The antiquities of Limerick and its neighbourhood

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read the passage as the book has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too.

1. Battle and Massacre at Monasteranenagh Abbey, 1579

   Monasteranenagh · parish · Limerick · 1579

   On April 3rd, 1579, Sir John of Desmond with Spanish officers attacked Sir Nicholas Malby's force near Monasteranenagh Abbey. After a third volley the rebels fled; the English then turned cannon on the Abbey, full of refugees, battered the cloister and refectory, and beheaded the Abbot on the steps of the high altar along with some 40 monks.

   Read the passage

   possessions strangely different from the older ones. The monks, as so often, held out in the building after its spoliation though it was granted more than once to English laymen. In 1579 Sir John of Desmond, with the legate, Saunders, the Abbot of Monaster, and 2,000 horse and foot, camped near the Abbey. Garrett, the " Eebel Earl " of Desmond, stayed near Tory Hill, or Dromassail, to watch how the battle might go. The formidable Sir Nicholas Malby, with only 600 foot, and apparently 450 horse, came up to the place, camped for the night, and rested his force, writing to the Earl to assist him, and waited for the attack. Sir John, his forces commanded by Spanish officers, came on resolutely on April 3rd. Malby formed a square with his baggage inside; the rebels, despite two volleys, actually brought their spearmen up to the English, when at a third volley (60 being killed and 200 mortally wounded) they turned and fled. The English having gathered a rich spoil of arms turned their cannon on the Abbey, which was full of refugees from the rebel army, and battered the cloister and refectory ; at last they burst in and put to the sword the Abbot (whom they beheaded on the steps of the high altar), and some 40 monks. Manriquez, in 1642, tells how the one survivor, an aged monk, came alone, as he thought, on the eve of the Assumption to the desecrated charnel house, and, as he wept, the church filled with light and the slain arose and sang the vespers^ He joined fervently till, when he uncovered his face and looked, he only saw the gory chancel and mangled corpses. I know of no record of any restoration of the Abbey. Indeed Conor O Mulrian, *' Titular" Bishop of Killaloe, under a papal bull granted it to two of the O Sullivans in 1590. The belfry fell about 1807, and the lofty triple east window (which I faintly remember as standing) fell in, or not long before, 1875.

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 51

2. Fatal chess game at Kincora before Clontarf

   Killaloe · town · Clare · 1014

   In 1014, at Kincora, Maelmordha, King of Leinster, quarrelled with Prince Murchad during a game of chess and fled in wrath to organise his Danish supporters for the Battle of Clontarf. This event is one of the most famous episodes associated with the palace.

   Read the passage

   The history of Kincora is one of destruction and restoration, little more. • In it took place the fatal game of chess from which Msielmordha, King of Leinster, after his quarrel with Prince Miirchad, in 1014, fled in wrath to organise his Danish supporters for the battle of Clontarf . It was destroyed by the Connacht men in 1016 and 1062, when the well was stopped and the " sacred " salmon cooked and eaten in insult. It probably shared the destructions of Killaloe by fire in 1081 and 1084 by the same foe, and their plundering raid, 1091. King Murchad rebuilt it in 1098, when he dismantled the Grianan of Aileach, but his chief residence was then at Limerick. Kincora was destroyed by lightning in 1107, and after the death of its restorer, in 1119, Torlough 0 Conor, King of Connacht, destroyed it, throwing the stones and timber into the Shannon and dismantling Borumha; it was probably never rebuilt, but the name appears in 1150.2 There is no true tradition of its site.

   1 Exchequer Inquisition, July 27, 1585, Pub. Record Office, Dublin. " A compulsory rent called a borome ... of certain cows or thirteen pence per cow."

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 18

3. Flann Sionna invades Thomond and plays chess at Magh Adhair, 877

   near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare · 877

   High King Flann Sionna invaded Thomond in 877 and marched to Magh Adhair, where he played chess to insult the Dal gCais at their inauguration place. Local forces attacked him; Essida, chief of Ui gCaisin, and Lorcan, King of Thomond, harried him through the woods until he surrendered after three days.

   Read the passage

   To the north east of Quin lies a remarkable site, a well preserved place of ancient repute and ceremonial, where the Kings of Thomond were inaugurated. Legend mentions Adhar son of Umor, brother of Aenghus the Firbolg chief, who built the great stone fort of Dun Acngusa, in Aran^ just before our era. Adhar gave his name to the plain, and possibly the great mound was his reputed tomb, and from its name, Aenach Muighe Adhair, was a place of assembly. No record tells us when it became a place of inauguration; it may have been adopted by the Ui gCaisin, the ancestors of the Mac Namaras,^ who seem to have established themselves between this place and Tulla as early as the 5th century. The ruling line (afterwards 0 Briens) had their centre in south eastern Co. Limerick, at Bruree and Dun Claire. It is possible that Aedh of Cragliath, in a.d. 571, was a chief in eastern Clare. Lachtna, his descendant, was perhaps the first King of Thomond, of Aedh's line, recognised as such by any other king, when Fedhlimidh of Cashel, titular High King, met him at Craglea, near Killaloe, about A.D. 840. Perhaps Lachtna, or his son, Lorcan, was first inaugurated here. When the High King, Flann Sionna, invaded Thomond, in 877, he marched to " the green of Magh Adhair " and played chess to insult the Dal gCais, " at the very place of inauguration." He had cause to regret his act. The surrounding inhabitants attacked him, Macan of Lismacain, near Sodhmacain (probably in Ballymacloon, where a Balimaking is named in 1287) was the first to attack and be slain, but stronger forces. arrived. Essida, chief of Ui gCaisin, and Lorcan, King of Thomond, fell on him before the game was played out. They harried him about the woods and wilderness till, after three days, he was glad to surrender. Then Lorcan treated him with respect, escorting him out of the territory, and winning King Flann 's chief poet, Flann mac Lonain,

   I One of whom, Forannan, brother-in-law of King Guaire Aidhne (about 620) was actually the titular King of Thomond, or perhaps of the eastern part round Tulla.

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 24

4. Ghostly Vespers at Monasteranenagh

   Monasteranenagh · parish · Limerick · 1642

   In 1642 Manriquez recorded how the sole survivor, an aged monk, came alone on the eve of the Assumption to the desecrated abbey. As he wept, the church filled with light and the slain monks arose and sang vespers. He joined fervently until, uncovering his face, he saw only the gory chancel and mangled corpses.

   Read the passage

   possessions strangely different from the older ones. The monks, as so often, held out in the building after its spoliation though it was granted more than once to English laymen. In 1579 Sir John of Desmond, with the legate, Saunders, the Abbot of Monaster, and 2,000 horse and foot, camped near the Abbey. Garrett, the " Eebel Earl " of Desmond, stayed near Tory Hill, or Dromassail, to watch how the battle might go. The formidable Sir Nicholas Malby, with only 600 foot, and apparently 450 horse, came up to the place, camped for the night, and rested his force, writing to the Earl to assist him, and waited for the attack. Sir John, his forces commanded by Spanish officers, came on resolutely on April 3rd. Malby formed a square with his baggage inside; the rebels, despite two volleys, actually brought their spearmen up to the English, when at a third volley (60 being killed and 200 mortally wounded) they turned and fled. The English having gathered a rich spoil of arms turned their cannon on the Abbey, which was full of refugees from the rebel army, and battered the cloister and refectory ; at last they burst in and put to the sword the Abbot (whom they beheaded on the steps of the high altar), and some 40 monks. Manriquez, in 1642, tells how the one survivor, an aged monk, came alone, as he thought, on the eve of the Assumption to the desecrated charnel house, and, as he wept, the church filled with light and the slain arose and sang the vespers^ He joined fervently till, when he uncovered his face and looked, he only saw the gory chancel and mangled corpses. I know of no record of any restoration of the Abbey. Indeed Conor O Mulrian, *' Titular" Bishop of Killaloe, under a papal bull granted it to two of the O Sullivans in 1590. The belfry fell about 1807, and the lofty triple east window (which I faintly remember as standing) fell in, or not long before, 1875.

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 51

5. Kincora palace: destructions, restorations and final ruin

   Killaloe · town · Clare · 1016–1119

   Kincora (Ceann Coradh), probably on the site of Killaloe town, was a stone ring wall with wooden houses, a well and a salmon pond. It was destroyed by the Connacht men in 1016 and 1062, rebuilt by King Murchad in 1098, struck by lightning in 1107, and finally destroyed by Torlough O Conor in 1119, who threw its stones and timber into the Shannon.

   Read the passage

   The history of Kincora is one of destruction and restoration, little more. • In it took place the fatal game of chess from which Msielmordha, King of Leinster, after his quarrel with Prince Miirchad, in 1014, fled in wrath to organise his Danish supporters for the battle of Clontarf . It was destroyed by the Connacht men in 1016 and 1062, when the well was stopped and the " sacred " salmon cooked and eaten in insult. It probably shared the destructions of Killaloe by fire in 1081 and 1084 by the same foe, and their plundering raid, 1091. King Murchad rebuilt it in 1098, when he dismantled the Grianan of Aileach, but his chief residence was then at Limerick. Kincora was destroyed by lightning in 1107, and after the death of its restorer, in 1119, Torlough 0 Conor, King of Connacht, destroyed it, throwing the stones and timber into the Shannon and dismantling Borumha; it was probably never rebuilt, but the name appears in 1150.2 There is no true tradition of its site.

   1 Exchequer Inquisition, July 27, 1585, Pub. Record Office, Dublin. " A compulsory rent called a borome ... of certain cows or thirteen pence per cow."

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 18

6. Murder of the Guardian and curse on the House of Desmond

   Askeaton · townland · Limerick · 1558–1569

   A folk-story relayed by Russell tells how the overseer of Garrett, the Rebel Earl, stabbed the Guardian of Askeaton Friary after a cattle dispute. The Countess interceded for the slayer, the Earl forgave him, and the sacrilege was said to bring about the ruin of the House of Desmond.

   Read the passage

   In 1558, James Earl of Desmond, and in 1564, Joan, wife of James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond, and daughter of James, 11th Earl of Desmond, were buried in the monastery. Russell (a 17th century historian of the Fitz Geralds) tells a tragic tale to account for the more tragic fall of the proud house of Desmond. The overseer of Garrett, the hapless " Rebel Earl," used to harrass the monks and distrain their cattle ; one day his own cattle strayed into their lands and were impounded. In blind rage he rushed to the friary and asked to see the Guardian, whom he stabbed mortally and fled. The Countess was bribed by the outlaw's wife, with " plate and many other fine and gay things, to intercede for the slayer." The weak Earl, as ever, was wax in the hands of his masterful wife and forgave the culprit. But the sacrilege cried to Heaven unappeased, so the Earl was lured into rebellion to his ruin and the terrific devastation of the province, and, men said, those who betrayed him to his pitiable death in that lonely glen in Kerry were sons of the murderous overseer. History does nothing to bear out the tale, which, like most folk-stories, may, however, be partly authentic. The fi^rst shadow of later ruin lay in the Crown coveting " the Earl's House of Askeating " in 1569. The Earl's complaints to the local Ahabs get bitter in 1573, and at last the weak, proud, vacillating man played at treason with all the stronger malcontents and made halfhearted efforts to cajole and blind the Government till the rising of Sir John of Desmond in 1569. Tlie Earl and his force marched to Tory Hill to witness the battle of Monasteranenagh (where Sir John and the Papal Legate, Saunders, were defeated) so as to be able to join with the victors at first heat. He again lost heart, would not face the English, and fled back to Askeaton. He vainly tried to outwit and conciliate the victor, Malbie, but his friend Sir William Drury had just died and Malbie marched on Askeaton. Garrett shut himself up in the castle (which Malbie had no artillery to take), and saw the monastery, town and crops burned, and any of the monks and his followers who had not fled in time ruthlessly slain. A monk and a soldier were hanged as a warning, his ancestral tomb was battered to pieces, and the devastator marched away from the bloodstained ashes of the town. A month later Garrett was proclaimed a traitor, and, unwillingly, forced into open rebellion four days after. The Earl of Ormond, hereditary enemy of his house, raided to x\skeaton, but (as so often) the Government sent him cannons, but no munitions, so nothing could be gained save the Earl's stud of horses. Only in the next year, after the siege of Carrigfoile, when the terror of their cannon was fresh, the English appeared before the stronghold of Askeaton, April 3rd, 1580 ; a few shots sufficed, as soon as night settled down the gari:ison fled, too hurriedly to do more than blow up a bit of wall and burn some out-buildings, and Askeaton was lost to the Geraldines.

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 30

7. Battle of Dysert O'Dea and destruction of Bunratty, 1318

   near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1318

   Richard de Clare was slain at the battle of Dysert O'Dea near Corofin on May 10, 1318. His widow, on hearing of the defeat, loaded the town's wealth onto galleys, set fire to the castle and town of Bunratty, and sailed away never to return. De Clare's body was interred in the monastery of St Francis in Limerick.

   Read the passage

   In 1317 Lord Richard de Clare and his deadly enemy, King Muircheartach, attended Parhament in " Dublin's wall-and-ditchprotected city." In their absence the important battle of Corcomodruadh was- fought, in which Diarmaid, the King's brother, and Maccon Mac Conmara gave a crushing defeat to De Clare's new ally, Donnchadh, grandson of Brian ruadh, and in which Donnchadh and many of his gentlemen and followers were slain. On Wednesday, May 10, 1318, the Feast of SS Gordianus and Epimachus (Thursday, May 11, according to Clyn), Richard De Clare received his coup de grace in the decisive battle of Disert Ui Deaghaidh (Dysert O Dea), near Corofin. He himself, four of his Knights, with eighty English and an unknown number of his Irish allies were slain, and the enormous preys they had seized with the intention of lodging them at Bunratty were captured by the victors. De Clare's body was soon after brought to Limerick and interred in the monastery of St Francis. When the fugitives from the battle arrived hot-foot at Bunratty, De Clare's widow, seeing all was lost, put the " choicest of the town's wealth and valuable effects " on board her galleys, set fire to the castle and town, and sailed away never to return.

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 41

8. Inchiquin burial chapel in Limerick Cathedral

   Limerick · city · Limerick · 1673

   A chapel in Limerick Cathedral was the burial place of Murrogh O'Brien, Earl of Inchiquin, who died in 1673. His body was said to have been dug up and thrown into the Shannon, and an empty coffin found under a stone marked 'I' possibly confirms the story.

