The history of Sligo : town and county

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. Land grant to St. Fechin for Ballysadare church

   Ballysadare · townland · Sligo

   A fertile and extensive region bounded by Ballysadare river, Drumard, the sea, and the Ox Mountain was made over to St. Fechin for his church of Easdara or Ballysadare. In later times this territory formed the Termon of that church.

   Read the passage

   Dudley McFirbis,* " of 48 dayes plowing, or as much as might be plowed of land for 48 dayes ;" the stretch from the bridge of Ballydrehid all round to Culleenamore, was given to St. Diarmit for the church of Kilmacowen ;f the fertile and extensive region bounded to the east and west, respectively, by Ballysadare river and Drumard, and to the north and south by the sea and the Ox Mountain, was made over to St. Fechin for his church of Easdara or Ballysadare,J and formed, in later times, the Termon of that church ; and still larger districts were granted in other places to the founders of churches. The holy men guarded jealously what they thus got, resisting firmly every encroachment, come from quarter it might. Saint Aidan, of Cloonoghill, as is stated in another page, addressed strong remonstrances and reproaches to St. Cormac, who, he thought, intended to settle too near him ; § and St. Conal, the uterine brother of St. Attracta, prevented her, much against her will, from erecting her monastery or hospital in his neighbourhood. 1|

   Tillage on Church or other lands was very rare in the time of St. Patrick, and for some centuries after ; though the instance of Bishop Etchen, who was engaged in ploughing when Saint Columba came to him for the purpose of receiving episcopal ordination, shows that tillage was practised to some extent even in those primitive times.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 235

   As the companion tells it

   Close to Ballysadare, a fertile and extensive region was made over to St. Fechin for his church of Easdara. The land stretched from the river to Drumard, and from the sea to the Ox Mountain. In later times this territory formed the Termon of that church. The holy men of that era guarded what they received jealously, resisting every encroachment from whatever quarter it came. St. Aidan of Cloonoghill sent strong remonstrances to St. Cormac, who he thought was settling too near, and St. Conal, the uterine brother of St. Attracta, prevented her from erecting her monastery or hospital in his neighbourhood. Tillage on church lands was very rare in the time of St. Patrick and for some centuries after, though Bishop Etchen was engaged in ploughing when St. Columba came to him to receive episcopal ordination.

2. Mr. Ward's school near the Lungy

   Sligo · town · Sligo · 1855

   The Erasmus Smith Board's support of the late Mr. Ward's school near the Lungy was, according to the 1855 Commissioners on Endowed Schools sitting in Sligo, almost the only educational return made to the town or county despite the vast extent of endowed lands. A witness confirmed that only the master's salary was provided for education in Sligo town.

   Read the passage

   the extent and value of these lands, but instead of that, the support, for a short time, of the late Mr. Ward's school near the Lungy was, as we learn from the proceedings of the Commissioners on Endowed Schools which sat in Sligo in 1855,* almost the only return made to the town or county.

   The next Protestant foundation was the Charter School, which was opened in 1755. In 1730 Primate Boulter, on the part of the Government, established the Charter Schools as conversion traps for Catholics, " out of concern," as he said, "for the salvation of these poor creatures." Parliamentary grants, amounting to millions, were lavished on these establishments, but they failed so utterly and disgracefully, that John Howard, w^ho visited them in 1788, describes them as " a disgrace to Protestants, and an encouragement of Popery, the children being sickly, naked, and half-starved."

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 238

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Sligo, there is little left to see of Mr. Ward's school near the Lungy. In 1855 the Commissioners on Endowed Schools sat here and found that its support, for a short time, was almost the only return the town or county got from a vast extent of endowed lands. A witness confirmed that only the master's salary was provided for education in Sligo town. Beyond that, the endowments brought the people of Sligo next to nothing.

3. O'Hara family's annual offering of three cows to St. Cormac

   near River Moy · river · Mayo

   The head of the O'Hara family bound himself and his descendants to make an annual offering of three cows to the successors of St. Cormac on the banks of the Moy. This illustrates how laymen of station contributed not only to local churches but sometimes sent offerings to distant religious houses out of devotion to a particular saint.

