The Derrynaflan Trail TIPPERARY ECCLESIASTICAL TRAILS Fáilte - Welcome from which its name derives. Kilcooley is settlements developed around castles and In the many graveyards along the trail, you a secluded and tranquil ruin where many churches were built nearby to cater for the will find the burial places of prominent of the fascinating architectural features spiritual needs of the population. Church figures from the last two centuries of remain intact. Both abbeys display the ruins such as Ballinure and Ballymoreen Irish history. Their details, as well at the Welcome to the Derrynaflan Trail, a driving places of worship. wave of activity commenced with the mark of the powerful Butlers of Ormond, also date from this period. details of all local graveyards, have been trail that will take you along the highways arrival of monastic orders from mainland who were the predominant family in the documented through the Historic Graves and byways of Tipperary. Here you will There was ecclesiastical activity in this Europe after 1100 AD. The area during these centuries. The turbulent years between 1500 and mapping project and some of their stories discover the rich ecclesiastical heritage of area right back to 600 AD and before. 1700 saw upheaval as the old Gaelic order are told in this booklet. this wonderful part of Ireland, from the Saintly men and women sought out The Butlers had arrived in Ireland following was replaced by a new English Protestant Slieveardagh Hills around Killenaule, across remote places where they could lead a the Norman invasion in the late 1100s and ascendancy. The reign of the Tudors in We hope this booklet will serve as a useful Littleton Bog and on to Holycross on the life of prayer and contemplation. A chain along with other families they brought England, followed by the Cromwellian guide as you travel across the trail and banks of the River Suir. The trail leads you of islands of fertile land within the vast with them a different type of ecclesiastical conquest of the 1650s, had disastrous through the centuries. It can be read in to church sites, old monasteries, graveyards, expanse of Littleton bog provided ideal activity. Sites such as Buolick, Graystown consequences for many of the old church conjunction with the audio guide for the holy wells and other sacred places. These locations for these monastic settlements. and St. Johnstown have their origins in sites, some of which were attacked and trail, available online at heritage sites contain a wealth of stories Saints Mocheomóg, Colmán, Tigerneach these medieval centuries and display the subsequently became ruined. In Fennor, and history and Ruadhan founded Liathmore, Durrahy, Anglo- Magorban, Lismalin, Crohane and www.slieveardagh.com spanning Derryvella and Derrynaflan respectively. Norman Killenaule, however, the new ascendancy fifteen Saint Naul founded a church in Killenaule influence. consolidated their position by building www.holycrossballycahill.com or centuries, [Cill Náile], a town which bears his name. Here Protestant places of worship on the sites from the The virgin Saint Sineach lived on a round Cistercians became prominent in this part nucleated of former churches during the 1700s and www.abartaaudioguides.com earliest hill overlooking a river valley, namely of Tipperary thanks to the patronage of early 1800s. Crohane and Magorban are years of Crohane. The stories and folklore of these the O’ Brien Kings of Munster. The monks still in use, while the old Church of Ireland Christianity places have been handed down through benefited from generous grants of lands in Killenaule has found a new lease of life in Ireland in the generations. And of course the superb and introduced new farming techniques as a heritage centre. the decades Derrynaflan Hoard is a tangible expression while practicing an austere life of work and Front cover images, clockwise from top left after St. of this rich Christian culture. prayer. The Cistercian legacy is evident Catholic Emancipation in 1829 sparked a – detail of Butler Tomb, Kilcooley Abbey; Patrick, to today in two magnificent sites on the trail, wave of church-building across Ireland that Holycross Abbey; ‘Dancing Men’ at Perry’s modern Viking raids led to the demise of many of Holycross Abbey and Kilcooley Abbey. expressed the power and confidence of the Well; Derrynaflan Hoard. Derrynaflan Hoard churches these ancient sites. Church reform brought Holycross has been brought back to life as a Church as it emerged from centuries of photograph published by kind permission of the that are Ireland’s insular church under the influence working church but retains its historic aura subjugation. St Mary’s Church, Killenaule National Museum of Ireland still used as and control of Rome. Consequently, a new and, of course, the relic of the True Cross is a fine example of a 19th century church 2 with eye-catching stained glass windows. 