None can express the deep distress, that is in this parish round
Deep mourning in Dunlavin, Donard and Davidstown
III
For fifteen years, as it appears, our good priest with us dwelled.
By young and old, both rich and poor, he was respected well.
Many a tenant farmer he saved from tyranny.
And many a noble work he done for Ireland's liberty
IV
All Donard, likewise Imaal, in anguish now do lie,
While sitting here, the falling tear, it scarce can quit my eye.
With hearts full sore we may deplore, his loss we may bemoan.
No more we'll see our noble friend to the Holy Church of Rome
V
The poor man's friend, the rich man's guide, the orphan child secure
He never let the needy go empty from his door.

Holy Hill Well:-
In a field at the rere of the new Catholic Church in Donard.
This well marks the site, according to local tradition, of St Palladius' Church. It is the proud boast of the people, that there was a Church here, before the time of St Patrick, and that St Palladius baptised three hundred people at the "Holy Hill" Well.Tobar na Carraige:-
On the slope over Davidstown.
Cures
Vomiting (with stream)
Diarrhoea (against stream)
I have been told by several, including John Headon (RIP) that when the water is taken within stream, it cures one complaint, whereas if taken against stream cures a different complaint.
I give the following story, relating to this well as I heard it some four years ago, in Davidstown. I cannot remember distinctly from whom I heard it.St Patrick, on his journey through West Wicklow, came to Donard. But as St Palladius had already been there, and so there were a number of Christians, and a Church in the place, the

The mountains of Mourne are a well known range in South Down stretching from Carlingford Lough to the Lough of Dundrum along the Irish Sea for about twenty miles running inland for about twelve to fourteen miles reaching from Bryansford to Rostreveor. The Mourne mountains are among the earliest geological formation in these islands, they were long aged before the Alps were formed, and before the Rockies had raised heads in the Western World.The "Mournes" are composed of primeval granite flanked by greenstone hornblende and slate formation. Slieve Donard is the chief of the "Mournes" towering to a height of about three thousand feet. Long ago before Ireland became inhabited the Mourne mountains was the home of numerous wild animals the white bear, the wolf, the elk, the wild oar, and the raven and the eagle had their abode in the high cliffs. Along the shore

curse of the corn of Cooley".St Donard lived on in his new home till his death and the highest peak in the Mourne range of mountains is supposed to get its name from this old Irish monk.
Told me by Teacher

A Forge
In my district there is a forge in Donard near Horseleap on the East side of Moate. Richard Ennis is the smith's name. His people has been smith's for over forty years.
The forge is about ten feet high nine feet broad and eighteen feet in length. There are two half-doors about five feet high and three feet wide it is made of wood. The roof is made of wood and covered over with felt . There are two fire-places in it the big one to the left which he uses always the little one is on the right hand side which is used sometimes. Long ago the two were always used. The bellows

In olden times, when people were superstitious, there was a rath near the school of Donard in which there grew a large tree.All the people around were afraid to pass that way at night for fear of the fairies, for they firmly believed that the fairies were there every night. The workmen who were employed by this man, the owner of the rath, were afraid to till that piece of land around the tree too.At last the greedy owner of the rath said he would root up the tree himself and till that portion of the rath too. He

CastlerudderyWest from the Terraces and in an ajoining field (owner Mr Frazer Fenton) is swamp with rushes known as the lead pond. This in a ten acre field called "The Orchard " To the north and adjoining is the remains of a hall or sports ground.
The above is a Rough sketch from memory. The mound of earth is raised up around with a space for exit or entrance (This a/c was given to me by Mr Frazer Fenton who owns the land around here)
(He lives at Deerpark Donard)

Church mountain lies about three miles north east from Donard Village. On its summit is the ruins of an ancient Church with a Holy Well in the centre of the pile of round unhewn granite stones. The well was reached by 2 or 3 stone steps (when I saw it). The water came up from the ground on one side and went on under the ground. The well is fed from a (pond) higher and about a Hundred yards to the S. East.It is said the church was built by St.palladius
in the 6th century. The Patron or Pattern Day was 15th August each year. At any time Patients visit the Holy Well and when cured by it's healing water they leave souvenirs in acknowledgement. Many souvenirs were to be seen when I visited.

On the north west side (on) and about three miles (North of) from Donard is the site of the Battle of Mullicaugh. The lands are now owned by Mr John Burke. Here King McInmire challenged (by) the might of King Bran of Rathbran Baltinglass in Revenge for the death of McInmere's son.King McInmere was slain at the King's river, Vallymount about 6 miles to the north east.