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   This mode of supporting religion continued and increased with the increase of the church. Laymen of station not only contributed to the church of their neighbourhood, but sometimes sent contributions to a distance, out of devotion to a particular saint. Thus the head of the O'Hara family bound himself and his descendants after him, to make, every year, an offering of three cows to the successors of St. Cormac on the banks of the Moy.t Affiliated or appropriated churches, chapels, or cells, in the same way made annual offerings, or rather payments, to the parent house, which, as we learn from various •sources, and notably from the Registry of Clonmacnoise, were, in early times, always paid in kind, in beeves and hogs for the

   * " Rex Rethcung93 — consecravit Assico, ejiisque jam mortui monachis, agrost et paschua pro centum vaccis cum suis vitulis et viginti bobus pascendis." — Trias Thaum., pag. 135. The Book of Armagh mentions the same fact.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 233

4. Protestant religious houses erected across County Sligo

   Strandhill · town · Sligo

   In recent years, various Protestant denominations erected religious buildings throughout County Sligo. The late Established Church built a Gothic church and parsonage at Strandhill and chapels of ease at Ballysadare, Rosses Point, and Ballinafad, while Methodists, Presbyterians, and Independents also built places of worship.

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   In recent years houses of a religious character have been erected through the county by the different denominations of Protestants : — by the members of the late Established Church the neat little Gothic church and parsonage of Strandhill, the chapels of ease of Ballysadare, Rosses Point, and Ballinafad ; by the Methodists, the chapel, minister's residence, and schools of Sligo, and the chapel of Collooney ; by the Presbyterians, the fine manse of Garden Hill, the manse and church of Drum near Ballymote, and the manse and church at Clogher ; and by the Independents, the imposing church, minister's residence, and schools of Stephen- street.

   An account of the means of support for themselves and the service of religion which Irish bishops and priests enjoyed in the past, would be an appropriate addition to the foregoing facts, but there is little known on the subject. Saint Patrick and his fellow -labourers were greatly helped by the grants of land which they received from or through their converts, some of whom, if not chiefs themselves, belonged to the families of chiefs — as^ Maneus, bishop of Tirerrill, who was great-great grandson of Ollioll, king of Tirerrill ;* and Bronus, of Killaspugbrone, who' was son of Icneus, chief of his territory. In receiving land& they also, no doubt, received the live stock that were on them ;

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 233

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Strandhill, in County Sligo, you are passing a place where the late Established Church put up a neat little Gothic church and parsonage in recent years. It was part of a wider wave of building across the county by different Protestant denominations. The same church also built chapels of ease at Ballysadare, Rosses Point, and Ballinafad. The Methodists erected a chapel, a minister's residence, and schools in Sligo itself, and a chapel in Collooney. The Presbyterians built a fine manse at Garden Hill, a manse and church at Drum near Ballymote, and another manse and church at Clogher. The Independents put up what the record calls an imposing church, minister's residence, and schools on Stephen Street. The passage notes that bishops and priests in earlier times were supported in part by grants of land from converts, some of whom belonged to chiefly families, such as Maneus, bishop of Tirerrill, and Bronus of Killaspugbrone.

5. Provincial Synod at Tuam regulates clerical income, 1817

   Tuam · town · Galway · 1817

   A Provincial Synod held in Tuam in 1817 under Archbishop Oliver Kelly fixed clerical income at one guinea for marriage, two shillings for yearly dues, and other specified fees. The Council noted the scale was meant for the poorest class and that better-off people were bound to be more liberal.

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   In a Provincial Synod held in Tuam in 1817, under the Most Eev. Oliver Kelly, clerical income was fixed at one guinea (£1, 2s. 9d.) for marriage, two shillings for yearly dues, five shillings for a marriage certificate, and two shillings as lionorarium for Mass. The Council makes no mention of a baptismal fee, and observes, regarding the scale laid down, that it is meant for the poorest class (infima plebs), and that better-off people (locupletiores) are bound to be more liberal.

   According to Rev. James Nelligan, in his Statistical Account of Kilmacteige (p. 379), the fees in that parish were, in the year 1817 — for marriage, £1, 23. 9d. ; baptism, 2s. 6d. ; yearly dues. 2s. 2d. ; mortuary, 8s. 01. ; marriage certificate, 5s. ; Bishop's licence, 5s. Od. ; while servants and young persons were in the habit of giving sixpence each on occasion of their half-yearly confession. And, in addition, a collection was taken up on Christmas Day, and another on Easter Sunday. The parson observes that this list may, " with some variation, serve as a standard for all the other parishes of the diocese." He omits, however, to mention that, at this time, a stop was put, by the Provincial Synod of Tuam, to the off'erings of young people and females on the occasion of confession : — " Oblationes vero qu£e

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 237

6. Provincial Synod at Tuam sets clerical maintenance scale, 1631

   Tuam · town · Galway · 1631

   A Provincial Synod meeting at Tuam in 1631 under Archbishop Malachy Queely sanctioned a scale of maintenance for clergy, setting fees for marriages, baptisms, and yearly dues. This was deemed all that the impoverished Catholics of the day could be asked to provide.

