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Derryvella
(Dr. Willie Nolan) Derryvella is "probably the site of Doire Mor whose foundation is ascribed to St. Colman (son of King Nat Friach of Cashel wh ich was ultimately replaced by Kilcooley Abbey". "The annals of the four masters noted the death in 1014 of Connaig MacFinn, Abbot of Doire More and Leamakevage (Leighlinn)". There is a very old church site, graveyard and ringfort in the townsland, the fort was taken into the care of the commissioners of Public Works in 1972. The Shell Guide to Ireland describes this site as an "ancient oval churchyard enclosed by an earthen vallum". There is no visible remains of the church or graveyard, it is supposed to have been build on the south-east side of the fort with the grave-yard inside the fort. Local tradition relates that the graveyard is thought to be the second oldest in Ireland and one which the Pope is obliged to pray for once very year. Tradition has it that a sacred tree grew inside the ringfort but if so, it has now disappeared. There was also supposed to be a secret passage from Derryvella fort to a fort in Andy Fitzgerald's land in Glengoole. The ringfort measures roughly about 500 feet along its north-south axis and 440 feet east to west. The outside bank is 5-6ft. high. Inside the bank is a wide ditch or fosse, on the south side it's approximately 70ft. wide. The fosse does not form a complete ring inside the fort but may have formed an inner enclosure originally. |