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Ardicoan |
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Height above the river bend Ard an Chuain
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ARDICOAN
THE SONG
There is a a famous song in Irish about Ardicoan, lt was written by John McCambrldge who is thought to have been from the townland of Mullarts. He imagined he had emigrated to Scotland and could see the Glens far away across the sea. This is an English translation:
If only I were in Ardicoan, near the mountain that is far away, O God! My visit would be light-hearted to the cuckoo's Glen on Sunday
Chorus
Agus och, och Eire 'lig is o; Eire, lionndubh argus o My heart is heavy and wounded.
Many a Christmas I would be in Cushendun When (young and) foolish, Hurling on the white strand, my white hurling stick In my hand.
Chorus
Am I not miserable here by myself? Not hearing the voice of cock, blackbird or corncrake Sparrow, thrush or even the snipe, and I do not even recognise Sundays.
Chorus
Many the sight I saw, from Garron Point to the Moyle, A great fleet driven by the wind, and King Charlie's Armada.
Chorus
If I were in Cushendun, where all my friends are, I would find music there, drink and games, and I would not die alone.
Chorus
My seven curses on the world, it is more treacherous than death; It lured me from my own people, as the lamb would be lured from the sheep.
Chorus
If only I had a skiff and an oar, I would row upon the Hood tide, Hoping to God to arrive safely, and that I might die in Ireland.
CRAIGAGH CHURCH
Saint Patrick's Church, Craigagh, is close to my home.
It is the parish church of Cushendun parish.
There is a second church in Culraney.
Cushendun is a young parish set up in 1840.
Before 1840 Cushendun was part of the parish of C'ulfeightrim.
A portion of Culfeightrim parish, from west Torr to Orra, was separated from C'ulfeightrim parish and formed into a new parish of Cushendun or Innispollan.
There was an old pre-reformation site in the diocese of Down and Connor on which a church stands today.
In 1804 Fr. Brennan, the priest of Culfeightrim, built a small church on the ruins of the site.
THE FULDIEW STONE
The Fuldiew stone is a very sad story. John Mc Alaster was a young sailor from Cushendun and had gone to sea. Before he left he told his girl friend to make arrangements to get married. His girlfriend went to Glenravel on a donkey to get her dress made. She stayed there with her cousin and had not heard from John for some time. While she was away a boat came into the harbour. John's father was sent for and when he went down to the harbour he was told the sad news that his son had a bad fall and has died. John's body was taken to St. Patrick's graveyard, Craigagh and he was buried there. His girlfriend soon returned from Glenravel with her wedding dress, ready to make the final preparations for her wedding. She was told the terrible news of her fiancees death by John's father and was heartbroken. She went to the graveyard and found John's headstone with the inscription:-
CHARLES MC ALASTERS BURRING PLACE. HERE LIES THE BODY: OF IOHN HIS SOM DIED 0 MARCH 1803 AGED 18 YEARS
About a week later she went missing. A search party was sent out to look for her and she was found dead beside John's grave.
She had carved these words on his grave stone:
YOUR SHIP-LOVE IS MOR ED HEAD AND STARN FOR A FULDIEW
She also carved a goat as the McAlaster emblem and a boat since John was a sailor.
The word Fuldview means a sailor's wage.
This sad story is remembered till today by people of Cushendun.
The grave stone can still be seen in St Patrick's graveyard, Craigagh.
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