Clondra
Brief History of the Area: Clondra is a waterside village situated on the banks of the rivers Shannon and Camlin. At its heart is Richmond Harbour, the terminus of the Royal canal.
An old abbey dating from the 12th century stands beside the present church and two gravestones from the 5th century are located beside the church. The old corn mill, now a tannery has provided employment for more than 200 years and its produce was shipped from Richmond Harbour by barge to major towns and cities. The harbour was also the embarkation point for passengers emigrating to America during famine times.
ATTRACTIONS
The Abbey
The Abbey which was probably an early monastic settlement, was built in the late 12th century although the lower part of the walls and foundations suggest an earlier church, perhaps 9th century. The south end suggests rebuilding carried out perhaps in the 15th century. It is referred to in the “Annals of the Four Masters”, and the “Clans of Ireland” reports the death in 1323 of Giolla Airnin O’Casey, Erenach (man in charge or steward) of the church in Cluan Dha Rath.
Ancient Gravestones
The old ancient carved gravestones in old Irish, outside Clondra Church are reputed to be 5th century. Attempts were made some years ago to remove them to the National Museum in Dublin but this was resisted by the local community who felt they should remain “in situ”.
Richmond Harbour
The harbour is situated on the River Camlin near its junction with the River Shannon. It is connected by the 46th lock with the terminus of the Royal Canal. The Richmond Inn was previously a flax mill and the private houses along the harbour were previously managers’ houses and offices. The flax was transported by barge from Richmond Harbour to Dublin via canal. Passengers also embarked here in famine times to begin their long journeys to the “New World”.
Richmond Mill
The mill, which is now a tannery was started as a corn mill from 1771 to 1827 when it was converted to a whiskey distillery, producing between 70,000 and 80,000 gallons annually. Power was produced by the use of the mill-wheel. The mill reverted to producing corn during the Fr Matthew temperence crusade in 1843.
Richmond Inn
The Richmond Inn was once used as a flax mill. A nearby field, ‘the bleach’ was used for growing flax. The flax was soaked in water and left to dry in the field.
The houses alongside the Richmond Inn towards the lock keepers house were originally the homes of the mill workers.
Killashee
Brief History of the Area: Killashee or Cill a Sidhe when translated means ‘The Church of the Fairy Mound’ or ‘The Wood of the Fairies’. These translations could be linked to the existence of a number of forts throughout the parish and mounds or hills which overlook the village, notably ‘Carrig’, known locally as ‘Burke’s Hill, ‘Crochans’ on the Lanesboro road, ‘an Culighan’ at the old Rectory.
The earliest references to Killashee as a parish are in the Roman Annates of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. Here Killashee is referred to under an astonishing variety of spellings, such are Killacythe, Kylnascyth, Kilnasichigi and under the names indicative of the titular of the Church Kilfegalen, Kilfylan and Kilfulan.
In 1302 Dhomnal O’Farrell, Chieftain of Annaly, founded the Convent of St John the Baptist at Middletown. But perhaps the most historic religious site is the Grey Friars’ Monastery of Ballinakill, Middletown and Clonough, known as the Land of Cluaindeochra.
Fáilte róimh go Cill na Sidhe.
Tá ill na idhe suite idir an Longfort agus Béal Atha Liag. Tá trí chuid sa pharóiste seo, Cill Sidhe, Cluain Dá Ráth agus Cluainteach. Téann an Canáil Ríoga tríd an pharóiste ar an tslí go dtí an tSionann I gCluain Dá Ráth. Mar sin tá ceithre droiched I gCill na Sidhe. Táreilig cailiúil sa pharóiste I mBaile na Cill. Táuaig intí darb ainm ‘The Bishops Grave’. De réir tuairiscí, cuiredah é sa deichniú haois. Tá a lán scealta béaloideasa ag baint leis an reilig. Bainigí taitneamh as ár gceantar.
Ballinakill Cemetery
The most historic religious site in the area is the ruin of the Grey Friars’ Monastery at Ballinakill Graveyard. Dating from the 6th Century this is reputedly founded by St Ernan. The Bishop’s Grave id still visible in the old Graveyard at Ballinakill and it is very likely that of Flann Mulvihill. The soil covering the well is believed to possess curing properties for various ailments, as does the Holy Well which is located at the foot of the Head stone in the photograph.
Ballyclare Castle
In 1430 Ballyclare Castle was built by O’Farrell Buí. O’Farrell was visited by in the same year by O’Neill and was conferred with ‘ full sway over the County of Annaly’. During the plantations of King James I, O’Farrell was dispossessed of his lands and Ballyclare Castle was given over to English and Scottish planters. The ruins of this castle can still be seen today.
The Royal Canal
The Royal Canal opened in Longford in 1826. The canal begins in Dublin and enters the Shannon at Richmond Harbour, Clondra. In the 19th Century there was always great traffic between Richmond and Dublin. Much needed food and fuel was transported to the capital via the Royal Canal and at the time of the famine, many people who were forced to emigrate to he US began their long and difficult journey on board the canal barges like the one pictured here.
Lynam’s Mill, Grillagh
This Corn Mill dating from the 19th Century would have been a focal point for the local community. People would have come from miles around to have their oats crushed and their wheat milled into flour. The last chief Millar was Mike Mangan of Clonsilla, Killashee and the Mill closed in the early 50s after his death.
Double Ring Fort at Clonmore
This is a particularly well-preserved version of a double Ring Fort. Ring Forts are of Celtic origin dating back to the early Christian period. The people of Celtic Ireland lived mostly in Ring Forts. They were circular in shape and were surrounding by a bank or ditch. The houses were built inside the fort and an underground passage or Souterrain was often used to store goods or a hiding place.
