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The monastery of Ardnacraney was founded in the fourteenth century for the Carmelite Friars by Robert Dillon, Lord of Drumraney and Noughaval. The Reformation took away all its records and completely destroyed its history by confiscating church property. Folklore has it that it was a splendid Abbey which had an eight feet panelled stained glass window at the gable of the church, and over the main alter a “Rose “ window devoted to St. John the Baptist. The monastery is still remembered in the tradition of the faithful people and many local families are buried there even to this day. The monks were forced to move to Ballymore Abbey and then to Moate where they still remain and over the last century theykept a successful Boarding school for boys. Again, folklore handed down by a very old man tells us that there are two gold chalices still buried by the monks in Ardnacraney that have never been found. They also tell us they had “blessed wells” to bless the livestock for farmers, indeed one such well still remains at Tully, The Pigeons and medals and old coins and relicts are left in thanksgiving. The people took the well water into their homes for blessings, especially in the spring time for the “bealtaine festival when the whitethorn’s in bloom.
http://historicgraves.com/graveyard/ardnacrany-north/wm-acny
