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Chapter 5: Coill Beag to Inis Uí Chuinn
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About a mile to the north-east of Rosserilly, but upon the Mayo side of
the river, and in the parish of
Shrule stands the old castle of Moyne, and a
little beyond it the ruins of an ancient church. Besides these different
places already referred to or described in the parish of Killursa, the
following may be noted. The site of the ancient "Church of the two Kings,"
Cill Dá Rí, from which the townland of Killdaree has been called:
Ard Fintáin and Cathair Fintáin, which also gives name to a townland to the
north-east of Killursa Church, where also several raths and forts exist, and
which is so-called after the ancient king already
referred to ;
Cathair na haille, now called
Cahernally, where the
Kilkellys of old resided; and near the church the remains of a cromleac,
termed --as such structures usually are, Leaba Dhiarmada's Gráinne
--"the bed or resting place of Dermod and Grania" during the period of their
courtship and flight from Tara; its top stone is nine and a half feet
long. There are also forts and raths along the shore, which are well worthy
of inspection, especially Lisín na Circe.
Appertaining to this parish, near its north-western end, and about
half a mile off shore, is the long, low island of Inchiquin,
running
nearly north and south; which is upwards of a mile and a quarter in
length; it contains 229 acres, and is the
largest island in Loch Coirib. "On that island of Insequin," O'Flaherty
says, as already referred ,
"St. Brendan built
a chappell, and worked divers miracles. In the same island St. Meldan,
whose festival day is on the 7th of February, was abbot of a famous
abby about the year 580. He was spiritual father to the great St.
Furse, of Perone, in France; who carried the relics of this saint
along with him, and enshrined them at Perone." The local habitation of
these early saints on Inchiquin was Rath Meadha, "the rath of Meadh"
--a name that has become very celebrated from its frequent mention in
Irish hagiology. Its outline still exists, but scarcely a vestige of
the walls of the ecclesiastical structures remains; the site is,
however, still used as a burial ground. Possibly the dilapidations
commenced here when " the isles of Loch Oirbsen were pillaged by the
Danes. "Its Irish name is Inis Uí Chuinn--the island of the
descendants of Conn, Monarch of Ireland in the second century; and it
was so celebrated, that the entire lake is said at one time to have
been called Inis Uí Chuinn. Three Conns have been celebrated in Irish
history, and Conn Céadchathach, here referred to, was the ancestor of
St. Maeldun. It is said traditionally, that Ruairi Ó Conchubhair, when
on his way to Cong, after his abdication in 1183, rested at this
island; but, finding a favouring breeze, he said, "Well, if the land
is against me, the wind is with me" and so set sail for Oileán Rí.
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