Journal of the Waterford & South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society (January-March, 1906) (vol. January-March, 1906)

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read it as the scan has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too. The passages are read off photographs of the page by machine, so a word here and there comes out wrong; they are kept as the reading produced them, so you can check any of them against the scan.

1. Confederate Flag preserved at Tallaght

   near Tallaght · town · Dublin · 1640–1650

   Among minor points touched on in Gilbert's biography is the preservation at Tallaght of the Flag of the Confederates which was carried before Rinuccini.

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   Records. The exposure, which is anonymous, and evidently the work of a master hand, leads to much discussion, and finally to appointment by the House of Commons of a Committee to enquire generally into the matter. A Commission for detailed enquiry and report is the result — and subsequently the establishment of the Irish Record Office. But the most noted of Gilbert's works are his Reports (twenty-three volumes) on Irish Historical MSS., his Fac-Similies of Irish MSS., and his ten great volumes on the Confederation period. Among minor points of interest on which the narrative touches are the existence of Bristol Colonies in Irish seaport towns and the preservation at Tallaght of the Flag of the Confederates which was carried before Rinuccini. A single luminous sentence, the truth of which all who know Gilbert's work will endorse, sums up the character of the historian and his work : —

   " One of the most tolerant of men, his (Gilbert's) dislike of ' scamped ' or inaccurate work amounted to intolerance and superficial productions on serious subjects, especially those connected with history, were offensive to him. He could not sympathise with authors wrho would not take pains, and who unscrupulously increased the number, already too great, of misleading records."

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 19

   As the companion tells it

   Tallaght is a town the road passes through or near. In the 1640s, during the Confederation period, a flag was preserved in this town. It was the Flag of the Confederates, carried before Rinuccini. The story comes through the historian Gilbert, whose most noted works include 23 volumes of Reports on Irish Historical Manuscripts, Facsimiles of Irish Manuscripts, and his 10 great volumes on the Confederation period. Among the minor points his narrative touches on are the existence of Bristol Colonies in Irish seaport towns and the preservation of this flag. An anonymous exposure, the work of a master hand, had led to much discussion, and finally to the appointment by the House of Commons of a Committee to enquire into the matter, a Commission for detailed enquiry, and the establishment of the Irish Record Office. He was a man who could not abide careless work. A sentence written about him says that "his dislike of scamped or inaccurate work amounted to intolerance," and that "superficial productions on serious subjects, especially those connected with history, were offensive to him." He could not sympathise with authors who would not take pains, and who unscrupulously increased the number of misleading records.

2. Destruction of chough and peregrine falcon eggs near Tramore

   Tramore · town · Waterford · 1905–1906

   Rare bird species including the chough and peregrine falcon had their eggs destroyed in the neighbourhood of Tramore by people who would deny being vandals.

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   to — for trespass, if for nothing more. We have heard too of the destruction, in the neighbourhood of Tramore, and by people who would indignantly repel the charge of vandalism, of the eggs, amongst other rare species, of the chough and the peregrine falcon. Why should wTe allow any indigenous wild animal to be kept in captivity by private individuals for mere gratification of the jailor's spirit of ownership !

   P.

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 20

   As the companion tells it

   Near Tramore, around 1905 or 1906, the eggs of rare birds were destroyed. The chough and the peregrine falcon were among the species that lost their eggs. The people responsible would have indignantly rejected any charge of vandalism. The journal that recorded this asked why any indigenous wild animal should be kept in captivity by private individuals for the mere gratification of what it called the jailor's spirit of ownership.

3. Glen of the Slaughter of the Calf - a forgotten legend near Dunmore

   Dunmore East · town · Waterford

   A place called 'Glen of the Slaughter of the Calf' near Dunmore references some legend or event that has now been forgotten by local tradition.

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   (c) gle^nn UlApbtA An 1^015 — Glen of the Slaughter of the Calf," in reference to some legend or event now forgotten.

   (2) Along cliff line from north to south and east to west — (a) FAitl a Cipin— " Cliff of the Broken Piece of Stick."

