Parish of Rathdowney

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

It embraced the entire civil parishes of Rathdowney (except the townland of Ballydavin), Rathsaran, Donnaghmore and Skirke, and the greater part of Coolkerry, down to the year 1840, when the district of Skirke or Killismestia was cut off and made a separate parish. On the 9th of May, 1875, the townlands of Akip, Beckfield, Clonburren (White), Donnaghmore, Dun-nacliggan, Tinnaclohy, Castletown Feereeagh, Raheen Upper, Raheen Lower, and part of Raheenphelan Glebe were withdrawn from Skirke and restored to Rathdowney; and on the same day, or a few days later, the remaining portion of the parish of Skirke was canonically united to Borris-in-Ossory. The present area of the parish is 18,000 statute acres.

RATHDOWNEY

Irish speakers in the Co. Kilkenny always call it Raw-dhouna, i.e. Rath Domhnaigh, the Rath of the Domhnach or Church; and this, too, is the form of the name found in the Three Fragments of Annals. The Four Masters, on the other hand, write the name Rath Tamhnaigh (pronounced Raw-Thaouna), which signifies the Rath of Tamhnach, i.e. of the green meadow-field.

The "Rath" from which the name has its origin, was situated at the north side of Rathdowney Square, in Mr. Patrick Murphy's yard and garden, 150 yards north-east of the Protestant church. It was circular in shape, 25 or 30 yards in diameter and flat at the top, and raised about 8 ft. over the surrounding land. John Howard, of The Garrison, Rathdowney, who levelled the Rath, about 1840, informed the writer that he found it filled with human bones (but there were no skulls), and that he removed five cart-loads of them thence for interment elsewhere; that there were no traces of foundations of walls, nor headstones, and that if any such were ever there, they were removed before he could remember, the rath having been used as a cabbage garden even before he was born; and that he found there some bone pins 2 or 2½ ins, long, but no objects of iron or bronze, or anything else of interest. The presence of such a great quantity of human bones would certainly point to the Rath as the site of an ancient churchyard, and, consequently, of a Domhnach or Church.

The pre-Reformation parish church, if not the original Domhnach, stood on the site now occupied by Rathdowney Protestant church. It was dedicated to the Most Holy Trinity. It was taken down in 1818. The oldest Catholic monument in the graveyard dates from 1786. There are many Protestant monuments, the oldest dating 1751. There is no holy well.

1465 (July 18). Dermod Hoily, cleric of Ossory Diocese, bound himself, as principal, to the Camera Apostolica, for the annats of the perpetual vicariate of the parochial church of Draithdonhnaigh (Rathdowney), in the said Diocese of Ossory, vacant by the deprivation of John Olanrn. And it is ordered that a provision be made to the said Dermod.
I641-2 (Feb.8). Barnaby or Bryan McWilliam Fitzpatrick of "Raghdowny," was outlawed by proclamation of the Lords Justices, for taking part in the great National Uprising of the previous year. He was afterwards Captain in the Confederate army, and was one of the last to lay down his arms in I652. One of his sons was slain before Borris-in-Qssory, in 1642.

1653. Rathdowney was forfeited by Morgan Cashin and Bryan McWilliam Fitzpatrick, Irish Papists, and granted, with portions of Ballyhenry, or Harristown. Ballybuggy and Kilcoran, to Captain Thomas Prior.
As a town, Rathdowney cannot boast of any great antiquity. It must have been a very small village in I665, as only about a dozen persons paid hearth money in the whole townland of Rathdowney in this year. Even since 1820 the town has been considerably enlarged.

COOLKERRY

The church of Coolkerry, situated on the end of a low ridge, round which the Erkina curves as it wends its way to join the Gowl, was 22 ft. wide, internally, and about 55 ft. long. The walls are all thrown down, except the west gable, which is built with an abutment and measures 5 ft. in thickness at the ground and 3 ft. 3 in. higher up. Previous to the Reformation the church belonged to the Canons Regular of St. Thomas's Abbey, Dublin. Its patron, according to Bishop Phelan's List, was St. John the Baptist (June 24). The following is the oldest inscription in the graveyard:

"I.H.S. Here lyeth ye body of Mr. Nicholas Shortell who departed this life ye 24th of December, 1735, aged 36 years."

About 70 yards south of the church stood the castle of Coolkerry; but nothing of it remains, with the exception of a cellar, which has been closed up.

KILCORAN

In Irish Cill Chobhráin, that is, St. Cobhran's Church. The church of Kilcoran stood a quarter of a mile from Rathdowney, within what is now commonly known as " Kilcoran rath." The rath is a circular mound 65 yards in diameter, rising irregularly from z to 8 ft. in height, with an almost obliterated rampart, and the usual fosse. Running east and west, partly through the centre of the rath, there are traces of a curved earthen fence, which divided it into two almost equal parts. In the southern division human bones were dug up in 1889, and this appears to have been the site of the ancient churchyard. The church stood in the northern division. Its walls have been gone for ages, but the foundations still marked by the withered grass in very dry summers, show that they were about 30 ft. long; a very large limestone marks the position of the west gable. The tradition of a church having been ever here has almost died out.

Beside the rath, to the south, there was a circular mound 40 ft. in diameter and 9 ft. high. It was levelled about 1850, when it was found to contain a large quantity of human bones.
In Rathpiper, or, as it is sometimes mentioned in old documents, Piper's Rath, there was a castle of the Lords of Upper Ossory. It stood within a large rath. Its ruins were cleared away about 1836 and the materials broken up for road metal.

