large wooden mallet. The roof of my uncle's house in Ballymore is made of thatch but when it needs repairs my uncle has to do the work himself as there is no thatcher in the locality. All the neighbouring farmers have to do likewise. In many cases roofs of corrugated iron have been fitted over the thatch in recent years.

Ballybrasil, one in Ballydanielmore and two near Lisaniska. The Islanders assembled at Ballymore for mass on Sundays. The island was then called the Great Island of the Barry's because it was part of the land given to the Barry's.

There was a priest hunter by the name of Lavallin, who lived about three hundred yards from Carraig an Aifrinn. He was buried in Ballymore.

he came on an old tree stump out of which an extraordinary bird came, with a horrible shriek, and flew up to Ballymore graveyard. The labourer never interfered with the lis afterwards.

played in those days. The players were picked (for) from each parish. Some outstanding players were :- Power of Midleton, Parker of Churchtown South, and the late daniel Higgins of Ballymore. The goals and posts were somewhat similar, except there was no crossbar, or net. The local team were dressed in jerseys with no tights. The referee was usually a picked man from a neutral team.

did before.
And we drank their health on Monday night in Cousheen Ballymore.
V111.
Cuas have the side of a country for their pick and choice.
From Ballyknockane to Ballygaw and the village of the mice.
They have canoes in plenty, they have men by the score
And we have but the seven men in Cousheen Ballymore.
1X.
Good luck to those hardy lads wherever they may go
They are a credit to this place as the people all may know.
They have the hearts of Irishmen as everybody know.
They are a credit to their people and to Cousheen Ballymore.
X.

My uncle Stephen is about forty-eight years of age now said that he was at a funeral in Ballymore about ten or twelve years ago. He said it must have been an old custom in Ballymore when a corpse left a house people named "Hosiers" used to cry at a funeral. These people used to say "Wirra Wirra" and those people got paid for saying this. There were Men Hosiers and Women Hosiers. The Women Hosiers wore shawls and the Women Hosiers wore hats with two streamers one going each side of their hats and a band of crepe round their hats.Now that we are learning Irish we know that "Keenan" comes from the word "ag caonadh" which means "lamenting".Elizabeth Payne, age 11
The Crescent
Tyrrellspass, 28th.6.38

Long ago in the Penal Day the Priests were not allowed to say Mass in the Churches. They used to say Mass in secret places so as to avoid arrest by the British Government. There is a Mass Rock in Doniel Ballymore, and there is another Mass Rock at Sunday's Well near Ballymore. Numbers of people go to this Well in the townland of Mullagcloc every second Sunday in August. People leave something beside the well. So the place is covered over with old handerchiefs or pieces of old cloth.There was a Catholic Church in Piercetown at one time. In the days of Cromwell it was pulled down by the tyrant and the lands adjoining it were given to the parson. The ruins of the Church are still to be seen in the graveyard. There is a Bishop buried in the ruins of that Church. His name was Dr McCormack.Father Dalton was shot while saying Mass at the Mass Rock in Mullacloe. His name is written on a rock near the place. People visit it during the month of August for it was during that month he was shot.There is also a Mass-rock in Williamstown

And not forgetting Killinboy
It's a pity that I should
The nicest girl around that place is now in Dysart Wood,
Her father is a wealthy man.
Of him I could say more,
He is the largest cattle-dealer,
that goes into Ballymore,
And from the rock of sweet Daniel,
You'd see the pretty lake,
And if I was a photographer,
Its photo I would take,
I'd present it to Mrs. Gibney,
And I could do no more
Gold letters I would print on it,
The Lakes round BallymoreThis song was composed by Carroll of Dysart who married a girl from Ballymore.

O'Rourke was accompanied by O'Farrell Bán - called Rossa - and on the return journey, visited Ballymore Lough Seudy, which they plundered and burned. O'Rourke returned to his own country after the raid without receiving a wound or experiencing any danger.

guinea as offerings though the same John was known as the Cadger Ganley. Michael Flanagan (died 1926 aged 83) was not "drinking" at this time. He called into Martins' cottage to rest himself on the way home from Mrs Mary Ganleys' funeral, Mrs Martin said to him "You left poor Mary (the deceased) in Ballymore?" "Well" answered Michael "She did not come home with me whatever about her coming with any of the rest."

Finn Mac Cool was hunting on the hill of Clare one day. This hill is a mile to the East of the village of Ballymore and it was a great place entirely for deer long ago. A stag rose up but Finn did not see him until he had gone two or three miles in the direction of Tang. Finn was very vexed with himself for letting the stag go, and he rushed at a big rock which was near the top of the hill. He got a hold of it and flung it after the stag but it missed him and fell in a field five miles from the hill. It weighs five or six tons. It stands near the school house in Tang.
Note:-This story was told by a man named Dan Kearney who is nearly seventy years of age, and lives in Ballymore. It was written down for me by Paddy Keena of Mullaghcloe, who has proved a wonderful collector of stories of all kinds.

