------·---...- ..., If&/·.··�-·. CARLOVIANAf�

THE JOURNAL OF THE OLD CARLOW SOCIETY

Price, ls. THE JOURNAL OF THE OLD CARLOW' SOCIETY

Vol. 1. No. 4. November, 1951.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Offlceri:- and Committee ...... • ...... iii

Through the Years. (Editorial) ...... 145

The History and Antiquities of Old Lel.ghlin ... •.. Mrs. B. O'Neill 147

Rathvllly Through the Ages ...... T. P. Walsh 153

The Shackletons and Ballltore •.• •.. ••...... •.. Miss A. Tracey 161

A C&rlow M.P. (Sir John Acton) ... _ ••••.. ... Rev. P. J. Brophy 167

Carlow's Old Inns, Churches, Gaol and Castle (read ,by Mr. B. O'Nelll, M.Sc.) ...... late M. C. Douglaa 172

Killeahin-A Short Study of the :Medieval Villag,e ...... T. P. Hayden 179

Clonmore Castle •.• ...... ••• •.. See.mus Leahy 183

Events of 1950 & 19111 ...... •.• •.• ... 186

Our Members Write .. • ...... 187

Llllt of Members 189

In Memoriam ... 191 Officers anc:;l Committee, 19s1-s2

PATUON: The Dishop of Kildare and Leighlin, Most Rev. Dr. Keogh.

VICE-PRESIDENTS: Deruar

CHAIRMAN: Very Rev. P. MacSuibhne, 1\1.A., P.P.

HON. ShJRETARY: T. P. Walsh, Esq., N.T., Stella Maris, Carlow.

HON. JOINT EDITORS: Rev. P. J. Brophy, T. P. Walsh, Esq., N.T.

l{ON. TREASURER: John McSweency, Esq., Munster and Leinster Dank, Carlow.

COMMITTEE: Mrs. B. 0 'Neill, Mrs. E. Giddy, Miss M. Doyle, Miss A. Tracey, Miss I. McLeod, Rev. J. G. Gash, A. Burns, Esq., F. Hutton, Esq., II. A. Kelly, Esq., P. Purcell, Esq., D. J. Carbery, Esq., J. Kelly, Esq. � ,,, 0 "'�· ..... :c C.ARLOVIANA Y1ttn,1AGi£oc1Et1 THROUGH THE YEAf\S BY THOMAS P. W.A.LSH

For a Society such as the Old Carlow Society, whose existence depends on the subscription• and the enthusiasm of its members, the publication of a journal ls no small venture. The success or failure of its sales is of immediate importance. Failure to dispose of its Journal can involve the Society financially for years. Success can spur the Society to still greater things. Financial worry has caused the Society to wlthold publication of this volume of Carloviana over the past two years. Sufficient material for several journals has piled up in the intervening period, and the Society sincerely desires to publish its journal more frequently. In asking the support of the people of Carlow for this venture, the Society feels within its rights. It has endeavoured since its inception to secure all the information available on the past of Carlow, and to chronicle it for future generations In this age, where the slow evolution wh:ch existed in past times has been speeded up, there is little thought for tradition. What ls not recorded now will most assuredly be lost. The Old Carlow Society feels that it has a vital duty in this matter and asks for the support of every person In Carlow for its work. This, the fourth volume of Carlovlana, Is another step in the direction of the Society's goal. With confidence and hope for Its success Fr. Brophy and I send it to press.

PROGRESS: The Society has passed through five years of progress. The enthusiasm of its members has not lagged. Membership has In­ creased. Some of the founder members have pasaed to their eternal reward; some of them have left town but others have taken their place. The outings and meetings of the Society are well attended and members are eager to wrlte papers. In the Summer they take to the country. Places of historic interest in the vtclnlty of the town and throughout the county are visited and papers are read on the spot. These outings usually end with a picnic tea. Indoor meetings are held monthly In the Forester's Hall during the Winter. Papers compiled by membel'B of the Society are read at these meet­ ings and sometimes the Society is addressed by visiting lecturers. The fact that these meetings are well attended Is a tribute to the sincerity and enthusiasm of the members. The annual social has become the highlight of the Winter Session. This usually consists of a lecture, film show, and a tea served by the Society's energetic Ladies' Committee.

CO-OPERATION: There Is at present a number of hlstor!cal Societies flourishing in the counties surrounding Carlow. Co-operation between these Societies is .Invaluable to each. A �trong bond of fr:endshlp and goodwill has developed between the Old Carlow Society, The Kilkenny 146 OARLOVIANA Arcbaeololfif8!:';¥ety, and the Old Wexford Society. They some­ times combine forces, pool their knowledge and their speakers, and the combined outings of the past few years. are highlights in the progress of these Societies. We trust that this spirit of friendship will continue through the coming years.

EXILES: Many Carlovians in distant lands are members of the Old Carlow Soeiety. They follow its movements with keen interest and correspond regularly with the Secretary. They are anxious to know what Is happening in the old town, and the pages of the Old Carlow Journal carrymany of them back through the years and remind them of happy days of childhood. We thank them for their interest in our efforts.

OUR AIM: The most signiticent feature of a movement such as the Old Carlow Society, Js to enllst the interest and support of the numbers of ordinary men and women who, wthout any historical training behind them, are nevertheless curious about the past history of their parish or neighbourhood, but at present do not know how to satisfy their urge to find out more about It. Around us we see mOllluments of a past which means little to us. We want to discover what kind of people made the past from which we sprung. We want to find out how they lived and what they did. Sources of that knowledge are fading fast. It is our aim to tap these sources before they fade completely. The efforts of all our members, and the efforts of a public conscious of its debt to Its ancestors are needed to fulftl this aim.

In sending this Issue to the press I thank all who have helped us. I thank the contributors who made my task an easy one. I urge the members to greater endeavours and I look forward to bright years for the Old Carlow Society. CARLO VIANA 147 The History and Ari'tiquities of Old Leigh I in By MRS. B. 0 'NEILL The name Lelghlln ls supposed ts described by Angus ln his Met­ by some to be derived from Leith­ rical Calendar of -the Irish Saints Glionn or Half-Glen, and would and translated by O'Curry as seem to refer to the recess ln the "Lalarlnn of burning virtues Ab· adjoining hills, in which the bot of bright-shining Lelghlln." Cathedral town stands. Others hold It means the White Field, FEAST OF EASTER or plain. corresponding to the The Abbot went tl) Rome at an English meaning, early age to perfect hlmeelf In St. Gobban founded a mon::i.s­ Science and learning and re­ tery there at the beginning of mained there for U years, where the 7th century. Little ls known he was ordained deacon and of hlm except that he was a priest by the Illustrious Gregory far.nous artificer of wood and the Great. Returning to Ireland stone. On one occasion whilst he attended the Synod of Maglean engaged ln preaching, this holy near Tullamore, In the year 630, man saw ln a vision a host of where he advocated with great angels hovering over Leglhlln and zeal and ability the Roman c_ua­ foretold to his dlaclplea that one tom of celebrating Easter on a day a devout stranger would fixed date, I.e., on the first Sun­ gather together In that place as day after the first full moon many servants of God. as .there after the Vernal Equinox. U� ,were angels In that heavenly to this time the Irish Church host. It was to St. I..aserian, the celebrated Easter on Uth day of founder of the See and Its first the moon If f'\lllng on a Sunday. Bishop, that thl1 prophecy re­ This assembly appointed St. Las­ ferred. St. Laserlan ls said to erlan as delegate to Rome to be of royal descent-his father, finally settle the question. While Calral, belonging to a princely there, he w•u, consecrated Bishop family of Ulldla In Ulster, and his by Pope Honorius I, and sent mother, Gemma, being a daughter be.ck with full authority to deal of Aidan, King of the British with the Pascal question In 682. Scots. Born towards the end ot At this time, St. Gobban resigned the sixth century, very little Is In favour of St. Laaerlan and re­ known of hls early life that ls tired to Klllamery ln Ossory. In reliable. He spent most of It In 634 a Provincial Synod was con­ Scotland where his name was · vened ln Old Lelghlln by the Ab­ held In great veneration. Re­ bot Laserlan and finally, the turning to Ireland, he became a Roman custom of the Easter date disciple of an Abbot named was adopted by the Irish Church. Munnu-whether St. Flntan Mun­ At this time some 1,IIOO monks nu or Murin of Gleann Uisaean Is had gathered In the School at In doubt. Old Lelghlln where It helped to Irt earlier records he has been spread culture, civilisation and called Molalsre-"mo" being a Christianity throughout all the term of endearment, "laasv" countries of Europe for six cen­ m�ninJ "vlct,Qril;>ua fla,me." Jle t.\lrles, CARLO VIANA 148 It Is a noteworthy fact that lve of Drogheda, was appointed until the 9th century, there is no Bishop. He Is buried in the Chan­ special mention-of the death of a cel. He was succeeded by Dr. Bishop of Leighlln, as such, from Leverous, who, in turn was suc­ which Dr. Comerford infers that ceeded by Dr. Ribera, a Spanish Abbot of Old Leighlin and Bishop Franciscan ,who died In 1587. At of Lelghlin were one and the this time, the See of Old Leighlln same. This is confirmed by the had been ursurped and Its tempor­ fact that the death of St. La.ser­ allties seized by the nor.nlnee of ian Is referred to 'Ul the Abbot Queen Elizabeth. Thus was the of Old Leighlin-without any ref­ Cathedral of Old Lelghlin severed erence to him as Bishop. From ifrom the old religion coming 663 onward, with t.he exception of down from St. Laserian. In the a period of 12 years after the middle of the 17th century, Leigh­ death of Donatus In 1185, the lin ended as a separate See, and Annalists record the deaths of thus began the united Diocese of Bishops of Lelghlln, but with few Kildare and Lelghlin, which have exeeptions Is there anything continued to the present day. noteworthy recorded of them. If THE CATHEDRAL the Yellow Book of Leighlln, Probably there are few Cathe­ from which Dowling, Chancellor d:nals in Ireland concerning which of thll See of Lelghlin, who died less Is known, as to the history of In 1628, drew so largely, had not their architecture, than the Cathe­ been destroyed, we might have dral of St. Laserlan. In the more Information about that absence of any documentary re­ period. cords prior to the 16th century, this lack, must theretore be sup­ "KILDARE AND LEIGHLIN " plied by an attempt to read its During the �te 15th and early history In the stones themselves. 16th century, we find Bishop Ma­ An attempt was made in 1939 by guire filling the See of Old Lelgh­ an ecclesiological expert, Sir Alf­ lifl. Educated at Oxford, he w11.s a red W. Clapham, C.B.E•, F.B.A., zealous and enlightened preacher and Its result published in a very and a careful collector of the re­ br;ef paper contributed to "Medi­ cords of the early Irish Church. aeval Studies" under the title of His biographer makes spec!al "Some Minor Irish Cathedrals." mention of two of his works, i.e., The chief interest of this paper the life of his predecessor, Milo lies in the complete ground-plan Roche, and a Chronicle of the of the Cathedral which was made, History of Ireland. As a proof to Its author's design, by Mr. H. of his popularity among the G. Leaak, M.R.I.A. people, Dowling commends him EXTERIOR-As one enters for "his hospitality and the num­ through the main gateway and de­ ber of cows that he grazed with­ cends the dip In the Churchyard, out loss on the woods and moun­ one is confronted with a vast wall tains of Knockbrannan, Cumn­ which screens all but the Tower. bally, A:ugharue, Ballycarew and This wall appears to be an of one Moyglass. According to Fr. piece and Is constructed of the Coyle, P.P., Lelghlln, from 1897 to ea.me kind of masonry throughout, 1932, Knockbrannan and Augha­ namely "aprawled rubble" In var­ rue are both In the parish of ious kinda of stone, without !\ Lelghlln and not far from Old break in its entire surface. It la Lelghlln. surmounted by two broad gables Jn 1527, Matt�w �nders, e. nat· of the B!lJD� desi� but Qf uneq\U\1 • CARLOVIANA 149 height and pierced by two window& ltal and meeting at the apex. The which differ from each other In baaes of the shafts have been nith· dealgn, in height and In dlmen· lessly cut away to make room for slone. The eouthern half of the the Btep. Both were executed In wall delimits the east end of the .granite. mtls fixes It& date .be­ Chancel end of 12th and beginning tween 1230 and 1240. of 13th century, the northern half Continuing our observation, of that of the Chapter Room, and the Nave we perceive that It has -deaplte the almllarlty In conatruc­ no windows, except a high one tlon there is a difference of nearly facing west. This window haa three hundred years In age be­ good tracery. Nothing else break, tween them, I.e. 16th century. The the monotony of the barrack-like angles of the Chancel walls are structure except· the remains of a supported by chamfered buttres1- very ftne WEST DOORWAY, clrc, es, tho&e of ihe Chapter Room are 1240, much weathered. It le prob­ not; the north buttress of the ably the work of the maaons who Chancel wall ls concealed by the erected the aedllla In the Choir, Chapter Room wall which was since It Bhowe similar roll mould­ built Into it. ings In the canopy, with two en· Proceeding along the south ga,ed shafts, each having a round­ front, we are struck by a single ed capital and base. The doorway buttreu of enormous proportion, has a suatalnlng arch under the which barbarously blocks out a canopy Instead of above It, a feat· light from one of the windows: It ure which seems peculiar to door,. i late of the 1 'Jtb century. Then s , waya In ' counties Carlow and where the end of the Chancel wall Kilkenny. abutts on the angle of the Nave, we come to a BLOCKED-IN At the upper end of the Nave, facing DOORWAY, which probably ser­ north, we eo,me upon a ruined, rootleu TRANSEPT hav· ved as the prleBt'1 entry. This has Ing the remain, of what muat chamfered corbels of the 13th have once been four splendid win· century, which a.resimilar to t·hoee dows: two lancet, facing west, the at the base of the hood-moulding head of one great pointed window ot the north window 1n the Chapter facing north, and one full length Room, The· stone-work tilling in window facing east. Tboae facing this doorway Is of comparatively north and east are blocked-in, but modem date. t.he easter window baa been pler­ MAIN DOORWAY n ce.d again at later date to allow Next, the MAIN SOUTH DOOR· a for the lruiertlon within It of a WAY lee.ding Into the Nave. This much smaller light, with a heart· was not designed for the purpose shaped head. This le curloua and for which It 11 now used; it Is not will repay closer examination from a natural feature for Ingress into inside. But we ma.y notice that a church from outside. It was, the samP. design la repeated In one �thout doubt, a doorway leading of the two windows In the Cha.p­ from thenave to a transept which ter Room, which we have now no longer exlata, and It corre­ reached and which completes our sponds In all reapecte with the 1 view of the exterior. doorway oppoalte to It leading from the nave to- the north tran­ THE TOWER WU erected In sept. The main arch baa a wide the 18th century. "The tower has flat sofflt or celling with a single stone groining of rather late chamfered rib eupp_orted on round· character, with Intricate ribs, but ed capitals beneath which a�e flll­ no bosSleS." [Eccleel.ologtst, Dec­ ette(l eh.its, rising- from eJch cap- ember, 1861.] 150 CARLOVIANA THE INTERIOR enters the nave, ls an ancient THE INT�R: Returning STOOP FOR HOLY WATER. now to the south doorway we This would geem to suggeat that enter the Nave, which is tradition­ the porch was reserved for the ally .. the oldest part of the Cathe­ entry of the laity in monastic dral. We find ourselves in a large days, before even' the transept was and lqfty kind of vault, and lit only built; so tho.t the recognised en­ from a high and not very large trance was from the north of the we,11t windQw. The �act that It Is cathedral. and not as now from windowless, except for. one light the south. On the left hand side ,in the .west, it itself evidence of ls a spiral stairway leading up to · very great antiquity, for this is the the tower with its belfry loft. characteristic of the earliest type There la no trace of any corres­ of Celtic oratory, which served ponding transept to the south. On . t,he doub.le purpose of a living the other hand, a.n engraving of room .and .. a place of worship. the Cathedral made In 1792 (re­ La.ter.,Qn, .howev.e.r, the. custom be­ produced in Grose's , " Antlqultieii came general of throwing out • of Ireland'') shows part of a low eastwards an apse or chancel; and building in the dip by the stream­ It may be that we have here the side, a little beyond the area which beglmlings of a tendnecy, even in a south transept would occupy ,mp_n,astlciam, to regard the sacred This may have been the See House, as something .'.'wholly other" than of which no trace now rema'.ns. the secular. The tendency be­ But these facts do not preclude the ca�e more pronounced when nave possiblllty tha:t such a transept and sanctuary were separated by may at one time have existed. Sir a screen. And in the case of St. Alfred Clapham maintains his Laserlan's .the screen, though a theory of its existence solely on modern erection, is there; It Is the Information of the doorway. certainly no adornment to the Immedla,tely within the screen nave-a frame of plcth-pine and Is a FOUR-ARCHED SPACE div­ gl!l,ss--but was designed simply iding the Nave from the Chancel, for the utilitarian purpose of shut­ and containing the canons' stalls. ting out the draught. from the It Is celled with a beautiful speci­ nave and letting In some light. men of TIERCERON VAULTING. Directly opposite the south door­ This style of vaulting was pre,•al­ way Is another, of exactly the same ent In England in the second half proportions, leading Into the ·ruin­ of the 14th century. But the ed NORTH TRANSEPT. Th's beauty and the quality of the work­ transept must have been convert­ manship suggests a later date, es­ ed into a !lide chapel from a quite pecially if we take Into account the early date since it contains two time-lag between English and Irish ancient awnbreys (niches In which work of the period. It may well sacred vessels were kept), on be that It was built to supporf tin either aide of the now vacant sp&ce older tower which fell Into ruin below the shortened north win­ and was replaved by the pre11ent dow, beneath which the altar must tower In the 16th century when have stood. The twin lancets considerable restor,tions w er e facing west, deeply recessed, are made. 13th century work, but the glory THE TOWER of this side chapel must have been The tower Is built upon FOUR the great window iaclng east, now ARCHES set within the ee.rller filled In, pler�ed again for a small­ walls. These arches, and the er light, aDd again filled in. On space which they enclose, form the r!Jht hand side, as one re- perhaps the most distinctive f�t· CARLO VIANA 151 ure of the whole cathedral. The 11lmllar rounded bases and capitals. stonework Itself ls sufficient tes�i­ The easternmost seat ls raised mony to the masons' sklll: the six Inches above the others. The st.x>nes are flat-sided and knit to­ hood-moulding which encl!)SeS the gether In the same manner as Sedrna is stopped east and west by . Roman brickwork. The eastern two heads In which the features a.rch has the appearance of hav­ 11.re remarkably well preserved. ing been cut through a solid wall; The total effect may be said to re­ whilst those to the north and present one of the ftnest examples south which are now blocked-In, of 13th century design and crafts­ must once have contained large manship. windows. But once again they NEW LEIGHLIN were pierced (as was the east After the Danish invasions ,vindow of the north transept) were ended by the decisive Battle with two smaller apertures to of Clontarf and Invaders had set­ oJlow more light. Somewhat care­ tled down In coastal towns, the lessly the apertures were not monastery of Leighlin became ma.de to correspond exactty with subject to depredations, being just each other; yet this sllght lrregu­ outside thePale of which the Bar­ Jarlty has a certain charm. row was the South-Eastern bound­ THE CHANCEL ary. In 1320, a bridge was con­ We now enter the long CHAN­ structed which not only afforded CEL. On our right Is plainly eaay access to and from the Pale, visible the Interior outline of the but has the distinction of being prtee&a' doorway, now blocked-In, the oldest bridge In Leinster. From which fronterly gave access to It early times a little town had without entering the nave. On our flourished there as an olfshoot of left Is the FONT. Strangely en­ the much larger settlement around ourh, the fonth is older than any the cathedral, and was called New J)&l't of the fabric of the whole Lelghlin-now known as Leigltlin­ cathedral. It is 12th century work; bridge, and thither the poulation the bowl having be4!n hallowed out from Old Lelghlin driftel. of a solid block of black Kilkenny ST. LASERIAN'S WELL: �cal marble. A slight roughne1111 to the traduton has It that a mee.tlng touch is apparent If the hand ls took place here between St. passed along the Interior. This is Laserlan and St. Finbarr of. Cork. due to the marks of the email axe Dr. Comerford in Volume III of -the tool which wu In use before Dlocsees of Kildarll and Lelghlin the chisel. describes St. Lsaerian's W.ell as The four SEDILIA on the south follows: side of the choir are the most " At the distance of 100 yards gracef.ul feature of the whole Chan­ west of the Cathedral and close by cel. Dating as they do from clrc. a stream which rises In the ad­ 1240, they are older than the pre­ joining hills, Is the holy well of sent walls. The seats are divided St. Laserian, commonly called St. by three rounded shafts with Molashog's Well. The Patron used rounded bases and oapltal1. The to be kept on April 18th, the feast trefoil canopies which rest upon of the Saint, but was discontinued the capitals are beautifully pro­ in 1812, when In consequence of portioned and are crowned by a some riotous proceedings, It was series of roll mouldings whir.h fol­ prohi.blted by the Parish Priest. low thP. contours of the trcfo'I. Two veryold ash trees and a white· The cast and west ends of the thorn, which overshadowed the Sedili& h:we engaged shafts w:th well, were cut down a.bout 1823 hy CARLO VIANA 152 the late Captain Vigor& of Erin­ and at all times there could be dale. At some few yards distance seen the usual pilgrims' rellcs at­ from the well stands an ancient tached to the hawthorn tree that crou, 5ft. In height, the arms in a grew beside ft. Some years ago. circle of a tYPe common through­ a Committee· was formed and a out Ireland, A.n.d usually found In plan designed by the late Mr. connection with our oldest church- ' ·Hade, Carlow, was carried through ea. Very probably, it is coeval with successfully, and the Most Rev. the ftrst monastery there. Even Dr. Foley solemnly opened the new though the Patron was prohlbltl!d, Well in the presence of a larg3 devotion to the Well never ceased, and enthWtlastlc crowd.