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   Owing to the confusion that resulted from these ill-omened times, there was no longer any regular assured means of support for the clergy of the people ; and to remedy this defect, a Provincial Synod, which met at Tuam in 1631, under the presidency of Most Rev. Malachy Queely, sanctioned a scale of

   HISTORY OF SLIGO. 435

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror

7. Sligo Charter School conditions in 1787

   Sligo · town · Sligo · 1787

   A 1787 parliamentary report found the Sligo Charter School contained 25 boys and 17 girls, all barefooted, mostly ragged and illiterate. Sleeping rooms were filthy with insufficient bedding, apprentices could barely read or write after years in the school, and several pupils had skin eruptions. The master's own children occupied well-lit, spacious rooms.

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   Assuming the Sligo Charter School to be a fair specimen of all, we must pronounce Howard to be sufficiently moderate in his judgment. According to a Report on the State of the Protestant Chartered Schools issued by a Parliamentary Commission in 1788, Sligo school, on the 26th July, 1787, "contained twenty-five boys and seventeen girls, all barefooted, for the most part ragged and illiterate. There were eleven beds in the room in which the boys slept, which were all filthy, and had but three tickens, and very few bolsters. The sheets in general were very foul. The girls' sleeping room was equally filthy, and had no tickens, and but two bolsters on eight beds. The master had three apprentices, who were working barefooted at a dunghill, viz. : William Kavanagh, aged 17 years, was bound to him in July, 1785 ; James Henley and William Connell,

   * Mr. Hughes, one of the Commissioners, having asked the Rev. Samuel Shone, one of the witnesses, ' ' Is the result this, that for Sligo, out of the estates held by the Governors, all they contribute is the salary of the master ?" the witness answered, " The result is, that is all they give as regards education in the town of Sligo."— Evidence taken before the Commissioners, etc. Question 6681.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 238

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Sligo, this town held a Protestant Chartered School visited on the 26th of July, 1787, as part of a parliamentary commission's report. It held 25 boys and 17 girls, all barefooted, "for the most part ragged and illiterate." The boys' sleeping room had 11 beds but only 3 tickens and few bolsters, the sheets "very foul," and the girls' room was equally filthy, with no tickens and only 2 bolsters across 8 beds. The master kept three apprentices working barefooted at a dunghill — William Kavanagh, aged 17, bound in July 1785, James Henley, and William Connell.

8. Sligo Charter School opened 1755

   Sligo · town · Sligo · 1755–1788

   A Charter School was opened in Sligo in 1755 as part of a government scheme established by Primate Boulter in 1730 to convert Catholics. Parliamentary grants were lavished on these schools, but John Howard visited them in 1788 and described them as a disgrace, with children sickly, naked, and half-starved.

   Read the passage

   The next Protestant foundation was the Charter School, which was opened in 1755. In 1730 Primate Boulter, on the part of the Government, established the Charter Schools as conversion traps for Catholics, " out of concern," as he said, "for the salvation of these poor creatures." Parliamentary grants, amounting to millions, were lavished on these establishments, but they failed so utterly and disgracefully, that John Howard, w^ho visited them in 1788, describes them as " a disgrace to Protestants, and an encouragement of Popery, the children being sickly, naked, and half-starved."

   Assuming the Sligo Charter School to be a fair specimen of all, we must pronounce Howard to be sufficiently moderate in his judgment. According to a Report on the State of the Protestant Chartered Schools issued by a Parliamentary Commission in 1788, Sligo school, on the 26th July, 1787, "contained twenty-five boys and seventeen girls, all barefooted, for the most part ragged and illiterate. There were eleven beds in the room in which the boys slept, which were all filthy, and had but three tickens, and very few bolsters. The sheets in general were very foul. The girls' sleeping room was equally filthy, and had no tickens, and but two bolsters on eight beds. The master had three apprentices, who were working barefooted at a dunghill, viz. : William Kavanagh, aged 17 years, was bound to him in July, 1785 ; James Henley and William Connell,

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 238

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Sligo, you are in a town where a Charter School opened in 1755. It was part of a government scheme established by Primate Boulter in 1730, set up as he said out of concern for the salvation of poor creatures, to convert Catholics. Parliamentary grants were lavished on these schools, but John Howard visited them in 1788 and described them as a disgrace to Protestants and an encouragement of Popery, the children being sickly, naked, and half-starved. A Parliamentary Commission report from 1788 confirms Howard was moderate in his judgment. On the 26th of July 1787, Sligo school contained 25 boys and 17 girls, all barefooted, for the most part ragged and illiterate. The boys slept in a room with 11 beds, all filthy, with but three tickens and very few bolsters, and the sheets in general were very foul. The girls' sleeping room was equally filthy, with no tickens and but two bolsters on eight beds. The master had three apprentices working barefooted at a dunghill, William Kavanagh aged 17, bound to him in July 1785, James Henley and William Connell.

