sign in sign up
<<
Home , Athlacca, Bridget, Castle Oliver, Earl of Desmond, Fedamore, History of Limerick

ROUND ABOUT

THE OF :

BY REV. JAMES DOW'D, A.B.,

AUTHOR OF

"LIMERICK AXD ITS SIEGES."

Zfnterick : G. McKERN & SONS, PUBLISHERS. PREFACE.

INasking my readers to accompany me on an Historical and Archzological Tour Round About the County of L~merick,I have consulted their convenience by grouping events around the places brought under notice. The arrangement may lead to occasional repetition, and the narrative may sometimes be left incomplete, to bf resumed and finished elsewhere. But, on the o ?r hand, it possesses the undoubted advantage of fixlng the % FRINTED BY attention of the reader upon the events and occur- e. W'KERN AND SONS, LINERICK. rences which render the places visited memorable. This little work 1s intended to be, as far as possible, a history of those places in the County of Limerick about which there is something to be told. The length of time covered ranges from the pre-historic period almost up to the present. Around the hill

of Knockainy linger memories of the last remnants , of an extinct race. The waters of Lough Gur and the adjacent swamps y~eldup remains of animals no longer to be found in th~scountry. The same district preserves the rude memorials of men of the Stone Age whose cromlechs, circles and pillar stones have survived all the changes and chances of the inter- vening centuries. The vigorous heathenism of the early Celts has bequeathed the names of its last heroes to several of the more noticeable physical features of the county, To them succeeded the VI. PREFACE.

Christian saints, whose names at least are pre- served in connexion with the numerous churches with wh~chthey.occupied even the remotest parts. CONTENTS. To the cell of the saint succeeded the stately abbey, and domestic architecture is now first represented -+ by the castles of the Anglo-Norman settlers who CHAPTER I. were soon to become more Irish than the Irish KILNALLOCK :- PAGE th-mselves. The Celt, the Dane, and the Norman Church of St. Xocheallog; Foundation of Kilmal- have made history in this County of Limerick. It lock ; Earliest references ; Sacked by ; is my object to present their doings to the reader Submission of Fitzmzurice ; Revolt of the of in as complete and as interesting a manner as in Desmond ; the Sugan Earl ; the Queen's Earl ; the Fenim Rising; Kilmallook in l775 ; Present me Iies. Matters of importance, which could not Condition ; the Castle; the RTallsand Gates ; the be easily woven into the texture of the narrative, CHURCH OP ST. PETER AND ST. PAUL; Ancient have been reserved as notes at the end of the chapters Tombs; the DOMINICAN ABBEY, its foundation; the to which they belong. White ; Tomb of the last White ; It is my duty to thank the Council of the Royal Capture of the Sugan Earl ; the Burgate Inscrip- Society of Antiquaries (), for permission to tion ; Description of the Abbey. NOTES:-Charters of Kilmdlock, 1584, 1594; reprint the first chapter, that on , from Dues of the ; KilmalIock the~rJournal, in which it first appeared. My thanks Tokens; the Fitzgerdd Monument, ,.. 1 are also duet$&? Board of Trinity College, , for permission tohprint Lady Dowdall's narrative in CHAP TEE II. Chapter XIV, and to make use of Sir Hardress :- Waller's deposition, both of which are to be found Seat of the O'Hurleys; Origin of Name ; the Siege in the MS. depositions preserved in the College of Dram D~mhghaire,A.D. 220; Tobermore; the Territory of the White Knights; the Xilfinane t~brary. I have also to acknowledge my obligations Fort; Galbally ; Tomb of 01io11 01um ; Duntry- to Lord Dunraven's Memorials of for infor- league. mation used in the portion of Chapter VII. dealing NOTES:--Hurley ~vonumentin Cathedral, 33 with the progress of that picturesque village in the present century. CHAPTER 111. :- JAMES DOWD. Position of Ardpatrick ; Earliest References ; the Red Gap ; the Ancient Feni; Visit of St. Patrick; LI~IERICK, Legend of Tirnanoqe ; the Monastery ; Legend of 8th December, I 896. the Bells, .., a.. ..o ...... 42 VIII. CONTENTS. CONTENTS. IX.

CHAPTER Iv. PAGE CHAPTEE VIZ. PAGE ADAEE :- THZ STORY OF THE ROYAL FORT:- Origin of the name : Legend of tbe Fire-breathing Bull; Naurice Fitzgerald, Lord JustTce; Charters, Ui Conall Gabhra ; Position of Brutee ; the Chiefs Description of by Carnden ; John Wesley; VILLAGE of the Ui Fidhgeinte; Alliance with the Danes; OF ADARI; ADABEM ANOR ; CASTLE OF ADARE,the Defeat of Danes at Sulcoit ; Sulmission of Donovan; of , the Garrison and the Irish, Earl Murder of Nnhon ; 's Lament ; Brian becomes of Essex, Acquired by the Quins, Description of the King; Defeats Donovan and Molloy ; Site of the Parish Church ; the Bridge ; the FRAN~ISCAN Royal Fort ; the Norman Castles; Tnmulus, ... 51 B ABBEY, its Foundation and Benefactors, Lands Leased to Wallop, Description of; the AU~U~T~NIAN CHAPTER B. ABBEY, its Foundation and Restoration; the LOUGH GUR :-- T~NITARIANABB EY, its Foundation, Decay and Restoration ; the pigeon House. Characterlsrics ; Area ; Legend of the Earl of Desmond; the GRANNOUS;the ISLANDFORTRESS; NOTES :-Lease of Abbeys 1582, 1595, ... 102 Fortified by Urian Boru ; Fortified by the Gerald- ines ; Black Castle ; Lough Uur Castle ;Description CIIAPTER VIIL by Dineley ; Raid in 1599 ; Inspected by Carew GROOM AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD :- 1600 ; Betrayal to the English; Paam A%TIQUST~ES Situation, Arrival of Anglo-, the Verdons ; -The Stone Circles, their sitnation, origin and Earls of Kildare; CHURCE OF DPSERT; Aenghus design ; Pillar Stones, Cromlech-Ancient Nunnery, the Culdee ; ROITNDTQWER os DYSER~; Origin Wew Church,Tullyhrackey; ROUTE FROM LTNERICK and Use of Round Towers; Tower of Donaman ; TO LOUOB Gas-Donaghmore, Ballynegrtrd~, ABBEY OF MANISTFR,Foundation by Turlogh Rochestovn. Cahirell~ Church and Csstle, O'Brien ; Battle of 1365 ; Battle of 1579: Legend Raleighbtown Court. t of the Monks; Results of the Battle; NOTES.--Geology of Lough Gur ; Fossil Sir Warham St. Leger; Description of remains ; Brian Uoru's Fort ; the O'Hea the Abbey, Castle of Rathmore, Castle of Gleuogra, Monument, ...... 65 Croker Monument at . NOTES :-From Archdall's Monasticon ; Batble CHAPTER BI. of Manister ; Verdon Family, .., ... 131

KNOCKAINY AND :- CHAPTER 1X. The Dedanaans, Their Monuments, Hunting THE FASTNESS OF CONNELLO :- Grounds of the Peni, Cuchullin and his Charioteer ; Some Ancient Hunts, Reference in the "Four March of Captain Warde; Expedition of 1580; BIasters ;" Fort erected by , Desmond Expedition of the ; Carew's Estimate Castle, BruE; Pierce Lacy and the Garrison of the Fifteenth Earl of Desmond ; O'Neill's Revolt ; the Sugan Earl ; Plot of Dermod O' ; Capture Kilmallock ; the Lacys, ...... es CONTENTS. XI. X. CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XII. CHAPTEEIX-Camtinued. PAGE PAGE f NEWCASTLE-WEST :- of the Sngan Earl, his Release; Carew's March Clonglais; Castle of the Templars; Early Refer- thro,~gh Connello; Capture of Sugan Earl; ences to Newcastle; Thoma8-an-dppa,h; De,zth of Ballingarry and its Castles ; Cloncagh ; Rathkede ; the Eighth Earl of Desmond here; Possessions of Assassination of Earl of Desmond there; Abbey Thomas-an-Appagh; the Fitzgibbons of Mzhoon- and Castle ; the Palatines ; Riddlestown ; C~pp~g'a agh; the First White Knight ; the Sept of the Old Castle ; Ballycshane ; Killulta ; Pallas. Knight ; the Lands of MacGibbon of ; Xo~~ls:-Grants in Connello to Collam, Castle of Meine ; Gort-na-Tiobrad; Battle of 1579 ; 1595 ; Grants to T. C. D. ; Land Ne~sure- F the Great Wood; and St. ; Abbey- ments ; John Wesley and the Palatines, .. 133 feale ; Purt Castle ; the Disinherited Desmond.. NOTES :-Lands of Thomas 1298 and 1300; CHAPTER X. Grants to Hunqerford and Sir H. Ught~ed; IKEATOX :- Possessions of Thomas Cawne, 1596, ,.. 211 Foundation of Castle; Refuge of the Earls of CHAPTER XIII. Desmond; Captnre by Sir Henry Pelham ;Re~overy THE ARDlGH CUP:- by the Supn Earl ; Relief by the Earl of Essex ; Its Discovery, Description of, Inscription on; Early -Snlwnder -. -. to Irish Confederation 1642 ; Description Chalices ; Most Rev. Doctor Realy on the Cup, his of Castle ; Foundation of Abbey ; Attempted Resto~ation; Description of Abbey ; Hticuse of identification with cup presented to Clonmacnois by King Turlogh O'Conor ; References from the Knights Templars ; &Ionaster-na-Galliagh. Chronicon Scotorunz and Annals of the Four Masters; NOTES:- Grants to Sir E. Berkeley hy Sir A. Legend of St. Patrick ; Glenastar, 232 St. Leger ; Chalice ; Stephenson Monu- ...... merit, ...... 158 ... CHAPTER XIP. LADY DOWDALL'S DEFENCE OF KILFINNY CHAPTER XI. CASTLE, 1642 :- THE KSIGHTS 01' GLIN :- Beginning of the Insurrection ; Resources of the Origin of the Knights; Sir William Bethsm on the Confederates ; Castletown besieged ; Surrender of ; the Knight of the Valley; Importa~ceof Castles; Position of Kilfinny Castle ; Defended by Knight of the Valley; the Knights during the Lady Domdall ; Lady Dowdall's narrative ; List of Deamond Wars ; Siege of Glin by Carew in 16 10 ; the Resiegers, ...... 340 Description of Glin Castle; Castle of Shanid, descri- XT. ption of; Conflicts with the Danes in the neigh- CHAPTER A COUNTY GENTLEMAN OF THE SEVEN- bourhood ; Knockpatrick. TEENTH CENTURY :- ; XOTES:- Lands of the Knights of Glia Grants The Waller Famlly ; Anecdote of Sir Hardress ; of the Knight's Possessions l587 ; Grant Siege of Castletown ; Deposition of Sir Hardress ; to william Carter ; Abstract of Names of Inventory of Cattle and Crops ; the Furnishing of Undertakers ; Castles forsaken 1598 ; the Dwelling-rooms, ...... Pelham's March to Glin, 1580...... l€ ...... 253 CONTENTS. XIII. XII. CONTENTS. -- -

APPENDICES : PACT$ CHAPTER XVI. PAQ E Taxations of the Diocese of Limerick and Emly, 1302-6, ...... 291 & THE BURKE COUNTY :- ... The Celtic Tribes of the County of Limerick, Picturesqueness of Castleconnell ; the Rock of the previous to the arrivd of the dnglo-Normans, ... 306 Gunnings ; O'Conor's Fleet ; Outrage by The County of Limerick in 1598, ...... 311 O'Hrien ; Castle Biiilt by Walter de Burgh; b urnames of the County of Limerick, ...... 313 Eurkes, more Irish than the Irish themselves; Extracts from the Boolc of relating to the Encounter with Fitzmaurice ; Skirmish with Sir County, ...... 316 Thomas Xorris; Extinction of the of Lord Names of Proprietox of Lands forfeited in 1653, ... 318 Castleconnell ; Destruction of Castle ; the Burkes High Sheriffs of the County of Limerick, ... 319 of Brittits; their interview with Carew ; Execution Members of Parlimxent for the Connt>y of, Limerick, of Sir John ; ; Burke Monument ; ...... "? ...... 325 Maunsell Nonument, ...... 263 Do. for Kilm~~llock,...... 325 no. for ...... 329 Census of 1591, County and City of Limerick, ... 331 CHAP2%R X VII.

THE T'AKISHED ABBEY:- Two Districts of Owney; Grant to Fitzwalter; Foundation of Al~bey; Its Suppression ; Burned by O'Carmll ; Grant to Walter Aphoell ; Grant to Walsh ; Demolished by the Stepneys ; Dineley's Description of the Abbey; the Walsh Monument; the Barry Monument ; the Byan Monument ; Remainder of Dineley's Tour in the County of Limerick; Importance of the Site; O'Donnell at Hoiycross; his March over the Morass; Bridge and Inscription thereon.

NOTEB:- Charters of Theobald E'itawalter j Grant to Aphoell; Grant to Walsh; Presentation of the Abbot to a Prebend in St. Mary's Cathedral; Inquisitions 1568 and 1596; Sir Henry Sydney to Privy Council, l576 ; References in Archdall's Monasticon Hibernicum ; the Barry Monu- ment, ...... 27 MAPS AND ILLUSTRATIONS.

FACIPiG PAGE Map of the County of Limerick in the Sixteenth Ccntarj- ...... I rominiean .khbey, RiImallock ...... 15 Tile Castle, Adwe ...... 109

Chulch aacl Bound Tower of Dysert ..... 133 Siege of' Glm-reduced from illustration in Pacata Hzbem~a ...... 193 dbbs~of ngton, from Dineley's Sketch ... 2i5

ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK.

CHAPTER I. KILMALLOCK.

KILMALLOCK derives itsname from the church erected by St. Mocheallog, in the seventh century, the remains of which are still to be found on the hill some five hundred yards north of the present town. This ecclesiastical foundation con- tinued to flourish till the eleventh century at least, as deaths of members of the community are re- corded in the "Annals of the Four Masters " unde_i the years 1028 and 1050. Kilmallock does not seem to have been of any importance till the Geraldines got possession of it ;*id laid the foundations of its future eminence. :*he place seems to have been overshadowed by tiruree, the seat of sovereignty of the district, from tile days of OIioll Ollum to the time of Mahon, bother of Brian Boru. Kilmallock is very seldom, C3U2\'TY OF LIMERICK. 3 2 RQbUND ABOUT THE ------

W wuxtv F-: ~bersto Parliament-a privilege if at all, mentioned in connection with thc 1sice5 ~tl'chlt ;' -:.& *,:l1 the Union. sant warfare of the centuries preceding the X--~1rnk2 Amongst the last representatives of Kllmallock occurs the name of Conquest. John F~tzgibbon,afterwards Earl of CIare and Lord On the arrival of the English the Geraldlnes Chancellor of Ireland. gradually made themselves masters of the south 'The historlc references to Kilmallock, durlng the of Ireland, and wrth it that tract known as the reign of Elizabeth, are numerous, and its name Golden Vein. It is very probable that K~ImallocB is closely linked with the fate of the last of the owes its ex~stenceas a town, at least on ~tspresent Desmonds. Here the Lord Deputy summoned site, to that branch of the family which settled Garret, the last Earl, to appear before him and themselves in the district. The position of the compose his drfferences with his hereditary enemies, new town was well chosen. It stood In the midst of one of the most fertile plains of FAmste~It the Butlers (1567). The Earl replied that he would come R& srmmex-at the head of 5,000 men. The lay on the road between Lmerick a d , a*;l Qdrl was arrested, conveyed to , and com- in such a position as to command tb~:~qportant rnitwl 'LQ '52 T3w~r. Dur~nghis absence hrs Pass of Richan or the Red Gap. The great natura: - .xus~i:,. ~anesI .tzmaurice, assumed the leader- strongholds of the Glen of Aherlow and the -voodz\l ship ~r t.le Gcraidines, and taking advap'age of n~ount S of Upper Connelloe were or t;:ue: slde the Iernpc-ary 2 bsevce of the Lord ~eput~:'&tacked and these same retreats, whlch afforded ;3wte~rio*- ?G!mdxck and toi;czli)- destroyed it on the 2nd of to the expelled Irish of the thirteenth century. also March, 1571. From the narrative in the "Annals gave security to the Geraldlnes when they, in of the Four Masters " it will be seen that the place turn, were compelled to Ay before the soldiels of Elizabeth. was possessed of considerable wealth. The wr~ter 4 tells us that James MacMaurice, or Fitzmaur~ce, The earliest distinct references to Kilmallock captured the town, '' not so much from a desik of show that it was a walled town at the end of the / obta~nlngits wealth and great treasures, although thirteenth century, and closely connected wlth that its riches were immense, but because it had always branch of the Desrnond fam~lyknown as the White been the place of rendezvous and rallying-point of Knights, It is not unlikely tnat it was even then the English and GeraIdines against him." What a corporation, for its privileges are recited in a i follows is a lively description of the warfare of the Charter of Edward Ill., whlch granted to the Pro- period :-AcThe inhabitants," continues the narrator, vost and Comrnonalty certain tolls a 4 . as-9: , for n;i~ha: .cne i-v slet-p happily and soundly In the repair of the fortifications. Q*izeu- E! ~abeth me early ;m't s, he n~ght,were roused from thelr granted another Charter in 1584 Jan es 1. e:e~,ec' s:urnhc?s !,&ire sunrlse the following morning by Xilmallock Into a in 1609, perrxttx- :t ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. -4 5 avery fierce attack niade by the warlike troops of together in the church of St. Peter and St. Paul. the MacSweeneys and the MacSheehys who were The Irish Chief was produced before them, and in the servlce of James MacMaurice. They pro- there, on his knees, at the feet of the President of ceeded .to divide amongst themselves the silver, Munster. who held a drawn sword towards his gold, various riches, and precious articles which breast, the haughty Geraldine was compelled to the father would not have acknowledged to his heir, swear allegiance to the Queen of , In or the mother to her daughter on the day before. these abject terms he was forced to confess his They were engaged for three days and nights in guilt :-'' This earth of KilmallocIr, which town 1 carrying away every krnd of treasure and precious have most tra~torouslysacked and burnt, 1 kiss, goods, ~ncludingcups and ornamental goblets, upon and on the same lie prostrate, overfraught with their horses and beasts of burden to the woods and sorrow upon the present vlew of my most mis- forests of Aherlow, and sent some of them privately chievous past." From this time onward Kllrnallock to their friends and wives. After having demolished became, from its position, the chief seat of opera- its stone and wooden buildings they set fire to the tions against the disaffected Geraldines. The Earl town, and raised a dense dark cloud of thick smoke of Desmond was released after an imprisonment of over it, so that Kllmallock became the receptacle years, and resisted all attempts to seduce him from and abode of wolves, in addition to all the mis- his allegiance to the Queen of England. When fortunes which had befallen it before that time." F~tzmauricereturned from the Continent with a A town which it took these experienced plunderers body of Italian and Spanish troops determ~nedon three days to sack must have contained a great revenge, the Earl refused to throw in h~slot with quantity of valuable articles within its walls. It hls kinsman, and when the latter was killed in a may be remarked in passing that the writer quoted skirmish with the De Burghos, and his body quar- above makes no mention of the fate of the in- tered over the gates of the town, the Earl made a habitants. journey to Kilrnallock to assure the Lord Deputy Xilmallock was, however, soon rebuilt and re- of his continued loyalty, and gave his eldest son as stored by Sir John Perrott, who placed a large garri- a hostage for his future obedience. son within its walls. No effort was spared to capture The subsequent history of the last Earl of Fitzmaurice, but in vain. Driven by famine, he at Desmond is well known. He went into revolt, length submitted to the English Commander, who evidently driven to it hy those whose object it was determined to make hls humiliation complete. The to extinguish the influence of this too powerful captive chief was brought to the scene of his former noble. He wandered a fugitive and an outlaw triumph. The nobles of Munster and the dis- amongst the woods that covered the sides of the tinguished officers of the English were gathered Iiills southward of Kilmallock. The English soldiers

D pc 6 ROUND ABOUT THE garrisoned at Kilmallock do not seem to have heen anxious to capture the unhappy fugitive. In the '' Annals of the Four Masters " will be found several instances of the garrison being called out on the report of spies to hunt him down. But somehow he always managed to make his escape, only to fall by the hand of one of his followers, but not in the County of Limerick. In 1598 Sir Thomas Norris made Kilmallock a centre for raiding, in one of which forays he re- ceived a thrust of a pike between the jawbone and the neck in a skirmish with the Burkes of Kilteely, and was carried to Kilmallock where he died. On the appearance upon the scene of the so- called Sugan Earl in the opening years of the seventeenth century, Queen Elizabeth's advisers thought it prudent to restore the lawful Earl of Desmond to the honours of his family. This was the young man who had been delivered as a hostage by his father, and who had been educated at the English Court in a manner becoming his station. Accordingly, in 1600, James, Earl of Desmond, was sent over, attended by the and Boyle, afterwards . The following is the account of his arrival in KilmalIock, as given in the " Annals of the Four Masters " :-

" The young Earl arrived at Kilmallock on a Saturday evening, and was received with unbounded enthusiasm. At the entry of the town a vast con- course was gathered, the streets were crowded, the windows filled with eager faces, the very housetops were covered with people anxious to catch even a COUNTY OF LIMERICK. p. - 7

passing glimpse of the representative of a line of mighty chieftains. That night the Earl was to d~newith Sir John Thornton, Commander of the Garrison, and so great was the number that an escort of soldiers was required to force a passage through the crowd. " Next day was Sunday ; the Earl went to the Protestant service at the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul; all the way thither the people cndea- voured by words and looks to persuade him not to go. He went, however, not understanding what was meant by their hints ; but on coming back agam a vast changf: had taken place in the feelings of the concourse. The favourite of yesterday was mocked, cursed, and spit upon. The town had to be cleared of strangers; there was no longer any respect shown to the heir of the Desmonds ; no one took the slightest notice of him, and he shortly afterwards returned to England, where he died in the following year." In the events of 1641-1651,Kilmallock did not occupy a prominent place, as general attention was centred on Limerick. It was of course held by the Iri& forces for several years, and was one of their ch~efdepots. On the arrival of Ireton the town surrendered without an attempt at rcsistance, and when the investment of Limerick became protracted beyond the time expected for its surrender, the Parliamentary generals were considering the ad- visability of retiring to Kilmallock for them winter quarters. The fall of Limerick, however, rendered the movement unnecessary. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 9

It may be a long cry from 1651 to 1867, but the avoid the sight of misery for which I could not but history of KilmaIlock would be incomplete without feel without being able to remove. After riding a reference to the events of the latter year. During few miles and staring at a sight so unusual as a the outbreak of the Fenian insurrection in March, well-planted park, I eventually turned through an 1867, a fierce attack was made on the police bar- arch under an old castle into a spacious street, rack, which was defended by the head-constable composed of houses which though magnificent were and nine men. The attacking party endeavoured windowless and roofless. An inn was unknown to burn down the door by means of paraffin oil, and here. I got, however, a stable for my horse and a when this failed they tried to break it through with room for myself, where I suppose a fire had not sledge hammers. A furious fire was kept up on been k~ndledsince the last election ; for these ruins the building for severai hours, which was vigorously sent two members to the Ir~shParliament at that returned, till on the arrival of the pol~ce, time, Silver Oliver, Esq., nominating them as the garrlson made a gallant sortie and drove their patron. Sheds were raised within these noble assailants before them. structures too nasty for the habitat~onof English At the present time Kilmallock is a stirring; pigs. This must have been a place of high an- prosperous, and rising place. Since the line of tiquity. Sir James Ware relates that an Abbey of ' railway was constructed new buildings have sprung Dommicans or Black Fr~arswas budt here in the up, stores have been erected, and Kilmallock wears a thirteenth century by the sovereign, brethren, and look of activity not often to be met with in an ancient commonalty. It formerly gave a title to an Earl, town. It is a disadvantage that the station is some and of Viscount to one of the Sarsfield family. It distance from the business part, but the streets are preserves a greater share of magnificence even in extending in that direction, though the intervening its ruins than anything I have yet seen in Ireland. There is but one street now standing entire, but workhouse is to some extent an obstacle to progress. That the place was not always as prosperous or as from some scattered piles and from the foundation business-like, even in recent times, as it is cow, is of others there is reason to suppose that there may abundantly shown by the following description of have been more. The walls round the town, which Rdmallock as it appeared in the eyes of Dr. Camp- in many places still remain, art. of an oblong square. bell in 1775: -" Leaving , I thought the At each angle has been a castle, like those under ne plus ultra of human wretchedness was then which the traveller passes at the end of the remain- passed, but Kilmallock was before me. Had such ing street. One of these is the gaol of the city. scenes presented themselves on leaving Dublin, What do you think of the gaol of Kilmallock, itself curiosity might have proved too weak an incentive the most dreary of all prisons ? The religious to proceed, I should have turned back again to houses have been very stately, This town was 10 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. abandoned by the Irish during the last siege of of some; and persons stiii alive remember having Limerick, and then fitted up by the English army seen traces of gilding on the ornamental stone- as a place of stores." work of one of them since demolished. There ale Such is the description given of Kilmallock a still two old castellated mansions in a state of little over a hundred years ago. Some features decay. They are massiveiy built of hewn stone, remain unchanged and unchangeable, others are lofty, and in their proportions, even after the lapse greatly altered. The numerous ruins which entitle of centuries, still preserve a noble as well as vener- Kilmallock to be cailed " The Baalbec of Ireland " able appearance. Of these edifices one belonged are as noble acd stately as ever, though the hand to the Earl of Buckingham, and the other to the of time has been heavy upon some of them. The Godsell family. traveller still passes through the same arch under The Castle, or rather c~tadel,is s~tuatedin the the same castle, but 110 longer as it was described middle of the town, and blocks up one end of even so late as 1826, into a L& place exhibiting the the street. The passage under the castle was stillness of a sackec".and desolate city." The prin- not suited to the requirements of the present cipal street is wide and spacious as of old, and is traffic, and the roadway is diverted to the east. lined with good hzses, tastefully and neatly kept. The building is rectangular, the walls much In spite of the ma:?y changes rendered necessary "battered " at the base. The height is about by the altered conditions of modern life there is no sixty feet, the top being ornamented with light Irish town whic5 contains so much suggestive of and graceful battlements. This tower was the the past. It is not a new town built on the site or chief military arsenal of the Irlsh army undar the old : it is the oil town with its old-world asso- Lord Castlehaven in 1645. Entrance is obtamed ciations lingering into the nineteenth century and into the lower story, part of which was the ancient partaking of its characteristics. The blending of passage, and part the guardroom ; th~slatter was the antique and the modern is striking. The recently used as a blacksmith's forge'. A flight of ancient mansions have not been removed or de- seventy-three steps, constructed in the thickness of stroyed; they have been assimilated, so to speak. the wall at an angle strengthened for the purpose, On one entire side of the street even now the houses gives access to the upper apartments and leads to present peculiar~rieswhich show them to be of high the battlements, from whence a beautiful view of antiquity, in spite of the newness and freshness of the surrounding count~ymay be obtained. The their appearance. hewith the wide projecting prospect is bounded by the Ballyhowra range and roof under which the birds build their nests was an the massive front of the Galtees on the south ; by ancient mint, and afterwards the gaol mentioned Knockfierna on the north ; whllst eastward the eye before. Battlements on the gables reveal the age ranges as far as the mountains and COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 12 ROUXU ABOUT THE - 13

The course of the wall ran parallel to the river, , and westward to the blue summits of at a distance of about ten yards, and can be easily the mountains wh~choverhang the Lakes of Kil- traced at the foot of the small gardens round to the larney. Charlewlle may be dist~nguishedby its new church from whence we started. The for- tall, slender church spire, an3 K~lfinaneInay be tifications, it may be seen, were rectangular in observed nestling amongst the hills ; Bruff is con- shape, and enclosed a considerable area. All the cealed from view by an Intervening elevation, as \- present town, except some recently erected build- also is . ings towards the railway station, stand within the Not far from the Castle, where the road branches origina! boundar~es. to the left, a beatitiful Roman has recently been erected. At this spot the ancient THE CHURCH OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL walls crossed the road, and here one of the four gates formerly stood ; a piece of masonry at the The most interesting ruins are those of the two very corner of the road was part of the original celebrated ecclesiastical edifices. Of these the more structure. It has now disappeared. About twenty ancient is the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, yards up the road, to the left, is a lime-kiln, the which lies within the walls, and stands in a spacious representat~veof a corner tower of the fortifications. burying-ground, The church consisted of a chancel, From th~spoint the wall extends southwards in nave. side aisles, and transept, but there does not an unbroken lme for a considerable distance. In appear to have been any central tower. The chancel some places it is twenty feet h~gh,and the ram- has been fitted up as the Plotestant Church, and all parts and battlements are in good preservation. traces of architectural ornament have been rig~dly The ditch is partly filled up. A very strong excluded. The nave is separated from the side bast~on,whose baeastworks are nearly as high as aisles by four lofty polnted arches springing from the walls themselves, strengthened the defences at pillars four feet square. In the north aisle are ": th~spart. Just oatside the walls may be observed some very old tombs. The Fitzgerald tomb, lying a very fine cromlech in excellent preservation. The near a pillar, bears the date rggr, and the inscrip- walls extend to the Charleville road, on which tion runs thus - Blossom's Gate still stands. After crossing the NON FUGIAM PRIUS EXPERIAM KON MORS MIHI road the walls turned to the east in the direction of TERROR. the river; midway was Ivy Gate, the entrance from Near the church door is another in memory of the south, Water Gate, as the name suggests, . William Blakeney, who died 1664. A thmi contains was at the river, dose by where the bridge now is. the mortal remains of Thomas Fitzgerald, who died Of these two gates not a stone remains, though 1630. The top is cracked across, and recently the part of the wall between them is still standing. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 14 ROLYAVIJ ABOUT THE ,-4 15 I curious ccul.' peer through and see the skeleton olive branches. Then come the Arms of the Realy within. and Verdon families ; a cross and five suns appen- dant to a staffof maintenance; a lozenge containing The south transept is almost wholly taken up five suns and four castles, shaded with roses and with a huge pile of masonry, the burial-place oT the Hoimes family, and a similar structure belonging fleur-de-lis. Underneath all are the figures of a man and a woman two-and-a-half feet in length, to the faniI:; of Evans occupies much of the ad- a long spur being conspicuous on the left heel of jacent aisle. These two seriously mar the symmetry the former. of the building. Attached to the north-east corner of the nave is ' In the transept is the curiously carved tomb a round tower, so thickly covered with ivy as almost erected by Si; LValter Cogpinger, in memory of his wife and her first husband. It bears the following to conceal its shape. The tower is in good preser- vation, and almost all writers have passed it hy ii inscription in relief around the edge :- without notice. The inte~ioris seven feet and D. WhLTEKUS COPPINGER FQUES AUKATUS NOC a-half in diameter. The walls are five feet thick, FUNTRIS ET lAlOKiS MONUMENTUM POSUIT AN0 DNl and about fifty feet high. The roof is perfect, and 1Gq DX :O.IPU'NI VERDUNO EJUSQUE RELICTAE traces of four floors may be observed. At the ILLS P. A1,SOXAF. HALY CONJUGI SUAE ILLS T). IOhNNES further angle of the west wall is a circular Btairs, VEKDON OC~AMO SALUTE 1614 19 AL'GUSL'I leading to the battlements with which the outer .lE,'YATlS STJAD 63. D. ALSONA H.4LY ORIT ANKO SALUTIS walls were surmounted. 1626 OGTOCER 20 AETATIS SUM? 60. SURG~TE MORTUI VEXITE AD JUDICIUM. THE DOMINICAN ABBEY. It may be mentioned that a Mr. Henry Verdon On the opposite side of the river, outside the was one of the parliamentary representatives for walls of the town, and situaxlkd on a flat expanse of KilmalPock in 1613-1639. meadow, stand the ruins of the Dominican Abbey, This rnocgment is of elaborate workmanship and the Abbey of Kilmallock, one of the most beautiful and interesting ecclesiastical edifices in Ireland. design. The figures upan ~t ar&almost obliterated, The gray, venerable, and crumbling walls, the but the failowing description has been preserved of it, and may Se traced. At the top is an emblem of slender but shattered tower: the graceful proportions of aisle, and transept, and window, present a picture the Kesorrei~tion,a man rising from the grave, and which never loses its at tractive beauty, whether an angei kiouving a trumpet; between these two occurs the lzte 1627 above. l

*The earliest tu~doubtedelidence that the knightlS tit+$ Were hered- under a porntsd arch. The south wall is pierced itary is to he found in a pardon granted b~ Henry VIX., m 149b, to the by six double lancets, widening so much within Earl of Desmond and others, incloding Domino Mauricio le White Knight. that but an inch or two separates one from the Domino Mauricio Militi de Kerrye. Domino Ednlundo Miiiti de Waley. other. The central mullions have disappeared, The ~mdonn-os mmted for cornplicit,v in the rebellion of Perkin except so much as to show that once they were COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 20 ROUND ABOUT THE - 2 I there. Under two of the more easterly ot these The remainder is ~lleglble, but the Rev. Dr. windows are the remains of sedilia, and in the wall McCarthy, who visited the abbey some thirty opposite is a remarkable tomb-niche of later date years ago, has fortunately preserved a portion than the choir, This tomb-niche is of elaborate which runs thus :- construction, and the tracery of pointed arch, carved finial and rounded shaft, still testify to the loving ET RlVLTI ALII EIVSDEIJ FARIIL care once bestowed upon it. 11 HIC TVMVLANTVR PREY It is highly probable-indeed almost certain-that AT. here we have before us the tomb erected by Maurice The inscription was evidently left incomplete, in for the princess, his wife," and within which he order that the dates might be filled in subsequently. desired that his own remains should be laid. Gilbert the founder was buried at . His son Maurice The tenant of this neglected tomb played a part erected a tomb for his wife in his lifetime, and these in the affairs of the closing years of Queen Ehza- he was buried himse!f. This is the only tomb of beth's reign, which is not yet forgotten by the the hind in the abbey, and the conclusion is forced people of the clistr~ct. He secured his own estates upon us that here repose the remains of the warrior by timely submission, and when the earl revolted of Hallidon Hill? the toilsome cares and aff'airs of the "right hand of the Geraldines," as the White the world" troubling him now no more. Not far OK, on the floor of the chancel, broken and Knights were called, was not to be found in the neglected, is the slab which inarks the grave of h~s Desmond ranks. Twenty years after the la5t Eall descendant, Erlmund, the last of the \IThiteKnights. of Desmond had fallen by the hands of one of his 'There is no diisriculty in identifying it, though the own followers, there was a new insurrection, and a inscription is almost worn away by time and the new earl, commonly called the Sugan Earl, appear- footsteps of those that hare passed over it. With ed on the scene. After a short, severe struggle with some patience the following may be made out :- the garrison of Kilmallock, the earl was forced to ?B I. W. S. fly, hls followers were either destruytd or dispersed, WIC I"iI\.IVLVS ERECLVS FV and a price was set upon his own head. Every iT IN MEMORIXM ILLIVS STE effort to capture the unhappy nobleman was in >I\.lATIS GERALDINORYhl QV1 .-., vain; for though there were spies in abundance ;\ 1.60 VDCANTUR EQVITES

In the north wall of the choir may be observed The version given above is that, of Col. Vigors, in the Report for lSYn ofy lhe "Fund for Prescrvntion of the Memorials of the 1)ead." The words in the Burgate inscription in memory of three young italics are those substituted by Col. Vigorv instead of others currentl attributed to Archdeacon Romnd, and they make better rhyme and men who perished at the battle of Liscarroll- better sense, of varying form anti size, some built up, and some The loosely-built masonry was unable to resist the still open. X11 round the walls, at the height of the pressure of the wind, and part of it gave way. bring- eye, extends a series of square holes about six ing with it to the ground a considerable portion of inches wde. -4 huge and capacious chimney, ten the original stonework, and thus leaving an un- feet wide, is also rioticeable. ?'his spacious apart- sightly gap in the middle. The remainder had ment was proba!)ly the day-room of the community. been very much shaken, and the next storm may There are traces of cloisters remaining : the bring it all down. (Wvittert i~z1889) Half of one corbels on the oueside of the walls show that they of the central shafts is gone ; another is bent, and existed, and that provision was made for the con- looks shaky. One of the lights has totally dis- struction of the roof resting on these corbels. appeared, and parts of five others lie strewn about North of the cloister garth are the remains of a upon the ground. The sixth window of the passage or series of chambers. The vaulted roof south-side of the choir-, that nearest the tower, has tumbled dcw~1~1 some places ; but so firm is shows signs of crurnblin;,: away internally, the rnasonry that :he masses remain unbroken. though externally it looli-s in fair preservation. Alongside is a series of kitchens, and in one of the The east window is in a tottering condition. The chimneys is a wicdow, evidently a later insertion. lower stones of the two central shafts are split Overhead was a series of chambers, admittance to and crumbling, and when they go---and they cannot which is gained by a doorway with ornamented last long in their present condition-the window .jambs. goes alollg with them. The efiort to preserve the The central tower is about ninety feet high, and building has not come a moment too soon. It is a rests on four lofty arches, the piers of which are five wonder that it has been delayed so long. There feet thick. One of' these arches leads to a transept are few ecclesiastical monuments that, for beauty containing a window of remarkably elegant con- of outline and gracefulness of construction, can struction. It consists of five lights, whose rnullions compete with the Dominican Abbey of Kilmallock, are so interlaced above as to form under the arch a 2nd for the effort that is now being made to protect series of geometrical figures, commonly called net it from tota! destruction the society deserves the tracery, whose design is as graceful as it is warmest thanks of the community at large. We ingenious. must glve honour to whom honour is due, and to The window between the mullions had been built Kilkenny belongs the credit of originating a project up for years in :order to save it, but the effort to which, we hope, will preserve this beautiful build- preserve it almost led to its destruction. The ing from being wiped out of e~istence.'~ window suffered very much from the storms of --p----- *Since the ahorc was witten the window hns been carefully restored winter, in consequence of having been filled up. am1 pains hit\ e bean taken to pre8en.e the whole structure. COUNTY Or;' LIMERICI\'. 27

A chalice which formerly belonged to this abbey is at present preserved in the Dominican Convent of St. Saviour. Limerick, having been brought thither from , in 1864. NOTES. The chalice is of silver gilt. The height is 9; inches, and weight 222 ounces. The base is octagonal, and around the interior are the following CHAKTEKS OF KILMALLOCK. inscr~ptionsin three concentric lines :- In the Patent Rolls, 3i0 Elizabeth, 1684, will he found Orate pro Mauritio gibbon filio Comitis Albi the following :- Dom Callaghanas o Cdleghan et Juan:t The Queen to the Archbishop of Dublin and Sir Ilenry Butler vxor ejus fieri fecerunt prv Wallopp-referricg to a petition of the inhabitants of Kil- Conventu Killocensi ord : Pried. reqst. in pace. Priore Fra Henrico. mallock for a renewal and enlargement of their charter, and to a certificate of their loyalty by the Lords Justices- Tho Burget grants that their charter be renewed as amply as that of The date, 1639, is found in large figures under Kilkenny. so as that no unreasonable liberties be inserted in it : to have return of all writs and mandates, except those the word Priore. concerning the Queen; the sovereign to be justice of the There are no maker's marks on the chalice. peace and coroner, within the town ; to be free of all customs in like manner, as Kilkenny, Clonmel, or other borough, so as no custom due to the Queen he remitteic; to have the receipt of chattels, l:~nds, and teneluents of offenders, arising within their franchiser, but to account for the same ; not to conceal,compound,or rewit any of the dutles dueto the Queen ; persons having lands or tenements in the town and residing elsewhere, to pay proportionally to all the toan burdens, and the corporat,ion to have a power of compelling the payment of same-(the inhabitants alleging agrant of the Fourth part of such lands for 40 years from Edward IT.); to hold the friz~ryof St. Dominic, and 18 acres of land be- longing to it, lying within the franchises of the Queen, in fee farm, for a rent of 40s. 3d., sterling; escheated lands in Munster, lying near the town, to the value of about AGO yearly rent, to be granted to them on fee farn: ;in the mean time, our will and pleasure is-and we authorise you-to cause the old charter of the town to be renewed and continued to then in good and authentic manner, and to COUNTY OF LIMER - l1 cause the sanw :~nd.h~ precedmg grunt8 to Le pasbed to the The charter gives power to the corporation to levy certain ' i per~onsthat :trdb tc 're incorporated to the behoof of tbe custowc: to be laid out m the wnlliug, fortifying, and dr- t.orvn,, :LS in such is :t~c~stou~ed. \ fending thi. tonn. and to sswsr, th~liah:xl,itat:ts for tllc --WESTXISSTER, April 15, 2GU aule purpose. it empowered the curporat~onto hold .& 'J'lle Editor's ncie adds- hundred cou~tnithm the hnn fromu fifteen days to fifteen 'lihe town of iiijl:lallock is one of the luost ancient in / days, and there hold pleas and personal action5 not exceed- Ireland, and the cc qmmtion, if not oce by prescription, )I in? :~rimnntof dZ0; to hold n fair in the town onn a JP"~ must have been created by e very early chartex; ss it is 1 "f~omnrne o3c.lo<*lion the night of I'cxntecost for five da~s recognised as then existing in a charter of Edmard III., following"; that the sorelrign with the twelve knrgesses 6esying dda',t: 18th oi March, in the forty-ninth year of his -$ ihould choosc four men to he barons in a courl of pie pondre wiyn, v-htrebyhe g! ~ntudto thy Prorost and Coulnondty 1 therein who shorild have power to hold pleas of dc,l,t, of the tov;n tolls CY ;ilstnms of certain comwoditied coming~ '( covenant, snd account .~imnqn~Litm the lmnndr of the toiiu, to the towu to 'rw ..oli?, or. p:i;~iug t'ulouyh it for sale, for a t , and that the sovereign an lofficers on the expir:~tionof tl~~lr. pri,d of tell >.;,I I,;;, -. th~rel,uilding, wpairiu,?, and ~1~.11.of office should rcndel an nucotint of the tolls, &c i'urtifyiq; of thy :.-,v :? l'he llhtirs of thv tr)i\n cont:lined 2,142 wrei of for- [IS anotii~~i-cimi-tt,~ :it Ilunry IT., tbe King gmnted to t,he fv~trdlmds, l~wdwdeuo~ninationa ealled th. corpomtiun L'ortrccro :~udI:n!-;y.-.r*,+ of the :uwn cerhin custunls there- cmmuons cont.linmq 133 aelcs, and Splttal lantls 08 acles, bpsideh the town itself, ~lrich1s not included in thl3 meas~uenrent. 'I'hc cli:rt!c!. IL~!.,II~wSiwh Tht. constitution of t!~eoryvration WLS fuunded, itnd ity which they goveruecl, is onc bear- A ebmter d:~trd24th Aplii. 1301. re rite^ ietlc~rrpatent of ing clatc the lOtii J:L~II:LUY, in i,he t.wenty-seventh gcnr of j rlie last hyof .I.~nu:iry, in the, 1311 jc.ir. of thc, lclgn of E;lin:~lipt,li; thi;: ,:lu:rtc:u is not UUTVof record, lxtt it appea1.s Quwn Eli~:tl&h qlmtinp, " 10 tlic, WV+~Ie~<;ii l,, rthren :II~I~ to have 1~~11granitd. in pursua.nce of the Queen's letter of coluruunity of the town, fo~the te~m td' 21 ye'lzs, the \lte, the 15th April ;~ltcrta~.i$l:vrscl to; it gr:tnts to the corpora- ti~crut,auih~t .md pre~mctof tbts I:lto mona~terycnf flinr t.iou all& 1jnyS:.i:sies vi t1.c town dltheir foruxr lillcrticx :~ud pre:tcberh of K~Imallo~k-a ~LIIOQL~L~LIIC~, a &iser a clot- t'r.nuchiscs if: as fnl? zind ample manner :~sth6:y ot' their. ruitory, three chamber*, three ~~1311gardem, rith a11 prodccessors enjob-cd tile %uue, by virt,ue of :tuy fornler hn~ldmgs,edifices and cartilage.. thereto appertaining ; 9 chnrtcrs : nnL1 fiuytilrs:, ti:at every year-or Moncl:i y :tfter the acres of arable land and 2 of pnstrire in the torn and fields fei~str~f St. I\Iicli:c~,:l--iiiuy shodd assetublc within the town, of Kilmalloek; a nater mlll ndjoming the tonn, parcel of 2nd there, i-p? :wren: 1 !nt:lve of the best bnrges~esfo~~ing * L- the posseasinus of the monasreq, it r rent of 22 13s. Sd , tile cwueil of iht I-v;n, or lqasseut of the greater part of and ruaintainiug two fit alchel-, slitably RIW~~for the them to whom it gave power for the purpose, should elect I defence of the p~elnise-," The charter of 1594 then con- one of the bhorgeases of the town to be -overeign of the firms to Nicbola-, Neagh, so\eleisn of the tonn, to the same, and granted th:tt the sovereign and his successors breth~enand communit~and their snccebsor:, the monastery shodd for ever, ~itt~the burgesses of the town and their $- above mentioned mth all rts possessions, ic hold for ever as snccessors, be a body corpcrate, by the name of "The of the Castle of Limerick by fealty, in free and common Sovereign and. Burgesses of the town of Kilmallock." sockage, and not in capite. L L COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 31 3'3 KOUND ABOUT THE p---- C THE: DUGS OF THE EARL OF DESMOND. The Earl's acc~istomedduties in Kilmallock is four pence 4 for every oolpe by the quarter, and a horseload of wood of such as lwing sale-mood to the town. Also, he is wont to l t LD MONUMENT. have his lodging with the sovereign of the tom for the tilnr THE FITZGERA being, andto he servedthere with bread, ale, aquavitae,candle l The Fitagerald Monumer~t referred to in page 13 is light, household stuB, and bedding, upon account of the said 1 almost as elaborate as the Coppinger Monument. On the colpe money ; and likewise of his horse or horse groom, to front is the inscription, " Thomas FitXgemld,Esquire, d~ed I take any horse- neat or man's meat, the mlue also to be 1630, MS Joanve Fitzqerald, als Uonrke, relict, hilt this allowed out of tilt same colpe money for the first night. ? ~nonument." In the centre is th~motto: " Cowes virtuti. Item be is wont to have cariiage then at all titues on his i invidia." Above dl are the crest and arms hetwaen what journey upon the like account. & appc~sto he an oak leaf pattern of much cotoplication. -Cnlend~zv of State PCZ~VS-HESRYTirl11. I The letterb arc. raised. The top is largely occupied with a 1 figure of Death holding a spade in one hand nna an arrow in the other. Ecce finem" is inscribed under the feet, " Sic transit gloria mundi" is to the left of the figure, The following are the references alluded to in page 1 :- 1 and above it : " Surgite Nortui venite ad judicium" 1068 Flaithnia I;,t 7'ighern:~inlector of C111 Dach~allogdied. and " Memento Mori." What may be intended for angels 10.50 Conall airchlnne:tch of Cill-Mocheallog and its lect. r f or cherubs can Le observed above and below. Around previou-lv died. the edge ~unsthe inscription: " Hic Jacet Muuritius Fitz- Annals. 4 .W W. gerald armiger filius et haeres dicti Thomae qai obiit 17 7 bris 1G:3> pulchra prole parens ex grnerosa et nobile K1 i,MALI.OCK TOKENS conjuqe Elinora Fitzgerald als. Yitzharges relicta," In Xr. (:. h?. Williamson's vork on British Coins and Tokens are inciuded the following. An illustration is yivt7n of the second .- 1~11,~~ALLOCK(Co. Linwrick}.

0. IAMES. CARPENT ER. NSEC =- A ch~rchwith a spire. I:. OF, KILMAL(XK A hwrt pierced wlth two arrows. o Y~ATHEW. UF.AD~ . MERCHANT = Arms of the Neacle family : x thevron ermine between three trefoils. Crest, a doul~le-hetidedeagle displayed. snxasocs . 1C73 = 11 . 31. 1U. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 3 3 ------32 ROUND ABOUT- THE -_ i _ -- -- 1 Knocklong, on,Tuesdays and also for two yearly fairs to be held on the 28th May and 1st of October. Maurice died in 1632 and was interred in the Church- yard of Emly, where a slab with an inscription was erected to his memory, Sir Maur~cejoined the Catholic Confederation, and was a member of the l CHAPTER 11. t Supreme Council of Kilkenny in 1647. On the triun?ph of the Parliamentarians, the estates were TOthose whose business it IS to travel on the I seized by the dominant party and the Knight was Great Southern and Western Ra~lwaythe 4 banished to Connaught. When the struggle was name of l

r > way to Cork and IS ju~tinside the boundn~yof the i I he name Iinocldoi~g, applied to the village, County of Limerick. On a hill almost overhangii~g belongs more correctly to the hill crowned with the the station may be observecl the remains of a Castle old Castle of the O'Hurleys. The original name is and a Church. 'The former was the pr~ncipalseat of ,i Drom I>amhghaire or the Hill of the Oxen, though the O'Hurieys, a Celtic farnily of ancient descent*,, another derivation renders it the Hill of the Oaks. who contrived, though acknomrledging the suprem- This derivation from Drom na Daraigh expla~nsa acy of the Desmonds, to retain hold of a cons~cier- feature on the tomb of Naurice already referred to. able portion oftheir ancle~ltinheritance. The name At one of the lower corners of the slab which of O'Hurley has been derived from lirthalle, grand- comrnemu~-ateshis name, is carved a tree, pre- son of Car, the head of the Dalcasiian ricr Uildei sumably an oak, in allusion to the ancient name the Desmonds the O'Hurleys seem to have attained of his family seat. to some importance. Not only did they hold The hill has borne the name of Knocklong from Knocklong but branches of the family were settled so remote a period as the third century of our era, at K~lcullaneand Killonahan, the castles ot which and was so called in commemoration of an event places were built by thmi ~n the middle of the partly real and partly mythical. The story of the fifteenth century. 'Ihey appear to hare escaped the / siege of Drom Damhghaire is frequently referred to disasteis which destroyed the house of Drsmond and in our annals but is now only to be found in the one of them, Thomas, attended Perrott's Paillament Hook of Lismore. The following summary of it in 1~8s.a few years after the death of the Earl is given by Professor O'Curry 111 111slectures on the Desmond. His second son, Maurice, obtained in MS. Mate~mlsof Ancient Irish H 1601 a patent for a weekly market day to be held in COUNTY OF LILWERICK.