   Read the passage

   In the 15th century several chapels were added by various devout families, the city being then most wealthy and prosperous. They were (so far as I can identify them) as follows : — ^In the north aisle, the Creaghs' chapel, now the baptistery. 3 The next chapel was the burial place of the terrible " Murrogh the Burner," Earl of Inchiquin, in 1673. His body, was said to have been dug up and thrown into the Shannon; the urgency in his will, 1673, "my friends .... shall immediately after my death bury and enterr my corps privately " (his own son William being then abroad) suggests some anxiety on his part, and an empty coffin found under a stone marked " I " (Inchiquin) possibly confirms the story. The third, now called the " Jebb Chapel," from the statue of that prelate, was the Arthur chapel, or transept, dedicated to St Nicholas (the patron of seafarers) where Thomas fitz Dominick Arthur directs his burial, in 1634. In it should be noted the tombs of Dean Andrew Creagh, 1519; a floriated calvary cross; the tomb of Piers Arthur, 1649, one reading " orate pro a(n)i(m)a Thome Creagh filii David q' obiit — die Junii a.d. 1427 ( ? 1527) pro aia David filii Andr p(ro) aia Petri Creagh filii — . . . die Junii 1546," and others of that family, and Fanning 1634, Creagh 1632, Arthur 1649, Nicholas Rice 1769, his wife Mary 1724, Thomas Arthur 1729, and William FeiTar (father of the first historian of Limerick) 1753. The slab of the mediaeval altar is in this chapel and several fragments of a large Gothic tomb of the 15th century, portions of whose canopy and buttresses also lie behind the south porch. The chapel has been clumsily built against the north transept and has curious corbelling, explained by some quasi-antiquaries as " the remains of the O Briens' castle " ! It may be generally noted that the old Norman capitals of the aisles were retained and in some cases rebuilt into the new piers of the chapels. The old clerestory lights were in some cases (as in the Jebb chapel) closed by the later additions.

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich

   As the companion tells it

   Limerick has a cathedral that goes back centuries, and in the 1400s, when the city was wealthy and prosperous, several devout families added chapels to it. One of those chapels, in the north aisle, became the burial place of Murrogh O'Brien, Earl of Inchiquin, the man known as Murrogh the Burner. He died in 1673. His body was said to have been dug up and thrown into the Shannon. There is something in his will from that year that adds weight to the story. He wrote that his friends should, after his death, bury and enterr his corps privately. His own son William was abroad at the time. That urgency in the will suggests Murrogh was anxious about what might happen to his body after death. And an empty coffin was found under a stone marked with the letter I, for Inchiquin, which may confirm the story. The chapel next to his was the Arthur chapel, or transept, dedicated to St Nicholas, the patron of seafarers, where Thomas Fitz Dominick Arthur directed his burial in 1634. The chapels were built against the north transept, and the old Norman capitals of the aisles were kept and in some cases rebuilt into the new piers.

9. Kilmallock plundered in the Desmond Rebellions

   Kilmallock · townland · Limerick · 1574–1655

   Kilmallock suffered severely in the Desmond rebellions. In 1574, it was plundered for three days by James Mac Maurice, the Sweenys, and the Sheehys, leaving its houses broken and burned, and becoming an abode of wolves. By 1655, the town was totally ruined and uninhabited.

   Read the passage

   Myhallok ; it is called '" S. Mathologus on the hill of Kilmallock " in 1410. As to the town, it suffered severely in the two Desmond rebellions, having then hardly began to recover from a cruel disaster. In 1574 it was plundered for three days by James Mac Maurice, the Sweenys and Sheehys ; the houses, both of wood and stone, were broken and burned, and it " became a receptacle and abode of wolves," which fierce beasts must have abounded in the dense forest of Kilquaig in Aherloe and the Ballyhoura mountains. The terrible story of the surprise of Gerald Earl of Desmond and his

   SS. Peter and Paul, Kilmallock, South

   Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 49

10. Banshee Aibhinn of Craglea and Brian Boru's death omen

    Craglea · townland · Clare

    Craglea was the seat of the supernatural being Aibhinn, a tutelary banshee of the Dalcassians. From Craglea she swept out to battlefields with a train of demons, and she flew to Dublin to appear to King Brian the night before his death at Clontarf. A projecting crag on the western slope is still reputed to be her residence.

    Read the passage

    by mountains, it was an ideal place of settlement; the lake and river were rich in fish and fowl, the rich pastures on the shore most desirable for cattle, and the hills and forests abounding in game lay behind. 'The ford w^as evidently much used in the bronze age, several weapons of that period having been found when it was dredged away. Craglea was the seat of a famous supernatural being, Aibhinn " the pleasant," possibly an early war goddess venerated (or adopted) by the Dalcassians as their tutelary banshee.^ Her name is now corrupted into Aibhill ; one old Irish version of the Dies Irae substitutes her for the Sibyl in strange companionship with King David. From Craglea the banshee Aibhinn used to sweep out to the battlefield with her weird train, " satyrs, sprites, maniacs of the glen, witches, goblins, owls and destroying demons of the air and firmament and the demoniac phantom host." From it she flew to Dublin to appear to King Brian the night before his death ; but for his fatalistic belief in this vision he might have escaped to linger out a miserable old age instead of dying with his best and bravest in the moment of victory .^ There is a great projecting crag, 20 feet high, on the western slope, still reputed to be her residence, while on the eastern slope a spring, pure, bright and unchanged by all the centia-ies, wells out from a rock fissure among ferns and flows down the slope. Below there is the Grianan of I^achtna, an early Royal fort. It is reached by a torrent bed, on a shoulder of a hill, with a magnificent view. The Grianan consists of a nearly levelled ring wall with a stonefaced outer ring, and a fosse tufted with bracken and fox-glove. We first hear definitely of the place in about 840. Lachtna, son of Core, " a fair-haired man from Cragliath," had his fort there and met the titular High King, Fedhlimidh, King of Cashel, at the now vanished pillar stone of Liag na n-easain and made terms of friendship with him. 3 This shows that Lachtna had a fort on the S. side of Craglea, where the Grianan stands, and that the " received " statement that it was only foimded over a century later by his namesake, Lachtna, implies at most a restoration. In 877 Boroimhe is incidentally mentioned, perhaps the ford not the liss. In 941 Muircheartach " of the leather coats " spent a night at the barren Cell da lua, a night in the strong Cenn Coradh," which suggests that Kincora then was a residence. One of Prince Brian's earliest achievements was on the flank of this hill. He seems to have been attacked by a Danish force, under a leader, Biorn, who fell, with many of his soldiers, but at heavy cost to the Dalcassian army. Mathgamhain, brother of Brian, is the first King of the Dal Cais called " King of Boruma," but the title more especially belongs to King Brian, and his well-known epithet is undoubtedly from the place and not from the late story that he reimposed the Leinster cattle tribute. The ^Thomond Borama or cattle tribute he, like his predecessors and successors, received. Down to even

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 18

11. Burning of Askeaton monastery and town by Malbie

    Askeaton · townland · Limerick · 1579–1580

    In 1579, after the battle of Monasteranenagh, Garrett Earl of Desmond shut himself in Askeaton Castle while Malbie burned the monastery, town, and crops. A monk and soldier were hanged and the ancestral tomb battered to pieces. A month later Garrett was proclaimed a traitor.

    Read the passage

    In 1558, James Earl of Desmond, and in 1564, Joan, wife of James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond, and daughter of James, 11th Earl of Desmond, were buried in the monastery. Russell (a 17th century historian of the Fitz Geralds) tells a tragic tale to account for the more tragic fall of the proud house of Desmond. The overseer of Garrett, the hapless " Rebel Earl," used to harrass the monks and distrain their cattle ; one day his own cattle strayed into their lands and were impounded. In blind rage he rushed to the friary and asked to see the Guardian, whom he stabbed mortally and fled. The Countess was bribed by the outlaw's wife, with " plate and many other fine and gay things, to intercede for the slayer." The weak Earl, as ever, was wax in the hands of his masterful wife and forgave the culprit. But the sacrilege cried to Heaven unappeased, so the Earl was lured into rebellion to his ruin and the terrific devastation of the province, and, men said, those who betrayed him to his pitiable death in that lonely glen in Kerry were sons of the murderous overseer. History does nothing to bear out the tale, which, like most folk-stories, may, however, be partly authentic. The fi^rst shadow of later ruin lay in the Crown coveting " the Earl's House of Askeating " in 1569. The Earl's complaints to the local Ahabs get bitter in 1573, and at last the weak, proud, vacillating man played at treason with all the stronger malcontents and made halfhearted efforts to cajole and blind the Government till the rising of Sir John of Desmond in 1569. Tlie Earl and his force marched to Tory Hill to witness the battle of Monasteranenagh (where Sir John and the Papal Legate, Saunders, were defeated) so as to be able to join with the victors at first heat. He again lost heart, would not face the English, and fled back to Askeaton. He vainly tried to outwit and conciliate the victor, Malbie, but his friend Sir William Drury had just died and Malbie marched on Askeaton. Garrett shut himself up in the castle (which Malbie had no artillery to take), and saw the monastery, town and crops burned, and any of the monks and his followers who had not fled in time ruthlessly slain. A monk and a soldier were hanged as a warning, his ancestral tomb was battered to pieces, and the devastator marched away from the bloodstained ashes of the town. A month later Garrett was proclaimed a traitor, and, unwillingly, forced into open rebellion four days after. The Earl of Ormond, hereditary enemy of his house, raided to x\skeaton, but (as so often) the Government sent him cannons, but no munitions, so nothing could be gained save the Earl's stud of horses. Only in the next year, after the siege of Carrigfoile, when the terror of their cannon was fresh, the English appeared before the stronghold of Askeaton, April 3rd, 1580 ; a few shots sufficed, as soon as night settled down the gari:ison fled, too hurriedly to do more than blow up a bit of wall and burn some out-buildings, and Askeaton was lost to the Geraldines.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 30

12. Disaster at Thomond Bridge during 1691 siege

    Thomond Bridge · street · Limerick · 1691

    On 22 September 1691, during the last siege of Limerick, 600 defenders were drowned or slaughtered at Thomond Bridge after a French major lost his head and ordered the drawbridge raised before fugitives could enter. The next day the parley for the city's surrender began.

    Read the passage

    It is usually assumed that the " egregium castellum " and the bridge were erected about 1210, and that the bridge of that date was wooden. The old stone bridge was a picturesque level structure of 14 irregular arches, with bold cutwaters at each pier. The arches were turned over wicker, which rather favours the view that it was built in the 14th or 15th century, when this method was very usual. The vaults in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, and the window splays of Shanid Castle and other early Norman buildings were turned over planking, not wicker. The best and fullest account is given by Mr James Grene Barry in the first pages of the journal of the North Munster Archaeological Society. The old bridge was 150 yards long and had a fortified gate-house next the city and a castellated gateway and drawbridge at the seventh arch, the '' Thomond Gate." ^lany will recall that sad episode m the last siege, Sep. 22nd, 1691, when 600 of the defenders were drowned or slaughtered. The English had taken the outworks and driven back the gari'ison; a French Major, in command, lost his head and ordered the drawbridge to be raised before the fugitives could enter, thus causing the disaster and on the next day the parley for the surrender of the city. A quantity of King James' brass money was found in the river fcerl at the site of the drawbridge, when the old bridge was removed and the new one built in 1840. The present structure cost ^(^10,000. At the farther bank stands the so-called " Treaty Stone," an object of undeserved sentiment and interest. The treaty of Limerick was signed in a house on the Clare side of the river, on a table which was long

    22 THE CITY OF LIMERICK

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 13

    As the companion tells it

    Along here is Thomond Bridge, where one of the worst disasters of the 1691 siege of Limerick took place. The old bridge that stood here was a level structure of 14 irregular arches, 150 yards long, with a fortified gate-house next the city and a castellated gateway and drawbridge at the seventh arch, called the Thomond Gate. On the 22nd of September, 1691, during the last siege, the English had taken the outworks and driven back the garrison. A French major in command lost his head and ordered the drawbridge to be raised before the fugitives could enter. 600 of the defenders were drowned or slaughtered as a result. On the next day the parley for the surrender of the city began. When the old bridge was removed and the new one built in 1840, a quantity of King James' brass money was found in the river at the site of the drawbridge. The present structure cost 10,000. At the farther bank stands the so-called Treaty Stone, described by the author as an object of undeserved sentiment and interest. The treaty of Limerick was signed in a house on the Clare side of the river, on a table which was long preserved. The old bridge's arches were turned over wicker, a method usual in the 14th or 15th century, which favours the view that it was built then rather than earlier. The bridge and a castle are usually assumed to have been erected about 1210, with the bridge of that date being wooden.

13. Mc Adam killed during siege of Bunratty, July 1646

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1646

    On July 1, 1646, Lieutenant-Colonel John Mc Adam, commander of the Puritan garrison at Bunratty, was wounded in the knee by a ball from a small field piece and died the same night. After his death, a hoard of the Earl's money and plate—18 bags and some plate—was discovered in the castle, causing disputes among the garrison.

    Read the passage

    the river O Garney and anchored close to the castle. The siege dragged on with varying success until July 1st, when Mc Adam was wounded in the knee by a ball from a small field piece, of which he died the same night. Hardly was he dead when Penn discovered the men grumbling over another hoard of the Earl's money and plate found in some corner of the castle, after his departure, and which the officers refused to divide with them, viz., '' 18 bags of money and some plate," which they were " resolute '' in dividing among themselves alone. The siege continued until July 13th, when, after a prolonged and brave defence, the garrison was compelled to capitulate, " for their lives only, and the officers their swords, leaving the place, cannon, horses, ammunition, and provisions to the Confederates ; and embarking their sick and woimded men, returned by sea to Cork." Penn, who felt keenly his defeat, was told by the officers that the surrender was due to the loss of tlie corcass to the south-west of the castle, which fell into the bauds of the Confederates, and that in any case they shoukl be forced to yield in four days' time owing to the lack of food. He removed Jiis sliips on the 12th to Beagh Koad, and sailing down the Shannon on the 16t}i anchored at Scattery. Next day they entered Carrigaholt ]3ay to obtain water and provisions, which Sir ])onall 0 ]3i'ien's representative refused to sell them until they had threatened to attack the castle. The fleet then moved back to Scattery, and emptied all the wells on the island. Here the ships were cleaned, and the soldiers, women, and children /put temporarily on shore, " to pick, wash, and refresh themselves." At length, the fleet weighed anchor, left the Shannon, and arrived in Kinsale on July 26th.