' OLD LEIGHLIN CATHEDRAL

(Photo b)' T. P. WALSH) CARLOVIANA 153 RATHVILLY THROUGH THE AGES ; .. By T. P. WALSH The Parish of Rathvilly com­ moat of Rathv1lly, 'six hundred' prises the ancient parishes of feet above sea-level, and which ts' Rathvtlly, Rabell, Klnneagh, Rath­ such an outstanding land-mark more .and Straboe in the County for miles around. Carlow, and Klltegan and Kil· According to Dr. Comerford'· the/ ranelagh In the County Wicklow. earliest inhabitants of this locality' It is with the County Carlow ••appear to have been the descend­ section of the parish that the pre­ ants of Oliolll 'of the Cciinadans· sent essay proposes to deal. Connacians but these; in· · the­ Rathvtlly Pariah is situated in course of a few centuries, iiad to the North-East of County Carlow, give way before the more powerful and is bounded on the north by descendants of Cathair Mor, King Baltlnglass Pariah, South by Tul· of Leinster and Monarch of Ire.:· low and Clonmore Parishes, East land." Dr. Joyce says:�"Hy by Hacketstown Parish and West Felimy was the name of · a ui� by Tlnryland and Castledermot and district m. the 'present.Barony Parishes. It is five miles from of Rathvllly. Its name is stU} north to south and one mile from preserved in •that or" the town: o'f east to west. TulJow-0-Fellmy-now commonly The name Rathvtlly is derived called Tullow. from the Irish Rath-Bhile-"the [1 011011, King of Connaught. (Olfoll ot the Connaclans ! ) 1111&aed the ThrGtoe,o(. : fort of the old tree.'' Dr. Comer· Ireland from . Lewy the Son of LaoJh· ford says "Bile, according to Dr. ntre In A.D."63,' and ·C&thalr Mor' was sla,ln In A.D,177,....,...<:aa Dr, comertcr'1 .toyce was applied to a large tree, have been mistaken In l\ls i:ef•N!Jl941 to which for any reason was held In OlloH-lt seems more llltatrtck a site at vlvlng children, was placed under CARLO VIANA 155 the care of St. Kevin. In the life The Rev, P. L. O'Toole in his of St.· Fintan of Clonenagh lt ls "Hi.story of the Clan O'Toole" has related that having heard that the following entry from the same Colman· had Cormac, Regulus of source:- Hy l3alrche, tn· captivity, whom he " Ua Tuathal, Prince of thought of putting to death, the Imaal, made war twice on the saint, taking with him twelve of King of Hy Klnsellagh. Bruadar his disciples proceeded to Rath­ Mac Duibhahel.la, Lord of Hy more to try to affect his release. Kinsellagh, was slain by Tuath· Colman, hearing of their approach, al son of Ugatre. This King, and suspecting the object of their Bruadar, had his realdence at vJslt, gave orders to exclude them, Rathvllly, and we may suppose and also to guard well the royal that It was then Tuathal added person, but, lo, the door of the to his territory of· Imalll that prison flew ·open before the saint, part south of the Glen of that and the fetters fell from the cap­ name." Uve•·a limbs. · King Colman, on (Was Bruadar possibly a hearlng this, consulted his counael­ Dane? Did the Danes setUe lobi; and,' actlng on their advice he here after capturing monaster­ set the captive free, and at the ies of Clonmore, Aghade and same time all his other prisoners. CasUedermot?) Colgan states of him that "after a long and prosperous reign he NORMAN INVASION retired In A.D. 455 to the monas­ History Is silent as to any tery of St. Comgall at Bangor. actlvlUes In or about Rathvllly Historians maintain few lnc:­ during the period immediately dents of importance as having precedln:r the Anglo-Norman ln­ happened in Rathvtlly neighbour­ vasl.on, but as Dermot McMur· hood during the lnv11-s'.ons of the rough had a residence at Castle­ Danes, but as the country, e.tQ'Upd dermot and founded, at Baltln­ was · rich and fertile, and as the glass, a monastery, which, by the Slaney offered an avenue .from the way, must have been In Dermot's sea to the invaders, who according territory of Hy Kl.naellagh, we tg the London Chronicle generally may conclude that this place dld followed the . courses .of the riven not escape from the prevailing in. their raids, we may be ce�aln turbulencea. that_... the inhabitants -of the place In ..those • days suffered from their THE CASTLE. depredations and cruelty. We The Castle of Rathvllly ls mp­ know !rom the Four Masters that po1ed to have 1tood on the 11.eld ad· Clonmore received their unwel­ Joining and to the South of St, come attentions, as the following Patrick'• Church, and the field still entries ·attest:- retains the name of " The C!Ullle Field." Dr. Comerford states that A.D. 834. The plundering of "_tt la uncertain by whom It wu Ferns, Clonmore-Mogue and built, some ascribing It to De Lacey Dromln (Co. Meath) by the who bunt the ad.joining Castles of foreigners. Carlow, Tullow, etc. De Lacey was A�D. 835. Clonmore Mogue appointed Viceroy In ·1179, but It Is was burned on Xmas Night by not by any means certain that he the foreigners, and a great built the Cutle of Rathvllly, u number were slain ·"1 them;- there wl',S � stronghold here long CARLO VIANA ·.156 ��pre · hlm, which he may have He encamped at Ballygarry, where a.d,cl{ld to !)r strengthened. Even King Art McMurrough, with Mai- , though Carlow,, dµring the reign of achl., his UJ:)cle, Rory Oge O'Moore, H�n'ry Iii (1216-1272) was granted Donald O'Nolan, O'Byrne and other t�,M•Ud, daughter .of William Earl Irish Chiefs we.re assembled to hear �.shall an!f through her came his terms. Art refueed to treat i.Jlto the posse13sloq of J,Jugh Le with him and said that If he treated B·�d;, Earl of ,Noi:tolk (�hom ahe at all It would be with the King. marrJ.ed), and eventually In 1347 to Ballygorry, where this conference Tbo��s Brothertop, Duke of Nor­ was held is supposed to be In the fqiJt, the.rule o! these lords Palatine townland of Grange, adjoining w;s not ac�nowledgeq 'by tne local Rathvily Parlall-(accordlng to E. �iefl!, �cMu�qugil ruled in O'Toole). �lnceti. state·�,1n. c1onmullen and fb �a viliy, eic:.• t CASTLE CHANGES HANDS. It Is probable that Edward Bruce In the vicissitudes and wars of If hi_s l'f�Ur,slon into the Southern these times It must have happened Countiee,. rriay have . marched by that the Castle of Rathvilly passed tta.thviJly, as we 11,re told that In out of the hands of the Kavanagh1, �*� 'he:.i��ed throug� Castleder­ somewhere about the end of the mot and· ''l.'till'ow, lri his progress 15th century, although there is no southwards. As the Kavanaghs authentic record of Its having done were then all powerful In Carlow, so. However, Lord Walter Fitz­ he may ,have fouhd friends here· ln­ gerald, In a paper on Garret More, ste'e:d of erieinles. Sth Earl of Kildare, in the Kildare ·))arcy"McGee' s "Are MacMur­ Archaeological Journal (page 128) ro'Jgfi" states( (page· 6) that Don­ writes:-"About this period, lll05, ald �ac Art.' Kavanagh-who had the Earl rebuilt several castles to ' pt'ev.it:n:iiity been taken prisoner and strengthen the position of the escaped from Dublin Castle-had crown, and among others the White conttue�ed-ln quick time .. the whole Castle of Athy, and those of Castle­ ofth�-Cofrhty'Carlow, and the best dermot and Rathvllly, the latter In patt· of 'Wexford." In 1358 Art and the County Carlow. Subsequently Dohala: )Reeagh were J)roclatmed the Castle must have changed hands· ,l R'ebels _;,r in 'a " Pale " Parliament pretty regularly. In the reign of cafled ·M Castiedermot. This Art .James I, Rathvllly Castle and the · captured In succession the Castles lands attached to it pused into the of Kilbellen, Galbartstown, Rath­ possession of the Ormonde family villy and other strong places." (The Butlers). In 1620 It was • ;ft,, trj qblt-e possible that King agreed by Indenture that Lady lttehard ll'··tn ·his distastrous Jour­ Elizabeth. wife of the Earl of De11- mfy from' Waterford-through Hy­ mond, and daughter of the Earl of llfih&ellagh ·to Dub11n-may have Ormonde, " shall have the Castle, JjAil&e'd ne1kr RathV'illy. We are told lands and manor of Rathvllly, that' he . res'ted In Kilkenny and Tullowphellm and Clonmore." Not­ ct>mmlssioned ·the, Earl Marshall to withstanding wars, rebellions, per­ gointo Carlow, there to treat peace­ secutions and Inquisitions, a quite d.1>ly<' ·with· )facMtirrough and his respectable number of the native sllles:.;,, Tlie Manshall cro88ed the inhabitants of Hy-Klnsellagh must Bai:tow :'-at5.'Uelghlinbrldge and sent have clung to their patromonles, out heralds. to proclaim that he for Darcy McGee states that:­ cmne.,tb .make a·· truce,and to invite " Their numbers and wealth were 1i.i•·Clwef,s of �jnster to meet him, very coneldere.ble even In the reign CA1thu v 1.A. , 157 ot Charles!, as an inquisition held any activities on the part ot Rath­ early In. the reign ·of that monarch vllly Parish in connection with the shows." He gives a list of over Rebellion of '98. Several local tradi­ fttty. Individuals to wh

