Parish of Castletown

Source: Carrigan "The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory", Vol 2 (1905)

OFFERLANE, or Upperwoods, formed one parish from remote times, till the year 1839, when it was broken up into two new parishes, viz., Castletown and Camross. Of these, Castletown has an area of about 17,128 statute acres.

CASTLETOWN

The town of Castletown stands on the south bank of the river Nore, which, at this point, separates the parishes of Castletown and Mountrath, and the Dioceses of Ossory and Leighlin. In ancient records it is sometimes called Castletown-Offerlane, that is, Castletown in the territory of Ui-Foircheallain, to distinguish it from Castletown in the parish of Kyle, Castletown-Criffin in the parish of Rathdowney, and Castletown-McCody in Galmoy. Its name is derived from an old castle which formerly stood on the site now occupied by the P.P's house, but of which nothing remains save a large piece of the courtyard wall, a broken turret or two, a gateway, and a half-filled-up fosse.

On the 20th April, 1290, Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Gloucester, surrendered to the King his castles of Kilkenny and Offerlane, and received a re-grant of same during the following month. An "Extent " of the possessions of Joan, Countess of Gloucester, widow of Earl Gilbert, dating 1307, has the following endorsement :
"And be it known that there is a castle [viz., that of Castletown] in Offarlane, which belonged to the Countess aforesaid, in which are contained, as well in lordship as in demesne, 29 carucates and 6o acres of land, which formerly were wont to be worth £26 4s. 4d.; but as this castle lies in a strong march, all the lands aforesaid lie waste on account of the war of the Irish, so that nothing can be recovered there-from; but the lord the King spends £40 a year of his own on the custody of the castle." In 1309 Thomas de Centewelle was Constable of the " castle of Offerlane," and held it for the Crown.

As time rolled on, however, the English lost sway over Upper Ossory, and the castle, with the whole cantred of Offerlane became subject to MacGillapatrick. On the 21st August, 16oo, the castle was burned to the ground by Teige Fitzpatrick, afterwards Lord of Upper Ossory, at the approach of the Lord Deputy and his forces. John Fitzpatrick, brother of Teige, settled down in Castletown in the early years of the 17th century. He was most probably the founder and first occupant of the very old house which now serves as a residence for the P.P. of Castletown.

CHURCHTOWN

Churchtown or Daile an Teampuill, is in the immediate vicinity of Castletown. The ruined structure which originated the name, is a quadrangular building 53 ft. long externally and 29 ft. wide, and affords an interesting example of a most ancient church partially rebuilt and enlarged at a very remote date. The north side-wall, which is 10 ft. high, and the west gable, are still almost perfect; the east gable has a breach in the centre from top to bottom, but its sides remain, together with three not inconsiderable pieces of the south wall.

In the north side-wall, opposite where the altar stood, is a doorway closed up for centuries, yet still preserving, all its distinctive features. Its external sides are framed with reddish freestone, chiselled and chamfered; the top is round, or rather slightly curved, and is turned with small rough stones. On the outside it is 6 ft. 3 in. high to the spring of the arch or curve, and 9 in. thence to the apex; its width at the ground is 4 ft. 4 in., and at the springing of the arch 4 ft. Being thus of the Celtic pattern it belongs to a date not later than the 12th century. A curious circumstance connected with it is that it is 2 in. wider on the outside than on the inside. The north side-wall, from this door included, to the west end, is all of the same age, strongly built, and 34 in. thick; it may be coeval with the west gable, which is of the same thickness and solidity, but has neither door nor window and is not bonded into either side-wall.

The south side-wall where it adjoins the west gable, to an external length of 14 ft. 3 in., is only 31 in. thick, and is of the same date as the opposite wall. Here was the public entrance door, now much injured, but which appears to have been the counterpart of the closed-up door in the north wall, with this exception that its sides splayed towards the inside and not towards the outside.

The remaining fragments, viz., three pieces of the south side-wall, two of the east gable, and 5 ft. of the east end of the north side-wall, are all, except a small portion of the east gable, of same date, belong to the original church, must be centuries older than the parts we have already described, and carry us back almost to the introduction of Christianity into this country. They vary from 31 to 33 in. in thickness, and are built of small-sized stones and hard grouting. They preserve but one feature of interest, viz., in the south-wall, close to the door, an original window framed with rough stones, broken at top, and now only 17 in. high; it is 12 in. wide externally, with no splay one way or other for the first foot, after which it splays internally to a width of 2 ft. 8 in.

About 4 1/2 ft. of the north side of the east gable, towards the centre, belongs to about the year 1400, when an ogee window, fragments of which lie around was inserted at the back of the altar. This window had a hood moulding, ending in two very rude carvings of human heads, which have been removed to Mr. Tarrant's premises in Castletown.

The ancient holy water font, which lies in the graveyard, is of the most primitive description, being merely a small rough piece of greenstone, with circular bowl 12 in. wide at top and 3 1/2 in. deep. There is a rough holed-stone beside it. There are several inscribed monuments, but none older than about 1750; on one is:
"Here lieth the body of Daniel Deleign, who died the 16th of Feb., 1796, aged 84 years; also the body of his sister Judeth, who died the 28th of April, 1787 aged 74." The denizens of this tomb were probably relatives of Father Denis Deleign (pronounced Dee-linn), P.P. St. John's, and V.G. of Ossory, who died in 1773.

