Rheban Castle, County Kildare (vol. 3)

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

1. Kilberry castle guarding the ford opposite Rheban

   Kilberry · town · Kildare

   The first English settlers repaired and strengthened Rheban castle along with the opposite castle of Kilberry, both intended to protect a ford on the river Barrow.

   Read the passage

   Rheban was, in the second century, one of the inland towns of Ireland. The Castle stands on the western bank cf the Al Berba, Birgus, or Barragh, (the boundary river.) now th5 river Barrow. It was built, or greatly enlarged, in the early part of the thirteenth century, by Richard De St. Michael,* when this and Dunamase, an adjoining district, were erected into a barony, and granted to' him in fee, of which he was created baron. Rheban was found of consequence to the first English settlers, who repaired and strengthened the castle, as also the opposite one of Kilberry, both intended to protect a ford on the river. The name of this castle was anciently Raiba, or Righ-ban, that is, the habitation of the king ; and though now in ruins, some idea can be formed of its former grandeur. Its massive walls — its mullioned windows, with its imposing situation, show it to be a place designed to awe the surrounding country, and forcibly call to mind the days when the chivalrous De St. Michael . held his court here in feudal splendour, and lorded it over the petty chieftains of the borders of jthe Pale.

   In 1325, in the absence of the English settlers, Rheban, Dunamase, and all their dependencies, were taken by O'Moore;

   Internet Archive jstor-30003532, Chapter 1

2. Fishing the rivers near Miltown Malbay, County Clare

   Milltown Malbay · town · Clare · 1822

   The narrator and his friend fished lakes and rivers near Miltown Malbay in 1822, catching salmon and white-trout from the Anna, Annagieragh, Cri, and Dunbeg rivers within a range of seven miles south of the town.

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   younger brother, of a highly respectable family in that county; and, as he chiefly resided on his property, he was, by his kindness to his tenantry, very popular, and much beloved. Being a thorough sportsman, he had held out every inducement to tempt me from home, to try his native sports in all their wildness and diversity. He had not exaggerated —for never before did I feel such admiration—such delight — such pleasure; whether in contemplating the grandeur of the bold and magnificent coast, with the formidable billows of the Atlantic thundering on its cliffs and shores— its wild, inland scenery of mount-tin, lake, and trackless bog, or the devotedness and affection of his tenantry and retainers. Oh ! none but those who have witnessed those devoted, those warm-hearted feelings of the peasantry towards a kind and indulgent landlord, can form any idea how perfect a little monarch he is among them. Yet these are the poor — the despised Connaughtiaen. But, I fear, that within these few years, from absenteeism, illiberal landlords, and harsh agents, much of that fine spirit is passing away. I was very young at the time, but, being of a strong wiry frame, and trained to hardy exercises, I soon became inured to the fatigues of the bogs ; and could, with confidence, cross in safety the most dangerous bogachf The summer passed delightfully. We had fished all the lakesj within our reach, and many were the fine salmon and white-trout that graced our bags from the Anna, Annagieragh, Cri, and Dunbeg rivers.J Now knowing the country tolerably well, and being able to attempt a smattering in Irish, I would often venture by myself to a considerable distance, when my friend uas otherwise employed, in exploring every part with eager delight, to gain fresh additions to my collection of curiosities, plants, and stuffed birds.

   Natural history and botany were to me sources of endless delight and amusement; and I had always endeavoured to cultivate practically those interesting studies, when rambling with my gun among the wild mountains and bogs, or along the rocky coast ; and often, when visiting the many small romantic lakes, so numerous in

   Internet Archive jstor-30003532, Chapter 2

   As the companion tells it

   You're passing through Milltown Malbay in Clare. Back in 1822, a young sportsman came here to visit a friend, a popular landlord who lived on his property and was much loved by his tenants. He had promised the wild native sports, and he did not exaggerate. The coast was magnificent, with the Atlantic thundering against the cliffs, and inland there was mountain, lake, and trackless bog. The summer passed delightfully. They fished all the lakes within reach, and many fine salmon and white-trout graced their bags from the Anna, Annagieragh, Cri, and Dunbeg rivers, all within seven miles south of this town. The narrator, being young and hardy, grew used to the fatigues of the bogs and could cross the most dangerous ground with confidence. He also learned a smattering of Irish, and would venture out alone to collect curiosities, plants, and stuffed birds. He spoke warmly of the devoted affection the peasantry showed a kind landlord, calling him a little monarch among them, though he feared that fine spirit was already passing away.

3. De St. Michael's monastery for crouched friars in Athy

   Athy · town · Kildare

   Richard De St. Michael founded a monastery in Athy on the west side of the river for crouched friars, under the invocation of St. John; a burial ground and some remains still exist there.