    On September 8, 1651, General Ireton, finding Bunratty a suitable place for a depot, lodged in the castle a company of Foot and a troop of Horse, under Ca})tain Preston, without receiving any opposition, and persuaded Jjieut. -General Ludlow, who suffered from what he himself calls a " dangerous cold," to rest in Bmu'atty for two days.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 43

14. Murder of Brian ruadh at Bunratty, 1277

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1277

    While Brian ruadh, former King of Thomond, was a guest in Bunratty in 1277, De Clare murdered him despite their sacred bonds of friendship and gossipred. Brian was dragged to death behind a horse, his head cut off and body gibbeted on a tall post, according to a letter of Irish chiefs to Pope John XXII.

    Read the passage

    of the Irish chiefs to Pope John XXII gives fuller details of the atrocious deed, and says that Brian was " dragged from the banquet without warning, drawn at the tails of horses; his head also being cut off, his body was gibbeted by the feet on a tall post."

    In 1278, De Clare suffered a great defeat at Quin, as elsewhere described, and two years later, 1280, built the castle of that name to ward his territory on the west. He must have had a great force at command to enable him to accomplish such a work in presence of a hardy enemy, who during the same year attacked Bunratty, when the garrison was so hemmed in that -the dead covild not be buried, and an epidemic raged in consequence. In 1285, the castle of Quin fell to the victorious Cumeadha mor, who, with King Toirdhealbhach, also laid siege to Bunratty. They placed a boom across the Eiver 0 Garney to prevent supplies coming from Limerick, and the garrison would probably have been starved out were it not for the Eed Earl of Ulster, who persuaded the besiegers to withdraw, and a temporary peace was patched up.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 41

15. The White Knight's slab and the Sugan Earl

    Kilmallock · townland · Limerick

    The large slab of the White Knight in the friary choir is locally believed to have a "drop of reprobation," a wet spot marking Heaven's anger. This anger was due to his betrayal of James of Desmond, the "Sugan Earl," who was captured in a cave in Aherloe.

    Read the passage

    tomb of good design. The Burgate monument is set in the north wall, and the large slab of the White Knight lies in the centre of the choir. Popular belief accredits it with a " drop of reprobation," a little wet spot marking the anger of Heaven with the White Knight for the capture of the betrayed James of Desmond, the " Sugan Earl," captured in a cave in Aherloe. The tall graceful belfry is, as usual, at the intersection of the nave and chancel. The south-west angle was destroyed by lightning. The west window is of simple interlaced tracery so common in this country. As at Adare, the side aisle is levelled, the south transept or chapel is of ornate and pleasing design. The pillars are probably of the 13th century, and later details of the two following centuries. The later features are of the 15th century, and include a rich window with reticulated tracery (like those at Holycross Abbey and Cloyne Cathedral), and two altar windows of chapels to the east. One of the corbels, a woman with upraised arms supporting the arch, recalls one at Killone Convent near Ennis. The arches with the rich ball-flower and nail-head ornaments of their capitals are pleasing and picturesque. The two -storied sacristy, like those at Quin and Askeaton, flanks the choir to the north. On the same side beside the nave is the cloister with vaulted rooms to the north and east, the former a kitchen with a large fireplace ; the day-room (so-called " chapter house ") and dormitory are overhead. The vaulted north aisle collapsed, wrecking the cloister, but, in the recent restoration by the Board of Public Works under our late President, Dr. Robert Cochrane, the whole was well repaired and part of the arcade recovered. When I first remember the place in 1877 it was unenclosed and a filthy cattle shelter. The most interesting inscriptions are those of the Burgates : " 1642 Tertia lux caesos memorat Septembris in anno/quam legis. Heunondum tres tenet urna senes/Marte nepos fratresque ruunt tria pignora justo/jus patriae causam rexque fidesque probant/integer attritis reperitur candor in extis/Virginis et veri purpura martyrii/Lilia purpureos inter sudantia fluctus/Tres meruere trium nomina marmor habe — Fr(atr)es Georg. Edw. Nep. Alex. Burgate "—That of the White Knight runs : " + I.H.S. Hie tumulus erectus fu/it in memoriam illius ste/mmatis Geraldinorum qui/vulgo vocantur equites Albi — /Joannes cum filio suo Edmundo et Mauricio fi/lio prefati Edmundi/et multi alii eiusdem famil/ ise hie tumulantur prefatus . . . ."

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 49

16. Magh Adhair: legendary origin as Adhar's tomb and assembly place

    near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare

    Legend identifies Adhar son of Umor, brother of Aenghus the Firbolg chief, as giving his name to the plain. The great mound at Magh Adhair was reputed to be his tomb, and the place served as an assembly site (Aenach Muighe Adhair). It later became the inauguration place of the Kings of Thomond.

    Read the passage

    To the north east of Quin lies a remarkable site, a well preserved place of ancient repute and ceremonial, where the Kings of Thomond were inaugurated. Legend mentions Adhar son of Umor, brother of Aenghus the Firbolg chief, who built the great stone fort of Dun Acngusa, in Aran^ just before our era. Adhar gave his name to the plain, and possibly the great mound was his reputed tomb, and from its name, Aenach Muighe Adhair, was a place of assembly. No record tells us when it became a place of inauguration; it may have been adopted by the Ui gCaisin, the ancestors of the Mac Namaras,^ who seem to have established themselves between this place and Tulla as early as the 5th century. The ruling line (afterwards 0 Briens) had their centre in south eastern Co. Limerick, at Bruree and Dun Claire. It is possible that Aedh of Cragliath, in a.d. 571, was a chief in eastern Clare. Lachtna, his descendant, was perhaps the first King of Thomond, of Aedh's line, recognised as such by any other king, when Fedhlimidh of Cashel, titular High King, met him at Craglea, near Killaloe, about A.D. 840. Perhaps Lachtna, or his son, Lorcan, was first inaugurated here. When the High King, Flann Sionna, invaded Thomond, in 877, he marched to " the green of Magh Adhair " and played chess to insult the Dal gCais, " at the very place of inauguration." He had cause to regret his act. The surrounding inhabitants attacked him, Macan of Lismacain, near Sodhmacain (probably in Ballymacloon, where a Balimaking is named in 1287) was the first to attack and be slain, but stronger forces. arrived. Essida, chief of Ui gCaisin, and Lorcan, King of Thomond, fell on him before the game was played out. They harried him about the woods and wilderness till, after three days, he was glad to surrender. Then Lorcan treated him with respect, escorting him out of the territory, and winning King Flann 's chief poet, Flann mac Lonain,

    I One of whom, Forannan, brother-in-law of King Guaire Aidhne (about 620) was actually the titular King of Thomond, or perhaps of the eastern part round Tulla.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 24

17. Adare as a medieval trading port

    Adare · townland · Limerick · 1200–1399

    Adare stood at the head of the tideway and served as a port of call for medieval traders. Flat-bottomed ships of the 13th and 14th centuries navigated the narrow channel, bringing wine, spices, and foreign clothing to the burgesses of Adare. Lord Dunraven found huge masses of oyster shells under the castle walls, likely brought from the rich beds of Poulanishery down the Shannon.

    Read the passage

    Adare, standing at the 'head of the tideway, which flows up to its castle walls, was, to the mediaeval traders, a port of call, though commerce has long refused to turn up the narrow winding channel between the deep mud banks, which the flat-bottomed ships of the 13th and 14th centuries found so congenial. I^ord Dunraven was surprised at the huge mass of oyster shells found under the castle walls, but it was very easy to bring in loads from the rich beds of Poulanishery, down the Shannon, doubtless wine and spices, with rich foreign clothing, came in to the burgesses of Adare, up to the old timber bridge at the ford, whose piling was found below its now venerable successor. It was natural that the English Government, still energetic and masterfvd (before the paralysing reign of Henry III had lasted long enough to weaken it), determined to build a large castle to protect the ford and hold the recently subdued tribes of Kenry in check. The first question, however, is what was the earlier state of affairs, and was so notable a place without history or antecedents before Geffry de Mareys decided to fortify it? It is disappointing to say that, so far, no written record of an earlier past is extant in the Annals. The venerable " Book of Rights " in its list of royal forts in County Limerick names Geibhtine or Askeaton, Ratharda, or Rathurd, near Limerick, and Aenach Cairpre (or Rathmore), near IMonasteranenagh, but no fort at Adare appears. The elaborate inquisitions of IMeyler fitz Henry, in 1201 and 1204, named nearly every parish church in the diocese exce]it Adare. Had it therefore no past before 1220?

    There was at least a fort, dug in the marshy bank of the Maigue, and probably at least as old as the 9th century ; close to this was a church, perhaps of the late 11th century, but its founder's name was overlaid by the later dedication to St Nicholas, the favourite patron of the Anglo-Norman traders and sailors, who settled in the little *' port." All Irish tradition had vanished; unlike places in

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 31

18. Askeaton Franciscan Friary foundation and the enchanted Earl

    Askeaton · townland · Limerick · 1389–1459

    The Franciscan Friary at Askeaton was founded in 1389 or 1420, probably by Gerald 'the Poet-Earl' of Desmond, whose mysterious disappearance made him one of the enchanted chiefs of Ireland said to ride across Lough Gur once in seven years. James the 7th Earl of Desmond restored the monastery around 1459.

    Read the passage

    Askeaton is first mentioned in the list of the royal forts reserved to the King of Cashel in the Book of Rights. The document is probably dated about a.d. 900. The place is there called Geibhtine, this is the name of a "pre-Celtic " race, the Grcbtini, who settled on the south bank of the Shannon, according to early documents cited by Duald MacFirbis. The Castle of Easgepthine was built in 1199, and was on a manor of Hamo de Valoignes (or William de Burgo, who held it till it was restored to Hamo in right of inheritance). The manor was called Hinniskefty (Inis Geibhthine) in 1203. It belonged to Richard de Clare, Lord of Bunratty, in 1318, when be fell at Dysert 0 Dea. The name occurs under many strange disguises, in abundant documents, from 1200 onward — Iniskefly, Ineskeftyn, Imkisti, Inisketty, Hineskefti, Hinchesti, Jyskefty, and Iniskettin, Asgoptiny and Askettin — the meaning being the waterfall {Eas) or island {Inis) of the Gebtini, not ''the cascade of the hundred fires," or " the fall of the hawthorn fire," as certain pundits (old and new) have rendered it. The place lacks the beautj' of Adare, tnough its wide views to the hills of Co. Clare and the mote Castle of Shanid are pleasing. The muddy tidal river and ugly little town and quays spoil the otherwise handsome ruins. The church was dedicated to St. Mary, and belonged to the Abbey of Keynsham, in Somerset, to which it and many churches in the county had been granted, evidently by Hamo. Lewis and other purveyors of imaginary history state that it was a preceptor y of Templars, but that hapless order only held a garden plot in Limerick City on their suppression. Perhaps,, as at Adare, there was a hospital, and (as the Hospitallers obtained much of the Templars' possessions) later ages imagined that every hospital had been a Templars' priory. We have a list of the families living at Iniskyfty, in 1348. The Nasshe family were long connected with the place, and their tomb may be seen in tbe Friary. The Geraldines appear as its owners about this period. Maurice Fitz Maurice, late Earl of Desmond, had held the manor till his death about ten years later ; and in 1367 John Maltravers held it, presumably under the Earls. The Friary was founded in 1389 (or 1420) for Franciscans ; the later date, given by the Four Masters, probably, like so many of their "foundation dates " (notably " 1402 " at Quin, which existed before 1350), represents enlargement or repairs. The founder was probably Gerald, "the Poet-Earl," whose mysterious disappearance has given him a place among the enchanted chiefs of Ireland at Lough Gur, across whose waters he rides, once in seven years, till his horse's silver shoes are worn out and the spell broken. Many features of the monastery, however, belong to the time of a later reputed " founder," really a restorer, James the 7th Earl of Desmond, to whom, about 1459, the keep of the castle may probably be assigned. The

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 30

19. Execution of Donnchadh beag on Quin belfry tower

    Quin · town · Clare · 1584–1585

    After condemnation by Perrot, Donnchadh beag O'Brien was hanged from a cart, his bones broken with an axe, and his body fastened with ropes to the top of the belfry tower of Quin church as a warning to evildoers. The Four Masters deemed it poetic justice for his crimes.

    Read the passage

    was enough for Perrot to condemn him, but it seems he had. In or about this time the English had put a garrison in the monastery, and the friars no doubt had to leave. According to Wadding,^ the place was attacked by Donnchadh 0 Briain, who burned both the part occupied and the garrison in one conflagration. The Four Masters are very severe on Donnchadh, call him " the arch traitor and the leader (uachtaran) of the plunderers of Connacht," and see only justice in his cruel death, which he seems to have endured with " as much resolution in suffering as before he had manifested cruelty in his bloody actions."- Being sentenced by PeiTot, the annalists thus describe the unfortunate man's execution, typical of the times in its unnecessary cruelty : — " His evil destiny awaited him, for he was hanged from a cart, and his bones were broken with the back of a large and heavy axe; and his body, mangled and half dead, was fixed, fastened with hard and tough hempen ropes, to the top of the belfry tower (Clogas) of Quin [church], under the talons of the birds and fowls of the air, that the sight of him in that state might serve as a warning and example to evildoers." The peculiar nature of Donnchadh's offences may explain the unusual callousness of the Four Masters, and it cannot be denied that there was a certain poetic though barbarous justice in manner of his execution.

    The Macnamaras and other families friendly to the Friars, it may be supposed repaired the damage done to the monastery by the attack of Donnchadh beag, for the walls, owing to their excellent quality, resisted the fire and were little injured

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 38

20. Sacred Bile tree at Magh Adhair cut down and replanted

    near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare · 981–1051

    A venerated tree (Bile) stood at Magh Adhair. High King Maelsechnaill cut it down and had its roots dug out in 981 to insult King Brian Boroimhe. The Dal gCais planted another tree, which was similarly cut down and rooted out by Aedh O Conchobhair, King of Connacht, in 1051.

