St. Patrick’s Well
When St. Patrick was on his way from the Delvin River to Tara where he had built his first church, he sent his boats by sea from Delvin to the Boyne and he travelled by himself by land. In Mosney between Laytown and Gormanstown he met a young man called Benignus who fell at the Saint’s feet and begged him to take him with him. Saint Patrick baptised Benignus in a well beside the railway that is now known as St. Patrick’s Well. Ben’s Head, located between Laytown and Gormanstown, was called after St. Benignus. St. Benignus was the son of the High King of Ireland and was Archbishop of all Ireland.
By Patrick Delaney, Laytown Peggy Landy, Julianstown.
When St. Patrick was on his way from the Delvin River to Tara where he had built his first church, he sent his boats by sea from Delvin to the Boyne and he travelled by himself by land. In Mosney between Laytown and Gormanstown he met a young man called Benignus who fell at the Saint’s feet and begged him to take him with him. Saint Patrick baptised Benignus in a well beside the railway that is now known as St. Patrick’s Well. Ben’s Head, located between Laytown and Gormanstown, was called after St. Benignus. St. Benignus was the son of the High King of Ireland and was Archbishop of all Ireland.
By Patrick Delaney, Laytown Peggy Landy, Julianstown.
St Columbcille’s Well
There is a well at Minnistown near Laytown in a field belonging to Mr. Patrick Brangan and it is said that people were cured of a toothache here years ago. The people would tie rags on the bush beside the well and then kneel down and pray for their toothache to be cured. Many people were said to have been cured there. This well is called the well of St. Columbcille.
By Miss A.J. Flynn Shallon Peggy Landy Julianstown
There is a well at Minnistown near Laytown in a field belonging to Mr. Patrick Brangan and it is said that people were cured of a toothache here years ago. The people would tie rags on the bush beside the well and then kneel down and pray for their toothache to be cured. Many people were said to have been cured there. This well is called the well of St. Columbcille.
By Miss A.J. Flynn Shallon Peggy Landy Julianstown
Strange Stones
In the neighbourhood of Shallon which lies between Cooperhill and Kilsharvan. Three stones were built into the end wall of Mr Michael Matthew’s shed. The three stones stand together. One stone has a crucifix carved out and on each side of the crucifix an angel can be seen. On the second stone a cross is carved out and on the third stone a flower is visible. In olden times it was custom of the people when going to the graveyard for a funeral to leave the coffin on the edge of the road at this certain spot and recite the De Profundis.
Told by Mrs Curran, Shallon, Julianstown to Eileen Boylan, Julianstown.
In the neighbourhood of Shallon which lies between Cooperhill and Kilsharvan. Three stones were built into the end wall of Mr Michael Matthew’s shed. The three stones stand together. One stone has a crucifix carved out and on each side of the crucifix an angel can be seen. On the second stone a cross is carved out and on the third stone a flower is visible. In olden times it was custom of the people when going to the graveyard for a funeral to leave the coffin on the edge of the road at this certain spot and recite the De Profundis.
Told by Mrs Curran, Shallon, Julianstown to Eileen Boylan, Julianstown.
Underground Passages
On the main road from Whitecross to Bellewstown there is a moat mid way called the Lisdoman. There is said to be an underground passage running from the moat to a place called Finnegan’s hill three quarters of a mile to the West of Lisdoman house. The Western entrance is on the land of Mr. Hoey of Ratholand and the moat is on the land of Mr. Ennis of Lisdoman.
Lee Duffy from his father Mr Frank Duffy.
Claristown, Julianstown.
An Ancient Cross
In the town land of Sarsfieldstown in a place locally known as “The Gallet”. There are the ruins of a cross standing in a field called “The Cross Field”. There are three steps up to this cross. On the back of the cross there is an image of a girl with her hands joined and a veil over her head hanging to her shoulders. On the front of it there are two E’S facing each other. On the back and front of the cross there is lettering but it cannot be read.
Chrissie O’Brien,
Sarsfieldstown, Julianstown.
An Ancient Stone
In the town land of Knogue between Gormanston and Julianstown there is a peculiar stone in the garden of Mr. Joseph O’Brien. It is rectangular in shape. It was removed from a field owned by Mr. McKeever of Elmgrove and brought to his garden by the Church Authorities over one hundred years ago. This field is still known as Cnóca Pobal. On the front of the stone there is a figure of Christ hanging on the cross. There are also two other figures kneeling each side of the cross. There is nothing else carved on the other three sides of the cross.
Peggy Landy, Julianstown.
Old Chapel
In Rogerstown on the banks of the River Nanny the ruins of the old chapel can still be seen. Long ago it is believed that people attended Holy Mass in this building. Sometime after, a new chapel was built and the old one was abandoned. Mr. John Markey kept horses in the old chapel as it was not in use. For a short time the horses stayed in the chapel but they got restless. Mr. Paddy Sheils (the present Mr Paddy Sheil’s godfather) was employed to mind the horses. The horses still could not be kept quiet and in the end a new shed had to be built and the horses were moved out of the ruins.
