10. Garraí Bhríde

Garraí Bhríde

Ar an mbóthar soir as Baile Locha Riach, tá áit ar a dtugtar Garraí Bhríde. Tá seanreilig, seanbhallaí séipéil agus tobar beannaithe san áit. D’fhéadfadh gur láthair eaglasta de chuid na nGael a bhíodh ansin sular tháinig na Normannaigh riamh agus bhí an séipéal in úsáid anuas go dtí ré na meánaoiseanna. D’fhéadfadh gur roghnaigh Richard de Burgo an caisleán a dhéanamh in aice le Garraí Bhríde mar gheall go raibh trácht na ndaoine ar an áit cheana féin. Bhíodh seantaise thábhachtach ar coimeád anseo, bróg Naomh Bríd, atá anois in Ard-Mhúsaem na hÉireann i mBaile Átha Cliath. Bheadh leas á bhaint as an taise sin ag daoine agus iad ag tabhairt mionnaí, faoi mar a dhéanann daoine sa chúirt sa lá atá inniu ann. Chreid na daoine go raibh leigheas sa tobar agus thagaidís go Garraí Bhríde ar oilithreacht.

Garrybreeda

On the road east from Loughrea is an area called Garrybreeda meaning Bridget’s garden or field. There is an old graveyard, a ruined church and a hold well there. This would have already being a Gaelic religious site from before the time of the Normans and the church was used throughout the medieval period. It maybe that Richard de Burgo chose to build his castle near Garrybreeda because it was already an important site. An important relic St. Bridget’s shoe was kept here; which is now in The National Museum in Dublin. People would have used this relic when making solemn oaths, like they do nowadays when speaking in court. People also believed that the well had healing powers and would come to Garrybreeda on pilgrimages.