About one quarter of a mile due north of the little village of Donard and adjoining Donard Demesne (owner Mrs Davidson) at the foot of a sloping field gushes forth a spring known as "The Holy Well" at the foot of the Holy Hill. Here St Palladius baptised 500 in a day. He also built a church and left St Sylvester in charge ( no trace of the church remains)
A few yards south of Donard Village in the graveyard to the right of door of Old Church standing there, it's a very peculiar grave stone lying flat. This is known as the grave of St Sylvester.
(Told to me by Mr John Allen Donard and the late Doctor Allen Do.)

Close to Mr Davidston's house Donard near the garden stands a Granite Stone about 5 feet. This is a square pyramid and is clearly marked with OGHAM characters. The stone is about 5 feet in perimeter. It was brought to Donard Demesne about 40 yrs since, from the lands of the late Mr Thos Metcalfe of Ballylion by the late Rev Patrick Kavanagh cc Hollywood who was curate at Donard at the time of the removal.(This was told to me by Mr Denis O'Toole P.C. Newtown and Mr John Metcalfe Ballylion, Donard.)

There are some very ancient and remarkable stones in the parish, including that on the mound of Tournant; but in the grounds of Mrs. Goddard, at Donard four miles from Dunlavin, there is a real live Ogham stone, which must be of great intrinsic worth to scholars. It was resurrected some years ago quite near Donard, where probably it had lain for many centuries, and was transferred to its present site at the back of Mrs. Goddard's house near the Civic Guard barrack. I am not skilled in Ogham literature or characters, but I know the Ogham was a particular kind of writing practised by the ancient Irish, and consisted of lines or groups of lines drawn perpendicularly or obliquely above, across or below a stem line. They resemble the key board of a pianoforte. We have been informed that high hopes were entertained that the stone at Donard might turn out to be a key-stone in the Ogham literature of Erin and that it might lead to great discoveries connecting to ancient Irish with

A long time ago there lived a chieftain in that part of Louth which now forms the parish of Cooley. He was cruel, treacherous and a great enemy of Christianity. Christians under his sway had a very hard time of it.A very holy man named Donard then lived in a small hut on the South side of Carlingford Lough. In this hut he jealously guarded all his sacred vessels and had a little Alter erected where he used to say Mass everyday. He led a life of great sanctity and mortification.This bither chief heard about Donard and resolved to put a stop to him and his Christian practices. With this end in view he raided the poor hut made Donard an outcast and bade him depart at once with whatever little treasure he possessed.To ensure his exile the chieftain took him to the edge of the sea and cast all his possessions into the water. The chalice rose and began slowly to ride across the Lough. Donard followed it and finally the opposite shore was reached, now called Mourne. He knelt down and thanked God for his deliverance but he prayed a curse on the chieftain family and his descendants. This is known as "The

The rath situated on Mr Kavanagh's land in Donard in the parish of Cloughbawn and county of Wexford is supposed to contain a treasure.It consists of a crock of gold which was hidden there by the Danes.One time long ago a man named Aidan Foley went alone to dig for it. While he was digging a white hen flew out into his face so he had to give up. He got such a fright that he never recovered and died a few weeks afterwards. Light is often seen at 12 o'clock at night at the rath.The above was collected by Patrick Flynn Donard who heard it from his grandfather Patk. Flynn Donard. His mother also remembers hearing the story from her own mother who lived in Donard for many years, but who died some years ago.

