There is a famous castle about three miles outside Ballyshannon. It is known as Wardtown Castle. It was there the “Colleen Bawn” lived with her father Squire Folliott. The Colleen Bawn” fell in love with an outlaw, Willie Reilly, but her father would not allow her to marry him. Willie Reilly was arrested and put in jail. The “Colleen Brawn” got sick and lost her memory, and her father was very much upset. So an order was made to release Willie Reilly and he and the “Colleen Bawn” got married.

is not greater respect and protection for these ancient graves.
This landmark lies about 500 yards from the place where Ellen Hanly (The Colleen Bawn) lived with her uncle temporaily.
It was there Captain Scanlan first met his bride. The unhappy ending of both has been immortalised in the dramatic story of the "Colleen Bawn" by Gerald Griffin.
The principal characters in the play have assumed names, but the author founded his story on the romantic touch attached to the life of the "Colleen Bawn."
She lies in Burrane Churchyard, inn West Clare, quite close to the banks of the River Shannon where her body was washed up by the tide.
Two men paid the extreme

in the kitchen. No matter how large the "bawn" of cows was, each cow had a name, the chief ones in this locality were Colleen Ruadh, Colleen Deas, Coleen bawn, Colleen breach, Cullie, Beauty, Bonnie, bawny, Dearg, Rose, Rosetter, Snowball, Snowflake, etc.
A Cure
When the calves died of the Black-quarter it was the custom to hang one of the hind quarters of the calf inside the chimney and leave it there. The smoke preserved it and no more calves died of that disease.

is little trace of any other structure or grave around it. Local people say that there are indications of the remains of an enclosing wall. If this existed as a protection to the vault its ambit would be small. Whether other families were interred there must remain a mystery.It is a peculiarly strange spot for a lonely vault, as it now appears, and elevation and solitude must be in the mind of the deceased owner when he selected this site as a final resting place.As weird and requestered its position is there were a few men who were not afraid to avail of the shelter of this vault at at night. One was an outcast, and the other was a poor half witted beggarman. People and times have changed since then, and it is a pity that there is not greater respect and protection for these ancient graves. This landmark lies about 500 yards from the place where Ellen Hanly (The Colleen Bawn) Lived with her uncle temporarily.It was there Captain Scanlan met his bride. The unhappy ending of both has been immortalised, in the dramatic story of the "Colleen Bawn" by Gerald Griffin.The principal characters in this play have assumed names, but the author founded his story on the romantic touch attached to the life of the "Colleen Bawn"She lies in Burrane churchyard, in West Clare, quite close to the banks of the River Shannon whither her body was washed up by the tide.

Its home then she was taken, and in her closet bound,
Poor Reilly all in Sligo Jail, lay on the stony ground,
'Till at the bar of justice before the judge he'd stand,
For nothing but the stealing of his dear Colleen Bawn.Now in the cold, cold iron, my hands and feet are bound,
I'm handcuffed like a murderer and tied unto the ground,
But all the toil and slavery I'm willing for to stand,
Still hoping to be succoured by my dear Colleen Bawn.The jailer's son to Reilly goes and thus to him did say;
"Oh, rise up, Willy Reilly, you must appear this day,
For Esquire Tolliard's anger you never can withstand,
I'm afraid you'll suffer sorely by my dear Colleen Bawn.

Scanlon who was hanged for the murder of the Colleen Bawn, used have a tent near the lake(loch na gcoipe). He used be there for wild fowling. One night he killed a great eel. The following day when they were taking the eel to the kennels at Croom, its head hung over the front lace of the car near the horses tail and its tail stretched along the ground behind the car.

dear Colleen Bawn.
IV
Then in the cold cold iron my hands and feet are bound.
I'm handcuffed like a murderer and tied unto the ground
But all the toil and slavery I'm willing for to stand
Still hoping to be seccured by my dear Colleen Bawn
V
The jailor's son to Reilly goes and thus to him did say.
Oh get up Willy Reilly you must appear this day.
For great Squire Folliards anger you never can withstand.
I'm afraid you'll suffer sorely for your dear Colleen Bawn.
VI
This is the news young Reilly last night that I did hear.
The lady's oath will hang you or else will set you free.
If that be si says Reilly "her pleasure I will stand.
Still hoping to be succoured by my dear

"Oh, rise up, Willy Reilly, and come along with me,
I mean for to go with you and leave this counterie,
To leave my father's dwellings, his houses and free land,
And away goes Willy Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn.They go by hills and mountains, and by yon lonesome plain,
Through shady groves and valleys, all dangers to refrain,
But her father followed after her with a well-armed band,
And taken was Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn.

Colleen BawnThe Colleen Bawn was drowned in the Shannon west of Glin on the 4th of July 1819. She is buried on the other side of the river in Clare.
All the people connected with this terrible event are dead but their grandchildren still live in the place.
It was the Knight of Glin who broght the criminals to justice.
The spot where the Caitlin ban was done to death is still shown and no natives of Glin like to pass the spot at the hour of midnight.Opposite that spot, on the Main Road, a black dog is constantly seen at twelve o'clock or from twelve to two.Many people have been frightened on that road. Noises of various sorts have been heard in the Knight's lawn. The noise corresponds to that of a cart drawing a very heavy load which made the axle creak.

A Shebeen was an inn in which unracked whiskey, poteen, and all such illicit drinks were sold. This practised in various remote districts in which the mandates of the law were held in little dread, but in this locality they were never free from prying eyes hence we are not surprised to find the absence of shebeens in considerable number and within the memory of the oldest inhabitant the only one that ever existed was in the fringe of Rusheen grove where it approaches the shore. Here it was rumoured Sullivan, - the tool whom Scanlan used in his murder of the Colleen Báwn obtained drink to apply a stimulus to his flagging purpose.

