At the time of the Battle of Hacketstown, there was a blacksmith in Knockananna, his name was Kehoe, and he made pikes, for some of the men. He wanted to meet some of his companions to march into Hacketstown with him. On the evening before he took some tools from his own forge, and leading a lame horse, he went out along the road, and on his way, down along the road. He met Captain Hume, and the Captains horse was lame, and had lost a shoe, and he asked Kehoe if he would put a shoe on for him, which the smith done willingly. That same night some men were arrested in Hacketstown and Kehoe was with them. Captain Hume said that Kehoe could not be with them, as he put a shoe on his horse last night beyond Knockananna

There is an old road going from Kilcarney to Carrignameil and out across the hill. There is an old road supposed to have went by Mr. Hobson's house of Kilcarney, then by Mr. Neill's house and from that on to Mr. Griffin's land. From Mr. Griffins land it goes on through Mr. O'Toole's land and then it joins up with the road formerly mentioned. There is an old road going into Knockananna called Reilly's hill which was used before the present road was made. This old road runs off of the present road and joins it later in the village of Knockananna. There is an old road in Kilcarney called Túr. The following story is connected with this old road.

"There is an old road going from the Kilcarney road to Knocknaguilty Bridge. It is a short cut between the two roads, though very few cars travel on it. There is an old road going into the village of Knockananna. It was used long ago as there was no other road leading to the village. Then the people got a new road made. This old road is still used by foot people going to mass. This old road is a hilly road and it is called Reilly's hill. There is a lane going from Rathduffmore to Knockananna. It is also used by people drawing turf from Rathduffmore bog. There is an old bridge on Ballykillmurry road over a small brook. Some of it has fallen and people say it is almost the oldest bridge in the district."

In this parish there are many forges. There are four forges in this parish. One in Rathdangan, one in Hacketstown, one in Knockananna and one in Moyne. The forge in Rathdangan is owned by Mr Doyle. He shoes horses and asses. He makes all kind of farm implements. The only work that is done in the open is the shoeing of wheels.
This forge is near a stream and a cross-roads. The roof of the forge is slated and there is one fireplace in it. There is one big door going into the forge. The forge in Hacketstown is owned by Mr Mac Donald. There is one big door going into the forge. This forge is near a cross-roads. The roof is of boards and there is one fireplace in it. The forge in Knockananna is owned by Mr Kehoe. The door going into this forge is in the shape of a horse shoe. The roof is zinc and there is one fireplace in it. This forge is beside

Forges were very plenty in olden times but nowadays they are not so plenty as they were then.
In olden times there were no motors or bicycles, so the horse was used for travelling. There are four forges in this parish. There is a forge situated in each of the following places. Knockananna, Moyne, Hacketstown and Rathdangan. Mr Keogh ownes the one in Knockananna, and Mr Stanley ownes the one in Moyne.
Mr McDonald ownes the one in Hacketstown, and the forge in Rathdangan is owned by Mr Doyle. The forge is generally situated beside a stream or at a cross-roads.

Hedge Schools
Heard from Mrs. Thos. O'Reilly Hacketstown formerly Ellen O Driscoll Higginstown now called Ardnaboy, Knockananna. She was born in 1847 and her father was born in 1799 and he told her about the old school in Knockananna. He was a stone breaker by trade. It was situated where Mr. O'Keefes old house was and was made of wood and stone and was thatched. Wooden blocks were used to write upon. The teachers name was Furlong and he wore a gray jackett and a knee briches with brass buttons down the side and had a silk bow at the knees. He also wore a pair of steel grey stockings and a pair of black shoes with large buckles at the toe. Sometimes he wore a frieze coat lined with red plaid while a woollen hat completed his outfit. Ned Carton made his clothes and Pat Byrne known as Pat the hatter from Askinagap made his hats while Anna Byrne who was a sister of Pat the Slough who taught

There is a slab in the Catholic Church in Knockananna in memory of Father Blanchfield. It is always damp and anyone who has toothache and touches his face to it is cured of the toothache.

built in 1803.Michael Dwyer attacked up from the bridge. The Yeos were at the Church wall. There was awful slaughter. Blood flowed down the street like a river. Still they drove the Yeos back. Billy Byrne was coming from Ballymanus but after coming through Kyle he turned for Knockananna. Had he come down the green while Dwyer was attacking the yeos would be caught between the two and slaughtered.Billy Byrne's crowd called to Father Blanchfield between Kyle and Knockananna (Tradition)There is a tradition that bales of flannel were falling three miles from Hacketstown. Really it was burning houses and wind blowing burning papers etc.The Cavalry attacked first at the Bridge. The Insurgents divided in

Long ago a ghost used to appear over in Ballyedmond and it used to frighten everybody round that place. A priest in Hacketstown came and lay the ghost, but he was so overcome that he died in a few days after, the priests name was Fr Blanchfield. Fr Blanchfield was buried in Knockanna (Knockananna).

