Bawnboy

Get in:

Located about halfway between Dublin and Donegal, Bawnboy in the north western part of the Republic of Ireland, Templeport Parish, can be accessed by car or bus along N87, 6 km from Ballyconnell. Donegal Express Bus passes right through Bawnboy.

Get around:

Walking around this tiny village is easy, but driving is by far the best way to see the beauty of its surrounding landscapes and ancient sites. A rental car -available in most towns -and a local tour guide (innkeepers are always ready to call a local historian, usually one who delights in sharing his village's history) is a must. Many of the ancient sites, especially the legendary ruins, are accessible, but not easily and not without help. Road signs, called signposts in Ireland, can prove a bit tricky at first for the uninformed traveller. After a brief initiation period-and a few wrong turns-the signposts become much easier to understand. All of the signposts have place names in both Irish Gaelic and English.

See:

1. Bawnboy Castle and Bawn: In the 1600's during the Ulster Plantation (moving in and taking over the land), planters were required to build castles (houses) and bawns (fortified enclosures for defense or protection of cattle), the stone ruins of which can still be seen today. Historians believe that the color of certain limestones used in the building of the bawns appeared a yellowish brown in color; hence, the name, "The yellow bawn." Remains of the castle and bawn stand in a field located only a mile down the main street in Bawnboy. Because they cannot be easily recognized from the roadside, having a local guide is necessary.

2. St. Mogue's Island: Truly a place of splendour, magic, and mystery, St. Mogue's is a must see for travellers, especially those interested in legends, lore, and religious artefacts or for those interested in standing and gazing at breath-taking surroundings. The birthplace of Ireland's famed Bishop of Ferns, this magnificent island, rich in history and steeped in lore, is situated on Brackley (Breaghy Lough) Lake. Dozens of black-faced sheep graze on the hillside beside the lake while white swans glide effortlessly to and from the island. The scenery is breath-taking, a photographer's dream. The magical legend of St. Mogue asserts that clay from this island (actually bits of mortar scraped gently from the few remaining stones) has a curative effect that will prevent death by drowning or fire. One local woman survived the disaster of the Titanic only because she carried with her the beloved bits of St. Mogue's Clay.

3. The Killycluggin Stone: At Killycluggin crossroads, the meeting place of roads between Bawnboy and Ballyconnell, stands a replica of a large stone carved with intricate Celtic spirals from the La Tene artwork period. Dated from about 100 B.C., the stone is said to have once been bashed by St. Patrick. The original is now housed in the Cavan County Museum, www.cavantourism.com

4. Owendoon: Built in 1830 from stones quarried off its own land and owned now by Margery Cross, Owendoon carries with it a rich history....and a bit of a curse, of sorts. Since the day its foundation was laid, the men who have owned it haven't lived long enough to enjoy being in residence. Thus it is said that "no man should own Owendoon." Margery Cross, whose husband died three years after they'd purchased the property and completed restoration...on the very day they were to move in...has designated Owendoon as a charitable trust. A Buddhist for many years, Margery offered the house and adjoining gardens and grounds as a retreat centre. The resident Rinpoche renamed it as Jampa Ling, a place of love and kindness. Jampa Ling has become a refuge for people of all faiths. An elegant home surrounded by stunning gardens, Owendoon is, indeed, a place of spiritual renewal.

Located in Bawnboy,

5. St. Mogue's Church: Combine a bit of "wee" pilgrimage into a holiday at this lovely church, steeped in religious history. Built in 1978, the elegant church is dedicated to the life of St. Mogue and houses a holy font, the base of which is believed to be a fragment of the miraculous flagstone on which the young boy Hugh (later, St. Mogue) travelled from the island to the lake's edge to receive a holy baptism by a passing priest, St. Killian.

Located at the top of the hill off Bridge Street in Bawnboy.

6. Windmills at Coreen Wind Farm: At the crest of the Slieve Rushen, fifteen stark white giants tower 64 km (211 feet) over the town of Bawnboy. The windmills, not unlike the white giants that originally inhabited Ireland--the Formorians-loom mysteriously, almost ghost-like, atop the Slieve. Built without state subsidy, they provide electricity to 3600 homes. (www.airtricity.com)

Eerie and unforgettable, the windmills would have set the Formorians to trembling. At the foot of the windmills is a peat bog where peat is machine harvested for home use. Peat lands once covered almost 20% of Ireland. They are a unique habitat, exploited for years as an indigenous fuel resource. Turf cutting is restricted now and protected by conservation legislation.

Do:

Walk around the new field, "pitch" of the GAA, Gaelic Athletic Association.

Volunteer for turf stacking on Slieve Rushen

Watch for skylarks and snipes zigzagging overhead

Take a nature walk in the forests of Slieve Rushen

Fish in Breaghly (Brackley) Lake: Cavan Co. has 365 lakes, one for each day of the year! No fishing license is required in Ireland.

Play golf at the Slieve Russell, just outside of Ballyconnell

Visit Bear Essentials to participate in a "create your own" teddy bear

www.irishbears.com

Stay:

The Keepers Arms Guesthouse and Pub

This lovely B&B located on Bridge Street in Bawnboy, is owned and operated by Bryan and Sheila Mckiernan (www.keepersarms.com) Breakfast and dinner are served in grand Irish style, rooms are en suite and comfortable, and prices range from 45 Euro, single per day to 70 Euro, double per day. Proprieter Sheila is also available for banquets, receptions, and outdoor catering.

The Village Cottage

This self-catering cottage boasts three full bedrooms, two baths, a full kitchen, back patio, and paved driveway. Priced at 375 Euro per week. Owners Catherine and Joe O'Reilly also own a B&B called Lake Avenue House B&B. Bawnboy, Ballyconnell. Tel. 049 9523298

Contact for more information www.cavantourism.com

Written by Joy Davis - Summer of Travel 2007