School: Urbal (roll number 13874)

On this page

1. (no title) (continued)

   “During the War of 1641 Bishop Mac Sweeney, at one time the only bishop in Erin, was in hiding for a long time in the Slieve-an-Iarainn district from which he had to try to rule the diocese of Kilmore.”

   

   Share Share Post

   (continued from previous page)

   that was often enough, no clerics were recognised and they were all on the run. One priest, then had to attend to the needs of the souls of the people of Glan and Ballinaglera.

   Before the '98 insurrection, we know that this was so as we read of the arrangements made in official documents signed by Protestant officials, who were something like the magistrates of our early days.

   Well, in the real Penal Days, the priest said mass above on the mountain at a placed called "Cloch an tSagairt". For a long time the church was, of necessity, in that vicinity. When possible a little hut was provided for the priest, the server and, perhaps, a few older members of the congretation. Sometimes there was only a covering over the altar. That covering was in the shape of an arch.

   On one occasion in the dark Penal Days, the Red Coats came suddenly on the priest and congretation up in the Slievenakilla district. One agent of Satan was about to shoot the priest when a brave daughter of old Ballinaglera attacked him and succeeded in holding him and turning away the gun until the hunted saggart escaped. He (the priest) was surnamed O Cuirnín and he afterwards fled to the Continent.

   But how history repeats itself! In the Land League Days, a young girl from the same district disarmed a peeler and the Head Constable, on that occasion said that he wished his men were half as brave as she was.

   (continues on next page)

   

   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. time
      1. historical periods by name (~25)
         1. penal times (~4,335)
   2. place-space-environment
      1. local lore, place-lore (~10,595)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Gearóid Ó Céileachair

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Múinteoir

   Informant

   Patrick Rynn

   Gender

   Male

   Age

   63

   Occupation

   Farmer

   Address

   Druminalass, Co. Leitrim