Delia Giblin, Belclare

got back their cattle. Some people say that there is an underground passage going out from Belclare Castle and that is opening out about a half mile from the Castle. Some people say that this passage was made so that if an enemy would come the people could escape through it. Belclare Castle is about thirty feet in height.

Belclare Castle
There is a castle about a half mile west of Kilmactigue Chapel which is called Belclare Castle. It is built of stone and mortar. The people who lived in it first were called O Donnells. After that a family of the Burkes lived in it. When they died a family of the O Haras came to live in it. However, its present owner's name is Commons. When the O Haras lived in it one of the girls got married to a man in Cloonacool. When she was getting married she got no fortune. One night the man from CLoonacool came to Belclare Castle and he stole cattle from the O Haras. He was not long gone with the cattle when the O Haras heard that he stole them and they followed him. They caught up to him at Beal Arh gCreach. They started to fight with the man from Cloonacool and after a long struggle the O Haras

There was once a chapel in Belclare, and the people in Belclare wanted a new chapel. So they build a new chapel in front of the old chapel.
And one Sunday evening, a man was going up to a well behind the old chapel. He suddenly heard noise. He first thought that it was people in the ruins of the chapel. So he went in and to his suprise there he saw a hunt with six hunts men riding on six horses. He thought they were real, and he asked them, had they caught any fox. They did not answer him and after a while he knew they were ghosts. he ran home and told the people, but they did not believe him. After

Not far from my house are some Caves. They are situated at the bottom of a (cliffe) cliff, overlooking the little village of the Deerpark, and part of Clew Bay. To the East of the caves is a wood and two lakes, and to the West are hills.
The village of Murrisk and part of Clew Bay can be seen from the Caves. You can also see the Murrisk hills and the top of Croagh Patrick. There is a good view of Belclare and Cloora, and Belclare river which flows through both villages and enters the sea at Poll Garb.

There was a man in Belclare one time and he was a shoemaker. One day a man called to him and asked him to make a pair of boots. This he did and when the man asked him how much they were the shoemaker wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to the man, who went away. Some years later the man came again and brought the shoemaker to the top of a hill and gave him as much land as he could see. This man (as per story) was Cromwell

Thomas Kavanagh, Annaghdown, is the champion cyclist in the locality. He is still living and he is thirty four years of age.
Michael Burke, Belclare, is the champion foot-baller in the locality. He is living and he is forty one years of age. He is still the champion and there is no one able to beat him in playing foot-ball.
John Monaghare, Caherlistrane is able to raise a two hundred weight his head with one hand
Patrick Murphy, Caherlistrane, is able to raise two bars of iron each a hundred weight over his head with one hand.
Thomas Mc Hugh, Belclare was able to mow an Irish acre of hay in five hours. He died on the first of March 1932.

In Gloshpatrick graveyard there were a few old stones with peculiar marks and strokes on them. It is not possible to decipher what language they are. The flags were taken some time ago by the County Council and put in a tunnel near Belclare river. Some of the local people were not too pleased over this, as they reverenced the flags from their connection with the ancient graveyard.

but it was brought a few yards forward because the people in the sides could not see the priest. A man named Stanner from Ballinrobe had the contract.There is a small church in a 'Clais' in Belclare. It is called Clais an Aifrinn. There is another like in Sylane near the school. Mass used be said there in the Penal Days.Three curates lived in a house in Eamone. The P.P. used to lived near Corner Chapel. Dr McHale administered Confirmation in Feeragh but no trace of a Church there. Feeragh is a townland in this parish. There was a church in Kilvolan. There is a peculiar old stone in Kilvolan.The Abbeytown Monks moved over or had a branch in Myre Hill, where the Kellys now live. A bishop used to lived in Sylane or near it and one in Cunninghams (Belclare)The inside work of roof (ceiling) floor cement and walls was done by Fr. Michael Keaney PP. Mrs Morrissey Principal Teacher of Caherlistrane G N S for many years was the

There is a holy well in Tullindaly called Tobar na Gceann People got here in August for a cure for a headache. They say that Saint Patrick knelt on hsi way to Kilbbannon and left the track of his hand also on a stone near the well.
There is another well in Belclare for the purpose of curing toothache once a year.

Thatching Tommy Burke, Caherhue, Belclare, Co. Galway, was a good thatcher. The people of the surrounding districts used to employ him and they used to give him thirteen shillings a day.
In that way he was not long making money and after a year he had £350. He bought a new house in Galway and he lived there from the age of forty-five years until the year 1872 when he died.

He was eighty-four years when he died.
James Glynn, Ferragh, Caherlistrane is able to put a car-wheel standing on his chin. He is still living and he is twenty one years of age.
Michael Hession, Belclare was able to break a six inch wire nail between his hands. He is still living and he is thirty four years of age.