own, and their minds were free for • other activities. The Convention REFERENCES: Act had been repealed, and a great (1) Coll•M!ona of Kildare and Lclghlln Convention was called in Thurles (Comerford). (2) Early Irish History and Mythology by the Archbishop of Cashel-Dr. (O'Rahlll:r,). Croke-and Michael Cusack. The (3) Place. Names of Ireland (Joyce). G.A.A. was established in order to (t) Annals of the Fou� Muters. (5) Journals of Kildare .Archaeological put the national games on a pro­ Society. per footing. The first County Com­ (6) History of the Clan O'Toole (Rev. P. L. O'Toole). mittee of the G.A.A. was formed In (7) Gachtra Deoraidhe I gCeln (Myles Carlow in 1888 and M. P. Maher of Byrnes Memories). Rathvilly was the first Chairman. (8) Art McMurrough (D' Atty McGee). (9) Reminiscences of the late Edward The ftrst football club in Rathvilly O'Toole. 0ARLOVIANA 160 Supplement to Paper on Rathvilly NOTE''oN TH),!: TERRITORY OF sword through the druld's body. -HY-IBNSELLAGH Before he expired, the priest told . Ea.na that the tnsultll!g smile Aa the term Hy-Kinsellagh which accompanled. the thrust occurs so frequenUy ln the early should be a reproach to his post.. history of Lelnter, it may be well erity, so long a.s one of them to explain how the term origin­ rema.lned alive, for It should them ated, and the probable extent of a name that would not be for­ the a.rea so described, and also to gotten. The family was ever call attention to the fact that afterwards known by the name of the name ls spelt. In several dl1'fer· U l b h Ceansalach: the word ent ways. In the " Genealogy of " salach " In the IriBh langqa.ge Hy-Cennsella.lgh" we find the fol­ stgnlfies foul or reproe.chful.· '· lowln.g:-"93 Enna. Ceansalagh. It ls not easy to state what ex Eana defeated Eochaidh Mulgh­ actly were the bQundarles of Hy­ reedom. C. 360 at Cruichan Claeuta Klnsellagh, if, indeed, it had a� (Croghan Hm, where he �Jew fixed boundary at all, as the old Ceanathech, the dru'd, by whom territorial divisions were con­ he was called ' Cea.n. Salach • f.e. stantly changing, owing to the 'foul head• (or laugh). Keating success or failure of thelr rulers. expl&lns (page 4'6) hoW Ean'l tn the. tribal ,or int;emlclne war­ c�e by the opprohious nickname. fa.re of those· early times. Dr. He- at.ates that during the batUe Com�rford and Fr. Dents Murphy, of Croghan (which ls Croghan S:J. a.re of the opinion that It com­ Kenshell.a In Co. Wlcklow)-not prises the whole County Wexford, Croghan In OJfa.ly-the druid was portion at County Carlow and the taken prisoner 8lld brought be­ �arony of Sh1llelagh ln Wicklow. fore Eana who asked his officers It ts J>O,S9ible it embraced. the why they spa.red ·tihe ll!r·� of the whole of the cn.tcltment a,rea of. priest. This Incensed the druid the Slaney, that of the Barrow, E. who told the King tha.t he should of the River Barrow and even ex­ never ftght with �ccess out of tended Into Kildare; for we are the fields where he then stood, told that Dubhtach who lived at and so outraged was Eana. that Kllleen-Cormac nea.r·Ballitore had with a. scornful smile he trust his his residence ln Hy-Klnaella.gh ? E; O'TOOLE

BOOK NOTICE.

(D'brneU Sctool, Rathvllly, by Michael Quane. Reprinted fro°' The Journal of Royal Society of Antlquariee of IreJand.. Volµme LXXVIIJ. Part 1. July, 1948). . ., The D'Israell School, Ratt.villy, was built f.or the Com�lssioners (#... Education In Ireland In .1826. Benjamin Ir:{!Jraell who endowed the schoo\ wa!! an Interesting public chara,cter In Ireland of the .18"1 �en� tury. This account by Dr. Quane wlll be of .interest to thl! ,members. of the Old Carlow Socfety.-(T.P.W.). ,,. CARLOVJ.. lGl The Shacktetons and Ballitore By MISS A. TRACEY A traveller in the year 1792 tells husband of one /of the fcurth how he followed a road rcsembllng generation over a pertop_.�r p,o a fine terrace walk and It led him years with but one small break 1n to a spot where Nature and Art the continuity; the visitors to the had conspired \to form what Wds village, her numerous corre.spond­ veritably a "Garden of the Lord." ents: these weave In and out: of He continues: "It ls a colony of the pages in a realistic manner. Quakers called by the name Balll­ Her own happy childhood is p:>r­ tore. The River Griese wlnda its trayed, and in 1t the older genera­ stream very near the houses and tion figures largely. the buildings, orc;hards and gar­ She married In 1791 wura.m dem1 show an elegant aimplicity Leadbeater with whom she spent peculiar to this people. years of happy wedded bliss. Wil­ " Their burying ground near the llam came a.s a pupil to Ballltore road is surrounded by d·trerent 1n 1777. His coming caused a trees whose verdure made us im­ mlld sensation as he was "accom­ agine lt a well-planted garden till panied by his brother-1n�Iaw' rind we were informed otherwise. The guardian an Episcopal clergyinifo, hedges that enclose the fields and and his friend, a Catholic PriesL meadows are quick-set and about William himself later joined ,the every ten yards trees regularly Society of Friends. pierce through them forming beautltul groves of large extent. "THE SCHOOL" Industry reigns amongst this hap­ py society; all their works are The founder of the school in executed with taate corrected by Ballitore was Mary Leadbeater's judgment, and seem to prosper a.s grandfather, Abraham Shackleton, if Heaven smiled on their honest a Quaker from Yorkshire, who labours." came to Ireland as ·a private tutor to the sons of gentlemen. He was "ANNALS OF BALLITORE" engaged tn this capacity by Wil­ Mary Leadbeater nee Shackle· liam Cooper, of Cooper HUI, and ton (born 1758) rendered a great John Duckett, of Duckett's Grove, eervlce to Ballitore and gave a b o t h Quakers. Appreciating valuable contribution to Ir;ah Shackleton's worth, these gentle­ literature when she compiled the men encouraged him to open a "Annala Of Ballitore." From 1766 boarding school for Quaker boys. until ·two years before her death He· went back to Yorkshire and ip. 1826 she kept a journal which married Margaret WllkiMon; of thirty-six years after her death Skipton, and retumtng to Ireland was presented to the world a.s they set up their school in Balli­ "The Annala." tore and welcomed their first The history and doings of the boarders on the la't March, 172,6. members of her own famUy, the Ballitore was . an established - Society Of Friends, the everyday Quaker settlement and lla.d been .life ·of ·the village, the pupils ot founded as such by Abel Strettel the school kept by three genera­ and John Barcroft, who settled tions of Shackletons and the under the shadow of :Mullaghmast 162 CARLOVIANA early Jn the eighteenth century sister came to live In Ballltore. and tho� 'wE!re soon joined by This lady in her youth, Mary other membere of the Society. informs us, Indulged in dress as Confined to Quakers at the be­ far as possible, was musical and ginning, Abraham Shackleton was had an uncommon taste for -draw­ prevailed upon In a short t!me to ing; but- " before the sea.son of· open his doors to others and the . Youth was past she denounced all school attracted pupils of every these delights and wu faithful and persuasion and of many national­ diligent in doing what sbe.. believed, ities. The school accommodated to be·her duty." Like her husband between fifty and sixty boarders she conscientiously carried out her annually and I will mention a few duties towards the children en­ of the llustrlous names later. trusted ·to their care and Mary re­ In 1756 Abraham Shackleton cords that two boys of mor.? gave over tlie school to his BOn, tender age than the average pupll Richard Shackleton ( father of she actually pinned to her apron Mary), and retired to the Retreat at times. where he employed his time Mary's poetic talent man'fested cultivating his land, paying reli­ Itself at an early age and Richard, gious visits and enjoying the himself gifted In a like manner, companionship of his grandchild­ encouraged and fostered It in his ren. He died Jn 1771 and was daughter, though in his own case, Interred In the little Quaker grave­ he " did not make It•his study as , yard, his funeral being attended he devoted his care to the bigher by a vast concourse of Friends. endowments of the mind and k::pt Abraham's character has been poetry to that subordinate station, eummed up In a few words. " He befitting those relaxations which It was a learned and good man, is allowable to occasionally indulge s�ralghtforward In all his dealings l.n." 8:J1d sincere In his concourse with In their tum Richard · and his• Qod and man." wife resigned the school and f11mlly Richard Shackleton reflected his rosidenceto their son·Abraham·and father's virtues and In addition his his wife, Lydia Mellor. There was abilities had been more highly cul­ a great to-do amongst the servants tivated, better faclllties hav·ng when the master and mistress been provided for his education moved out. One of them locked than his father had enjoyed. He herself In the pantry a.nd her noisy had completed his education In lamentations were to be heard all Trinity College, a most unusual over the house. proceeding for the son of such a Lydia Mellor, whom Abraham atrlct Quaker as Abraham Shack­ married In February, 1779, Mary leton. naively tells us, was born a gentle­ The tradition of the school was woman and bred in the city of maintained during Richard's re­ Manchester and was accustomed gime. He married Elizabeth Ful­ from Infancy to the refinements of ler, of Fuller�s Court, who died at good breeding. Consequently, the age of twenty-eight, leaving though her manners were a style four ·young children. The young­ above village simplicity, the neigh­ est of these died shortly after Its bours were willing on these con­ mother. As his 1JeCond wife siderations to excuse the young Rtchard married Elizabeth Carle­ mistress! By degrees she con­ ton, of Dublin, whose mother and formed in her dress more to the CARLO VIANA 163 local ideas of simplicity and her moved to Grlesebank; the school sister came to keep her company residence was let and Mary in Ballltore and proved a welcome laments the closing of the hitherto addition to the little circle. Mary ever open door. notes "We rejoiced In our acquisi­ Abraham continued to superin­ 0 tions and· our late sore affliction tend business at the Mlll and there (I.e., leaving the old home) was is evidence that he was fond of l!(>ftened Into a tender regret." ,M3 own opinion. This led to a Mary's mother delighted In her series of clashes with the Soc:ety garden at " The Retreat " where who eventually disowned him. His .the family were ru,w establlshed, daughter Betsy called his faults and her father employed himselfJn "excesses "--excesses of benevol­ writing and visitinghis neighbours. ence, excess of candour and . He also devoted more of his time sincerity. Mary mentions that than hitherto to the service of the for about a year prior to his death, Society of Friends. About this which occurred In 1818, he had time a neighbour, Molly Hudson. refrained from the use of tea, lost -some property In a ftre at her sugar, or anything which appeared brother's house and was Invited on to be connected with war as " he a visit by the Shackletons while the deemed commerce to be." He was hou·se was being rebuilt. Mary very fond of tea (which was :not mentions that she remained with in general use at the time, nor for them for twenty years. years afterwards), but·on prtndp!e he breakfasted and supped on In 1801 Abraham Shackleton re· potatoes and milk. fused to take in any more pupils .James White married In 1806 and he moved to the Mill to super· Lydia Shackleton, daughter of intend the business there. Some Abraham, and re-opened the school of the family remained on at the the following year. Two sons of school house where day pupils wer e Samuel Haughton of Carlow had taught by his son Richard and been the last boarders accepted by Mary Stephens. Abraham was, Abraham and it was a third son like the other members of his who was the ftrst boarder when "family, very high princ'pled, and .James White became Master. In addition was extremely scrupu­ Lydia only lived for ftve years, but lous:For years prior to rellnqulsh­ Abraham kept the school going 'hi.g · the school he suffered qualms until 1886. He enlarged the as to " the propriety of the study school dwelling In 1812 by adding of those authors which treat in to it an adjoining house and turned seducing language of the Illusions the parlour of this Into a library of love and the trade of war and to which the boys had free access. he published {In 1801) an advert­ , isement declining to Include such "STAR PUPIL" works in his scheme of education." Some of the pupils. The "star" · Naturally this precluded boys -from pupil ih the Ballitore establishment being prepared for the University. was Edmund Burke. He entered Coupled with the disturbed state It in May, 17'1, with two brothers. of the times, when parents for the ·Prior to going to Ballltore the most part kept their boys near Burkes had attended a dame's their homes, this reduced the school and the elderly lady in numbers very con-sidetably. In charge of it had so aroused their 1803 the day school cl� down ire that having a day's holiday and tht Abraham Sh�letoni, re- ther planned to deyot� It tq 164 ' CARLO VIANA mutdering her, but were foiled by "CARDINAL CULLEN II her absence from home. Appar­ Father .James Maher, the Parish ently the disappointment took the Priest of Carlow Gra1gue and edge off their vindictiveness, for friend of .J. K. L., and friend and they soug�t no further opportunity protector of the poor and op­ to carry out their scheme. Richard pressed, was a pull of Ballltore Shackleton and Edmund were class under James White's regime. So fellows"and were in Trinity College too was Paul Cullen, later to be together. Their early friendship Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin and at� the test of time and Burke Primate of Ireland. He entered often visited Ballitore. Richard the school in 1812, and sixteen and Mary had opportunities of years later, while yet a student in meeting Burke In London when Minor Orders, in a public dleputa· they, went there for the Yearly tlon In Rome before the r�lgning M�et111g of Friends, and on one Pontiff, Pope Leo xn, and his occasion they were Burke's guests court, he held his illustrious at Beaconsfteld, as his old master, audience spellbound "at the clear, Abraham, had also been on a prior yet deep, copious learning, which occasion. was poured forth from the splendid Burke took a keen interest In mind of the young Irishman." But Mary's literary work and corres­ far more than the treasures ot his ponded with her regularly. In knowledge did they adm're th"! fact one of his last letters, dictated profound humlllty with which he shortly before his death and signed received and acknowledged their bY. him, was to Mary. This, and acclamations of delight and many other of his lettel'8 to her astonishment. father and her were published at So It was In every walk of life the same time as the " Annals." -ln Church and In State, In war To his brotherly love for Richard and In peace, many of the puptls of he added a filial regard and respect Ballltore School achieved distinc­ for his Qld master and mourned his tion. Mention Is made In the passing as a son. "Annals " of some who retumcd Of great interest to the mem­ to the old spot with tales of their bers of the Old Carlow Society are adventures. Tom Eyre, for in­ the names of two pupils enrolled stance, who enlisted at 16 for the In 1729,. Ephraim and Thomas American War, and afterwards Boak�, ot whose family one of our met in the West Indtes hie double, first and most respected members, another Ballltore boy. Tom's the late Mr. Edmund Boake, was brother joined the Navy from the a descendant. school and died In the Ea.tit Ind:es. NOTE-The late Mr. Edmund At Fontenoy another pupil died. Boake treasured a souvenir of Waterloo claimed more and so It Ballitore School, Jn the form of a went on. They not only saw medal. The medal ls ln the pos­ history in the making but helped session of his son, Mr. Barry to make It. Boake. It was kindly lent by him "VISITORS TO BALLITORE II for the inspection of the Old Car· The Duke and Duche88 of low Society. Lelnater came occasionally In their Napper Tandy, the noted leader carriage wtth outriders to dine in the '98 Insurrection, was an­ with Madam Keatlngs of th� other pupil whose name appears Great House. Edmund Burke re­ on the roll in 1749. turned to Ballltor� many times and CARLOVIANA I 65 rejoiced to renew the friendships ately these me•. ,, .e removed and ma.de during echooldays. Marla were replaced by the Tyrone Edgeworth, though she corres­ Milltia who proved to be of dif­ ponded with Mary and wrote the ferent calibre. Foraging of farms, Preface to her " Cottage Dialo­ shops and private houses became gues," was never in Ballltore; but the order of the day. Protests her sister-In-law, accompanied by were made and protection was pro­ Sir Walter Scott's elder son, called mised to those who would apply on the Leadbeater&. The Bishop for it. But the Friends deemed of Meath was another v1sltor and this step inconslstent with their conversed with Mary · on their principles so they had to put up mutual friend, Edmund Burke. with the loss and Indignities in­ Many ministers of the Society of flected on them. The Suffolk Friends, male and female, came Fenclbles and the Ancient Britons ftom time to time. Sally Shackle­ were l'.Ldded to the Tyrone Militia ton, Mary's sister, had entered the and " the once peaceful village ex­ ministry. Other female mln'sters hibited a scene of tumult and dis­ who came to the village were Anna may; torture of the victims was Forster and Priscma Gurney, a excessive and the air rang with native of Norwich and sister to the shrieks of the sufferers and Elizabeth Fry, who is celebrated those who saw them suffer." The for her work amongst the fema'e military were withdrawn to Naa<1 prisoners in Newgate. and soon after the insurgents were In May, 1818, there was a re­ in possession of the village for a union hi Ballltore of the five child· short time before they proceeded ren ·of Richard Shackleton, the four to C&stledermot. The regular sisters meeting at their brother's army returned with cannon and table. The eldest had married the peaceable inhabitants were de­ Samuel Grubb, of Clonmel...:...tt inay livered up for two hours to the be that It is her husband who is licence of a turious soldiery. The buried at Bay Loch in the pass vlllage was set on fire, but at over the mountains between Clog­ length the danger passed. but heen and Mount Melleray. Another many had fallen, amongst them had married a Quaker named one of the finest characters in the Chandlee, from Athy; and Sally "Annals," Dr. Johnstone, who had in the intervals of her visitations exhausted himself tending the spent her time In Ballitore, super­ wounded. intending the Lancaster school for Hugh Cullen, of Prospect (father poor children and teaching the of cai-citnal Cullen), was arrested, women and girls the art of straw but thanks to the elforts of his plaiting. schoolfellow, Ephraim Boake, who "REBELLION OF '48" went to Dublin and exerted his in­ For all the placidity of the fluence with the Archbishop of Quaker community, which con­ C&shel to put pressure on Lord cerned Itself neither with politics Castlereagh to give an order to nor war, the troubles of 1798 and stop the proceedings by court· the consequent lean years did not martial. Raids and robberies b�­ by pass Ballitore. A detachment came the order of the day. A of Militia was sent to garrison the state of lawlessness reigned and village. Captain Palmer, an ex­ many of the inhabitants fled from pupll, was in charge, and every­ "the village. Mary, her mother and thing promised well, Vnfor:un- two c;:hildren, went for satet1 to 166 CARLO VIANA Carlow for a short time. employ them. He had. land nearbJ �1;,.uilding of the houses was at Mount Blake that had been so ()arried out ,t the expense of many trespassed upon that It was useles3 of the fine trees for which Ballitore for farming, and he decided to was famous, and even the hedges build upon it, and Ballltore Inn wer.e cut down for ftr;ng. Mary was the result of this decision. · Leadbeater laments the loss of the Mary wrote her poems, her trees, and then she com:oles her­ " Cottage Dialogues," her books self that the presence of her b!· ·for children and her " Annals " as JovJ!(! trees would have been a poor well as her Innumerable letters to �lace if beneath their shade ah :i Mrs. Trench, George Crabb:i and had to l&ment the death of some so many others. dear friend cut off by one of those putrid fevers which so often visited "MEMORIES" Ballltore before their fall admitted Time marches on and it_ is ju�t a freer circulation of air. Judging 222 years since Abraham Shackle· -from the number of deaths re­ ton established his school. Names corded In the " Annals," smallpox and Initials of the boys who played and fever took their toll of lives in ·the ball alley are still to b; de· in Ballltore, whether the trees or ciphered on Its walls. The Retreat the primlUve sanitation of the ( so well named) ls occupied stlll; times was responsible. Fam·ne so Is Griesemount, Griesebank and followed in the footsteps of war. Boakfleld. The old Mill Is un­ Potatoes were thirteen pence the roofed. Fuller's Court Is d�solate stone in Ballltore, but William and so is the Meetinghouse where Leadbeater had a large stock c·f the Quakers foregatherej on First this necessary food which enabl :id Days and where Mary learned to him to feed the workmen in the )ove casement windows because Cine kitchen as well as joining largely of these ad·mltted the light to each In the public contribuUon. When end of the MeeUnghouse and be· the Spring work was completed he guiled the lonesome hours and the was touched by the dlstre83 that tedium of the meetings with th:?lr would be occasioned If he dis­ long spells of silence, by throwing charged his workmen, as wao;i · the shadows of the trees in th? customary at this season; so he grove in a graceful manner to her planned how he could continue to view. BALLITORE 1910. C.ARLOVIANA 167 A Carlow M.P.-Sir John Acton

