Killydrum () is a townland in
County Fermanagh
County Fermanagh ( ; ) is one of the thirty-two counties of Ireland, one of the nine counties of Ulster and one of the six counties of Northern Ireland.
The county covers an area of 1,691 km2 (653 sq mi) and has a population of 61,805 a ...
,
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...
. It has previously been referred to as Kildrome (1659) and Killdrum (1695). This townland belongs to the land division of Old Barr in the area of
Boho Boho may refer to:
Geography
* Boho, County Fermanagh, a village and parish in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland
** Boho Caves, a cave system in Boho
* Boho, North Sumatra, a village on the island of Samosir, Indonesia
Other uses
* Boho, short fo ...
.
Killydrum is notable for the holy well named after
St Faber' called Tober Faber, and its associated
bullán
A bullaun ( ga, bullán; from a word cognate with "bowl" and French ''bol'') is the term used for the depression in a stone which is often water filled. Natural rounded boulders or pebbles may sit in the bullaun. The size of the bullaun is high ...
.
[ The area is historically linked to the home or castle of a chieftain called O'Fialain.][
In the Ordnance Survey Letters of O' Donovan, the surveyor notes that (the virgin) St. Faber first attempted to build her church in Killydrum near the holy well, however the first days construction was destroyed overnight by an invisible being. A passing deer indicated that there was another place where she could build her church without threat and carried her books on its horns down to Monea. When the deer continued its journey across the ]Sillees river
The Sillees River ( ga, Abhainn na Sailchis meaning "the sally kesh river") is located in south-western County Fermanagh. Its origins lie in Lough Ahork, which is located in Lough Navar Forest (''Coill Loch na bhFear''). From here it continues th ...
, it slipped on the banks and it took a while for the books to be re-attached. This slip was thought to be brought about by a genius or sheaver (shaver)who inhabited the river who did everything in his power to prevent the spread of Christianity in the region. Once St Faber understood this she cursed the river with sterility of fish and fertility in destroying human life and may it run uphill with the following phrase MI-ADH EISC A'S ADH BAIDHTE AG RITH ANAGHAIDH AN AIRD GO LA BRATHA. Another interpretation of the name Killydrum is 'church of the ridge' which makes sense in this context.[
]
Killydrum Sink
There are several limestone
Limestone ( calcium carbonate ) is a type of carbonate sedimentary rock which is the main source of the material lime. It is composed mostly of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of . Limestone forms whe ...
features in this townland described as Karst
Karst is a topography formed from the dissolution of soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, and gypsum. It is characterized by underground drainage systems with sinkholes and caves. It has also been documented for more weathering-resistant ro ...
. One of these is Killydrum Sink. The area around the karst has been designated a provisional site of special scientific interest (PASSI) by the Department of the Environment (NI). The route of the main water course which passes through Killydrum Sink is believed to drain through the Noon's Hole
Noon's Hole ( Irish grid ref H12684431) lies about 5 km northwest of the centre of Boho, in the townland of Old Barr in the parish of Devenish, County Fermanagh, close to the border with Boho parish. The cave is under part of the escarpme ...
–Arch system.
See also
* Caves of the Tullybrack and Belmore hills
References
Townlands of County Fermanagh
{{fermanagh-geo-stub