9. St. Aidan of Cloonoghill remonstrates against St. Cormac

   Cloonoghill · townland · Roscommon

   Saint Aidan of Cloonoghill addressed strong remonstrances and reproaches to St. Cormac, whom he believed intended to settle too near him. This illustrates how early holy men jealously guarded the lands granted to their churches against encroachment.

   Read the passage

   Dudley McFirbis,* " of 48 dayes plowing, or as much as might be plowed of land for 48 dayes ;" the stretch from the bridge of Ballydrehid all round to Culleenamore, was given to St. Diarmit for the church of Kilmacowen ;f the fertile and extensive region bounded to the east and west, respectively, by Ballysadare river and Drumard, and to the north and south by the sea and the Ox Mountain, was made over to St. Fechin for his church of Easdara or Ballysadare,J and formed, in later times, the Termon of that church ; and still larger districts were granted in other places to the founders of churches. The holy men guarded jealously what they thus got, resisting firmly every encroachment, come from quarter it might. Saint Aidan, of Cloonoghill, as is stated in another page, addressed strong remonstrances and reproaches to St. Cormac, who, he thought, intended to settle too near him ; § and St. Conal, the uterine brother of St. Attracta, prevented her, much against her will, from erecting her monastery or hospital in his neighbourhood. 1|

   Tillage on Church or other lands was very rare in the time of St. Patrick, and for some centuries after ; though the instance of Bishop Etchen, who was engaged in ploughing when Saint Columba came to him for the purpose of receiving episcopal ordination, shows that tillage was practised to some extent even in those primitive times.

   Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 235

10. St. John's rectory in Sligo given to Dublin Priory

    Sligo · town · Sligo

    The rectory of St. John's, Sligo, commonly called in old documents the Rectory Between the Two Bridges (Rectoria inter duos pontes), was appropriated to the Priory of Saint John the Baptist extra novam portam, Dublin. This was part of the broader pattern of monastic establishments taking control of local church revenues.

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    By degrees the great monasteries got hold of the majority of the county Sligo churches with their " dues and pertinents." To Clonmacnoise were appropriated Tawnagh, Kilmurihy {Kilmorgan), and Kilmacteige ;§ to Boyle, the churches of Grange near Knocknarea, Grange in Ahamlish, Grange in Emlaghfad, Grangemore and Grangeley in Tireragh and Cloncagh in Corran ; to Trinity Abbey, in Lough Ce, the churches of Killross, Tullamoylebeg (now TuUabeg), Bricklieve, Killadoon, and Shancoe, with the rectories of Emlaghfad, Kilmorgan, Cloonoghill, Tumour, Drumrat, Kilturra, Kilshalvey, and Enagh; to the house of the Canons Regular of Inchmacnerin, Killerry, Kilmacroy, and the rectories of Aghanagh, Kilmacallan, and Coolea; and to the Priory of Saint John the Baptist, extra novam portarriy Dublin, the rectory of St. John's, Sligo, commonly called in old documents the Eectory Between the Two Bridges, Redoria inter duos pontes.

    * Kilkenny Archaeological Journal, Vol. IV., p. 4i8.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 234

    As the companion tells it

    Sligo town ahead. In old documents, the rectory of St. John's here was called the Rectory Between the Two Bridges, Rectoria inter duos pontes. It was appropriated to the Priory of Saint John the Baptist extra novam portam in Dublin, meaning the revenues of this local church were taken over by that Dublin house. This was part of a wider pattern across County Sligo, where the great monasteries gradually got hold of the majority of the churches with their dues and pertinents. Others went to Clonmacnoise, to Boyle, to Trinity Abbey in Lough Ce, and to the Canons Regular of Inchmacnerin.

11. Tuam cathedral revenues paid in corn and barley, 1516

    Tuam · town · Galway · 1516

    As late as 1516, the revenues of Tuam cathedral—and consequently other revenues of the province—were paid in corn and barley. This reflected the long-standing practice of ecclesiastical offerings being made in kind rather than money.

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    As soon as it became more general, offerings ceased to be given exclusively in animals, and began to be made in part from the produce of the tilled land, so that the ricks and baskets of corn mentioned in the Four Masters, under the year 1236, as stored up in churches and churchyards, were, no doubt, the outcome of those oblations. So late as the year 1516 the revenues of Tuam cathedral, and, consequently, other revenues of the province, " were paid in corn and barley."

    * Kilkenny Archceological Journal^ Vol. IV., p. 451. t Acta Sanct., pag. 751. ij: Ibid., p. 134. § Ibid., p. 753. II Ibid., p. 277.

    Internet Archive historyofsligoto00oror, Chapter 235