By REV. P. J. BROPHY

ELECTION OF 1859 voting was in public as the Ballot Lord Acton, the celebrated Cam­ Act did not become law until 1872. bridge historian, represemed the The borough of Carlow enjoyed borough of Carlow for aix years. an unenviable reputation for bribery His career in parliament was un­ and corrupt practice. The legality eventful as Acton was too much of of the election of 1837 was attacked an independent to submit to the on the ground "that a number of strait-jacket of party politics. This persons had been placed on the account describes the circumstances registry the value of whose holdings of his election and his political ideals was insufficient." A committee set as expressed on that occasion. up to examine similar charaes against the conduct of affairs in BOROUGH OF CARLOW 1839 unseated Francis Bruen. Since REPRESENTED IN PARLIAMENT defending a seat on petition cost from £2,000 to £5,000 only men of THE right of the Sovereign and considerable substance were prepared free burgesses of Carlow " to to risk presenting themselves at the elect and return two discreet and hustings as candidates for parlia· proper men to serve and attend in mentary honours. Such a one was every Parliament thereafter to be the notorious John Sadlier who was held " was derived from a royal M.P.for Carlow from 1847 to 1853, charter of James I, dated April 19, during which time he rose to 1613, by which the Corporation of wealth, fame and a )ordship of the Carlow was to consist of " the Treasury. Sadlier's financial ventures pottrieve, free burgesses and com­ involving the monies invested in his monalty of the borough of Carlow." Tipperary Joint Stock Bank and the The number of electors was fixed Royal Swedish Railway Company at twelv� by Charles II in 1675, brought disaster upon himself and and some time later increased to the numerous investors who had twenty-four by James II. After the entrusted their savings to his un­ Act of Union in 1800 the borough scrupulous hands. Sadlier repre· was represented by a single member, sented the Liberal or Whig interest, the second seat being suppressed. and his fall from power led to the In 1830, when not four free bur­ eclipse of his party in Carlow. He ges!e!l of the town could be was succeeded by tho Tory land­ mustered, the freemen of Carlow lord, · John Alexander of Milford, made a vigorous but abortive who sat for the borough of Carlow attempt to s�ure a voice in the from 1853 to 1859. During this election of their parliamentary repre­ period he never once spoke in par· sentatives. Three years later the Jiament, altltough according to the franchise was extended to £10 house­ .. Carlow Sentinel" he .. won a vast holders within Carlow and the amount of golden opinions from suburb of Graigue, and it was 'friends and political opponents." further extended to £8 householders in 1850. At this period the financial ELECTION OF 1859 qualific�ion for voting was lower When in April, 1859, Queen here than in England, but in Ireland Victoria dissolved parliament the CARLOVIANA 168 arena was cleared f:u a fierce contest shire. After Sir Richard Acton's between the Whigs and the Tories. death, Lady Acton, heiress to the The political situation in Carlow, Dalbera fortunes, married Lord already complicated by land a1ita· Leveson, son of the fint earl of tion, was aggravated by the Granville. Lord Granville, who · denigratory activities of certain had held office in the Whig govern­ sectarian ministen, notably Mr. ments of Melbourne, Russell, Barnett of the Scots Church. This Palmerston and Gladstone, intro­ reverend 1entleman had seen fit to duced his stepson into politics. -ln bring to Carlow an apostate Italian selectin1 an Irish borough for his cleric, one Gavazzi, whose arrival young protege the County of Clare in the toWft" �tt �egarded as a was first proposed in 1857 and then wanton insult to the predominantly the borough of Carlow in 1859. Sir Catholic population. The inhabitants John was the only English Catholic of the town at this period numbered elected in Ireland, as Lord Edward almost nine thousand-86 per cent. Howard was the only Catholic were Catholic-of whom 236 qualified representing an English constituency. to vote on the £8 household Illness prevented the baronet from franchise. Against this background appearing in penon in Carlow, so of religious dissension the election he had to be content with writing of 1859 took on a heightened an election address containing these interest. Among the candidates clauses: whose names were proposed to "I desire a satisfactory reform contest the Carlow seat on behalf bill extending to Ireland and the of the Liberals were those of John protection of the independence of Thomas Ball, later Lord Chancellor, the elector by the ballot. H. S. Gridley and Sir Thomas " I will gladly support any Redington. A last · minute choice measure which promises to improve was that of a Catholic baronet, Sir the present untenable position of John Emerich Edward Dalberg­ the Irish tenant. Acton who · as Lord Acton was to "With respect to the great ques­ achieve fame as the professor of tion of education I consider that history at Cambridge Univenity. however beneficial the influence of John Alexander sought re-election in religion is in its early stages, that the interest of the Tory party of influence is absolutely indispensable Lord Derby who on the eve of the for its higher grades." preceding election had denounced The concluding paragraphs of the the Catholic Church as " religiously address have an added significance corrupt and politically dangerous." when read in the light of con· This declaration was a trump card temporary events. "In the present in the hands of the Liberals. fearful complication of Foreign Politics, which overshadows all "CARLOW FOR ACTON" other questions, we shall be most Sir John Acton was born at secure of peace by being most pi:e· Naples in 1802. His pa_ternal gran.d· pared for war. Now, that Revolu­ father was prime minister of the tion is again allied with despotism, kingdom of the two Sicilies ; his to found an illusive liberty for maternal grandfather, Duke of European nations, I hope it will Dalberg, the last representative of not be forgotten that it was as the a great Rhineland fnmily. The antagonist of the Revolution and traditional English seat of the of the despotism which was born Actons was at Aldenham in Shrop- from it, that the British Empire CARLOVIANA 169 conquered her high position. of their voice, and blocking up by " If you do me the honour of their numbers the· public ways." electing me, I shall feel not so The dragoons charged the excited much that I have contracted a new crowds in an attempt to disperse obligation as that you have given them and forestall attacks on the me an opportunity of showing that homes of those Catholics who had I am not insensible of the old debt voted for Alexander. A few of gratitude which every English windows were broken before they Catholic owes to the people of went home. Ireland." ACTON'S STATEMENT OF On Tuesday, May 3, nominations were received in the Court House POLICY by the high sheriff William Browne A few days later Acton addressed Clayton, described by Fr. Maher as a long letter to Fr. Maher, his " a young gentleman of great champion in Carlow, in which he promise who bore his honours and outlined the policy to be pursued responsibility with that firmness, by him in parliament. He was no and at the same time gentleness of party man. "I hope and believe," manner, which indicates the pos­ he wrote, " that the interests of session of a mind of no ordinary party will cease to be deemed stamp." In front of the court paramount above the interests of house was stationed a troop of the the country, and that the public Third Light dragoons (drafted into good will become the first consider­ the town on the previous day) and ation in every political measure. inside the railings were a few For there are vast social as well as mounted police together with a political questions before us, of strong body of foot. The friends of which Ireland offers not a few. Sir John Acton and Mr. John which cannot be put off, and which Alexander occupied places in the cannot be met except on the court room on either side of the broadest and most comprehensive bench and shortly after ten o'clock basis of patriotic legislation. • • • the building was full to overflowing But if there is no existing party to with an excited and enthusiastic which I think it possible to attach crowd. Samuel Houghton proposed myself, the one now in power I and William Fishbourne seconded shall deem it my duty to oppose. the nomination of Mr. Alexander . . • I am no partisan, but I had to the accompaniment of constant rather reckon on Liberal principles, interruptions. Edward Flood, a than on the fears of the Tories. I town commissioner, and Thomas am sure we cannot make friends of Pric�. proprietor of the " Carlow the Tories, and I do not think it Post," proposed Acton. On a show wise to make enemies of the of hands it was clear that the latter Liberals.••• would be elected, but the Con­ " It is to the Irish that we English !crvatives . demanded a poll, which Catholics owe in great measure, not took place at 8 o'clock on the onl"y our political emancipation, but following Thursday morning. Acton the revival of religion amongst us. was then declared elected with 117 The Irish poor in our towns have votes against 103 cast for Alexander. been the occasion of the great "The election over," wrote Fr. efforts that have been made to Maher, "the people enjoyed their provide for spiritual wants. They triumph after their own fashion-in have kept alive amongst us the shoutin� and vociferating at the top spirit of charity by their necessities, CARLO VIANA 170 and the spirit of devotion by their member of parliament was im­ example. • • • It .is for English possible-he was told that it was Catholics to assume the office of the interest of the Catholics to mediators between those who are support the Tories. He was told, their brethren in religion, and those on the other hand, that it was their who are their brethren in blood. duty to support the Wigs. • • • He It is for them to provide reasons for knew that independence was not the conciliation, to soften down the way to personal advantage. An asperity of national and religious independent member could not differences, to remove national expect the favour of party. Bt!t resentment on the one hand, and he asked for no such favour for national prejudice on the other." his person or for his cause. The Fine ideals. Catholic Church required no favour but only justice. For his part he VISIT TO CARLOW was desirous uf no position, but Early in June Sir John had that which he should owe to him­ recovered sufficiently from his ill· self." ness to travel to Carlow where a The highlight of the baronet's public dinner was arranged in his sojourn in Carlow was the mag­ honour on June 7. He was met at nificent banquet offered in his the railway station and escorted to honour at Cullen's Hotel on June 7 Cullen's hotel in Dublin Street. Fr. by about a hundred of his sup­ Maher, . speaking from an upper porters. Fr. Maher was in the chair, window, introduced the new M.P. and in proposing Acton's health to his electors and an enthusiastic spoke of him as " a young man crowd of supporters. Tar barrels and an untried m.an, But I mistake were lighted, fire works were let him very much if he has not within off, bonfires blazed in every direc­ him the material to make a first tion. On Friday the town was rate Parliamentary character in due en fete with triumphal arches, flags, time." Fr. Maher's hopes were not banners and mottoes decorating the to be realised. Acton in reply streets. " As soon as night fell affirmed his fidelity to the principles several houses were illuminated. On on which the election had been the banks of the Barrow, at the won. " My own connection with Graigue side of the river, tar barrels this country is of rather recent were placed and lighted, and the date, to be sure, but my first ideas reflection from them in the water of it • • • are different from what as seen by thousands of spectators they are now. I was a lad at who thronged over to that part of school in one of the midland the borough • • . had a fine effect." counties of England when that During the week Sir John visited great calamity fell upon your his constituents. On Sunday he country which sent .forth so many dined at the College and on Monday of the Irish people to carry to the at Braganza with Bishop Walshe. most distant regions of the world On Saturday he addressed a meet· the spectacle of faithful attachment ing in the Com Exchange in which to their holy religion, and of that he spoke of the attacks directed other fidelity, the safeguard of against his statement of policy. families and the true foundation of "That line of political independence all society, which have ever been which he had sketched, had been the chief characteristics of the Irish attacked and impugned. He was told people. I remember how at that that political independence in a time we saw among the vi�ims ()f CARLOVIANA 171 the famine who hau come to to tum out Lord Derby's govern· England to · seek relief, spectacles ment in favour of that of Palmers· which frightened us. I recall these ton and Russell. During ·the six painful recollection, only for the years he represented Carlow he took purpose of contrasting the past with but little part in the activities of the present. . . • I have since seen parliament and never once inter· in this country • . • a people for vened in debate. All unsuccessful the most part contented, I hope, and attempt was made to unseat him industrious. • • • The oppression on the grounds that his election was that was the work of so many secured not only " by violence, intolerant ages to build up has not terror, threats, agitation, intimida· altogether fallen away, and there tion and unconstitutional means, is yet much to be done before it but by perjury, bribery and by the· can be, removed. I hope I may payment and promise of payment have the honour and felicity of of sums of money." So it was bearing a hand in removing it." declared in a petition signed by Speaking of the part played by H. Cary of Athy Street arid T. Irishmen in spreading the Catholic McCarroll of Dublin Street. Acton religion he said : " But there is a did not seek re-election. He had vaster mission which Catholic Ire· had enough of parliamentary life land has already reized, and in and had lost the confidence of his which the layman and the poor can constituents into the bargain. The unite with the zealous priest. I only memory of him in Carlow is have been in America, and there I the cup he pr�nted for competi· found five millions of Catholics, tion to the Rowing Club; His almost all of Irish descent. In period of office as representative of England, where about eighty years Carlow was but an incident in a ago there were not more than five rich and varied career. thousand Catholics, there are now over two millions, and these things FURTHER READING America and England owe to Ire· "Carlow Post," 1859. land. Gentlemen; it is one of these " Carlow Sentinel," 1859. Englishmen who owe you so much Acton's Election u an Irish Member who is now here to thank you, and of Parliament, by fames J. to declare how proud he feels to Auchmuty in English Historical represent you." Review LXI, September, 1946. Early on Wednesday morning Life of Lord Acton, by David Acton left Carlow for London. He Mathew. cast his first vote on Friday in the Carlow Parliamentary Roh, by House of Commons, thereby helping Robert Malcolmson, Dublin, 18n. 172 CARLOVIANA Carlow's .Old Inns, Churches, Gaol and Castle

