Name: The ancient and present state of the county and city of Cork. : Containing a natural, civil, ecclesiastical, historical, and topographical description thereof.
Author: Charles Smith (1715?–1762)

Kilworth Light Dragoons 1779

Kilworth · townland · Cork · 1779

The Kilworth Light Dragoons were a volunteer cavalry corps raised in July 1779 under Colonel Stephen Earl Mountcashel. Their uniform was scarlet faced green with gold epaulets and yellow buttons and helmets.

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Kilworth L. D., July, 1779. Scarlet, faced green, gold epaulets, yellow buttons and helmets. Colonel Stephen Earl Mountcashel.
Imokilly Blues Horse, 1779. Blue, faced red. Colonel Robert Uniacke Fitzgerald.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 186

As the companion tells it

Somewhere close to Kilworth, a volunteer cavalry corps was raised in July 1779. The Kilworth Light Dragoons wore scarlet faced green, with gold epaulets, yellow buttons and helmets. Their colonel was Stephen Earl Mountcashel.

Bishop Boetius Egan martyred at Carrigadrohid castle

Carrigadrohid · townland · Cork · 1650

Bishop Boetius Egan of Ross, having refused to renounce the Faith and having urged the holders of Carrigadrohid castle not to surrender, was handed over to Ludlow's cavalry. His arms were severed and he was hanged from a tree by the reins of his own horse. He was buried in the graveyard of Aghinagh, though no trace of his grave remains.

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courageous advice to those who held possession of the castle of Carrigadrohid " not to surrender," was given up to the fury of a troop of Ludlow's cavalry, his arms were severed from his body, he was then brought to a neighbouring tree and hanged from one of its branches by the reins of his own horse. He was buried in the graveyard of Aghinagh, but no trace remains to show the exact spot to which his mortal remains were consigned.
After the death of this other Irish martyr to the Faith, Bishop Boetius Egan, the following are the names of those — as I find them in my papers — who were charged with the administration of the diocese of Ross : —

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 258

Sack of Baltimore by Turkish corsairs

Baltimore · town · Cork

Turkish corsairs under commander Matthew Rice assaulted Baltimore, breaking into forty houses and plundering thirty-seven. They killed two men, captured over one hundred prisoners including women and children, and retreated to their vessels before a king's ship could arrive from Kinsale.

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called The Cove, which numbered about twenty-five. They captured young and old, making prisoners of one hundred persons. Two men they killed, whose names were John Davys and Timothy Corlew. Their commander, Matthew Rice, or Reis, advanced to the town with about one hundred and forty of his ' Turks,' leaving sixty musqueteers in ambush along the road, and taking with him John Hackett, the skipper of one of the little vessels, as a guide. He carried the place by assault, and surprised the English inhabitants, breaking into forty houses, of which they plundered thirty-seven. They would have continued their work of devastation, but a man called William Harris, being wakened by the noise, looked out of his house, and, perceiving that the place was overrun by * Turks,' fired several shots, and, arousing the neighbours, drums were beaten in the upper part of the town, and the Reis and his men fell back on their ambushed forces in reserve, and thence to the vessels, but they did not weigh anchor until about four o'clock in the afternoon. One Thomas Bennett, who lived at some distance from Baltimore, was informed by some fugitives of the disaster, and posted a letter at once to Mr. James Salmon, of Castlehaven. Mr. Salmon sent with all speed to Kinsale a message to Captain Hooks, of the king's ship lying there, praying him to sail at once and rescue the poor people from the corsairs. The same messenger was also directed to ride on to Mallow to inform the Lord President of the circumstance. The King's ship sailed as soon as possible, but before her arrival there the * Turks ' were far at sea. The following is a list of the persons carried off, and it would be interesting to know if any of them ever returned, or what their after-fate in captivity was : —
" William Arnold — wi/e and three children

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 149

As the companion tells it

As you come through Baltimore, you are passing the town where Turkish corsairs under their commander, Matthew Rice, carried out a devastating raid. The commander advanced on the town with about 140 of his Turks, leaving 60 musketeers in ambush along the road. He took with him John Hackett, the skipper of one of the little vessels, as a guide. Rice carried the place by assault and surprised the English inhabitants. His men broke into 40 houses and plundered 37 of them. They killed two men, John Davys and Timothy Corlew, and captured about 100 prisoners, young and old. A man called William Harris was woken by the noise, looked out of his house, and saw that the place was overrun by Turks. He fired several shots, arousing the neighbours, and drums were beaten in the upper part of the town. Rice and his men fell back to their ambushed forces in reserve, and from there to the vessels, but they did not weigh anchor until about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Thomas Bennett, who lived at some distance from Baltimore, was informed by fugitives of the disaster and posted a letter at once to Mr. James Salmon of Castlehaven. Salmon sent with all speed to Kinsale a message to Captain Hooks of the king's ship lying there, praying him to sail at once and rescue the poor people from the corsairs. The same messenger was directed to ride on to Mallow to inform the Lord President. The king's ship sailed as soon as possible, but before her arrival the Turks were far at sea. The material lists the persons carried off, beginning with William Arnold, his wife, and three children. It would be interesting to know if any of them ever returned, or what their fate in captivity was.

Cormac MacCarty builds Blarney Castle

near Blarney · townland · Cork · 1449

Blarney Castle was built by Cormac MacCarty, surnamed Laider, who came into the lordship in 1449. He also built Kilcrea and Carricknamuck castles, Kilcrea abbey, and Ballyvacadane nunnery.

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Blarney Castle was built by Cormac MacCarty, surnamed Laider (he came into the lordship 1449). He also built the castles of Kilcrea and Carricknamuck, the abbey of Kilcrea, and the nunnery of Ballyvacadane, with five churches. He was wounded at Carricknamuck by Owen, the son of Teige MacCarty, his cousin-german, and died in Cork, being buried in Kilcrea abbey, anno dom. 1494. This estate was forfeited in the wars of 1641 by Donough, Lord Muskery, but the greatest part of it was restored by the Act of Settlement. This Lord was General of the Irish forces in Munster, and Very active in that rebellion. Ludlow informs us that he was charged with having put several of the English to death on the road between his house of Macroomp and Cork, for which he was apprehended, and tried for his life. The trial lasted long by reason of a clause which he urged in his defence, from a printed copy of the articles made against him, which, " although " (says Ludlow, who was one of the commissioners appointed to try him) '* it had been unjust for me to grant in the terms there mentioned, "yet would have cleared him, and thrown the guilt and blame upon me; for articles " given ought to be made good. But this clause, upon search into the original, which " I kept, appeared to have been inserted by themselves in the print which they pro- "duced for evidence, under pretence of having lost the original articles. Notwith- " standing which, it appearing that, though divers of the English were murdered by the " convoy appointed to conduct them safe to Cork, the Lord Muskery had taken what " care he could for their security, and had done what in him lay to bring the person *' who was guilty of that blood to justice. The court acquitted him, and he was per- " mitted, according to his articles, to pass into Spain." — Ludlau/s Memoirs^ p. 442.
Colonel MacCarty Reagh and several other persons were also tried at this time for the same crimes, but the colonel was acquitted. — Ludlow^ ib.^ p. 440.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 93

De Courcey family privilege of being covered in royal presence

Kinsale · town · Cork

The Lords Kinsale, of the de Courcey family, enjoyed an ancient privilege granted by King John to their ancestor the Earl of Ulster: the right to remain covered (hatted) in the royal presence after making obeisance. Lord Gerald de Courcey exercised this privilege before George I in 1720 and George II in 1727.

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Ulster, whose ancestors were summoned to the first parliaments of Ireland. The privilege of being covered in the royal presence is enjoyed to this day by his lordship, being granted to his great ancestor,<*3) the Earl of Ulster, by King John. On the 13th of June, 1720, the late Lord Gerald de Courcey was, by His Grace the Duke of Grafton, presented to His Majesty King George I., when he had the honour to kiss his hand and to assert this ancient privilege. And on the 22nd of June, 1727, he was presented, by the Lord Carteret, to his late Majesty King George H., by whom he was graciously received, had the honour of kissing his hand, and of being also covered in his presence. In May, 1627, Sir Dominick Sarsfield was created Lord Viscount Kinsale, to the great prejudice of this ancient and noble family, and set up his arms in the town. But, upon a fair hearing before the Earl-Marshal of England, he was obliged to renounce the title of Kinsale and take that of Kilmallock.^'*) The
of John de Courcey, was a hostage for his father upon his enlargement from the Tower to fight the French champion.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 120

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Kinsale, this town carries the name of an old privilege belonging to the de Courcey family. The Lords Kinsale held the right to remain covered, to keep their hats on, in the royal presence. The grant came from King John to their great ancestor, the Earl of Ulster. On the 13th of June, 1720, the late Lord Gerald de Courcey was presented by the Duke of Grafton to King George I. He kissed the king's hand and asserted this ancient privilege. On the 22nd of June, 1727, he was presented by Lord Carteret to King George II, who received him graciously. Again he kissed the hand of the monarch and remained covered in his presence. In May, 1627, Sir Dominick Sarsfield was created Lord Viscount Kinsale, to the great prejudice of this ancient and noble family, and set up his arms in the town. But upon a fair hearing before the Earl-Marshal of England, he was obliged to renounce the title of Kinsale and take that of Kilmallock. John de Courcey was a hostage for his father upon his enlargement from the Tower to fight the French champion.

Huguenot colony at Inishannon and the Mulberry Field, c.1765

Innishannon · town · Cork · 1765

About sixty Huguenot families accompanied by their pastor Rev. Peter Cortez arrived in Cork and settled in Innoshannon around 1765, encouraged by the Adderley family who wished to introduce silkworm cultivation. Adderley built houses (still called the Colony, now in ruins) and planted a mulberry field, but the silkworms died and the colonists departed; the field is still called the Mulberry Field.

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"Anno 1765. About sixty Huguenot families, accompanied by their pastor, the *' Rev. Peter Cortez, arrived in Cork, in the Redhead galley, and settled in Innoshannon. " They were encouraged so to do by the Adderley family, who were anxious to intro- '* duce the silkworm, and to afford employment to the settlers. They granted them " leases for twenty-one years at low rents, and built houses for them which are now in ** ruins, but still go by the name of the Colony. Adderley planted a piece of ground "with mulberry trees for the silkworm to feed upon, and strove hard to make the " undertaking succeed, but it was in vain, the silkworms died and the colonists departed. " The field is still called the Mulberry Field, and a few of the houses are still to be seen "at the south end of Innoshannon bridge. M. Cortez was succeeded by the Rev. ** Monsieur Bellesange."
" Innoshannon was at one time walled in, and is supposed to have been anciently a " place of some note. The supposition is substantiated by the discovery of the remains "of the foundations of several castles and other large buildings in and around its " present area. It was granted with Bandon ferry by Henry V. to Philip de Barry in " 141 2. In 1 561 a great battle was fought here between the Desmonds and the " MacCarthys ; the Desmonds were defeated after a terrible struggle. Thomas Adderley " got up a bleach-yard here for the manufacture of linen, and introduced a number of " French refugees from ist February, 1748, to ist November, 1749. There were manu- "factured here 422 pieces containing 13,886 yards of linen, principally sheeting and " diaper. In addition there were 240 pieces woven in the neighbourhood and bleached " there. At one time there were sixty-six looms at work."

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 129

Annagh castle siege and garrison massacre, 1641-1645

Annagh · townland · Cavan · 1641–1645

A strong castle at Annagh, seated in the midst of a bog and deemed impregnable, was garrisoned for four years at Sir Philip Perceval's expense during the 1641 wars. It was taken by treachery in 1645 and the entire garrison was put to the sword by order of Lord Castleconnel.

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Five miles south of Charleville is Annagh, a pretty Annag . thriving village, on the estate of the Earl of Egmont. This place, with a large tract of the adjacent land, were, at a very great expense, reclaimed from a deep and dangerous morass, now pleasantly planted and well improved, large drains and canals being cut through the morass, which empty themselves into a branch of the river Awbeg. Here stood a strong castle that, in the wars of 1 641, was for four years garrisoned at the expense of Sir Philip Perceval, bart., and by its situation, in the midst of a bog, was deemed impregnable ; but it was at last taken, anno 164S, by treachery, and the whole garrison put to the sword in cold blood by order of the Lord Castleconnel, who then commanded the Irish army, consisting of 5,000 horse and foot, and who was an inveterate enemy to Sir Philip Perceval, because he had refused to give him his daughter in marriage before the war. This castle was demolished by the late Earl of Egmont, who drained the ground, built the village of Annagh, and established the linen manufacture therein. Through this morass the road runs from Churchtown to Charleville, which, from the deepness of the soil, is in winter extremely bad. As limestone abounds in all parts of this country, tillage might be carried on at an inconsiderable expense, the soil being naturally very rich. On the contrary, one sees very little corn here, but herds of black cattle and sheep everywhere, so great is the encouragement for beef and butter in the markets of Cork and Limerick, and so small is that for corn ; yet there are large quantities of wheat yearly imported into the city of Cork, which is one of the most plentiful places in the kingdom.
Churchtown is a small village, prettily planted. In it Churchtown. ^^^ ^j^^ ^.^j^^^ ^^ ^j^^ ^j^ church, called Bruhenny, in which

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 164

Baltimore corsair raid of 1631

Baltimore · town · Cork · 1631

On 20 June 1631, two Barbary corsairs under a Dutch renegade called Captain Matthew Rice attacked Baltimore, carrying away 111 townspeople (men, women, and children) and killing two more. Joseph Carter sent urgent intelligence to Sir William Hull warning the raiders might head west towards Lymecon or Crookhaven.

