Name: Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society
Author: Cork Historical and Archaeological Society

Richard Creagh, Limerick merchant's son

Limerick · city · Limerick

Richard O'Melchrebus, commonly known as Creagh, was the son of an upright and honourable merchant from the town of Limerick. After a transformative experience abroad, he returned to Ireland as Archbishop of Armagh to aid persecuted Catholics.

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Richard O'Melchrebus, commonly called Creagh, and by some writers Cravaeus, was the son of a notoriously upright and honourable merchant of the town of Limerick in Ireland, and, after the manner of his people receiving a Christian education and instruction in letters in his childhood, he became inflamed with piety and zeal for divine knowledge. As a young man engaged in his father's business, he in company with other merchants sailed for Spain in a hired vessel laden with merchandise. Having sold his goods there and bought others to traffic with, and these being shipped, and all prepared for the return journey, a favourable wind blowing, the hour was appointed at which all merchants should embark. On this clay, when at early morning they came to the ship, Richard said to his companions that he must hear the holy mass before he embarked, and that having heard it he would join without delay. Intent on seeing the celebration of the holy mass he was left behind by his companions, who shortly weighed anchor and set sail. Seeing them from the land and calling them, he saw them, together with the ship and cargo, suddenly sink within the very harbour. Greatly struck by this incident he gave thanks to God that he himself had been preserved, and resolved to lead another life less perilous to his body and far safer for his soul. He applied himself therefore entirely to study. Excelling in piety, and by no means unskilled in learning, he was in a short time ordained priest and consecrated Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of Ireland. 1 Ie returned immediately to his native land, bringing the fruits of divine wisdom and sanctity instead of worldly and paltry merchandise, that with these helps he might afford a salutary aid to the souls of his people stricken by a most vehement persecution under Elizabeth. The holy bishop entering upon his sacred office was arrested by the English priest-hunters and sent into England. Cast into the Tower of London, and whilst in chains long and frequently pressed by bribes and threats and assailed with menaces, he never would desert

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 298

Sir William Petty, MP for Kinsale and Bandon

Kinsale · town · Cork · 1659

Sir William Petty, the celebrated surveyor-general of Ireland and author of the Down Survey, was elected M.P. for Kinsale and Bandon in Cromwell's Parliament in 1659, replacing Vincent Gookin. He was knighted in 1661.

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M.P. Kinsale and Bandon in Cromwell's Parliament, 1659.
The celebrated surveyor-general of Ireland, and author of the Down Survey ; son of Anthony Petty, of Ramsey, clothier; was m.d. and physician-general to the army, 1652; clerk of the council ; M.P. also for West Looc, 1658 ; Enniscorthy, 1661 ; knighted 1 661 ; f.r.s. He married, 1667, Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Hardress Waller, and widow of Sir Maurice Fenton, M.P. {q.v.), and had two sons (who d.s.p.) and a daughter, Anne (see Henry Petty). Lady Petty was created Baroness Shelburne 1688, and died 1708.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 87

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Kinsale in Cork, this was the parliamentary seat of Sir William Petty, elected MP for Kinsale and Bandon in Cromwell's Parliament in 1659. He was the celebrated surveyor-general of Ireland and author of the Down Survey, son of Anthony Petty of Ramsey, a clothier. He had served as physician-general to the army in 1652 and clerk of the council. He was knighted in 1661 and also sat as MP for Enniscorthy that same year.

40,000 sheep consumed in week at Buttevant and Moyalloe

Buttevant · town · Cork

The rebel forces consumed at least 40,000 English sheep and probably three or four thousand cattle during one week spent in Buttevant and Moyalloe. Many sheep were killed merely for their skins, which were sold for a penny farthing each to skinners from Kilmallock who followed the camp, and the flesh was thrown away.

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The townsmen found that morning two great sows/1*) one fully, the other almost finished, made musket proof, with four wheels, and so large that 30 men might easily move in them, whereof they made matter for the fire to work on. Also the enemy had barricaded every entrance into the town with cupboards, forms, tables, frames and such like lumber, to hinder the horse coming on them which they expected from Cork. And within a mile of the town on the way they went, there were afterwards found in ditches and furze, barrels of biscuit, a bag of bullets for ordnance, a mortar, and such things cast away that they might fly the faster ; nay, they made such haste that they left behind them the carriage of their piece of artillery. You will wonder when I tell you that the enemy, in one week which they spent in Buttevant and Moyalloe, viz., from Wednesday to Wednesday, did consume at least 40,000 English sheep, and probably three or four thousand English cows and oxen. I received from a credible relation that they most wickedly killed abundance of this number of sheep merely for their skins, which they sold for one penny farthing each to skinners of Kilmallock, who followed the camp for that purpose, and threw away the flesh. Few of these sheep had less than ten pounds of wool on them, being of so large a kind as in the best places in England.
(14) This preparation of sows for the attack of a castle defended by cannon and hand-guns is a remarkable survival of the ancient mode of attack, but it must be remembered that the cannon of the besieged was mounted on a platform on the top of the Great Castle, and could not bear on the sozv close under the walls. A sow was actually used about this time at the siege of Ballyally Castle, in county Clare (see Narratives Illustrative of Hie Contests in Ireland in 1C41 and 1690; edited for the len Society by Thomas Crofton Croker, in 1S41).

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 21

Battle near Castlelyons, June 1643

Castlelyons · town · Cork · 1643

After taking Cloghleigh, Sir Charles Vavasor marched towards Castle Lyons and formed his troops on a large plain. Lord Castlehaven attacked from a great valley and defeated Vavasor's forces, taking him and several officers prisoner.

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He says, " Lord Inchiquin sent Sir Charles Vavasor with sixteen or seventeen hundred men to take Cloghleigh, a castle then belonging to the Condons. I marched immediately towards him, and before night encamped within three miles of him, the mountain only between us. My brother-in-law, Richard Butler, brother to the Duke of Ormonde, was sent out the same night to discover the enemy. In the morning word was brought that the castle was taken, and the garrison after quarter given put to the sword and my brother-in-law engaged. I lost no time, but marched in all haste with my horse to his succour, which joined with his made up two hundred and forty or two hundred and fifty at most ; the foot marched also, but the old general came on so slowly that I had defeated the enemy before he came within two miles. The manner thus. Sir Charles Vavasor, though he had taken the castle, remained still in camp, till seeing me on the top of the mountain above him come to succour mine that were skirmishing, he drew to arms, but being among hedges and ditches, and the castle between us, I could not come at him till he marched towards Castle Lyons, where in a large plain he formed. But I going by the advantage of a great valley came into the plain unseen almost as soon as he, and having ordered three or four squadrons of boys on horseback to possess the ground from whence I came, I lost no time in the charge, and defeated his horse, who to save themselves broke in on the foot ; their cannons were useless, being passed the Blackwater. This with God's assistance, and a great shower of rain, gave me the victory with little or no loss. Sir Charles, that commanded with several officers, remained prisoners, their cannon and baggage taken, all their foot defeated, but their horse for the most part escaped." This happened on Sunday, 4th June, 1643, about 12 o'clock at noon.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 294

Skahard whitethorn wood tradition

Skahard · townland · Limerick

The townland of Skahard takes its name from 'high whitethorn trees,' recalling a thick wood that once covered the glebe land. An old man recounted that his father saw the last three whitethorns there, equal in height and girth to good-sized ash trees.

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(-0 On the glebe land there is a high whitethorn tree, which is a most beautiful sight in spring, being one sheet of blossoms which perfume the air afar. This " sceach " reminds one of the time when the glebe land was covered by a thick wood of these trees, as the townland on the west side is named Skahard, " high whitethorn trees." We call the whitethorn a bush in these degenerate days, but the white thorns of Skahard were high trees ; an old man informed me that he was told by his father, who saw the last three whitethorns of this wood, that they were in height and girth equal to ash trees of good size. So that if Arthur Young had visited Ireland earlier than he did, he would not have made the remark, " What a figure would Ireland make on a comparison with its present state, if one tree stood by every cabin."
3IO CORK HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 182

Oisin, Bran's pup, and the Dord Fiann at Birdhill

Birdhill · townland · Meath

A Fenian legend tells of Oisin, a boy, and Bran's pup arriving at the hill now called Birdhill, where they found a cave sealed by a boulder. Inside hung the Dord Fiann, the hunting horn of the Fians; when Oisin sounded it three times, a monstrous bird appeared and was killed by the pup, which then went mad and was itself slain.

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Bran had pups, and immediately Oisin commanded a sheep to be killed, and the fresh skin to be fastened against a wall. An attendant was then ordered to stand some distance from the skin and dash eacli pup with full force against it. All the luckless pups perished, except one, and that one clung on to the skin, which it began to devour. Oisin, on hearing this, gave directions that the pup should be reared and well treated, remarking that it was the makings of a good dog. And this is the dog which accompanied Oisin and the boy, and which is known in Irish legendary lore as Bran's pup. Oisin and the boy and the pup in the course of their travels arrived at the hill now called Birdhill, which they ascended until they reached a cave, the entrance of which was barred by an immense boulder. Oisin ordered the boy to roll away the stone, but the boy laughed, and said ten men could not do it. Oisin then requested the boy to lead him up to it, and placing one hand on it he pushed it aside. He then commanded the boy to enter the cave and tell him what he saw ; the boy said there was a
1 88 CORK HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 114

1304 O'Brien attack on Caherconlish castle and town

Caherconlish · town · Limerick · 1304

In 1304, Torlogh O'Brien attacked the English of Caherconlish (Cathair Cinnlis), slaughtering many, demolishing the castle, and burning the town from inner citadel to outer walls. Heavy iron swords and human bones found in a field beside the village may be relics of this assault.

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At the year 1304, Annals of Inisf alien, occurs the following: "Torlogh O'Brien proceeded with an army to Cathair Cinnlis, and attacked the English of that town, of whom he made great slaughter ; he demolished the castle, and burned the town from the inner citadel to the outer walls." Early in this century some heavy iron swords and a large quantity of human bones were found in a field just beside the present village at west side. These may have been relics of the year 1304. Lewis says that "Caherconlish was formerly incorporated, as appears from a grant made in the 32nd of Edward III. and dated November 9th, 1358, conferring murage for 20 years on the Provost, Bailiff, and Commonalty of the town of Catherkenlyshe." This money was obtained in tolls and customs from Limerick and Waterford merchants, who had to pass through Caherconlish. The memory of the " mayor " of Caherconlish has been well preserved by the people. About fifty years ago there died an old man in Caherconlish, named John Doyle, in his youth he had been connected with a lawless body of men dubbed in the district, "Sovereign Pickers." They visited people's houses by night, and demanded money for "powder and balls." If the people did not yield to the demands of the Sovereign Pickers they were tried, and if convicted, punished, and John Doyle being one of the presidents of these self-constituted tribunals was called the "Mayor" of Caherconlish.
(To be continued.')

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 186

Ardee: Ferdiagh's Ford, site of Cuchullain's duel

Ardee · townland · Louth

The scene where Cuchullain met and after a four days' fight slew his most formidable adversary Ferdiagh, by the river Nith, has ever since borne the name of Ferdiagh's Ford, Ath-Ferdiagh, now Ardee.

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the world of fairies and supernatural beings, and who we all know were actual and potent existences then. Indeed it has been supposed that Queen Mab, the fairy queen of whom we read in Shakespeare, was the poetical representation of this powerful lady. Only the morals of "the good people " were generally supposed to be better than their tempers, while hers were far worse, bad as her temper decidedly was. However, a year or two after Fergus had betaken himself to Roscommon, this queen ordered a general hosting of all her subject chieftains and allies down as far as Munster, with part of Leinster ; and "the four provinces," as the tale runs, moved through Longford and Meath to invade Louth, ostensibly to capture a famous brown bull, " the Donn Cuailgne," belonging to a chief up in the mountains, and thus began the war recorded in the story called The Cattle Prey of Cuailgne. By some accounts it lasted for seven years. Be that as it may, the one chief whose single prowess is said to have kept the force at bay, though it did not prevent a wholesale plundering of cattle, was Cuchullain. By an agreement which both sides were bound to keep to, he was to fight each champion the invaders sent forth, and while this lasted they were not to advance. But Cuchullain's forces were too few to offer any solid resistance to the latter, and so the scene of acting shifted to various parts of the county ; even beyond as far as Dunseverick, in the county Antrim, they appear to have sent parties to plunder. Meanwhile Conor rested idle in his fortress of Emhain (Navan), near Armagh. At last Cuchullain met, and after a four days' fight, slew the most formidable of his adversaries, Ferdiagh, and the scene where this took place, by the river Nith, has ever since borne the name of Ferdiagh's Ford, Ath-Ferdiagh, now Ardee. By one account Cuchullain succumbed to his wounds soon after, but the tale has been written more than once, and there are many discrepancies in the different copies. It appears certain that, like Hector of old, he died in defending his country ; and Conor did not move till the invaders had commenced to retreat with their booty to the west, and the only battle fought by the Ulstermen with them was in the county Meath.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 233

Arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald at Thomas Street, Dublin

Thomas Street · street · Dublin · 1798

On 19 May 1798, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was arrested after a desperate struggle at the house of Murphy, a feather merchant in Thomas Street, Dublin. He died soon after of wounds received during the arrest.

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ladies and children left Muskerry for Cork or England, except some who held on in fortified residences ; and twelve thousand copies of a proclamation were issued, intimating that the military and yeomanry would take vigorous measures to repress disturbances and seize arms. Notwithstanding this, large armed gangs scoured the west of county Cork, searching houses for arms, and robbing indiscriminately. The house of John Gillman, at Milane, near Dunmanway, was one of those attacked, but he had received notice of their approach, and was aided by six soldiers, whose fire killed one and wounded others, of whom one named T. MacCarthy was captured, and soon after executed, after acknowledging at the scaffold the justice of his sentence, which he hoped would be a warning to other deluded persons. On Sunday, 29th April, a pastoral letter from the Roman Catholic bishop, Dr. Moylan, was read in all the chapels of the diocese of Cork, exhorting the people not to be led from their allegiance by the machinations of ill-designing men, which had a salutary effect in preventing many in the county Cork from joining the insurgents. In Dublin, on the following Sunday, the noted Major Sirr captured a committee of United Irishmen at the house of a publican on Rogerson's Quay ; and on the 19th May arrested Lord Edward Fitzgerald, after a desperate struggle, at the house of Murphy, a feather merchant in Thomas Street. Lord Edward died soon after of his wounds then received. The next day Henry and John Sheares, barristers, were taken and committed to gaol on the charge of high treason. For this they were tried, and on the 14th July were executed at the front of the new prison in Dublin. On their fate the ancestor, to whom the writer is indebted for the materials of this sketch, makes this comment : — " Thus fell victims to inordinate ambition two gentlemen of talents and learning, sons of a very worthy and respectable gentleman of Cork, who happily did not live to behold their untimely fate ; their heads were severed and given with their bodies to their friends."

