This was anciently a distinct Parish, the church of which is still to be
seen, in ruins, between those of Killabban and Sletty having an ancient
burial-ground attached. The name is sometimes written Grangemonk; and in the
Inquisitions it is given as Monksgrange, alias Kilmagobbock. Within a short
distance of the ruinous Church of Grange, there is another ancient cemetery and,
most probably also, the site of a church. It immediately adjoins Shrule Castle,
and is still occasionally used for interments; the remaining tomb-stones, - the
dates on which range from 1737,- show no incription calling for notice. Sir
Jonah Barrington, in his Personal Recollections, makes reference to this
graveyard. In this district and probably on this site, one of our earliest
Monasteries stood; it was known as that of Sruthair, (a word signifying a
Stream) or Sruthaire-Guaire, now changed into Shrule. According to Archdall, who
errneously places it in the County of Wicklow, this Monastery was presided over
by St. Mogoroc, the brother of St. Canoc, who flourished about the year 492; he
was the patron of the church of Derge, or Dergne, in Huidh-bruin-chualan. His
festival was observed on the 23rd of December. It is entered in the Martyrology
of Tallaght at that date:- "Mogoroc Diergne." Whether Sruthair be the same as
the abbey of Dergne, Colgan cannot determine. The name Kilmagobbock appears to
be a corruption of Killmogoroc, i.e. the Church of St. Mogoroc.
A.D. 864. Sruthair, Sletty, and Achadh-Arglais (Agha)
were plundered by the Ossorymen. (Four Masters.)
A.D. 901. Maelpoil, Abbot of Sruthair-Guaire, died.
(Id.)
A.D. 952. Caenchomhrac, Abbot of Cill-Easpuig, Saintain,
and Sruthair, died. (Id.)
A.D. 1355. The Abbot of Sruthair, McCathail, died.
(Annals Donegal.)
In the partition of the property of the native Irish, massacred at
Mullaghmast in 1577, that portion lying in this neighbourhood fell chiefly to
the lot of the Hartpoles. By an Inquisition taken at Maryborough, the 22nd of
May, 1632, it appears, that George Hartpole of Monksgrange was seized in fee
tail to himself and his heirs male, of the town and land of Shrowell, of which
the hamlets of Ballehorner, Rossenalgan, Ballyrahan, Rathduffe, Ballycollin,
Garrybrickin, Aghetinan, and Cappiscribedore are parcel, all of which contain 1
castle, 10 messuages, and 22 acres of land of the small measurement, in the
country called Slewmargagh. The aforesaid George was also seized in fee of the
lordship of ____, and of the town and land of Newcastle alias Castlenoe,
Ballynegall, Ardlisse alias Narlissse, Clonevacan, Clowlenowle, Farnans, Garrans
alias Negarran alias Clonecangarran, Kilcloghe, Cossan, Rathtillge, Garrendenny,
Killgore, Clonebrocke, Killnemore, Rossenamount, Rosseconse, Emelaghe,
Bareneslattye, Ballynekillye, Garrowghe, Aghenecrosse, Tenesraghe, Cargin,
farrminabee, Killcollykin, Killagin, and Garrymore, which are all parcels of the
said lordship, and contain 1 castle, 20 messuages, and 50 acres of land of the
said small measure; 2 messuages in the town of Maryborough, and the town and
land of Le Grange of Killmagobbock alias Monksgrange, with the tithes of same,
containing 1 castle, 1 water-mill, and 40 acres, with the rectories of Killabban
and Corclone, and all the tithes belonging to them, together with the advowson
and right of presentation to the vicarage of Killabban aforesaid. The said
George Hartpole died on the 24th of January, 1631. Robert Hartpole is his son
and heir, was then of the age of 25 years, and married.
The remains of an old castle at Grange have lately been incorporated with a
modern dwelling-house. There is another castle at Shrule, built in the reign of
Elizabeth by Sir Robert Hartpole, Constable of Carlow Castle and Governor of the
Queen's County. This castle has also been fashioned into a modern residence. In
the Aphori, smical Discovery, vol. 1, c. 5, it is related that "Robert Hartpole,
in the Queen's County, did (in 1641) make up a troupe, and manned his own castle
of Shrule, for the Irish, within two miles of Caterlogh, so did Walter Bagnall
make a troupe, and tooke Laghlin Bridge; Edward Butler, of Tulloe, mad up men,
and James Birne, all those proved verie curagious and earnest in those primer
times, and so did all the Irish severally in the respective provinces, that I am
confident a 100 English would not face ten Irish in these beginnings, for God
did fight for them then, having, as they had, religion as their onely objecte of
warfare, and allsoe the English was mightie discouraged, seeing the multitude of
Irish in eache province, and how they thrived, that they thought strange where
we are soe manie all the while, and persuaded themselves that they rose from
porgatorie (which until then they never beleeved) in so much that verie many of
the rankest Protestants, nay of theire chiefe ministers, was verie earnest for
reconcilement to holy churche, and being received, showed extraordinarie
devotion."
There is a local tradition that a priest named Moore, a member of the
princely family of O'Moore, who officiated in the parish, was seized at the time
of the Cromwellian persecution, and hanged at the cross-roads of Bohernassere,
from an oak tree which is still standing. It is further stated that the body of
the priest was buried beneath the tree on which he suffered martyrdom.