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*'To the Right Wooe". Sir William Hull, knight, and Councill of Munster, etc." "22 June, 1631. Baltymore, this present Monday morning. Right Worspl- these •• my le to let you understand that this last night, a little before day, came two Turke " men-of-war, one about 300 townes and another about 150, with a large boat to sett " them ashore. And they have carried away of our townespeople, men, women, and " children, an hundred and eleven, and two more are slayne. The ships are at present " going to the westwards. I thought good presently to give your wooT>- intelligence, " and have sent the messenger apurpose, and I pray you have content for his pains, and '* I am doubtful that they will put in about Lymecon or Crookhaven. I pray give " intelligence westwards. These with my service romembred. I rest y* woop*-. to be "commanded. Joseph Carter."
The following narrative of the disaster was supplied by Dr. Caulfield to the editor of the Munster Journal : —

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 148

As the companion tells it

You are near Baltimore, in Cork. On the morning of the twenty-second of June 1631, a man named Joseph Carter sat down to write an urgent letter to Sir William Hull, a councillor of Munster. The night before, a little before daybreak, two Turkish men-of-war had come to Baltimore, one about 300 tons and the other about 150, with a large boat to put men ashore. They carried off 111 of the townspeople, men, women, and children, and killed two more. Carter wrote that the ships were heading westward. He was afraid they might put in at Lymecon or Crookhaven. He begged Hull to send intelligence westwards and to pay the messenger for his pains. His letter ended with his service remembered and himself at Hull's command. Carter signed it from Baltimore on that Monday morning. This is the raid people still call the corsair raid of 1631.

Castlehaven garrison surrendered to Captain Harvey, 1601-2

Castlehaven · townland · Cork · 1601–1602

On 12 February 1601-2, the garrison of Castlehaven surrendered to Captain Harvey for Queen Elizabeth. The O'Driscols, hereditary owners, briefly retook the castle before the Spaniards assaulted it, and ultimately it was delivered up to the English captain.

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(9) On the 1 2th of February, 1601-2, the garrison of Castlehaven surrendered to Captain Harvey, who took possession of it for Queen Elizabeth. The same day that the Spaniards quitted it, the O'Driscols, who had the inheritance of it, by slight got into the castle and made themselves masters of it. The Spaniards assaulted it, and were undermining the same when Captain Harvey came into the haven ; but upon sight of his ships, the Irish, by composition to depart in safety, rendered it to the Spaniards, who had lost two of their soldiers in the attempt, and the Spaniards delivered it up to the captain. — Pacat, Hibern,
18

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 141

Castletownroche castle besieged 1649

Castletownroche · town · Cork · 1649

The castle of the Lords Roche, Viscounts Fermoy, was built on a rock over the Awbeg. In 1649 parliamentary forces erected a battery in the Camp-field opposite the castle, which was gallantly defended for several days by Lady Roche. Lord Roche refused a composition for his estate from Cromwell.

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The castle is built on a rock over the Awbeg, from whence there is a passage cut down to the river. Opposite to it is a field which they call the Camp-field, from whence a battery was erected by a party of the parliamentary forces, anno 1649, against the castle, which was then defended by the lady of Lord Roche for several days in a gallant manner ; this lord refused a composition for his estate from Oliver Cromwell. Castletown is but an inconsiderable village, and in it stands the parish church. The estate, on the forfeiture of the Lords Fermoy, became the property of the Wignams. Danielstown. ^" ^^^ Opposite side of the river are Danielstown
and Ballyvoher ; the former, the house and estate of Mr. Welstead ; and the latter, of the Browns, whose ancestor,^*5) for a slight

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 177

Construction of Haulbowline fort, January 1601

near Haulbowline Island · population centre · Cork · 1601

On 14 January 1601, Sir George Carew and Lord Deputy Montjoy went by boat from Cork to Hawlbowlin to view it for fortification. Engineer Paul Ive was directed to raise a fortification there and another at Castlepark to command the harbour of Kinsale. The fort was square with four bulwarks, a central castle 22 feet square, and a drawbridge.

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The fort built here was a square fortification, with four bulwarks and curtains. In the middle stood a castle, 22 feet square within the walls, ascended to by steps, and defended by a small drawbridge. This castle still remains, with the ruins of the bastions. To the S. was a handsome gateway, with a guardhouse annexed. On the north of the island (level with the water) was a platform, mounted with ordnance. Adiacent to this was the gunners' house ; the ramparts were mounted with a deep ditch. Towards the east a well of fresh water was sunk, which still remains. — Pacat, Hibern,,
^ In this island a party of gentlemen, some years ago, built a banqueting-house, and called themselves the ** Water Club," having several fine pleasure boats, most of which carried guns, colours, etc. They appointed their admiral and vice-admiral in this little fleet, which ran several races. The day generally concluded with firing of guns, feasting, etc.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 92

Franciscan friary, the Mirror of Ireland, and miraculous spring

Cork · city · Cork · 1231–1688

A Franciscan monastery (Grey Friars) was founded around 1231 by Philip Prendergast on the north side of Cork and was renowned for strict discipline, earning the name 'Mirror of Ireland.' A celebrated spring oozing from a redstone rock was believed to cure sore eyes through the miraculous intercession of St. Francis. King James II heard mass here in March 1688, supported by two Franciscan friars. The building was entirely demolished.

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5th. A monastery of Franciscans, or Grey Friars, founded, according to Wadding, in the year 1231 (but Ware says in 1240), by Philip Prendergast. Wadding says the founder of this house was Mac Carty More, whose tomb stood in the midst of the choir. From the strict discipline observed in this house, it acquired the name of the Mirror of Ireland. Here was a most stately church, where several of the principal persons of Munster were interred ; and near it was a celebrated spring which the friars pretended had the virtue of curing sore eyes, by the miraculous intercession of St. Francis ; this water oozes out of a redstone rock, and does not lather with soap. In the chapel of this place the late King James heard mass, in March, 1688, being supported through the streets of the city by two Franciscan friars, and attended by many others of the same order, in their habits. The possessions of this house were originally granted to Andrew Skiddy by Queen Elizabeth, who assigned them to the Earl of Cork, and by him given to his son, the Lord Broghill, afterwards Earl of Orrery. This building stood on the north side of the city, and is now entirely demolished.
6th. Near the present new Market-house, within the city wall, stood a Benedictine nunnery, in a street formerly called Jones' Street, founded by William de Barry, and dedicated to St. John Baptist, anno 1300. In the additions to Dugdale's Monasticon Anglicanufny^^ there is an inquisition, ad quod damfmnty for the foundation of this house, 19th Edward I. There are no remains of the building, but the site of it I accidentally discovered by the digging up of some old tombs on this ground.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 211

As the companion tells it

As the road takes you through Cork, there was once a Franciscan friary on the north side of the city, a house of Grey Friars. Philip Prendergast founded it in 1231, according to Wadding, though Ware gives the year as 1240. Wadding also says the founder was Mac Carty More, whose tomb stood in the midst of the choir. The friars here kept such strict discipline that the house became known as the Mirror of Ireland. The church was stately, and several of the principal persons of Munster were buried in it. Near the church was a celebrated spring. The friars claimed its water could cure sore eyes through the miraculous intercession of St. Francis. The water oozes out of a redstone rock, and it does not lather with soap. In March 1688, the late King James heard mass in the chapel of this place. Two Franciscan friars supported him through the streets of the city, and many others of the same order attended in their habits. The possessions of this house were originally granted to Andrew Skiddy by Queen Elizabeth. She assigned them to the Earl of Cork, and he gave them to his son, the Lord Broghill, afterwards Earl of Orrery. The building is now entirely demolished.

Rostellan Castle captured by assault

Rostellan · townland · Cork

Rostellan Castle was taken by military force when Colonel Henry O'Brien (brother of Lord Inchiquin) and other officers were stranded there at low tide. The attacking force seized the boats, planted guns on batteries previously constructed by Lord Inchiquin, and the place surrendered the following morning.

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(10) '• At length I got intelligence that Colonel Henry O'Brien (brother to the Lord *' Inchiquin), and Lieut.-Colonel Courtney, with several other officers, were come by ** boat to Rostellan to make merry, and that, the tide falling, their boats were aground, '* and so would continue till high water. On the certainty of this I lost no time, but **sent immediately a party to seize the boats, lying more than a musket shot from the " castle, following as fast as I could with the army, which being come up I presently " fell to work, planted my guns on the batteries made by my Lord Inchiquin, not yet " destroyed, and in the morning the place yielded on discretion. — Earl of Castlehccuen' s ^^ Memoirs \ London, 1684.'
(") " nth Jan. 1760. That Admiral Hawke be presented with his freedom in a gold " box, for his great services in defeating the French fleet, commanded by Mons. ** Couflans, whereby the city was saved from an attack of a large body of French forces. — " Council Book of the Corporation of Cork, Billing, Guilford."

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 73

Shanaclogh legend of the hanging McCarthy

Shanaclogh · townland · Cork

Local folklore tells of a McCarthy who sat in judgment on travellers at Shanaclogh, plundering and hanging them, and burying their remains in an adjacent field. After he hanged a poor widow's son, the widow went to the friars of Kilcrea and the abbot prophesied that the sun would rise on the murderer's ruin. That night a tempest with lightning caused the earth to open and swallow McCarthy, his family, and his home; the ruins are said to be the tops of his dwelling walls, and shrubs refuse to flourish there.

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" a stone chair looking N.W., which appears to have been one of those in which the " chieftains were enthroned in ancient days. Round the mound is the remains of a *' moat. In an adjacent field are numerous heaps of human bones beneath the surface. *' Some curious legends linger round this weird and remarkable spot. It is said by the " country-people that one of the McCarthys used to sit here in judgment on all tra- " vellers, and after plundering them, immediately hang them, and interred their remains " in the adjacent field. At last he hanged a poor widow's son, who took home one *' cold frosty evening a few sods of turf. The mother when bringing his dinner on the " following day was told to return, as her son was dead. In her anguish she knelt at " the loot of the gallows as the evening sun was gilding her pallid face. From thence •* she journeyed to the friars of Kilcrea, and told her tale to the abbot. ' Behold, my '•daughter,' said the venerable father, 'the same sun which bathed your child in the " light of its setting last evening, shall rise to-morrow on the ruin of the miu-derer and " his court.' And on her return, the earth had opened in the gloom of that night, " (for there was a tempest and lightning) and swallowed up for ever McCarthy, his *' family, and home. These ruins are said to be the tops of the walls of his dwelling — " even shrubs refuse to flourish here."
With a ready response to my request, Mr. H. W. Gillman has kindly sent me the following note upon a subject with which he is intimately acquainted, and upon which he is a well-known authority. — R.D.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 108

Barryscourt Castle and its 1588 inscription

near Barryscourt · street · Cork · 1588–1617

Barryscourt Castle near Carrigtwohill consists of a large bawn defended by square flankers and a lofty keep flanked by square towers. A 1588 fireplace inscription records David Fitzjames Barry and his wife Ellen Roch; he died there in 1617. The castle is now used as a granary and barn.

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Barryscourt Castle stands to the south of the village of Carrigtwohill, on the verge of an extensive marsh that up to a comparatively recent period was inundated by the tide, which, in olden times, must have contributed to its security. It consists of a large bawn or court, defended by square flankers, which were formerly occupied by the retainers and servants of the castle. The keep or donjon, a lofty quadrangle, is also flanked by square towers. Its different arched stories are in good preservation. But its glory has departed, and the castle of the Barrymores is now converted into a granary and bam.
On Sep. 19, 1887, I visited this interesting ruin, now the property of A. H. Smith-Barry, esq., M.P. In the room described by Dr. Caulfleld, upon a block of limestone over one of the windows at the north side of the fireplace, is the date A.D. 1586. There is in the northern tower a private chapel, with an east and west window and a south window, in which is a quarterfoil shaped piscina^ and at the epistle side of the place, where the altar stood, a recess is in the wall for the sacred vessels: Above this is another room commanding delightful views from windows in the north, east, and west, having in the recess of each two stone side benches and a front seat, which would also serve as a foot-rest, when the seats were occupied by the ladies of the olden time to whom this chamber was very probably set apart Mr. Smith-Barry has, with praiseworthy zeal, roofed in this historic castle, and so preserved it from the effects of our changeful climate. Barrymore being within easy reach of Queenstown, and approached by a road that skirts the water, is st favourite resort for the carmen who, while the American liners are waiting for the mails, drive their passengers to it, and assure them that it is Blarney Castle.— R.D.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 89

As the companion tells it

Somewhere about Barryscourt stands a castle of the Barrymores, south of the village of Carrigtwohill, on the edge of a broad marsh that once was flooded by the tide. That marsh must have helped keep the place safe in olden times. The castle has a large bawn or court, defended by square flankers where the retainers and servants once lived. The keep is a lofty quadrangle, flanked by square towers, and its arched stories are still in good preservation. But its glory has departed. The castle is now a granary and barn. Over one of the windows at the north side of the fireplace, on a block of limestone, the date 1588 is carved. That inscription records David Fitzjames Barry and his wife Ellen Roch. He died there in 1617. In the northern tower there is a private chapel, with an east and west window and a south window. In the south window is a quarterfoil-shaped piscina, and at the epistle side of where the altar stood, a recess in the wall held the sacred vessels. Above the chapel is another room, with windows looking north, east, and west. Each window recess has two stone side benches and a front seat that could serve as a footrest. This chamber was very likely set apart for the ladies of the olden time. A. H. Smith-Barry, the owner, roofed in the castle to preserve it from the weather. Barrymore being within easy reach of Queenstown, approached by a road that skirts the water, is a favourite resort for the carmen who, while the American liners wait for the mails, drive their passengers there and assure them it is Blarney Castle.

Captain Capel of Cloghroe and Fontenoy

Cloghroe · townland · Cork · 1745–1800

Captain Capel of Cloghroe lost his eye at the Battle of Fontenoy on 11 May 1745 and was buried in St. Fin Barre's Cathedral, Cork. His marriage to Miss McCarthy of Ballea was a runaway match; her brothers pursued him to shoot him, but the parties were eventually reconciled. A large monument was erected to his memory outside the chancel of the late cathedral.

