Rathdrum and Shillelagh. Some went to Carlow. The nuns went back to Wexford convent. Not long after this the Soldiers left for a while. But before they could return it was burned down, the beautiful Convent and all. I heard some of the old people saying that this was prophesied by a priest years ago whos name was Father Parkinson who was C.C. of Baltinglass. He said it would one day be a barrack for Soldiers and then a rookery for crows. He was only two weeks dead when it came to pass. He died in 1917.I heard the above from my mother, Mrs Byrne who is 40 years of age

in a cheque so when he came home they thought of the doors and the man said. "I might be going into Baltinglass to morrow" but no more was said until a day or two after "Oh isnt it dreadful the murder of poor Laurence and Mary Haydon and everyone said "Oh they were murdered for their money"The pair of them went to bed that night as usual and about 3 a.m. the following morning they were murdered. They were killed with a hatchet in the bed, and the poor old woman was dragged out of the bed unto the floor. And the next day some neighbour or other was passing and it was between eleven and twelve o clock. The person said, "I will call into see them in case they might have the sicknes that is going;" so the person raised the latch of the door and said in a loud voice. "Are you up Maryann." and getting on answer (and) the person walked in and seeing the sight was shocked and nearly fainted on finding both of them had been murdered went back out and went for the police, and on the way told a number of people about the most awful sight in Haydon's house it shocked the country round and the police came

Once upon a time there dwelled in Leinster, Munster and Ulster great giants. These giants were continuously fighting with one another. The giant of Munster was bigger than the other giants. After some time a strife arose between the Leinster giant and the Munster giant.
One evening the Munster giant arrived at the Leinster giants home which was near Baltinglass. The giant knocked at the door and the wife of the Leinster giant let him in. The Leinster giant was prepared for the others coming and he had put up his wife to tell him that he was gone away. When the Munster giant heard this, he said he would wait. She told him also that there was no-body in the house but herself and a son, but at the same time it was the giant himself. The supposed son used to go out with the

This well is situated in a graveyard on the side of a hill known as Kilranelagh Hill. It is at the western end of the old cemetery. It is a fine well, circular in shape. The stream issues from the western side; passing through the boundary wall it flows into a stone trough in the adjoining field.
In the cemetry at Kilranelagh are interred the remains of a High King of Ireland, namely Ard Mac Ainmire who was killed at Dunboyke in A.D. 598. Sam McAllister, to whom a monument is erected in the Square in Baltinglass, is also buried here. The cottage at Derrynamuck where he was shot is distant about six miles north-east of the cemetry. Tradition also has it that Moore who was hanged at Tubber Owen ( the holy well at Rathdangan) is also buried here, as also a sister of Michael Dywer's named Mary Dywer.I could find nobody to point out the exact grave in which Sam McAllister is buried although it is believed to be somewhere in the north east corner of the graveyard.

prosperous way of living at this time. Then Mr Burton, a bank manager in Baltinglass, bought the whole concern. He turned it into a corn mill, and sold a lot of the interior of the factory to make money. After some years all was sold and only a very small portion of the factory is to be seen now, near Stratford-on Slaney Bridge, over the Slaney river.
Specimens of silk manufactured in Stratford-on-Slaney Factory over 100 years ago. (See four silk samples)

[Title should be -The Local Fairs]The local fairs are held in Tinahely, Hacketstown, Aughrim and Baltinglass. They are always held in towns. The old people in the neighbourhood never remember them to be held in crossroads. There is no local tradition in connection with fairs. In olden times there used to be always fights at fairs. The people used to fight with sticks and stones, and they would think that it wasn't a fair day at all if they hadn't a fight. When you sell an animal there is always luck penny given. It is calculated at one shilling to three pounds. When a bargain is made, the people concerned show their agreement by striking hands.When an animal is sold it is marked with raddle in order to show that it is sold. Their are horse fairs held every three months namely: on the 7th Feb 8th May 7th, Aug 7th Nov. The fairs for sheep for sheep, horses, etc are held monthly.

