Aghrane Heritage Group

06/09/2026

A belated piece on Mr.Gerard Beggan who passed earlier this year who spent time researching the upper suck region and the area around Abbeygrey.
Gerry had spent vast amounts of time researching this area and was fascinated with the large henge of Abbeygrey and the large environment around it.
His research later theoriesed it to be connected to old welsh manuscripts and poetry,something that went to great depths.
Having being in contact with him earlier in the year he was still deeply interested in the area and what is hidden beneath our feet and also in plain sight .
I believe the area of Mount Mary (part of it was called the Royal Brow) ,Abbeygrey ,Aughrane and the wider area of Killeroran and Killian has a lot yet to be discovered.
He was adamant that it was an ancient Royal site ,and with a lot of the old names of Killinrea ,Aheraher and Coorey to name a few pointing to interesting interpretations.
He Passed on to the next world never finding the full story but before he did he put all his research online for us to delve into,always thinking ahead.
To check out his research see the link below ,it is Heavy reading and shows the depths he went to in his research.

Gerard Beggan R.I.P.

Gerard Beggan is an independent researcher who was born in Limerick City in 1934 and now resides in Galway, Ireland. Following Secondary School education at…

19/08/2026

Some of the artifacts found on or near the Castle Kelly estate which are now in the archives of the National Museum
Some interesting pieces here which includes the Gold Dress Fastner one of the finest ever found in Europe,it is still on display in the National Museum
The Yew handled dagger and Stone Axehead both found in the bog of Aghrane ,whose knows what else hides beneath this rich landscape of a hidden past we have now forgotten to time.
The henge of Abbeygrey known locally as the Ring shows use that this area had been a very important area at one time ,it measures a collasal 210 meters in diameter, perhaps the largest in Ireland
Images of the dagger and axe head and fibula can be seen on www.ballygar.ie webpage under history

02/08/2026

An interesting article available online on some O’Kelly linage that may not be known.
Well worth a read
Tap the link below

Kelly, (Patrick) Colm (1925–2002), director of Athlone Drama Festival, was born 19 January 1925 in Dysart, Co. Roscommon, youngest son in a family of seven sons and one daughter of Denis Joseph Kelly and his wife F***y Lucy (née Power or Le Poer), who was born in Devonshire, England. Colm's fathe...

31/07/2026

At one time the castle in Aghrane when it was empty was used for dances ,as it had one fine large room known for its fine wooden floor perfect for dancing.
This more than likely took place in the darkness of night as sometimes these were secret events.

This article highlights one such meeting although they were not welcomed by the local Sinn Feinn

29/07/2026

This poem was released during the period the Bagots owned Aghrane Castle and the surrounding lands and leases in the area.
Christopher N.Bagot who initially purchased the Castle of Aghrane and the town of Ballygar along with all land and leases from D.H Kelly in 1863 ,it seems that after Christopher’s death in 1877 unrest in the area over rents and ejectments and confusion over who the tenants were supposed to be paying the rents to at the time (also a lengthy legal case between Christophers wife Alice Verner and his family over her share of the estate had led to some of the confusion) this led to many disagreements including the beating of a bailiff in Aghrane at one stage.

Lines on the CAMPAIGN.
Written in Connection with the Bagot property.

Oh have you heard of Muckinagh, it is a noted place,
The men are brave and honest there, and cannot break disgrace
So when the rest of Ireland. determined to be free, Twas easy know that Muckinagh, to join them would agree.

The agent sent a message to them one market day.
To come without reduction his robbin' rent to pay ;
They met him in a body and offered what was fair, And when he wouldn't take it walked off and left him there.

" He asks what man nor mortal can make our land to pay, He wants our childern earnin's who are boyant the say ;
But, says the men of Muckinagh to this we won't Agee, On one thing are we all revolved to strike for liberty.

“There's one 0"Brien in Dublin, be knows a mighty " Plan,"
And, if we take and work it out resist us no one can :
Come, then, we’ll pay our money down without a bit of fear.
To any one it plaises , O'Brien to send us here."

And, sure they paid it nobly, and set example grand,
That soon was spread like wildfire o'er all the Bagot land;
The people flocked to follow the rent they gave so well,
And paid into the war chest, the " Campaign Funds" to swell,

The agent and his masters may whistle as they say,
Sling jigs into a mile stone, the money is away;
The cash is safe in keeping, and surely won't return,
The Maurice as a bailif came, the peasants cota to burn:

And, why the " cash was funded," the cause is aisy shown-
Because on rents judicial, redaction there was none :
So says tenants boldly together without falter
We’ll join “this Plan “so grand ,our unjust rents to alter.

And when the model trustees grow wise and calmin mind,
Without an order garnishee, the rents they’ll quickly find ;
‘‘Tis then they will discover , dispute it no one can,
To abate judicial rack - rents — there’s nothing like the “Plan”

Ballygar,February 25th 1887

15/07/2026

Anyone remember these phones? ,the last one I remember was in the Elm Rest Ballygar.

I don’t think the young generation today would figure out how to work this one..

15/07/2026

Ballygar Carnival c.1950s
L-R
Brian Geraghty ,Sonny Cronin and Matt Hogan in the fancy dress.

05/07/2026

The old stile on the bend of the Tullyroe Aghrane road (marked on coloured map with red arrow) as you walk in there are some steps down, are they original to the stile or repurposed from and old building?

On the 1838 historical map a building is located (red arrow) right beside where this stile is now located,possibly the steps are from this building as they are worked cut stone.

In 1838 the Tullyroe road (Yellow arrow) dd not yet exist until it was built by Hynes and Tracy around 1847 , they also built part of the new avenue to castle Kelly and blocked up the old original avenue ,the wall they used to block up the old avenue still exists and can be seen at the forest entrance near Pat Joe Scanlon’s old house which was originally a gate house for the castle and later a laundry.

The Grand Bridge would also later be added to the estate around 1850 to accommodate the new avenue to Castle Kelly

The newspaper article shows the works outlined in red number 4 and 5 that Tracy and Hynes are responsible for carrying out.

The original avenue was a massive 12 to 13 yards in width and can still be seen today.

08/05/2026

A great piece from the Irish press in 1984 about Ballygar Carnival ,featuring some well know faces of Murray’s Amusements.Murrays have been an integral part of Ballygar Carnival for many years ,all well known and respected locally always great to see them arrive to Ballygar each year for the festival.