    Read the passage

    who, becoming Lorcan's ardent admirer and panegyrist, left a poem in praise of Lorcan and " Essida of the Bay Steed," for their bravery and generous conduct. To this event Prince Brian alluded in A.D. 968, when rebuking his brother. King Mathgamhain, for his submission to the Danes. The older records (beside a vague allusion to a pillar) mention a Bile or venerated tree which the High King Maelsechnaill cut down, and had the roots dug out, in A.D. 981, to insult King Brian Boroimhe; who certainly had the best in the controversy by deposing the destroyer in a.d. 998. The Dal gCais planted another tree, which shared the fate of its predecessor, being cut down and rooted out by Aedh 0 Conchobhair,

    Magh Adhair (place of inauguration)

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 25

21. Berkeley siege and the Sugan Earl at Askeaton

    Askeaton · townland · Limerick · 1598–1601

    Francis Berkeley was granted the manor, friary, and castle of Askeaton, renamed 'Rockbarkeley.' He was besieged by James 'the Sugan Earl' of Desmond in 1598; the siege was raised by Essex in June after the battle of Rower near Adare, and Berkeley was knighted for his defence.

    Read the passage

    The great Surveys of Peyton and the Desmond Roll give us a minute accoimt, in execrable Latin, of the complicated estates, and in some respects a more vivid impression of the vast ruin in their dry cold entries, on the slaying, execution, or ruin of each tenant, than the most oratorical histories. Edward Berkeley was Castellan till 1589, then his brother Francis was granted the manor, called now " Rockbarkeley , " along with the friary and the custody of the castle. Here he was besieged by James " the Sugan Earl " of Desmond, a nobler man and better soldier than Garrett, in 1598 ; the siege was only raised by Essex in the following June, after the battle of Rower, near Adare, and Berkeley was knighted for his defence of the place. The castle was again blockaded by James, but the latter was betrayed and taken in a cave in the south-east of the county in 1601, and the Rebellion ended. Berkeley, a humane man for those days, treated his tenants and " Irish " neighbours so well that he fell under censure of the Government. It is interesting to find that he befriended Philip the O'Sullivan Beare, the well known historian, and employed Irish labourers.

    Askeaton was incorporated by charter in 1612, and returned two members to Parliament till the Union, save during the Commonwealth. Berkeley's care brought back the place to some degree of prosperity. On his death, 1615, his sons Maurice and Henry, and eventually, 1625, their three sisters, who had marred William Courtney, George Crofton, and John Taylor, succeeded to the estates, some of which are still held by their descendants.^

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 30

22. City surrenders to Mac Namaras 1369

    Limerick · city · Limerick · 1369

    In 1369 the city of Limerick surrendered to the Mac Namaras, who appointed a governor. The castle likely held out until the citizens slew the Irish governor Sioda Mac Namara and cleared the city of the Irish.

    Read the passage

    There seems little reason to doubt the tradition that this and the bridge were founded by Prince John, though an early source for the statement has not been traced. Whether any part is as old as his reign may be contested; if any, the ring tower next the bridge might lay claim. The fine gate towers are possibly of the reign of Edward I. The castle was fortified against Thomond only, the part next the city was apparently badly walled till the early 17th century, when the seething discontent of the citizens forced the government to remodel the inner part and to add a bastion. There is a view (in the Hardiman collection of maps) showing the building before the alteration. It was grievously dilapidated and some of the towers were undermined by the river. The shot holes (made by Ginckell's cannon in 1691 and plugged with brick) are very noticeable on the " Bridge " or " Thomond Tower." To give here the salient points of its history for more than 700 years IS not possible, though there is a vast mass of material relating to the building — Stanihurst states that King John built an ** egregium castellum " and a bridge; the " bawn " of Limerick is first mentioned in 1200 by the Annals of Loch Ce. Kichard de Burgo, held it for the King in 1226, when all the other castles were disloyal. It had been greatly neglected and, two years before, the commissioners for valuing the Koyal property found that in Linjerick Castle the King's goods were scarcely worth 18 pence " as broken dishes." In 1227 it was repaired, and again in 1272. It had a chapel, and hostages were kept in it; a new chamber was built and two watchmen were kept " to watch from the top of the towers towards Thomond, and archers at the head of the bridge." A wall was built in 1297, possibly along the river front. In 1318 a quaint matter is recorded ; the constable carelessly let 16 prisoners escape, of whom John Wogan recaptured 18 and slew 2 ! In 1310 and 1322 grants of murage were made for repairing the fortifications, the last year being soon after the terrifying extinction of the Norman colony at Dysert in 1318 and the burning of Bunratty. It was again in bad repair in 1326, and £20 and £80 were expended on it. A sensational event occurred in 1332 ; the hostages broke out, slew the constable and held the castle, which had to be stormed by the mayor and citizens. In 1369 the city surrendered to the Mac Namaras, who appointed a governor; but the castle probably held out till the citizens slew the Irish governor Sioda Mac Namara and cleared the city of the Irish. In 1417 it reappears, the fees for its support being " annihilated," so the city repaired it with dues from the Lax weir, the great salmon weir, near Parteen, founded by the Danes. In 1427 the corporation and citizens petitioned that the castle might be confided to them as it had often been nearly lost by carelessness, or treachery; the Government took the offer on condition that the city paid for its repairs. In 1476, James, Earl of Desmond, who was successfully imposing

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 11

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up through Limerick, you are passing a city whose castle has a long and troubled history. It was fortified against Thomond, the part next to the city apparently badly walled until the early 17th century. King John built a castle and a bridge here, according to Stanihurst, who called it an egregium castellum. The bawn of Limerick is first mentioned in 1200 by the Annals of Loch Ce. Richard de Burgo held it for the King in 1226, when all the other castles were disloyal. It had been greatly neglected, and two years before that, the commissioners for valuing the royal property found that in Limerick Castle the King's goods were scarcely worth 18 pence, as broken dishes. In 1369 the city surrendered to the Mac Namaras, who appointed a governor. But the castle probably held out. The citizens eventually slew the Irish governor Sioda Mac Namara and cleared the city of the Irish. This was not the first violence the castle had seen. In 1332 the hostages broke out, slew the constable, and held the castle, which had to be stormed by the mayor and citizens. The castle had a chapel, and hostages were kept in it. Watchmen were kept to watch from the top of the towers towards Thomond, and archers at the head of the bridge. It was repaired in 1227 and again in 1272, and again in 1326, when £20 and £80 were spent on it. Grants of murage were made for repairing the fortifications in 1310 and 1322.

23. Cromwellian executions of friars at Quin

    Quin · town · Clare · 1651

    During the Cromwellian occupation, the Quin college was broken up and its principal Eugene O'Cahan was shot. Father Rory Macnamara was shot and beheaded, lay-brother Donall Mac Clancy of Tradry was hanged, and another lay-brother Dermod mac Inemey was also put to death.

    Read the passage

    All the previous misfortunes of the Friars were as nothing to what fate had now in store for them. The college in the monastery was broken up, and the Principal, Eugene O Cahan, was shot by the Puritan soldiery. Father Eory Macnamara son of Donall Macnamara, and his wife, Mary Mac Mahon — one of the professors, — was likewise shot, and then beheaded. ])onall Mac Clancy, a native of Tradry, one of the lay-brothers, was hanged, and another lay-brother, Dermod mac Inemey, who had entered the Order in 1640, when Father Teig Mac Gorman was Guardian, was also put to death. The people to this day have a horror of the the very name of Cromwell, though they have no knowledge of the foregoing particulars, and neither should we, were it not for a work by Father Anthony Bruodin, printed at Prague, in 1669.^

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 38

24. Dominican Convent of Kilmallock founded and violently suppressed

    Kilmallock · townland · Limerick · 1291

    The Dominican friars were given a plot of land by the burgesses in October 1291, but the Bishop of Limerick's retainers violently expelled them and burned their house, as Kilmallock was a valued appanage of the Bishops of Limerick. The convent is attributed to Maurice FitzGerald.

    Read the passage

    Tlie beautiful Dominican Convent was founded about 1291. In October that year the friars were given a plot of land by the burgesses, but Kilmallock was a valued appanage of the Bishops of Limerick, and the Bishop's retainers violently expelled the Dominican Preachers and burned their house. As so often, we have divergent accounts of the foundation,^ the more probable (and tallying best with the record) is that it was founded that same year by Maurice

    1 See "Identification," Proc. 7?. 7. Amd., vol. xxiii (c), pp. 87-88.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 48

25. Folklore of the lost silver bells of St Mary's

    Limerick · city · Limerick

    A legend tells of an Italian bell founder who recognized his stolen masterpieces chiming from St Mary's tower as he sailed up the Shannon at sunset, and died with a smile on his face. The silver bells were later thrown into the Abbey River to save them from plunderers but never recovered, though they can be heard faintly ringing underwater on Christmas nights.

    Read the passage

    The first record of the Cathedral bells is that of the gift of a peal by John Budston in 1401. We need only recall the w^ell-known story of an earlier " chime." An Italian bell founder had made a most tuneful peal for the Cathedral of his native town. The place was plundered and destroyed and the bells w^ere carried off. The ruined old man " a wanderer on the face of the earth " was sailing up the Shannon at sunset, when the bells of St Mary's chimed out and in a moment he recognized his lost masterpieces; with a cry. of joy he lay back, his eyes fixed on the old tower, and when the bells ceased he was found to be dead with a smile on his face. Legend added that these silver bells were thrown into

    i C»n a Later tomb of the family the " Bar," " ring," and " tnn " foim a

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 10

    As the companion tells it

    Coming up through Limerick now. St Mary's Cathedral here has a bell story worth hearing. The first record of its bells is a peal given by John Budston in 1401, but the legend is older. An Italian bell founder had made a most tuneful peal for the cathedral of his native town. That place was plundered and destroyed, and the bells were carried off. The ruined old man became a wanderer on the face of the earth. He was sailing up the Shannon at sunset when the bells of St Mary's chimed out, and in a moment he recognized his lost masterpieces. With a cry of joy he lay back, his eyes fixed on the old tower, and when the bells ceased he was found dead with a smile on his face. Legend added that these silver bells were thrown into the Abbey River to save them from plunderers, but they were never recovered. On Christmas nights, it is said, you can still hear them ringing faintly under the water.

26. Forbes seizes Bunratty Castle and its hidden treasure, 1642

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1642

    In November 1642, Lord Forbes took possession of Bunratty Castle from Earl Barnaby without resistance. He found about sixty serviceable horses and £2,000 hidden in the castle walls, which he and his associates, including chaplain Hugh Peters, appropriated for themselves.

    Read the passage

    lu November, 164'2, he allowed Lord Forbes — a bigoted iScotchinau and an enemy of the King — who had been sent to Ireland with a lieet by the Parliament to commit all the depredations possible, to take possession of the castle. Forbes found in the stables " about three score horses fit for service," and also discovered £2,000 hidden in the walls of the castle, which he and his friends, including the notorious Hugh Peters, his chaplain and adviser, made their own of. In or about November, 1645, the Earl delivered up the castle a second time without making the slightest show^ of resistence to his masterful kinsman, Inchiquin, then also the King's enemy, who found in Bunratty large military stores and sufficient horses in good condition to remount his cavalry.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 43

27. Geffry de Marisco's fair and castle at Adare

    Adare · townland · Limerick · 1226

    In 1226, Geffry de Marisco received a Crown grant to hold a fair at his manor of Adare, suggesting he had already fortified the place. The stone keep and hall near the water tower appear very early, possibly from the late 12th century, though the exact sequence of ring fort, motte, and stone castle remains uncertain.

    Read the passage

    In 1226, Geffry de Marisco got a grant from the Crown permitting him to hold a fair on the 8 days after the Feast of St James, in his Manor of Adare. This sign of settlement makes it probable that he had already " encastled " the place. Whether, however, the great stone keep rose on the earlier ring fort is quite uncertain; more likely he dug the long baily, or annexe (till the river filled the outer fosse) palisading its earthworks and erecting a bretasche or wooden turret on the fort he had adopted as the " mote " of his castle. Still the stone buildings of the Keep and the Hall near the water tower seem very early (the Hall window indeed might be of the later 12th century), but masons were conservative, and it is imprudent to dogmatize. The importance of Adare certainly began with the Normans. Ere long (but the alleged date, 1230, seems unsupported by any record of credit), a monastery was foimded to the west of the river for Trinitarian j\Ionks of the Order of the Eedemption of Captives, an excellent society for the humane object of redeeming from the duress of the Moslem the captives taken in war or by Pirates. Eventually fair houses of the Augustinians and Franciscans and a Hospital were founded. A certain " Master Tyrrell " was Vicar of Adare, between 1230 and 1250, he witnessed a charter of Hubert de Burgh, Bishop of Limerick. Adare, however is plunged in deep obscurity till 1290, when we find it one of a group of Manors, with Castle Eobert, Cromyth (Croom), Wyrgidy (near Uregare, in the S.E of the county), and Grene (Pallas Green), in the east. They were held by Agnes de Valence, the King's cousin, wife of Maurice FitzGerald, and Juliana de Cogan, their daughter, who enfeoffed John de Verdun with them. The Geraldines had been granted Crumech Castle and lands so early as 1215 by King John. The chief local family, under the Lords of the Manor, was a branch of the widespread Eussels, who bore the Irish soubriquet " Creevagh," which, later on, in the shortened form " Creagh," superseded their older name. In Elizabeth's reign one of those family legends (which " darkened knowledge " till more critical research discredited them) claimed that the Creaghs had

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 31

28. Inauguration ceremony of O'Brien at Magh Adhair

    near Magh Adhair · monument · Clare · 1267–1313

    O'Brien was inaugurated by the chief of the Mac Namaras on the rude stone slab atop the mound. The ceremony involved turning the chief round to view his territory, reciting his pedigree from the cairn, and addressing him as 'O'Brien' at the pillar. A large conglomerate block with two ground basins also featured in the site.

    Read the passage

    Probably at Magh Adhair the gate was at the gangway and was guarded by the subordinate chiefs, Mac Namara leading O Brien to the summit, placing him on the rude stone slab, still remaining there, and turning him round to see his new territory in sight of the crowd in the amphitheatre. The panegyric may have been pronounced from the earn and the chief then led to the Pillar and addressed as " O Brien." From the analogy of Tullaghog, Roevehagh, and other places, the Bile, may have grown on the summit of the mound. Such a position is not uncommon. Many will remember a beautiful tree in such a position at Cloncurry, near the ruined church, and there is a sacred tree and pillar in Longstone fort, near Naas, and a sacred hawthorn bush and cross in the fort of Skeaghavanoo, between Corofin and Kells, in this county.