According to Bishop Phelan's List, the patron of "Ballintiampuil, anglice Church-Town," is St. "Cedus [pronounced Keedus] seu Edmundus, Episcopus, 20 Novembris." Again, in 1669, the P.P. signs himself " Pastor Ecclesiae S. Cedi."

There are two saints named Cedus, in Irish Caeti, Coeddi, Caete, and Caoide, (pronounced Keedha); one of them an abbot, patron of Domhnach Chaoidhe (now Donagheedy, Co. Tyrone), and commemorated in the Martyrology of Donegal, on the 25th of October; the other a Bishop, and commemorated on the 24th Oct. The latter is, no doubt, the patron of Churchtown. The fact of his feast being kept here on the 20th of Nov., and not on Oct. 24th, presents no difficulty, as it is by no means uncommon to find the same Irish Saint honoured on different days in different churches. In entering his festival on the 24th Oct., the writer of the Martyrology of Donegal adds: "The Cain Adamnain states that Ceti the Bishop, was one of the Saints who were security to free the women from every kind of captivity and slavery; and it is likely that it is of him he speaks.' He is probably identical, too, with Coeddi, Bishop of Iona, who died, according to the Four Masters, in 710. One other ancient Ossory church was dedicated to this Saint, namely, that of Rath, formerly "Rathkilkeedy," in the northern extremity of Ballyragget parish.
The church at Churchtown, and not that at Anatrim, was the Parochial church of Offerlane, and hence gave title to the local clergy. Thus, according to the Rental Book of the Earl of Kildare, drawn up early in the 16th century, that nobleman was entitled to certain duties or tributes from" OssoryM'Gyllepatricke's countre," and among them "Upon the Vicar of Chircheton iiiid. of every cow, a swyne of every croo of swyne, and a mutton of every croo of shepe belonging unto him; "again on the 30th June, 1556, "Thady M'Fynyne,priest of Ballentample," with many of the chief men of the Irishry of Upper Ossory, received a "pardon"; and in 1669, as stated above, the PP. of Upperwoods or Offerlane, styles himself "Pastor Ecclesiae' S. Cedi," that is, of Churchtown.

The Rectory of Offerlane or Churchtown was appropriated to the Cistercian Abbey of Duiske, otherwise Graiguenamanagh, by William Fitz John, Bishop of Ossory (1302-17), and continued in possession of the monks of said Abbey, down to the time of Henry VIII.

RUSSIAN

Very slight traces of the walls of an ancient church are still to be seen in this townland, in a field on the bounds of Paddock, called the "Kyle [i.e. Church] meadow." It was a very small church, having been, apparently, no more than 11 ft. wide on the inside. Beside it is the " Burying Bush," a large sceach, around which lies the graveyard. The original enclosing fence has been levelled, but its circuit, which was considerable, can he easily traced. Only unbaptized children are now buried here. There are no head-stones.

There is a tradition that, after building this church, the founder removed to Kyle, otherwise Kyle-Clonfert-Molua, beyond Borris-in-Ossory, where he erected another church and permanently settled down. Should this tradition be reliable, the founder of Russian church can be no other than the famous St. Molua, whose death is entered in our Annals under the year 605.

Russian represents the Irish Roipin, i.e. the little Ros. The word ros enters into the composition of many townland names in this Diocese, especially in Upper Ossory. It sometimes signifies a wood, and sometimes a point or promontory. When used in the latter sense it may denote (a) a portion of land partly surrounded by water, (b) an angle of land formed by the meeting of two rivers, or (c) a piece of land round which a river merely winds its course. Ross, beside Cullahill castle, certainly signifies a wood, as there is no water whatever on the townland. All the other Rosses in Ossory, such as Rosbercon, Rosdarragh, Rosconnell, Russian, Kilrush, &c., are found to lie along river courses; and though they may, in some instances, have taken their names from woods, they certainly seem, in most cases, to have taken them from their connection, in one or other of the three ways mentioned above, with water. Hence though Russian or Roisin may signify the little wood, it is much more likely that it means the little promontory.

There was a castle at Michael Burke's in Clonin (Cluainin, the little meadow); its walls, which were very strong and about 40 ft. high, were taken down, almost to the ground, about the year 1850.

KILBRICKAN

The ruined church of Kilbrickan stands in the townland of the same name, within a few yards of the river Nore. The site was very strangely chosen, being so low-lying that, to save it from being submerged whenever the river became even moderately swollen, a huge dam of great length had to be constructed. The church has all the appearances of great antiquity. It is rectangular in shape and measures 55 1/2 ft. in length and 26 ft. in breadth, the walls being 3 ft. 9 in. thick, and varying in height, at present, from 7 ft. downwards. In the south side-wall, on the inside, there are two recesses, about 2 ft. wide and reaching to the ground, one beside the altar, the other about the middle of the wall; the upper parts of the recesses, probably containing windows, are broken away. There was no doorway in this wall. An aged tree, growing up in the centre of the west gable, probably occupies the place of the original entrance. The stones used in the building were very rough, but not very large: no cut-stone. Tradition affirms that there was a monastery here in early times.

