The superstition around Fr. Manus Sweeney is what myths are made of. There is superstition around his life and death that even reach beyond the grave. Bridie Mulloy recorded much of it in her folklore collection. Most of the informants stories matched with of course slight variations but the general consensus was that the was certainly something myth-like about the patriot priest.
The most mysterious occurrence which is sadly fading from living memory has to be when Emily, Anita, Eva and the committee for the erection of a monument dedicated to Fr. Sweeney back in 1944. Theresa McDonald recorded the folklore of the event in her book Achill Island;
The people of Achill decided to build a monument to commemorate his death, but could not agree on a suitable location. One evening, two men saw a bright light down on the shore beside Fr. Manus’s old home in Dookinella and, needless to say the monument was erected there, where it stands to the present day.
1798 Monument in Castlebar
A myth that lives on but is all but forgotten is the one that since Fr. Sweeney was hanged it always rains on market day in Newport!
Market Day in Newport in the Rain