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** Old Mr. Fowler, the apothecary, who lived in Mallow Lane, told Dr. Wall that on a certain occasion, as he was attending one of his (Captain Capel's) tenants at Cloghroe, and finding it necessary to bleed him, he said to Captain Capel, who happened to be near the patient's bedside, 'Captain, take care lest you may be spattered with blood.' * What, sir I ' replied the Captain. * Think you that I am afraid of blood, who fought knee-deep in it at Fontenoy?' His marriage with Miss McCarthy was the result of a runaway match, and so inferior did her brothers consider Captain Capel, that they pursued him to shoot him. Capel, who was always considered a man of undoubted bravery, was eventually overtaken, and, being asked why he presumed to run away with a woman so much his superior, replied, * Because he could get no better blood.' The parties were then reconciled. A large monument was erected to his memory outside the chancel of the late cathedral at St. Fin Barres, but, singular to say, the leaden coffin which contained his remains was never removed from the chancel vaults, where it lay since its removal from its temporary resting-place at Shanaclogh,(3) a very curious elevated mound, north of his residence at Cloghroe. Here in a brick-arched recess with a finely-cut and moulded stone stairs his body lay, according to his desire for a day and night. This place appears to have once been a rath, within whose enclosure are some very remarkable remains of buildings of great antiquity. In addition to the brick vault, there is the foundation of a circular tower, entered by a narrow passage formed by the walls, some ruined buildings and
(3) There can be no doubt that the Shanaclogh was the site of the castle of Gynes, alias Clorough or Cloghroe — " red stone." The Shanaclogh is not far from Cloghroe House.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 108

Capture and execution at John Carey's castle

Carey's Castle · monument · Waterford · 1642

In January 1642, David Earl of Barrymore captured the castle of John Carey, esq., situated on a rising ground above the Blackwater, after a stubborn defense. The Irish army across the river did not intervene, and the captured garrison was subsequently executed.

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seat of John Carey, esq., situated on a rising ground above the Blackwater, over which there is a terrace, commanding a good prospect of the vale, up to Fermoy, and several castles. Here is a pretty park, good orchards, gardens, and other plantations. In January, 1642, this castle<«3) was taken by David Earl of Barrymore after an obstinate resistance, and in view of the Irish army, on the other side of the Blackwater, who durst not come to its relief ; the garrison were all made prisoners, and afterwards executed. The soil is here a limestone bottom and mellow clay, mixed with sand, about seven inches deep.
Greenfield ^^ ^^^ opposite side of the Blackwater is Greenfield, a

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 181

Colonel Phaire of Grange and regicide connections

near Grange · townland · Cork · 1651–1666

Grange near the Ovens was the home of Onisiphorus Phaire, whose ancestor Colonel Phaire served as governor of Cork under Cromwell and was one of those to whom the warrant for executing Charles I was directed. He was later involved in a fanatical plot to seize Dublin Castle.

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Grange. phorus Phaire, whose ancestor, Colonel Phaire, was governor of Cork, ann. 165 1, being so appointed by Oliver Cromwell. He was one of the persons to whom the warrant for the execution of King Charles I. was directed. On the i8th of May, 1660, he was carried prisoner, with a guard of fifty troopers, to Dublin from Cork, and was sent to London, where, by the interest of Lord Clancarty (whose life he is said to have saved, as he was going to be executed by a party who made him prisoner and did not know him), he obtained his pardon, and returned to Cork. He was again concerned in the fanatic plot (ann. 1666) for seizing the castle of Dublin and the other garrisons of Ireland, which was discovered by the first Earl of Orrery, and Captain Oliver, to the Duke of Ormond, the management of that business in this county being committed to Colonel Phaire. However, there being a peace soon after between England, Holland, and France, the plot was dropped, and the projectors of it suffered to go unmolested by the government He died peaceably near Cork, and was buried in the Anabaptist burying-yard of that city.
Cooleroe, the house of Mr. Wetheral, on the S. bank of

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 103

Kilcoleman Castle, residence of Edmund Spenser

Kilcolman · townland · Cork

Kilcoleman, a ruined castle of the earls of Desmond, was celebrated as the residence of Edmund Spenser, where he composed the Fairy Queen. The castle, now almost level with the ground, sat on the north side of a fine lake amid views of half the breadth of Ireland.

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Kilcoleman ^^^ miles north-west of Doneraile is Kilcoleman, a
ruined castle of the earls of Desmond, ^'®^ but more celebrated for being the residence of the immortal Spenser, where he composed his divine poem, the Fairy Queen. The castle is now almost level with the ground, and was situated on the north side of a fine lake, in the midst of a vast plain, terminated to the east by the county of Waterford mountains ; Ballyhowra hills to the north, or, as Spenser terms them, the " mountains of Mole"; Nagle mountains to the south ; and the mountains of Kerry to the west It commanded a view of above half the breadth of Ireland, and must have been, when the adjacent uplands were wooded, a most pleasant and romantic situation ; from whence, no doubt, Spenser drew several parts of the scenery of his poem. The Guardian^^^^ pays a noble compliment to the memory of this poet. The writer says the generation of pastoral writers are very long lived, there having been (he states) but four descents in above 2,000 years. Theocritus, who left his dominion to Virgil ; Virgil bequeathed his to

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 176

Pattern at Titeskin holy well near Aghada, 1878

Titeskin · townland · Cork · 1878

On 18 August 1878, between 200 and 300 people attended the pattern at the holy well adjacent to the ancient church of Titeskin, near Aghada. The blind, lame, and crippled drank the well water, bathed in it, hung rags on a tree, and prayed at a carved stone, while a plaster figure of the Virgin Mary was fixed to the tree.

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" Sunday, Aug. i8th, 1878, visited the ancient church of Titeskin, about two miles '* from Aghada, and saw the pattern at the adjacent holy well. There were between " 200 and 300 people thei;e — all the blind, lame, and crippled men and women in the "county, beggars innumerable, generally handsome young women with children in " their arms. The people were drinking the waters out of the well, which was handed ** to them in tumblers by a woman who stood within the enclosures. Over the well '* was a tree, on which they were placing small bits of rags — there were hundreds of " bits. Near the well was a stone, like a tombstone, around which were a number of ** blind men praying, and boys who used to kiss a rude figure cut on the stone in relief. " Beneath this figure was an inscription stating how many and what kind of prayers " were to be said. Round about the well, on the rising ground, were great numbers *' of people praying with beads and walking round it, who used to stop at intervals, " kneel and again pray. Outside the well where the surplus water flowed off, women *' were washing children in the water, others bathed their legs, arms, eyes, hands, &c. '* Some children, nearly naked, were almost immersed in the water. A plaster figure "oi the Virgin Mary, to whom the well was dedicated, was fixed to the tree by a *' string. Nothing was sold but cakes, of which there were three or four large stands, " in great variety, with a covering."
Page 78, line 6, not " William Welsh," but " William Walshe." The entry stands thus amongst the fiants of Henry VIII. : —

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 75

Sir Walter Raleigh's final departure from Cork harbour

Cork · city · Cork · 1617

On August 6th, 1617, Sir Walter Raleigh set sail from the harbour of Cork on his last fatal voyage to the West Indies. Before departing he dined at Sir Randal Clayton's house with the Earl of Cork, who had supplied him with provisions and money.

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O9) August 6th, 1617, Sir Walter Raleigh set sail from the harbour of Cork, on his last voyage to the West Indies. In a letter to Mr. Carew Raleigh, Sir Walter's son, from the Earl of Cork (dated at Dublin, January 16, 1631), the Earl says: — "That Sir Walter's " last coming into Ireland cost him above 1,000 marks, whereof he had supplied him *' in ready money with £^S^i besides the oxen, biscuit, beer, iron, and other necessaries " he furnished him with. And adds, that the day he took shipping upon his last fatal " voyage from Cork, he dined with him at Sir Randal Clayton's house, where at the "table he let fall some speeches as if he was not fully furnished for his voyage, which "the earl observing, immediately procured him an hundred French crowns, which he " knew would be current money in any place he should put in to water or victual. "After dinner, he and the earl withdrawing to a window, the earl offered him ";^ioo more, telling him he feared from his discourse that he was not sufficiently " furnished with money for his voyage, and thereupon made him this offer, which he " refused, protesting that all his defects were supplied by the earl beyond his hope or " expectation : adding, that if he was driven into any harbour, he had jewels that he " would sell rather than take any more money from him. Upon which he called to him " the Lord Barry, the Lord Roche, his son, Mr. Walter Raleigh, Captain Whitney, and " several others who dined there ; and taking his son by the hand, told him and the "other gentlemen how that the earl had kept a continual open house for three weeks " to entertain him and all his company. That he had supplied his ships with several " kinds of provisions, and with ;^35o in ready money, and had given money to most of "the captains of his fleet, and that the earl would now press ;£ioo more upon him, "which he did not want. And addressing himself to his son, said: — 'Wat, you see " ' how nobly my Lord Boyle hath entertained me and my friends ; and therefore I " ' charge you, upon my blessing, if it please God that you outlive me and return, that " ' you never question the Lord Boyle for anything that I have sold him ; for if he had " * not bought my Irish land, it would have fallen to the Crown, and then one Scot or " ' other would have begged it, from whom neither I nor mine should have an3rthing for " 'it, nor such courtesies as now I have received.' And thereupon the earl accom- " panied him to the boat, where, at taking leave. Sir Walter repeated -all^the earl's " civilities. And this, says Lord Cork, was the last time I ever saw him."

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 56

Admiral's statue arm falls on day of French landing at Bantry Bay

Rostellan · townland · Cork

A statue of an Admiral at Rostellan, placed on a pedestal with its back turned to the city as a rebuke, was said to have lost its right arm (which grasped a sword) on the very day the French landed at Bantry Bay. The anecdote was told by Mr. O'Brien, the inhabitant of the place who would succeed to the earldom of Inchiquin.

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" it, which he did ; and, as a rebuke, piaced the Admiral's figure on a pedestal with " his back turned towards the ungrateful city. Mr. O'Brien, the present inhabitant of " the place, and who on the death of the Marquis of Thomond succeeds to the earldom " of Inchiquin, told me a most singular anecdote relating to this same statute, and "which, in a less enlightened age than the present, might have been considered as " ominous — that the Admiral's right arm, which grasped a sword, fell off on the very " day that the French landed on the coast of Ireland, at Bantry Bay." (Qucere landed ?).
In reference to the clay of this district, we are indebted to Osborn R. Bergin, esq., of Westcourt, Cork, for the following information : — About forty years ago some of the Rostellan clay was sent to Staffordshire to be manufactured there into pottery. One of the plates so made' is in Mr. Bergin's possession, and this he kindly exhibited at the meeting of the Society on March 30th. It is of ordinary dinner-plate size ; it has a border of roses and shamrocks, divided above by the O'Brien crest, and below by the harp. In the centre is a view of " Rostellan Castle, Cork Harbour," looking towards Crosshaven, with a steamer at Aghada pier, and the shipping in the distance. The arms of the Marquis of Thomond are upon the back of the plate. The material is a white body, and the decoration is of a pleasing olive shade. From enquiries made since the publication of our last number, we learn, on good authority, that the clay used in the glaze of the Youghal delf was brought from Rostellan.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 74

Castlehyde and the Hyde family

Castlehyde · townland · Cork · 1588

Castlehyde, west of Fermoy, was a good old house with large improvements belonging to Arthur Hyde. Sir Arthur Hyde was made a knight banneret by Queen Elizabeth for his service during the Armada invasion and received nearly 6,000 acres forfeited by the Earl of Desmond. The place was formerly named Cariganedy, 'the rock of the shield,' where a castle was said to have been built by the Mahonys.

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with large improvements, of Arthur Hyde, esq., whose ancestor. Sir Arthur Hyde, was made a knight banneret, by Queen Elizabeth, for his gallant behaviour, and raising a regiment in England, at the time of the invasion by the Invincible Armada ; her majesty after wards granted him nearly 6,000 acres of land in this county, which came to the crown by the attainder of Gerald Earl of Desmond. He married the daughter of Poer, baron of Curraghmore. This place was formerly named Cariganedy, i.e., " the rock of the shield," where stood a castle said to have been built by the Mahonys. The upper grounds and sides of the Blackwater are here finely planted with numerous groves of spruce, Scotch fir, and other timber trees, which, from the opposite side of that river, make a fine appearance. The offices are new and well disposed ; and to the south of the house is a large deer-park. Near Castlehyde stands the parish church, in good repair, and adorned with a clock. The lands in this neighbourhood are covered with excellent limestone, the soil being naturally a stiff yellow clay ; in this country considerable quantities of lime are burned ; and, it is observable, that if the upper stratum be used, it swells so greatly upon burning, that it frequently bursts the kiln. There is also a dark kind of limestone in some places, which being flinty, cracks and flies in the fire, but is, nevertheless, burned by an intense heat ; furze kilns are generally used in this part of the country. Two Labacally. ^^^^^ north of Castlehyde is a place called Labacally, />.,
" the hag's-bed," which is a large rock, raised upon several stones, and seemingly designed as a funeral monument for some person of note. I shall give a further description of these stones in another place.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 180

Castlelyons: Franciscan friary, O'Lehan castle, and Barrymore house

Castlelyons · town · Cork · 1307

Castlelyons, originally Castle-lehan from the O'Lehan sept, has substantial ruins of a Franciscan monastery founded by John de Barry in 1307, including choir, nave, and steeple. Lord Barrymore built a stately house on the O'Lehan castle foundation with a weapon-hung hall and 90-foot gallery. A chimney-piece inscribed 'Lehan O'Cullane hoc fecit. MCI I II' was found when old walls were demolished.

