The LEGEND of The Miller MAUSOLEUM, скачать в хорошем качестве

The LEGEND of The Miller MAUSOLEUM,

The Miller vault in St. Brigid’s Graveyard Portumna, Co. Galway is one of the many interesting architectural features to be seen on a walk around the town. With its vermiculated decoration it is quite unique in the town. https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4583339... Years the town of Portumna was the scene of a marriage between a poor girl names Mary Coen, and a millionaire named Miller. Mary Coen's father - a cobbler lived in abbey St, in the house now occupied by J. J. Hogan Publican. He had three sons and one daughter. Mary when still very young often went to Lahinch Bog and helped her father with the turf cutting. One evening when returning from the bog, she encountered a number of gipsies who were camping in a wood near Belleisle - at present the residence of Major Waller. One of the vagrants offered to tell Mary Coen her fortune. Among other things, she told her that she would meet a certain man on the Bridge that night; if she answered his salute - her fortune would be made, if she passed without answering, she would miss her chance in life. Now, at this time, a wealthy gentleman from England named Miller, had come for the fishing season and was staying in a house in Clonfort Avenue, now owned by Mr Joseph O' Mara. As the gipsies had foretold, Mary Coen met this gentleman on the Bridge on the night in question He bade her 'good night' and in obedience to the advice given her, she answered him and passed on. A few days after this, Miller was out fishing with a boat man nicknamed "Sack-em-Up" and in the course of the day's work, some of the rods got broken. Miller accompanied by his boatman went to Coen's house to have the road repaired. Mary Coen, barefooted was sitting by the fire, very ragged, but very beautiful. Miller admired her and on the repairs to the rod being effected, left the house, but on going outside, he broke the rod again so as to have a second chance of seeing the cobbler's daughter. (Coen also made his living by fishing and selling his wares around the town). This time he spoke to her father and asked his permission to become engaged to Mary. The father agreed, provided for Burke - the parish priest, sanctioned the union. The good priest was quite pleased, on condition that Miller became a Catholic. Miller, sent this young girl to a convent in England and later to a convent in France Mary, after some years returned home, and then was married to Mr Miller. They settled down in a mansion in England. People say that she never again visited her poor relations in Portumna, but she sent them money and helped them everyway she could. She gave a pension to "Sack-em-up", although he tried to prevent Miller from marrying her. She was very happy in her new surroundings, for Miller proved himself a good kind, Catholic husband. She had four children, one of whom died while still very young, and the remains were taken over and buried in a vault, built by Miller for the family, at Portumna. After many years this good lady died and was buried in the same vault; her young sons attending the funeral, dressed like the real gentry, tall silk hats etc. About the same time, Miller paid for the tiling of the long aisle in the Catholic church, and supplied a hand painted set of the stations of the Cross. the Vault referred to above is situated at the eastern entrance to St Brigid's Church. For many years, the local senton[?] had the key and looked after the vault, receiving a pension for his work. But, no one now knows where the key has gone. After the burial of Mrs Miller, the family seems to have lost all connection with Portumna. The man referred to in the story as "Sack-em-Up" was so named on account of his sinister dealings in dead bodies. He was employed by local doctors, to snatch bodies from the graveyards. The long aisle in Portumna Catholic Church is still called "Miller's Aisle" because Miller seated it and tiled it. #mausoleum #cemetery #abandoned