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 122

As the companion tells it

Along this street in Dublin, on the 19th of May 1798, Lord Edward Fitzgerald was arrested after a desperate struggle at the house of Murphy, a feather merchant. The man who captured him was the noted Major Sirr. Lord Edward died soon after of the wounds he received in that struggle. The Sunday before, Major Sirr had taken a committee of United Irishmen at the house of a publican on Rogerson's Quay in Dublin. The net was closing. The day after Lord Edward's arrest, Henry and John Sheares, barristers, were taken and committed to gaol on the charge of high treason. They were tried and on the 14th of July executed at the front of the new prison in Dublin. The writer's ancestor, who provided the materials for this account, left a comment on the fate of the Sheares brothers. He wrote that they fell victims to inordinate ambition, two gentlemen of talents and learning, sons of a very worthy and respectable gentleman of Cork, who happily did not live to behold their untimely fate. Their heads were severed and given with their bodies to their friends.

Battle and retreat through the defile near Fermoy, 1643

Fermoy · townland · Cork · 1643

The English army retreated toward Fermoy through a narrow defile after encountering Irish forces. The Irish charged the rear as the English passed through the lane, forcing the horse into the foot and putting them to rout, with the English losing colours and two pieces of cannon.

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On the 4th June, being Sunday, about daybreak, Mr. Hill, with a squadron of horse, was sent to scout near Cloghine and Castle Grace, in the county of Tipperary. Before it was light he found himself surrounded by the Irish horse, so that he and his men escaped with difficulty ; and, alarming the English at Cloghleigh, they immediately ranged in battalia, in two divisions, in a field near a mountain, on the side of which the Irish soon appeared, a mile and a half from the army. Sir Charles Vavasor, who the night before lay at Castle Lyons, was sent for in great haste, but before he arrived two hundred musketeers commanded by Captain Philip Hutton, and a troop of horse led by Captain Freke, advanced towards the Irish about half a mile, and then halted for two hours. In the meantime parties of horse on both sides approached each other with their trumpets sounding a charge. Christopher O'Brien, brother to the Earl of Inchiquin, demanded a parley with Quartermaster Page, and after some compliments and discourse they parted, as did afterwards Captain Richard FitzMaurice, brother to Lord Kerry, with Mr. O'Brien. Soon after notice was given that the Irish were advancing, upon which Sir Charles received notice that Sir John Brown was advancing from Mallow, and was but a mile and a half from him and at his disposal. Sir Charles having consulted with his officers that such a body of horse as appeared could not be without a great body of foot, although they did not yet come over the hill, so that retreat was resolved upon, and the carriages were ordered to hasten to Fermoy with the cannon to defend that pass, in case he should be hard pressed ; whereupon the army halted to let the cannon proceed, and then drew off towards Castle Lyons. The vanguard was led by Lieutenant King (afterwards Baron Kingston), the main body by Major Howell, and the rear by Sir Charles himself; and behind them was a forlorn hope commanded by Captain Pierce Lacy, Captain Hutton, and Lieutenant Stadbury, with all the horse in the rear, who no sooner had passed the Funcheon and recovered the top of the hill but the enemy's horse were at their heels. From this hill to Fermoy there was a narrow defile well known to both parties. As soon as the Irish perceived the English to march through the lane, except the forlorn hope and the horse, they charged them in the rear, and so pressed on the horse, being only one hundred and twenty, that they were forced to fall in among the foot and put them to the rout. The ordnance had not yet passed the Blackwater, nor had the two companies arrived there to defend the passage, so the English lost all their colours except one pair,saved by the gallant behaviour of Dermot O'Grady, ensign to Captain Roland St. Leger, as also two pieces of cannon. Sir Charles Vavasor, Captain Wind, Captain Fitzmaurice, Lieutenant King, Ensign Chapman and other officers were made

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 293

Caherconlish oral history of ancient city

Caherconlish · town · Limerick

The oldest inhabitant of Caherconlish, nearing his century, recalled that the village was once an ancient city second only to Kilmallock, and was renowned more for fighting than for fish. A roofless church and bare hill are all that remain of its former prominence.

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But to return to Caherconlish, it was, as I have remarked, a place of some importance, and though there is not at present very much to stay any stray antiquary who may happen to come this way, and who would hold up his hands in wonder at my rushing to write a paper in the Journal on the antiquities of a place where so few visitors tread ; still a few moments conversation with the oldest inhabitant, who is now not far from his century, would undeceive him. The oldest inhabitant would probably inform him that Caherconlish was a very ancient city, next in the "ould" times to Kilmallock, in those days when Limerick was said to be near Kilmallock ; and also our antiquary would possibly be told that "Caherconlish was more renowned for fighting than for fish." In accordance with an old advice our friend looks around him, and seeing nothing but a decaying village, a roofless church (the pretty new church is outside the village) and a bare hill, doubtless considers that the oldest inhabitant may be renowned for something else beside fighting. Ah, my friend, be not so quick, that decaying village stands on ancient ground. There is very good reason for thinking, before St. Finbar built his little church beside the Marsh which men now call Cork, that bare hill was crowned by a city of the Gaeidhil, and long before, how long we cannot say, some warrior of our ancient race chose that hill on which to build his earthen fortress ; and when Donald O'Brien, the great king of Limerick slept — his long warfare with the Saxon o'er — William de Burgh came, and having dismantled the cathair, raised upon that hill his Anglo-Norman towers, and shortly after there grew up around these towers an English walled town. Now all is over, lios and cathair, and castle and walled town, and nought remains to tell the tale of ancient renown but a poor village, whose name/1' CaTJajp. Chjtnjljf, means the " circular stone fort built at the head of an earthen one."

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 181

Carrigacashel castle and the Monks of the Screw

Newmarket · town · Cork · 1535

The third Mac Auliff castle, Carrigacashel, stood near Priory outside Newmarket, where the 'Monks of the Screw' sported under their genial abbot, John Philpott Curran. The Mac Auliffs were of Danish origin, their name meaning 'sons of Amhlaibh,' and in 1535 Mac Auliff defeated FitzGerald, Lord of Clenlish, with great slaughter.

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The third castle was near Priory, where the " Monks of the Screw" oft sported under their genial abbot, John Philpott Curran. This was Carrigacashel. Curran was born in a house on or near the site of the present courthouse of Newmarket. The handsome Celtic cross placed over the grave of his daughter, Sarah, in Newmarket churchyard, was due to the initiation of Bishop John Gregg, who headed the subscription list which Miss Aldworth opened at his request. O'Donovan, in one of his notes to O'Heerin's Topographical Poem, gives an account of an interview he had with the weighmaster of Kenmare, who claimed to be the last representative of the chiefs of Clan Mac Auliff. I have a distinct recollection of hearing a tradition that the last Mac Auliff died very many years ago near Newmarket in poor circumstances. The Mac Auliffs were a fighting race, and of Danish origin, as the name means " the sons of Amhlaibh, Amlaf, Olaf, or Aulaf," many chiefs of which name ruled over the Danes of Limerick. In the year 1535 Mac Auliff defeated with great slaughter FitzGerald, the Lord of Clenlish. Early in the seventeenth century Sir Richard Aldworth received a grant of a large portion of Mac Auliffs territory.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 192

Clonkeen church folklore of aerial transport from England

Clonkeen (Molyneux) · townland · Limerick

Near Barrington's Bridge stands the very old church of Clonkeen (Cluain Caoin, 'beautiful meadow'), possibly dedicated to St. Diommog. Local tradition holds it was never finished because workmen who had flown it en bloc through the air from England disappeared when an old woman surprised them and neglected to say a blessing.

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lost his life. Near Barrington's Bridge is a very old church, that of Clonkeen Clnain Csein, "beautiful meadow"; dedicated perhaps to St. Diommog. (See Donegal Martyrology.') The people say it was never finished, for the workmen having brought the church en bloc through the air from England were busy fixing it together, being disarranged somewhat by the rapid flight, when an old woman surprised them, and having neglected to say Ba}\ J j)j4 0J14J0, "the blessing of God on ye," the workmen disappeared and left the church as it is.
Barrington's Bridge is so named from the Barrington family, who have done so much for the city of Limerick-. In 1829 Sir Joseph Barrington, bait., at a cost of

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 254

Cromwell's forces enter Cork through the Water Gate

Cork · city · Cork

On a dark December night, the officer in charge of Roche's Castle by Liberty Street treacherously opened the Water Gate, allowing Cromwell's Ironsides to wade through the Rush Marsh and assemble on the quay, giving rise to the event known as 'Cromwell's Christmas.'

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There are many thousands of our citizens whose ideas of the growth of their native city are very vague, it might be said they know nothing at all about it, and to make it plain to them and to strangers, I propose taking them in imagination, or in reality, "Round about the Walls of Cork," and showing them the actual traces and the solid remains of the walls which are still standing. Let us start southward from the Water Gate, and come back to the same spot again after passing round the limits of the ancient city. Stand in front of the Queen's Old Castle (Lyons & Co. Ltd.), on the Grand Parade, and you look westward. That is the exact site of the Water Gate, whose two castles — the Queen's Castle and the King's Castle, nearer to Castle Street — with a spiked gate of strong timbers, and its dock within, formed a safe refuge for the small ships of the period, and was the origin of Cork Arms and the Latin motto Statio Bene Fida Caruiis. The stream that runs through Nile Street, Liberty Street, Patric Street, till it flows into the north channel near the bridge, by Merchants' Quay, though unseen is still there, and is all that remains as a mark. The centre part of Lyons' establishment is the front of the city courthouse of the last century; its three narrow doors and windows are unaltered; the wings at each side are only modern extensions. The late lamented Richard Caulfield, ll.d., told me he saw the great iron hooks on which the actual Water Gate hung, still fixed in the great stone blocks that held them, on one occasion when the street was dug up. There are many stories that might be told of the Water Gate. It will suffice to remind you of one dark night early in December, when the officer in charge of Roche's Castle, which stood where the Young Men's Society faces Liberty Street, stole silently down the little quay of the dock, and treacherously opened the Water Gateerehe returned. Shortly after, the "Ironsides" of Cromwell began to wade through the slush of the Rush Marsh, and waist deep through the shallow water, until they assembled in hundreds on the little quay, giving rise to the terrible calamity recorded as " Cromwell's Christmas," and the nearly extinct bad wish, " The curse of Cromwell on you."

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 106

As the companion tells it

Cork holds the site of the old Water Gate, where the Grand Parade meets the ancient city walls. The gate stood between two castles, the Queen's Castle and the King's Castle near Castle Street, with a spiked timber gate and a dock inside that sheltered the small ships of the period. It gave Cork its arms and its Latin motto, "Statio Bene Fida Carinis." A stream ran through Nile Street, Liberty Street, and Patric Street to the north channel near the bridge by Merchants' Quay, and though it is unseen it is still there. The late Richard Caulfield told of seeing the great iron hooks on which the actual Water Gate hung, still fixed in the great stone blocks, on an occasion when the street was dug up. On a dark night early in December, the officer in charge of Roche's Castle, which stood where the Young Men's Society faces Liberty Street, stole silently down the little quay of the dock and treacherously opened the Water Gate. He returned. Shortly after, Cromwell's Ironsides began to wade through the slush of the Rush Marsh, waist deep through the shallow water, until they assembled in hundreds on the little quay. The event was recorded as "Cromwell's Christmas," and it gave rise to the nearly extinct bad wish, "The curse of Cromwell on you."

Daniel O'Donovan defends Charles Fort, Kinsale

near Charles Fort · monument · Cork · 1690

Daniel O'Donovan (The O'Donovan), MP for Baltimore in James II's Parliament of 1689, was a colonel who defended Charles Fort at Kinsale for King James and personally surrendered the keys to the Earl of Marlborough on honourable terms. He had earlier received a testimonial in 1662 from English inhabitants of the barony of Carbery certifying his loyalty.

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Son of Daniel O'Donovan by Gillis, daughter of Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy, of county Galway. He was a colonel in the service of King James, and defended Charles fort at Kinsale for the king with vigour, and surrendered " with his own hand " the keys to the Earl of Marlborough, and made honourable terms.
In 1662 he received a testimonial from the English inhabitants of the barony of Carbery, certifying that from his childhood he had lived inoffensively towards them, and had been a loyal and faithful subject to his Majesty (Charles II.). In 1684 he was put on his trial for high treason, but the proceedings came to nothing, though in 1692 he delivered himself to the high sheriff, being apparently "wanted" by the government ; but he was not detained, or even prosecuted.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 85

As the companion tells it

Somewhere about Charles Fort, in 1690, a man named Daniel O'Donovan held this place for King James. He was a colonel, and he defended the fort with vigour before surrendering, as the record puts it, the keys to the Earl of Marlborough. He made honourable terms. He was the son of Daniel O'Donovan by Gillis, daughter of Sir Roger O'Shaughnessy of county Galway. Years earlier, in 1662, the English inhabitants of the barony of Carbery had given him a testimonial certifying that from his childhood he had lived inoffensively towards them and had been a loyal subject to Charles II. In 1684 he was tried for high treason, but the proceedings came to nothing. In 1692 he delivered himself to the high sheriff, apparently wanted by the government, but he was not detained or even prosecuted.

Death and burial of the Old Countess of Desmond at Youghal

Youghal · town · Cork · 1604

Katherine, the Old Countess of Desmond, died in 1604 at approximately 110 years of age and was interred with her husband at Youghal after seventy years of widowhood. She had witnessed the complete disappearance of the vast Desmond wealth and power that once stretched from Waterford to the Kerry coast.