Long, long ago people used to go to fairs walking and driving their stock along the road.
In all the small villages some wealthy farmers, employed labours as drovers.
Many fairs as said to be held in small villages bit nowadays they have died away.
There are many local fairs around in Dunlavin, Newbridge, Kildare, Castledermoth in Baltinglass also a few other places.
In every town where there are railways there are generally fairs there for there

Carrigeen
Baltinglass
Co WicklowMaterial from my father
Joseph Kavanagh

The local fairs are held in the town of Baltinglass. it occupies nearly every street. As far as can be remembered the fairs were always held in the town. Buyers often transact business at the farmers houses. When a butcher wants sheep or cattle between the fairs he goes to the farmers houses. This is done to the present day.
There is no special place for the fairs they are held in the streets. When a beast is bought so much luck is given this is called "The luck Penny". It is calculated by giving so much in the pound
When a bargain is made the agreement is shown by striking hands or spitting.
When an animal is bought it is marked in several ways by cutting hair off his side, marking it with raddle or mud. The greatest fairs

There is a corner about a mile from Hacketstown. It is called Bulley's corner, because a man named Bully Doyle lived there long ago. There is a river called Dereen near Hacketstown. It is so called because there is a small Oak wood near it. It is a tributary of the Slaney.
There is a hill a little bit above our school, it is called Anthony's hill. It is so called after a man called Anthony who lived on it.
There is a place called Kildonagh in Croneskeagh townland. It is a name given to a place where people were buried long ago.
There is a cross roads called Connoran's cross-roads. It is about two miles from Hacketstown on the Baltinglass road. It is so called because a man named Connoran lived there long ago. The house he lived in is vacant now.

I have been told that the best mower around this locality was Patrick Cullen.
He had no fixed place of residence and he died about twenty years ago, and was buried in Baltinglass Cemetry.
Mr Cullen was a very big and strong man and he always wore a large beard. He could easily mow two irish acres of meadow in a day because he was able to take a very big swarth in one stride and he also had a special way of sharpening a scythe.
An other man who was also a famed mower was working near the place where this man was employed, and he challenged him. They knew of two farmers nearby who had about the same amount of meadow to be cut and they said they would mow a farm each the next day. whichever had the work completed first would be declared the winner.

impounding cattle or any stray animals till their owners heard about them. For that reason it was called the "Pound Road". It leads south-east to Baltinglass.
The Tober Road lead north from Dunlavin to Blessington, it derives its name because of the famous "Tober" or well which is situated beside the townland now known as Tober. This road is a very new road because in olden times there was only a piece of it connecting the "Blind Lane with Fryarshill and "Old Kilcullen.
The Nass Road connectes Dunlavin with Nass and other larger towns of Kildare. This road is a very important one because the station is situated beside it. It is a very level road and is well tarred. There is a footpath on the side of it from about one mile outside the town of Dunlavin.
The Church Road is so called because the present Protestant Church is situated beside it, it connectes Dunlavin with South Kildare and some of its principal towns. It is fairly level but stony and muddy. It also connectes two very old bye-way together called "Tailors Lane and "Tournant Road" which are almost disused

There are six roads leading from Dunlavin to important towns in Kildare, Carlow, Dublin, and West-Wicklow.
The Pound. Road leads southwards to Baltinglass. It was called the Pound Road because long ago on that road there was a pound or enclosure for confining stray cattle. It is a hilly road as far as Carrigower.
The station road leads north to Nass. It is called the "Station Road" because it is the only passway to the railway. It is a level road.
The "Sparrow Road" leads east to Phoulaphuca. It is call the "Sparrow

