Lettermullen, Gorumna and Lettermore, (along with smaller islands) collectively known as "Ceantar na nOileán" connected to the mainland via bridges and causeways. Lettermullen is part of the Gaeltacht (Irish-speaking) regions of Ireland and Irish is the language most commonly spoken. The name derives from the GAelic Leitir Mealláin meaning Mealláin's rough hillside (Leiter = rough hillside). It is a cul de sac but our chauffeurs will gladly guide you through a part of "real" Connemara
Heritage Centre
The Lettermullen and Garumna Heritage Centre opened in mid-June 2009 in Caladh Ghólam, close to Lloyds Tower and Huston beach.
Much interest was shown in the private collection of a local historian John Bhaba Jeaic Ó Confhaola. As a result, the local committee decided to find a permanent center to exhibit the rich heritage of the area.
John has gathered a fine collection of old books in Irish and English as well as newspapers and magazines from past times and these have been recorded digitally at the Heritage Centre. Students and researchers alike are more than welcome to use the facilities at the Centre
There is a fine exhibition of tools and instruments from past generations to be seen in the center. Included are tools from the blacksmith, the carpenter, the sailor, and of course the farmer, just to name a few.
There is a rich collection of photographs of local families and of old customs practiced in the area in times past which give a great insight into life as it was in days of yore.
Ireland West Tours wishes to acknowledge and thank Caitlín Nic Dhonnacha for her kind permission to reproduce the following articles on the Lettermullen and Gorumna area. Caitlín was the manager at the local Heritage center. Gaelic is widely spoken in the area and is in fact the first language of all of the residents in Lettermullen. The following historical articles have been written and reproduced in both Gaelic and English.
Is mian le Ireland West Tours aitheantas a thabhairt do Chaitlín Nic Dhonnacha agus buíochas a ghlacadh léi as ucht cead a thabhairt na hailt seo a leanas ar stair cheantar Leitir Mealláin agus Gharumna a úsáid. Is í Caitlín an bainisteoir ar Ionad Oidhreachta Leitir Mealláin agus Gharumna. Is í an Ghaeilge teanga na ndaoine sa cheantar agus í ar a dtoil ag muintir Leitir Mealláin uile. Tá na hailt stairiúla seo a leanas scríofa agus á n-úsáid i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla.
Túr Cheann Gólaim
Is sa bhliain 1804 a thóg Rialtas Shasana an túr Lloyd’s seo ar Oileán Ghólaim ag an am a raibh bagairt Napoleon agus ionradh na bhFrancach ar riail Shasana agus iad ag faire amach do dhaoine a bhíodh ag smuigleáil mórthimpeall an chósta chomh maith. Thóg na Sasanaigh 10 gcinn de na túir seo mórthimpeall chósta na hÉireann ach níl fágtha anois ach péire i ndearadh Lloyd, an ceann eile i nDún na nGall. Is é ‘Rear Admiral Whitshed Flagannon’ a leag amach an phlean le haghaidh é a thógáil. Sé bliana a thóg sé orthu an tower atá trí stóir ar airde a thógáil ar chostas £540.
Bhí na túir seo tógtha timpeall an chósta mar a raibh feiceáil ar aon chontúirt a bheadh ag teacht ón bhfarraige agus bhí córas acu chun é seo a chur in iúl dá chéile.
Dá bhfeicidís aon bhád ag teacht chrochaidís bratach mór bán, mar a bheadh seol ann, d’fheicfeadh an tower eile a bhí in Árainn an bratach go mbeadh a fhios ag muintir Co. an Chláir go raibh an namhaid ag teacht. Lastaí tine san oíche mar chomhartha ar an gcontúirt
Golam Head Tower
Golam Head Lloyd’s Tower was built in 1804 on Golam Island at the time of Napoleonic threat and French invasion to the English rule and also to keep an eye out for smugglers around the coast. The English built 10 of these towers all around the Irish coast but only two remain in Lloyd’s design, the other in Donegal.
