Ardnurcher

Patrick Weston Joyce
1923

Ardnurcher in Westmeath; a corruption of Athnurcher, from Ath-an-urchair, Four Masters, the ford of the cast or throw. According to a very ancient legend, a battle was fought here in the first century, between the Connaught and Ulster forces. Keth Mac Magach, a Connaught chief, threw a hard round ball at Conor mac Nessa, king of Ulster, and struck him on the head, from the effects of which the king died seven years afterwards.