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Finally, in 1604, when James, son of ill-fated Mary Stuart, wore the united diadem of Great Britain, the Old Countess of Desmond died, probably at the age of one hundred and ten years, and was interred with her husband at Youghal after seventy years of widowhood, which was really the remarkable fact of her life. As to her great age there need not be so much surprise, as to this day we hear of persons who have passed their hundredth year, and even more, chiefly among poor people, whose hardy existence has prolonged vitality. The ridiculous legends of the Old Countess's death being hastened by feats of activity, perfectly impossible to a centenarian, need no further notice.
The wife of an Anglo-Irish lord, who was owner of a hundred and fifty miles of territory, extending from Waterford to the sea shore of the County Palatine of Kerry, and who was able to bring an army of his dependents into the field, flouting the English government at will and pleasure, Katherine Countess of Desmond lived to witness the disappearance of all this wealth and power. The day of reckoning for many a cruel and unjust deed, for unbridled arrogance, and reckless disregard of divine and human law, came at last in the downfall of a haughty race, whose cradle was rocked within the walls of Republican Florence, whose history came to be part of the chronicles of a northern island, over which in " the light of other days " it cast its wild glamour of warfare, feud, or romantic legend, all telling of the prowess, the hatreds, or the loves of the Southern Geraldines.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 97

Devastation and spoil left in Moyalloe after rebel flight

Mallow · town · Cork

After the rebel forces fled Moyalloe (Mallow), the townsmen found houses converted into stables with rotting animal carcasses in the chambers. Furniture was burned as relics of Protestant superstition, glass windows broken for lead, and all iron fittings torn from buildings. The inhabitants abhorred their former dwellings due to the filth and destruction.

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But he that would view without reluctance the beastliness, spoil, and barbarism remaining to their everlasting shame, had, I dare say, a heart as impenetrable as their intentions were mischievous. The lower rooms of most of the houses were converted into stables, the upper to lodgings, where not only the flesh, but the garbage, guts, and maws of the sheep and cows lay stinking noisomely in the very chambers where some of the chief lords and gentlemen lodged, which for mere laziness their servants would not cast out of doors. Their bedding and meat so sordid and nasty that a right-bred English dog would have scouted either ; all things presented to the smell a most excrementitious perfume. Of the stools, bedsteads, chairs, cupboards, doors and posts, they made heretics, and burned as the relics of Protestant superstition. Of lead and iron they were so covetous, that they brake most of the glass windows for the one, and tore in pieces doors for twists and
RISE AND PROGRESS OF THE REBELLION IN MUNSTER. 29

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork

Executions at Macroom after Hutchinson murder

Macroom · town · Cork · 1798

Five men convicted of Mr. Hutchinson's murder were hanged at Macroom and their heads set on spikes on the bridewell, where they remained within living memory. Two more were hanged at Macroom on 3 June, and two MacCarthy brothers on 10 July, all with heads similarly displayed.

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universal belief was that he had been stabbed, doubt was thrown on Duggan's veracity ; but he asked that the body be exhumed. This request was complied with, and the body was examined by Dr. Ronayne, of Cork, and a surgeon of the Louth militia, who found that Mr. Hutchinson had been shot through the heart, which had been nearly blown to pieces, not more than one-eight part remaining. Several pellets of duckshot were extracted. Thus Duggan's account was confirmed. Several convictions and more arrests followed. On the ioth May John Duggan (son of Malachi) alias " Captain Thunderbolt," Timothy MacCarthy, and Owen Scanlan were convicted of the murder before the general courtmartial, and on the 13th two others ; and on the 14th all five were hung at Macroom, and their heads set up on spikes on the bridewell, where they remained till well within the memory of persons still living. The trial of these men brought out clearly the exterminating system of the United Irishmen ; they believed they were to " free " their country by desolating it and murdering every one of property and loyalty. Reen, Mr. Hutchinson's own servant, was also tried on the 13th and afterwards convicted, and with another was hung at Macroom on 3rd June, their heads also being set up. On the 7th July the Muskerry Cavalry brought in three more men arrested in the neighbourhood of Macroom, and sixteen others in the wood of Glenflesk or near it, charged with abetting the murder. Two of these, Charles and Owen MacCarthy, brothers, were convicted and hanged as above, at Macroom, on the ioth of July ; and on the 8th the sixteen men taken at Glenflesk were tried before William Crooke and Francis Johnson, two justices appointed as commission for trying malefactors, and were convicted of aiding in this and other outrages and sentenced to transportation for life. Such were the consequences of this useless and inhuman murder of a gentleman who is described as sincere as a friend, kind as a neighbour, charitable and forbearing as a landlord, and benevolent and lenient as a magistrate.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 123

Firbolgs granted lands in Meath by Carbry Niafer

Tara · parish · Meath · 1–100

Returning from the western islands of Scotland in the first century AD, the Firbolgs were expelled by the Picts and obtained settlements in Meath from King Carbry Niafer, but fled when he raised the rent, seeking refuge with Oilioll and Meave in Connaught.

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But the land question, about which we hear so much every day in the week, seems also to have existed at this early period. Carbry placed too high a rent upon his lands, and the Firbolgs fled from him to Oilioll and Meave, king and queen of Connaught.
)y arj-o con4r;4cl)T; C4iub|t), Tmji r)4 Te4ji4?b t^ji ^4)11)15?, To5r)4tij T;e4n)it4cl) t4 C4Cr) -cii4)^l), 4)0 r;l)|iebf*4'D ejxjrjr) e4crjlii4),cl).

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 183

Fourth Earl of Clancarty taken prisoner at capture of Cork, 1690

Cork · city · Cork · 1690

Donogh, fourth Earl of Clancarty and grandson of the first earl, joined King James II's side and was taken prisoner when Cork was captured on 29th September 1690. He was confined in the Tower of London but escaped to France, was outlawed, and later pardoned by King William with a pension of £300 a year.

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(4) Donogh MacCormac (oge) MacCarthy, eighteenth lord of Muskerry, son of Cormac oge MacCormac MacCarthy, seventeenth lord, who is shown in the pedigree of the family published at p. 193 of vol. i. of this Journal (1st series), to illustrate an article on the " Sept Lands of Muskerry." The seventeenth lord and his father, Cormac, the sixteenth lord, had followed the example of the fourteenth lord — the famous Sir Cormac MacTeige MacCarthy; and, by successive surrenders of the clan lands, as if their own, to the Crown, and subsequent regrants from the Crown to themselves, had diverted the ownership of the lands from the clan to themselves, and became landlords receiving rents in money, instead of chieftains over clansmen — their status under Tanist law. Donogh's father, Cormac Oge, had been created in 1628 Baron of Blarney and Viscount of Muskerry. Donogh was the second viscount ; and having joined in this civil war, 1641-52, became commander of the Munster forces of the "rebels." He was exiled to the Continent by the Parliament, but afterwards assisted in the Restoration of King Charles II., by whom he was, in 1658, created Earl of Clancarty. His grandson, also called Donogh, fourth earl, joined the losing side of King James II. in his contest with William of Orange, and was taken prisoner at the capture of Cork, 29th September, 1690, and was contined in the Tower, but escaped to France. He was outlawed; but was subsequently pardoned by King William, who allowed him a pension of ,£300 a-year. His estates in Muskerry, i.e. the landlord rights filched a century before from the clan, were forfeited and sold in Dublin to various purchasers in 1702-3.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 15

Ginckle's 1691 encampment at Caherconlish: plague and siege preparations

Caherconlish · town · Limerick · 1691

In August 1691, General Ginckle's army arrived at Caherconlish from Nenagh, exhausted and hungry. Local tradition holds that plague broke out in the camp, explaining his prolonged stay. Ginckle used the time to secure the Shannon passes and prepare fascines for the siege of Limerick.

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On the 14th August, i69i,the English army, under General Ginckle, arrived in Caherconlish from Nenagh, passing through the wild defiles of the Silvermines district, where in days of old Sadbh, or Sabia, wife of Glas, fostered her children on the slopes of Sliabh Coimealta ("mountain of fosterage"), now known as Keeper Hill, and sometimes termed nj4t4jfi-f l)4b, " mother mountain," as being the highest of the range called Slj4b tj-Bbljnw 7t)5Jt)1 oblige, " the mountains of Eveleen, Guarie's daughter," and named in Speede's map "the twelve great hills of Phelem Ghe Madona." I have given in the Journal the legend of Eveleen, and when dealing with the interesting parish of Abington in some future number, I shall refer to these hills again in connection with O'Donnell. The English army when passing through the Silvermines district suffered much from scarcity of food, and only two or three families in the district would supply them. I am informed that even at the present day when any descendants of these happen to have a tiff with their neighbours the same is thrown in their teeth. Ginckle's army, worn with fatigue and weak from hunger, arrived in Caherconlish, and though other reasons are given for his long stay, I am inclined to think that the people's tradition about the plague breaking out in his camp is quite correct, and that he stayed in Caherconlish in order to give his men time to recover. The weather is also said to have been very unfavourable, but Ginckle was not idle during his enforced stay; he secured the passes of the Shannon, and employed his men in making fascines and other preparations for the siege. On the 15th, with the Prince of Hesse, he went to reconnitre Limerick with 2,500 men. On the 16th the siege train, eighteen heavy guns and several mortars, and all other requisites, arrived in Caherconlish from Athlone under a heavy escort. The English would not be caught napping again as they had been at Ballyneety O'G-Cuanach. On the 17th the regiments of Beaumont, Sir John Hanmer, and Hales, a Brandenburg and Danish regiment with the 5th Dragoon Guards, arrived from Cork. On the 25th the English army left Caherconlish, 900 horse and 1,200 foot led the van with four field pieces to besiege the strongest fortress in Ireland. And so ended the visit of Goddart de Ginckle, Earl of Athlone, to Caherconlish. He died at Utrecht, in February, 1703, only a few months after he had been made Veldt Marshal of the Dutch armies.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 206

Johnny Roche's castle and inventions near Mallow

Dromore · townland · Cork

Johnny Roche, an eccentric inventor and musician, lived in a castle near Dromore, Mallow, paying rent to his landlord Mr. John Newman. He adorned the pier-tops approaching his mill and the battlements of his castle with sculpted monsters of his own creation, and built a water-clock in a stream diverted under his castle.

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gatherings in the country ; and even late in life accomplished journeys of twenty miles to and from the residence of his landlord, the late Mr. John Newman, of Dromore, Mallow, to whom he paid the rent of his castle and garden in a most punctual manner. Johnny also made excursions into the fine arts, and turned out some sculpture and wood-carving, while many-visaged monsters, his own creation, grinned and gaped from the pier-tops approaching his mill, and kept stern vigil on the battlements of his castle. He was never known to purchase a trade implement, as he also made all his tools, with the exception of an anvil. In fine, his ingenious brain was scarcely ever allowed to wander in the regions of rest and vacancy, but was generally engrossed in planning out some invention, no matter how insignificant, and, like ten thousand people of the present day, a considerable portion of his time was employed over the perpetual motion problem, needless to say with the usual fruitless results. As a specimen of his minor performances might be mentioned the construction of a water-clock in the stream which he diverted under his castle. Where he borrowed the design of this ancient time-piece is unknown, but it certainly was not from any local source. A still more ingenious contrivance, which bears the stamp of originality, might here be mentioned as throwing a side-light into the subtle workings of his busy intellect. This was a trap for catching rats, and so varied and exhaustive have been the means and appliances for the destruction of these vermin that few would even dream of adding to the number. An ordinary barrel was placed standing on one end, the lid of the end uppermost turned on a pair of pivots by which it maintained a horizontal position ; the slippery contrivance was then placed in some well-known rat walk, and as the unsuspecting animal rambled in danger's way it stepped on the lid which instantly over-balanced, depositing the intruder safe and sound in the bottom of the barrel; the lid then revolved into its original position, and thus prevented the rat's escape. A humorous story to the following effect is related of him in connection with this invention. At one time he found some four or five rats imprisoned, and as he was in the act of dispatching them with a stout stick, a particularly light-coloured one, seizing its last opportunity to prolong its existence, sprung on to the stick, ran up it on to Johnny's arm, and away. The would-be executioner, struck with amazement, remarked that after such a gallant escape it was only due to the companions of such a clever animal to liberate them, at the same time turning the barrel on its side to allow of their escape. His intercourse with rats was rather extensive. A story runs to the effect that he was once presented with a white one, and after feeding it for a while, expected some show of gratitude in return. Johnny attempted to stroke it, but the rat, true to its old instincts, caught hold of his finger, on which he exclaimed — " Rats, black or white, should not be trusted!"

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 104

Kanturk name legend: O'Donoghue's boar hunt

Kanturk · town · Cork

The people of Kanturk say O'Donoghue chased a great boar from Lough Lein, Killarney, and killed it at the junction of the Ealla and the Dalua rivers. A writer in the Ossianic Society transactions connects this legend with boar worship at river junctions, while Dr. Joyce derives Ceann-tuirc as 'boar's hill.'

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The people of Kanturk have a legend to account for the name. They say that O'Donoghue chased a boar of great size from Lough Lein, Killarney, which was killed by him at the junction of the Ealla and the Dalua. In a note, Transactions of the Ossianic Society, vol. v., p. 62, the writer connects the origin of the name of Kanturk with boar worship. He says, "It is remarkable that most of these legends (Fionn's achievements against boars,) prevail at sites which in Hindostan are considered sacred — the junction of rivers." Dr. Joyce gives a more prosaic origin of the name. He says, "The name shows that the little hill near the town must have been formerly a resort of one or more of these animals [boars]." According to this explanation Ceanntuirc means "boar's hill," and not "boar's head," as it is usually supposed to mean. In the Annals of Loch Ce, under year 1510, Garrett, Earl of Kildare, is said to have marched from Carraig Cital, county Limerick, to the castle of Ceann-tuirc, which lie captured. It seems to me that the Purcells will have some trouble in proving that they were settled at Kanturk in 15 10. This castle can hardly have been the present castle of Kanturk, whose imposing ruins frown not far from the Irish Rhine. There is a tradition in the district, corroborated, I think, by history, that Queen Elizabeth, when she heard of the great strength of the castle which MacDonogh was building, gave orders that he was not to complete it, and so the castle came to be, and is, I believe, still called " MacDonogh's Folly." There was another castle at Curragh, about a mile
328 CORK HISTORICAL AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 192

Kilteely church and St. Patrick tradition

Kilteely · town · Limerick

Kilteely means 'St. Tidal's church.' The Tripartite Life states that St. Patrick built a church at Kill-teidhill when in the territory of Ara Cliach. Lonan, chief of the Uí Fidhgheinte, who made a great feast for St. Patrick on Mullach Cis, was buried at Kilteely.

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('6) In the Tripartite it is stated that when St. Patrick was in the territory of Ara Cliach, a district which comprised Knockaney, Kilteely, Doon and Cullen, he built a church at Kill-teidhill (Kilteely). In 1599 Sir Thomas Norris, president of Munster, was mortally wounded in a skirmish with Thomas Burke, of Castleconnell, fought at Kilteely. He died a few days after at Mallow.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 276

Lord Roche's Castletown castle taken, 1000 people yielded

Castletownroche · town · Cork · 1642

The army took Lord Roche's castle of Castletowne where at least a thousand people were, including his lady. They yielded upon quarter to depart with their lives and wearing apparel only, as reported by Mr. Rouckhood of Cork.