It was Rear Admiral Whitshed Flagannon that laid down the plan for the building. It took six years to build this three-story tower at a cost of £540.
These towers were built all around the Irish coast to keep a lookout for any danger coming in from the sea and there was a system put in place to notify each other of any danger. If any ships were seen coming towards land during daytime a big white flag was raised so others in Aran would see it and they warned the people of Clare that the enemy was coming. They would light a fire at night as a sign of danger coming.
An ‘Watchtower’
Tógadh an “Watch Tower” i gCaladh Ghólaim sna 40aidí le linn an Dara Cogadh Domhanda. Is ann a bhí an chéad fón i gCeantar na nOileán. Ba é an ceannaire a bhí ar ná Paddy Jeaic as Foirnis agus ba iad na saorálaithe (volunteers) a bhí ag obair ann ná Sonaí Ó Biadh, Johnny Jeaic Mheáig, Pat Bhaba, John Mhichaelín, Maidhc Johnny,Tom Bheachla agus Marcas Mhicil.
The Watchtower
The Watchtower was built in Callahullaim in the 1940s during World War II. This is where the first telephone in Ceantar na nOileán was used. Pat Mc Donagh from Furnace was a Corporal at this time. Edward Beatty, John Flaherty, Pat Flaherty, John Mullin, Michael Mullen, Thomas Mc Donagh, and Mark Walsh were all volunteers in the Watchtower.
‘An Office’
In aimsir an droch-fhliú i Leitir Mealláin, bhí ospidéal fiabhrais ann, nó an ‘fever hospital’ mar a thugtaí uirthi. Cailleadh an t-uafás daoine óga, fir bhreátha agus mná óga as an gceantar. Mhair an tinneas ar feadh sé mhí. Bhí beirt bhanaltraí ag obair ann oíche ‘s lá. Ba é Pat Mhicilín Ó Flatharta as Leitir Mealláin a bhí freagrach as na coirp a chur san reilig. Bhí seisean pósta le h-iníon le Tóna Ó Confhaola. Nuair a dúnadh an t-ospidéal, úsáideadh an fhoirgneamh mar oifig nó “office” le haghaidh cíos a íoc leis na tiarnaí talún. Inniu fhéin, glaoitear ‘an t-office’ ar an áit seo i gcónaí. Ag deireadh na bliana a d’íocfadh chuile dhuine an cíos le fear darbh ainm an t-Uasal Ó Cuirtín (Curtain). Céard a rinne sé an bhliain áirithe seo ach bailiú leis chuig an Astráil. Tháinig a mhuintir chuig ‘an office’, thugadar cónra isteach ann ag déanamh amach go raibh an tUasal Curtain caillte. Líonadar an chónra le clocha, ‘s pluideanna, agus cuireadh i reilig in Oirthear na Gaillimhe an bailitheoir cíosa a bhí beo fós san Astráil. Tógadh leac cuimhneacháin air freisin. Ba é an tAthair Marcus Ó Conaire, uncail le Seán-Phádraig an sagart a bhí sa cheantar ag an am.
"The Office"
There was a fever hospital in Lettermullen at the time of the bad flu. Many young people, men, and women died as a result of the flu. The illness lasted for six months. There were two nurses working in the hospital day and night. Pat Mhicilín Ó Flatharta from Lettermullen was responsible for burying the bodies. He was married to Tóna Ó Confhaola’s daughter. When the hospital was closed down, the building was used as an “office” for paying rent to the landlords. To this day the building is known as "The Office" locally. At the end of the year, everybody paid rent to the rent collector, Mr Curtain. One particular year, he took off for Australia. His relations brought a coffin to the office pretending Mr Curtain had died. They filled the coffin with stones and blankets and the rent collector who was still alive and well in Australia was buried in a graveyard in East Galway. A headstone was also placed on the grave. Father Marcus Conroy, an uncle to Seán-Phádraig was the priest in the area at the time.