The name of the smith that works in the forge in Rathdangan is Mr Doyle and the name of the one that works in Moyne is Mr Stanley. Mr Kehoe is the name of the man that works in the forge in Knockananna, and the name of the smith that works in Hacketstown is Mr Mac. Donald. The smith shoes horses and asses. He also shoes wheels.

In olden times forges were not as common as they are now. There is a forge in Rathdangan, in Moyne, in Hacketstown and in Knockananna.

In olden times forges were more plentiful than they are now. There are four forges in this parish. There is one in Rathdangan, one in Knockananna, one in Hacketstown and one in Moyne.

This school was situated on the right hand side of the road above 100 yards away from the Chapel. The teacher was Pat Byrne who taught calculations, writing, geography and singing just as in Knockananna while the pupils had to bring their penny and sod of turf. They sat in holes in the clay floor. Judy who was Pat's sister brought him dinner every day and while Pat devoured this Judy gave religious instruction.

One hot day Saint Patrick went on his way through the district of Knockananna, a few miles from Tinahely.
It was harvest time, and in the fields the men and women were reaping the corn.
Tired and thirsty, the Saint begged the woman for a drink but this was refused him. There upon Saint Patrick told these inhospitable people that for ever after they would have nothing to give either man or beast on that land of theirs.
So from that day forward the land never yielded, and the great Bog of Knockananna, famous for its hard black turf, now covers the district.This legend was told me by
The Revd. Father Somers.
(who was curate of Killaveney).
Tinahely - Co. Wicklow

There was a man who never went to mass on Sunday. He used to go hunting. This Sunday a priest was going out to Knockananna to say mass, he overtook the lad going hunting and asked him up in the car. The lad got up. The priest knew about his not going to mass. He asked him was he at mass - knowing he was not. The lad told him he was. He asked him who said it. He said the parish priest. It happened that it was the parish priest who said the mass. He asked him what sermon he preached. He said "Begor your reverence hell is a hot place for those who have to go there". His two dogs were killed by a strange hare and himself never had a bit of luck afterwards.

One night a man was on his way home and he had to pass a graveyard. He was a heavy drinker and always went home late and his wife was not wanting him to be so late out. She sent one of the workmen to this graveyard to frighten her husband and as the husband was passing the graveyard he said in a loud voice, "One ghost standing behind another". For there was a real ghost standing behind the workman. The workman got a fright and jumped out over the wall and called his master to wait for him and the workman did not live long after that. This happened in Knockananna.

"Mr. McCleans old house, then through Highpark and out on the public road at Mr. Keogh's house. That was the old road leading to High-park and Kiltegan. It is said that a ""dead coach"" was seen going that route, since the new road was made and all of the pedestrian go the same way still when going to Kiltegan. There is a line of oak trees growing at each side of the road. There is an old road going into Knockananna. It is a very short piece of a road, and it is about one hundred years ago since it was in use. It is called ""Reilly's hill"". The new road was made about the year of 1888."

One time an old man named William Brien used to make a living by stealing potatoes and selling them. An old woman named Byrne used to keep her potatoes under a clump of turf for seed for the next year so one night she went out to look at them and the cloak ? litter around the clump. Brien was watching her all the time & when she went in to her house again he bored a big hole in the clump & took all the potatoes he was caught & summoned & charged the next day by Old Tom Ebbs & brought to Knockananna Barracks but he carried his sack of potatoes all the time. When he was brought into the barracks he emptied his bag of potatoes under the grate to crisp them then picked them up again & put them in his sack. When he was brought into court Ebbs swore against him that he would know the potatoes that they were American reds but Brien said his were American Blacks & when he emptied them out in court a big cloud of ashes & dust came out of the bag & the potatoes were all like soot.

There are also traditions of schools having been held at Rathshanmore + Kyl which was conducted by Master Shea who also measure turf + land. The Kyle school was situated in Coogans field of that townsland. Shea is said to have been a very old man. A field in Kavanagh land of the same townsland is called the schoolhouse field but no tradition in connection with it is to be found.
There were two rival schools in Knockananna.