3 1. Slieveardagh Heritage Centre, Killenaule 2. St Mary’s Church Killenaule The former St. Mary’s Church of A new church was built here in St. Mary’s Catholic Church is Behind the church is the grave of Ireland is located on River Street and the 1700s and was initially used perhaps the most impressive rural Fr. Patrick O’ Brien-Davern (1808 – was built between 1838 and 1840. It for Catholic worship. However, it church in this part of Tipperary. 1843). He was a native of Ballinure was constructed of sandstone with became a Protestant church in 1762. It is built in Gothic style and and an agitator for tenant rights limestone surrounds for the doors the architect, J.J. McCarthy from in the 1800s. In 1842, while curate and windows, giving a distinctive Several marble plaques on the Dublin, was reputedly a pupil of of Knockavilla, he led a campaign appearance. interior walls commemorate the renowned English neo-Gothic for 1,300 Catholic tenants evicted members of the Going and architect Pugin. The foundation from the estate of Viscount Killenaule derives from the Irish Cill Hemphill families, both of whom stone of the church was laid in 1859 Hawarden, Dundrum. Following Náile, the church of St. Naul, whose were prominent aristocratic and it was dedicated 1865. several letters by the priest to The feast day is on July 31st. He was an landowners in the Killenaule area in Nation newspaper, the Viscount early Christian saint and a son of the 1800s. An eye-catching stained The stained glass windows of the initiated legal proceedings. Daniel Aengus, King of Cashel, who had glass window in the eastern gable church are a notable feature. The O’ Connell lent his support to the been baptised by St Patrick. Around was manufactured by Mayer & window behind the altar is said to priest. However, Fr. O Brien-Davern 520 AD, Naul founded a monastery Co. of Munich and London, noted be the second-largest of its kind in died from fever on August 31st 1843 at Kilmanagh, Co. Kilkenny, just 14 stained glass designers. Ireland. It contains representations before the case came to court. miles from Killenaule. His original of the 12 apostles and makes an church in Killenaule may have been The church was closed in 1991 and interesting comparison to the Butler Fr. David Humphries (1843-1930), on this site. The life of St. Naul tells the premises was taken over by tomb in Kilcooley Abbey. Several who played a prominent role in the us that “it was a church angelic, Slieveardagh Rural Development, windows in nave of the church Land War, is buried near the front golden-belled, heavenly, noble, of refurbished and officially opened were made in the studio of Harry of the church. He was instrumental sacred beauty, divine, charitable, by President Mary Robinson on Clarke, the famed Irish stained glass in establishing the settlement of intelligent, hallowed”. August 20th 1995. It is home artist. Others were produced by ‘New Tipperary’ for tenants evicted to a heritage centre and tourism the Mayer & Co. studio. from the Smith Barry estate in 1890 There is certain evidence for a information point, a public library and was later jailed for a ‘seditious pre-Reformation church here in and public toilets. Internet access The pulpit in the church was carved speech’. He served as parish priest the form of medieval architectural is available in the building. It is in the Pearse Studio in Dublin. Two of Killenaule for 35 years. fragments in the surrounding an ideal base from which to start members of this family, Patrick graveyard, including door jambs exploring the trail. Pearse and Willie Pearse, played GPS Co-ordinates: and window fragments. prominent roles in the Easter 52.569081, -7.674814 GPS Co-ordinates: Rising 1916 and were executed in its 52.568690, -7.672282 aftermath. 4 5 3. Graystown – Baile an Ghraeigh Graystown Castle is spectacularly This was located within the protective set on an outcrop of limestone rock bawn adjoining the castle. overlooking the Clashawley River valley. Graystown guarded an important route To the north of the castle there is linking north and south Tipperary evidence of extensive settlement in along this river valley. medieval times, with the remains of up to eight houses, three enclosures and a It is said that the name Graystown street running through the centre. This derives from the Norman lord and settlement was the scene of fair days up blocked military genius Raymond le Gros, who until the 1800s. gate arrived in Ireland in 1170 to support Strongbow’s invasion. However, it According to local tradition, Graystown seems more likely that the area is named contains remnants of an ecclesiastical or vault after one of a number of Norman monastic settlement. The field to the knights called Grey, who are named in north of the castle is known locally as documents from around 1300.