Shéipéal Réalt na Mara
Stair Séipéal “Réalt na Mara” – Cáit Nic Dhonncha as Ath-oscailt Teach Phobail Réalt na Mara Leitir Mealláin.
Is sa bhliain 1887 a tógadh Séipéal Réalt na Mara i Leitir Mealláin. Roimhe sin, bhí Séipéal ceann tuí suite ar an Teach Mór timpeall céad slat ar thaobh na láimhe clé suas ón áit a bhí Tí Tom Lee inniu ann. Is le linn don Athair Marcus Ó Conaire as Rosmuc a bheith ina Shéiplíneach ina pharóiste dúchais Rosmuc a tógadhan séipéal seo. Ag an am sin, bhí Leitir Mealláin istigh le Paróiste Chill Bhriocáin, Rosmuc. Ba é Bearthlín Mháirtín Ó Conghaile a thug an talamh saor in aisce i gcóir an tséipéil ag an am. Ba iad Deartháireacha de Búrca as Uachtar Ard a rinne an obair thógála uilig ar an Séipéal. Ar ndóigh, is balla cloiche atá sa Séipéal. Baineadh na clocha seo as talamh Mhicil Ó Flatharta nó Micil Pháidín Mhicil a raibh talamh aige timpeall an tséipéil. Chuir muintir Leitir Mealláin a gcuid ama ar fáil saor in aisce ag baint clocha i gcóir an tSéipéil agus ag freastal ar na tógálaithe. Sé mhí a deirtear a thóg sé an Séipéal seo a dhéanamh. Is uncail de Tom Lee, fear darbh ainm dó Pádraig Ó Cuanaigh, a d’iompar chuile cheann de na slataí i gcóir an tSéipéil ar a dhroim i gcliabh ón Tanaí Mhóir i Leitir Mealláin, go dtí an áit a raibh an Séipéal á dhéanamh. Is saltracha adhmaid a tháinig isteach faoi thír sa gceantar seo agus i gceantar Charna a h-úsáideadh sa díon a cuireadh ar an Séipéal. Bhí Gailearaí sa Séipéal ag an am seo. Ní raibh suíocháin ar ba sa Séipéal i dtús ama.
Chuir Muintir Uí Fhlatharta nó Muintir Tom Mhicil Mhóir as Foirnis ó dhúchas, airgead ar fáil le haghaidh altóir a cheannach don tSéipéal. Ar ndóigh, tá an altóir seo in úsáid sa Séipéal go fóill. Sé Tomás Ó Flatharta nó Thomas Janey as Teach Mór a chuir Clog an Aifrinn ar fáil don tSéipéal sa mbliain 1912. Deirtear gur £5 a chosain an Clog seo ag an am. Is i 1959 le linn Athair Seán de Bláca, (uncail don Athair Ciarán) a bheith ina Shéiplíneach sa gceantar, a cuireadh méid ar an Séipéal. Ag an am seo tógadh as an Gailearaí ar fad agus athraíodh an díon go díon copair. Nuair a tháinig an tAthair Micheál Ó Fátharta ina Shéiplíneach go dtí an ceantar i 1971 cuireadh córas teasa isteach sa Séipéal. Déanadh cuid mhaith oibre eile ar an Séipéal taobh istigh agus taobh amuigh ag an am seo. Nuair a bhí an tAthair Mattie Long ina Shéiplíneach anseo i 1985 athraíodh an díon ar an Séipéal arís. Cuireadh díon tíl ar an t-am seo. Tá muid an-bhródúil as an Séipéal breá atá againn anois i ndiaidh an athchóiriú dheireanach seo. Nár laga Dia na daoine go léir a raibh láimh acu san obair. Tá neart oibre agus méid curtha ar an séipéal ó shin anall agus is iomaí sagart agus bean rialta a chuaigh isteach agus amach sna doirse ann.
