mighty Finn so much that he picked up one of the huge stones on which they had eaten and flung it in the direction of Slíabh Bán. It slipped through his fingers and only reached the village of Curragh where it may be seen to this day with the marks of his fingers on it. This stone is called Cloch Breach.
In order to show he could do better he picked up the second stone and threw it into the river Suck where the village of Athleague now stands, beating his first mark by about three miles. This stone is called Laigh Finn and it is from the rock in the fort that

Mr. Bailey was the local landlord. He lived in Rookwood House. Mr. Strevens was his agent. His family were about eight years settled in this district. He was a good man and seldom evictions were carried out on his estate.
Mrs. Bailey although a protestant bought a picture of the Blessed Virgin for Athleague Chapel Evictions were more common in the districts of other local landlords. A man named Conboy from Coalpits who as a bailiff for Mr. Bagott was evicted for non-payment of rent.
This man had a small holding of land in Beechlaun and he went to live there. His decendant is living

dig the (dead) grave. When the grave is covered the spades are left crossed over it. Long ago there was a table kept in the village on which to lay people out. If a person saw the table they would say "There must be someone dead. I saw them bringing the table down the road." There was a woman in Athleague who used to keep a pall. The pall was a black ornamented cloth like a tablecloth. When the coffin was placed on the bearer which was used instead of a hearse it was it was covered with the pall. A shilling was paid for the

Loughrea is a much becastled district, as indeed is the whole area known as Clanricard. Within a five mile radius of Loch Riach we can see the ruins of a dozen castles: Cloch Baile on Garaidh, Rocboro, Castle Manor, Cill Maeragh. (Leitrim,) KIlcooley (the castle of Nora in gCaislean Burke), New Inn, Rathruddy, Dunsandle, St. Cleran's. On the road to Galway one passes Suidge Finn, Moyode, Doire Donel, Oranmore. Between Oranmore and Galway there are four castles midway on the seacoast is Roscam, where one may see a bullaun, a Holed Stone, and the remains of a round Tower. On the plain of Moyseola there are 36 Norman Castles. In Hymany district castle stood at Aughrim, Garbally, Monivea in County Galway, and at Aughrane (Castle Kelly.) Athleague, Athlone etc. in Co. Roscommon. Turlo O'Connor had built a wooden Castle and bridge at Athlone as well as a wooden bridge at Athorochta, so that he might, on occasion, show his power in Meath and Leinster. King John had built a stone castle at Athlone 1210, to overawe Crobhdearg. Soon after King Henry III made a grant

na Seilge or the plain of the Chase. On this mound in ancient times the chiefs would stand and watch the chase going on below them. Right enough it commands a wonderful view of Maċaire Connaċta. –But again I have heard an old man named Martin Gormley who lived near Clashaganny call it 'Carn Broc' This he said meant the bracken hill from the furze (gorse) which used to grow around it.
To the north of these two hills stands a huge stone over twelve feet in height known as Cloċ Fada na gCarn. Tradition says that this stone was brought from Athleague about twelve miles to the South by Dathi's warriors who were going to erect it over his grave at Rathcroghan but that getting tired they dropped it near Carnfree and left it there. There are no scratches or Oġam writing on it. Why did these mighty men drop it and leave it there within a mile of their goal after carrying it ten miles. Did word reach them that King Dathi's remains had been transferred secretly from Rathcroghan to Sheegerah (Tulsk, Co. Roscommon) as tradition says was done and that these men did not know exactly where he was now interred.

locally are Roscommon, Athleague, Lanesboro and Knockcroghery.
Roscommon is a noted monthly fair for pigs, cattle, sheep and horses.
Atheague fair is a noted fair on the eleventh of July. Lanesboro fair is a noted monthly fair for all sorts of horses. It is held on the twelth of February. There are two Knockcroghery fairs held on the twenty third and twenty forth of October.
In Roscommon there is a market held every Saturday and bonhams are sold at this market.

The road from Roscommon to Castlerea is called the main road.
It is tarred and steam rolled about twelve years. Before it was steam-rolled there was coarse stones on it.
There is a road going by Cloverhill chapel. This road leads to Fuerty and from that to Athleague.
There is a a road going to Clooneenbane off the main road. It is kept in good repair.

Linen-making:- Flax was sown When it would be ripe it would be taken home and left in a hole for a while. It was taken up dried. A man called a hackler would come and hackle it. He would have two sorts of thread, fine thread and coarse thread. The fine thread. (was) The fine thread was spun into clothes and the coarse thread into bags
Tanneries: In the the tanyard of Athleague there was a tannery. Taaffe was the man who owned it. There was also a brewery owned by the same man

There is hardly any country in the World noted for its holy places as much as Ireland. We can read about these holy places in many books and even in news papers of the present day where people go to them on pilgrimages on certain feast days. There is holy well in Rath Croghan and one also at Oran. There is one also in the parish of Athleague about two miles from this school. The tradition is that St. Patrick Baptised the people at this well. It is said that there was a church built there at one time as the name can tell you Kilmore as it is called. People for about ten miles around visit this well on the 5th of August that is the feast day of the year that all go on pilgrimages to this well. I have been there once myself and I was much surprised for to see such a big crowd there.
The things that are to be performed are to say the Rosary and while doing so to go round the well on the knees. Then when that is done the people then take a drink of water from the. There is wall built around the well and a Statue of St. Patrick erected in the grounds.

