Faction Fight

transcribed at

A Faction Fight  [duchas:5154858]

Between seventy and eighty years ago, faction-fighting was very prevalent in Ireland.  One of the fiercest fights of this locality, was fought in Ballinlough.
The McDonough family were a very powerful family, and trobble was brewing between themselves and the united clans of Kennys and Hartes for a twelvemonth.  It was agreed to meet in Ballinlough at the November Fair of 1866.
No sooner was the fair over than the fight started.  The rival parties fought with sticks and those men who had not sticks took the props from a refreshment tent.  The battle raged for hours leaving the Kenny's and Harts victorious in the evening.
Later that evening, when all the fighting was over, and the parties concerned had left town, four tinker brothers, of the surname McDonough came into town, and not liking to hear that their namesakes had been disgraced, left down their budgets and each taking a road that led out from the town, cleared the town of men and cattle.
Martin Connor of Cloonkeen now eighty years, was seven years of age at the time and viewed the fight from a safe distance.