"The Star of the Sea" Church
History of “The Star of the Sea Church” – Cáit Nic Dhonncha from the publication Ath-oscailt Teach Phobail Réalt na Mara Leitir Mealláin
The Star of the Sea Church was built in Lettermullen in 1887. A thatched church was located in Big House before this new church was built, 100 yards on the left-hand side of the road up from where Tí Tom Lee’s House is situated nowadays. The church was built during Father Marcus Conroy’s time as a curate in his native parish Rosmuck. Lettermullen was part of the Parish of Kilbrickan in Rosmuck at the time.
Bearthlín Mháirtín Connolly handed over the land, free of charge for the church at the time.
It was the Burke brothers from Oughterard who completed all the construction work. The church is built of stone walls. These stones were taken from Micil Flaherty’s land, adjacent to the church. The people of Lettermullen donated their time to digging up stones and attending to the builders. It is said it took six months to build this church. It was Tom Lee’s uncle, Pádraig Cooney who carried all the wood for the church in a basket on his back from an Tanaí Mhóir in Lettermullen to where the church was being built. Wooden sticks that came ashore in this area and in Carna were used in the church’s roof. There was a Gallery in the church at this time. There were no seats in the church in the beginning.
The Flaherty family originally from Furnace or as they were better known in the locality, Tom Mhicil Mhóir’s Family provided the money for the purchase of an altar for the church. This altar is still being used in this church until the present day. It was Tomás Flaherty or as he was better known, Thomas Janey from Big House who provided the bell for mass in the church in 1912. The bell cost £5 at this time.
The church was extended in 1959, during Seán de Bláca’s (an uncle to Father Ciarán) time as a curate in the area. The whole Gallery was removed at this time and the roof was changed to copper. When Father Micheál Ó Fátharta came into the area as a curate in 1971, a heating system was put in place in the church. A lot of work was done on the interior and on the exterior of the church at this time also. The church’s roof was changed to a tile roof during Father Mattie Long’s time as a curate in the area in 1985.
We are very proud of the beautiful church we have now after these latest renovations. God bless all those people who were involved in this work. A lot of work has been completed on the church since then, as well as an extension. Many priests and nuns have walked through this church’s doors down through the years.
Mhonarcha Chniotála
Bhíodh monarcha cniotála i mBaile na Cille sna 40adaí. Seo áit a mbídís ag cniotáil stocaí don Arm. Chuaigh sé trí thine agus níor atógadh é ina dhiaidh sin agus ballaí an fhoirgnimh fós ina seasamh le hais an phríomhbhóthair ansin.
Knitting Factory
There was a knitting factory located in Ballinakill in the 1940s. They used to knit socks for the army in this factory. It was burnt down in a fire and was never rebuilt and the walls of the building are still standing, right beside the main road across from Lee’s Pub.
Scríbhneoirí Cáiliúla an Cheantair
Ní féidir linn dearmad a dhéanamh ar dhuine dár sárscríbhneoirí Peadar Ó Direáin a scríobh na leabhair Scéalta na nOileán agus Scéalta Leitir Mealláin. Bhíodh sé ag scríobh ailt chomh maith don nuachtán Gaeilge An Stoc siar sna fichidí seo caite. Is trua an cás gur bhásaigh sé go hóg sa bhliain 1935. Is iomaí leabhar atá scríofa ag Colm Ó Ceallaigh, iar-mhúinteoir scoile as Baile na Cille ina measc Sclábhaíocht (1990), Deoir Ghoirt an Deoraí (1993), Éiric Fola (1999) agus Carraig an Bháis (2007).
Tá cáil mhór bainte amach ag Antoine Ó Flatharta mar scríbhneoir lánaimseartha i nGaeilge agus i mBéarla chomh maith. In Amharclann na Mainistreach a léiríodh a chéad dráma, Gaeilgeoirí i 1981, agus ó shin i leith tá Imeachtaí na Saoirse (1983), Ag Ealaín in Éirinn (1986), Blood Guilty (1989) agus Silverlands (1992) léirithe san amharclann céanna.Tá leabhar scríofa ag Pádraig Mac Donncha as Foirnis darbh ainm Come West: Old Stories agus ag Pádraig de Bhaldraithe as Foirnis chomh maith, Saothrú an Uisce – Feirmeoireacht éisc, sliogéisc agus algaí.
