Family link among visitors to Carn famine village
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The group who gathered on Sunday morning for a guided tour of the Carn famine village in Killare.Image 2 of 4
At the gable end of one of the Carn village homesteads were, from left, Seamus Kiernan, his father-in-law Frank Dillon, and Roger Nicholson.Image 3 of 4
Teresa Moran, née Fox from Killeenbrack, who is in her 98th year and whose grandparents were married at Carn in 1842, with her daughter Imelda on left and her niece, Margaret Carton, Horseleap, at Carn famine village.Image 4 of 4
Tour guide Helen Lynam with 97-year-old Teresa Moran at Carn famine village on Sunday.More than 70 people turned out on Sunday last for a guided tour of Carn famine village in Killare. Among them was Teresa Moran, née Fox from nearby Killeenbrack, who is in her 98th year and whose grandparents were married at Carn in 1842 and would have known the inhabitants of the village.
The tour guide was Helen Lynam, who referenced ‘Carn, Killare, A Forgotten Westmeath Famine Village’, written by Seamus O’Brien, who was also present and announced that his book is about to be republished.
The remains of the homesteads at Carn, on the lands of Frank Dillon, are clear to be seen, and at one point the large group stood within the four walls of one cottage, now occupied by two sycamore trees.
At the site, Roisin Gaffney from Killucan sang two of her own compositions – The Hungry Cry, for which her late husband George Cody wrote the melody, and The Valley of Knocksheban about the murder of landlord Howard Featherstonhaugh.
A St Brigid’s candle was lit at the site in memory of those who had lived and suffered there.
The event kicked off National Heritage Week in the area and heritage officer with Westmeath County Council Melanie McQuade was in attendance. Frank Dillon and his family provided welcome refreshments for all present when they made the descent down from the hill.
The next local outing is a tour of the graveyard at St Owen’s Church, Ballymore, and the nearby 1691 battle site. The tour will be conducted by local history enthusiast and member of the St Owen’s Restoration Group, Seamus McDermott, starting at 11.30am next Saturday, August 24.