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The Lord Roche's Castle of Glannor is a strong place yet I heare but a weak ward in it, our army took his Lordship's castle of Castletowne lately where in was a thousand people at least his lady was in the Castle there, they [24] yeelded, as my ffriend Mr. Rouckhood of Corke informeth me uppon quarter to depart with their lives and wearing apparrell.
Our Army took also great O'Callahane's Castle lately.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 179

Mary Dowe whipped at cart's tail for handkerchief theft, 1774

Clonakilty · town · Cork · 1774

In January 1774, Mary Dowe was indicted in Clonakilty for stealing two handkerchiefs valued at tenpence sterling. She was sentenced to be whipped at the tail of a cart on three successive market days.

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but very few of petty thefts. When a theft did occur it was punished ferociously. In January, 1774, Mary Dowe was indicted for stealing two handkerchiefs of the value of tenpence sterling, and the unhappy creature was sentenced to be whipped at the tail of a cart, three market days successively.
Catherine Lordane was rather more fortunate. She was indicted for that she was " detected in stealing and carrying away one bundle of linen yarn value elevenpence," Not till two months later was she tried, and then, although pronounced not guilty, she was to be kept in confinement till she had paid her fees. If guilty, she would have been flogged being innocent she was only imprisoned.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 189

As the companion tells it

You are coming through Clonakilty, in Cork. In January 1774, a woman named Mary Dowe was indicted here for stealing two handkerchiefs valued at tenpence sterling. Her sentence was to be whipped at the tail of a cart, on three successive market days. The record calls her the unhappy creature, and says that theft was punished ferociously. Another woman, Catherine Lordane, was indicted for stealing a bundle of linen yarn worth elevenpence. She was not tried for two months. She was found not guilty, but kept in confinement until she had paid her fees. The record notes that if she had been guilty she would have been flogged. Being innocent, she was only imprisoned.

McAuliffe's second-sight prophecy at Kanturk Castle

Kanturk · town · Cork

Donough McCarthy invited his step-brother McAuliffe, who possessed the uncanny faculty of 'second sight,' to view the newly built castle. McAuliffe gazed in silence and then declared the castle too fine for crows and prophesied it would never be finished.

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So stately and massive was the appearance of the castle, with a fine tower at each of its four angles, that McCarthy's heart swelled with pride, and he sent one day for his step-brother, a McAuliffe, to hear what he would say in its praise. This gentleman, who was troubled by the uncanny faculty of " second sight," on his arrival gazed in silence at the building, and on being impatiently pressed for his opinion, he replied sententiously, " Tis too good for the crows to live in, and it will never be finished.''
The seer's words were verified, for the English settlers established on the lands of Geraldines ruined by their great insurrection, became suspicious of Donough McCarthy's ulterior motives, and complained to the Privy Council that the castle "was much too large for a subject," whereupon an order was sent to McCarthy to stop his work just as the battlements were about to be raised. Unable to defy the Government, Donough McCarthy in his furious disappointment gave orders that the glass roof, then nearly ready, should be smashed in pieces and thrown into the Brogueen. When Mr. Windele, in the early part of this century, unable to gain admittance into the ruins, peered through a window at the pointed arched doorway into one of the towers, he also observed the existence of three very thriving rookeries within the precincts of the old half-built castle.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 152

Monkstown Castle built for fourpence-halfpenny

Monkstown · townland · Cork

A tradition relates that the wife of the Lord of Monkstown, a Gould from a Cork merchant family, built Monkstown Castle for only fourpence-halfpenny by provisioning workmen at wholesale and profiting from food retail. Her husband was serving as an officer in the King of Spain's service during Queen Mary's reign when the castle was constructed.

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' The tradition is that the Lord of Monkstown was an officer in the King of Spain's service in the reign of Queen Mary, and, when summoned to attend an expedition to expel the Moors, his wife resolved to have a handsome castle built during his absence. Her name was Gould, a daughter of a Cork merchant, and she had such knowledge of business as to lay in, at wholesale prices, all the food and other requisites for the workmen building this castle, that, when completed, by her profit from the food retailed, all she had to pay was fourpence-halfpenny.'
Dickens was much amused at this instance of a Cork lady"s thrift." As might be expected from the publishers of this Journal, the volume is tastefully produced, and printed in clear legible type.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 217

Patrick Cotter O'Brien, the Irish giant of Kinsale

Kinsale · town · Cork · 1761–1804

Born near Pallastown, Kinsale, in 1761, Patrick Cotter O'Brien was a giant of great stature whose feats of strength are remembered locally. He worked as a stonemason and reportedly plastered the ceilings of Pallastown mansion without a ladder.

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By the kindness of H. P. Daunt, esq., of Kinsale, the President was enabled to exhibit the finger ring of Patrick Cotter O'Brien, the Irish giant (illustration annexed). He was born near Pallastown, Kinsale, in 1761, and recollections of his great stature and his feats of strength are still preserved in the locality. He was a stonemason by trade, and it is told of him at Pallastown, the family residence of R. W. Heard, esq., that he plastered the ceilings of the mansion without the aid of step-ladder or stool. His parents were not above the average height. When eighteen years of age a speculative showman bought him from his father at fifty pounds a year and embarked with him to Bristol. But after having been exhibited for a short time the young giant struck, as he was not allowed any pocket money for the tobacco, which was then as it is now one of the luxuries of the Irish peasant's life.
The showman taking advantage of the law as it then existed, flung him into a debtor's prison, thinking that he would soon be terrified into submission ; but fortunately the circumstance came to the knowledge of a benevolent gentleman, who, proving the contract to be illegal, had Cotter liberated. He at once commenced on his own account, and with such success that he earned thirty pounds in three days. Shortly after this Cotter changed his name, or possibly it was changed for him by the showman who took him round as an exhibition. At Pallastown he was plain Patrick Cotter, but now he appears with the appellation of an Irish king, from whom he claimed lineal descent.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 134

Rebels flee toward Youghal passage and caves in the wood

Youghal · town · Cork · 1642

After a standoff near Sir Richard Osborne's Castle, about three miles from Dungarvan, the rebel companies folded their colors and fled. Many were taken or killed as they rushed toward the passage of Youghal and hid in caves in the woods.

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[13] Wednesday the third day of March wee our army marched from Lismore towards the Towne of Dungarvane killed some in the way, took many prisoners, and burned all the Cabins in the countrey. My Lord President's troupe and my Lord's troope marched some 4 or 5 miles before the army ; when we came near Sir Richard Osborne's Castle, about three miles from Dungarvane, wee saw seven companyes with their coulors displayed, nigh opposite unto us, only a river between us and a little bogg, wee made all possible speede wee could to a ford to gett over the river that wee might gett before them, to keep them from marching home to the Towne, but they marched on exceeding fast pace insomuch that wee were no sooner in the ford but they were within muskett shott of us and discharged at us, the river was so deep that our horses were enforced to swime, wee seeing what advantage they had of us, wheeled about and came foorth out of the river, and galloped up to another foorde a mile from it, and passed over safe, before such time as they could make unto us, they seeing we had gotten before them fell into a body close by a wood side a little more than muskett shott of us wee braved each other a while, at length wee made towards them, they seeing our carbines all ported and my Lord and Captayne Bridges Colonefse and discrying with all our army presently furdled up their coulors and fled with all haste towards the passage of Yoghall and to caves in the wood, there were many of them taken and killed in their fiight, and many more their had byn, had not the woods and boggs byn their especiall friends.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 174

Ryan Puck and the Knockeen Cave Fox

Knockeen · townland · Limerick · 1840–1845

About fifty years before publication, fugitive murderer Ryan Puck was believed hiding in the Knockeen caves. Police from Caherconlish were sent to capture him, but all refused to enter the cave until forced; a fox bolted out, causing panicked retreat.

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There are several caves in Knockeen through which one may penetrate the hill for long distances. The people say that one of these caves has an outlet in a curious looking hole called Poul Eyon, about two miles to the north-east, at the other side of the Mulkear, and not far from Brittas Castle. They tell a story about a dog having been thrown into Poul Eyon and coming out at Knockeen. Poul Eyon is a natural hole in a rock, about thirty feet in depth and fifteen in width. One may notice from the top openings into three caves at the bottom. Poul is the Irish poll, " a hole," and Fyon is, perhaps, the Irish adhan, " a cauldron." It reminds me somewhat of the Pollagcolum, or "pigeon hole," near Cong, count)- Mayo, but of course it is much smaller. The people have no legends in connection with Poll Eyon, nor when I visited Cong could I hear any about Pollagcolum. A somewhat ridiculous story is told by the people in connection with the Knockeen caves. About fifty years ago a man named Ryan Puck(,) was on the run with a price on his head for a terrible murder committed at Knocksentry. Pie was supposed to be hiding near Caherconlish, and late one evening a countryman [Kissing by Knockeen, hearing a noise in one of the caves, concluded that Ryan Puck had concealed himself there. So he immediately went and gave information to the police in Caherconlish. A sergeant and several police constables were immediately despatched to capture Ryan Puck. On arrival at the cave's mouth Ryan Puck was ordered to come forth and surrender. But Ryan Puckmade no reply, and then the sergeant ordered one of his men to enter the cave. The man refused point blank. Ryan was known to be a desperate character, and was well armed, so it was certain death to the first man.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 226

Shandon Steeple built from Shandon Castle

near Shandon · locality · Cork

A flanking tower at Corn Market Street once pointed cannons at Shandon Castle, also known as Lord Barry's Castle. After the castle passed away, its stone was repurposed to build the structure of Shandon Steeple.

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Turning round the curve of Kyrls Street into Corn Market Street, the site of the Police Office was the spot on which the flanking tower stood whose cannon were pointed across at its opposite neighbour, Shandon Castle, or Lord Barry's Castle, for you will see the whole of the present North Gate district was named " Lord Barry's Countrie ;" but Lord Barry and his castle passed away, though the material of that building remains, for our favourite but mad-looking structure, Shandon Steeple, is built of it. It does not matter if the stone ran short and they had to make up the deficiency with red sandstone. The two limestone sides are turned to the city and to visitors, and it does not take one half note from the melody of its bells, which have got out of their knowledge from too much praise from writers and poets, myself included. But they are welcome to the praise, for I would not recall a single word if I could. The river, in the memory of several old people still living, came up as far as Kyle Street, and formed the Coal Quay Dock, but from Kyle Street southward the place is Corn Market Street.
There are few traces of antiquity about here, but the pillars of that Grecian edifice called the Bazaar Market, are the pillars of the old Exchange, a very handsome Dutchstyle building, at the corner of Castle Street. It was in the way they said; but here is Castle Street itself. It was a street of one side only, when the walls were up, for the wall of the dock formed its southern side, and Roche's Castle at the Main Street end, and the King's Castle at this end gave it the name which it still retains. But here, a few doors from Castle Street, towards the Parade, stood the King's Castle at the northern side of the Water Gate, and the spot to which I promised to bring you back, after going all around the walls. I told you little or nothing of the interior of the walled city, you can read it yourself from many sources, but the three castellated gates and the numerous flanking towers have disappeared, and can only be seen in pictures.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 107

As the companion tells it

As you come through Shandon, above Cork's north side, you are passing through what was once called Lord Barry's Countrie, the whole North Gate district taking its name from Lord Barry and his castle. A flanking tower once stood on Corn Market Street, on the spot where the Police Office later stood, and its cannon pointed straight across at Shandon Castle, or Lord Barry's Castle as it was also known. Lord Barry and his castle passed away, but the stone of that building did not. Shandon Steeple, that favourite mad-looking structure, is built of it. The stone ran short, and they made up the deficiency with red sandstone, so the two limestone sides are turned toward the city and toward visitors. None of this takes half a note from the melody of the bells, which have drawn praise from writers and poets until they have, as the writer says, got out of their knowledge from it. They are welcome to the praise, for he would not recall a single word if he could. The river, in the memory of old people still living, once came up as far as Kyle Street and formed the Coal Quay Dock. From Kyle Street southward the place is Corn Market Street. There are few traces of antiquity about here now. The pillars of the Grecian edifice called the Bazaar Market are the pillars of the old Exchange, a handsome Dutch-style building that stood at the corner of Castle Street. Castle Street itself was once a street of one side only, when the walls were up, for the wall of the dock formed its southern side. Roche's Castle stood at the Main Street end and the King's Castle at the other end gave the street its name. The three castellated gates and the numerous flanking towers have all disappeared, and can only be seen in pictures.

Sir Maurice Duff slain in Muskerry

near Muskerry · street · Cork

Sir Maurice Duff, whose estate lay near the McCarthys, held out against his enemies for thirty years until he was killed in his eightieth year by the horsemen of his son-in-law, Sir Dermod McCarthy, in Muskerry. His son was the celebrated James Fitzmaurice who assisted the sixteenth Earl Garrett in his rebellions against Queen Elizabeth.

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Sir Maurice Duff was rather gratified that his estate should be in the neighbourhood of his greatest enemies, the McCarthys, where his brother deemed that " he might have enough to do with and between them, that he might not have or enjoy leisure to practise any mischief against him " (the carl). For thirty years Sir Maurice " held play against all those that did oppose him," of whom there were many, until in his eightieth year he was slain in Muskerry by the horsemen of his son-inlaw, Sir Dermod McCarthy/^) The Old Countess of Desmond was left unmolested by the members of the new line until 15 15, when she emerged from the obscurity of her life, and made a deed of assignment by which she declared that " for good considerations me moving I have given, granted, and surrendered the said castle and town of Inchiquine to the Right Honorable Gerrot Earl of Desmond, now enjoying reversion of the premises." Mr. Sainthill wrote, that this being in reality an attempt to save the estate for the earl should he come to grief with the government, he in turn assigned it pro forma to some adherent of his party, a Mr. John Synotte, though the Old Countess continued to live at Inchiquin as usual. The earl being a rebel at that period, when the act of his attainder was passed, this arrangement was ignored by the English government, who granted the manor of Inchiquin to Sir Walter Raleigh, subject to the life-charge of the Countess Katherine, she having been in enjoyment of her jointure long before Garrett came to the earldom of Desmond.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 96

As the companion tells it

Somewhere about Muskerry, Sir Maurice Duff met his end. His estate lay in the neighbourhood of his greatest enemies, the McCarthys. His brother reckoned that placing him there would keep him busy, that he might not have or enjoy leisure to practise any mischief against the earl. For thirty years Sir Maurice held play against all those that did oppose him, and there were many. In his eightieth year he was slain in Muskerry by the horsemen of his own son-in-law, Sir Dermod McCarthy. After his death the Old Countess of Desmond was left unmolested by the members of the new line. She later emerged from obscurity and made a deed of assignment, declaring that "for good considerations me moving I have given, granted, and surrendered the said castle and town of Inchiquine to the Right Honorable Gerrot Earl of Desmond," now enjoying reversion of the premises. Mr. Sainthill wrote that this was in reality an attempt to save the estate for the earl should he come to grief with the government. The earl in turn assigned it to a Mr. John Synotte, though the Old Countess continued to live at Inchiquin as usual. The earl being a rebel, when the act of his attainder was passed, this arrangement was ignored by the English government, who granted the manor of Inchiquin to Sir Walter Raleigh, subject to the life-charge of the Countess Katherine, she having been in enjoyment of her jointure long before Garrett came to the earldom of Desmond.

