Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-04-09
From Over the Ocean.
QUEENS COUNTY, Ireland, March

From Over the Ocean.
 QUEENS COUNTY, Ireland, March 25. To the Editor of the DEMocRAT:-
 Having been so well pleased with for mer visit to Shannahoe, repaired thither to-day for the purpose of attending divine service in the little chapel in that place, and to bid good bye to my Waterbury friends, who had contemplated leaving for America on the following day Service in this church commences at 9:30. It is about four miles distant from the village where I am now stopping-about an hours walk along an excellent road, with beautiful whitethorn hedge-rows neatly clipped on either side. The journey along the lonely way-there are few houses here-was made cheerful by the tuneful song of the skylark and the loud, shrill notes of the blackbird and the thrush Services were conducted by the pastor, Rev James Sinnett, after which the reverend gentleman delivered an instruct i've sermon appropriate to the day. Through the kindness of the village school master, MT Buggy, I was shown through the church and the vestry. Shannahoe IS d mission church under the jurisdiction of the clergy of Raheen parish. There is no resident priest here, hence the clergy of the latter place drive there on Sundays and holidays, a distance of three miles, The church was erected in 1917, during the pastorate of the Rev Father Maher It has seating ac- shape of cross with galleries in the pro- jecting wings and one over the main en- trance. Two former pastors, Fathers Per kinson and Malloy, are buried within the church, the former in 1851, the latter in 1862. On one side of the church hangs set of framed resolutions in the handwriting of John Keegan. It contains rules and regulations of society con nected with the church some years since. In the vestry is a handsome oil painting of St. Peter, the gift of a Protestant lady. The site for the church and the village school, which stands near by, together with e1OO to the building fund, were donated by Protestant gentleman named Boren, then living in the place now owned by MT. Marsh of Springmount. This MT. Boren kept post cars, and did an extensive busi- ness in that line ''long before the i1on horse with lightning speed dashed through the Island" It was on the return trip from Dublin that one of his car driver picked up Dheerich, an Italian, the original owner of the oil painting referred to. Almost frozen to death and dying of exhaustion he was taken to the house of MT Boren whe1 e, through the kind attendance of the wife of this gentle man, he was restored to consciousness and given home there, where he lived the re- mainder of his life.
 | Previous to his death he bequeathed to Lady Boren this oil painting, his only treasure, and she shortly afterwards pre- scented it to the pastor of Shannahoe church. The original owner of the paint ing and Lady Boren are the subject of a most pathetic poem under the very appro- priate title of "Dheerich's Legacy" have searched for copy of this poem among the people of the little town, but SC far have not succeeded in finding one.
 From here in company with some of the villagers I started for the ruins of Crom- ogue church and the famous St Finton's we'll. The route lies along what is known as the Roscelton road. On the way a handsome stone bridge built in 176O spans the river More. An hours walk along this road and we reach little boreen turning to the right, down through which we tray el about a quarter of mile Another turn to the right and we enter a narrower but better kept lane about 200 yards up which little wooden gate to the right opens into small lot of land about a quarter of an acre in extent, and the holy we'll is at hand. The well is surrounded
 
 huge whitethorne bush covered with ivy, one limb of which bends down into the water and then reaches clear across the spring. Five crucihXes, with rosary beads attachedto each one are firmly secured in the stone fence just behind, and resting on one of the walls stands neat little wooden structure with glass door in front. Over the door is representation of the Saviour, with chalice in hand and rosary hanging close by. Standing on the huge limb of white thorn that crosses the well and looking through the glass door of the little wooden building you behold an is printed in red letters, Saint Finton pray for us." In the centre is a beautiful statue representing Our Lord; to the right and left one representing the V1rg in Mary and St. Joseph, respectively; underneath is handsome cross of sea shells, two small statues and six vases filled with roses. The little floor is covered with Irish moss and a few shells thrown here and there. This altar and various other improvements that have been made here recently due to the efforts of Mrs. Mat | thew Campion, Dublin, whose husband is | buried in Cromogue church yard, just a little across the way, and to whose mem OrY the altar is erected. It is said that this lady makes regular visits to the church yard and the we'll, and spares no expense to have things in keeping with the sane tity of the place. On the lot are four ash trees, two boxwood and a small palm.
 | The old church of St Finton is within a stone's throw of the well. This church. like many of the kind, was wrested from the Catholics during the Cromwellian era. It is said that the building was afterward used place of worship by another de- nomination, but whether this is true or not 1 have not been able to ascertain. The walls are sill standing and, considering | that it has been rootiess for nearly cen tury, are in a good state of preservation One gable is entirely covered with the na- tive ivy. Outside the walls are several headstones, some dated 1760. 1776 and so on; the figures on others are worn off, Learning that the church is one of the old est in Ireland I commenced to search through the graveyard for old headstones l thought should be able to find some there dating back thirteen or fourteen hun dred years at least. A long search reveal ed the fact that few of the tombs were old CT than 1742. Coming out of the enclosure 1 stopped to look at the date marked on small rough stone It proved to be the