AN INTERESTING SURVEY with the martial tread of Puritan and Royalist. The following article was con· trlbuted to the Carlow Fels pro· TOWN WALLS? gramme of 1920 by the late M. C. Doubt has been expreSBed as to Douglas, Carlow, and was read to Carlow having ever been a walled the Old Carlow Society by ·B. town, but there Is a record that O'Nelll, Esq., M.Sc.:- Lionel, Duke of Clarence, expended "The town of Carlow is pleasantly a sum of .£500 in building the town situated on the river Barrow. It walls. There are also frequent re­ makes a very cheerful appearance ferences in old deeds to the town at a distance, from the number of gates, of which there were evld· white houses scattered up and down ently four. Carlow Gate stood near in its neighbourhood; nor is the the preaent Club House Hotel; traveller dleappolnted when he en· Dublin Gate was on the Dublin ters it, there being a cleanness and Road, near the Convent of Mercy: neatnesa in the streets superior to Tullow Gate was in Tullow Street, most towns in the kingdom." So at the present R.I.C. Barrack&, and runs the description given In " The The Castle Gate stood near where Post-Ctalse Companion, or Travel­ Castle Street and Dublin Street lers' Directory through Ireland," meet. The course of the town walls published In 1786. The description <;annot be traced with any certain· still holds good--Ave, perhaps, as iy: there ls lltle doubt, however, to the white houses. The cleanness tl:at one of the walls ran down the and neatnetts of the streets are stlll Weatern side of Dublin Street. In characteristic of the town; thanks making rom for the present Pro­ to our Urban Council. vincial Bank, portion of the wall Its ancient name, Catherlough, was found incorporated with one of some say, means "the fort on the the old houses. Part of one of the lake," In alluelon to the castle which ·walla was also discovered, aeveral stood aa an eminence, surrounded years ago, in the Potato Market, by a sheet of water. but Dr. Joyce when improvementa were being fives the meaning as the "quad· made in the neighbourhood of the ruple lake," referring to a tradlUon Jail. However, having probably that the Barrow anciently formed been looked on as of little use for four lakes here, and that the Irish the purposes of defence, they were name, being pronounced Cather­ neglected, and allowed to fall into lough, was easily aoftened down to decay. the present name. The two principal atreebt, Dublin From its position on the border Street and Tullow Street, follow, no of the pale, it was a place of Im­ doubt, their original direction, and portance from a military point of retain also their original namea. view; hence it became the scene of Dublin Street formerly took In part many a death struggle. For the of what Is now Burrin Street. The possession of it the native chieftain names of other streets have and invading- Norman contended. changed; some lanes and by-streeta Its streets have echoed, in turn, have disappeared. Browne Street CARLO\ 173 was formerly " Hunt Street," as battle of the Boyne: "Th� J;3ear may be seen from a stone on the Inn " on the site of 11ie house now gable of the Commercial Club. Cen­ occupied· by Mr; McGaul; " The taur Street, which was widened Blackamoor's Head Inn ", and "The about sixty years, ago, bore the Crown and Scep!i'ii" are represent­ quaint ri'!l.me of " Labour-in-vatn­ ed by the houses owned by Mrs. Lane," from the sign borne by a Duggan. The house occupied by tavern In the street, representing a .Mr. D. J. McGrath stands upon tbe person trying to wash a b!ackman In Burrtn Street, the house which white. Bridewell Lane, so called the late Mr. H. Burke occupied, because it led to the prison, former­ was " The George Inn "-a few ly bore the name of Somer's Lane, years ago it was destroyed by fire. from an ·owner of property In It. There was also "The Yellow Lyon," College Street was known as ·" Mass which some of my readers may re­ House Lane."" • · member as ha vlng been •• revived " for !l short time. It is now a priv· OLD •,STAGE COACH ate dwelling. "The Sheaf Inn " was, In• the days of the Stage Coach, some years ago, o::cupied by tt.e ttte route from Kilkenny to Dublin �te Mr. Richard Tennant as a poet­ was through Dublin Street, in which Ing establishment. Here; during the Coach Office was eltuated. the throes of the General Eelction, Horses were changed · at "The Dan O'Connell had his Committee Green Dragon " on the Kilkenny rooms. The yard and out-offices are Road and at " The Blue Bell " op­ used by the Messrs. Slocock, as aux­ posite the County. Infirmary, .on the iliaries to thei·r stables. In other Dublin road. Dublin Street was pa:rts of the town there stoOd the studded with Inns, only 'one of " Black Anchor," and " Tt.e White which, however, survives as a hotel Hone.'• as well as several smaller ..:..•The Royati Arms," formerly inns. The opening of the Railway " The King's Arma." The houses, frorrt ·Dublin to Kilkenny gradually Noa. 16 and 17-now occupied by diminished the number of travellers Mrs. McElwee and Mr. Joseph by road, and the Stage Coach ceased Cunillrigham-'-formed one house to run. Some still remember the known as " The Globe Inn.'• It was remains, of the last of the Carlow probably the principal Inn of the coaches, "The Fair Traveller,'.' fall­ town in the 17th century. In old ing to· pieces In a yard in Dublin deeds It Is styled a •• a stone house," Street. to distinguish It from the thatched houses. In 1699 It was evidently y THE COURT HOUSE remodelled; a stone tablet on the "'""e present Court House, which front of the t.ouae bears in relief la an ornament to the town, with its ...:...w IR. 1699. portico modelled after the Acropolis The date la that of the renova­ at Athena, was erected over 80 years tion of the house; the letters are ago. The older Court House is now the tnitlals of the then occupants, the " Deighton Memorial Hall " In .Jonathan and Ruth Watson; the Burrin Street. It was erected In gentleman, In accordance with the 1800;-on the site of a former- Ses­ chivalrous usage of the time, joining sions House. It had two wings the Initial of his wlte'a Christian forming, reepectlvely, the Crown name with that of his own. There Court and the ·Record Court. The Is a tradition that here King Wil­ Crown Court wing was taken down llam III lodged, and from It wrote several years ago, when Water- Lane one of his despatches after the was being widened. The stocks 174 ,ANA stood in front, under the windows of Messrs. Thomas Thompson and of the Record Court. Son, whose extensive workat now In 1800, the building being unfin­ occupy It. The groaning of tr.e isr.ed, the Sheriff waa obliged to ob­ treadmill has given place to the tain the loan of the Friends' Meet­ busy hum of industry, and what ing House, in Tullow St. to hold the had been know nas "Carlow Gaol," Assizes. Here waa tried, a�d sen- . is now "Hanover Works." tenced to death, for forgery and robbery of His Majeety's mall, Art­ MONASTIC CHURCH hur Wallace, postmaster of Carlow. The late Rev. J. F. Shearman, in He kept an apothecary·s ahop, as "Loca Patriclana," states that St. well as the Post Office, in the house Comghall, who lived in the 6th cen­ now No. 4 Dublin Street. tury, established a monastic Church The old gaol stood at the upper in Carlow on tl,e site given him by end of Bridewell Lane, where were " Cormac of Hy Bairrdle." In old confined many of the prisoners in " Itineraries," there is reference to 1798; amonst the rest tt.e unfortun­ the ruins of a very fine Abbey In ate Sir Edward Crosbie, who was Carlow. This Abbey etood on Castle executed ln June of that year. Here Hill, and must have been of some also Arthur Wallace was confined. considerable size, for the compiler On 16th August, 1800, he was \ of " The Post Chase Champion," brought in a sedan chair to the etc., In 1786, states that near the place of execution, which then stood Abbey " ls a. small Protestant In Barrack Street, nearly opposite Church." The Abbey was known as the military barracks, and over­ D(st. Mary's Abbey." Could It have looking some property which Wal­ been on the site of St. ComghaJrs lace then owned in Little Barrick Church? Not a ve.Uge of the build­ Street. Tt.is latter street at the ing now remains. The · ruthless time, and since, was known as hand of the vandal, and the march 0 " Gallipot," probably in allusion to of civilisation which ls, In many Wallace's occupation as'an apothe­ cases, the horror of the antiquary, cary. have rempved every trace, save tr.e When the newer gaol was erected, burial ground, which extended to the old gaol became, In turn, a hos­ near Gralgue Bridge. The lowering pital and a corn mill. It is now of the "hill," the widehlng of the used as a corn store by Mr. Fred streets, and the erection of hoUllell, Thompson. have left but a hillock on which a The extensive prison premises, few graves remain, and portion of which superseded the old Gaol, �e old altar tomb. were completed in 1800, and, for {/�ev. J. F. Shearman mentions upwards of ninety years, served to also that, before St. Comghall keep ln watch and ward offenders erected his church, Carlow was the against the law. On the scaffold residence of a recluee named Crolne over the entrance, nine persons, In Beg, daughter of Sedna, a descend­ all, were executed. Through changes ant of Niall of the Nine Hostages. ln the prleon arrangements of the Her memory was kept alive In the Government, the gaol was disused, town; for a narrow lane that led and, In 1897, fell under the Auction­ from Church Street towards the eer's hammer to the bid of Mr. quay, by Mr. McDonnell'• wall ln Michael Molloy. Some of the build­ Hay Market, bore for centuries the. ings were levelled, and the mater­ name of "Templeroney Lane," ials used for building purposes. afterwards changed to " Fairy Ultimately it became the property Lane." The houses t.aving been CARLOVIA: levelled In that locality to make reata within 1ta wauu,, a..... cuulaiu� way for the pre1ent Hay Market, the statue of the Bl1hop by the the identity of the old lan·e was lost. famoue 1culptor, Hogan. It Is said The adjoining Parish Council was that Cobden, the architect, had In· built in 1731, on the site of a still tended a pointed 1teeple aa part of older church, which dated probably the de1ign for the Cathedral, but from the beginning of the 17th cen­ Dr. Doyle altered tt.e design, and tury.. The steeple was of a rather chose the tower. ugly appee.rance, surmounted by a stone wall. It Is shown In the en­ BRIDGES. graving of Carlow Castle, taken For forty years no bridge existed, from Grose'e Antiquities In 1792, re­ at Carlow, over the Barrow, or the produced in this Programme. Sir Burrln. Ferries were Used Instead. Wm. Wilde, in his memoir of Swift, However. It Is recorded that, In says that It was In connection with 11169, the foundations of the bridge this church the witty Dean uttered in Carlow were laid by Sir Henry his famous couplet:- Sydney. This was evidently the " High church, low steeple. present Gralgue Bridge. The bridge Poor town, proud people." was widened In 1815, and named Nearly 80 years ago the old after the victor of Waterloo-"Well­ steeple was pulled down, and re­ lngton Bridge," In puslng under placed '6y the present 1teeple, the bridge, one can still trace, on which, from itl very graceful pro­ .the northern Bide, the extent of the portions, is greatly admired. widening. The Cathedral In College Street, Before the embanking of the Bar­ which owes its erection to Dr. Doyle row by the " Barrow Navigation -the great J.K.L.-wu commenced Company,'• the river spread over In 1828 and completed in 1833. It a wide area of the low-lying land In took the place of the previous the neighbourhood of the town, and church, erected by Dean Staunton the ferries were still used. The In 1787. The. late Dr. Comerford, In position of two, at lee1Jt, are loc­ his " Collections," mentions that ated In the name of " North Cot " the fine stone gateway now form­ Lane," which la the present Cox'1 ing the entrance to· the Convent of Lane; and "South Cot Lane," the Mercy, formerly stood at" this lower part of Centaur Street. The church; It bears the Initials of Dr. Barrow and Burrin were joined at Staunton, H.S.,' and the date 1792, one time In the present Coal Mar­ which probably Indicates the time ket, and, no doubt, helped to form of the completion of the church." the foeae of the Castle. That part The writer has heard that the Cath­ of the town was swampy, and oc­ edral was built over the _ older casionally, In digging, black mud church that the latter was used for mingled with leaves and reeda, is the purpose of worship, while the turned up. The late Mr: James Cathedral was being erected and Ryan, of· Coal Market, told the that It was not taken down until the writer that, when rebuilding his new building had been completed. house, in sinking the foundations, The Cathedral, with Its fine tower he discovered the remalna of a boat, 151 ft. in height, is an ornament to which, however, he was unable to the town, and one of the first places remove. In old deeds that locality to be vl1ited by strangers, not only la styled "the Moneen," or little on account of Its architectural at­ bog. traction,, but as being aBBoclated No bridge appears to have been with the memory of Dr. Doyle, who made over the Burrin-at least of CARLO VIANA 176 a permanent nature-until the reign ber, boards, and laths were, from of Charles ·II., when we are told time to time, brought from Dun­ that one Thomas Crutchley, a mil­ leokney, Tullow and Athy for the ler, contracted with the town and repairs of the hall and other por­ county for. the building of a large tions o� the castle, the kitchen, and stone bridge, to carry houses on the prison. The " Exchequer each itlde, over · the rJver Burrin. HoUBe " was one of the buildings of The remains of this old bridge the castle: It was probably one of were taken down In 1827, and a tte towers, the lower part of which metal bridge constructed. This, In formed the Treasurer's office and turn, gave place to the present, court, while on the upper floor much wider bridge. were preserved the treasure of money and records, which were THE CASTLE, deposited In chests of wood, sec-. From Burrin bridge may be ob­ ured with iron b::1.nds. Space would tained a ·distant view of the old not permit dealing with the several Castle, with which is bound U!> wllh sieges of the castle, but the siege much of the ancient history of the that first seriously affected the town. The castle was built appar­ structure was in 1647, when It sur­ ently, sometime in the 12th centui:y; rendered to Preston, the Generil.l by who:n It was erected Is a mat­ of· the Army of The Confederatloti, ter of dispute. It has .been ascribed, The siege that did most damage in turn to K'ing �ohn, Hugh de was that under Ireton In 1650. ° Lacy, and to WUliam Marahall, Letters . about exchange of prison­ Earl of Pembroke-mo1t probably ers, anw oc­ of the parliamentary forces In Eng­ casionally gave grca.t trouble to land, he forwarded to Bellew a the English seUer.P In Carlow. and summons to surrender, couched In· the castle was erected to.protect the courteous, but decided 11\Dguage. town. I� was originally a square Bellew asked for three days• r.e­ building with . a tower at each spite, which was granted, but Ire­ angle. The length of each side, ton. In the meantime, withdrew, from the extremity of one tower to leaving Bir Hardress Waller to that of another, was 105 feet. Its carry on the siege. At the end of height was about 65 feet. It was the ttree days, the Governor de­ evidently a building 1>f great clined to surrender. Waller tried s:�gth. From its c;ommandlng to starve out the garrison, but position It was of great stragetic found It was supplied with provle­ importance. It served also as a ions from the opposite side of the prison and a court of Justice. On river, where, at the. foot of the the authority of Mr. Mills, Deputy bridge, there atood a " little castle." Keep.er of the •Records, Dublin, It We are not to'd bow the provisions. is stated that, adjoining the castle, were conveyed, to the garrison ·bY there was a great hall which was Its friend•, while the castle was so roofed with wooden shingles made closely lnveated, but there Is a In the wood of Dunleckney. Ttm- tr""1itlon of Cl 11ubterrClnean pa.BI!•· CARLOV.L 171 age, and thl& wae probably the man told the writer that. as a boy, means of communication. Thie he often played in .and around on " little castle " occupied the site. of the top of the walls, which were the house on the Queen's County then accessable by the stairs, and side of the bridge, which h.ad been frequently amused him&elf, with used for a time as a convent for other boys, in a sandpit near the the Poor Ciares, a.nd had been for castle. One day, when the boys years previously occupied by the were throwing each other Into the late Mr. Edward Clarke, now oc· sandpit, they threw down a lot of cupied by Mr. Foley. sand, and a large chest tumbled Wa11er resolved to crose the out. Some soldiers who were play­ river, and to employ the principal ing pltclt and toss In the courtyard, part of his forces on the other elde, saw It, drove the boys away, and but how to secure communication apparently, with difficulty, carried between the two parte of his army, off the chest: thl& was probably when thus divided, was the dlffi· one of the chests alluded to above, culty, not having any boats. The and contained el�er records or bridge was Impassable, and the treasure. river could not be forded. He de­ It remained, however, for one of vised a novel plan. He found a these utilltarlane, who can see little little lower down the river-prob­ beauty in anything unless It be a ably at the place on the Kilkenny source of pecuniary proftt, to de­ ro� now called " The Blip,". that molish that which had borne the the river there was not so deep. His ahock of battle, and 'was braving soldiers gathered a great quantity the aasaults of time. of large reeds, which grew plenti­ fully about. there, and tied them In DECAY. bundles. Then two cables were In 1814, a Doctor Middleton, who ftxed to one bank, and at a distance lived In Hanover Houee, Burrln of 8 or 10 yarde from each other, Street, In which he had a private were stretched across the river to lunatic asylum, obtained a grant of the opPoelte bank. To these, the the old castle from the Government, bundlee of reeds were tied. On top for the purpose of con¥ertlng it he piled wattles until he had made Into an asylum. To enlarge the in· a ford sufficient to enable troop& of terlor he tried to reduce the thick· horse and companies of Infantry to ness of the walls. Pickaxe and cross. He was thus able to take crowbar wet"e aided by gun powder, "the little castle" on the Western with the result that the walls and side of the bridge, thereby cutting foundations were weakened, and otl euppllea from the garrison. one Sunday morning, while fortun· Waller brought his cannon up the ately the .people of the neighbour­ " Fruit Hill road " and from a field hood were at their places of wor­ there, still known as Cromwell's ship, two towers and three curtain fl.eld, battered the castle to such an w-alls fe11. The shock was f.elt extent that the Governor wa& ob· throughout the district. Some of liged to surrender. After this., the congregation of the parish Carlow Castle was neglected. The churCQ rushed out, thinking It was roof waa stripped, and the oak an earthquake. A trader, standing rafters were used, it is said, in at his door In Tullow St., hearing building houses in Dublin Street the .noise, ran down just In time and Castle Street. The courtyard to see the third wan falling. The became the playground for child· huge mass swayed backwards and ren, Several years ago, an old forwards for a few seconds, as If 178 CARLOVIANA uncertain In which direction to fall, the stoaes. and, at length, fell Inwards, there­ What· remains of the castle still by saving some cabins adjoining, tells of Its former majesty. What fro;n being demolished. Provid­ was the old sandpit ls now a most entially no human life was lo&t. tastefully arranged garden belong­ For some time t.l",e debris lay form­ ing to Corcoran and Co., who ing a huge mound. Several houues courteouit!y permit visitors 1o see ln the nelghbourhoOd were built of the ruins.

