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From: "Cathy Joynt Labath" <>
Subject: [News] !! Connaught Journal; May 15, 1823
Date: Mon, 12 Nov 2001 18:01:49 -0600


Connaught Journal
published Galway, Ireland
Thursday, May 15, 1823

KNOCKMOY
We give insertion to the annexed at the request of a Subscriber:-

The ancient Abbey of this name, so justly celebrated in Irish history, six
miles from Tuam, the right to which had been the subject of much contention
in the House of Lords recently, was founded by Cathal O'Connor, called
Crove-derg, or Red-handed, in 1189. Among the survivors of the bloody house
of Roderick, the most conspicuous for his piety, and romantic courage, and
above all, for his unconquerable dislike of the English, stood this
Illustrious Prince. He formed an extensive alliance with the Munster Chiefs,
for the purpose of repelling the invaders; and the Lords of Thomond and
Desmond, burying their dissentions in the common good, united in a treaty of
peace, in order to aid, with their forces, the intentions of Cathal.
Decourcy, then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, dreading that the gathering storm
would burst on his head, recalled a strong detachment of his army under
Armories of St. Laurence. Decourcy, in the mean time, having been removed
from the Government of Ireland, by the appointment of Hugh de Lacy, whose
conduct seemed to be both haughty and insolent, felt the deepest resentment.
Cathal, taking advantage of this division, and the consequent weakness of
the English interest, instantly determined on attacking the invaders. A
furious and sanguinary battle ensued, on the hill of Knockmoy, in which the
whole almost of Armorie's army, after committing dreadful slaughter on the
Irish, perished on the field of battle. During the contest, while the issue
seemed yet balanced in the scale, this renowned Prince, influenced by that
religious feeling, with which those early and rude ages were deeply
tihetured?, promised to build an Abbey on the field of battle, if he should
be the conqueror. Cathal, shortly after, erected Knockmoy, in Irish, enoe
mugha, the hill of slaughter; and to Monkish writers, Monasterium de Colle
Victoriae. The founder gave the Abvey to Cisterian Monks, the habit of which
Order he afterwards assumed; and dying in 1224, was buried in his own Abbey.
The most curious remains, after decay of so many ages, at Knockmoy are,
Fresco paintings, which adorn the founder's beautiful mousoleum- one
compartment exhibits Christ on the Cross; another exhibits six Kings- three
dead and three living; of the latter, he in the middle is Roderic O'Cannor,
Monarch of all Ireland. He holds in his hand the sea-mange, or shamrock, a
plant in great estimation, from a legendary tradition, that by this
three-leaved grass, St. Patrick set forth the mystery of the Trinity. The
Princes on each side are his vassals. He, with the hawk on his arm, is the
grand falconer, and the other with the sword, his Marshal; these hold their
lands by Grand Sergeantry. Below them, sits a Brehon, with his Roll of Laws-
having pronounced sentence of death on Mac Murrough's Son, for the crime of
the father's having joined the English. Geraldus Cambrensis gives a
beautiful account of this cruel sentence. The boy is tied to a tree- his
body being transfixed with arrows- a useful hint to those who, abetting the
cause of oppression and usurpation, trample under foot the sacred ties of
kindred and of country. These are the principal remains of this celebrated
Abbey. It is true, that the Abbey has fallen into much decay within these
twenty years- this apoliation will no longer be permitted; and much may yet
be preserved which will afford the antiquarian ample scope for inquiry and
delight.



Cathy Joynt Labath
Celtic Cousins
http://www.celticcousins.net/

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