No interments have taken place about the church in the memory of anyone now living. There are no monuments now visible, all having sunk beneath the surface of the graveyard long ago. It is said, however, that one large monument, with an inscription, was formerly fixed into the south wall of the church, on the inside, and that it was removed thence to Kilbrickan House, by a man named Roberts, who made use of it there as a hearth-stone in his bed-room.

The Irish name of Kilbrickan, still remembered, though the Irish language has been dead here for generations, is Kyle-Bruckawn, i.e., Cill-Bpocain, the Church of St. Brocan or Brogan.

COOLE HILL

There was a very ancient burial ground in Mr. Justin's land on the top of Coole Hill, a quarter of a mile south of Kilbrickan church. It occupied the angle, to the right, formed by the road from Kilbrickan station, at its meeting on the Hill, with the old road leading thence to Castletown. It was about a quarter of an acre in area. Though unused for interments, perhaps for centuries, and not surrounded by fence or wall, it remained undisturbed till about 185o, when it was at length uprooted and levelled. Now not a trace of it remains, and even its site is known to but very few.

CAMCLONE

In Camclone (Hibernice Cam-cluain, the crooked or curved meadow), there was a church in the earliest times. Father Colgan, in his AA.SS., p. 799, mentions it, and endeavours, but ineffectually, to identify it with a church called Camachadh, at which a St. Colman was venerated on the 31st of March. "There is," he writes, " in the Diocese of Ossory, in Leinster, a church called Cam-chluain." There has been no trace of this church in living memory, but its site is still known, in Camclone, in a field called the "Bunny Hill." The "Bunny Hill"is now all under tillage and the graveyard destroyed; but formerly, during the "trenching" of the potatoes or wheat growing here, human bones were invariably thrown up. James Peters of Camclone (1813-1900) informed the writer that in his early days he always heard the old people say it was a "churchyard" was on the "Bunny Hill."
The townland of Boston adjoins the "Bunny Hill."

CASHEL

St. Garadh, Lon, or Lon-garadh, an Ossory Saint of early date, distinguished as well for his great learning as for his eminent virtues, was the founder and patron of the church of Cashel (or Coshel, as the name is locally and correctly pronounced). He was the contemporary of St. Columbkille, and pre-deceased him, so that his death must have occurred before the year 597. He is commemorated in the Martyrology o/ Tallaght, on the 24th of June, as
"Lon of Cill-Gabra,"

that is, of Kilgorey, in the parish of Doonane, on the borders of time the parish of Clough. The Marfyrology of Donegal also commemorates him on the 24th of June, as

"Lon of Cill-Gohhra,'

(from which it may be concluded that his festival was kept at Kilgorey, on the 24th of June); and again on the 3rd Sept., thus:

"Lon-garadh of Sliabh Mairge, or of Magh Tuathat. Lon-garadh Coisfinn [i.e. of the white foot], of Disert Garadh, in the north of Ossraighe, i.e. of Magh-Garadh in Ui-Faircheallaigh, and of Cill-Gabhra, in Sliabh Mairge. It is said that the book-satchels of Erinn, and the Gospels, and the lesson-books of the students, fell from their racks on the night of Lon-garadh's death, so that no person should ever understand them as Lon-garadh used to understand them. It was of this was said:-

"Lon died, [Lon died,]
Garadh was unfortunate;
He is a loss to learning and schools
Of Erinn's isle to its extremities."

"A very ancient old-vellum-book, which we have mentioned under Brighit, at 1st Feb., and under Patrick, 17th March, states, that Lon-garadh, in his habits and life, was like to Augustine, who was very wise."

The Feilire of Aengus, at same date (Sept. 3rd), has:

"Longarad, a delightful sun."

On this passage, the Scholiast in the Leabhar Breac thus comments:

"Longarad, i.e. of Sliabh Mairge or in Mag Tuathat in the north of Ossory. Longarad the white-legged in Mag Tuathat in the north of Ossory, i.e. in Ui-Foirchellain, i.e. in Mag Garad in Disert Garad especially, and in Cell Gabra, in Sliabh Mairge, in Les Longaradh. Whitelegged, i.e. great white hair through his legs. Or bright-white were his legs. A sage of learning and jurisprudence and poetry was he. To him Colombcille chanced to come as a guest, and he hid his books from Colomb, and Colombcille left his curse on Longarad's books, to wit, 'May that,' quoth he, 'as to which thou hast shown niggaradliness be of no profit after thee.' And this was fulfilled. For the books still remain and no man reads them. Now when Longarad was dead, men of lore say this, that the book-satchels of Ireland fell down on that night. Or it is the satchels wherein were books of every science in the cell where Colombcille was that fell then, and Colombcille and everyone in that house marvel, and all are silent at the noisy shaking of the books. So then said Colombcille: 'Lon-garadh in Ossory,' quoth he, 'a sage of every science, has now died.' 'May it be long till that comes true,' quoth Baithin.' Unfaith on the man in thy place,' says Colombcille et dixit Colombcille:-

'Dead is Lon
Of Cell garad--great the evil!
To Erin with her many homesteads
It is ruin of learning and schools.

'Died hath Lon
In Cell garad--great the evil !
It is ruin of the learning and schools
Of Erin's island over her border.'"

