The village of Sandyford is situated in the valley at the foot of the Three Rock Mountain. A river runs from the mountain down through the village. It comes down swiftly until it reaches the valley. Where the Gullet Road now stands there was a ford and it was probably from this ford that the village got its name. Doubtless large quantities of granite freestone -'sand' would be deposited here.The Church in the village was built over 100 years ago and was thatched. An ancestor of Wm. Lawless who lives in Murphystown had it roofed with slates.In 1840 a site was given by Lord Castlecoote for a school. This school lasted until 1936 when a new school was built on the old site. The new school opened by Dr (?) Wall, Bishop of Thasos.The principal industry is granite quarrying. Before motor lorries were invented, large numbers of men and horses and carts were employed to carry the stone to the city. As well as this, freestone was largely used by housewives in Blackrock and Dún Laoghaire for scrubbing and many people used to go round from door to door selling it. Heather brooms were also made and sold in the suburbs. These latter industries have disappeared but Sandyford Granite is much used in building. Liverpool Cathedral is being built partly of stone from here.

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Castlecoote - continued
A soldier who had served in France and was a 'crack shot' wished to avenge his brother's death. He waited and watched the methods adopted by the ruthless tyrant. One morning at day-break he planted a 'fear bréaga' with a gun inn his hand just in the line of fire opposite the castle in a soft marshy place, where there was plenty of cover. The soldier had not long to wait - In the stillness of the morning a shot was fired, down fell the 'fear bréaga' and before the tyrant had time to fire his second shot, our friend had him riddled with bullets.
The servants of this tyrant never knew in which room or bed he slept. They peeped five or six beds every day and found all tossed each morning. He rusted no one. He suspected everybody. No wonder he got his deserts.
Another landlord of later times had the habit of taking farms big and small from his poor tenants.

[page number] 155
Castlestrange & Ogham Stone
The Castle of Le Strange is across the River Suck about 2 miles from the village of Castlecoote. There was a Governor of Roscommon town in 1566 named Le Strange who was supposed to be the owner.There is a famous Ogham stone near the remains of the castle. It is pre-Christian & over 2000 years old. A party of Antiquarians visited some years ago and took a Plaster cast and photo of the stone. This Plaster cast is in our city museum, as also of a similar stone to be seen in Turoe, Co. Galway.The inscriptions on the Ogham stone are Pre-Christian. The stone is a granite boulder 4 feet high. Its top is curiously carved and furnishes a proof of the existence of a high degree of culture at the dawn of Christianity in this country.The sculptured stone which is connected with the La Tene civilization was introduced into Ireland by the Celts. The curves are characteristic features of the La Tene decoration. The stone is an erratic boulder and measures 3 ft by 2 ft. Its ornamentation is incised and not carved. There are only three others in Ireland viz. Turoe in Loughrea. The Mullaghmast stone in Co. Kildare and Kellycloggan stone in County Cavan.

Craobh Mullaig. This was the old name for the present village of Castlecoote. The hill of Creemully is in the centre of a circle of other hills.
Some give the derivation as craoidhe mullaig or the head of the hills. On a fine summer day from the top of of the hill of Creeemully, a person can see the mountains of Galway, Mayo, Sligo & Leitrim, also the lovely Shannon with its numerous lakes and islands.
In this village we have one of the oldest churches in the Diocese of Elphin. It was built by a Dominican from Roscommon named Bartholomew Kielty in the year 1812. He named the church Creemully.
People claim St. Kieran as their native patron saint. He taught near Creemully and is buried in a field convenient to the village school. Old people point out a large flag as his burial place. This St. Ciaran was baptized by St. Justus who was placed in charge of the parish of Fuerty by St. Patrick himself.
At present there are sixteen houses most of them thatched with about fifty five people. There are four old people who can tell stories in English only. Nine families have the ancient name of Neilan.

A FUNNY STORY
In the village of Creemully lived a very poor man and his wife about 60 years ago. Old Johnny Brehen was the mans name. He died and on account of his poverty the neighbours went in for a workhouse coffin.
There were no donkey carts and 'loadgeens' or baskets used to be tied on each side of the donkey's back to carry loads. Two men brought a donkey to bring home the coffin. It was the custom to call at the nailers in Fuerty to get special nails made, to strenghten the coffins which were put together rather lightly.
While the nails were being made the donkey wandered off with the coffin on its back. It made for the avenue of the big house in Castlecoote at about 12 o'clock at night.
It happened that the Housekeeper & staff were up expecting the master & mistress home from Dublin. The H.keeper hearing a noise at the hall door went to open it and seeing the donkey with the coffin gave an unearthly yell and fainted.
The other servants came on the scene and on beholding the coffin they also got frightened and in local phraseology "fell in a stickeen" which means fainted off.

There was a local wag named Moc who lived in Castlecoote. He often met Parson Cumley at the forge in Fuerty - The Parson loved to mix with his neighbours and indulge in funny stories -
One day they met at the forge and the Parson said "Well, Moc, I hear you are a great Irish speaker. Could you tell me what is the Irish for Parson"? "Indeed yer Honour I cant tell you that" said Moc. There was great laughter in the forge when the Parson said "Ha I have you now" "Well yer Honour" said Moc "What I mane is There were no Parsons out when the Irish Language was made.""The first O'Connor couldn't spell.
The gallant man knew not N from L.
By deeds of fame he won the name
His degenerate sons contending claim."
Those lines were written by the Parson on the back of a pamphlet whhich was sent round to scholars by the O'Connor to show that he had a claim to the title "The O'Connor".
The parson returned the pamphlet with his own lines.

There was a fairy fort in the village of Aughagad on the site of which now stands a very nice comfortable farmhouse.
Years ago a wedding took place there and during the night the principle musician had to leave. The people were most anxious to keep up the fun and feasting and did not know what to do. Suddenly a little fiddler appeared and sat in the corner and began to play the most beautiful tunes. No one could get him to talk but at every hour he would look up and say "One o'clock I can stay, Two o'clock I can stay, Three o'clock I can stay but Four o'clock I must go"
On the stroke of 4 o'clock the little fiddler jumped up, made for the open door, and disappeared into the night as if the ground opened and swallowed him.
In Mike Ryan's field there is a large circular fort surrounded by a high ditch on which very large beech trees are growing. There is a deep drain outside. On the insde the land is quite flat and cattle come in through a gap and graze there.
The fort is about 4 ft. higher than the surrounding land and people are said to go astray there at night and wander about Castlecoote.

on horses that wouldn't shy or baulk.
At fence or bank that I could see.From Tinny Park the Misses Corry (two)
Their horses looking fit and fine
With them the hounds were kept in view
At kill or capture did shine.Mrs Stevens came from Castlecoote
And never feared bank or wall
Her hunter always able to do it
And once I never saw her fall.And Miss Walpole from Castlemore
They always kept in her place
With Miss Cotton, Briarfield oft she rode
Both being front rankers in the chase.Other heroines I'd like to name
But time and space do not permit,
If the musing jade returns again
Ladies, believe me, I'll see to it.