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yo s. ^^^ O'Lehans, an ancient Irish sept that possessed it, and who gave their name to a great part of this country.^'^ It is a well-built market town, pleasantly situated, and well watered, in a rich fruitful soil, a short way from the river Bride, and has some share of trade. In this place, John de Barry founded a monastery of conventual Franciscans, anno 1307. Upon the dissolution, it was granted to the Earl of Cork, who assigned it to his son-in-law David, the first Earl of Barrymore, or rather to his daughter, for in his will he says, " he bequeathes the rents " and profits of this house to his daughter Barrymore to buy her gloves and " pins."^3) A considerable part of this abbey still remains, particularly the choir, nave, and steeple of the church. This town lies well for the linen manufacture, and is distant twelve reputed miles from Cork. The Lord Barrymore has here a strong and stately house, built on the foundation of the 0*Lehan castle. It is a large, square building, with a court in the centre. On one side of this square is a spacious hall, hung round with muskets, swords, bayonets, pistols, and other weapons, ranged in several figures. The kitchen forms another side of the building, which is watered by an aqueduct, contrived by a common Irish miller, at an inconsiderable expense ; a celebrated undertaker from England having failed in the attempt to bring this water by another course, after a good sum was expended thereon. On the N.side of the house, is a noble gallery, 90 feet long, and two stories high, but it is yet unfinished. There are here several good apartments, furnished with family pictures, among others two originals of Richard the first Earl of Cork, and his second lady. The gardens, with a large canal, lie to the W., and near the house is a charming deer-park, through which the river Bride runs. In throwing down some of the old walls of Castle-lehan a chimney-piece was discovered with this inscription :
Lehan O'Cullane hoc fecit. MCI I II.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 90

Chief Justice Willis's description of Cork city, c. 1757–62

Cork · city · Cork · 1757–1762

In a letter dated 1757–62, Chief Justice Willis described Cork as a large but old, ugly town built on a marsh, with canals cut from the River Lee and regular flooding during spring tides. He noted narrow streets, a population estimated above 100,000 (predominantly Catholic), riotous common people, and a major beef, pork, and butter export trade.

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" From Clonmel to Corke is 2 days journey, the first part of it, which is the same *' value, as I described before, is very fine, when we come into the County of Cork tis *• a very wild rough country, till we arive within about 5 miles of Cork, where it is " well improved and wooded, adorned also with several gentlemans seats. The City " of Cork is very large, but an old ugly town. The main street which runs through " the Town is tolerably broad, the other streets very narrow. The river Lee runs "across the Town, from which are cut two great canals like Fleet ditch, which branch " out into various smaller canals. Ships of tolerable burden come up to the Town, and " merchandise is brought up by the lighters and other vessels to most of the merchants' "doors, so that I believe the Town is like a Dutch town, but with a grand exception, '* that it does not partake of their cleanliness and neatness, some gentlemen and mer- " chants' houses are new built, and tolerably handsome, but in general veiy bad, much *' like the old houses in S. Gilese's, and the worst part of Holbom. The situation of " the Town is upon a marsh, and during a very high spring tide the whole town is " overflowed to the great prejudice of the merchants, yet tis said that the Town is " very healthyi and an ague scarce ever known there. About 10 years ago they were " found to be above 90,000, and they are supposed now to be much above 100,000, but "alas, 10 Papists to one Protestant, and many of the principal merchants, papists. " However the Corporation being in Protestant hands, and having a tolerable good " militia, they overpower the papists, not that they could do so without the assistance "of the military regulars. There are two Guard-Houses in Town, and absolutely " necessary to be kept up, For the common people are the most riotous set I have met " with, the prisoners at the assizes being obliged to be guarded to and from Court "by a Serjeant and twelve men. The common people have the boorishness and " brutality of a sea-port, superadded to the rigid bigotry of low Irish papists, which as " I am told by persons that have been abroad (and indeed I have heard some gentle- " men who are Roman Catholics admit it) exceeds any Papists in Europe, perhaps it " may be accounted for, if we consider, that the infinite number of Priests and Friars

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 236

As the companion tells it

As the road nears Cork, Chief Justice Willis, writing around 1757, called it a very large but old, ugly town, built on a marsh. Within about five miles the country was well improved and wooded, with several gentlemen's seats. The River Lee runs across the town, and two great canals were cut from it, branching into smaller canals. Ships of tolerable burden came up to the town, and merchandise was brought by lighters to most merchants' doors. Willis said it was like a Dutch town, but with one grand exception: it did not partake of their cleanliness and neatness. Some houses were new built and tolerably handsome, but in general very bad, much like the old houses in St. Giles's and the worst part of Holborn. The main street was tolerably broad, the other streets very narrow. During a very high spring tide the whole town was overflowed, to the great prejudice of the merchants. Yet it was said to be very healthy, and an ague scarce ever known there. About ten years before, the population had been found above 90,000, and was now supposed to be much above 100,000. Willis wrote that there were ten Papists to one Protestant, and many of the principal merchants were Papists. The Corporation, in Protestant hands with a tolerable good militia, overpowered them, though not without military regulars. Two guard houses were kept up in town, absolutely necessary, for the common people were the most riotous set he had met with. Prisoners at the assizes were guarded to and from court by a sergeant and twelve men. He said they had the boorishness and brutality of a sea-port, added to the rigid bigotry of low Irish Papists, which he was told exceeded any Papists in Europe.

Cloghroe Castle and Shanaclogh mound antiquities

Cloghroe · townland · Cork

Cloghroe Castle, along with Clough Philip and Carrignavar castles, belonged to the MacCartys. Captain Capel of Cloghroe, who lost an eye at the Battle of Fontenoy, was buried at St. Fin Barre's Cathedral in Cork but his leaden coffin was kept in a brick-arched recess at Shanaclogh, an elevated mound north of Cloghroe House. Shanaclogh appears to have once been a rath with remarkable remains of ancient buildings including a circular tower foundation, ruined buildings, and a stone chair. The site is identified as the castle of Gynes, alias Clorough or Cloghroe ('red stone').

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** Old Mr. Fowler, the apothecary, who lived in Mallow Lane, told Dr. Wall that on a certain occasion, as he was attending one of his (Captain Capel's) tenants at Cloghroe, and finding it necessary to bleed him, he said to Captain Capel, who happened to be near the patient's bedside, 'Captain, take care lest you may be spattered with blood.' * What, sir I ' replied the Captain. * Think you that I am afraid of blood, who fought knee-deep in it at Fontenoy?' His marriage with Miss McCarthy was the result of a runaway match, and so inferior did her brothers consider Captain Capel, that they pursued him to shoot him. Capel, who was always considered a man of undoubted bravery, was eventually overtaken, and, being asked why he presumed to run away with a woman so much his superior, replied, * Because he could get no better blood.' The parties were then reconciled. A large monument was erected to his memory outside the chancel of the late cathedral at St. Fin Barres, but, singular to say, the leaden coffin which contained his remains was never removed from the chancel vaults, where it lay since its removal from its temporary resting-place at Shanaclogh,(3) a very curious elevated mound, north of his residence at Cloghroe. Here in a brick-arched recess with a finely-cut and moulded stone stairs his body lay, according to his desire for a day and night. This place appears to have once been a rath, within whose enclosure are some very remarkable remains of buildings of great antiquity. In addition to the brick vault, there is the foundation of a circular tower, entered by a narrow passage formed by the walls, some ruined buildings and
(3) There can be no doubt that the Shanaclogh was the site of the castle of Gynes, alias Clorough or Cloghroe — " red stone." The Shanaclogh is not far from Cloghroe House.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 108

Clonmel churchyard burials near Cork Harbour

Clonmel · parish · Cork · 1693–1857

Clonmel churchyard near Cove served as burial ground for storm-tossed mariners, consumptive visitors, and passengers whose journeys were cut short. Notable burials include dramatist John Tobin (d. 1804), poet Charles Wolfe (d. 1823), and eighteen seamen from HMS Lapwing who died of dysentery in 1804–1805. The oldest tombstones date to 1693 and 1716.

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"Here Tobin, the dramatic writer (whose comedy of the 'Honeymoon* is still " popular), lies buried, having died in Cork harbour on his passage to the West Indies. •* Wolfe,(4) the author of some lines on the burial of Sir John Moore, is buried in the •• churchyard ; also a brother of William Giffard, late editor of the Quarterly Review, " who was killed by a fall from the mast of a vessel in the harbour. Of these Tobin's " tomb (5) alone can be identified. A neat white slab, with black moulding and a cornice, " has been placed against the wall in the interior of the old church, at the south-east, " where the communion-table stood. Of Giffard nothing is to learned ; all research of " the sexton was unsuccessful But it appears that all strangers are buried at or near " the west end of the church."
Sacred to the Memory of

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 86

Dean Swift at Myross parish, 1723

Myross · townland · Cork · 1723

The Rev. Dean Swift spent a summer at a clergyman's house in the parish of Myross, making little voyages along the coast from Glandore to Baltimore. These excursions inspired his Latin poem 'Carberice Rupes', written in June 1723.

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Some years ago the Rev. Dean Swift spent a summer at a clergyman's house (since also dead) in the parish of Miros ; he often diverted himself in making little voyages on the coast, from Glandore harbour towards Baltimore, and these excursions occasioned his Latin poem called Carberice Rupes^ which he wrote in June, anno 1723. Having made the same voyage more than once, I had the pleasure of observing that the dean's descriptions were as just as his numbers were beautiful, which I shall beg leave to insert in this place : —
(9) On the 1 2th of February, 1601-2, the garrison of Castlehaven surrendered to Captain Harvey, who took possession of it for Queen Elizabeth. The same day that the Spaniards quitted it, the O'Driscols, who had the inheritance of it, by slight got into the castle and made themselves masters of it. The Spaniards assaulted it, and were undermining the same when Captain Harvey came into the haven ; but upon sight of his ships, the Irish, by composition to depart in safety, rendered it to the Spaniards, who had lost two of their soldiers in the attempt, and the Spaniards delivered it up to the captain. — Pacat, Hibern,

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 141

Earl of Clancarty's men murder butcher at Mallow

Mallow · town · Cork

The Earl of Clancarty's troopers seized a butcher's horse at Mallow and, when ordered to make restitution, tossed the man in a blanket until he was dead. The butcher's family later received Clancarty estate lands from King William, called the lands of the Butcher of Conscience.

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This Lord Muskery, being created Earl of Clancarty by King Charles II., died in London, August 5th, i6i55. He had three sons, Charles, Callaghan, and Justin. Charles Lord Muskery died before his father, being slain in a sea-fight against the Dutch, June 2, 1665. He was a great favourite of the Duke of York, and was honourably interred at Westminster. His only son, Charles James, succeeded him, but he dying a minor, his uncle Callaghan became Earl of Clancarty, being brought out of a convent in France. He married Elizabeth, daughter to the Earl of Kildare, by whom he had four daughters and one son, named Donough, who was the fourth Earl. He was educated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and bred up carefully at Oxford. His uncle Justin, without the knowledge of his friends, married him, when nor sixteen years of age, to the Earl of Sunderland's daughter, and sent him into this kingdom, where he continued a Protestant till the coming in of King James, and then turned to Mass. King James gave him a troop of horse, which he soon composed of the common Irish, and with them committed many ravages. One was a murder perpetrated upon a poor butcher at Mallow, who refusing his men a horse, they violently seized him by force, and would never return him to the owner ; but the man making complaint to the judge of assize, they ordered the Earl to make him restitution, which he promised to do ; but, as soon as the judges quitted the country, he marched with a party of his troopers to the butcher's house, and told him he came to make him satisfaction for his horse ; whereupon, ordering his troopers to make ready a blanket, they took the man and forcibly tossed him in it, and every now and then suffered him to fall upon the pavement, till he was so bruised that he was left quite dead upon the spot. The family of this butcher had a considerable tract of Clancarty's estate granted them by King William, worth now £^OQ per annum, and they are now called the lands of the Butcher of Conscience.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 93

Execution of Mr. Brown at Cork under King James

Cork · city · Cork · 1689–1690

A gentleman named Brown was executed at Cork during King James's time, soon after that prince's landing at Kinsale. His greatest crime was his attachment to the Protestant cause; despite his wife's petition to the king to spare his life as the first act of grace, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered.

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• neighbour of his ; but, not liking the design, he went back to his own house and returned the horse ; for this he was first brought before Judge Daly at Limerick, who, upon examination of the matter, dismissed him, judging him innocent of any crime that would bear an indictment ; but he was taken up again for the same fact at Cork, and brought before Judge Nugent (soon after King James had landed at Kinsale), who seemed, at first, to be of the same opinion with Judge Daly ; but after he had discoursed his majesty, he proceeded vigorously against the gentleman, and procured him to be found guilty by a partial jury. Everybody looked on this only as an occasion sought for the king to show his clemency. Mrs. Brown, with five or six children, presented him a petition to save her husband's life, as the first act of grace on his coming into the kingdom, but he rejected her petition ; and notwithstanding she re-enforced it with all the interest she could make, the gentleman was hanged, drawn, and quartered. — Vid. King's State^ etc,
(x6) The lands of Cariglemleary, and several other lands in the baronies of Fermoy and Carbery, were granted by letters-patent to Sir Richard Gethin, knt., one of the council for the government of Munster, March 17th, the 19th of Charles II. ; the said Sir Richard setting forth that he intended to make an English plantation, and erect manufactures on the said premises. He also obtained new letters-patent, August 20, 2ist Carol II., by which the lands of Cariglemleary and divers other places were erected in a manor, to be called the manor of Gethin's-grot, with a power to reserve 800 acres for a domain, with court-leets, court-barons, and a court of record, to hold pleas to the value of ;£2o, to erect a gaol, appoint seneschals, bailiffs, gaoler, clerk of the market, and other proper officers ; to be disturbed by no sherifi' or sheriffs bailiff ; also liberty to impark 700 acres for beasts of venery, with free-chase and free-warren ; also two fairs, on the 29th of July and 29th of September, with all fines, customs, waifs, strays, &c

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 178

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Cork, this city carries a story from the time of King James, soon after he landed at Kinsale in 1689. A gentleman named Brown lived in this part of the country. A neighbour of his had some design that Brown did not like. He went back to his own house and returned the horse. For this he was first brought before Judge Daly at Limerick, who examined the matter and dismissed him, judging him innocent of any crime that would bear an indictment. But he was taken up again for the same fact at Cork, and brought before Judge Nugent. At first Nugent seemed to be of the same opinion as Judge Daly. But after he had discoursed with the king, he proceeded vigorously against the gentleman and procured him to be found guilty by a partial jury. Everybody looked on this only as an occasion sought for the king to show his clemency. Mrs. Brown, with five or six children, presented the king a petition to save her husband's life, as the first act of grace on his coming into the kingdom. He rejected her petition. She re-enforced it with all the interest she could make, but the gentleman was hanged, drawn, and quartered. His attachment to the Protestant cause was seen as his greatest crime. The king had the chance to spare him and chose not to.