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 14

   As the companion tells it

   Near Dunmore East there's a glen whose old name means the Glen of the Slaughter of the Calf. Whatever happened there, whatever tale gave it that name, is gone. Local tradition has forgotten it entirely. Only the name survives, and even that barely clings to the place.

4. The legendary Myles behind Knockaveelish and Bellelake names

   Knockaveelish · townland · Waterford

   Knockaveelish ('Myles' Hill') preserves the name of a figure called Myles who cannot now be identified but who must have been a person of some note, perhaps legendary, since his name is also perpetuated in the ancient names of Bellelake and Woodstown Strand.

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   Knockaveelish, Cnoc a1 triair— n Myles' Hill." We cannot unfortunately identify Myles : he must have been a person of some note (—perhaps legendary), for his name is perpetuated in the ancient names of Bellelake (z) and Woodstown Strand, (aa) Area, 364 acres.

   S.DD. (a) " The Short Head " — in contradistinction to Credan (the Long) Head.

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 14

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here is Knockaveelish, Myles' Hill. Nobody can say now who Myles was. He must have been a person of some note, perhaps legendary, because his name lives on not just here but in the old names of Bellelake and Woodstown Strand. The land runs to 364 acres.

5. Undiscovered early Christian burial ground site at Ballindud

   Ballindud · townland · Waterford

   The cill or cillin site, an early Christian burial ground at Ballindud, lies close by the roadside a few perches south-west of the main entrance lodge to Ballinamona Park; it is unmarked by any monument and was found only with difficulty.

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   (c) CilUn — " Little Burial Ground." The word ciU, from the Latin cella was originally used to designate a primitive church. When the church disappeared the word came to signify the graveyard, and in this latter sense cttt is generally used now. To add to the confusion ciU, and still more citUn, is applied to pagan as well as Christian places of sepulture. The ciU, or citUn, site (early Christian) at Ballindud is close by the roadside, a few perches south-west of the main entrance lodge to Ballinamona Park ; it is not marked by monument or remains of any kind, and some difficulty was experienced in locating it accurately.

   Ballbbeg, t>Aile t)occ— u Poor Town." The real name was changed, half a century or more since, to t>Aile t)e<s$ (" Small Town ") for reasons other than euphonic. Area, 267 acres.

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 12

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere close to Ballindud there is an early Christian burial ground, a cill or cillín site. The word cill comes from the Latin cella, and it first meant a primitive church. When the church disappeared, the word came to mean the graveyard itself. Cill, and especially cillín, is also applied to pagan places of burial, not just Christian ones. The site at Ballindud is not marked by any monument or remains of any kind, and it was found only with some difficulty.

6. Botany Bay Field Name at Williamstown

   Williamstown · townland · Waterford

   A sub-division at Williamstown called 'Bottomy' was applied contemptuously to a few worthless fields, cultivation of which was sarcastically equated with penal servitude in 'Botany' Bay.

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   (c) " Bottomy " — the (presumably) modern name applied contemptuously to a fewr worthless fields, cultivation of which was sarcastically equated with penal servitude in " Botany" Bay.

   (d) " Deer Park," two fields to which the name is occasionally applied.

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 8

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here at Williamstown, a few worthless fields were known as Bottomy. The name was given in contempt. Working that ground was joked about as penal servitude in Botany Bay, as if tending these fields was punishment enough.

7. Lady's Island correctly identified as cell to Abbey of Ferns

   Lady's Island · townland · Wexford · 1401–1402

   The writer corrects a historian's confusion, showing that John Barry was farmer of the Chapel of Insula Barry, which is Lady's Island, a cell to the Abbey of Ferns, not the Great Island as previously claimed.

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   To make the confusion worse, the historian of the Great Island tells us that in 140 1-2 John Barry was farmer of the Chapel called " Insula Barry," and thus he equates Island Barry with the Great Island ! As a matter of fact John Barry was farmer of Lady's Island, and this is proved from the Calendar of Patent Rolls, wherein it is stated that " the Chapel of Insula Barry was in the King's hands by reason of the outlawry of John Abbot of the House of the Blessed Mary of Ferns." Barry's Island here mentioned is Lady's Island which was a cell to the Abbey of Ferns.