--_-I__-_- -- _ 3 5 events related occurred in the year 220, in the men of Munster to terms. The after debate reign of Cornlac Xac Art, King of Ireland, and among themselves, assured the monarch that the throw much i:ghr m the manners and custon~sof surest and most expeditious mode of reducing his the time. enemies would be to deprive them and their cattle 's magnificence was so boundless that of water, and that this they were prepared to do on receiving his permission. Cormac immediately at one time his steward complained to him that iZ although there wzre rilany claimants and objects of assented and forthwith the Druids by their spells the royaI benefice::ce, there was nothing for them, and incantations, dried up or concealed all the rivers, as all the revenue appropriated to such purposes lakes and springs of the district, so that both men were exhausted. Cormac, i!l the extremity, asked and cattle were dying of thirst all round them. The the steward's aevice as to the best means of King of Munster in this extremity, took counsel with replenishing his stores. The stewarti. without his people and the decision they came to was not to hesitation, said that the only chance of so doing submit to Cormac, but to send to the island of was in deman;iii~gfrom Munster the cattle revenue Uairbre (Va!enc~a),on the West Coast of Kerry, to of a second provizci: ; that it contained two distinct hfogh Kuith, the most famous of the time , but that it !lad always escaped paying who was said to have studied Druidism in the East, tribute for onl;; rice, and that he ought to call upon in the great school of Sirnon Magus), to request that them for the tribcte of the other. Cormac appeared he would come and relieve thern from the terrible to be well ple;.se:? with this suggestion and imrne- distress which they well hew had been brought cliately dcspxtchcci couriers to Fitrcl!rr Mlci!letrtlinilr, upon them by Druidic agency. The ancient Druid the Kin;; of Xl~:~i?,ter,demanding tribute for the consented to come and relieve them, on the con- second cli~izlonof illat . The I

Munster and their flocks were delivered. The of Glenbrohane, near the boundary of Munster men then fell upon Cormac and his hosts, Emly Grennan, three miles to the south of Knock- routed them from Cnoo Luinge (the Hill of the long, and it sprmgs from a chasm, evidentl~rartl- Encampment) and followed them into , ficial, dug in the slde of Slieve Reagh (where the scattering and killing then1 as they went. The Munster army was posted) folmmg a very fine place in which the arrow fell is still pointed out in stream." The stream flows Into the Morning Star the parish of Irnleach Grianan, in the County of after a short northerly course. Limerick, and :he well remains still under the The south-eastern corner of Limerick is more ancient name of Tobar Ceann Moir, that is Well of dlverslfied than other portions of the county, the Greet Head or Spring, and a river that issues and when covered w~thdense woods was a safe from it is calied Sruth Ceann Moir or the stream retreat Into which pu~suit was ~mpossible. It of Great Head." formed the passage connecting the open country Dr. Joyce gives a version of the latter portion of with the great fastness of Aherlow lying at the base the story which accounts for the name of the well of the Galtee mounta~ns,and here the Sugan Earl in another manner. According to his reading, the was able ior a time to preserve himself and his great Dr~idcalied for his disciple, Canvore, and followers after res~stancehad been rendered im- ordered him to bring his magic spear, which be cast possible and concealment extremely difficult in high up in the alr, directing his disciple to watch the other parts of the county. A great saucer-shaped spot where it i'~!l and to dig there. Canvore did so valley is burrounded and enclosed by ranges of and a copious stream of water gushed from the mountains iising to a considerable height and ground. Canv!ore on asking for his reivar-d \vas told pierced by several entrances, now marked by towns, . that his nanle \i;~uldever be connected with the spot. and formerly commanded by castles and fortresses, The reader need not reject this story altogether, the remains of which are stlll In existence. This although there is so much of the wld and miracu- formed the territory of the White Knights, and was lous mixed up with it. It is easy to eliminate this marked as such on the old maps of Munster. The element and arrive at the facts which formed the northern boundary of this broad and fertile plain is basis of the iegend. the range of Slleve Reagh already mentioned, the The err:I.-i.ence on wh~chCormac's army was en- highest pomt of which rises to the height of 1,439 trenched, and whence they were routed, does bear feet. Without undergoing the toil of such an the name Knocklong-the Hill of the Camp.,, Dr. ascent there is a very much lower eminence near Joyce has also identified the Druid's wall with the the vlllage of Kilfinane, on the road to , present Tobar Canvore. Havlng personally visited from which a view can be obtained which well the locality, he says "it lies on the soadside, in the repays the trouble of a steep climb of a few hundred feet. To the r.orth lie the broad fertile lands of servation on the west side, but partly effaced on Limerick:. whch Celt and Saxon long fought for. the east and north. O'Donovan considers the The silver 11::e of the Shannon may be traced for structure to have been the Dun Cinn Abhra, men- many a mile from the smoke-enveloped city of tioned by Keating as having been erected by Brian Limerick to file estuary of the Pergus. The distant Boru. In the village of Kilfinane are the remains hills of Clal-e bound the view to the north; nor is of a church and castle, but they do not possess any the flat-topped Mount Callan, though fifty miles features of interest. off, too fw for the naked eye to make it out. To The two main entrances to the White Knight's the west the dark frowning mass of gloomy Bally- territory on the eastern side were by way of Gal- howra closes the view all too soon. On the opposite bally and Ballylanders. The former contained a side the Galtee range rises to its full height of over Dominican Monastery founded in 1204 by Donogh three thour;ar?$ feet. The Glen of Aherlow lies at Cairbreach O'llrien. The monastery was sup- the foot of tl-1s mountain pile, and looking'up the pressed in 1534 and the lands granted to John of Glen, a.n-ay i-: :!>c far distance, barely discernible, I)esmond. In 1601, on the threatened invasion of may be observed a faint, grey cloudy outline, which Munster by the Irish of the Northern province, Sir is none other than Cashel of the Kings. To the George Carew fixed upon Galbally as the place to south extend$ the now featureless territory of the which the Munster chiefs were to repair with White K:ligh..is, whose southern limit is lost in the all their available forces. The castle of Galbally haze of the hxizon. Looliing around on this is in ruins, but that of Ballylanders is still in fair immense tract, comprising almost the whole of the preservation. County Limerick3with portions of Clare, 'I'ipperary, To the north of Ballylanders and west of Galbally and Cork, on- cannot but feel that Korth 1)esrnolid lies the hill of Duntryleague, where are to be found was a coufity worth fighting for. not only the remains of a fort erected here by Brian Quite closc to the town of Kilfinane may be Boru, but also a fine cromlech considered to be the observed one si the finest and most striking forts tomb or burial place of Olioll Olum, from whom to be foucd i- the County of Limerick. It consists the chief Munster families were descended. The of a hgge earthen n1ound, sixty feet in diameter at chamber is formed of eight large flag stones covered the base: and sloping toward the summit, where at with two similar slabs. From this structure extend the widest part it is twenty-four feet across. The standing stones in a northerly direction and two nlound rises about forty feet abov6 the trench from flags are displaced, which they formerly supported. which it ascends. It is encircled by four ramparts The origin of the name Duntryleague is said to fourteen feet high and about thirty feet apart from be due to the followmg occurrence :-Cormac Cas, summit to summit. They are in tolerable pre- second son of Olioli Olum, King of Munster, and 1-0 ROUND ABOUT TEJE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 41 -- __ _ p_.-___ _

Eochy, K~ngof , engaged in battle at Ihocli- souna. sear where K~lmallocknow stands. The NOTES. Northern monarch was slain in the contest and dun Cormac severely wounded in the head. A THE HUIZLEY MONUMENT. was accordingly constructed for him, having a clear spring of water in the centre of it. A house was Dineley has pre~erved the inscript,iun on the Hurley monument in the ancient cathedral of Emly. which he built over the well, and three pillar stones placed visited in the reign of Charles 11. The mo:luwent,, he arourid it: so that the King's head was in the midst says, "is seen at the east end of the Abbey Church, on between the three pillars and convenient to the the left hand of the altar and opposite to the pulpit, with spriq. Hex the monarch lay, and one of his this inscription ih Roman capital letters on black marble, attenda1:ts stood constantly by him pouring the whereof the whole iuonument is mz~de." The ahbey was :~ftermardedestroyed, and its u~aterialsused to build the cold, ckar water on his head. Corrnac endured prcsent church. The Hurley monument was then inserted this strange hydropathic treatment for three years. on the outside of the mall under the large window. The 'Then he died, and was buried in a cave within the inscription is :- dun. Hei:ce the name, Dun-tri-liag, the Fort of '' Perillust,ris Dominus D. Mauritius Hurlwus Armiger the Three Pillar Stones.';: Monumentum

-p---..-- - -- >- ---- Hoc sibi sisq. charissimis conjugibus Granis Hogan~eet ,- .l~)-cc's" Irish Ksmes oi Pisccs." Graeiw Thorentonatotirl. posteritati posuit elaborariq. fecit. An. Di. 1632. Hic jacet hospitii colulnen pietatis asylum, Ingenio clarus, clarus et eloquio, Laus patriw, litum supssor, pasis amator, Begula jastitiz, religionis cbur. Host,il~usHurlt~us fuit hostis, arnicns amicis lMauriti~~slnoderans tempora temporibus,

-- W-.. Fax fidei, fulcrum miserornm, gemma vivorulu, Stemmatis antiqua gloria magma suw. Huic decus, huic probitas, suis corporis integra rnille Ku'atura: dotes unious omne capit. Vixisti mnndo, vives in sacula vivis, Fortuna felix prele pereximia, Ergo vive 1)eo vivo cui vivere vita est Sic tibi dante Deo vita prennis erit. Sumptibus Hurlai fabrioalunt hoe monuulentum, Batricius Kearing Kicolasque Cowley." that he and the Countess could only escape capture by plungir~gthemselves into an adjacent stream and rema~ningunder the shelter of an overhanging bank, with only their heads above water, for some portion of a winter nlght. CHAPTER 111. These ranges are intersected by several passes, the most westerly of which is entered from the THEgrehj joi~thern plain of the County of valley of Glenosheen. A very early reference to this remcte and secluded portion of the county is to be L~mericii1s separated from the fertile valley of the IZ!ack\vater by a series of hills and mountain found in the " Annals of the Four Masters " in the chains, whici: form an extension of the Galtees in year of the world 3656. Under that date a llst is that ilirec:ion, 'They are known as the Ballyhowra given of the of Tighearnma, King of Mountains. ,incl occupy the eoutti-east corner of the Ireland. Amongst these will be found the " Rattle county. 3Ia:-,v of the highest points are over a of Carn Fearadhaigh, in which fell Fearadhaigh, thousant1 feet above the sta level, and the lofty son of Kochorb, son of. Gollan, kom whom it is crag of Seefia attains an elevation of 1,696 feet. called." From a note in O'Donovan's edition of This portien c:^ the county is thei-efore more diver- the Annals 1. MM., we learn that in the Book of sified and picturesque than the long rolling level Lecan the cairn is referred to as being on the south- which rxten~snorthward to the Shannon. The ern boundary of Cliu Mail, as the district watered northern slopes were once thickly covered with by the Maigue and its tributaries was called. forest trees and formed the Woods of I

Olioil Olum and his stepson, Mac Con, in which (pronounced Osheen), son of Finn, the several leaders on both sides were slain. In ad- of Celtic romance, and Gscar, son of Oisin. Gleno- dition to the battle of 36j6 A.aI., the following sheen 1s the Glen of Oisln. The lofty height which overshadows the valley on the west is Seefin, the engagements are recorded :- Seat or resting-place of Finn. In a remote place 622. The battle of Carn Feradhaigh was gained to the north-west a fine sepulchral monument is Ey Faiithe over the Cunnanghtmen, wherein called Labha Iscur, the resting-place of who was slain (;onall, chief of the Ui Maine . . . and fell at the battle of Gavra in 284. These were the five others slain at a place called the Ford of the last heroes of pagan- Ireland, who, before they Siaughter of the Six.':: vanished, bequeathed their names to the well- 71c. Tie battle of Carn Feradhaigh, by the marked features of this district, there to be remem- Xorthern Desi, wherein Curmac, son of Finghin, bered for ever King of hli~nsterwas slain. The fading paganism of Ireland is in this spot 753. 'The battle of Carn Fesadhaigh, in which closely hnked with the dawning Christianity of our Babhbhghl, son of Feargal, was slain. island. The lonely grave, the broad valley, and 836. Slaughter was made of the foreigners the lofty mountain peak recall the undying memory (Danes) at Carn Feradhaigh. of the half-mythical heroes of the third century. By far the most important historical event con- The rounded hill of Ardpatrick, standing out from nected wlth the district was the murder of Mahon, the dark precipitous range, with its ruin-covered King of Munster, and brother of Brian Roru, par- slopes, perpetuates the name of the Apostle of ticulars of which will be found in the chapter Christianity. dealing with Bruree and its neighbourhood. The contour of the valley seems to have suggested The district around preserves to this day the the legend which connects the name of St. Patl.ick names of three generations of the ancient Feni. with the site of the ancient monastery. One side is bounded by steep and lofty heights, whilst on The Feni or Erinn was a military order the other side the Ualljhoura range slopes down to instituted for the defence of the Kingdom against invaders. They attained their greatest eminence the valley in long and gentle undulations. The present aspect is said to be due to the prayers of St. I' in the reign of Cormac Mac Art in the third century Patrick. According to the legend, a steep and lofty under their well-known leader, Finn Mac Cumhal. mountain on the eastern side corresponded to the A whole cycle of picturesque legrrlds is connected eminence still existing on the west. In his travels St. wit1-1 the chiefs of the Feni, amongst whom are Patrick arrived at the hill of Ardpatrick, and, im- p - -- X To t:ir southward of Seefin is a plnee bearing the picturesque name presseLi with the su~tabienessof the site, formed the cf C!erianuir. n hioh however means the \ale of Sla~~ghter. ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. -I--_ ------47 intention of erecting a church there. He asked the Niam of the Golden Hair, daughter of the King of chieftain who ruled tlie valley for permission to 'I'irnanoge, the Land of Everlasting Youth. She begin building. 'The chieftain pointed to the im- told Finn that, having heard of the bravery and posing n:ountain mass opposite and told the saint gentleness of his son Oisin, she had fallen in love that if he could remove Cenn Febrath so as to give wlth him, and Oisin, when he had 1ool;ed upon the h!m a view of Loch Longa from where he stood, maiden, declared he reciprocated the passion. not only might the church be built but he would " Come then," said Niam, " come with me on my become a Christian himself. Patrlclr then having white steed to Tirnanoge. There is abundance of prayed in the faith of the Lord's PI-omise(S. Matt. silver and gold, honey and wine; t13e trees bear fruit and blossoms and leaves all tile year round. xvii., 201, tke mountain began to bend from its top b:icliw;irds, uiltil the lower siopes lay level with the Lapse of time ?hall bring neither decay nor death, plain, formic< a chasm or pass called Belach Lechta and you shall be ever young and gifted with un- or Lrghta-viz., the Road of Melting. Persons con- fading beauty and strength." Oisin hade fareweil tent with accepting the ordinary explanation of the to his father and his companio~lsand mounted the formation of glens and valleys translate the name steed which the lady managed and directed. The as meaning the Road of the Tomb or Monument, steed started towards the west, the sea formed no of course the cairn already referred to. barrier, for he glided over it swiftly and smoothly. They soon reached Tirnanoge where the hero was As CBisic, the bard and hero of the Ossianic received jo)*fu!ly, and after ten days of feasting he legends? li\,-ed in the third century, and as St. was wedded to Niam of the Golden Hair. They lived Patrick did ::at visit Ireland till the fifth century, it in happiness for two hundred years, which seemed wouiil seen- impossible to bring the two into per- to- pass like so many days. At last Oisin felt a sonal co;it:&ct owing to the gap of two centuries longing desire to visit his father ant1 those he left which iiltzr\8ciie. So it seemed to have struck the behind him. Niam with so~~owfulforeboding gave ancient har3:: ; but they overcame the difficulty, her consent with difficulty. He was given the and ih such a. manner as to earn the gratitude of milk-white steed for his journey, with the warning students of lrish literature. 'I'he missing centuries that if once his feet should touch the ground he ,,%? Are accou~nteilfor in the beautif~~lromances in which Oisir is represented as telling St. Patrick could nevtr return. Promising to give faithful heed to the walning, Oisin set out and soon was the story of his life. It appears that once upon a tine as the Feni were hunting near on the green shores of Erin. But all was changed, and he scarcely knew the old places, they were so the Lakes cf a beautiful maiden was altered. There was no sign of Finn and his host. seen riding swiftly towards them on a snow-white That race of giants had passed away, and in their steed, On her approach she announced herself as 48 ROUND ABOUT THE ------P- COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 49 place he only saw little men and women who re- garded him with curiositj~,wondering at his gr.eat your strait cells. There are no women among you, no pleasant music. Oh ! for oce hour with size and thc beauty and majesty of his person. On - the inquir.~,they told him that the Feni had lived Flans whom I knew. 1 swear to thee, 0 lean cleric, that better was one day with Finn and his long ages ago and that their deeds were recorded In boolis. He passed through the land only to heroes than a thousand years of the kingdom of heaven." find his father's palace in ruins, his haunts lonely and deserted, the country covered with The hill of Ardpatrick (anciently Tulach-na- churches, and every where the little n;en and Feinne, the Hill of the Peni), is where the valley women, 111 his journey he found a number of of Glenosheen broadens out into the southern them trying to move a Iarge stone, but in vain. plam of the County of Limerick and where the They asked his aid, and he, stoopmg forward in steep mountait~sinks to the level. The side of the his saddle, took up the stone and hurled it seven hill is covered with what appears to be traces of the perches off. But with this effort and strain he broke foundations of numerous buildings, the turf being the golden girth, and bounding forward to save raised into straight mounds intersecting at right himself he came with his two feet on the ground. 'She spd! was broken. The white steed disap- angles An extensive monastery whose foundation peared in the west and he was left alune. We felt is attributed to St. Patrick flourished here It was burned by the Danes in 1114. Celsus, Archbishop a great change coming over him. The sight of his of , died here in 1129, and was buried in ejcs began to fade, his strength passed away from Lismore. The only remains at present standing him, the spell of everlasting youth was broken, and are those of a church and round tower, The church he fell to the ea~thall oic! nlan withered and feeble. 28 about seventy feet long by twenty-four broad, St. E'atricli found the hero and tock compassion on his condit~on,and received him into one of his and is of rude construction. At the north side of the east end is what seems to have been a monasteries. He lingered for a few years, bemoan- small shallow transept. At the south side, just ing the loss of Niam and lamenting the happy opposite, is an arched passage or chamber. days of his youth. He made but a sorry convert The ', round tower crowning the hill must at one time to Christianity, the principles and practices of the have been a most conspicuous object. Nothing of new falth contrasting rather unfavourably with the it now remains but a portion eight feet high and muscular heathenism of former days. "0 Son just enough of the basement to show it was eight of Conpilrn," he says, addressing St. Patrick, feet in internal diameter, and that its walls were hatefa1 to me is the sound of the bells and the four feet th~ck. howling of thy lean clerics, There is no joy in In the neighbourhood of the ruins v is a well. I COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 51 5'3 ROUND ABOUT THE i l The monastery in its palmy days is said to have possessed a peal of five bells of marvellous beauty. When the establishment was suppressed the bells THE STORY OF THE ROYAL PORT. were concealed lest they should fall into the hands -- of the spoilers. It is believed that long after the CHAPTER IV. dispersion of the brotherhood, on the anniversary of the Redeemer's birth and resurrection, the silver THAT portion of the County of Limerick ex- melody of the bells still continues to ring out at tending from the Ballyhowra mountains to midnight, startling the awe-struck rustics with the Shannon, watered by the Ueel and the Maigue, their tones of supernatural sweetness. figures very frequently in our annals. It is now divided into the baronies of Upper and Lower Connelloe and Kenry, and represents the territory of the ancient tribes or clans known as the Ui Fidhgeinte, who appear to have been its first in- habitants. The district was also called Ui Conall Gabhra, and included the present baronies of Shanid and Glenquin. The former is the more ancient designation, though the latter is also used when the descendants of Conall, after whom they are called, became numerous and important. The seat of the chiefs of the Ui Fidhgeinte was adjacent to the modern village of Bruree, and in former times might reasonably be called the capital of this extensive district. So early as the second century of the Christian era, Olioll Olum had his royal residence by the banks of the Maigue, and the position he had selected shows that the monarch possessed an appreciation of natural beauty. The here flows between steep banks, and its course is interrupted by ledges of rocks over which the stream tumbles in picturesque cascades. From IL eOUNTY OF LIMERICK. 52 ROCND-- ABOUT THE 53 the time of OYiol: Olum onward it continued to be In The Wars of the with the Galls this the residence of the chiefs of the Ui Fidhgeinte, battle is sa~dto have been fought at Shanid. A and was known as Brugh Righ, or the Royal subsequent entry in the same year states that Fort, a designation which the present name per- Dunadhach, son of Scanlan, lord of Gabhra, died. petuates. Previous to the time of Olioll, however, The indiv~dualmeant is evidently the same, and it had a still more ancient name and was called it is left uncertain whether he fell in battle w~th Dun Cobhthaigh or Coffy's Fort, concerning whotn, the Danes or died a natural death or in battle however, nothing further is known. subsequently. Th~sattack of the Danes appears The Ui Fidhgeinte were converted to Christianity to have been retalliation for the piunderrng of by St. Senan of Scattery Island. They first made Limerick in the previous year by the UI Conall his acquaintance in plundering his residence, but Gabhra. in the end they were persuaded by him to embrace 844. , son of Ceannfaeladh, lord of the Christianity, and they made him their patron saint. Ui Fidhgeinte, died.) The first direct mention of the tribe occurs in our 852. Crunnmhael, son of Maelduin, lord of Ui annals in the year 645 in connexion with a battle Fidhgeinte, died. fought at Carn Conaill (Ballyconnell, near Gort). 855. Bran, son of Scannlan, lord of Gabhra, in which, we are told, two Cuans were slain- died. namely, Cuan, King of Munster, and Cuan, son of In 858 the chief of the Ui Fidhgeinte, Aedh Conall, Chief of the Ui Fidhgeinte. The following Dubh, son of Dubh-dabholreann (both these names entries will be found in the "Annals of the Four have been met with already), jolned with the King Masters " :- of Tara in an attack on a northern chieftian near 713. Aedh Dubh, chief of Ui Fidhgeinte, died. Armagh. The allies were surprised by night and 745. Dubhdabhoireann, lord of Ui Fidhgeinte, defeated, and Aedh Dubh died of the wounds he died. received in hattle. 755. Flann, son of Erc, lord of Ui Fidhgeinte, In 876 Flannabhra, lord of Gabhra, fell in battle died. near Clonmel, being defeated by the Deisi of 802. Murchrd Ua Flainn, lord of Ui Fidhgeinte, . died. 878, Finn, son of Dubhslaine, lord of Ui Fidh- 809. Bruadar, lord of Ui Fidhgeinte, died. geinte, died. 832. Ui Conall Gabhra plundered by the Danes. If we can depend upon the identity of a very long 833. A battle was gained over the Danes by and a very peculiar name, which appears in the Dunadhach, son of Scanlan, lord of Ui Fidhgeinte, list of chiefs already given, a member of this tribe wherein many were slain. t This entry 1s repeated under the date 845, 54 ROUND ABOUT TffE and Donovan, Lord of the Ui Fidhgeinte, the chiefs or clan was, for a time at least, King of Cashel. i f of the rival family, joined the Danes against the The entry is- . The brothers met the allied Danes 885. Dunchadh, son of Dubh-dabhoireann, 1l and Irish at Sulcoit or Sollohed, near Tipperary, King of CaiseaI, died. in 968, and inflicted a crushing defeat upon Ivar The latter name occurs previously at the year 858. and his allies, which they followed up by the sack 914. Gebhennach, son of Aedh, lord of the Ui 1 of Limerick and the expulsion of the Danes. A l Fidhgeinte, was slain by the . small remnant, headed by Ivar, sought refuge This event is stated at greater length in The i amongst the Islets of the Shannon, making Scattery Wars of the Gaels with the Galls. The Danes of Island their head-quarters. Waterford, under Ragnall, spread themselves out I in three separate parties, one of which killed Mahon now occupied the throne of Munster, and Gebennach, son of Aedh, Klng of Ui Conaill, and had expelled the foreigners from his dominions. Six they carried away his head, wherefore the poet said : years of peace and prosperity followed, Molloy and Donovan acknowledged his power and gave Great is the pity, 0 God of Heaven ! l That the people of Tomar should have it. hostages for their loyalty. They did not, however, Behold the head of Gabhra's king is taken from you, forget that Mahon belonged to the rival branch Illu~triousgem of the west of the world. of the family, and a second time they allied The Ui Fldhgeinte belonged to the Eugenian themselves with Ivar for the destruction of the branch of the descendants of Olioll Olum. The Munster king. They were jealous of Mahon's other branch were the Dalcassians, so called from success, and Donovan especially feared that the Cormac Cas. The Eugenians ruled South Munster, lands by the Maigue might be claimed by Mahon whilst the dominions of the Dalcassians extended who was the rightfill owner. They resolved, there- from Knockainy to , in one direcfion ; and fore, to put him out of the way and secure the fertile from to the , plain of Limerick for themselves. in the other. According to the will of Olioll Olum, The incidents connected with the murder of the supreme authority should be held by a member Mahon are fully given in The Wars of the Gaels of each family in turn; but the Eugenians were with the Galls (that is, of the Irish with the Danesj, always the stronger and kept the sovereignty to though it is difficult to harmonize the statements, themselves. Under Mahon and Brian, the sons of owing to the manner in which speeches and poems Kennedy, the power of the Dalcassians began to be are interpolated. Mahon, it appears, was inveigled formidable. When the Danes of Limerick, under into a personal interview with Donovan, 976, at his Ivar, mustered their forces to crush the brave residence, the Brugh Righ, having first obtained a brothers, we find that Molloy, King of Desmond, 56 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. safe conduct from the clergy of all Munster, and That for which thou hast done it, thou shall not enjoy. especially from Columb, the successor of St. Barri Perpetual shall be its misfortune; thy posterity shall pass away ; or Finnbar, founder of the See of Cork. Donovan Thy history shall be forgotten; thy tribe shall be in seized the king and delivered him into the hands in bondage ; of Molloy, who had sent some of his followers The calf of a pet cow shall overthrow thee at one meeting; forward to meet him at Cnoc-an-Rebhraidh, on Thcu shalt not conqaer it; Aedhan shall slay thee." Slieve Caien. The better to disarm surprise, Molloy remained at Fermoy, and had sent some The chronicler tell us how a portion at least of of the bishop's followers with his own party. the anathema was fulfilled, though neither has " And now," proceeds the narrative, 'L when Molloy's posterity passed away, nor has his history Mahon saw the naked sword about to strike him, been forgotten. We read it was Aedh, the son of having the gospel of Barri (St. Finnbar) on his Gebennach, of the Deisi-Beg,-f that slew Molloy at breast to protect him, he threw it towards the the ford of Belach Lecta, having found him in an people of Columb with the intent that the blood alder hut, after being deprived of his eyes through should not touch it, and the gospel fell unto the the curse of the clerk, who also prayed the Lord that . breast of a priest of the people of Columb." Molloy, his grave should be near that hill. That was like- who followed his party, saw the flashing of the wise verified, for Mahon's grave is on the south naked sword striking Mahon, although, it is said, side of the hill, and Molloy's grave on the north they were as far asunder as the eye could see; side, and the sun never shines on it as the clerk and he knew it and arose then, and his horses were the religious had foretold. yoked for him to depart. A priest who accom- Brian mourned for his brother, and promised panied him asked him what was he to do. Molloy revenge in a lament which has been preserved :- tauntingly answered, " cure yonder man if he should come to thee." Molloy went from them, The death of Mahon is grievous to me- The Majestic King of Cashel the renuwned; and the cleric, learning what had happened, became Alas, alae, that he fell not in battle, angered, and fervently cursed Molloy, and uttered Under cover of his broad shield ; a prophesy thus, while he was cursing Molloy, and Alas t,hat in friendship he trusted said :- To the treacherous word of Donovan. It was an evil deed for Molloy <'Itis Aedh that shall kill thee, a man from the border of Aifi," To murder the great and majestic Kingj On the north of the-sun, with the harshness of the wind; And if my hand rett~insits power, He shall not escape my vengeance. The deed thou hast done shall be to thee a regret, - * The present barony of Small County, 1From the neighbourhood of Knockainy. 58 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICX. 59

How Brian proceeded to carry out his purpose is namely, the sovereignty of Munster. In conclusion, then detailed. Molloy and his followers were challenged to meet By the murder of htahon in the Ked Gap Brian Brian and his Dalcasssians in battle, and the envoy ascended the vacant throne, "and," says the delivered a special message from Murrogh, the son chronicle, he was not a stone in the place of an of Brian, to Molloy himself to meet him in single egg, and he was not a wisp in the place of a club, combat. but he was a hero in the place of a hero." In the The rival claimants to the Munster crown joined first year of his reign Ivar and his son were slain battle at Belach Lechta 1978), which was on the at Scattery Island by his allies, the O'Donnells. boundaries of the dominions of both. The issue Donovan sought the alliance of Harold, successor of of the combat was decided in favour of Brian, and Ivar, and inv~tedhim to his house, but Brian went Molloy with twelve hundred of his followers lay slain on a foray (977) into Ui Fidhgeinte and took cattle in the Red Gap. It will be observed that there is innumerable, '' and they plundered Cathair Cuan, a discrepancy between the two accounts given of and they killed its people, and they killed Donovan, Molloy's death, which may be reconcilrd by sup- the ripe culprit, the Kmg of Ui Fidhgeinte, and posing that the monarch lost his ejies in the battle, they killed Harold, King of the foreigners, and that he fled for shelter to the alder hut, whither he they made a prodigious slaughter of the foreigners, was followed and put to death by Aedh. The

and they carried away with them cattle innu- Annals of Innisfallen " state that Molloy was merable." In order to secure his new possessions, killed in the battle itself by Murrogh O'Brien, and Brian erected the fort Dun Eochair Maige (the there is considerable confusion as to the exact place fort of the bank of the Maigue). wherethe conflict occurred, various authorities fixing H ivir:; punxhed Ivar and Donovan, Brian the site at Fermoy, Mallow and even Macroom; directed his attention to Molloy, his most for- but the nomenclature seems precise, the local midable opponent. He sent an envoy who was allusions in the accounts point to the same place directed to denounce woe upon Molloy and his and probability is strongly in favour of the Red Gap, which thus acquired an additional right followers for the murder of an unarmed man, and for preferring to be found fighting on the side of to the name it bore. This battle transferred the the Danes rather than with their own countrymen. sovereignty of Munster from the family of Eoghan Brian added that even though he himself was to that of Cormac Cas, in whose hands it remained willing to forgive the murder of his brother, the till the royal title passed away. Dalcassians would not forgive nor would they In 1013 Cairbra, chief of the district, was slain permit Molioy to retain the object of his crime- by Malcolm of Kenry. COUNTY OF LIMERICK.

In 1031 the ancient tribe of the Ui Fidhgeinte as it did during the previous centuries. Important fought under the banner of Donogh O'Brien in an it was, as the remains still in existence testify, but expedition he made against Ossory. Two young it was overshadowed by the neighbouring Kilmal- princes, both royal heirs," and Malcolm of Kenry lock, which now began to assume the foremost were kllled by tke men of Ossory. The clans position in the county. appear to have been merged in the Dalcassians There are the remains of two Norman castles and so lost their separate existence. within a short distance of Bruree. That near the A short distance from the present village by the church is erected on a considerable eminence and side of the road to Croom and adjacent to the river has been attributed to the Knlghts Templars in may be observed two raths or duns still in a fair the latter part of the thirteenth century. O'Donovan, state of preservation. Each consists of an internal however, does not consider it to be so ancient, and mound raised some eighteen feet above the bottom brings the date of its erection down so late as the of the surrounding trench. The top of each mound fifteenth century. It was then one of the strong- is nearly circular, and about sixty feet across. holds of the de Lacys. The height is somewhat There are two earthen ramparts encircling each over 70 feet and the walls are five and a half feet mound, and from the top of one rampart to the top thick. of the other the distance is forty feet The earthen The enclosed area measures only twenty-four ramparts are at present twelve feet in height. The feet by thirteen. The north-eastern angle has more southerly of these-that in the direction of fallen down, thus exposing to view the interior of the village-is cocs~deredby Dr. O'Donovan to the building. A narrow entrance gives admittance be the site of the Brugh Rlgh of the Ui Fidhgeinte to the lower story, at the side of which may still chiefs and the sea?: of a sovereignty which dated be seen the stone sockets in which the door formerly back to the ages of pagan Ireland. There seems turned. Two courses of stone corbels show that to be no reason for disputing or doubting O'Dono- two floors rested upon them, thus dividing the van's ident~fication,and this old neglected rath by interior space into three stories. The roof of the the road side is one of the most interesting rude third story was arched and vaulted and is still un- monuments ofthe past that any country can possess. injured. A spiral stone stairs, in an angle of the The other fort IS considered by the same authority walls, runs to the battlements of the castle. to be the one erected by Brian Roru in order to About half-a-mile down the river is a more im- secure the territory he had won by the sword. portant structure, and one somewhat out of the Under the Desmond branch of the Geraldines ordinary of military architecture. It consists Bruree did not occupy so distinguished a position of a circular area about fifty yards in diameter, sur- 62 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 63

--p-d rounded with a strong wall, with ramparts and lady showed her resentment in a forcible manner. battlements, and defended by three castles, only two A daughter of O'Donovan was for some unknown of which now remain. Dr. O'Donovan says that the reason greatly displeased with two officers of her . wall is much more ancient than the castles, and father's household. Finding herself standing on dates from a period anterior to the arrival of the the elevated spot one day along with the two ob- Engiish. If this opinion be correct, it is most noxious courtiers, she contrived to push them both certainly a portion of one of the chief strongholds over the battlements and into the river flowing of the O'Donovans or the O'Briens, as the de- below. One was instantly killed, but the other scendants of Dosovan and Brian were called after escaped with only a good ducking. In confirmation the introduction of surnames. On their expul- of the truth of the legend a hallow in a stone sion by the de kacys, the fortress fell into the was long pointed out by the people of the neigh- hands of the conquerors, and was subsequently bourhood as having been caused by one of the strengthened by the addition of the three castles, unfortunate men striking his knees against the placed at equal intervals in the wall. Admittance stone in his fall. to the enclosure is obtained at a gateway which The second tower is much lower but is broader marks the spot where was the original entrance, and stronger than that just described. It is not defended by the tower which has disappeared. more than forty feet high, and has a massive The two existing towers bear no resemblance to appearance. A stone stairs in one corner leads to one another. Thst next the river is very similar the top. In the lower story may be observed a in construction to the castle just described. Like small room, probably the guardroom. The dungeon it, two floors have been destroyed. and the vaulted till lately contained in its walls the iron fastenings ceiling has remained to the present day. The stone which secured the chains, but now they have been stairs is in exceilent preservation, and the sides quite corroded away. are so loop-holed as to command the court-yard and the second entrance. A little more than half way The portion of the encircling wall still standing up is a small chamber constructed in the thickness is twenty feet high at its loftiest part, and more of the wall, and measuring only four feet square by than half the circumference can be traced. The seven feet high. At the farther end is an opening, materials of the other portion and of the missing communicating with the lower apartments. Al- tower have been utilised in the construction of though the tower is about sixty feet high, the view farm buildings within the fortress, and it is not from the summit is very confined, the steep and high at all unlikely that they may have been pulled banks of the river shutting out the adjacent country. down for that very purpose. The carved stone- A legend states that on the top of the tower a royal work of de Lacy's castle looks somewhat out of COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 65 64 ROUND ABOUT THE place in the front of these structures, nor have coats of whitewash dim~nishedthe incongruity. On the summit of the hill above the church may LOUGH GUR. be observed a turnulus like an inverted basin, the -- d burial piace probably of some famous chief of the ancient times. The circuit of the base is about CHAPTER IV. one hundred and forty-five paces, and its height THERE are few places which will be found above the adjacent field is under twenty feet. more interesting by the visltor than Lough Gur and its neighbourhood. The scenery is varied and attractive, though sadly denuded of trees. From long distant ages man has found a home " i here, and the shores of the lake still bear witness to the ancient race whose monuments have sur- vived all the changes that have passed over the county. The Pillar stone, the lonely Cromlech, the mysterious Stone Circle, tell of a people who existed here before the dawn of history, and of whom little is known unless what can be learned from their very graves. The long deserted Crannog, the earthen fort, and the medizval mhtary works that still bid defiance to time, have each their story to tell. The bed of the lake itself reveals the secrets that have loq been buried beneath its waters. Bones and skeletons of extinct anlmals have been brought to light. Implements of stone and bronze, ornaments of bone and silver, weapons of various kinds, from those of the rudest construction to the gold-mounted spear head and the round shield, bear witness to the number and variety of the antiquities which were discovered when the surface of the lake was lowered by drainage same half century ago. ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 67

Nature, too, 3as marked out this district from steed, which is ready caparisoned. Once in seven years the the rest of the county. The undulating limestone Earl and his Knights are to be seen performing military evolutions and riding at full is pierced by a2 irruption of earlier rocks, forming a semi-circular range, the summits of which rise speed over the surface of the lake. The dawn of day sends them back again to their silent abode in to a height of 3jo to jjo feet above the sea level. the heart of Knockadoon. Not till the silver shoes The scenery IS therefore of a bolder character than of the Earl's steed are worn will the enchantment that which prevaiis over a great part of the county. Scarred, weather-beaten rocks rise suddenly and be broken. Then, after the sleep of centuries, the Earl and his followers will issue forth and claim abruptly iron; level grassy fields as if thrust up by a force from below. In some places a distinctly their own again. THE CRANNOGS. columnar formation may be observed, and the rifts There are four diminutive islets to be observed, and caves te!l of geological convulsions before evidently of an artificial character, two of them p~imitiveman appeared upo~the scene. rising but a foot or two above the surface. Bolin Lough Ciu:. at present covers an area of about Island lies close to the southern shore of the north- 230 acres, and its surface is 2j2 feet above the east horn of the crescent. Crock Island lies in a level of the see. The shape is roughly that of a Ilttle Day to the north-west. Garret Island, which crescent, the arms embracing a rugged hill rising is the most conspicuous, is in the centre of the nearly zoo feet above the :eve1 of the lake. The lough, and Church Island is close to the southern hill called Kr.uckadoon was at one time an island, extremity. These have not been explored, or nea;ly so: as the meadows to the east of it were but three of them, those near the shores of the lake, under wafer before recent effufurts were made to drain ale evidently Crannogs, or lake dwellings. Beneath them. The shores of the.lake are level to the south the usual level of many lakes in Switzerland, and west, b.;! they are overhung by considerable North Italy, Scotland and Ireland have.been found elevations to the north and east. Under the Hill remains of piles driven Into the mud of the bottom. of Knockfenceli, to the north, is an opening called The piles are arranged in a regular manner, and Red Cellar Cave. exploration has discovered for what purpose the Like many another lake, Lough Gur is said to piles were driven there. From careful examination be under th2 zuardianship of Garret, the great of the remains discovered on these sites, it appears Earl of Desrnond. He and his followers are that at a remote period a race erected dwellings supposed to be sleeping in the recesses of a sub- above the surface of the water on an island arti- terranean cavern of great extent. Each warrior, ficially constructed for the purpose. They drove clad in complete steel. reposes by the side of his pointed piles ihto the shallow bottom near the 68 ROUND ABOUT THE - - shores, and fixed them upright in the water. Cross appear to be Crannogs, constructed when the beams were placed upon these, and a platform surrounding area was a flooded morass. The erected which was covered with branches of trees, probable date of these Crannogs could only be clay, pebbles and any other material that could be obtained by careful exploration and examination of conveniently obtained. The space enclosed by the their contents. plles was also filled in. The platform was sur- Lake dwellings in general may be as ancient as rounded by a stockade, and on the lnterior space the Neolithic age, through the Bronze age into the occupants erected huts of wickerwork covered the early part of the Iron age, and in Ireland with mud or sods of grass and thatched with reeds especially they were used as strongholds and or straw. A stone slab, outside the dwelhng, on retreats at so recent a period as the sixteenth the platform, provided a hearth and cooking place. century. The earliest may have been erected only In some cases these islets were connectec! with the as a refuge against wild animals, and subsequently shore by a narrow platform also erected on piles, against human foes. and in other cases they were entirely isolated, the occupant reaching the shore when necessary by THE ISLAND FORTRESS. means of a boat. The scientific treatment of the The very strong position of Knockadoon, sur- subject began with the study of the finds in the rounded by its natural moat, made it a place of Lake of Zurich in 1853 by 1)'. Kellor, and in 1866 importance from the earliest times. In the Book the existence of Lacustrine dwellings over large of the course of a northern invasion parts of Europe was established. Some of these into Munster is described as passing the grey examined by him included an area of several acres. rocks of Lough Gur." Brian Boru fortified the Over three hundred have been discovered in the '' island of Lough Gur," which can be no other since, and some have been investi- than Knockadoon. There is room for doubt gated, but without yielding much result. Such whether this fortification was a fort erected on the dwellings are very numerous along the shores of summit of the island, or else some means of pro- the lakes of Central Europe, where large com- tecting it by constructing an artificial approach, as munities were formed, each family with its own was subsequently made. In the early part of the stockaded enclosure. The varied remains show following century, Donogh, son of Kennedy O'Brien, was imprisoned in Lough Gur for some years. how civilisation advanced amongst these lake dwellers. In 1178 this place was plundered by Collins of There are two slight elevations perceptible above Clongais, who crossed the county to do so. the !eve1 surface of the drained ground east of On the arrival of the Normans this natural Knockadoon, and named Balic Islands, which also stronghold attracted the attention of the warlike COUNTY OF LIMERICK. - 71 preservation. Geraldines, who constructed here one of their most It was erected either in the reigx of EIizabeth or that of James I. by Slr George formidable military works. A causeway was built Bouchier, to whom Lough Gur was granted on the connecting the southern extremity of Ihockadoon forfeiture of the Desmond possessions. with the shore. X gatehouse defended the land Dineley passed this way when pursuing his journey from side. At the isla~dextremity the approach was Limerick to Cork. We gives an ~iiustration of intersected by a moat crossed by a drawbridge, and Lough Gur Castle and its surroundings from that the island was entered through a strongly fortified point of view, with the Desmond fortifications, A rwi? connected the gateway with a gateway. as they have been already described, in the back- strong castle cal:ed the Black Castle. ground to the left. Almost ail traces of the The causeway is still in existence, and is nearly adjacent buildings have disappeared, with the a hundred and 5fty yards long. It is con- exceptian of that which he calls the Pigeon-house, structed between two walls of stone, and is which lies to the north. higher on the western side than on the eastern. Dineley thus describes what he learned in the. 'The castle at the south end has disappeared. The time of Charles 11. :-'< Lough Gurr, a fair castle in Black Castle on ;he island is still standing, though the tenure of John Baily, Esq. It belonged to the greatly injured. lcternally it measures twenty-four Countess Dowager of Bathe, who built the said feet by thirteen. The walls are between seven and new church for the use of the Protestants, and eight feet thick. The arched roof of the lower bestotv'd a Rich PuIpitt Cloth. Silver Chalice, storey is still remaining and part of the south wall Plate, Bible and Service Book. It now belongs to the height of thirty-five feet. Adjacent to the to Sir Henry Vane, or Fane, part of his estate. castle and gateway may be traced the foundations The sayd Countesse was Dowager of Henry of an extensive series of buildings. Bouchier, Earl of Bathe. 'The caslle during the In 1536, on the occasion of a disputed succession time of the Irish Rebellion was always a garrison to the Earldom or' Desmond, this position was oc- for one side or other; besides being in an island of cupied by Lord Grey. He describes it as '' situate above a mile in circumference, encompass'd with a in an island of fresh water, which is a stronghold, large and deep Lough or Poole, it was a receptacle and in no less reputation in these parts than May- not only for man but beast to defend from the nooth, the chief seat of the Earls of Kildare." enemy. Lough Gurr is seven miles from Limerick. The lough or large mote which encompasseth this At the north-eastern extremity of Knockadoon Island and Castle abouncleth in Fishes, Pike, stands Lough Gur Castle, also like its neighbour to be approached by a causeway. The castle is Eeles, but Roches in vast quantity. hfr Henry Bayly, son to the sd. Jno. Bayly, told me of a ' seventy-five feet In height, and is in excellent 72 ROUND ABOUT THE \ COUNTY OF LIMER~CR. 73 -- - l bgk'~A3 prodigious Pike there lately taken of 4 feet and half \ In the following ygr Sir George Carew with the in length, with one in its belly of above two feet Munster army passed close to Lough Gur in his in length,"' 'r march to Limerick. The Lord President, with a When Sir George Carew undertook the pacifi- troop of horse, turned aside to view the famous cation of Munster in 1599 the stronghold of Lough stronghold, not only to gratify his curiosity but Gur was then held for the Sugan Earl. It com- I also to inspect the position of the enemy. The manded the communications between Kilmallock President tells us he found it to be a place " of and Limerick, so that for the two years previous i exceeding strength by reason that it was an island the road was impassable for any one in the English encompassed with a deep lough, the breadth interest. He accordingly stationed a strong body 1 thereof being in the narrowest place a caliver's of troops under Captain Slingsby at Kilmallock In shot over. Upon one s~dethereof standeth a very order to keep the Geraldines in check and harass strong castle [the Black Castle already referred to], them by frequent attacks. One of these incursions, which at this time was manned with a good which took place on the 29th of April, 1599, is j garrison, for there was within the island John narrated in Pacatn Hibewzia. Its objectwas to - FitzThomas with two hundred men at least, which d showed themselves prepared to defend the place, surprise and carry off the cattle on which the maintenance of the garrison depended. The party, i 'The President having approached within shot, to consisting of one hundred and twenty foot and discover the ground, they discharged some twenty twenty horse, under the command of Captain I muskets at him and his company, but without any Slingsby, set out from Kilmallock in the night and hurt done; and having effected as much as he concealed themselves in the neighbourhood, waiting intended at that time, they casting forth some till the herds would be led out across the causeway i reviling speeches, he left the place." in the morning to graze in the adjacent meadows. The army proceeded to Limerick, which it The cattle were brought out as usual, and the I reached that night, and the President made im- escort suspected no danger. Suddenly the English, mediate preparation to reduce Lough Gur. It was watching their opportunity, overpowered the guards necessary to employ artillery, and after great diffi- by a sudden and unexpected rush, captured the culty a piece called a deml-cannon was mounted cattle, and hurried off with them towards Kllmal- .'and drawn toward the gate of the city that lock. The garrison sallied forth, a sharp skirmish 1 leadeth to the island of Lough Gur." But there ensued, but the Irish were unable to obtain posses- was no need for the English army to stir, and the sion of their cattle, and their supplies must have services of the demi-cannon were not required, been seriously diminished till some successful foray r One Owen Groome, a member of the garrison, on their part restored the commissariat. L described as a stranger from the North, sent word I 74 RCC-Y3 ABOUT THE _ . privateiy that hi his pardon and a sum of money could draw the trigger Coppinger knocked the he would deliver up the castle. The President very weapon out of the assassin's hand and shouted gladly availed himself of the offer, but in the mean- to his leader. The latter turned and perceived his time a more daring traitor endeavoured to out-do danger. Nugent tried to escape by the fleetness of his rival in treachery. Amongst the most trusted his horse, but in vain. The animal stumbled and followers of John FitzThomas, brother of the Sugan fell, Nugent was taken and hung next day, con- Ear1,~wasone Xzgent, who had formerly been in fessing his treason, but informing FitzThomas that employment of Sir Thomas Norris, a previous he was not the only traitor, and that many others President of Mirnster. Nugent had deserted the were ready to carry into execution the scheme in English service and attached himself to the in- which he failed. The Irish leader, suspicious of terests of the Sugen Ear!, and rose high in the all his followers, and not knowing whom to trust, favour of his younger brother. Upon the arrival departed for the Earl's camp, commlttlng Lough of Carew, iCTugei?t considered that the English Gur to the care of Owen Groome, by whom it was service was like:j- to prove the more profitable, promptly betrayed for his pardon and a sum of and accordingly he made a secret application for sixty pounds. Thus a position whose capture pardon. The President informed him that, as his Carew himself expected would be attended wlth ason and crimes had been great, he must great delay and would cost the lives of many of his rchase his life by services as great, and if was men, fell into his hands without striking a blow. more than hkte- that the assassination of his friend and leader .would be an acceptable atone- PAGAN ANTIQUITIES. ment to make. Fie watched his opportunity, and The most striking of the Pagan antiquities in the soon fo~done which seemed to be all that he neighbourhood of Lough Gur are the Stone Circles desired. Immediately after the English army passed which are situated almost on the roadside before Lough Gur, John FitzThomas left the Island to Holy Cross is reached by the visitor from Limerick. visit the fastness ::i Xherlow, where most of his men They are to be found on the farm and adjacent to were encamped. He took with him only two the residence of Mr. Edward Fitzgerald, an earnest attendants, Coppinger and Nugent. The latter student of Archzology, who has bestowed the took an opportunity of acquainting the former of greatest care on their preservation. The largest his enterprise. and thought he had won him over. and most important of the circles has been sur- They had proceeded but a little way on their rounded with a railing, and is kept with neatness journey, the leader riding in front, when Nugent and free from the trespass of cattle. The care drew out his pistoi intending to shoot him through bestowed on these relics of the past and the lively the back, The pistol was levelled, but before he interest which has been taken in the antiquities of COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 77

Lough Cur by Messrs. John and Edward Fitzgerald other. No window or doorway can be found in might be imitated by others with advantage. the little that is left of the castle, and the outer casing of the iYalls appears to have been removed. The principal circle is one hundred and thirty Between the pck and the road may be observed feet in diameter, and consists of 43 stones of large masses of stone arranged in some kind of various height. The largest of these is about gft. order, probably some members of the c~rclewhich high by 6ft. wide, and there are others approaching has been destroyed. it in size. The entrance is between large masses towards the east. The whole is surrounded by an There are the remains of two stone circles on earthen moat 5ft. high and I jft. feet broad at the Knockadoon. One lies between the Black Castle base. and the summit, and the second to the west and much lower down. A short distance to the north, and separated from the road by a narrow field, is to be found a In the demesne of Caherguillam~xe,at the west smaller but more perfect circle. It is composed of slde of the avenue, is~s?o

castle of Tullybrackey, on the right, is now repre- Close to the south side of the lake are the sented by a portion of a wall which serves as the remains of what was the New Church erected by t , bour dary of a kitchen garden. the Countess of Bath, and which she endowed with 1 a grant of g20 per annum. The chalice and paten : ROUTE FROM LIMERlCK TO LOUGH GUR. bestowed by the Countess were, on the decay of the, The road from Limerick to Lough Gur passes edifice, presented to Knockainy Church. They bear: close to many places of interest which can be the following inscription :-" The Gift of the Right. visited with ease. About a mile outside the bounds Hon. Rachel, Countess Dowager of Bath, to her of the city, and to the right, may be observed the Chapel in the .-Anno. Dom. old church of Donaghmore, belonging to the early 1679." days of Christianity in this island, and in all pro- Certain mounds in the demesne of Caher bability founded by St. Patrick himself. A well more have been assumed to be the foundations dedicated to the samt is near by. A little to the extensive ranges of buildings, and a modern work* west can be observed the low tower of Rathurd, refers to them as being " the remains of an ancient occupying the site of a fort which, as stated in city of great extent," History knows nothin : oft the '' Annals of the Four Masters," was erected by the 6icity.'' Part of the garden wall adjacent to thed[ one of Heber's chieftains 111 the year of the world residence of the Viscounts Guillamore is evidentlyi 3501. From the road the towers of Tuoreen and a portion of some fortified enclosure of consrderabldl Drombany may be observed to the right. Having extent, probably the Caher which gives its name! passed through the village of Ballyneety the visitor to the place. In 1564 an order was made bd- obtains a glimpse of the demesne of Ballynagarde. Queen Ehzabeth's Commissioners directing that: The house cannot be seen from the road. It is Dominick Whyte of Limerick should have pod erected on the site of a stronghold of the fifteenth session of the lands of Cahiringullemore, which he century, which was demolished to make room for had redeemed from the late Earl of Desmond an& the present residence. The old castle of Baliyne- purchased from the rightful inheritors." garde was the scene of a little romance of the Near the avenue is buried Colonel O'Grady'? seventeenth century. Dineley, to whom we owe its white charger wh~chcarried its master safe through[i preservation, has condensed a three volume novel the battle of Waterloo, and a few days before saved, into a few lines, and his narratrve deserves to be his life by jumping a form~dableditch during th: given as he recorded it himself. It runs thus :- engagement at Genappe. It was the only jump:-- c ' Ballynagarde-Remarkable here is, that one the horse was ever known to take. Mrs. Bourke, to be contracted to a person for The old church of Tullybrackey lies to the left whom she had no fancy, the night befgre the in- of the rod between and EruR. ~hr? tended solemnity, she leap'd out of the window of Cahirelly Church and castle, and another called the Black Castle, lie about a mile to the east. The the castle, marked (G), of about 16 yards high, without hurt and ran away. And afterwards foundation of Cahirelly (Cathair Ailbe) is with great marryed to the same man she so avoyded, and probability assigned to St. Aiibe of Emly in the lived happily with him." The time-honoured sixth century. It contains a monument in memory of Matthew Heo (O'Hea), dated 1717, ending of a fore story is not wanting. . . Southward of Cahirelly is Raleighsto~rnCourt, a At this time Ballynagarde was in the hands of fortified enclosure of considerable extent. John Croker, Esq., one of his Majesty's Justices The court is 180 feet long by 120 wide, and is sur- of the Peace for the County of Limerick, and one of the greatest corn merchants of the same county." rounded by a strong wall. The adjacent lands are said to have been bestowed by James I. on a son Both castle and estate were the jointure of the of Sir Walter Raleigh. widow of Colonel Randolph Clayton. The Limerick road leads d~rectto the circles and The same traveller mentions that a mile and a then proceeds to Holycross. By taking the branch half from Ballynagarde were then to be seen the to the east the Giant's Grave can be visited, and runs of Schuille Castle, said to be buiit by then the Black Castle and Knockadoon. A little King John, the lands whereof belong to Sir George to the east of the causeway a road is to be met Ingoldsby, with by which the visitor can return to Limerick The castle of Rochestown or Rockstown is a by way of Lough Gur Castle, Raleighstown Court conspicuous object on an eminence to the right. It and within a short distance of Cahirelly. This is was probably a signal station in connexion with the old road, and joins the new line farther on. Shanid Castle in the west, as it is a most striking Thus a complete circuit of the lake can be easily feature on the distant horizon when seen from the and conveniently made. further end of the county. About a mile from the road on the opposite side are. to be found the ruins of Ballybricken Court, formerly the property of the Ingoldsby family. At Six-Mile-Bridge the road crosses the Camoge, Near the banks of the a tributary of the Maigue. ' Camoge to the east may be observed the remains of an old abbey of Conventual Franciscans founded in the thirteenth century. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. ROXND ABOUT THE 85 _ -_-C_II_--- variety of this pophyritic trap exhibits crystals of feldspar of a reddish tinge. The intrusive variety of trap, or that which is known or seen to cut through the bedding of the limestone, is quite columnar in structure, though not so ponderous a stone as that forming the Giant's Caaseway or the mass of the basalts in the Connty of Antrim. At a distance of a mile to the south of Lough CTur the hill of NOTES. Knockdirk rises toe height of *S6 feet, having a large boggy - flat at its western base at an elevation of about BS0 feet above the sea. This well-marked eminence is formed LOUGH GUR. almost ent,isely of reddish and brownish basalt containing specks of dark green hornblende with crystals of pink The following deqcription of the geology of Longh Gur feldspar and quartz, which may therefore be classed with is from the pm uf Nr. G. T. Da Noyer, of the Geological the Syenites. The trap to the north-east, of Lough Gur occurs on two broad dist,inctbasin -shaped deposits separated Lough GW lies at an elevation of 232 feet above the sea, by a band of grey (upper) limestone. The upper trap has and the tmppea.c rocks which occur over the hilly ground the lower coal.measure shales of Mountminne.tt House to the north of :: are of three well marked varieties-the resting on it, while to the south of Mount'minnett the bedded, or tbar deposited contemporaneously and inter- basalt in some instances is intruded among the coal- stratified with tile limestones; the intru-ive, which cuts measures. across the iddin: of these rocks ; and the volcanic ash or A full account of the trappean rock of the County of

bed of coarse and Fine conglomerate and lxeccia formed of Limerick will be found in " Memoi~sof the Geological _@er and romrtimes rounded lumps and small fragaents Survey," in explanation of he sheets of the district. of basalt 1imrsic.ne and grit and C&~S of feld~~~.the FOSSIL RhNAINS. enveloping paste consisting of washed up sandy debris of Amongst extinct animals whose remains have been found traps and iimestone, or calcareous watter, of a greenish or in this neighbourhood arc the &eat Deer (Megaeeros a puvlis, .do,: AS these beds have been deposited ider Hibemicus), commody culled the Irish Elk, which appears water, they lewmble an ordinary sandstone in their mode to have made this pbce one of its favourite resorts. and of occurrence, adlie a%the base of the l~eddedor conkem- pomeous bariis. To the unequd %eatheringof the trap the Great Ox (Bos longtf~ona). In the rock shelters of the eastern shore relnalns have been found of the Nammoth and llmestone xr due the varied and picturesque outline of (Bliphas pri~ti~enit~s),and perhaps of the cave bear and the hills north -,C Lough GUT, which rise to a height of about 300 feet above the lake or 532 feet above the sea. the wolf. The district is specially rich in remains of the Red Deer. ~h~ ~o~gh1:~~basalt, is in colour a dark greenish or BSIAN BOEU'S PORT. purplish grey, mmpwt in texture, though sowewhat vesi- Knockfennell puts in a clail11 for the honour of being the l :Lmygddoidal with disseminated crystsls of cu ar site selected by Brian Boru. Fitzgerald, describing this feldspar when xhe rook becomes r pophyr~: in the spot, says-" On the west side of Knockfennell is one of awsgdaloido; pn~ticnthe veeides are filled with carbonate the ytrongest Danish forts in the country. It is circular, of lime dnr i-0 infiltrzation from the limestones above. One & COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 87 and about three b:odre& and sixty feet in circumference. Mr. Rarry gives the following metrical translation :- The wall thst aur:ouniis is is ten feet in thickness, and ETRANSLATION.] must have been proportionately high, from the quantity of Lost to the living, Friends around him mourn : stone that has fallen outside. That part of the wall that His corpse to earth, his soul to Beaven is borne. still remains is 3u2t of large stones nearly three feet every Weak Lazarus' Treasury and sure hope of bliss. way, regula~l-; '2x6. to each other, and the interstices Flowering in dust with stainless fame are his filled up with ~su;~:iones, but there is no sign of mortar. Bright throng of virtues doth this urn contain, From this down :A :lie lake walls of similar construction Firm faith, good hope, with piety in train. extend, at about 4x;y yards asunder, to the north side of 12are-gifted, graced by Art and PoQsy the hill, where terminate at some deep marsh or Here Iies Matt Heo of fair Pedigree. Those wn!k are connected by otbers of the same morass. Died 13th February, 1717. kind. On the eas: pinnacle of Knockfennell, which is very Aged 32 years. high, there is a s~ialierfortification ; :md along the valley, which lies between t5ese high points, the remains of aalls be trace?,, te-xinitkg in like manner at the lake to the sonth and ihc deep ground to the north."