   Read the passage

   * This Richard De St. Michael founded a monastery in Athy on the west (his own) side of the river for crouched friars, under the invocation of St. John. A burial ground and some remains still exist. There was another religious edifice erected by the families of Boesel and Hogan, at the east entrance of the town, and dedicated to St. Michael, which is erroneously stated to have been the one founded by De St. Michael, lord of Rheban. A coincidence between the names of the supposed founder and the monastery, called as it is St. Michael's, may have led to the mistake. St. Michael's is built on an eminence, agreeable to the custom of selecting the site of all religious houses, intended to be dedicated to St. Michael, on the highest pund, from a notion* perhaps, of the superior ordc* of the archangel.

   Internet Archive jstor-30003532, Chapter 1

   As the companion tells it

   As you pass through Athy, Richard De St. Michael founded a monastery here on the west side of the river for crouched friars, dedicated to St. John. A burial ground and some remains still exist. There was another religious house at the east entrance of the town, built by the families of Boesel and Hogan and dedicated to St. Michael, which was wrongly said to be the one De St. Michael founded. The similarity between his name and the dedication to St. Michael likely caused the confusion. St. Michael's was built on an eminence, following the custom of placing houses dedicated to that archangel on the highest ground.

4. Lough Graney, the sunny lake in the barony of Tullagh

   near Lough Graney · lake or lakes · Clare

   The beautiful lake in the barony of Tullagh, called Locc Graoine or Locc ua Griane, meaning the bright or sunny lake, is commonly known as Lough Graney, one of the fine sheets of water in Clare.

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   | The lakes in Clare are very numerous, and abound in trout, being generally free from that scourge to their race, the pike. Many of the lakes are large, and have very fine trout, weighing from three to eight and nine pounds ; but the otters are very destructive to them. Dromore and Inchiquin are fine sheets of water, and that beautiful lake in the barony of Tuliagh, Locc Graoine or Locc ua Griane, the bright or sunny lake, or lake of the sun, commonly called Lough Graney

   § These rivers are within a range of seven milei to the south of Miltown, and empty themselves into the Atlantic. In the autumn and spring they are stored with salmon and white-trout, and in the autumn floods afford great sport. Salmon have been caught in Dunbeg (or Cooraclare river) hi large w twenty pounds.

   Internet Archive jstor-30003532, Chapter 2

5. St. Michael's church at east entrance of Athy misattributed

   Athy · town · Kildare

   Another religious edifice, erected by the families of Boesel and Hogan at the east entrance of Athy and dedicated to St. Michael, is erroneously stated to have been founded by De St. Michael of Rheban, a confusion arising from the coincidence of names.

   Read the passage

   * This Richard De St. Michael founded a monastery in Athy on the west (his own) side of the river for crouched friars, under the invocation of St. John. A burial ground and some remains still exist. There was another religious edifice erected by the families of Boesel and Hogan, at the east entrance of the town, and dedicated to St. Michael, which is erroneously stated to have been the one founded by De St. Michael, lord of Rheban. A coincidence between the names of the supposed founder and the monastery, called as it is St. Michael's, may have led to the mistake. St. Michael's is built on an eminence, agreeable to the custom of selecting the site of all religious houses, intended to be dedicated to St. Michael, on the highest pund, from a notion* perhaps, of the superior ordc* of the archangel.

   Internet Archive jstor-30003532, Chapter 1

   As the companion tells it

   As you come through Athy, up on the high ground at the east end of town, there's a church dedicated to St. Michael. It was put up by the families of Boesel and Hogan, but for a long time people said it was founded by Richard De St. Michael, lord of Rheban. It wasn't. He actually built a monastery on the west side of the river, for crouched friars, under the invocation of St. John. The mix-up came about simply because the church is called St. Michael's and the man's name was De St. Michael. The site itself follows an old custom, that churches dedicated to the archangel were built on the highest point available.

6. Rheban's parish and location near Athy

   Churchtown · parish · Kildare

   Rheban is situated in the parish of Churchtown and union of Athy, about two and a half miles north west of that town.

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   Near the Castle is a very high conical mount, thought to have been a sepulchral mound, raised over some king or chieftain, and though artificial in a great degree, there was, nevertheless, advantage taken of a natural height, as may be seen by the undisturbed beds of gravel that are now taken from it for road purposes. Rheban is situated in the parish of Churchtown and union of Athy, about two and a half miles north west of the latter. Enna.

   * This Richard De St. Michael founded a monastery in Athy on the west (his own) side of the river for crouched friars, under the invocation of St. John. A burial ground and some remains still exist. There was another religious edifice erected by the families of Boesel and Hogan, at the east entrance of the town, and dedicated to St. Michael, which is erroneously stated to have been the one founded by De St. Michael, lord of Rheban. A coincidence between the names of the supposed founder and the monastery, called as it is St. Michael's, may have led to the mistake. St. Michael's is built on an eminence, agreeable to the custom of selecting the site of all religious houses, intended to be dedicated to St. Michael, on the highest pund, from a notion* perhaps, of the superior ordc* of the archangel.

   Internet Archive jstor-30003532, Chapter 1