Skirmish at Affane between Downing and Ffennell

Affane · townland · Waterford

Four companies of rebel forces took boat at Affanc near Lismore. Corporal Ffoucks and scouts engaged them, and Coronet Downing rode up to Captain Ffennell and discharged his carbine but was shot through his armour and body, dying in the skirmish.

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"Ffennell' and thinking they had been onely but cowstealers and pillagers Downing." made up to them, and discharged at Captayne ffennell, he bringing up their army, or rather raged regiment, and Ffennell likewise unto him. In the squirmish FfcnnelPs horse was shott, where uppon word was brought to the Towne that Corporal 1 Ffoucks was kil'd. Coronett Downing hearing of it lead some few other gentlemen they presently made unto them. The Coronett being a bold man and of a very forward spiritt, roade up close to Ffennell and discharged his carbine at him. Ffennell having gotten a fresh horse, hee mist him, but as the Comett wheeled about one of Ffennells choyce shott an old fowler which did usually runne by his horse side, with his fowling piece, shott him in the back through his armour and bod)- which made him presently fall from his horse. Your brother, Coronett Joanes, that now is in his place seeing him fall, shot at Captainc Ffennell and likewise hee [9] to him againe. They made two or three shott each to other ; your brother having discharged his carbine and pistolls, unsheathed his sword and challenged the Captayne to fight with him, when the shott from their army came flying about his ears, but their great Captayne refused it and retreated to the army ; your brother brought off the Coronett's horse in despite of them all ; their was one of our men more kil'd in the fight ; their corps could not possibly be brought off by us. they played so fast uppon us with their shott.
What number of men were killed one their side we could not learne, in regard they were masters of the ffield.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 173

St. Patrick's serpent in a Galtee Mountains lake

near Galty Mountains · mountain or mountain range · Limerick

A folk tradition recorded by Miss Banim holds that St. Patrick chained the last serpent in Ireland in a lake atop the Galtee Mountains. Each Monday the serpent surfaces and asks Patrick if it is time to be freed.

Read the passage

Some Stray Notes. — The writer of the paper " Folk-Lore of the Months," in the December number of the Journal, derives Knawhill, a townland in the parish of Knocktemple, barony of Duhallow, from Cr)4ttJ fujl. This, I think, must be a mistake, for O'Donovan, in his supplement to O'Reillys Dictionary, gives Cl}4''JC0lll as the Irish form of this name. It means the wood of bones. There was another and better known Ct)4U)C0]U, in the parish of Kilshane, barony of Clanwilliam, about a mile and a half east of the town of Tipperary, now corrupted to Cleighile. It lay near the old road leading from Cashel to Cork. This is evident from the following passage in the Annals of the Four Masters : — " 1600. O'Neill marched from Cashel, westward across the river Suir, and set out for Kinsale, by the route of Cnamh-Choill and Sliabh na Muice, keeping to the east side of Sliabh Claire, and passing through Bearna Dhearg, into Clangibbon and Roche's Country." Dr. Todd, in the Wars of G.G., translates CT)4ri)C0)U, " hazle or nutwood." I think, however, he must have confused Crjdlij, "a bone," with Ctjort), "a nut." Lough Gur has a rival for the possession of the impatient serpent. Miss Banim, in Here and There Through Ireland, has the following account of him : — "There was only one sarpint left in the entire universal island, an' that one St. Patrick chained deep down in a lake on the top of the Galtee mountains, that you may have heard tell of away in Tipperary. St. Patrick told him he would never leave that until he himself would come of a Monday to set him free. Every Monday morning the sarpint comes to the surface of the lake and calls out, ' Is it time yet, Patrick ?' Patrick answers, ' It's not the Monday yet.' When the sarpint says, ' Is fadha Luan e, Padraic' (It's a long Monday, Patrick), an' sinks again for another week." When preparing the paper on " Lough Gur," for the Journal, I conversed with several old people living beside the lake, but I did not get any tales of serpents from them. I heard numerous stories of various appearances of the Earl of Desmond, and another visitant, whom the people call the Dwarf. The latter appears at rarer intervals than Earl Gerald. He is generally described as having a long red beard and whiskers trailing behind him. The people speak pretty freely of the Earl, but they have a certain dread of this dwarf, and do not like to talk about him. The lake is said to belong to him, and he, I am informed, appeared to and threatened two men recently who were taking more than their fair share of fish from the lake. The story of the dwarf is an old one, older, perhaps, than the Desmond legend. The old people consider the lake is named from an Irish chief, and they may possibly have taken "gair"in its usual meaning of " short," and thus Lough Gair might mean the lake of the short fellow. I consulted several competent Irish scholars as to the meaning of the name of the lake, but they could only confess their ignorance, so, on the principle that it is better to have guessed and lost than never to have guessed at all, I gave some possible explanations in the Journal. O'Donovan mentions the name of the lake in his supplement to O'Reillys Dictionary, but gives no hint as to the meaning. Gair, meaning "head," occurs in a line quoted by O'Connellan from one of the Seabright MSS. in Trinity College, Dublin. Of me 2lm4U5er) 5lllT)5el, 34m 5Uf 51161)46, "I am Amergin Glungel, of hoary head and gray beard." Dr. Joyce gives

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 28

Two Brehons' castles and scolding wives tradition at Caherconlish

Caherconlish · town · Limerick

A tradition recorded in Story's Wars of Ireland tells of two Brehons (Irish judges) who lived in two old castles half a mile from Caherconlish. Their wives, though sisters, scolded at each other from the battlements until one used a dressed-up image as a decoy, causing the other to fret herself to death. A nearby grove is said to contain the burial of the 'son of the king of France.'

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Caherconlish.— I take the following extract from Story's Wars of Ireland. The castles to which he refers are those of Cnoc-a'-tsean chaisleain and Carraig-Ui-Foircheallaigh. "But before we leave Cariganless I know not whether it may be worth the reader's while to be informed of a tradition that the people in the neighbourhood have concerning two old castles that stand half a mile from this place and not above a stone's cast one from another. They say that in former times two Brehons or Irish judges lived in these two old castles, who hapned at last to have some disputes about their properties ; and their wives, though they were sisters, used to stand upon the battlements of their own houses and scold at one another for several hours together ; which at length one of them being weary of, she found out a trick only to appear and begin the fray, then she would place an image that she had dressed up in her own clothes in such a position as her sister could not discern it from herself at that distance; who not sensible of the cheat she used to scold on, and at last fretted herself to death because she could not be answered in her own language. But 1 am afraid the women in this country will scarce pardon this story." Here there is a grove in which the people say the " son of the king of France " is buried.
A short distance to the east of Carraig-Ui-Foircheallaigh there is a well and a townland named Tobar Molug, " the well of St. Molug or Lug," who was brother to St. Fintan, who founded a monastery at Dun Bleisce, about eight miles east of Caherconlish, where there is a well bearing his name. St. Patrick also ascended Knock Finnel, or Cnoc Finnine, beside Lough Gur, and blessed the district north of the Shannon therefrom (see Tripartite). Dun Bleisce means "the fort of Blesc," who

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 306

White Knight and Munster notables imprisoned in Dublin Castle

Dublin · city · Dublin · 1587–1589

Lord Deputy Perrott held the White Knight, the Seneschall, Patrick Condon, and Donagh MacCormack as prisoners in Dublin Castle, writing from there on 1 April 1587. They remained in custody until early 1589, when they were released on heavy recognizances.

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" I have in this castle the White Knight, the Senescall, Patrick Condon, and Donagh MacCormack, and have caused to be apprehended MacAuly and Thomas Oge of the Island of Kerry." (See Carew Papers).
Writing to the Privy Council the 1st of May following, the Lord Deputy reports that he had the White Knight in safe custody in the Castle, where he and his son-in-law remained until the beginning of the year 1589, when they were enlarged on very heavy recognizances. Notwithstanding the great services done by the White Knight, Edmond, to the officers of Elizabeth in Minister, some of them, regardless of these services, of which they even took credit, kept on representing him to the Government as the vilest of traitors. Among the most active of these was the astute St. Leger, ancestor to the Doneraile family, who doubtless wished to share in the distribution of the rich spoils that would fall into the hands of the Crown by the destruction of the White Knight and his friends, to be parcelled out to the Minister officials, whose hunger for the lands of Desmond and his confederates was insatiable. Nothing would satisfy them apparently but the extirpation of the entire landed proprietors of the southern province, and the division of its broad acres among themselves.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 279

As the companion tells it

As you travel through Dublin, this is the city where the White Knight, Edmund, was held prisoner in the Castle. In 1587, Lord Deputy Perrott wrote from there: "I have in this castle the White Knight, the Senescall, Patrick Condon, and Donagh MacCormack, and have caused to be apprehended MacAuly and Thomas Oge of the Island of Kerry." Writing to the Privy Council on the 1st of May that year, Perrott reported the White Knight in safe custody in the Castle. He and his son-in-law remained there until the beginning of 1589, when they were released on very heavy recognizances. Despite the great services the White Knight had done for the officers of Elizabeth in Munster, some of those officers, who even took credit for those services, kept representing him to the Government as the vilest of traitors. Among the most active was the astute St. Leger, ancestor to the Doneraile family, who doubtless wished to share in the distribution of the rich spoils that would fall to the Crown by the destruction of the White Knight and his friends, to be parcelled out to the Munster officials, whose hunger for the lands of Desmond and his confederates was insatiable. Nothing would satisfy them but the extirpation of the entire landed proprietors of the southern province, and the division of its broad acres among themselves.

Forged Papal seal die found in ruined abbey near Waterford

Waterford · city · Waterford

A rude die used to impress the Papal seal on forged dispensation documents was discovered in a ruined abbey near Waterford. Such forgeries were common in wild times when irregular marriages among nobles created demand for dispensations.

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(6) The "Black Death" that in the Middle Ages swept thousands from this world did spare the clergy, so that their successors had not their example nor their teaching to carry out the discipline of the Church. This, combined with the disorganised state of society from feuds and civil wars, caused many abuses to creep in, among which was the facility with which the rude chiefs and nobles could find pretexts for the repudiation of their wives, generally on the ground of forbidden degrees of kindred, which in those days went as far as the seventh degree. The number of people whose birth was stigmatized became very great, and the disruption of sacred family ties was productive of much confusion and discord, especially in noble families like that of the Geraldines, where such reprehensible practices caused serious disturbances and feuds, to say nothing of the angry ladies deprived of their rights, having "recourse to witches to afflict former husbands with personal calamity." There was an attempt made by Cardinal Wolsey to remedy this state of affairs by the introduction of bulls of dispensation that should regulate these irregular marriages, but he was told that " they went off but slowly. The Englishry were either too poor to buy them or got them by Rome runners (pilgrims gy.), while the Irishry did not seek for them, and were apt to rob and murder messengers sent into their countries." So wild were the times that it was not uncommon to have forgeries of Papal dispensations, which could, of course, be set aside as invalid on the first opportunity, and it is said that a rude die was found in some ruined abbey near Waterford, and another was fished out of the Thames by a dredger, which seems to have been used to impress the Papal seal on these spurious documents. See Quarterly Review, 1853.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 94

Sarsfield and companions captured and rescued at Lough Gur

near Lough Gur · lake or lakes · Limerick

In a local story, Sarsfield, Galloping O'Hogan, and Tibbott Burke of Caherconlish are captured at Lough Gur by an English leader named Gideon Grimes and confined in the Green Knight's apartment, from which Cos Redin rescues them via a subterranean passage under Knockfinnell to Glenoghra Castle.

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The people of Lough Gur have traditions of two great battles ; the one was fought in Bloody Hollow, a little distance north of Knocktinnell, and the other was fought near the stone circles to the south of Knocksentry. The people also relate that in the days of Sarsfield, a farmer, named Rody Camden, was admitted into Tir na n-og by Terren Glas, the gatekeeper of Lough Gur entrance. Rody held converse with Gearoidh Iarla, the Fians of Erinn, and Cuchullainn. One thing which particularly struck him, and which he related to his friends afterwards at Lough Gur, was that the Fians of Erinn had nothing stronger to drink than metheglitt ("mead"). In another story I heard, Sarsfield, Galloping O'Hogan, and Tibbott Burke of Caherconlish, are captured at Lough Gur by an English leader named Gideon Grimes, and confined in the Green Knight's apartment at Lough Gur, from which they are rescued by a nephew of
142 CORK HISTORICAL AND ARCH/EOLOGICAL SOCIETY.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 89

The deaf coach at Lough Gur

near Lough Gur · lake or lakes · Limerick

Aine was said to come to Lough Gur in a coach and four—the 'coiste bodhar' or deaf coach—known throughout the south and west of Ireland as the headless coach, pulled by four headless horses. It is believed to come for people about to die and brings speedy death to anyone who sees it.

Read the passage

As I mentioned in a previous note, the legends of Aine are very much mixed up with those of Gearoidh Iarla at Lough Gur. Like several great heroes of antiquity Gearoidh Iarla had an immortal for mother. He was, according to a story I was recently told, the son of the Earl of Desmond and Aine, and terrified the Earl's English wife with the wonders he performed in her presence. One of these was to change himself into a flash of fire, so that the Caislean dubh, or "Black Castle," seemed to be all in a blaze. Aine is known in the district by the name of Aine Cliar. Tory Hill, or Cnoc-droma-Asail, owes its origin to Aine Cliar ; she intended presenting the hill to Donn Firinne, to place it on the top of Knockfierna, and was carrying it in her apron when its strings broke on her ! Aine used to come to Lough Gur in a coach and four. This was the Coffee bOTMfl, or "deaf coach," which is also known throughout the south and west of Ireland by the name of " headless coach," from the four horses having no heads, The term "bodhar" is applied to it from the booming, deafening noise it makes. It is supposed to come for people who are about to die, and it is speedy death to anyone who sees it. Sometimes it is empty, and sometimes it is occupied by a banshee. Many superstitious fancies are fast dying out, but, whatever be the reason, the peasantry strongly cling to the belief that the coiste bodhar still goes its dreary rounds. J. F. Lynch.
Order of "The Friendly Brothers of St. Patrick."— Could any reader of the Journal give the dates of institution and dissolution of the above Order?