O'Donovan 1~~~2sthe passage in his notes on the geo- logicd bsurvy c :.Le district, adding the comment that there is nothng -3 1Zno~kfennellbut a small mound on the eastern pir:

The iusaipt,ioz has with great care and skill bcon deciphered by X:;. 3. C;. Itjarry, J.P., as foll0~~:- 'rollitur (1' Vivi.; Uldantibus undique dmicis, 96 7'umuiom Corpus, Forma sed Astra Petih. Invadidi ~emriumLazari, Spes Certa Balutis- Pul~rere3";urescunt ; Pamaque Clara Micat. +uina I7irt,utum, Splendentia Continet Uma, Quitu;2ecmtut Pictas, Spes 13ona : Firma Fides. Dotihus Insignis, Musis Comitatus et Arte, Jlattheus llie Latitat, Ste~teClarus, Heo. ~biit,.13 Februi, Anno 1'717, Btatis xnxii. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 88 RdcTXD ABOUT THE 89 - - __ ___-______- were a valiant race, and they seem also to have been a people of considerable enlightenment and civilisation. They are credited with having pos- sessed occult power, which however did not save them from being conquered by the who came from Scythia by way of Spain, A.M. 3500

W KN , 17' c) c A%. XINY AND BEUFF. in the Chronology nf the Four Masters. The new - arrivals were for some time prevented from landing ZPIBPTER VI. by the spells of the Dedannans, who on the second occasion raised a furious tempest which dispersed KI'\,%C) 22; :,l the arrival of the Ikiilesians, the and wrecked the fleet of Miled or Mllesius. One of P bst ril;:::is of Ireland, the country was in his sons got on shore at Kerry and another at the the possess.si- 3- the Tuath Dedannans, who had mouth of the Boyne, and joining theu forces the co2e fror; S:cs;e by way of Scandinavia and the two brothers totally defeated the Dedannans and -3 They were supposed to northern px:ta cf burope. took possession of the country which they parcelled have acqr;;red A knowledge of magical arts whilst out amongst themselves. One of the last queens of amongst ':he :bree!is, an3 on arriving in Ireland the conquered peop!e was Eire, who conferred her hac'; brot.;g':t :.:It:? thein the Lia Fail,';' which name on the country so soon to cease to belong to tvas he:~:efx::- ~:sed as the coronation stone her race. From Eire is derived Erin, the dative of the I(ir;gs 3.. Ireland. The Dedannans sub- case of the name, and Ireland (Eire-land). dued thcr przdecessors the FirboIgs in a great Like all conquered races the Dedannans continued battle, the Soczacrn Moytura, near Cong, and took to live in remote out of the way places, leaving their possessloF c.f .reland, sending the defeated remnant retreats only in the night and endeavouring as far as to Connar;gbi. a precedent which was followed considerab!>- 2hter on. In the battle of the Northern possible to avoid observation. The wonderful powers they were supposed to possess increased 31j1oytgrathe Eedannans destroyed the power of the the mystery with whlch they came to be regarded Femoriatrs, a :ace of sea pirates who had long by their apparently less intellectual conquerors, and troub:ed the coasts of Ireland. 'The Dedannans \ - gradually they acquired an uncanny and even super- ~ - -p-.--d *!phis is tlie itone which was supposed to hare been brought natural reputation. They began to be regarded as froin Tmtt to Soc.~h*.~in Lire sixth century, and which in the thirteenth beings of another world, and in process of time rentuq ~mshrouqh: ::onl Scone b>-Edlvard I. and is no\v under the seat legends grew up about them which form the orlgin of lyre Corarr;:iol: Cc.a;r in 7Vestminster Abhey. Dr. Petrie has, however, con~l:lusiyrl~iii.oiei! this cannot be the Irish L'ia Fail, which was of our tales. The lonely Dedannans, eluding never remm er.: frow Tarn, but was slanding there in the tenth century. observation, living in seciudkd woods and dells, and is slandin< iiicrt o!iX became the elves and goblins and the good people Ox seem to have abounded in this portion of the of popular tradition. Genealogists have traced no country. Their remains are to be found in great Irish families to the Dedannans. and the race has abundance in the bogs and swamps between totally disappeared. They have left some remaik- Knockainy and Tory Hill. In some instances the able remains, however, in the vast mounds of New skeleton of the Irish Deer with its great branching Grange, Dowth and Nowth, the great pagao horns has been discovered perfect almost to the cemetery of Bruga of the Boyne, near - smallest bone. a lasting monument of a people that has passed The ancient Feni knew this district intimately. away. Besides the New Grange monuments In the Book of Glendalough occurs a conversation O'Donovan states that the remains of them are to between Cuchullin of the Red Branch Knights and be found at Iinockany and Knockgreine, in the his Charioteer Lee. Both are standing on the Hill County of L,:merick and at the Paps. The memo- of Knockainy, and Cuchullin is pointing out to his rials of this ancient race still to be found at Knock- attendant the chief features of the country which ainy can be no other than the two sepulchural they see from the summit. The passage is as fol- mounds on the easterr, top of the hill. They are lows :- small and insignificant compared with the gigantic " Tell me, my Charioteer Lee, dost thou know in structures by the Boyne,'and mark the period when what country we now are ? I know it not, indeed, the former masters of Ireland had sunk into com- replied the Charioteer. I know it well, said parative insignificance, but still able to leave a Cuchullin. The mountain lying to the South is monument behind them which would attract atten- Ceann abrat Sleibhi Gain.* Those mountains to tion long centuries after they had totally disappeared. the North are Sleibhte Eibh1inne.f That bright Knockainy derives its name from Ain6, a princess sheet of water which thou seest is the lake of Lime- of the Dedannan race who resided here in the sick,? the hill on which we stand is called Druim second century of our era. Her father was killed CoHcaille (Hazlemount), which is also called Aini: in battle with dlioll Olum. When the victor Cliach. It is situated in the territory of Deise beag. attempted violence to ,%ink, that prillcess bit off his The army is to the South of us in Cliu Mail mhic ear, whence hls surname Ohm " of the lopped ear." Ugauni in the province of Curai Mac Dary." The name of the princess lived long in fairy lore, The Feni regarded this region as one of their and Ain6 has been regarded as queen of the hunting centres. During the winter months they of Munster, The ancient name of the district sur- were quartered in various districts and were main. rounding the hill was Amb. Cliach, - This was one of the famous huiltlng grounds of * Now Slieve Bboh. f Slleve Phelim. the ancient Ilish. The Irish Deer and the Irish 2 Wnn Lumnig-h-the expanaon opposite Carrig.0-Guunell, COUNTY OF LIMERICK. ------93 tained by the local chiefs. In summer they were him, " there was not a plam or a valley, a wood or chiefly employed in hunting. The County ofLimerick a brake, a mountam or a wilderness in the two then as now seems to have been a favourite hunting provinces of Munster t that they did not hunt over ground, though the length of the course would try on that occasion. " the mettle of the most celebrated Niinrods of our The chase on the plain of Cliach around Knock- time. A contemporary romance called The Pursuit ainp is described in viv~dand picturesque language, of the Gilla Dackes, a translation of which is to be which shows that the Feni could write as well as found in Dr. Joyce's Ancient Celtic Romances, a hunt. Not only a high standard of personal prowess most interesting work, gives an account of a great but of llterary acquirement also was necessary for sporting excursioil. " Finn and his chiefs now admission to the ranks of the Order, and candidates heid council as to which of the Provinces of were required to pass a severe examination, not Erin they should begin with, and they chose competitive, in literary subjects before being admit- Munster for the first chase. Next day they set ted to the profession of arms They were expected out, both dogs and men, and they travelled through to be able to recite long poems and tales, the nature Offaly . . . till they came to Collkilla, which is of which. may be judged from those which have now called Mnockainy. The chase was now set in been preserved to the present time. order, and they scattered the~nselvesover the broad The description proceeds as follows :- plains of Munster, They began at Ardpatrick, and " Now it chanced at one time during the chase they hunted over Kenn-Avrat of Slieve-Keen and while they were huntmg over the plain of Cllach over Coill-na-Drima, which is now called the district that F~nnwent to rest on the hill of Collkilla, which of Fermoy, and over the fruitful lands of Lehan, is now Knockainy, and he had his hunting tents and over the confines of Fermorc, which is now pitched on a level spot near the summit. called Hy Conail Gavra. Then south to the patri- . . . When the King and h~scompanions had taken their mony of Curoi Nac Dara (near Tralee), and by the shores of Loch Lein (Lakes of Killarney). After- places on the hill. the Fen1 unleashed their grace- fully shaped sweet-voiced hounds through the woods wards along the blue streamy Suir, by Caher-Dun- and sloping glens, and it was sweet music to Flnn's Isca (Caher), over the great plain of Femin and ears the cry of the long-snouted dogs as they routed across the speckled summit of Slieve-na-man-finn, the deer from the coverts and the badgers from their all over East Munster and West Munster, as far dens ; the pleasant emulatory shouts of the youths, as Balla-Gavran (now in Co. Kilkenny), on the whistling and signalling of the huntsmen, and the one side and on the other across the Shannon to , near Limerid of the Blue Waters. In the encouraging cheers of the mighty heroes as short," says the writer, and we can well believe t Munster ongmally consmted of two d~vislons,East and West Munster. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 95 94-- ROI5ND ABOUT THE ---I_------Conall Gavra (Baronies of Connello). they spread themselves through the glens and woods And when all was arranged, and the chase about to begin, and over the broad green plain of Ciiach." Finn himself and a few of his companions went The description is so striking that one can stand to the top of the Hill of Knoclifierna to see on Knockainy and people the surrounding plain the sport; while the main body of the Feni with mighty heroes and listen to the pleasant emu- scattered themselves over the plain with their lating shouts of the youths and the sweet music of dogs and attendants to start the deer and the wild the long snouted dogs. boar and all the other game of the forest. Then But the ancient inhabitants of this remarkable Finn's people pitched their tents and made soft spot were not forgotten in the excitement of the couches of rushes and heather, and dug cooking chase, for we read that- places, for they intended the hill to be the resting Then dld Finn ask who of all his companions place of all who chose to rest till the chase was would go to the highest point of the hill directly ended. After Finn and his companions had sat over them to keep watch and ward and to report for some time on the hill, they saw a tall warrior how the chase went on. For he said the Dedannans coming towards them," &c. were here on the watch to work the Feni mischief The events following on the expedition s~~pply by their Druidicai spells, and more so during the chase than at other times. Finn Ban mac Bresal the material for the romance. stood forward and offered to go ; and grasping his The historical references to Knockainy and the broad spear he went to the top and sat viewing the adjacent district extend a long way bacl-'wards. The plain to the four points of the sky. And the King Annals of the Four Masters mention a battle as and his companions brought forth the chess board having taken place here in the Year of the PVorld and chess men, and set them down to a game." 3772, and as they reckon 5200 years in the era of . - -- 'This brief reference to the hunt may be supple- the world, this date would be of extraordinary re- mented by another from the romance entitled The moteness. In that year Eochy, who had been King Fairy Palace of the Quicken Trees. The Fairy of All Ireland for twentyone years, was slain by Palace was situated somewhere about the neigh- in the battle of Cliach. In the Year of bourhood of the present village of , It the World 4422, another Eochy who had been will be seen that Finn and his companions were seven years in the sovereignty of Ireland fell by the hand of Airgeatmhar at Aine. not indifferent to comfort though they chose a very The airy place for watching the chase. Annals of Clonmacnoise add that Eochy was at the fair of Knockainy when he was attacked '' One day Finn and the Feni went to hunt in the unawares and slain with many of the nobility of district of Fermorc and over the plains of Hy COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 97 96 ROCND ABOUT THE -- exceptional nature of the attack on the successor of The fair of Knockainy can therefore Munster. St. Ailbhe, was the fact that the aggressor himself claim a very high antiquity. might be considered a cleric, for he is spoken of as In the year A.D. 666 a battle was fought here be- being a '' deacon, nominated." On this occasion between and the Ui Fidhgeinte of the ridh ha the Bearnan Aiibhe, which is translated to mean neighbouring district, in which Eoghan. son of St. Ailbhe's gapped or broken Bell, was burned. Crunnmael, was slain, but nothing further is known of him. In the 'list of forts erected by Brian Borl~to From this tune onward, Knockainy with its secure his Limerick possessions, no less than two adjacent plain was the patrimony of the Kerwicks, and when the power of the O'Bnens became were connected with Knockainy. The Limerick forts (~naddrtion to those erected eisewhere, dominant, the chiefs of this region still preserved notably Caisel of the Kmgs, Kincora and Borumha their identity, though they acknowledged the sovereignty of the O'Brierls. The near Killaloe), are as follows :-The fortification give the name raf Glllailre, King of Aine Cliach, of Cenn Abrath (near Kllfinane), the island of who died in r ro3. Lough Cend (which has been ~dentrfied with a In I I I g, Murtagh O'Brien having dispossessed lake near Knockamy, now dry) and the island of his brother of the throne of Munster, led an Lough Gair and Dun Pochari Malge (the fort of exped~tion into Leinster. Amongst those who the bank of the blaigue, namely Bruree) and finally accompanied him on this occasion was Murtagh Dun Ciiath, whlch is evidently a foit on the O'Kerwick, Lord,of Aine, who was slam. h111 of Knockainy, in the lerr~toryof Cilath. The In 1x23 GiIlereagh O'Kerwick made an attack latter has been identrfieti by O'Donovan wlth the on Maelmordha, Abbot of Emly and reigning fort of one circular rampa~t,which is still to be monarch of Aine, which at that time was considered seen on the western summlt of the hill. of unusual atrocity. The prelate and king and several chiefs were all collected together in one The advantages of th~sspot did not escape the house in the district of Emly, when the place was notice of the English invaders, and a strong castle surprised by Gillereagh, and seven persons were was erected there in the year 1248, by John of killed. The chiefs, we are told, escaped "through Callan, the ruins of which are still in existence, the miracles of God, Ailbhe, and the church." though very much decayed. Around the castle the Gillereagh was slain within a month afterwards, viiiage grew. and another stronglioid called and his head cut off, for comnlitting such violence Ussmond Castle was erected much later by on St. Ailbbe," What added evidently to the COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 98 -_ROUND ABOUT THE -- 99- morisheen, about a mile south-east of Rruff, by the O9Grady,* one of the principal Celtic adherents side of the old road to Kilfinane. It is one of the . of the Earl of Desmoud from whom he received most diminutive of forts, and is hardly five paces the lands of Kilbal)yowen, where a third castle was in diameter. erected which is incorporated with the modern no.On the forfeiture of the Desmond lands Close to the bridge may be observed the remains the O'Grady portion wasgranted to Sir Thomas of the castle, which at the close of the Desmond Standish By a rare stroke of good fortune the wars was held by Pierce Lacy, '&a wise and malicious traitor," as Carew calls him. Frequent lands reverted to the old Celtic family, and with them they still remain to the present time. The skirmishes occurled between the garrison at Kll- mallock and the followers of Pierce Lacy, but they ossessed O.Grady was lucky enough to secure land and fortune of one of the Knight's appear to have resulted In very little bloodshed. daughters, and by th~salliance the estates were The following account of one of these engage- restored to the original line. ments is found in Pacnta Hibevnia, chapter IV. :- The prosperous market town of Bruff is situated "The same day (20th April, 1600) Captain west of Knockainy Its name shows that a Francis Slingsby, commander of the Lord Presi- chieftain's residence existed here in early times, dent's Foot Companie and Garrison at Kilmallock, how long ago cannot well be even guessed at. when there was the Lord President's two hundred The Brugii or fort is still to be seen just on the foot, Captain Clares one hundred and fiftie, outskirts of the town, and beside the Morning twenty-five of Sir Anthony Cooke, his troope, and Star, a rivulet which falls into the Maigue. The twelve of Sir George Thorntons Horse, drew forth fort is one hundred and fifty paces in diameter, in the nlght part of that garrison, to take the prey and is surrounded by a double rampart In some of the Brough, a castle of Pierce Lacies, but three parts twelve feet in helght. The whole is thickly miles from Kllmaliock, to expect the comming planted with elm trees. It still bears its Irish fow& of the prep to grase, which accordingly, name and an old song refers to ('the melP.lious P' nt an hower after daylight came foorth and airy little lis of Bruff." The epithet " ' '2" they tooke it. Then presently the crie being would more appropriately be applied to Dun- raised, three hundred foot and fiftie horse, led by - -- * ~h~ ~~r~d~sxverc originally settle. at Cineal Donghaile, a district Pierce Lacie, skirm .hed with them for the space norylwst of Loogh Dew, including pr~of Clare and U~lwa). UHeerin of slre howers ; but seeing they could not prevaile, in h~sTopographical Poerrls says- they gave over the pursuite. There was slain of of our m-n but one horsemrn of Sir George Thorntons Tioope and foure or five of the Lord 100 ROUND ABOUT THE ---.- COUNTY OP LIMERICK. 101

Presidents Foote hurt; their losses were more, may be seen a tombstone inscribed with whereof Con O'Neale, Tyrones base sonne, was the names David Lacy, John Lacy, Thomas Lacy, hurt." and the date 1623. The Lacys held to the Irish side in the struggles of the seventeenth century to For a time Lacy was able to maintain himself in his stronghold by the Morning Star. The sub- the very last. A Pierce Lacy was one of the hostages for the performance of the treaty for the mission of the White Knlght deprived him of an surrender of Limerick in 1651, and was amongst ally and released some of the royal forces to be those exempted from the general pardon. Again employed against him. Florence McCarthy, ill 1691 a 1,acy commanded the party sent from the another Desmond chief, was suspected of treachery. c~ty to oppose Ginkle's advance on Accordingly when Carew marched to attack him, Bridge. On the surrender of Limerick the Lacys he pulled down some parts of his castle, set the rest on fire, ;%nd by the light thereof ran into the entered the servlce of Spaln. Members of this family obtained high command in nearly every woods." Pierce Lacy was exempted from the Laropran army. The Geneial, Maurice cle Lacy amnesty of 1601, and was taken and executed in of Grodno, who served under Suvaroff in Italy, 1617 His lands were conferred on Sir Thomaa and died in 1820, IS considered to be the last male Standish, and-- the greater portlon has descended descecdant in direct line of Hugh de Lacy. through the Hartstonge family to the . The Lacys or de Lacys were amongst the most famous Limerick families, and, like the Geraldines,

'l more Irish than the Irish themselves." They were descended from Hugh de Lacy, who came to Ireland in the train of Henry 11. in 1171. Hugh de Lacy is called the first Viceroy of Ireland, having been left by the King as Justiciar on his departure. His marriage with the daughter of Roderic O'Connor displeased Henry, yet under the titles of Procurator-General " and " Chief Governor" he retained his position till 1184. He was assassinated at Durrow in 1186. Branches of the de Lacys or Lacys were settled at Bruff, Bruree and Ballingarry. In the churchyard of ADARE.

CHAPTER VII. THEviilage of Adare derives its name from the ford of the Maigue, near which it is situated, and probably in connexion with a well-known and conspicuous oak tree which marked the exact position of the crossing. Adare represents the anc~entAth-hra or Ford of the Oak Tree, dnra being the genitive of dair, the Irlsh word for oak. An old legend endeavours to connect the nam with an evil spirit in the form of a fire-breathing bull which destroyed itself at this place. The monster had fixed its residence at Carrig-o-Gunneli, whence it ravaged the adjacent country till the arrival of St. Patrick in the district The samt exorcised the fiend and expelled it from its Iaxr to seek an abode elsewhere. He pursued it wherever it went, and in an endeavour to escape across the Maigue it was drowned at Ath-tarb, the Ford of the Bull, no evil thing being able to cross running water. + Adare is not mentioned by name before tf arrival of the English in Munster. From remains that have been found in the moat of the castle it is probable that a rath existed on the site after wards uccupied by the Norman stronghold, and l lI

COUNTY OE LIMERICK. 103

was one of the series of earthen forts which lined the banks of the Maigue, the remains of which can be traced at the present time. One of the many chieftains of the Ui Fidhgeinte probably had his

+ residence here, though any attempt at identification is now ~mpossible. In Norman times Adare was one of the out- lying possessions of the Kildare branch of the Geraldines, but there is no record in existence to tell how the Celtic chieftain was dispossessed, In 1226 the place was in the possession of Geoffrey de Morisco, Lord Justlce, or as he would now be called, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland. He was succeeded in hls office of Lord Justice by Maurice F~tzgerald, second baron of Offaly, who had . previously recetved a grant of Croom from King John. On the authority of the Spanish historlan Lopez, the Trrnitarian Yrlory was founded by Thomas Fitzgerald, second son of the second baron of Offaly, in 1230, SO that the early years of the thirteenth century find the Kildare branch of the Geraldines settled at Adare. In 1278 Alienor, 'i wife of John de Verdon, claitned a dower out of t Adare, Grene and '4leketh (Athlacca), These lands 1 were conveyed to Maurlce Fitzgerald, fifth baron of Offaly, on his marriage with Agnes de Valence. 1 The sixth baron of Offaly became first earl of Kildare, and Adare remained in possession of the I Kildare family till it was sold in 1721 to the ancestor of the Earl of Dunraven. The Order of St. John of Jerusalem held lands in the neighbourhood of Adare in the fourteenth century, but whether they had established a corn. 104 ROUND ABOUT THE mandery there or not is unknown. In 1310 a grant from Edward 11. was made to the baiiiffs and good men of Adare conferring on them the power to levy tolis during the three ensuing years off all goods coming for sale to the town, the proceeds to be applied to surrounding the town with a stone wall for protection and defence. In the reign of Edwad 111. the place must have suffered severely, for in a grant made in the year 1376 it is stated that the town of Adare had been '' burned, destroyed and laid waste by the Irish enemy." At the request of Maurice FitzThomaa,

Earl of Kildare, and 'l in order that the said town may be more quickly built and repaired," the sheriffs and collectors of taxes are firmly com- manded not to impose any levy upon the provost and commonalty till the town is ready to receive its former inhabitants again. Camden mentions Adare in his description of the County of Limerick, and places it third in his enumeration immediately after Limerick and Kil- mallock. He describes it as '' anciently a little fortified town," thus showing that at the close of the sixteenth century,':: when he wrote, the walls and fortifications must have been in a ruinous state. Adare was not alone in that respect, for at the close of the Desmond War there was hardly a town or castle in West Munster that had not been destroyed by one side or the other during the prolonged struggle. About this time also the well known Leverous, or Leverus, Bishop of Kildare and

* Camden's Brztunnia, a topographical description of , was first published in 1686, COUNTY OF LIMERICK. f05

Dean of St. Patr~ck's,Dublin, who had been de- prived of his offices for refusing to accept the Reformation, made Adare his place of res~dence. He maintained himself by keeping a Grammar School for some time, and subsequently removed to the City of Limerick. In iGoo the army of Carew on its march from Aslieaton to Limerick halted at Adare, which is described as a "Manor house belonging to the Earls of Kildare wholly ru~nedby Pierce Lacy," one of the adherents of the Earl of Desmond. A very short time before the town had been burned to the ground by Maurice Stack, an emissary of Carew. In 1756 John Wesley vislted the neighbourhood and describes Adare as '' once a strong and flourish- ing town, well walled and full of people, but now without walls and almost without inhabitants, only a few poor huts remaining." As will be seen later on, the visit of John Wesley is still the subject of annual commemoration by his followers. THE VILLAGE OF ADARE. In the early part of the present century Adare consisted merely of a few cabins grouped together near the ruins of the Trin~tarlanAbbey, and a few houses on the other side of the river near the castle. Opposite the Abbey was the County of Limerick Fox-hunting Club, the scene of many I a gay festivity. All these have now been swept \ / away, hardly even a trace remaining. The town THE SIEGE OF GUN CASTLE, 1600. p. lgs. as it is at present was created by the exertions of the second Earl of Dunraven, who strove to bring

l 106 ROUND ABOUT THB - it to its original importance, and with such success of the fine elm trees which line the roadway that at one time the place contarned upwards of a and paths and meet overhead in an arch of thousand inhabitants. verdure. Few spots in Ireland are so well wooded, Adare now consists of a broad, wide street with and nowhere have nature and art been more taste- tasteful houses and well kept shops. At the upper fully combined to hcighten the charms of a beautiful end the road branches off to the left to , situation. An avenue through shady woods leads and is hned w~thold and lofty elm trees. On the to the Manor House, one of the most imposing side towards the demesne, and almost included residences in the south of Ireland. It was bcgun within the demesne, are rows of pretty cottages, in 1832 on the site of the old house part of whose peeping out from amongst the tlees and shrubs walls were skilfully incorporated with the present amidst which they are embedded, each standing in structure. The stjle of architecture 1s that of the its own little garden and bearing every mark of most decorated later English of the Tudor period. comfort and prosperity. In other directions also The material used in the construction 1s the grey may be observed similar cottages either isolated limestone of the dlstrict reheved by blocks of red or in small ;otvs, and all looking the plcture of and brown from the quarries of the county. A neatness. At the other end of the town stands the st~ikingfeature is the tower, the battlements of Trinitarian or Black Abbey, used as a Roman wh~chare etghty-two feet high, but the top of the Catholic Church, of which more hereafter. Close steep pitched roof rises a hundred and three feet beside it may be observed a beautiful drinking above the level of the ground. The operl stone fountain surmounted with a memor~alcross on a work of the parapet whxh surmounts the garden lofty slender shaft. The fountain and cross were front 1s formed into old English letters, where erected in 1851 by the Countess of Dunraven, as one may read the appropriate text of Scripture, an ~nscriptionstates, in grateful memory of the " Except the Lord burld the house, their labour is zeal shown by the people of the vrllage in quench- but lost that burld it." On the front is also ing a fire at the office at , on the carved the following noteworthy inscliption :- r 5th of Apr~l,1844." "This goodly house was erected by Windham Henry, Earl of Dunraven, and Caroline, his ADARE MANOR. Countess, without borrowmg, selling, or leaving a The chieE entrance to the demesne is but a debt, A.D. 1850." It is also worthy of being re- few yards from the Trinitarian Abbey, and recorded that the greate'r portion of the bullding admission is easily obtained on application to was designed by an amateur, not a single draw~ng Lord Dunraven's agent. On entering one is im- rnedlately struck with the magnitude and number * Psctlm 127, l. Prayer Book version. 108 ZOU~VDABOUT THB COUNTY OF LIMERICK. l09 ------

having been furnished by a professional architect. days that have Ion:: past away. They form also a Almost the whole was erected without a builder or happy exception to the almost general neglect and clerk of works, and not a single mistake was made. consequent decay which have befallen similar .averythingT fcr twenty years was carried on under structures in other parts of the country. Two the superintendence of Mr. James ConnoIIy, a of the ancient abbeys are now In as good preser- working masoi; of Adare. vation as when they left the hands of the builder A short hut bsautiful avenue of very large and centuries ago, and are still devoted to the services very old trees ieads close.alongside the river bank of religion. The walls of the Franciscan Abbey to an ancient bridge over the Maigue. A roadway and of the war-morn feltress by the river side some fire or six miles in length encircles the have also been arrested in their decay and may 'C demesne and sweeps through some of the most long be expected to remain objects of admiration varied and pictcresque portio~lsof the scenery. and aff'ectionate regard to all who have ever visited From no point can an extensive view be obtained there. The first of these relics of antiquity wh~ch owmg to the gcceral flatness of the country, but claim pa~ticular ilotrce is the Castle, .popularly though the prospect is limited ir, extent, it called the , possesses attrxtions which fully compensate for THE CAS'TLE OF ADARE. all deficiences ;n that respect. There is an ever- changing a7arie:j. about the scene which enhances When or by whom the structure was erected is its natural advantages. Peeps and vistas may be not accurately known. As already mentioned, ~t is obtained which the admirer of nature in her softest believed that an ancient Irish rath occupled the moods will long linger over and leave with site of the Keep, for in the moat which sulrounds - it several objects have bten found u hich Dr. Petrie difficulty. The surrounding avenue passes by verdant undulating fields where the cattle graze, referred to a date anterio~ to any that can be through luxusioss woods and under broad over- asslgned to the Castle. These, consisting of a spear head, a sword blade and a small hatchet, are hanging trees which almost shut out the sunlight. similar in form and character to those which are Again it crosses an? re-crosses the river, or skirts known to belong to the ninth or tenth century. its margin, where the waters dash over rapids or Several Norman leaclels are mentioned in connexion spread out intc: deep calm pools in which the wlth Adare in the early portion of the thirteenth trout lie motionless. century, and the castle may wcth great probability Besides the attractions due to natural beauty be ascribed to that period. For many centuries the there are other sources of interest which place castle remained in the possession of the Kildare Adare without a rival. There are to be found in branch of the Fltzgeralds, whence it passed for about this spot some most interesting monuments of COU'VTY OF LIXERICK. P 10 ROCi'VD ABOUT THE III ______- seized, carried to London, and committed to the fifty years into the hands of the Uesmonds. In an Tower, and he and his five uncles were executed inquisition taken at Adare in 1331 there occurs the following description :-There is a castle in which at Tyburn as traitors, By these wholesale exe- cutions the Kildare family was almost destroyed." is a hall, a chapel with stone walls and covered Their estates were forfeited to , and with thatch, a. tower covered with planks, a kitchen amongst them the castle of Adare with the adjacent covered with slates, a chamber near the stone part lands, which latter were bestowed upon the covered with thatch. Des~nondline in whose hands it remained as long At various times the original building received as the Desmond power lasted. many additions, and was strengthened and en- larged by its successive owners. In the fifteenth In the early years of the struggle between the century it had the misfortune to be burned by power of the Earls of Desmond and the Crown, the Turlough O'Hrien in one of his numerous success- castle of Adare fell Into the hands of the English, ful forays against the Geraldines. The Earl of who used ~tas one of their ch~efcentres of operation Kildare soon rec3vered possession of his strcnghold, against the Celtic tribesmen beyond the Maigue. which he made the chief southern residence of his After the defeat at Monaster , Sir Nicholas family. Thomas, Earl of Kildare, who held the Malby captured the castle after a siege of eleven office of Lord Deputy, died here in 1478. and was days. buried in the Franciscan Abbey which he had A garrison of four hundred and fifty men was himself founded. placed within its walls under the command of From the castle of Adare departed in 1520 Captain Carew, which was constantly employed another Earl of Kildare, also a Lord Deputy, to against the Irish. The character of the hostillties " answer charges brought against him by Cardinal of the time is thus graphically described in an Wolsey, Minister of Henry VZII. The Earl entry in the Annals of the Four Masters at pleaded his cause so well that his enemies were the year 1579 :-'"The sons of the Earl (Desmond) foiled, and after a short time he was restored to proceeded to destroy, demolish, burn and com- his office and his estates. Again summoned to * Henrx did not succeed in exterminating the house of Kildare. Two England to appear before the King, he left Ireland sons of the ninth earl remained, the elder of whom, aged twelve gears, in 1534, entrusting the government in his absence was ill of small-pox at Down in kildare. His tutor, Thomas Le\,erous. fearing danger at the time of the arrest of his uncles, carried him off to his son, Lord Thomas Fitzgerald, the Silken conceded in a large haskct and well wrapped up in blankets. He fount1 Thoinas of romance and history. This youth, for refuge in Thonlond for a time, and though the boy was declared an enemy to the State and a price set upon his head, hdeluded the ene~tlie~ he was barely twenty years of age, incited by a of his famil~. After Inany an adventure he wits restored to his estates b~ false report that his father had been put to death, Edward VI. in 15P3, and to his title hg Queen hlary in 1584. Queen Elizabeth 111&d.de Lererous Bishop of Kildare in 1559. made a rash attempt at insurrection. He was See paqe 104, T 12 ROCND ABOUT THE pletely consume, every fortress, town, cornfield banks of the Maigue when they found their retreat and habitation between these places to which cut off by Sir James Fitzgerald wlth four hundred they came, Pest the English might dwell in footmen and thirty horse. Carew had with him them ; and the English consig~led to a like but one hundted and twenty mm, and though con- destruction every house and stock of corn to which siderably outnumbered was compelled to fight. they came, to injure the Geraldines, so that between According to the English chronicler, the two them the county was left one levelled plain without parties most valiantly skirmished at the push of corn or edifices.'' the pike without intermission for above eight On the departxre of Malby to Connaught, and hours." At the close of the long summer's day before his successor could arrive in Munster. Sir the Irish leader drew off his forces and allowed the John Fitzgerald: brather of the Earl of Desmond, English to cross over to the castle unmolested. beleagured the garrison of Adare so closely that The loss of the Irish is put down by their opponents as fifty killed and wounded, amongst ii none dust peep nor look out but in danger of some peril." Nany skirmishes took place between the latter being Sir lames. The English are the two parties. one of which, related by Hooker said to have lost none, though the chronicler in his continoarion of Hollinshed, is perhaps a fair adds that "sundrie were shrewdlie hurt and example of the engagements of the period. We wounded." The account, if accurate, some- are told that very early before daybrealr on one what lessens the horror with which one reads of occasion Captain Carew transported a body of the intermmable and incessant battles of the soldiers of the gacisor, across to the other side of period. According to Hooker, an engagement the Maigue by means of a small boat which could whlch lasted eight hours at such close quarters carry only eight or ten persons at a time. The ex- that the pike staves were used for attack and pedition was designed for the purpose of ravaging the defence, and between combatants actuated with lands of the Knight of Giin, and perhaps inflicting the brtterest hatred, after all resulted only in the some loss upon the Irish forces. The Knight a :he d* '1 of a few on one side and none at all on Earl of Desmond then lay at the castle of Balli- the other. loghan, situated in the mountain recesses behind Another foray of the garrison of Adare is related Shanid, and their forces were strengthened by a in connexion wlth the massacre of the Purcells at strong detachment of Spaniards. The royal troops Ballycahane, which will be found in the notice of traversed a cofisiderable ~ortionof the coulltry that place. In the same year also, Nicholas, the wlthout meeting any resistance, and having in- receiver of the Gel-aldines, was slain by same Aicted a considerable amount of damage prepared soldiers, but whether In battle or not the chronicler to return home. They had almost reached the has omitted to state. Fortune djd not always 1 I4 ROUND ABOUT THE smile upon the garrison, for the close of the year (1581) witnessed the capture of the castle by the Irish and the slaughter of all within it. It was recovered next year by Captain Zouch, upon whose appearance the Irish relinquwhed the fortress without striking a blow. On the attainder of the Earl of Desmond the castle and ~tssurroundings reverted to their former owners, the Earls of Kildare. The Earl of Essex having failed in his efforts to reduce the Northern chiefs to submission, turned his attention towards the malcontents In the South. He arrived in Limerick in June 1599, and was there joined by the Earls of Thomond and Ormonde. On the 8th of June he left the clty and encamped that night at Adare. 'I'he passage of the Maigue was disputed by the Sugan Earl, but Essex suc- ceeded in throwing his advanced guard across and lodged them that nlght in the Trinitarian Abbey. Next morning the remainder of his troops effected a crossing, and the march westward was begun. So incessant and so successful were the attacks of the Irish that Essex, who came to conquer, was himself compelled to act on the defensive and beat a speedy retreat southward. On the dtparture of Essex for England the Sugan Earl recovered many of his towns and strongholds, and amongst them Adare. On the near approach of Carew, who had been appointed President of Munster, the followers of the Sugan Earl took to the woods and burned the castle. Like many others it was allowed to fall into decay from the date of its abandonment. The demesne lands continued in the possession of the COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 11.5

Earls of Kildare till in 1721 when they passed by purchase to the Quin family, whose representative is the present Earl of Dunraven The Quins were or~ginally a Clare sept, and trace their descent through Niall, who was slain at the , up to a younger son of Cas, the pro- genitor of the Dalcassians.* The ruins of the castle consist of an outer and an inner part. An excellent roadway enters under the tower in the western wall, and skirting the moat leaves by a northern exit. The western tower entrance was probably the principal place of lngress and egress in ancient times, as the tower is strong and the gate was defended with a portcullis. Wlthin the entrance and on the right hand stands an oblong building of two stories. The lower apartment was a stable. Its walls are four feet thick, and quite contrary to what one would expect, the upper portion of the walls is nearly a foot thicker than the lower, the additional width being supported on projecting stones. Access to the upper portion of the building was provided by means of an external stone staircase which rose along the side of the wall, and the landing was just above the lower doorway. Adjo~ningthe budding and projecting some little way into the river is a small square tower. The water flows through a narrow passage, a portion of

* 4 lint of the chiefs who followed Brian Boru in his march against the Danes is to be found in l'ha Wars of the Gaels with the Galls. Imme- diately after the names of the members of the Monarch's family. the name Niall Ua &inn comes first in the enonleration of the Three Rear Guards of Brian. Nigll Ua Sirinn yras slain at &hebattle of Clontarf, as stated ahwp. I 16 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 117 which is still arched. Stepping across to the low massive wall with steps These steps most likely wall a good view is obtained of the Abbey on gave access to the keep by means of a drawbridge one side and the ancient bridge on the other. let down from a door In the first floor. No trace of Returning to the roadway, a little further on and the door remains, as the wall on this side is entirely again to the right, may be observed the foundations broken down, but such is the usual mode of of a room which contains in one corner the remains entrance to keeps of the Norman period. The of an oven or boiler, and near this an ancient well tower is about forty feet square and is sixty-seven supplied with water from the river. This apartment feet high. There is a doorway leading to the was evidently the kitchen. The G~eatHall is just vaults which is considered not to have belonged to beside it, and measures seventy-five feet long by the original structure. Under the doorway is an th~rty-sevenbroad. The walls are fiiteen feet high arched roof covering a hole of some depth. One and about three feet thick. The roof which has of the vaults appears to have been used as a disappeared was supported on four pillars, traces dungeon. It measures nine feet by seven, and is of which Are still vislble. lighted by a single narrow slit. From the vaults A small wooden bridge crossing the moat replaces a staircase leads to the upper apartments. The the ancient drawbridge and gives access to the side of the keep next the river has completely inner ward. The farther extremity of the wooden disappeared, only the north side and the portions bridge rests on a square gate-tower which is adjacent to it and connected with it retain their connected with the keep by a thick curved wall. original helght. The wall st~llstanding termmated There was another entrance to this tower from the in two turrets at the corners. On the interior may opposite side. The angle formed by the joining of be noticed some half arches which formed the the outer and inner walls vas defended by a turret foundation on which rested a flight of steps leading which was the most important point of the whole from the roof to the turrets. This mode of access posltion, and may be looked upon as the key of the is no longer availabe, the steps having been con- fortress. In case of attack this turret would siderably damaged and in some places entirely naturally be defended to the very last, and if the destroyed. One turret can be easily reached by result proved unsuccessful a retreat cou!d be effected means of ladders securely fastened and provided into the keep by means of a door on the first floor. with handrails wh~chbridge over any awkward To the left of the inner court is a semi-circular gaps that may occur. From the summit a good tower projecting from the boundary wall which was view is obtained of the castle beneath and also of loop-holed and divided into two stages by a floor. a portion of the demesne and the river. From the gate-tower a small wall runs towards the Near the north entrance to the castle are the keep enclosing a courtyard in which is a low gr: veyard and the walls of the ancient Parish 118 ROUND ABOUT THE -p- --

Church. The latter consists of a nave, chancel and also a third cl;- Lion west of the nave. The dividing wall contains a rude pointed arch, and is surmounted by a gable. It is said that this latter portion of the buildmg was at one time used as a Meeting-House by the Wesleyans of the neigh- bourhood. Over the chancel arch is a peculiar bell-cot of two openings. The east window is unusually small. The chancel has been psed as the burial place of the Quin family. It is considered to be of or thirteenth century, and if so must have been the original church built by the first Norman settlers. The nave is much more modern and belongs to the fifteenth century. Divine Service has not been held in this building since 1806. In the graveyard stands also a small chapel whose walls are deeply battered, which has been ascribed to the fourteenth century. The door is very wide, and the arch is triangular formed by two large stones. The west gable is pierced by a long narrow trefoiled window, the sides of which are widely splayed. Seats have been constructed on the sill, and the building was evidently of two stories, so it is not unllkely that some portion may have been set apart as a dwelling for the priest. Concerning its history or the purpose for which it was built nothing whatever is known. The bridge is said to havebeen built by Gerald fifth Earl of Kildare. It was originally much narrower than it is at present, and at some subsequent period its width was fully doubled. At full tide the view from the bridge is one of singular beauty. The - COUNTY OP LIMERICX. I 19 river assumes somewhat the appearance of a placid lake. The prattling of the cascade near the castle

1s stilled, being obliterated by the rislng waters, 1 and all around 1s calm and still and beautiful. The glassy surface reflects as in a mirror the IVY- covered towers of the old fortress, and far up the river, half-hidden by the trees, may be observed the walls and slender tower of the Franciscarl Abbey. THE FRANCISCAN ABBEY. The Franciscan or Poor': Abbey was founded by Thomas, seventh Earl of Kddare, and his wife Joanna, daughter of James, Earl of DeBmond. The first stone was laid in 1464, and the work was pushed on with such energy that before the year was concluded the church was used for Divlne service, and a portion of the cloisters had been erected. The church, two of the chapels, and tt cemetery were consecrated in 1466 on the fest~v of Saint Michael the Archangel, of whom the church was in honour. The chief source of in- , formation with regard to this religious establish- J ment is a manuscript in the Franciscan Monastery of Louvain in Belgium, wntten by Father , a member of the Order, who vislted Ireland early in the seventeenth century, and collected all the information he could find regarding the religious houses of the Franciscan Order. According to this writer the belfry was erected by Cornelius O'Sullivan, who also presented the community with a silver chalice washed with gold. Margaret

*So called from belonging to a Mendicant Order. i io ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY Of: LIMERICK. 121

Fitzgibbon, wife of Cornelius O'Dea, built the into three courses externally, and the top is em- great chapel. The smaller ones were erected by battled with tall slender steps which give it a light John, son of the Earl of Desmond, and Margaret, and elegant finish. The tower is not square nor wife of Thomas Fitzmaurice. The great Irish is it of the same dimensions throughout, for it is chieftains also combined wlth the English settlers broader at the base than it is at the top. Near the to further the pious and noble work. O'Brlen of junction of the nave and tower and in the north Ara built the dormitory and O'Dea completed wall are three recesses about a foot deep, each the cloisters, whilst the refectory was the work of arched overhead and surmounted with mouldings Marianus O'Hickey. The united efforts and meeting together in carved finlals. These recesses . generous contribution of so many noble famllies would seem at first glance to have been originally facilitated progress, and the whole of this pile of intended for seats, but underneath the level slabs buildings was completed before the close of the are to be found arched vaults, which seem to fifteenth century. suggest that the upper portlon may have been The next century witnessed its decay and the intended to contain monumental effigies of those suppression of the religious establishment. ,4t the whose remains were interred in the vaults below. d~ssolution of the monasteries in the reign of There are no less than fifteen of these recesses to Henry VIII. the Franciscan Abbey shared the fate be seen in the building The principal personages of many others. In 1573 the monks returned, but known to have been interred in the Abbey are the during the subsequent wars they were expelled Countess of Kildare, already referred to as one of from their beautiful home, and on the attainder of the founders, and Raymond de Burgh. Blshop of the Earl of Desmond the Abbey lands wele leased Emly, who died in 1562. to Sir Henry Wallop. Durlng the subsequent The chancel contains an east window much the years the building was neglected, but fortunately same as that in the transept. In the south wall escaped wanton injury. The late Earl of Dunraven are two arched recesses, one of which contalns a arrested the slow progress of decay, and with great plain piscina. The arch of one is semi-circular taste and skill carrled out a series of repairs in and that of the other a flat ellipse. Between them such a manner that the hand of the restorer is no are three sedilia with curious apertures in the where visible, and no modernization mars the dividing portions. uniform appearance of the venerable pile. The entrance to the cloisters is from under the The entrance to the nave of the church 1s in the tower. A handsome yew tree occupies the centre south-west corner towards the river and cast!e. of the open space. A staircase in one corner leads The central tower springs from lofty arches, and to rooms above that were used a:; dormitories. rises to a height of seventy-two feet. It is divided The western side of the arcade differs in several 122 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 123 -- - + respects from the other three, and is considered to connexion with this community during the two be of more recent date. A door in thls side leads or three centuries of its existence. In the reign of to the Pilor's rooms and perhaps the kitchen. Henry VIII. its fate was similar to that of the A handsome and pecul~a~lyconstructed fireplace foundation just described, and like it the building is worthy of attention from the manner in which shared the same neglect. In the year 1807 the it is built over a passage arched for the purpose. old parish church having fallen into decay the To the north of the cloisters is the Refectory, and ruined abbey was fitted up and has since been the east side is occupied with a sacristy and three used for the celebration of Divine service, and rooms wlth dormitories above them. A detached forms one of the most interesting Protestant building north of the paved court was probably the churches in the country. In 1814 the refectory, a guest chamber, and north of this again another large and spacious apartment, was roofed over and which seems to have been a kitchen. converted into a parochial school. After being One of the gateways on the side next the river nearly forty years in use, the church underwent a IS in good preservation, and over the arch may be complete renovation in 1852, on which occasion seen a shield bearing the arms of the Earls of several windows were filled with stained glass in memory of members of the Quin family. In 1826 Kildare. Close to the east wall of the church 1s an old ash tree, under whose shade John Wesley the family mausoleum was erected in the cloisters. The church at present consists of nave, south 1s said to have preached on the occasion of his vislt previously refe~red to. The anniversary of side-aisle, chancel and tower. The aisle was h~svisit IS still observed by a meetmg belng held formerly separated from the nave by four pointed eaily in June, whlch is attended by a large number arches resting on massive piers. Only one of of Wesleyans from the surrounding district, and these piers now remains, as three of the arches even from places at a considerable distance. have been thrown into two, whlch are supported cn a circular column. In the south wall is a THE AUGUSTINIAN ABBEY. recessed tomb exactly similar to those noticed in Close by the river, and so close that at high tide the Franciscan Abbey. The rood loft has dis- the water has occasionally flooded the church to a appeared, but the co~belswhich supported it yet depth of six or eight inches, stands the second remain. The tower is of later date than the religious establishment, which formerly belonged to chancel, and rises to the height of seventy-eight the Augustinian Order. The foundation of the feet above the floor. The lower part blocks up a Augustinian or Black Abbey is attributed to John, w~ndowunder which are three sedilia and opposite first Earl of Kildare, in the year 1315. Not a are two recessed tombs. single notice of interest has been recorded in The cloisters are entered by a door near the 124 XOCND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 12.5 p --- -

present vestry. The open space is a square. of the was on a visit to the Earl of thirty-three feet each way. The east side is the Kildale at Adare, and that ~t was at his request most elabo~ateiyconstructed, and bears the arms the establishment was founded. Other authorities of the Earls of Kildare and of Uesmond. ascribe its erection to Thomas Fitzgerald, father During recent years the interior of the church of the first Earl of Kildare, and fix the date at has been considerably improved, so that nothing 1272. The most probable method of reconc~ling is wanting to sender the building and rts appoint- these two accounts 1s that the abbey was foundert ments wo~thyof its sacred associations. The in 1230, and that considerable additions were porchhas been erected in memory of the Rev. H. made in 1272. At these dates the title of Earl of Jones, a former curate of the parish. The removal K~ldaredid not exist, and was not created till 1318, of some ivy on the south wail has brought to but that need not present great d~fficulty,for the light some curiously carved heads and other title mlght tasily have been att~ibuted to an ornaments on the line of moulding under the ancestor of its possessor. Lopez also gives a long eaves. list of eminent members of the community con- nected with the establishment whose talents and THE TKINITARIAN ABBEY. learning had gained for them a high position In The Trinitarian or White Abbey of Adare is one their Church. He mentions two cardinals, five of the most ancient ecclesiastical foundations which archbishops and three bishops who had been can be attributed to the Norman sett!ers in this members of the Tlinitarian Community at Adare. country. The period so cl~selyfollows the Norman invasion that there is some little difficulty in fixing The house continued to flou~ishtill the time the exact date. ;Iccording to Lopez, a Spanish of the Reformation. Lopez states that in 1539 writer who gives an account of the religious houses the prior and his monks refused to take the oath of the Trinitarians in the British Islands, the of Supremacy, whereupon the ministers of the Abbey was founded in 1230 by the Eari of K~ldare. King and the justices parsuaded the people to call The Trinitarian Order was founded in 1198 for the for punishment on the monks. He states that the purpose of redeeming Christian captives from the local authol~tles,accompai~ied by a great crowd of hands of Mallornetan and heathen masters The persons, proceeded to the convent and put the Earl of March, W-hose nephews had been rescued monks to death. The statement bears the stamp from a life of slavery by the efforts of the Order, of improbability on the face of it, and the authority bestowed one of his own seats to found the Abbey of Lopez is not regarded as trustworthy by Roman at Dunbar in Scotland, as a mark of gratitude for Cathollc writers. The Trin~ta~ians,though de- the deliverance of his kinsmen. Lopez states that prived of their lands, retained possession of the COUNTY OF LIMERICK. I 26 ROUA~D ABOUT THE 127

Near the church is a small structure called the convent till a much later period than that of the Pigeon House, circular in form, with walls three alleged massacre. feet thick. The external diameter is fourteen feet. At the beginning of the present century the " The inside at least consists of a species of fire church was used as a ball-alley by the youth of stone, certainly brought from the shore of the sea, the neighbourhood, and there was even some as many marine particles are still visible in them. intention, it appears, of utilising it for the public The top is covered with a dome, and a circular benefit by turning it into a market-house. The opening about eighteen inches in diameter, well first Earl of Dunraven interfered and saved secured by a ring of carved stonework, admits the the edifice from further desecration. He fitted it light in the centre." Mr. Lenihan states that up as a Roman Catholic Church, and it need this singular building is thought by some anti- hardly be said is maintained in a manner worthy quaries to be " nothing less than a vestal fire house, of its original purpose. built prior to the introduction of Christianity."* The building is remarkable for its massively- It is no vestal fire house, but the P~geonHouse built tower, which seems more suited to a fortress of the ancient community, and as such is described than to a church. Perhaps at the time of its in the grant to Sir Henry Wallope. [See Notes.] erection it might have been necessary to have a * Lenihan's " ," page 714. part of the buildings so constructed that it could be used as a place of retreat or refuge by the members of the community in times of danger. In the time of Elizabeth we have seen that on one occasion it was occupied by the English soldiers of Essex in face of the Irish enemy. One angle of the tower is prolonged into .a turret and is sixty-three feet in height. The battlemmts are lofty and prevent the whole from haviag a heavy appearance. Another portion of the ruins has been converted into a convent for the Sisters of Mercy, to which two schools have been attached. The east window is of rich stained glass and represents the offering of the Magi. It was erected in 1854 by the parishioners to con~memoratethe munificence of Edwin, third Earl of Dunraven. OF I 28 ROUND ABOUT THE . 129

Kilkule, in the County of Limerick, with other lands in Kilkoille containing half a caracate of land; the tithes of the rectory, church, or chapel of Adare, with all manner of tithes, alterages, oblations, profits and commodities to tha rectory appertaining which are annually gathered on the lands of Choro, Cloghran, Twothe. Cnrragh, Kilnag, Boer, NOTES. Kylcryll, Rallyrobert, Ballyfaring and Ballygell, and in all the towns wit'nin the parish of Adare ;-the alterages and two couples of grain due to the curate serving the church only excepted ;-a weir (gurgitem) or fishery for taking PATENT ROLL 25O ELIZABETH 1582. salmon on the river May, all which were parcel of the TRE QUEEV TO THE LORD JUSTICES, possessions of the late house of Friar Preachers of Adare; the slte, circuit, ainbit and precinct of the house of Friars Directing a lease fo~40 years to be made to James Gold of the Abbey of Nenayh, the Black Abbey of ADARE, the of the Order of St. Augustine of Adare, containing by White Abbey of I\ dsre, called the Redemptio Captivorum, estimation two acres, sixteen cottages, seven gardens with and the Nunnery of Ball.meglllagh, formerly the possessions all houses and building,: appertaining thereto, and a parcel of Sm John Desmond, but xhich had been granted in of land ljing in the parish called Modullie alias Modollagie, 1e:~seto John %onehfor 21 years, and by hlru conveyed to containing half a caracate of land and the tithes; a weir James Gold, Attolney-General of Munster. (gurgitem) or fishery for taking salmon on the May, all which premises were parcel of the possessions of the late Augustinian Friary; the site, ambit and precinct of the late abbey or monaste~yof Newnaghe in the County of PATENT ROLL, 37" ELIZABETH 1595. Limerick, with all messuages, cottages, lands, teneruents, Grant to Sir Henry Walloppe of the site, ambit and rectories, tithes and hereditaments to the monastery precincts of the late friary of the Trinity of ADARE, in t,he appertaining; the late convent or religious house of St. ('onnt,y of Lirneriuk, c:tlled t,he House of Friars of the Catherine, otherwise called the monastery of Kaylaghe, Redemption of Captives, with all the houses, edifices and otherwise Negaylagh, with all messuages, cottages, build- buildings thereto appertaining; seven cottages, severltl ings and lands thereunto belonging; the site, ambit and gardens, conAning in the whole about 49 acres lying precinct of the late house of friars minor ~f the Order of within the borough of Adare; 16 acres nrable, 4 acres St. Francis in Adare, containing by estimation sixteen , small pal.li, pigeon house, in the town and fields acres of land, in which are a church, cloister, hall, dor- of Adare and ceahin lands lying in Adere, amongst the mitory, library, three chambers, kitchen, bakery, a great borough lu.nds aont>tlniug 1.,y estimat,ion one carucste, two park or close on the west of the house and certain stone messusges, 12 acres arable in Castle Robert, with a ruined walls surrounding it; two other parks or closes with walls castle and haif a. c~trucateof land, t,hree messuages two and ditches; a water mill and a water-course; a weir and cottages, twenty-four acres of arable land, pasture and fishing place for taking eels and salmon on the May, and underwood, and the fotmdation of sn old water-mill with a all the cottages, buildings, lands, tithes and hercditaments w;~tercunrseIn the town or townlmd of Kilkoille alias belonging to the monastery; with all tithes, churches, * 30 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. I31 ______._-______-- chapels, commons, urz~rshes,waters, water-courses, fisheries, warrens, court leet, awze of bread, wme and beer, the punishment, correction and emendation thereof, herriots, customs, and all other commodities and emolum~nts,as well spiritual as :elr?pold, of whatsoever kind, nature, or CROON AND ITS NETGNBOURHOOD, species they he or l)y whatsoe\fer names they are known, called, or distinguished ; to hold for ever ss of the Castle of CHAPTER VIII. Limerick, by fealty only in free snd common soccage and not in Capite or by military service.-Rent, 2326 17s. 8d.- THEvillage of Croom is situated on the banks Dublin, Nov. 4. of the Maigue between Adare and Bruree, but nearer the former than the latter. It lies in the district which anciently bore the name of Assal. Tory Hlll was anciently Cnoc-Droma Assal. In the Four Masters mention is made of a battle which was fought at Ceann duin in Assal in the year 4169. In 1088 an invading army under Donal McLoughlin, King of Ireland, and Rory O'Connor, King of Connaught, having first burned Limerick ravaged the surrounding district, destroying amongst other places Dun Aiched, now Dunachip, in the parish of Dysert, and Drum Ui Cleirchein, that is O'Cleirchein's Ridge, now Dromin. The name of Croom first occurs in an account of a predatory excursion in 1151, when Rory O'Connor "carried away many cows and burned Cromadh." A chief of the Ui Fidhgeinte had his residence here, which, on the arrival of the Anglo- Normans, was included in the dominions of the newcomers. The rath of the O'Donovans and the O'Briens was replaced by a strong castle in the time of King John.* I$ is similar in con-