BALLYBUGGY

This name is locally pronounced Ballabuggia,Ballabiggia and Ballabwiggia. It probably means O'Buggy's Town. The church of Ballybuggy was situated on the summit of a low hill, within a round rath 40 yards in diameter and still showing traces of a stone and mortar caiseal along the top of the enclosing earthen rampart. It was about 23 ft. wide internally; its length cannot be determined. All that remains of it now is part of the south side-wall, about 1 ft. in height. There are several well-dressed blocks of limestone scattered about the graveyard, one of them being part of the cap of an ogee-headed window divided by a mullion. Part of the graveyard was walled in by the Board of Guardians about 1880. The head-stones are all rude and uninscribed.

St. Bridget is the patron of Ballybuggy; and it is the constant tradition of the locality, that there was a Nunnery here, which she honoured with a visit, on the occasion of her journey from Kildare, to meet St. Patrick, at Cashel. "St. Bridget's Bush" still blooms beside the graveyard and bears the usual ex votos. At the foot of the bush is " St. Bridget's Stone," which is evidently a holy water stone, but one of the rudest imaginable, being nothing more than a rough, uneven boulder, 3 ft. by 2 1/2ft and 2 ft. thick, with an artificial hollow II in. in diameter and 5 in. deep. The site of St. Bridget's church overlooks a view of great extent.

Stretching from the graveyard to the south-east, lay the ancient " town of Ballybuggy." Sixty or seventy years ago its foundations covered an area of six Irish acres; at present, as most of the land has been reclaimed, they extend over but an acre and a-half. The people say, arid apparently with good reason, that, in far off times, this was the chief town of the district.

HARRISTOWN

Baile Hanri, or Henry's town. There was a castle here, close to Harris-town cross-roads, in the " Old Meadow." It belonged to the Fitzpatricks. Leeum McEman, (William, son of Edmund), the last of them to occupy it, removed to France with his family, early in the 18th century. Two of his sons subsequently fought in the Irish Brigade, at the Battle of Fontenoy, in 1745. (Tradition.)

CLONEEB

There was a monastery or friary here in former times. Some fragments of the old church remain. Its entire length was about 70 ft. In the remaining piece of the south side-wall, there are traces, near the east end, of a doorway (which led from the sacristy) and of a credence. The church was very rudely built, and was, most probably, the work of pre-Norman times. There are but two inscribed monuments in the graveyard, both dating from the 19th century. Outside the graveyard wall are considerable remains of foundations, &c., showing that several buildings formerly stood there.

CLONBURREN

Cluain Bhoirnne, the rocky meadow, is so called from the castle field of Clonburren, part of which, especially around the castle, is studded with low, stunted rocks. Clonburren castle, roofless, but fairly preserved, is 40 ft. by 3I ft. externally, the walls being 7 ft. thick. There are four storeys under the stone arch, and another storey and a garret over it. The entrance door is a mere breach; all the other doors are of cut-stone and Gothic, except two which are flat-headed. There was a fire-place with an ornamental chimney-piece, in part destroyed, in the third storey: there was another fire-place in the fourth storey. There was no fire-place in the fifth storey, which was the state room, and was lighted by four ogee-headed windows, each divided by a mullion. All the other rooms were lighted by narrow cut-stone loops, in number, twenty-seven, some being cross-shaped. The stairway is in the thickness of the walls, which contain, besides, several other passages. A machicolation ran around nearly all the top. After Cullahill, this is probably the finest and most imposing castle in Upper Ossory. In the first years of the 17th century it was the residence of Teige, subsequently Lord of Upper Ossory. It was a ruin in 1657.

CLONMEEN

Clonmeen is almost as level as a table, and hence its name, Cluain Mín, Smooth Lawn. The townland bounds Co. Tipperary, and contains two very ancient ecclesiastical ruins, one the " Old Abbey of Clonmeen," the other a " Church."

The remains of the ABBEY are considerable, the walls, which are 5 ft. thick, being in part, 20 ft. high. A long house running east and west, perhaps the Abbey chapel, can be traced. Adjoining this on the north is the cloister area, measuring 30 yards from east to west and 23 yards from north to south; portions of the four enclosing walls remain. Around the cloister, at west, north and east, were the monastic buildings, dormitory, refectory, &c.; at its east end there is a flagged floor underneath the accumulated debris. Huge pieces of fallen masonry lie about, each forming, as it were, a solid rock kept together by the extreme hardness of the grouting. One of these pieces is 7½ ft. thick and was apparently portion of a great, strong central pier on which two adjoining arches once rested. How such huge masses of masonry could have been "loosed from their moorings" is inconceivable, unless on the supposition that the place was blown up with powder.

The stone wall, or "caiseal", and fosse that enclosed the Abbey can still be traced for the most part; the enclosure was about an acre in area. Judging from the character and appearance of the masonry, this Abbey must have been founded even before the Norman Invasion. Though manifestly of importance in ages passed by, it is very strange that it is not even once mentioned in the Annals of our Country or in the Lives of our Saints; tradition, too, is equally silent regarding its history. The Martyrology of Donegal, at April 19th, commemorates " Laisse, Virgin, of Cluain Mind," but this Cluain Mind is as likely to refer to any other Clonmeen in Ireland as to Clonmeen in Ossory.
In the next field to the Abbey, on the north, there was a holy well called "Friars' Well," at which pilgrimages were formerly made in honour of some Saint now forgotten. The well is now, and has been for many years, dried up, in consequence of some act of profanation.

Clonmeen CHURCH is about 200 yards south of the Abbey. It stands east and west like almost all our old churches. It measures, externally, 39 ft. in length, and 251/2 in width, the side-walls being 32 in. thick, and the east gable 43 in. There was a door in the south-wall 13 ft. from the west gable; its foundation stones are still in situ and show it to have been but 30 in. wide. In the same wall, near the east end, there is a rudely constructed credence, 16½ in. wide, with a rectilineally pointed arch formed by two small flags meeting each other at the top. The south wall is fairly well preserved; the east gable is fallen to within a yard of the ground; the west gable is gone almost entirely; of the north wall only some small fragments remain. The masonry much resembles that of Cloneeb church, and seems to be of the same date. No interments have taken place here from time immemorial, nor are there any traces of graves. Nevertheless, there was a very large graveyard all around the church. It took in large portions of the " Church field," the "Abbey field," and the whole area occupied by Mr. Michael Campion's dwelling-house, farm yard and haggards, - in all about five Irish acres.
Between the Abbey and the church, there are earthen remains, resembling a large rath, such as are often seen in the immediate vicinity of religious houses of early times. In sinking drains here, antlers of the Irish elk, a stone-hammer and iron socks of ancient pattern, were found.
A little to the south of the church, in Mr. Campion's haggard, there is a large, deep well called the " church well; " it was formerly regarded as holy.