Tá cáil idirnáisiúnta agus gradam Oscar bainte amach ag Martin Mc Donagh lena dhráma Six Shooter i 1996. Is é a scríobh agus a stiúir an scannán In Bruges i 2008, a chéad ghnéchlár iomlán. Áirítear ar na drámaí is mó cáil leis, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull in Connemara, The Lonesome West, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Lieutenant of Inishmore agus The Banshees of Inisheer. Is as Leitir Mealláin d’athair Mhartin ó dhúchas agus cleachtadh maith aige féin ar cheantar Leitir Mealláin nuair a bhí sé ina ghasúr.
Famous Writers from Lettermullen
We cannot forget one of our best story writers Peadar Ó Direáin who wrote the books, Scéalta na nOileán and Scéalta Leitir Mealláin. He also wrote articles for the Irish language newspaper An Stoc in the 1920s. It is most unfortunate he died at a young age in 1935.
Colm Ó Ceallaigh, a former school teacher from Ballinakill has written many books, which include Sclábhaíocht (1990), Deoir Ghoirt an Deoraí (1993), Éiric Fola (1999), and Carraig an Bháis (2007). Antoine Ó Flatharta is a well-known full-time writer in both Irish and English. His first drama, Gaeilgeoirí was performed in the Abbey Theatre in 1981 and since then Imeachtaí na Saoirse (1983), Ag Ealaín in Éirinn (1986), Blood Guilty (1989) and Silverlands (1992) have been performed on stage in the same theatre. Pádraig Mac Donncha from Furnace has written a book Come West: Old Stories and Pádraig de Bhaldraithe from Furnace has written a book also, Saothrú an Uisce – Feirmeoireacht éisc, sliogéisc agus algaí.
Martin Mc Donagh has acclaimed worldwide fame and an Oscar for his drama Six Shooter in 1996. He wrote and directed the film In Bruges in 2008, his first full-length feature for which he received the BAFTA Award for Original Screenplay and a Best Original Screenplay Academy Award nomination. Amongst some of his most well-known dramas are, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, A Skull in Connemara, The Lonesome West, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, and The Banshees of Inisheer. Martin’s father is originally from Lettermullen and Martin spent a lot of time in the Lettermullen area as a child.
Filí an Cheantair
Is iomaí file a shaothraigh a mbeatha sa cheantar seo freisin san am atá caite. Duine de na filí is cáiliúla uile acu ná Colm de Bhailís as Baile na Cille ar fhoilsigh Conradh na Gaeilge seacht n-amhrán déag leis i 1904 sa leabhar Amhráin Choilm de Bhailís. Chomh maith le bheith ina fhile/scéalaí/staraí ba iontach an fear ceirde a bhí ann chomh maith mar saor cloiche agus mar fhear le sábh.
Bhain filí eile mar Bidín a ‘ Chlochartaigh as Baile na Cille, Páidín Bhearthla Val as Poll Uí Mhuirinn agus Nan Seoighe as an gCnoc cáil amach sa cheantar chomh maith.
Poets in the Lettermullen area
Many poets in the area made a living from their talents in times past. One of the most famous poets to reside here was Colm de Bhailís from Ballinakill. Conradh na Gaeilge published 17 songs of his in 1904 in the publication Amhráin Choilm de Bhailís. Not only was he a poet/storyteller/historian he was also a fine craftsman as a stonemason and in sawing.
Other poets such as Bidín a’ Chlochartaigh from Ballinakill, Páidín Bhearthla Val from Poulleywerrin, and Nan Seoighe from Knock were also famous poets in their respective villages.