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 90

Ambush and capture of Earl Gerald at Decies

Decies · electoral division · Dublin

Thomas Butler, the Black Earl of Ormond, learned that Earl Gerald FitzGerald was in the part of Decies adjoining Ormond with few companions, and surrounded him with a larger band. Gerald fought bravely but was overcome, received a bullet wound in his foot, and was captured.

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families which were Catholic. Nor were the FitzGeralds, barons of Lacsna (Lixnaw), often less odious, but as they sprung from the same Geraldine stock were often warred upon. Wherefore, when an opportunity offered during the reign of Elizabeth, John FitzGerald (brother of Earl Gerald), whilst yet a youth defeated John Butler in battle and slew him with his own hands. This and a recollection of his ancestors' wrongs haunted Thomas Butler, brother of the deceased, and surnamed the Black Earl of Ormond, a Protestant in religion owing to his being educated in the English court, but who before his death was converted to the faith, as I shall show later on. He having learned that Earl Gerald with a few companions were in that part of Decies which adjoins Ormond, got together a larger band of soldiers and surrounded him. Gerald, although far inferior in numbers, nevertheless prepared to trust his safety to battle rather than to flight. The few being surrounded were overcome by the numbers of their adversaries. Gerald himself received a bullet wound in his foot, and fell fighting bravely. Thence he was taken by Ormond to the ford of Anthamamus (Affane) and cured by the great care of the doctors, who however were not able to prevent his ever after limping slightly. Having been cured he was sent into England to the queen, who had him committed to the tower of London, partly to gratify herself by removing this stout impediment to persecution, and partly anxious because there was at large John FitzGerald, brother of the earl, a high-souled hero, generous, distinguished in warlike arts, and a favourite with the Irish. She laboured therefore to capture him also, and this was effected without any difficulty, because John neither fled from her nor dared to do the least injury, thinking more of his brother's than of his own safety. Him also she cast into the same prison as his brother. Ill brooking this, James FitzGerald, son of Maurice, the uncle of Earl Gerald, refused to recognise the queen's authority until she restored his kinsmen to their former liberty. Hence a war broke out. There followed James's party, other kinsmen of his, almost all the followers of the earl, and nearly the whole family of the FitzGeralds of Munster ; some from lower Minister, principally gentlemen of the MacSuiney (MacSwiney) family, named Edmund, Eugene, and Maurice, uncles of mine ; some from the principality of Bear, under command of Dermot O'Sullivan, my father ; and other spirited youths. By their aid and valour James got and endeavoured to hold possession of the country of his kinsman the earl. The queen ordered her lieutenants in Ireland to march against the rebels, and easily aroused the Earl of Ormond's hatred of the Geraldines. She incited Thomas Fitz-Gerald, surnamed the Red, a foolish man, eldest brother of Earl Gerald, with the hope of obtaining the earldom, and named him governor of the earldom, which no doubt seemed to him

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 271

As the companion tells it

You are coming into Decies, the electoral division that the road passes through. This is where one of the great captures of the Geraldine wars took place, during the reign of Elizabeth. The feud ran deep. The Butlers and the FitzGeralds had warred on each other for generations. John FitzGerald, brother of Earl Gerald, had slain John Butler in battle with his own hands while still a youth. That killing haunted Thomas Butler, the dead man's brother, surnamed the Black Earl of Ormond. He was a Protestant, educated in the English court, though he later converted to the old faith. Ormond learned that Earl Gerald FitzGerald was in that part of Decies adjoining Ormond, with only a few companions. He gathered a larger band of soldiers and surrounded him. Gerald chose to fight rather than flee. The few were overwhelmed by the numbers against them. Gerald received a bullet wound in the foot and fell fighting bravely. Ormond took him to the ford of Anthamamus, now Affane, and had doctors care for him. They cured him but could not prevent a slight limp for the rest of his life. Then he was sent to England, to the queen, who committed him to the Tower of London. She wanted him removed as an obstacle to persecution, and she feared his brother John still at large, a high-souled hero, generous, distinguished in war, and a favourite with the Irish. John was captured too, without difficulty, because he neither fled nor resisted, thinking more of his brother's safety than his own. Both brothers were cast into the same prison. James FitzGerald, son of Maurice and uncle of Earl Gerald, refused to recognise the queen's authority until his kinsmen were freed, and a war followed.

Battle of Short Castle of Mallow, 1642

Mallow · town · Cork · 1642

The Short Castle of Mallow was taken after a stout defense by only nine shots, with Mungarrett losing 140 men. After breaches were made, quarter was granted by Lord Mungarrett contrary to Lord Roche's wishes, leading to a falling out between the two lords, with many of Lord Roche's men killed in the brawl.

Read the passage

I know you cannot but have a true relation of it being here, and many in the citty which went with his Lordship in the said service in taking of the Short Castle of Mallow. Mungarrett lost seven score of his men and there were not above 9 shott defended the said castle. They kept it so stoutly that after the enemy had made a breech or two they gave them quarter which was p.formed accordingly by the Lord Mungarrett, contrarie to the Lord Roche's minde, as I have byn informed, how ever it was I am assured there was a great falling out betweene the two Lords, and many of the Lord Roche's men killed in the broyle. Twenty men killed and hurted of his Lordships at the least, as the souldiers reported that were there, and to end the difference they burnt a great part of the spoyle which was in the said Short Castle.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 177

Bishop O'Herlihy of Ross freed through McCarthy of Muskerry's bribe

near Muskerry · street · Cork

Thomas O'Herlihy, Bishop of Ross, was arrested, sent to the Tower of London, and tortured with hunger, thirst, and vermin. He was eventually released, reportedly because some of the Queen's councillors were corrupted by a bribe from Cormac McCarthy, chief of Muskerry.

Read the passage

alleged and proved my innocence, but since not by law but by your will I am to be dealt with, it seems to me useless to endeavour to legally exculpate myself where justice and law avail nothing to the accused." Thrown into his former bonds he was long tortured with hunger, thirst, and fetid darkness, and his body from filth covered with vermin, and the soles of his feet gnawed by rats. At last he was released, some of the Queen's councillors thinking he was a fool and idiot. I do not know if it be true, as I heard, that some of the Queen's councillors were corrupted by a bribe from Cormac McCarthy, son of Thady, Irish chief of Muskerry, to free the bishop. Freed from his chains, for some years he discharged his holy duty, and at length fulfilled his holy mission.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 301

Catherine Lordane imprisoned despite acquittal in Clonakilty

Clonakilty · town · Cork

Catherine Lordane was indicted for stealing one bundle of linen yarn valued at elevenpence. Though pronounced not guilty after two months, she was kept in confinement until she paid her fees—an innocent woman imprisoned where a guilty one would have been flogged.

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Catherine Lordane was rather more fortunate. She was indicted for that she was " detected in stealing and carrying away one bundle of linen yarn value elevenpence," Not till two months later was she tried, and then, although pronounced not guilty, she was to be kept in confinement till she had paid her fees. If guilty, she would have been flogged being innocent she was only imprisoned.
There is only one mention of a soldier among the assaults. Derby Donovan, servant boy of Matthew Donovan of Letir, knocked down a soldier named Thomas Annand, but the matter does not seem to have been serious, much less political.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 189

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Clonakilty, there is a story from this town about a woman named Catherine Lordane. She was indicted for stealing and carrying away one bundle of linen yarn valued at elevenpence. Two months passed before she was tried. She was pronounced not guilty. But she was kept in confinement until she had paid her fees. If she had been guilty, she would have been flogged. Being innocent, she was only imprisoned.

Glasshouse chimney and largest surviving city wall fragment

Hanover Street · street · Cork

A conical red-brick chimney off Hanover Street was an ancient glass bottle manufactory built within the city walls, with bricks shaped to follow the cone's curve. Behind Mr. O'Connell's premises stands the largest remaining piece of the city wall, mentioned in an old lease as built against the wall.

Read the passage

We have to pass over an ancient bridge here to follow the curve of the river by Crosses Green, and this old bridge, or at least one on the same site, was the only communication with Saint Marie's of the Isle. You will see the old bridge in the (map) picture of Corke in the Pacata Hibemia, and you will also see St. Dominic's Mill. That old saint's name is still used for the mill, which stood on the site of Hall's Mills of the present day. There are many bits of antiquity about here, but it was outside the walls of the city. I may say that St. Marie's of the Isle Convent is still on an island intact, for it is entirely surrounded by water to this day. The conical structure known as the " Glasshouse chimney " was well within the walls. There is a rough garden around it, and at one part of this garden there is a large shed built against a very strong wall. Pass round into Hanover Street into the premises of Mr. O'Connell, builder, and you will be at the back of this shed, and standing under the largest piece that remains of the city wall. It was an ancient glass bottle manufactory this old chimney, and built of red brick made in the Brickfields (now the site of the Great Southern and Western Railway Station). The bricks were made to follow the shape of the cone and of the circle as it diminishes towards the top, and there is neither crack nor flaw in one of them, in fact they are a splendid sample of Cork manufacture of the old times. There are many samples of the black wine bottles made within it yet remaining, such as "Magnums" (Imperial half gallon), which bear the name of those they were made for; for instance " Dr. Blair, 1720," and others of a more recent date. The interior of the chimney is fifty feet in diameter, and the old structure, if not meddled with, will reach the date a.d. 2000. Botanists would be delighted with it, for there is a wind-sown collection of curious weeds and plants round its base which cannot be found elsewhere. The piece of city wall on Mr. O'Connell's premises is mentioned in an old lease as "being built (the old premises) against the city wall." It takes a curve from thence, which, if continued, would enclose the Court House, Grattan Street, and part of Coach Street, but in those places there are but very few traces of walls or flanking towers, until you follow the egg-shaped or oval form of walled Cork up Bachelors Quay to the North Gate.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 107

As the companion tells it

Along here on Hanover Street stands a conical red-brick structure known as the glasshouse chimney. It was well within the old city walls, an ancient glass bottle manufactory built of red brick made in the Brickfields, now the site of the Great Southern and Western Railway Station. The bricks were made to follow the shape of the cone and the circle as it diminishes towards the top, and there is neither crack nor flaw in one of them. They are a splendid sample of Cork manufacture of the old times. The interior of the chimney is fifty feet in diameter. Many samples of the black wine bottles made within it remain, such as Magnums, which hold an Imperial half gallon, and which bear the name of those they were made for. One reads, Dr. Blair, 1720, and others bear a more recent date. Botanists would be delighted with the chimney, for there is a wind-sown collection of curious weeds and plants round its base that cannot be found elsewhere. Behind Mr. O'Connell's premises, the builder, stands a large shed built against a very strong wall. That wall is the largest piece that remains of the city wall. An old lease describes it as being built, the old premises, against the city wall. The wall takes a curve from there, which, if continued, would enclose the Court House, Grattan Street, and part of Coach Street. But in those places there are very few traces of walls or flanking towers, until the line follows the egg-shaped or oval form of walled Cork up Bachelors Quay to the North Gate.

John Burke's castles and corn destroyed in Clanwilliam (1600)

Clanwilliam · barony · Limerick · 1600

During the Desmond Rebellion, the President's army marched into Clanwilliam, a territory of the Burkes, on 29 May 1600 and destroyed John Burke's houses, corn, and one of his castles after he initially refused to submit to Queen Elizabeth. Burke then sought to make his submission after witnessing the devastation of his lands.

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" Loghguire being now possessed for the Queene, and the armie well refreshed, the President marched into Clan-William, a countrie of the Burkes ; whereupon one of the principal freeholders then in rebellion, called John Burke, halfe-brother to Pierce Lacy, desired to come unto the President, but no eare would be given to his request until he had first testified his humble submission, whereof he made scruple, alledging that his conscience would not suffer him so to doe, having before being taught by his instructors that it was sinful and damnable personally to submit himself to her Majesty. His answer was much disdained, and he plainly told that he should never hope to be accepted for a subject and receive the benefit thereof except hee would absolutely disclaime that rebellious opinion, which he, absolutely refusing was sent awaye with this proviso, that although himself did fly into the woods, yet his castles, towns, and corne, which he could not carry with him, should be the next morrow destroyed, which was not vainely meant but truely peformed, for by the noone of the next day, being the twenty-nineth of May (1600), the armie came upon his lands, many of his houses, some of his corne, and one of his castles fired, when a second messenger came to intreate that hee might bee admitted to make his submission ; whether it were that some Popish priest had granted him a dispensation, or that he would undertake himself to dispence with his conscience rather than see himselfe ruin'd is to me uncertaine, but sure I am that this alteration was now wrought in him. Very unwilling was the President to acccept him to mercy which the day before hee so unadvisedly refused, yet being much importuned by his mother and others, who with weeping eyes intreated for him, and the rather that he had married one of Sir George Thornton's daughters, was inclined to admit him to his presence. The President now on horse-

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 254

Muskerry Cavalry passed hidden Whiteboys in Aghabullogue

near Aghabullogue · village · Cork · 1822

During an excursion through Aghabullogue parish to disperse Whiteboys, the Muskerry Cavalry corps unknowingly rode past the insurgents who hid behind the fence of the road.

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effected by their mere presence ; and a story is told that on an excursion of this kind through Aghabullogue parish, the corps actually passed by the White Boys who hid behind the fence of the road. In other respects, from what is still told in the country, the work done by the corps seems to have been much of the same kind as described in the previous part of this paper, except that at one place they took part in a small battle with a body of insurgents. This took place in 1822, soon after the embodiment of the corps was completed. The scene of action was Carriganimy, in the parish of Clondrohid— a hilly district still retaining many remarkable cromlechs, pillar-stones, cahirs and other ancient remains. The hills there are said — in the usual country phrase — to have been " black with people," armed with scythes, pikes, and many muskets. This body was attacked by several companies of the Rifle Brigade, supported by the Musketry Cavalry. The insurgents stood their ground well, the musketeers pouring in their fireon their assailants. The Rifles on receiving this fire lay down as skirmishers, and the insurgents believing these to have been slain, rushed on them, but were met by a fire from the riflemen which quite demoralised them, and they broke and fled. They were pursued by the cavalry, and many prisoners were taken, of whom nine were afterwards hanged. Greenville House, the residence of the Swete family was attacked ; it was defended by several of the Muskerry gentlemen, who had placed their families there for security and took their turn of duty as garrison of the place ; the assailants were beaten off with loss, to which, tradition says, the good shooting of a member of the corps, Abraham Good, made a large contribution. The attack lasted for some hours ; and when the leaden bullets of the defenders were exhausted, the silver spoons and forks were melted down and bullets cast therefrom. It is said that, notwithstanding the rigour of the times, the families in leaguer at Greenville managed to enjoy themselves very pleasantly there.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 145

Siege of Short Castle during the Munster Rebellion

Castletownroche · town · Cork · 1642

A fierce siege took place at Short Castle, associated with Lord Roche, where defenders including a Lieutenant, a blacksmith named Bennett, and others repelled repeated assaults by rebel forces. After prolonged fighting with heavy casualties on both sides, the defenders agreed to quit the castle on terms of quarter and composition, carrying away their clothes and linen.

