The Road from Kilmaleery Cross to Reynolds Cross, constructed in famine times was the route taken lately by Newmarket-on-Fergus walkers in a recent parish outing.
Locals were present to impart their traditions as they clocked up the miles. GAA standard bearers Con Woods, Seanie McMahon, Vera Arthur, John Power and Mary B McMahon led the tributes to local hurling star Michael Considine and Dal Cáis footballers, Michael Philips, the O’Grady brothers Brian, Pat and Michael, and Padraig Monahan.
Representing local families were Noreen McInerney, Joan Reynolds, P J and Martin Reidy, John and Mary Frawley O’Leary while Mary Grogan, Sheila McGrath, John O’Meara, John Ryan and Molly O’Donnell held the banner of The Parish Walk now in its twenty sixth year.
From Reynolds Cross, the home stretch via Kilnasoolagh Road to Ballysallagh West, offered a view of a heap of stones on McMahon land. It was here that Thomas McInerney choked on a chicken bone as he celebrated with his workmen the work they were doing on his new house. The curse of a Saint Catherine or Kathleen whom Thomas had denied a site for a convent was fulfilled.
Ever afterwards the unfinished house was called “Cabhail Chlochair”or Cowlclogher. The recorder of this valuable legend dating to the Middle Ages places the maledictress in the name Cora Chaitlín. The late Canon Reuben Butler in The Story of Newmarket-on-Fergus does not agree.
The outing was pleasant and the forecast of rain unlike the saint’s failed.