TEMPLEQUAINE

The church stood in Mr. Michael Guilfoil's "church acre," within an irregular area, an acre in extent, enclosed by a rampart and fosse still traceable. The exact site of the church and graveyard cannot be determined, as the enclosure is covered over with little mounds and remains of foundations, and no graves or head-stones are now to be seen. In Irish Templequaine would be written Teampull-Chuain, i.e. the Church of St. Cuan (pronounced Coo-ann).

ERRILL

ST. KIERAN'S MONASTERY. --When St. Kieran took his departure from Fertagh, he turned his face northwards and, coming to Errill, remained here for some time. The monastery of Errill, which he is traditionally said to have founded during his stay, was situated in a field called the Bawn, mid-way between Errill village and Errill National School. The site is marked by a slightly elevated square of grassy land, level at top, and about a quarter of an Irish acre in area. Even the foundations of the monastic buildings have disappeared. The enclosing wall, strongly and firmly built of stones and grouting, has also disappeared, save at the four angles where some pieces still remain. Underneath the mound there is a vault or chamber, admission to which is through an opening, now filled up, in the east side of the south-east angle.
East of the Bawn, and separated from it only by the public road, there are two or three fields called the Raab, i.e., Rath Abbaidh, or the Abbot's Rath, a name of undoubted antiquity, inasmuch as the religious community of the adjoining monastery must have become extinct previous to the close of the 12th century.

ST. KIERAN'S TREE. - This is a venerable old ash, on the roadside, nearly opposite the site of the monastery.

ST. KIERAN'S WELL. - It formerly flowed out from under St. Kieran's Tree, but being profaned something more than a century ago, it "removed," a few fields to the east, to what is now known as St. Kieran's Well. Down to the early part of the 19th century pilgrimages used to be performed at the latter well, every 5th of March, but the pattern, celebrated on the same day, was always held at Errill "Cross Meadow," nearly opposite the church.

ERRILL CHURCH. - St. Kieran's Church of Errill, is situated about 250 yards south-east of the old monastic site. It is very fairly preserved, though unroofed for centuries. It is 49 ft. 9 in. in internal length, and 21 ft. I0 in. in width. The walls are 3 ft. 7 in. thick, and are built of rough stones; the coins, however, are chiselled. The side-walls are 20 ft. high, being thus much higher than those of most of our old churches. It had three narrow loops or windows, that in the east gable being 7 ft. high and about 7 in. wide. The door, which is in the south wall, is broken on the outside; it is slightly curved at top, on the inside, and 61/2 ft. high. There is a plainly built credence beside where the altar stood. Probably this church is not of later date than the 12th century.
Among the inscriptions inside the church are: -

"Here lyes ye body of William Delany who departed May ye 15, 1711 aged 55 years.
"Here lieth ye body of Catheren Fitzptrick wife to Edmond Fitzpatrick, who departed this life January ye 15th 1724. Rst. in pace. Edmond Fitzpatrick of Rathneluch who lived there about 150 years and designs to be buried under the same tombstone and the Lord have mercy upon his soul. Jan: ye: 16: 1732: ye: ab: sd. [i.e. above - said] Edmd: was: interred."

"Here lie interred the remains of the Reverend Philip Purcell, P.P. of Rathdowney, Skerke, and Donamore, who, on the 3rd of January 1792, changed this mortal for an immortal life, at Mt. Oliver, in the 41st year of his age……

The monument containing the following high-sounding inscription is broken, and some of the fragments missing; the inscription, too, is much obliterated; the missing and illegible words and letters are, however, here supplied in italics:

"Hic jacent proenobilis D. Joannes Stapleton
supremus D. de Drum in Com. Tip., eius uxor D.
Johana O'Meagher, variaeque eorumdem proles,
et gener proenobilis D. Cornelius O'Ryan
supremus D. de Gortenossy in Com. Tip. cum sua
uxore D. Maria Stapleton quorum filius D. Ed-
mundus O'Ryan S.T. D. Celsissimi Electoris
Trevirinsis in Aula Matriensi minister in piam
eorum memoriam hoc monumentum apponi
jussit hac decima die Mensis Julii anno D.
1778. Requiescat in pace. Amen."

TRANSLATION: -

Here lie the very noble Mr. John Stapleton, chief lord of Drum, in the Co. Tipperary, his wife Johanna O'Meagher, and their children; also their very noble son-in-law, Mr. Cornelius O'Ryan, chief lord of Gortenossy, in the Co. Tipperary, with his wife Mary Stapleton, whose son Mr. Edmund O'Ryan, D.D. Agent of his Excellency, the Elector of Treves, at the Court of Madrid, got this monument erected to their memory, July 10th, I778. May they rest in peace. Amen.'

The above Dr. O'Ryan was born in Lismurragha, in this parish, and was a relative of the Very Rev. Dr. Stapleton, who founded the Stapleton burses in Louvain, and who died in 1694. On the 1st April, 1749, he was elected to one of the family burses in Louvain, and he took out degrees there in 1752. In I762, another Rathdowney man named Edmund Stapleton (Edmundus Stapleton, Radoniensis), also took out his degrees in that College. Dr. O'Ryan died in Spain and is buried there. A silver chalice, presented by him to Rathdowney parish, is now in use in the chapel of Ballyfoyle.