Amhránaithe agus ceoltóirí an cheantair
Ní féidir dearmad a dhéanamh anseo ar Rí na nAmhrán John Beag Ó Flatharta as Foirnis a mhúnlaigh an traidisiún amhránaíochta sa stíl ghaelcheol tíre i dtús na n-ochtóidí atá á chleachtadh mórthimpeall an cheantair sa lá atá inniu ann féin. Tá cáil bainte amach ag Sonny Choilm Learaí as Cora Bhuí mórthimpeall na cruinne agus ag a chlann mhac is iníne chomh maith ag damhsa agus ag amhránaíocht. Tá cáil forleathan ar Bheairtle Ó Domhnaill as Foirnis chomh maith mar amhránaí in iarthar na hÉireann.
Singers and musicians in the area
Undoubtedly John Beag Ó Flatharta from Furnace is the King of Song. It was John who formed the singing tradition in Irish Country and Western in the beginning of the 1980s that is still being sung by the Lettermullen singer until the present day in all parts of the Connemara Gaeltacht and beyond.
Sonaí Choilm Learaí from Currawee is a well-known accordion player and sean-nós dancer throughout the world and his sons and daughters are also well-known dancers and singers, in both Irish and English.
Beairtle Ó Domhnaill from Furnace is also a well-known singer in the west of Ireland.
Reilig Chuigéil
Ceanglaíonn Droichead Chuigéil an dá cheantar poist Baile na Cille agus Leitir Mealláin le chéile agus taobh thiar dó seo atá Reilig Chuigéil suite.
Tá réimse leathan leachtanna sochraide i Reilig Chuigéil i Leitir Mealláin a théann siar go dtí go deireanach san 18ú, an 19ú agus an 20ú hAois seo caite. Níl aon leachtanna ar an láthair a théann siar níos faide ná an 18ú haois. Déanann na leachtanna sa reilig seo taifead ginealaigh suimiúil ar na daoine a bhí sa cheantar agus is taifid áille iad d’ealaín na ndaoine, ealaín agus dearadh, siombalachas agus íocónagrafaíocht agus léiríonn siad oidhreacht shaibhir nach mór a chosaint agus a chaomhnú.
Kiggaul Cemetery
Kiggaul Bridge connects the two postal districts, Ballinakill and Lettermullen and to the west of this bridge, Kiggaul Cemetery is located. Kiggaul Cemetery contains a wide range of funerary monuments which date from the late 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. None of the monuments at the site date any earlier than the 18th century. The monuments in this graveyard form a fascinating genealogical record of the people of the area and are also a wonderful record of folk-art, art and design, symbolism and iconography and reflect a rich heritage which should be cherished and preserved.
Teach an Phoist - Leitir Mealláin
Ba é Tigh Tóna Ó Confhaola an chéad theach posta a bhí i Leitir Mealláin, tuairim is deireadh an t-ochtú céad déag. Bhí siopa beag freisin sa teach. Ansin bhíodh sé dhá úsáid mar theach cúirte ag lucht an Éirí Amach nó lucht leanúna an tSaorstáit.
Is ag Kate Keane a phós Thomas O’ Flaherty (Janie) a bhí an siopa sa bhliain 1915. Is ise a bhí i mbun an Oifig an Phoist sa bhliain 1929 i Leitir Mealláin. Ba ag teaghlach Healy a bhí Oifig an Phoist ar dtús báire.Bhí teach salainn san áit seo le haghaidh iasc a shaille, Tí Khate Keane. Tá tagairt dó san amhrán Peigín Audley.
The Post Office – Lettermullen
Tóna Ó Confhaola had the first Post Office in Lettermullen, around the end of the 18th century.
There was also a little shop in the house. It was then used as a courthouse by followers of the Easter Rising and the Free State.
Kate Keane who married Thomas O’Flaherty (Janie) was the occupier of the shop in 1915. She was the postmistress in Lettermullen in 1929. The Healy family were the owners of the Post Office before this. There was a salt house here for salting fish, Tí Khate Keane. It is mentioned in the song Peigín Audley.