Kilbritton Castle and the white weasel legend

near Kilbrittain · street · Cork

Kilbritton Castle, formerly a seat of the Lords Courcey and afterwards of MacCarty Reagh, was a stately building with a large bawn and six turrets. The old Irish tell a story that Lord Courcey pawned the castle to MacCarty to secure the return of a borrowed white weasel, but the weasel died, giving MacCarty a pretext to keep possession.

Read the passage

belonged to the barony of Courceys. The castle was formerly a seat of the Lords Courcey, and afterwards of MacCarty Reagh. The old Irish have a story that the Lord Courcey pawned this castle and lands to MacCarty, to secure the restitution of a white weasel he borrowed from him ; and it unluckily happening that the weasel died, this accident gave title, or, which was equivalent in those days, a fair pretence to the more potent MacCarty to keep possession. When this castle was up it was a stately building, environed with a large bawn, fortified with six turrets on the walls. These buildings were taken down by the present proprietor, Jonas Stawell, esq., who has erected a large modem house where the castle stood. It is pleasantly situated on a mount, between greater hills ; the sea flows almost up to it through the harbour of Courtmacsherry. To this castle belongs a privilege of fairs and markets, granted by several patents. Not far from it, on the sea-coast,
(93) Description of Bandon, by Judge Cox, MSS.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 122

As the companion tells it

Somewhere about Kilbrittain stands the place they called Kilbritton Castle. It belonged to the barony of Courceys, and was formerly a seat of the Lords Courcey, and afterwards of MacCarty Reagh. The old Irish have a story that Lord Courcey pawned this castle and lands to MacCarty, to secure the restitution of a white weasel he borrowed from him. It unluckily happening that the weasel died, this accident gave title, or, which was equivalent in those days, a fair pretence, to the more potent MacCarty to keep possession. When this castle was up it was a stately building, environed with a large bawn, fortified with six turrets on the walls. These buildings were taken down by the present proprietor, Jonas Stawell, who has erected a large modern house where the castle stood. It is pleasantly situated on a mount, between greater hills, and the sea flows almost up to it through the harbour of Courtmacsherry. To this castle belongs a privilege of fairs and markets, granted by several patents.

Kilcrea Abbey: tomb of Arthur O'Leary

Kilcrea · townland · Cork · 1773

Arthur O'Leary, a military officer slain in 1773 at age 26, was first buried in a field near Kilcrea Abbey and later reinterred within its precincts beneath the steeple. A stately altar tomb marks his grave in the north-east angle, with an epitaph praising him as generous, handsome, and brave.

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" prey, armed with leaded muskets. O'Leary returned the fire from an old duelling pistol " The soldier who shot him remarked to his officer — * I have covered the buckle of his " ' shoe, and will hit him in the side.' OXeary fell dead in the field, his faithful " charger returned home and pawed the door of his dwelling-house at Raleigh, near '* Macroom. Mr. Morris went through a trial at Cork for causing O'Leary's death, but " was of course acquitted. A wild spirit of revenge now actuated the relations and '* followers of O'Leary, and Mr. Morris was selected as the victim ; at the time he "resided at Hammond's Marsh, at the corner of S. Peter's Church Lane. (9) The Cork " papers of that day inform us that three shots were fired at A. Morris, esq., at his " lodgings in Mr. Boyce's house, Hammond's Marsh ; the balls entered a little below " the window, but did no mischief ; the shots were fired by the deceased's brother, who " was seen in Peter's Church Lane with a gun in his hand. O'Leary's brother escaped " to America where he died. The remains of Arthur O'Leary were first buried in a ** field near the abbey, but subsequently removed within its sacred precincts, where a " stately altar tomb was erected to his memory in the north-east angle beneath the "steeple. Here are also laid the remains of his grandson, Doctor Goodwin Purcell *' O'Leary, M.A., Professor of Materia Medica in the Queen's College, Cork."
Page 174. On the Anabaptist burying-yard, where Colonel Phaire, Cromweirs governor of Cork, was interred, Caulfield says —

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 113

Mogeely castle and Desmond's steward stratagem

Mogeely · townland · Cork

Mogeely, two miles west of Tallow, was a principal seat of the Earl of Desmond, named from a parish church meaning 'church of the vow.' A story tells how the earl's steward invited Munster chiefs to the castle without Desmond's knowledge, causing a provision crisis resolved by a dramatic stratagem.

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Kilnataloon Kilnataloon<37) is the smallest barony in this county ; it signifies the " church on the other side of the river,"<38) which was probably the church of Knockmourne, an ancient corporation. It is bounded on the E. by Waterford, on the W. by the barony of Barrymore, on the N. by Imokilly, and on the S. by the barony of Condons. It was formerly mortgaged by the Lord Barry^9) to Thomas, the eighth Earl of Desmond, for the marriage-portion of his daughter Elizabeth, Countess of Desmond, and was assigned by Gerald Earl of Desmond to his brother Thomas Roe (as is mentioned in a note, p. 28). This small barony is watered by the river Bride, which runs N. of Tallow, and discharges itself into the Blackwater. Sea-sand may be brought for manure by water up to Tallow bridge ; and near the western part of this barony there is plenty of lime for the same purpose. On the banks of the Bride are the ruins of several of Desmond's castles. Mogeely, two miles W. of Tallow, was a principal seat of the earl himself. It takes its name from the parish church, which, in old Irish, was named Moidghealladh, i.e., " the church of the vow." At this castle Thomas, the great Earl of Desmond, resided, who had a favourite steward that often took very great liberties with his lord ; and, by his permission, tyrannized over the earl's tenants equally with his master. This steward, unknown to the earl, gave an invitation in his lord's name to a great number of the chiefs of Munster, with their followers, to come and spend a month at this castle. The invitation was accepted, and crowds of gentlemen flocked in, to the great surprise of Desmond, who began to be alarmed lest sufficient provision should not be found for such a number of guests. They had not stayed many days when provisions, in reality, began to fail, and, at last, the earl's domestics informed him that they could not possibly furnish out a dinner for the next day. The earl was in a great strait, and knew not what to do, for his pride could not brook to let his guests know anything of the njatter ; besides, his favourite steward, who used to help him in such difficulties, was absent At length he thought of a stratagem to save his credit ; and, inviting all his company to hunt next morning, ordered his servants to set fire to the castle as soon as they were gone, and to pretend it was done by accident. The earl and his company hunted all the forenoon, and, from the rising grounds, he every moment expected, with a heavy heart, to see Mogeely in a flame. At length, about dinner-time, to his great surprise, his favourite steward arrived, mounted upon a fresh horse, whom the earl threatened severely for being so long absent at such a juncture. The steward told him he arrived just time enough at the castle to prevent his orders from being

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 66

Preserved bodies in St. Mary Shandon vaults

near Shandon · locality · Cork · 1773–1848

The vaults beneath St. Mary Shandon church had anti-septic properties similar to St. Michan's in Dublin. In 1798, visitors found the body of Rev. Alexander McDaniel, buried in 1773, remarkably preserved with flexible arms and drum-like chest. Dr. Caulfield confirmed the preservation in 1848, noting that a mob had attacked the church to see the body.

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" I lifted up his anhs and found them quite flexible ; his gloves are on his hands, " and his shirt nearly entire. It was told us that some of his acquaintances knew " him, which I doubt not, as his face retained its plumpness, and was perfect; his body " was somewhat of the colour of bogwood ; he was perfectly dry and smooth, and his " breast when struck returned a sound like a tambourine. The coffin had quite gone *' to decay."
Dr. Caulfield has the following note, written in 1848, when he, in company with the late Dr. Lyons, M.P., visited those vaults, and examined the remains of Mr. McDaniel : —

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 231

As the companion tells it

Up ahead, you pass through Shandon, in Cork, where the vaults beneath St. Mary Shandon church held bodies that would not decay. In 1798, visitors went down and examined the remains of the Reverend Alexander McDaniel, buried there in 1773. They lifted his arms and found them quite flexible. His gloves were still on his hands, his shirt nearly entire. His face kept its plumpness and was perfect. His body was the colour of bogwood, dry and smooth, and when they struck his breast it returned a sound like a tambourine. The coffin had gone to decay. By 1848, Doctor Caulfield visited those vaults with Doctor Lyons and confirmed what remained. He noted that a mob had attacked the church to see the body.

Sir Walter Raleigh lands first potatoes in Ireland

Youghal · town · Cork

Sir Walter Raleigh landed the first potatoes in Ireland in this town. Early planters mistakenly ate the apple-like fruit growing on the stalk, nearly abandoning the crop before digging the ground revealed the roots had vastly multiplied underground.

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letters-patent of King James I., dated September 6, ann. reg. 14th of England, and soth of Scotland, i6i6.<'7) It was in this town that the first potatoes were landed in Ireland by Sir Walter Raleigh. The persons who planted them imagining that the apple which grows on the stalk, was the part to be used, gathered them ; but not liking their taste, neglected the roots, till the ground being dug afterwards to sow some other grain, the potatoes were discovered therein, and to the great surprise of the planter, vastly increased ; from those few this country was furnished with seed/'^^
It is said Sir Walter brought them, together with tobacco, into Ireland from Virginia. He also brought the celebrated Affane cherry at the same time from the Canary Islands.('9>

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 56

St Finbarr legend of the knight's barley

Cork · city · Cork · 630

Giraldus Cambrensis records a legend in which a knight seized some of St Finbarr's land and sowed it with barley. The bishop adjured him to return it; refused, he prayed the seed would never come to harvest, and indeed it did not even shoot from the earth.

Read the passage

Giraldus Cambrensis, in the 49th chap, of his 2nd book De MiraMlibus Hibemia^ gives us the following legend of this saint : — "A certain knight had seized some of the bishop's land, and had already sowed it with barley; the bishop came to him, and adjured him in the name of God and all the saints to deliver up the land ; which being refused, he prayed, with tears, that his seed which he had sown might never come to harvest ; which accordingly happened, to the great admiration of the whole city; for it did not even shoot out of the earth. Next year the bishop's people sowed wheat there, and in the harvest they reaped fine barley, the wheat not coming up until the harvest following."
(10) By Mr. Richard Fenton's account, who collected the duty on coals, applied to the building the cathedral, Christ church, and the workhouse, there was received from November, 17 19, to November, 1726, being seven years, ;^i,794; and from the ist of November, to March 3rd, 1729, being three years and five months, ;^999 14s., the duty being is. per ton, making each year communibus ann. £^i^(i 5s. 8d. ; by which computation there seems to be about 6,000 tons of coal burned in this city yearly, amounting to about sixteen and a-half tons each day, and 500 tons a month, which may be supplied by 1 50 ships, being, one with another, forty tons ; there were also great quantities of turf consumed here.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 209

As the companion tells it

Coming through Cork now, the city St Finbarr is tied to. Back around 630, Giraldus Cambrensis set down a legend about him. A knight had seized some of the bishop's land and already sown it with barley. The bishop came to the knight and adjured him, in the name of God and all the saints, to deliver up the land. The knight refused. The bishop prayed, with tears, that the seed he had sown might never come to harvest. And so it happened, to the great admiration of the whole city. The barley did not even shoot out of the earth. The next year the bishop's own people sowed wheat on that same ground, and when harvest came they reaped fine barley instead, the wheat not coming up until the harvest following. Whatever you make of the tale, the city clearly remembered it long after, and Cambrensis thought it worth recording in his second book on the wonders of Ireland.

Tom Power's dream and rath discovery at Kilbarry

Kilbarry · townland · Cork · 1841–1842

Tom Power, holding land in the townland of Kilbarry outside the deerpark wall of Castlecor, dreamed three times in one night of treasure buried in an old rath on his ground. Upon digging he found a black oak tank, twelve feet square and three feet deep, resting on four pillars, with a shoot to convey water, all made of black oak timber.

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" Last summer Tom Power, who holds a few acres of ground in the townland of " Kilbarry, immediately outside the deerpark wall of Castlecor, dreamed that there " was a large quantity of gold and other treasure buried in the old rath which lies " upon the ground. After he awoke he lay musing for some time until again overcome " by sleep, when the same dream occurred to him the second time, as also a third time *' on the same night. On getting up he called one of his sons and both proceeded to " the spot The pit is situated on the top of a small glen, along which a small stream " runs, which divides the lands of Kilbarry from Drummin. Upon digging they dis- *' covered a bed of rich manure, which they were raising and drawing away for a " fortnight. They took up 300 horse-loads, making an opening towards the fort thirty " feet in length and eleven feet deep. Their work was at length impeded by a large *' piece of timber, from which they cleared the manure with great labour, and discovered *' a perfect tank, twelve feet square and three feet deep, made of black oak, each plank " four inches thick, it resting upon four pillars or legs, two feet high and one foot " square. Into the tank was a shoot as if to convey water, one foot wide at the mouth, " and made of the same description of timber.
Croker hazards no conjecture as to what use the old fort dwellers applied this tank, and recites this story because of its quaint fulfilment of a dream.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 169

Tracton Abbey and the Holy Cross relic

near Tracton · parish · Cork · 1224

The Cistercian abbey of Tracton, two miles south of Carrigaline, was founded in 1224 by the MacCarthys. Its monks claimed to possess a piece of the True Cross given by Barry Oge, drawing vast crowds every Holy Thursday until the abbey was dissolved and its lands granted away by Queen Elizabeth.