   Wm. H. Grattan Flood.

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 20

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere close to Lady's Island, a historian's mistake was put right. The historian of the Great Island claimed that in 1401 to 1402 John Barry was farmer of the Chapel called Insula Barry, and equated Island Barry with the Great Island. In fact, John Barry was farmer of Lady's Island. The Calendar of Patent Rolls proves it, stating that the Chapel of Insula Barry was in the King's hands by reason of the outlawry of John, Abbot of the House of the Blessed Mary of Ferns. Barry's Island mentioned there is Lady's Island, which was a cell to the Abbey of Ferns.

8. The lost early church site of Killawlan

   Killawlan · townland · Waterford

   Killawlan, meaning 'Awlan's Church', is noted as one of the few instances where neither detailed physical examination of the locality nor careful search for tradition succeeded in locating the site of the early church.

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   Killawlan, Cat Attain — " Awlan's Church." The present is one of the few instances in which neither detailed physical examination of the locality nor careful search for tradition was successful in bringing site of the early church to light, (y)

   ( v) "Achlenna vocatur mater SS. Fintane, Columbi, et Lugadii," Colgan, " Acta Sanctorum " note, p. 544.

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 14

   As the companion tells it

   Somewhere around here is the lost early church of Killawlan, Awlan's Church. It is one of the few cases where neither detailed physical examination of the locality nor careful search for tradition succeeded in bringing the site of the early church to light. The place names it, but the ground gives nothing back.

9. Forgotten Site of Brican's Church

   Ballygunner · parish · Waterford

   The site of a primitive church called Cill Bhriocain, dedicated to Brican, stood on the sub-division known as Baile na Gaoithe but is now nearly forgotten, with no remains surviving though the exact location has been identified near a surveyor's mark.

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   (c) CHI tityiocAin — " Brican's Church " ; site (nearly forgotten) of a primitive church on tUite ha gaoite. There are no remains, but the exact site has been identified, scil :— immediately to N.E.' of surveyor's mark 163, on Ordnance Sheet (six-inch) No. 18.

   id) Ao\lAt£x\ — Meaning uncertain j. .probably derivative from -Aot, lime ; a large sub-division formerly well known by this name.

   Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 7

   As the companion tells it

   The parish of Ballygunner holds a nearly forgotten site. A primitive church once stood here, dedicated to Brican. They called it Cill Bhriocain. Nothing remains above ground now. The exact place was identified on the old maps, marked by a surveyor's number, but the church itself has faded from the land.

10. O'Keefe's Well reputed to have curative properties at Fornaght

    Fornaght · townland · Waterford

    A well called Uobar a tXaite Ui Cxaoirh ('Well of O'Keefe's Homestead') in Fornaght is reputed locally to possess curative properties.

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    S.DD. (a) Uob^|\ a tXaite tli Cx\oirh— " Well of O'Keefe's Homestead "; reputed locally to possess curative properties.

    (b) UotMf\ nA 5|\ixxnoi5e — " Well of the Sunny Place."

    Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 14

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here in Fornaght is O'Keefe's Well. The old Irish name for it means, in the source's words, "Well of O'Keefe's Homestead." People nearby have long held that its waters carry curative properties.

11. Brickmaking Tradition Lost at Poll na Bruce, Williamstown

    Williamstown · townland · Waterford

    A sub-division at Williamstown called Poll na bhFraoch ('Brick Hollow') consists of a few small fields where, judging from the name, bricks were once made, though no memory or tradition of the industry survives.

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    (b) poll ua t)fuce — u Brick Hollow"; a few small fields in which, judging from the name, bricks were once made ; no memory however, or even tradition, of the industry survives.

    (c) " Bottomy " — the (presumably) modern name applied contemptuously to a fewr worthless fields, cultivation of which was sarcastically equated with penal servitude in " Botany" Bay.

    Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 8

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere close to Williamstown, a few small fields were known as Poll na bhFraoch, which means Brick Hollow. Judging from the name alone, bricks were once made here. As the record puts it, "no memory however, or even tradition, of the industry survives." Nearby, a few worthless fields were given the contemptuous name Bottomy, after Botany Bay, where cultivating them was sarcastically equated with penal servitude.

12. Ford Between Little Island and Kilkenny Now Dredged Away

    Little Island · townland · Waterford

    The channel separating Little Island from the northern mainland of County Kilkenny was formerly fordable, but the ford no longer exists because the channel has since been deeply dredged.

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    Little Island, An U-OiteJm t>eA£, " The Small Island." The island occupies the middle of the river a couple of miles below the City of Waterford, and is identical, according to Rev. Dr. Kelly, (k) with Inisdomhle of the martyrologists where St. Bairrfhinn, son of Aedh, Prince of Dublin, founded and governed a religious house. It may, however, be laid down as practically certain that the learned hagiologist is incorrect in his identification. No trace or tradition of church, monastery or burial ground has been brought to light by a most careful examination of the island. Had a religious establishment of the kind attributed ever existed there tradition of it could not have entirely died out. Moreover the " Martyrology of Donegal " expressly place Inisdomhle in Hy-Cinnsealaigh (Co. Wexford). The adjective was added to distinguish our island from the " Great Island " lower down the river. Geographically the " Little Island " would seem to belong to Ossory rather than to the Decies, as the channel separating it from the northern mainland was formerly fordable. The ford exists no longer, for the channel has been deeply dredged. On the island is an ancient castle which has been metamorphosed into a beautiful modern residence. Area, 287 acres.

    S.DD. (a) " The Ford," the river channel between the island and Co. Kilkenny.

    Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 8

    As the companion tells it

    Somewhere around here there was once a ford across the river channel between Little Island and the northern mainland of County Kilkenny. The island sits in the middle of the river a couple of miles below the City of Waterford. It was called the Small Island, the name added to tell it apart from the Great Island farther down the river. The channel that separated Little Island from the Kilkenny shore was shallow enough once that people could walk across. Because of that ford, the island was thought to belong geographically to Ossory rather than to the Decies. The ford exists no longer. The channel has been deeply dredged, and what was a crossing is now open water. A note in the source calls the crossing simply the Ford, the river channel between the island and County Kilkenny. The island itself covers 287 acres. There is an ancient castle on it that has been turned into a modern residence. One more thread from the record. A learned writer, Rev. Dr. Kelly, identified this island with Inisdomhle of the martyrologists, where St. Bairrfhinn, son of Aedh, Prince of Dublin, founded and governed a religious house. The author of the passage says this is practically certain to be wrong. No trace or tradition of any church, monastery, or burial ground has been found, despite careful examination of the island. The Martyrology of Donegal places Inisdomhle in Hy-Cinnsealaigh, in County Wexford, not here at all.

13. St Lawrence's Well recorded by O'Donovan at Faithlegg

    Faithlegg · street · Waterford · 1830–1841

    O'Donovan recorded finding St. Lawrence's Well on the north-east side of Faithlegg townland during his Ordnance Survey fieldwork.

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    (e) u St. Lawrence's Well." O'Donovan found this well on north-east side of the townland. (0)

    (/) muinein f eilmn— -" Faithlegg Shrubbery." This is the well-known Faithlegg Hill, the most prominent physical feature of

    Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 11

    As the companion tells it

    This is St Lawrence's Well. O'Donovan found the well on the north-east side of the townland of Faithlegg during his Ordnance Survey fieldwork. That is all the record gives us: a name, a finder, and a side of a townland.

14. Crops Grown in Ballygunner Parish in 1846

    Ballygunner · parish · Waterford · 1846

    Amongst the crops grown in Ballygunner parish in 1846 are mentioned peas, beans, and flax, reflecting the agricultural character of the parish shortly before the Famine.

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    church appears to have been in repair at the date of the survey. Amongst the crops grown in the parish in 1846 are mentioned peas, beans, and flax, (e)

    Internet Archive journalofwaterf1906wate_1, Chapter 6