Long ago in the farm where the Keanes now live there lived a man by the name of Scanlann from Rath Keale. There was a large house there called "An Tig Mór". The place itself was called "Baile an Tíghe Mhóir". The man and his son rode every day to see the place from Rath Keale. One day the son came alone to see the place. The day was wet and so when the boy was crossing the river he got drowned. The place where he was drowned (in the Feale) is called "Poll an Scanláin". His father never again visited the place and the landlords took it over. These Scanlans were the ancestors of the man who killed the "Colleen Bawn". Another famous English family - the Talbots also lived there. After the boy was drowned in the river it changed its course completely.

went with lanterns by night to search the graves but after making a couple of little holes and finding nothing they gave up the search. It is said that Knockfierna is called after Donn Firinn the king of the Munster fairies who is still supposed to live under the hill in his palace. It is a tradition that a pagan God named Scusidricin had a temple to his worship where the cairn now is. The district next to the hill on the west is still called the Strickeen. There is a fort in the Strickeen called the Lisnaveean. Some say it was inhabited by giants and that one of their pastimes was casting rocks. Some of these are scattered for miles around. The broth from the giants cooking places at the flowed over and down into the valley below which is still called gleann an Anairice. In the Strickeens was the original home of Eily Hanley the "Colleen Bawn" about whom Gerald Griffin wrote a great

Two men paid the extreme 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 precinct of some ruins. This gentleman belonged to a family who held high influence in those far off days. Consequently, his body must have been allowed to his friends for his private internment. Thoumpeen na Webbina 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.

The trial and conviction of Stephen Sullivan, otherwise Danny Mann of Colleen Bawn story, took place early in July 1820. We have before us a clipping of an old Irish provinical newspaper dated for August 10 th, 1820, in which its Limerick correspondent states that the prisoner was taken at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on Thursday, from the City goal to the Gallows Green for execution. "The populace," he wrote, "assembled on this occasion was more than ordinary, owing to the interest excited by the commission of so abominable a murder, and it having been generally circulated that the criminal would make confession of the tragic circumstance, in which he, himself, was the principal actor, and the only person living that could do so. His countenance underwent considerable alteration since his trial -- it was marked with guilt and care, penitence and sorrow. When he arrived at the place of execution, he continued a long time in prayer with his clergyman, and was at one period so weak, that it was necessary to get him a drink of water, he then ascended the platform, in rather an active manner, and, evincing a disposition tot express himself as to the part he took in the horrid deed, several gentlemen encircled the gallows, when the Rev. Mr Enright addressed him thus:- "Now Sullivan,

There were also three boat men putting out for Jarbert. They landed Ellen Walsh in Glyn where she had a job. She afterwards identified all the parties at the trial. The murderer was found concealed in a heap of straw and was brought to Limerick jail. He was tried at the assizes in Limerick. A clean verdict of murder was brough against him for the murder of this beautiful young girl. On the day of his execution the horses that were attached to the carriage refused to take him over the bridge that crossed the Shannon at Limerick. He had to be taken out of carriage and dragged and mobbed to the place of execution. The "Colleen Bawn" is buried at Brawn Church Yard in the parish of Killimer, Co Clare. My grandfather told it to my mother.

Garret Dalton Headfield Ballymurphy Co Carlow was a great singer. His favourite song was "The Colleen Bawn". He used to sing at the cross-roads in the evening after work and all the neighbours used to gather around to hear him sing.
Denis Honohan Knockeen Graigue was a well know singer. He was over ninety years when he died. He used go to a farmhouse in Ballyogan every night to

Singers and Storytellers:Charles Mc Partlan was a good singer also as well as a good dancer. His favourite songs wer "The Manchester Martyrs", "Sweet Nelly Toole from the County of Wicklow" and "The Boys of Ballinamore".Patrick Mc Partlan of Slievenakilla was a good singer. His favourite song was "Willie Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn". Myles Gilmartin ('Miley Bawn") was a good singer. His

The following story was told to me by my mother.
Shebeens are shops in which drinks such as porter, whiskey and other drinks are sold unknown to the government. There was one in Carraig. On the night the "Colleen Bawn" was killed, the man who killed her was drinking in there. When he was drunk he forced the "Cooleen Bawn" to go out boating with him.
She consented to go with him. When they were out as far as Carraig a Holt he killed her and throw her into the sea.

This is the news, young Reilly, last night that I did hear,
The lady's oath will hang you, or else will set you clear,
"If that be so", says Reilly, "her pleasure I will stand
Still hoping to be succoured by my dear Colleen Bawn.Now Willy's drest from top to toe all in a suit of green,
His hair hands o'er his shoulders, most glorious to be seen,
He's tall and straight and comely as any could be found,
He's fit for Tolliards daughter, were she heiress to a crown.The judge, he said "This lady being in her tender youth
If Reilly has deluded her, she will declare the truth".
Then, like a moving beauty bright, before him she did stand,
"You're welcome there my heart's delight and dear Colleen Bawn".

I
O rise up Willy Reilly and come along with me
I mean for to go with you and leave this counterie
To leave my fathers dwelling , his house and free land
And away goes Willy Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn.
II
They go by hills and mountains and by yon lonesome plain
Through shady groves and valleys all dangers to refrain
But her father followed after with a well-armed band
And taken was poor Reilly and his dear Colleen Bawn.
III
Its home then she was taken and in her) her closet bound
Poor Reilly all in Sligo Jail lay on the stony ground
Till at the bar of justice before the Judge he'd stand
For nothing but the stealing of his