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abbey of Tracton stood two miles south of Carigaline ; it was founded ann. 1224, for Cistercian monks, by the MacCarthys. This foundation was confirmed by King Edward III. The abbots of it formerly sat in parliament The monks pretended to have a piece of the cross, which, they said, Barry Oge at a great price obtained, and gave them ; this was so firmly believed that, on every Holy Thursday, vast multitudes resorted to pay their devotions to this supposed relic. This abbey was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Henry Guilford, gent, and Sir James Craig, March 20, 1568, on their paying beforehand the sum of £y I ^s. sterl. Sir James Craig assigned to the Earl of Cork, who passed a patent for this abbey, March 23rd, seventh of James I., and was by him given to his son Francis Lord Shannon. The monks came from Alba Lauda, in Wales, and this house was called De Alba Tractu ; it is now quite demolished, and near it is the seat of Samuel Daunt, esq. Riizc's Dale ^" ^'^ south side of the river Oonbouy, is Rigg's Dale, a
pretty seat of the Rigg's, with good plantations, five miles from Cork ; this land was famous for producing excellent cheese. And Ballvnahassick ^^ ^^^ other side is Ballynahassick, a small village. Mr.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 115

Baltimore's decayed state and O'Driscoll castle ruins

Baltimore · town · Cork · 1631–1687

After a pirate raid, Baltimore never recovered and became a poor decayed fishing town with no tolerable house. The ruins of an ancient castle of the O'Driscolls remain, and despite consisting of only a few poor cabins, it retained the privilege of sending two members to parliament. King James II granted a new charter to Baltimore in 1687.

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Salmon, of Castlehaven,) of this intended descent, but they did not stir to intercept them. The year following,^*^> Sir Vincent Gooking informed the lords justices that the Turks intended another attempt which they advertised the English government of ; and they observe in their letter that if proper measures were not taken to guard those coasts, the pilchard fishery would be entirely ruined, to the great prejudice of his Majesty's customs, adding, that pilchards then brought into the kingdom one year with another ;6 20,000. Baltimore never recovered itself since this accident ; it is now a poor decayed fishing town, with not one tolerable house in it ; here are the ruins of an ancient castle of the O'Driscols ; and it has still the privilege of sending two members to parliament, though it consists but of a few poor cabins. King James 1 1, granted a new charter to Baltimore, ann. 1687, and Daniel 0*Donovan, esq., was appointed portreeve thereof. The late Right Hon. John Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, who was proprietor of the province of Maryland and Avalon, in America, took his title from Baltimore, in the county of Longford, and not from this place, as has been mistaken. The church is small, and situated low, at a small distance from the town.
Skibbereen From Baltimore, about five miles upon the river Hen, is

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 143

As the companion tells it

You are coming up on Baltimore, a town in Cork that never recovered from the pirate raid. Since that attack it has been a poor decayed fishing town, with not one tolerable house in it. The ruins of an ancient castle of the O'Driscolls still stand here. The town kept the privilege of sending two members to parliament, though it consisted of nothing more than a few poor cabins. King James the Second granted a new charter to Baltimore in 1687, and Daniel O'Donovan was appointed portreeve. The late John Calvert, Baron of Baltimore, who was proprietor of the province of Maryland and Avalon in America, took his title from Baltimore in the county of Longford, and not from this place, as has been mistaken. The church is small and situated low, at a small distance from the town. Before the raid, Sir Vincent Gooking had informed the lords justices that the Turks intended another attempt, and they advertised the English government of it. They observed in their letter that if proper measures were not taken to guard those coasts, the pilchard fishery would be entirely ruined, to the great prejudice of his Majesty's customs, adding that pilchards then brought into the kingdom one year with another 20,000 pounds.

Earl of Orrery on Great Island's strategic value, 1666

near Great Island · townland · Cork · 1666

In a letter to the Duke of Ormond in June 1666, the first Earl of Orrery warned that an enemy invading Ireland would land on the Great Island, as it stands in Cork harbour with only one pass, is fertile, and is almost equally distant from Cork, Youghal, and Kinsale. He intended to send forces and repair the fort and Belvelly Castle on the pass. This was written during the French and Dutch war.

Read the passage

(7) The first Earl of Orrery, in a letter to the Duke of Ormond, written in June, 1666, says " that, if he were an enemy, and to invade Ireland, he would land in the Great " Island of all places ; for it stands in Cork harbour, has but one pass into it, is above " six miles about, a fertile place, and nothing to oppose their landing there, which also " is in the midst of the best quarters, almost equally distant from Cork, Youghal, and " Kinsale." He says " he intended to send forces into it, and repair the fort and Bellvelly " Castle, both which stand on the pass." — Orrery s Letters, vol. ii. p. 36. Of this fort there are not any remains at present. This letter was written at the time of the French and Dutch war.
(8) Bellvelly, z>.. Beat a Vallah, "the way to the ford."

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 92

Monkstown Castle built for fourpence tradition

Monkstown · townland · Cork

A local tradition holds that Monkstown Castle was built in a twelvemonth and cost only fourpence. A merchant's wife, during his long voyages, supplied workmen at ordinary prices from a cooperative store; when the castle was finished and accounts closed, the balance against her was just fourpence.

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The tradition in Croker's note is practically the same. He writes under Monkstown Castle, that it " is traditionally said to have been built in a twelvemonth, and to have cost fourpence !" The story runs thus : —
" A lady in the absence of her husband, who was a merchant, and was obliged to "make long voyages, as a solace during her semi-widowhood, determined to surprise " him on his return home, with a mansion or castle. As the artificers at first objected " to the work, on account of the remoteness of the situation from supplies, she agreed " to furnish the workmen which she employed with everything they required at the " ordinary prices, and for this purpose made wholesale purchases, and retailed to the " workmen all the articles they required. At the end of a year ttnd a day^ when the *' castle was finished, and her accounts closed, the fair and fortunate builder found that " the actual balance against her was fourpence, for which she had built a stately castle " for her husband."

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 127

Orrery's Charleville mansion burned by Duke of Berwick's forces

Charleville · town · Cork · 1661–1690

Roger, first Earl of Orrery, built a magnificent house in Charleville in 1661 with noble gardens and a fine park. In 1690, King James's soldiers led by the Duke of Berwick burned it down after dining in it, destroying the property of Lionel, the builder's grandson, who was then a minor abroad.

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a corporation erected at the expense and encouragement of Roger, the first Earl of Orrery, Lord President of Munster, who here kept his presidential court, and adorned this town with a magnificent house,^^) built in 166 1, to which he added noble gardens and a fine park. This house was burned down in the year 1690 by a party of King James's soldiers with the Duke of Berwick at their head, who, after he had dined in it, left it in a flame, which had this farther aggravating circumstance, that, at the time of its being demolished, it belonged to Lionel, the grandson of the nobleman who built it, who was then a minor and upon his travels into foreign kingdoms *yet, as he was educated a Protestant, and descended from ancestors who had been firm and faithful in that persuasion, his house, his library, his papers, and all his goods were piously devoted to the flames. Tantunt religio potuit! Charleville ^'°^ is governed by a sovereign, two bailiffs, and twelve burgesses. In this town the first Earl of Orrery endowed a celebrated free school, who, although he had great offices and a plentiful estate, yet his soul seemed much larger than his fortune. The master has a house and £/^0 per annum salary.
The late Earl of Orrery gave fifteen acres of land, worth a er c 00 • ^j j p^j. annum, for the encouragement of a charter working-school near this town, erected for the reception of forty children. The building cost ;f 350. It was opened on the i8th of April, 1748, and twenty children, ten of each sex, admitted, being completely clothed. On the

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 163

Williamson's escape at Mallow Short Castle

Mallow · town · Cork · 1642

An alternate account relates that after Lieutenant Williamson surrendered the Short Castle at Mallow, he was threatened with execution in a public house. He snatched up a sword, dragged an Irish officer by the hair to the walls of the other castle, and entered it with his remaining men.

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Aifter Lieutenant Williamson had surrendered the Short Castle, he went into a public-house with some of his men, and a few of the Irish, to drink ; he had not sat long when an Irish officer entered into the room with another man, who laid down a block, and a large broad sword ; which apparatus startling Williamson, he asked what they were for? and was answered, to strike off his and his men's heads; which was no sooner spoke, but Williamson snatched up the sword with his left hand took hold of the Irish officer by the hair, and drew him to the very walls of the other castle, not far distant, where he gave him some kicks, and letting him go, entered the castle with his men.
3o8 THE ANCIENT AND PRESENT STATE OF

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 174

1588 Bishop of Cork orders for Mogeely tenants to dwell in town

Mogeely · townland · Cork · 1588

In 1588, the Bishop of Cork issued orders requiring all tenants of Mogeely to dwell within the town and castle walls rather than scattered in woods, bogs and glens. The orders aimed to prevent the harbouring of rebels, regulate cattle and victuals, enforce registration of livestock, and mandate arms for defence.

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" Orders to be observed and kept by the tenants of Mogeely. " Forasmuch as the dwelling abroad in woods, bogs, glinns, or other like remote •• places, giveth occasion of receaving and relieving of rebels and malefactors, and their *' stealthes, be the persons that so dwell never so honest, as also of oppression of " soldiers in their marches, especially when they go scattered or in small companies "without commanders, and the like of sheriffs* officers, when beeves, garrons or victuals " are by them to be gathered or taken for Her Majestie's service, or sesses laid upon the " country, and that such persons so dwelling must of necessity be subject to these oppres- " sions, or also to robberies and stealthes, for that they (by reason of their weakness) " cannot resist, but, to the contrary, are forced (for safeguard of their lives) many times " not only to conceal such facts, but also to join with the malefactors, all which is only " to be prevented by dwelling in towns : Wherefore no tenants belonging to the lands "of Mogely shall henceforth dwell abroad, but all shall presently resort and dwell " within the town, and depart from those lands. And for that it is an ordinary custom " (especially among the richer sort) to prevent sheriffs and other officers, when by the " governors warrants are given to take up beeves and other provisions for the relieving " of Her Majesty's force, to hide and put their cattle, corn, and other provisions and " victuals into woods, bogs, and such like remote and strong places, as also to remove " and send their cows to such as have been taken from, or made delivery of what is " rated upon the poorer sort. To prevent the one and the other, and that the rebel "shall have no relief from the subject, no tenant of Mogely shall henceforth keep any " manner of victuals abroad, hidden in woods or bogs, or put any victuals in any other " place to be kept, but shall bring all within the castle walls or towne, and shall also "set their reeks of corn in such places, near unto the castle, as may be commanded " (commended ?) by the same, and to the end the burden or charge of such beeves and " other provisions as shall be taken by the officers for Her Majestie's service, or relief " of the soldiers, may be indifferently charged upon every subject and tenant according " to his ability and proportion of the goods and cattle he hath. Every tenant shall from " time to time give a just note (which shall be kept in the rental book) of his cows, " sheep, and garrons, neither shall he alter, buy nor sell any without registering the " same, nor receive any cattle to keep or put any abroad to others without leave. And " for that idleness is the mother of all mischief, and engendereth a thousand evils, no " tenant shall keep any idle person in his house, nor any idle person shall be suffered " to dwell within the town, but all shall employ themselves either with husbandry or " occupations, and shall give account how they live, and if any strangers do come to •* tarry of the tenants, be it either in the night or day before they receive or lodge them,

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 74

Aghamarta Castle: medieval tower and keep described

Aghamarta · townland · Cork · 1550–1832

Aghamarta Castle, near Carrigaline, belonged to John de Wynchedon (alias Nugent) in the mid-sixteenth century. A detailed 1832 letter by Richard Sainthill describes the surviving oblong keep with an irregular tower, circular guard-room roof, spiral staircase, and massive arch windows.

Read the passage

*'j£i 2,000. He told me his title went back to Charles H., who granted it to some " person. It must therefore have been a forfeiture in the rebellion of 1641. The old " castle stands below the brow of a gently rising ground ; in the valley, as it may be '* termed, flows a small stream, which was sufficient for a bolting mill in modem times. " The present remains of the castle are the main body — an oblong square with a tower " at one corner, and there would appear to have been some additional works at the " opposite side, possibly short towers. The roof of the guard-room or ground floor is " perfect and circular. The apartment has six windows, but no fireplace. To the *' next story you enter by the staircase from the tower, which is an open spiral stair- " case so far, but goes no further direct. Another close staircase leads from the second *' up to the third story. The space in the tower has been a bedroom. No part of the *' third story remains. The arch of the circular roof is still visible in the tower, and •; supports the upper and inner wall of it. The side walls only of the second story are *' standing, the end has fallen out. The windows are large and open — three on each " side, being the opes of three massive arches of plain and very solid work and con- ** struction — I never saw windows so near the ground so open. The tower and keep " are much covered by ivy. The form of the tower is extremely irregular at the base, " it appears a septagon, in the middle a pentagon, and at top, except the side next " the keep, circular. The height, as near as we could judge, is sixty feet. I afterwards "saw an old man named Phil. Sullivan, from whom you have some information. *' Carew O'Grady confirmed the good quality of the ground near the castle for hay. " His groom from the co. Limerick said that the hay was hay and oats for a horse — so " that Phil's derivation of Aghamarta may be right. (»<>)
" I remain, my dear Crofton, yours truly,

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 128

Daws ejected from Blarney Castle, oak rafters moved to Dawstown

Dawstown · townland · Cork · 1876

Sir George Colthurst related in 1876 that when the Daws were ejected from Blarney Castle by the Hollow Blade Sword Company for non-payment of rent, they removed the oak rafters of the castle roof to Dawstown, where they were still visible but cut short to fit the new building.