The Saint's church of Disert-Garadh though described so minutely above as in Magh-Garadh, in the territory of Magh-Tuathat otherwise Ui-Foircheallain, in the north of Ossory, has been hitherto sought for in vain. Its position is, however, no longer doubtful. It stood within the churchyard of Cashel, on the south bank of the river Nore, in the original Ui-Foircheallain. The Irish name of this churchyard, as still traditionally handed down in the locality, is Coshel-Gorra, which exactly represents Caipeal-Sapad, or St. Garadh's Cashel. The townland of Cashel, which is called from the churchyard, formerly bore the same name. Thus, Brian Oge, Lord of Upper Ossory, by his will, made in 1581, leaves his lady all the lands "he hath in Ballytrasney & in and about Cashelgarwe," that is, in the two adjoining townlands of Ballytarsney and Cashel. The Down Surveyors found that Daniel Fitzpatrick, an Irish Papist, was possessed of the three adjoining townlands of "Ballytarsney, Cast[l]egarrow & ffarendonoghery," in the parish of Offerilan, in 1653; and in the Book of Survey and Distributions, in 1657, the town-land again appears as Castlegarrow.

The change of the church-name from Disert-Garadh to Cashelgarwe and Castlegarrow, is in perfect accordance with what we meet with elsewhere in Ireland. Disert-Diarmada has, for instance, been changed to Castledermot, Disert-Chiarain to Cast/ekieran, Disert-Iolladhain to Castledillon, &c-- the change of name, in each case, being due, either to the extraordinary system of corruption which the word "disert" has undergone in topographical nomenclature; or, to the fact that a castle was erected on or near the site of the Disert or hermitage, long after the Saint, from whom it was called, had gone to his reward. Similarly, in the case of Disert-Garadh, Disert has been corrupted into Cashel or, which is much more probable, Disert was substituted for Cashel when St. Garadh's hermitage had become enclosed by a strong caisea or stone wall.

The Church of Disert-Garadh was situated to the rere of Mr. England's house in Cashel, in the "churchyard" field, near the brow of a limestone hill with a scraggy, broken slope towards the north. This barren hill, shut off from the south by another hill still higher, and only a short distance from the Nore on the north, must have formed an ideal hermitage in early times. The caiseal or wall enclosing the church and graveyard was built of dry stone. It was very perfect still in 1835, when it was almost entirely destroyed by the Englands, who used the materials in the erection of the adjoining dwelling-house. Its remains now consist of the north wall 16 yards long, 2 ft. high and about 4 ft. thick, and the east and west walls running south from this, to the same height and to a length of 10 yards; they are covered over with fallen debris, overgrown with grass and weeds. The east and west walls extended about 15 yards still further south, across a modern haggard, as far as the back wall of Mr. England's dwelling; so that, when perfect, the caiseal formed a rectangular enclosure 16 yards wide from east to west, and about 25 yards in length from north to south.

Some pieces of the church were standing till about 1835, but not a stone of it now remains over another. Its foundations lay due east and west, close beside the north wall of the caiseal; the site has been left untilled. The rest of the ancient enclosure constituted the churchyard and was used for interments till about the end of the 18th century; part of it is now a cabbage garden; part of it is untilled, but has neither head stones nor appearances of graves.

The holy water stone, built into the face of a wall hard by is of so very primitive a description that it may have been in use in the days of St. Garadh himself; it is merely a rough limestone rock, 2 1/2 ft. square, with an artificial, basin-shaped hollow 13 in. in diameter and 5 in. deep.In the early part of the 18th century, the site of St. Garadh's hermitage was used as an open-air Mass-station for the people of Upperwoods. There was a "chapel" here, too, erected, probably, about 1725, and abandoned not long after. It must have been a very temporary structure, little better than a shed. Its site is pointed out, 80 or 100 yards north-west of the caiseal, on a small green plot, rough and uneven, immediately over the slope of the hill.

There is a cave two or three hundred yards to the north-east of the caiseal, near the base of the hill; its mouth is closed up with loose stones.

There was a large circular fort some distance south of the caiseal, on the highest point of Cashel Hill. Its name was 'Dun-eacpa or the Fort of the Brake; and from this was formed "ffarendonoghery" (Dun-eachra Farm), the name of a townland mentioned above, and now included in Cashel. In later times the Fort was named the Brandybush Fort. It was dismantled and the site ploughed up about 1855.

The old road, from Castletown to Borris-in-Ossory, passed midway between the caiseal and Brandybush Fort. A considerable portion of it remains uninjured in Ballytarsna, Cashel and Derrin, and serves as a laneway. This is most probably on the track of the Bealach Mor Osraidhe or Great Pass of Ossory.
Besides the church of Cashel, one other church in Ossory claimed St. Garadh as patron. This was the long obliterated church that gave name to the townland of Kilmogar, near Johnswell. In Irish, Kilmogar is pronounced Kil-mo-ghorra, i.e Cill-Mo-Gharahd or the church of St. Garadh or Mo-Garadh.
The other church with which the Martyrologies connect our Saint's name, is Cill-Gabhra, in Sliabh Mairge. It is situated immediately outside of Ossory, in the parish of Doonane, Diocese of Leighlin. It is known as Kilgorey in English, but Irish speakers in Co. Kilkenny call it Kill-Ghowra, i.e., Gabhair Church. An ancient road passing by "Gabhair on Mairg Laighean," is mentioned in the Book of Leinster. There is a famous holy well at Kilgorey church.

