Moytura's Irish
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We now have a chat club which I hope you will join and use. It offers the chance to share and answer questions about all things Irish. Perhaps some of you will have common roots, family connections -

Ancestry.com has the greatest databases in the world for those in North America who are trying to trace their ancestry.

Hit the banner to see the some of the extensive lists available and do a search from their own database search engine.

If you have enjoyed your wander through the site I'd love to hear your comments, good, bad or indifferent, perhaps you'd sign my GUEST BOOK.
Or EMAIL me with any suggestions you might have.

At present there is a group in the parish gathering information for a history of the area and if anyone reading this page can help in any way I'm sure the information returned will be put to good use. At the bottom of this page is an e-mail received by the group's co-ordinator who would really appreciate any information at all which might help put jig-saw pieces together for them.

Now back to the purpose of this page. Each corner of  Ireland carries its own little bit of history and Knockdoe in the parish of Lackagh has an interesting history of battles long ago. The Battle of Knockdoe, [Cnoc Tua meaning the "The Hill of Axes"] was fought in 1504 and although it had no real political significance it was one of the bloodiest conflicts in Irish history.

It was the result of a private quarrel between the King's Deputy, Gearóid Mór - the Great Earl of Kildare - and Ulick Burke, an aggressive and turbulent chief of Galway. Burke, or de Burgo -  the family name - was chief of Clanrickard in South Galway. 

Artist's Impression of The Knockdoe  Battle Scene

He sought to establish his authority over all of Connaught and attacked and destroyed the castles of O'Kelly - Lord of Hymany - situated in Monivea, Garbally and Castleblakeney. The Burkes of Mayo, another branch of the De Burgo family,  joined forces with the Earl of Kildare to oust the usurper.  Clanrickard was living in open adultery with O'Kelly's wife and it is reported that this was the cause of the 'skirmish'. The Earl had the support of allied armies from leading families of Ulster, Leinster and Connaught, while Burke had the support of armies from Munster. On the battlefield and fighting for both sides were Scottish mercenary warriors  known as "The Gallowglass". Their principal offensive weapon was the axe which accounted for the large number of casualties. It is said that this was the first battle in Irish history where gunpowder was used. There were huge casualties on both sides and Ulick Burke was defeated after a day's vicious fighting. In all over 4,000 men were killed in the one-day battle.

Following his defeat, Burke (Clanrickard) and his clan faded into obscurity for some decades and the Mayo Burkes reaped the spoils. Around the summit of Knockdoe are many cairns (burial mounds) where the slaughtered are said to be buried. Lackagh now has a museum detailing the history of the famous Battle and housing many artifacts of historical significance. A small thatched house has been tastefully restored and re-thatched as part of the museum and shows how life was lived in this village over a hundred years ago.  Farming implements and various utensils have been donated by local families and give some idea of farming methods of old. The museum and coffee shop are popular tour venues for schools and students of Irish history.

Models of Soldiers Lackagh Museum

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Lackagh Museum

.The only battles fought in the parish now are those on the hurling field between local and other hurling and football teams of Ireland. Hurling is a game of speed and skill played with a 'stick and ball' (hurley and sliotar) and this ancient sport, handed down by the celts thousands of years ago, is carried on with enthusiasm and vigour in this parish and throughout the County today. It is, in fact, Ireland's national sport.

I've included a page with a list of every name in the parish at the turn of the 20th. century. They are taken from the 1901 census and can be found HERE. If anyone is interested I can supply them with the name of the village each family came from. Just drop me an email and I'll get back to you as soon as possible.

Now to that request for information from anyone who may have had ancestors from this parish or the environs of the Tuam/Galway area. The following is an extract from an e-mail I received:

"Hi  My name is Brid Higgins.  I am a Co-Ordinator of a local heritage project in Lackagh, Turloughmore, Co.Galway.  You probably know that we are researching the area with the view to writing a book on the parish.  We hope to collect as much information as possible regarding emigration from the parish and any stories regarding same.  I am aware that many people emigrated to the US, particularly Boston but also New York and throughout the country.  Canada, New Zealand and Australia were also destinations of emigrants from this parish."

We journey to the first of the Lackagh pages and learn about my own parish of Lackagh - a small village just 12 miles from Galway with a mighty big history.

For those who have just joined me on this page why not go to the beginning of our travels and see some of the places in The Start of Our Journey through the West of Ireland. 

My Place Amongst the Stones gives the history of my company name, Moytura - a celtic heritage going back thousands of years. 

We then move on to take a quick jaunt around Galway City; and then to the heart of Connemara - with its wild and wonderful beauty. 

From there we journey south into County Clare and see The Burren - a place that has lain undisturbed since the Ice-age and of immense botanical, ecological and archaeological importance.

Visit Ireland's finest early monastic heritage centre in Clonmacnoise, County Offaly; and to my favourite of all the early Christian Church locations - Clonfert, South County Galway, with its beautiful tiny 12th century Cathedral of Saint Brendan. Come with me around the grounds and see the Bishop's Palace and the 1000 year old Yew Walk. 

While on the Clonfert pages, you can learn a potted history of Saint Brendan the Navigator, possibly the first European to set foot in North America in the 6th. century. And join me in the celebrations when this tiny cathedral was listed in the World Monuments Watch 2000 most endangered monuments.

Come with me on my 'Famine Journey' which starts in Westport, and moves to Sligo, my Dad's County and the departure port for many of the 'Coffin Ships'. This part of my journey ends in Grosse-Île on a tiny island east of Quebec City. 

On this page you will learn some of the history of our Famine Refugees and find the final resting place of over 6,000 of my country folk who died within sight of their first freedom in over 300 years. This is where many of the Irish roots in North America started.

Our Journey moves on to other places on that visit to Canada where we see Quebec City and some of Ontario's lovely places and then to two of Canada's famous Catholic Shrines - Saint Anne de Beaupré and to Cap-de-la-Madeleine.

Finally, join me on my pilgrimage to a peaceful haven in a war-torn country in Medugorje in Bosnia-Hercegovinia. The other areas of my Web site can be found in the drop-down box below.

I have added links pages of other places related to the places we visit, links to leisure activities in Ireland i.e. golf, fishing, horse riding, sailing in Ireland, festivals, entertainment etc. and some of my friends' home pages. 

Don't forget to bookmark this page and return to take up on more of your journeys with me. Oh .. and please sign my Guestbook if you have enjoyed your travels. Go raith míle maith agat - thanks a million

Every now and then people send me stories, poems, or URLs to other Home Pages that I find very touching or uplifting, they can be found at the links below. Some will make you smile, maybe even laugh, some may make you cry or a little sad - but all will leave a little bit of a mark, if only for the few minutes you spend reading or listening to them. Enjoy - I call this section: