burried; (6) Kilmactranny which gives its name to the parish (7) Seevictranny where Mac Tranny lived and the following ancient church - named places ; Kiladoon, Kilmacroy, Kilamey, Kiliachter, and Killagroogan. Another place is Hollybrook the residence of the Foliards made famous by the story of Willy Reilly and his Colleen Bawn.
There are some old stories connected with this place principely dealing with ghosts and the best storyteller is James Keanny, Highwood Kilmactranny, Boyle. The old stories dealing with the famous battle of Moytura and the movements of the various colonies who fought for the mastery of Ireland were edited a few years ago by Rev. Father Sharkey C.C. in his book called the "Moytura Record". He is now curate of Maugherow, Sligo. There are no native speakers of Irish here and the stories are all told in English mo bhrón .

one arm encircling the wood of Hollybrook the home of Willie Reilly's Colleen Bawn. The hill is completely covered with huge boulders on its side facing the road are five large caves it is from these it derives its name. Here lived for a time Diarmuid and Graine before Diarmuid was killed while hunting the wild boar at Benbulbulben. Cormac Mac Airt was born here.Keash was the scene of many a fierce and bloody battle as far back as 971 a battle was fought between the North men and the Connaught men. The Connaught men were defeated Cathal son of the King being slain with five other chieftains all these princes both Northern and Western were interred in Cill-Easpaig Luidhigh near Toomour Abbey. This abbey was built by Saint Patrick and afterwards re-built by Saint Luidhigh a distinguished bishop under St. Kevin. Six crosses one for each King appears on the flag over the graves, on the flag are small round depressions which people say were made by the saint of the

"Don't tell me about Scanlan
(The villain of the Colleen Bawn drama). I know enough about him. I have a tailboard belonging to him. I got it from old Donovan the fiddler, and he got it, as a garsoon from Scanlan's mother, after Scanlan was hanged.
(And what is it like, Will?").
What is it like you oinseac, but like every other tailboard. What is it only the tail piece of a fiddle, that the strings are fixed on. Don't be telling me about Scanlan", and nobody was only asking

About 120 years ago, there lived at Ballycahane House, a gentleman by the name of Leake, who was the tither-gatherer for the surrounding districct.
The tithes had become intolerable on the people, and they decided that they would revolt against paying them. One night a number of people set out on horseback, two to each horse for Ballycahane House with intent to capture Mr Leake.
Having failed in their efforts they decided to burn him alive in the house. Piles of straw were placed on every side and set a light. Luckily, he made his escape through a back window and went with great haste to the house of Mr Scanlan, father of Lieutenant Scanlan hanged for the murder of the Colleen Bawn.

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.

There was a farmer once named Eugene Noonan, who lived at teh Catle of Ballinaguule gal. He had a large bawn of cows and one morning when the servant's went to milk them they found the best cow lying on the grass without a stir. God between us and all harm. They told their Boss, who sent at once for two men from Ballingarry to take her away One of them was one John Hayes, a skinner of old cows (he was married to an Aunt of the Colleen Bawn's, but the same token) and the other the famous "Tom the Soldier".They came, and the moment they entered the field the cow stood up and started to graze the same as the other animals. Noonan felt a bit awkward and took the men in for a drop of [?] and he gave them the price of a drink on the way home as the day was warm. Just as they closed the yard gate up came the servants again to say the cow was bad again. Hayes and Tom went back to the field again, but if they did the cow stood up again and began grazing away like the rest."For God's sake" said Mr. Noonan "will ye take her to Ballingarry and kill her?" They turned her out on the road but she got violent and jumped over dikes and hedges and Tom the Soldier galloping after her until he nearly dropped and he was a wonderful runner. One time she took an iron gale on her horns but Tom

There are two graveyards in our parish, namely Burran and Moylougha. They are situated in the townlands of Burran and Moylougha. There are the ruins of two old churches to be seenu not these still. They are built in the level and their shape is square. There are no trees growing in these graveyards. There are a lot of old tombs and monuments to be seen in these still. There are a few iron crosses to be seen in these graveyards (still). There are a lot graves inside the walls of the old churches.
There is an old saying about these two graveyards, - if Burran is opened on the first of the year, four people will follow within a month, and if Moylougha is opened on the first of the year, three will follow within a month. There is a very historical grave in the churchyard of Burran, the Colleen Bawn's, a lot of visitors come to see this grave and they bring a little chip of the head-piece in remembrance.

