dromiskin
Two miles north of Castlebellingham, this was an important ecclesiastical center from the time of St Patrick. It was a residence of the archbishops of Armagh during the 14th century, one of whom Milo Sweetman died here in 1380. The early monastic foundation was frequently plundered by the Danes of Annagassan and was eventually abandoned, the monks taking refuge in St. Mochta's of Louth. The remains of a round tower still survive from this period, standing in the churchyard of the Church of Ireland Parish Church, the site of the early monastery. Here also will be found the remains of a ringed-cross in the Celtic style and a carved spiral pillar of ninth/tenth century origin, part of the old church doorway. A mile north west of the village stands the 15th century tower house of the Gernons of Milltown. Reference.
The Old Callan Family of Dromiskin
By Canon Johnson
The Dundalk Democrat and People's Journal,
Saturday, March 1, 1930
As far back as our Parish Registers go, no name therein appears so frequently as the name of Callan. The very early spelling was Caulan - later on Calan, and many finally the present Callan. For many years before 1800 the homes of the parish were literally honeycombed with Callans - from Lynns to Lurgangreen and from Derrycamma to Fane.Few families, however, furnish more material for local history than the very old interesting Callan family of Dromiskin. In the year 1664 - and before it - this particular family with Nicholas at its head lived here at the four crossroads in the very heart of the village. they were then extensive landholders, malsters, bakers, in addition to managing the old Mail coaches from Castlebellingham to Dundalk.
One of the oldest tombstones in Dromiskin graveyard, carved in Celtic tracery marks the grave of Patrick Callan who died 21st February 1736. His family were closely allied to the Neary Ginnety (and probably Verdon) families at the time; while other branches settled down in Belregan and Philipstown, and later Dundalk, where they were engaged in the milling industry; and others still settled in Salterstown and Nicholastown in the parish of Togher. Father Richard Callan who lived with his sister died at Nicholastown, 10th December 1805.
Immediately behind the neat Celtic stone in Dromiskin cemetery that marks the grave of Patrick Callan stands a much larger stone over the same grave erected to the memory of Nicholas Callan who died in 1783. The latter had many brothers as well as sons. From this period onwards the local family increased and multiplied to such an extent that Dromiskin becomes entirely too small for them. Hence they branched off far and wide throughout the world providing nuns for the cloister as well as many priests for the service of the sanctuary.
Whether the old Corderry family of the same name - to which the late Fr. John Callan, S.J. belonged and which branched to Tullage and Shamrock - originally sprang from the Dromiskin family is very difficult to prove. There is a strong tradition in many quarters that such was the case, and further information on the point will be interesting. It is a fact, that one branch of each family met as far apart as Drumcashel, though not on the identical same holding, but an adjacent farms, about the year 1835. It will take some further time also to trace accurately the close relationship between the heads of the prominent families that follow. Some of them were undoubtedly brothers.
Denis Callan, known as Donncadh Mor (Big Denis) was the last to occupy the old Callan homestead in Dromiskin, down to about the year 1820. He married in 1795 Catherine Flanagan, and had seven children all of whom were born in the old home at the cross-roads of the village. One daughter, Lucy Callan who was baptized 16th October 1801, was mother of the present Mr. Redmond McGrath, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk.
John Callan of Dromiskin settled in Steanstown about the year 1800, and he was married to Anne Callan. He was a member of the Ardee Parochial Committee when the foundation stone of St. Mary's handsome church was laid on 8 September 1829. he died in 1836 and is buried in Dromiskin with many of his children in the centre grave of the Callan plot. One son, Patrick was married and had three daughters two of which became Loreto nuns and the third married James Durnin.
Patrick Callan of Dromiskin with his sister Anne Callan settled in Salterstown about the year 1800, apparently a second reinforcement there from the parent stock of dromiskin. Anne Callan married George McGuire and their direct descendants are still living in the parish of Togher. Patrick Callan married Anne Branigan and had four children, one son Richard, born in Salterstown 14th February, with three daughters. Richard Callan was the head of the well-known Tymullen family.
Patrick and Nicholas Callan left Dromiskin and were farmers and millers at Drumear. Patrick was married and had a daughter Margaret, who married Bernard Keelan. Most of the members of this branch are buried within the precincts of the old church at Drumcar.
Philip Callan of Dromiskin settled in Dowdstown and was married to Elizaberth Neary of Whiterath 20th February 1792. The family record here is very well preserved to the present day, containing as it does the children of the above marriage as well as the many branches of the Dowdstown family to Cookstown, Newry, Dundalk, Ballybarrack. Counties Meath and Monaghan, and later on to Dublin City.
Denis Callan of Dromiskin known as Donneadh beag (Small Denis) married Margaret Smith before the year 1790 and settled in Darver on the western side of Dundalk-Ardee Road close to the big bog just outside the Northern boundary of Christianstown. There were four sons and two daughters in this family. the second youngest, Nicholas was baptized by Father George Dowd, P.P., 22nd December 1799, with sponsors Philip Callan and Maria McNellow. This Nicholas became afterwards the celebrated Scientist-Priest - Dr. Callan of Maynooth.
The death of his father Denis, followed almost immediately by the death of his oldest brother James, early in the year 1813 must have been a severe blow to the family. Providence however, intervened. The saintly Father Andrews Levins who was P.P. at the time, was deeply interested in the education of youth, consequently he took young Nicholas in hands, saw him start for the priesthood and enter Maynooth College in the year 1817. From the day he entered Maynooth until his ordination in 1824 his college career was one uninterrupted record of rapid and brilliant success in every department. After a two-years course in the Dunboyne establishment of the national college he proceeded to Rome where he won for himself the great distinction of Doctor of Divinity. The year 1826 saw him appointed Professor of Natural Philsophy and Mathematics in Maynooth although he was then only 26 years of age. ...
The scientific side of his life is admirably treated by his successor, Dr. Lennon, in the Maynooth College Centenary Record where the latter dwells in detail of the great success of his experiments in electricity ... the year 1858 Dr. Callan lectured in what was then known as the Mechanics Institute in Adree where he gave a scientific explanation of his preference for iron instead of copper in secondary wire of his own induction coil. He had previously given a lecture before the British Association on similar lines. But surely it must have been a startling sight for the young students of Maynooth to see a machine of his move itself about the floor of the Hall of Physics well nigh fifty years before the advent of the automobile outside! ...
Some of Dr. Callan's brother's went to live to France and seem to have died there, but the members of his family who died at home are buried beneath the massive flat stone in the ancient graveyard of Dromiskin that enshrines so many hallowed memories.