KILDREENAGH

The Irish form of the name is Cill-Dnaignec, which means the Church of the Sloe-bushes. All memory of a church and graveyard having been ever in the townland of Kildreenagh, is lost; but there can be little doubt that both were once here, and that they were situated within a rath, now almost destroyed, in a field called "the Rath field." When this rath was being removed, a few years ago, the central enclosed area was found to consist for the most part of black, loamy earth, such as may be always turned up in ancient burial grounds; no bones were, however, met with. Human bones were dug up just outside the rath, in the same field; also four bronze daggers.
In 1847, when the bed of the Nore was being deepened by the Board of Works, the foundations of an ancient oak bridge were come upon at a depth of several feet, where the river flows between the townlands of Kildreenagh and Coldharbour. In the same spot and at the same level were found much human remains, among them a skull of extraordinary size; also several steel swords, almost eaten away with rust; several swords of bronze, all perfect, and shaped like flaggers; and part of an iron helmet. The people say that a fierce battle, which they call the "Battle of Kildreenagh," was fought here, very long ago, between the men of Munster and the men of Ossory.

RUSHALL-THE McCOSTIGINS

In 16th and 17th century documents, Rushall appears as Ballymoy or Ballyvoy, and Ballymoymore, i.e. baile-maige-moir or the Townland of the Large Plain. Irish speakers in Co. Kilkenny call it Bollia-wee, i.e. Bollia-wee, i.e. baile-maige, the Townland of the Plain.

The McCostigins,1 an old Ossory tribe, were the former proprietors of Ballymoy and other townlands in its neighbourhood. In the year 1566, "pardons" were granted to Donogh MWilliam [McCostigin] of Ballewoyve and Donyll gromy, McWilliam [McCostigin] of the same, gentlemen; in 1591, to William McCostigine, and again to Donell grome [McCostigin] of Ballywoyve; and in 1597, to Donell grome M'Costigin, a third time, and to Dermot M'Donell M'Costigin and Donogh M'Teige M'Costigin. Donell grome was pardoned, a fourth time, in 1601, together with Donell McCostegin of Derreneshyre, vicar, William McCostegin of same, Donogh oge m'Donogh m'William [M'Costigin] of Ballevoy, horseman, and Dermot M'Donell gromy, of Ballevoy, yeoman. Fynin M'Tiege M'Costygan and Teige M'Donell gromy, yeomen, were pardoned in 1602, as were Donell grome M'Coss[t]igin (for the fifth and last time), Donogh oge M'Coss[t]igin and Dermot M'Donell grome, "in Osserie," yeomen, on the 4th March, 1603.

During most of the first half of the 17th century Ostickin mcDonogh McCostigin,
apparently a son or brother of Donogh oge, son of Donogh mcWilliam, pardoned in 1566, was the head of the family. He is mentioned among the landed proprietors of Upper Ossory in 1614, and again, as Augustine Costigin, in the Down Survey list of proprietors in the same district, in. 1653. His estate, forfeited under Cromwell, consisted of Ballymoye, Garrankiell, Clartane and Shangarry, 310 ac., all profitable; Knockbrack, Gurtnapishy (now Peafield) and Shangowny, 846 ac., of which 502 ac. were profitable and 344 ac. unprofitable; Cargin and Clonefadda, 188 ac., all profitable; and (jointly with William M'Teig) part of Gurtinamalagh and Clondaglasse, 336 ac., all profitable. Daniel Costigin forfeited, at the same time, Cuddaghmore; Jeffery Costigin and Teige M'Shane, Cloncasherivan; and Patrick Costigin, half of Collroan (Coleraine).

Ostickin, or Augustine, Costigin's estate was granted by Cromwell, in lieu of arrears of pay, to Major Thomas Davis who sold it almost immediately to Sir Charles Coote, afterwards created first Earl of Mountrath. On the Restoration, Laurence Costigin, son of Ostickin who was then, it would appear, dead, claimed the estate as an Innocent, in the Court of Claims; but he was decreed Nocent and his claim was dismissed, on the 18th Feb., 1663. Seeing no prospect of recovering their property, Laurence Costigin, and his brothers, John, Florence and Gregory, now turned Tories or Rapparees. For this they were outlawed and a price was set upon their heads, and they had to betake themselves to the glens of the Slieve Bloom and the morasses of the great bog of Moonaela. How hardly it fared with them appears from a letter of their relentless foe, the second Earl of Mountrath, dated June 15th, 1664, in which he informs Sir George Lane, secretary to the Duke of Ormond, that two of the brothers had been taken, and that one of them was condemned and hanged the week before, and the other reprieved for a few days. About the same time a third brother was got rid of; and only one other then remained.

