ATHENRY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XX, Issue 50, 30 September 1892, Page 15

ATHENRY.

(Weekly Freeman.) Athenbt means in Irish " The ford of the Kings." It is one of the oldest towns in the west of Ireland, and though not a very prosperous looking place now, yet its grand ruins attest the greatness of the once •' City of the Kings." It was for a long time the stronghold of the O'Connors, Kings of Connaught ; but after the invasion of Ireland by the traitorous Normans it was seized by De Bermiogham, in whose family it remained for centuries afterwards. The Castle of Athenry, the remains of which are still to be seen, appears to have been built in the reign of King Joho, as were many others througbbut Ireland. It is a beautiful old place, covered over with protecting clusters of ivy and surrounded by the remains of a courtyard, immediately outside which runs a beautiful little stream. Not far distant from this is the North Gate, which was one of the entrances to tbe town. It still remains standing. This gate Red Hugh O Donnell, when he was marching from Tyrconnell through Oonnaught to the aid of the Spaniards, who had landed at Kinsale in 1601, burned down, and so entered the town. The old walls are still to be traced around the town, and ara in some places entirely broken down. The town was held alternately by the English and the Irish. In 1316, when Felim O'Connor declared for Edward, having gathered the clans of Oonnaught, he marched on Athenry, which was held by De Bermingham, Baron of Ath< nry. The English advanced from the town to meet Felim. A hill, called Kuockawngow r, is^supposed to bo near the site of the battle, which was one of jtbe bloodiest ever fought in Ire'and. The mail-clad English created great havoc among the Irish (who wore only their linen tunics), especially by means of their archers. The Irish, nevertheless, made a great fight, but eventually succumbed to superior training and superior numbers. Ten thousand of them are said to have bitten the dust. Felim wan amongst the slam. The same Bermingham, who commanded on this occasion, commanded at the battle of Faaghart Hill, and, on gaining a victory over Bruce, was created Baron of Louth. Inside the town are the remains of an abbey which, it is said, was occupied by Doraiican monks. In the penal times they had to leave the abbey and remove to a place called Esker, about two miles outside the town, where they founded a monastery. The abbey is in a pretty well-pre-served state. T&e place about it is now used as a cemetery, and contains the tombs of the De Burghs and tbe De Bermioghams.