    Cahercalla. — At no great distance there are in Cahercalla the considerable remains of a fine Catliair, with three rings of wall. The massive central cashel is about 100 feet inside, the walls 17 feet thick, and over 8 feet high; the gate is to the east. The outer walls are 9 to 10 feet thick and 6 to 7 feet high. It is

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 26

29. Plundering of Loch Gair by Domhnall mac mic Lochlainn, 1088

    near Lough Gur · lake or lakes · Limerick · 1088

    In 1088, Domhnall mac mic Lochlainn, King of Ireland, and Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair, King of Connacht, invaded Munster, burning Limerick and plundering as far as Loch Gair, Bruree, and other settlements, demolishing Kincora and taking hostages.

    Read the passage

    An army was led by Domhnall mac mic Lochlainn, King of Ireland, and the people of the North of Ireland with him into Connacht ; and Ruaidhri Ua Concho bhair. King of Connacht, gave him the hostages of all Connacht. Both proceeded with their forces into Munster, and they burned Luimneach (Limerick) and plundered Machaire na Mumhan (the plain of Munster) as far as Imlcach lubhaire (Emly) and Loch Gair, and Brugh Righ (Bruree) and Ddn Ached (Dunachip, near Croom [O'Donovan]) and Druim Ua Clercen (Drummin), and they took with them the head of the son of Caileach ua Ruairc from the hills of Saingeal (Singland), and broke and demolished Ceann Coradh (Kincora), and obtained eight score hostages : Annals F.M., 1088 ; Ghronicon Scotorum, 1084.

    A war broke out among the Fitz Geralds, and James son of Maurice, the heir to the earldom, laid siege to Loch Gair. The chiefs of his army were Mac Carthaigh Cairprecli (i.e., Domhnall mac Finghin), Corbmac 6g mac Corbmaic mic Taidhg, Corbmac mac Donnchaidh 6ig mic Carthaigh, lord of Ealla (Duhallow), the White Knight, Ridire an Gleanna (the Knight of Gl}^^), and Ridire Ciarraigheach (the Knight of Kerry), Mac Muiris, O Concho bhair, and the tower of strength of the army, Mac Carthaigh mor — i.e., Corbmac Ladhrach. Sean mac an larla came to complain of his distress to the Dal gCais, for there was friendship and affinity between them — for M6r, daughter of Donnchadh mac Briain Dubh, was wife of that Sean. Ua Briain arose with love and respect and assembled the men of Tuad Mhumha and Piaras mac Seamuis Butler joined him and others

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 47

30. St Mochulla's monastery at Tulla

    Tulla · town · Clare · 600–700

    On the church-crowned hill of Tulla, St Mochulla and his seven converts entrenched his monastery against hostile Kings Forannan and Guaire Aidhne, some thirteen centuries ago. The hill is visible from the summit of Moghane Fort.

    Read the passage

    Briefly it consists of three great rings of wall, the inner 20 to 22 feet thick, and 6 to 8 feet high, had gates to the W and E.N.E. the interior is 312 feet N. and S., 342 feet E. and W. " Traverse " walls run to the gaps, and a heap of small sandstone pebbles, near the E. gate may be a midden. The second wall is irregular, so as to fit on the platform, being from 159 feet to under 60 feet from the central fort, it is 17^ feet thick, of good blocks, 3 and 4 feet long, and has gates to the N. and E.N.E. ; some traces of the lining slabs of the gate passages remain. The most imposing feature of the fort is where this wall has fallen in an avalanche down the west slope, and (before the trees grew up) this was clearly visible far westward beyond the Fergus. Just outside this wall, to the north, are traces of house rings. A cathair is built across its foundation to the S.W. The great outer rampart is some 4,400 feet round, it is usually 15 to 17 feet thick, and has a fosse, 15 to 18 feet wide, 3 to 5 feet deep, with an outer earthen mound, save where it crosses two craggy knolls. It does not follow the contours but plunges boldly into the amphitheatre to the west down to a gate (partly rock-cut, with sloping ramps and a hollow way), and again down the hill to the N.E. It measures over all 1,512 feet N. and S., 1,118 feet E. and W. The middle wall being 705 to 664 feet, and the inner 363 to 386 feet over all. A second later cathair is built upon the outer wall to the N.W. The summit commands a beautiful view. We see the Fergus Estuary and the Shannon, with the long chain of lakes, from Finlough to Kilkishen; the greyterraced hills of Burren, and the blue flat-topped Mount Callan, far away to the N.W. ; Aughty and Slieve Bernagh to the N.E. and E., and the distant Galtees and Ballyhoura hills. The towers of Ennis, Clare, and Quin " Abbeys," and the peel towers of Moghane, Ballymarkahan, Eossroe, Lisoflfin, Creggane, and Danganbrack (so old to us and so modern compared with the ruin heaps around), are visible. The town of Ennis is clearly seen, and the picturesque towers of Dromoland in their deep woods. Far away the church-crowned hill of Tulla is just visible, where St Mochulla and his seven converts entrenched his monastery against the hostile Kings, Forannan and Guaire Aidhne, thirteen centuries ago. Even then Moghane Fort had already lain in weather-beaten ruin for perhaps a millennium or more.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 27

31. Adare Castle repair grants, 1334

    Adare · townland · Limerick · 1334

    The Close Rolls of 1334 record that John Darcy, guardian of the lands of Richard, Earl of Kildare during his minority, received a grant to repair the castles of Kildare, Adare, Cromyth and Esgrene with their houses and other edifices. All had been left waste by the Irish war and surrounding lands were uncultivated.

    Read the passage

    and a chamber, each roofed with thatch or s'hingle, a tower, covered with planks, a kitchen, covered with slates, and a chamber near it, also slated. All was waste from the Irish war, and the surrounding lands were uncultivated. The Close Rolls of 1334 show that John Darcy, guardian of the lands of the said Richard, during the minority of Richard, Earl of Kildare, got a grant to repair the Castles of Kildare, Adare, Cromyth and Esgrene, with their houses and other edifices. As we noted, the White family had been settled at Adare in the previous century; again, in 1346, Thomas, son of Robert White, and Thomas fitz John were appointed keepers of the peace for the cantred of Adare and Cromyth for the year. In 1360 a tax of 2 shillings on each carucate of land in the cantred of Adare was levied for the Irish war. Adare must have suffered severely a second time, as King Richard II, in 1376, remitted the subsidies or tallages due from Adare till the town was rebuilt, as it had been burned and devastated by the Irish in the war. The lower bridge is said to have been built between 1390 and 1410; it was a strange, narrow structure, 'hardly wide enough for a carriage to pass over, and with recesses on the buttresses up stream for foot' passengers to stand back on such occasions. The 15th century, which saw such activity in the church visitations and buildings, has left little record of Adare, the long residences next the Norman Hall in Desmond's Castle, and most of the Franciscan Friary date from it, and there was great prosperity and considerable peace in Co. Limerick during the period. The Creagh family of Adare enjoyed a large share of that prosperity. When '' Silken Thomas " was executed in 1536, Adare was forfeited to the Crown; the lands surveyed in 1540 are Adare, Crome, Rachanan (Rathcannon, a conspicuous castle on a rocky knoll near Bruree), and Tobemy. Another survey in 1559 made by Simon Barnwell gives much information, and he seems to have consulted the Franciscans' Register; he mentions " the old broken castle " and " the Abbey of Grey Fryers," as founded by Thomas, late Earl of Kildare, " who gave two challeses of sylver and bought a greate bell for 10 li ; his Countes was buried under a stone in the quier in 1486." The monasteries were dissolved in 1539; the Trinitarians held 70 acres of land, the castle and mill of Robertstown (between Adare and Croom), a mill and salmon and eel weirs at Adare, with tithes on numerous lands. The Black Abbey (Austin Hermits) had other weirs. In 1541, Adare and Crome were granted to James, son of Sir John, Earl of Desmond; this seems to be the only connection of these nobles with the place in which popular names, like " Desmond's Castle," and '* Desmond's chapel," have given them such unwaiTanted prominence. In 1566 the White Abbey (Trinitarian) was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Warham St Leger, it was subsequently granted to John Zouche in 1583, to Sir James Gould, the Attorney-General, in 1585, and to Sir Henry Wallop; the Abbeys passed so often to different people that we gain httle by recording their destiny any further. The Poor Abbey, though roofless, retained much of its glass even in 1608, when jMooney saw it.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 33

32. Bunratty Castle garrison surrenders, July 1646

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1646

    After a prolonged and brave defence, the Parliamentary garrison at Bunratty was compelled to capitulate on July 13, 1646, surrendering the place, cannon, horses, ammunition, and provisions to the Confederates. The defeated forces embarked their sick and wounded and returned by sea to Cork.

    Read the passage

    the river O Garney and anchored close to the castle. The siege dragged on with varying success until July 1st, when Mc Adam was wounded in the knee by a ball from a small field piece, of which he died the same night. Hardly was he dead when Penn discovered the men grumbling over another hoard of the Earl's money and plate found in some corner of the castle, after his departure, and which the officers refused to divide with them, viz., '' 18 bags of money and some plate," which they were " resolute '' in dividing among themselves alone. The siege continued until July 13th, when, after a prolonged and brave defence, the garrison was compelled to capitulate, " for their lives only, and the officers their swords, leaving the place, cannon, horses, ammunition, and provisions to the Confederates ; and embarking their sick and woimded men, returned by sea to Cork." Penn, who felt keenly his defeat, was told by the officers that the surrender was due to the loss of tlie corcass to the south-west of the castle, which fell into the bauds of the Confederates, and that in any case they shoukl be forced to yield in four days' time owing to the lack of food. He removed Jiis sliips on the 12th to Beagh Koad, and sailing down the Shannon on the 16t}i anchored at Scattery. Next day they entered Carrigaholt ]3ay to obtain water and provisions, which Sir ])onall 0 ]3i'ien's representative refused to sell them until they had threatened to attack the castle. The fleet then moved back to Scattery, and emptied all the wells on the island. Here the ships were cleaned, and the soldiers, women, and children /put temporarily on shore, " to pick, wash, and refresh themselves." At length, the fleet weighed anchor, left the Shannon, and arrived in Kinsale on July 26th.

    On September 8, 1651, General Ireton, finding Bunratty a suitable place for a depot, lodged in the castle a company of Foot and a troop of Horse, under Ca})tain Preston, without receiving any opposition, and persuaded Jjieut. -General Ludlow, who suffered from what he himself calls a " dangerous cold," to rest in Bmu'atty for two days.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 43

33. Desmond's Castle on Inis Geibhtine at Askeaton

    Askeaton · townland · Limerick · 1583

    Desmond's Castle occupies an oval islet called Inis Geibhtine in the River Deel. Described in the Desmond Roll of 1583 as a chief house of the Earl of Desmond with two courts, a bawn, great hall, vaulted rooms, and a triangular garden with a fish pond. The 15th-century hall and a keep of about 90 feet remain.

    Read the passage

    Desmond's Castle. — This occupies an oval islet, the ancient Inis Geibhtine ; the earlier fort probably occupied the rock platform at the keep. An old picturesque bridge crosses the Deel at the north end of the islet. It is well described in the Desmond Roll (1583) as "an excellent castle, formerly a chief house of the late Earl of Desmond, in good repair, on a little island on a rock and surrounded on all sides by a rivulet. It contains two separate coorts and one balne (bawn) with divers strong buildings ... a large hall, a great vaulted room, with three cellars ... a triangular garden, in which is a fish pond, &c." The battlemented wall remains to the northwest, but the gateway is gone. The great Hall, or '' Desmond's Hall," is a stately structure of the 15th century, with several vaulted rooms underneath and a small chapel at the south end ; above the vaults is a stately apartment with large rich windows, now much defaced, to the north end and the sides, with a corbelling to the south. The keep stands on the rock-platform, and is about 90 feet high, with a projecting west turret, in which are several vaulted rooms, one with a massive, bolt-studded oaken door. The main tower has two vaulted stories and an upper room, most of the stairs are broken away. To the south was a large residence with an under vault and two stories above it, one with a handsome fireplace. The platform is reached by a ramp or sloping way, the gate of which is destroyed. Beside it is the ruined club house, traditionally reputed (like so many others, and probably on as baseless a tradition) to have been a " Hell Fire Club " in the middle of the 18th century.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 31

34. Execution of two Clanncoilein men at Bunratty for heresy, c.1355

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1355

    Around 1355, two men of the Clanncoilein were condemned to the stake and executed at Bunratty for heresy by Roger Craddock, Bishop of Waterford, without the knowledge of the Archbishop of Cashel. Wadding states the crime was a contumely offered to the Virgin Mary. The incensed Archbishop later attacked and wounded Bishop Craddock at Waterford.

    Read the passage

    About 1355, while, it is supposed, Bunratty was still garrisoned by the English, two men of the Clanncoilein were condemned there to the stake, and executed for^' heresy," by Eoger Craddock, Bishop of Waterford, a Franciscan friar, 1350-1361, translated to

    Landaff in the latter year , without the knowledge or licence,

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 41

35. Adare castle built to protect the ford

    Adare · townland · Limerick

    The English Government determined to build a large castle at Adare to protect the ford and hold the recently subdued tribes of Kenry in check. Geffry de Mareys was the figure who decided to fortify the site, though no earlier written record of the place survives in the Annals.

    Read the passage

    Adare, standing at the 'head of the tideway, which flows up to its castle walls, was, to the mediaeval traders, a port of call, though commerce has long refused to turn up the narrow winding channel between the deep mud banks, which the flat-bottomed ships of the 13th and 14th centuries found so congenial. I^ord Dunraven was surprised at the huge mass of oyster shells found under the castle walls, but it was very easy to bring in loads from the rich beds of Poulanishery, down the Shannon, doubtless wine and spices, with rich foreign clothing, came in to the burgesses of Adare, up to the old timber bridge at the ford, whose piling was found below its now venerable successor. It was natural that the English Government, still energetic and masterfvd (before the paralysing reign of Henry III had lasted long enough to weaken it), determined to build a large castle to protect the ford and hold the recently subdued tribes of Kenry in check. The first question, however, is what was the earlier state of affairs, and was so notable a place without history or antecedents before Geffry de Mareys decided to fortify it? It is disappointing to say that, so far, no written record of an earlier past is extant in the Annals. The venerable " Book of Rights " in its list of royal forts in County Limerick names Geibhtine or Askeaton, Ratharda, or Rathurd, near Limerick, and Aenach Cairpre (or Rathmore), near IMonasteranenagh, but no fort at Adare appears. The elaborate inquisitions of IMeyler fitz Henry, in 1201 and 1204, named nearly every parish church in the diocese exce]it Adare. Had it therefore no past before 1220?

