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Martin Finnerty, writing about the middle of the last century, was of the opinion that Attymon was part of the territory once inhabited by a tribe known as Clann Cian. Early in the 6th century AD, battle hardened and land hungry Clann Ui Mainia invaded this territory. The more technologically inferior Clann Cian were no match for the Ui Mainia and were enslaved. However Ui Mainia expansion received a setback in 673 AD at Caltra (some seven miles north of Attymon) when local hero, Fionneacta killed in single combat, Cenfeadela, king of the Ui Mainia. The Ui Mainia had a sheltered, guarded house for their womenfolk and children some miles from the actual site of the battle. The location of this "safe house" was known as Áit Tighe n'mBan (sounds like Awtch Chee naw Mon - meaning 'site of the women's shelter').
Finnerty's interpretation deserves some credence especially in view of that magnificent find of bronze artefacts in a bog near Attymon in 1891 by Thomas 'Jim' Cannon. Known as the Attymon Hoard, it is considered to be the finest example of La Tène bronze metalwork found in this country and is permanently displayed in the National Museum, Kildare Street, Dublin.
Indeed some authorities consider that the hoard may have been a votive offering following the death of a leader in battle!
Another slightly less credible version of the meaning of Attymon descends from notoriously unreliable lore. It is claimed that the entire low ground encircling Attymon was once a 'lough' or lake. The region was home to an unearthly monster and became known as Áit Daemon meaning the demon's place. This "creature" was equipped with long-range luminous vision and thus had a distinctly unfair advantage over human prey during the hours of darkness.
As luck would have it, Kerril, an evangelical disciple of St. Patrick, was preaching the Gospel and converting in the locality. Distressed natives, their numbers rapidly dwindling, implored Kerril's help.
Arriving in the dead of night, Kerril knelt on a stone flag some distance from the lake. This stone is said to have borne the impression of the saint's knees and the place was afterwards used as a children's burial ground. The saint approached the lair of the monster whose appetite for its normal diet at that particular time appears to have been temporarily appeased.
Praying at a number of 'stations' he forced the supernatural beast to hightail it underground forever. Afterwards the lough became enclosed by a millennium and a half of bog growth and today all that remains is Kerril's unfailing spring well in the townland of Gortn'lun.
As for the banished demon it is believed that it lies in slumber deep, patiently awaiting release by some unsuspecting modern day lough maker! Kerril was later proclaimed a saint of the early Christian Church in Ireland and is still venerated by the descendants of Kerrill's early Christian community. On June 13 every year pilgrims come in droves to commemorate the saint's 'labour stations' at St. Kerril's Holy Well across the fields from Attymon .
Pupil of Attymon NS, in the 1940's, were taught that the name Attymon was derived from 'Ait Ti Muinn' and meaning "the place of Muinn's House" Nowadays the official name is Ath Tiomain -- whatever it means!!!!
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