Ford in Cloonburren

The castle (RO056-011001-) is situated on the callows or flood-plain on the W bank of the River Shannon, about 30m from the river, at a place known locally in 1955 as Keena's Ford (SMR file). The road (RO056-008----) from Falia eastwards through Cloonburren, which is marked on the Strafford map of c. 1636 (Simington 1949, Moycarn) may have terminated here. This may be the ford of Ballagha, described as two miles below the Seven Churches by a Col. Roy, probably in 1766 (RIA ms. G. 1. 2). It has also been identified as one of the fords known as Snámh dá eán (Swim two birds) and it is thought locally that Brian Boru met the High King, Mealshachlain, here at a Rigdál or Royal conference in AD 997 to conclude an alliance against the Vikings and the Leinstermen (Grenham 2000). The ford connects the townland of Cloonburren in Co. Roscommon to Creevagh in Co. Offaly, but its precise location is not known. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of upload: 24 August 2010