CARLOW TOWN ABOUT 1832

P'I.Tticulars attached to an old survey map drawn up about 1832 by George Glppa and Thomas C. Duffy. Town of Carlow: Extent In statute acres: 382. Population On 1831) 9,012. Number of houses thatched 370.. Number of houses slated 964. Numbe.· of houses with more than seven windows 330. Number of. houlff's '\\-Ith less than seven windows, 1,004. Church CeBB, number of ratepayers, 883. Amount raised £10 10s. Od. N•1mber of :£10 qualifying tenements, 403. Number of £16 qualified occupiers. 350. Number of Freemen resident, 5. Number of Freemen non-rec:d1mt, 8. Freeholders registered in the County for property in the town· £50-37; il8-17; :£10-17.

CARLOW-GRAIGUE,

Extent· 114 acres. Popula�ion (1831): 1600. Thatched houses, 146; slated, 88. Probable number of voters, £10-30. Number who will prob!lbly acquire votes, 378. Freemen resident within 7 miles whose right'l wlll be .reserved, 3. (Per Miss A. Tracey). CARLOVIANA 179 KILLESHIN A Short Study of the Mediaival Village. By T. P. HAYDEN

To write on Killeshin s;ems great part of it was McPher.wn's a work of superoga;Uon, so oftc n own composition. Alt.:ho\lgh a pal­ has the subject already been treat­ pable forgery, it had considerable ed of. To write upon Kllleshin merit as a literary diort and en­ whilst merely making cursory joyed a great vogue for many mention ot the church ruins and .years. It was a particular rav­ !antique doorw&y, seems almost ourtte with the Emperor Napoleon like perfonning the pla.y of Ham• Bonaparte, asDe Bourrlenne men· let with the Prince of Denmark tlon.s in his Memoirs, and it was left: out. Yet this ls what is pro­ one of the few book,;i always tn· posed in this essay. The ecclesi• eluded In the Emperor's baggage asti.ca.l remains have already been when campaigning. Oisln was so copiously and ably dealt with fostered tn the glen by his ntmt, by other writers that one feels it a pagan prlestees. There Is an c·!d would be superfluous to say any· rath on the m.muntt of Coola.wn thing about them saving only that overlooking Ktlleshln from which it is impossible to refra.ln from a splendid view of the surrounding expre.sstng admira.Uon althe won­ country can be obtained. This derful cra!tsmanship displayed in may possibly be the place where the ancient doorway. It is a pity Oi.sln spent his boyhood, and we that this cannot be faced with know that in his maturer ) ears glass or some traJ1spa.rent plastic this gen was one of the prlnctpul material :to protect it from the haUD!ts of him, and his Fenlan weather which will in time com­ comrades. The legend of hts so­ pletely dace the beauttful carv­ journ for 300 years tn Ttr na Nog ing. ,-the land of youth-ls i::o well Killeshtn, literally translated, known Ula.t. It will not bear repetl· would be the Church of 018:n, but tlon. A chance observation by an this ls Incorrect. T:tie name should official engaged in Old Age Pen. be the Church of the Glen of Olsm. sions work may possibly a.fiord an Otsln was a r,agan. He la the explanation of how the legend famous hero ot the Fta.nna. Eir· arose. It ls a remarkable fact ea.nn and flourished about the that in the Glen Otstn distrlct re• third century of our era., and ferred to there are more instances whose name is known far beyond Of longevity than elsewhere. We the borders of Ireland through are told tn the ta.le that: a beauti­ the controversy arou9ed by Mc· ful maiden enticed Otstn to Ttr na Phel'IIOn'S book, "08Sl.an." In the Nog before the deba.cle overtook latter · ha.If of the 18th century the Fenta.n organtsa.Uon. Now McPherson, a Scotsman, published what really may have happened is his "Outan," a poeticalwork whieh that Otstn was enticed from his he pretended was a genuine tran.s• comrades by an earthly maiden lation from a Gaelic original. It a.nd not a fairy as tn the legend; was based upon Bardic lays nnd and living with her unknown a.nd legends of this very OS91.n, after in retirement-in perhaps this whom Killeshin is ns.med, but a very cUstrlct-thua escaped the 180 CARLO VIANA destruction which overtook his dagh, Killeshin, Clomenagh and comrades. Having lived k>� be· St. Dunans, perhaps Doonane or yond the allotted span, his' talee Klldonan as It was then called. of his long dead companions would In the latter half of the 16th make his hearers regard him ol. century, Killeiehln ls described as most as one risen from the dead. a place of ruins, almOBt unin­ It only required the poetical fancy habited, but showing traces of of some wandering bard or min­ having formerly been a place of strel to fashion out the story as we considerable imporhnce. There have It to-day. were In e:x1i.stence the ruins of a ·courthouse, gaol and governor's ." EARLY HISTORY" house, and on a hillock adjacent, To come to more authentic his­ where now stands the modern tory. A monastery was founded Catholic church, was a large stone _here by St. Dermot who died Sn. gallowil. He was succeeded by St. Comhdan or Comgan who iSI the present '' THE MOAT" Patron Saint. The following fl"Opl These historical notices which the Annals of the Four Masten Is have· been quoted serve to show Illuminating. -�t there · was a considerable • 1041.-Glen Olsin was plundered town or village here In former by the son of Mael na Mb6, I.e., by times. At present there ls no vil­ Dtarmuid son of Donnchadh, Lord lage and. the< historical remalna of Ui Cel-n.seallach and the oratory consist of aforementioned old was demolished and 700 persons church whtch dates from the ltth carried 'otf a11 prisoners In revenge century. In the churchyard ad· of the burnings of Ferns, Co. jacent to the ruined church there Wexford, by Donnchadh, son of was formerly a. round tower, but J3rlan Boru, King of Munster and this was thrown down In 1703. On Murchadh, son of Dunlalng, King the opposite side of the road to � Lei1111ter. the churchyard Is what is known 1077.--Gleann Olsin with Its 1ocally as the Moat. Thlil Is the yews was burned. site of t.he Norman Castle pre­ These few references I have viou1ly refeITed to as having <.1,uoted serve to show that Kil­ been erected In 1180. There are leshin was a place of consider­ no remains of stone work or a,ble Importance before the Nor• foundations on the Moat, and an· man Conquest. It must have been tlquarlea a.re of the opinion· that very populous when 700 pr.laoners on this artificial elevation was were carried off from the.re In erected a wooden building or '1041, but those may not all h&ve tower, and that the Original in· been Inhabitants of the town of tentlon, to erect on it a atone ·Killeshln. It Is ext1·emely prob­ k·eep, when the foundation had able that a large proportion of consolidated was never carried In· them were fighting men or re­ to effect. The curnng oute.r ram­ fugeea from the neighbouring parts : o4. the bailey or enclosure country: of the castle are plainly to be die­ When the Normans came there ·cerned. They show no traces of ls reference to a castle having stone work any more than the been erected by them about 1180, moat. The position of the stone but from that on there are only a p.llows gives a clue to the site of few scattered references. About medieval town; These erections 1200 we read of Tursten de Hari­ were always outside the wall& In ton being installed in the this case it exaclty faces the castle Churches of Carlow, Sleaty, Cloy- ramparts and ditch which exactly CARLOVIANA 181 mark the town boundary. Be· ger; the wooded hills being an tween the ramparts and gallows impassable barrier to a flank hill there Is a aMght dip or de­ attack and providing pasturage preHion In the land, which would and shelter for the animals. In serve to augment the strength of the case of the Normans and the fortiftcatlons. The medieval English the position was reversed town lay around the castle and e.s their chief danger was attack church-that la the old ruined from the hlll.s, and its use to them church. It appears to have been was as an advanced post to pre­ of small dimensions but one must vent raids upon the surrounding remember that In those days level country which was In the streets and lanes were very nar­ hands of to.reign settlers. row and houses very small and compact, 110 that 8. considerable "KILLESHIN IN RUINS" population might be contained In an Elizabethan map of Laois within very narrow limits. It was dated 1563, Kllleshln Is shown as enclosed most probably by rough a larg-e church which clearly in­ stone walls and a stockade. A dicates that the town of Klllesh­ moat Interesting feature is a nar­ ln was then non-exJstent and fro:n row single arch bridge beside the other sources we learn that It old church, spanning the ravine was then In ruins. On this old and stream beside which the town ma·p Old Derrig and Ballyhide are wa..a built. This bridge ha.a a nar­ marked as hamlets, although at row pointed arch, which stamps pre.sent- there are ,no villages in it as dating from medieval times; thoee ,places. At Old Dettlg the more modem bridges, thOfle there •is an old graveyard adjacent erected within the past few hun· to which was probably the site d·red yee.ra having the rounded of the ancient hamlet or small arch with which we are familiar. village. In the a.bsence of authen­ This bridge was very necessary tic records it is only possible to as for almost a mile above and conjecture at what period the below the town this ravine Is so town of Killeshln ceased to exist. steep and difficult that It would If It was In ruins about 1563 It be dmpasMble to horses and seems quite safe to assume that a�'.DOBt ,110 to men� It provided .Its destruction must h&ve been of thet only exit from the town to recent date, say 30 or 40 years pre· the route along which runs the vlously. The rebellion of Silken present highway to Carlow as the Thomas In 1534 marked the com­ bridge spanning the re.vine over mencement of a struggle between which the present road runs was the government and the O'Moores not then ,In exJstence. The stream in which Leix was wasted for 70 ·running through the ravine is a years and which only ended in the tributary of the Flshogue, and the opening years of the 17th century. town occupied a 11trong strategic The fact that the O'Mare'a joined position to meet attack from the the Geraldine'• in this rebellion level country defended ea It was and that the Fltzgen.lds had been by an lmpaaaable ravine in front governors of Carlow for a. consid­ andi •by the' Fiaheogue and ita erable time previous serves to .marshes towards the east. ehaw that this district enjoyed a In pe-Norman Umes It appears compara.tlve peace up to th&t to he.Ve been a stronghold to time. From -what has been lld­ which the inhabitants of the sur­ d uced one would be inclined to rounding level country were ac­ place the destruction ot Kllleshln customed to retreat with their as In or about the year 1536, as flocks and herds in time of dan- thnt Is the year In which Silken lu- \'IANA Tbomas's rebellion was subdued. as in our times. There appears to The court records and other books have formerly been a considerable If they were not then destroyed population as everywhere are to were probably brought to Carlow be found the remains of houses C&stle for oafety and .moet likely and other traces of human occu­ perJshed In the turmoil ol the pation, and near these remains of CromwelHan period when th'l.t houses and gardens are growing castle was besieged and taken. wild a.pple trees and In some cases "BRICKS AT OLD DERRIG" cherrle&; In fact !the whole .dis­ Now I have just mentioned Old trict ls full of those wild apple Derrig. It ls situated about two trees. In medieval times the miles from Clogrennane Castle. apple took the place of the potato Everyone in the district will re­ and our modern vegetables which call the falling masses of masonry had not then been Introduced to I was· surprised to find embedded these Islands. In those days in the middle of them pieces of transport being coetly and difficult broken bricks which had been large cities were surrounded by a thrown In by the builders along ring of satellite towns and vil­ with the rubble. Clogrennane lages from which they were ac­ Castle was built In the 15th cen­ customed to draw their llUpplles tury. This would tend to show of agricultural products and other that there were brick works near neceaaaries, and from what has Carlow at that period. There been adduced It is quite cle.ar that was a. thriving brick making ID· Kllleshln stood In that relation to dustry et Old Derrig up to about Carlow. In fact one could go 90 years ago, but from what ha.s further and say th!lt it was the been mentioned It is extremely wasting of this district and of all probable that bricks were manu­ Lelx in the 16th century wbllch factured there during the middle reduced Carlow from an knport­ ages. It Is interesting to reflect ant city to the status