"One of the Costigans, it seems, still evaded capture. For Colonel Grace, a great friend of Ormonde's, writing for a protection and pass for James [John?] Dwiggin to quit the Kingdom, Ormonde refused. Dwiggin's estate was one of those in Lord Mountrath's possession, as part of the late Earl's [i.e. Mountrath's] new estate, having been set out to Colonel Daniel Abbot for his arrears and purchased by the late Earl. Ormonde in refusing Colonel Grace's request for Dwiggin of quitting the Kingdom, adds, 'but if he will bring in the head of the tory Costigan or some others of that crew, we may be induced to grant him his Majesty's pardon." (Ormonde to Grace, 30th July, 1666)."
This last survivor of the brothers was Gregory. His after fate is not recorded in history's page, but it is well known from tradition. Almost everyone along the south side of the Slieve Bloom can tell how Gregory Costigan, after many a hard night on the mountain, was at length1 betrayed by his gossip, friend and fellow outlaw, Skawn Geawr; how he was shot, and then beheaded, at "Gregory's stone" in Aughdough; how his head was carried on the point of a spear to Rushall Court to be presented to Coote, Earl of Mountrath; how Coote's lady, who had known him in former years, was so affected at the sight that she fled away from Rushall and could never be induced to come live there again; and how vengeance was subsequently executed on Shawn Geawr, who was flung into a bog hole by some of his enraged neighbours, after a turf-man's slane had been buried in his head.
In 1657, according to the Down Survey Maps, there were "at Bally[moy]more, Garrankiel and Clartane, two ruined castles with several houses and cabbins."

Rushall Court, founded about 1660, by the first or second Earl of Mountrath, and now itself a ruin, probably occupies the site of one of these "two ruined castles." The "Court" awakens no memories among the people but those of lawless tyranny and blood. It was called Ruish-Hall, or more correctly Ruish-Hall, from Mary Ruish (daughter of Sir Francis Ruish, of Castlejordan, Co. Meath), first wife of the first Earl of Mountrath (died 1661), and mother of the second Earl. As late as 1789, "Ruish Hall in the Queen's County, two miles from Mountrath" was the only Irish residence of the Coote family.1' Soon after this date the mansion ceased to be occupied and gradually became the complete ruin it now is. Its present remains show it to have been a large double house built east and west. The front wall, facing south, is razed to the ground; it was 6o ft. long; the remaining side-wall is 34 ft. high. The chimneys are massive, project from the gables, and are surmounted by double rows of lozenge-shaped chimney-stacks. The building has not a single piece of cut-stone, and appears to have been put together hurriedly. There was a large courtyard attached, the walls of which are still standing.

Rushall Inn, on the road side, nearly opposite the Court, has also the projecting chimneys; it had, too, the lozenge-shaped chimney-stacks, but only in single rows, till 1896. It is traditionally said to have been erected to accommodate the men employed in building the Court. As far as anyone remembers it was always, as its name implies, a public Inn, till about 186o.

MASS-STATIONS AND CHAPELS

CASTLETOWN - There is a "Mass Pit" in Danganroe, on the roadside, to the left, as one goes from Castletown to Danganroe bridge. Mass was said here till about 1763.
There was no chapel in this district till about 1763, when Mr. Price came to live in Westfield House, as agent to the Earl of Upper Ossory. Mr. Price was a Protestant, but his wife, an English lady, named Robinson, was a Catholic. She soon got a small public chapel built in the townland of Old Borris, about the middle of the field to the north of, and bounding, the present Westfield garden. This chapel was used as such for about 20 years, after which it was turned to secular purposes; it was taken down about 1830.
The present chapel of Castletown was built to replace that of Old Borris, about the year 1784. It was at first thatched, and consisted merely of the part to the rere of the high altar, lately set apart for the use of the De la Salle Community.
The north transept was added, about 1810; the nave, about 1836; and the south transept, about 1880.

RUSHALL - The Holy Sacrifice was offered up, very long ago, in a pit, in Mr. James Carroll's land in Mannin. The pit, which was known as " Carroll's Pit," has been levelled. In the early part of the 18th century, Mass was said in the open air, for several years, beside the churchyard of Cashel ; here, too, a chapel of some kind was erected about 1725, but it cannot have been in use more than a few years.1'
After an interval of about four score of years, during which the people of this district had neither Mass-station nor chapel of their own, permission was at length given to the priests of the parish to celebrate Mass every Sunday for the benefit of the public, in a store attached to Rushall mill. This was about 1815.
The present chapel of Rushall was begun by Father Campion, P.P., in 1817 and was completed about two years later. It stands in the townland of Cnocbreac.

PARISH PRIESTS

REV. LOUGHLIN DUIGIN, or DEEGAN, was P.P. in August, 1669. William Cuddihy of Inchanisky, Killenure district, thus mentions him in his will of Nov. 20th, 1674:

"I give unto Loughlin Duigin, priest, ten shillings, for myself and my wife lately deceased, which being her request; also I give unto William Duigin, priest, five shillings."

Father Duigin appears to have died in 1681 or 1682.

