Some interesting local links with historical people and events
Prehistoric Bekan
This megalithic wedge tomb is situated in the townland of Greenwood at one of the highest points in the parish. These tombs were in use as far back as 3,500 years ago. This example was restored in 1983 by students from Galway University under the direction of Dr. Etienne Rynne. The site was officially handed back to the state by the local landowner.
The site, known locally for many years as "Leaba Dhiarmuid agus Grainne" (Dermot and Grainne's Bed) had been discovered some years previously and identified as a megalithic or "wedge" tomb, one end of the tomb being higher and wider than the other.
Another similar ancient burial site was identified in the nearby townland of Larganboy.
This megalithic wedge tomb is situated in the townland of Greenwood at one of the highest points in the parish. These tombs were in use as far back as 3,500 years ago. This example was restored in 1983 by students from Galway University under the direction of Dr. Etienne Rynne. The site was officially handed back to the state by the local landowner.
The site, known locally for many years as "Leaba Dhiarmuid agus Grainne" (Dermot and Grainne's Bed) had been discovered some years previously and identified as a megalithic or "wedge" tomb, one end of the tomb being higher and wider than the other.
Another similar ancient burial site was identified in the nearby townland of Larganboy.
Island Ogham Stone One of the finest examples of a celtic standing stone in the country, this Ogham stone stands on a high point about two miles from Ballyhaunis on the Knock road. There is an inscription on the stone which translates as Cunalegi avi Qunacanos (Cuna Legi grandson of Quna Canos).According to some experts, there appears to be a hollow chamber at the base of the stone. 
A Unique Musical Instrument In August 1791, a strange and unusual musical instrument was found in the Bekan bog. It was made of wood and was bound with a bronze ribbon from end to end. The instrument is thought to be unique and, as no similar instrument appears to exist, it has been titled the ‘Mayophone’. It is a hollow wooden tube, measuring about two metres in length.Simon O’Dwyer of Prehistoric Music Ireland, after carrying out extensive research, has reconstructed a replica . Along with a wide variety of Bronze Age and Iron Age horns the Mayophone was demonstreted in Bekan School on the 30th Jan. 2004. The original is currently in the vault of the National Museum. It has been established that it is is at least 1,300 years old. |
Beacan: Saint or Legend? According to local tradition, St.Béacán was born about a mile west of the centre of Bekan Village.The old church gable standing in the cemetry is believed locally to be the remains of a monastic settlement founded by St.Béacán. A circular mound of stones topped by a stone cross just outside the main cemetry wall is said to mark his grave. The 9th July was supposed to be the Saint’s Feast Day and was celebrated by a pattern in the Parish up to the middle of the 20th Century.(See article by Tom Waldron on Mayo Abbey - http://www.mayoalive.com/Mag0896/Fndlings.htm) 
Ancient Dwellings This is Bekan Lake. In the centre of the picture is a little island, overgrown with trees and coarse grass. This is widely believed to be the remains of a crannóg (lake dwelling). These came into use during the Iron Age but continued to be inhabited well into medieval times. An ancient dug-out canoe, which was probably used to access the island is embedded in the mud at the bottom of the lake. The remains of several crannóga have also been identified in the local Mannin and Island lakes. |
Links with the ancient Celtic gods Manannan Mac Lir - (The Other World Lord or Mythical Mariner) is famous in Mayo folklore as a magician. He lived in the Castle of Mannin in the Parish of Bekan about three miles north of the Prish centre. The term Mac Lir means son of the sea rather than son of Lir. His horse, which is featured in a sculpture on the Mall in Castlebar, was known as Enbhar (which means water foam) and Manannan is closely linked with the sea. Two of his daughters Glina and Monoge also have lakes in County Mayo named after them. When Manannan died he is said to have been buried in Connaught and a new lake is supposed to have emerged over his grave. Could this in fact be Mannin Lake which, to the disappointment of many locals was drained away in the 1960s as part of the Moy drainage scheme. Could Mannin Lake mark the resting place of the famous Manannan Mac Lir? 
The Man who gave a new word to the English language Following a protest by tenant farm labourers against Lord Erne’s English agent Captain Charles Boycott of Lough Mask House in 1880, the phrase and the practice known as ‘boycotting’ began. Boycott had purchased 95 acres of land in Kildara, Tulrahan in the parish of Bekan in 1879 for £1,125. He paid £525 to the Bank of Ireland and took a mortgage of £600 on the rest. After Boycott finally had to leave Ireland, he still liked to return occasionally to Kildara on holidays.Following his death in 1897, the lands were sold to meet his debts and Boycott’s last link with Bekan was broken. |
A Link with a famous Musician Turlough O’Carolan A noted visitor to the Bekan area in the 18th Century was the famous blind harper Carolan. also called Terence Carolan (born 1670, near Nobber, County Meath, Ireland, died March 25th, 1738, Alderford, County Roscommon). He was one of the last Irish harpist-composers and the only one whose songs survive in both words and music in any great number.His tunes appeared widely in 18th-century collections.He was a caller at the home of Captain Gerald Dillon, whose family at one time owned Mannin House. Captain Dillon had a tune named after him by O'Carolan 
Old Bekan
This is the earliest map of Bekan from Sir William Petty’s atlas, called Hiberniae Delineatio, which was published in 1685.The present townland names of Cloonacurry, Brackloon, Reisk, Derrymore, Treenrevaugh and Cloonbulban, among others are readily recognisable on the map. Compare this with the next map of 1894 which shows the boundaries of the Catholic parish. 
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 Oliver Cromwell
“To hell or to Connacht”
The statement above was attributed to Oliver Cromwell. In the aftermath of the Cromwellian campaign in Ireland, all of the existing Catholic landholders had to be west of the Shannon by May of 1654 or risk death. The effects of the Cromwellian settlement were felt in Bekan Parish.The Crean family and others received land in the parish. 1649 Fr.Walter Fulgentius Jordan 0.S.A. was killed by Cromwellian soldiers, reputedly while saying mass at Redpark in the village of Cloontumper. |
Modern Bekan
Map of present-day Bekan shows the boundaries of both civil parish and the older Catholic parish.The area inside the continuous line shows the boundaries of the Catholic parish as drawn in 1894.The broken line shows the area which does not correspond to the Catholic parish. The area inside the broken line (upper right) shows the part of the parish which was transferred from Bekan in 1894. The part on the bottom between the broken and continuous lines was transferred from the parish of Annagh(Ballyhaunis) to Bekan. 
A Bekan Song "Plaincstidh Béacáin" Triallaimis siar go Contae Mhuigheo Mar a ‘bhfuil an fear óg sin ‘tá I mBéacán Frainc de Burc, an t-ógfhir suairc Is ailne ar mhaise’s ar bhreáthacht; A leaca gheal nua is deise snua Is a shúile gorma gan aon smál, Níl aon fhear clúiteach sa domahn Nach aige ‘tá a rún is a chéadghrá [English translation] Let us go over to Co. Mayo To the young man who lives in Bekan; Frank Burke, that young gay blade, Paragon of beauty and excellence: With his bright flawless cheeks And shining blue eyes’ Not a man of renown in all the earth But gladly admits him to his confidence and friendship [English translation by Prof. Nollaig O Muirithile from the book -Bekan - Portrait of an East Mayo Parish] |