custome to bow down their sailes three times, in reverence to the saint. A certain captain of the garrison of Galway, Anno 1672, passing this way, and neglecting that custome, was so tossed with sea and storme, that he vowed he would never pass there again, without paying his obeysance to the saint; but he never [re]turned home, till he was cast away by shipwrack soon after. Few years after, one Gill, a fisherman of Galway, who would not strike saile, in contempt of the saint, went not a mile beyond that road, when, sitting on the pup of the boat, the mast, by [a] contrary blast of wind, broke, and struck him on the pate dead, the day being fair weather both before and after. This saint's proper name was Sinach, and patronimically called same individual. In these matters sailors • Bow down their sailes.-This is scrupulously observed to the present day; and is performed by lowering the main-sail a little, three times. The custom is supposed to have originated with some pious boatmen, who, probably in the life-time of the saint, first adopted that mode of salutation on sailing by the island. That precedent a few times repeated, and a wreck or other accident befalling a boat which might happen to neglect it, would be sufficient to establish the ceremony. But, however it may have originated, few sea Mac faring natives of the coasts would now venture to omit that accustomed mark of respect to St. Mac Dara. Many catastrophes, similar to those above mentioned, are still confidently attributed to its omission. It may be easily believed, that among the numerous wrecks and sea accidents which have occurred along these western coasts, some may have been attended by circumstances, which would induce a less imaginative people than the Irish to attribute them to the causes above assigned. It would be useless to object, that our author's incredulous captain might have been cast away, and poor Gill knocked on the pate, even though they had paid the accustomed obeisance. d Sinach. Sionnaċ, a fox. It is a curious coincidence, that the name of this favourite saint of our western fishermen, should be that of an animal which, of all others, they Mac Dara, from his father Dara. the sea shore just opposite to the most abhor. So great is their aversion to a fox, hare, or rabbit, that they never so much as mention their names themselves, nor can they endure even to hear them named by others. If a fisherman of Claddagh, vide ante, p. 42, noted, happens to see one of those animals, or to hear its name mentioned, he would not on that day venture to sea; and the cause of this strange superstition they neither know themselves, nor can any one else account for. But it has been often turned to their disadvantage, of which the following, among other instances, has been frequently related. Near the great fishing village of Claddagh, there once lived a butcher, who used to take a humorous but mischievous advantage of the simplicity of his neighbours. They never, it appears, go to fish on Saturday, for fear of breaking in on the sabbath, a day which they always scrupulously observe. Friday is, therefore, one of their principal fishing days; and a successful "take" on that day, generally has the effect of reducing the price of meat in the ensuing Saturday's market. The butcher, whose calling was thus occasionally injured, contrived for a long time to prevent it, by procuring a fox, or, as some say, a stuffed fox-skin, and causing it to be exhibited, every Friday morning, through the village. This invariably caused a general noise and move The parish church of Moyras, by island, in the continent of Irrosainhagh, ment among the fishermen, not unlike those of gulls in a loom-gale; and it never failed to make them, for that day at least, abandon their fishing excursion. It is probable, that to this moment, not one on the coast is aware that St. Mac Dara's real name was Sionnach, although his altar-stone, "Leac Shinach," is said to be still preserved. It has been pleasantly remarked by Mr. O'Donovan, that if a man of the name of Fox, Hare, or Rabbit, wished to settle among the Claddagh fishermen, he should change his name to Pike, Codde, or Salmon, or some such; for that his name would destroy the luck and happiness of this strange people. The ancient parish church of Moyrus is now in ruins. It had originally two doorways, one in the north side, and the other in the south. The former is built up. The latter, which is that now used, is formed of three concentric arches of beau tifully cut stone. In the eastern gable there was a fine window, now nearly destroyed. Here St. Mac Dara's festival, la féile Mhic Dapa, is kept, and is attended principally by fishermen. The castle of Ardes.-In Irish, Carlean na h-Airde, now a ruin, is situate about seven miles north-west of Golam Head. Here "Teige ne Booly (buile) O'Flahertie of the Arde, otherwise called O'Flahertie of both Con O'Marrice (Conamaras)," the ainhagh, is dedicated to his name, where is kept his altar stone, by the name of Leac Sinach. His festivall day is kept as patron of Moyras parish, the 16th of July. Not far from Moyras, by a creek of the same sea, stands the castle of Ardes. On this side of Irros Ainhagh, is Murloghmore, or Blackford haven, a very broad and most safe harbour for ships; where there is an inexhaustible bank of oysters, that are carryed by boats hence to Galway. Into this haven, from Irros-ainhagh, comes Owangowla, a river of salmon fish and white trouts. From Macdara Island, westward, lies a like small high island, corruptly called Cruagh na Kily, for Cruagh Coelann. Cruagh is chief of the western O'Fflaherties, resided in A. D. 1585.-Indenture of Composition. By an inquisition taken 17th August, 1607, it was found that the same Teige na buile "was seised of the castle or stone fortress of Arde." For these records, more in detail, see the Appendix.-Murloghmore, or Blackford haven.