Hempenstall the "Walking Gallows" commanded a small party of soldiers in the 1798 rebellion. He had his head-quarters in Ballymore. This is a story told about him when he was there.
A man lived in Shinglass who was very poor. He had two sons. His name was Oates and the remains of his house are still to be seen. One day he was going to Ballymore and he met with Hempenstall. He asked the man where he was going and the man said. I am going about my business. The man started off and Hempenstall started after him. He caught him going up near Streamstown. He took out his cord and tied it around the man's neck and threw him across his shoulder. He carried him home to Shinglass and when there he hanged his sons.

About seventy two years ago a man named Fox was in the October fair of Ballymore and he had a good blackthorn stick. He had a couple of cattle and he was selling them to a man from Ballymore. He was asking a good stiff price for them. It was getting late and Fox was just thinking about going home when he got a belt of a stick. He turned around and he hit another man and it was not that man that hit Fox with the belt that Fox gave him [?] disabled him and he had to be carried home and he never left his bed till his death about twenty years. His name was Joseph MacLoughlin from Killenboy.
The people were preparing the plants on the day before the fair.

There is a Holy Well in the parish of Ballymore, about a quarter of a mile from the village. It is situated on the side of a steep hill, overlooking the picturesque lake of Ballymore.It is very well known, and gets the name of : - "Sunday's Well." It is surrounded by a circle of shrubs, and hawthorns, and is entered by a small wicket gate. When we enter this gate, we see a grey rock with a little opening near the ground, and from this, a tiny stream of water trickles, and on one-side of this there lies a large flat stone, or flag with some Latin writings inscribed. It is a very historic place, because people acknowledge it, as an existing link between us, and the events of the Penal days. This flag is supposed to have been used as an Alter by the priest when celebrating Mass, during the time of the religious persecution in Ireland. Occasionally during the month of August people make a pilgrimage to this holy well, where they perform the Stations of the Cross and recite the Rosary, for their different religious intentions. They also take home with them, the holy water, from this well, and use it during times of sickness, or domestic difficulties. It is

There are four graveyards in this parish namely Killare, Boher, Ballymore cemetery adjoining the Catholic Church and Protestant Church of Ballymore.A vault is still visible at Killare. A very noble family named Newgents (or Nugents) are interred in this vault. They resided at Jamestown, Mullingar. At first their name was only News, but they shot a cockatriss on the river Ghent, and then Ghent was added to their name. The cocktriss is engraved on the entrance to the vault. There is no church at Killare, but there must have been one there in former times as the ruins can be distinctly traced.

And those brave suspects now in jail
Their words resound ore' hill and vale
Never falter flinch or fail
Brave men of Ballymore
IV
To uphold the cause is our intent
Our flag it floats and is unbent
Well pay no rent
Until from prison home they're sent
Free men to Ballymore
So let the flag be hoisted high
That Billy Keefe it may defy
And be a peril in each peeler's eye
that walks thro' Ballymore.
V
Here's to the brave fellows far away
To Thomas John and Joseph Fay
In prison cells they pine to day.
Far far from Ballymore

One night in late November a bachelor in search of a wife left the village of Mount Temple in the direction of Ballymore. When he arrived at a certain farm house within two miles of the village of Ballymore. He met a young lady who lead him to believe that she would be his wife. This girl was a strong believer in ghosts so she related to him a tale about a certain portion of the road that he would have to travel being haunted. She asked him did he believe in ghosts and he replied, "I love my God and I fear no man" be he living or dead." She requested him to remain with her until the hour of twelve midnight, and if he then went home alone he would be the man of her choice.To that he readily consented. On his way home he met a ghost in the form of a large dog. He

The local fairs in this country are held in Athlone, Ballymahon, Moate and Ballymore. The buyers often go to the house of a farmer before a fair to buy the animals, but this is not done nowadays. The cattle fairs in Ballymahon and Ballymore are held in the streets but in Athlone and Moate they are held on the fair Green. People pay tolls on the cattle they buy or sell at the Green gate. The toll is fourpence on cattle, threepence on sheep. This money is given for the cleaning of the streets and fair greens. Luck money is also given to people who buy or sell animals. Two and sixpence per head is the amount usually given. The animals are marked when bought either with a scissors or a raddle.