Henry Cummerford agus an Brig St.John
In 1840 a tháinig Henry Cummerford go Leitir Mealláin mar thiarna talún. Ba fear mór gnó a bhí ann sa cheantar agus istigh i nGaillimh. Cheannaigh sé an Brig St.John chun airgead a dhéanamh as a bheith ag rith paisinéirí go Meiriceá agus chun earraí riachtanacha a thabhairt ar ais le haghaidh siopaí na Gaillimhe agus Leitir Mealláin.
Bhí 166 duine ar bord nuair a d’fhág an bád Leitir Mealláin chun a haghaidh a thabhairt ar Mheiriceá ar an 5 Meán Fómhair 1849 ach níor shroich sí a ceann scríbe riamh agus í ag dul ar na carraigeacha amach ó chósta Cohasset ar an 7 Deireadh Fómhair. Níor tháinig slán aisti ach dhá dhuine is fiche faraor, tubaiste amach agus amach.
Henry Cummerford and The Brig St. John
Henry Cummerford came to Lettermullen as a landlord in 1840. He was a businessman in this area and in Galway. He bought The Brig St.John to make money from carrying passengers to America and to bring back essential goods to the shops in Galway and in Lettermullen.
There were 166 people on board when the ship left Lettermullen to make its way to America on the 5th September 1849 but the ship never reached its destination. It was shipwrecked off the coast of Massachusetts, near Cohasset on the 7th of October. There were some survivors, including Captain Oliver, but these numbered only about twenty.
Trá Huston / Trá Dhireáin
Tá ceann de na tránna gainimh is deise ar an gcósta suite anseo i gCaladh Ghólaim atá ainmnithe i ndiaidh Clann cháiliúil Uí Dhireáin.
Is sa teach tréigthe taobh thoir den trá a rugadh agus a tógadh an scríbhneoir cáiliúil Peadar Ó Direáin a bhásaigh go hóg faraor. Bhíodh sé ag scríobh píosaí sa nuachtán Gaeilge An Stoc lena linn agus is é a scríobh na gearrscéalta Scéalta na nOiléan a foilsíodh sa bhliain 1929.
Bíonn an-tarraingt ag turasóirí agus ag muintir na háite ar ndóigh ar an trá seo le linn aimsir an tSamhraidh.
Cheannaigh John Huston, stiúrthóir agus aisteoir teach saoire le hais an trá agus chaith sé roinnt ama ann.Is iomaí cuairt a thug sé ar Éirinn agus ar cheann de na cuairteanna sin a cheannaigh sé teach Seoirseach, St Clerans, idir Baile Locha Riach agus Creachmhaoil i nGaillimh. Rinneadh saoránach de chuid na hÉireann dó agus bhí a iníon Anjelica ag freastal ar Mhainistir na Coille Móire ar feadh roinnt blianta. Tá scoil scannánaíochta ina onóir anois ar champas OÉ Gaillimh.
Huston’s Beach / Dirrane’s Beach
One of the most beautiful sandy beaches on the west coast is situated in Caladh Ghólaim and some people refer to it as Dirrane’s Beach also, named after the famous local Dirrane family.
The well-known writer Peadar Ó Direáin was born and raised in the deserted house behind the beach but unfortunately, he died at a young age. During his short life, he often wrote articles for the Irish language newspaper An Stoc and he wrote the collection of short stories Scéalta na nOileán, which was published in the year 1929.
This beach is a major attraction for many local people and visitors during the summer months.
John Huston, film director, and actor bought a holiday home, adjacent to the beach and he spent some time here. He visited Ireland several times afterward and on one of these visits, he purchased and restored a Georgian home, St Clerans, of Craughwell, County Galway. He became an Irish citizen in 1964 and his daughter Anjelica attended school in Ireland at Kylemore Abbey for a number of years. A film school is now dedicated to him on the NUIG campus
Na gCrannóga
Is éard atá i gcrannóg ná oileán leathshaorga nó saorga a tógadh trí adhmad, ithir agus cloch a chaitheamh ar ghrinneall an locha nó ar ghrinneall na habhann, coinnithe le chéile ag cairn adhmaid nó ag claí. Tógadh na hoileáin shaorga seo ón gCré-umhaois anuas go dtí an tréimhse mheánaoiseach luath, agus thug an t-uisce timpeall ar na crannóga cosaint do na daoine a bhíodh ina gcónaí iontu.