VERY REV. JOHN CASSIN, D.D., probably Father Duigin's immediate successor, was P.P. in 1701. He lived in Castletown. About 1718 he resigned the charge of Castletown and Camross for that of Aghaboe and Borris-in-Ossory.2

REV. EDMUND PETERSON, PETERS, or MULFEDDER, the next P.P., is mentioned in the will of Edmond Nowlan of Borris-in-Ossory, in 1724, and in that of Dr. Cassin, his predecessor, in 1730. He is traditionally remembered as "Father Mulfedder" (Hibernice O'Maoil-peadair, that is, descendant of the man devoted or consecrated to St. Peter), and is said to have officiated in the old, penal-times chapel of Camross. He died in June, 1737, but the place of his burial is unknown. There is a family of the name of Peters still in Upperwoods, in the townland of Camclone. They say that themselves and their forefathers have been living there for the last three hundred years, and that their ancestor came originally from Munster. Father Peterson probably belonged to this family.

1 VERY REV. WILLIAM DELANY next took charge of the parish. As Father "Will" Delany he is still most vividly remembered in the traditions of the Slieve Bloom Mountains. He was born in Upperwoods, in Joe Lalor's house in Knocknagad, and was the son of respectable parents of the farming class. He received his classical education at Shinrone, in the King's Co., and studied Philosophy and Theology in France, where also he was ordained priest. Returning to his native country a little before 1737, he succeeded to Upperwoods, on the death of Father Peterson, and governed the parish for the next thirty-four years. At first he had no canonical appointment to the benefice, owing, no doubt, to the disorganized state of the Irish church at this period, and he directed its spiritual interests only as Adm. for several years. His collation, which bears date, July 4th, 1759, is thus recorded in the Diocesan Register:

"Die 4 Julii, 1759., Amplissimus Dominus Gulielmus Delany, Canonicus, instituitur Parochus S. Kevini de Offerlane alias Anatrim, S. Cedi (alias Edmundi) de Ballintiampuil anglice Churchtown, & S. Kirani de Saiger. Porro Districtus hic vacabat a mense Junii, 1737, per obitum Rdi. Dni. Peterson, a quo tempore in eo laudabiliter administrabat memoratus Gulielmus Delany absque tamen collatione sen institutione, sive ordinaria sive Apostolica."

About 1756 Father Delany had been appointed Canon of Cloneamery, but he resigned his place in the Chapter, July 19th, 1764. He died Feb. 8th (Diocesan Register), or 13th (inscription on tomb), 1771, at his residence in Killeen, (now occupied by John Guilfoyle), and is buried with his forefathers in Anatrim. He had three brothers, Daniel, John and James, the first of whom lived in Paddock, parish of Castletown, married Elizabeth Fitzpatrick of Mountrath, and was father of the Most Rev. Daniel Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, who died July 9th, 1814, in the 31st year of his Episcopate.

REV. EDWARD FITZPATRICK was appointed next P.P. on the 13th Feb., 1771. He was a Queen's County man, but the exact place of his birth is unknown. He was C.C. Upperwoods in 1766, and later on of St. John's, Kilkenny. During the few years of his pastoral charge he lived in Clonin and here too, he died, Feb. 1st, 1776. The entry of his death in the contemporary Gentleman's Magazine is a typical specimen of the obituary notices given to priests in publications of the 18th century; it is as follows

"Died at Clone [Clonin], Mr. Edmond Fitzpatrick, a Romish Clergyman."

He rests in Anatrim, under a horizontal monument. The site of his residence is still pointed out in "Father Ned's field," on Mr. Daniel Campion's farm, in Clonin. His brother, Mr. Patrick Fitzpatrick of Deerpark, Castletown, father of the Very Rev. John Fitzpatrick, P.P., Slieverue and Glenmore, lived to be 104 years old, and died October 13th, 1817.'

REV. RICKARD BURKE was son of John Burke of Lisnalea, Tullaroan, and Johanna Cassin. He was ordained by Dr. Burke, at Mr. Richard Hoyne's house, in Garrychreen, near Kilkenny, June 24th, 1766, and is said to have served as C.C. in Callan and Thomastown. On the 1st Feb., 1774, he was collated to Urlingford, and was translated thence to Upperwoods, Feb. 9th, 1776. The following copy of his collation to this parish is taken from the original, now in St. Kieran's College Museum:-

"Nos Fr. Thomas de Burgo, Ordinis Praedicatorum, S. Theologiae Magister, Dei & Sanctae Sedis Apostolicae Gratia Episcopus Ossoriensis, necnon Parochiae S. Canici Kilkenniae Parochus: Dilecto nobis in Christo Reverendo Domino Ricardo de Burgo, Presbytero Ossoriensi & Parocho S. Mariae Assumptae de Urlingford cum annexis, Salutem & Curae Pastoralis zelum constantem."

