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The Schools’ Collection

This is a collection of folklore compiled by schoolchildren in Ireland in the 1930s. More information

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  1. Landlords

    CBÉS 0595

    Page 325

    325
    "Landlords"
    Long ago the landlord of Quin was Lord Limerick.At present he owns land in Quin,which is rented by Mortimer Carrigg. Jerry Carmody and Dan Clune The people had a very bad opinion of the landlord because through poverty they could not pay their rent and were evicted.When evicted some of them were reinstated and others left Ireland altogether.It was through tyranny the landlords got possession of the land.
    Tithes were collected in Quin long ago by the landlord's agent.Both money and grain were collected as tithes .At present there are no land-lords .
    Long ago if the landlord saw a horse and took a liking to the horse ,he could take him and give the owner a trifle for him.

  2. Old Ruins

    CBÉS 0595

    Page 381

    381
    "Old Ruins."
    Quin Abbey was built on the ruins of a great Norman Castle.The castle was built about the year 1280 (to defend themselves) by the Norman's against the O' Brien's and the Mac Namaras who were strong in this district at the time.
    One day the while the building of the castle was going on ,Prince Donald O'Brien came to Quin to buy wine and as the Irish were having a row got up between them and the Normans.A soldier stabbed Donald in the back but Donald killed him.
    About the year 1286 the Normans slew a dalcassoan chief named O'Liddy .Mach Namara Chief of Clanculean the old name of the district attacked the castle broke in the big gate slew the soldiers and set the place on fire.it is said two hundred oak trees were cut down in the great wood of Cratloe for the burning of Quin castle .After the burning of the castle by Mach

  3. Stories

    CBÉS 0596

    Page 011

    11
    .5.38 Stories told by John Sammon, Quin,Co Clare.
    In the Penal Days when the Friars in Quin Abbey were persecuted ,they buried their valuables in the adjacent river Rine .In order that the large bell would sink into the bed of the river they filled it with lead.
    They buried some gold vessels under a large flat stone in the river.This treasure was supposed to be protected by the monster eel.On one occasion, a native of the village of Quin haven dreamt several times of the hidden gold went in search of it.When about to turn over the flat stone concealing the the treasure the eel rushed down the river ,attacked the man and almost drowned him with a huge wave.
    On one occasion a monk having made himself two large wings from the feathers of the fowl killed in the monastery ascended to the top of the tower in the Abbey .He attached the wings to his body and made an attempt to fly to the neighbouring castle in Danganbrack.he fell to the ground and broke his back.

  4. (no title)

    “On a stone gate pier leading to Mr Blood's land...”

    CBÉS 0596

    Page 014

    30.4.38.On a stone gate pier leading to Mr Blood's land in Ardsollus ,Quin,Co.Clare was a large flat stone on which was written in large"cut" letters:"Entertainment for Man and Horse"It is supposed it was in the wall of one of the hostels which stood near the famous Race Course of Ardsollus.This stone was removed from the pier by some person unknown and cannot now be traced.
    Told by Dan Corbett, Ballykilty,Quin, Co. Clare.

  5. An Leipreachán

    CBÉS 0596

    Page 082

    82.
    he could give some to the poor and needy but he was to keep a goodly amount until somebody would come to him and tell him that the money was needed to roof The Abbey at Quin for the friar to live in for ever more.Pat Clune ,Quin ,Co Clare.

  6. Old Recollections

    CBÉS 0596

    Page 134

    Stephen Clune Quin.
    Old Recollections.
    Dan Corbett ,Ballykilty ,Quin relates how the old people used to point out a large stones in the "furzy crag"which is situated in Pat Sammon's Farm, Ardsollus ,Quin.
    It is said that Daniel O Connell on his way to Ennis in the year 1828 addressed a large meeting of Tradaree men from this stone.
    They also say that Father Mathew delivered a Temperance sermon from this stone also and administered the Temperance Pledge to thousands of people on the same occasion including my own grandfather Stephen Walsh,Kilkishen .Co Clare.At this time there was a small village in Ardsollus and also a Race Course in the vicinity.it is said the races used to be run in heats and that no more than one occasion the final heat was

