Bronze Age
Cairn
It is worth noting that this immediate neighbourhood abounds in pre-historic
remains, and must have been intensively used as a cemetery in pagan times.
The most notable of those prehistoric remains is the "Carn Mor"
(large pile of stones) where a cist was opened in 1907. In this cist was
found cremated bones, a bronze dagger, a bronze awl. two urns, one with
a cover, a small urn (an incense cup), and a quartzite pebble - all now
safely deposited in the National Museum, Dublin.
Indeed, as recently as 1984 another cist burial was discovered here. It
consisted of the remains of a single individual placed with arms and legs
in a flexed position in a small stone lined cist. The burial was accompanied
by a Food Vessel placed at the knees and a small flint blade lay beside
the head. The particular type of food vessel has been dated to 1600-1700
B.C. and this burial cannot be far off this.
Fr. Peter Conway
Fr. Peter Conway, who built Our Lady's Church in Headford, was born in
1814. His place of birth is not known for certain but it was possibly
near Westport. Kilmaine and Ballinrobe are also mentioned.
He went to Maynooth College in 1835 where he studied for the priesthood.
He was ordained in 1841.
His first position as a priest was in Roundstone, Connemara. He also
built a church in Ballinafad, Co. Mayo. During the Famine years he ministered
in Partry, Co. Mayo. George Henry Moore of Moorehall was landlord in Partry
at the time, and he paid the rent for his tenants and took no rent from
them. With Fr. Conway, George Henry Moore set up a monastery at Tourmakeady
Co. Mayo.
At this time also Archbishop Plunkett, Protestant Archbishop of Tuam
set up birds nests schools and soup kitchens. George Henry Moore went
forward as a member in the Mayo elections at the same time and he defeated
his Protestant opponent Higgins. However Moore was unseated on grounds
of undue influence.
Fr. Conway was now working in Ballinrobe where he started to build a
church in the centre of the town. Times were hard on account of the effects
of the Famine and there were many evictions. In 1858, Fr. Richard Walsh
who lived in Cordarra and was parish priest of Killursa, died. The Catholic
Churches were situated in Cloughanover and Corner Chapel. The only schools
were at Cloughanover. Fr. Conway now came to Headford to Fr. Walsh's parish.
He completed Claran Church in 1859.
Fr. Conway then wanted to build a Church in Headford. He went to America
with Mr. Edward O'Reilly to collect money for the Church. The foundation
stone was laid on 7th June 1863. It was dedicated to Our Lady in 1865.
The schools were built in 1892.
Fr. Conway died on 22nd June 1872 aged 58 years, of a disease, which
he contracted while on a sick call. He was a strong man, and though quick
tempered he was just and fair. All his Churches were dedicated to Our
Lady.
Cahergal Fort
The great uncemented Cyclopean stone fort to which this extract refers
still encircles the brow of the little island, as shown in the following
illustration, but the scrubby brushwood around it partially obscures the
masonry, which stands over a deep trench or fosse, that must have rendered
its capture a matter of much difficulty before the general introduction
of fire-arms. In all probability it served like a crannóg to guard
Cairrgín Castle, or as a safe refuge for the persons and valuables
of its inmates, or those of the surrounding country.There can, however,
be no doubt that this structure belongs to the days of the unmortared
dúns, cahers, and cashels long prior to the date of the Anglo-Norman
invasion.The walls average six feet thick, and are still ten and a half
feet high; but the stones of which they are composed, owing in all probability
to the fact of their having been carried from the neighbouring mainland,
are of comparatively small size.They enclose an oval space of one hundred
and forty-four yards in circumference; and the doorway is on the east
or land side, where the ditch is level to afford means of access.The present
name of the island on the Ordnance Map is Ilaun Carbery, because a fanatic
named Carbery lived for many years during the eighteenth century in a
hut he built for himself within the enclosure.
About two miles east of the lake, in this parish, stands Cathair Geal,
or "Whitefort," one of the finest specimens of ancient military
architecture on the mainland of Ireland, and which can easily be reached
by the roads leading from Coill Beag or Claoideach to Headford.From its
colour it gives its English name to the townland, as, for similar reasons,
we meet with the names of Roundfort and Darkfort, etc., in other localities.
The magnificent circular Cyclopean building, a portion of the external
face of which is well shown in the subjoined illustration, encloses a
space of one hundred and thirty-seven feet in diameter; and its massive
walls of unhewn stone, of a whitish hue from the lichens covering them,
are nine feet four inches thick, and, although lowered in many places,
still average seven feet seven inches high.
The entrance on the south-eastern side, over the road leading to a farm
house, is seven feet six inches wide; its external jambs, measuring five
feet eight inches over ground, are each five feet broad, and twenty-one
inches thick.Inside, on the south-east, is a fight of three massive steps,
figured on the next page, which probably led to a parapet, as at Stague
fort, in Kerry.Within the enclosure there are the remains of several intersecting
walls; but, as the space is grass-grown, it is difficult to say whether
they are the ruins of Clocháns,[fn42-1] of which there is a tradition.
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