179but the majority of them travel in carts and vans. They hardly ever some singly. They usually come in families or in bands. The best known are, the Sweeneys, the Mongans, the McDonaghs and Biddy Hatter. Biddy Hatter and the Sweeneys are the families that call most frequently at my home. These "travellers" call on the day before the big fair of Athleague and also the day after the races of Ballygar.

23.11.38 Our Holy Wells
There is one holy well bordering this parish. it is situated in Kilmore in the parish of Athleague Crowds of people visit this place on the last Sunday of July and perform Stations by going round the statue fifteen times.
This well in in honour of St. Patrick. During the time St. Patrick visited the well there was a mare and a foal stolen from a person near by. St. Patrick was told about this and

were two of the subjects taught. Irish was also spoken.Betty Mee,
Coolderry,
Athleague.

There are no Holy Wells in this parish. In the adjoining parishes there are, St. Patrick's Well in the townlands of Cornapallis and in the parish of Athleague. St. Brigid's Well in the townland of Brideswell and in the parish of Cam. St. Kevin's Well in the townland of Cornamucklin and in the parish of Ahascragh. People visit St. Patrick's Well and St. Brigid's Well the last Sunday in July and visit St. Kevin's Well about the fifteenth of October. Each person goes around the Well fifteen times. Invalids often drink the water or rub it into the affected parts. St. Patrick's Well has a cure for sore feet and St. Brigid's Well has a cure for teethaches.The story connected with St. Kevin's Well is, there was once a man who lived near the Well. One night he took away the cross and thought that by doing so he would stop the

luck-penny. It varies according to the custom of locality. Usually a half-crown is paid on a beast, seven shillings on a horse, one shilling for a sheep and one shilling for a pig.
When both parties are satisfied with the bargain, the seller says, "Mark them." Some dealers mark them by cutting the hair of the beast with a scissors. Others mark them with a stroke of a raddle on the flank and others put mud on the back. Only with a horse is the halter given away. Special fairs are held for horses and sheep in Athleague.

The Local Roads
The local roads are known as the New Line, the Old Road, Up the Hill, the Ballygar Road. The New Line leads to Ballyforan and on to Ballinasloe. The Old Road leads to Dysart and on to Ballinasloe. The Ballygar Road leads to Ballygar and on to Galway. The Roscommon The road Up the Hill leads to Athlone. I can not tell when they were made but the Old Road must be the oldest road. Some old roads lead from this district to Athleague and another old road leads to Ballyforan The are used now and an again but they were the principal roads to those places at one time There are many old roads

and snares.
They come several times a year, but are always here in the last week of September as they come from the fair of Athleague which is held on 23th. Sept, and wait over for the fair of Ballinasloe which is to be held during the first week of October, on their way to the great fair of Ballinasloe. Great numbers of those travelling folks also attend the Pattern of Brideswell which is held on the last Sunday in July. These Travellers are not generally liked because they steal, turf, hay, fowl, eggs, game etc. They trespass on meadows and tillage with there animals. People buy tin articles from them

There was a man living in Toberavady Castle two hundred years ago. His name was Robert Ormsby, Toberavady Castle is built on a ford in the Suck, in the parish of Fuerty, about one mile south of Athleague.
He was a magistrate and was the officer in charge of the English Soldiers guarding the line of the Suck. All the land between Ballinalsoe and Castlerea was under his control.
He used to patrol all the country along by the Suck,

and children look for alms, such as money potatoes, meal, flour or any other kind of food.
They gather fuel in the bogs, and catch rabbits and hares with hounds and with snares.
They come several times a year, but they are always here in the last week of September, as they come from the fair of Athleague, which is held on 24th September, on their way to the October fair in Ballinasloe.
Great numbers of those travelling folk also attend the Pattern at Brideswell which is

articles of tin and sell them. The women and children look for alms, such as money potatoes, meal, flour or any other kind of food.
They gather fuel in the bogs, and catch rabbits and hares with hounds and snares.
They come several times a year, but they are always here in the last week of September, as they come from the fair of Athleague which is held on 24th September.
On their way to the October fair in Ballinasloe. Great numbers

There was a man living in Toberavady Castle (to) two hundred years ago.
His name was Robert O, rmsby, Toberavady castle is built on a ford in the Suck, in the parish of Fuerty, about one mile south of Athleague.
He was a magistrate and was the officer in charge of the English Soldiers guarding the line of the Suck. All the