Read the passage

"Sir George Colthurst told me (Feb. 11, 1876) that the Daws, when ejected from " Blarney Castle by the Hollow Blade Sword Compy. for non-payment of rent, removed " the oak rafters of the roof of the castle to Dawstown, where they are still to be seen, " but cut short to meet the exigencies of the case." — R. C
Page 155. As to Moume Preceptory. Among the fiants of Henry VIII. (1545) is a lease to Dermot McCormoke Oge, late preceptor of Morne, alias Manynymon, co. Cork, of the site of the preceptory of Morne ; lands Morne, Kilcavan, Tyneheraughe, and Garrynriallaghe ; rectories of Ardesky, Kilcorne, Granaghe, Garryclone, Kylmory, Temple- Taghe, Cloneneth, Kilmoghill, Mocrompne, Ballyburney, Inchegeulaghe, Agherys, Clondrohid, Moviddye, Carrygroughanbeg, Whitechurche, alias Templegen, Kiltanny, Moally, le Nevye, Kilvoyle, Kilnomney, Shangarry in Ymokell, Rostelane in Ymokell, the Graunge, and Cionmyne, county Cork. To hold for twenty-one years, at a rent of £^9- 9th July, xxxvii. Mem. — Void because granted to Earl of Desmond.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 105

Examination of bishops' vault at Bishopstown, 1861

Bishopstown (part) · electoral division · Cork · 1861

On January 12th, 1861, an examination of the vault at Bishopstown confirmed the leaden coffins of Bishops Browne and Mann had not been stolen. Bishop Browne's body was found nearly perfect from the waist up, with features recognisable from his palace portrait.

Read the passage

A report some time ago having got c^^rculation that the leaden coffins of Bishops Browne and Mann, who were interred in the same vault, had been stolen, with a view to vindicate our countrymen from such a charge, and with the kind permission and assistance of J. Lewis, Esq., I made an examination on January 12th, 1861. After three hours' -hard work the labourers employed came upon an immense flag that closed up the entrance to the vault. On removing this I descended, and found the coffins quite intact. Bishop Mann's was hermetically sealed. The lid of Bishop Browne's was merely fixed on like the cover of a box, on removing which, with a view to re-adjust it, as it had yielded in the centre, the body appeared nearly perfect from the waist up ; the features were so defined that it could be e^ily recognised from the portrait in the palace. In 1735 Dr. Robert Clayton, bishop of Killala, was translated to these Sees. He was bom in Dublin, and educated at Westminster School. He is described as a munificent, learned, and high-spirited man. He was the author of many works, some of European reputation, having been translated into foreign languages. He was again translated to Clogher, 1745. He was accused of holding Arian tenets, so that an ecclesiastical commission was formed to bring him to trial, but he died of fever before any examination took place, on 26th February, 1758. It was during the occupation of this prelate that the late cathedral was commenced. His portrait is in the palace. Dr. Clayton was succeeded by Dr. Jemmett Browne, who was translated from the See of Killaloe to that of Cork and Ross, by patent dated 27th August, 1745. ^^ '772 he was removed to Elphin, and in 1775 became Archbishop of Tuam. He chiefly resided, when at Cork, at his mansion at Riverstown, the ancient Ballinaroshine. He was buried 17th June, 17S2, in a vault under St. Fin Barre's Cathedral. Dr. Isaac Mann succeeded, by patent dated 7th March, 1772. He was born at Norwich, and educated at Trinity College, Dublin ; he rebuilt the See-house at Cork. Our fathers and grandfathers well remember A Familiar Exposition of the Church Catechism f of which he was the author. He died at Bath, 10th December, 1788, and was buried 31st December, at Bishopstown. His portrait is in the palace.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 251

Gallant defence of Enniscorthy against 5,000 rebels

Enniscorthy · townland · Wexford · 1798

On 28th May, a garrison of 331 men including the North Cork Militia, Enniscorthy Infantry, Scarawalsh Infantry, and Enniscorthy Cavalry defended Enniscorthy against 5,000 rebels. The Royalists evacuated after repulsing the enemy, who lost about 500 men; 88 of the garrison were killed and wounded.

Read the passage

28th May. Gallant defence of Enniscorthy by a part of the North Cork Militia, with the Enniscorthy Infantry (Captain Pounden), Scarawalsh Infantry (Captain Cornock), and Enniscorthy Cavalry (Captain Richards), 331 against 5,000 rebels. The Royalists evacuated the town after repulse of the enemy, who lost about 500 men. Of the garrison 88 were killed and wounded.
29th May. A party of the Newtown Mount Kennedy Cavalry under Lieutenant Archer, and some Fencibles, cut off some rebels near Roundwood, county Wicklow, and the same day they routed some of them at Clohogue.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 285

Gold-adorned skeleton found near Cloyne

Cloyne · town · Cork · 1805–1806

In 1805 a quarryman near Cloyne broke through a rock fissure and descended into a cavern where he found a human skeleton covered with thin stamped gold plates connected by wire. Most of the gold plates were subsequently sold and melted down by silversmiths in Cork and Youghal, including large quantities bought by Teulon in Patrick Street, Cork.

Read the passage

"In 1805 a quarryman, in consequence of his crowbar having fallen through a ** fissure in the rock, widened the aperture, and descended into the cavern below in " search of it. Here he found a human skeleton covered with small and exceedingly " thin plates of gold, stamped or embossed, and connected by bits of wire. One of '* these gold plates is in .the possession of Mr. Lecky, of Cork (i. month 25, 1854). (9) " The remainder, with one or two exceptions, was sold and melted in Cork and " Youghal — several lots by Teulon, a silversmith, in Patrick Street, as much as he him- " self described to me as having filled a coal-scuttle, and for one of which he paid as *• much as eighty pounds." — T. C. C.
The first account of this remarkable discovery appeared in the Cork Mercantile Chronicle of 24th September, 1 806, and, strange to say, was extracted from a French newspaper, the Moniteur, of the 2Sth August.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 73

Holy well of St. Dominick at Glanworth

Glanworth · town · Cork

Near Glanworth abbey is a limpid spring bubbling out of a limestone rock, held in great esteem as a holy well dedicated to St. Dominick. Pilgrims tie rags to a large old tree over the well as memorials of devotion, believing the water has performed miraculous cures.

Read the passage

Near this abbey, on the verge of the Puncheon river, is a fine spring, bubbling out of a limestone rock, of limpid water, held in great esteem as a holy well by the superstitious Irish ; it is dedicated to St. Dominick, and visited on his festival. Over the well is a large old tree, on the boughs of which an infinite number of rags, of all colours, are tied, as memorials of their devotion to this water, which, they affirm, has performed several miraculous cures. Here are the magnificent ruins of a sumptuous castle, built by the Flemings, and afterwards possessed by the Lords Roche, which consisted of several buildings and a large high tower, all strongly erected on arched vaults, and built of very massy stones. Our modern buildings may boast of regular columns of Greek and Roman architecture, but to raise such ponderous structures as these would, in the present age, require an infinite expense. This castle is environed with a strong wall, flanked with turrets ; near it is a stone bridge over the Funcheon. Glanworth had formerly the name of the "golden prebend," partly from its value, and partly from the goodness of the soil. The parish church was lately rebuilt.
23

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 179

Kilcrea Franciscan Abbey foundation

Kilcrea · townland · Cork · 1494

Cormac Laider, Lord Muskery, founded the Franciscan abbey of Kilcrea around 1465 and was buried there in 1494 after being wounded at Carignamuck. The ruins feature Gothic arches and marble columns.

Read the passage

Clancarty. Near this castle are some quarries of a fine clouded grey marble, which takes a good polish. About two fields east of this castle are the ruins of the abbey of Kilcrea, founded by Cormac (surnamed Laider), Lord Muskery, for Franciscans ; he also built the abovementioned castle, and was buried in this abbey, ann. dom. 1494, being wounded at Carignamuck. The foundation of this abbey was begun, according to Ware, in 1465, but the Ulster Annals place it in I478.^3*>
Ann. 1614, Sir Arthur Chichester, lord deputy, committed the care of this abbey to Charles Mac Dermot Mac Carty, Lord of Muskery, who was a Protestant, upon condition that he should not permit the friars to live in it, and that none but English Protestants should be admitted as tenants to the lands. This lord ^35) was buried here, ann. 1616. A great part of the building still remains, among which is the nave and choir of the church. On the S. side of the former is a handsome arcade of three Gothic arches, supported by marble columns thicker than those of the Tuscan order. This arcade continues to form one side of a chapel, being a cross aisle. In the choir are some old tombs, several of the Lords Clancarty being here interred,(36) as were the Barretts and other principal persons of the country, who always opposed the entire demolishing of this pile. The steeple is a light building, about eighty feet high, placed between the nave and choir ; it is still entire, and supported by Gothic arches. There is something very awful and solemn when one enters these reverend piles, once erected for the uses of religion. Long sounding aisles, intermingled with graves and human bones, the twilight vaults, the caverns piled with skulls, and the gloomy darkness, occasioned by the height of the walls, overgrown with shrubs and ivy, so sadden all the scene, that he must be a person who never reflects at all, if he thinks not of futurity on entering (as Mr. Pope says)

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 102

Lough Hyne: lake, island castle, and remarkable natural features

near Lough Hyne · lake or lakes · Cork

Lough Hyne is a salt-water lake about two miles in circumference, surrounded by high hills, containing a small island with ruins of a castle built by the O'Driscols. The lake abounds with sea-fish, salmon, lobsters, crabs, and oysters whose summer liquor appears bloody rather than milky. Seals breed in the lake, and the adjacent hill Knockowne is remarkable for a fine echo.

Read the passage

About four miles west of Castlehaven the sea enters a narrow creek, Louch Hvne ^^^ forms a fine salt-water lake, called Lough Hyne. This lake, being surrounded with high hills, has a most romantic appearance ; it is about two miles in circumference, and in the midst of it is a small island, on which stands the ruins of an old castle built by the O'Driscols. This lake abounds with various kinds of sea-fish, as also salmon and white trout Here are excellent lobsters, crabs, escalops, and small deep oysters, which, I was assured, instead of having a milky juice in the summer season, as all others have, their liquor seems bloody. At half-ebb, this water empties itself into the bay of Barloge, in a kind of waterfall, like the river Thames, at London Bridge. Seals also breed in this lake. It is the property of Sir John Freke, bart, who has the opportunity of having excellent sea-fish from it in the most stormy weather. On one side of this lough is a hill, called Knockowne, remarkable for a very fine echo ; and a little to the west is the castle of Ardagh, built by the O'Driscols, now also the estate of Sir John Freke.
Baltimore Three miles more to the west is Baltimore, formerly

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 142

As the companion tells it

You are coming up on Lough Hyne, a salt-water lake in Cork, about four miles west of Castlehaven. The sea enters a narrow creek to form it, and high hills surround the whole lake, giving it a romantic appearance. It is about two miles around. In the midst of it sits a small island, and on that island stand the ruins of an old castle built by the O'Driscols. The lake abounds with all kinds of sea-fish, as well as salmon and white trout. There are excellent lobsters, crabs, escalops, and small deep oysters here. The oysters are unusual. I was assured that instead of having a milky juice in the summer season, as all others have, their liquor seems bloody. At half-ebb the water empties itself into the bay of Barloge in a kind of waterfall, like the river Thames at London Bridge. Seals also breed in this lake. It is the property of Sir John Freke, who has the opportunity of having excellent sea-fish from it in the most stormy weather. On one side of the lough is a hill called Knockowne, remarkable for a very fine echo. A little to the west is the castle of Ardagh, also built by the O'Driscols, now also the estate of Sir John Freke.

Mac Carty and Maguire hospitality contest

Kilcolman · townland · Cork · 1302

According to an ancient MS, Donald Roe Mac Carty, prince of Desmond (d. 1302), and Maguire, prince of Fermanagh (d. same year), contested each other's hospitality. An Irish poet spent a year in each house disguised as a gamester and adjudged the honour to Maguire by verse.

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(10) There was a contention between Donald Roe Mac Carty, prince of Desmond, who died anno 1302, and Maguire, prince of Fermanagh, who also died the same year, concerning ^the greatness of each other's hospitality, liberality, and prowess, says my author (an ancient MS.) ; and, accordingly, an Irish poet of those times, spent a year in each of their houses, in the disguise of a Carrogh^ or common gamester, in order to discover which of those Irish chiefs excelled each other in these qualifications, which were highly esteemed by the natives of those times, which poet, by the following verse, adjudged the honour to Maguire : —
Tho' Desmond's plains be greater in extent, And pay Mac Carty twice the annual rent ; Maguire's household twice the number shew, And twice the victuals from his cupboard flew.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 176

St Patrick's Bridge opened with Masonic ceremony, 1789

Saint Patrick's Bridge · street · Cork · 1789

St Patrick's Bridge in Cork was opened in 1789 with an elaborate Masonic ceremony led by Lord Donoughmore, Grand Master of all Ireland. The bridge, planned and executed by Michael Shannahar, consisted of three elliptic arches built with limestone blocks and was named St Patrick's Bridge during the ceremony.

