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Carmelite History
As the Friars were deemed 'foreigners' so under the law their engagement in pastoral activity was tolerated. The Act of Restoration of 1660 allowed the friars back into the town area. In 1670 a William Galwey offered the friars a site on Rathmore Beg (now known as Stonewell).
The Friars built a house on the site among the shelters of the locals consigned there in 1656 by Cromwell's forces . It was known as 'ye olde masshouse on ye rocke'. In 1698 the Act banishing Religious from the town was reinstated and the Friars vacated their masshouse and reverted to living in open caves, woods, and lodging in the homes of friendly and well-disposed locals in places such as Ballintubber Wood and elsewhere across the district like Rincurran, Knopogenaree (Fort Hill), Kilmonoge (Ringanane), Clontead, De Courceys (Old Head, & Gortnacrusha).