* Cnherasa, The Fort of the Cataract, preserves the name of another of these Celt~estrongholds. 132 ROUND ABOUT THE struction to that erected about the same perlod ~tsoriginal possessors. Pierce Lacy, a descendant at Castleconnell, and was a simple rectangle with of its first Norman proprietor, obtained temporary round'towers at the four corners. possession of the place in 1600, and accord~ngto Carew -gave great annoyance to the subjects The fortunes of Croom and Adare were closely there and comfort to the rebels, being erected at In the reign of Edward I., on linked together, the entrance into Connoloe." When Carew the death of Walter de Lacy, his vast possessions marched to the capture of Glin, he turned aside were dlvided between his two surviving sisters. out of his way to get possession of Croom. It Margaret, the eldest, married John de Verdon, must have been recoverecl again, for O'Donnell, who thereby obtained part of de Lacy's lord- Earl of Tjmm, halted his wearied army here ship of Meath, and with it the office of Chlef after their long march from near Holycross in Constable of Ireland. He obtained also posses- the County of Tipperary whilst hastening to join sions in other parts of Ireland, amongst which are O'Neill before . In 1610 the Earl of included the cast,es and manors of Croom, Adare Kildare was agaln in possession of Croom, and and Castle Robert. As in the case of Adare, it remained in the hands of that fam~lytlll 1721, the lands of Croorn were conveyed to Maurlce when it was sold to Mr. Croker of Ballinagarde." Fitzgerald, and from th~splace the Kildare branch The principal objects of historic interest in the of the Geraldlnes took then war-cry of Croom neighbourhood of Croom are the Church and Round Aboo, words w~l~hare still the motto of their Tower of Dysert and the Abbey of Manister. head, the Duke of Lemster. CHURCH OF DYSERT. In 1310 the firat Earl of Kildare obtained the Royal permission to wall the town of Croom. In The Church of Dysert has been pronounced to be undoubtedly one dating from the primitive age 1312 he held a great, rich and peaceable " Christmas feast at Xdare. The castles of Croom of Christianity. In Lord Dunraven's Memorials I and Adare were coo remote from the centre of of Adare " the date of the erection of the Church is fixed at 780, and it IS attributed to Aengus, the government to be quite convenient for the Earls of Kildare, and consequently when the castle of Culdee. The distinctive featu~esof the building have been destroyed, but sufficient remains to was enlarged in the early part of the fourteenth century ~t became the chief seat of the * From the Rent Roll of Gezald, ninth Earl of K~ldare,1518, zt appears family. the r~gbtof presentation to the foI1owzng hvmgs zn the Dzocese of hmenck belonged then to the Earls of Klldare-~zz., the Parsonwe of On the atta~nderof the Earl of Klldare In 1537, , the Palsonage of Ballzngaddy, the Parsonage and Vlcarage of llronnn, V~carageof Adsre, Parsonage of Derrygalvin, Parsonage and Croom was bestowed upon the Earl of Desmond Vzcarage of Croom, Parsonage and V~cltrageof Achlerkagh,,&nd. for life, but early in the next century ~t reverted to chapel of Chapel Rumell. , --1 &&5& Wd- ---- f3.F ROUND ABOUT THE -- .-- show that it was rectangular in shape, fifty- which they rarely emerged. His solitary cell three feet long by seventeen wide. The walls was the desertum or desert in whlch the anchorite are three feet thick, formed of huge blocks of dwelt in seclusion cut off from all distracting limestone externally and internally, the space influences of the outer world, and living on the between the two casings being filled with rubble. alms of the faithful. This form of monasticism I The doorway 1s in a very peculiar position for was common in Ireland, as may be seen by the an ancient chulch, not being as is usual at the number of places in the country bearing the name west end but s~tuatedin the south side. It is Desart, Desert, Dysert or . The enclosed popularly believed that this is only one church walled-up cell of the anchorite, in which often he of many which formerly existed at this spot, and could neither stand up nor lie down at full length, the appearance of the adjacent ground would bear was attached to the church of the monks living out the supposit~onthat an extensive establish- in communities. Aengus seems to have been the ment existed here in remote t~mes. first of these anchorites in Ireland, who, on About the period fixed for the erection of the account of their extreme piety and rigid self- mortification, were called Culdees, a word derived church there did flourish a celebrated anchorite either from the 1,atin Cultores Dei, worshippers of named Aenghus, who was amongst the first, if not the very first, to bear the name Culdee God, or more likely from the Celtic, Ceile De, servant of God. From Dysert Enos, in the present He was educated at the celebrated School of Clonenagh, in Queen's County, and preferring Queen's County, Aengus removed to , a solitary life he lived apart at a place called where with St. Mailruan, abbot of that celebrated Dysert Beagh, whence he removed afterwards monastery, he composed various works, and amongst them his Feiiere, or the Festilogy of the to Dysert Enos, or Ilysert Aengus, near Mary- borough. The word Dysert is another form of Saints, which entitle him to be regarded as the most ancient and reliable authority on the history desert, and points to the intlmate connexion of the ancient saints of Ireland. This must be which existsd between the monasticism of the the saint whose name is connected with Dysert Irish Church and that of the 'East. There Aengus, near Croom, though there appears ty be were two classes of monks, those living in com- no particular incident in his life which connests munities, and anchorites who led solitary lives him with this spot, and another place in the remote from their fellows in the deserts of Egypt and Syria. The latter were at first peculiar to Queen's County bears hls name. Eastern monasticism. In later times they are to be found living their peculiar life side by side with the other monks, but dwelling in enclosed cells from Close to the church stands the Round Tower, r36 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LPVBRICB. 137 which, thanks to the Board of Works, is in very fair may be concluded that the Round Tower of Dysert preservation. It is sixty-seven feet in height. The was originally somewhat higher than it is at present. internal diameter at the base is over seventeen That after the lapse of probably a thousand years feet, diminishing to thirteen at the top. The tower it should be so perfect as it is now, is owing to is constructed of granite blocks hammered into the remarkable tenacity of the mortar used in its segments to suit the shape of the tower. Those construction. The mortar IS composed of pebbles, at the base are of considerable size, but they gritsand and lime, mixed together is such excellent become smaller as they go up. The doorway is at a proportions that the compound has almost the distance of fifteen feet from the present level of hardness of the granite blocks it 1s used to unlte. the ground and faces the east, This is one of the The origin and use of these round towers had very few doorways of any round tower which have long been a vexed question amongst antiquarians. any decoration at all, and the only one with a They were considered to be of pagan origin, and ball moulding in the arch such as this possesses. some regarded them as being connected with an The arch of the doorway is peculiar. It is not obscure form of Cuthite worship, or that they were carried through the whole thickness of the wall, towers erected by the Zoroastrian fire-worshippers. but a little more than half way the arch stops Those who rejected the pagan idea for the Christian short and is blocked up, so that from the inside looked upon them as being merely belfries attached the doorway has a square top, no curve being to the churches, or pillars for saints such as Simon visible. The arrangement for lighting the interior Stylites. The conical top disposes of the latter admits of every kind of variety of shape and hypothesis. Of course the~rerection was attributed outline. The first or ground floor was not lighted to the Danes as forts or places of refuge, for whlch at all, the second only by the doorway just men- they were evidently well fitted. Dr. Petrie investi- tioned, the third floor was lit by a triangular gated the history and ongin of the round towers, headed window on the west side, the fourth by a and concluded that they could not be of pagan round-headed window on the south, and the fifth origin, for the pagan Celts d~dnot possesss such a and highest by a square-headed window on the knowledge of building as would enable them to north-east. Although the edifice is in very good erect such difficult structures. He considers them preservation it is generally considered that one to be of Christian and ecclesiastical origin, and storey is wanting, as the existing upper storey that the period of their erection extends from the does not present the usual features found in those introduction of Christianity to the thirteenth round towers that are still perfect. In these the century. As to their use, they were designed to topmost storey generally possesses four windows serve a triple purpose, namely, as belfries, as facing the four cardinal points, and therefore it depositories for the safe keeping of sacred utensils relics, or other valuab!es, and into which the castle is forty-six feet long by thirty-three broad, ecclesiastics could retire ill case of attack, and aud the walls are now thirty-one feet high, and were finally as beac0r.s and watch towers. The time never much higher. The available space within fixed by Dr. Petrie for the introduction of the is very small, as the wa!ls are no less than eight round towers is considered rather early, and Lord feet thick, throilgh which passages and diminutive Dunraven fixes the date of the earliest at later chambers have been cunstructed in the upper than the year 800, and subsequent to the invasion storey. To the right of the entrance is the guard- of the Danes. This date came very close to that room, and on the roof of this passage is a hole by given by Lord Dunraven for the erection of the means of which assailants could be attacked from church, and St. Aengus lived some years after 800, above. On the outer w~llof the building may as his Feilere was finished in that year, and it was be observed one of those grotesque figures called not the last of his works. Sheela-na-gigs, representing a female in a very grotesque attitude. A similar figure will be found It would appear that, like Dysert close by, the on the neighbouring castle of Tullavin. round towers again connect the Celtic Church with the East. It was in Central Syria that the use of cupolas and church towers was first dis- The transition from the plain and simple church covered, and whence this mode of construction of Dysert to the Abbey of Manlster marks an era was derived. From Syria this peculiar style of in the ecclesiastical architecture not only of architecture was carried westward, examples Limerick, but of Ireland. Up to the early years of which are still to be found on the Con- of the twelfth century the churches were planned tinent. The type of building exactly sulted on very simple lines. They were plain rectangles, the requirement of the Celtic ecclesiastics when with or without a chancel, as the case may be, the invading Danes spread themselves over the and seldom exceeding forty feet by twenty. The county, burni~lg the monasteries and murdering majority of these were of much smaller dimensions their inmates. As signal towers, as watch towers, and appear to have been oratories or places for as places of retreat for the monks and of safe the safe keeping of sacred vessels, manuscripts keeping for the sacred books and vessels, and as and vestments. They could not contain any con- belfries, they combined all the requirements of the gregation, who must have therefore assembled community dwelling around their base. in the open air. None of these churches appear to have been provlded with sedilia, piscina, or A short distance west of Dysert is the low credence table. broad tower of Donaman, erected by Catherine, daughter of Thomas, Earl of Desmond in 1506. The The earlier half of the twelfth century was COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 141 t signalized by the introduction of a new style of establishment de Mag~ogrew into such importance ecclesiastical architecture in Ireland. Cormac's and magmtude that it furnished monks for Holy Chapel on the, (erected I 134)~marks Cross in Tippzrary and Chore Abbzy near M~ddleton the highest development of which the old Celtic in Cork, and its head sat as one of the Spiritual form was capable. The Abbey of Manister is the Peers of Parliament frotn the tlme of King John. first in the County of Limerick erected in the The same monarch in 1211 confirmed to the abbey style introduced from the Continent. About the the lands upon which it stood, and some further year 1138 Malachy, Archbishop of Armagh, made privileges were granted by h~sson and successor, a journey to Rome and stopped on his way to Henry III., in 1227. With the exception of the visit St. Bernard at the Monastery of Clairvaux, names of vanous abbots and some: minor disputes where a comrnun~tyof the Cistercians, a reforma- and renting of lands, there is little to be traced tion of the Benedictines, had been established. In connexion with the abbey till the middle of the On his return he again visited Cla~rvaux,and by fourteenth century is reached. St. Bernard was persuaded to introduce the Order In 1365 'Turlogh Mael O'Brien succeeded to the into Ireland. The first monastery of the Order sovereignty of Thomond on the death of his elder was founded at Mellifont, near Drogheda, In 1142. brother Mahon. We did not long enjoy the crown, Dermot h1cMorrough founded in I 148. for Brian, the warllke son of the late monarch, The third foundation of the Order was that by dispossessed his uncle and drove him from the 'I'urlogh O'Br~enon the banks of the e, in kingdom. Turlogh fled for refuge to Garret, Earl pious acknowledgement of a victory gained by him of ~esmondywhowarmly espoused his cause and over the Danes at Rathmore. The level space is raised an army to restore him to his lost position. sald to have been given some years before to Brian marched to meet the coalit~onof - English Malachy by his personal friend Cormac Mac Carthy, and Irish formed aga~nath~m, and the two armles and appears to have been previously used as a well met on the 10th of July, 2369, on a level pla~n known place of assemblage. The establishment is adjacent to the monastery. A bloody engagement called by the Four Masters Mainister-an-aona~gh, ensued, which resulted in the defeat and overthrow which means the Monastery of the Fair or assem- of the Anglo-Irish expedition by Brian. Many blage. It is also referred to as Nenay and de English nobles and the Earl of Desmond were Magio, the Monastery of the Plain (m Irish Magh),. captured in the abbey, to which they had fled It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, and for refuge, and' not released till heavy ransoms was filled w~thnonks from Mellifont. Before had been paid. The victory placed Brian in un- the end of the twelfth century the house at disturbed possession of the Kingdom of Thomond, was made a Cell to Manister. The and he is generally distinguished from others of COUNTY OF LIMERICK. I42 ROCND ABOUT THE I43 battle at Monasternenagh. his name as Brian Catha-an-Aenaigh, that is, The Irish and Spanish Brian of the Battle of Nenay. Turlogh accepted were drawn up In goad order, the former having been well drilled by the forei~n officers, and an asylum offered him from the the Earl of numbered about two thousand mw. Desmond, and many years afterwards his descend- Alalby had six hundred men, whom he drew into a square, ants had assigned to them by their protectors a with small outlying parties, and his baggage in district in the County of Waterford, where a the rear. Dr. Allen, the papal legate, was present distinct branch of the O'Briens have since con- encouraging the Irish and Spanish troops, as- tinued to reside. suring them of victory and bearing aloft the Another important battle took place here in consecrated banner which he had received from the reign of Queen Elizabeth, October, 3rd, 1579, the Pope. Having received the Papal blessing the After the death of James Fitzmaurice,'fi the Irish began the attack, marching in good order with Spanish troops which landed at Smerwick in artillery on either wing. The English were able Kerry moved eastward into the heart of the to fire two volleys before the Irish were upon county under the command of Sir John them with the pike. Twice their headlong valour Fitzgerald, younger brother of the Earl of pierced the English lines, and twice they were Desmond. The latter was unable to make up driven back again. The fierce hand-to-hand en- his mind whether he should remain attached to counter lasted some time. and for a while victory the English interest or throw in his lot with his seemed now to favour the me nog the other. A more enterprising brother and place himself at third and deadly volley from the English ranks the head of his Irish retainers. The Irish and fired at close quarters decided the issue, and the Spanish encamped some time at Slieve Logher, Irish retired defeated, but still formidable. They but finding the Ezr! undecided, the Lord Deputy retired to the mountain fastness of Aherlow, unable to take the field through illness, and severely chastising on their way the garrison of having defeated a detachment at Springfield, they Kilmallock, who had sallied out to attack them. were emboldenec!; to march into the open country Amongst the slain was found the body of the papal and fixed their camp at Manister. The Lord legate, who, according to Leland, like some of the Deputy had placed the Munster forces under the warrior monks of earlier times, had not disdained command of Sir Nicholas Malby, who was on his to grasp the sword in defence of what he believed way with his arlny to secure Askeaton, when he to be right. was informed that the enemy were within short Many refugees sought safety within the shelter distance. He retraced his steps and gave them of the abbey walls, but in vain. Malby turned his cannon against the massive buildings and a breach * See fnrther under " Castleconnell." COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 145 I44- ROUND ABOUT THE was speedily effected. The soldiery poured in and of Desmond, and Fitzmaurice, Lord of Lixnaw, gave no quarter either to armed men or to the looked on ingloriously from the summit of Tory defenceless monks. The lattcr crowded into the Hill, and the Earl sent a message next day to c'lurch seeking an asylum in that sacred place. Sir Nicholas Malby congratulating him on his But no place was sacred to the victorious troops, victory, and advising him to change the place of and all were put to the sword without mercy. his camp between the abbey and the river because it was unsuitable. Malby replied by laying the The Annals of the Cistercians, compiled in the Earl's towns of Rathkeale and Askeaton in ruins. sevetiteenth century contain a beautiful legend in The Earl seems to have been unable to realise connexion with this event. It is related that an old that his own fortunes and those of his house monk escaped from the slaughter, and concealed were being decided that day on the little plain himself till evening, which was the eve of the near the foot of Tory Hill. A Desmond never ap- Assumption. Alone he entered the chancel where peared agam at the head of an army, and a few the butchery had taken place but a few hours years after witnessed the total overthrow of a before, and flrnging himself upon the broken house which for centuries had held royal sway in statue of the Virgin wept bitterly that now there Munster. were none to keep the festival of her to whom the church was dedicated. Whilst he sorrowed From an inquisition of October, 1578, exactly a year before the battle, it is found that Queen broken-hearted, suddenly it seemed the chancel became filled with light, the dead arose with Elizabeth granted the abbey with its lands to Sir Warham St. Leger for A22 17s. 8d., though crowns of victory on their heads and triumphal palm branches in their hands. They took their evidently the kn~ghtdid not interfere with the possessors of the building. The fabric went accustomed places in the choir, and sang the vesper in strains of heavenly music. The monk, gradually to decay, but it was not till quite overawed, took his part in the service, not daring recently that the vaulted roof fell, destroying to raise his head or to look round. All too soon at'the same time the east window and part the last chant died away in silence, the radiance of the chancel. The progress of the ruin is said to have been very materially assisted by some of faded into the darkness of evening, and his aged the outbuildings being demolished in order that eyes rested only on the blood-stained walls and the materials might be used in the construction the gashed and gory corpses of his brothers. of stables. Many of the best soldiers amongst the Geraldines Like other Cistercian abbeys it is constructed on perished at the battle of Manister, and the Clan Sheehy suffered severely. The head of the house the model of Cla~rvaux,so that there can be no COUNTY OP LIMERICK. 147 --- --_-I_- _ _ ------some places built up in order to effect subsequent difficulty in ascertaining its ground plan and of additions. forming an idea of what it was like before its The abbey of Manister in its present condition destruction. does not favourably compare in gracefulness of The only portions of this great pile of buildings design and beauty of detail with those of Adare. now standing are the church, parts of the chapter house, and some fragments of wall. The walls of But it must be remembered it is a very much more ancient foundation than anythmg they can boast the church are over forty feet in height, and are covered with a luxuriant growth of ivy. The of, and that its erectlon was begun by an Irish monarch before the appearance of the Anglo- church is a plain rectangle one hundred and seventy-nine feet in length. It is divided into nave Normans in this county. Not far from the abbey is the Castle of Rathmore, and chancel by a wall pierced by a low doorway a square tower about seventy feet in height, only six feet In height. On each side of the nave are two lofty arches of reddish grit, which curve off strongly built and without outworks. After the at a height of eleven feet. At the south-west battle of Monasternenagh it fell Into the hands of the English. The Earl of Desmond, writing from corner a massive square tower is said to have Askeaton, cornpiains that Malby, " being in camp stood. The nave 1s considered to be the original at the abbey of Nenagh, sent certain of his men to budding founded by Turlogh O'Brien, the other enter into Rathmore and there murdered the portions having been added at later periods. The chancel is eighty-one feet in length. The eastern keepers, spoiled the town and castle, and took away from thence certain evidences and writings." end has been destroyed. The chancel arch was one of the largest in Ireland. It was twenty- Eastward of Rathmore, and by the banks of the Camoge, is the strongly fortified enclosure of five feet broad, the shafts were seventeen and a Glenogra, which derives its name from Ogra, a half feet high, and the apex of the po~ntedarch was about thirty-five feet above the floor. It was forgotten Irish ch~ef,whose earthen fort is at a short distance. The enclosed space of the castle an almost unique specimen of Irish architecture before the arrival of the English. The external measures one hundred and eighty feet long by a hundred and fifty broad, and the wall is in some buildings have been almost totally destroyed, places still over twenty feet In height. In the nothing being left but the foundations, which north-east corner stands an octagonal tower four show they were of considerable extent, and that stories high, with walls seven feet thick. The the cloisters, if any existed, must have been un- second storey is formed by the usual stone-work usually large. In the walls of the church are arch. From one side of the octagon rises a small embedded pillars of red grit and ornamented lral staircase, and capitals of the same material, which have been in - - -,, ,,.Y

R,- --m. - QC*? W;*-.-. k,:--3 L:**.2 ~c4-T. 14~ ROUND ABOUT THE from another springs a tall chimney whose height rivals that of the tower. Under the north wall are four vaults over which towers originally stood, but which have long since disappeared. On the opposite side is the chief entrance to the enclosure, NOTES. and here in times of danger the cattle upon which - the garrison depended for their supplies could be ABBEY OF MANISTER-NENAGH. driven out of the reach of marauding bands. There The followmg notes respecting this abbey are found in is no record of the erection of this stronghold, but Archdall's Monasticon Hibermicun~:- tradition popularly ascribes it to an Earl of Monasternenagh, in :he barony of PoMe O'Brien. An Desmond, and fixes the date about the year 1400. abbey was founded here to the honour of the Virgin Mary, A.D. 1148 or 1151, by O'Brien, who furnished it with monks, On the opposite side of the road is a ruined church of the Cistercian Order from the abbey of Mellifont, in the not possessing any features of interest, and con- County of Louth. The cell of Feal was afterwards annexed cerning which nothlng is known. to this house. In the little church of Fedamore is erected A.D. 1174 Donatus, abbot of this house, was a subscribinrr witness to the grant made by Dermot, King of Munster, to0 an ancient monument the inscription on which Gill Abbey in Cork. is of interest :-'"ere lyeth ye body of John 1295. It appears that Adam de Dermoghe was abbot Croker, late of Ballyneguard, in the County of before this year. Limerick, Esquire, who was the son of Edward, 1304. Isaac was abbot; for we find that on the 7th of who was the son of Thomas John Croker, of March in this year he granted to John Bathe, the son of Lyneham, in the County of Devon, in the Kingdom Simon, the whole grange of Grangenaw, for the space and term of th~rtyyears, paying annually thereout forty of Great Brittain, Esquire, by Groud, his wife, who cronnogs of bread-corn, twenty of pease and beans, and died the 12th of July, in the year of our Lord, 1717, twenty of oats, all properly cleansed and winnowed; and being the 93rd year of his age, beareth argent, a also that he should pay snit and service at their court of cheveron, engraved gules, between three ravens Mage twice in every year; and if the said John, his heir proper, by the name of Croker, of Croker's Hall, and assigns, should at any time be annexed in the said in the County of Devon." Rochestown, Williams- court, the fine should not exceed sixpence. 1307. William, the abbot, granted to Robert, Bishop of town, Balinloughane, the property of Lord Brittas, Limerick, all the land which Laur. Osenyk, held from him and Ballynegard, the property of 'I'heobald Burlie, in Camysbeg for the term of twenty-nine years, at the were granted by the Crown to Dr, Carteret in 1663. annual rent of fifty shillings. They were purchased from him by Clayton, who It is recorded that Isaac was abbot the swne year, and shortly afterwards sold them to Croker. that in 1311 he alienated several lands belonging to this abbey. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 151 *P ROUNU ABOUT THE -p-. Limerick and pitched his camp at Ena-beg. The English 1313. In this yea~rJohn the abbot petitioned the King to troops he commanded were few, but he was assisted by Irish be restored to the lands which Isaac had alienated, and auxiliaries who basely drew the sword agajnst their own which had been seized into the King's hands, this abbey countrymen. Foremost amongst these were Ulick and being a royal foundation. 1317. The abbot recovered the Grange of Mahunaun, John Burke, sons of the Lord Clanricard. Thomas Fitz. gerald, son of John, was captain of his father's horse, and in this county, from Maurice FitzThomas. deemed it pradent to send out a, few squadrons to recon- 1366. Henry w;ra abbot some time before this year. noitre the enemy's position. On seeing them approach, the 1370. On the 10th of July of this year Gerald, Earl of EngIish retired to their camp, and then suddenly wheeling Desmond, together with the Lord John Fitz Nicholas, the about fell on the reconnoitring party and put them to Lord Thomas Eitz John, and several of the nobility were flight. Perceiving this, John of Desmond rode up rapidly taken prisoners near the monastery, where many other and commanded the fugitives to turn and stand. Seeing nobles were slain l)y O'Brien and McCornar of Thomond. this the English halted, and did not dare to follow up their 1579. This yew Marshal Malby, at the head of 100 momentary advantage. Then John of Desmond commanded horse and 600 foot defeatel 2,000 of the Irish; although his men to attack them on the instant, and so bold and they fought valiantly at first, yet were 260 of them slain, overwhehing was his charge that Malby's troopers were Amongst them we find Dr. Allen, the famous legate from routed and put to flight. Eut as it afterwards pror~ed,they the See of Rome. The action happened near the monastary. only feigned a retreat, their object being to lead the The abbot was a baron of parliament. Geraldines into an ambuscade. There was not a moment At the general suppression the abbot of this house was to be lost, and John dashed against the enemy's right wing. found in possession of the site of the same, tcgether with and caused it to retire. Indeed the thundering of their five ploughlands, one adjoining the site and called the heavy guns did more at the crisis than their balls, for ploughland of the ah'xy; another called Bally McStradin owing to the broken ground their batteries were badly and Grange, alias Gransey ; two ploughlands called pointed. Illany of the English were slain, and among them Barmean and one called Booallyboord ; Cloghnamanagh a distinguished officer. As for the rest, the Geraldines . and all tithes, oblations, &C., of the said plough- . . charged them repeatedly, till at last they took refuge in a lands; the entire parish of Nenay, belonging to the said bog that was hard by. After a fight that lasted one hour abbey and extending to the towns of Granshelath, Cammas, and a half, their artillery and standards were captured by Garranamanagh, Knocknegrawly, Cahircliffe, Cloghmenagh, John of Desmond; but he and his brave men had to lament Eilkereby, Rowherany and Lackangrenagh, with the the loss of his son Thomas and also that of Sir Thomas presentation of the aforesaid rectory, a mill-seat and water- Browne, Knight. After the victory, and when Desmond's ,ourse and meirs for eels and pikes on the river Comeage; men had taken a little sleep and food, they marched from six shillings yearly rent issuing from Garranamanagh, and Connelloe in the direction of Aherlow. A1 and 8d. arising from Grottensillagh. The following is the account of the same event in the RATTLE OB MANISTER. Annals of the Four Masters :- O'Daly, in his History of the Ueraldines, written about As for Captain Malby he, after the death of the Lord the year 1650, gives the following account of this battle :- Justice (Sir Willism Drury), proceeded to Limerick to few days after this signal victory (Gtort-na-Tibrid), B recruit his army and to procure provisions for his soldiers, Nicholas MalEy, President of Connaught, marched through t 62 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 153 and from thence he proceeded to Askeaton; and it was on the same day that the young sons of the Earl of Desmond came to look for fight or prey in the County of Limerick, where they and the Captain met face to, face although they could have shunned and avoided him. A battle was bravely fought between them, in which the were so resolutely encountered and pressed by the Captain's forces THE FASTNESS OF CONNELLO. that they were finally routed with the loss of Thomas, the son of John Oge, son of John, son of Thomas, son of the Earl, and Omen, the son of Edmond Oge, son of Edmond, CHAPTER IX. son of Turlough Mac Sheehy ; and a great number of the WHEN Sir George Carew undertook the constables of Clanu-Sheehy, with a great many of the people of the sons of the Earl. Great spoils consisting of pacification of Munster he found it neces- weapons and militnrg attire were left on the occasion to sary to begin with the portion of the County the Captain's people. This battle was fought at Aenach- of Limerick, west of the Maigue, known as beeg. Connello. The district was covered with dense forest, the ground was in part rugged and uneven, part marsh and bog. The mountainous recesses afforded shelter to the light armed and active Irish, THE TERDON FAMILY. who could watch their opponents struggling with the difficulties of the way and choose their own This distingaished family was for a long period connected time for adding to their embarrassment. The with the City and County of Limerick. L553 William Verdon was Bhyor of Limerick. In 1579 district contamed numerous castles, the remains of John Verdon was sovereign of Kilmallock, and in 1585 he many of which are to be found at the present day. was one of the members for that borough. In a letter written October 18th, 1569, from A Henry Verdon was included amongst the '. nobility, Limerick, Captain John Warde informs Cecil of citizens and burgesses of the , cities and ancient the valiant conduct of Colonel Gyiberte in the of Ireland," who petitioned James I. for the relief of their grievances. He signed for Kilmallock. relief of Kilmallock, that Lieutenant Crewes was In the churchyard at Kilmallock will be found a tomb in wounded before Garrystown (? Ballingarry), and memory of George Verdon (quo~zdamConsulis lirillocessis), that the castle was stormed and the garrison of who died in 1632, and of Anastasia Verdon, mho died in 40 men put to the sword. Then he proceeds to 1597, erected by James Verdon, their son and heir. Inform the Secretary of the march of the army The name is not to be found in the Table of the Ap- through Connello and Kenry, "where never any pendix of the Registrar-General, showing the surnames in Ireland, having five entries and upwards in the birth indexes English ensign was displayed." He announces the of 1890. surrender of the following castles, most of which 154 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. '5.5 can be easily identified at the present time, viz. :- it was at that time cold spring weather he delayed Craghan Castell, the Ralff, Ballegeltegone, Gille- in that town only a week to furnish his soldiers makno of Suppell's Kilfenney, Penston, Lesemottey, with arms and provisions there. Thence he pro- Ballangoare, Ballerenowe, the New Towne, Balle- ceeded south-west by De~s-begand along the allenay, the New Castell, Killanohwne, Cortenay- salmon-ful Maigue, and pitched h~scamp in Hy towbryte, Dwnmoellen, Shannet, St. Patterick's hill, Connello. He sent forth loose marauding parties Corgragg, Houne, the Pallyse, Baldon, Robert into Coil1 More,* into the woods of Claenglaise,t and Towne, Askeaton, Wheyn (? Glyn), Castelltowne, into the wilds of Ue1ge.S These wherever they Rynekerkey, Pelleglohane, &c. passed showed mercy neither to the strong nor to The list of castles, though long, is not exhaustive, the weak. It was not wonderful that they should as may be seen by the &c. at the end. On that kill men fit for action, but they killed blind and occaslon the chiefs of James Fitzmaurice's men feeble men, women, boys and girls, sick persons, sued for mercy. Owen McShe (Mac Sheehy) was idiots and old people. They carried their cattle killed, and Conor McShe and William McShe, his and other property to the Lord Justice's camp, but brother, and Lacye were hanged and quartered. great numbers of the English were slain by the plundering parties who followed in pursuit of the Some idea of the strength of the southern portion of Connello and the mode of warfare pursued at preys." the time may be gathered from the account of an The Earl of Essex at the head of a large expedltlon which scoured this district in 1580. In army, and attended by the Earls of Thomond and that year the Annals of the Four Masters state Ormond, did not find it an easy task when he that a great muster was made of the men of set out from Limerick to assist the garrison of Meath, Fingai and Leinster, and of all these who Askeaton in 1599. His march from the Maigue to were subject to the laws of England from the the Deel was one long conflict, as appears from Boyne to the meeting of the Three Waters,* by the following :- the Lord Justice (Sir Willlam Pelham) and the "On the first night after they left Limerick in , about the festival of St. , the month of June, they encamped upon the for the purpose of marching into the territory of banks of the river of Adare ; and as they advanced the Geraldines. The Earl of Ormond joined this westwards on the next day, Saturday, through muster with an immense host. He made no delay the bog of Robhar (now Rour), the soldiers and but marched on to Cork. The Lord Justice pro- * The great wood covering the adjacent parts of Limerick and Cork. ceeded with all his forces to Limerick, and although t The south-west corner of Limerick.

-- - - -p DeIIiga, in the barony of Orrery, , on the borders of the * The meehnb of the Sulr, Kore and Barrow at Waterford Harbour. County of Limerick. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. I57 warriors of the Earl of Desmond and the Geraldine southwards . . . the Geraldines continuing to host showed them their faces. Fierce and morose i follow, pursue, and press upon them, to shoot at, was the salute and welcome which they gave to wound, aud slaughter them. . . . The Gaels the representative of their sovereign on his first 1 of Ireland were wont to say that it would have visit to them, and to his army ; for they discharged i been better for him that he had not gone on this into theu eyes the fire and smoke of their black 1 expedition from Dublin to Hy-Connell-Gaura, as powder and showers of balls from their straightly f he turned back after the first conflict that mas i aimed guns; and he heard the uproar, clamour E maintained against him without having received 1 submission or respect from the Geraldines." and exulting shouts of their champion and common I soldiers instead of :he submission, honour and of With such a formidable list of fortified posts as the mild and courteous words that should have that given above, scattered over a country covered been spoken to him. Howbeit, the lesult of the with forests, and held many of them by the Mac conflict was that great numbers of the Earl of Sheehys, who had been introduced into this county Essex's men were cut off, and that he was not early in the fifteenth century, the reduction of suffered to make any remarkable progress that Connello by ordinary means was an almost im- day, so that he pitched his camp a short distance possible task. Sir George Carew, in reviewing the to the east of Askeaton. On the next day, Sunday, work that was set before him, was right in his he and the Earls of Ormond and Thomond re- estimate when he says in the year 1600, that solved to send a body of cavalry to lay up the greatest hope of the arch-traitor Desmond ammunition in Askeaton, and not to proceed any did consist in Connelloe," whose people '

ancient name Rath-Gaela shows that a stronghold upon the natives in the vacated camp and cut had been erected here in Celtic times, and the them down without mercy. For this exploit the Desmond Castle, the remains of which are still future hero and courtier was presented with the to be seen, was probably erected on its site. In freedom of Rathkeale, and he in return repaired 1487 the then Earl of Desmond was assassinated and strengthened the castle, and performed the at Rathkeale by some of his followers at the insti- same service for Castle Matrix, on the western gation of his younger brother John, in the hope of side of the Deel. obtaining the Earldom. In this he was disap- In 1642 some of the English colonists settled in pointed, for Maurice, son of the murdered nobleman, Rathkeale were murdered by those amongst whom succeeded his father and expelled John and his they dwelt. The chief leader and instigator of the guilty agents, though he does not appear to have outrages was one Herbert, himself the descendant been able to punish them as they deserved. In of an earlier settler. Herbert burned Castle Matrix, 1535 Maurice, heir to the twelfth earl, died at a village belonging to Sir Thomas Southwell, who Kathkeale. in 1579 the town was plundered and resided on the left bank of the Deel. burnt by Sir Nicholas Malby on h~sway to Askeaton after the battle of Manister. In the In 1654 when the number of parliamentary representatives from Ireland was limited to thirty, following year it was made the rallying point of the Rathkeale was chosen to be the centre where the Munster forces under Sir William Pelham and the representatives for the three counties of Limerick, Earl of Ormond preparatory to marching against Clare and Kerry were to be elected. the second party of Spaniards who had landed at Smerwick. When the camp broke up it occurred The architectural remains to be found at Rath- to the Lord Justice that a favourable opportunity keale consist of an abbey and castle. The abbey presented itself for slaughtering some of the Irish. was a priory of Augustinian Canons of the Order He knew they were to be found in great numbers of Aroacla, founded in 1289 by Gilbert Harvey. concealed in the woods around the town, and that The original building must have been destroyed, on the camp being vacated they would swoop, for the present structure is not earlier than the * down upon it in the hope of picking up some fifteenth century. The ruins now consist merely of remains of food. They would be therefore within the abbey church arid the foundatious of what may his reach, and could be attacked at a disadvantage have been a tower at the north side. The east The main army went on its way, but a chosen window is still entire and is of four hghts inter- body under the command of Captain (afterwards laced above. It occupies the place of the original Sir Walter) Raleigh was detached unperceived by window, which was both larger and wider, as may the Irish, and returning by a ciscuitous route fell be seen from the traces under the sill of the present COUNTY OF LIMERICK. I 66 ROUND ABOUT THE 167 - -- Limerick, an example which was followed by other one. The south wall contains five narrow single proprietors, so that very few therefore remained in lights of unequal size. One is raised higher than the others, apparently for the purpose of making England. They were allowed eight acres of land for each individual at five shillings per acre, and room for a recessed tomb or monument. The the Government undertook to pay their rent for church is one hundred feet long by twenty-three twenty years. Farrar, writing in 1780, thus de- wide, and contains no trace of chancel-arch, aisles, or side chapels. A tower at the west end scribes them :-" The Palatines preserve their language, but it is declining; they sleep between was in such a state of dilapidation that it has two beds ; they appoint a burgomaster to whom recently been knocked down to prevent accidents. they appeal in all disputes. The castle adjoins the church, with which it They are industrious men, and have leases from the proprietor of the does not exactly square. It consisted of a low vaulted storey with two others above it. A spiral land at reasonable rents ; they are, consequently, better fed and clothed than the generality of Irish stairs in one corner gave access to the various peasants. Besides, their mode of husbandry and apartments, and that corner was prolonged into a crops are better than those of their neighbours. turret. The vaulted floor has fallen to the ground together with portions of the walls. OnIy a small They have by degrees left off their sour-krout, and feed on potatoes, milk, butter, oaten and wheaten piece of one wall of the tower at the north side bread, some meat and fowls, of which they rear remains, and some rubble work of a vault. A many. v The women are very industrious similar arrangement of church and castle In close * * * 4 S Besides their domestic employments and conjunction may be observed at , some two the care of their children, they reap the corn, or three miles eastward. plough the ground, and assist the men in every- Rathkeale was the chief centre of the settlement thing. In short the Palatines have benefitted the of the German Protestants called Palatines, and county by increasing tillage, and are a laborious, and many Palatine families are still scattered about the neighbourhood. Owing to the ravages of the independent people, who are most employed on their own small farms." French in the Palatinate of the Rhine a large Some fifty years ago large numbers of Palatines number of Germans sought shelter in Great Britain. emigrated to America, so that at the present time In 1709 Queen Anne sent a fleet to Rotterdam there cannot be more than 700 in the County of which brought over about 7000 of these refugees. Limerick. At present they are to be found in the Three thousand of them went to America and settled in Pennsylvania and North Carolina. Lord neighbourhood of Rathkeale, Ballingrane, Askeaton, Adare, and Kilfinane and Ballyorgan in the south- Southwell brought over a large number and east. The following surnames will be found in settled them on his estate in the County of COUNTY OP LIMERICK. 16~

Askeaton-Dobe, Doupe, Ruttle, ; in from the De Ridels, an English family who resided -Bovenizer, Miller, Neizer, Heavenor; in Kilfinane here in the twelfth century. -Steep, hlee ; in -Bartman, Schumacher, The castle of Cappagh is a tall and striking Legear, Switzer ; in Rathkeale-Bowen, Delmege, structure. It is erected on a rock of low elevation Lodwick, Phizzle, or Fitzell, or Fizelle, Piper, and commanded an important pass in the line of Ivors, Sparling, Starke, Teskey (at Ballinlina, hills to the north. It was seventy feet in height, Court Matrix and Killeheen), Treble, Modler, and the walls are fully five feet thick. Of the Gilliard ; in Adare-Fyffe, Bowerman. Amongst castle only the north wall is still standing. It was the Christian names may be included Jedidiah, held in 1642 by Francis Morton, who, after a stout Julius, Uriah, Gideon, Jonathan, Christopher, defence, was compelled to surrender to the con- Absalom, Jethro, Zachariah, Moses. About the federates. It was blown up probably by order of year 1885 there might be reckoned seventy persons the Parliamentarians under Sir Hardress Waller. of all ages in the parish of Askeaton who bore the name of Ruttle. The banks of the Maigue were well protected on The Palatines have lost all trace of their native the lower reaches of the river by Cullum Castle, tongue, owing, it is said, to the custom of the early situated on a hill, and by the low square tower of arrivals having had their bibles buried along with Court almost at the river's edge. Half a mile them. They can be easily distinguished from their northwards is the great fortified enclosure of Celtic neighbours by their darker complexions, Ballycahane, whose walls are still in very fair black hair, and a harder cast of features. Many preservation. It is a very fine specimen of the are Wesleyans, and are attached to the founder, structures erected for the safe keeping not only who preached to them on various occasions. They of the family and retainers, but of those herds of are thrifty and hardworking, and are in general cattle uhich formed the chief wealth of their comfortably off. owner. The building is almost an exact square, Between Rathkeale and the Shannon there are each side being sixty-five paces in length. The numerous castles occupying every point of vantage Walls are thirty feet in height, and the corners are that the nature of the ground admits of. Many of strengthened with towers. The whole was sur- these castles were erected by the Mac Sheehys, rounded with a moat which was provided with who had been introduced into Limerick as heredi- water from a stream which flows into the Maigue. tary Galloglasses. One of the most westerly of During the reign of Queen Elizabeth a fierce these is Lisnacullia, erected on the site of the conflict occurred at Ballycahane, and the place ancient Fort of the Wood. It stands adjacent to was carried by assault, the breach by which en- Riddlestown Park, a place which derives its name trance was obtained being still open in the walls. 170 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. I7I

In the year 1j81 two bodies of troops left Adare by St. Dima, who gives his name to , the for the purpose of ravaging the left bank of parish in which it is situated. the Maigue. One party proceeded by land, the The Castle of Pallas is a very fine structure of other by water, and both united at Ballycahane. the class to which Ballycahane belongs. The Here they were attacked by David Barry of the keep occupies an angle at the west and is built Lake and almost exterminated. News of the upon a rock rising more than twenty feet above disaster was brought to Adare, and the captain of the adjacent level. One wall has been blown out, the town, with the assistance of the garrison of and the huge masses of masonry are strewn about Kilmallock, sallied out to take vengeance for the in confusion. Within a few yards of the keep is slaughter of his soldiery. Although we are told a round tower containing a spiral staircase leading Ballycahane "was one of the towns belonging to down to a small doorway which opens on the level Purcell, who always sided with the Crown from ground at the base of the rock. This may have the beginning of the war between the English been a private exit, or more likely was the means and the Geraldhes till that time," their loyalty of obtaining water for the inmates from a pool or did not protect them from the senseless vengeance other source of supply, traces of which are still of the English soldiers. David Barry had suc- apparent. The castle was amongst those captured ceeded in making his escape, but Ballycahane was by Sir Hardress Waller in 1650, and it shared the assaulted. A breach was made in the lofty walls, fate of others already mentioned. the soldiers rushed in and slew all within to the number of one hundred and fifty persons, including women and children. David Barry was afterwards seized at Scattery Island by the Mac Mahons of Clare, who delivered him up to the English. He was executed at Limerick. Nothing is known of the tall square tower of Bolane, erected on the side of a steep ridge. Near it and easy of access from the road is the church of Killulta, one of the smallest and most ancient in this part of the county. " There can be no doubt," says O'Donovan, " of its being one of the primitive age of the Irish Church." Archdall states that a monastery was founded here before the arrival of St. Patrick. The building may have been erected COUNTY OF LIMERICX. I73

Mahowne, Me in the gift of the Earl of Desmond; the parcel of land in Morragan with the castle, parcel of the toagh of Donmullyn, late in the possession of Edmond McPhilllp, attainted ; the land of Carrowebegge alias NOTES. Carobeg R,ydall in the parish of Rakeyll, parcel of the toagh of Perranshessheragh, late in the occupation of Riehard Eydell ; certain hurgages or tenements :in Croghe, GRANTS IN COXNELLO TO BOBERT COLLAM, called Russell's burgaqes in the parish of Croghe; the 1595. patronage of Croghe, late in the gift of the Earl of Her Majesty being minded to have the Province of Desmond; the tonns and lands of CrnghnemaIlagh and M~insterre -peopled and inhabited by civil, loyal and dutiful Cooroglasse, parcel of tbe toagh of Meaghan, late in the subjects, grants to Robert Collam, his heirs and assigns, tenure of Morogh McBrien M cTirlaghe, attainted ; certain the lands of Bnllymuckmore and Rallymuckbeg, in the lands called Earlenmollaghe with the site of a water-mill, psrish of Kilcollman in Connello in the great County of late in the tenure of the Earl of Desmond, containing 35 Limerick, parcel of the toagh of Oleban, late in the tenure acres, in the parish or burgage of Ardaghe, parcel of the of John Supple, ettsinted; certain lands in Ballyferreis in toaghe of Ardaghe ; one of the eight toaqhs of Callowghe, the Grannaghe upon the .mountain of Slelogher in the called Churchtoghes, 1n the sald country ; certain lands in the parish of Castlenowe, alias Kewcade; parcel of tht? called Reragh, Rudderie, Xiniters and the Spittle, COL- toagh of Meaghan, late in the occupation of Tirlsghe and taining 33 burgage acres, making 18 Irish acres in the parxsh, parcel of the same toagh in the same county; Owen McEdmond oge McShihee, attainted ; lands in e2flg-- Glannegowne in the in the parish of Castlenowe certain lands in the same par~sh,parcel of the same toagh 2.-' in the tenure of Tirlaghe and Owen McEdmond, the towns called Burgesland, late in t!~e tenure of Morish NuEdmond and lands of Enthronan and Carroabolye in the parish of McShane and Gerald McYavye, ot Ardaghe, attainted, coh- Rathronan, upon Slelog'uer in Yeaght,raghe, otherwise taining 35 acles ; another parcel of land called Drom- called the lowest part of the toagh of Mea.ghan, late in the ranaghe, alias Dromcananaghe, containing 10 acres, parcel tenure of Bichard McThomas of the Pallice, attainted ; the of the monastery or prioly of Rathkeylle; certain lands patronage of Rathronan late in the gift of McThomas; called Athes and Moymore in the parish of Templecloe, certain lands in Ballyferreis in the parish of Uallingarrie, late in the tenure of TlrLgh McEdmond oge Mac Shehie, parcel of the toagh of Gortecallaghan; certain lands in attamted, containing two quarters ; the towns of Bally* Ballyroe in the parish of Ballingarrie; certain lands in robin and Lyssdrrffein the parish of Ballingarrie, parcel of Hathnegor in the parish of Killuradrane, and parcel of the lands of John Suple, late of Kilmuke, attainted, con- the half toagh of Drynan; certain lands in Clonesherryn, taining 20 acres; one tenement in the town of Adare and parcel of the toqh of Tawnsgh ; Monelenayh in thc same certain lands in Cloneskerbegg called Feck and Clonecurrie; parish ; Lyskillyn, Gorteskeaghe, Gortinlioagh, Ballyne- parcel of the lands of Bedmond Wale, attsinted, and late killie, two Curraghs and Ballywortagh in the same parish, in his possession; certain lands in Ballyeolechan and parcel of the possessions of Thomas Shane McGibbon, Kinnelowre in the parish of Kyllferns, paleel of the land attainted ; Clonedyne and Clonferte Ballybranagh, late in called Termon-land, al~asChurchland, a long time con- ' the tenure of the same Thomas Shane, the patronage of cealed, containing 30 acres; certain lands in Killscannell I74 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. I75 and Skahannaghe, parcel of the toagh of Kyllscannell ; one William Beg McWilliam oge Bane, attainted, containing of the eight toaghes of Calloghe called Church toaghes, half a quarter; certain lands in Kyllbegg, late in the late in the tenare of Richard Lyston, containing lone tenure of John Suple, containing 20 acres ; certain lands in Ballymullen, late in the possession of Mulroy Roe and quarter and a half; two messuages in the town of Kil- Thomas McPhilip McGibbon, attainted ; certain Iands in mallock, in the tenure of James Fante and Robert Fante, Ballyling, Clonemolte, Killehine, Illanemore, in the parish attainted, wit,h certain lands in Ballycollen containing one of Rakeyle, late in the tenure of liavid en Corrick, q~mrter;24 acres in BallymacKerye, late in the possession attainted, containing one q~larterof land; and certain lands of Richard McThomas of the Pallace, and now in the in Dinganmore and Dinganbeg with the appurtenances in possession of Connogher oge McShehie ; certain lands in the parish of Mahownaghe, parcel of the lands of Thomas Qlanscale, late in the tenure of Donogh McWilliam oge, NcPhilip McGibbon, attainted, in the County of Limerick ; attainted, containing 20 acres ; the patronage of Teclogin, all which premises contain twenty-two plowlands and a half late in the Esri of Desmond's grant; certain lands in and 45 acres statute measure ; to hold for ever by the name Adare called Tonnegye and Cappapeccod, with two tene- of Cullums Vale in fee-farm, as of the castle of Limerick by ments, late in the tenure d John Suple, attainted; fealty only, in free and common, and not in capite or by custom and profit of two fairs or marts in the town of Knight's service. Rent S72 3s. English. License to ship, Rs~keyle . . . the patronage of Teclogin with t,he transport and carry away by way of merchandise or otber- presentation of the vicarage in the County of Limerick, wise, from all the ports and havens of Ireland into Enyland parcel of the posses~ionsof the late abbey of Donhody, and , all such corn, grain and victuals as shall grow the half plowland in Katiordan in the County of Limerick, upon the lands discharged of custom, subsidy, poundage or oommonlg called Cow-lesheinie, parcel of bhe possessions of other duty; and that the premises shall be wholly exempt .Tames B?sriscall, late of Xathco~dan, attainted; certain and exonerated from all cess, toils, taxes, cuttings, reliefs, lands in Ilathclowen, containing 30 aures of small measure, refections, coyne, livery, kerne tewoc, cosherie, cuddy, and 30 acres of like measure in Courtenecowghie, making gilletine, gillecon, and all other impositions whatever. in all of 20 acres, parcel of the lands of Cullum covenants to erect as many dwelling-houses as shall Gerald FitaMorice, attainted ; the patronage of Killcornan be sufficent for 33 English famihes, whereof one shall be in the same coant,y; 32 acres of land in Ballynadoke, 15 his one principal mansion ; two for freeholders, to each of acres in Ballygawghe, 4 acres in Graig with the sit,e of a whom shall be allotted 300 acres of land at the least after mill, amounting in all to 51 acres of small measure, making the rate of sixteen feet and a half to the perch-lug or pole ; of Irish measure 10 acres, parcel of the possessions of two for farmers, to each of whom shall be allotted 400 Thomas FitzGerald, lately called the Knight of the Valley, acres; and fourteen others for copy-holders or other base attainted; certain lands in Garreduffe with the appur- tenures, to each of whom shall be assigned 100 acres at tenances of Monaghane, late in the occupation of Tirlaghe least of the measures afcresnid ; and to the remainder there McEdmond oge McShehie, containing one quarter, parcel shall be assigned 50, 25 acres, or 10 acres at the pleasure of of the toagh of Gortecoughe ; certain lands in the tenure Cullim, his heirs and assigns. Dublin, Aug. 8, 1595. of Geffry Tibbot, attainted, containing 26 acres in the town of MTelshestowne in the same county; certain lands CHARTER OF T.C.D. in Gortega,lboy, Gragansallan, Gragan, Portal1 and Shane- Two caructates of land in the town and Fields of Any ologhbane, late in the tenure of Edmond Bowen and with their appurtenances (besides four caructates of land COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 177

P 176 ROUND ABOUT THE P - - - - demised to Edwurd Fitton, Knight), parcel of the land of about two miles eastward, aud twenty at Pallas, four miles Gerald, late E. of D., at a rent of 15s. ; half a caructate of further. Eauh family had a few acres of ground on which land with the xppu~tenancescalled Shiggin's land, and the they built as many little houses. They are considerably site of n watel-mill called "the Knyght's Mill," with .increased in number of souls, though decreased in number moiety of the place called Knight's Street in BALLINQARRIE, of families. Ihving no minister they became eminent for at a rent of 11s. (id. drunkenness, cursing, smearing and other neglect of re- ligion. Rut they are washed since they had heard and received the truth, which is able to save their souls. An oath is now rarely heard among them, or a drunkard seen The measurements of land were very indefinite. In a in their borders. Commission of Survey, issued to Sir Henry Wallop and Court Matress is bailt in the form of a<.,___ -.--. square, in the middle of which they have placed a pretty others in 1584, it is stated that "in some parts of the Great large meeting-house. But it would not contain one half County of Limelick SO acres do make a Plow-land, and in some 60, and in the Small County of Limerick \the Barony of the congregation, so I st,ood in a lard-yard. The wind of Small count^) 20 acres make a plowland, and one acre kept off the rain while I was preaching. As soon as I /~- there makes seven :tcies of the Grest County. A cantered ended it began. - is n barony; a caruc.ate is a quarter of a chief's possessions, July 9, 1760. I rode over to Killiheen, a German settle- about equal to a modern townland. These designations ment near twenty miles west of Limerick. It rained all were of no certain quantity. Togh is also of uncertain the my, but the earnestness of the poor people made us quantity, like the modern farm, a tetritory possessed by the forget it. In the evening I preached to another colony of heads of inferior families. Germans at Rallygarrane. The third is at Court Matress, a mile from Killiheen. I suppose three such are scarce to be found again in England or Ireland. There is JOHN WESLEY AND THE PALATINES, no cursing or swearing, no Sabbath-breaking, no drunken- The following extracts from Wedey's Jou~nalrelate to ness, no ale-house in any of them. How mill these poor his visit to this district :- ,foreigners rise up in the jndgment against those who are "June 16, 1756. In the afternoon I rode to Bally- round about them. garrane, a town (townland) of Palatines which came over Jnne 19,1766. About noon 1 preached at Bally,marrane to in Queen Anne's time. They retain much of the temper the small remains of the poor Palatines. As they could not and manner of thcir own co~mtry,having a resemblance of get food and raiment here with all their diligence and those among whom they live. I found much life among frugality, part are scattered up ~~oddown the kingdom and this plain, artless, serious people. part are gone to America. I stand amazed! Have land- "June 18, 1756. I rode back thro~lghAdare, once a lords no common sense (whether they have common human- strong and flourishi~gtown, well walled and full of people ity or no) that they will suffer such tenants as these to be now without walls and almost without inhabitants, rnly a starved nwby from thew. few puor huts remain. '(June 23, 1756. I rode over to Court Matress, a colony of Germans whose parents came from out of Palatinate about fifty years ago. Twenty families of these settled here, twenty more at Killiheen, a mile off, fifty at Ballygarrane, COUdVTY OF LIMERICK, I79