In the churchyard of Errill, rest all the old Catholic families of the district, the Dowlings, Campions, Guilfoils, Connors, &c.

ERRILL WAYSIDE CROSS. - This cross, or rather what remains of it, for the top and arms are broken away and lost, stands at the cross-roads of Errill; beside the graveyard, in a large cut-stone, chamfered pedestal, supported by a massive graduated base of four steps. The full height of the base and pedestal, taken together, is 8 ft.; the shaft, which is the only part of the cross remaining, is 34 in. high, 15 in. wide, and 8 in. thick. About 1860 the whole structure being in a dilapidated condition was repaired by the first Lord Castletown. On the upper part of the front, or eastern face of the shaft of the broken cross, there is a shield sculptured with the coat of arms, in relief, of the Lords of Upper Ossory, viz.; sa. a cross saltire arg., on a chief ar. three fleurs de lis or; crest-a dragon reguard. vert, surmounted by a lion guard. sa.; supporters-two lions sa. armed and langued gu.; the family motto, Ceart laidir aboo, is worn away. Underneath the shield is the following much worn and almost illegible inscription in raised Roman capitals:

"FL. .RENCE Y. .BA
. .ON OF VPP. OSSRY
DIED IIo FY..1613
& KATERIN MO. .
. .E HIS WIFE DYE. .
THE XR. 30, 1612."

That is: "Florence the Baron of Upper Ossory, died 11o February, 1613, and Catherine Moore, his wife, died the 30th of December, 1612."
On the back, or west face, is the following, in Roman capitals, occasionally dovetailed into each other; it is so much obliterated as to be decipherable only after an immense amount of trouble; the missing and obliterated letters are given here in italics:

"THIS CROSSE WAS
BVILT IN REMEMBR
ANCE OF YE RIGHT
HONORABLE BARON
OF VPPER OSSRY. &
KATERIN HIS WIFE
BY THEYR SON JEFFy
FITZPATRYK ESQ
UYRE OF BALLOU
GHERAGHYN AND
MARY RYLY HIS
WIFE FORMERLY FERAL.
DESIRING GOD
TO BE MERCIFVL
TO THEYR SOVL
ES. A.D. OVR SAVOR
29 IVLY 1622."

BALLAGHRAHIN

There is a fine old castle here, all the walls of which are perfect. Its external measurement is 37½ ft. by 30 ft., the walls being 7½ ft. in thickness. There are five storeys, and a garret at the top. There is no stone arch. All the doors are Gothic and of cut-stone. In the fifth storey there is a cut-stone chimney-piece in good condition. A spiral stairway from bottom to top gave access to the upper storeys. There is a cross formed through and through the wall opposite the entrance door, as in Grantstown castle. Each wall has a machicolation a little more than half-way up. There are three cut-stone windows, each consisting of two lights, in the fifth storey; twenty-six narrow loops light the other storeys, the stairway and recesses.

Geoffry Fitzpatrick occupied this castle in the early part of the 17th century. He it was who erected the wayside cross at Errill to remind those who passed by to pray for the souls of his deceased parents, Florence and Catherine, the Lord and Lady of Upper Ossory. He died in August, 1638. By Inquisition of Sept. 5th, 1637, it was found that "Geoffry Fitzpatrick of Ballagherahin was seised, in fee, of the manor, town, and lands of Ballagherahin, Erriell, Garrymorres, Cooletrim, Graigevally and Kilknockan, containing 840 acres; Clonemeyne, 350 ac.; Templecowan, Liss [ ], Killinnillfoyle [i.e., Killmulfoyle] and Cornegihy, 430 ac.; and Knockagha, Carrowfin & Killecha, 45 ac. ; all which lie in the territory of Upper Ossory. . . The aforesaid Geoffry Fitzpatrick and the Lady Mary Reyly, his wife, are still living. The premises are held of the King in capite by knight's service." Though dead long before, his estate was confiscated under his name, in 1653, and handed over to his grandnephew, the traitor Colonel John Fitzpatrick. In I665, a William Fitzpatrick of " Ballaghrahaim" paid 8s. hearth-money.

MOONAMONRA

Close to Errill village, in the part of Moonamonra known as Garryricken, there is a very ancient graveyard. It is called " the Moat." It consisted of a circular area 50 or 60yds. across, and enclosed by an earthen rampart. Enclosure and rampart are now to a great extent uprooted. Human skulls and bones have been frequently turned up here. There is no trace of any church. A huge ancient ash called " St. Kieran's Tree" grew beside the Moat, till it was blown down in the memorable storm of the 6th of January, 1839. As the tree bore St. Kieran's name, it may be assumed that if ever there was a church in the adjacent graveyard, it was dedicated to the same saint.

CASTLEFLEMING HEATH

There is an obsolete graveyard here, a little to the north of the Great Southern and Western Railway, in Mr. Dowling's "Churchyard field." The burying plot is very small, being only 17 yds. square; there are no remains of the church. There are some rude head-stones, marking the graves of unbaptized children, who alone have been buried here as far as memory goes back. A little to the west, bordering on Castlefleming, but now in Borris-in-Ossory parish, is the townland of Kilmylan, i.e., the Church of St. Maolan or Milan. There is no churchyard, nor tradition of such, in Kilmylan; but the great probability is, that this townland originally extended over and included all the Castleflemings, and thus thc burial-place in Castlefleming Heath would mark the site of the ancient church of Kilmylan.
The castle from which Castlefleming derives its name, stood two or three perches north of Castlefleming "Court." It was "in some repaire" in 1657. Only its foundations remained in the beginning of the 19th century, but even these were uprooted many years ago. The "Court" of Castlefleming, a building of about 1700, has been a ruin as long as anyone can remember.

