Kilmakerril

transcribed at

Kilmakerril  [duchas:4646374]

A graveyard in the townland of Munakil.  Legend states that long ago there was a sacred pilgrimage somewhere near Kiltyclogher, perhaps the present Lough Derg, and pilgrims came from all parts of Ireland, especially from Leitrim and the neighbouring counties.  One particular pilgrim a lady, the daughter of a noble named Mac Errigal came from Longford with her maid.  On her way she passed through this district to the Shrine.  It appears that this journey took weeks to accomplish.  As there were no roads, no towns and no hotels the pilgrims had to rest in the Guest Houses here and there through the country.  This young lady rested in

Kilmakerril  [duchas:4646375]

Hospice nearest to Kiltyclogher which which was kept by a young monk who fell in love with her.  She passed on to the Shrine and spent her day doing penance and returned.  She discovered that the monk was waiting for her, so she did not call at his Guest House but passed on and he pursued her.  She knew she was being pursued and when she came to a certain hill she told her maid to go up to the hill and see if he was still following.  The maid did so + he was coming so the mistress shouted Rui Ellen.  Some people say that the townland of Ratheelan got its name from this event.  The correct correct derivation though is Rath Craolan, meaning the

Kilmakerril  [duchas:4646376]

holly rath.

The lady and her maid ran on until they came to the townland of Munakil and the young lady dropped dead from exhaustion.  News was brought to her father and he came with an army and seized the hospice and burned it.  He took the monk, stripped him of all his clothing and drowned him in a lake the other side of Kiltyclogher and that lake is called "[Irish Name]."  He came back to the spot where his daughter had died and it is thought that he repented for having drowned the monk, and on the spot he built a church which was called Mac Erigal's, hence Kilmakerril.  It is said that the boundary wall

Kilmakerril  [duchas:4646377]

of the present graveyard is built with the stones from the old church.  The oldest families in the district bury in this graveyard.