Historical Walks

Click Below to view 5 Self-Guided Heritage Walks

Assembly area at Couraguneen New Church Yard First stop: Couraguneen Graveyard (2 Post Offices and Postman’s style) Lawlor’s House (The College & Ben Lawlor donating the land for the Graveyard) Wallace’s (President Harry Truman’s wife was born here) Boulabane School (1926–1954?) Old Church (pre-1812) Boulabane School (1954–1982) Cantwell’s Carpentry Shop (Dray car) Julia Ward’s (formerly Cashin’s; built on 4 townlands – Loran, Bawnadrum, Boulabane & Ballinknock) Bawnadrum Castle Ruins (The Walls of Bawn) Buggaun Graveyard (in the townland of Bawnadrum North) Boulabane Castle Ruins (locally known as Clarke’s Castle) Coffey’s Shop (one of many rural shops no longer seen) Boulabane School pre-1926 (c. 1900–1926) Maher’s House (the school teacher boarded here; she was from Co. Laois) O’Meara’s House (home of Fr. O’Meara, who died in 1920) Last Stop: Old Couraguneen Church (built in 1812; used for over 170 years until the new church opened in 1983)

The 2016 Bournea Reaching Out Historical Walk began at Harry Ogle’s Cross and explored the rich history of the Gortderryboy, Shanakill, and Gortnagowna areas. Highlights included the site of the Gortderryboy RIC Barracks, scene of an IRA ambush before the 1921 Truce, and the Barrack Well, which once supplied water to the area. The walk continued past locations connected to the British Army camp, the historic Black Drain marking multiple townland boundaries, and the remains of Coady’s horse-powered saw mill. Participants learned about local families, trades, and landmarks, including Master Dargan’s House, Newe’s Forge, Liam Fanning’s Lime Kiln, and the historic townland of Achaboy. At Shanakill School, the group heard stories of its teachers, early layout, past pupils, and the Shanakill Fife & Drum Band. Nearby fields held unique names and traditions such as the “Forking Tree Field.” The walk also visited the old Dispensary, two historic sawmills, Nancy’s Well, the Brookgady lime kiln, and the former church site in Harrington’s field. Further along, walkers explored Leahy’s Lane, associated with 19th-century spinning and weaving, and a site linked to the Fenian Rising of 1867. The final stops included Comerford’s Bridge, the Buggaun Penal Church site, Loran Creamery (1928–1997), and Dromard Cross, where several parish and townland boundaries meet. The walk offered a fascinating insight into local history, showcasing old trades, historic homes, lost schools, and significant cultural landmarks within the parish.

Find all the stories from our 2018 Historical Walk By Clicking Below.

Hosted by Dunkerrin Reaching Out Heritage Group Tour Guide: Dolores Whyte The lives of the people of the bordering Parishes of Dunkerrin and Bournea are daily intertwined through work, social and travel through each area, that sometimes it is forgotten where one Parish begins and one ends.

Find all the stories from our 2024 Historical Drive By Clicking Below.

A walk or stroll in the Parish of Bournea West, taking in places of interest with a historic, folklore and cultural theme. Starting point Clonakenny village at the Nore Brook Lounge and finishing at the Burnt House Borrisnoe Follow Route on Map A to G - Tour Guide Jim Kennedy On Sunday 6th of October 2013 Starting 1.30 A) Clonakenny Roman Catholic Church and Graveyard 1) The O’Meagher Castle 2) The Church in the Park 3) The Old Thatched Village 4) The Post Office 5) The Forge B) The Irrigation Channel 1) The Tan Hole – Steel Park 2) The Standing Stone and Ringforts in Castle Park C) Delaunthy’s Cross 1) Parish Boundary 2) The Orkneys D) Gurteen Cross 1) The Coach Road 2) The Mile Stones E) Doyle’s Cross 1) Coolgarran 2) Garret Mill 3) The Lime Kilns 4) The Suir Bridge F) Frisco Corner 1) Mountfrisco 2) The Lloyd’s 3) The Ancient Well G) The Burnt House 1) The Wall Oven 2) The Flax Mill