Mary Carty Donard, Clonroche, collected the following from her father Patrick Carty Donard, Clonroche whose grandfather was a wheel-wright long ago and who died about 54 or 55 years ago.Wheel-making was carried on in Donard long ago. My great grandfather Patrick Carty of Donard was a wheel-wright and made flax wheels and woollen wheels. People from the surrounding districts bought wheels or had wheels repaired. My grandfather also a Patrick Carty worked at the trade for a time.My own father remembers the lathe used for 'turning' the wheels. He often saw my grandfather use it in later times for turning legs of chairs and tables as he often did a lot of carpentry work.Pump-boring : My grandfather also bored sticks for wooden pumps. He used an iron bar twelve or fifteen feet long and

There are some very ancient and remarkable stones in the parish, including that on the mound of Tournant; but in the grounds of Mrs Goddard, at Donard, there is a real live Ogham stone, which must be of great intrinsic worth to scholars. It was resurrected some years ago quite near Donard, where probably it had lain for many centuries, and was transferred to its present site at the back of Mrs Goddard's house near the Civic Guard barrack.
An Ogham scholar had high hopes that the stone at Donard might turn out to be a key-stone in the Ogham literature of Erin, and that it might lead to great discoveries connecting to ancient Irish with Egyptian civilisation, but that it was so injured in transfer that its bright hopes have departed.
This monolith is a thick rectangular block of green stone with a diagonal streak of white quartz, it is five

at the ancient well, the ruined mansion, the source of the Greise and the graveyard. The whole circumference of this ancient rath is indented and ridged around.
The third, and very remarkable Rath, is the great Rath at Donard. It stands beside the modern hamlet of Donard to the immediate South of the place, and is very perfect and very large. While sheep and cattle graze on the mounds of Tournant and Tober, as they do and dine in "Tara's Halls", the Rath at Donard is cultivated, one portion being a meadow field and the rest a garden. As this sketch is not meant to be a deep archaeological treatise on Raths, but rather as an introduction to a more modern and interesting matter, to wit-a bazaar, still it may serve to let the world know that though no one knows to-day where Dunlavin is, we, like the Egyptians, were known and famous and great before Christianity conquered and ennobled the land. Perhaps, too, some archaeologist may see that we are trying to make ourselves known, and may come and write us up.

view of this rath are remains of three or four other raths, one on Mr Kavanagh's land of Donard, one on Mr Lett's land in Clonleigh, on on Mr Furlong's land in Clonleigh and one on Mr Fleming's land Clonleigh.There is also a high moat on Mr Doyle's land of Donard formerly Kent's Moat.

Mary Carty Donard, Clonroche, heard the following account from her father who remembers a local eviction when her grandfather Patrick Carty Donard was evicted from a farm in Poulpeasty.The local townland of Donard was on the Kavanagh Estate of Borris. Poulpeasty townland townland was on the Carew "estate". The Landlord was Lord Carew who spent most of his time in England. The land-agent was a Mr Ruttledge who later planted the evicted farms with Protestants.There was a Land League Committee in this parish who held meetings in the house of the local carpenter Andrew O'Brien of Poulpeasty. My grandfather was a Committee man.The rents were very high and the Committee planned to hold back 5/- out of every £ due to the landlord. There were 60 or 70 tenants on the Carew estate. Many held out against

Medivael Church at Donard.
Donard is a district a few miles from Dunlavin.
This uninteresting ruins stands in the Church yard, under the shadow of the bell moat, it is probably of the fourteenth century date, is oblong in shape, without a chancel, and devoid of ornamentation. Withen its walls at the western-end is a recumbent granite slab, coffin shaped and measuring seven ft: six ins: in length; two ft: at the head and one and a half ft: at the foot and six inches in thickness. At either end is across the larger one at the head is one ft: eight ins long while the base of that at the foot is continued to meet the base of the head Cross.
Local tradition holds that the body of St Sylvester, brother Presbyter of Solenius, whome Palladius left in charge of the Church he founded in Donard was buried beneath this Stone. His remains being afterwards removed across the mountaines to Ennis

In olden times there were many sports such as throwing stones, or weights, running races and walking long distances. Jack Neill, Donard was a very good weight-thrower. He was able to throw a hundred-weight six yards.
"Big Phil" Lewis (R.I.P) from Donard used to walk to fairs fifty and sixty miles away and walk back again. It would take him a day to walk to the fair of Gorey and a day to come back.