  7. A Cross

    CBÉS 0596

    Page 138

    138
    22-V1-38. A Cross.
    Some 200 hundred years ago men were digging in Deerpark Hill ,Ballykilty ,Quin .They came on a stone cross,the arms of which were each six feet long.The stone was as clean and as smooth as glass with no sign of chisel mark on it.it was removed to the Church Cross, Quin and erected there .It was around this cross the market used to be held.The people used to bring their butter ,eggs and fowl,Piqqins,flannels ,socks, brogues,and all home articles were sold there.The famous Clare scythes ,hooks and scythe stones were also for sale there.
    There is no trace of this cross now. Some say it was buried at the crossroad when the newline Road was made.Dan Corbett ,Ballykilty. Quin.

  8. Historic Ruins in the Neighbourhood

    CBÉS 0599

    Page 071

    Thus in brief is the history of Quin Abbey, artistically one of the finest of our ancient monuments, and historically one of the most illustrious of the history spots in our country.

  9. Historic Ruins in the Neighbourhood

    CBÉS 0599

    Page 067

    QUIN ABBEY

    Long before the foundation of the present Abbey, we find Quin like Bunratty one of the chief strategical posts of the Anglo-Normans in Clare.
    We read that towards the end of the 13th century there was a church in the place which De Clare converted into "a church and fortresss".
    This edifice still exists with its massive walls and narrow lancet windows. Subsequently De Clare built a strong castle here, which has since made way for the beautiful Abbey erected on the site occupied by the castle within the fort of Quin.
    In fact the walls of the old castle and fort constitute part of the existing Abbey. About 1305 Coveha McNamara stormed the fortress broke in its mighty gates

  10. Hidden Treasures

    CBÉS 0609

    Page 506

    506
    they hid gold.Some few years ago a man living in the vicinity of Quin dreamt that there was a treasure hidden in Quin Abbey.On the following day two other men and himself went to the abbey.When they came to the place in the abbey they began to dig.When they had dug a good bit of ground they saw an iron chest .Suddenly a woman in white began to approach them.She was screaming .Two of the men ran with fright and the other stood ,but when she came closer he ,he also ran with fright.

  11. Old Custom

    CBÉS 0692

    Page 166

    There was marriage in a house near our house know now as Mulligan. The couple's name was -: Bessie Blake and Kit Quin

  12. (no title)

    “Tulla was named among the parishes in the diocese of Killaloe in 1302.”

    CBÉS 0589

    Page 179

    Tulla was named among the parishes in the diocese of Killaloe in 1302.
    In 1314 Murchad O'Brien laid waste Clan Cuilean loctrac (lower) - the territory of the Macnamaras because they had sided with his opponent Diarmuid O'Brien, and broke into and despoiled the church of Tulla. (This is at variance with account given in "Memoirs of O'Briens." MacNamaras were on side of Murchad.) In the year 1350 the MacNamaras are said to have commenced the building of a Franciscan monastery in Lisduff in the parish of Tulla. The place where the Hayes family of Lisduff lives is still known as Abbeyhill. They, however, abandoned the idea and changed the site to Quin where they embodied in that mmagnificant building - Quin Abbey- the Normman castle erected earlier there by De Clare, the Norman, of Bunratty.

  13. (no title)

    “Tulla was named among the parishes in the diocese of Killaloe in 1302.”

    CBÉS 0589

    Page 184

    Cratloe and Kilmurry.
    The greatest achievement in building by Clan MacNamara was that of the Abbey of Quin - an historic pile in excellent preservation at the present day. This embodies the Norman Castle of Thomas de Clare who was sent by Edward I in 1274 with a direction from him "to put Thomond to the Sword."
    Quin Abbey was founded by Sioda cam MacNamara in 1402. The MacNamara clan were next in in importance to that of the O'Briens. At the ceremony of inauguration of the O'Brien Kings the MacNamara had charge of the inauguration ceremonies. The inauguration ceremonies were carried out at Dun Adair commmonly spoken of as Mag Adair. Mag Adair is really an area corresponding to the later named Clancuillean of the MacNamaras. Adair was a son of the Fir Bolg-Uan [Moh?]