Told by Mr Murtagh, Julianstown to Eileen Boylan, Julianstown.
Gallows Hill
Gallows Hill got its name as at the time when Cromwell was laying siege to Drogheda. It happened that Cromwell sent his advance guards to Dardistown. However, an Irish Officer named Mr.Brown arrived before them. Cromwell sent a girl named Sheila O’Connor to Dardistown Hill. While Sheila and Mr. Brown were at the hill they heard the noise of the advance guards horses approaching. They both went in the Kilsharvan direction and hid behind Kilsharvan cemetery. Cromwell’s soldiers came and told them they would level the hill to the ground. This angered the officer and the girl so they decided they would fight them. The girl took the officer’s pistols and the officer fought with a sword. They killed the six men. The officer went home wounded and was tended by a priest. Some short time after some soldiers caught the girl on Gallows Hill and killed her.
Told by John Kennedy, Shallon, Julianstown to Eileen Boylan, Rockbellew
Gallows Hill got its name as at the time when Cromwell was laying siege to Drogheda. It happened that Cromwell sent his advance guards to Dardistown. However, an Irish Officer named Mr.Brown arrived before them. Cromwell sent a girl named Sheila O’Connor to Dardistown Hill. While Sheila and Mr. Brown were at the hill they heard the noise of the advance guards horses approaching. They both went in the Kilsharvan direction and hid behind Kilsharvan cemetery. Cromwell’s soldiers came and told them they would level the hill to the ground. This angered the officer and the girl so they decided they would fight them. The girl took the officer’s pistols and the officer fought with a sword. They killed the six men. The officer went home wounded and was tended by a priest. Some short time after some soldiers caught the girl on Gallows Hill and killed her.
Told by John Kennedy, Shallon, Julianstown to Eileen Boylan, Rockbellew
King James II Bed
King James II of England slept in Ballygarth castle on his way to meet William at the Battle of the Boyne. His bed can still be seen in Ballygarth today. In the time of the late Colonel Pepper, the bed was changed every week. The bed was covered on top by a canopy and it was surrounded by curtains. There are three steps leading up to it. His hat is left carelessly lying on the bed exactly as King James left on his way to the Boyne.
Told by Mrs Kennedy, Ballygarth, Julianstown to May Bind, Ballygarth, Julianstown
An Old Churchyard at Irishtown
There is an old Churchyard at Irishtown and it is called Chapel Castle. There were headstones in it and about seventy years ago the present Mrs Shuttleworth’s father took the headstones to make windowsills for his new house. Every morning when Mr Shuttleworth got up the windowsills were taken out and left back in Chapel Castle. There is no entrance to this churchyard only a big hedge around it and when people were dead they would have to be lifted across it.
Chrissie O’Brien, Sarsfieldstown, Julianstown. Given by her uncle Mr O’Brien.
There is an old Churchyard at Irishtown and it is called Chapel Castle. There were headstones in it and about seventy years ago the present Mrs Shuttleworth’s father took the headstones to make windowsills for his new house. Every morning when Mr Shuttleworth got up the windowsills were taken out and left back in Chapel Castle. There is no entrance to this churchyard only a big hedge around it and when people were dead they would have to be lifted across it.
Chrissie O’Brien, Sarsfieldstown, Julianstown. Given by her uncle Mr O’Brien.
The Turnpike
In the olden days there was a turnpike at Mr Byrne’s Whitecross Julianstown. There was a thatched house where the present house now stands and a big loft over the door where they used to keep the money. There were iron railings around the house and also a big iron gate across the road where the cars had to stop and pay tolls. The tolls cost one penny or two pence, according to the width of the tyre on the wheel. The narrower the tyre the higher the payment, Funerals were allowed to pass free of charge. There was a footpath for pedestrians on their way to mass and also on their way to the mill and the Forge . A long window which ran to the road edge acted as office. The north bound traffic paid at the South window of the bay and the south bound traffic paid at the north window. The tolls went to the Peppers, owners of the Ballygarth estate. The estate paid the toll collectors in furniture for the house instead of money. When the toll was paid the traveller received a receipt for his money which bore the words “This ticket clears Dunleer, Kilineer and Drogheda gates”.
Told by Mrs McDonald, Julianstown to Una Murtagh, Julianstown
On a Shipwreck
About sixty years ago a coal boat was on its way to Drogheda with a load of coal. The ship was caught in a storm and was driven in on the shallow sands of Mosney. The coals were taking off the ship in small boats and brought to Drogheda. It is said that the timbers or the ship were used in the building of Mosney House.
Joseph Hilmart, Laytown
Edited by Oisin Black & Fionn Henry
About sixty years ago a coal boat was on its way to Drogheda with a load of coal. The ship was caught in a storm and was driven in on the shallow sands of Mosney. The coals were taking off the ship in small boats and brought to Drogheda. It is said that the timbers or the ship were used in the building of Mosney House.
Joseph Hilmart, Laytown
Edited by Oisin Black & Fionn Henry