Colleen Bawn.
VII
Now Willy's drest from top to toe all in a suit of green,
His hair hangs over his shoulders most glorious to be seen.
He's tall and straight and comely as any could be found.
He's fit for Foillard's daughter was she heiress to a crown.
VIII
The judge said, this body being in her tender youth,
If Reilly has decluded her she will declare the truth.
Then like a moving beauty bright before him she did stand,
Your welcome there, my hearts' delight and dear Colleen Bawn.
IX
O Gentlemen "Squire Foillard said with pity look on me.
This villian came amongst us to disgrace our family.
And by his base contrivances this villeany was planned.
If I dont get satisfaction Ill quit this Irish land.

The Colleen Bawn.About a 120 years ago, Ellen Hanley came to live with her uncle Michael O'Connor, in a little house at Yellow Town, in upper Ballycahane. Some people assert that the house adjoined Mr. Keating's, while others maintain that it was situated opposite the old barracks in the land now occupied by Mr. McNamara.There lived in Ballycahane castle, at that time, a gentleman by the name of Mr. Scanlan. A naval officer, who returned to the castle, and being struck by the beauty of Ellen, he got her to elope with him.A marriage took place, but it was only a marriage in disguise to the innocent girl.It is believed that Scanlan used visit the "Knight of Glin". So taking the steamer from Limerick, they sailed down the Shannon and nothing was heard, until her

William Scanlan And The Colleen Bawn.William Scanlan lived in Ballycahane with his mother. He fell in love with Mary Halvey, whose father was a rope maker. Scanlan was in debt, so his mother advised him to marry a lady with a fortune. As the debts were due, and his mother was so insistent, he decided to get rid of Mary Halvey. So he took Mary on an excursion. He hired a boatman named Michael Sullivan to row him from Limerick to Kilrush. Between Tarbert and Kilrush, he drowned Mary Halvey, and after a time he figured in Limerick court on a charge of murder.
His defending counsel was none other than Daniel O'Connell. the trial took place in 1822. Part of the trial can be read of in Lenihan's History of Limerick. In those days the men who were to form the jury were chosen at the inquest, and of those who were chosen in this particular case, only three were able to write their names. It is said that Mr. Henry Lyons of Croom House had to use threats to this

to God she could be milked every hour and always she'd give the same amount of milk. The good old woman supplied all the neighbours with milk - in the depth of winter with the snow several feet on the ground, a time 'twas very badly needed. Now there was an old rogue of a woman in the neighbourhood, a "druid", you'd call her. She got a sieve and hoped to milk the cow until she'd run quite dry. But she failed to 'dry' St. Patrick's cow, God bless her.
Next day the Saint left for the Galtee Mountains by Glenbrohane and Ballylanders. On the top of the mountain he encountered a terrible serpent, who ate all who came near him. St. Patrick enticed him into the Lake by telling him he'd only leave him there until "To-morrow". Every seven years the serpent used to come to the surface of the lake, angry, furious and roaring to any passer-by. "Is it to-morrow' yet?" They say that the person who heard him always died but of course the serpent never came out "to-morrow". That lake is at the foot of the Galtee Mts and not in Killarney as some try to make out. St. Patrick never liked Kerry. By the same token they try to claim the Colleen Bawn back there too. Her name was 'Hanley' and her home was in Ballingarry
St. Patrick then came to Ardpatrick where he

foaming waters of the Atlantic.
Mid-way between the O'Clery castle and the town of Ballyshannon another ancient pile lifts his head above the encircling sandhills. This is the famous castle of the Mac Wards, the hereditary bards of the O'Donnells.
A romance hangs around this castle. Here the Colleen Bawn (Squire Ffolliotts daughter) of Carleton's tale resided before being betrothed to her lover Willie Rielly.
The English confiscated the lands of the Mac Wards when there[?] rule was established in the district, and handed the castle and lands over to Squire Ffolliott. This castle is also falling into decay.
About a mile north-west of the town stand the crumbling ruins of the famous Abbey of Assaroe, where Michael O'Clery, the annalist received the rudiments of his early education. The tomb of another of the O'Clerys lies in the cemetery in the shadows of the ruins.

The story of the Colleen Bawn was the usual subject of conversation in these parts 50 or 60 years ago. The names Eily O'Connor, Hardress Cregan, Danny Mann, Ann Chute, were in everybody's mouth.Gerald Griffin in his novel
"The Collegians gives the substance of the story, but the names may be fictitious.It seems that the true story is that Eily O'Connor lived in the County Limerick, with her uncle "to the east of Foynes" - an old man with some property. In the same district lived the family of Scanlon, connected with the best blood in the county. Mrs. Scanlan was a DeLacy and her husband was connected with the Masseys and the Fitzgibbons, both noble families. Young Scanlon, the heir, who had been an officer in the army, persuaded Eily to rob her uncle of a large sum of money, to elope with him to Glin. Here they lived together 'till the money was spent. He had in his employ, a man named Sullivan, (Danny Mann) connected with him by what in Ireland is a strong tie, that of foster brotherhood.Cregan kept Eily in a lonely cottage, leaving her under the impression that when a suitable

