There once lived in Kilbride, Ballycastle a very devout and holy man called Fr. Flanagan P.P. Fr. Flanagan had a reputation for great sanctity and solicitude for the poor. As a result of his holiness many stories about his miraculous cures have been passed on from generation to generation. The following is one such story relating to the hanging of Fr. Conroy of Addergoole (Laherdane) on The Mall, Castlebar, as part of the reprisals following the insurrection of 1798.

In 1798, before he was executed on The Mall, Castlebar Fr. Conroy addressed his supporters. . During his farewell speech to his people a voice in the crowd interrupted him twice, advising the authorities "to hang him up and cut him down". On asking who had spoken, a travelling man told him "Burke from Mayo", whereupon Fr. Conroy replied, "He will be down before very long". A short time after the "Burke from Mayo" a prominent Yeoman, was struck down with a terrible skin disease. A plague of giant insects attacked and destroyed all the crops in his garden. They increased in size and number to such an extent that the people were frightened of them.

Burke sent for the Local Rector but his efforts to rid the place of the insects were to no avail. On the advice of their neighbours, Burke then sent for Fr. Flanagan. Fr. Flanagan was successful in clearing the insects from the grounds. He also knew the old landlord lay on his deathbed in great suffering. Fr. Flanagan offered to go to the sick man and cure him, but Mr. Burke turned down the offer himself and subsequently passed away in terrible agony.

Fr. Flanagan died in 1828 and his tombstone was erected some fifty years later. At the time of his death, he is reputed to have said that the clay from his grave would be as beneficial to the sick as his office had been. As a result of this, his grave became a place of pilgrimage and people took clay from his grave to such an extent that the church authorities were forced to advise people that they were undermining the tombs and monuments.

Submitted by Brían Hoban, ©

Local Historian and Fáilte Approved Tour Guide

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A Guided Historical Walking Tour of Castlebar by Brian Hoban, Local Hiistorian & Bord Failte Approved Tour Guide, will be held each Tuesday and Thursday during the months of July and August. The tours will commence each evening at 7 p.m from The Imperial Hotel, The Mall, Castlebar. Group tours may be arranged at other times by appointment. For details phone Brian at 094 9021738