The old name of this lake is Lough Suedy. It is said that a chief named Suedy had his residence here about the period of the Christian era. The lake is about a quarter of a mile north of the village of Ballymore in Co Westmeath. Suedy erected a fort on the south bank of the lake. A cave in the fort shows that he resided in it.It is said that there was a town where the lake of Ballymore lies. A witch, who had some grievance against the people of the town, took a vessel of water, and spilled it as she went through the town. It spread over the whole town which was completely submerged.Fishermen, who go out on the lake in Summer, say they can see tops of houses in the lake, when the water is still and clear.

The majority of the local fairs are held in towns though there is still a number of them-mostly sheep fairs-held in fields and at cross roads throughout the country. There is also a number of important fairs that is now discontinued
The local fairs are held in the towns of Dunlavin, Baltinglass, Ballymore Eustace, Hacketstown, Naas and Castledermot. The fair of Dunlavin is held on the second Wednesday of every month. The fair is held on the Fair green. There are two fairs held in Baltinglass. A Pig Fair is held on the third Monday of every month and a cattle sheep and horse fair on the third Tuesday The fairs of Ballymore Eustace and Hacketstown are held on the first Tuesday and last Saturday of each month respectively. There is a fair held in Naas on the third Wednesday of every month. Like Baltinglass there is a pig fair held on the day previous. Long ago a monthly

A long time ago as my grandfather was coming from Ballymore-Eustace with another man and they had two cars and as they were coming up Carmans Ford the horses would not go any further. It is said that there is something to be seen there. They could not get the horses to go on by the two gates at the top of Carmans Ford, They coaxed the horses for over two hours and at last they went on after a long coaxing. When they went home they had to dry the sweat off the horses. It is also said that one night as Mr. Doyle of Newtown was coming home from Ballymore and he stopped at the top of Carmans Ford to light his pipe. He thought he heard the leaves blowing and he turned around to look. To his amazement he saw a beautiful lady dressed in a lovely green frock and her long hair was blowing in the air. She had very light shoes on her feet and she was walking along the leaves very softly. It is said that a lot of people have seen her in the same place.

four Catholic graveyards and three Protestant graveyards. There is also an old graveyard attached to Ray Castle but nobody is buried in it now. There are only the remains of tombstones left in it now. The names of the (Protes) Catholic graveyards are, Doe Castle graveyard, Cliain, Doe, and Clondahorkey.
The names of the Protestant graveyards are, Doe Castle, Ballymore, and Clondahorkey. The people are still buried in Doe Castle graveyard both Catholic and Protestant also in Clondahorkey both Catholic and Protestant and an odd one in Cluain. In Doe and Ballymore there are a church and a

Hidden Treasure
BallycurraOnce upon a time a man by the name of John Coughlan was working for John Kelly of Ballycurra. In this mans farm there is a field known by the name of Cealtra. One day Coughlan was ploughing the field, and he could swear he had two the best horses in the parish when they stopped, a thing they never did before. He spoke to them and they went about a perch, when they stopped again. He turned up the plough and he found an ear of a pot freshly broken off on the soc. He went back and searched the scrape he was after turning up, but he could not find the rest of the pot. It is said that if he stopped in time he would have a pot of gold. Ballycurra is about one mile from the village of Ballymore.
Michael Hanevy 13 years
Mullameehan
Ballymore
Given to me by Thomas Collins
Ballinlig
Ballymore, Moate, Westmeath

(4)He fought for Irelands freedom in many a bitter fight,Against Ireland's foes and traitors it was always Dicks delight,And now shot down in his manhood by the Free State murder corps,He was proud to die for Ireland in Low Street Ballymore.(Joseph Farrell)
N.B.This song was composed by Joseph Farrell, after a local young Commandant of the I.R.A. was foully done to death by Free State troops, in Cunningham's public-house in Ballymore. The story goes that Bertles went to "Nicky" Cunninghams to pay some bills incurred by the "Flying Column". While there a cycling column of Free State troops paid a surprise visit to the village of Ballymore and acting possibly, on information, proceeded to the lower end of the town to Mr. Nicholas Cunningham's licensed premises. As Bertles stood at the Bar, he was shot by a Sergeant Riggs who was probably an ex- British soldier. The composer of the song is a farmer at Ardnagrath Drumraney and was himself a member of I.R.A.