In 1653 Edmund Fitzpatrick, Irish Papist, son of Florence, Lord of Upper Ossory, and ancestor of the present Lord Castletown, forfeited Clonemeene, 588 ac.; Castlefleming, Shianderry, Cooletrim, Brockerry, Knockie, Knockicar and Dirrine Morishagh, 932 ac.; Garriduffe, 232 ac. ; Bealamullin, 700 ac. I r.; Rathnaleugh and Kilklienagh, 217 ac.; and (jointly with the Duke of Buckingham), Tullecomene and Rahinsheara, 138 ac.; and Culowly, 290 ac. In 1665, Lt. John Gyles paid hearth-money for two hearths in "Castleflemon."

EGLISH

This is the site of the ancient church of the parish of Rathsaran. The name, as it now stands, signifies the Church, the Irish Eaglais, being only another form of the Latin word Ecclesia. In old writings the name appears as Eglisiony, Eglishyevin, Eglishin, Egliscowen and Eglis-Owen; but its true form and meaning are unknown. St. Columbkille (June 9th) was patron of the church and parish of Rathsaran. On the 2nd of April. 1481, Thady O'Brin (i.e., O'Byrne), an Ossory priest, was appointed Rector of Rasarayn in Ossory Diocese and Vicar of the parish and church of Delge, i.e., Kyledellig. In 1797 the fragments of the old church were removed and the present Protestant church was erected partly on its foundations and partly on the graves adjoining it to the south. Catholics are still buried here.
At the west end of the "Churchyard field," and about 110yds from the churchyard, there is a slightly raised area, 80 yds by 55 yds., and surrounded still, in part, by a fosse and rampart. Constant tradition points to this as the site of an ancient Abbey or Monastery. Mid-way between it and the churchyard there is a rath 60 yds in diameter, but its enclosing ring has been almost entirely removed. From these remains it may be concluded that Eglish was an ecclesiastical centre of some importance in early ages. Saran's Rath, the fine earthen fort which gave name to this parish, is situated beside the Protestant Rector's manse.

DONNAGHMORE

The old church was taken down in 1821 and the present Protestant church built on its site. Like every other Domhnach-mor in Ireland, it was dedicated to our National Apostle, St. Patrick. In the first half of the 15th century Patrick Obnagi or Obnoeci was Rector of Donnaghmore. He afterwards became a Canon Regular of St. Augustine, and was appointed Prior of the Holy Island of Monahincha. By Papal Brief of June 12th, 1455, he was permitted to exchange Priories with Dermot O'Meagher, Prior of Aghamacart. He was dead in 1466. The only inscriptions of interest, in Donnaghmore, are: -

"I.H.S. Here Lyth the Bodys of John. Molloy of Gragueualla Esq. who died Dbr. Ye: 16: 1718 agd. 38 & the Honle. Ellth. Molloy his wife, sister to ye Late Lord of Upr. Ossory, she died in ye year 1754, agd. 75 yrs.
"I.H.S. Here Lyeth the body of Brian Molloy, Esq., grandson to Captin. Kiran Mly. and n. to B. late Lord. Barron of Vper. Osry. deseased May 1762 aged 50 yrs."

St. Patrick's holy well is a little to the north-west of the graveyard, but it is now closed, a great rock having been rolled into it about 1845. Beside the well is Donnaghmore "Moat," a truncated cone, 11 yds in diameter at the top and about 22 ft. high. There is neither trace nor tidings of Donnaghmore castle, though it is mentioned in documents of 1571 and 1621. Donnaghmore is now a very poor village, but about 1800 it was a place of some importance, numbering, probably, three times as many houses and inhabitants as at present.

Among the celebrities of Donnaghmore must be reckoned the Rev. Peter Alley. He was appointed Protestant Rector of Donnaghmore, Feb 24th, 1701, and died at the Rectory House, Ballaheggadon, in August, 1763, aged 110 years and 2 months. He was grandson of William Alley, Bishop of Exeter in Queen Elizabeth 's reign.

CASTLETOWN

To distinguish it from the other Castletowns in Upper Ossory, it was formerly called Castletown-Chriffin. Criffin and Crihin represent, according to local peculiarities of pronunciation, the sound of the old Irish christian name Criomahthann. On the 10th June, 1601, "Cryphon Mc Fynen [Fitzpatrick] of Castletown, husbandman," was pardoned; and on the 13th March, 1613-14, "Chriffin Me Fynyn, of Castletown-Chriffin," was seised of the town and lands of Castletown-Chriffin. In the Down Survey Books of 1657 it is stated that "there is at Castle Cruffin and Downoghmore [in the parish of Downoghmore] two castles, one ruined, the other in some repaire, and the ruins of a church, and a mill in repaire with severall houses and cabbins."

All that remains of the castle of Castletown-Chriffin, is a side-wall 25 ft. high and 35 long; it is 5 1/2 ft. thick at the ground and 4 ft. higher up, and built of very small stones, mostly thin flags.
There is a window near the ground 7ft. high and 2ft. wide externally. When perfect this castle probably bore a strong resemblance to the castle of Kilbreedy.

AKIP

In Irish this name would be written Ath-a'-Cip, i.e., the Ford of the Ceap, or stump of the withered tree. There was a church here in remote times, but its remains were destroyed long ago. The graveyard, which was used for interments down to the beginning of the 19th century, was uprooted and tilled about 1830. The site of the church and graveyard occupies the top of a green, grassy knoll in the "Churchfield" of Akip, and is well known. In the adjoining townland of Tinnaclohy (Tigh na cloiche, House of the Rock), there is a great rath with a double line of circumvallation; another rath in this townland is called Skayhawn, or [rath] of the bushes.

