Lisrace

LISRACE (fort of ….. ) Area 145:3:3

Griffiths Valuation 1862

Occupier……………………....Lessor Robert Johnston……………………...Rev. John Richardson H Os & L Thomas Maines…………………….. Rev. John Richardson H Os & L James Carey………………………… Rev. John Richardson H Os & L Francis Foster………………………. Rev. John Richardson H Os & L Primitive Wesleyan Methodist Meeting House…………... Rev. John Richardson Exemptions Simon Elliott………………………....Rev. John Richardson H Os & L Thomas Wilson………………………Rev. John Richardson James Johnston……………………… Rev. John Richardson

Drumady Methodist Church 1858, built on a site between the Lacky road and a stretch of the old Dublin road coming from Mullavea/ Killyliffer. This little church was originally Primitive Wesleyan i.e. that part of the Methodist movement which believed that it should remain as an evangelistic society within the Established Church. This movement was particularly strong Monaghan/Fermanagh with Clones as its centre. That the Methodist movement should become a separate church as was the wish of urban districts where many people who became the Methodists had no strong links to the Parish church. That Drumady was Primitive Wesleyan is probably why the Rev Richardson, who was a C. of I. clergyman felt able to lease the site for the meeting house. In later years most of the C. of I. bishops and some of the clergy strongly disapproved of Methodist preachers. By 1877 the two strands of Methodism had re-united as the Methodist Church in Ireland.

1901 Census

Head of Family…………………Landholder if different Margaret Johnston Martha Johnston Edward Carey Bernard Donegan Eliza McGovern……………………….Bernard Donegan James Wilson Joseph Howe…………………………..Frank Foster of Dromady Sarah Harris…………………………....Mrs Foster of Aghnachuill

There was a shop in one of the Johnston houses kept by a Robert Johnston a brother of Martha Johnston who taught in Aghadrumsee. After their time the shop and farm was the home of another Johnston family and is now part of the Emerson farm. This was the scene of a murder the 23rd September 1980 when S/Con Ernest Johnston was shot by I.R.A. terrorists when returning home from duty.

Surnames in 2005

Farrell Wilson Lynch Moffatt

Former Residents    Irwin     Henry   Somerville

Wilson's Forge

Wilson’s Forge was one of many forges in the country side but was probably the longest lasting. The family story is that the first Wilson in the area was a blacksmith with Cromwell’s army who at some point met up with a local girl, married and settled down. The family followed the blacksmith trade for several generations, setting up in Lisrace in 1830.

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  Mrs Wilson and the blacksmith stand together beside the tools and products of the forge

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  Elizabeth, John and Sady Johnston, standing outside the old forge, they can remember going there as children

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  Lisrace Forge Bill

This is part of a long account of work done for the Murray family in Mullavea in the years 1881 to 1883. The ‘removes’ were the moving of an animal’s shoes to another foot to ensure even wear. Apparently the bill was paid every few months with round sums e.g. eight or ten shillings but always with a balance left running. The forge closed at Lisrace in 1970 with the retirement of the last blacksmith Mr Robert Wilson. At that time the use of the horse for farm work or transport had ended. However, the life of the actual forge and its tools has not ended for it is in working order in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum at Cultra where a group from the Killyfole and District Development Association visited it two years ago. At the present time, with the increased interest in riding as a leisure pursuit and for children, there are more ponies in the area than has been the case for a long time.