Local idea certainly is that King Cormac was buried in Killeen Cormac.There is a stone with a foals foot in it in Rathbran but no tradition can be found abou tit. The only tradition about Rathbran at all is that King (?) came to Rathbran to collect the Laigean Fox but through the prayer of St. Moling he was outwitted and the head cut off him. Bran, King of Leinster lived there but no traces have been found yet.

Long ago one of Cromwell's soldiers, who got land from Cromwell, sold it to one of his chief's officers. But when he had it sold he found that he sold it too cheaply and grew very angry with him-self so he hanged him-self on a tree at Footstown Co. Meath. The grave in which he was buried can be seen still. The place is now called the Soldier's Cross.
In Syddan Co. Meath there is a large hill known as as Gun Hill. It is so called because it is said that Cromwell had his guns on the top of it when knocking down Syddan castle.
Here is an old local version of how Tobar na Péiste got its name. This place is situated in Rathbran Co. Meath. There was a snake there and its head was in the well and its tail in the bog of Rathbran which is nearby the well. Fionn Mac Cumhaill had a dog named Bran and it is said that the dog killed the snake and so the well was called Tobar na Péiste and the place Rathbran.
In the Penal Days Mass was celebrated in

Old CraftsThere was no industry carried on in my district but there was basket making carried on in Rathbran. The man's name who made the baskets in that district was Richard Halligan of Rathbran. The baskets were called a pellock. There were no implements used at all. The baskets or pellocks were made with the hand. This old craft is not carried on in that district now. They

'98
Sheltering of Croppy in Rathbran Forge.
After the ill-fated battle of Tara the remnants of the defeated United men began to retreat north-west.
From Tara they appear to have come to Proudstown to a place called Guic an Aye where they were again routed says tradition. Then the remnant went to Stilberry Cross about 3 miles where is divided into two bands one taking the road to Rilbery + a smaller going Sane-ward.
The captain of the smaller band was badly wounded + beged his companions to go on and leave him in a clump of furze + when they'd meet some one loyal to the cause to send him to the rescue. This they did + sent the faithful blacksmith of Rathbran to attend the wounded Captain. The Smith brought the wounded man to his house + he and his daughter cared + tended the croppy till he was soon on the way to recovery.
However word got to the authorities and soon a troop of Hessians + North Meath + Coran Yoes were on the spot but the bird had flown. The Soldier were mad when the found the bird had flown and resolved to be avenged on the Blacksmith by the smith possessing himself of his trusty sledge soon had the forge strewn with dead + dying. But Fingall seeing they could not take the smith alive went round to the back and seeing the lone warrior

Long ago the fairies used to travel from the North hills at the White mountains on to Mooretown mote, on to a cave in Rathbran where they would join with others, and begin dancing and singing and playing all sorts of music with pipes.
They would then come on to

The names of the roads in my district are as follows, the Grange road leading from the Leaby to Slane, the Ardee road leading from the Leaby to Ardee, the Kells road leading from Collon to Kells, the Belpatrick road leading from the Leaby to belpatrick. My father "said" the Grange road and the Belpatrick road is very old. The Belpatrick road is not used now. There is one old bye-way in our district called the Belpatrick lane. Long ago there were no bridges and the rivers were crossed by means of fords. There was in Rathbran church a foard, one time a man

Once upon a time there was a man named John and a woman named Judy who lived in a place called Rathbran and were very poor. They lived mostly on potatoes because there were no tea in those times. They saved up some money to buy a pig. There were no clocks in those times so they had to go by the stars and the sun for the time. They started of very early one morning to the fare of Ardee. When they were going out John told Judy to pull the door after her. So Judy pulled the door of the hinges and put it on her back. When they had gone about quarter of their journey Judy told John that the door was getting heavy. "You foolish woman" Said John I only Meant for you to shut the door and not to take if off its hinges. However said he I'll carry it another bit. They were going down the hills of Smarmore it is a very lonely place with a wood on the side of the road. They heard footsteps coming towards them and they came to the conclusion that they were robbers. So they climbled up an Ivy tree which was nearby. They were only a short time in the tree when Judy began to complain of the weight of the door. "Hold on to it for a little longer" said John. The robbers came over and sat down under the tree and lighted a big fire. They went out to a field killed a sheep skinned it and roasted it. The robbers numbered about ten and all had sacks of Gold - apiece "By-Gosh said Judy "I'll have to let go the door" So down it flopped through the trees making a terrible noise on top of the robbers. The robbers made off for their lives leaving their gold behind. So John and Judy came down got the money and lived in wealth ever after.

On the north west side (on) and about three miles (North of) from Donard is the site of the Battle of Mullicaugh. The lands are now owned by Mr John Burke. Here King McInmire challenged (by) the might of King Bran of Rathbran Baltinglass in Revenge for the death of McInmere's son.King McInmere was slain at the King's river, Vallymount about 6 miles to the north east.

There is a field in Mr. Stephen Nolan's in Rathbran. There is supposed to have been a battle in this dield. This field is called the Shamrock because with the blood of the soldiers it is supposed to be a great field for shamrocks. There is a pit in this field and the soldiers are supposed to be buried in it.There is a field in Johnny Connells and three soldiers are supposed to have been walking through it in the famine time. They had wheat in their pockets and other soldiers killed them and the wheat grew there every year till about four years abo when the field was ploughed up.I got this from Michael Germaine, Bessina, Grangecon, age 50, born in Graney and spent his life in Bessina. Mrs Germain she lived in Graney.

Leaby - TO THE WEST - probably means bed or graveyard.
Traces of a graveyard are to be found here.Rathbran - The Rath of the raven - but a local tradition says it derives its name from Bran - Finn McCool's famous dog.
To the NorthBelpatrick - a corruption of Baile PhádraigMollyeish - " " " Mullach Uisge from the number of springs on its slopes.Fuinshoge - from its ash trees - Local tradition says it is called after Saint Fanchea. It is almost certain Saint Enda of Aran was born here.
To the EastCorlis - the fort
Rathdaniel - Rath DomhnailTenure - Tigh na nUíbhar
To the South EastCarrickanane (the birds rock). It has a Rath of which there are some legends.
COLLON VILLAGE is a manorial village. The ancient village has disappeared. It grew around the house of O'Carrol - a prince of Oriel. He lived where the Vicarage now stands - beside the schools. He gave the lands of Mellifont to the Cistercian Monks. The first mention of Collon in history is a grant to the monks