Lisacul - The Gathering 2013 1 Lisacul - The Gathering 2013 2 Lisacul - The Gathering 2013 Foreword It gives us great pleasure as the editorial committee to All those who assisted us with our research into the introduce this book, ‘Lisacul - The Gathering 2013’, many families. Thank you for your time and patience. the result of many months of research. Those who contributed articles, information, photo- We have based our records of families in the parish on graphs, other items of interest, or who helped us in any the 1911 census returns and have tried in so far as pos- way with this publication. sible to trace the paths of these families up to the pre- Tommie Regan, Briarfield, for his great assistance with sent day. However it has not been possible to get infor- scanning and typing mation on many of those included on the 1911 returns because of the fact that we have been unable to find All our advertisers, without whose generous support any living links to those families. Even in the case of even in these difficult times, we would not have been those we have been able to trace, we can’t claim com- able to bear the cost of this publication. plete accuracy, as much of the information gathered The staff at Lisacul Resource Centre for their support comes from recollection. But we have done our best. and co-operation at all stages. Our book also contains lots of other interesting articles Lisacul Community Development Company Ltd. for and photographs charting the course of life and activity entrusting us with the task of compiling this book and in Lisacul over the past century. We hope that it acts as providing us with meeting and office facilities. a source of nostalgia for some of its more senior read- Matt and Terry at the Print Depot, Ballaghaderreen, for ers, as well as a source of information for its younger their professional support and advice in preparing and ones. printing the book. This publication would not have been possible without Thank you for purchasing the book and we trust you the outstanding help and support of a wide circle of will enjoy reading every page as much as we have en- people. We take this opportunity, therefore, to thank all joyed putting them together. those who helped us in any way to bring it to this stage. Editorial Committee A special thanks to the following for their contribu- tions; The Editorial Committee L to R: Evelyn Regan, James Regan, Tom Coppinger, Mary Touhy, Eileen Corrigan, Patricia Cunningham, Breda Conroy, Joe McCormack, Mar P. Carty. Missing from photo: Mike and Mary Carty, Patricia Clancy and Margaret McCann. 3 Lisacul - The Gathering 2013 The stone from the original church which was saved during its reconstruction in the early 1940’s and is now incorpo- rated into the wall of the Grot- to in the Millennium Garden The interior of the Church of Christ the King which was recently redecorated 4 Lisacul - The Gathering 2013 A Message from Fr. Brendan I am deeply honoured to have been asked to write a few words as an introduction to this magnifi- cent publication. The first thing I want to do is congratulate the members of the editorial team who met at least once a week over the past six months or so. In between meetings they worked hard to gather as much accurate information about the people of Lisacul as they possibly could. I am told that at their meetings there was a great excitement as they learned more and more about this lovely little area of North Roscommon, and I know this book will be a very interesting read, not just for those still living in Lisacul, but also for those who have emigrated. I know from my own experi- ence that if you live in a foreign land, any thing from home is received and read enthusiastically. I am blessed to live and work in a place like Lisacul among great people, and this book will help us to remember them. Many of the people featured are now dead, so when we come across their names it might be an appropriate thing to stop and remember them and their families. I await this book with great anticipation, because the history of Lisacul and it’s people throw up some very interesting topics. Things such as the Kiltybranks Cave, where St. Patrick is rumoured to have spent a night fadó fadó, the Children’s Burial Ground and of course the various Forts from which Lisacul derives its name. Add in Kilruane cemetery, dating back to the 11th century and in which, I recently learned, lie the remains of the American scientist who discovered that a mixture of blue- stone and washing soda was preventative of potato blight. I remember my own father using this mixture before Dithane came on the market. This particular scientist had done extensive study of the Irish famine and had requested that he be buried in an Irish cemetery alongside victims of the famine. There is a priest buried here as well, Fr.Ryan, his grave being an exception in that the re- mains are buried facing towards the church at his request. I hope his soul is keeping a saintly watch over the place he loved. Then there is the stone, which was removed from the wall of the old church before it was recon- structed in 1942 and had a cross sculpted into its face, with the words “come into the house of God” carved above the cross. The story goes that some priest found the stone lying in the church and put it outside, but whatever happened to him, he had to bring it back inside in a hurry. That same stone is now incorporated into the wall of the grotto built in the church garden to mark the new millennium in 2000. A word of thanks to all the business people in the locality, who through their advertising subscrip- tions helped to cover the cost of printing. Without your support and generosity this publication would not have been possible. Finally, God’s blessing on the editorial team who brought this book to fruition, namely; James Regan, Patricia Cunningham, Mary Touhey, Tom Coppinger, Joe McCormack, Patricia Clancy, Eileen Corrigan, Mary P. Carty, Mike and Mary Carty, Breda Conroy, Margaret McCann and Evelyn Regan. We thank them for their hard work. I know this book will be read for many years to come, and will serve as a vessel in which precious memories are preserved for the generations who will come after us. 5 Lisacul - The Gathering 2013 Lios an Choill Lisacul - The fort of the Hazel Tree Lisacul is a small village in North West Roscommon, a Like every other community around Ireland, the church half parish of Loughglynn. A part of the old Barony of and their religion were an integral part of everyday life Lord de Freyne, it’s a small parish comprising around for the people of Lisacul down through the centuries. sixteen townlands or villages - although this number Often times it was very difficult for them to practice increases if you factor in local names or villages within their religion, having to do it for much of the time at villages. Lis-a Choill is as old as time itself, going home or at secret locations. But they persevered and back to the time of Tuatha de Dannan as the name sig- eventually would succeed in building their own little nifies, a land of forts, lios’s and fairy rings, under- church, which would then be replaced by a larger one, ground caves, grey, whitethorns and fairy trees. which eventually was reconstructed as the church we Respect the tree and let it be all know now as The Church of Christ the King. From branch to root nor touch its fruit Then came the nineteen thirties and the dance halls be- There we bid you let it stand gan to sprout up form the past to the modern world. And if you follow this command McLoughlins in Lisacul was one of the first dance halls You’ll be happy all your days of the era of the four-penny dances, a Local band sup- But woe to him who disobeys plied the music”. Willie Grady from Loughglynn whose mother came It was in the parish of Lisacul from Currahard heard this from the old people long The thirties I recall, ago, here Willie tells his story. In the village of Lisadaly was a little country hall Like any other place the people were superstitious and There was dancing there each Sunday night believed in God and the fairies. Ruane built his church there, saying, “I’ll leave the lios to the sioga (fairies)” As you might understand so he did. His brother monk built another in Killrudaun The girls they were pretty and there was an old path due south right across the And the music a local band country from one to the other called the ‘mass path’. The admission it was four pence During the penal days (18th Century), mass was offered These pretty girls to see in the ruins of the old churches and there were mass rocks everywhere. The people were mostly Roman It was always called Mcloughlins Catholics except for a few. The church of Ireland built There was Granny John and P”. a church in Ballyglass West in 1815 to serve the land- Today Lisacul is a vibrant community, with a plethora lords and their followers.