BECKFIELD

Beckfield is so called from a spinster lady named Beck or Rebecca Flood, who built Beckfield house more than a century ago. It had been previously called Ballyawly, the Anglicized form of the original Irish name, which is Béul-Átha-Amhlaeibh (pronounced Baylaw-Oulee), that is, Awley's Ford. The ancient ford is now marked by the bridge, on the public road, at the junction of the four townlands of Broccagh, Duhyneill, Beckfield and Farranville. There is a large rath in Beckfield 20 or 30 perches west of this bridge. It is partly square, and has a double rampart on the north and west sides, the outer one being high and very wide and massive. A low, irregular enclosure within the rath marks the site of some ancient building. Outside the rath is "the Old Street," where there are extensive foundations of buildings beneath the surface of the field. A castle or large residence is entered here on the Down Survey Map of 1657.

Geoffry Fitzpatrick, son of Brian, 1st Lord Baron of Upper Ossory, lived in Ballyawley, and was the proprietor of the townland, in the second half of the 16th century. He was a State prisoner in 1567; was in rebellion in 1578; and was granted a pardon in 1584. He had two sons, Donnell and John or Shawn. On the 18th March, 1602-3, pardons were granted to Donnell and Shane M'Shearie [i.e., M'Geoffry Fitzpatrick], of Ballyawly, gentlemen. By Inquisition of March 18th, 1613-14, John McJeffry Fitzpatrick was found seised of the towns and lands of Rathnumoyree, Ballyamley (Ballyawley), Ballihanry (Harristown), and Ballivoggy (Ballybuggy). In 1653 John Fitzpatrick forfeited Ballyawly and Garryduff. A John Fitzpatrick paid hearth-money for two hearths in Ballyawly in 1665.

The local tracers often make mention of the Battle of Baylaw-oulee." It was fought towards the south of the townland, nearly opposite Coolfinn House. When making the present Beckfield road, about 1836, the workmen came upon a great amount of human bones opposite "the bone pit"; the bone pit itself is full of human remains, and the same may be said of the gravelly ridge in the next field, to the west. The combatants in this battle, which was evidently a very serious one, are unknown.

At the north-west of Beckfield, on the bounds of Tinneclohy, there are two adjoining fields, one called "the wart-well field," the other, Aughnacrusha. In the former there is a rough natural rock, 3 ft. square and rising 2 ft. over the surface of the land; the centre of the top surface is pierced with an artificial cavity 16 in. long, 12 wide and 81/2 deep, and slightly rounded at the corners. There is water in this cavity almost always, and as the people believe it possesses virtue for the curing of warts, they call it "the wart well." Taken in connection with the name of the adjoining field, viz., Aughnacrusha, the ford or field of the Cross, it must be assumed that the rock with its cavity, was the base of an ancient cross. There is no tradition of any churchyard having ever been here; however, a rath in Aughnacrusha, dismantled, but not entirely obliterated, in 1850, may have been the site of a burial-ground.

MASS-STATIONS and CHAPELS

There was a Mass-Station on Knockeel hill. A priest was shot dead here probably before 1700, in the act of celebrating Mass. His murderers cut off his head and carried it in triumph to the "Garrison," in Rathdowney, where they received the usual reward, £5. For this and other like services to the State, themselves and their descendants were long afterwards known by the soubriquet "na g-ceann," i.e., of the heads.

There was another Mass-Station in the "wart-well field" in Beckfield.

There was another at the north side of Ker. Kelly's rath in Harristown. Mass used to be offered up here early in the 18th century by a friar maintained by Leeum McEman Fitzpatrick. There appears to have been a chapel or " Mass House " here for a short time about 1731.

During some fierce outburst of persecution, probably during the Cromwellian usurpation, the Holy Sacrifice had ceased altogether in the parish were it not for some zealous priest who, braving all danger, took his stand in what may well be called " his last ditch," and celebrated Mass for his people in the Little Derry, a small bog-island very close to the bounds of Co. Tipperary. There was a small wooden structure set up here, but its use was merely to shelter the rude altar. When the persecution abated, the woodwork and altar were removed from the Little Derry and set up in a more central place, in the townland of Graigueavallagh. Tradition hands down that the work of removal was effected by staunch men named Maher, ancestors of the present Mahers of Coolkerry.

The "Chapel Pit" in Graigueavallagh, an old disused sandpit, then became the great Mass-Station for all Rathdowney parish, and continued as such for about a hundred years. Its title of Chapel Pit may be regarded as a misnomer, inasmuch as the so-called "chapel" can have been nothing more, at the best of times, than a miserable shed.
GROGAN - At length came the dawn of better days. Mr. John Burke O'Flaherty, a Catholic gentleman, having acquired the fee-simple of the townlands of Barney and Mount Oliver, made a free grant of an acre of ground, in the latter, for the site of a chapel. This was about 1775. Father James Butler, the P.P., at once set about erecting a small temporary chapel on the new site. When the walls were built and roofing material could not be readily procured, the difficulty was solved by a number of strong men lifting off the roof of the old "chapel" in the Chapel Pit, bearing it bodily and intact on their shoulders, and placing it again, in the same condition, on the bare walls of the new chapel. Such is the history of the foundation and completion of the first chapel of Grogan.

This chapel was thrown down and another built on its foundations, in 1791 by Father Purcell, P.P.
The present chapel, the third on the same site, was built by Father Tracey PP., in 1826, around and over its predecessor, which was only taken down when the new edifice had been roofed in. Father Tracey rests here, at the intersection of the nave and north transept, but there is no monument marking his grave. Father William Butler, his predecessor, rests here also, it is said, before the high altar, as one steps from the sanctuary into the nave. A chalice belonging to this chapel has the inscription: -

"Collected in Grogan for the use of the parish by the Rev. W. Tracey, 1799."

A mural slab inserted in the chapel-yard wall has:

"Sacred to the memory of the Rev. Philip Purcell, late indefatigable Pastor of this Parish, who, from the liberal donations of its union, built and ornamented this chapel, in the year 1791, on ground cheerfully bestowed by John Burke O'Flaherty Esqr. May the Lord have mercy on his soul. Amen."

