A very enjoyable trip was had by members of BHAS on the last Sunday of May ’22.
Castledonovan & Drimoleague Outing
Sunday, May 29th
with thanks to David Ross
Travelling by luxury coach from Cremins Coaches we stopped off at Derrygrenaugh Barytes Mines where, thanks to the local landowner, we were each able to take away a souvenir sample of barytes. We enjoyed a brief history of the workings of this mine.
Then on past Lough Bó Finne, hearing how this lake got its name, and passing the homeplace of Gibbs Ross who was killed in Bantry town during the Irish Civil War in 1922.
Arriving at Castledonovan, and the site of the old Deelish School, we were met by David Ross who was our friendly guide from the rest of our trip. Here we were introduced to a former past pupil of the old Deelish School, and we heard tales of earlier excapades in regard to the former school.
A short walk brought us to the Castledonovan Castle and we were privileged to be able to get inside the building where we heard all the history relating to this building and were shown where the Cromwellian forces set up their cannons and attacked the building, destroying one wall of same. The building was never occupied again.
Then it was time to travel on to Top of the Rock in Drimoleague where we enjoyed welcome refreshments, popped in to the restored cowhouse and witnessed the hand-milking of the (old breed) Droimeann cow. Most appropriately, the poem An Droimeann Donn Dílis was read for us in Irish and in English. This poem is familiar to a certain vintage of locals who would have learned it at school long ago.
After visiting a local 1950’s style farmhouse, it was then over the road on foot to the site of the old Drimoleague village where we were shown the old Butter Road from Bantry, leading on to Cork. With the arrival of the railway to Drimoleague, the village gradually moved down to the surroundings of the then Drimoleague Railway Station which we are familiar with today.
Many snippets of local history were regaled including a record of Saint Finbarr travelling from this spot in Drimoleague on to Kilmacomogue parish and then on to Gougane Barra where he founded a hermitage, before moving on and credited with founding Cork City – we have St Finbarr’s Cathedral in Cork, we have St Finbarr’s Oratory in Gougane, we have St Finbarr’s Church in Bantry and the old church in Drimoleague was also dedicated to St Finbarr. Much of this connection with St Finbarr is kept alive today with the very popular St Finbarr’s Pilgrim Path from Top of the Rock in Drimoleague to Gougane Barra.
David runs the Top of the Rock, Pod Pairc and Walking Centre in Drimoleague with his partner, Elizabeth. He is part of the community which arranged miles of heritage walkways in this magnificent area.
