Dear YPAM,
I would like to submit two photos of Carrrickmore for
the section on Tyrone.
The first photo ( on the left below ) is of Bernish
Glen, said to be the hiding place of highwayman Shane
'Bearnach' O'Donnell. He is said to be the inspiration
for the raparee in "The Mountains of Pomeroy"
and WF Marshall penned the following poem about the
Glen.
BERNISH GLEN (W.F. Marshall)
The sun’s red rim
Is hidden soon,
The low clouds dim
The rising moon.
Shy badgers hide
Still in their den,
But rabbits glide
Through Bernish Glen.
The twilight blurs
Pool and morass,
No wind- breath stirs
The withered grass.
Across the Gap
There’s light to see
A lone crow flap
To Athenree.
Here all is still,
But from the vale
Steals up the hill
A farm-hand’s hail,
A faint far clink
Of can and tin
Where lanterns wink
Down in Cloghfin.
Wee folk, they say,
Skipped to and fro
Up Bernish way
Long years ago.
But fairy ring
And elf-shot cow
And pixie king
Are fool-talk now.
The greybeards rave
Of highwaymen,
And of a cave
In Bernish Glen,
Of ghosts that wail
Before the dawn,
-But that’s a tale
Of years long gone.
Yet if you were
In grey moonlight
Alone up there,
Perhaps you might
Just change your mind
Like many men
And look behind
In Bernish Glen.
Bernish Glen also hosted the annual Blaeberry Sunday
festivities. This always occurred on the third Sunday
of August. The young and agile men of the parish got
a chance to impress everyone by participating in 3 events,
running, jumping and lifting the stone. The children
spent their time picking (and eating!) the plentiful
blaeberries watched by the women and older generations.
The photo on the right is of the archway into the graveyard
at St Colmcilles Church and it is said to be all that
remains of the monastery which once stood on the site.
I hope you like these photos and hope that some other
people from Carrickmore will submit some of the old
photos that they have hidden away.
Best Wishes,
Michelle Nugent
Your Responses:
Catherine Goss - Mar '08
Hello
I am also trying to research my family tree and find
more information about my great grandfather and his
family. He was Joseph Rafferty and was born in Carrickmore
around 1875. His father was also called Joseph and
was a farmer but unfortunately I have no further information
about his mother or any siblings.
My great grandfather joined the Royal Marines Light
Infantry in Glasgow in 1895, fought in the China War
1900 and then transfered to the Royal Navy - he was
based in Plymouth, Devon.
Don't suppose anyone can help? Perhaps you have
a mysterious great uncle Joseph who went off to sea!
Appreciate its not much to go on!
Does the church at Carrickmore still hold old births,
marriage and death records?
Many thanks
Catherine
Joe Nugent - Mar '07
My brother has recently returned from Tyrone where
he has been trying to trace our family roots. His search
has taken him to Carrickmore where we believe the family
originated from. My great great grandfather was James
Nugent who married Bridget Whelan and we think that
they settled in Carrickmore.Our branch of the family
now reside in Scotland and we would be very interested
in any useful information if any is available !!
Michelle Nugent - Feb '07
Hi Mary, I am proud of the countryside I grew up in
and if there are any pictures in particular you would
like to see, dont hesitate to let me know and I will
submit them to this site. One of my teachers at The
Dean was John Keenan, maybe he is a membe of your family?
Noreen Mc Kniff (nee, Mc Donagh) - Jan '07
TO SEE A PICTERE OF MY HOME TOWN'S CEMETARY WAS REALY GREAT'AND SOME BEAUTIFUL
AND SOME SAD MEMORIES,AS MY DAD IS BURIED AT ST COLMCILLES GRAVEYARD.
Mary Whitaker - Aug '06
I hope that others follow your lead. My mother's grandparents
and aunts and uncles are buried in the graveyard at
St Colmcilles (Keenans of Ard Barren). I have visited
from England a few time.
I would love to see some old photos of the area.
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