Road — road/trackway in Rathnaleugh

Situated in low lying marshy area. Unlocated togher or ancient road near church (LA027-004-) and graveyard (LA027-004001-). Site of trackway may show up on aerial photographs (GSI 1973, S/79/8). Described by Carrigan as 'Rathnaleugh, according to Dr. Joyce, means the fort of the leamh, or marsh mallows. There was a church (LA027-004-) here which the old people called Kilclaena, that is, the bent or inclining church, or the church (in the townland) of Claenagh. In the Down Survey Books the name is written Kilklienagh. The church which must have been founded here in a very far-off age, has disappeared as completely as if it had never been. The churchyard (LA027-004001-) is almost on a level with the surrounding field, and preserves no trace of the fence that once enclosed it, there are some rude headstones. Locally the churchyard is best known as the 'Yew Tree Graveyard'. It is so called from a venerable yew tree (LA027-004004-) that grew, about 60 yards to the west, over the 'Yew Tree Well' (LA027-004003-). An ancient road (LA027-004004-) led from the Co. Tipperary, over a togher or causeway at this well, and thence through Rossmore, &c. St. Patrick once travelled along the road. When he came to the togher, being both weary and thirsty he sat down by the well to rest himself, and partook of its clear, pure waters. Ere resuming his journey he took a yew rod, which he had been carrying in his hand, and planted it in the bank beside the well. The road took root and grew into a great tree which, after shading the Yew Tree Well for many centuries, at length decayed through old age, and rotted away completely about the year 1838' (Carrigan 1905, vol. 2, 139-40). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 17 December 2007