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Beara Breifne Way

Beara Breifne Way

Tracing the Footsteps of O'Sullivan Beare

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    • Overview
    • Section One Trails
      • Beara Way
      • Slí Gaeltacht Mhúscraí
      • North West Cork Way
    • Section Two Trails
      • Ballyhoura Way
      • Multeen Way
      • Ormond Way
      • Hymany Way
    • Section Three Trails
      • Suck Valley Way
      • Lung / Lough Gara Way
      • Miner’s Way & Historical Trail
      • Leitrim Way
      • Cavan Way
    • Beara Breifne Way Accommodation List
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Ballinafad

3rd April 2018 by Beara Breifne

BBW Ballinafad Stamp

Ballinafad is situated about 20 miles southeast of Sligo Town

A picturesque village at the foot of the Curlew Mountains it lies on the shore of Lough Arrow. There is a small castle of the Curlieus which can be found in the village. One of the few limestone lakes in Connaught, measuring 3,123 acres, Lough Arrow contains four main islands named Anaghgonda, Inismore, Inisbeg, and Much Island.

Ballinadoon Abbey

Ballindoon Abbey is located on the shore of Lough Arrow.This is a Dominican Priory built
in Middle English Gothic style founded by the McDonaghs in 1507.Terence McDonagh was buried here in 1713 and the inscription on his grave reads thus: ‘Terence MacDonagh lies within this grave That says enough for all that’s Generous, Brave Facetious, Friendly, Witty, Just and Good In the Lov’d name is fully understood For it includes what ever we Virtue call And is the Hieroglyphic of them all.’

He maintained an active political role in Irish History, as the only Catholic in an influential position when the Penal Laws were introduced to reinforce Protestant ascendancy in Ireland.He practiced law until 1692 and helped many families , such as the O`Connors and O`Rourkes to hold onto their hereditary possessions and lands.

The Abbey contains a church with a central tower and a belfry overlooking the lake.The central tower has six arched openings to the nave, the two central of which open to the chancel.The upper storey may be reached by a hazardous stone stairway on the outer wall, leading to the gallery with a high central arch where a crucifix may have been suspended .The tower may have been living accommodation at one time; there is also an interesting stone carved rose on this floor.

Despite continued persecution, under English rule, the Dominicans remained in the area for centuries.Friars lived in isolation on the bog in a ruined cabin 2 miles west of the abbey and only used the abbey for Mass, even during the troubled Penal days , so committed were they to their faith.The Abbey was granted to the King family of Boyle and Rockingham in 1660.

Heapstown Cairn – The Well of Slaine

One of the largest and most ancient monuments in Ireland, this ‘Heap of Stones’ measures 63 metres diameter and dates back to 3,000-1,700 A.D. It is thought to be a passage grave, perhaps the grave of Ailill, the son of Eochaid Mugmedon and the brother of ‘Niall of the Nine Hostages’, both of whom were high Kings of Ireland. This tomb remains unexcavated, although many stones have been removed from the mound.

Lough na Sool

This lake gets its name from Irish mythology, the word ‘suil’meaning eye. Balor of the Evil Eye, a Formorian warrior, was killed during the Battle of Moytura when a stone cast by the enemy, Tuatha, took the eye out of his head and landed nearby forming a crater. Being a gigantic race this crater was such a size that it filled with water and formed this lake.

Moytura Court Tomb

This tomb is 44 feet long and 9 feet wide,thought to be stone age dated at around 2,500 B.C.Widely known as the giants grave it is divided into four parts by cross stones.

Clan Name

Ballinafad is part of the ancestral home of the McDermott, O’Donnell and O’Rourke and forms a stage of the Beara-Breifne Way which is based on the historic march of O’Sullivan Beara in 1603.

Stamp Location

Ballinafad Post Office

Primary Sidebar

Contact the Miner’s Way & Historical Trail

To find out more about the route, accommodation or local services, contact the Miner’s Way via our contact form, or at:

Una Bhan Tourism Co-operative Society
Main Street
Boyle
Co. Roscommon

Tel: +353 (0)71 9663033
unabhan@indigo.ie
http://www.unabhan.net”

How to Walk the Beara-Breifne Way

You can walk the whole of O’Sullivan Beare’s route from West Cork to Leitrim

We’ve created a unique walking passport you can use to catalogue your progress over days, months or even years. Each community has chosen a stamp to represent its character, and as you collect your passport stamps, you’ll get to meet some of the people behind the walk’s creation.

 


 

How to use the passport

You can order your  Beara-Breifne Way passport online and plan your route using our handy maps.

Stamp locations are listed on on this website for each walk and walk section. When you complete your  walk, call in to its passport point, and we’ll stamp your passport for you.

At the end of your journey, you can claim the final stamp which proves you walked the entire Beara-Breifne Way!

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Beara-Breifne Way
4 years ago
Beara-Breifne Way Community Stamp Launch

Communities from the tip of West Cork to the top of Cavan gathered in Roscommon yesterday to launch the new passport and community stamps visitors can use to track their journeys on the Beara-Breifne Way.

You can order your passport at https://www.bearabreifneway.ie/passport
... See more

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4 years ago
Beara Breifne Way

Today the Beara-Breifne Way has its launch! Its creation is a great tribute to the communities along Ireland's longest walking route who've collaborated to commemorate O'Sullivan Beare's 17th-century march. ... See more

Tracing the Footsteps of O'Sullivan Beare

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4 years ago
bearabreifneway.ie

Today the Beara-Breifne Way has its launch! It's creation is a great tribute to the communities along Ireland's longest walking route.

View on facebook

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