Was it possible to travel from Tubber to Ballymore by boat?

Vera Hughes, Vice President of Moate Museum & Historical Society introduced speaker Bernie Moran as a most enthusiastic and interested newcomer to local history and our society. Bernie who joined the society just over two years ago treated the audience to a very intriguing and fascinating talk entitled "From Tubber to Ballymore …..By Boat?" Bernie's unique theory, based initially on her own observation that the monasteries in the Midlands appeared to be on the same height above sea level, puts forward the case that there if there was a foot more water and less raised bog in and around 700AD (give or take a century!) monks such as Brendan, Manchan, Colmcille and even St Patrick would have travelled by boat rather than by land and that the Midland monastic settlements of the time were located in or on the edge of a large shallow lake. According to Bernie, the water "shoreline" would be near the 200 foot or 61 metre contour line. Just one foot of water would be enough to allow easy movement between Clonmacnois and Clonard. By putting together additional facts and figures from historic records such as the various annals, archaeological reports of the area, photographic records of floods in recent years and local lore Bernie has put together a very strong case to back her theory of monks travelling through the midlands on water rather than land. The annals report that there was water to the door of Clonfert, Cathedral in Galway and Ballintubber Abbey in Mayo. Could Ballinderry Lough Crannogs have been on a shallow lake? There are 85 religious sites on bog islands in Co. Offaly, were these at one time islands on a shallow lake? Monahincha near Roscrea is recorded as an island. Lynally and Durrow were on the same water level thus supporting the view of locals that monks went from Lynally to Durrow by boat. Local lore has it that the boats were tied up on the Kilbeggan side of Durrow. Would it have been possible to get from Tubber to Ballymore ? Well if you take it that with the higher water level the Brosna and Silver River may once have joined the Yellow River or its flood plains of the Boyne near Croghan Hill. Tributaries of the Brosna also appear to have many links with less well known ecclesiastical sites in Westmeath such as Kilcrumreragh.One tributary, the Gageborough River, extends to Ardnurcher (Horseleap) at the end of the old Parish of Firceall which once stretched to Eglish. The parish included Kilmanaghan, Kilbride, Lynally, Rahan, Rathlyon, Kiloughy and Ballyboy Drumcullen. It and its streams flow to Templemacateer, Faheeran and Kilcrummeragh, Baile Bric Og and Móta Grainne Og. All are on route to Uisneach via fens and bogs, a short way from Ballymore. The audience on the night was enthralled with the topic of the presentation. Bernie's unique interpretation of the landscape and scope of her research on her subject was very evident. This has the makings of a very interesting book. This article barely touches upon the range of information Bernie has gathered to support her theory, hopefully it will provide food for thought. For further information on the topic you can see the display in Moate Library. Bernie has also written an article on this topic for the 2010 Journal of the Offaly Historical & Archaeological Society, due to be published soon.