Sundays Wells

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‘It wus always called the Blest Well [Sunday’s Well, Glen, Newry: also St Moninna’s Well, Killeavy] an’ the cures were after sunset or before sunrise.


Ye had till leave somethin’ behind ye or it wus no use.  But I wus a hard-workin’ man all me lfke, an’ with the best of health, so I didn’t be troublin’ the well.

St Patrick

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St Patrick was born a Roman-Briton and lived his early life near Bannaven Tabernia – which may have been in what today we call Wales, or Scotland or England.  His name was Maewyn Succat but he took Patricius upon becoming a priest – a name signifying leader or elder of Roman society.  He was the son of a civil servant and grandson of a Christian priest. 

Lisbanmore

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Lisbanemore was a cashel [rock fort] in Killeen on the eastern extremity of the Ring of Gullion.

The following rambling account was recited – some generations ago – to a passing tourist!


Is it Lisbanemore ye’ve come till see? 

The Changeling

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This couple had a wee holding in the West of Ireland and a locka acres of land, a small house and in the first year of their marriage they had a baby.  very long ago!

Round Square

‘She needs a square of being round!’ – she’s intellectually-challenged:  she has a…

Famine in Creggan

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I find it maddening in the extreme – given that all of my forebears suffered untold hardships in this vicinity through the years of the Great Hunger of the mid-nineteenth century in Ireland – to hear a supposed authority like the former head of PRONI [named below] – at a public meeting recently in Newry – claim that our area was little affected. 

Fews Glossary: B, 3

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Blether  n.v. foolish talk/erBlood   fighting spirit Don’t raise his blood!Blow   scold   I gave him a good blowing up!Blustery  stormy,…