    There was at least a fort, dug in the marshy bank of the Maigue, and probably at least as old as the 9th century ; close to this was a church, perhaps of the late 11th century, but its founder's name was overlaid by the later dedication to St Nicholas, the favourite patron of the Anglo-Norman traders and sailors, who settled in the little *' port." All Irish tradition had vanished; unlike places in

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 31

36. Franciscan Friary Adare survey, 1559

    Adare · townland · Limerick · 1559

    Simon Barnwell's 1559 survey of Adare mentions the old broken castle and the Abbey of Grey Fryers, founded by Thomas, late Earl of Kildare. Barnwell recorded that the Earl gave two silver chalices and bought a great bell for £10, and his Countess was buried under a stone in the choir in 1486.

    Read the passage

    and a chamber, each roofed with thatch or s'hingle, a tower, covered with planks, a kitchen, covered with slates, and a chamber near it, also slated. All was waste from the Irish war, and the surrounding lands were uncultivated. The Close Rolls of 1334 show that John Darcy, guardian of the lands of the said Richard, during the minority of Richard, Earl of Kildare, got a grant to repair the Castles of Kildare, Adare, Cromyth and Esgrene, with their houses and other edifices. As we noted, the White family had been settled at Adare in the previous century; again, in 1346, Thomas, son of Robert White, and Thomas fitz John were appointed keepers of the peace for the cantred of Adare and Cromyth for the year. In 1360 a tax of 2 shillings on each carucate of land in the cantred of Adare was levied for the Irish war. Adare must have suffered severely a second time, as King Richard II, in 1376, remitted the subsidies or tallages due from Adare till the town was rebuilt, as it had been burned and devastated by the Irish in the war. The lower bridge is said to have been built between 1390 and 1410; it was a strange, narrow structure, 'hardly wide enough for a carriage to pass over, and with recesses on the buttresses up stream for foot' passengers to stand back on such occasions. The 15th century, which saw such activity in the church visitations and buildings, has left little record of Adare, the long residences next the Norman Hall in Desmond's Castle, and most of the Franciscan Friary date from it, and there was great prosperity and considerable peace in Co. Limerick during the period. The Creagh family of Adare enjoyed a large share of that prosperity. When '' Silken Thomas " was executed in 1536, Adare was forfeited to the Crown; the lands surveyed in 1540 are Adare, Crome, Rachanan (Rathcannon, a conspicuous castle on a rocky knoll near Bruree), and Tobemy. Another survey in 1559 made by Simon Barnwell gives much information, and he seems to have consulted the Franciscans' Register; he mentions " the old broken castle " and " the Abbey of Grey Fryers," as founded by Thomas, late Earl of Kildare, " who gave two challeses of sylver and bought a greate bell for 10 li ; his Countes was buried under a stone in the quier in 1486." The monasteries were dissolved in 1539; the Trinitarians held 70 acres of land, the castle and mill of Robertstown (between Adare and Croom), a mill and salmon and eel weirs at Adare, with tithes on numerous lands. The Black Abbey (Austin Hermits) had other weirs. In 1541, Adare and Crome were granted to James, son of Sir John, Earl of Desmond; this seems to be the only connection of these nobles with the place in which popular names, like " Desmond's Castle," and '* Desmond's chapel," have given them such unwaiTanted prominence. In 1566 the White Abbey (Trinitarian) was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Warham St Leger, it was subsequently granted to John Zouche in 1583, to Sir James Gould, the Attorney-General, in 1585, and to Sir Henry Wallop; the Abbeys passed so often to different people that we gain httle by recording their destiny any further. The Poor Abbey, though roofless, retained much of its glass even in 1608, when jMooney saw it.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 33

37. St Molua's oratory on Friar's Island destroyed

    Friar's Island · townland · Galway

    A tiny oratory of St Molua on Friar's Island, opposite Clarisford, resembled the larger Killaloe oratory in design but measured only 10 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 6 inches inside. Its round-headed east window and lintelled west door with inclined jambs suggested a 9th-century date, but it was wantonly levelled soon after 1793.

    Read the passage

    laced ornament, and is probably of the first half of the 12th century ; several carved stones from the older Eomanesque church lie near it. The tiny oratory of St Molua on Friar's Island, opposite to Clarisford, is inaccessible. It resembles the large oratory in design, but is only 10 feet 6 inches by 6 feet 6 inches inside, the walls 3 feet to 3 feet 4 inches thick. The east window is round-headed, a chancel arch was cut in the west end, and a nave with a lintelled west door, with inclined jambs added, possibly in the 9th century, but it was wantonly levelled soon after 1793.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 20

38. St Patrick and the demon bull at Adare

    Adare · townland · Limerick

    A late legend told that St Patrick pursued a demon bull to Adare, where he slew it at the Ford of Ath Tairbh. This was linked to the same cycle of stories about Carrigogunnell's sorceress.

    Read the passage

    prudently sold by its last owner, Donough 0 Brien, to Michael Boyle (afterwards Archbishop of Dublin), and had a castle, bawn, a few thatched huts, and a salmon fishery. In Aug., 1691, its garrison of 150 men surrendered without resistence to S 'Gravenmore, and (rinckell had it blown up in the following September. Ijegend (invented to account for the supposed meaning of its corrupt name) told of a death-dealing candle whose light after nightfall slew all that saw it. 8t Patrick, or one of Finn's warriors, Regan, scaled the rock, destroyed the light, and sprang away just in time from the irate sorceress of the candle. One late legend made her hurl a huge rock (still called Clochregan) far to the S. of the castle after the hero. Another made St Patrick pursue a demon bull to Adare, where he slew it at the Ford of Ath Tairhh.

    52 ADAEE

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 29

39. Sugan Earl's submission and church riot at Kilmallock

    Kilmallock · townland · Limerick

    The Collegiate Church of St. Peter in Kilmallock was the scene of the humiliating submission of James FitzGerald, the 'Sugan Earl.' A serious riot broke out among the citizens when the rival 'English Earl' attended the Protestant church service there.

    Read the passage

    The Cliurch of Kilmallock, cil mochealloc (1050), or cil dachelloc (1028), is said to be derived from a very misty St Celloc, said to have died about a.d. 639. His very vagueness left him at the mercy of the pseudo antiquaries, who, in their frantic search for Phoenician remains in Ireland, derived it (as they did Kilmalchedor in Kerry from '' Moloch, horrid king," the " abomination of the Ammonites '" and Phoenicians. The alternative form Da-Chelloc (apart from other rational reasons) should have taught them better. The place may, or may not, be the Makolicon^ of Ptolemy, a.d. 150, which some identify with Cashel. Leaving speculation, the place (as we see) is named in 1028 and 1050, and it was a parish church in 1201. King John ordered an enquiry to be made whether Kilmallock Castle and the Cantred of Karbry belonged to the Kingdom of Cork or to Limerick, in 1206. Lands in its neighbourhood at Ardpatrick, Eleuri (? Claire), and in Fontemel (or Fontymchyll,° the district covered by Kilquane, Effin, Darach-Mochua and Dungadmond parishes, round its walls), were granted to W. de Burgo in 1199. The place must soon have developed into a town of some standing under Norman rule. Fairs were licensed at it in 1221, and we have a list of the chief citizens, in an agreement with them 1222 to 1230. The mill was restored in 1248, and there are in the Black Book of Limerick a number of important deeds relating to it, about 1280 ; these mention the " main street " to the Church of the Apostles Peter and Paul, the Via Regalis towards Emly, the Cross, Mill, John's Street, Flemyri Street, opposite to the Cross ; Blapat Street (Blossom St), Water Street, Botherbalmakene to the east, Fotislac to the south, Martynlake to the north, Kokytlach, Fotisland and Aroldishyl. Nicholas Stoppel was then provost, and it had a harper named Sandyr who lived at Fotisland. In 1361 the perpetual vicarage of SS Peter and Paul, Kilmallock, is named in the Papal Petitions. The church was enlarged by Maurice FitzGerald in 1420. In 1594 the Collegiate Church of St Peter had a cloister, hall, buildings and orchard. This church, a few years later, was the scene of the humiliating submission of the imfortunate James FitzGerald, the " Sugan Earl," and it was the place where the attendance of the equally hapless " English Earl," his rival, at the Protestant Church service led to so serious a riot anumg the citizens.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 48

40. Walcott's alleged plot to mine Limerick Castle 1672

    near King John's Castle · castle · Louth · 1672–1691

    In 1672 an alleged plot by Captain Thomas Walcott, an old Cromwellian officer, was discovered to take Limerick Castle by a mine from St Nicholas' graveyard and to call in the Dutch. The castle was later surrendered to Ginckell after the 1691 siege.

    Read the passage

    dues on the free English, and (one would think) a dangerous wolf to be put over that fold of wealthy merchants, was governor. In 1542 it was supported by two gardens and the pasture on the King's Island, 10s. from the " He " (eel) weir, at Corbally, and dues on salt, wheat, herrings and oysters, brought into the port. Its history is rarely eventful. Sir Geffry Galwey, the mayor, was fined £400 in 1600 for recusancy, which sum was expended on the castle ; in 1611 the undercut towers were repaired, and, in 1624 and 1626, provision for a small garrison, a governor, porter, ** cannoneer" and 20 men, was made. The English colony retired into it in 1641 ; it was besieged by the Confederates and surrendered on terms 21 June, 1642. When the city was taken by Ireton, ten years later, the castle was extensively repaired, the works continuing till 1654. There was an alleged plot of an old Cromwellian officer, Capt. Thomas Walcott, to take it by a mine from St Nicholas' graveyard and to call in the Dutch in 1672. Lastly it was surrendered to Ginckell, after the siege of 1691, and it has since been continuously used as a garrison barrack. The structure retains the three corner towers (two abutting on the river). On the side next the street along the north face, is the noble old gateway, with two great round flanking towers and lofty arches. Some of the town wall remains at and beyond the churchyard of St Munchin's at the opposite side of the street along the river bank.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 12

41. Cumheadha mor storms and destroys Quin Castle, 1285

    Quin · town · Clare · 1285

    In 1285, five years after the castle was built, Cumheadha mor, Lord of Ui Caisin, attacked and took Quin Castle by assault after an Irish gentleman named O Liddy was slain by the English garrison. Everything inside was destroyed by fire, including De Clare's title deeds, and the castle was never rebuilt.

    Read the passage

    by assault. " Its ditch was crossed, earthworks carried, great gate battered in and hewn down, its strong walls were breached, its English stammerers captured ; the place was cleared out of war like stores, and in the actual great castle a huge pile of stuff was given to the flames, that ran riot till the whole became a black-vaulted hideous cavern. "' Everything inside the building was destroyed in the conflagration, including De Clare's title deeds, and no attempt to rebuild the castle was ever made.

    Some years before this brilliant action Cumheadha's brother, Sioda, son of Niall, " excellent with the spear," was slain in ** Quin battle of swords," a surprise attack made in early morning on the camp of Donnchadh, son of Brian ruadh.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 37

42. Battle of Quin, 1278: sons of Brian ruadh defeat De Clare

    Quin · town · Clare · 1278

    In 1278 the sons of the murdered king Brian ruadh took revenge on De Clare, defeating him in a fierce battle at Quin. They burned the church of St Finghin in which some of De Clare's followers had taken refuge.

    Read the passage

    The following year, 1278, the sons of the murdered king had their revenge. They defeated De Clare in a fierce battle at Quin, burned the church of St Finghin, in which some of his followers had taken refuge, and De Clare had enough to do to save himself from the carnage.

    To guard his marches on the west, De Clare, in 1280, built a castle at Quin, which was completed in 10 months. It was a formidable strorghold, some 122 feet square, with walls of great thickness, and it was protected at three corners by projecting circular bastions. During the progress of the work Domhnall the younger brother of King Toirdhealbhach mor, came to Quin for the purpose of buying wine, which shows the existence at that particular time of unusually friendly relations between the Irish and De Clare.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 37

43. De Clare murders Brian ruadh at Bunratty, 1277

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1277

    Sir Thomas de Clare foully murdered Brian ruadh, the former King of Thomond, whilst he was his guest at Bunratty in 1277, the same year Bunratty was built. De Clare had previously come to terms with Brian, who consented to give him the district of Tradraidhe in exchange for help regaining his kingdom.

    Read the passage

    On January 26th, 1276, King Edward I. of England, out of his bounty, graciously granted to Sir Thomas de Clare, younger son of Eichard, Earl of Gloucester, the whole of Thomond, to be held in tail. De Clare also came to terms with Brian ruadh, late King of Thomond, who consented to give him the district of Tradraidhe, even all the lands between Athsoluis and Limerick, if 'he would but help him to regain his lost kingdom. De Clare, as we shall see, foully murdered Brian in 1277, whilst his guest in Bunratty, which he had built the same year.

    The following year, 1278, the sons of the murdered king had their revenge. They defeated De Clare in a fierce battle at Quin, burned the church of St Finghin, in which some of his followers had taken refuge, and De Clare had enough to do to save himself from the carnage.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 37

44. Domhnall treacherously wounded at Quin

    Quin · town · Clare · 1280

    During construction of De Clare's castle at Quin, Domhnall, younger brother of King Toirdhealbhach mor, came to Quin to buy wine, showing unusually friendly relations. He was treacherously stabbed in the back by a mason or soldier but managed to slay his attacker before being carried away mortally wounded.

    Read the passage

    Domhnall was treacherously wounded by one of the masons employed— by a soldier, according to the 'historian Mac Craith — who stabbed him in the back, but whom Domhnall slew before he was carried away by his followers mortally wounded.

    De Clare made a great mistake when he chose Quin as a site for one of his castles, for it was part of Ui Caisin, the territory of the Macnamaras, and outside Tradraidhe proper. Its erection in this spot must have caused that sept great heart-burnings, and made them his deadly enemies. In 1285, five years after it was built, matters came to a head. A gentleman of the Irish, named O Liddy, was slain by the English garrison. When "blackbrowed " Cumheadha mor, son of Niall, Lord of Ui Caisin, heard of his friend's death, he suddenly attacked the castle, and took it

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 37

45. Adare manor granted to Thady Quin, 1683

    Adare · townland · Limerick · 1683–1721

    In 1683 one of the Earls of Kildare granted the manor of Adare to Thady Quin for 1,000 years, including the mills, the long established fair, salmon weirs of Mundellihy, the Black Abbey and its gardens, and the White and Poor Abbeys. The grant in fee-simple followed in 1721.