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the night's work), was heard to rail extremely at the base cowardliness and disanimosity of the county of Cork men, with which he protested he would never adventure his life again, and that whosoever did should lose his reputation for ever ; with many such terms of reproach to them all in general. However, having refreshed himself and refurnished his men with a small quantity of powder out of Lord Roche's small store, and the dead saints being buried (like dogs) in the garden adjoining, he prepares himself again for the assault, and his men with him, with as much cheerfulness as he hath who is going to the gallows, of whom they in the castle made sufficient havoc till about two hours before day, at which time the assailants gave over, not any one of them ever entering the breach. And carrying away their dead men, they returned back to their quarters with much loss, for which retreat the defendants were not sorry, having had their bellyfulls also ; and yet husbanded their time so well that they employed themselves wholly in making up their breaches with flitches of bacon, tubs of beef, bedding, chests, and repaired with lumber, hourly expecting a new attempt. Whereunto the flitches, etc. enemy, having no great stomach, yet did they beyond measure court to carry the castle by some means or other, rather for their honour and reputation sake than for any great esteem otherwise they made of it, in regard this was their masterpiece, and indeed a most beseeming glorious work for such a confluence of caterpillars to perform. But on the other hand they found some difficulty in the acquisition of it by strong hand, and an impossibility of bringing in any more of their men to the slaughter, who (for all the " Priest's rhethorick " to the contrary) did chose to survive in a condition of rebellious rogues (especially while the trade of pilling and pulling the English was in such high request), rather than die now with martyrdom. And, therefore, they concluded again to negotiate the surrender thereof on terms of quarter and composition, whereunto the Lieutenant and associates were now prepared to lend an indulgent ear, and were invited thereto, partly through the loss of four of their best men, two killed and two wounded ; partly by the scarcity of powder which they had left ; partly as they were extremely wearied, spent with watching, and other duties, four or five days and nights together ; partly through their disinterest in the place, having nothing to do therewith but their present being and a little household stuff ; and, partly being persuaded they could not long hold out, being still attempted with fresh men ; and that, if they should expel them by force, they would not leave a soul alive of them. Upon Short Castle these considerations they did enter into conference with the enemy ; and in conclusion it was agreed they should quit the castle, and carry away their clothes and linen, and part

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 19

Sir Richard Nagle of Clogher, county Cork

Clogher · townland · Cork · 1663–1689

Sir Richard Nagle was son of James Nagle of Clogher, county Cork. He was admitted to Gray's Inn in 1663, became Attorney-General in 1686, and drew up the Act of Settlement and Act of Attainder.

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Son of James Nagle, of Clogher, county Cork: admitted Gray's Inn, 1663; a barristerat-law ; succeeded Sir William Dunville as Attorney-General (I.), 1686; speaker of James II. 's Parliament, held in Dublin; Secretary of State, and Secretary for War. " He was at first designed for the priesthood and educated amongst the Jesuits, but afterwards studied the law, in which he arrived to a good perfection, and was employed by many Protestants." Drew up the Act of Settlement, and Act of Attainder. Author of the Coventry Letter, 26th October, 1686, in which he proposed repealing these Acts. Arrived with Lord Tyrconnell and Sir Stephen Rice in Galway, in January, 1691, with ,£8,000, to carry on the war against William III. In August, 1691, he, with Sir Alexander Fitton and Mr. Plowden, were appointed by James, Lord Justices of Ireland, by a commission brought over from France by Plowden, but it never took effect. He was knighted 20th February, 1686-7, by Lord Deputy Tyrconnell. He resided at Carrignaconny Castle, county Cork.
He married Jane, eldest daughter of James Kearney, of Rathcoole, county Tipperary, and had issue. His eldest son Richard, married Anne, daughter of < )liver Grace, of Shangaragh, and d.s.p. ; another son married Margaret, daughter of Colonel Walter Burke, of the Mayo family.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 27

Sir Thomas Norreys arrests Munster chiefs from Cork

Cork · city · Cork · 1587

On 8 March 1587, Sir Thomas Norreys wrote from Cork to Lord Burleigh about taking into custody the White Knight, the Seneschal of Imokilly, Patrick Condon, Patrick Fitzmaurice and others, noting their subtlety made it difficult to secure them all together.

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" According to a former direction from your Honour and the rest of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, I am now in hand to take into safekeeping the White Knight, the Seneschal of Imokilly, Patrick Condon, Patrick Fitzmaurice, and some other of their sort. Their subtlety is such, as it will be very hard for me to have them together. Notwithstanding I hope so to compass it, as shall stand with your honour's good likeing."
During the confinement of the White Knight on this occasion, the gentlemen undertakers for the peopling of the Province of Munster were

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 278

As the companion tells it

As you pass through Cork, this is where Sir Thomas Norreys was working in March 1587. He wrote to Lord Burleigh that he was taking into safekeeping the White Knight, the Seneschal of Imokilly, Patrick Condon, Patrick Fitzmaurice, and some others of their sort. He said their subtlety made it very hard to have them together, but he hoped to compass it to the Lord's good liking. While the White Knight was held, the gentlemen undertakers for the peopling of Munster were at their work.

Archbishop of Cashel robbed during 1641 Rebellion

Cashel · town · Tipperary · 1641

Rebels robbed the Lord Archbishop of Cashel and drove his cattle from his palace at Camus. Some of the stolen cattle were found near Cashell, leading to the burning of rebel houses and the imprisonment of a gentleman in Clonmel.

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Thursday the seventh of December. — My Lord President gave me notice the Rebles had robbed the Lord Arch Bishop of Cashell and driven away his Graces cattle and flock from his Pallace of Casnus (Camus). Made after them and found some of the said cattle in the Bawne of a gentleman not far from Cashell whereuppon his Lordship caused the Rebles houses to be fired and sent the gentleman to Clonemell Gayle, after which time wee were indifferent quiett until Baron Loghmore and Captain Grave's souldiers came into our company and stole the cattle and pillaged as they went, their stealthes and villanyes they committed were commonly in the night for the most part. Most of their Armes were halfe pikes and [2] sleanes ; not long after their coming in this thievish kind of way, but most of the Papists in our Barony of Cundans consorted themselves with them and robbed their next neighbours, and killed such as did withstand them without any regard of former intamatory of love, or tyes of favours don them and anncient acquaintance ; which made all the Protestantes in those partes to fly to castles for the safety of their p.sons and lives, or run away to some Post Towne or to the next strength adjoining and leave all they had with them.
My honourable Lord, the Lord of Broghill aforesaid, hearing of

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 170

As the companion tells it

You're coming near Cashel in Tipperary now. In December 1641, this was the seat of the Lord Archbishop, whose palace stood at Camus. On the seventh of December, the Lord President gave notice that rebels had robbed the Archbishop and driven his cattle and flock from the palace. Men went after them and found some of the stolen cattle in the bawn of a gentleman not far from Cashel. On that, the Lord caused the rebels' houses to be burned and sent the gentleman to Clonmel Gaol. After that, things went quiet for a time. Then Baron Loghmore and Captain Grave's soldiers came into the company, and they stole cattle and pillaged as they went, mostly by night. Their arms were half pikes and sleanes. Most of the Papists in the Barony of Cundans joined them and robbed their nearest neighbours, killing those who resisted, without regard for former love or favours or ancient acquaintance. That drove all the Protestants in those parts to flee to castles for safety, or run to the nearest post town or stronghold, leaving everything behind.

Armed Munster gentry intimidate trial at Philipstown

Daingean · town · Offaly

Six hundred gentlemen of Munster, led by Richard Riach Butler of Clonmel, attended Stepney's murder trial at Philipstown to protect him. Butler vaulted into the dock and threatened anyone who would harm the prisoner; the judge quailed, the jurymen trembled, and the prisoner was acquitted.

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(3) An old man told me a strange tale of how Stepney lost his property. He had shot a widow's son in Abington, and was put on trial for murder at Philipstown, but as Stepney was a general favourite six hundred gentlemen of Munster went down to Philipstown. These were under the leadership of Richard Riach Butler of Clo nmell, and amongst them were Fire Ball MacNamara of Clare ; Ned Burke of Maddyboy, Abington ; his brother William of Farnane ; Jerry Hayes, the "blade of Munster," of Killura, near Cappamore ; and Fitzgerald the Knight of Glen. Riach Butler marched to the courthouse at the head of the Munster men, and lightly springing over the railing of the dock, sat down beside Philip Stepney Rawson. "So you have come Butler," said Stepney. " I have," he replied, " I have come with strong arms and long swords, and whoever injures a hair of your head to-day will answer to me for it." The judge quailed, the jurymen trembled, and as the judge in his charge to the jury informed them that Riach Butler was very capable of performing what he threatened the prisoner was acquitted. Stepney after this kept open house, entertaining his friends, became in consequence involved, and hence the sale. He presented, however, the widow with keep of six cows while grass grew and water ran.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 256

Assassination of Dermod MacCarthy at Tralee assizes, 1325

Tralee · town · Kerry · 1325

Dermod MacCarthy, known as 'Dermod Tralee,' was assassinated in the assize court of Tralee in the very presence of the judges by the fourth Lord Kerry in 1325. He was an ancestor of the MacFinnan MacCarthy line of Ardtully.

Read the passage

T page seventy-eight of the present volume of this Journal, the editor of the Sloane MS., which describes the " Rise and Progress of the Rebellion in Munster, 1642," expresses in a note his wish that he could identify further the family of Florence MacDonell MacFinin MacCarthy, who fell fighting bravely in opposing the sally of the garrison of Cork in March, 1642. The following particulars relate to the family of that " right valiant gentleman, called by nickname ' Captain Suggane,' " Mr. Fynyne MacCarthy, who took an active part in the rebellion of 1641. On the 15th October, 1853, an article appeared in the Nation news- The Nation paper on " The Clan of MacCarrha," of which the following newspaper, is an extract : — " Now for the MacFinnans. This was the 15 c--i 53- distinctive title of the MacCarthys of Ardentully, now Ardtully, near Kenmare, whose chiefs in every generation down to the last were so styled. Geoffrey MacCarthy, of Tulla, not far from their former castle, was the last that bore it. He was the fifteenth MacFinnan in direct line from Dermod Tralee, so called from having been assassinated in the assize court of that ancient town, and in the very presence of the judges, by the fourth Lord Kerry in 1325, and was father of the late respected Randal MacFinnan MacCarthy, c.C, Killarney, as well as of the present equally respected Daniel MacCarthy, professor of rhetoric at the Royal College of Maynooth, etc. One of the most distinguished of those chieftains who led their clans to the unnatural combat between James II. and his son-in-law was Donal MacFinnan, the fourth in line of ascent from Geoffrey. He it was who gloriously defended the ford of Slane on the 1st July, 1690, leaving three hundred of his brave Kilgarvanmen dead in the Boyne. He fell at Aughrim. Trinity College has his estates. His descendants are landless."
Dermod of Tralee was second son to Donal Roe MacCarthy Mor, Lodo-e and king of Desmond, by his wife, Margaret, daughter to the Cronncl/v, third Lord Kerry, who married Slaine, the daughter of '' O'Brien, prince of Thomond, and was murdered by his own

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 125

As the companion tells it

You are coming through Tralee now, a town in Kerry with a dark story from 1325. In that year, Dermod MacCarthy was assassinated in the assize court of this town, in the very presence of the judges. The killer was the fourth Lord Kerry. Dermod was called "Dermod Tralee" after this. He was the second son of Donal Roe MacCarthy Mor, king of Desmond. His mother was Margaret, daughter of the third Lord Kerry, who had married Slaine, daughter of O'Brien, prince of Thomond. The line that came from Dermod became the MacFinnan MacCarthys of Ardtully, near Kenmare. Their chiefs in every generation down to the last bore the name MacFinnan. Geoffrey MacCarthy of Tulla, not far from their former castle, was the fifteenth MacFinnan in direct line from Dermod Tralee. He was father of Randal MacFinnan MacCarthy of Killarney and Daniel MacCarthy, professor of rhetoric at the Royal College of Maynooth. Among the most distinguished of these chieftains was Donal MacFinnan, fourth in line of ascent from Geoffrey. He defended the ford of Slane on the 1st of July, 1690, leaving 300 of his Kilgarvan men dead in the Boyne. He fell at Aughrim. Trinity College has his estates, and his descendants are landless. The story of the clan was printed in the Nation newspaper on the 15th of October, 1853. It was prompted by a wish to identify the family of Florence MacDonell MacFinin MacCarthy, who fell fighting bravely opposing the sally of the garrison of Cork in March 1642. The same family included Fynyne MacCarthy, called by nickname "Captain Suggane," who took an active part in the rebellion of 1641.

Attack on Rev. Mr. Stopford's house at Blarney

near Blarney · townland · Cork · 1798–1799

On 25 March 1798, the house of Rev. Mr. Stopford in Blarney was attacked and searched for suspected documents. Stopford escaped through a back window, hid in a wet ditch, and eventually took refuge in Blarney Castle. The real culprits were not apprehended until 1799.