Is suíomhanna maithe iad ó thaobh na seandálaíochta de mar caomhnaíonn an t-uisce ábhar orgánach mar adhmad agus leathair. Bhí roinnt de na crannóga á n-úsáid suas go dtí an 17ú haois tar éis bás Chríost. Is cuid d’fhianaise lonnaíochta (atá deacair le haimsiú) na tréimhse seo iad na háiteanna cónaithe seo ar an loch ó thuaidh agus taobh thoir den Cheathrú Rua, áit a bhfuil samplaí le feiceáil ar Loch an Mhuillinn agus ar Loch na Tulaí. Ar Oileán Gharumna, tá sampla le feiceáil ar Loch hIbirt, ceann eile ar Loch an Bhalla, agus sampla ceaptar ar Loch Bhaile na Cille.
Crannógs
A crannóg (lake dwelling) is an island, partly or wholly artificial, built up by dumping timber, earth and stones onto a lake or river bed, often revetted with timber piles or a palisade. The word is derived from the Irish word crann, meaning tree, and the Irish word crannóg principally means a piece of wood or a structure of wood. These artificial islands were constructed from the Bronze Age to the early medieval period and the surrounding water gave their occupants a measure of defense.
Crannógs can be productive sites for archaeological excavation because the water preserves organic material such as timber and leather. Some crannógs remained in use up to the seventeenth century AD. To the north and east of Carraroe, there are examples on Loch an Mhuilinn and Loch na Tulaí. On Gorumna Island, there is one on Loch hIbirt, one on Loch an Bhalla, and a possible example on Loch Bhaile na Cille.
Theampall na Trá Báine
Ar an gcósta thoir d’Oileán Gharumna, ceithre mhíle go leith ó dheas do Dhroichead Leitir Móir agus ar an tslí isteach do Cuan an Fhir Mhóir a sheasann séipéal beag meánaoiseach déanach sa Trá Bháin i mbaile fearainn Thír an Fhia. Gan dabht ar bith tá sé seo ar cheann de na sean-séipéil is deise a coinníodh sa cheantar agus tagraíonn Roderic O’Flaherty dó mar Shéipéal na n-Oilithrigh. Tá áit an dorais seaimféaráilte agus mar áirse rinneach sa mballa thiar theas agus gnáth-fhuinneog ar an mbinn thoir theas agus altóir thíos fúithi.
Thugann na poill sa bhíoma ar an mbinn thiar thuaidh agus ar an mbinn thoir theas le tuiscint go raibh áiléar ann uair amháin. Tá roinnt uaigheanna anois suite san áit bheag taobh istigh agus cuid freisin taobh istigh sa séipéal beag féin agus faraor rinneadh áit do cheann acu trí chuid den altóir a thógáil amach. Tá an séipéal suite go díreach le hais na farraige mar a bhí amhlaidh i dtraidisiún na lonnaíochtaí ársa Críostaíochta seo mórthimpeall an chósta.
Trabane Chapel
This is a small, late-medieval chapel located in An Trá Bháin, in the townland of Tír an Fhia. It is one of the best-preserved medieval chapels in the area. The 17th-century historian Roderic O’Flaherty refers to it as the Pilgrim’s Church. There is a chamfered, pointed-arch doorway in the southwest wall and a plain window in the southeast gable with an altar below.
Beam holes in the northwest and southeast gables suggest that a loft was once a part of the structure. There are also many graves now situated within the grounds of the chapel, although some are also inside the little chapel itself. A part of the original altar has been cut out to make room for one of these graves. In the tradition of these ancient Christian settlements, it is situated directly by the sea.
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