RATHDOWNEY - There was no chapel whatever in the town of Rathdowney from the Reformation to the year 1820. For a few years preceding the latter date, however, public Mass was celebrated, on Sundays, in the town or its neighbourhood, especially in a large, waste house which stood a few hundred yards from the town, on the right of the road to Lavally, in a field now belonging to John Dunne. In the end of 1817 a 31 years' lease of the site of the present chapel of Rathdowney was secured by the principal Catholic inhabitants of the town. In the Spring of 1818 the chapel was commenced, and on Christmas Day, 1820, the Holy Mass was offered up within it for the first time. In 1867 it was repaired by Dr. Lynch, who also added, at the same time, the sanctuary, sacristy and belltower. These improvements are commemorated on a small slab over the front entrance door, inscribed:-

"Hanc ecclesiam jampridem collabentem restauravit & ornavit Adm. Revdus. G. Lynch, nujusce paraeciae Pastor, Anno Salutis MDCCCLXVII."

PARISH PRIESTS

REV. DARBY KININ, or KEENAN, was P.P. of Skirke, and probably of Rathdowney, in August, 1669.
REV. TERENCE, or TURLOUGH, FITZPATRICK was probably the next P.P. In Sept., 1676, he witnessed the will of Thady Mellan of Ballybuggy, and he is mentioned in the will of Rev. James Kavanagh, P.P., St. Canice's, in 1682. The following will, preserved among the Ossory Wills in the Record Office, Dublin, in which testator makes his brother, Torlagh Fitzpatrick, his heir, may possibly have reference to the priest of whom there is here question:

"I doe hereby nominate, constitute and appoint my well-beloved brother Torlagh ffitzpatrick for me and in my name to possess, occupy and enjoy all my temporal goods and chattels now and after my death to be my lawful heir and successor to dispose of as he thinks fit. As witness my hand the 15th day of Augt., 1690.
"Being present, "Keallagh Fitzpatrick.
Edmd. X ffitzpatrick.
Keallagh Fitzpatrick."

A "Kelatius FitzPatritius, presbyter Ossoriensis, Theologus," Dr. William Daton, and many other Irish priests living in Paris, in August, 1676, wrote, at this date, an indignant repudiation of a charge of Jansenism that had been maliciously circulated against them.
REV. DENIS CREARY, P.P., Aghaboe, was also P.P. Skirke, in 1689.
REV. DENIS CASSIN, born in 1648, and ordained by Dr. James Phelan, in 1683, was P.P. Rathdowney and Skirke, in 1704, and then resided at Errill.
REV. MICHAEL PHELAN, P.P. Johnstown and Galmoy, in 1704, was probably the next P.P.
REV. JAMES PHELAN was born in Skirke; studied and was ordained on the Continent; and, after his return, laboured during the remainder of his life in the united parishes of Rathdowney and Skirke. He died in Skirke, where he lived with his sister, a Mrs. Mahony, on the 15th April, 1747, aged 60 years, and is buried in Skirke graveyard.
REV. MICHAEL COSTIGAN succeeded, and was P.P. at the close of 1748. He lived in Borraghan, near Errill.
VERY REV. DANIEL KENNEDY - In a Diocesan document of the close of 1748, his signature is found attached as "Daniel Kennedy, Praebend. de Moyn, Licentiatus Sorbonicus &c." He was P.P. Rathdowney in 1759. His death occurred on the 18th Dec., 1762.
VERY REV. JAMES BUTLER became next P.P., June 16th, 1763. He was translated to Mooncoin, Sept. 10th, 1783, and thence to Thomastown, Sept. 7th, 1787. The old Register of Rathdowney, which he got carefully transcribed in 1781, but which has since met with bad treatment, begins in 1763. In the part of the MS. containing the Marriages, letters of freedom are recorded to have been received from the following priests of Cashel, Killaloe, and Kildare and Leighlin:

Rev. William Dunne, Parish of Rosenallis (Kildare), Feb. 26th, 1764.
Rev. Martin Maher, Parish of Bournea (Killaloe), March 6th 1764 and April 15th, 1768.
Rev. Andrew Maher, Parish of Temple Twohy (Cashel), July 23rd, 1764.
Rev. Pat. Keely, (name of Parish torn off), Feb. 11th, 1766, and Jany 31st, 1769.
Rev. William Byrne, Parish of Tymoge (Leighlin), Nov. 26th, 1766.
Rev. Walter Morrissy, Parish of Kilavinoge, now in Parish of Templemore (Cashel), Nov. 26th, 1767, Feb. 5th, 1769, and May 23rd, 1780.
Rev. Francis Dunne (name of Parish torn off), Jany. 28th, 1768.
Rev. John Quaney, Parish of Templetoohy (Cashel), Jany. 29th, 1769-Nov. 11th 1784.
Rev. Bryan O'Brien, Parish of Bournea (Killaloe), June 24th, 1770, and Jany. 17th, 1777.
Rev. John Hogan, Parish of Toum (i.e., Toomeevara, Killaloe), July 23rd, 1772.
Rev. William O'Meara, Parish of Kile (Killaloe) Jany. 9th, 1775, and July 7th, 1777.
Rev. Edmond Cormack, Parish of Thurles, July 21st, 1776.
Rev. John McGrath, Parish of Borrisokane (Killaloe), May 18th, 1777.
Rev. James Brookes, Parish of Shilrone (Killaloe), June 1st, 1777.
Rev. Dominick O'Harty, Parish of Bournea (Killaloe), July 22nd, 1777, and June 17th, 1781.
Rev. Thomas Ryan, Parish of Ighleigh, that is, Borrisoleigh (Cashel), Feb. 5th, 1778.
Rev. Valentine Dunne, Parish of Rosenallis (Kildare), July 28th, 1778.
Rev. John Dunne Parish of Roscrea (Killaloe), Oct. 5th, 1783.
Rev. - Dunne, Parish of Kile (Killaloe), Feb. 23rd, 1784.
Rev. - Hogan, Parish of Bournea (Killaloe), August 12th, 1784.
Rev. -- Brophy, Parish of Dunleckny (Leighlin), Oct. 15th, 1784.
Rev. - Conran, Parish of Ballinakill (Leighlin), May 19th, 1783.