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About this time the shadow of the coming rebellion of 1798 began to spread over the country, and some foul murders were committed by misguided men, notably that of Mr. St. George Mansergh at Castle Uniacke, the scat of his host, Mr. Jasper Uniacke, who was murdered with him. The former had made himself very active in trying to keep the country quiet at Araglin, near Kilworth, and had defied the local insurgent leader known as "Captain Doc." Castle Uniacke was attacked on 9th February, when there were no arms in it, and both gentlemen were killed. The committee in the barony of Condons and Clangibbon got the necessary information, and the leaders were taken, tried and executed at the spot on 16th April. In Muskerry, at Blarney, on 25th March, the house of Rev. Mr. Stopford was attacked and thoroughly searched for documents which he was suspected to have. Mr. Stopford had barely time to get out of bed and escape through a back window ; he hid himself for an hour in a wet ditch where he lay with his shirt off fearing it would attract attention. He finally got refuge in Blarney Castle. The Muskerry corps, on information, arrested some alleged to be of the attacking gang, but the real culprits were not taken till 1799. Meetings were now held all over the country to raise voluntary subscriptions to help Government in procuring means of defence against invasion, and enormous sums were quickly subscribed. On 13th March the Provincial Committee of the United Irishmen for Leinster were, on information received, arrested at Mr. Oliver Bond's house in Bridge Street, Dublin, Lord Edward Fitzgerald just escaping arrest then ; and on the 17th the whole garrison at Cork were kept by General Myers under arms all night on an alarm that a rising was to take place there, and the yeomanry patrolled in strong bodies. About 5th April a circular was sent to the captain of the Muskerry Yeomanry, and all others, requesting them to suggest to their companies the necessity of their coming under permanent pay and performing all the duty of their respective districts, so that the militia and regular forces should be concentrated to meet emergencies. This was acceded to, and

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 122

Battle of Callan, 1261

Callan · street · Tipperary · 1261

About two miles from Ardtully at Callan, a battle was fought in 1261 between the MacCarthys and the Geraldines. The Geraldines were defeated, allegedly losing eighteen barons and fifteen knights; Daniel MacCarthy fell and was buried on the battlefield.

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About two miles from Ardtully is Callan, where in 1261 a battle was fought between the MacCarthys and Geraldines, who were defeated, suffering, it is alleged, the loss of eighteen barons, fifteen knights, with man}- adherents, in this engagement Daniel MacCarthy fell, and was buried on the battlefield : —
" And this is thy grave, MacCarra, Here by the pathway lone,

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 127

College field quarry with fossils and ancient skeleton

Caherconlish · town · Limerick

A celebrated college once stood on the rock above a large limestone quarry west of Caherconlish village; the field is still called the college field. A rock grave nearby yielded a perfect skeleton of a man estimated at seven feet tall, and a stone celt was picked up near the college site.

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At the west side of village, and on right hand side of road to Ballyneety, there is marked in the Ordnance Map a large limestone quarry on the land of Mr. Charles Aherne. On the rock above this quarry there was once a celebrated college, and the field in which the quarry lies is still known as " the college field." Lewis refers to this college, as does also Fitzgerald, but they give no particulars. The quarry is exceedingly rich in fossils ; near it, at opposite side of road, in a rock grave, the skeleton of a man was found about fifty years ago, when the road was lowered. So perfect was this skeleton that Dr. Seward mounted it on wires, and my informant told me that he heard Dr. Seward saying the man to whom these bones belonged must have been seven feet high. In a continuation of this paper, when I come to describe Caherconlish district, I shall refer to some very large bones and skulls which were found in a stone circle. Mr. Aherne told me that when the college field was first tilled the whole surface was found to be strewn with oyster and other shells in a very decayed state. Windele mentions that oyster shells were found amongst the rubbish which was cleared away from the round tower of Cloyne. A small neatly-finished stone hatchet,(8) or celt, now in the possession of Sir Charles Barrington, Glenstal, was a little time ago picked up near the site of the old college. The people say that the friars who served Caherconlish church lived in this college. Who these friars were I cannot say, but they may possibly have been Grey Friars, or Observantine Franciscans, that is, supposing that the people's tradition of friars having been here is correct. In the parish of Ballybrood there is a tradition of there having been Grey Friars, all of whom were slaughtered, of course by Cromwell, who never set foot in Limerickcounty. The last of these friars was killed, it is said, at a ford lying between Clashbane and Dromkeen ; the ford was called Ahnambrahcreeny, " the little friar's ford." For this slaughter, the people say that Ballybrood is still cursed every seven years in Rome, and this may possibly account for Ballybrood not being all that its friends would wish it to be.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 208

Cormac's Chapel on the Rock of Cashel

near Rock of Cashel · rock or rocks · Tipperary · 1134

Cormac McCarthy, king of Munster, built the celebrated chapel on the Rock of Cashel, which was named after him as 'Cormac's chapel'. This is linked to his refounding of St Finbarr's Abbey in 1134.

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down to the time of Elizabeth." About the period we treat of, the McCarthys were divided into several branches — McCarthy Mor of Kerry, or princes of Desmond ; McCarthy Reagh, princes of Carbcry ; McCarthys of Muskerry, and the McCarthys of Duhallow. Gerald, eighth Earl of Kildare, lord lieutenant of Ireland, gave his daughter Ellenor in marriage to Donald MacFineen McCarthy Reagh, and there is extant an indenture between the earl and McCarthy Reagh, by which on certain conditions Donald accepted to recognise the King of England, etc., dated 20th November, 1496. The power of the McCarthys was so great that all Queen Elizabeth's designs were to destroy their power (vide Life and Letters of Florence McCarthy Mor, and Historical Pedigree, by D. McCarthy Glas). We see exhibited their spirit of religion in their monastic foundations. The abbey of St. Finbarr, " de Antro," founded by St. Finbarr, was refounded by Cormac McCarthy, king of Munster, anno 11 34, for canons regular of the order of St. Augustin. He also built the celebrated chapel on the Rock of Cashel, called after him " Cormac's chapel." In 1172 the Cistercian abbey of Maur, or " de Fonte vivo," in the parish of Myross, diocese of Ross, was founded by Dermod McCarthy, king of Cork ; Tracton abbey, also Cistercian, founded by the McCarthys in 1224. The Augustinian convent of Ballymacadam, near Cork, the Franciscan abbeys of Cork, Timoleague, and Kilcrea testify to it. In Muskerry and Carbcry, in which the greater part of the diocese of Cork is situated, the power of the McCarthys was very great at this period. Hence the jealousy why the FitzGeralds would not wish to see a member of a powerful neighbouring family in the see of Cloyne.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 289

As the companion tells it

Near here is Cormac's Chapel on the Rock of Cashel. Cormac McCarthy, king of Munster, built it in 1134, and it took his name. That same year he refounded the abbey of St. Finbarr for canons regular of the order of St. Augustine. The McCarthys were a powerful family, split into branches across the region. McCarthy Mor of Kerry were princes of Desmond. McCarthy Reagh were princes of Carbery. There were also the McCarthys of Muskerry and the McCarthys of Duhallow. Their power was so great that all Queen Elizabeth's designs were aimed at destroying it. Their spirit of religion showed in their monastic foundations. After Cormac's chapel, Dermod McCarthy, king of Cork, founded the Cistercian abbey of Maur in 1172. The McCarthys founded Tracton Abbey, also Cistercian, in 1224. The Augustinian convent of Ballymacadam near Cork, and the Franciscan abbeys of Cork, Timoleague, and Kilcrea, all testify to the same spirit. Gerald, eighth Earl of Kildare and lord lieutenant of Ireland, gave his daughter Ellenor in marriage to Donald MacFineen McCarthy Reagh. An indenture between the earl and McCarthy Reagh, dated 20th November 1496, records that on certain conditions Donald agreed to recognise the King of England. The FitzGeralds did not wish to see a member of this powerful neighbouring family in the see of Cloyne.

Daniel 'Old Dan' Callaghan born at Ballyclough near Mallow

Ballyclogh · town · Cork · 1763

Daniel Callaghan, known as 'Old Dan,' was born at Ballyclough near Mallow in 1763 and entered service at age fourteen as a kennel boy to Lord Lisle. He became a renowned huntsman who rode and trained horses up to age 100.

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Old Dan. — The veteran huntsman Daniel Callaghan, known as " Old Dan,'' was born in 1763 at Ballyclough, near Mallow, He went into service at the age ol" fourteen, and was kennel boy to Lord Lisle for two years, and whip for four years. He was then appointed huntsman to Lord Lisle's nephew, Mr. Lysaght, whose hounds he hunted for seven years, and then carried the horn for eight years for Mr. Hugh Norcott, who kept hounds at his residence, Ballybeg, near Cahirmee. His next
< )i d Dan.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 138

Death of heir from plague at Jerpoint Abbey

Jerpointabbey · townland · Kilkenny

Earl Thomas's son by his first wife died of the plague at Jerpoint Abbey, prompting the earl to send his grandson (now his heir) to the English court as a hostage and for education. The youth was scornfully nicknamed 'the Court Page' by disloyal Geraldines.

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Earl Thomas's son by his first wife having died of the plague at Jerpoint Abbey, he sent his grandson (now his heir) to the English court, partly as a hostage for his loyalty, and partly for the sake of his education in the royal household, whence the youth was scornfully named " the Court Page " by disloyal Geraldines. In reply to the earl's profuse asseverations of submission, Henry VIII. confirmed him in his title, and his oath of allegiance was taken at Waterford before Sir William Skeffington, the Commissioner of the Privy Council. A certain amount of goodwill always existed between the Kildare and Desmond branches of Geraldine/7) and in the rebellion of" Silken Thomas,"(s) Desmond took no decided part against his youthful kinsman, although the brothers of Archbishop Allen, murdered by " Silken Thomas," wrote to one of their brethren, Warden Allen of Youghal, that the Earl of Kildare's son " makes all that ever he can to obtain my Lord of Desmond's goodwill and as yet we do our best to keep him from his purpose, and shall do with God's grace." When Lord Ophally (" Silken Thomas") heard in a curiously roundabout wayk) the report of his father's execution at the
(7) " The Earls of Desmond and other lords will not attend Parliament nor the Council, nor aid the Deputy, unless the Earl of Kildare hold that office." — " Report on State of Ireland to Henry VIII.," History of Earl s of Kildare.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 95

Earliest known printed Cork book: Eikon Basilike (1649)

Cork · city · Cork · 1649

A unique copy of the Eikon Basilike was printed in Cork by Peter de Pienne in 1649, copied from the London edition of 1648. Cork was then in Royalist hands, allowing de Pienne to print in safety before Cromwell's forces arrived.

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been written by King Charles I. before his execution, immediately after which it was printed in London. Although rigidly suppressed by the Parliament, whose forces broke into the printing house, destroyed the book and scattered the type — but as always happens with persecution and intolerance, the persecuted increase in strength and numbers, so it was with the Eikon. Cork was then and for a while in the hands of the Royalists, and there de Pienne printed his little book in safety and quiet, and its scarcity may possibly be accounted for by the inroad of Cromwell's (0 soldiers, to whom it was as "the accursed thing." If any member of our Society can throw any light upon this early printer I will feel extremely obliged.
"John Terry, Linnen Draper.— At the Sign of the SPINNING WHEEL, at the End of Cockpit-Lane, CORKE, is lately come from DUBLIN, and has supplyed himself with great Choice of the undernamed Goods, which he is determined to sell at the lowest Profit for the Encouragement of ready money.

Internet Archive journalofcorkhisv21896cork, Chapter 137

As the companion tells it

As the road takes you through Cork, this was where a man named Peter de Pienne printed a little book in 1649. It was called the Eikon Basilike, believed to have been written by King Charles the First before his execution, and first printed in London immediately after. The Parliament suppressed it rigidly. Their forces broke into the printing house, destroyed the book, and scattered the type. But as the source says, "as always happens with persecution and intolerance, the persecuted increase in strength and numbers, so it was with the Eikon." Cork was then in the hands of the Royalists, and there de Pienne printed his copy in safety and quiet, taken from the London edition of 1648. Its scarcity may come from what followed. Cromwell's soldiers arrived, and to them the book was "the accursed thing." Little is known about de Pienne himself. The record asks if anyone can shed light on this early printer, and that question still stands.

Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society

The stories, best first

Richard Creagh, Limerick merchant's son

Sir William Petty, MP for Kinsale and Bandon

40,000 sheep consumed in week at Buttevant and Moyalloe

Battle near Castlelyons, June 1643

Skahard whitethorn wood tradition

Oisin, Bran's pup, and the Dord Fiann at Birdhill

1304 O'Brien attack on Caherconlish castle and town

Ardee: Ferdiagh's Ford, site of Cuchullain's duel

Arrest of Lord Edward Fitzgerald at Thomas Street, Dublin

Battle and retreat through the defile near Fermoy, 1643

Caherconlish oral history of ancient city

Carrigacashel castle and the Monks of the Screw

Clonkeen church folklore of aerial transport from England

Cromwell's forces enter Cork through the Water Gate

Daniel O'Donovan defends Charles Fort, Kinsale

Death and burial of the Old Countess of Desmond at Youghal

Devastation and spoil left in Moyalloe after rebel flight

Executions at Macroom after Hutchinson murder

Firbolgs granted lands in Meath by Carbry Niafer

Fourth Earl of Clancarty taken prisoner at capture of Cork, 1690

Ginckle's 1691 encampment at Caherconlish: plague and siege preparations

Johnny Roche's castle and inventions near Mallow

Kanturk name legend: O'Donoghue's boar hunt

Kilteely church and St. Patrick tradition

Lord Roche's Castletown castle taken, 1000 people yielded

Mary Dowe whipped at cart's tail for handkerchief theft, 1774

McAuliffe's second-sight prophecy at Kanturk Castle

Monkstown Castle built for fourpence-halfpenny

Patrick Cotter O'Brien, the Irish giant of Kinsale

Rebels flee toward Youghal passage and caves in the wood

Ryan Puck and the Knockeen Cave Fox

Shandon Steeple built from Shandon Castle

Sir Maurice Duff slain in Muskerry

Skirmish at Affane between Downing and Ffennell

St. Patrick's serpent in a Galtee Mountains lake

Two Brehons' castles and scolding wives tradition at Caherconlish

White Knight and Munster notables imprisoned in Dublin Castle

Forged Papal seal die found in ruined abbey near Waterford

Sarsfield and companions captured and rescued at Lough Gur

The deaf coach at Lough Gur

Ambush and capture of Earl Gerald at Decies

Battle of Short Castle of Mallow, 1642

Bishop O'Herlihy of Ross freed through McCarthy of Muskerry's bribe

Catherine Lordane imprisoned despite acquittal in Clonakilty

Glasshouse chimney and largest surviving city wall fragment

John Burke's castles and corn destroyed in Clanwilliam (1600)

Muskerry Cavalry passed hidden Whiteboys in Aghabullogue

Siege of Short Castle during the Munster Rebellion

Sir Richard Nagle of Clogher, county Cork

Sir Thomas Norreys arrests Munster chiefs from Cork

Archbishop of Cashel robbed during 1641 Rebellion

Armed Munster gentry intimidate trial at Philipstown

Assassination of Dermod MacCarthy at Tralee assizes, 1325

Attack on Rev. Mr. Stopford's house at Blarney

Battle of Callan, 1261

College field quarry with fossils and ancient skeleton

Cormac's Chapel on the Rock of Cashel

Daniel 'Old Dan' Callaghan born at Ballyclough near Mallow

Death of heir from plague at Jerpoint Abbey

Earliest known printed Cork book: Eikon Basilike (1649)