Bournea Reaching Out’s third Heritage Walk took place on July 5th. Our tour guide was Jim Kennedy, who also led our inaugural walk in 2013. Jim’s first walk brought us towards Borrisnoe and the Burnt House, while this year he guided us in the opposite direction, towards Holywell Mill and Honeymount, pointing out many fascinating historical and geographical features along the route. A great crowd assembled at the Norebrook before setting off. The group gathered on the bridge over the Nore. Jim shared that the crossroads was once known as Serraville Cross, though the origin of the name remains a mystery. From the bridge, we also viewed the newly unveiled memorial plaque to Tom Delaney, a Clonakenny native and the only Irishman to win a Currie Cup rugby medal in South Africa. Jim then outlined our planned route. Leaving Serraville Cross, we passed the Famine Wall, built as relief works. Inside this wall lies a remarkable engineering feature where the Shanacloon River was diverted to drain an area known as the Swamp—astonishingly, the water was made to flow uphill. Moving on, we caught our first glimpse of The Foile, the deep ravine carved by glacial erosion. Although the Nore flows through it, heavy summer growth obscured the view. As we approached Longford Wood Cross, we passed Sragh Lane, once home to two carpenter families—Bohan and Tierney. A corn mill had also been built here but never operated due to a dispute over water rights. At Longford Wood, we crossed the Dunkerrin–Templemore road, constructed around 200 years ago for coaches and military transport. Jim pointed out the one remaining milestone. Continuing towards Dunkerrin, we saw Montore Creamery, built in 1923, and the old RIC barracks. Turning left, we noted the ringfort on Murray’s farm. Throughout the walk we crossed and re-crossed the Nore many times. Further on towards Summerhill, The Foile remained visible to our left. At the beautifully restored Holywell Mill, we enjoyed our first unobstructed view of the ravine and its impressive depth. Leaving Holywell, we passed the first footbridge over the Nore and were struck by how small the river is at that point. We continued past the entrance to Honeymount—home to the Corcoran family for generations—and the remains of Hogan’s forge, once home to a music school. We then passed Ballynamoe Castle, concluding our walk at McCann’s sandpit. Afterwards, everyone returned to the Norebrook for refreshments and reflected on where next year’s walk might take us.

(2nd July 2017) Tour Guide: Michael Costigan Bournea Reaching Out’s 5th Annual Historical Walk took participants on a 4-mile journey from Couraguneen to Clonakenny, exploring three parish churches, graveyards, old laneways and significant local sites. Starting at St. Patrick’s Church in Couraguneen, the group heard the story of the original 1812 Hiberno-Romanesque church, its role in parish life before Catholic Emancipation, and its partial demolition and replacement in the early 1980s. The walk also explained how the old local name “Couraguneen” survived alongside official townland names like Shanballynahagh, and touched on links to Trinity College Dublin and the nearby cemetery donated by Councillor Ben Lawlor. Along the route, walkers learned about the “Fort of Couraguneen” and its possible Cromwellian connections, early post offices and telephone exchange at Fogarty’s, and the many small houses and farms that once populated the area. The history of local mills on the River Nore, including a substantial grist mill with an impressive overshot wheel, revealed how water power once drove local industry. Detailed accounts from Griffith’s Valuation and estate records brought to life the landlords, tenants and changing ownership of townlands such as Behaghglass, Lismackin, Ballyhenry, Dangansallagh, Bonagortbaun and Corriga. The walk also highlighted St. Burchin’s Church and Glebe House, the former Church of Ireland parish school, dispensaries, ringforts, police barracks and forges, as well as the development of roads like the N62. Finishing in Clonakenny, the group heard about St. Brigid’s Church, the village post office and forge, and long-standing local families and businesses such as the Bourkes of the Norebrook Lounge. The evening ended back at the Norebrook for refreshments and thanks to all who took part.

The Village Boulerea by Michael Costigan My grandmother Nora Maher came out from Boulerea and Boulerea lane was known as the village. There were four houses that I know of there, Maher’s Delaney’s Hennessey’s and Scott’s, a lovely little community there, Timmy

Find all the stories from our 2023 Historical Walk By Clicking Below.