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*' On Tuesday, the keystone of the last arch of the New Bridge was laid by the " Ancient and Honourable Society of Free Masons of this city. The morning was '• ushered in with the ringing of bells. An immense crowd assembled in the principal "streets before the hour of eleven. About twelve the procession of the different " lodges, dressed with their jewels and the insignia of their respective orders, preceded '*by the band of the 51st Regiment, began in the following manner : — ^Army Lodge; " Grand Almoner bearing a chalice of wine ; two Grand Deacons ; the Bible supported "by two other Grand Deacons; the Chaplain of the Grand Lodge ; Lord Donoughmore,
4l8 THE ANCIENT AND PRESENT STATE OF

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 235

As the companion tells it

Along here, in 1789, the keystone of the last arch of the new bridge was laid by the Ancient and Honourable Society of Free Masons. The bridge, planned and executed by Michael Shannahar, had three elliptic arches of limestone. The morning was ushered in with bells. An immense crowd assembled before eleven. About twelve, the procession of lodges, dressed with jewels and insignia, began, preceded by the band of the 51st Regiment. First came the Army Lodge, then the Grand Almoner bearing a chalice of wine, two Grand Deacons, the Bible supported by two other Grand Deacons, the Chaplain of the Grand Lodge, and Lord Donoughmore, Grand Master of all Ireland. The bridge was named St Patrick's Bridge during the ceremony.

Bandon built by the first Earl of Cork on waste bog and wood

Bandon · town · Cork · 1608–1632

Bandon was built by the first Earl of Cork, who purchased Beecher's grants and incorporated the town. In a letter of 1632 the Earl boasted that his walls, gates, churches, and houses at Bandon Bridge exceeded those of Londonderry, transforming a waste bog and wood harbouring wood-kernes and wolves into a civil English Protestant plantation.

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(19) In a letter from the first Earl of Cork to Mr. Secretary Cook, dated April 13, 1632, he says : — " Upon conference with the commissioners, I have been desirous to *' satisfy myself whether the works done by the Londoners at Deny, or mine at Bandon *' Bridge, exceed each other. All that are judicial, and have carefully viewed them both " and compared every part of them together, do confidently affirm that the circuit of my " new town of Bandon Bridge is more in compass than that of Londonderry ; that my ** walls are stronger, thicker, and higher than theirs, only they have a strong rampier " within that Bandon Bridge wanteth ; that there is no comparison between their ports ** and mine, there being in my town three, each of them containing twenty-six rooms ; *' the castles, with the turrets and flankers, being all platformed with lead and prepared '* with ordnance, and the buildings of my town, both for the number of the houses and " goodness of building, far beyond theirs. In my town there is built a strong bridge " over the river, two large session-houses, two market-houses, with two fair churches ; "which churches are so filled every sabbath-day with neat, orderly, and religious *' people, as it would comfort any good heart to see the change and behold such assem- " blies ; no Popish recusant, or unconforming novelist, being admitted to live in all the '* town. The place where Bandon Bridge is situated is upon a great district of the ** country, and was, within this last twenty-four years, a mere waste bog and wood, *' serving for a retreat and harbour to wood-kernes, rebels, thieves, and wolves, and yet *' now (God be ever praised) is as civil a plantation as most in England, being for nve " miles round, all in effect, planted with E^iglish Protestants. I write not this out of *' any vain glory ; yet as I, who am but a single man, have erected such works, why " should not the rich and magnificent city of London rather exceed than fall short ot " such performances ?*
2l6 THE ANCIENT AND PRESENT STATE OF

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 121

Haulbowline fort ruins built by Montjoy in 1601

near Haulbowline Island · population centre · Cork · 1601

On the island of Hawlbowlin are the ruins of a small fort built by Lord Deputy Montjoy in 1601, situated so that no ship of considerable burden could pass to or from Cork but under the command of its cannon. The island lies west of Spike and serves as a natural breakwater protecting ships riding before Cove.

Read the passage

another called Hawlbowlin, lying west of it, happily situated, serving as another mound to prevent the tide of ebb and land floods from damaging ships riding before Cove. Thus, nature has formed a port, provided for against every accident in as regular a manner as the ablest engineers could possibly do, had they the power of removing rocks and islands at pleasure. In this island of Hawlbowlin are the ruins of a small fort, built by the Lord Deputy Montjoy, in 1601,^9) so situated that no ship of any considerable burden could pass to or from Cork but under the command of its cannon.
Cove is inhabited by seamen and revenue officers ; a mile from it ;s the

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 92

Water Club flag hoisted on Haulbowline Castle

near Haulbowline Island · population centre · Cork · 1720

The Water Club of the Harbour of Cork, established in 1720 and the oldest yacht club in the United Kingdom, hoisted its flag bearing the royal Irish harp and crown on a green field on the castle of Haulbowline on club days.

Read the passage

Smith, in a foot note, barely alludes to the Yacht Club, which is the oldest in the United Kingdom, and was established so far back as 1720 as " The Water Club of the Harbour of Cork." Since then it has been long known as " The Royal Cork Yacht Club." " The rules and orders," published in 1720, are twenty-seven in number. The then flag had "the royal Irish harp and crown on a green field in the center," which on club days was to be hoisted on the castle of Haulbowline. Among the rules the following occur : — •
" Rule ix. — That no long-tail wigs, large sleeves, or ruffles be worn by any member " of the club."

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 86

Corsair capture near Old Head of Kinsale

near Old Head of Kinsale · promontory · Cork · 1631

On 19 June 1631, Barbary corsairs captured a small vessel of twelve tons near the Old Head of Kinsale, taking its crew of six including master John Hackett. Hackett was forced to pilot the corsairs to Baltimore, which they attacked the following morning.

Read the passage

" On Sunday, 19th June, 1631, two Barbary corsairs, under the command of a Dutch " renegade, who is said to have been called Captain Matthew Rice, captured near the " Old Head of Kinsale a small vessel of twelve tons burthen, having on board a crew "of six men, the master's name of which was John Hackett. Shortly alterwards they " took another boat of the same size, belonging to Dungarvan, whose crew also num- " bered five and a captain, Thomas Carew.
" It is most probable that the name of the renegade who commanded the rovers was " Malhias, to which was appended the Arabic title oi * Reis,' which means a 'captain.' " His flagship was a vessel of 300 tons, mounting 24 guns, with a crew of 200 men, " while his consort was a smaller ship of 100 tons, carrying 12 iron cannonades and " 100 men.

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 148

Friars' Abbey stone with Arabian-figure date found in Cork quay wall

Cork · city · Cork · 1158–1743

A carved stone bearing the date 1158 in Arabian figures was recovered from the wall of the Great Quay in Cork during repairs. Local tradition held that it belonged to a very ancient abbey called the Friars' Abbey, which had been demolished before the quay was constructed.

Read the passage

'* My Lord — Inclosed I send you two drawings and the copy of an inscription which I have met with in this country, in each of which I think there is something remark* able, and worthy the observation of the curious, and from whence those who are versed in this kind of affairs may possibly draw some useful observations. But all that occurs to me in the drawing marked No. i is the date and dress of the trumpets and drummers, the form of the trumpet, and the spelling of the words ; from whence some critics, who are versed in old English MSS., may possibly find out the true date of this stone, which I take to be An. Dom. 1158, though there were no more figures ever engraved than 158. For I think nobody can suppose that to be the true number, but that a figure must be wanting, either at the beginning or end of it, since neither Christianity nor the English tongue were probably known so early in Ireland, and I think that a figure cannot well be added to the end, so as to make the number 1581, because that would be too late for the building of friaries in Ireland, that being towards the middle of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and in the following year — An. Dom. 1582— certain it is that William Lyon, vicar of Naas, chaplain to Arthur Lord Grey, lord deputy of Ireland, a native of Cheshire, and a Protestant, was consecrated bishop of Cork & Ross ; and, by the tradition of the oldest inhabitant of this place the stone, of which the drawing is a copy, belonged to a very ancient abbey, which was called the Friars' Abbey, which was demolished before the making of the Great Quay, upon which Alderman Baldwin's house stands, for it was in the repairing of the quay that this stone was found in the wall of the quay, where this stone had been made use of as a common stone. But the difficulty is how to account for its being so ancient as An. Dom. 11 58. Since Sir James Ware, in his Antiq. of Ireland, chap. 22, says that when Roderick O'Connor, king of Connaught, in the year 1161, built a stone castle at Tuam, it was so new and unusual in those times, that the Irish called it the "wonderful castle." He further says that the first of the Irish, or one of the first at least, who began to build with stone and lime, was Malachies O'Morgair, abp. of Armagh. Now Malachy O'Morgair was not made bp. of Armagh until An. Dom. 1136 or 1137, and it seems hard to imagine that the art of building with stones should arrive to so much perfection between the years 1136& 1138 as the sculpture on this stone seems to indicate. But we ought to consider that what Sir James Ware says of the Irish in general ought only to be understood of the meer Irish, and not of the English, who came to inhabit among them. For, I think, I have an incontestable proof of stone buildings among the English-Irish long before that

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 136

As the companion tells it

As you travel through Cork, the city holds a curious stone story. During repairs to the wall of the Great Quay, a carved stone was found, used as common building material. Local tradition, from the oldest inhabitants, said it had belonged to a very ancient abbey called the Friars' Abbey, demolished before the Great Quay was made, upon which Alderman Baldwin's house stood. The stone bore the figures 158, but the writer who recorded it believed a figure was missing, and that the true date was 1158. The difficulty was how to account for a stone so ancient. Sir James Ware, in his account of Irish antiquities, wrote that when Roderick O'Connor, king of Connaught, built a stone castle at Tuam in 1161, it was so new and unusual that the Irish called it the "wonderful castle." Ware said the first of the Irish to build with stone and lime was Malachy O'Morgair, archbishop of Armagh, who was not made bishop until 1136 or 1137. It seemed hard to imagine the art of building reaching such perfection between 1136 and 1138 as the sculpture on this stone indicated. But the writer argued that what Ware said of the Irish ought only to be understood of the "meer Irish," not the English who came to inhabit among them, for he had incontestable proof of stone buildings among the English-Irish long before.

Aghamarta gallows: Nugents hanged thieves for sixpence

Aghamarta · townland · Cork

An old man of 105 recalled as a child the bridge of Aghamarta being built, when the crane of the old gallows was removed. The Nugents had hanged anybody who injured them to the value of sixpence; the last of them was Bridget Nugent, a widow who had no law but her own will.

Read the passage

" About twenty years since Phil, was speaking to a man, who was 105 years old, " who remembered when a child the bridge of Aughamartyn being built, and in laying " the foundation the crane of the old gallows was removed — where the Nugents hung *• anybody who injured them to the value of sixpence. The last of them was one " Bridget Nugent, a widow woman, who had no law but her own will."

Internet Archive ancientandprese00caulgoog, Chapter 128

The ancient and present state of the county and city of Cork. : Containing a natural, civil, ecclesiastical, historical, and topographical description thereof.

The stories, best first

Kilworth Light Dragoons 1779

Bishop Boetius Egan martyred at Carrigadrohid castle

Sack of Baltimore by Turkish corsairs

Cormac MacCarty builds Blarney Castle

De Courcey family privilege of being covered in royal presence

Huguenot colony at Inishannon and the Mulberry Field, c.1765

Annagh castle siege and garrison massacre, 1641-1645

Baltimore corsair raid of 1631

Castlehaven garrison surrendered to Captain Harvey, 1601-2

Castletownroche castle besieged 1649

Construction of Haulbowline fort, January 1601

Franciscan friary, the Mirror of Ireland, and miraculous spring

Rostellan Castle captured by assault

Shanaclogh legend of the hanging McCarthy

Barryscourt Castle and its 1588 inscription

Captain Capel of Cloghroe and Fontenoy

Capture and execution at John Carey's castle

Colonel Phaire of Grange and regicide connections

Kilcoleman Castle, residence of Edmund Spenser

Pattern at Titeskin holy well near Aghada, 1878

Sir Walter Raleigh's final departure from Cork harbour

Admiral's statue arm falls on day of French landing at Bantry Bay

Castlehyde and the Hyde family

Castlelyons: Franciscan friary, O'Lehan castle, and Barrymore house

Chief Justice Willis's description of Cork city, c. 1757–62

Cloghroe Castle and Shanaclogh mound antiquities

Clonmel churchyard burials near Cork Harbour

Dean Swift at Myross parish, 1723

Earl of Clancarty's men murder butcher at Mallow

Execution of Mr. Brown at Cork under King James

Kilbritton Castle and the white weasel legend

Kilcrea Abbey: tomb of Arthur O'Leary

Mogeely castle and Desmond's steward stratagem

Preserved bodies in St. Mary Shandon vaults

Sir Walter Raleigh lands first potatoes in Ireland

St Finbarr legend of the knight's barley

Tom Power's dream and rath discovery at Kilbarry

Tracton Abbey and the Holy Cross relic

Baltimore's decayed state and O'Driscoll castle ruins

Earl of Orrery on Great Island's strategic value, 1666

Monkstown Castle built for fourpence tradition

Orrery's Charleville mansion burned by Duke of Berwick's forces

Williamson's escape at Mallow Short Castle

1588 Bishop of Cork orders for Mogeely tenants to dwell in town

Aghamarta Castle: medieval tower and keep described

Daws ejected from Blarney Castle, oak rafters moved to Dawstown

Examination of bishops' vault at Bishopstown, 1861

Gallant defence of Enniscorthy against 5,000 rebels

Gold-adorned skeleton found near Cloyne

Holy well of St. Dominick at Glanworth

Kilcrea Franciscan Abbey foundation

Lough Hyne: lake, island castle, and remarkable natural features

Mac Carty and Maguire hospitality contest

St Patrick's Bridge opened with Masonic ceremony, 1789

Bandon built by the first Earl of Cork on waste bog and wood

Haulbowline fort ruins built by Montjoy in 1601

Water Club flag hoisted on Haulbowline Castle

Corsair capture near Old Head of Kinsale

Friars' Abbey stone with Arabian-figure date found in Cork quay wall

Aghamarta gallows: Nugents hanged thieves for sixpence