Madden Moments: Galway

Monday, May 21, 2018

Aughrim

On 12 Jul 1691 the Jacobite Irish Army and the forces of William III met in battle near the town of Aughrim in County Galway. Over 7000 people were killed and Jacobitism was virtually crushed, although the city of Limerick held out for a few more months.

There are many websites devoted to the history of the battle and the events leading up to them, it is not my intention to try to recreate them. How many of our ancestors were at this battle is unknown at this time. There were definitely Maguires connected to Greg's family and Kelly's connected to ours. But to date no others have been identified.

The Battle of Aughrim Interpretive center was not opened when we visited in September, however, it is possible to drive around the entire battlefield. Signs in various positions describe the battle from that angle.

History Ireland - The Battle of Aughrim
Padraig Lenihan on the Battle of Aughrim - The Irish Story
Battle of Aughrim - Cullodeon Battlefield
Aughrim Remembered Ó Ceallaigh - The Noble Clan of Ui Maine
Battle of Aughrim - Wikipedia

Monday, January 8, 2018

Kilconnell Abbey (Cill Chonaill)

Figuring out how to get to the ruins of Kilconnell Abbey took us a bit of contemplation and further consultation at the local pub. Between the buildings and through the fields? Through the gardens and by the sheep? That turned out to be the easiest way. A well maintained path took us to the Abbey where we thoroughly examined the seemingly locked gate before realizing we just had to open it!

Located in Kilconnell, a small rural village, in County Galway, the Franciscan Abbey was founded in 1353 by William Bui O'Kelly, Lord of Uí Maine. It was renovated by his grandson, William Mór O'Kelly in the early fifteenth century. William Mór died in 1420 and is buried in the friary. It is a major burial place for the O'Kelly Sept.

Although it lacks a roof (some sources state it was deroofed by Cromwellian soldiers, others that it was abandoned by the Franciscans as vocations fell) it is amazingly intact considering it has been unoccupied for hundreds of years.

As we continue to explore our Kelly heritage, it is exciting to know that is was our ancestors that built some of these wonderful ruins. As I wandered through this and others, I did think that I probably like them best in this "ruin" form. With roofs they would have been dark and cold. Open to the air with sunlight...well daylight anyway.. pouring through they are places of great beauty and wonder.