Donard. He pitched his tents on a hill in the east of Mullica about three miles from Donard.
When the king and his guardians were asleep and the sentries on guard, some of the enemy stole out of Donard with soldiers in baskets which were tied on the horse's' backs.
When they were gone about a mile they were stopped by some of the sentries. "Who goes there" cried the sentries. "Men with food for the king of Leinster," said the enemy. "Pass on," said the sentries.
The enemy passed on to where the king was camped. When they arrived they found that all the soldiers were asleep. Out jumped the soldiers and slaughtered every man except nine including the king. The were pursued as far as Valleymount where they were all killed beside a river which was afterwards called the King's River Story
One night about twenty years ago a man who had a hump

Two miles west of Donard close to main road from Dublin to Baltinglass is Merginstown Glen House. Here among the out offices and standing on the farm of the late Father Hyland, is a Barn with a wide door or gateway. Here Father Hyland said Mass for parish of Donard and Dunlavin before the church at Dunlavin was built over 100 yrs ago.
The farm went in to the possession of a Mr Fisher (a Protestant). Then to Mr Joe Dunne afterwards Mrs Joe Dunne and then Mr Joe Dunne Grandson of the late Joe Dunne.
The Grandson sold the lands last year to Malachy Moynihan who is now in possession. (Told to me by Mr John Headon cowpasture, Dunlavin - next farm to Merginstown Glen).

removed to teach in Donard, and her brother, Patrick, came from Donard to teach in the new school in Davidstown.Mr Patrick McHugh retired, and Mr Moynihane took his place in Davidstown.Rev Fr Donovan was Parish Priest in Dunlavin, at the time Davidstown new school was built.

I was told about a man named Phil Lewis (R.I.P.), who was nicknamed "Big Phil". He was noted for his strength. Ellen Evans and Jack Mahon saw him carrying an ass out of a bog-hole, in his arms. He pitched the ass out upon dry ground, saying that he would not carry asses through the country for them (for Ellen and Jack)
He was also a noted walker. He used walk from Donard to the fair of Gorey, to buy cattle and used walk home to Donard with them. It took him a day to go and a day to come back.
Mary Fitzpatrick (R.I.P) had great strength. She carried 26 sts. oatmeal up seven steps of stairs when every man failed.

In olden times the people used gather to have some pastime every evening at a cross-roads. The sports were generally weight-throwing, running, jumping, walking, story-telling and singing. The onlookers "backed" buttons on all the sports.
There was a woman, named Mrs Fitzpatrick (R.I.P.) who lifted twenty-six stone-weight up seven steps, after it had failed on several strong men. She lifted this weight at Tyrrells, of Donard.
"Big Phil" walked to Gorey, in the County Wexford, to fairs, in one day and a night. "Big Phil" was a nick-name. His real name was Phil Lewis, of Donard. He lifted asses out of bog-holes

The following song was composed by "Spud" Murphy after the death of Rev Fr Lynch, CC Donard, who had had Davidstown Church built, and who worked so hard himself. He used start off every day from Donard, to walk to Davidstown, whiel the work was in hand, and used carry a little bag on his back with something to eat in it. He worked with the men.Sorrowful lines on the death of the Rev Thomas Lynch CC Donard, who died 24th May 1887 RIPI
"You feeling hearted Christians who profess the Roman Creed,
It will pierce your hearts with grief these mournful lines to read.
Since our holy priest is gone, his loss we now deplore
He ne'er will rise his holy hands to bless us any more
II
The lines which I now pen down, you all may understand
Is on the death of our noble friend and gallant clergyman

are numerous sea caverns, one of which extends far inland under Slieve Donard. In the mountain streams of Slieve Donard specimens of Topaz, Beryl, Amethyst and Emerald are frequently found.
Violet J Armstrong
Hootha Lodge
Carlingford
21.12.38