A view of Kilmallock, 1820’s,from the south east, by J.G. Mulvany. Reproduced by courtesy The Hunt Museum, Limerick. THE STORY OF KILMALLOCK ~ iii ~ Do Phroinséas, a chuir suas liom, fad is a bhi an leabhar seo a scriobh agam. ~ iv ~ THE STORY OF KILMALLOCK by Mainchín Seoighe Kilmallock Historical Society Cill Mocheallóg, Co. Luimnigh ~ v ~ (c) Mainchín Seoighe 1987. First edition published 1987. Second edition published by Kilmallock Historical Society 2012. Cover image Kilmallock circa 1820, by J.G. Mulvany. Reproduced by courtesy National Gallery of Ireland. Printed and Bound by: Carraig Print Inc. Litho Press, Cork - 021 4883458 Publications by Kilmallock Historical Society Why Not Visit Historic Kilmallock (1989). Kilmallock Dominican Priory – An Architectural Prospective 1291 – 1991 by Arlene Hogan (1991). Kilmallock Journal 2000, 2001, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011. Chun Glóire Dé – A History and Guide to Kilmallock Catholic Church Compiled by Noel Ó Coileáin (2004). Some other Books of Kilmallock interest: Echoes of Ballingaddy by Catherine O’Mahony (1988). An Mangaire Súgach: The Poet’s Life and a Commentary on his poems (1995). By Comer-Bruen/Ó Hógáin Kilmallock Fenians by Imelda O’Riordan (2011). Seán Moylan by Aideen Carroll (2010) A Quick Escape, by Vincent Books by Mainchín Seoighe: ~ Maraíodh Seán Sabhat Aréir ~ The Story of Kilmallock ~ Cois Máighe na gCaor ~ The Joyce Brothers of Glenanaar ~ Bruree ~ The Irish Quotation Book ~ Dromin Athlacca ~ County Limerick: Its People & Places ~ Portrait of Limerick ~ Staker Wallis ~ De Valera and Bruree ~ From Bruree to Corcomohide ~ vi ~ CONTENTS Page Author’s Preface ix Foreword xii An Introduction to this Edition xiv Kilmallock District in Prehistory - and Later 1 Mocheallóg and the Monastery of Kilmallock 13 The Norman Town of Kilmallock 17 Medieval Kilmallock 24 Growing Importance of Kilmallock 36 Kilmallock, Town of the Geraldines 43 Geraldine Rebellion and Sack of Kilmallock 51 Kilmallock in Final Phase of Geraldine Rebellion 66 Kilmallock’s New Charter 79 Kilmallock and the Nine Years War 86 Kilmallock in Early 17th Century 100 The Cromwellian Period 107 Jacobite Williamite War and Penal Laws 123 Wild Geese and Gaelic Poets 137 Cootes, Olivers, Travellers, Whiteboys, United Irishmen 152 Old Roads, Crofton Croker’s Visit, Schools 167 End of Corporation, Old Rental, The Workhouse 179 The Famine, Eoghan Caomhánach, Executions 191 The Fenians attack Kilmallock Police Barracks 204 The Land League Period 219 Recovery, Labourers’ Cottages, Hiring Fair, Rural District Council 235 Into the New Century 251 The War of Independence 256 The Civil War 287 The Story to Date 294 Relics of the Past 318 Some Lore and Songs of Kilmallock 335 Churches, Clergy, Members of Parliament 347 Placenames 353 Names from the Fiants 360 Some Notable Kilmallock Men 365 Early Enterprises, Industries and Organisations 371 ~ vii ~ List of Sponsors and Patrons 403 Source References 404 Index 424 ~ viii ~ AUTHOR’S PREFACE Having already written books about my neighbouring parishes of Bruree and Dromin/Athlacca, I began, some years ago, to think about my native parish of Kilmallock. But the more I began to ponder on the historical importance of Kilmallock the more I felt unequal to the task of writing a book about it. However, as time passed, and as nobody else seemed likely to do so, I eventually decided to undertake the task. I might add that my interest in the history of Kilmallock was first awakened by the late Joe Gaffney, of Lord Edward Street, a man whose great pride in Kilmallock was matched by his knowledge of its past. I have called the book The Story of Kilmallock rather than A History of Kilmallock, for while the book is, to a very large extent, a history of Kilmallock, it also contains some material such as one does not normally find in a history book. Anecdotes, and verses from poems and songs, are introduced from time to time. My main reason for choosing the title, The Story of Kilmallock, had to do with the fact that a booklet published in connection with the opening of a new primary school for boys in Kilmallock, in 1967, bore the title Kilmallock — A Town with a Story. Because of the relatively small size of the booklet, the story of Kilmallock could only be hinted at in it, and so the story of Kilmallock still remained to be told in its entirety, or as near to entirety as would be possible. To tell that story is what l have attempted to do in this book. I am well aware that more remains to be discovered about the history of Kilmallock than what I have chronicled in the book. But I am glad I have written the book, for I think it will bring home to the people of Kilmallock, and to the people of Co. Limerick, and to the people in other parts of Ireland who may read it, just how important was this splendid Geraldine town, with its magnificent cut-stone mansions, and its towers and walls and gates, standing at what was once