of an ordin­ that the bricks In the old castle ary country town-In the 14th cen­ must have been manufactured tury. Carlow is stated to have with charcoal as coal was not been the second city of Ireland, mined In Ierland until the 17th Dublin being the ftrst. century. These bricks were prob­ Now there is one point more: It ably brought to Carlow y b large is possible that the site of Kllleshin four-wheeled wains or wagons old church wa" sacred long be­ carrying a load of about 15 cwt., fore the Introduction of Christian­ and drswn by h:o or .more horses. ity. In 1077 thera Is mention of We know that wheeled vehicles KdlleahlnJ and Jts yew treet1 as were in use dn the district, as having been burned. These yews e.arly In the 13th century timber must have been particularly flne was brought ·from Dunleckney and to merit such notice. In Eng­ other places to CaTlow for the re­ land there are In church yards pair of the castle. It .Is therefore yew trees which are computed to pretty clear that there was a road be 4,000 years old and theee sites suitable for wheeled traffic from are known to have been used for Old Derrig and Kllleehin to Car­ pagan worship before the advent low during the medieval period. of Christianity. The Chrtsttan The surrounding hills were thickly missionaries Invariably chose such wooded at that time and this dis­ sites for the erection of their trict supplied Carlow with fuel as churches end the mention of at present but with this differ­ Ossian's aunt beln a pagan priest­ ence that the fuel was charcoal ess in this very district rather lends and timber lnetee.d of anthracite, · support to this hypothesis. CLONMORE CASTLE By SEAMUS LEAHY INTRODUCTION: date of 1332 In the Chronicles of At the outset ot the paper Mr. Ireland which state that the Castle Seamus Leahy said:- of Clonmore was taken by the Eng­ " We welcome the members ot lish but there Is no Indication the Old Carlow Society to Clonmore whether or not It was In existence and we consider ourselves greatly 100 or 200 years before thal honoured by your vhtit. A point we must bear In mind Is "From your Journal and from that at that time it had not been the Local Press we have some idea enl�ed to its present proportion. ot the great work you are doing. We appreciate it and admire it and "CHANGING HANDS." we wish you every aucceBS in the I will only touch on the refer- continuance of that most valuable ._ encee to It In the State papers to work-both for the Co. Carlow and show that It was principally main­ tor the country as a whole." tained as a frontier post and was held mainly under the directions of This old castle, standing as lt the Butlers and also for a time by did on the boundary between the the Fitzgeralds. I find there is a territory ot the mountain clans tradition that the Pooka's Head and the Pale was the scene of corresponds to a similar Image of many a hard-fought struggle and a baboon to be found on Fitzgerald must have repeatedly changed Castles to commemorate the saving hands according � the fortunes_ of ot the last male heir of the family war ebbed and flowed. Yet there from the hands of the English by are few surviving records from a monkey who carried the Infant which to compile a full account of to the hlgheat point of the Castle. its chequered history. There is (Tomas an Apa). ample circumstantial evidence how­ In 1345 It was given to a Wogan �ver to indicate that Its pouesslon of Kildare. In 1356 to a Simon by either party was precarious be­ Reilly but the following year It cause the entire district which sur­ went to a Peter O Bouftller. It rounds It was the battle ground seems to have remained under the beween the contestants for several control of the Butlers, when not In centuries. Irish hands. up to 1516 when Gar­ rett Mor, the Great Earl of Kil­ "ORIGIN," dare took- it under his wing. He Many theories are advanced as to built castles at Athy, Castledermot Its origin, some holding that it was and Rathvilly and added to the originally a Byrne stronghold, Castle of Clonmore. while others attribute Its construc­ I would suggest that It was about tion to the Hacketts from whom this time that the northern portion Hacketstown gets Its name, but It was added and was then probably seems more probable that It was extended to !ta preeent proportions. one of the outlying tortresse& con­ Piers Butler, the Earl of OBBory, structed by de Lacy when he built tried to regain the castle in 1528 Castledermot, Carlow, Tullow and but the Earl of Kildare retook the Lelghllnbrldge In 1180. town ot Carlow and the caetle of It Is flret referred to under the Tullow (which, incidentally, re- 184 CARLO VIANA qulred a five days siege) and other still called Cromwell's Ford. There castles, Including Clonmore. is no account of Its actual capture, In order to ensure poHeHlor. ot but when it was once In their the recaptured points he entered hands they decided to remove for into a league with the Irish chiefs all time this old thorn In their side. to garrison the castles for him. They blew up towers, walls and The Earl of Ouory succeeded in buttreases; they smashed the winning over the Irish In the same beautiful ,tone. winding stairs and year and thus Clonmore again fell windows and ornaments, levelled Into the hands of the Butlers and most of the fosse and left the old in Corlee Ormonde we read that In stronghold a charred mal!S of ruins, lM'l upon conviction and forfeiture Impossible to be ever strengthened of the Earl of Kildare (Sllken or again repaired. Even the Thomas) and his five uncles the ancient stone crosses did not es­ King gave to the Earl of Osaory cape the wreckers. the MP.nors of Rathvllly and Clon­ Time and the country people more, with other poBl!eeslone In the have since done a lot to complete Co. Carlow which had belonged to their work, for there Is hardly an the Kildare family. old house around the district, the However for the next l50 years or stones of which have not come so, the Irish seem to have had from the Castle, and the road In things more or leas their own way front was filled by them. and we get no direct reference to Clonmore Is now in the possee­ Clonmore until 11598 when we read: slon of the Stopford family, Earls " The Earl of Ormond having gar­ of Courtown. risoned his Castles of Clogrennan, Carlow, Tullow, Clonmore and PLAN OF CASTLE. three others In Co. Carlow took The castle was built on the plan the field against the Irish." of a hollow "Bquare of about 170 In 1610 Jamee I granted the man­ feet on the eastern, northern and ors of Clonmore, Rathvllly, Tullow, western sides and about 230 on the etc., to the Earl of Ormonde. In southern side. The walls are In 1636 the Earl of Ormonde and places 15' thick and the stone cased Thomas Comerford were seized of windows seem to have been furn­ the Castle of Clonmore. ished with Iron bars with a view to greater safety. "CROMWELL." It had towers at the four corners, Finally In 1641 the Earl again but two have almost entirely disap­ garrisoned Clonmore for the crown peared. The tower at the north but It soon fell Into the hands of eastern corner was called the Maid­ the Irish and despite several en's Tower and was about 60 feet attacks It remained in their hands high with a stone winding stairs to until 16!50 when Cromwell at Kil­ the summit. Nearly the whole of kenny sent the Governor of Dublin, It fell in 1848. Col. Hewson and Col. Reynolds to The north-eastern tower is called take Athy. Lelghllnbrldge, Clo­ the Six Windows and Is still almost grennan and Carlow. Having suc­ entire. It Is octagonal In shape, ceeded in this and In taking other four feet each side In the Interior towns and Caetles they took Castle­ and rises two stories above the ad­ dermot and Rathvllly but on their joining walls. It has windows on advance to Clonmore they met every side from which a view could fierce opposition from the mountain be had In all directions. From the clans on the banks of the Slaney- lower apartment another bre,nches CARLOVIANA off due west; 27' long, 8' high and The little brook on the western 3' wide with a stone roof having side supplied the water to the fosse windows on each side. and there was then no entrance to The tower next the road is called the castle but by a portcullis on the the ' Pooka's Head • from a sort or southern wall. This wall unfortun­ face carved nearly at !ta summit. ately has completely disappeared Local tradition is that it represents and with it of course the gate the head of the Pooka. tower with Its portcullis and draw­ The ballroom, arched in stone, Is bridge. a ftne apartment and is still in a good aiate of preservation. Arch­ UNDERGROUND PASSAGE. deacon Stopford got a slated roof There Is a tradition so common put on It but this too has almost with most castles that an under­ disappeared. When the Castle fell ground passage runs from the Into the hands of the Archdeacon Castle to the moat-half a mile he forbade the taking away of �ny eastwards. Its entrance at the of the stones and none have since Castle end la still pointed out In then been removed. one of the vaulted chambers. That additions took place in an­ In 1914 there was a short tunnel­ cient timea to these buildings Is like i;,assage leading under the clearly seen by the fact that the Castle. Seven steps then led down­ newer work is not bonded to the wards to a small circular chamber older walls. Mr. Leask (In 1914) from which could be seen another thought that the portion containing passage branching off In an east­ the "chapel" (as It Is locally erly direction, but this passage had , called) was built about 100 years broken down at a distance of about than the central portion of the 7 yards. eastern buildings. The vaulted work The entrance to this supposed was turned on boards, the Impres­ underground passage was filled In sion of them being clearly visible by the owner of the land in the year In the mortar. 1920. The whole Castle was formerly Authorities: surrounded by a fosse, which, when 1. Local tradition. floated with water and before It 2. History of Clonmore by John was filled In with clay was about McCall 1861. 20' deep. Portion of this fosse had 3. The Antiquities of Clonmore to be filled to make a foundation by Lord Walker Fitzgerald for the National School built In from the Journal of the 1888. It proved to be an Insecure Archaeological Society of the foundation because the school hall Co. Kildare. Volume VII, No. sank, the walls cracked and the end 3. January, 1913. had to be supported by buttresses. 4. Dr. Comerford. 186 CARLOVIANA EVENTS OF 1950-51

1950.-April 26th. Annual General Meeting. 1950.-Sunday, May 21st. Outina to Stradbally Hall and The Rock of Dunamase. Paper by T. P. Walsh, N.T. 1950.-Sunday, May 28th. Combined outing with Kilkenny and Cork Archaeological Societies to Jerpoint Abbey, Kells Friary, Kilree Round Tower and Celtic Cross. Papers by Mr. Pilsworth, Mrs. Lanigan, Hubert Butler. 1950.-Sunday, June I Ith. Outing to Borris House, Co. Carlow. Paper by Miss I. McLeod. 1950.-Sunday, July 9th. Outing to Suncroft, Co. Kildare. Visited Kildare Cathedral, Tully Graveyard and Japanese Gardens. Papers by Very Rev. P. MacSuibhne, S.P.; The Dean of Kildare. 1950.-0ctobcr IOth. Indoor Meeting. Paper ·by Mr. T. P. Hayden, "The Barrow Navigation Prior to 1792." 1950.-November 17th. Annual Social. Film Show. Tea. 1951.-March 21st. Indoor Meeting. Paper by Mr. T. P. Hayden, " The Ancient Village of Killeshin." 1951.-February 28th. Indoor Meeting. Paped by Mrs. B. O'Neill, "The History and Antiquities of Old Lciahlin." 1951.-April 23rd. Annual General Meeting. Paper by Rev. P. J. Brophy on "A Visit to Corsica." 1951.-Sunday, May 27th. Combined Outing with Kilkenny Archaeo· logical Society to Killeshin and Old Leighlin. Papers by Mr. T, P. Walsh, N.T., and Mrs. B. O'Neill. ''1951.-Sunday, June 24th. Outing to Suncroft. Visited Moat of Ardscull, Old Kilcullen, Donnelly's Hollow and Curragh Camp. Papers by Very Rev. Dr. W. Miller, P.P., V.F.; Very Rev. P. MacSuibhne, S.P. ; Captain McGoldrick and Mr. T. P. Walsh, N.T. 1951.-Sunday, September 16th. Outing to Morette Castle, Co. Leix. Paper by Mr. Harry Fennell. 1951.-Monday, October 29th. Indoor Meeting. Paper by Miss A. Tracey. CARLOVIANA 187 OUR MEMBERS WRITE

The following Papers have been compiled by members of the Old Carlow Society since its inception and have been read by them at meetings of the Society. Boake, Edwin: " Burrin Street of Long Ago,"

Brophy, Rev. P, J.: "The Parish of Killeshin in the Nineteenth Century." "Social Life in Carlow (1800-1840)," " History of Kellistown." " Braganza-lts Architect and First Owner." " Bettle of Carlow 1798." "Social Life in Tullow in the 19th Century." "History of Aries." "A Carlow M.P.-Sir John Acton." Bums, Alex. : Carlow Elections 1832. Carlow Election �f 1840. Duggan, W. L: "Carlow Boat Club."

