What is recorded here

Molten iron flowed through Carrowkeel for the Dominican priory before Sir Nicholas Malby praised its plentiful mine in 1580. That much is clear. The furnace may still hide beside Lough Feagh or Lough Furnace, waiting to be recognised rather than invented.

Iron works in the possession of Burrishoole Dominican priory (MA067-014001-) were first recorded in 1580 when Sir Nicholas Malby, Governor of Connacht included them in a list of the abbey’s assets: ‘Specially it hath a very plentiful iron mine…’ (Knox 1908, 108). Samuel Lewis (1837) recorded that 'There are two large lakes in the parish called Lough Feagh and Lough Furnace, and on the narrow neck of land between these are the ruins of an old smelting furnace [MA067-045----]; there is also another at the old abbey '. The exact location of the abbey's iron works is uncertain. Compiled by: Jane O'Shaughnessy Date of upload: 12 January 2022

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