  14. (no title)

    “At the time of the Fenians a famous Fenian was in "his keeping" in the parish of Quin”

    CBÉS 0593

    Page 449

    449
    At the time of the Fenians a famous Fenian was in "his keeping" in the parish of Quin.The police were hot in his pursuit .Scarcely would he have lay down to rest in a farmer's house, than the cry would go out that the police were coming.He would then have to flee ,and take shelter in the woods or in some old ruin.Tired out at last he said as he could get no ease with the living ,he would take shelter with the dead.So bringing some hay for a bed he repaired to the "kitchen of Quin Abbey".Here worn out he lay down on his bed of hay and was soon fast asleep .At the hour of twelve o'clock ,he was awakened by some strange singing coming along the cloisters towards where he lay .Terrified he sat up ,and soon saw a beautiful lay enter through the door of the kitchen ,carrying a lighted taper .She came up to where he lay and motioned him to follow her.When they came to the wall at the end

  15. The Fair of Quin

    CBÉS 0593

    Page 466

    466
    as well as the culprit came with a large faction ,so the odds were fairly even when the fight began,but as it progressed others joined in many of whom did not know the cause of the fight but joined in for the pure excitement of the moment and it was often that one there who had no interest in the fight came out the worst.Strange to say too,the most trivial things often started a most serious faction fight.A man named Andy CLune from Orda and his comrade Patsy Pewter from Kilcorran took off their coats at the Cross of Quin and trailed them on the road through the Fair ,shouting at the same time defiance "That there was no man at the Fair of Quin would have the courage to step on their coats .One man however picked up courage to do so ,with the result that one of the most formidable faction fights that ever took place at the hair ,began and ended with many of the fighters having to spend long terms in Jail.However they came out heroes and were glad to be able to say that they took part in the great fight.

  16. Hidden Treasure in Quin

    CBÉS 0595

    Page 160

    Once upon a time a man lived in Moohane near Quin. One night he dreamt that there was gold hidden in Quin abbey, the place in which he dreamt the gold was was under the Domestic Bush.
    A few nights afterwards himself and two other men went to look for the gold. Before they went into the abbey, they went into Denis Moloney's house and drank three glasses of whiskey to make them warm as it was a cold night.
    When they entered the abbey they began digging but immediately a big wild animal came and roared on the spot in which they were working and asked them in a loud voice what brought them there. They ran for their lives, so they did not succeed in finding the gold, and neither did they know what the

  17. Strong Men

    CBÉS 0595

    Page 202

    202
    Strong Men.
    Strong Man. There was a man in Quin named Mr Heffernan and he was very strong.He was a native of Moohane and he was a Dublin Policeman.He was over six feet in height.He was very good at tug- of - war and also throwing the javelin.He was in the All Ireland final tug- of -war.
    Runner.There was a man in Dangannamed James Mc Namara.He was a very good runner and when the hounds were in Quin he followed them on foot.

  18. Strong Men

    CBÉS 0595

    Page 205

    205
    "Strong men" .
    Once upon a time a man lived in Quin whose name was Andy Heffernan .he belonged to the police in Dublin.One day they had a tug-of-war there and as Andy was so strong they put him at the end of rope.The team that was against him was very strong,but the others pulled them in all directions.only for Andy Heffernan they would have been beaten .
    Another strong man was Denis Coady who used to lift a thirty stone roller which was used for rolling the grass by the monks in Quin abbey long ago.

  19. Strong Men

    CBÉS 0595

    Page 214

    214

    "Strong Men"
    Michael Clune Caruagar ,Quin who is still living aged about eighty six ,was considered to be the strongest man in this locality.There is a small rolling stone in Quin Abbey with a piece of iron projecting at one one end.He lifted it with one hand .Many a man tried to lift it but failed.

  20. Story

    CBÉS 0596

    Page 015

    15

    .4.38.Story told by John Sammon, Quin,Co Clare.
    In the bad times there lived a poor man who had a large family near the Caves in Abbeyview ,Quin. As he wasn't allowed to keep any fowl ,he had neither cock or hen to kill,to shed blood in honour of St.Martin .He had one pig and on St.Martin's Night in order to honour the Saint he said he would "bleed" the pig .The pig bled to death ,but on the following morning ,a sow with a litter of bonhams ,came out of one of the caves ,into his yard.From that day to this, the cave of called Poll na Muc.