    Read the passage

    Adare continued in possession of the Earls of Kildare till one of them, in 1683, granted the manor to Thady Quin for 1,000 years, with the mills and the long established fair. The grant includes the salmon weirs of IMundellihy, not far below the bridge, the Black Abbey and its gardens, William Stretche's burgess lands, a moiety of the White Abbey and the Poor Abbey (Franciscan) with its salmon and eel weir. The Earl gave a grant of all these in fee-simple in 1721. This Thady Quin was a member of an old family at Kilmallock, claiming relationship with John Quin, or Coyne, Bishop of Limerick, about 1530. Whether they were more remotely descended from the 0 Quins of Inchiquin, Co. Clare, has yet to be

    Adare Castle

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 33

46. Askeaton Castle origins and early medieval naming

    Askeaton · townland · Limerick · 900–1203

    Askeaton is first mentioned in the Book of Rights as a royal fort reserved to the King of Cashel, called Geibhtine after a pre-Celtic race, the Gebtini, who settled on the south bank of the Shannon. The Castle of Easgepthine was built in 1199 on a manor held by Hamo de Valoignes and William de Burgo.

    Read the passage

    Askeaton is first mentioned in the list of the royal forts reserved to the King of Cashel in the Book of Rights. The document is probably dated about a.d. 900. The place is there called Geibhtine, this is the name of a "pre-Celtic " race, the Grcbtini, who settled on the south bank of the Shannon, according to early documents cited by Duald MacFirbis. The Castle of Easgepthine was built in 1199, and was on a manor of Hamo de Valoignes (or William de Burgo, who held it till it was restored to Hamo in right of inheritance). The manor was called Hinniskefty (Inis Geibhthine) in 1203. It belonged to Richard de Clare, Lord of Bunratty, in 1318, when be fell at Dysert 0 Dea. The name occurs under many strange disguises, in abundant documents, from 1200 onward — Iniskefly, Ineskeftyn, Imkisti, Inisketty, Hineskefti, Hinchesti, Jyskefty, and Iniskettin, Asgoptiny and Askettin — the meaning being the waterfall {Eas) or island {Inis) of the Gebtini, not ''the cascade of the hundred fires," or " the fall of the hawthorn fire," as certain pundits (old and new) have rendered it. The place lacks the beautj' of Adare, tnough its wide views to the hills of Co. Clare and the mote Castle of Shanid are pleasing. The muddy tidal river and ugly little town and quays spoil the otherwise handsome ruins. The church was dedicated to St. Mary, and belonged to the Abbey of Keynsham, in Somerset, to which it and many churches in the county had been granted, evidently by Hamo. Lewis and other purveyors of imaginary history state that it was a preceptor y of Templars, but that hapless order only held a garden plot in Limerick City on their suppression. Perhaps,, as at Adare, there was a hospital, and (as the Hospitallers obtained much of the Templars' possessions) later ages imagined that every hospital had been a Templars' priory. We have a list of the families living at Iniskyfty, in 1348. The Nasshe family were long connected with the place, and their tomb may be seen in tbe Friary. The Geraldines appear as its owners about this period. Maurice Fitz Maurice, late Earl of Desmond, had held the manor till his death about ten years later ; and in 1367 John Maltravers held it, presumably under the Earls. The Friary was founded in 1389 (or 1420) for Franciscans ; the later date, given by the Four Masters, probably, like so many of their "foundation dates " (notably " 1402 " at Quin, which existed before 1350), represents enlargement or repairs. The founder was probably Gerald, "the Poet-Earl," whose mysterious disappearance has given him a place among the enchanted chiefs of Ireland at Lough Gur, across whose waters he rides, once in seven years, till his horse's silver shoes are worn out and the spell broken. Many features of the monastery, however, belong to the time of a later reputed " founder," really a restorer, James the 7th Earl of Desmond, to whom, about 1459, the keep of the castle may probably be assigned. The

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 30

47. Battle of Bunratty Hill, De Burgo defeats De Clare, 1311

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1311

    Sir William de Burgo, assisted by men of Connacht and the English of Meath, defeated Lord Richard de Clare in a battle fought on the hill north of Bunratty fortress. Despite the defeat, De Clare captured De Burgo and some nobles and imprisoned them in Bunratty Castle.

    Read the passage

    The De Burgos and De Clares seem never to have been on friendly terms. On May 20, 1311, Sir William de Burgo, assisted by the men of Connacht and the English of Meath, defeated Lord Eichard de Clare, now owner of the castle and all his father's lands, in a battle fought somewhere, it is supposed, on the hill north of the fortress; but De Burgo and some of his nobles who in the heat of pursuit got separated from the main body of their forces, were taken prisoners by De Clare, and lodged in Bunratty.

    Chapel

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 41

48. Cappagh Castle ruin and tradition of its destruction

    Cappagh · townland · Limerick · 1460–1480

    Cappagh Castle is a picturesque ruin with a tower about 70 feet high, five stories, and details dating to 1460-1480. Tradition says it belonged to the Fitzgeralds of Ballyglehane, and one brother blew it up rather than surrender it after a dispute involving the grantee's wife.

    Read the passage

    Cappagh Castle is a strikingly picturesque ruin, especially when seen from the railway, whence its lofty tower and broken vaults, with the boldly battlemented walls of the bawn, are very imposing. The tower is about 70 feet high, with five stories and the usual neat details of 1460 to 1480. The stairs and the southern half of the tower are levelled. The north-east bastion is circular. It stands on a bold ridge of crag. Tradition says that it belonged to the Fitzgeralds of Ballyglehane. One of these granted it to his younger brother, who (when the grantee's mischief -making wife had it reclaimed) blew it up rather than surrender it.

    GoRTEENAMROCK. — One of the best preserved stone forts in the county (where the majority have been nearly "improved" off the ground), lies not far to the north of Cappagh. The new maps having marked it for the first time, I asked the Rev. John Begley, P.P. of Cappagh, to visit it, and he kindly sent me the following notes : — It is a fuiely built ring-wall, measuring from 82 to 98 feet across the garth. The rampart is about 14 feet thick, and has a reach of terrace 18 feet long to the north-east, 3 feet below the summit of the wall, with possible traces of another lower down. The gateway is defaced, like most of the eastern side, and faces southward.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 35

49. Captain Flower's skirmish at Quin, 1601

    Quin · town · Clare · 1601

    In March 1601, Captain George Flower, sent by President Carew against the rebels, spent the night at Quin monastery. A skirmish followed nearby in which Tadhg, son of Sir Toirdhealbhach O'Brian of Dough, was mortally wounded and died three days later.

    Read the passage

    In 1601, Sir George Carew, Knight, President of Munster, sent Captain George Flower, '* Sergeant-Major " of the Province, with one thousand foot, into Connacht, " that he might doe some good service upon the Eebels." On his way thither he spent the night of the 20th of March at Quin, presumably within the monastery. A skirmish in the neighbourhood soon after occurred between Flower and the insurgents, in which many of the latter were slain; and Tadhg, son of Sir Toirdhealbhach O Brian of Dough, who a short time before had joined the " rebels," received a wound of which he died within three days. 3

    Father Donall O Haigshy had charge of the Quin community in 1615. John Eider, Protestant Bishop of Killaloe, complains in his report to the Eoyal Commission of that year, that to divers abbeys and monasteries of his diocese " many ffriars and priests doe ordinarily resort, and sometimes in the year great concourse of people publickely, as in the Abbey of Quin in ye County of Clare. "4

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 38

50. Confederate forces encamp at Quin to besiege Bunratty, 1646

    Quin · town · Clare · 1646

    The Supreme Council of the Confederates sent Munster forces to Clare to stop the depredations of Parliament troops lodged in Bunratty, encamping them at Quin. Lord Muskerry was put in command of these raw, badly supplied levies.

    Read the passage

    The Supreme Council of the Confederates, being foiled in their attempt to send 4,000 men from Leinster and Munster, and 2,000 from the other Provinces, to Britain to fight for the King, sent some of the Munster forces to Clare, in order to stop the depredations of the Parliament troops lodged in Bunratty, and encamped them at Quin. Lord Muskerry, son of the Earl of Thomond's step-sister, was put in command of these men, who were raw levies, and badly fed, clothed, and paid. Bunratty was now closely invested, the besiegers attacking from the north. On May 12 the Confederates took Cappagh Castle, and soon after the Castle of Eosmanagher fell into their hands, both not far from Bunratty. All the ships of the Parliamentary fleet were, on June 27, moved up

    118 BUNKATTY

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 43

51. De Clare's original castle at Bunratty (1277)

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1277–1321

    Sir Thomas de Clare built a castle at Bunratty in 1277, described as a single roofed donjon. A 1321 inquisition found the large tower's walls unfinished and unroofed after the place was set on fire in 1318. The present castle with four corner towers is quite unlike this original.

    Read the passage

    lloyal Irish Academy Library/ positively states that Bimratty was built by Maccon Mac Conmara, son of the chief founder of Quin Monastery, who died, it is believed, in 1428, assisted by his second son, Sean, whose death took place in 1467, both of whom were chiefs of Clanncoilein. Curiously enough expert architectural opinion favours this statement, as the present building shows no features that can fix its erection earlier than the 15th century. Whether we believe it to be the work of De Rokeby, in 1353, or of the Macnamaras, some seventy years later, there are strong and convincing reasons for rejecting the theory that it is the original castle built by Sir Thomas de Clare in 1277. This latter, according to Mac Craith, chiefly consisted of " a roofed impregnable donjon, and in 1289, a sum of money was spent on it for the " covering of the big tower." Again, in the post-mortem inquisition into the estate of Thomas de Clare, junior, in 1321, three years after the place w^as set on fire by his mother, the jurors who were actually in the building, or else looking at it, describe it as a " fortress in which is a large tower, the walls of which are good enough, but not built up [i.e., completed] or roofed.'' It is plain, I think, that De Clare's castle consisted of one large tower only, and some minor buildings, quite unlike the present castle, which has four massive corner towers like De Clare's other fortress at Quin. We should, moreover, expect a simple plan for De Clare's first castle, for it was then put up under manifest difficulties, in a hostile country,, and when time was everything.

    The castle is undoubtedly of Norman type ; but there was not an abbey in Ireland at the time that did not house a man capable of |)rodueing such, did Mac Conmara so wish it. It was just as easy to ]n'ocure a Norman plan for a castle, as to get a so-called '' (lothic " plan of a church. The answer to this of course, is, that no other castle of the type was built in Thomond, except, perhaps, the Castle of Clare, a small part of which remains, but whose founder, plan and date are quite unknown.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 42

52. Franciscan Friary of Adare founded 1464

    Adare · townland · Limerick · 1464–1502

    The Franciscan Friary at Adare, the most beautiful of the town's houses, was built from 1464 by Thomas, Earl of Kildare, and his wife Johanna, and dedicated to St Michael on November 14, 1464, with full consecration by Michaelmas 1466. Numerous patrons contributed individual parts including the great chapel of the Blessed Virgin (1483), the bell tower, dormitory, cloister, refectory, and infirmary, as recorded by Father Mooney from the original Friary Register around 1608.

    Read the passage

    To conclude the foundation history of the monasteries, we must pass on to the year 1464, when the most beautiful of the houses was built by Thomas, Earl of Kildare, and Johanna, his wife, for the Order of the Friars Minor of St Francis. They commenced it in 1464; it was dedicated to St Michael on Nov. 14th, 1464, but only completed by ^lichaelmas, 1466, when the church, cloister, two sacristies, and the cemetery were consecrated. The founders died respectively in 1478 and 1486; the Countess Johanna was buried that year in the monastery, but no monument is extant. ]Margaret FitzGibbon, wife of Cornelius 0 Bea (probaly chief of Cinel Fermaic, in Thomond, the district round Dysert O Dea, Co. Clare), built the great chapel of the Blessed Virgin in 1483. Next Cornelius O Sullivan erected the graceful bell tower, he died in 1492 ; John of ])esmond and ^largaret (wife of Thomas) Fitz Maurice, built the two beautiful lesser chapels; Bonough, the 0 Brien Ara, the dormitory, he died 1502; Eory, ])onall and Sabina O Bea, the cloister; Alarianus 0 Hickey, the Eefectory, the fine north panels and stalls of the church. Thomas, Knight of the Glen, and his wife, Honora, the infirmary (probably the house to the west), and the wife of FitzGibbon the east end of the church. These entries were copied by Father ^looney from the original Eegister of the Friary in about 1608, when he also saw the plate and vestments, preserved by the Franciscans at Cork. They are of great value from dating not only the present building but also similar features in other monasteries whose records are entirely lost, and the features can be studied with advantage here by students of Irish Architecture.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 32

53. Grianan Lachtna royal fort on Craglea

    Craglea · townland · Clare · 840

    The Grianan of Lachtna is an early royal fort on a shoulder of Craglea, consisting of a nearly levelled ring wall with a stone-faced outer ring and a fosse. Lachtna son of Core had his fort there around 840 and met the High King Fedhlimidh at the vanished pillar stone of Liag na n-easain to make terms of friendship.