Sore throat: 1 As with a toothache tie a stocking of bran around your throat at night.
2. Drink hot milk and pepper.
3. Take the white of an egg.
4. "Thrush" in young children can be cured by a boy or man who was born after his father's death, breathing into the child's mouth. Diseases in Animals.
Kicking(horses): Horses that kick in their stable can be cured by giving them water from St. Sinon's lake to drink. St. Sinon's lake in in Killimer near Kilrush; beside it is Burrane churchyard where the Colleen bawn was buried. Ruathrar péin: This disease of cattle is cured by a charm part of which consists in making a particular knot with cord over the animals back. If the knot opens easily the beast will get well: if not, a cure is unlikely.

I live in Kilkee a sea side town on the west Clae coast. It is in the barony of Moyarta.
Kilkee was built within the last 140 years.
Before this time it was just sandhills.
About 120 years it was only a little village with a few fishermens houses.
The Colleen Bawn spent part of her honeymoon in Kilkee in 1819, so very likely there was some kind of hotel in Kilkee at that time.
The present Catholic Church was built by the late Rev. Micheal Comyn P.P Kilkee in 1834, and a few years later 1842 there was a number of small houses built just here and there but not in any regular order.
Re. Michael Comyn

Abbey River and Bridge.
Near the Abbey is the little rocky rivulet spanned by a bridge of two arches.It is believed to be built by the monks and is probably the oldest bridge in Ireland.
Catsby:
The cave on the north bank of the stream contains a rude altar, a fort and a roughly carved head in stone. This is a relic of the days when persecution stalked the land.
Wardtown Castle:
Near the Atlantic is Wardtown Castle. It lifts its brow above the encircling sandhills. A romance hangs around the Castle. It was here the Colleen Bawn resided before being betrothed to her lover Willie Reilly.
Prior to the coming of the English, the lands adjoining the Castle were the property of the Mc Wards the historian bards of the O'Donnells.

Twas the last I saw of my Colleen Bawn My Inchigeela Lass
VII
I sped by Iniscarra before the break of day
Took passage in a Yankee ship that in Queenstown harbour lay.
The captain being a Fenian man my safety to compass
I soon set sail from Granuále and my Inchigeela Lass.
VIII
But what became of Máirín Óg Eveleary's fairest flower
She drooped as droops the may flower neath beleated winter showers
Ere the Autumn leaves fell from the trees she was laid beneath the grass
My promised Bride the village Pride was My Inchigeela Lass

It bore the following inscription:-Here lies the Colleen Bawn
Murdered on the Shannon
July 14th 1819There is now no trace whatsoever of this Cross. Bit by bit it was chipped off and carried away by souvenir hunters. The stone which presently covers the grave and which is inscribed to the memory of the late Mr Peter O'Connell (See Page 32) is fast meeting with the same fate as the Celtic Cross and in a short time is bound to disappear. Would it be too much to expect that some Antiquarian Society or own local Board of Health should step in and prevent further vandalism being done to his grave before it is too late? It should be preserved as one of our National Monuments or places of interest. In a very short time there will be nothing to show visitors the spot in which this ill-fated beautiful girl is laid to rest.They raised her body from the shore,
And in a rural grave they laid her,
While many a burning curse pursued
The heartless villain who betrayed her.N.B. Some very old people still living in this district remember distinctly to hear their parent's reciting the foregoing events of which they had personal knowledge.

in 1798) that the place got its name. There is only one slated house there now in which a man named Timothy Killeen.
There was a song composed long ago in which the townland of Burrane was mentioned. It is as follows:-Turn about and face the south,
You can see the hills of Burrane.
Beneath those hills there is a Church,
Where sleeps the Colleen Bawn.
Further west is Besborough,
With its great and lordy trees.
Where once there lived a gentlman,
Named Robert Carey Reeves.

I
With heavy heart I now must part from her I loved so dear
A colleen who I thought was true, in the Springtime of the year.
But when the Winter time came round one evening down the lawn,
She told me to go where you know.
My lovely Eily Bawn.
II
I have no wealth but youth and health to offer her tis true.
And if she'd agree to come with me from the shores of Avon-Dúh.
I'd toil away the Summer's day and rise at early dawn
To build at home and never roam,
From my lovely Eily Bawn
III
And since for me tis fate's decree to part with Eily dear.
In Saxon land I'll make a stand and toil another year.
With pockets full I'll leave "John Bull" and on one fine Summer's morn.
I'll sail the main and try again