-Both these names are now obsolete. The haven is called Birterbuy (Bertrach buidhe) bay.— See Nimmo's Piloting Directions, p. 176. Bertrach is the usual name in Connamara for an oyster-bank. Owan-gowla.-In Irish, Abainn Ghabla, the Forked River, flows into the east side of Birterbuy bay. e Cruagh na Kily.-In Irish, Cruać na Caoile, an uninhabited island in the ocean, now called Cruanakeely, and sometimes Deer Island. Of the ancient chapel of St. Coelann, mentioned by our author, no trace now remains. On the summit of this island there are some heaps of stones, which are said to have been raised any as monuments over people who formerly died here of starvation. The traditional account of the occurrence is curious, and is generally related as follows:-In the reign of Elizabeth, there came into IarConnaught, a man of venerable appearance, who, as it afterwards appeared, was abbot of a Cistercian monastery, called the White Friars, in Donegal. He was a member of the great family of O'Donnell; and nearly related to its celebrated chieftain Hugh Ruadh. Having refused to surrender his monastery, it was suppressed by the Queen's commissioners; the abbot himself was proclaimed a traitor, and a reward offered for his head. He then fled to Iar-Connaught, as before related, and there found a long and secure asylum, at the foot of Cnoc a Caillean hill, in the parish of Moyrus, near the sea shore, where a Martello tower now stands. Here he was occasionally visited by his brother, who afterwards settled in the country, any high hill like a stake [stack], as these islands are; and Coelann is the saint to whom the island is dedicated, whose chappell is therein. and by others of his kindred from Donegal. After a long search by the Queen's officers, the abbot's retreat was at length discovered. A party of fourteen persons, among whom were some of his own countrymen, induced by the promised reward, undertook to apprehend him. Having arrived at his place of concealment, they entered his dwelling in the night time; but none of them being acquainted with his person, they resorted to an experiment, by which they were assured they would immediately identify him. This was, by his amending an expression which is often used in Irish, viz., when one is desired to light a candle, the phrase sometimes employed is lar a rollar, literally, "light the light." This he was invariably in the habit of correcting, by saying, b'reάpp lar a' comeal, "better say, light the candle." One of the party having used the phrase, and the expected correction having followed, no doubt remained of his identity. He was instantly seized, and they only awaited the morning to return with their prisoner. In this dilemma, the abbot promptly determined on a bold expedient. He informed his pursuers, that he had considerable treasure concealed in the uninhabited island of Cruaghnakeely, which he pointed out at an apparently short dis His tance from the shore; and requested them to accompany him thither, in order to bring away the treasure, and that he would then quietly submit to his fate. Sure of his person, and anxious to secure the expected prize, they readily consented to his proposal. When they reached the island, he directed one of the men to step on the rock, which formed its only landing-place, and to lay hold of a rope which was attached to the bow of the boat. This done, he placed himself at the bow, and with a setting-pole kept the boat steady, until all were safely landed. Then, slipping the rope, and giving a sudden shove, the place being deep too, he was quickly out of reach, and directed his course back, leaving the entire party on this desolate island, where, being destitute of food and shelter, they all miserably perished. In course of time, the monuments before alluded to were raised over their remains. The abbot lived for many years after in Iar-Connaught. His brother's family acquired large possessions there, and, among others, the great tract of land called after them, Littermore O'Donnell, in the barony of Moycullen; which descended to Edmond M'Rory, great-grandfather of the Right Rev. Lawrence O'Donnell, the present R. C. Bishop of Galway. These possessions were confiscated in the seventeenth century, and granted, under the Act of Set His memory is celebrated in that parish of Moyras the 3rd of February. Coelann and Cailin are different saints' names. Of each side of this island, is a shiproad to Blackford and Roundstone havens; and another small island, called Olena Cruagh, stands between it and the continent, on the north. Inisnee island, containing three cartrons of land, lyes in the mouth of Owanmore river, and divides the haven into Round-stone haven on the west side, and Blackford haven on the east side thereof. This island hath a chappell dedicated to St. Mathias, and another place in memory of St. Brendan. In the midle of the island there is a poole of freshwater. On the east side of it, the river of Owanmore is exonerated into Blackford haven. This river springs from Balynahinsy lake, two miles from the sea. It is shallow and full of wares and stones, from the lake down, for a mile, to Wine Island; on which island is a salmon In A. D. 1841 it contained seventy-three houses, with a population of 396 persons. -Census of Ireland, p. 374 g Olena Cruagh. Sometimes called Oileán na g-cpuaċ, the island of the stacks or ricks, from its appearance at a distance in the ocean. The island of Inisnee, Inis nie, is bounded on the south and west by Round-stone bay; and on the north and east by Birtirbuy (Bertrach buidhe) Bay, formerly Blackford Haven. On the 7th Feb. A. D. 1610, the "river and fishing of Owanmore," abainn mop, were granted to "Morrogh ne moyer O'Flaherty of Bonowen, gent."-Rot. Pat. This grantee was father of Sir Morogh na Mart, mentioned p. 83, note i. The Owanmore is now sometimes called the Ballinahinch river. |