REV. PHILIP PURCELL, son of William, was born in Clougharinka, Muckalee, in 1751. He was ordained by Dr. Troy, in the Parish chapel of St. John's, Kilkenny, June 13th, 1778. Having been C.C. Thomastown, he was collated to Rathdowney, Sept. 29th, 1783. He died at his residence, Mount Oliver House, Jany. 3rd, 1792, and is buried in Errill.

REV. DENIS CULLENAN, the next P.P., was translated to Lisdowney in July, 1794.

REV. NICHOLAS SHEE, born in the neighbourhood of Bennetsbridge, and educated in Bourdeaux, was ordained to the priesthood by Dr. Troy, in St. Canice's chapel, Kilkenny, March 12th, 1785. He was C.C. St. John's and St. Canice's, and was promoted from the latter parish to the pastoral charge of Rathdowney, July 27th, 1794 He died in the end of 1797 or beginning of 1798, and is buried with his friends in the churchyard of Callan.

REV. WILLIAM BUTLER, like his predecessor, was a native of Co. Kilkenny. He studied in the Irish College, Paris, and was ordained by Dr. Troy, in St. Canice's chapel, Kilkenny, May 21st, 1785. An entry in the Register of Rathdowney states that he commenced marriages in this parish, the 1st of February, 1798. After a pastoral charge of a little over four years he departed this life, at his house in Rathdowney, May 28th, 1802, his death being the result of a fall from his horse, the preceding night, at Clarleehawn bridge, outside Rathdowney town. He is said to be buried in Grogan chapel, before the high altar as one steps from the sanctuary into the nave.

VERY REV. WILLIAM TRACEY was born at Marymount, parish of Camross, and received at least part of his education in France, where he narrowly escaped the guillotine at the time of the Revolution. He was ordained by Dr. Lanigan about 1796, after which he was C.C. Rathdowney till 1799. His next Curacy was Muckalee, whence he was promoted to the pastorship of Rathdowney in 1802. He became Treasurer of the Diocesan Chapter in 1837. Having governed this parish 37 years, he died at his house in Barrachill, Oct. 7th, 1839 at the age of 68, and is buried in Grogan chapel. Two of his nephews were respected priests of Kildare and Leighlin Diocese, viz., Rev. William Tracey, P.P. Kilcock, and Rev. Felix Tracey, P.P. Ballyna.

REV. JAMES CUDDIHY. - After Father Tracey's death Skirke was made a separate parish, and Father Cuddihy was then appointed to Rathdowney. The new pastor was born in Blackwood, Lisdowney; received his earlier education in Burrell's Hall; and was afterwards admitted to Maynooth for Humanity, Aug. 30th, 1819. After his ordination, at Pentecost, 1825, he was C.C. St. Mary's, from Oct., 1826, to Jany., 1831, and then Adm. of the same parish till April, 1840, when he was collated to Rathdowney. He died in the house now occupied by Mr. Smith, The Square, Rathdowney, April 2nd, 1850, aged 51 years, and is buried in Rathdowney chapel.

REV. MARTIN CODY, son of Oliver Cody and Mary Purcell, was born in Kilmadimoge, Muckalee, in 1798. He studied in Burrell's Hail; entered Maynooth for Humanity, Aug. 30th, 1819; and was ordained with his class-fellow and predecessor, at Pentecost, 1825. He was first on the mission in Birr, Diocese of Killaloe. His Curacies in Ossory were Danesfort in 1829, Mooncoin, Dunnamaggan, Freshford, and then Rathdowney from Oct., 1834 to 1850, when he was appointed P.P. of the Parish. He died June 6th, 1860, and is buried in the parish chapel.

VERY REV. ROBERT O'KEEFFE was appointed next P.P., in Aug., 1860, and V. F. of the Northern Deanery on the death of Father Birch, Oct. 31st following. He was translated to Callan, in January, 1863.

VERY REV. WILLIAM LYNCH, D.D., was born in Ahenure, Callan, in Nov., 1809, and was brother of the Very Rev. Philip Lynch, O.S.A., Callan. Having made the preparatory studies elsewhere, he entered Birchfield for Logic, in Autumn, 1833, and was ordained priest in June, 1838. He was C.C. St. John's (1839-41); St. Mary's (1841-47); Adm. St. Mary's (1847-51); and C.C. The Rower, from 1851 to January 27th, 1863, when he was appointed P.P, Rathdowney and V.F. of the Northern Deanery. In 1865 he became Chancellor, and, in 1887, Archdeacon, of the Diocese. About 1880 he had the degree of Doctor of Divinity conferred on him by the Pope. After a long and honoured career in the priesthood, he died on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25th, I892, in the 83rd year of his age. He is buried in the Chapel-yard, Rathdowney.

REV. JAMES ROCKETT, born in Miltown, Kilmacow, May 6th, 1844, studied in St. Kieran's College, and afterwards in Maynooth, where he entered for Rhetoric, Nov. 15th, 1867. He was ordained Dec. 31st, 1872. Having served as C.C. in Tullaroan and Gowran, he became Adm. of Seir-Kieran, June 13th, 1885, and was promoted thence to Rathdowney, May 14th, 1892. He died Good Friday, April 10th, 1903, and is buried in Rathdowney chapel-yard.

VERY REV. WILLIAM BRENNAN, D.D., became next P.P., in July, 1903.

Back to List

Site Hosted by Dotser

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