There was a bicycle stolen on Thomas Hession, Belclare, on the night of the 22nd July 1928. Nobody knows who stole it.
There was a bicycle also stolen on Bernard Hession, Caltra, Caherlistrane on the 1st Oct. '33. It is thought that it was a man whom he employed who stole it.
There were two horses stolen on Patrick Clancy, Cummar on the 11th April 1935. There were no tidings of them got and nobody knows who stole them but the price of them was collected for him.

with Clare island, Innisturk, Caher island, Innisbofin, Innishark, Davillawn, and the smaller islands in their neighbourhood. At one time a part of the Barony of Carra, and the half-barony of Ross in the County Galway were in Umhall, a subject to O'Malley". Knox (The History of the County of Mayo) suggests that Aicill and Umhall mean Highland and Leowland, a plausible explanation. The name Umhall is Latinised Umhalla in the Tripartite Laife of Saint Patrick.
The principal residence of the O'Malley chiefs was the Dun of Belclare (Dun Bevil an Chlair, the dun of the Gate of the Plain, that is the Plain of Murrisk) or Murrisk Castle at the mouth of the Owenwee River on Westport Bay. There had been a dam at that place from before historic time. The Crannog of the O'Malleys was on an island in Loch Moher behind Croaghpatrick.

His first halting place near Westport was at Achadh Fhóbair (the field of the Spring), where he ordained and consecrated St. Senach called “Lamb of God” was Achadh Fhobair (Aghagower) can boast that it was once an Episcopal See. From there he moved on to the “Reek” (Cruach Phádraic) and then out beyond Clare Island (on the West) to the lonely island of "Caher" (Cathair na Naomh). Some local fisherman as also those from the Connemara side lower the sails of their boats when passing by the island. St. Patrick’s Charioteer died at Murrisk and was buried there. His name was Bionnán.Westport is in the parish of Aughvale (Uachongabhail or place of habitation). The old parish church was situated in a field to the left of the present Cemetery as you walk out toward Belclare. The Chalice used in was in the Protestant Church in Knappagh for some time, but it seems to have sent to England. There is not trace of the Church today.

This story was told to me by one of our old villagers. Here it is.
There is a large rock standing in the village of Belclare commonly known as "Sally's rock". In olden times there used to be a sort of fair held there every year.
There was a prize given to the woman who was able to show the best year's work such as, knitting, sewing, or cooking.
One year a certain woman from the parish went to the fair, and when the head-man asked her to show him her

There was great persecution in Ireland during the Penal Laws. No Catholic got any rights at all.
No Catholic could practise his or her religion. All priests were hunted but some of them waited at home. Those that remained in the country hid themselves in woods, caves and lonely places. They read Mass for the people in these lonely caves and hollows unknown to the soldiers. If these priests were caught they were put to death.
There was a man going around at this time and the people called him "Sean on sagort". He used to search for priests and if he found them he would cut their heads off and bring it to the soldiers and get five pounds for it.
There are no hiding places known around this district where a preist read Mass but there is one in Belclare and it is called "Clais an Aifreann."
This place must get its name from the old Penal times when

lived in Mossfort. One of them was married to O'Flaherty's sister. They were very rich one time. The daughter married a Mr Clark who lived where Newells now live near Belclare. Clark got so poor that later he was conveyed around in an ass cart. The Redington Roches lived where Mr Palmer now lives. There was an avenue leading from Rhattigans gate to the house and another behind Miss Kellys house. They were Catholic and during the Famine charged no rent to tenants but gave them seed.Before the church was built in Headfort people used hear Mass at the top of the town near forge in the open air. Cloch an Iubhair people used to go to Mass there.Before introd of Roman Collar about 60 or 65 years ago priests wore Knickerbockers, cut away coats high collars and black ties like people around.New Village in this period was densely populated one time; many died of starvation. Night School was carried on here for a number of years. Adults used attend them. Rding Writing Arith taught. Headlines were written on every copy book. On Sundays the priest used appoint grown up boys and girls to teach Catechism. Mr Heaney attended a Hedge School. Catechism used be taught after Mass

The names of some famous thatchers in the locality.
Thomas Banks, Bodane, Belclare Co. Galway was a noted thatcher. He was supposed to be the best in county Galway. He died about the year 1929. He had four sons and two of them picked up the trade.
James Hanly, Feeragh, Caherlistrane was a famous thatcher. He was the second best in county Galway. he died about the year 1920. One of his sons picked up the trade and he is very good also.
Thomas Gannon, Shrule, Co. Mayo is a noted thatcher. he is still living and he is seventy four years of age. He has the job given up now because he is too old. He had no son to pick up the trade.

The Clarkes came from Athenry. Clark bought that place near Belclare for his son from Capt. Kirwan. Clark became aristocratic and hunted; married one of the Kilkellys of Mossfort. Became poor afterwards and went to Mass in ass cart. Count Blake lived in Cloc Ballynore near Clarenbridge.
There was an old church in Ross Lodge.
When Kirwans had race horses and land in the Curragh the finest hay came from Cloonbar, Cloonasgrah.
Father Heaney helped to buy (i) Cullinan Est, (ii) Count Blake Est, (iii) Poll na hAille Est.
The people gave the money or got loans from the Bank.
Count Blake was made a Count by the Pope. His sister, Mrs Murphy, had Abbeytown and Tonacooleen. He was born in Ballinfad near Balla. Other estate of his was in Clocballymora. Gave much property to Church.
Kilkelly's father came from Dublin and bought Carheenard, Mossfort from Sir George of Tir Eoghain. Gummins gave site for Kilcoona School and had a tannery in Galway.