133GraveyardsThe oldest graveyard in the district is on the demense of Donovan's of Ballymore. Both Catholics and non-Catholics are buried there. The earliest date that can be deciphered is 1704. The name is worn off.
The old people say that there was a Catholic Church there that was burned and levelled by Cromwell in 1649 when Ferns Castle surrendered to his forces.
The present Church was built by the Donovan family on the site of the older church.Brought by
Mary Cullen
Ballymore.
Got from
Mrs Cullen
Ballymore.

156Hidden Treasure.Money is supposed to be hidden in the half-acre of land on which Cullen's house at Ballymore is built. Mr. Tom Duke who lived there long ago is supposed to have hidden it.Brought by Mary Cullen
Ballymore.Told by
Mrs Cullen
Ballymore
Camolin.

11-2-38Local Roads
There are some names on the roads around our district and on the bridges and hills. There is the Kyle hill, short bets hill, Arts hill, the boshall hill, Websters hill, and the Glinn hill. All those hills are on the road that lead from Monamolin to Camolin. Nancy Shannons hill and Mullann hill are on the road which leads from Mounthoward to Boolavogue.
The gatehouse hill is on the road which leads from Ballymore to the Harrow.
The "rockspring road" and the "far road" lead from Ballymore to the Harrow.
There is a bridge called the "Kyle bridge" that bridge is on the road which leads from Monamolin to Camolin. Kilcoilshy bridge is on the road which leads from Ballymore to the Harrow.Joe Rothwell (13)
Ballyregan,
Ferns, Co. Wexford.

To sing the praise of Ballymore
I'll try for you this night
I pray you pay attention
To the few lines that I'll write
The boys and girls are cheerful.
And its them I do adore
The grandest place in all Westmeath
Is charming Ballymore.
II
To first begin at Clooneen
Where Tommy Timbs does dwell.
And Mullaghcloe, and sweet Doniel
Are places I like well.
Its from the hill of Rathskeagh.
You would see the World o'er.
I would live upon a meal a day
Round charming Ballymore
III
It's from the Rock of sweet Doniel
You could see that splendid lake.
If I was but a Photographer.
It's pictures I would take.
I would present it to Mrs Brown
And I could do no more
Gold letters I would print on it.
The Lake of Ballymore.

Baile na Róiste is a little viullage on the Ballymore Rd. It is about three miles from Tuam. Ahgloragh is also another village in the Ballymore Rd. It is about four miles from Tuam.
"Polldorruagte" is about three miles from Tuam. It is out near Monacow.
Cúlpark" is about four miles from Tuam. It is next to Ahgloragh village.
Cortoon is about three miles from Tuam. It is on the Birmingham Rd. It is a very big (villg) village. Grawnes is about two miles from Tuam. In a field called the Turlough that filled there was an old race-course long ago. In on the middle of the Turlough there is the ruins of an old grand-stand. Killclohans is about two miles from Tuam. There is a big wood there. It is called Thorn Hill.

information from my father Thomas Erwin, Bella, Collooney, aged forty-nine years. He said he heard it from his uncle Patrick Erwin, Achonty, Ballymore, who died in 1936, aged seventy-two years.

parts of the country the story is told of a man and a woman walking home from church after being married. The snow was very deep in some places especially in the valleys. Some stories are told of the snow being so high that the woman did not notice where she was walking until she came on a chimney and fell down it. A woman is supposed to have fallen down a chimney at Baranachiree cross according to Mrs. Cornelius Sullivan Ballymore, Kilbrittain ages about 65 years.