Ellis, John : "Water Supplies in Carlow." "Graigue Ormond Club." (By Sean MacCormac). " Carlow in 1798."

Hayden, T. P. : " The Barrow River and Navigation Thereon Prior to 1792." "The Barrow Navigation Subsequent to 1792." " Killeshin : A Short Study of the Media:val Village."

MOier, Very Rev. Dr. W,: "Extracts from a Manuscript of William Farrell (1780-1800)." "Killeshin and its History," " Browne's Hill Cromlech." "Old Kilcullen." McDonagb, O. : "Emigration in Carlow."

McLeod, M. I. : " The History and Antiquities of Castledermot." "The History of the McMurrough-Kavanagh Family." 188 CARLOVL-\NA

Murray, A., N.T. : "March of Wexfordmen in '98."

O'Leary, J. : "The History and Antiquities of St. Mullins."

O'Neill, Mn. B.: "The History and Antiquities of Old Leighlin."

O'Neill, B. : "The Old Assembly Rooms." "Wallace, Carlow Poabnaster-Apotbecary." " Carlow's Old Inns. Churches, Gaol and Castle." (By late M. C. Douglas). "Viewmount and Trial of Sir Edward Crosby."

O'Neill, T. P. : "The Famine in Carlow." "The History of Printing in Carlow." "Grace of Gracefield."

Poole, P.: " Burtons of Burton Hall."

Ridgeway, Vea. Arcbdeacoo S.: " History of St. Mary's." " Kilkea Castle."

Swayne, Very Rev. P.: "Aries and its History." " Sleibhte of St. Fiacc." " History of Shrule Castle." " History of Clonmore." " St. Brigid and Kildare."

Tracey, Miss A. : "The Shackletons of Ballitore." " Professor Iohn Tyndall." "Father James Maher of Carlow-Orai,ue."

Walsh, T. P. : " Staplestown." "History of the Bagenal Family." "The Barrow Navigation." "The Influence of Pagan Faiths on Irish Folk History." " The History and Antiquities of the Rock of Dunamase." "The History and Antiquities of the Rath of Mullaghmast." " The History and Antiquities of the Moat of Ardscull." "The History and Antiquities of Killeshin." " Thomas Cloney of '98 Fame." "Clonegal of Yesterday." "Rathvilly Through the Ages." CARLOVIANA 189 LIST OF MEMBERS

A. Doyle, Miss lcl., The Shamrock, Carlow. Aughney, Dr. H., County Hall, Wexford, Doyle, Mis• D., The Shamrock, CarLw. Aughney, Mias L., Abbey St., Tullow, C:>. Doyle, Mra., The Shamrock, Carlow. Carlow. Doyle, Mrs. Leigh, Dublin St., Carl w. Doyle, T,, 32 N&IEaU St., Dublln. B. Dooley, Wm., Athy Rd., Carlow. Bagenal, B. W,, Ben na Carrig, 26 North­ Doyle, Very Rev. P., P.P., Lelgh!lnbrldge, cote Tee., Medlndle, S. Australia. Co, Carlow. Bagenal, c. T., Bcnnekerry, Hilton Road, Dayle, Very Rev. P. J., P.P., Nau, Co. NataL Kildare. Belton, A., 132 Weet 61 st., New York. D07le, M,, Potato Market, Carlow. Bergin, i.. D., " Na.tlonallat & Lelnater Duggan, l., Dublin st., Carlow. Times," Carlow, Duggan, Ed., Dublin St., Carlow. Bergin, P. C., Dublin St., Carlow. Duggan, Mlaa C., Dublin St., C&rlow. Bolger. L., Llttlemoyle, Carlow. Duggan, W, L., Erlndale, Carlow. Boeke, B., Hanover Works, Carlow. Dunny, Very Rav, J,, P.P., Tlnryland, Breen, Miss P .. Strawhall, Carlow. Carlow. Breen, Miss G., 5 Dublin St., C&rlow, Dunphy, Miss M., Tullow St., Carlow. Brennan, Mles K., Dublin St., Carlow. Brophy, Rev. P. l., St. Patrick'• College, Carlow, E. Brophy, Rev. G., c.c., Nau, Co, Kildare. Early, D. M., Dublin St., Carlow. Brophy, M,, Ardattln, Tuilow, Co. Car· Ellis, J,, Burrin St., Carlow. tow. Eustace, E. A. R., NewatOWD, Tullow, Co. Browne, P. A., Knocknagan House, Tul· Carlow. low, Co. Carlow. Browne, Mn., Knocknagan House, TUI· low, co. carlow. F. Feehan, L., c/o Brennana, Tullow Stre�t, Browne, Ml11 »:., Downlngs, Tullow, Co. Carlow. Carlow. Fennell, H., Everton, Carlow. Browne, E., Long Range, Bagcnalatown, Fennell, l,, Sprtnghlll, Carlow. Co, Carlow. Fitzroy, Miss A., 6 Montgomery StNlet, Browne-Clayton, Mrs,, Browne's Hill, Car­ Carlow. low. Fitzroy, Mias M., Dublin Rd., Carlow. Burns, A., College St., Carlow. Fitzroy, Miu E., Dublin Rd., Carlow. Butler, Dr, A., 8 Fltzwtlllam Place, Dub· Fitzmaurice, Major, Lelnster Crescent, Car· Un. low. Butler, Mrs., 8 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublln. Fitzgerald, l., Hillcrest, Han<>ver Ro'.l.d, Byrne, P., 22/51 Bedgwlek Ave., Bronx, carlow. New York. Fisher, Rev. A. C. P., The Rectory, Car, Byrne, T., Bahana, st. Mullins, Co. car, low. low. Flynn, J. P., Alrglooney, Tuam, CJ, Gal· way, CaDDOn, Mrs. K., c.736 Riverside Drive New York. carberrY, D. l., Green Road, car1ow. G. Gaah, Rev. J. G., The Rectory, Carl.>w. Carberry, Mrs. D. J., Pembroke, Qlrlow. Gash, Mra., The Rectory, carlow. Chmelar, E., Strawhall, cartow. Giddy, E., Athy Road, Carlow. Chmelar, Mre. D, l., Carlow. Giddy, R., Athy Road, Carlow. Clarke, T, P., Canning Place, Newbrldge, Giddy, Mra. K., Athy Road, Carlow, Co. Kildare. Giddy, Mis• E., Athy Rd., Carlow, Collier, 11111 M., N.T., Haymarket, Carlow. Ooverney, llrL, BarroWvllle, C'al'low, Conlon, M. v., UnlveraltY College, C'al'low. Governey, F., Barrowvllle, Carlow. Comerford, Mn., Governey Place, Carlow. Ooverney, D., Groenevor, Carlow. Conroy, Mias M., CuUe St., Carlow. Good, G., Tullow St., Carlow. , R. It., Le Hante D., 121 Harley Cooper Greene, Mias L, 36 Boswell Drive, E;ln· St., London W.l, bUr&h II, Colgan, Miss »:., Greenville, Carlow. Cullen, Rev. N,, C.C.. Gral11uecullen, Car· low. H. CUnnane, J., Ro.lJway Rd., Carlow. Hadden, w. V., Court View, Carlow. Curran, M.. Bonne Bouche, Carlow, Hadden; Mrs. w. V., Court 'Vlew, Carlow. Curtlu, Miss It., 29 Mt. Temple Garden•, Hayden, T, P., "Hundred Aeru," Kill· Dublin. eshln, Carlow. Halllssey, Miss A., Vlewmount, St. Joaeph'e D. Rd., Carlow. Dlllon, J. F., Dublin, Hooper, s. A., Dublln St., Carlow. Dobbs, w. E. J,, Vlewmount, Gowran, C;i, Hughea, P., Barrack St., Carlow. Kilkenny. Hutton, F.. <>t:-,olesto"'n "" Carlow 190 CARLO VIANA

O'Connell, T. J. A., Bank of Irelanj. Car· Kearns, Rev. J. J., K.U.01 Wa.ahlnglon Ave.. low. Waco., Texas, U.S:A. O'Connor, Miss K., U. Castle st., C&rlow. Keegan, Ml•• E. Vlewmount, St. J011eph•s O'Dooovan, Miss D., N.T., Gr&lguecullen Rd., Carlow. N.S., Carlow, Kehoe, W., Pembroke, Carlow, O'Doherty, J., B.L., Co. Manager'& Office, Kelly, Miss T., The StH&m. Carlow. Nau, Co. Kildare. Kelly. H. A., The Stream. Carlow, O"Grady. P. J., Rathmore, TuUow. ea. Kelly, N.. The Stream, Carlow, Carlow. Kelly, J., St. Killian'• Cre11Cent, Carlow. O'Grady, Krs., Rathmore, Tullow, Co. Kellett, G., "Greystones," Gral11uecullen, Carlow. Carlow. O'Keeffe, B., St. Kllllan'a Crescent, Car­ Kellett, Mr1. G., "Gre:ntones," Gralgue· low. cullen, Carlow. O'Leary, J., Gralgnamanagh, Co. Kilkenny. Kelliher, MIIB M., N. T., 21, Dublin St., O'Neill, B., " lnnl•free," Railway Rood, Carlow. Carlow. Kennedy, Mrs. H., The Donahles, Raheney, O'Nelll, Mra. B., "Innlafree," Railway Dublin. Road, Carlow. O'Neill, D., 22/:51 Sedgwick Ave., Bronx, New York. Le.wler, P. A., Btaplestown,L. Carlow. O'Reilly, J., Frulthlll, Carlow. Lennon, Rev. Dr, P., St. Patrick's College, O'Reilly, Kra., Frulthlll, Carlow. Carlow, O'Toole, Miss K., Rathvllly, Carlow. Lennon, Mies K., Springfield Bae.. Carlow. Oliver, J., Dublin SL, Carlow. Lennon, P, J., 29W. 97th St., New York Oliver, Mrs. J,, Dublin St., Carlow. City, 211, Oliver, Ml.9s B., Dublin st., Carlow, Lee, Dr., Cro.lelah, Carlow. Lee, Mn,. croelllelgh, Carlow. P. Lyng, T. P., N,T,, Ca1Uecomer, Co. Kil· Peevers, J., Staplestown, Carlow. kenny. Peevera, Hrs., Staplestown, Carlow. Pblllll)II, S., Ca1t1e St., Carlow. Poole, P., Hanover Rd., Carlow, Maher, s.. The MedicalM. Hall, Tullow, Co. Prendergaet, Rev. R., St. Patrick's Col· Carlow, lege, Carlow, Maher, Mrs. B., The Medical Hall, Tullow, Purcell, G., St. Kllllan•s Crescent, Carlow. Co. Carlow. Purcell, P., Qulnagh, Carlow. Mahe.-, Dr. T., Blane)'V!11e, Tullow, Co. Carlow. R. Maher, Mrs., Slaneyvtlle, Tullow, Co. Car· Rafter, Mrs., St. Mlcbael's, Hanover, low. Carlow. Maher, Very Rev. P., Knoclr.beg College, Reddy, J,, 11 Btaplestown Rd., Carlow. Carlow. Roe, MISB H. M,, Coollln, Bantry, Dublin. Mannion, F., Dublin St., Carlow. Roche, 8., Bennekerry House Carlow. Miller, Very Rev. Dr., P.P., V.F., New. Roche, Mrs, s., Bennekerry House, Carlow. bridge, Co. Kildare. Ryan, Rev. Dr,, St. Patrick'• College, Monlal, Wm., Old Kilkenny S�clety. Carlow. Moore, MrL, N.T., St. Anne's, Atby Rd., s. Carlow. Bchwatechke, F., The Chutnuta, Carlow. Murray, A., N,T., Dublin St., Carlow. Bblne, Rev. P., Knockbeg College, Carlow, Murphy, Rev. G,, Knockbeg College; Car· Shine, Rev. s., St. Patrick'• College, Car- low, low. Murphy, L., Burrln St., Carlow. Shackleton, Lieut. R. J., 7th Tank Reg,, Murphy, C., Drummond, SL Mullin1, Co. Sealkat, PlnJab, India. Carlow. Stokes, KIBs F. M., Banlt of Ireland, Murphy, Miu A., 2i CaaUe St., Carlow. Bagenailtown. Sutton, Wm., casue st., Carlow, Mc. Button, Mre. K., Castle SL, C!arlow. McDonald, Mra. H., Hollymount, CBrlow. Swayne, Very Rev, P,, P.P., Buncroft, McDonnell, R. D., Tullow St., Carlow. Co. Kildare. McLeod, Miss I., County Library, Carlow. McSw....ney, J. Pembroke, Carlow, Mcsweeney,- Mra. J., Pembroke, Carl;w. Tracey, Miss A., StellaT. Marls, Carlow, Tucker, R., Dublin St., Carlow. Tucker, Mra., Dublin St., Carlow. Nolan, T.. Tullow St.,N. Carlow. Tynan, P. B., Hanover Vlllu, Carlow, Noude, Mlsa R., Tullow st., Carlow. Noude, ¥1&9 E., Tullow St., Carlow. Walsb, T. P., N. T.,w. Stella Karla, Carlow. Watters, c., Granby Row, Carlow. Watters, MrL, Granby Row, Carlow, O'Brien, P., St. Patrick'o. a Flw, College St., Carlow. O'Broln, 8., 12 Lr. Drumcondra Rd,, Dub· Young, Miss G., Coppenagh,v. T,ull�w. Co. Un. Carlow, CARLOVIANA

IN MEMORIAM

The Late Venerable Archdeacon Ridgeway, M.A.

Since the publication of our last Journal a very valued member of the Society has been laid to rest, in the person of Venerable Archdeacon Ridgeway. He was a founder member of the Society and was its Vice-President since its inception. He was a keen historian, and was ever ready to place his vast experience at the disposal of the Society. He was an excellent Chairman, and his wit and sense of humour enlivened many a meeting of the Society. He was ever popular as a paper-reader, and his papers to the Society were models of what papers to a historical Society should be. He had acquired a vast fund of local knowledge and history, and was always ready to supply the missing link in a discussion. His guiding hand will be missed at the future meetings of the Old Carlow Society. May he rest in Peace.

Boake, Edwin, Graceville, Carlow. Hughes James, Kellistown, Carlow. Breen, Very Rev. James, P.P., McMahon, Dr. A. D., Grosvenor, Paulstown, Co. Kilkenny. Carlow. Donnelly, Francis, Tullow Street, Ridgeway, Ven. Archdeacon S., Carlow. The Rectory, Carlow. •

Printed at " The Nationalist and Leinster Times." Carlow.