irishtouristassociationphotographiccollection

[https://flic.kr/p/fsKg6k]

…. and the end

Source view - GoogleMapsSatellite - maps.app.goo.gl/9A7uuPwSQGRKCRxz8

" ... The River Maine originates from a spring rising in a conical, oval-shaped depression at Tobermaing in County Kerry, situated approximately a quarter mile east of Tobermaing House at an elevation of about 100 feet (30 m) above sea level.[7] This source lies in the southern slopes of the Stack's Mountains, where the upper reaches are also known as the Shanowen River, a primary headwater of the Maine system.[6] From Tobermaing, the river flows westward, passing near and through the town of Castleisland, where it is joined by the Little Maine tributary.[1][6] ... ... "

From - grokipedia.com/page/river_maine_county_kerry (heaps of interesting stuff)

From logainm, Tobermaing / Tobar Mainge is in the barony of Trughanacmy / Triúcha an Aicme. The civil parish is Castleisland / Oileán Ciarraí.

Loads of literary and historical references for the name Tobermaing, and its evolution. Gotta love logainm!

Castleisland
An old record states "Sometimes a stream will come up to the surface, and having flowed upon it for some time, will disappear again to some cavity and resume its subterranean progress". Of this there is an instance at the head of the River Maine which flows into Castlemaine Harbour. The stream rises at Tobermaing, which is situated in a hollow measuring 100 by 60 yards, and 40 to 50 feet deep. Having flowed on the surface of the ground for 35 yards, the stream sinks and rises again a quarter of a mile off, by the roadside on the south of Tobermaing House.
(Kerryman, 25 February 1950)

www.irelandtravelkit.com/the-little-ark-church-on-wheels-...
fancinating !

Streetview

There is an RC Chapel on this site in the 25". Not the 6".

This Diocesan page gives a history, saying construction began 1909.

This DIA entry suggests the plans had a 66ft tower.


Edit: Nope, different Star of the Sea. The one we want is Kilbaha.

Flickr ir sometimes amazing! In 2017 with history via murphman61

This history page at Clare library does not have nice photos like Foxglove's page above, but it gives dates for the church:

A site was finally granted in late 1856 by Fr. Meehan refused it for the reason that it was on a bog. Pressure was put on the landlord and a new site was granted. The first stone was laid on the 12th of July 1857 at Moneen, a mile from the site where the ark stood. The church of Our Lady, Star of the Sea was dedicated on the 10th of October 1858. At first the ark was brought to the site and was used until the church was ready. It was later placed inside the church doors to the left, until the present building to the house was added

Given that the church is so old, i am surprised it is not in the NIAH.

The DIA has a bare bones entry:

CO. CLARE, KILBAHA, CHURCH (RC)
Name: UNKNOWN ARCHITECT
Building: CO. CLARE, KILBAHA, CHURCH (RC)
Date: 1857p
Nature: New church to be built.
Refs: B 9, 18 Jul 1857, 409

Duchas.ie has TWO stories about the Little Ark -
www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922370/4875033?HighlightText=littl...

And this wonderful first hand account of the building of the Ark from a 97 year old man - www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/5162145/5158555?HighlightText=littl...

" ... One morning in 1852 I visited Father Meehan to find out where he was to say Mass on that morning. Father Meehan said: "Well Tom, I have a new idea. I was in Kilrush on yesterday and I travelled to Kilkee in Moore's Omnibus. It struck me that if I made something like Moore's omnibus I could say Mass in it in Kilbaha". Moore owned a hotel in Kilkee and had cabs plying between Kilkee and Cappa to take visitors to and from his hotel.
Father Meehan got Owen Collins, a Carrigaholt carpenter to build what is known as the Little Ark. It was built on the street in Carrigaholt opposite Collin's house as his shop was too small to accomodate it. When built a horse was yoked to it and it was drawn to Kilbaha accompanied by a large crowd from Carrigaholt.
A few soupers threw stones at it in Kilbaha but it was not done a second time. Marcus Keane prosecuted Father Meehan for placing a "nuisance" on the shore at Kilbaha. Mr Mac Cullough was the R.M. He sent to the National School for a dictionary to get the meaning of "nuisance". He dismissed the case. Mass was said in the Ark from 1852 to 1859. Marcus Keane was forced by public opinion to grant a site for a church and the present church at Moneen was commenced in 1858. ..."

🎶 There's a hole in the bucket ...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVAvMIhvqfk

At least some of the people in the background look to be in costume, dressed up like the 1890s. One couple in a horse-drawn car at left are holding up a sign between them.

An IrishCentral article says:
The fair day is held annually on the second Sunday in September. It is an attempt to recreate the traditional fair day that was held here from 1828. In 1837, Mullagh had a market and fair for the sale of cattle and pigs, oats, butter and flax several times a year. By 1870 the fair was held on the last Friday of every month. The traditional fair was one of the best and biggest in the north east
...
The Mullagh Development Committee re-established the Fair Day in 1997
but not when the original fair ended.

duchas confirms the last Friday of the month, and suggests it was originally held at the Gates of Mullagh, a crossroads west of the town.

On facebook, I see images of The Mullagh Carnival, in Co. Clare, a different spot altogether from the Gates of Mullagh. The countryside in Mullagh, County Clare looks like a better fit.