The castle twice afforded a refuge to Earl Gerald or Garret when closely pursued by his enemies. It was to Askeaton he fled when he eluded his guards ASK7;i;ATC)N. in Dubl~n,and made good his escape to his own dominions. After the defeat of his younger brother CHAPTER X. at Manister-Nenagh, he and Lord Kerry repaired THEriver Deel takes its rise in the range of for safety to the castle on the Deel, whither he was htlis which separates the County of Limerick followed by Sir Nicholas Ma!by, The castle defied from Cork, and flows northward through a broad all the efforts of the English leader, who accordingly and fertile plain, till it mingles its waters with those spent his fury on the town and abbey. There is a of the Shannon. In the southern part of its course letter extant written hy the Earl of Dasmond from it receives many tributaries from the hills that Askeaton castle, and bearing the date of 10th enclose the ancient territory of Clongiais. The October, 1579, in which he bitterly complains that important toxn of Rathkeale is on its banks. Near Sir Nicholas Malby and his army encamped within Askeatoc it tumbles over ledges of rocks forming the abbey, and most maliciously defaced the monu- a series of cascades which give the name to the ments of his ancestors, that he fired the abbey and town and perjetuate the name of a Celtic chieftain the town, and destroyed the crops in the adjacent concerning Whoin nothing else is known. Askeaton territory, all the while ceasing not to shoot against was originally Eas Gephtinc, the cascade of the men in the castle. Geohtine.- Within twelve months after the defeat at The here surrounds a rocky islet on Manister, all the Geraldine strongholds in north which stands a stately castle of the Desmonds, me Munster had been reduced with the exception of of the principai strongholds of that family. It was Baile-Ui-Gheileacain, Carsigfoyle, and Askeaton, erected by the seventh eari, and was the last of the The latter were both situated on islands and irn- castles that passed from the possession of his de- pregnable to ordinary modes of attack. A new scendants. 'il'ithin ~tswalls died, In 1558, James, power, that of siege artillery, was brought to bear the fifteenth tsl, Lurd Hlgh Tleasurer of Ireland. on these massive structures, and apparently for the In recording his death, the Four Masters state first time in the south of Ireland. An expedition under Sir Henry Peiham and the Earl of Ormond that, '% his iemtury could not well spare that good man, for iiurir.~n.s tme ~t was not found necessary was conveyed down the Shannon, and landetl in to Infold ca~leo, to close the door," in all Munster. the north of Kerry for the purpose of capturing With him de--?:ted the gleat~lessmd prosperity Carrigfoyle the most westerly of the strongholds. of his house. At the same time some English vessels appeared - COUNTY ' OF LIMERICK. I So ROUND ABOUT THE - _ __.- .___ they were made acquainted with heavy guns that in the <'harbour of the glassy-waved Shannon," could be brought to bear on the thick wails of their and the place was assailed from both sides. A bat- massive castle. By the fall of Askeaton the Earl tery of five guns was formed on the shore, and the of Desmond was depnved of his last stronghold. guns of the ships opened fire at the same time. Whatever injuries the castle suffered were repaired The inhabitants of the surrounding county were by the Lord Justice, who made the place his amazed at the sound of the firing. As the Chroni- residence during the summer of 1580.

cler expresses i: :-U There was not one in the wilds When O'h'eill entered Munster towards the close or sequestered glens from the Carn of Breas' to of the century the English power melted before him, Knock Meadha Siuil,?n Connaught, that did not and in seventeen days the work of seventeen years hear the noise of that uncommon and unusual was effaced. The Sugan Earl recovered possession ordnance." I'he western wall of the castle was of all the chief seats and castles of his family, battered down in a short time, the place taken by with but three exceptions, and one of the three was assault, and the garrison put to the sword. the castle of Askeaton. The garrison were but few The noise of the artillery struck terror into the in number, and the supply of ammunition was hearts of the garrlson of Askeaton. The fate of .. I but slender, yet owing to the strength of their Carrigfoyle showed them that their river-guarded position, they were practically unassailable. For fortress couid no longer afford them protection. twelve months they held their own without We are told that when they "heard the awful assistance. The Earl ot Essex with considerable roaring of that extraordinary ordnance, the iike of di~fficultywas at last able to send them supplies of wh~chthey never heard before," they determined to ammunition, and the place was secured to the demolish the castle and fly to the woods before the English interest. guns could be brought to bear upon them. Whilst In 1600 Askeaton was made the headquarters for they were proceeding with the work of demolition a body of seven hundred foot and seventy-five horse the Lord justice arrived with his army in the neigh- under the . Marauding parties bourhood, and the garrison fled leaving the gates were sent out in all directions, and the country open. The garrison of Baiie-Ui-Ghelleacai~~had I entirely laid waste as has been already described. previously adopted the same course. Askeaton : The castle surrendered on the 14th of August, thus sulrendered without a blow being struck in its 1642, to the Irish Confederation, under Lieut.-Gen. defence. The garrison did not dare to face the new Purcell. The garrison were granted their lives weapons with wh~ch their foes were equipped. wlth a safe conduct '' with all their proper goods to- They were accostoz~edto the use of firearms and gether with one-half of all the books within the even of hght field- pieces, but this was the first time castle." The Concederates held possession till it (l) Near Xwen Head. (2) Now Knockmsa, ~outh-~esestof Tqam. 182 XOZS,71 ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 183 _ --P- was taken and deiilolished in 1650, by Colonel of the court-yard. This path was commanded by the Axtell, Pariiamertary Governor of Kilkenny. walls for the whole of its length, and any attempt The ruins of the castle consist of the lofty tower, to force the doorway would leave the assailants at the banqueting hall, part of one of the dwelling- the mercy of the garrison, especially as but very houses and another detatched building. The tower few could obtain a footing on the rocky path. rises to the height of ninety feet, yet, such is the The abbey of Askeaton is situated on the eastern nature of the adjacent country, that it is nowhere a bank of the river Deel, in a sheltered level spot, conspicuous oltec: in the landscape. The summit almost hidden by the adjacent hillocks. It belonged can barely be seen, merely rising above the high to the Franciscan Order, and was founded in 1420 ground close t~ the river. The tower is almost by the seventh Earl of Desmond. The fifteenth entirely conceal-,d from view till one comes within earl was buried within its precincts in 1558, in a a short distanct o: it. One wall has been blown out tomb, which had been erected by the founder for leaving the Interio; exposed to view. It can be seen himself and his posterity. In the year 1564, a that it containe?. six stories, and that the vaulted Chapter of the Franciscan Order was held here. floor of two of the:> still remain. Over the first arch As already mentioned, Sir Nicholas Malby during is a smal: charn5er rneasilring eight feet by seven, his brief stay in Askeaton, burned the abbey to the which is popu!d;,. called Desmond's gaol.$* The ground in 1579. It does not appear that any of the old oak door, three inches thick, and studded with monks suffered on this occasion. It is probable broad-headed nails, is still in its place. Attached they found protection in the castle from the fury of to the tower are thirty feet of the west wall of the the soldiery. It is stated that the Earl of Essex dweliing-house This wall is no less than fifty feet accompanied the convoy that brought supplies to in height ani k:;s window:; for three stories. The the beieaguered garrison in the castle, and had a banqueting hali is a short distance from the.tower. night's lodging in the abbey. Here he is said to Its length is seventyone feet, and width t?firty. have had an extraordinary vision, which some Underneath are spacious vaults capable of storing regard as having had more than a subjective large suppiies of food and ammunition. A battle- existence. Before the eyes of the English Viceroy mented wall surrounds the whole area, admission the ghosts of the victims of the long Desmond wars to which was gained by a narrow pathway cut in marched in weird and terrible procession. The the rock and rising by a gradual ascent to the level shapes of soldiers fallen in battle, the ghastly forms - of murdered clansmen, the pallid and famine-stricken * O'Daly states tha: d~orti)after Gersld succeeded to the Earldom he made an expedi+Lion:iiio 1Iuskerr)- in which he was taken prisoner by frames of women and children that perished Edn~ondhfaoTeic. i,oi.d BI~irlierrJ"~con, and zhat for "six ]-ears he pined miserably of starvation and exhaustion passed in in cap,tivi,y, shiit 1:;~ castle of Asheaton," till liis rcleasen.asohtained by the intercessiol; o; ::is n iie; who rvas related to Edmond. review before the awe-struck gaze of the Viceroy. --- COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 185

Hour after hour the shadowy hosts gllded hy till the holding a crozier rn his left hand, whilst his right morning light dissipated the sad and melancholy is raised as in the act of blessing. A similar figure apparition. may be seen in the cloisters representing a nonk Whilst Askeaton and the whole county were in standing under a canopy. The only transept is at the possession of the Irish army of the confederation the west end of the church, where spring two wide in 1641, an attempt was made to restorethe abbey and lofty arches of graceful proportions, resting on to its former magnificence, but very little progress a huge circular pillar, two feet and a half in was made, and the defeat of the Irish finally put an diameter. The cloisters are in tolerable preservation end to the work. Many evidences of the attempted as far as masonry is concerned, but otherwise they restoration are to be observed in the chancel, are in a disgracefully neglected condition. The particularly about the windows. floor is so strewn with stones, blts of coffins, and The abbey was massively constructecl as may be even human rernams, that walking is troublesome judged from the walls still standing, and from the and in wet weather most decidedly unpleasant. huge masses of masonry that are found scattered The cloisters form an exact square, the arnb~lato?~ about in all directicns. Between the transept and being separated from the open space by a low wall, church lie huge fragments of the square central surmounted with rows of arches. Each arch rests tower which is known to have existed. Some on round pillars of dark marble three feet in height, of these are as :nxh as twenty feet in length, and the total height of the arch is five feet. On and their usual thickness is about four feet and a some of these pillars may be observed traces of half. Many rest on their ends, so that the courses carving, and on one of them the workman had but of masonry are perpendicular, not horizontal, as begun to cary out his design when he had to cease. they were built. The refectory is on a much lower level than the The church occupies the centre of the ruins, and other parts of the building. It is also somewhat is one hundred and thirty feet in length, by twenty- l eccentric in its windows. The great window is not three in width. It contains a lofty east window of situated exactly in the middle of the wall as five lights, and six beautifully constructed sedilia 1 windows usually are. It consists of two lights, is may be observed, still almost perfect. In the deeply splayed, and the Interior forms a huge arch. TO the right is a flat-topped window, to the left is wall above them ;S the Stephenson inscription in relief, but the slabs are much shattered, and the one long and narrow, and both are situated at un- lettering almost obliterated. Near where the altar equal distances from that in the centre. The stood, and in the north wall at a height of about chapter-room is a plain vaulted apartment, and has nine feet may be observed a curious little figure been used as the burial place of the Nash family a foot and a haif long. It represents a bishop . for a very long period. I 66 ROUND ABOUT THE __

The Knights TernpIars had an establishment in Askeaton, dating from the thirteenth century; nothing now remains of it but a curious tower within a few yards of the parish church. The NOTES. lower part of the tower is square, but at a GRANTS TO SIB E. BSXKELEP AND SIB height of about six feet the corners are cut off and :INTHONT ST. LEGER. the upper part is octagonal. Internally the acgles are strengthened so that the corners are not weakened The Queen to the Lord Deputy and the Lord ChanreIIor, informing them that for the better re-geopling of the by the transition. The base of the tower is sixteen province of Wunster, she desired that Sir Edrard Bz~rkIey feet square, it is loopholed on three sides, whilst should amonqt the rest of the undertakers hnve assigned on the fourth, a low circular arched doorway con- unto him the castle of ASKEYTON,in the County of Limerick, nected it w!th the old church also attributed to the w~ththe whole Seignory thereunto attached; nhich premises Ternplars, and long since disused. Th~schurch is had been passed to B:irkley imwedintely before his death, and before the great seal was naxed ; Her Xajesty, in con- considered to have embodied in it as its chancel a sideration of the services of his brother Francis, grants him still older church belonging to the primitive times the Selgnory, with all the land ancl tenements thereunto of Celtic Christianity. belonginq, reserving the castle of Aslreyton with 10 acres At Old Abbey are to be found the remains of an next, adjoininp, which nevertheless Her Majesty commits to ancient abbey of Canonesses of the Order of St. his care during her plearnre, and dlrects that the pay of the Augustine, called Nonaster-na-Galliagh. It was fifteen footmen ttncl the constal~leshall cease. Richmond, Dec. IS, 1539. dedicated to St. Catherine, and is the establishment In consequence of having obtained the Feiynory, a pension that name referred to in the grant to Henry of Sir of 5s. a day to Francis Berlieley was discontinued. Wallop, on page 129. Archdall mentions this Demise from the Crown to Sir Anthony Sentleger of monastery, but makes the mistake of locating it . . . . A castle or chief house called the castle of near Lough Gur. Nothing else is known of it. ASEEATIN~E,with all edifices, builcling~, towem, gardens, unless that the r?ctories of the parishes of Drishane, courts, and lawns thereto belonging, and 40 acres next Cullen, Nohavei. Kilmeen, and Drumtariff, in the adjoining, in the County of Limerick, late parcel of the possessions of the Earl of Desmond, attainted, and which Barony of Duha!low, belonged to it. had been demisad to Sir Francis Berkeley, by patent, dated 18th of October, in the 32ncl year of Her Majesty's reign. Drtblin, October l?, 1690.

The Chalice still in use in the J'alisb Church bears the following inscription :-Ex do : 'Jimos : Zaton Armr. Par: Askeaton, Anno, 1668. I 88 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIA4ERICK. 189 -- -

The Chalice of the Monastery is still preserved at the residence of the Parish Priest.

INSCRIPTION ON THE STEPHENSON XONU1LIENT. Epitaphium chronograpicum THE KNIGIZlTS OF GLIN. Hie Olive~nsinest qenitus genitorque Richardus Stephenson clericandor uterque choro est Ano 1642 CHAPTER XI. D 0 &'I THE Knights of Glin trace their descent from Maritis suis D. Richarc10 Stcphenson ejus et filio D. Olivsro John, second son of John Fitzthomas, first Stephenson ac posteris suis hoe busmm fieri fecerunt lord of Decies and Desmond, commonly called John D. Margarita ni Brien et D. Elinora Browne Ano DO 1646. of Callan, who was slain at Callan, in Kerry, in 1261. John of Callan was the grandson of Oliser Stephenson was killed at the battle of Liscarroll. Strongbow's companion-in-arms, and by his second His mother was of ihc l'homond Branch of the O'Briens, marriage with Honora, daughter of Phellm O'Conor and his wife was the daughter of Broxme of Killasneg, (Kerry), had four sons. Gilbert, the eldest, received ancestor of Lord Kenmare, mud grand-daughter of Gerald, Earl of Desmond. from his nephew, Thomas AnAppagh, the lands of Mein and Mahoonagh. John, the second son, received the lands of Glyrl and Castletown, and was the ancestor of the Knights of Glin and the Lords of Clonlish. Maurlce, the third son, received possessions in Kerry, and was the ancestor of the Knights of Kerry. The White Knights and the Sept of the Old Knight, Mac an Shan Riddery, were descended from Gilbert or Gibbon. The origin of these designations is involved in some obscurity. Sir William Betham, discussing the Geraldine Knights in his Irish Antiquarian Researches, says :-" The peculiarity of the titles, their aclinowledged antiquity, comblned with the elevated situation of the persons who enjoy them, together with the total dissimilitude from any dis- tinguishing appellation of honour existing in COUNTY OF LMERICK 190 RBUXD ABOUT THE -- =g1 -pp-- the great uncles of the first Earl of Desmond. . . . England, has frequently excited attention and From the frequency of the heads of the noble curiosity in no small degree. In the obscurity Geraldines filling the ofiice of Viceroy, they would which hangs over their origin, they resemble those naturally keep up and support the dignltp of the singular Milesian c~gnomina,or soubriquets, which branches of their own families, and the heads of in a few families have descended to the present day, the branches being always Knights, and them- as in the instance of O'Conor Don?Macllerrnot Roe, selves being Geraldines, and of the same surname, and some otl~ers: and, in fact, so ancient are these it became necessary for distinction to designate Geraldine titles, that their very possessors are them by particular appellations, which soon became actually unacquamted with the nature or origin of familiar and fixed as their surnalnes, until their their own dignities. has been asserted that It origin was forgotten," these Kn~ghtswere descended from illegitimate The authority for Sir William Betham's statement child.ren of an Earl of Desmond ; and, it is found that the title, Knight of Glin, could be found in so stated in pedigrees bearing the very respectable records of the time of Henry 111, and a hulldred name (whether tmly or not, I cannot say), of Sir years before the creation of the Earldom of Desmond, George Carew, afterwards Earl of Totnes, Lord cannot now be found ; but there is no reason to President of hIuaster ; * but this statement must doubt its accuracy, for many ancient documents be erroneous, fw I find the Knights of Glin existing in his time have been lost or destroyed mentioned on the records before the date of the No more appropriate name to designate the creation of the EarIdom (of Desmond), in 132g..'' descendants of John could be found than that of the Again, he says :-'L It has generally been sup- Knight of the Valley, the place anciently known as posed that these were titles granted by the Earls of GIeann Corbraighe. commanded by the castle, the Desmond, as Palatine Earls of the County of Kerry, keep of which even now maintains watch and ward but this is not possible, for two of them, the White over the entrance to the glen which wi~ldsits way Iinight and tha Xnight of Glin, are not within the amongst the mountainous recesses towards the Palatine jurisdic:icn,$ besides they existed in the south. reign of Henry 111, one hundred years before the The Knights of Glin owed a certain allegiance to creat~onof the 'l-;aridom of Desmond, in 1329, in -- --- the Earls of Desmond, consisting chiefly in <'divers " This suhject ;S id( &cussed in a series of notes 011 Gnpt~hlished customs of meat and drink, together with rising of Ceraldine Docum~~itscui.iribiitcd to the Joarnd of the R. S. 8.,Ireland, men at the Earl's calling to the number of Go Irearne, certain horsemen, and the finding and sessing" of the Earl's men to be distributed in the county at the Knight's expense. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 193 192 - XOCiVD- - ABOUT THE faithfully shared the fortunes of his house, though The extent of the Knight's possessions will be learned from the deed which granted them to with better luck than fell to the lot of the Earl. In William Carter (see notes). An estimate of the 1569 the knight and his son were both attamted and importance of the Knights of Glin in the sixteenth the latter was put to death. All the estates were declared forfeited at the time, but after a whlle the century, may >e obtained from a glance at the greater portion were restored to their original owner. estimate of armed followers maintained by some of When the Northern Earls rose in revolt, the kn@t the magnates in the County of Limerick. threw in his lot with the Sugan Earl, and was During the presidency of Sir Thomas Perrot the present at the battle of Kinsale when the Irish and ordinary forces miiintained in Limerick were as Spanish forces were routed by Mountjoy and Carew. follows : - When the English were everywhere triumphant, The Knight of the Valley in Kenry, 10 horsemen and the Earls had fled to the continent, a general and 140 footme11 ; the Gentlemen of Coshma, 12 amnesty was proclarmed, but the Knight of Glin horsemen and loo footmen, and the country belong- was excluded by name. The knight retired to his eth to the Earl of Kildare ; the O'Briens of Pubble- own county, and in 1603 the estate of Glin alone brien, six horsemen and 60 footmen ; the Gentlemen was granted to his son, the manors of Castletown, of the Smail County of Limerick, and John of Beagh, Cappagh, &C., being alienated. Desmond dweliing there, 12 horsemen and ~oofoot - men; the \%'hit€ Knight's county, 10 horsemen and A full and Interesting account of the siege of Glin loo footmen ; the O'Briens of Arlogh, 50 kern and castle, by Sir George Carew, in 1600, is to be found three hors erne:^; Sir William Burke (of Castle- in Pacata Hibevnia. connell), 16 horsemen and 150 footmen. In Clare, LI the Spring months of 1600 the Lord President the Earl of Thomond maintained 60 horsemen and had planned the expedition to the west, and was 300 footmen. O'Conor Kerry's force was six horse- only waiting for supplies to reach him from England. men and loo footmen, and Mac Brian (of Ara) These having arrived in a vessel under the corn- maintained 12 horsemen and IZO footmen. mand of Capta~nGawin Harvie, the army set out It will thus be seen that the independent forces to capture the threatened stronghold. Sir George maintained by the Knight of Glin marked him out Carew had fifteen hundred men under his command, as one of the lrost important of the chieftains of the nd was accompanied by the Earl of Thomond. second rank, the higher position of course belong- n order to avoid the tidal estuaries of the Maigue ing to such nobles as the Earls of Kildare and nd the Deel, he was compelled to adopt a circui- Desmond, and the Maccarthy More, reckoned the s route by way of Ballingarry to Askeaton, second man ic Munster. nce, proceeding inland again, he reached Glin During the Dcsm~nilwars, the Knight of Glin COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 195 I94 ROUND ABOUT THE Constable refused to yield, and on quittlng the camp, by way of the Valley.' The President was accom- the President sent him a farewell, to the effect, that panied all the way by an Irish army of 3,000 men, since he dld not accept the earl's terms, he (the who continually hung upon his wings. President), expected before two days had passed to On the 5th of July the army reached Glin in have his head upon a pole. safety, where they found Harvey's war vessel with The first day being occupied in this exchange of some heavy guns that had been conveyed by water. compliments and in getting the siege guns ready The English fixed their camp on the rising ground for action, the cannonade was to open on the which lies between the castle and the Shannon; morning of the seventh of July. The morning of whilst the Irlsh under the Knight of Glin occupied the seventhaarrived, and it was found that one of a position on the hills on either side of heentrance the guns was useless, for the touch-hole was closed. to the valley. On the 6th of July two siege guns The cannoneer and the smith used a11 their efforts were landed from the ship and placed in position, to bring the piece Into working order but wlthout md parleys were held between both parties. The success. At last the President himself was Knight visited the English camp for the purpose appealed to as the only person in the camp of having an interview with the President, but the who had any knowledge of artillery. By his latter refused to see him on any terms short of the directions the piece was set upright, a full charge unconditional surrender of himself and his followers. ofpowder was put in, and a shot rolled upon the a shown hls son, The Knight only succeeded in bein, charge. The powder was ignited at the mouth, the then a child, whom he had formerly given as a charge exploded, and by these means the touch-hole hostage for his fidehty. was cleared to the great rejo~cingof the army and The Constable of the castle also visited the the increase of the President's fame as an artiller~st. camp, and informed the President and the Earl of Writing an account of this fzat of skill twenty-three Thomond, that they and their forces would soon be years after its occurence, the President's biographer swept into the Shannon, as the Irish were more says :--g6Th~s particular I thought good not to om~t than double their number, and therefore, the sooner because it may be an instruction to others when: they abandoned the siege the better. On the other soever the like acc~dentmay happen." hand the earl rnformed him his threats were useless The guns being in order, the garrison directed all and advised hlm to surrender the castle, promising their energies towards silencing them, and all the that the lives of the garrison would be saved. The ---- - shot was directed upon them. Again the President's ingenuity was brought into action. He called for the r ~h~ Annals of the "Four Masters" state that the president and the Knight's child already referred to, and caused him Earl of Thomand proceeded through Clare, on the North bank of the Shannon, to a point opposite Glin, from whence they were conveyed to the to be placed on the gabions, sending word to the bank in boats. The above is the route described in Paeaka flibwnio.+ COUNTY 0F LIMERICK. 197 196 ROUND ABOUT THE -

Constable he would now have a fair mark to shoot determined to sell their lives as dearly as they at. The Constable sent back word that the evident could Admittance was to be obtained only through danger of his master's son would not prevent the entrance on the ground floor, which was closed him directing his musketry on the guns, adding by a strong wooden door. Heaps of brushwood and some observations expressed more coarsely than timber were piled up against the doorway and the modern usage allows. The President seeing that whole set on fire. When the mass had burned his contrivance was not likely to effect the end in itself out it was found that the door had been con- view, removed :he boy before firing began. sumed, but the tower was so full of smoke that an attack could not then be ventured on. The garrison All day long the guns were employed on the for the same cause had been compelled to retire to outer walls, and towards evening a breach was made by which the assailants entered. The great the battlements to avoid suffocation. When the smoke cleared away sufficiently, the English entered hall was carried by assault, and two turrets over the doorway, and in singie file ascended the narrow the hall fell into the hands of the English at the stone stairs that Ied up to the battlements. Here same time. Late in the evening the garrison were a severe hand-to-hand fight took place in the narrow driven into the keep whither it was too late to gutter between the roof and the battlements. Of follow them. Captain Slingsby who commanded the Irish. some were slain, others jumped off the the attacking party was directed to make good his summit into the moat beneath in a vain attempt to position, and though a dropping musketry fire was escape by swimming, others were flung over and kept up for some hours, no harm was done. dashed to pieces in the court-yard. The whole About midnight, when all was still, the Constable garrison to the number of eighty perished, whilst and the garrison endeavoured to make their escape Ibf the English, eleven were killed and twenty-one, unpercelved. The vigilance of the guards however more or less severely wounded. prevented the success of this maneuvre. The During all this time the Irish army to the English were roused from slumber, and a sharp en- number of three thousand men, and under the counter took place during which the Constable was leadership of the Knight of Glin, occupied a position slain, and ail the rest, except two who succeeded in only two miles off, and were witnesses of the effecting their escape, were forced back again into assault and capture of the castle. The same cause the castle. The President in fulfilment of his which prevented them attacking the army on the threat had the Constable's head fixed upon a pole march now held them back from making a diversion set up in the camp. in favour of the beleaguered garrison. Much as Early next morning it was resolved to assault the they feared and hated the English, they hated and keep as the garrison refused to surrender and were distrusted one another more, and the castle of Glin COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 199 was taken before their eyes without the slightest not much room for error, Carew's two wonderful effort being made to relieve it. Having got posses- siege pieces were planted not fifty yards from the sion of the Geraldine stronghold, the President and north wall, and the third not more than thirty yards the army remained there five days, during which from the east wall. The keep was at the south- the breach was repaired, and the castle placed in a west corner of the enclosure, and two turrets position of defence. A company of soldiers under the defended the angles. The whole was surrounded command of Oliver Stephenson was left in it, and by a moat supplied with water from the Shannon, the President and his army moved westward to and to the north was the mill. In the map the besiege Carrigfoyle. town of Glin is represented by seven small houses In 1603 an act of indemnity passed the great in flames, the place having been burned by the Irish seal, under which Edmond, grandson of Thomas, on the approach of the English army. wlm was attainted, was restored to a portion of his The Knights of Glin took their battle-cry of hereditary estates. These still remaln in the hands Skanid Aboo not from their ancestral house but from of his descendants. The present knight is the the massively-constructed stronghold which, from twenty-fourth in direct succession, and holds lands the slopes of the hills, kept watch and ward over which have belonged to his family for at least six the fertile manors of Castletown and Beagh. hundred years. The castle of Shanid 1s a striking and interesting Of the old stronghold whose siege by Carew has object on the line of rounded hill tops running just been narrated, nothing now remains but the north and south, at an elevation of from four to keep, the scene of the last and final struggle. over five hundred feet. The castle is so situated Externally it measures thirty-eight feet by thirty- that it can be d~stinctlyseen outlined against the five, and as the walls are eight feet thick, the space sky-line from almost every part of the great level enclosed is very llmited. At present it is only forty- tract, which extends from the base of these hills to five feet in height, but the turret which stood at the the Slieve Phelim mountains in Tipperary, and east corner must have added considerably to its even further. In the opposite direction it is equal- elevat~on. The outer walls enci'rcl~ng the court- ly conspicuous over a large part of North Kerry, and a fire-signal on its summit could convey an yard were 102 feet in length, by g2 feet in width. The principal entrance was to the north, and it was alarm from the Devil's Bit to , a distance defended by a semi-circular out-work in front. of seventy miles, as the crow flies; whilst by According to the map in Pacata Hibemitt, the means of Roxtown or Rochestown Castle the in- great hall was to the right, dnd here under a telligence could be passed on over the whole of window the breach was made. If the scale of the North Munster. The castle is situat6d at the low- map be correct, as very probably it is, for est depression of the range, and was evidently an 200 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 201 important position long before the erection of the height, and may have originally been much higher. present structure, whose remains still testify to the There are no windows in the portion still standing, extraord~narypains taken to render it impregnable. but the side of an opening may be observed. It was from this remarkable fortress, or rather signal The outer wall was circular and rises twelve feet station, that the Munster branch of the Geraldines up to the battlements. It is three-and-a-half feet took their battle-cry of Sha~idAboo (Shanid for thick, and is loopholed in several places. About Ever), still the motto of the Knights of Glin. thirty-nine feet of it are still standing. The internal diameter of the space enclosed by the outer wall is Shanid castle is easy of access, as the main western road runs within a hundred yards of the less than seventy-five feet. The castle is not. situ- ated in the middle of this area, but considerably to baseof the mound upon which it stands. The mound one side, so much so that the outer side of the castle is in the form of a blunt cone, and has probably and the inner surface of the wall, in one part, been formed by cutting the hill into this shape. The base is encircled with an earthen rampart and approached to within six inches of each other. The greatest length of the open space could not have fosse, two hundred yards in circumference, from which the mound rises about sixty feet in height. been more than twenty-eight feet. The structure was evidently blown up by gunpowder, probably The northern slope still exhibits the remains of at the close of the sixteenth century or the begin- the great earthen ramparts, between which the path lay to the fortress above. They are so ning of the seventeenth. The mortar was of the most tenacious description, and, though blocks of arranged that, when one point of the path could no masonry have been blown out and have tumbled longer be defended by the garrison, they could re- treat and easiljr to a higher point, from down to the foot of the mound, they have not crumbled to bits. On the top of the mound which the attack could still be :maintained upon may be observed a mass which has been blown those approaching The stronghold which crowned the mound consisted of an embattled wall of great right over, so that the curve is outside. It is strength, enclosing an area within which stood the twenty-seven feet long, nine feet in thickness, castle. The latter, if the strongest, must have been that being the thickness of the walls, and ~tswidth also one of the smallest specimens of military archi- is about four feet, The mortar is at present tecture to be found anywhere. The inner diameter as hard and as firm as if it had never been dis- turbed, and the block is fit to be put back in its is but twenty-four feet, and the walls are no less than nine feet in thickness. Externally, this build- place, practically uninjured by time, or by the explosion which burst it out and overturned it. ing was an octagon, but internally, it was circular. Carew, in his Pacata Nibernin, does not even The portion at present standing is about one-third allude to Shanid, though he must have marched of the circumference, and is thirty-five feet in 202 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 203 near it on his way from Askeaton to besiege Glin. forty-three paces, or about one hundred feet, in Nor is it mentioned when Sir Nicholas Malby diameter. The enclosed space is divided into four must have passed it by when hastening to capture equal quadrants by mounds of earth, radiating from Askeaton after Carrigfoyle had fallen into his hands. the centre, and of the same height as the rldge Apparently, it would have been hopeless to attempt which surrounds the whole. These quadrantal com- to get possession of Shanid, and, if the attempt partments did not communicate with one another, were successful, the gain would not have been their several entrances being from the outside. It worth the trouble. Jt was out of the ordinary-class would appear as if this were an attempt to solve of strongholds. The garrison could not have num- a problem similar to that which led to the erection bered more than half a score, nor was ~t capable of John O'Groat's house and its many doors. In of affording accommodation to a larger number. the centre, where the dividing embankments cross Yet, these few defend~ngtheir lofty eyrie might one another, may be observed a curious depression, have kept an army at bay, and an effort to reduce where, perhaps, a standard had been erected. A it by famine would be ill rewarded by the surrender few hundred yards north of Shanid, and adjacent to of a handful of soldiers. The English commanders the present roadway, formerly stood Lower Shanid evidently passed it by, leaving the mighty watch- Castle, of which no traces are now discernable. tower in the hands of the Geraldines, knowing that South-west of Shanid, on the banks of the White for offensive purposes it might be disregarded. river, stood the castle of Baile-ui-Geileachain, which The fields in the adjacent neighbourhood of was destroyed by its garrison in 1580, rather than Shanid exhibit traces of what might have been let it fall into the hands of Sir Nic!lolas Malby, extensive earth-works in former days, though at after the capture of Carrigfoyle. this distance of time it is impossible to say definitely Two important battles were fought in this neigh- whether they were earth-works or not. The pre- bourhood. In the " Wars of the Gael with the Galls" sumption, from the~rgeneral appearance and their at the year 884, there is recorded a defeat inflicted relationship to the mound towering above them, upon the Danes, by Donadhach, chief of the would lead one to suppose that something like a Ui Fidhgeinte, at a place called Senati, Seannad, great fortified camp might have existed here at some or Shanid. Considerably later, in enumerating the remote period. Many large earthen forts, of a date severe defeats which Mahon, elder brother of Brian long ,anterior to the arrival of the English, are Boru, inflicted upon the Danes, the same annals scattered about in the vicinity. A most remarkable mention the "red slaughter of the foreigners" after structure of this kind lies within a hundred yards the victory of Sen-Gualainn (Shanagolden), the Old of the mound. It is considerably elevated above Shoulder, so-called from the shape of the hill. the level of the field on which it is situated, and is North of Shanid is Knockpatrick, which is said COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 205 204 ROUND ABOUT THE

to mark the extreme limit of St. Patrick's mission- ary journey in Munster. From the summit of Knockpatrick he is said to have bestowed his blessing on the west, and to have pointed out Scat- NOTES. tery island, in the distant estuary of the Shannon, as a centre where the light of the gospel should radiate to the surrounding districts left unvisited by LANDS OF THE KNIGHTS .OF GLIN. him. The prediction is supposed to have received An inquisition taken in 1572, gives the particulars of the its fulfilment in St. Senan. St. Patrick's Well and territory held by the knight. Along- with the castle itself he has possession of the town and castle of Castletown, Chair are still pointed out a short distance below the town and castle of Beagh, the town and castle of the highest point. The summit is crowned with a Cappagh, and the towns of Killxiden, Srlowan, and grave-yard which at present contains no remains of Cloingcollon, Ballylougirth, Fnhighe, Clohirane, Mowyh, any antiquity or interest. The view from this point Ballygawe, and Drologhan, most of which can be identified is very fine, embracing large districts of Clare, at the present day. He held the Castle of the Vale with Limerick, Tipperary, and Kerry. The lower part thirteen plough-lands belonging to it. Other lands were leased to tenants who held them under rafious obligations, of the Shannon lies spread out like a sea, Scattery the rents in money being very low. Edmond FitzDavid island stands out clear and distant and, with its held seven plough-lands belonging to the castle "paying round tower, forms an interesting spot in the nothing for one of them, and out of the other six tbree broad estuary. marks per annum when they are inhabited, otherwise, In the neighbouring village of , near Cor- nothing, and paying his portion of cerses as others do." grig house, may be observed traces of the castle of Edmond McDavid and Moris Ykhea (Maurice Hickey), were tenants of Shanballymore, with two plough-lands, Corgroge, near which Carew encamped when on each of them paying yearly ten shillirgs, that is to say, his way back from Glin. He describes it as five shillings at Christmas and five shillings at , with belonging to Master Trenchard, the undertaker tfle proviso, that when strangers are cessed upon the (or settler), and of strength sufficient to hold county, they are expected to bear their portion according to out against any force, except the cannon. But the the rate of their lands. Garlett McMorris held the town of Ballinigomle, and two plough-lands, for the rent of - example of the Glynne was so fearful unto the twenty shillings, and when any strangers should come to rebels, that upon the first summons they yielded the the Knight's house to bear part* of them according to the same, with safety of their lives." rate of his land, for two days and two night.;. There existed joint tenancies, also, such as that of Edmond Oge and David McPhelipp, for the Newtown called Eallinoe, and one plough-land, for the rent of ten shillings; Oge pying two parts of the sum and McPhilipp three parts. 206 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 207

p--

A plough-land contained about 130 acres, and at this time A Particular, 1st August, 1587, of the lands in the County the value of a beef was 6s. 8d., according to the rate paid of Limerick, parcel of the Knight of the Valley and Thoulas, by the Earl of Desmond. The Knight also possessed the his son's, lands, attainted, lying in Kenry, long waste and advowson of the psrsonage and vicarage of the church of unpeopled, allotted to Gilbert Gerrard; sc. the manor, Kil~ornan,and waste mills and waste weirs both at Castle- castle and lands called Cappagh, otherwise Capigh, con- town and Glin. taining seven plow-lands, a signory of 12,000 acres. -- -Carew Papers, 1575-15P8. In the list of pardons on the accession of Queen Elizabeth will be found the pardon of Mwice Fitz-Gerot, Rector of INVE~TIGATINGTHE KRIQHT'S T ITLE. Kilcornan, and Nanrice, his sou, of the Geraldines, clerks. Directing the Lord Depaty and Lord Chancellor to ascer- tain the title of the son of the Knight of the Valley to the 1573. Earl of Desmond put his man, James Dore, at the Seignory called Castletown and Glynne, in the County of head of all the carpenters and masons in his country, and Limerick, which had been granted to George Beston and commanded him to raze down Castleton in Kenry and the Lancellot Bostocke, Her i\fajesty's servants and undertak~rs Clan (G1in.)-State Papers. of the eschaeted lands of Munster; but as these lands did p-p not colpc to the Crown by the attainder of Desmond in the late rebellion, but by a former title, and as Her Majesty is GRANTS OF THE KNIGHT OF GLIN'SP OSSESSIONS. solicitous that justice and equity should be administered, Certificate, lRth May, 1587, of the lands in the County of he directs that the title should be examined, and the lands Connelloe allotted to Mr. John Strowde and his associates. not passed to Beston and Bostocke for the respects above sc.-The castle and lands called Cloughtredbo~e, late the rehearsed. White Knight's, and parcel of the Croughe or Toughe, in Somerset House, Dec. 5, 1587. the County of Limerick ; the castle and lands of Kippaughe, late the Knight of the Talley's; the castle, town and lands GRANT TO WILLIAM CARTER. of Beawghe, otherwise Enbeoughe Yenrosseye ; the caetle (+rant to William Carter of the manor and town of and lands of Balleloghan, late the said Knight of the CASTLETON, a castle, the walls of a ruined hall, three mes- Talley's ; 8,000 acres. suges, six cottages, a garden, a water-mill, 561 acres arable A Particular, 18th August, 1587, of the lands in the County lend, 50 acres pasture ; Brdlonan-One messuage, eight of Limerick, being parcel of the Knight of the Valley and cottages and 40 acres arable, 340 acres underwood; Kil- Thomas, his son's, lands, attainted in Kenry, long waste bride-260 acres arable ; Cloughrane-802 acre3 arable ; and unpeopled as are by us, the undertakers assigned and Ballilongford-36 acres arable ; Fahye-18 acres arable and allotted for the parts and portions of George Beston and 20 acres near the Shannon, almost inundated with water; the castle and lands of Beaqh a ruined castle and old Launcelot Bostocke ; sc. the manor, castle and lands oalled cbpel, 254 acres arable, pasture, and underwood; Bel- Castletown ; the manor of Cloveagh, otherwise Beilugh Castle; the castle of Court Rothery near by Kiltnltllock; veh-882 acres amble-all situated in the Country called the lands called Hallinaghtie, otherwise Ballahaugh; the Kenrie, in the County of Limerick; Kepaugh, an ancient lands called Garroghloyne and all the land called the Great castle with a barbican ruinea on the south, 320 acres arable, Wood; to make up two signorier: of 12,000 acres apiece. and 44 pasture; in Connylo, certain buildings and 58 acres 208 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 209 of unprofitable bog ; the town of Lismuckey, 20 acres arable, ran away; Edward Fitton, Sheriff of the County, fled to 93 acres underwood, 40 acres bog; Ballingoule-86 acres England, nnd left Glenogher, his house and lands to the arable, 23 acres underwood ; Cloughentrad-86 acres arable, rebels; Sir George Bouchier, having Richard Rowley for 49 acres pasture, situate in the Country called Connolaght, his tenant in Loughgirre, put in Ulick Browne, who, by in the County of Limerick, late parcel of the possessions of treachery, gave all to the rebel; Newcastle, Glancuyn and Thomas Fitz Gerald, Knight of the Valley, attainted of Portneard of Sir %'iIliam Courtenay, Knight, who neglected high treason, and which had been granted to Edmond his seignory, and put servants in trust that were careless of Fitz Thomas of the Glanne, and his heirs, for the term of the defence; Corgrag, Boyne, Shanytt, of Mr. Trenchard 21 years, ending the 3rd May, 1509, who assigned his @is executors after his decease left all open to the enemy) ; interest and term of years to Arthur Carter, brother of Tarbert, Ballanecory, of Justice Goold, forsaken; Mr. William, several annuals, rents, duties, and customs, Aylmer left Kilfinien without men or victual ; Captain amounting altogether to B4 18s. 9d., issaing out of several Colvin left his house and fled to Askelyn; the abbey cf Adare. lands in the County of Limerick, which lately belonged to of Mr. George Thornton, where he had thirty men, munition the Knight of the Glyn and Valley: to hold, &c. and victual, yet was forsaken, for they all ran away, and the Bruff which he had in lease from Piers Lacy, wherein Dublin, Blarch 2, 1392. the Presideut had put eighteen men in ward, upon their The castle of the Glane and other parcels were granted running away was given up to Piers Lacy; Fannyngton, to Edmond XacThomas. of William Mainwaring. -Portion of a MS. History of the time. Assritxc~OF NANESOF UNDERTAKERS, -State Papers, 1598-09. P. 325. the severs1 counties, quantity of their lands and their yearly rents. LIMERICK: PELHAM'S MARCH FROM LINERICKT O GLIN, 1580. Sir William Courteniy, 10,500 acres, 2131 5 0 Upon inteiligence from the Earl of Ormond of his Francis Barkley, 7,250 ,, 87 l0 0 intention to repair towards me from Cork, where he was Eobert Ansloe, 2,599 ,, 27 1 5 treating with the lords and pnncipal gentlemen of that Richsrd hlex. Fitton, 3,086 ,, 31 10 5 province, I forebare to march out of Limerick until I William Msinwaring, 3,747 ,, 39 O 'i understood of his departure from Cork. We met not far William Trenshard, 12,000 ,, 155 0 0 from the bndge of Rathkell, in Conneloughe, on the 10th George Thornton, 1,500 ,, 15 12 6 (of March), where being advertised that the Xarl of Sir George Bourchier, 12,880 ,, 134 4 4 Desmond had gathered the most of his strength, we deter. Henry Billiugsley 11,800 ,, 1177 0 0 mined to seek him the next day in two companies. -State Papers, 1596-97. In respect of the passage at the bridge of Rathkell, the river not being passable in the winter time, a ward had IN THE COUNTYOF LINERICK, THESE CASTLES WERE been placed by Sir Nicholas Malbie, and after continued by FORSAKEN, 1598. thec) earl and me in a castle near to the bridge, but a week Meane, Pallice, Hallinwylly, of Sir Henry Ughtred, before Desmond had broken it in a dark night, and the Knight, who, together with his lady, fled to Limerick, ward was not able to annoy them. I took the ward from having left sixteen men in his house, who within two days thence, setting fire to the castle, and repairing the bridge. 210 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 211

We entered Ccnneloughe in two coinpanies, Ormond towards the Shennan side, and I upwards towards New- castle, and marched all the d&y without offence of any enemy, wasting and spoding the country to the foot of the mountain of Sliulougher. The people and cattle flying before us in the mountain were followed by some horsemen NEWCASTLE W EST. and light footmen. We encamped in two places not far distant one from the CHAPTER XII. other, near Desmoncl's first and most ancient house of Castle Shenet. Finding the country plentiful, and the THE present Barony of Glenquin was formerly people but nerly fled, we left our camps guarded next day, included in the district so frequently referred and searched some part of the mountain. There were slain to in this work as Connello. It was more anciently that day, by the fury of the soldiers, about 400 people found known as Clonglass, or Clonglais, and was the in the woods, and wheresoever any house or corn was found patrimony of the family of Collins. Cuilen of it was consumed by fire. Claenghlais was Lord of Ui Connell Gabhra shortly The next day we encamped before the castle of the Glanne, upon the river of Shenan, where I had appointed before the arrival of the Anglo-Normans. Mahon bread and drink to meet us from Limerick. Lord Fitz Morris O'Cuilen is described in 1266, as Lord of Claengh- came to that place, and presented his service to her Majesty. laisi, showing that his territory had diminished. Being informed by a bark of Limerick that The Handebaid, In 1535, the Lord of Claenglais* is mentioned as The Achates, and other ships with victuals and ammunition in alliance wlth Mac Gibbon, from which it would were at in Kerrie, we determined to pass the mount- appear, that up to that late date, O'Cuilen (or as ains towards Dingle. . . . On the i6th we entered Sleulogher, in which mountain (being in the narrowest place the name has been Anglicized Collins), continued l6 miles broad, and accompted 50 miles in length), we to maintain a separate position, though with encamped one night in Dowran, by the river of Vial1 near a territory very much diminished in area. piace of the earls called Fort Renard, from thence we This fertile district is almost entirely surrounded marched the mxt day to Tralighe. by hills, and opens out into the northern half of the -Carezc3 Papers, 1575-1588. County of Limerick where the town of Newcastle '"',, now stands. A stately and imposing fortress was erected here shortly after the arrival of the Anglo- Normans, and served to secure the beautiful plain to the south-west, which was one of the earliest possessions they acquired by their sword and bow in the county which was to be henceforth their - *The variations in spelling are as in the "Annals of the Four Masters.'' COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 213 212 ROUND ABOUT THE of Desmond before the title was created, and con- home. The castle which gives its name to the tinued. to be so for many years after. The first town was one of the most imposing of those great notice of Newcastle is as follocvs :- military structures which still bear testimony to "'l'homas, grandson of John, was thirty years in the skill of the new-corners. Its erection is as- lordship, until he died in Caislen Nua O'Conaill, and cribed to the Knights Templars in the thirteenth was buried in Tralee after the carrying away of the century, and at the present day the oak-leaf and Victory from Devil and from World; and, this acorn are pointed out on the stonework as proving Thomas is the infant the ape carried off with her the handiwork of this great order of military monks. on the gable of the monastery of Tralee. He They built IE a manner to last for ever. The died 1296." vaulted lower sto~yis still perfect, and the walls which support the structure are from eight to ten This Thomas was the grandson of John of Callan, feet in thickness. The main building is fitted up the founder of the monastery of Tralee, who with as a modern residence. Attached to the building his son was buried there, having fallen in battle is a round tower, evidently part of the fortifications. with the Mac Carthys, at Callan, near Kenmare. A few yards from it stands a square tower still in Thomas was but an ~nfantwhen deprived of his excellent preservation. On the other side of the father and grandfather. OIDaly in his Histovy of pile stands the chapel, and between it and the river the Geraldines relates that his nurse, "who had are walls and passages the exact use of which can- heard the dismal tidings at Tralee, ran about here not now be readily determined. A short distance and there in a frenzy of grief and left the cradle apart is a building popularly called the Desmond without a watcher. Thereon, an ape which was Hall, which was probably the banqueting chamber. kept for amusement lifted the infant out of the The hall is st1Ii used for various public purposes. cradle, and carried him to the top of the castle. The earliest descendants of Maurice Fitzgerald There, to the astonishment of those who passed found the castle of the Templars ready to their that way, the ape took off the babe's swaddling hands on the suppression of the order or perhaps clothes, licked him all over, dressed him again,.and before it. In O'Clery's Book of Pedigrees, a trans- brought him back to his cradle safe and sound. lation of which will be found in the journal of the Then coming to the nurse, as it were in reproof for Royal Historical and Archzological As~ociation her neglect, it dealt her a blow. But ever after for 1880, occurs a portlon, with the heading '' Of the was that babe called ' Thomas-an-appagh,' that Explanation of the History of the Geraldines, oi is 'of the ape.'" The story is supposed to account their destruction, and of their death here." for the ape supporters in the arms of Dukes of From these accounts it would appear that New- , Leinster, but that branch was not descended from castle was the home of the ancestors of the Earls iL

21~ ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 215

Thomas. Thomas was the father of Maurice, first second. The manors mere Askeaton, Newcastle, earl of Desmond, which title was created in 1329. \J Shanneth, the Island of Foynes, Carrygrayge, The cleat5 of Garret, fourth earl of Desmond, is Tearebeard, the Fort of the Three Enemies, Clone recorded as having occured at Newcastle, in 1399. Ogallyn and Dromearde; also the manors of Lough Garry, Glinoger, Rathmore and Any. Again, the death is recorded of James. theeighth earl, " head of the hospitality and of the valour of An important offshoot of the famlly was settled but the fair foreigners of Erin in his time ; a man who' a short dlstance from Newcastle. When Thomas- bestowed wealth and numerous gifts; a man who' an-appagh felt called upon to provide for the child- enlarged the earldom and made conquests in many ren of John of Callan, by his second wife, Honora, lands. In Caislen Nua O'Conaill he died after the daughter of O'Conor, he granted the lands of Meine ending of his age, and was buried in Tralee, and Mahoonagh to Ciilbert or Glbbon, the eldest 1462 " son. The descendants of Gilbert called themselves Fitzgibbon and MacGibbon, not Fitzgerald, probably The senior Sranch of this historic house was, to distinguish themselves from their cousins who therefore, long and intimately connected with the bore the latter name. Gilbert had two sons. The magnificent stronghold which commanded their elder, Maurice, was knighted in 1333s; he died In possessions in the west of the County of Limerick. 1357, and was burled at Kilmallock. He was the A very importailt document relating to the first who bore the title of White Knight. Gilbert's possessions of Thomas-an-appagl: or Thomas second son, Gibbon, was the ancestor of the Mac- FitzMaiirice, will be foui~din the volume of the Gibbons of Mahoonagh, by whom the castle of Kolls series, entitled Cale~zdarofDoc~~ments relating Meine was erected, the ruins of which may still be to Ireland, 1293-1301. It is the report of an enquiry seen standmg on a slight elevation near the village held to ascertain the lands and possessions of of Mahoonagh. Thomas in the year 1298. The document is very Maurice, the first Wh~teKnlght, remained in voluminous. Besides lands in Kerry, Cork and Scotland some time after he had distinguished him- Waterford, Thomas possessed the extensive manors self at Halidon Hill. He also acquired a reputation of Newcastle, Shanid, and Glenogra in this County. for "gallantry and intriguing with the fair sex," The portion relating to the manor of Newcastlewill and finally married a lady of the name of Bruce, be found verbatim in the notes attached to this but it is uncertain whether she belonged to the chapter, together with a short summary of the royal line or not. From Scotland he is said to have returns for Shanid and Glenogra. moved to England, where a daughter of his married. In a very much later list (1572), of the manors of the Earl of Desmond the name of New;astle stands 216 ROUND ABOUT THE - COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 217 a younger son of the Earl of Northumberland. the White Knight, and warned him that if under Thence he returned to his native land, only to find that title he would admit any other to enter her a grave there, after a brief sojourn. house she would not only discharge him, but punish The first White Knight left two sons, Maurlce and him severely. The porter delivered his message to David Maurice, the elder, when very young was the footman wa~tlngoutside the gate, who did not sent to be educated in foreign parts, and on attaining anticipate such treatment. He told the porter to manhood, served in the Crusades against the Turks. go back and tell the lady that his master was son For many years he had not been heard of, where- of the Oid Knlght, but this was equally unsatisfac- upon, David the younger brother assumed the trtle tory. She argued, with all the strength of a of Whlte Knight, and resided at the family castle of woman's logic, that no other was or should be Meine. David inarr~ed an English lady, said called the White Knight but her son ; and ordered (without very much authority), to be a daughter of the menial to go and tell the footman it was her Percy, Earl of Worcester, and in due time died, directions to inform his master that he might call leaving an only son, John, residing wlth his mother himself the son of the Old Knight as long as he at Meine, and destined to bear the title of White wished, but there should be no White Knight other Knight. Before he attained his majority, however, than her own son. The lady had her way. his uncle Maurice, his father's elder brother, ap- Maurice surrendered the title to his nephew, and, peared upon the scene. Maurice. worn out with after some difficulty, obtained a portion of his in- servlce in the Cont~nentalarmies, turned his steps heritance. Maurice obtained a grant of more than homeward to the possessions he had so long neglec- twenty thousand acres in the south-east corner ted. He quickly learned how matters stood, and of Limerick, lying between Knockcarron and travelled direct to Me~ne. Having arrlved within Kilmallock. The head of the family was known as a short distance of the castle he sent one of his Mac-an-Shan Rlddery, the son of the Old Knight. attendants to inform his sister-in-law of his being The two branches of the family became united on the road, and that he purposed to pay her a visit again under one head, on the death of Edmond that night. The footman knocked at the gate of B 1611, in the person of Gibbon of Ballynahinch. Meine, and, in reply to an enquiry from the porter, The present representative of both these lines of stated that he belonged to the White Knight's chieftains is Maurice of Crohana House, Kilkenny, retinue and came to give notice of, his arrival that who is thus both White Knight and Mac-an-Shan evening. The porter, before he opened the gate, Rlddery. went and delivered the message to his mistress, who, The descendants of David retamed Meine in according to the Chronicler, called him a fool, and theirpossession till 1551,when John, White Knight, said surely he knew that her son, then present, was was compelled to surrender these lands and transfer 218 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 219 himself to the east of the county.* The names of the . So late as 1670, in a history members of the family residing at Mahoonagh of the White Knights there is mention of a "Garret occur in an inquisition held at Limerick during Fitzgibbon, heir to Mahoonagh." the reign of Elizabeth. On the attainder of the When the Desmond survey was taken in 1584, last Earl of Desmond, all the lands passed into the castle of Meine is described as having been other hands. The act of attainder contains the wealthy and spacious beiore the rebellion in which name of Thomas MacGibbon, of Mahoonagh, it was destroyed. "To-day nothing of it remains," gentleman. 'l'he following lands were included says the record, " beyond the stone walls." So it in the forfeiture :-The castle, lands: and manor of remains at present a strong, low, rectangular tower. Meine, late the Earl of Desmond's ; the castle and The internal measurement is 35 feet by 24:. The lands called the Pallice, late Richard MacThomas's, walls are 6+ feet thick, and at present 25 feet in otherwise MacThomas of the Pallice ; the castle height. There appears to have been no arched and lands called Mahoonagh, late MacGibbyns'; floor in this castle, and in this it differs from the castle and lands of Ballynoe, in the parish of almost all similar structures. Clonalty ; the castle called Gortnytubbrid, late The castle of Gort-na-tiobrad, the seat of the Thomas Caurn's of the Clenlish ; the c astleand Fitzgeralds, Lords of Clonlish, is now incorporated lands of Craushaugh, late the Earl of Desmond's ; with Springfield, the residence of Lord Muskerry, the castle, tower, and lands of Kilbolane, late David and is still in excellent preservation. Though Gibbon's, otherwise David-an-Corrig, lord of the included amongst the forfeitures it continued in the Great Wood-in all 1200 acres. These forfeited possession of the Fitzgeralds of Clonlish, descend- estates were granted to Henry Oughtred, brother- ants of Thornas Caum, till 1688. They. probably in-law of Sir William Courtenay, in 1587. remained tenants of the Courtenays, paying rents Oughtred, on his dying without issue, bequeathed for the lands which were once their own. The his estates of Meine to his nephew, the fourth son wife of Sir John Fitzgerald, Bart., of Clenlish, of Sir Williarn Courtenay, on condition of his who was killed at the battle of Oudenarde, in 1708, taking the name of Oughtred. On the death of the claimed a jointure out of it so late as 1700. nephew's only son without issue, the lands were in- Gort-na-tiobrad is mentioned in the " Annals of herited by the heir of Sir William Courtenay, from the Four Masters," at the date 1579, in connection whom they have descended to the present holder, with the march inland of the Irish and Spanish

