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Kiltimagh's past is a
blend of folklore and history. According to folklore, the name derives form
a Fir Bolg chieftain, Maghu, who fled the battle of Moytura and settled on
Sliabh Cairn, c 1000, B.C. The cairn at the cliff, above Craggagh school,
marks his grave. According to P.W. Joyce, however, the whole district was
formerly wooded, hence the number of local place names with the prefix
coill or coillte, such as Cuillalee, (yellow wood), Cultreasna, (cross
wood) and 'The Woods.'
Some credit, however, must go to a local landlord, George Browne, who was
responsible for starting a market here at the end of the 17th century.
Initially the village was called Newtown Brown, but by the beginning of the
18th century the name had changed to Cultymagh or Kiltimagh.
Kiltimagh as it is today is the product of the hard work, initiative and
imagination of Fr. Denis O'Hara, Parish Priest. His first task was building
a new Church and 8 national schools in the area. Then, with the help of the
St. Louis Sisters, primary and technical schools were set up to provide
instruction in household management, sewing, carpentry and horticulture, to
foster a sense of self-sufficiency and well being. He was responsible for
the town's comprehensive circular roads, the town sewage and gas system,
the Town Hall, the Cottage Hospital, 'People's Park' and Factory Field.
Almost a century later, in 1989, IRD Kiltimagh Ltd., was set up to reverse
the tide of emigration and lack of employment here. With the wholehearted
support of the community, we have achieved a considerable turnaround of our
fortunes.
Kiltimagh, 100 years
ago: Trades
4 Mills 3 Tailors 3 Shoe Makers 2 Blacksmiths
2 Tin-smiths 2 Bell Men 2 Bill Posters 2 Cartmakers
2 Nailers 2 Weavers 1 Cooper 2 Hackney Cars
3 Backeries 2 Parcel Carriers
2 Hackney Drivers, Tidy Walsh and Johnnie Murphy.
There were over 40 pubs and 2 hotels, 4 mills, 1 pawnshop, some 'gombeen'
shops and small shops everywhere.
Railway
Station
Because of the extent of emigration from this area since before the Famine,
the Railway Station has always had a special place in our affections.
All the necessities of life were transported through the Station - sugar, flour,
spirits, newspapers - even films for the local cinema - while out-goings
included cattle, sheep, pigs, beet and eggs.
In 1989 the Goods Store was converted into a museum incorporating two
railway carriages to commemorate the thousands of our people who had to
leave the area to find work.
The former Stationmaster's House is now an Exhibition Centre and features
regular art exhibitions throughout the year. The whole station area is now
an amenity area featuring sculptures by national and local artists.
Lois Ard
 Kiltimagh is in the parish of
Killedan, which has a long and distinguished history. The High Fort, of
Lois Ard, is the highest of 8 forts in the townland. This is a perfect
circle on the top of a steep hill surrounded by a row of beech trees, which
make it easy to see from the road for miles around. These forts are thought
to date from between 600/900 A.D. and were used as dwellings.
According to folklore, the old spreading oak tree at the foot of the hill
was the place fairies met and danced at certain times of the year. It was
here Raftery was said to have been offered the gift of poetry or music by
the fairies. He chose poetry.
Holy Wells
St. Patrick's Well or Knee, Ballinamore: This is a Bullaun which, according
to folklore, bears the imprint of St. Patrick's knee after he prayed here
on his way to Croagh Patrick.
Tobar Cuimhne, in Lisnamonaghy: According to folklore, this Holy Well moved
overnight from its original location beside the Church of St. Cuimhne in
Cortoon.
Cultrasna
Cultrasna is a 'clump' village. In pre-famine times the area was so densely
populated and land so scarce, that houses were built in 'clumps' or
'clusters'.
The Town Forge
 This was a working forge up to
the late 1950s. People came to have horses shod and stayed to swap local
news. Children were particularly fascinated, watching the blacksmith at
work and listening to the rhythm of his anvil (picture opposite).
Old Schoolhouse
After the 'Free' School at Brackloonagh was burned down, children and
teachers moved here at the end of the 19th century. It now stores artefacts
from various national schools in the area.
Killedan
Churchyard
The name derives from Cill Liadain, the Church of Liadan, and not, as
Douglas Hyde translated it, Cill Aodain. (O Donovans Letters: 1838). At
some time in the 19th century, Franciscan monks, known as the Grey friars,
were said to have used this church.
The Church
This was almost certainly a parish church dating from the 12th century, or
earlier, in the Romanesque style, with a thatched roof. It was burned down
and rebuilt in the 16th century, with some architectural alterations. The
recent work required the southern wall to be taken down and replaced, in
the original manner, stone by stone, while the Romanesque window was
reinstated using some of the original 12th century stone (picture
opposite).
The Cell
This dates to 12th century and probably replaced the 8th century building.
The original, circular doorway was placed in the 1950's by the existing
doorway. While the stone on the inside was intact, outside, it was in a bad
way. The cell is mostly the original building and where reconstruction was
carried out, it was done in the original style, using the original stones.
Chapel dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary
Fr. Thaddeus O' Flaherty built this chapel in 1779. It is a prototype of
the older cell and contains a dedication stone in its original position in
front of the altar. The two flags on either side were in place and have not
been disturbed. The central stone is part of a coffin shaped gravestone
found in the graveyard and probably formed part of a 13th century tombstone
(picture opposite).
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