File:Guide to Galway, Connemara and the West of Ireland (1912) (14779983554).jpg

Identifier: guidetogalwaycon00lang (find matches)
Title: Guide to Galway, Connemara and the West of Ireland
Year: 1912 (1910s)
Authors: Lang, Robert Turnbull, 1870-
Subjects:
Publisher: London : A.C. Black
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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as buried). This battle isannually commemorated by the Orangemen on *The Twelfth.Twenty-two miles west of Ballinasloe is Athenry (Hotel: Railway, near station), of much interest tothe antiquarian, while a visit to the Dominican Friary willrepay the general tourist; but the village—once a royal town—is now poverty-stricken, although still a great hunting centre,the famous Galway Blazers meeting here. The town waswalled in 1211, and w^as not long in attracting foes. Its historyhas been a tragic one, bristling w4th the terrors of war. Whenthe Earls of Clanricarde in 1577 sw^ept the land of Connaughtwith fire and sword Athenry buried its full share of the slain.Again, however, it rose from its ruins, but only to fall beforeRed Hughs destroying hand. Sacked and burnt, it neverrecovered from this savage blow. Entering by the gateway in the still remaining w^alls youhave on the left the 13th-century Castle^ wdth its lofty gabledkeep. In the centre of the town is the remnant of an ancient
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ATHENRY 187 cross in front of tho gate which leads to the Franciscan Friary.The church, \Yhich still retains its slender tower and spire, andcontains the present Protestant church witliin its chancel, wasfounded by the Earl of Kildare in 1464. The best part of thebuilding is the south transept, which once had a very finely cutwindow now ruined. A few yards oif is the most interesting of all the ruins—theDominican Priory. Some of the original church of 1241 stillremains in the windows of tho nave (south) and chancel (north),but most of it is later work. The chancel was burnt down in1423 and, soon after, was rebuilt by the Popes command. Ithas remains of an east window of the Muckross type ; aneccentric inscription on the north wall; the * tasteless tomb(in the centre) of Lady Bermingham ; and, on the south, thesacristy, containing bones which tradition relates are thoseof the last monks. The nave once possessed in its west wallthe finest window ( Decorated ) in the church ; it had a

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