it is said can be cured by the blood of a person called Kehoe. It is said that a stye can be cured by a piece of a gooseberry bush. It is necessary to break off a little branch and make the Sign of the Cross before the stye. Then the branch should be thrown over the right shoulder.
The Whooping Cough can be remedied by the one who has the Cough going three times between a donkeys legs and three times across his back. There are a great many cures for warts. The can be cured by making the Sign of the Cross on the warts with a piece of fat bacon There is said to be a well on the side of the main road about five miles from the town of Baltinglass an when the warts are touched by its waters they are cured. Warts can also be cured by rubbing them with a black snail. The snail must then be put on a thorn bush to wither away
There is a disease among cattle called Black Leg which can be cured by a certain herb called garlick. This herb

to many in the Summer and other months of the year.
These plantations are growing very well, this last couple of years, some of the trees are twenty feet high and over.
There is a fine river, named the Slaney, half a mile from my home. It rises in Lugnaquila, (the third highest mountain in Ireland,) and flows all through the glen to Baltinglass and enters the sea at Wexford Harbour.
There is much beautiful scenery around my home district and tourists come from Dublin every summer to climb the mountains that are adjacent to my home.
No one ever gets lost climbing those hills in the summer, as crowds go together and accompany each other. Tourists would not ask a better days sport than to climb those mountains, for a day.

who is selling cattle or sheep often keeps his hands behind his back for fearing of being drawn into a hasty agreement.Animals when they are sold ae marked with raddle. Sheep are often marked by clipping the ears.The foregoing information was given to me byMiss Clarke
Main St
Baltinglass.

(1) If Baltinglass Hill seems very near the town it is a sign of wet weather.
(2) If the Slaney river roars at the Weir it is a sign of a wet time.
(3) If there is a circle to be seen round the moon at night that is a sign of a storm.
(4) If cockroaches are crawling in large numbers on the floor, it is a sign of rain.
(5) If the crows fly high there is to be lovely weather.

16th November 1938.I got the following from my father who always lived in the district. He is about 50 years of age.The Union or Work-house is about 2 mins. walk from my house, and about a mile from Baltinglass. It is now in ruins and the stones and slates are being sold by the Co. Board of Health for cottage building.The Work-house concisted of an infimary for aged people who had nobody to look after them. The Body of the house was for tramps or poor travellers who got free shelter and food there. These people got a note from the Relieving Officer, Mr. Leonard. The Fever Hospital was a detached building which is now enlarged as a District hospital. There was also a department for the mentally deficient. A Convent for the St John of God nuns, who were nurces. Sister Baptist was the surgical nurce. Mrs. McDonald was the last matrom. Laurence Lennon was a portar. Mr. Furlong was Master, Martin Whelan was carpenter. They kept a farm yard and always had their own meat. There were County meetings held every week. The members

Tobar [?]: This well is situated on the left hand side of the road leading from Talbotstown to Baltinglass about one hundred yards from Mr Kelly's house. This is the only name by which it is known.
Some people however call it St Christopher's Well.
There is a good flow of water from this well and this water keeps up a name for cures.
No pilgrimage is made to this well nowadays, but the person who supplied this information tells me that he can remember the time when a tree which grew over the well had many rags stuck in it. It was believed that when the rags rotted away the person was sure to be healed.
Mr Geoghegan says as far as he knows, warts and sores or sprains were the ailments which yielded to a course of treatment at this well.

This well was supposed to have been frequented in very early times by people who suffered from eye troubles. Its waters were supposed to heal the eyes by bathing them three times. This bathing had to be done at the well as it is supposed that the water when taken away in a bottle or other vessel lost its curative properties.
I have been told that it is now hard to locate the spot where the well was, because it was closed up by a man who owned the farm in which it was situate. There were so many callers from all over the country that they broke down his fences and did much damage by trampling his meadows.
Even at that the people still persisted in going there and even re-opened the well in spite of him. The well was left open after this because the man who closed it suffered for a time from sore eyes, and was, himself, cured of this complaint by the waters of the well. He never interfered with anybody who wished to visit the well after his sight had been restored.
The well is circular in shape, about a yard in diameter, and is built around with stones. It is situated about two miles from Baltinglass along the Tinoran road. It is at a short distance to the south