New-York tribune., 1908-06-29
ST. CoNEY
ireland, Too, Has an Island Sacred
to That Holu Woman.
Copyriebt. 1oos. By the Rrentwood company. ]

copyright 1905. by the Brentwood Companyl
Old Lord Charlemont. who is reported to be SO
seriously i'll that he will have possibly breathed
his last ere this letter appears in print. is the
owner of Coney Island, where he makes his prin-
cipal home OF course, 1 do not mean by this the
Coney Island which is of the principal ap-
purtenances of New York City, but the Coney ISL
and Of Lough Neagh. in ireland. That Coney ISL
and was a favorite retreat of ST. Patrick, and
derives its name from st. Coney. That is to say
she is called St Coney in Ireland, although she
has had to remain content with beatihcation, and
is still awaiting canonization
St Coney, it appears, a who lived
In lonely cell in the woods of Tyrone. in dis
trict now named Kilconey, forming part of Lord
Charlemonts demesne of Drumcairne. She seems
to have practised the art of Ieechcraft and medi-
cine, with much to inspire respect
and awe in the minds OF the natives When, in the
fourteenth century, the ONeilis advanced from the
Derry side to displace the o'Connors, who held
possession of the southern coast Of Lough Neagh.
their chief, Dermot, fell seriously i'll His men
urged him to invoke the advice of Coney. but she
would only consent to prescribe for him if he was
brought to her cell The O'Nells accordingly car
red their ailing chief Coney, whose therapeutic
rninistrations were not successful for he died
within few days after his visit. OF course his
followers charged Coney with being a tool in the
hands of their foes. the O'Connors, and swore
vengeance upon her. To protect her from this the
OConnors carried her off from her cell and con-
veyed her to the island which bears her name to
this day, and where she continued to practise her
profession for many years. At her death the
OConnors erected to her memory. the
ruins OF which have been converted by the present
NiscOunt Charlemont into a family mausoleum.'
In the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and again in
the rebellions of 164l and 1898. Coney Island was
used government penal settlement, and eX-
ecutions took place a mound that is now used
to support the flagstaff from which Lord Charlie
monts colors flown when he is in residence.
Among other traditions of Coney, the one held
stubbornly by every man within ten miles of Mag
hery is that it is the healthiest spot in all the
earth. Those who sick depressed seek its
shores, and return -vowing that miracle has been
worked. though night they give it a wide berth,
that ST Coney, the fairies and spirits of de-
parted criminals may enjoy themselves unmolested
The Coney Island the coast of New York Is
said to have received its from settlers haiing
from district of Maghery, and while it consti-
tutes, like its namesake in Ireland, an acknowl-
edged cure for depression, IT cannot be said to be
given a wide berth at night.
Lord Charlemont has son. but only daugh-
ter Lady Ranfurly who will inherit all his un-
entaied property. The entailed estates, including
Coney Island, will go to his nephew. young James
Edward Caulfield. Lord Ciarlemont was for many
years controller of the Vtceregal household at DUB
lin but was removed from his post by Lord Cado-
gan when Lord Lieutenant in consequence OF MS
Home Rule Ieanings. There formerly an Earl
dom OF Charemont, but the latter became extlhct
on death Of the third earl, in 1892 The hrst earl
was commander in chief in the movement known as
''the Irish Volunteers was fellow patriot OF
Henry Grattan died in 1893, so that he was
spared the sorrow of witnessing the passage OF the
act of Union. The patronymic of the family Is Caul
field The Caulfields hailed from OXfordshire ana
settled in ireland in the reign Of Queen Elizabeth
when Sir Toby Caulfeld, of Great Wilton. Oxford
was one Of the commanders Of the English forces
against O'Neill, Earl Of Tyrone, many OF whose
confscated lands he received by way of a grant
He was raised TO the peerage Lord Charlemont
by King James l.