    Read the passage

    by mountains, it was an ideal place of settlement; the lake and river were rich in fish and fowl, the rich pastures on the shore most desirable for cattle, and the hills and forests abounding in game lay behind. 'The ford w^as evidently much used in the bronze age, several weapons of that period having been found when it was dredged away. Craglea was the seat of a famous supernatural being, Aibhinn " the pleasant," possibly an early war goddess venerated (or adopted) by the Dalcassians as their tutelary banshee.^ Her name is now corrupted into Aibhill ; one old Irish version of the Dies Irae substitutes her for the Sibyl in strange companionship with King David. From Craglea the banshee Aibhinn used to sweep out to the battlefield with her weird train, " satyrs, sprites, maniacs of the glen, witches, goblins, owls and destroying demons of the air and firmament and the demoniac phantom host." From it she flew to Dublin to appear to King Brian the night before his death ; but for his fatalistic belief in this vision he might have escaped to linger out a miserable old age instead of dying with his best and bravest in the moment of victory .^ There is a great projecting crag, 20 feet high, on the western slope, still reputed to be her residence, while on the eastern slope a spring, pure, bright and unchanged by all the centia-ies, wells out from a rock fissure among ferns and flows down the slope. Below there is the Grianan of I^achtna, an early Royal fort. It is reached by a torrent bed, on a shoulder of a hill, with a magnificent view. The Grianan consists of a nearly levelled ring wall with a stonefaced outer ring, and a fosse tufted with bracken and fox-glove. We first hear definitely of the place in about 840. Lachtna, son of Core, " a fair-haired man from Cragliath," had his fort there and met the titular High King, Fedhlimidh, King of Cashel, at the now vanished pillar stone of Liag na n-easain and made terms of friendship with him. 3 This shows that Lachtna had a fort on the S. side of Craglea, where the Grianan stands, and that the " received " statement that it was only foimded over a century later by his namesake, Lachtna, implies at most a restoration. In 877 Boroimhe is incidentally mentioned, perhaps the ford not the liss. In 941 Muircheartach " of the leather coats " spent a night at the barren Cell da lua, a night in the strong Cenn Coradh," which suggests that Kincora then was a residence. One of Prince Brian's earliest achievements was on the flank of this hill. He seems to have been attacked by a Danish force, under a leader, Biorn, who fell, with many of his soldiers, but at heavy cost to the Dalcassian army. Mathgamhain, brother of Brian, is the first King of the Dal Cais called " King of Boruma," but the title more especially belongs to King Brian, and his well-known epithet is undoubtedly from the place and not from the late story that he reimposed the Leinster cattle tribute. The ^Thomond Borama or cattle tribute he, like his predecessors and successors, received. Down to even

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 18

54. Hostages break out of Limerick Castle 1332

    near King John's Castle · castle · Louth · 1332

    In 1332 the hostages held in Limerick Castle broke out, slew the constable, and held the castle. The mayor and citizens had to storm the castle to retake it. The castle also had a chapel, a new chamber, and watchmen posted on the towers.

    Read the passage

    There seems little reason to doubt the tradition that this and the bridge were founded by Prince John, though an early source for the statement has not been traced. Whether any part is as old as his reign may be contested; if any, the ring tower next the bridge might lay claim. The fine gate towers are possibly of the reign of Edward I. The castle was fortified against Thomond only, the part next the city was apparently badly walled till the early 17th century, when the seething discontent of the citizens forced the government to remodel the inner part and to add a bastion. There is a view (in the Hardiman collection of maps) showing the building before the alteration. It was grievously dilapidated and some of the towers were undermined by the river. The shot holes (made by Ginckell's cannon in 1691 and plugged with brick) are very noticeable on the " Bridge " or " Thomond Tower." To give here the salient points of its history for more than 700 years IS not possible, though there is a vast mass of material relating to the building — Stanihurst states that King John built an ** egregium castellum " and a bridge; the " bawn " of Limerick is first mentioned in 1200 by the Annals of Loch Ce. Kichard de Burgo, held it for the King in 1226, when all the other castles were disloyal. It had been greatly neglected and, two years before, the commissioners for valuing the Koyal property found that in Linjerick Castle the King's goods were scarcely worth 18 pence " as broken dishes." In 1227 it was repaired, and again in 1272. It had a chapel, and hostages were kept in it; a new chamber was built and two watchmen were kept " to watch from the top of the towers towards Thomond, and archers at the head of the bridge." A wall was built in 1297, possibly along the river front. In 1318 a quaint matter is recorded ; the constable carelessly let 16 prisoners escape, of whom John Wogan recaptured 18 and slew 2 ! In 1310 and 1322 grants of murage were made for repairing the fortifications, the last year being soon after the terrifying extinction of the Norman colony at Dysert in 1318 and the burning of Bunratty. It was again in bad repair in 1326, and £20 and £80 were expended on it. A sensational event occurred in 1332 ; the hostages broke out, slew the constable and held the castle, which had to be stormed by the mayor and citizens. In 1369 the city surrendered to the Mac Namaras, who appointed a governor; but the castle probably held out till the citizens slew the Irish governor Sioda Mac Namara and cleared the city of the Irish. In 1417 it reappears, the fees for its support being " annihilated," so the city repaired it with dues from the Lax weir, the great salmon weir, near Parteen, founded by the Danes. In 1427 the corporation and citizens petitioned that the castle might be confided to them as it had often been nearly lost by carelessness, or treachery; the Government took the offer on condition that the city paid for its repairs. In 1476, James, Earl of Desmond, who was successfully imposing

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 11

55. Sir John Perrot holds court at Quin, condemns Donnchadh beag

    Quin · town · Clare · 1584

    Sir John Perrot, arriving as Lord Justice in 1584, rested at Quin where he received the leading gentry of Clare. The sheriff brought Donnchadh beag O'Brien of Dromfionnglaise before him, charged with crimes related to the Desmond rebellion, and Perrot condemned him to death.

    Read the passage

    Sir John Perrot, a reputed son of Henry VIII. — arrived in Ireland as Lord Justice on June 21st, 1584, and started on July 25th to make a tour of the provinces. He first passed through Athlone to Galway, and then with his retinue set out for Limerick, resting the first night at Kilmacduagh, and the next at Quin, where he received the leading gentry of Clare. While at Quin, the sheriff, one Cruise, brought before him Donnchadh beag, son of Tadhg, son of Donnchadh O Brien, whom he had in custody charged with some serious crimes. This was Donnchadh of Dromfionnglaise, a sub-denomination of Cragmoher, near Corofin.s His grandfather, Donnchadh, second son of Toirdhe^lbhach donn, was Tanist to his brother, Conchobhar (ob. 1539), but died before him in 1531, and was buried in Dun na gall. The next brother, Murchadh, then became Tanist, and after Conchobhar 's death, was King of Thomond for three years, until he submitted to Henry VIII. in 1542, accepting the titles of Earl of Thomond for life, and Baron of Inchiquin m tail. Donnchadh beag was implicated in the recent Desmond rebellion, and even if he had not done anything else, that

    1 State Papers quoted. Hist. Mem. of the OBriens, p. 517. It is probable Murchadh knew little of the contents of the letter written in his name, as Irish and Latin were the only languages familiar to him.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 38

56. St Finghin's Church, Quin: Gothic parish church

    Quin · town · Clare · 1280

    The parish church of Quin, dedicated to St Finghin, stands west of the stream that once powered the friars' mill. It is a Gothic nave 79 by 27 feet with a triple lancet east window, a richly-moulded south window, and a later belfry with carved faces on its corbels; the north wall has long since fallen.

    Read the passage

    on this spot, of unknown design, was buraed over the heads of Sir Thomas de Clare's followers in the fierce battle of Quin, 1278, when the sons of Brian ruadh avenged the murder of their father at Bunratty. It is probable that the present building is the work of De Clare, and was built soon after the erection of the Castle of Quin, 1280, and before its destruction, by Cumeadha mor, in 1285. It is of Gothic design, consisting of a nave only, 79 feet by 27 feet, and has a triple lancet east window, and the remains of a

    St Finghin's Church, Quin

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 40

57. Fitzgerald siege of Loch Gair

    near Lough Gur · lake or lakes · Limerick

    A war broke out among the FitzGeralds, and James son of Maurice, heir to the earldom, laid siege to Loch Gair. His army included Mac Carthaigh Cairbrech, the White Knight, the Knight of Glin, the Knight of Kerry, and others.

    Read the passage

    A war broke out among the Fitz Geralds, and James son of Maurice, the heir to the earldom, laid siege to Loch Gair. The chiefs of his army were Mac Carthaigh Cairprecli (i.e., Domhnall mac Finghin), Corbmac 6g mac Corbmaic mic Taidhg, Corbmac mac Donnchaidh 6ig mic Carthaigh, lord of Ealla (Duhallow), the White Knight, Ridire an Gleanna (the Knight of Gl}^^), and Ridire Ciarraigheach (the Knight of Kerry), Mac Muiris, O Concho bhair, and the tower of strength of the army, Mac Carthaigh mor — i.e., Corbmac Ladhrach. Sean mac an larla came to complain of his distress to the Dal gCais, for there was friendship and affinity between them — for M6r, daughter of Donnchadh mac Briain Dubh, was wife of that Sean. Ua Briain arose with love and respect and assembled the men of Tuad Mhumha and Piaras mac Seamuis Butler joined him and others

    126

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 47

58. Killaloe Cathedral rebuilt by kings Murchad and Domhnall mor

    Killaloe · town · Clare · 1080–1185

    The Cathedral at Killaloe was extensively rebuilt by King Murchad about 1080, with fragments of the earlier decorated church built into its walls. The Gothic building was founded by Domhnall mor Ua Briain around 1185. Kings Murchad (d.1119) and Conchobhar na Cathrach (d.1142) were buried in the church.

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    The ecclesiastical foundation of Killaloe, as the name (Cell Dalua) implies, owes its origin to a Dalcassian Prince, Lugaidh (Lua, Molua, or Dalua), who died before a.d. 605; he was brother of Toirdhealbhach, a descendant of Eochaidh Bailldearg, baptized by St Patrick. His nephew, St Flannan, was an energetic missionary up the coast into Scotland, where the venerable boat-shaped oratory and cells, on the Flannan Isles, are attributed to him.^ Like his uncle, he was a bishop, and probably the small very primitive church on Friar's Island was founded by Molua while he founded a church (or churches) where the Cathedral and stone-roofed oratory still stand. Flannan is said to have been consecrated by a Pope, John (more likely John VI, at the close of the 7th century than John IV, in a.d. 639); he died on Aug. 4th, the year being unrecorded. The Cathedral was extensively rebuilt by Murchad, titular High King of Ireland, about 1080, and many fragments of the richly decorated early church and the fine Eomanesque archway are built into the walls of its successor. The Gothic building is one of the numerous foundations attesting the piety (or perhaps the remorse) of the unscrupulous Domhnall mor Ua Briain, the last King of Munster. In the church were buried King Murchad in 1119, and Conchobhar " na Cathrach," King of Thomond, a benefactor of Katisbon Abbey, who died in 1142, but no certain monument remains, though an early Irish cross-scribed tombstone (now in the recess of the Eomanesque door) is shown as the tomb of the former prince, or even as that of King Brian, who, in point of fact, was buried at Armagh.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 19

59. Adare burned by the Irish, 1376

    Adare · townland · Limerick · 1376

    King Richard II remitted the subsidies and tallages due from Adare until the town was rebuilt, as it had been burned and devastated by the Irish in the war. This was the second severe devastation the town had suffered.

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    and a chamber, each roofed with thatch or s'hingle, a tower, covered with planks, a kitchen, covered with slates, and a chamber near it, also slated. All was waste from the Irish war, and the surrounding lands were uncultivated. The Close Rolls of 1334 show that John Darcy, guardian of the lands of the said Richard, during the minority of Richard, Earl of Kildare, got a grant to repair the Castles of Kildare, Adare, Cromyth and Esgrene, with their houses and other edifices. As we noted, the White family had been settled at Adare in the previous century; again, in 1346, Thomas, son of Robert White, and Thomas fitz John were appointed keepers of the peace for the cantred of Adare and Cromyth for the year. In 1360 a tax of 2 shillings on each carucate of land in the cantred of Adare was levied for the Irish war. Adare must have suffered severely a second time, as King Richard II, in 1376, remitted the subsidies or tallages due from Adare till the town was rebuilt, as it had been burned and devastated by the Irish in the war. The lower bridge is said to have been built between 1390 and 1410; it was a strange, narrow structure, 'hardly wide enough for a carriage to pass over, and with recesses on the buttresses up stream for foot' passengers to stand back on such occasions. The 15th century, which saw such activity in the church visitations and buildings, has left little record of Adare, the long residences next the Norman Hall in Desmond's Castle, and most of the Franciscan Friary date from it, and there was great prosperity and considerable peace in Co. Limerick during the period. The Creagh family of Adare enjoyed a large share of that prosperity. When '' Silken Thomas " was executed in 1536, Adare was forfeited to the Crown; the lands surveyed in 1540 are Adare, Crome, Rachanan (Rathcannon, a conspicuous castle on a rocky knoll near Bruree), and Tobemy. Another survey in 1559 made by Simon Barnwell gives much information, and he seems to have consulted the Franciscans' Register; he mentions " the old broken castle " and " the Abbey of Grey Fryers," as founded by Thomas, late Earl of Kildare, " who gave two challeses of sylver and bought a greate bell for 10 li ; his Countes was buried under a stone in the quier in 1486." The monasteries were dissolved in 1539; the Trinitarians held 70 acres of land, the castle and mill of Robertstown (between Adare and Croom), a mill and salmon and eel weirs at Adare, with tithes on numerous lands. The Black Abbey (Austin Hermits) had other weirs. In 1541, Adare and Crome were granted to James, son of Sir John, Earl of Desmond; this seems to be the only connection of these nobles with the place in which popular names, like " Desmond's Castle," and '* Desmond's chapel," have given them such unwaiTanted prominence. In 1566 the White Abbey (Trinitarian) was granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Warham St Leger, it was subsequently granted to John Zouche in 1583, to Sir James Gould, the Attorney-General, in 1585, and to Sir Henry Wallop; the Abbeys passed so often to different people that we gain httle by recording their destiny any further. The Poor Abbey, though roofless, retained much of its glass even in 1608, when jMooney saw it.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 33

60. Death of Thomas de Clare and Bunratty town, 1287

    near Bunratty · parish · Clare · 1287

    On August 29, 1287, Sir Thomas de Clare was defeated and slain in a battle fought somewhere in Tradraidhe against King Toirdhealbhach mor. A post-mortem inquisition taken at Bunratty on September 18, 1287, recorded the place as a prosperous town of over 200 burgesses holding 226 burgages.

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    At last, on August 29, 1287, Sir Thomas de Clare met his fate at a battle fought somewhere in Tradraidhe, between King Toirdhealbhach mor and himself, in which he was defeated and slain, with several of his gentlemen. According to the post mortem inquisition taken after the death of Sir Thomas de Clare at Bunratty, on Sept. 18, 1287, the place was then a prosperous town of over 200 burgesses, holding 226 burgages.

    During the minority of the sons of De Clare, Gilbert and Eichard, Bunratty was held by the King. In 1289, £11 10s. 8d. was spent in making about 140 yards of a fosse round the castle, with a palisade, another fosse for the mill, and in enlarging the pool. £5 3s. 9d. was allowed for the " covering of the big tower " and a chamber near the Eiver 0 Garney, the buying of new locks for the gate, the raising of a new tower beyond the gate, and repairing houses within the precincts of the castle. The place was besieged by the Irish in 1296, 1298, and 1299, with varying success, but was never actually taken in any of these years. On the custody, defence, victualling, and repairs of the castle for ten years 1289- 1299, while in the hands of the King, at least £230 7s. l^d. were spent.

    Internet Archive antiquitiesoflim00westrich, Chapter 41