the crossroads of Munster. I am grateful to the very many people from whom I have received advice or information while writing the book. For their constant and invaluable support and encouragement, I would like, first of all, to thank the members of the History Book Committee of Kilmallock Historical Society: Treasa Ní Dhochartaigh, Noel Collins, Michael Donegan, Christy Murphy, Seán Naughton and John O Leary. And I would like to thank the following: archaeologists Margaret Gowan, Glenageary, and Christine Tarbett, Hospital, for information on the excavation of the Neolithic house site at Tankardstown; Professor ~ ix ~ Breandán O Madagáin, UCG., Professor Tomás O Máille, Galway, and Diarmuid O Murchadha, M.A., Crosshaven, for their assistance in elucidating the meanings of certain Kilmallock placenames; Professor Pádraig O Riain, U.C.C., and Professor Seán O Cinnéide, U.C.G., for information on St. Mocheallóg; Liam Irwin, lecturer, Mary Immaculate Training College, Limerick, Professor Pádraig de Brún, Institute for Advanced Studies, Dublin, Gerard Lee, S.C., Dublin, Maurice Craig, Dublin, the late Dr. A.T. Lucas, Dublin, Walter Mac Grath, Cork, Siobhán O Doherty, Quarry Hill, Cormac O Riordan, Mallow, Ven. Archdeacon Brian Snow, Kilmallock, and Jim Meagher, Cobh, for information on various aspects of the history of Kilmallock; Dr. Dáithí O hÓgáin, UCD., for notes on the lore of Kilmallock; Dr. Eamon O hÓgáin, RIA., for information on the poet, Eoghan Caomhánach. My thanks too to Chris O Mahony, Regional Archivist, Limerick, and to the following librarians: Gerard Lyne, National Library, Dublin, Muiris O Floinn and Aine Thornhill, of Limerick City Library, Róisin de Nais and Seosaimhin Nic Cába, of Limerick County Library, Nóra de Brún, U.C.C. Library. All were most helpful. A very special word of thanks to John O Riordan, Gortboy, for permission to use the unpublished papers of his late father, Seán T. O Riordan, covering the War of Independence and Civil War periods. And thanks to Patrick Fitzgerald, Sheares St., Kilmallock, for the minute book of the Kilmallock Amalgamated Trades Society; to Mrs. Mary R. O Connor, Nenagh, for the diary of James W. Joyce, which had belonged to her father, the late Dan Mac Namara, Sheares St., Kilmallock; and to Micheál Ó Súilleabháin, Emmet St., for letting me see manuscript notes of Nicholas Gaffney. Then there were the many people who supplied information on the Kilmallock of recent times, and to whom I am deeply gratefull; Timothy J. O Donovan, Gortboy, John Brazill, Beechlawn, Kilmallock Hill, Jimmy Ryan, Sheares Street, Christy Clifford, Millmount, Connie Hannon, Steales, Jim Hogan, Ballygibba South, John J. Carroll, Mountfox, Paddy Tierney, Dromin, Thomas O Doherty, Millmount, Very Rev. Gerard Canon Wall, P.P., Kilmallock, Rev. Fr. Mark Crowley, Kilmallock Hill, Rev. Fr. John Carr, Glenfield, Denis Crowley, Kilmallock Hill, Jackie Houlihan, Deebert, Jim Moloney, Sarsfield Street, Mrs. Dinah O Grady, Sheares Avenue, Mrs. M. Leahy, Sarsfield Street, Michael Barry, M.C.C., Railway Road, Kevin Carroll, Sarsfield Street, Mrs. D. Costello, Bruff, Mary Mulvihill, Millmount, Mrs. H. Noonan, Wolfe Tone Street, Mary Hayes, Emmet Street, Violet Bailey, ~ x ~ Grainganster, Tom Bailey, Graigarister, Mrs. N. O Grady, Sarsfield Street, Callaghan Mac Carthy, Glenfield, Máirin Ui Loinsigh. Steales, An tAth, P.B. Mac Cionaoith, O.P., Droichead Nua, John J. Mac Namara, CAO., Parnell St., Limerick, Fr. John Fleming, Rome, Mrs. N. Naughton, Emmet St. Kilmallock, Richard Moylan, Shortcastle, Mallow. Finally, I would like to thank Fr. John Leonard, C.C., Kilmallock, who wrote the Foreword for the book, and whose helpful advice was always available. Níor thuigeas féin cé chomh tábhachtach is a bhí Cill Mocheallóg lá den saol go dtí gur thosaíos ar an leabhar seo a scríobh, agus go bhfaca mé go mbíodh se a lua tráth i measc bailte agus cathracha mar Chill Chainnigh, Luimneach, Chionn tSáile, Ghaillimh agus fiú Baile Átha Cliath féin. Baile Gaelach ab ea Cill Mocheallóg, ina mbíodh an Ghaeilge á labhairt ag Gaeil agus Gearaltaigh: ag Séamus Mac Muiris mhic an Iarla lá a ghéillte i bhfianaise na n-uasal Gallda; ag na filí Gaeilge a thaithíodh an baile; ag an muintir a bhaist na logainmneacha ar iliomad páirc, gort agus fearann sa pharóiste. Ta áthas orm go bhfuil scéal Chill Mocheallóg, agus scéal a mhuintire, ríofa agam sa leabhar seo. Seo, mar sin, scéal Chill Mocheallóg, Baile álainn Gearaltach in allód, Baile a creachadh is a dódh, Baile spreag laochas agus bród. Mainchín Seoighe Baile Thancaird,. La Fhéile Mocheallóg, 1987 ~ xi ~ FOREWORD The development of towns in Ireland began after the Norman settlement in the later twelfth century. Kilmallock is one of these towns, and to this day retains the shape given it by its Anglo-Norman builders, notably its cross-linear street pattern and burgage plots, many of which appear to be undisturbed since they were first alloted.