* In the fourth year of Queen Mary, John Oge FitzGihbon, the Khlte forces, under Sir John of Desmond. At that time Knight, and his Irinsnlen David, Gilhert and Thomas, released unto James, the great plain between Newc-stie and the borders Earl of Desn~ond,ail their lands in Connello, viz. : The manors of Meane of Cork was covered with a dense forest, and was and Ballytine, the short Csstieof Askeaton, etc.-Unpublished Geraldine Documents, known as the Great Wood. 'l'he allies halted at 220 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 221

Gort-na-tiobrad for some time after the march from anxious to gain the price set upon his head. In the Smerwick, and the Irish leader learned that the Great Wood after the defeat at Manisternenagh. English forces were being assembled at Kilmallock perished miserably the papal legate, Dr. Saunde~s, to proceed against him. The Lord Deputy, Sir who had accompanied the Irish and continental ' Wil!iam Drury, was there, accompanied by such troops so far. At this t~methe Lord of the Great experienced captains as Bagnall and Malby, and he Wood was David G~bbons,otherwise David of the was subsequently joined by the Earl of Kildare, and Combat. He died in 1582, according to the annals, the Lords of Ormond and . An advance which in the same year record what must have been party of over three hundred men was sent forward a matter of astonishment that, 'LThomas Gerald to try the strength of the Irish, and an Irmh and John Oge, the sons of John Fitzgerald of detachment was despatched to meet them. The Claonglass, all died th~syear a natural death." latter knew the recesses of the Great Wood, and West of Springfield are the remains of Killeedy planned an ambuscade into which the English fell. church and castle, The church consists of nave The party was put to the sword, and but a very and choir. The nave bears all the marks of belong- few escaped to bring tldings of the disaster to ing to the earliest style of Irish architecture, and the Lord Deputy. Sir William Drury died soon originally formed part of the rehgious establishment after, but Malby wiped out the disgrace to the founded in the sixth century by St. Ida, the English army, by the defeat of the allies at of Munster. This salnt is also known as Monasternenagh. Mida and the patron of churches bearing the name This dense wood which covered the border dis- of . It was the habit of the Irish to pre- tricts of Limerick and Cork, played an important fix as a term of endearment or affection the word part in the closmg scenes of the Desmond war. It MO,the Irish for "my," to the names of the more was at once a place of protection to which the Irish popular religious teachers, hence the change from could fly for safety, and also a screen behind which Ida to M~da. When the name began with a vowel they could watch the motions of the English, whilst only the ' M ' was prefixed. Every form which the remaining unseen themselves. Here James Fitz- words Ida and Mida can be reasonably changed maurice fled for safety with his followers after the into has been employed to designate the founder murder of Uavells at Tralee. Into its recesses of Killeedy, such as Ita, Ite, and so on. plunged John of Desmond again and again, aft Ida was eighth in descent from the celebrated snme successful foray, or to escape an enemy mo a Felim the Lawgiver, who reigned over Ireland from powerful than himself. Here wandered the last 122 to 157. He is better known as the father of earl of Desmond, flitting hither and thither t the still more famous Conn of the Hundred Battles. escape the snares laid for his capture by pursuer Ida was born in the district known as the present 222 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 223

County Waterford, and at an early age devoted In the extreme west of the County, on the borders herself to a life of perpetual virginity. Rejecting an of Kerry, situated amongst the recesses of the advantageous proposal of a marriage, and at the mountains, stands the town of Abbeyfeale, so bidding of an angel, who appeared to her in a called from the abbey founded for Cistercians in dream, she left her father's house and proceeded to 1188, and which was made a cell to the celebrated the western borders of Ui Conaill, where she establishment at Manister. The river preserves preached to the heathen Irish. She established the name of the wife of one of the earliest M~!esian her monastery at the foot of Slieve Luachra, and invaders, to whom the southern district was assign- gathered around her a band of devoted virgins. ed. The story is that Flal, the wife of Lugaid, She and her companions were well received by the or Lewy, was bathing one day in the river, when people of the ditsrict whom she persuaded to em- her husband suddenly came In sight. She did not brace Chritianity with the assistance of St. Senan, recognize him, and, being unable to co~cealherself of Scattery Isianci. There is little definite infor- from the view of one whom she thought to be a mation respecting any incidents in the life of this stranger, she died of fright and shame. Hence the saint, though numerous miracles are attributed to name which the river bears to this day. ' her. Besides the notice of her death, there is a A short distance north-west of Abbeyfeale may single reference to her in the " Annals of the Four be observed the ruins of Purt castle, one of the Masters." It is as follows : " 546. The battle of many fortified posts of the Geraldines. It was Cuilne. in which many of the Corcoiche were slain, whilst residing at this castle that a romantic ad- through the prayers of Ida of Cluain Creadhail." venture happened to Thomas, hew to the earldom of The Corcoiche were a sept dwelling on the banks Desmond. The young man had been so engrossed of the Ilaigue, of whom, after surnames came into in hunting on one occasion that he d~dnot observe use, the chief bore the name of O'Macassy. Cluain that night was falling fast, and that he was a long Creadhail is the ancient name of the district where distance from home. In trj ing to retrace his steps the saint settled. St. Ida died on the 15th January, he lost h~sway in the darkness, and waride~ed which day is still observed in the vicinity in which about on the mountains not knowing where to turn. she founded her celebrated monastic establishment. At length the tired hunter spied a ghmmering of St. the Navigator, was amongst those light, and makmg the best of his way towards ~t, educated here. The death is recorded of two found that it proceeded from a house. He obtained abbots of Cille Ita, namely, Cathasach, in 810 ; and admittance, and asked shelter for the night Finnacha, in 833. The place was plundered by which was cheerfully granted. HIS host he learned the Danes who landed at Ciarraighe Luachra in was one of his father's tenants, named McCormac, 838, and again in 851. and he observed that he had an extremely beautiful COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 225 224 ROUND ABOUT THE daughter, named Catherine. This was but the first of many visits paid to the cottage, for Cathe- rine inspired in the young man's breast a passion he could not subdue. He finally married Catherine, with the result that his kindred all turned against NOTES. him, and declared that the peasant's daughter should never become Countess of Llesmond. The young man and his bride were compelled to fly to EXTRACT FROY ~NQUISITION 06 LANDS OF THOMA~ the continent where they passed the remainder of PIT~MAURICE,1298. their days, and the earldom of Desmond passed to Extents of the lands of Thomas FitzMaurice, who died on the next in succession. The incident has been Wednesday next aEter the feast of the Holy Trinity. [June 4, 12981. immortalised by Moore in his poem, the first stanza of which is :- EXTENT of the MANOR DE Novo CASTRO, taken there Saturday next after the feast of the apostles, Peter and By the Peal's wave benighted, Paul. [July 5, 12981. No star in the skies ; Jurors:-Odo de TTalle, Maurice of London, Ric.hard of To thy door by love lighted, London, William le Lou, .John Smythe, Milo Bouzon, first saw those eyes. I Wdter Rathconl, William Rathcoul, Geoffrey Houlyn, Some voice whisper'd o'er me, Thomas Boscher, William FitzPeter, Henry Xajor, Philip As the threshold I crost, Laynath, William FitzWalter, John Huberd, Thomas Cris- There was ruin before me- pyn, William Courteler, Philip FitzRobert, Osbert le Wyce, If I loved-I was lost. John Emly, who say upon their oath that, the castle and edifices, as well within as without the wall, can be extended at no value, because, it is necessary to devote greater sums in maintaining these than can be received on land therefrom. The1 e are eighteen score acres of arable land in demesne, extended at ad. an acre, a year; twelve acres of meadow at 6d.; a pasture within the demesne at 40d., and a garden with a curtelage at 5s. Total, A9 14s. 4d. There are at the Grange of Kylrodan, four hundred and eight acres of arable land in demesne, at 8d. an acre; sixteen acres of meadow at 6d. There is no pasture save for oxon of the Grange from which nothing can be received. Total, A16 13s. 4d. 226 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 227

There are at Nova Grangia fourteen score and nineteen dermot, 20s., Dromrathnauch,' 40s. A parcel of land at acres of arable land in demesne, whereof each acre is ex- Seskenledan. 8s. a year. Quarters at Kylordan, W, Kil- tended at Rd. a year; fourteen acres of meadow at 6d. an macsnehyn, 84, Dowyll and RatLneconyr, 20s. ; Balydaly acre, and no pasture. Total, E10 6s. 4d. 5 marks, and 1 quarter at Balygarwyth which they extend at 40s. a year. A parcel of land at Gortinore extended at Free tenants :-Geoffrey, Robert, and Reymund le Blund 68. Sd. a year; foity acres at Fethbeg and Fethmor, each hold half quarter of !and in Deryndromcarme, rendering of which they extend at 8d. a year. 24s. 8d. a year, and doing suit of court ; William Dundone- The cottagers de Novo Castro hold sixteen and a half nsld holds half quarter in Glyngownyn, renders 2d. a year and does suit; T'cTilliam Toost, ten acres in Lysmatleth* acres, entered at 41s. a jear. There are at Ballydouly thirty acres which they extend at 20s ; at Kilnehylin a rendering lld. without suit; Philip FitzEalph and Adam parcel of' land extended at 2s. a year; at Tulauchhalyn, de Portesbury, twenty-four acres in le Nanagh, rendering four acres held by Compdin le 'Tailor, extended at 2s. 6d., 16s. but no suit ; Robert Haket, three and a half carucates. and parcels of land at Llonkille, extended at 2s., and Gort- at Glenhom, rendering Id. with suit; Richard de London, loman at 18d. a year. Total, E48 7s. 6d. one quarter of land in Cnocbrack, rendering 40d. without. The mill at Novum Castrum is extended at 6s. 8d. a year; suit; Philip de Valle, one carucate in Kilcapely, rendering that of Ardauch, at 10s. ;the issues of Land-mills at 13s. M; 26s. 861. a year, without suit; Ismaena Coterel, one carucate the sergeancy of Obathan is worth 20s ; that of Corkoygh,' at Anecroygh', renders nothing but does suit ; the heirs of 6s. 8d a year. Pannagex is extended at 10s. a year, yer- Thomas de Clare, one teodum,* in Moycavenagh, by the quisites of court, as well of English as of Irish, and as well service of 20s. when royal service is proclaimed, the land is de Novo Castro as de Killyde, at 100s. a year; perquisites now in the King's hand; John de Valle, two carucates in of the hundred de Ardauch at 6s. Ed. Prisage as well of Kylsuauleth', by service of 6s. 8d. where service runs and flesh as of ale, de Noro C astro, is worth 2s. a year. renders 2s. a year. The church Novi Castri is yearly worth, with the vicarage, TOWof rent, i3s. lld. Total of service, 26s. 8d. 100s.: the church de Agath' with its chapels, 810 ; the Farmers. There are forty acres in Donaly, formerly held church de Xoyncavenauch with the vicarage, 10 marks; the by I'hilip Fitz Robert,, extending at 8d. an acre, a year. church de Moyncroo, 80 marks. All four belong to the gift Total, 26s. 8d. of the fee. L~ndof Betagiiq A quarter of land at Addouan, formerly EXTENT OF THE MANOR OF SENEDE,taken there on held by them, extended in time of peace at 13s. a.;a small Friday next after the feast of the apostles, Sts. Peter and parcel of land in (Jlengort extended at 2s. Quarters of land Paul, 4th of July, in above 3ear. at Rouscathmor, extended itt $4 a year, and Rouscatbeg' at Eig~teenscore acres of arable land in demesne, whereof B4.a year. Berne, 60s., Asdare, 40s., Doukone Wall, 13s. 4d.; they extend each acre at 6d. a year ; sixteen acres of meadow Lyetenbretenauch, 4Os., Rallycoure, 60s., Daffaly (excepting and two acres at Adlen, at 6d. an acre; from pasture and forty acres held by Philip Fitz Robert,), 40s. Ballyurfp, park nothing can be received, because no one will rent 4 marks, Balyhathern, 4 marks, Kilconleihe and Cnocrath- pasture the~e. There are nine acres of arable land there near the demesne in Kilhecan, which they extend at 4s. 6d. *An attempt at rendering the Irish term tuath, the lands of gn a year. Total, B9 13s. 6d. inferior chieftain. t Laymen holding ecclesiastical lands; or perhaps lands held on a kind * The food which hogs pick up in the woods, such as acorns, &c. ~f villein tenure. ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 229

Land of the Irish. There are quarte~sof land at Adthe and presents. There is nothing from warrens because the held by the Irish, which they extend in time of peace at MS; rabbits are destroyed by foxes; a mill at New Grange is at Manchmore, 40s. in time of peace ; half quarter at Bal- extended at 13s.. 4d. a year. lauchdram lying waste and producing nothing, because it Total, A4 6s. 7d. Total of totals, A38 8s. lOd., wherefrom lies among the Irish ; half quarter at Cloncarnan, extended are subtracted 8s. paid yearly to the , at 13s. 4d. ; a Villata [townland] in Tolauhartir, at four by Thomas, for land which his grandfather granted to the marks a year; a quarter in Punnauth, at 26s. ad.; half nuns of O'Konjl, and 26s. 8d. paid to the same Bishop to quarter in Cloninclouthny, extended at 13s. 46. a year; acquit land of demesne which Sir Thomas held of him then. half quarter at Balimalys, extended at 20s. a year; half Total, 34s. ad.. And so the manor worth fcr the King's quarter at Halyloman, at 16s. $d. Parcels of land at use, A36 14s. 2d., clear. Sangenauth and Goaitroyth, extended at 40d. a year; Bdy- THE MANOR OF GLENOGYREcontained three hundred acres bothyr and Cnockeveny, 10s. a year ; Gerran, 16s. ; a parcel in demesne, fourteen acres of meadow, and " a small grove in the old garden, 3s.; a Villata of land at le Creg, ten from which the lord can obtain nothing except brambles marks a year; and five acres held by the smith near the and virgce ad carucas [rods for ploughs], which cannot castle, 2s. a yedr. Total, A19 10s. be extended at any value. Free tenants-John Fitz John [Knight of Glin] holds The free tenants were, William of London ic. Cathir- half Teodum in Glancorbuy for 20s., when royal service is gilmore, who held four carucates for l&., royal services proclaimed, and does suit from quinzaine to quinzaine. when proclaimed, and doing suit at the Court de Glenogyr John Clouthrarn and Thomas Crispyn, twelve acres at from quinzaine to quinzaine ; Archibald Fitz rankard, Kerwenger ; Margery Goer, half Teodunb, at Roherts' Castle ; Philip , Thomas Maunsel, and Nicholas le Blund. The Reymund de Valle, at Dunmolyn; Robert de Lees, at burgesses of the Vill de Glenogyr' hold six carucates of land Lysmuir ; John FitzJohn, at Mohyrgan; Maurice of London. in their burgages, and render suit for 119s 6d. a year. at Tilauthaneshan ; Gilbert de Laundry, at Monitirdrynan; Robert de Valle, at Balyethan ; the heirs of William There were six pools, the fishery of which they extend fur 7s. 10d. a year; issues of turbary are worth 4s. a gear. Rothelan, at Kylcroscran ; Robert, son of Robert Purcel, half Teodum in Xathronan, for 20s., royal service and does Total of totals, 237 14s 4d., from which 40s. is to he suit ; John Gradok, at Carnhousteragh' ; the heir of David submitted for royal service, paid to Agnes de Valence, at de L'apella, at Dungeygh'; Henry de Capella, at Ardryn; Athleckath, when proclaimed. Thouas Boscher, at Gortmolkeran ; Henry FitzRobert, at Baligaveryn; 31110 J;ozon, at Ogawyr. By an inquisition held March loth, 1300, to discover the Total of service, A6. true value of the lands of Thomas Fitz Maurice, deceased, Total of rent, 2% 18s 8d. who held of the King in Capite, who is his next heir, and There is there a garden extended with its curtelage at what is his age, it was found that Thomas FitzNaurice held 6s. $d. a year; hand-mills at 6s. 8d. a year; the sergeancy the manol*of Newcastle, in the County of Limerick, which there is worth 13s. 4d. a year; pannage, 6s. 8d. a year; is worth A98 17s. 5d. a year; the manor of Kilyde, in the perquisites of court, with heriots, fines and payments of mme County, worth A20 15s. a jear; the manorof Shenede, Irish, are extended for 40s. a year; there are no works of yearly worth A36 14s. 2d. ; the manor of Glenogra, then Betagii, because they are charged with rent for work, gifts, yearly worth A37 14s. Cd., togethe;: with other manors in 230 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 231

Cork and Kerry. Thomas, his son, was the heir, and was of POSSESSIONSOF THONASCAWNE J OHN OF SPRINGFIELD. the age of ten years at Easter. Livery of seisin of the possessions of Thomas Cawne John of the Geraldines, to Maurice FitzThomas, his son and On the death of Thomas, manors were assigned to his heir: it appearing by inquisition, taken at the Church of wife, Margaret, to the value of &l20 3s. 10d. yearly, and in the Blessed Virgin Mury, in the City of Limerick, the 24th March '?Oth, 1300, there is the following entry :-Terms for January, 1596, ihat the sa~d'l'homas Cawne John, late of Reginald Rosel, and Margaret his wife, who was the wife of Gortnetubred, in the County of Timerick, on the 17th of Thomas FitzMaurice, for ps~ymentof her fine of 8500, at August, in the 24th year of reign, was seised in his demesne the exchequer, Dublin, for her transgression in marrying as of fee of the manor and Barmy of Clenlishe, in the Reginald without the King's license. Fine Rolls, 28, Edw. I. County of Limerick, that is to say of the castle, town, and hnds of Gortnetubred, the castle, town and lands of Kyledie, the castle town and lands of. Lisnekillye, Certificate of 26th June, 1587, of the lands in the County containing 21 quarters, or carucates of land, which said of Connrlloe, allotted to Mr. Anthony Hungerforde, and his manor or barony, and all the premises were held, of Gerald, associates; s C., the towns and lands of Killydie and late Earl of Dasmond, by Knight's service in capite, and Glancoyne, with the lands of Killabouchier, late Thomas that the same Thomas died, so seized at Xurdenston, in the Cams', in the County of Limerick; the castle and lands of County of Cork, and that Maurice FitzThomas is his son Portrenarde, late the Earl of Desmond's; the site of the and heir.-Dublin, Nay lPth, 1596. late cell called Nephelaugh, belonging to the late monastery Calendar of Patent Rolls, Elizabeth. of Nenaughe. If there lands do not amount to 8,OOG acres as appointed to them, they shall have other lands near the premises.

GRANT TO SIR HENRYUUHTRED. Certificate 16th Nay, 1587, of the land in the County of Connello, allotted to Henry Ughtrede, and his associates; s C., the castle, manor, and lands called Meane, late the Earl of Desmond's ; the castle, manor, and lands called the Pallice, late Richard McThomas's, otherwise, McThomas of the Pallice, the castle and lands called Mohannogh, late McGybbyn's, the castle and lands of Ballynoa, in the parish of Clonelty, late Owyn McEdmund, Oge McShehi's, and Omen McBryen's, the castle called Gortnetubkerde, late Tholnas Cams9, of the Clenlish, the castle and lands of Cranshaugh, late the Earl of Desmond's, the castle, town, and lands of Kilbolane, late David Gybbyn's, otherwise, Davidencoriyg, Lord of the Great Wood, in all 12,000 acres. Carew Papers, 1575-1588. 232 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 233 -- -- -.

found at the same place, one of which known as the Ardagh brooch is of a high degree of merlt, but its workmanship is thrown into the shade by the superior delicacy of execution which places the THE ARDAGH CUP. Cup in an unapproachable position. The chalice is considered by Miss Stokes'* "to CHAPTER XIII. belong to that early class of two-handled cups, THE discovery of a noble specimen of ancient described in the old L Ordines Romani,' as Calices Celtic art has conferred more than a local Ministvales, a form in use before the tenth century, celebrity upon the name of the village of Ardagh, and meant for communion of the minor clergy and situated some three miles north of ~iwcastleWest. people so long as communion under both kinds was About two or three hundred yards west of the given to the laity." village, and quite adjacent to the roadway, may be The chalice is composed of an alloy of three parts seen the remains of a huge earthen fort. with of silver to one of copper. It is seven inches in about a third of the circumference removed, the height, nine and a half inches in diameter, the base remamder of the mound rislng about twelve feet is six and a half inches in diameter, and the bowl above the level of the ground. It is very seldom is four inches in depth. It is composed of three that an ancient fort is ever disturbed by the spade hundred and fifty-four pieces, including twenty of the improving tenant. Fortunately an exception rivets. The weight of gold used is one oz. two occurs in this particular case, with the result that dwts.; of silver, twenty oz. thirteen dwts. ; and of the most beautiful example of Celtic art ever yet bronze, nine oz. The gold is between 18 and 19 found" has been brought to light. In the year carat fine, but the silver is of inferior quality. The 1868, a peasant of the neighbourhood whilst digging body is that of a half globe, and is surrounded by a through the rampart unearthed the Ardagh Cup, band of ornamental work thrown into eight bosses, fortunately without inflicting any serious injury enamelled in quaint designs and colours. Each of upon it, the only harm done having been the dis- these bosses has a network tissue of filigree of arrangement of a short strip of the fine wire used different patterns and intricate design. Underneath in working out the design traced upon it. the bafid are the names of the twelve apostles ex- The Ardagh Cup or Chalice fakes its place beside ecuted in very peculiar letters. The stem is formed the Cross of Cong, and the Tara Brooch, as being of a cylindrical piece of silver, on which is carved a each, in its own department, the highest effort of most intricate design of a single line, which can be

Celtic art in metal work. Some brooches were also *Early Christian Art in Ireland. Page 80. 234 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 235 traced through all its windings till the pattern is at the end slightly varies." Before concluding her complete. The handles are perhaps the most notice of thls beautiful work of art to which the beautiful feature of the cup, and are a mass offine reader may be referred for fuller particulars as to enamels of various colours and designs, held in ornamentation, etc., Miss Stokes says that "no panels of most delicate workmanship, and secured example has hitherto been found in Great Britain to the body by very large bosses. Some old settings of the same class as this exquisite chalice. Indeed, remain around these containing pieces of amber, with a few exceptions, such as the chalice in the which, as a matter of effect in colours, are pro- Abbey of Witten, in the Tyrol, this is a unique nounced to be perfect. The upper rim is of brass, example of the two-handled chalices used in the much decayed. The bowl is of silver and is orna- early Christian times." mented with an inscription, interlaced patterns The chalices mentioned in connexion with the terminating in dogs' heads, and at the bottom a earliest period of the church are not circular band of the Greek pattern. The mode of metal. A legend in the life of St.,Patrick makes of ornamentation is peculiar to this cup, being done mention of chalices of glass, which-were probably with a chisel and hammer. The inscription already imported from the Continent, and, it appears from referred to contains the names of the twelve the manner of their discovery by the saint, had apostles, in letters about half an inch in length, in been in use in the Irish church before St. Patrick's delicate lines, and runs as follows :- time. There are two chalices of stone, of native Petri Pauli Andri Jacobi Johannis Piliphi workmanship, preserved in the National Museum, Hartholomi Thorns Mathei Jacobi Tatheus Simon Dublin. Chalices of bronze were in use in the time The list of the apostles," says Miss Stokes, in of St. Columbanus. King Cormac Mac Cullenan, the work already referred to, "is found in the who died about 908, amongst other bequests left commemoration in the Canon of the Mass ; but in a golden and a silver chalice to Lismore, and also the Roman Missal the names are placed differently, to Cashel. There is no inscription or prayer on thus :- the Ardagh Chalice connecting the work with Petri Pauli Andr;e Jacobi Joannis Philippi the artist who made it, or the person or church Bartholornsi Thorns Matthsi Jacobi for which it was executed. It comes from the Thaddai Sirnonis. remote past without the slightest clue to link it It is also in the Litany of the Saints as given in with any individual or community. The earthen an MS. at St. Gall; but there is a slight fort which preserved it to the nineteenth century difference in the order of the names. It is also was not its original home. Its connexion with found in the Bobio Missal, printed by Mabillon, it must have been as accidental as its discovery. the only difference being that the order of names The peculiar form of ornamentation on the 236 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 237

Ardagh Chalice, is similar to that on the Tara In 1126, it is stated, '(that the precious things brooch, and both are considered contemporaneous. of Cluain-muc-Nois were revealed against the This ornamentation is seen in the illuminated foreigners of Luimnech, after having been stolen by books of the seventh and eight centuries, notably Gillacomghain, and he was hanged at Dun-cluana- in the Book of Kells, the date of which is about Ithair,* after he had been delivered up by Conor 690, and seems to have died out after the year goo. O'Brien, King of Munster." The chronicle states The Ardagh chalice may, therefore, be placed not that, the thief endeavoured to make his way across later than that date. the sea from Cork, Lisrnore, and Waterford, but The Most Rev. Dr. Healy* confirms Miss Stokes's the ship in which he might find a place, could not get wind enough for sailing, though all the other opinion that it IS " a two-handled chalice, p~obably used for the communion of the laity, at a time ships would. No wonder truly, we are told, for when the Eucharist was still administered under Ciaran would detain the ship in which he sought the species of bread and wine." The learned Author to escape, and he made a declaration when dying offers an ingenious suggestion towards identifying that he had seen Ciaran, with his staff detaining it with a gift made by King Turlogh O'Conor to every ship in which he attempted to escape hlm. Clonmacnoise, by means of the following state- The Four Masters give 1116 as the date of the ments which are here given verbatim, in order that gift, and 1129 as the date of the plundering. In the reader may exercise his own judgment :- the Annals of Clonmacnoise it is stated that, the In the Clzro?zicon Scoto~unz,under the year 1111, great altar at Clonmacnoise was robbed, this year, occurs an entry stating that Turlogh O'Conor, 1129, and many jewels sacrilegiously t4ken from King of Connaught,('presented these precious things there. . . . The three jewels that King Turlogh to Ciaran, at Ciuain, viz. : a drinking horn [inlaid] gave the church : a cup of silver, a g~ltcross, and with gold, a silver cup with gold, and a patina of another jewel. The clergy of Clone '' made inces- copper with gold and silver." sant prayers to God and St. Keyran to be a meane for the revelation of the party that took away the In 1125,we read that, "the altar of the great said jewels." stone church of Cluain-muc-Nois was opened, and precious things were taken out of it, viz.: the The Most Rev. Dr. Healy considers the cup pre- Charrachan (model), of Solomon's temple-and the sented by King Turlogh, to have been a chalice, three articles which Turlogh O'Conor gave, viz. : a supposition which receives support from its being a silver goblet, and a silver cup with a golden cross connected with a paten, and that it was kept for over it, and a drinking horn, with gold, &C." 'Identified by O'Donovan with Cloonbrien, a townland in the parish P- of Athlacca. * Ireland's Ancient Schools and Scholars. Page 562. 238 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 239 use on the high altar, of Clonmacnoise, that it refused him the shelter of their houses and denied formed part of the plunder of the church, and was him meat and drink, but, actually stole his watch.

"revealed " against the foreigners of Luimneach. At this trial the saint's patience gave way, and he Now it is a cu~iousfact, " continues Dr. Healy, pronounced a solemn curse, that each day would

6& that the Chalice of Ardagh was dug up from the witness the death of some one in the district to tke edge of a rath called Reerasta, . . . close to end of time. Alarmed at the terrible sentence, the the village of Ardagh, and other smaller cups with villagers implored St. Patrick's pardon, restored to five fibulae were found on the same occasion. him his watch, and begged him to recall his curse. Were they sezreted there by Gillacomghain, or The curse, it seems, could not be completely unsaid, one of his accomplices, the Danes of Limerick, for but it was modlfied and transferred to the starlings, we are not told the family of Clonmacnoise recover- . which are very numerous about the place. Accord- ed all the plunder ? There is a local tradition that ingly, one of the birds is to be found dead each Keerasta was occupied by the Danes of Luimneach, morning in the adjacent glen, called from the event and, also, that at later times mass was often Glenastar, the Glen of the Stare or Starhng, thus celebrated there. It may be then, if not secreted testify~ngto the veracity of the legend. by the Danes, that the chalice was given by the Glenastar lies about a n11le westward of the family of Clilain to some of the clergy in the neigh- village of Ardagh, and is exceedingly picturesque. bourhood where the thieves were discovered, and The glen is closed by a high barrier of rock, over that they used it for celebrating mass in this place which dash the peat-coloured waters of a mountain during t!~etimes of persecution, and secreted the rivulet called the Dar, or Daar, which falls into chalice on some occasion when forced to fly for the Deel outside Newcastle. The cascade is over their l~ves." The suggestion of Bishop Healy eighty feet in height, and ~mrnediately after does credit to that accomplished prelate's learning heavy rains when the little river is flooded, it is and acumen, even though the evidence may not transformed for a time into an imposing foaming appear strong enough to connect, without possibility waterfall, not inferior to any other in the kingdom. of doubt, the Ardagh Cup with King Turlogh's Dr. Joyce, with little regard to the starling legend, gift to Cionmacnoise. declares that Glenastar (Glen-aes-Dar) is nothing A tradition respecting St. Patrick is current in else than the Glen of the Cataract (aes), of the Dar. this loca!ity which is not to be found in the usual lives of Ireland's patron saint. The saint, it appears, was on his way westward towards Knock- patrick, and received a very inhospitable reception from the people of the district. They not only 240 -ROUND- ABOUT THE COU'VTY OF LIMERICK. 241

stances were compelled to defend themselves as best they could. They shut themselves up with their retainers and allies in their castles or fortified houses, and their awaited the attacks LADY DOTVDALL'S DEFENCE of the confederates. So long as the latter were OF without cannon they could prevad nothing against KILFINNY CASTLE, 1642. the strong walls within whlch the loyalists were entrenched. Numbers availed little, and a pro- CHAPTER XIV. longed siege or blockade was entirely out of the question when food was scarce and a successful WHENthe Irish insurrectionary movement of sally of the garrison might be expected at any 1641 broke out the province of Munster moment of the day or night. The was almost completely denuded of soldiers. The confederates were ill equipped in the be- Lord President of Munster, Sir Warham St ginning for offensive operations. Though they Leger, had with him in Cork only one troop of were in the immense majority they resembled a horse, and four companies of infantry had been disorderly crowd rather than an army. They were dispersed In garrisons. He was given permission almost without weapons. They were unacquainted to raise In addition to these scanty forces a further with military discipline, though they ranged them- levy of two troops of horse and a thousand foot- selves under their leaders of the '( old stock," whom men, but he was supplied neither with arms nor they followed with blmd fidelity. The descendants money for their equipment and maintenance. It of the recent English settlers were scattered and was not till March, 1642, that he received any isolated it is true, but they occupied strong assistance from England, and then Sir Charles positions and knew not what surrender meant. Vavasour brought with him a thousand horse to Left to hold their own against overwhelming odds, aid the Lord President. Lord Inchiquin also they showed they were not unworthy kinsmen of the came to h~said in Cork with horse and arms for soldiers who fought at Marston Moor and Naseby two troops of cavalry and also with some gun-, a little later. powder. By means of these supports he was able During the greater part of 1641 the efforts of to put some tenable places in a position of defence the confederates seem to have been confined to whilst he shut himself up in Cork to await the carrying off the cattle of the English settlers, and course of events. it was not till the spring of 1642 that the latter The principal adherents of the English cause were shut up within their strongholds. There were scattered through Munster under these circum- no English troops available for their relief; their COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 243 242 ROUND ABOUT THE - walls were hitherto practically unassailable, and Matrix was yielded by Maurice Herbert the the defence might have been protracted to any younger after a gallant defence of six months length of time apparently unless the assailants duration. Askeaton, which held out under William were supplied with more efficient means for batter- Eames, the Seneschal, since the middle of Novem- ing down the defences. Castletown indeed was ber, 1641, surrendered on the 14th of August forced to surrender owing to want of water, but following to Patrick Purcell of Croagh.* Kilfinny, the other places were amply supplied in all which had been defended for forty weeks by Lady respects, and were prepared to glve the con- Dowdall with astonishing heroism, was forced to federates a warm reception. hang out the white flag. but not till the place It is impossible to say how long matters might had 'lendured four great shot." As the guns have continued in this condition, neither side opened fire on the 25th of July, and the place was gaining an advantage over the other, had not the taken on the zgth, ~t appears that it took four confederates got possession of the Castle of days to fire the four great shot. L' Limerick. and with it some few guns that they The Castle of Kllfinny, the walls of which are turned to instant advantage. One of these was a still standing, was a fine specimen of the fortified plece of cannon which carried a ball of thirty-two mansions of the Elizabethan period, so many of pounds, by the terror of which ail the castles in which are to be found scattered throughout the the county were reduced, including even the rock county. It lies equidistant from Croom, Adare, fortress of Askeaton. This celehrated battering Croagh and Ballingarry, in the midst of a beauti- piece weighed 892 lb., and had been mounted in ful tract of fertile country. The range of which the Castle of ~imerick for defensive purposes Knockfierna is the highest point lies to the south. only. The confederates determined to bring it The plain to the east is watered by the winding about with them, and extemporised a novel gun Maigue, whilst on the west the Deel finds its carriage for the purpose. A huge trunk of a tree way to the Shannon through the low-lying was hollon,ed out, and within the cavity so formed meadows of Connello and over the cascades the gun was placed. Twenty-five yoke of oxen of Askeaton. The house is situated on the eastern were employed to drag this strangely mounted side of a ridge of slight elevation, by which one weapon over jogs and swamps where wheels would now say it was commanded. Within a would have sunk, and where no carriages with circuit of five miles from Kilfinny may be counted wheels had ever been known to pass before. at the present day the remams of no less than Castle after castle surrendered. Cappagh, de- ten castles. The neighbourhood of the great fended by Francis Morton, opened its gates to the victorious confederates with their gun. Castle-' * For terms of surrender, see Notes. 244 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 245

natural fastness of Upper Connello rendered it her surrender as 'l commandress and owner of the necessary for the settlers on the fertile plain to castle," after her forty weeks resistance, says that take every precantion for the defence of themselves "during the trying period she behaved herself in and their property. several encounters with more than amazon courage Early in 1641 Kilfinny Castle was placed in a and exemplary conduct." As a picture of the war- position of defence by Elizabeth, wife of Sir John fare of the period in question, Lady Dowdall's Dowdall and daughter of Sir Thomas Southwell. account is probably unique. Her ladyship's spell- This spirited woman early in the troubled period ing is unique also, and, the reader requires formed a small force of thirty horse and fifty foot the assistance of a glossary as is here provided in from amongst her retainers and tenants, with order to arrive at the meaning. The following is which she was not only able to defend her house the narrative, as Lady Dowdall wrote it :- for about ten months, but even to sally out and 'LA true note of my several1 carves (services) attack the confederates whenever an opportunity done in county Limbrike at my casille of Kilfeni. presented itself. She was able, as she tells us, In the forst I was four scorr stroung, obtained at to succour the garrison of Croom no less than my owen cost and charge. I was thirty hors and five times, and it was only when ordnance was fiftie fot, which I hired a sofesint (sufficient=capa- brought against her castle and the house was in ble) soger (soldier) to tran and ecariz (exercise) danger of being knocked to pieces over her head, for the Kinge's sarves, if ned had been, redy for the that she yielded :o the overwhelming force brought feld, the wares groing hot, and all the Inglisman's against her. The number of the confederates is prays (preys) being daly tackin away. A mounth stated to have Seen seven thousand. They were afor Crismas (Christmas) last, the Ingle's coming led by Patrick Purcell of , and had with an outcre to me that the enemie had tacken with them three pleces of cannon. away ther cattell (cattle), I sent out twenty hors and A very interesting account of this prolonged thirty fot some fef (five) mile from my house and siege is given by Lady Dowdall, in a document resqued (rescued) the pray, the enemy being thre written by her own hand, preserved amongst the hondnd strong, took fore (four) primers and peligid MS. depositions of 1651, in the library of Trinity (pi1laged)a toune of the enemy, and forced the enemy College, Duhlln. In the narrative the " Lord to ron (run) over the river of Mage to a castall Dowdall " is mentioned but once, and that quite (castle) of one Lues of Tolsuen ( ? Lee of Tullovin). incidentally. The lady gives herself credit for " The second sarves beeing of som of my tenantes the success of all the military operations and cattell be tacken som three miles at a touen caled excursions of the little garrison, and probably she Gragowenne. I sent out the sam hors and fot has but done herself justice. Borlase, speaking of agane : a found the tsad (said) cattell, and I celed 246 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 247

(killed) ten of the enemy, tock to prisnars, drove Cortni and his Compny; but by no mens (means) to (two) hondred of the enemy off over the river I would not let him met (meet) them but with my again, tock all the pray of the touen, peligid (pillaged) forces goyened (joined) to h~scompany, which when the tone and restored the Ingles their catell. the enimy saw to be to hard for them, thay went " The third sarves, which was within fife days away and left them, but confesed to myselfe since after the enimy cam, coming with[in] sit (sight) of if my forces had not ben with him they wold have my castell with a cret (great) pray of the Inglemen's kiled him and all his company. catell. I sent out twenty hors and forty fot to "After the departure of Captane Cortny, Ede persu the enimy, who foloed (followed) them to Lace, of Browrey (Bruree) cam to besege me with mile to a plase cal'ed the Pole, where they met at a hondred men and tocke away all the cattell that lest four hondred of the enimy, which when they were onbaned (unbawned, out of the bawn,) about saw my forcs corn fercley (fiercely) upon them ron my land : but I plaed so thick with my moscater all away. My men kiled twenty of them, broft opon him that I put hlm and his company to the (brought) hom seven presnar, brought back the run, and kiled som of his men. Then d~dRichard pray, and a hondred cous of the tnemy, twenty Colim, of Balnigori. and iiobert Lacy, beseeg me horces, and peledg (pillaged) the town. and upon Candmes Day tok away all my flock of " The fourth sar[vic] e, I resqued thre mill (miles) shepe and some ten milch coues that I had torned of my hous, the Soferant's (Sovereign's) of Kilmallo out of my ban (bawn) and orchards, and sent a h011 (whole) stock from the enemy, when the enimy mater (matter) of forte pore (poor) roges (rogues) was to hondred stronge, and killed a gret many of to take the pray, and layd fore hondred in ambush the enimy, retorned his stocke, and drove the enimy for ous (US), thinking wee wold have issued out of over the river of the Mage and pelegd their houes. the castell, to have rescued them wherby they Three severell tyems, on after another, I bet the might have cot (cut) us all off, whlch had not one of enimy, whey (where) they was to (two) and thre my scouts espied, we had ben that day all cot off. hondred, from beseiging the castell of Crom. On The negt day, I sent out twenty hors well armed Newer's (New Year's) Day was Captan Francis and recovered another pray from the enimy, and the Cortney sent by the Lord President of Monster to rest of my forces I divided and cept (kept) ten be gouyned (joined) with my forcs for the defeunce mosceters (musketeers) on the windmii, he1 (held) of the county Limbricke, which I tried with me but the rest for the defence of the casell, wich opon the on fortnit (fortnight) but in that tyme we wer both the alarm gfven and the Lord Dowdall in person, ever day upon sarves, and kiled and hanged many wee iscued out and tock thirty horces laden with of the Rebels. The He Shre (High Sheriff) of the corne and tocke their sacks, men, and horces. The county and power thought to have betraed Capt. next day, I toclte som of my own tenenants that 248 ROGND ABOUT. THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 249

had stolen my stod of horces, and caryed them to me, being belding of them all that tym opon my the Leftenant General1 Porcell, and was steling own land, yet ever day and night in fit (fight) with ther corne and goods of my land without paying me. The Thersday befor Aswneday (Ash Wednes- rent. I tocke their horces, corne, and goods, and day),.the hi (high) Shreuef, Richard Stivenson, came hanged thre men. Afther this the enimy cept (kept) op in the front of the army, with his droms and a stronge garriason opon me, to kepe me In that I pipers, but I sent him a shot in the hed that mad cold not stor out of my gate, but in danger to be him bed (bid) the world god night, and routed the shot. They got the posesion of my windmell and hole army, we shot so hot. The next day, being my barne, and shot so thick in to my bane (hawn) Ashwensday they began to drag ther soues that we doost scars store for fer of killing. My towards me, which was so hevey that sixten horses barne was foli of corne. In the night, I sent out cold hardly drag them. We had ben lick (like) to to (two of) my soclqiers with greanads (grenades) have ben lost for want of mach (match), but I tock and fired my barne and corne, and borned som of opon me that trade to mach the enemy, and mack the enimy in it, which the next day I got posesion good neoue (new) mach with our hand we mad of the windmill hill, which I bet down to the ground. sconces that we hong in changs to give 11t (light) I fired all my own toun, and scirmished with the and fling lit and standing lits. We made abondance enimy twes or thres a weeke, wherin I never lost a of stra (straw), fagets, to borne (burn) ther sous, man during this bitterness [which] I sty11 con- bound op with dry wold. Then wee mad fencworks tinewed between me and the enemy [from] the 8th to fling into ther sous. On Thersday thay drue of Jan. to Gandelmas (Candlemas). Yet in despit (drew) ther soues nerer, and Friday they came an of the enimy, I cept above twenty horces in my at night with a foll carear and a gret acclamacion stabell, and fifty hed of cattell in my bane, and of jooy, even hard to the castell. But I sent such feched my hay in every day to mantane (maintain) a free welcome to them that turned ther merth into them. moaning. I shot iarn (iron) bolets that persed The 9th of Ganary (January), the hishreve- thro ther soues, tho thay wer lined w~thiran gridds (High Sheriff) of the county and all the pouer of (griddles) and flock beds, and bolsters, [so] that I of the contey came wlth thre tousand men to kiled ther pigs : and by the enimy's confesion that beseeage me. They brought to soues (Sows) and night to hondred of ther men. The nex nit being therty scallng-laders aganst me. They rit (wrote) Sattarday thay drue one of ther soues clos to one many atemting (attempting) leters to me to yeld of my flancke : oneli (only) a littell pese (piece) of to them, wich I ancered with conte[mpt] and a banke hindred them. Thay forced one of ther scorne. Thay wer thre weekes and four [days] men to dige it down, which no soner came to the besiging me befor thay cold bring these soues to worke but we kiled him. Then thay sent another, COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 25 1 which we kiled also, and fout all the night with [the] gret armey beseged [me] with orclinance. I them : and by the report of the naibers that nigh fout with them four days before I wold let them we kiled a hondred of them. plant ther ordrience and kiled som of ther men. " The next clay, be ng the Sabath day, the 17 Feb- I indured four shot of ther ordnance, anJ thay war ruary, which I have allways reson to remember redy to give fierr agayne, which wold 1.ave throw with thankesgiveing to God for our mity (mighty) my hous over my hed. I was forced to cry qcarter deliverance, we bornrd both ther sous, and tocke but could not get it, but upon condicions that what away thirty scaling-iadc~sfrom them, which so presners war for the Ingles armey shold be given discomfited the gret armcy that tha left ous the to them to redeem me : wich my Lord of Incequin nex day, the left a g :risan of a hondred moscaters most honarble ded and sent a nobell convny of to kiepe us in to starve us and tired us out so cavalears and thre hondred moscaters, to fetch me wich (with) a month's fright and 'waching that off, but the enirney toclie all that ever I had from we all fel! sicbe ant1 licke to have died. I bored me save my evening linen. The rest of the castels (buried) after this sege of the flix nine and thirty in the County of Limerick after I was bezten downe, men, women, and childr-n, and had licke all to war all taclien with paper bolets (bullets). have been starved for wo~tof fod, thay kept us in ELIZABETH DOWD ~LL." so clos for a h011 (wI ole) quarter of a yer. At last ENDORSED :-The Lady Dowdall's narracion of her we bruck out and i.orned ther garican (garrison) acts at and about Kilfinny, written with her over ther hed and mad the enimey ron away. After owne hand. that, I cept the contry clear for sixtine [blank]; Kinsale, 6 Oct., A.D., 1642. no enimey dorst com within a mile near me; in wich tim I borned all the contry within to miles The following is Lady Dowdall's list of the round about me, and tocke all ther pray, and wold chiefest of the army that besieged the castle and command the enemie that wer my nabours to p01 took it : " douen such houes (houses) as I did not licke shoued Garrett Barry, Generall ; Patrick Purcell, Lieut.- stand: wich thay did presently. I releved the Generall ; Sergeant Major General Henishee ; Gar- castell of Crom fiffe times: once with munisen rett Purcell, Col., late of Kenry ; Colonel1 Ffennell ; (ammunit~on)and fouer times with foode, or eke Colonel Butler, grandson to the Lord of Inkerron ; they wold have starved. I laed the costabell of the the Lord Viscount Roche, of Fermoy; the Lord castle in boults In his own garicen for convaing Castleconnell ; the Lord Viscount Muskery ; Colonel away the king's monesen (munitions of war) and Theobald Purcell ; Baron Loughma, a Colonel ; practicing to betray the garican to the enimey. Richard Butler, of Kilcash, Colonel ; C~pt.Edmond Thus I held fight forty weeks with the enime till Purcell, of Kenry ; Captain Edmond Fitzgerald, of 2.52 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 253

the Clonlis ; O'Sullivan Beare, Colonel ; McCarthy Reagh, Colonel1 ; McDonnough, a Colonel ; Mcffin- nie, (?) near Glanorogh, a Captain ; Captain John Roche, of ; Captain Eedy Lacy, of Bruree; Captain John Lacy, of Xlackey ; Captain NOTES. David Poore ; Captain Richard Cullum ; Captain Edmund O'Shee, of Ballyallin; Captain Thon~as McGibbon, of Mahoonagh ; Captain Maurice Fitz- gerald, of Ballyteige ; Captain Edward Fitzgerald, Karras ; Captain 3liver (?) Stephenson, of Dun- Articles agreed by and between Leiftannant-Gennewall moylin ; Captain Richard F~tzgerald, of Balline- Purcell and the Coumell of his Majestie's Catholique forces fw the Province of Munster, of the one partye, and the martur ; Captain Lieutenant Patrick Purcell, of warders of Askeaton, of the other parte, viz :-the 14th day Kenry ; Garrett Fitzgerald, of Ballecloughan, of Aug., 1642. Esquire ; John Baggott, of neere Kilmillock, Esquire; Imprimis, itt is agreed that they shall presently yeilde Captain Thomas Hurley, of Knocklong, Esquire; upp into our hands theire armes, amunition, and all other Geo. Thornton, of Dunnaman, Esquire ; Nicholas ingines of warr beIonging to the ca~tleor any person theare- Lillis, of Dysert, Esquire; Leogh, of Tullavine, unto belonging. Item, theg are to deliver unto us all their horses. ; Gentleman Garrett de Leogh, of Dunnamane, Item, they are to restore to all Catholique propriators all Gentleman ; Edward de Leogh, of Oolagh, Gentle- such of theire goods as are tu bee had theare in speacie. man ; William McThomas, of Ballyfoylahe, Gentle- Likewise, itt is further concluded that the sayd warders man; Erdy Lacy, of Kilmackenarte, Gentleman; as well English as Irish shall have theite lives with a salfe Edward Purcell, of The Curragh, Gentleman ; conduct as well for those that goe a shipp board as to such Captain Murtagh O'Brien, near , Esquire ; as will goe to Downarayle or Corck with all their proper goods (proportion of victual1 for the army only excepted), Trig O'Brien, youngest son of Sir Donnell O'Brien, together with one halfe of all the bookes within the castle. of Ballikit, in Thomond, Gentleman; . , . . Item, it is agreeed uppon that the several persons of what John O'Hagan, of Rathmore, Gentleman ; Maurice mrte or state soever shall forthwith ~espectivelytake their Casey,of Rathkannon, Gentleman ; Captain Maurice oath uppon the Holy Evangelist never to take arxnesagainst Herbert, of Rathkeale. his majestie either in this or any other service, with an acknowledgment under their hands and seales: and it is further consented unto that the said warders shall not be

a disturbed in theire Protistant religion. 1 Patrick Purcell. Oliver Stephenson. Maurice de Rupe et Fermoy. Castell Connell. Riohard Butler. Theobald Purcell. 254 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 255 -- - - p. --

Hqdress himself rose to the rank of Major-General, and was one of the Judges oi Charles I. When the Parliamenkary party found time to A COUNTY GENTLEIXAN attend to the affalrs in this country, Slr Hardress OF THE Waller was sent to Ireland in 1649, in command of SEVENTEENTH CENTURY, eight hundred troops, and pr-vious to the invest- ment of Limerick, had been employed in reducing the numerous castles In the Count) of Limerick CHAPTER XV. which were in the possession of the Ir~sh. One THE early half of the seventeenth century finds incident in connection with these military operations the demesne of Castletown in the possession has been preserved and deserves to be repeated. of Sir Hardress Waller, who acquired this extensive Within a few hundred yards of the west bank tract by marriage with one of the daughters and of the Maigue, at the Ferry brldge, near the highest co-heiresses of Sir John Dowdall of Kilfinny. He pomt of a hill, there still stand the remains of a was a member of a family long settled in Kent, and lofty keep, which commanded the direct road from one of his ancestors had captured the Duke of Limerick to Castletown and Pallas. Nothing of it Orleans at the battle of Aginccurt.:' Sir Hardress ,now is standing but the north wall and portions of Waller came to Ireland early in the reign of the other side walls attached. Llke almost all the Charles I., as a member of the Privy Council. He Limerick castles it appears to have been demolished represented the County of Limerick in the Irish by gunpowder. Th~sis Cullum Castle, and though Parliament of that monarch. He and Colonel it is now merely a shattered fragment, a lonely Henry Ingoldsby were the representatives for relic of medieval t~rnes,in 1651 it was accounted Limerick, Ciare and Kerry, in the united parlia- an important stronghold, and was held by a body ments of 1654 and 1656. On the capture of of Irish troops, under the command of Thady Castletown by the Irish Confedelation, he appears Burke. Sir Hardress appeared before the place and to have retired to England, and, in the struggle demanded its surrender, wh~chwas refused. The which then convulsed the kingdom, he joined the artillery was brought to bear upon it, and a few standard of the Parliamentarians. A cousin of his rounds showed the that the lofty tower held the post of Governor of Dover Castle, whose was untenable In the face of the fo~midableengines son commanded in the West of England. Sir of war with which the bes~egers were provided. Thady Burke concluded a hasty surrender, and an * There is preserved at Castletown a genealogical trace of the family, some nlne or ten feet In length, drawn up m rei-m of Charles I., signed English detachment marched into the court-yard by Camden, the antAqua1y, and enLng with Sir Hardress. to take possession. Those on the battlements of ,- 256 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 257 the keep were not aware that the surrender had siege operations appear to have been conducted in been proposed and accepted, and, seeing the a very harmless manner. In the deposition of Dame English troops entering with Sir Hardress at their Barbara Browne, daughter of John Boyle, Bishop head, fired upon them from above, killing two men of Cork, and wife of Sir John Browne of Hospital, outright and wounding Sir Hardress in the arm. who had obtained refuge In the Castle, it appears The English raised a cry of treachery, and were that but one casualty occurred amongst the defend- making preparations for instant and bloody re- ers, namely, Thomas Hill a shoemaker who was prisals, when the wounded knight himself interposed killed by a shot. Owing to the want of water, the his authority, and calmed his followers by explaining place was surrendered on the 18th of May, after a to them that the soldiers in the keep had fired in blockade of six weeks. The garrison were granted ignorance of what had taken place, and that the their lives, and even permitted to carry away their death of their two companions and the wounding wearing clothes and other commodities. Lady of their leader was purely an unintentional occur- Browne writing of the manner in which she was rence, and must not be imputed to treachery. The treated by her captors, says that "after quarter was surrender was honourably carried out on both sides. given, and when the deponent was conveyed to During the by Ireton, Sir Cork by a sufficient convoy, the said patrick Purcell Hardress had command of the entrenched camp conducting her wlth wonderful civility all the way." that had been formed on the King's Island. At the The deposition of Sir Hardress Waller is one of Restoration all his estates were forfeited, but his the longest statements in the Limerick book, and Castletown demesne was saved, as being the pro- covers no less than eight or nine pagzs. But as perty of his wife, whose connexions were all devoted some compensation for its inordinate length, the Royalists. handwriting is more careful and more legible than Castletown was formally besieged, or rather that in any of the other documents. Some of these blockaded, on the 26th of March, 1642, by the Con- are written in a manner which shows that quickness federate Irish, under the command of Lieutenant- in taking down the statements was of more impor- General Patrick Purcell, of Croagh, Captain John tance than securing the leg~bllity of what was Fitzgerald, younger brother of the Knight of Glin, written. What with the cursive form adopted by and Lieutenant-Colonel Garret Purcell, of Croagh. the scribe, the obsolete shape of many of the letters, The number of besiegers is stated to have been the fading and spreading of the ink, together with between two and three hundred, but they were very interlineations and erasures, it is not at all easy to badly supplied with arms, and had no artillery ar decipher these manuscripts of two hundred and fifty this time. Within the wails were collected some four years ago. The document In which Sir Wardress hundred persons, mostly women and children. The Waller enumerates his losses 1s almost as fresh 258 ROUND ABOUT THE - COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 259 looking as if it were written yesterday. It is not in others, valued at £100. This was a mere pre- the handwriting characteristic of the 06cial or liminary to the capture of a much larger booty officials who transcr~bedsimilar statements, but it on the 31st of January, 1641, on which occa- appears to be the work of one who could bestow sion the raiders carried off 780 breeding ewes, some time on its preparation. The formation of 50 rams, 20 horses, IOO cows, both milch and the letters is peculiar, and in some cases very dif- dry, and 60 he~fers. The value of the whole is put ferent from that in use at the present time, but once down in a lump sum at £980. Even then the stock this difficulty is recognised the task of reading the on the lands was not exhausted, for on the surrender document is comparatively easy. It is amusing to of the castle there remained still 20 saddle horses, observe that the official who perused the document valued at £100, 40 large English oxen for draft, took upon himself the responsibility of correcting estimated at A;IZO, 100 ewes worth £50, and a stud its spelling in one or two cases, though both forms of 20 mares and " coults," considered to be worth now are alike regarded as inaccurate. £100. nll these were given over to the confederate troops when the castle was vacated by the defenders. The inventory of cattle, farm produce, and house- The number of cattle on the !ands of Castletown hold furniture, with the est~matedvalue of each may be estimated at fourteen hundred and then, as item gives an unusual insight into the financial now, represented considerable wealth. position, and, to a certain extent, the mode of living In order to feed all this stock very large supplies of an Irish country gentleman of the middle of the of provender had to be laid in store. At the time seventeenth century. The country gentleman of of the surrender there remained within the walls, the present time may find it interesting to compare after feeding 400 persons and the cattle above the prices of cattle then with what they are now, mentioned, the annexed store of cereals which and cast a glance at the stock then reared on the was valued as follows :-thirty barrels of wheat, lands at Castletown, and the tillage that was neces- £30; ten barrels of barley, L7; seventeen of sary for feeding them. malt, £8 10s. ; sixty of oats, £18 ; six of beans, The lands in question were spoiled three times. £4 16s. ; six of whole peas, £6; and eighteen The first raid was made on New Year's Day, 1641. barrels again of barley, valued at £12 12s. There The second took place a month later, and the re- was <'agreat rick of hay," valued at £7, together mainder of this stock passed into the hands of the with five others, the whole being estimated at £35. besiegers when the castle surrendered in May, 1642. The garrison need not have feared famine with On the occasion of the first plundering expedition fifteen hogsheads of beef in store, worth £32. there were taken from the lands of Ballyintin There were five hogsheads of salt, the value of ( ? Ballymastin) two hundred breeding ewes and which is put at £4 4s. The firing consisted of wood 260 ROUND ABOUT THE .. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. and turf, and the piles of both were considered to a large extent of wall should the place have been be worth £35. attempted by assault even without the aid of artillery. The amount of tillage on the lands of Castletown Very full particulars are given in the depositions does not look large, but as the siege began on the as to the furnishing of the dwelling-rooms of the 26th of March, the spring farming operations must stronghold in which the famdy resided. The have been cut very short. The crops in the ground, following are some of the chief items with their which must all have been laid down before the date prices :- just mentioned, were twenty English acres of wheat, Hangings and tapestry for drawing-room, valued at £50; six of barley, £8 ; six of peas, 612; Eider down and feather beds and flock and twenty acres of oats. £30. It will be observed do. with bolsters, pillows, blankets, rugs there is no mention of potatoes, turnips, cabbages, and caddows,* ...... 3r of many other crops, now invariably found in all Canopies and Vallances, ...... farms, large or small. One dozen of Turkey work cushions,+ ... The castle itself must have enclosed a very One dozen of chairs, ...... large area to accommodate all who sought refuge Half a dozen cushions of satin, very richly within its walls. The servants, tenants, and embroidered, ...... followers of the lord of the manor amounted to four Six green broadcloth stools, richly em- hundred, or thereabouts, in addition to the cattle broidered, with a large carpet and that had been preserved from the previous raids. cupboard cloth, richly embroidered, ... Three large cloth carpets and one dozen of In the immediate neighbourhood stood thirty-two good stone houses. Of the buildings of the castle chair covers, same cloth ; three cupboard little is known. The damage done to the walls cloths of same, consisting of sixteen and barbican is estimated at £300. The great hall yards of broadcloth, ...... One large couch with bed and bolsters of appears to have been demolished, as there is a sum r~chtaftete, of L300 put down for its restoration, the materials Two very rich Turkey carpets, being a great pile of timber of all sorts to build up ... Four copper vessels for brewing, wash- the walls of a hall IIO feet long and 30 feet ing. &C., broad. The only other portion of the structure ...... Four iron pots, valued at mentioned is a pigeon house with plenty of pigeons...... The arms of the defenders appear to have been * Counterpanes. t From the very moderate estimate placed upon the " twenty muskets and fowling pieces, and a harque- Turkey work oushion8, it would appear they were something in the nature of modern anti-macassars, and had been worked by the ladies bush," a rather small supply with which to defend of the household. COUNTY OE LIMERICK. 263 262 ROUND ABOUT THE

