connell Carrigeen) the Lady's name was Dowdall but she is always mentioned here as Pin-dowdall I can't learn why) A line only, can I get of an old song which once, I am informed, was well known here. It runs: "Pin-dowdall, Pin-dowdall arise up and whale 'em" I am not even too sure of these words.In a house (in the townland of Shanaclogh Parish of Crecora Co. Limerick) there are "Croppy doors and windows." These windows are of such a nature, and so small that it would be next to impossible to enter the house through them. The croppy door - as I understood it from my informant Patrick Casey, Tory Hill Croom - consisted of two half-doors, the one above the other. The upper half swung upwards and inwards on strong hinges while the lover half swung inwards. They were secured by both locks and a "back-stick". This device, not at all uncommon yet in many of the older houses, consisted of a strong beam which was thrust back into a socket in the wall when the door was opened[Margin note] - This house at one time was a barrack (Addendum from M. Devaney and others)(continued on page 94)

(continued from page 130)
the enclosure on the North - in Mrs. Mulqueen's farm - where the stones were being removed there is, from the barren and arid appearance of the land, a suggestion of there being very little soil there. This is the case over an area of about 5 or 6 perches Irish.
On ordnance sheet No 31, (6") Limerick 2 ⅛ inches from top 11 ¼ inches from bottom left side is the site of the old parish church of Manister. "In the yard of this church two priests are buried" (from Patrick Kennedy, Feeroo, Crecora 82 years, labourer)
Mangan the Whiteboy lived in Ned Shea's plot in Tullovin. Paddy the Gatt-her (or Gat-ther) also lived there (Jacka Ryan)

There is a forge within a half mile of my house owned by George Toomey. It is situated in the townland of Greenhills, in the parish of Crecora about five miles from Limerick.
It is a big forge with a roof of timber and felt, with a plain door. Inside in the forge their are two fireplaces and two bellows which are made of timber and leather with a large timber handle to blow them. Opposite the fireplace there is a large iron anvil on which the Smith shapes the horseshoes. The instruments which he uses are a hammer, a tong a pincers, and a rasp and a vice.
The presents Blacksmith's father and Grandfather and Great- Grandfather were blacksmiths also.
A legend is told that:- One day his grandfather was working in his forge when the devil appeared to him and introduced a game of cards. For a while the Blacksmith was winning but after a while the devil had all his money won back again. Suddenly one of the cards dropped and the Blacksmith stooped to pick it up when he saw the cloven hoof of the devil.

Killonahan and Crecora. It was renowned in 1,032 BC as the assembly place of the Firdommons or Épnai, from whom at least half of our race has sprung and to whom most of the credit is due to the heights attained in material and intellectual attainments in ancient Ireland.They occupied the counties of Limerick and Kerry and the Western parts of Clare and Galway.The book of Rights mentions Assail as a king's fort and the High King of Ireland had to send a cauldron to the King of Cashel Luacra who was expected to go there with 20 chariots and 30 vats of wine and remain for a week. According to the Annals Siran, son of Dian after a long reign over all Ireland won great battles over the Epnai and several other places in Co LimerickMac Leag the principal Bard of Brian Boru, states that a branch of the Épna was expelled to Scotland but returned after a few centuries.

Bettyville House lies about 8 miles south of Limerick city and 2 miles west of of this school. It was probably built by a former landlord Mr. Lee. Many tenants have been in occupation of this residence and the 200 acres attached thereto.
One of these, a Scotchman named Mc Donald, tilled intensively employing many hands. His wife died there and a headstone is erected over her grave close to Mc Murrays vault in Crecora churchyard.
A brother of Mc Donald's lived in Style Park House about 4 miles south of Croom.
A daughter of this Mc Donald, made a romantic elopement with a painter named Maloney, of Croom. It appears this man was as famous a singer as he

being a big man with a toutch of humour in his eye and a face that looked as if it had not touched soap for quite a while.He always carried a long stout stick which he used tap against the ground by way of demonstrating what he would do to naughty boys.I never saw him wearing boots and his feet were certainly like a tanned hide.Mick always had a preference for copper coins to silver. He liked big money, as he had no fancy for three penny bits, six penny bits or even shillings. How enlightened we got since his time.I remember his visits to Crecora M N school when Mr. Daly (R.I.P.) was teacher there

it got the named Drumasail from Asail. A Firbolg chief who after the defeat of the Firbolgs at Moytura, Lough Mask, escaped and got protection from the King of Leinster, who gave him the territory of Drumasail, which included Maines, Croom, Killonahan, Crecora, etc.
It was renowned in 1032 (?), as the assembly place of the Firdomhnons or Ernai, from whom at least half our race has sprung, and to whom most of the credit is due, for the heights attained in material and intellectual attainments in ancient Ireland. Which in a similar way, has been repeated by the ecclesiastics of our Church, who from the time of St. Patrick to the present, by their sanctity, learning and patriotism, have been the chieftains, both sacred and profane, to have raised out country to its present high place, and to be so well and so favourably known among the nations of the world.They occupied the counties of Limerick and Kerry, and the western parts of Clare and Galway. They originally came from Greece, (?) France and Spain. "The book of Rights" mentions Asail as a king's fort, and the high king of Ireland had to send a cauldron to the king of Cashel, of Tara Luachra, who was expected to go there with twenty chariots and thirty vats of wines and remain there for a week.According to the annals, Sirna, son of Dien, after a long reign over all Ireland, won great battles over the Ernai at Drumasail, and several other

Lurriga.This parish is called Lurriga. The townland of Lurriga is in the parish, and got its name from the townland in which the old chapel was built. The present chapel is in the townland of Ballyanrahan, but it is called Lurriga chapel. The school is called Lurriga school and is not in Lurriga either, but in the townland of Kilcoleman.The parish priest of Lurriga is also parish priest of Ballybrown. So this parish of Lurriga extends from the banks of the Shannon to the Ferrybridge, and takes in the land to the east of the Maigue. Adare parish borders on it near the Clounanna coursing grounds, and the bridge at the Ferrybridge, separates Lurriga form Kildimo parish. As you go on the public road, from Collopy's cross to Croom. Lurriga parish is at both sides of the road, and Crecora parish is to the left. When you come to the Lighthouse cross, and from that on. Croom parish, is to the left of the road. Lurriga parish extends up the main road at the right hand side as far as Carass cross, about half a mile from Croom. At the lower side Mungret parish borders

very strong stick with a thickened end and difficult to break. There was no referee in those days - 1860 - '80. When the heavy ball got in to a trench or drain
(Sketch of Bachall)
a crowd of the players gathered round and many sore head followed the blows intended for the "Sliotar". It was a rough game at times. I often heard of John Condon of Fanningstown, Fedamore. He was a stout and very strong man, about five feet 9 inches in height and was known all over the district as the "Butt". He was ever in the thick of the battle and was not too scrupulous in the use of the "Bachall". The old Irish were determined men who played to win at any cost.
In later years (the 90's etc) Crecora had a famous team of hurlers. There were 21 in the team. Dan Shea played in the centre. He was a thin wiry man and it was a hefty player who could foil him in his work. In those old days hurling matches were taken seriously and were supported with wild enthusiasm.