"Inter caetera. quae pro Pontificalis nostri officii Debito praestare cupimus, illud praecipue nobis Cordi est, ut Parochiis tales praeficiamus Rectores, qui Muneri et Ministerio Curae animarum, quod omnium gravissimum est, laudabiliter satisfaciant. Vacante igitur Parochia S. Kevini de Offerlane, alias Anatrim; S. Cedi (alias Edmundi) Episcopi, de Ballintiampuill, anglice Churchtown; & S. Kirani, Episcopi, de Saiger-Kiran, per obitum R. D. Edmundi Fitzpatrick qui prima die labentis Mensis Februarii Fatis cessit, Nos recensitis Parochiis sic vacantibus de idoneo Rectore providere volentes, Te, R. D. Ricardum de Burgo, transferimus a praelibata Parochia S. Mariae Assumptae de Urlingford cum annexis Parochuis S. Mariae Natae de Clomanti, S. Patritii de Tobrid, S. Dorani de Kildrina & S. Bartholomaei de Killahy, Tibique conferimus recensitas tres Parochias S. Kevini de Offerlane, S. Cedi de Ballintiampuil, & S. Kirani de Saiger-Kiran cum Omnibus juribus & Pertinentiis suis universis. Quocirca universis et aingulis Personis Ecclesiasticis Curae nostrae subjectis per praesentes praecipimus & mandamus, ut cum pro parte tua vigore Praesentium aliquis eorum requisitus merit, ad sacellum aliquod praefatarum Parochiainum accedat, Teque vel Procuratorem tuum pro Te, in corporalem, realem & actulaem Possessionem praedictarum Parochiarum, ac omnium eis annexorum jurium & Pertinentium, servatis servandis pro Rerum Conditionibus. inducat & inductum authoritate nostra defendat. In nomine Patris & Filii & Spiritus Sancti. Amen. In quorum omnium Fidem & Robur praesentes a Nobis scriptas & subscriptas Literas, sigillo nostro Episcopali muniri jussimus. Datum Kilkenniae in aedibus nostrae Residentiae, Die nona Mensis Februarii. anno a Virginis Partu Millesimo Septingentesimo septuagesimo sexto, consecrationis nostrae anno Decimeseptimo."
"F. Thomas, Epus, Ossorien, &c."

Father Burke governed his people wisely for 40 years; built the chapel of Camross, another chapel at Killanure, and part of the chapel of Castletown; and died at his residence in Derryduff, (now occupied by Mr. Pat. Kelly), on the 16th March, 1816, aged 82. He is buried in Camross chapel.

VERY REV. MICHAEL CAMPION succeeded. He was born in Bawn, Galmoy; entered Maynooth for Logic, Oct. 9th, 1800; and, after his ordination, became C.C., Rosbercon. He was promoted from Rosbercon to the pastoral charge of Upperwoods, May 12th, 1816; and was afterwards given a place in the Diocesan Chapter as Canon of Cloneamery. He died at his residence, Annagh House, otherwise Mount Salem, June 3rd, 1838, in his 65th year, and is buried in Camross chapel.

REV. ANDREW PHELAN - After Father Campion's death, Upperwoods remained
vacant for a full year, at the end of which it was broken up into the modern parishes of Castletown and Camross. The Rev. Andrew Phelan was then appointed P.P., Castletown, June the 19th, 1839. He was translated to Ballyragget in Feb., 1844.

REV. PATRICK KELLY was born in Corrstown, Kilmanagh; studied at first in St. Kieran's College; and, afterwards, in Maynooth, where he entered for Theology, Sept. 2nd, 1815. He was C.C. Durrow, Danesfort, Ballyhale, &c., and lastly of Johnstown, from 1840 to Feb., 1844, when he was collated to Castletown. He died Oct. 22nd, 1851, aged 60, and is buried in Castletown chapel.

REV. JOSEPH MOORE, brother of the late Canon Moore, P.P., Johnstown, was son of John Moore and Bridget Gaule, and was born in Columbkille, Thomas-town, Sept. 24th, 1803. He began his ecclesiastical course in Birchfield, in Sept., 1823, and was ordained in 1828 or 1829. His first mission was in the Diocese of Killaloe, where he remained a couple of years. After his return to Ossory he served as Curate in many parishes, till 1851, when he became P.P. Castletown. He died Sept. 9th, 1874, and is buried in Castletown chapel.

REV. JOHN WALTON was nephew of the Rev. Michael Walton, P.P. Durrow, and was born in Higginstown, Clara, about 1819. He began Logic in St. Kieran's College, in 1841, and was ordained by Dr. Walsh, Bishop of Ossory, in 1848. His first mission was the Kilkenny Workhouse, till towards the end of 1849; his next was the Callan Workhouse, till 1853. His curacies were Lisdowney, Castletown, &c. In January or February, 1875, he was collated to Castletown. He died Feb. 7th, 1880, and is buried in Castletown chapel.

VERY REV. JOSEPH DUNPHY succeeded, and was translated to Mooncoin on the 13th June, 1885.

VERY REV. MICHAEL CODY became next P.P., June 13th, 1885. He was translated to Castlecomer, Dec. 16th, 1889.

REV. THOMAS FEEHAN was born in High Street, Kilkenny, in July, 1845; studied in St. Kieran's College, and afterwards in Maynooth where he entered for Rhetoric, Sept. 25th, 1861. After a very distinguished ecclesiastical course he was ordained Dec. 21st, 1868. He was Professor St. Kieran's College from 1869 to 1873; then C.C. St. John's, Conahy, Rathdowney, and lastly of Thomastown, whence he was promoted to Castletown, Dec. 16th, 1889. He was gifted with talent of a high order, was a good writer and speaker, and was, moreover, distinguished as a poet and wit. After a lingering illness he died Feb. 17th, 1900, and is buried in Castletown chapel yard.

REV. JAMES HOLOHAN the present P.P., was translated from Aghavillar, March the 5th, 1900.

Back to List

Site Hosted by Dotser

A-Z of Laois - About Laois - Community History - Famous People - Photographs - Maps - 19th Century Laois