A great iron jack, being a thing hard to be got in the kingdom, ...... g3 One pair of great bossed andirons of brass, and two pair bound with brass, ... 10 Three pairs of plain iron andirons, half a CASTLECONNELL AND THE dozen spits, and four great dripping RURKE COUNTRY. pans, ...... 3 In white earthenware of all sorts, basm, CHAPTER XVI. ewers, and candlesticks, ...... 10 Literature was not forgetten in this household, CASTLECONNELL is more remarkable for the '. for there occurs an item of ;G60 for a I' great chest beauty of its scenery aud the excellence of its of books." salmon fishing than for the antiquarian interest it The deposition bears the date of 21st May, 1642, is llkely to arouse in the mind of the visitor. The eight days after the surrender. The document is Shannon is here both broad and deep. It has signed Hards. Waller, in writing, which shows by passed through three lakes and received the waters its stiffness, that the knight was not accustomed of its chief tributaries, and though the Atlantic is to handle the pen. over sixty miles off ~t exhibits a noble expanse. Just below the village the immense volume of water foaming and surglng, rushes over a serles of rocks, forming the Falls of Doonass, one of the finest rapids in the Kingdom. The banks on either hand are well wooded and slope gently to the water's edge, interrupted only at one spot by a steep lofty rock, from the summit of which a birdseye view of the swirling, rushing waters may be obtained. -J Castleconnell was originally the chief seat of the O'Conaings, or Gunnings, who formerly possessed the fertile tract extending from Knocligreine north- wards to the Shannon. The connexion of the Irish sept with their orlginal territory is preserved by the name alone. Castleconnell is the anglicised form of Caislean-ui-Chonaine, and is not to be connected eOUNTY OF LIMERICK. 265 with the family of Connell, or O'Connell. There Donald had left his usual escort on the Clare side is no record connectmg the Irish sept with the rock of the river, and presented himself at his uncle's now surmounted by the ruins of a Norman Castle, house wlthout his usual train of attendants. In but their name still clings to it In spite of its various those days the claims of kindred were of little vicissitudes in the hands of Irish and Normans. regard, and a man's foes were often those of his own It 1s not certain at what time the O'Conaings household. It happened to be so ln this case. In were driven from their possessions. The death of the dead of night King Donald's followers crossed one of these chieftains is mentioned as occurring the Shannon, surprised the fort, and after a feeble in 1105. Turlough O'Conor passed it by in 1124, resistance made themselves masters of its owners. on which occasion he transported his Dermot and Mahon grandson of Brian Boru, were fleet "over Eas Danainne," that is the Falls of seized, and their eyes immediately put out by order Doonass, and plundered the Shannon as far as of King Donald. Dermot survived the mutilation Foynes Island. These Connaught sailors must but a few days have been expert in handling their boats and steer- In the time of King John, Castleconnell and the ing them through the rapids in order to bring them lands adjacent. to the extent of five knight's fees, in safety to the smoother reaches of the great river. were granted to , who erected a The boats of the twelfth century cannot have castle to secure his new possession. The founding been very different from the structures with which ofthe castle has been ascribed to Brian Boru, but modern fishermen entrust themselves to the current. with little probability. His own residence at The kind of vessel or cot at present in use is pro- Kincora was of the pecul~arCeltic type. The pre- bably the only species of craft that could be steered sent structure is most probably to be ascribed to with safety over the half sunken ledges, and William de Burgh, though it may have been through the rock-guarded passages where the strengfhened towards the close of the thirteenth waters rush so madly. century, by Walter de Burgh. The O'Briens did Towards the close of the twelfth century, Castle- not give up this splendid site without a struggle, connell passed into the possession of the O'Briens, and so late as 1261 we learn that Brian Roe and a terrible crime was perpetrated within the O'Brien burned and demolished the castle and slew earth-ramparted dun that crowned the rock. In the all the garrison. It was probably in consequence year 1175, shortly after the victory over the English of this disaster that about the end of the th~rteenth at , King Donald O'Brien repaired to century Waiter de Burgh enlarged and strength- Castleconnell where he was received by his uncle, ened the castle, which became the chief seat of this Dermot, with every mark of confidence. In order branch of the family, and remained in their posses- to make assurance of friendship doubly sure, sion till the middle of the seventeenth century, with 266 ROUND ABOUT THE - COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 267 apparently a single exception. In 1315 the place ried to Catherine, daughter of the fifteenth Earl of was in the possession of Donogh O'Brien, who Desmond. On the downfall of that house the offered his services to in his gallant Burkes made their submission to Sir Philip Sidney, but unfortunate attempt to gain for himself a king- the Lord Deputy, and were cmfirmed in their dom. The S-.o:+~sh leader and his army were estates. encamped at ('a*, cp+~ellduring the Easter of Four years afterwards tt*it yalty was put to 1316, and we;., .nrskmgpreparations to cross the the test and survived the st~a*, Fic&maurice, the Shannon Into ,, .dught, when the news of the most dive spirit amonst theYkbrdines, had ob- approach of an Irish army in the English interest tained some Spanish and Italian troops, with whom compelled Bruce to change his plans and move he landed in Smerwick in 1579~in the hopes of northward. Shortly after he was defeated and retrieving the fortunes of his house. Leaving the slain at Faughart Hill, near Uundalk. foreign troops at Smerwick, he secretly traversed The BurLes of Castleconnell and thcir liinsmen, the county westward, gaining adherents to the cause. the Burkes of B~ittas,were descended from Edmond Getting no encouragement from the Burkes, he (Mac-an-Iaria) a younger son of Richard de Burgh endeavoured to make his way into Connaught, (or de Burgho), the well-know '' Red Earl" of passing through C1anwilliam.- Fitzmaurice, who Ulster. Bp al1:ances with the O'Briens of Thomond had but few followers, attempted to requisition some the power of the family was greatly increased. horses from the Burkes (as h~sown animals were *Willlam, the eldest son of Edmond, on the murder unable through exhaustion to proceed any further), of his father in 1337, established himself at Castle- at a clearing in a dense wood near a ford of the connell and gave his name to the barony of , now spanned by Barrington's Bridge. Cianwilliam which extends from O'Brien's Bridge A fierce encounter took place between the kinsmen. on the Shannon to within a short d~stanceof. -Fitzmaurice was shot by a ball in the chest which Lough Gur. ' Like many other settlers they threw caused his death, but though fatally wounded, he off the English alliance and even laid aside their slew Richard and Theobald, sons of Sir William, English names. William assumed the name of with his own hand before he fell. In recognition of Mac Willlam Uachtar, and proclaimed himself Sir William's services on this occasion, Queen lord of Galway. His brother took possession of Elizabeth wrote him a letter of condolence on the Mayo, and with it the name of Mac William Iocktar. loss of his two sons, and as a more substantial They were able to maintain then independence till mark of her favour created him Lord Baron Burke the reign of Elizabeth3 In the early Desmond warg of Castleconnell, accompanying the peerage with a the Burkes were found on the side of the Desmondi$, nsion of two hundred marks for life. and Sir Willlam Burke, of Castleconnell, was m&' d Richard, the third lord, though loyal to the Crown, d OF 269 268 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY LIMERICK. distinguished himself on one occasion by defeating connell and his brother were slain, and O'Conor and slaylng Sir Thomas Norris, Lord President of effected a junction with the troops of the Sugan Munster. The incident is very characteristrc of the Earl. When O'Conor was driven from the Desmond proceedings of the penod. The Lord President and ranks as a traitor, he and his Connaughtmen re- the galrison of Kilmallock were constantly occupied crossed the Shannon at Athlunkard, not however in scouring the adjacent country where the followers without escaping the notice of Theobald, who had of the Sugan Earl were in great force. The Burkes assumed the leadership on the death of 111s two also endeavoured to take care of themselves, and brothers. With the assistance of the people of sent out large parties to protect Clanwilliam. One Limer~ck they severely chastised O'Conor who of these bod~esof horsemen reconnoitering on the however, effected the crossing but with the loss of southern borders of their territory observed some a hundred men and his baggage. The party M err horsemen approaching, and without the slightest overtaken soon after, when O'Conor was slain, and hesitation charged them furiously. The others his head sent to be exposed on the battlements of gave them a warm reception, and it was only when Castleconnell. the latter were defeated, and the leader slain, that When the war of 1641 broke out William sixth the Burkes became aware of the fact that they had Lord Castleconnell and his k~nsmanLord Brlttas routed a body of English cavalry and killed the joined the Confederates and raised a regiment of Lord Prestdent of Munster. Such mistakes seem cavalry from amongst thew numerous retainers. to have been of little consequence, and the Burkes The titles were attainted, and on the suppression did not suffer for their impetuosity on the occasion. of the confederation the estates were forfeited, thelr They atoned for their error shortly afterwards by owners being transplanted to other parts of the opposing the march of Dermot O'Conor, who was county. On that occasion there were no less than on his way with fourteen hundred Connaught forty-nine Burkes whose names appear as having footmen and some horse to the assistance of the received transplanter's certificates from the County of Sugan Earl. Richard assembled the Burkes and Limerick alone, and the estates of Lord Brlttas wele encountered O'Conor as he was emerging from the granted to Sir Charles Coote in lieu of arrears of pay mountain at Abington, and with the assistance of Lord Castleconnell fled to the Continent, where he the O'Ryans they kept hangmg on their rear as served in a royal regiment till the Restoration. On the party marched southward. O'Conor passed by theaccession of Charles IT. he and Lord Brittas were Lough Gur, the garrison of which joined him and restored to their titles and estates. The eighth he finally turned on his pursuers at the bridge of Lord Castleconnell retired with James 11. to the Bunbristy, on the boundary between Limerick and Continent and d~edchildless. The title devolved Cork. The Eurkes were defeated, Lord Castle* upon Lord Brittas, who served in the , 27O ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK p---- and both estates were again forfeited on the fall of Brittas Castle was the chief stronghold of the the Stuart family. These two titles became extinct Burkes on the east of their territory, and was the on the death of the seventh Lord Brittas and twelfth seat of a distinguished branch of that family. The Lord Castleconnell without issue about the close castle 1s situated on the banks of the Mulkear, of the last century. which flows into the Shannon midway between In 1651 the castle of Castleconnell was in the pos- Castleconnell and Limerick. It was a place of con- session of the Parhamentary party, and a depot of siderable strength at the close of the seventeenth provisions and ammun~tionwas formed thele during century, as its crumbling walls and battered keep the siege of Limerick. When William 111. appeared can still testify. It cannot be ascertained when the before Limerick an expedition was immediately sent structure was erected. The branch of the fan2:ly to obtain possession of the castle, then occupied by connected with the place was descended from Irlsh troops. The garrison which numbered one Richard, younger brother of the first lord of hundred and twenty-six men, surrendered and Castleconnell. Richard married the daughter of were brought into the English camp as prisoners O'Mulrian of the neighbouring barony of Owney, of war. When Wlliiam raised the siege of Limerick and had as eldest son, Sir John, who married an attempt was made to destroy the stronghold Grace daughter of Sir John Thornton treasurer with gunpowder, but without success, and ~t was of the English army In Munster. Sir John does again garrisoned by the Irish. Next year Ginkle not appear to have been so attached to the English despatched a large force under the Prince of Hesse interest as his kinsmen of Castlecunnell. When to obtdin possession of the castle, bringing with Sir George Carew obtained possession of Lough them five pleces of artillery. The garrison held out Gur, he moved with his army into Clanwdliam, two days and finally surrendered to the overpowering which was close by. On the near approach of the forces brot~ghtagainst them. The castle was im- English, Sir John sent a message that he would medlately dismantled and destroyed by Ginkle. tender his submission, but that he had a scruple of The work was sa successfully carried out that it conscience, considering ~t was sinful and damnable is not easy to trace the walls of the structure. personally to submit to her Majesty. Carew adopted a very effective method of quieting Sir The cast!e was about one hundred and sixty feet , long by one hundred wide, and it probably had John's scruples. He immediately ravaged his terri- rvund towers at each of the four corners of the tory, burned the houses of his retainers, destroyed rectangular area it enclosed. Of these only two their crops, and fired one of his castles, probably can now be identified, and

President imploring an interview and reminding In 1603, Sir John was committed to prison for his him of his connexion with a prominent English refusal to take the oath of supremacy. The im- official. The President yielded so far as to permit prisonment which was in did not last the suppliant to approach, but was resolved to long, for a plague broke out, and by the good offices humiliate him publicly. This was done probably of his father-in-law, Sir 'John was permitted to with the hope and expectation of stinging him into return home. In 1605, a law was passed against revolt in order that his lands might enrich some harbouring priests and regulars, and Theobald of hungry adventurer. The interview as recorded Castleconneil, and Sir Edmund Walsh of Abington by Sir George Carew's Secretary in Pacata made information against him, because his Castle Hibernia gives a glimpse at the means by which of Brittas became a place of refuge for the pro- Ireland was pacified. It is to be borne in mind that scribed ecclesiastm. Sir John refused to surrender Sir John Burke belonged to a family that suffered any of his priests, whereupon he was charged much ln the royal cause already, and that he was with treason, and his castle besieged. At the end now on his way to tender his submission formally of fifteen days, Sir John, at the head of five of his as his loyalty had been suspected. The President followers succeeding in breaking the ranks of the to receive the Knight at the head of his besiegers, sword in hand, and fled to JVaterford. army. His officers were gathered around him, Here he was captured, and on his refusal to take when Sir John and his relative Theobald, ap- the oath of supremacy, was tried for high treason proached. No notice was taken of their presence. and hung at Limerick in 1607, His kinsman, The Burkes dismounted, approached Sir George, 'rheobald, was rewarded with half his lands, and in and knelt on the ground, desiring that their sub- 1618 was created Lord Erittas * mission be accepted. The President seeing, would B Caherconlish was another seat of this family. ~t not see them, and hearkening to the other(with whom was formerly a place of considerable importance, he was in conversation), would not attend them and Fitzgerald states that it was a walled town until (they creeping upon their knees by the horses defended by four castles, and that it contained an side) it was told him that two of the ~urkeswere excellent college, the site of which was in his time there. He, staying his horse, spent some time in own as the college field. Fltzgerald says that the reproving them for their rebellious obstinacy, and undations of this seminary and a strong gateway then (upon four sufficient sureties for their future at led into the town were still to be seen not loyalty), granted them protection." For the next four years Sir John resided at Brittas, and exhibit great zeal for the maintenance of the Koma Catholic religion, which was proscribed by 1 274 ROUND ABOUT THE long before the date of his history, 1826. William 111. and Ginkle encamped here on their way to besiege Limerick. Dineley visited Caherconllsh and notes several monuments. One to Annabel Gould, mother of Lady Ingoldsby, bore the date 1672. The inscrip- tion on the Burke monument, in the church, he gives as follows : Hunc turuulum Theobaldus Bourk wbi . et uxori suce Slanie Brien fieri fecit Burkhiarum soboles Carolino sangine tincte atque Brianor urn nobilitata tribu hle Theobalde jaces tecum This tomb is of three niches, the centre one CO taining a crucifixion with the letters I N R I. Th words Sancta Maria are over the right hand n~ch and St. Johannes over the left. He has also preserved the following inscriptio relative to the family of Maunsell, one of the mo

prominent Limerick names :-li Here lieth the bo of Aphra Mansel, my dear mother, daughter Sir William Crayford, Kt> there also lleth dear wife, Mary Mansel, daughter of George Bo of Cheshire, Esquire, and of my sister, Ap Peacock, and of her daughter, Anne Peacoc erected by me, John Mansell, Esquire, and inten for myself and the rest of my family, this I October, 1672." THE VANISHED A I

CHAPTER XVII. THERE are two adjacent dlstricts bearing the name of Owney. The more southerly united with Arra forms the Barony of Owney and Arra, in ,llpperary. .. The other is the Barony of Owney Beg, in the north-east corner of the county of Limerick. These dlstricts, though bearing a common name, have been distinguished from the earliest tlmes. That in T~pperarywas called Uaithne (pronounced Ooney) TirZ., and was the patrimony of the Mac Keoghs. The barony of Owney Beg 1s the anclent Uaithne Cliach '' of fine bright land," the home when surnames began to be in common use of the Heffernans and O'Cahallans. The deaths of two chiefs are recorded. 914, Ainle, son of Cathan, Lord of Uaithne Cliach, was put to death by the foreigne~sof Loch Dachech. Ua Cathalan, Lord of Uaithne

'The fertlle plain, south of the mountains and watered by the Mulkear and its tributaries, was granted in 1189 to Theobald Fitzwalter, nephew of Thomas A'Beckett, . This grant, and many others to the same family, were intended as a partial atonement for the murder chman. The office of Chief Butler 276 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 277 of Ireland was conferred upon Fitzwalter, who became the head of the noble house of Ormond. subdued their strength and power so much, that he The district, cl which the modern Abington may commanded them to quit the country," i.e. Ormond. be regardel 2.5 the centre, was a most important Edward V1 rewarded Walter Aphoell with a one. It >vas sit~atedbetween Clanwilliam on one lease of this abbey for a term of nineteen years, side and Ormond on the other, and commanded "in consideration of the excellent service" done the important pass through which communication by him. Elizabeth subsequently extended the term lay connecting one with the other. A castle was to twenty-one years. erected here by the Butlers, which was demolished In 1568 Pierse Walshe had the fee farm of the in 1452 by the Earl of Ormond, Lord Justice of abbey and its lands, and petitioned the Queen to Ireland, it then being in the possession of Conor -be discharged of arrears of rent for five years, on O'Mulryan. The Mulryans appear to have been the ground that he was kept out of possession by in occupation 3:' a portion of the district till the year O'Donoyle O'Mulryan, and his appeal was favour- 1600, when their castles were destroyed and the ably received. This Pierse, or Peter Walsh, died whole ciar pcit to the sword. in 1575, in possession of Woney, and a great deal more, and passed the lands on to his son Edmond, which became =re of the most important relig~ous as appears from an inquisition taken at Rathkeale establishments in the South of Ireland, and its head in I 592, and recorded in the rolls of 1596. was cntitlec'; to sit as a peer in Parliament. It was In 1647 a party belonging to Lord Inchiquin's founded for C:stercians, and was liberally endowed, forces stormed the castle of Woney and burned the its lands i:~crens:ng as time went on. The founder abbey. The abbey and lands were granted to the was burie3 here in 1206, and in 1299 his descendant, Stepneys, who sometime afterwards demolished the Chief Sut;er, was interred within its walls. the abbey and built Abington House with the On the suppression of the greater Monasteries in materia!~. Hardly a trace of this once magnificent the reigc of 15-nry VIII., the abbey, with the structure now remains. Fortunately before its final 'hector:es of >$:'any, Carliinlishe, Ballyvoley, Raior- demolition an English tourist passed that way. dane, and Czixeliy," were granted to Feter Walsh. Thomas Dineley, a gentleman uf Worcestershire, in the same year the Abbot John was presented by visited Ireland in 1681, and noted down a good deal tne King to the rectory or prebend of Derrygalvin of what he saw during his tour, accompanying his in St. Nary's Cathedral, Limerick. remBrks with pen-and-ink sketches, which are the

. En 1548,O"Czrrollmarchingfrorn Nenagh t' burned only memorials of a good deal which has since the Monas:erj- of Uaithne, expelled the Engiish disappeared. Portions of his journal have appeared therefrorn, an5. confounded them very much, and from time to time in the YouvnaL of the Royal Society of Antiquaries, and it is much to be re- 278 RUCND ABOUT TNE

gretted that this most interesting record has not [To the right of top :l Apostrophe ad defunotum been published in book form and in full. Dineley Sat Walshee tibi vixisti mors tua nato visited the neighbourhood on his way from Te rapuit terris ut fmerere polo to Limerick. He took sketches of the abbey and Non sat pauperibus nec amicis mors tua namque its monuments, copled some of the inscriptions, Utrisq. ingentes divitias rapuit. and seems to have bestowed more attention upon Patricius Kearin fatari&t. the building and its contents than he was accus- [Beneath this :] , Y' tomed to devote elsewhere. Dineley's description * Jam sexcenti et mille annis s'eptemque decemque is as follows :- Virgo ex quo enixa eat immauulata Deum Alteraque orta dies juli cum redditnr umhris Four or j miles from Limerick, worthy the sight Inclita Walshee lausque decusque domus of ye curious, are the Ruins ofAbby Ony. Abby Ony, Edmundus Torquatus eques vir maximus armis als. Owhny, anciently an Abbey of the Order of St. Major at hospito nec pietate minor. Bernard, (in going to it is crossed a stone bridge of [He next describes the Barry monument. On it is six arches over ye river.) Att the west end whereof a shield bearing the arms of Barry, with a crescent is a small Chappel, unroof'd, belonging-. to the for difference, and the date 1633, and crest.] What Walshes, as appears by a fair monument of black is wrote on this last monument is all in Roman marble and Inscripcons there. Over a door at the Capitals. It is erected on the left hand in a entrance Into it is read as follows, under his armes, chappel, going up to ye Altar of ye Abbatial Church. dated 1619, INSCRIPTION ON THE BARRY MONUXENT: The armes uf Sr. Edmond Walshe, Knight, And hys Ladye, Ellyce Grace. * "Nobifis admodum Dulamus Barry in honorem snorum The inscription at large is after th~smanner - Parentum sui ipsius, Uxoris Joanne Bourck, et filiorum [Around the edge :] suorum, hoe sepulchrum fieri curavit. Clarissimo viro D. Dno Edmundo Walsh equiteaurato '' Antiqua Genitus Barii de stirpe Dulamus postridie Kalendas Julias auno Domini MD.CXVII1. Quique Apollinea noctus in arte viget. Vita functo monumenturn hoe nobilissimae ejus vidnz Quique fide plenus nusquam languentibus sgris, relicte domina: Ellyssas Grace sumptibus erectum. Defuit et Patriam qualibet auxit ope [In top left corner :] Hrec pius extinctis monumenta parentibus affert, Que sibi qureque deinsint monumenta suis De obit. clarissimi viri domini Edmundi Walsh equitis Tu qui cernis opus mortis msmor esto future, aurati hexasticon chronologicon. P Dic pracor hac vivant qui tumulantur humo. [Below this :] " AD. 1633." Viduz relict= domina: Ellysse Grace Sumptibua This last monument and inscription are seen in Erectum 280 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 281 this little chappell, without the west end of the ing to Jason Whitrow, Esq., one of his Majestie's Abbey of Bwhzy? or Anthony's Abbey. Justices of the Peace for ye County of Limerick, is Now, to returne again into the Kuines of the Abby, 5 miles The Etirnoligy of Ballyneclogh is Stone observe the f~ilowingmonument with these in- Town, clogh sqnifjing Stme and Carrigg Rock. scriptions, also in Roman Capitall Letters, this is Ten miles fiom Ballinclough, neer Kllmallock, erected on the right side the High Altar, on the on the road to Cork Citty, a mountam (adjoinmg top whereof read : and part of Clanorphy in the County of Limerick, Stemma Aminz Gibbon als Gerald filire militis alei formerly the estate of Sir Edward Fltzharris, whose Some read it : son was executed as a traytor at Tiburne, 1681), Stamma Amin= Gibbon FitzGerald filiw militis albi about February, 1680, before parted In sunder [Here foilows a drawing of a monument of mural sending forth as it were a river of water. and table form combined, bearing the above line, From Ballyneclogh to Grayne Church is a small and the first words of the following inscription :] mlle; here is seen a monument belonging to the Nobilissimns cluus. Guliel~nnsRiiani patriae suae Mac Briens of Bally Tarsney and another tomb- de Ownhii nec oon antiquae Riianorum falniliae csput stone under neath the pulpitt. et princeps sibi uxori et liberis suis ham sepulchri molem eripi cnrarit. Grain Church, on the other side of Knock Graine, Posterit,ntis honos majornm lausque saorum wch signifies hlll of the Sun, being singular good Hoc Gulil~~lopus struxerat arte Riian land as any in Ireland. This adjoins to, a town Nohilitas he~lquanta toga helloque proFata called Pallice, remarkable for a neat mount, Sancta fides virtus et decus eximium anciently a Danes Fort, and upon which hath bin Hac Rinnorum clauduntur mole sepulchri also anciently a Castle. This is in the hands of Si claudi qcaa non s~intmoritura querunt Ossa teg~xntur.haul0 tantum, Sed caetera mortis Mr. James English. F~omPallice to Miltown Nescia perpetuos sunt hahitura dies. Abbey is two mdes. The Abbey was in ancient Lausqune Rianaere virtus & gloria gentis times a monastery of Carthusians. Semper honorato nomine vivet honos. I't hath nothing besldes its Ruines but the On the left side the sayd altar and opposite to Remaines of a monumt against the wall, sd to the former is seen this monument, but without belong to the Morines (Mulryans). From M11 inscription. Town abbey, to a fair seate called the Hospitall, is [To judge from the sketch it was a double-arched two miles & half. This Hospital belongs to recessed tomb, probably that of $he founder.] Thomas Browne, Esq., a very worthy gentleman, Dineley pursues h~sjourney through the County adjoining to which is an ancient parochial church, of Limerick as follows : with two monuments of Knights Templars, in grey From Abby Bwny to Ballyneclogh, a seat belong- marble. 282 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 283

The importance of the pass in the Slieve Phelim mg in all directions. The Irish leader and his mountairs, w5ch led by the abbey, IS dlustrated troops seemed caught in a trap from which there by two lidents. one recorded in the "Annals of was no deliverance. Yet, a means of escape opened the Four hIaste;s," the other in Pacata Hibevnia, itself in the most unexpected manner. A flost of and both connected with the effort made by the extraordinary severity set in during the night. In a northern earls, O'Neiil and O'Donnell, in conjunc- short time the impassable swamps became hard, tion with the Geraldines and a Spanish force, in a firm ground. O'Donnell silently sent the word last struggle for independence. round to hls sleeping army, and leaving their watch-fires lighting they crept away under cover of The first of these has already been narrated at the darkness, westward, over the frozen marshes page 268, and refers to the attack and pursuit of and marching with great rapidity through the Dermot O'Coi~orfrom the abbey to the bridge of recesses of the mountains, finally emerged into the Bunbristy, where Lord Castleconnell and his brother open ground at Abington. were slain. The second incident occurred in the O'Donnell had not long been on his way when following ytar, word was brought to Carew of what had taken At the ciose of 1601, the Spanish who landed place. The English leader divined what course the to assist the Sugan Earl were shut up in Kinsale Ulster chief would take and fully expected he would by the E~lglishtroops and thus separated from meet him at Abington, as he was emerging from their allies, the earls of Tyrone and , the mountains. Four hours before ddylight the who were hastening to their aid with all their English army was in motion, proceeding on the forces. Tyrconnell, better known as Red Hugh southern side of the Slieve Phelim range, and by O'Donnell, had proceeded southward as far as eleven o'clock they had reached the abbey expectmg Holycross in Tipperary, when he learned that to find the Ulster army resting there after them Mountjoy had despatched Carew with a strong body toilsome march. Carew however learned to his .,4iv of troops to oppose his further progress and that disappointment, that though O'Donnell and hls the English commander was now lying in wait for troops had passed that way, they dld so some hours him at Ardmayle, half-way between Holycross and before and had proceeded southward without stopp- Cashel and oniy four niiles d~stant. To increase his ing. Nor did the Irish leader halt till he reached difficulties another army under Sir Christopher St. Croom, thus accomplish~nga distance of thirty-two Lawrence was advancing from Lemster to cut off miles, which Garew calls "the greatest march w~th his retreat. It was utterly in~possiblefor him baggage that hath ever been heard of." O'Donnell attempt a passage westward, as the county was able to complete the object of his journey un- both mountainous and swampy, with bogs Wet olested, for Carew coming COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 285 284 ROUND AB0 UT THB

this " light-footed general," very wisely abandoned the pursuit an2 O'Donnefl was able to jorn O'Neill before I(ii?saie. The bridge represented in Dineley's picture is NOTES. still In existence, though widened by an addition to the south side. The inscr~ptionwhich is on it was referred by Dineley in error to the Bridge of Ath- Charter of Theohald FitzWalter, Butler of Ireland to the Inne, a place which he had apparently left just abtnts and monks of WODEZ,granting lands in the Cantred before. The bridge was erected by Lady Ellice of Wdeny, Ocathelan and Wedezoifflian,the whole cheud of Wedemfidenurde, in the town of Clonken, with half of the Walsh whose husband was drowned here In 1618. water of Molkerne, with sack and sock, tholl and theam, The inscript~onruns thus under the arms of hhngthef and outfangthef, judgment of Iron and water, Walsh :-The arms of Sir Edmund Walsh and his and exemption from pontage, stallage and pavage throngh- wife, Bllyce Walsh, als. Grace, who erected this out his entire lands. Enrolled ,t the request of John ~ Provost of Wothny. No date-in a roll of 1541.. bridge after the death of her husband, for devotione -- and charltie, prayinge passengers to praye for the Letter from the Queen to the Lord Deputy and Coancil rest of their soules in Heaven, 1621. A.D. of Ireland. Edward VI. in consideratim of the acceptahle services done by the bearer Waiter Aphoell ieaarded him with a lease of the abbey of WONEYfor the term of 19 years, upon his humble suit 2 years more are granted.

Grant to Peter Walsh of the site precint and possessions of the late abbey of Wony ; the rectories of Wony, Carkin- I lishe, Rallyroley, Raiordane, and Cairrelly, in Co. Lmk., &hers in Onnond, T~pperary,and Carlow.

2i T,. T,. .a%r "Q&-5p+t;s -- Presentation of John, Abbot of the Monastery of the B. Mary of Wothny, in this Ihoiese of Emly, to the rectoiy or prebend of Derryyeallywan, in the ('athedral Church uf

5 the B. Mary of Limerick.-Patent Roll 27,2S, Hen1 y VIII., 1536-7.

Instructions from the Queen to Sir Henry Sidne~,among others- Pierse Walshe having in fee farm the monastery of WONEYin the County of Limerick, and desiring to be dis- 286 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 287 - -- .- - ---

charged of tie ?nears of rent for five years, for that he was McBrien Araghe, O'Brien of Arloe, which do inhabit the by force kept out of the possession thereof by O'Donoyle south side of Shenan, snd many other of note original Irish, O'Mulrian, being maintained (as he saith by the Earl of " all lamenting the waste and spoil of their Countries. They Desrnond) ; me, by information duly given to us, that, crave to have the forces of their mean lords suppressed ; to although he was kept from the possession of the ~ostpart be equally cessrd; to have an English force; to have thereof, yet hc was not kept out of the possession of all the English laws planted amongst them and English Sheriffs to parcels 11-hereupon the arrears do grow ; but that he ought execute these laws, and to surrender their lands to her to pay nnto us for the same 2252, and for the rest of the Majesty. arrears he is to be with our favour considered, for Ly his Carew Papers, 1575-1588. commission it hath been found that he was kept out of pos- session of the greater part. Greenwich, April 20. 1568. An Abbey was founded here A.D. 1205, for Cistertian monks, with which it was furnished from the abbey uf It appearing by inquisition taken at Rathkeele in the Co. of' Limerick, the 28rd Augt, 1598, that Peter Walshe was Savigniac in France, by Theobald Fitz-%'alter, Lord of seised in his deinesne as of the fee and precinct of the late Carrick and chief butler of Ireland, who richly endowed it al~beyor religious house of WONYE,and of all the cxstles, and was interred here in the year 1206. messuages, lands and tenements in Wouye; Castlenelroynage, A D. 1228, William mas abbot. Killnenenoge, Xnocknegurten alias Knockengusten, Rath- 1290. The abbot of this house and his tenants having reagh alias Cathsareg ; Kappernowke alias Kappermooke, received and hartloured the king's enemies, he was fined in Kappicullec, Lesemolaue, Kyshecurke and Aunayh, and of the sum of 60 mares on the 4th oi Novembe~this year, the the recto~ieschurches or chapels of Wony, Karkenlishe. said sum to be paid at sundry times by annual payments. Ballynelye, Riord~~n,and Charelly, with all the titles and 1292. Hugh was abbot this year when hp and the convent appnrtenmces; hat Peter Wdshe died on the 20th June, for a certrin sum of money mortgaged to Francis Malesar, 1575, seizecl of tile said abbey which was held of the crown Gemrd Chambar, and Regmald Rapundi, merchants of the by Knight's service, :hat is to say by the twentieth part of coapany of the Ricardi of Lucca, the church of Thurles o. Knight's foe, a;: sciitaye runs, and that Edmnnd Walsh is together with all the tithes and other euloluments thereanto his son and next heir. belonging for tht: teim of 15 years; the said abbot hound Dublin, June 17, 1596. p* himself in the penalty of S1,000 for the due performance of -- this agreement; and in the year 129%the said merchants

SIR HNYRYSYDNEY TO PRIVY COUNCIL, demised and set the aforesaic! premises to the said abbot for FEBRUA~LY27th 1576. the same term he conditioning to pay to them, or their order, A11 thc principrl Gentlemen of this County and likewise in the city of Dublin the annual rent of 80 mares sterl~ng, lawful money of Ireland. those t,hst dwdl in the lordships adjoining (who are doubt- ful whether they bc of this County or no), repaired to me as 1205. This year a writ was issued to John Wogan, Lord namely: the Burk~s,Lacies, Snppells, Purcells, the Eed Justice of Ireland, to take the fealty of the abbey. Roche, and divers others original English; divers also of 1297. The abbot Thomas being deposed a license was the lords of the Irishry as, O'Mulrian, McBrian O'Gonoughe. g. pteddated April 25th, to proceed to an election. 288 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 289

1299. Theobald the fifth of the family of Butler was John O'Mulrian was the last abbot and the inquisition interred here on the 27th of May. taken on the nTednesday next before Palm Sunday, 1st 1307. It yppcnrs that the ahbot of this house paid an Queen Mary, finds that he was seized of the the following annual pension of 100 shillings to the prior of Kells in rectories all in the County of Tipperary :-Thurles annual Ossory. value without reprisals B11 ; Rahelle, 401-. ; Wony-I keirin, 1311 The abbot of St. Thomas, Dublin, recovered from B/-.; Twobalysser, 301-. ; Enaghe in Ormond, &4 ; Cnoya- this abhot the advowson of the church of Loghruoy in the ghe, 2%; and, on the Friday following it was found that County of 'I'lppernry. these rectories made parcel of the abbey possessions. Arc10 in the County of , 34; Tullaghfelym in Carlow, B4 13j2. The abbot of Owney sued the bishop of Emly for the advowson of the church of Cathirrelny in the County of Inquisition 8th May, same year, thus finds the possessions Limerick. both temporal and spiritual, viz. : the site of the abbey, o 1363. The abbot recovered the advomson of the church church and t,wo chambers of no value, besides reprises ; the of the Blessed Virgin of from Jumes, Earl of Ormond. demesne lands in the townland of Woney, the hamlets of 1863. I1enl.y who was albbot this year having 11y vario~~.; Cttssell, BoenagFi, Kilnevenore, Knockan and Garinregrag, methods contritry to the ltiw of the land and to the king's containing -acres of --- and forty of underwood, crown and dignity distressed and molested Thomas de annual value 401-.; the townland of dnaghe which the Kildare, then temnt to certain lands in Limerick he was chaplain claims as his property at the annual rent of 51-.; this year committed to gaol forthe same hut un the payment the townland of Keapenock which McRoe claims at the of a fine of forty si1iil:nqs he rexived his Majesty's (King annual rent of 314.; the tomnland of Keaxecalten which Edward 111.) most graciaus pardon. Conogher O'YIulrian claims at t,he aunnal rcnt of 51-. ; the 1537. On the 26th June this year the Lord Deputy came townland of Cloghan-Kitt in Kerie, annual value by an to this abbey, where O'MuliGn I.ord of the Conntry, Ulick extent made 5th, King Edward VI., 26s. 8d., and the tithes Burke of C1:~nrick:ird aud Thyl~otBourlrr YJcWilliam made of all the possesions annual value, g4 18s. ; also the their suhuuissions md took the oaths of allegiance. following rectories : Woney and Cloghan-Kitt, B4 ; Karkin- 1340. One of the ttvtic!es brought against the Lord lime, 5314; Ballinworle, 201-; Rajordan, 1314; Kakyr-Illy, Deputy Grey in fhis year w:~that hc had compelled the 2618; Johenishe-Grene, 212; Burres in Dohearre, 318, and abbot of Owney to give him the sum of S40 for the purpose Bnrres-Clenekene, 318. of preserving this abbey from ruin. On 1st April. 18th King James. Sir Edward Walsh, Knt., December 6th. 5th Queen Elizabeth. This abbey with n addition to certain townlands [which are enumerated,] its appurfenmtes situte and lying in the vicinity thereof, was seized also of the rectory, patronage of the vicarage, and the 1:~nd;of Cusiane, Eeanaghe, I'Xmevensch, Knock- tithes, glebes, &C.,of the churches and chapels of the Abbey negurtane, alias Knocknegustone, Elathreighe, Kappenocke, of Owney, Cahirkinlish, Caherelliu, Rathsordane, Ballyvelly alias K:tppenoivkev, Kappecullen, Lismullnn and Anaghe, and Towghgreny, all of the yearly value of 151-. and Clonlritte dies Clonkill in the , together uyith the recti.ries of Arkl~wand Tullughflynn in the County THE BARRYMONUMENT, IN THE ABBEY OF WONEY. of Carlow were panted for ever to Peter Walshe in capite Mr. 5. G. Barry in a paper entitled Ancient Mural of the annual ient d S5'i 2s. 3d., Irish money who was to nscriptious, Connty Limerick, which appeared in the Journal maintain one horrerixln on the premises. of the Royal Xociety of Antiquaries, for first quarter, 1890, COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 291 290 ROUND ABOUT THE - points out that by an inquisition taken at St. Francis Abbey, Limerick, in 10.23, Donal Barry who died in 1612, held in fee the lmds of Ballyguy and Rohcrgar, in the Parish of Owney, and that be was succeeded by bis son, Donal. APPENDICES. This Donal who erected the monument, married Joanna, ' eldest daughter of Sir John Hourke of Brittas. His descend- APPENDIX F,. ant, Daniel, having joined the Catholic Confederation had his lands confiscated, and he and his retainers were transplanted TAXA'I'IONS OF THE DIOCESES OF into the and the lands of Bsllyguy and Roher- LIMERICK AND EMLY, 1302-6. gar were grsnted to Sir William King. David, second son of Donal, settled down on the lands of Friarstown in tue P:trish of Caherelly, and it is interestiug to learn, that the EXTRACTS of ecclesiastical taxation of Ireland writer of the paper, eighth in descent from this David, still relating to the Dioceses of Limerick and Emly, holds a portion of the lands of Fr~arstown. taken from Calendar of Documents, Ireland, 1302- 1307, Rolls Series. For these two Dioceses there CLONKEENC HURCH. are two Sets of returns of different dates, in which This church, dedicated to St. Dimo, possesses a doorway the valuation varies, and some churches taxed in one of remarable beauty and sbows &ha6 Irish art was capable of are omitted from the other, or mentioned under a dif- achieving in pre-Xorman times. It is one of the finest femt name. The Roll upon which the dioceses of specimens of its kind to be found, not only in the county Limerick and Emly are entered bears the endorse- but in the whole of Ireland. The fullowing, historical ent "Vacated as is believed." The column references, will be found in the " Annals of the Four Masters." ating the tenth of the value is omitted as urine- 1089. gury O'Connor and Donal Melachlin went in Sary here. An attempt is made to identify as &ips and boats and plundered Munster as far as Cluain- ny of the parishes as possible. Caein- Modimog, so that they scaruely left a single he& of IOCESE OF LIMERICK. cattle so far [as they penetrated] and besides carried 0% captives. ATION OF ALL THE GOODS OF 1135. Many of the men of Desmond fell by those of THE BISHOP OF LIMERICK. Thomond, at the cxtseway of Cluain-Cden-Modimog. Value. and revenue of the Bishop of erick in all things ...... L163 3 114 on of all prebendal churches the same diocese with vicarages. t and Revenue of the Dean of ,.. a. * 34 2 8 COUNTY OF LIMER ZCK. 2-93

Church. Value. Church. Vicarage de Brunrry (Bruree) ... 568 Church de Diserto (Dysert) ... Vicarage de Mungaria ()... 201- Portion of Kylbecan (Kilpeacon) Vicarage de Kylmaclou ...... 6 8 Portlon of Kycomyn (Kilcolman) Taxation of Precentor's churches in Portion of Kyliynt ...... all things ...... 14 16 76 Taxation of churches belonging to Vicarage de Kylfychny (Kilfinny) ... 201- the Comnunia ...... Vicarage de Sengel (Shanagolden) 35/6$ Taxation of goods of veligious houses Taxation of Chancellor's churchesin ofthe same diocese, to wit. all things ...... £27 8 . ,"- . 111- Of the houses de Maglo (Manlster Vicarage de Clonkeuer (Clonshire) Nenagh) ...... I mark De Kylscanyl (Kilscannell) Of St. Catherine in O'ConyI (Old Vicarage de Clonach (Cloncagh) ... 1314 Abbey) ...... 4014 Taxation of Treasuryship in all things £24 St. Mary of Rathgel ...... 401- Imlathdreyny (Emlygrenan) ... 401- St. James of ddare...... ,. . 44- Taxation of the churches of the St. Mary of Limerick ...... N othing, because poor archdeaconry in all things ... 28 11 6 Kyldyme (Kildimo) ...... 368 Deanery of Limerick. Tulachbrek (Tullybrackey) ...... 7 14 4 Church of St. John of Limerick ... 201- Croch (Croaghj ...... 6 o 24 Church de Fedemere ...... K4 Vicarage of the same prebend £3 icarage of same ... .S, ... 40,'- Effryng (Effinj ...... 413 4 lyoweyn (Part of Fedamore) .,. 401- Vicarage of the same prebend ... 53s 4d icarage of the same ...... 44- Kyllyd (Killeedy) ...... 368 hurch de Cretouth () for Prebend de Kylmonyn (Kilmoylan) he Vicar's portlon ... 2618 in all things ...... 613 5 Imihurrok (Kilmurry) ...... 4 marks ~od Vicarage de Kymonyn (Kilmoylan) rage of same ...... 2 marks 4/5d 26s 6 and portions of Kilrus ...... h of Escluen ( ? Kilkeedy) ... 8 marks 21s 6+ Vicarage de Rilkoan (Kilquane) ... of the same ...... 4 marks .. Prebend de Arctacny ( Ardcanny). £5 2 rlganan (Derrygalvin) ...... I mark Prebend de Balycathan(Bal1ycahane) 368 Donenachmor (Donaghmore) Deanery de Killocin. Kyleyl () ... .. , ... 5 68 Kylmahallok (Kilmallock) 20 marks Portion of Artpatrick (Ardpatrick) uf the same ... S.. 10 marks COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 995 294 -ROUND- ABOUT THE Church. Value. Church. Value. Kyllaylachan (near Dromcollogher) 201- Vicarage de Kyicowan (Kilquane). .. 21/63 Newcastle (Newcastle) ...... 4 marks Church de Glynogre (Glenogra) ... £10 Chapel Maurice ...... 2 marks 55d Vicarage of the same ...... £5 Vicarage of the same ...... I mark 2/2+ Kylbryd Minor (Kilbreedy Minor)... 401- Kylialechan (Killagholehan) ... 4 marks Vicarage of the same ...... 201- Church de Dromyn Claryn (Dromin) Deanery de Garthe (Ballilzgnrry) in its entirety ...... £20 Church de Clonyle (Clonelty) ... 6 marks Church de Ralygady (Ballingaddy) £10 Vicarage of the same ...... 3 79 Vicarage of the same ...... 40/- Church of Garth with chapels (Bai- Church Energarr' (Uregare) ... £12 I3 4 lingarry) ...... 29; do Vicarage of the same ...... £4 Vicarage of the same ...... 10 marks 40 pence Chapel de Uirgedi annexed to same 7 marks Moycavenach (Mahoonagh) . 4 marks Church de Anedes (Anhed) ... 12 marks Vlcarage of the same ...... 2 ,, Vicarage of the same ...... 6 marks Deanery de Rathgel. Kylbrid Major (Kilbreedy Major)... j marks Ynyskefty (Askeaton) ...... 16 ,, Vicarage of the same ...... j marks Vicarage of the same ...... 8 ,, Church de Arthpatrik (Ardpatrick) 4% marks Dunmolyn (Dunmoylan) ...... 2 marks 8/1o$ Vicarage of the same ...... j marks Vicarage of the same .. ... I mark 4/52 Church de Kylfynan (Kilfinane) ... 8 79 ...... Kylbraderen (Kilbraden) ...... Deruly ... 6 ,, Vicarage of the same ... Vicarage of the same ...... 3 7, Chapel of Robert Guer (de Pago Martin's Chapel (St.Martin in Bally- Roberti, Castle Robert) ...... ,P cullen) ...... 6 Vicarage of the same ...... Balytankard (Tankardstown) ... 6 9, Church of the Castle of Robert de Vicarage of the same ...... 3 Dundonenyld for the rector and Church de Cloncorth (or Cluincurry) 201- vicar ...... Church de Kyllync (or Kylny ... 2014 Church of Kycolman Inferior (Kil- Aylethach (Athlacca) ...... 28 marks colman) ...... Deanery de A rdaclz. Vicarage of the same ...... Church de Kylsmattyre (Castle The Church at KewGrange(Grange) Martyr) ...... is taxed at ...... 9 9, Vicarage of the same ...... Rathcathel ( ?)...... 5 $2 296 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OP LIMERICK. 297

Dennerj of Adare. Church. Value. Church. Value. The Chapel de Baliowyn for the Church de Clonany (Cluoin Anny) 2 marks rector and vicar (part of Fedamore) 401- Vicarage of t'11e same ...... I ,, The Church of Kllmehoroli for the Church de Athnyde (Athnid) ... 6 ,, rector and vicar (K~lmurry) ... 100s Dunkepchy belonging to Church de The Church of Karnathie fcrr the Cromych(Dunneman? Dunachip) 301- rector (Cahirnarry) ...... 8 marks Kylcurnan (Kilcornan) ...... 8 marks Sengle (Shanagolden) ...... 201- Moynhinyn (or Moirgrean belong- Uounaghmore (Donaghmore) ... 3 marks ing to Manister) ...... 4 99 Kilm'otan (Kilmoylan) ...... 101- The Church of Adare with the Church of Kilkid for rector and the Chapels of Kylkyrely and Castle vicar (Kilkeedy ...... I ooi- Robert ...... 11 marks 4/5& Church of Dalgarvan for the rector Excepting 10 marks of annual and the vicar (Derrygalvin) ... 3 marks and free rent which the Hospi- Church of St. M~chaelfor the rector 201- tallers have in said church. Kilbegan (near Kilpeacon)...... 401 - Vicarage of the same ...... 5 marks 8/10; Crenachmahill (Cratloe Moyle) ... 5 marks excepting 4 marks of annual rent which the Crecowere (Crecora) ...... Hospitallers have in 5 31 said church. Manugaria (Mungret) ...... 8 7, Church de Croniuch (Croom) ... 28 marks Cathirbaghlach (Cahirvally) ... 5 marks V~carageof the same ...... 14 ,, Kelheil(K11eilin near St. John's gate) 201- Kilhyntena (Kllfintenan ?)...... 201- DIOCESE OF LIMERICK. Kilcohan (or Kailecauin de Achmes Goods Spiritual and Temporal of part of Fedamore) ...... 101- the bishop ...... £94 I7 Q Church of St. Nlcholas ...... 101- Go~,z~~zu~zia. Kilrussce ( near Limerick). .. 101- The Church of St. Mary of Limerick Sum of Taxation 6148 10 10; ... for the stipend of vicars there administering ...... - Deanevy de Killoc (Kilnzallock) The Church of St. Mary de Kllloc Deaizeuy of Limevick. belongs to the maintenance of 12 Church of St. John ...... 201- vicars in the Cathedral Church ... nothing Church of Fedm' for the rector Portion ofthe vlcarage of the same vill. 100s (Fedamore) ...... 8 marks The Church of Kilbride Minor for The vicar of same vill...... 4 t* the rector...... 2618 298 ROUND ABOUT THE - COUNTY OP LfhlERtCK 299

Church. Value. Deanery of Garthe. For the vicx of the same ... .. 13i4 Chuuch. Value. Church of Kiicolyan (Kilcolgan) ... 3 marks Garthe (Ballingarry) ...... L10 The Church of Glenogra for the The Churches of Korkemoyde (Cos- , comohide), Motasmagh Moyalthi, rector ...... 5 7, Clonka (Cloncagh), Drumcolthill For the vicar of the same ...... 3 (Dromcolloher), Cloncrawe (Clon- Dromyn Icherolpn (Dromin) ... 75-10 crew), Clonelthy, are all destroyed Baligadi (Ballingaddy) ...... £10 by the war ...... - The vicar of the same ...... £2 Church of Kilnefichny for the rector De Inygari (Vregare) ...... 12 marks and vicar (Kilfinny) ...... 64

Kilbride Major ...... 4 3, Church of Kilmaclou (). .. 201- 201- For the vicar of the same ...... 4 19 Church of Clonchevre (Clonshire) Church de Darmeto (Derrynacoure ? Church of Crothewe (Croagh) ... 10 marks Nothing because Darragh) ...... 4 9, Church of Balisahel ...... burmd down.