At AthgraneyBetween Donard and Hollywood village, by Hollywood Glen Rd on the lands of Mr Mc Cormack is a circle of Piper's Stones. Close to these on the north is a large granite boulder with a channel or groove cut north to south crossed in the center by another channel from east to west. This is supposed to be a sacrificial stone. "The Pipers played and the young ladies danced so merrily that fire came from somewhere and burned them ( Pipers and Dances) all up".
(Told to me by Mrs Toomey who lived close by in a farmers house with her husband)

A number of years ago there lived in Dunlavin a priest whose custom it was to travel around on fair days collecting money.
One day as he was on his usual rounds a mountainman from beyond Donard whom he met said he had no change. The priest said "If I lend you a penny now will you pay me back later? " "I will " replied the mountainman. Some days later the priest received an un stamped envelope containing a penny but he had to pay double postage.
He was therefore outwitted by his humble peasant parishioner.

He also shoes horses and asses,
Many people call to him to get ornamental gates made because he makes them strong and handsome,
His father is a blacksmith in Donard, but he is unable to make gates. He has a horse shoe hanging on the wall beside his forge,
He is only about nine months working there at Analecky Cross, He served his time to his father,

There are four forges in the Parish of Dunlavin, two in the town of Donard and two in Dunlavin. Mr Higgins owns one in Dunlavin and Mr Nolan the other
At the entrance gate of Mr Higgins forge there is a big horse-shoe hanging on the wall to denote that it is a forge,
In addition to shoeing horses he mends farm impliments, He cannot make gates. There is a smith living at Analecky Cross about two miles East of Dunlavin

The farm in which I live on is situated about two miles from the town of Dunlavin on the main road leading to Donard.
There are not very many herbs growing on the farm.
The most harmful weed is the chicken weed it grows in crop fields among turnips or mangolds and it chokes the seed when it comes up about four inches high.
Another harmful weed is

Long ago fairs were held in almost every town and village throughout the country but some of them are now discontinued. For instance a fair was held in Donard on the first Monday of each month but it was discontinued in 1930
The fair of Rathsallagh was a fair for horses, cattle, sheep and pigs. It was known as the second best fair in Ireland and buyers flocked into the spacious field from all parts of the country to make purchases. It was held on the first Monday of September annually, but it was discontinued in 1909, the last fair being for sheep only.
People going into the fair with livestock had to pay a certain amount per head. The admission fee was 3d per head for sheep and pigs

Old crosses, monuments, ancient stones and their like are plentiful in this part of the country, and in some grave yards unknown head-stones (some of them very ancient) are to be found. Through the townland of Mullicagh stretches a lonely glen separating it from Kilbaylet. In this glen there is a cromlech situated beside a very ancient homestead that is still inhabited. There are also a number of very ancient stones to be found there. One of these a huge stone is situated on the top of a ditch and in it is carved the picture of a man's foot and some Ogham writing
In a certain field in Broomfield which is situated near Donard there are five large stones which resemble five

Some years ago, the priest from Donard was having the Easter Station in a farmer's house on the hill over Castlesallagh. When he was there, a messenger came for him, to go attend a Protestant man that was dying. The messenger said to the priest, "there is danger of you going, as the man's son has threatened to shoot you".The priest said "Go back and inquire did the dying man himself send for me and I will not fear his son". While the messenger was away, the priest built a nice little wall around the thorn bush and both are there to the present day.The messenger returned to stay the dying man

About twenty years ago there lived a woman on the Blackmoor named Mrs Tunsel. One day she was to milk some cows for John Ellis, who was away for the day.In the evening, she took the buckets and went to milk. She was missing for a long time, so the people got anxious about her, and men, women and children from Donard, turned out to look for her. They looked everywhere for her, and near morning they found her in the middle of Ellis's field, which they had searched several times. She was very foolish and told them she was in lovely cities and saw lovely women, who all bowed to her. She was never the same after and

I was down with the Doctor in Donard, and he used to be there on a Saturday in them times, and I was speaking to poor Aly Curran the Light of Heaven to her. In the course of talk, I drew down about the ghost that used to be seen up on the Crickawn, and asked her did she ever hear about it, or did she believe it. She said indeed she did, and that it was to her own grandfather the man appeared.Her grandfather, Mulhall, used to be minding cattle in the night, because the fields used to be divided, with oats in one half and the cows grazing in the other, and of course, he had to watch the cows so as they would not trample the corn.This man appeared to him one night while at this work, and the next night and the next, and in the end he appeared to him everywhere. Neither ever spoke. So Mulhall went to the priest, and asked him what he should

Much has been talked about hidden treasure of every kind, but especially gold that has been hidden in the earth by robbers, about one hundred and fifty years ago.
The reason they hid these treasures outside was to save their lives, as death was the punishment for robbery in those days.
The Bawn Moat is the nearest place to the village of Donard that a treasure is supposed to be hidden. I have