A Fairy Story 10-11-1937
Drumraney and Mullaghmeehan.
There was a girl in Drumraney about three miles West of the village of Ballymore and she had a cold. She was in bed and when her people went up to see her she was dead. The people were in a bad way and began to cry and screech. There was a man living in Mullaghmeehan about one mile South of Ballymore and the next morning he was out in the fields. He heard a screech over his head and looked up and said, "God bless and save everyone." At the same moment a coffin was set down at his feet. He opened it and in it was the nicest girl he ever saw. She told him where she came from and thanked him for saving her. She told him also that her people would get a shock when they would see her. Quinn the man's name told her that he would go and tell them. When he entered into the house he told them not to be crying. "I have your daughter," he said. They could not believe their eyes. The man went home and brought back the girl to them. When the girl put foot into the house a thing went screeching as hard as it could out through the window and the thing that was left in the girls place disappeared

Hempenstal was probably one of the greatest ruffians in the history of Ireland. The atrocities that were committed at his instignation are two numerous to mention. He had his head-quarters in the village of Ballymore during the rebellion of 1798.One of his crimes is enough to mention here:-On a fair day of Ballymore a poor man of irreproachable character, named Keenan, after selling his cow, had his hand extended to receive the price of her, when this valiant soldier, Hempenstal, struck him with his sword on the shoulder, and almost severed his arm from his body. A young man named Hynes, a mason, passing through the fair on his way home, was attacked by the same ferocious savage, and in the act of begging his life upon his knees, was cut down by the Lieutenant's own hands, and was left lying for dead. A priest, at the imminent risk of his life, flew to the victim and administered the last consolation of religion, when three of the militia were ordered back and to make use of a vulgar phrase, made a riddle of his body.The clergyman, however, escaped unhurt. The Lieutenant got somewhat ashamed of this business, and by way of apology for his conduct, alleged that stones were thrown, though it is a

Art Mac Gann was an old Land Lord over Ballinlig, Mullaghmeehan and Rehan. He was a very bad man. He often put out people out of their houses for not paying rates to him. He would not give any thing to the poor. He would put two dogs after them when they would go to the door. He lived in Emo about fifty years ago. He was buried in Ballymore chapel under the Blessed Virgins altar.

is why it's called Sunday's Well. Old people say there was a big pile of crutches and sticks left behind by people who got cured. There are four places for praying, the first a stone has a natural cross on it. The people start at it and keep going round the four until they have the stations of the cross done. There are no prescribed prayers to be said any prayers that appeals to the pilgrim's piety. There is no special disease cured in it, pilgrims go with all kinds of diseases. I know a man who was cured of some disease of his leg when he was a child. The well is near the road leading to Moyvore from Low St Ballymore and is about a quarter of a mile from the village.
Anthony MacCormack
High St
Ballymore

There are about four holy wells in this parish. One of them is called "Sunday's Well", and is situated near the village of Ballymore. St Brigid's Well is another near Killare on the main road from Athlone to Mullingar. Two more are situated outside Ballymore. People still visit them on certain days. On Good Friday people (-) St Brigid's. Much tradition is told concerning this well. Once it is said the water from the well was used for domestic purposes, but although a good fire was kept to the pot in which the water was, still it never grew any hotter. Then someone suggested looking at it, and just then a fine trout jumped out. The next morning when the people of the house got up a spring well had arisen at the door with them. Hence there was no need for them to use the well-water any longer. A man named Matthews shot this trout afterwards, and his blood can still be seen on a stone-slab at the well, but this man died soon afterwards of a terrible disease.
"Sunday's Well" is recommended for the cure of toothache. Medals and flowers are left behind as relics.

a hill known as the Split-Hill and into it she went and was lost to sight. There is a rath with a lone bush on the side of this hill and it is believed that this lady is guarding a crock of gold which is hidden under the lone bush. The field is situated about forty perches east of the main road between mount Temple and Ballymore.

On the 23rd of January nineteen twenty three Commandant Richard Bertles gave his life for liberty,He was shot down by assassins of the Free State murder corps,And gave his life for Ireland in Low Street Ballymore
(2)As the shades of eve were falling, as alone he did stroll down,Along the lonely street of that desolated town,Beloved by all who knew him, and on the flying corps,And he was cruelly murdered in Low St. Ballymore.
(3)They tracked him down like bloodhounds by every means they could,For James McKeon, old traitor, long thirsted for his blood,At last they have succeeded he now lies in his gore,T'was Sergant Riggs that shot him down in Low Street Ballymore

Fairs are held in Ballymahon, Athlone, Moate, Mullingar, Ballymore, Longford and Ballinasloe. They are attended by the farmers of this district. The biggest fairs of the year are held in January, March, and November. When the jobber is buying cattle from another man in the fair if there is any money between them they will strike hands and divide the difference between themselves and the buyer. They argue for a long time, the seller praising the beast and the buyer saying the beast is not worth all that.