For the vicar of the same ...... 4 1, Sum of Taxation ...... £22 I3 4 Balitancard for the rector and vicar Deanery of Rathgel. (Tankardstown) ...... 4 9, Church of Killyn (Kilflynn) ... 201- Church of Rathgel (Rathkeale) ... 12 marks Athlech (Athlacca) for rector and De Kilcolman Superior (Kilcoleman) 6 ,, vicar ...... 10 marks The Churches de Lanwhull (Lough- Tholaghbreg {Tullabreedy or Tern- gill), Kilfarwes (Kilfergus), and ple Bredin) ...... Kilmorill (Kilmoylan) are destroy- £10 ed by war ...... Kilfennan for the rector and vicar ...... (Kilfinane) ...... 5 marks Kilscanyll (Kilscannel) ...... 4 marks Efiyng for the rector and vicar Clonagh ...... 3 93 201- (Effin) ...... 10 ,, Church of Castle Robert of Dondownyl Imelachdreym for the rector and Churchof Kilcolma' Inferior (Kilcolman) 2 marks vicar (Emlygrenan) ...... 6 ,, Kilbradan ...... 4 9, Athnedessce (Athnassy) for the Donmolyn (Dunmoylan) ...... 3 ,, rector and vicar ...... 25-10 Kilmolan (Kilmoylan) ... 0.. 5 3, De Brunry (Bruree) ... 12 marks ... Schengole (Shanagolden) ...... 5 ,p Balisiward (Ballysiward) ...... 5 9, Church of the Castle of Robert Goer 201- Ardpatrik and its appurtinances ... 10 ,, Church of Disertmardun (Morgans) 101- Sum of taxation ...... L117 6 8 Church of Aruntlel ...... 2 marks 300 ROUND ABOUT THE

Church. Value. Church of Lismaccyre (Lismakeery) 3 marks Church of Ineskestyn (Askeaton)... Monastery of the Prioress of Oconyl DIOCESE OF EMLY. (Old Abbey) ...... Church. The Church of &'antenan ...... The Goods temporal and spiritual Sum of Taxation ...... of the See are taxed at ..... Deaxeuy of Ardagh. Prebend of the Dean ...... Church of Ardagh ...... 12 marks ,, of the Precentor ...... Church of NewGrange, NovoCastro ,, of the Treasurer ...... (Newcastle), Rathkatill (Rath- ,, of the Chancellor ... cahill), and Killolethan destroyed ,, of the Archdeacon by war ...... ,, of Master Thomas Cantok Chapel of Maurice (Chapel Maurice) ,, of Maurice Osolewan ... The Church of Killid (Killeedy) the Chapels de Monte Maledictionis, ,, of Master Nicholas MacLyn Kilhathiagh, and de Feel (Abbey- ,, of David Archer ...... feale), destroyed dy war ... ,, of Nicholas de Dreytene... Sum of Taxation ...... ,, of Master Charles ... A dare. Communia of the Church with pen- sion of Athnehaden, (Knockainy) The Church of Adare .., . ,. Kilionwyn (KilEonetan) ...... urn of Taxation £151 I3 4 ... Ballycathan (Ballycahane) ... Deanery of Wetheny. Athnyd (Athnid) ...... ent and revenue of the Abbot of Dissert (Dysert) ...... Wetheny (Owney) ...... 28 marks Mowryn (Moirgrean) ...... hurch of Karkynglisse (Cahircon- Ardcathny (Ardcanny) ...... lish) with William's Chapel (Wil- Kilcurnan (Kilcornan) ...... liamstown) ...... £10 Kildyme (Kildimo) ...... icarage of the same ...... 3+. marks Jurisdiction of the Archdeacon ... hurch of Katherelky (Cahirelly) .. 510 Church of Cromethe (Croom) ... of Bourewode ...... 2 marks dan with the vicar's portion Sum of Taxation ...... 3 5, Sum Total of Taxation of the n (Ludden) with the vicar's *. Diocese of Limerick ...... 5 1, 302 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 303

C~UYC~L. Value. Deafzery of Tipperary. Chapel of Wylde with the vicar's Chztrclz. Value. portion ...... 201- Church of Tipperary ...... 12 marks Chapel of Eustace ; Hospitallers Chapel of Balibouth ...... 4 ,! are rectors ; for the vicar ... I mark Chapel of Rougorre ...... 5 7, Chapel of Boyghnagh ...... 3 marks Chapel de Novo Castro (Templenoe) 5 ,t Sum of taxation £51 6 8 ...... Church of Swlgotherbeg (Sollog- Deanery of Grene. hodbeg) ...... 4 marks Church of Grena (Grean) w~ththe Sulgoth (Solloghodm~re)...... 10 9, chapel of Clonbouge (Clonbeg) ... 20 marks Brywys ...... 8 ,,

Church ofcarrygmich; Hospitallers Scronhull (Schronell) ...... 5 97 are rectors ; for the vicar ... 401- Corrogh ... .., ...... 4 Church of Kiicallan (Kilcellane), Hulles ...... Hospitallers Hospitallers are rectors ; for the vicar 241- are rectors. Church of Cathircorny (Cahircor- Portion of the Vicar ... 2 marks ney) ; Hospitallers are rectors ; Kullyn (Cullen) ...... 4 9, for the vicar ...... 2 marks Thothlogyn (Tuoeluggin) ...... 4 ., Church of the vill of Michael ; Hos- Chapel de Lyskill ...... 201- pitallers are rectors ; for the vicar 221- Chapel de K~lsethcan 24 mal ks Church of Kilfrussce (Kilfrush) ; ...... Hospitallers are rectors; for the vicar 2 marks Cordeynill? (Cordangan) ..... 6 ,, Clonpet ...... Church of Liscormyg (Liscormuck) 5 marks 4 9, (received by the nuns) Sum total ...... £54 Portion of Cahirelly for the rector Deartery of Natherlagh. and vicar ...... 4.5- marks The Church de Natherlagh, Gal- Chapel of Corbalp ; Hospitallers are bally, allas Aherlow, with the ... rectors ; for the vicar ... rmark chapel for the rector ...... £12 Chapel of Cathirrussok ; Hospital- Vicarage of the same ...... 4 marks lers are rectors ; for the .vicar ... I ,, Church de Clonbyg...... 2% 9, Chapel of Nalhich ... ,. . ... 2 ,, ,, de Garth ...... 5 3, Church of Donmonne 4 93 ...... Vicarage of the Chapel de Coragh 301- Church of Blora(Moortown or Bally- Latherlawe ... nurnonaj; Hospitallersarerectors; ...... 401- for the vicar ...... ~4!- Sum of Taxation, £23 3 4 ... Sum of Taxation, £33 3 4 ... Sum of all the DIOCESE OF EMLY, 1 304 COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 305 ROUND- ABOUT- THE --

DIOCESE OF EMLY. Chuvch. Value. Taxation of al! the goods of the Bishop of Emly, n the Vicar's part ... 34 marks made for the papal tenth at Emly, on Saturday £10 next before the feast of St. Gregory (March gth), 5 marks in the Year of Grace, 1302. 4 7, 3 7, Chzwch. 3 1, Goods of the Bishop of Ernly 4 Prebend of the Dean ... 5 1, Deauery of Nathirlach. ,, of the Precentor ...... 10 marks The Church of Netherlach with ,, of the Treasurer ... ,, of the Chancellor ,, of the Archdeacon ,, of Master Thomas Cantok , of Master Maurice O'Sowlevan ... 20 marks ,, of Master David Arccher 601- £10 he vicar there ...... 331- ,, of Martin Nicholas Mac 7 marks Hugh .. ... Doon) a third part is ,, of Nicholas Drayton ... Prebend of Dunlesk ... Deamvy of Tippevavy £10 8 marks The Church of Tipperary .. ... 20 marks The Chapel. of Rowncor ... Deanery of Grene. The Chapel of Haiybocht .... 4 marks The Church of Grene . . ... £22 on the Rector's put The Church of Morton ...... 3 marks Vicarage of the same ... Portion of the rector of Athissel at Chapel of Newcastle (Templenoe) 4 marks 2 marks 3d on the part of 8 marks Rector. The Vi Hospitallers are rectors. Cordengyn .. ,...... 10 marks h of Dunmoon ...... 5 marks The Chapel of Corrg, the Recto 4 marks part ...... 48/- 401- Brwys ..* ...... 6 marks Cullen, on the Rector's part ... 2Q do 306 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 307 ------

The portions of the poems relating to the County of Limerick are as follows :- APPENDIX B. Let us proceed across Luachairl hither, THE CELTIC TRIBES OF THE A journey which is fit for poets, COUNTY OF LIMERICK, To the cold and festive Claonghlais Of the green irriguous wooded land. The Ui-Conaill" of the Battalion of Munster, Multitudinous is the gathering. From the Topographical Poems of O'Dugafz and A great tribe, with whom it is not usual to contend, O'Herin. Are the battle-trooped host of the O'Coilen~.~ 0'Billraidhe4 who used to bestow cows, THESE topographical poems have as their Over Ui-Conaill of the field of Gabhra, authors John O'Dugan, Chief Poet of O'Kelly, King of truth of fair lands, who died in 1372, and Giolla-na-naomh O'Huidhrin, The smooth dells of heavy fruit. who died an old man in 1420. The former gave the names of the principal tribes and districts in Ma~Innerigh,~hero of gems Meath, Ulster, and Connaught, and the Chiefs who Over the mellow Corca M~icheat,~ presided over them at the time of the arrival of A fine host who constantly ramify Henry 11. He was unable to carry out h~sinten - Like the white blossom of the branching apple tree. tion of giving an account of the Chiefs of the whole Corca 0iche7of beautiful mood, of Ireland, but the work was completed by his con- A fair-surfaced territory of fresh inbhers, temporary O'Herin. The Munster portion, which A fair land of best showers includes the following extracts, is by the latter. Under the vigorous hero, O'Macasa." The metre is pronounced extremely difficult. Each quatrain consists of four verses, each line generally O'BeargaQf the fair mansion obtained of seven syllables j every line must exhibit allitera- The cantred of Ui-Rossal0 of rich course; tion and the lines should end so as to form a kind The hero of Caonraighel' of fair land of rhyme with each other successively or alternately. Is O'Maolcallannl~of branches. The adjectives are used apparently without any --. 1 Barony of Magninihy in Kerry and adjacent portion of Cork. discrimination, and merely for the sake of filling B Barony of Connello, which originally included Glenquin, up the metre in the original. The translation is 3 Collins. 4 Name obsolete. 5 NacEneirg. 6 Castletown MacEneiry. 7 Not identified. S Macassey. 9 Obsolete. 10 Iverus. 11 Kenry. literal, and therefore necessarily of a rude character. 12 Mulholland. COUNTY OF LIMERICK 309 308 ROUND ABOUT THE --

The share of the noble Dal Cairbre Ebha,13 The DeisBeag27 of the Purple Cloak Of the Kings of Caisel of white wattles, , Is hereditary to the valorous tribe, Lasting is his profit of the land The heroes of ClairePSmentioned by us, The brave pillar 0'Cleirchin.14 Of the fairest bay in Erin. Hereditary to O'Donnabhainlj of the Dun CuirclB Three septs of high hilarity Is this land, as a land of pure encampment, Are over Deis Beag27 of trees, To him, without tribute, belonged [the land] along Fair over the smooth plain of house of Tal,29 the sluggish Maigh, 1 The populous tribe of O'L~ain.~~ And the plains down to the Sionainn. / The Ui-Duibhrosa3' of hot incursions, ' The Ui Faircheallaigh3%f the Land of Claire, Eoghanacht Aine of warm land, True is the blood of the other tribe O'Ciarmhaic" is prop of this territory, ]. By whom the tribe of the Mairtine3$was subdued. Territory of fairest land-roots Ui-EndaIs of Aine Aul~rn.~~ 1' The Dal gCais in the battalions of Claire Have pure silver, and with it ! Gold purely smelted ; Eoghanacht of the sunny field of Gabhra,'O 1 The pleasant host are not mdigent. Land of sweetest, smooth-round apples, ...... The gem of each female band of fame, To 07CinnfhaeEadh" of red weapons [it belongs.] i. 0'CinneidighS4who reddens the javelln Over the wide smooth Gleann-Omra,35 Aes-GreineZ2of she fine bright land was obtained The race of our Donn~huan~~who, with valour By O'C~naing~~of the territory of Saingel ;24 l Obtamed the lands without dispute. He possessed a cheery land around fair I From his noble descent from Eoghan. Muintir-DiubhraicS7of Dun Braine3' Are chieftains of Tuath O'gConghaile ;39 Let us speak of the race of Cormac Cas ; Their forts are about the good Borumha ; Let us pass across Sionainn of the green waves ; Locks [of hair] like gold upon them. From the Sept of Corc, point out our way )t To the tribe of Lorc of the lamp.20 P7 Small CoonQ. 28 Hill at Duntryleague where OIiolI Ohm was buriecl. 29 People of Corcomroe so called as being descended from Tal, son of Broc. 30 Loane. 31 Unidentified. 32 Farrelly. 33 An old 13 Coshma. 14 An@icised Cleary. sept of the Firbolgs, of whose territory Emly was the centre. 15 O'Donovan. :6 Xardic name for Bruree. l7 O'Kerwick. l8 Heney. l' 34 O'Kennedy. 35 Glenoplera. S6 Brothers of Rrian Boru. 37 Family 19 Situation not known. 20 Ui-Conaill Gahhra. 21 Kinealy. 22 In of O'Diubhraic now Durack. 38 Unknown. 39 Parish of Ogonnelloe, Clanwilism. 23 Gunning. 74 Singland. 25 Pallas Grean. alias Aglish-Sinnell. . 26 Loroan grandfather of Brian. I 310 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 31 1

The Ui Toirdhe~ilbhaigh'" of the house of Tal, Uaithne-Cliachj4of bright green land Near unto Flannan's Cilldalua ; Is the country of O'h-Ifearnain Delightful in its woads, generous its lands, Fine land at the side of each hillock, From that west to the Sionainn. Beautiful and loved by OO'Cathalain.SG ,-. 'l'uath-Luimnigh4' about the noble Sionainn ; Chief King of Ara,ji over every tiibe, Two chiefs are over it on one side. , O'DonnagainS8of the noble aspect, 0'Cadhla4%nd (3'Ataiiie"~theswift, ' The territory yielding heavy produce Beautiful ravens of the two inbhers. For the King of Ara ; ~t is not trifling. Ui Aaimrit,*' land of hospitality, - -p-P - Is hereditary to :he sept of the O'D~ibhidhirs;~~ Their acquisitioi:! is far over Cliach, i~ APPENDIX C. l They are a branch 111 every ford. l i THE COUXTYOF LIMERICKIN 1598. 0'Cedfadha4cof the pure heart 4 Is over the cantred of the Caladl~,~' In a " Description of Ireland and the state thereof The sept of Cluai:~chosen by Tal, j. as it is at the present in Anno 1598," published from The beautiful pia:n of O'Cedfadha. 1 a MS. in Glongowes Wood College, the principal : Aos-tri-muighe," smoothest of plains, jk towns, castles and leadmg men are given as follows Is the grassy ter,!tory of O'Couaing, LIMERICK, a fayre walled City, on the Sheynan. A bright watered plain of noblest aspect, 1 Puiltcifiall Towtes- By the meadoq side of Craoth C~mhraidhe.~~ f Kilmallock, a walled inland Towne. From the race of Cormac Cas of the house of Tal Adare ' Markett townes We must henceforth depart ; 1 Rakeail 1 To approach the UaithnesSi is meet for us, 'Arny-Carrigmlyhe Noble their fame and their defence. Over Uaithne-tire5' of fruit Askton-belonging to Captain Barcley Is Mag Ceoch5~wholoved great prospects ; Carrigigonell to Brian Duff. Muinter Loingsigh," people of the lands, Principal2 Ca.itles- Is this wood at the breast of strangers. Shenet - .--~.- - - 40 Bast of Gienorncra along the Shannon. Castleconnell to the Lord Burke 41 4 district ver;i;rg 011 the CiQ of Limerick. 42 Kealy. $3 O'>Iallep 41 Unknown. 45 O'Dwycrs. 46 North of the Shannon, near Limerick. 54 0%neyheg. 55 Hlffernan. 56 Cahellan or Callan. 57 Barony of Ara, 47 Keating. 4S The people of three plains ; the Barony of Clanwilliam. 49 The sweet-socntcd 11raiii:h) tree, II~WGrecora. 50 Owney. 51 Owney, in Tip. 58 . in Tippcriq . 22 Yaclieogh, " Bnlly~i~akeogh." Zi Now LJ-nch. 1 Perhaps Kuockaiuy. 2 Glin or Louglnll.

-4 COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 314 ROUNDp p A-B --pOUT THE - -- j __- 3'5 --- *, ----m With these may be compared the returns for ( half in all Ireland), Bourke (more numerous in the other Counties of Munster, as follows : Tipperary), Broder (more numerous in Kerry), Co. CLAIPE.-->~CM~~O~74, McNamara 61, Canty (Cork and Limericli), Clohessy (Clare and Moloney 50, O'Brien 47, McI~lerney39, Kelly 38, Limerick), Collins (mo~enumerous in Cork), Con- Keane 33, Murihy 29, 27, Halloran 26, ) sidine (Clare and Limerick), Costelloe (with the I Ryan 23, Lynch 22, Ciancy 21. final letter), Cregan, Culhane, Cusack, Canaher, CO. CORK.--Sull~van418, 390, McCarthy Dillane, Doody, Dore, Downs (Clare and Limerick), 277, Mahony :g~, Donovan 182, Walsh 143, Dundon (Clare and Limerick), Enright, Fitzgerald, O'Brien 139, Callaghan 134, Leary 134, Crowley Fitzgibbon (half of ail are in Limerick), Franklin, Gubbins, Guerin, Guiry, Hanrahan (Clale and Lime- r 16, Collins I 15, Driscoll 110, Connell rog, Earry 108, Cronin 102, Buckley roo, Daly 97, Sheehan rick), Harnett, Harrold (Harold in Cork), Hartigan, 97, Riordan 94, Kelleher 92, O'Connor 91,Hurley 86. Hartne~t,Hartney, Hough (Haugh in Clare), Hen- Regan 85, O'Keeffe 84, Harrington 82, Fitzgerald nessy, Herbert (Dublin and Limerick), Hourigan, 81, O'Neill 75. Laffan, Leo (m Limer~cli.only), Llston (nearly all Co. KE~IP~.-Suilivan349, Connor 188, Shea 146, in L~mericlr), Linane, Lysaght, Mack, Madigan. Murphy 95, McCarthy 88, Moriarty 74, F~tzgerald McInerney (Clare and L~merick),Moloney, Moroney 72, Griffin 58, Connell 56, Brvsnan 55, Foley 55, (Clare and Limerick), Mulqueen, Murnane, Nash Leary 4.7, Clifford 45, walsh $5, Cronin 43, Lynch (Kerry and L~merick),Neville, Normile, O'Brien 41, Mahony 38, Dalg 34. (each County in Munster is largly represented), Co. T~pp~lia~z.--Kyan277. Maher 74, O'Brien O'Grady (Clare and Limerick), OIHa:loran, 74, Keilnedy 70, Dwyer 64, Hogall 46, Hayes 38, O'Keefe (Cork and Limerick), O'Meara (Dublin and L Gleeson 38, McGrath 38, Walsh 38, Kelly 31, Limerick), O'Regan (Cork and Limerick), O'Shaugh- Lonergan 31. nessy, Purtill, Quilligan, Quilty, Rale~gh,Riordan CO. WATERFORD.-Power 125, Walsh 97, O'Brien I (more numerous in Cork), Ryan (by far the largest 47, Murphy 35, Rpan 35, McGrath 31, Foley 30, number is in Tipperary), Woulfe. Flynn 28, Morrissey 27, Kelly 26, 25, Sullivan 25, Whelan 23, McCarthy 22, Butler 21, I Tobin 20. The surnames whlch are specia!ly prominent and numerous in the County of Limerick, judging from the Birth Indexes of 1890, are :-Ahern (nearly all in Cork and Limerick), Ambrose (nearly all in Cork and Limerick), Earry (Cork contains nearly COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 3 17 -p-

De Hugo Bole, Robertus Dagod pro eo. 3. pars unius servic., 1 mar. APPENDIX E. De Herberto de Fererdon, 3 pars unias servic., 1 mar. De her. Roberti de Dundonenold 3. pars unius servic. 1 mar. EXTRACTS FROM THE "BOOK OF De Barone del 1 servic. et 2 partes unins servic. 66/S HQWTH.":;: De Ger. de Rupe 1 servic. De Johanne Pincerna tertia pars unius servic., 1 mar. De Roberto de Sancto Michaele 3 pars nnius servic., 1 mar. De Roberto Le Boiiller 3 pars unius servic., 1 mar. In the "Book of Homth " the following extract will be De Ricardo de Mora 3 pars unius servic., 1 mar. found in a description of Ireland :-Mounster was of old time De Johanne fi1 Philippi com pars unius servic. de Rathfeld. divided into three-East Monster, Ormond; West Mownster, De Sacho Crompe 8 pars unius servic. Desmond; South 3Iownster. Tomond. Here dwell O'Brens, De her. Willelmi de Racleygh tertia pars unius servic., 1 mar McMorrowes ;this is corrected by Carew to McNemara], De Roberto de Petraponte 16d. de 30. parte unius servic. , and one sept of the Carties. In these quarters De her. Thomae de Berkeley 4s. 5d. ob. pro 2 caruc. terrae lie the countries of O'Carndl, O'Magher, the White Knight, de Vill Xolend. McL'Birne, O'Gaunneth. Watterford containeth the Powars De Willelmo de Lynns 8. pars unias servic. de Vill. Molend 5s and Daeces. Corke, the Barres' lands, Imokylly , De O'Bren 16 servicia. McCarty BSore, BfcCarty Reoghe, L. Roche's lands, O'Scuu- Memd. de servic. Roberti Bagod pro tenementis suis in livans, iIIysc~.y, Courcey. Lylnerycke hath in the Comit. Lymer. tertia pars unius servic., 1 mar. ut patet L. it inferius. Knight of the Valley, Wm. Bourke, McBryn Ara, part of the Smma denar., 2141 7s. M. q. White Knight's land, Cosuraries, O'Brenes, and upon the Summa, 70 servic. di. 6 pars unius servic. et 30. pars unius edge of Kereg, the Green Knight alias the Knight of Kerey. servic.

KNIGHTS PEESIN IRELAND IN THE FIRST YEAR OF EDWAED11. Here followeth the names of the chief regions and Seruicia Domini R. in diversis Cont. per totanz Hibermiam. countries and the chief Irish captains of Ireland as followeth *- De Maur. fil. Ger : 8 servic. Twomont-O'Brene of Two Ibrene, McNamara of Clanyh- De Galfr. de Marisc 1 servic. wlhn,O'Kynedy of Ormonde, O'Kerowyll of Elye, O'Meagher De Joh:tnne 61. Thorns fil. Maur. pro se 4 servic. of Ikeryn, Mc'Maghon of Bruyse alias of Xorkevasky, De Hamundo de Talon, 8 servic. O'Conor of Corckanro, O'Laghlyn of Boryn, O'Grade of De Johanne Pincerna [of the Butler family] 6 servic. et di. Kenaldownall, O'Brene of Arragh, O'Molryane of Wehen, De Willelmo de Carnvyll 3 servic. ; sed non debet sum. nisi O'Doyle of Kylnemanaghe, McRrene of Ighonaght. de 1 servicio, quia Petrus de Bermynghnm. These English noble and worshipful captains wits degene- rate from tha English laws. * The " Book of Howth " is a collection of papers, either ori,&rtl or copied, relating to Irish affairs, made by Sir George Carew. The date of In Kyery: The Earl ot Desmond and his Gerotens, Lord these papers cannot now bo accurately fixed. Barre de Buttevant, L. Rowche of Arnmoye, L. Barry of COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 318 XOUXD ABOUT THE 319'

queen, Hurley, Hogan, Walsh, White, Woulfe, Mulcahy, Kynnaley, L. Condon of drme Vye, L. Barry Rome of the Purcell, O'Hea, O'Mulloney, O'Mahony, O'Madizan, Rouhe, L. Cow~s~yde Xynsale, L. Cowgan, L. Barrst, White O'Honan, O'HeSernan, O'Dayer, O'G;avin, O'connor, Knight, Knigh-t of the TTalley, Desmoncls of the County of Vaterfurd, Pouere. i-lourlies in the County of Lymercke. O'Brien, O'Grady, O'Shn~~ghness~,( '13yan, O'Suliiran, Ptackpoole, Supple, Stlitch, Sheehy, Sexton, Parsfield, Bwtlcrs in zhe i'onnty of Icilkenny and the County cf Sc~nl~n,Ryan, Bouhe, E~~qsell,Ronm, Rochford, R:twley, Fiddyrd. Here be the narues of the English countries that bear Verdon. tribute yewly to the Wild Irish. The County of Ly~~eriuketo the Grest O'Brcne in English APPENDIX G.

HIGH SHERIFFS OF THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 1255 Walter Ransell. For sundry years remaining in Archivis Cash., Dublin. 1371 William Cadygan. Account of Co. Liuerick for 39. Henry 111, by Walter 1372 James De la Ilyde. \Vansell, Sheriff. Xoneys received from various persons and 1376 Sir Thomts Clifford, Knt. places, viz, for 55 oilnees of gold (price of eauk ounce, 10s.) ; 1403 Thus. Fitzmau~ice. for the mar of ?;!ar$ha1 ; for not coming at the King's 14.34 Sir William Fitzthomas, Knt. summons against Richarcl Mnreschall; for the escape of a 1425 Sir TVilliam E'itzwilliam, Knt. thief ; for :L rdief ; as an aid for the war on France ; for 1433 ~KanriceFitzthomm Ii'itzgerot Fitzmaurice arrear of accounts ; f!om :L coroner [for t'he goods] of a man F~tzgerdd. hanged; ;L; security for delivering hostages for variuus 15t6 Teige M'Brene. fines ; for the wtrt1 of the castle of Nayncoud; :m fines for 1658 Gprald Fitzgerald, Thomasto~~n. [false] weiirhts and mensnres, and for selling whent at mills 1613 Georgc Courtena,y. without regard to i5c price fixed by the assize, et,c. Total 1G3A James Ronrke 23,486 1s. 4d., whereof tber. vas delivered into thc treas ury 1661 Symon Eaton. that year &1,0.?3 43. +d. 1663 Xichard So~ithwell. 16ii.5 Sir William King, Knt. l669 Artbar Ormeshy. APPENDIX P. 1670 Bobert Taylour. 1671 John Msunsell. The following arc tnc names of the landed proprietors in 1670 George Evans. the County Llmerizk whose land.; were forfeited and mere 1673 John Bory transplanted In I C53 2674 Hugh Massy, Duntr~~league. There we1 e $00 t-ansphnted bearing the following names : 13'75 N1chol:ts Monckton. Arthur, Bar, Brown, f'ourke, Clauchy, Creagh, Cnsey, 1676 Gilea Powell. Comyn, Cantlllon, tiould, Earold, Hartigan, Nash, Liston, 1677 George Aylmer. Fitzgerald, Fitzyihbon, Lacy, Kenncdy, McMahon, Mul- COUNTY OP LIMERICK. 321 320 ROUND ABOUT THE -

1678 John Odell. 1718 Prancis Drew, Drew's Court. 1679 John Odell. 1719 William Harrison, Ballyvorneen.

]GPO Qerdild Fitzgerald, Knight of Glyn. c 1720 Nicholas Lysaght, Brickfield. 1682 John Jephson. 1721 Wilhm Wilson, Cahirconlish. 1683 William Harrison. 1722 Thomas Evans, Miltown. 1684 WTilliamHarrison. 1723 Rice Blennerhasset, Riddlestomn. l685 Drury Wray. 1724 Berkley Taylor, B;tllynort. 1686 Stepney, Abington. 1725 John Waller, Castletown. 1687 Edward Rice. 1726 William Bury, Shannon Grove. 1688 Edward Rice. 1727 Edward Taylor, Ballynort. 1659 Naurice Fitzgerald. 1528 Gamaliel Fitzgerald, Cloghready. l(jg0 Maurice Fitzgerald. 17% Connel Vereker, Roxhorough. 1692 Charles Oliver 1730 John Purdon, Tullagh. 1693 George Mansell. l731 John Lysaght, Brickfield. 169 1. BIichael Searle. 1732 George Green, Abbey. 1695 Ralph Wilson, Bilboa. 1733 Ralph Wilson, Boher. 16% George King, Kilpeacon. l734 Henry Green, Ballymacrees. 1697 Thomas Maunsell. 1785 Ed. Crolrer, Rawleighstown. 16% Thomas Maunsell. 1736 Joseph Gabbet, Ballyvorneen. L699 Richard Pope. 1737 Colthurst Lsngton, Hruree. 1700 Joseph Stepney, Abington. 1738 Anthony Parker, Dunlcip. 1701 John WslcoC, Croagh. 1739 Hugh Massy, Lisard. 1709 Henry Widenham, Court. 1710 Robert Coote, Bdlyclough 1703 Willlam Pierce. 1741 WiIIiam Ryves, Castle Jane. li@i. Abraham Green, Ballymacrees. 1742 John Fitzmaurice, Springfield. 1705 Samuel Frend. 1743 Hon. J. Ewns, Bulgaden. 17i'G %oh& Taylor, Ballynort. 1744 George Foshery, Clorme. 1707 Richard Southwell, Inniscouch. 1745 John Westrop, dttyflin. 1708 Xnlph Wilson, Boher. 1746 Stepney Rawson Stepney, Abington. 1709 Edward Croker, Ramleighstown. 1747 Wyndharn Quin, Adare. 1710 Robert Eyves, Castle Jam. 1748 John Creed, Uregare 1711 Wug h Massy, Duntryleague. 1749 John Batemnn, Calow. 1712 John Newell. 1750 Hon. Henry Southwell, Stoneville. 1713 John Gabbett, Rathjordan. 1761 John Odell, Bealdurogy. 1714 Heury Baylee, Lough Gur. l752 Hugh Massy, Cloghsnarld. 1715 Thornss Muunsell, Mount Son. 1753:Richard Powell, Newgarden. 1716 Rdard Taylor, Hollypark, 1754 William Green, Ballymacrees. 1717 Samuel Maunsell, BaIly brood. 1755 John Croker, Rallynegarde. 1756 Gerald Blenerhasset, Riddlestown. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 323 322 ROUND ABOUT THE I796 Henry Bevan, Camass 1757 Edward Warter Wilson, Bilboa. 1797 N. Scanlan, jan., Ballinaha 1758 Riohard Bourke, Drumsally. 1798 John Westropp, Attyflin 1769 Hon. Thomas Southwell, 1799 De Courcy O'Grady, KilbaIIyowen 1760 John Brown, . 1800 George Evans Bruce, Hermitage 1761 Anthony Parker, jun., Dunlcip. 1801 John Hunt, BaIIynort 1762 Juhn Thomas Waller, Castletown. 1802 William Jackson Harte, Coolrus l763 Thomas Royce, Nantensn. 1803 Bolton 'CITdIer,Bushy Island 1764 Silver Oliver, . 1804 Thomas Gibbon Fitzgibbon, Ballyseeda 1765 Hugh Massy, Ballynort 1805 Thomas O'Gridy, Belrnont 1766 George Rose, Mount Pleasant 1306 Joseph Gubbins, Kenmnre Castle I767 Edward Villiers, Kilpeacon 1807 Stephen Dickson, jun., Ballynagnile 1768 Richard Taylor, Holly Park 1808 Brudenell Plummer, Mount Plummer 1769 Stnndish Gsady, Elton 1809 Thornas Alexander Odell, Odellrille 1770 Thomas Smyth, Bohirlode 1810 Eyre Evans, Ash-hill 1771 Hugh Ingoldsby Massy, New Garden 1811 Aubrey de Vere Hunt, Curragh 1772 Simon Purdon, C,loghnedromin 1812 Gerald Blennerhassett, Riddlestown 1773 Caleb Powell, Clonshavoy 1813 William Gabbett, Caherline 1774 John Tuthill, Eilmore 1814 Richard Smyth, Smythfield 177.5 milliam Ciabbett, Caherline 1515 William Ryves, Rgves Castle 1776 Benjamin Frend, Boskill 1777 Edw;ird Croker, Riverstown 1816 Thomas Royse, Nmtenan 1778 T'filliain Fitzgeraltld, Ballinard 1817 John LOTVP,Castle Jane 1818 Richard T~yio~,Holly Park 1779 Willia~nOdeil, Fortwilliaru 1819 Xichael Lloyd Apjobn, Linfield 1780 Bngh Lloyd, Kildromin 1820 Edward TTilliers, Kilpeacon 1781 John Grady, 1821 De Courcy O'Grady, Xilballyowen 1782 John Fitzgibbon, Mount Shannon 1822 John Thomas Waller, Castletown 1783 Percival hart;^, Coolrus 1823 Geoge Tuthill, Faha 1784 Sir TTere Wunt, Bart, Curragh 1824 Joseph Gnbbins, Kilfrush 1785 Darby O'Grady, Mount Prospect 1825 Hon. John Massy, Limerick l786 James Langton, Bruree 1826 John Bolton Massy, Ballymire 1787 Michael Furneli, Ballyclough 1827 Chidlsy Coote, 3Iount Cooto 1788 Sir Christopher Knight, Knt., Lin-erick 1828 Samuel Dickson, Limelick 1789 Croshie %Iorgell, Rathkeak 1829 William Scanlan, Eallyknockane 1790 Standish O'Qrady, Mount Prospect 1830 John F. Fitzgerald (Knight of Glin) 1791 C. Silver Oliver, Castle Oliver 1831 John Croker, Ballinagarde 1792 John Rra11er, Castletown IF32 Henry O'Grady, The Grange 1793 Thornas B'itzgibbon 1333 Thomas Lloyd, Beechmount l794 John T. Westropp, Ballystein * 1834 G N. Xaunsell, Enllywilliam 1195 Michael Furnell, Ballycahane COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 325 324 -- ROUND-- ABOUT THE -

1835 Km Monsell, Tervoe 1874 William Henry Lyons, Woodville, Co. Cork. 1636 Vere Edmond de Vere, Cnrragh Chase 1875 John Bolton Massy, Ballymire. 1837 Stephen Ed. Spring Rice, Mount Trenchard 1876 John Coote, Xount Coote. 1838 James Denis Ly~ns.Croom House 1877 Hon. Gersld N. Fitzgibbon, . 1839 General Sir Richard Burke, Thornfield 1878 C. B. Rarrington, Glenstal. 1840 Richard Karte, Coolrus, 1879 John Roche Kelly, Islandmore. 1841 James Kelly, Ballynanty 1880 John Christopher Delmege, Castle Park 184.2 Nidmel Farnell, Caherilly Castle 1881 F. , Derk. 1843 Robert Naxwell, Islandmore 1882 Robert de Ros Eose, Ardhu. 1844 hichard Quin Sleeman, Cahare 1883 Thomns John Franks, Bally~caddane. 1846 Edmard Cripps Villiers, Kilpeacon 1884 William Waller, Castletown. 1846 Wm. H. Barrington, Glenstnl Castle 18% Lieut.-Col. George Eyre Massy, Riversdale, 1847 Sir David Roche, Bart., Carass Galbally-died during year of oEce. L 1848 Franc18 W. Goold, Dromadda Dawson Westropp, Mellon, Pdlaskenry, 1849 Samuel Frederick Dickson, Vermont l896 John Gubhins, Bruree House, Bruree. 1850 Eyre Lloyd, Prospect 1887 The Hon. Hugh S. J. Massy, Castleconnell. 1851 Henry Xaunsell, Fanstovn 1888 Thomas P. D. Atkinson, Glenwilliam Castle, 1852 John Low, Sanvale Ballingarr~l. 1863 I-Iogh SIassy, Riversdale 1889 Herbert Sullivan, cur ram or^, Charleville. 1854 F. C. F. Gascoigne, Castle Oliver 1890 Major Wm. D. Msunsell, The Glebe, TIildimo. 1855 Sir R. D. De Burgo, Castleconndl 1891 Alex. E. Bannatyne, woodsdown, Lisnagry. 1856 J~hnTIThite, Belwont 1893 George Caulfield, Copseroood, Pallaskenry. I857 George Guin, Kilpeitcon 1893 James O'Grady Delmege, Castle Park. 1858 &!eb Powell, Clonshavoy 1894 General Thos. Lloyd, Beechmount, Rathkeale 1859 Befferndn Considine, Derk House 1895 The Hon. Cosby Trench, Clonodfoy, Eil&ane 1860 Zenry Lyons, Croom House 1896 Col. The Hon. Lionel Nassy, Cragbeg, Clarina 5861 Helenas V'hite, Xount Sion House 1862 Edward Csoker, Ballynagarde 1863 Joseph Gabbins, Bilfrush IS64 John Franks, Ballyscaddane APPENDIX N. 1865 Si. D. Vandebur Roche, Bart., Carass Court 1866 Benry Westropp, Greenpark 1867 John White, Nantenm. REPRESENTATIVES IN PARLIAMENT 1868 Edward Csoker, Gr~tnge. FOR 1869 Edwnrd William 0' Brien, Caherrnoyle. THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 1870 bir Stephen E. de Vere, Bart., Monard. SINCE THE YEAR 1585; 1371 D. 5. E. Fitzgerald, Knight of Glin. 1872 Lieut.-Col. John Howley, Richill. 1585 Sir Thomas Norris, Knt. 1873 The Ron. J. T. W. Massy, Hermitage. Richard Bourke. COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 327 326 ROUlYD ABOUT THE - 1790 John Waller. 1613 Rt. Hon. F. Berkley. Hon. John Massy. 'L'. Bron ne Niles 179F C. Silver Oliver. 1639 Sir Edw. Fitzharris, Bart. Lieut.401. W. Odell. Sir Hard. n7aller, Knt. 1801 Charles S. Oliver. 1654 Sir H. Waller, Knt. Lieut.-Col. W. Odell. Col. Henry Ingoldsby. 1806 Lieut.-Col. W. Odell. 1656 Sir Hsrcl. Wdler, Knt. Hon. Windham Quin. Col. Henry Ingoldsby. 1807 Lieut.-Col. W. Odell. 1658 Sir H. Ingoldshy, Bt. Hon. Windham Quin. Sir H. Wall~r,Knt. L812 Lieut.-CoI. W. Odell. 1661 Sir Willialn King, Knt. Hon. Windham Quin. Sobert Olives. 1818 Hon. R. H. Fitzgibbon. 1689 Sir John E'itzgerald, Bt. Hon. Windham Quin G erald E'itzgerctld. 1820 Hon. H.R. Bitzgibbon. 1693 Sir Willism King, Knt. Capt. Standish O'Grady. G~orgeEvans. 1826 Fitzgibbon, S. O'Grady. 1603 Sir T. Sonthmell, Bt. 1831 Fitzgibbon, O'Grady. Sic TIU.King, lint. 1833 Fitzgibbon, O'Gmdy. 1703 Sir T. Sol~thmell,Bart. 1833 Fitzgibbon, W. S. O'Brien. Charles Oliver. 1837 Fitzgibbon, W. S. O'Brien. 1713 Georqe King. 1841 W. S O'Brien, Ouleb Powell. Georqe Evans, jun. 1847 W. S. O'Brien, TVI',Monsell. 1715 Sir T. Southwell, Bart. 1849 Samuel Diclrsou, in place of Wm. S. O'Brien, Robcrt Oliver. convicted of Nigh Treason at the Specid Commission in Clonmel, October, 1848 1717 Eyre Evsns succeeded Sir T. Southwell, who 1851 Mrindham Goold, in place of S. Dickson, was created s Baron. deceased. 1727 Eyrc Evans, 1852 W. Xonsell, W. Goold. Richd. So~~thvrell. 1854 W. Xonsell, Clerk of the Ordnance, reklected. 1729 Bon. 8. Southwell, vice Richard Southwell. 1855 S. Edw. de Vere elected vice W. Goold, 1750 Hugh BIassy, vice Hon. H. Southwell. deceased. 1761 Hon. T. Southmell. Feb., 1857 W. Monsell, President of Board of Health, redected. Hugh BIassy. April, 1857 W. Monsell, S. E. de T-ere. 1768 Silver Oliver. 1859 W. Monsell, S. A. Dickson. Hagh Xaesy. 1865 W. Monsell, John Synan. 17'76 Right Hon. Silver Oliver 1868 W. Monsell, John Synan. Sir H. Hsrtstonge, Bt. 1874 Wm. H. O'Bnllivan, John Synnn. L783 Hon. Hugh Massy. i880 Wm. H. O'Sullivan, John Synan, Sir H, Hartstonge, Bt. 328 THE OF 329 - ROUND ABOUT COUNTY LIMERICK. The County of Limerick was divided into two Electoral - 1715 Eilner Brazier Divisions by the Act of 188.5, each division returning one George King Member. 1723 John Croker succeeded King WEST LIMERICK. EAST LIMERICP. 1725 Wm. Bhkeney succeeded Brazier 1727 Robert Oliver William dbraham. -1885- John Finucane. Wm. Blakeney William Abrsham. -1 886- John Finucane. 1747 Philip Oliver succeeded Robt. Oliver William Austin. -1893- John Finucane. 1757 Silver Oliver succeeded W. Blakeney William Austin. -1895- John Finucane. S 1761 Silver Oliver -- 4 Edward Villiers L768 Thomas Maunsell APPENDIX J. e Wyndham Quin 1776 Wm. Christmas REPRESENTATIVES IN PARLIAMENT .' John Finlay FOR THE ' 1783 Rt. Hon. J. Fitzgibbon John Armstrong BOROUGH OF KILMALLOCK, i 1789 Charles W. Bury FROM 1790 Peter Holmes succeeded Armstrong, THE YEAR 1j85 TO THE UNION. deceased 1585 John lTerdon 1797 John Waller Thomas Hurley Silver Oliver, jun. 1613 Henry Verdon 1799 Sir Richard Quin, Bart. Patrick Kesrney l' 1800 Thomas Casey 1639 Wm. St. Leger John Power 1661 John Bridges APPENDIX K. Brook Bridges j Murrough Boyle succeeded John 1 REPRESENTATIVES IN PARLIAMENT Bridges, deceased, I FOR THE 1689 Sir Wm. Hurley, Bart. l BOROUGH OF ASKEATON, John Lacy FROM 1682 John Ormsby THE YEAR 1613 TO THE UNION. Rohert Ormsby 1685 Standish Hartstonqe 1613 Anthy. Stoughton Chidley Coote Boger Rice, Gent. 1703 John Ormsby 1639 Maur. Williams Robert Oliver l George Crofton 1'713 Sir Philips Coote, Knt. 1661 Peter Pett Henry Boyle 1 Rich. Southwell I ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 331- 1689 John Bourke Edward Eice 1692 Robert Taylor John Odell APPENDIX L. 1695 George Evans Robert Taylor Chichester Phillips succeeded Taylor, CENSUS OF IRELAND, 1891. deceased 1703 Robert Taylor COUNTY AND CITY OF LIMERICK. Chichester Phillips 1713 Robert Taylor SUMMARY. Philip Percivel The County and City of Limerick cover an area of 680,842 17i5 John Bury Edward Deuny statute acres, or 3.3 per cent. of the total area of the country. 1723 Berkeley Taylor succeeded Bnry According to the Agricultural Statistics (Ireland) for the l727 Berkeley Taylor year 1891, there were 51,629 acres under tillage, 109,621 Edmond Taylor under meadow and clover, and 425,256 under pasture, making 1729 Wm. Tnylor succeeded Berkley Taylor. a total of 586,509 acres of Arable Land, or 88.5 per cent. of 1747 J. &!tinchinWalcot succeeded Wm. Taylor the total extent of land in the County and City; 8,431 acres, 1753 Edmond ZSlalone succeeded Walcot or 1.3 per cent., under Plantations ; 11,643 acres. or 1.7 per 1761 Joseph Hoare cent., under Turf Bog; 4,592 acres, or 0.7 per cent. under Sir Jarnes Cotter, Bart. Marsh, and 24,925 acres, or 3.8 per cent., under barren l758 Joscph Hoare Mountain Land. The remaining 26,268 acres, or 40 per John Tunnadine cent., were returned as under "Roads, Bonces, &C.,&C." 1776 Joseph Home The number of persons in the County and City of Lime- Hon. Hugh Mnesy rick according to the Census, was-in 1841, 330,029, ; in l783 Sir Joseph Hoare, Bart. 1851, 262,132; in 1861, 217,277; in 1871, 191,996; in 1881, Richard Griffith. 180,632; and according to the recent Census, 158,912 (78,607 1790 Sir Joseph Hoare, Bart. Males and 80,305 Females), or 12.0 per cent. less than in Henry Alexander. 1881. l797 John Stward The number of distinct Families in the County and City 1709 Sir T'ere Hunt, Hart. at the time of the late enumeration was 29,904 the average number of persons in a family being thus 5'1; and the number CUSTODES ROTULORUM. of Inhabited Houses was 27,434, showing an average of 5.6 Bichard, Earl of Clare. persons to each house. In calculating these averages, the 166%Earl of Dunraven. Special Inmates of Public Institutions have been omitted. 1874 Lord Emly. The following Statement shows, by Baronies and by Poor 1894 Thomas Edward O'Brien. Law Unions, the number of persons in 1881 and l851 ; and 1896 Xarl of Dunraven. the decrease during the decade :- 332 ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK 333

Leinster; 0.42 per cent. in Ulster; 0.47 per cent. in Con- Population Decrease hetween 1881 and 1891 naught ; 1.46 per cent. in Great Britain ; 0.45 per cent. were born abroad; and 3 persons mere born at sea. Rate per cent. Towns having, in 1891, a population of 2,000 and upwards, are classified in the T~blesas Civic d:stri:ts. Clanwilliam, - - Limerick contains three s~whdistricts, viz, Limerick, Connello Lower, - Connello, Upper, - Rathkeale and Newcastle. Ln 1881, the population of the Coonagh, - - - foregoing amounted to 43,297 ;in 1891 it was 41,428, showing Coshlea, - - - a decrease of 1,869 persons, or 4.3 per cent. ; in the rural Coshma - - - district of the County the decrease was 14.5 per cent. Glenquin, - - Kenry, - - - There are two Parliamentary Divisions in the County, Kilmallock, - - viz :-West Limerick and East Limerick, each returning one Xorth Liberties, - Member to Parliament; the former division having, in 1891, Owneybeg, - - a population of 56,863, and s constituency of 7,261 ; and the Pubblebrien, - - Shanid, - - - latter 3; pOpulation of 55,912, and a constitnency of 8,001. , - - The borough of Limerick, with a population of 46,135, and a constituency of 4,827, ret~~rnsone Member. Total of County, - The following Statement shows, according to Religious Limerick City, - Professions, the number of persons in 1881 and 1891, and the increase or decrease during the decade :-

Total of Co. an6 City, - Per. I 1 ceiGge l Increase or - - 1 No. of Persons ot Total l Decrease, Rmrorous PROFESSIONS , I Powula- 1 1881-1891

Rate p, cent.

Roman Catholics, - - - Croom, - - - Protestant Episcopalians, Presbyterians, - - - Glin (part of ), - Methodists, - - - - Kilmallock (part of) All other Denominations (and Limerick (part of 1, - Religion unascertained) - 390 376 0.2 0.2 - (part of) Infornmtion refused, - - 3 1 19 - - 16 -P--- Newcastle - - Total, - - - - 180,632 1 158,912 100. 100. - Rathkeale - - Tipperary (part of ,I- I Prom the above Table it mill be seen that of the total Total of Co. and City, population of the Co~mtyand City in 1891, 94.9 per cent. were Romen Cathohcs,42 per cent. Protestant Episcopalians, Of the persons enumerated in Limerick (County and City) 0.3 per cent. Presbyterians, 0'4 per cent. Methodists, and in 1891, 88.48 per cent. were born therein, 7.30 per cent. in 0.2 per cent, members of other Religious Denominations. other Counties of the Province of Munster; 1'42 per cent. in During the decade there was a decrease in the number of ROUND ABOUT THE COUNTY OF LIMERICK. 335 334 -

Roman Catholics, amounting to 12.1 per cent. and Protestant From the foregoing Statement it will be seen that, in Episcopalians declined 14.5 per eent. ;there was an increase 1881, 24.0 per cent. of the inhabitants aged five years and of 21 in the number of Presbyterians; and of 68 in the upwards were Illiterate (21.5 per cent. of the males and number of Methodists. 26.4 of the females), and tbat, in 1891, the per-centage was The following Statement shows the Edncational Statns of but 16'3 (14.8 of the males and 17.7 of the females). the Inhabitants of the County and City of Limerick in 1881 Taking Religious Professions and Education in combi- and 1891, in so far as relates to the degree3 of elementary nation, it appears that in 1891, excluding children under edocation relative to which inquiry- was made on the Census five years of age, 16.9 per cent. of Roman Catholics, 4.1 per Forms :- cent. of Protestant Episcopalians, 2.9 per cent. of Presby- terians, 4.1 per cent. of Methodists, and 11.8 per cent. of "all other Denominations " were Illiterate. The number of children attending school in the County and City of Limerick, according to the Census of 1881 (week Read and Write, ending 14th May), mas 20,049, or 45'5 per cent. of persons Read only, - - aged 5 years and nnder 20; in 1891 the number returned Illiterate, - - (for week ending 30th May) was 87,716, or 49'4 per cent. of the persons aged 5 and under 20. In 1881 the number of persons in the County and City of Limerick returned as Sick, on the night of the Census, was Prom the above it will be seen that whereas, according to 1,635, or 1- in every 110 of thc population; in 1891 the the Returns of 1881, only 57'2 per cent. of the Inhabitants number 60 returned was 1,612, or 1 in every 99 of the popu- could "read and mite," in 1851, 68 0 per cent. co~llddo so; lation; of the latter number .124 mere at their own homes, that the per-centage of the population who could "read and 1,188 were in hospital. only" in 1881 was 10.3, and in 1891, 7.6 ; and that the per- centage of the "illiterate" fell from 32 5 in 1881 to 24.4 The number of persons returhed in 1851, ss receiving in 1891. relief under the Poor Law System was 8,628 or 1 in every The followiug Statement shows the Population five years 21 of the population; of this number 3,611 were inmates of old and upwards, also the number and proportion per cent. Workhouses, and 5,017 were in receipt of outdoor relief; in 1891 the namber returned was 7,105, or 1 in every 22 of thereof who were Illiterate :- the popolation; 2,738 of these being in the Workhouses, l891 and 4,377 on outdoor relief. For the purposes of Registration of Births, Deaths, and Marriages, the Poor Law Union forms a " Superintendent Registrar's District." Each Union or Superintendent l Registrar's District is divided into Dispensary Districts for Population, 5 )ear$ old and l the Medical Relief of poor under the Nedical Charities Act; upwards - - - ii 8582 431 110,416 l43 547 I 70 78% g22 765 Number oiditto Ilhterste - 16:732 21:728 38,480 23:360 1 103505 12i855 which Districts, save in a few instances, are identical with Protonet - 1 21 ii 240 16 1 14.8 '7.7 the Registrars' Districts. Each Dispensary District is com- ! posed of a certain number of Poor Law Electoral Divisions. 336 ROUND ABOUT THE ____.______-

According to the Return of the Registrar-General, the number of RiIarriages registered in the County and Citp of ADDENDUM. Limerick during tbe ten years ending 31 st Nsroh, 1891, was 6,837, equal to an average annual rate of 9.0 per 1,000 of the In chapter XI. it is stated that the Knights of population. The number registered in the whole of Ireland Glin are descended from the second son of John of during the same period affords an average annual rate of 4.3 per 1,000. Callan, and the Knights of Kerry from the third The number of Births registered in the County and City son. Some of the genealogies assign the priority during the ten gears was 39,166, affording an average to the Knights of Kerry. In fact everything con- annual rate of 23.1 pm 1,000 of the population, the average nected with these genealogies is invoIved in a yeitlly rate for the whole of Ireland daring the same period maze of the most contradictory statements. heing 23.4 per 1,000. The Deaths registered daring the decennium amounted to The inscription on the Askeaton Chalice may 31,910, being equal to an average armual rate of 18.8 per read the first letter of the Christian name of the 1,000; the corresponding r.&e for the whole of Ireland was donor as S, not T,as printed on page 187. In that 17'8 per 1,000. case the donor might be identified with the Symon The number of Emigrants from the County and City Eaton who was High Sheriff of the County in 1661. during the ten years (ending 31st Narch, 1891), amounted -----~ --. to 33,081 (17,013 wales and 16,068 females) ; the number for The monument referred to as the Fitzgerald the decade ending 31st Rlw~h,1881, was 93,13%,for that tomb, on page 13, should be described as the Verdon ending 31st March, 1871, 46,339, 2nd for that ending with tomb. The correct name and date are given on Maxch, 1861, 62,173, making a total of 183,725 for the forty years. page 152. The number of Births registered during the ten years The full text of the inscription is as follows : ending 31 st March, 1591, being 38,166, and the number of "Post luctuosum obitum ejus parentum generosi herois Deaths 31,910; n natural increase of 7,256 would appear to Georgii Verdoni quondam consulis Killocensis qui obiit 2" have taken place in the Population; but the Emigrants, Maii anno Salutis nostra 1632O, necnon matronce religiios- during the same period, having amounted to 33,081, the issimae Anastasi~eVerdvnce qua: obiit 18O Decembris anno . net result shown by this method of calculation is a decrease Domini 1597, Jacobus Verdonus filius et hares eorum hoe of 25,8~5; the decrease in the population, as shown by the monumenturn fieri curvavit, anno Domini Census Returns, is 21,720. " Non fugiam : prius experiar : non mors mihi terror." The date of erection is not given

The High Sheriff of the County of Limerick for 1897 is James Pitzgerald B BY THE SAME AUTHOR.

LIMERICK AND ITS SIEGES. ' Crown 8vo., 216. Post Free, 2/10.

LIMERICK : G. McKERN & SONS.

" Well illustrated. . . Pleasantly readable."-Saturday Revtew. "An interesting historical account of the ancient city of Limerick."-Morning Post. "The sketches are penned with great literary skill, and are masterful in their comprehension of detail."-Irish Twnes. THE RIGHT HON. W. E. GLADSTONEwrites: -"I highly appreciate the splrit in mhlch the book appears to be written." "It is a little volume contaiuinq much. His narrative of the Crommellian Terror, and also of the siege of Ginkel with the signing of the famoas treaty and its violation is deeply mteresting, and the topographical portion of the chronicle of 'the gray ?Id city by the Shannon shore,' is picturesque."-The World. "This is a well written book adorned with many interest- ing illustrations, and reflects much credit on its printers as well as its author. The sieges, especially that by Ireton and that by William of O~ange,have been wrltten with great care in a style singularly lucid, and evidently by one who has a thoruugh wquaintance with the subject. The hook generally is entertaining as well as instructive." -Daily E~press. "This tastefully produced volume is an interesting and useful contribut~onto the history and antiquarian lore of the city of the Treaty Stone. The author has a fluent, clear style, and many descriptive passages are marked by high literary ability. . . . But it is no: by a book for merely local circulation, and one ' thinking that its merits mill be fully aggd Irish public."--Freemm's Joumal.