(Above as was written)
BALLYLYNAN
In the immediate vicinity of this village are the ruins of an
ancient church, measuring about 40 feet in length, by 16 feet in width. The
western gable, which is nearly perfect, is pierced by a small stone-cased
window, 2 feet high by 1 in breadth, and terminates in a bell-turret with opes
for two bells. Portions of the side walls remain, and also the east gable in
which there is a deeply-splayed window; another window may be traced about
mid-way in the south wall. No remarkable inscriptions are observable in the
adjoining graveyard. In June, 1786, an earthen urn was dug up in a field beside
these ruins, containing many curious coins.
(Above as was written)
BALLYLEHANE
A castle stood at this place so named, some portions of which
are still in existence. The period when this stronghold was erected has not been
ascertained, but it must have been prior to the year 1346, as it is referred to
by Clyn at that date. This writer records a great slaughter of the O'Mores and
their followers to the number of 300, at Ballylehane, in the year 1315.
"A.D. 1315. Strages magna Hybernicorum scilicet de O'Morehys
et bominibus illorum, circiter 300 occiduntur juxta Bellilethan, in Epiphania
Domini."
Again, two years later, Clyn states that there was a great defeat of
the Irish at Castledermot, by Edmund Butler, and another, of the soldiers of
O'More, by the same at Baclethan. (Baflylehane.) And in another entry in Clyn's
Annals, under date 1346, the castle of Ballylehane is expressly referred to, in
which it is stated that in the week succeeding Low Sunday, the castles of Ley,
Kumeade, and Ballylehane were taken and dismantled by O'More, O'Conor, and
O'Dempsy, on Thursday before the feast of the Holy Cross".
"A.D. 1346. In hebdomada post Dominicam in Albis, castra de Ley, Kilmehid, et Ballylethan,
capiuntur et franguntur per 0 Murthe, O'Konkur, et O'Dymisey, die Jovis in
crastino Sanctae Crucis."
O'Donovan identifies Ballilethan, as "Ballylehane,
Queen's County." As Ballylehane was within the territory of the O'Mores, there
can be scarcely a doubt that the castle was built by them. A branch of the MacDonnells appears to have settled in this locality in the 16th century. On the
7th of May, 1578, an agreement was entered into between Sydney, the Lord Deputy,
and the three septs of the Clandonnells, the representative of one of which was
Maelmurry McEdmund of Rahin. 'Edmund McDonnell of Rahen,' is named in the Carew
Calendar".
"A.D. 1596, as one of the principal gentlemen of the Queen's County. A
Memorial presented by the Irish Council to Essex, in 1599, represents the MacDonnells as then in rebellion with the O'Mores; and about this time their
castles of Rahin and Derry were forfeited, and bestowed on Sir R. Greame (See
Vol. 2, p. 153.). An Inquisition, taken at Maryborough, 18th April, 1628, sets
forth that the late King James, by letters Patent, dated 4th May, 1613, had
granted to Sir Richard Greham, and his heirs and assigns intail, the town and
lands of Rahinderry, Banganagh, (Shanganagh) . . Killmaronny, Ballelihan alias
Ballelinan, Agharow alias Aghenure, Ballecornan, and a moiety of the townland of
Balleaghan, containing 4 castles, 20 messuages, and 717 acres; in the town and
land of Rahinduff, 6 messuages and 71 acres; in Cremorgan alias Clomorgan, 80
acres of arable and 10 of brushwood and moor; in Dowary and Moneduff 6 messuages
and 184 acres; in Rathaspick, Monynebooly, and Killeckly, 4 messuages and 100
acres, and the advowson of the church of Kilbride, to be held of the king, his
heirs and successors, in capite, by military service, etc. The said Richard
died, 17th Nov., 1626. Thomas Greham was his son and heir, and was then of the
age of 40, and married. Two ancient piers, on which armorial bearings are
carved, form the entrance to the plot on which stands the ruined castle of
Ballylehane".
(Above as was written)
OLD COURT
In the townland of Clonpierce, adjoining
Ballylynan, an
extensive ruin exists, called in the neighbourhood, the Abbey of Shanecourt, or
Old Court. Beyond a passing reference in the Annals of the family of Grace, as a
monastery stated to have been built by the O'Mores, nothing is recorded of an
abbey having stood here. It is curious that all traditions of what this building
really was, have disappeared from the minds of the natives. It was an Episcopal
Residence of the Bishops of Leighlin, as is shown by a passage from the Report
made, in 1612, by Dr. Ram, Protestant Bishop, and given in Vol. "p.244: -
"The Incroachers of the manor of Shanecourt alias Woodstock,
in the Queen's County, are Sir Richard Greame of Ballylehan, Knight, and Piers
Ovington of Amorstowne, Esq., who have, the one on the one side, and the other
of the other side, so encroached upon the sayd manor, that, whereas it consisted
of eight score acres arable land, in the fift yere of Edward the first as by the
Excheator then beinge, his accompts appeareth in the King's rowles, and so much
hath bin in possession with the Bishop of Leighlin his tennaunt within fiftie
years last past; they have left with the house but one acre of land. If I hoped
that theis lands could be recovered in lawe by any reasonable charge,"
The
Bishop of Leighlin having a residence here, will account for the fact of his
having usually held the rectory of Killabban in conjunction with his See.
(Above as was written)
CLONAGH
Due east of Old Court, at a distance of about half a mile, and
with distinct traces of a roadway connecting both places, there is a
burial-ground, now disused, in the townland of Clonagh. Sir Charles Coote makes
the following reference to this place in his Statistical Survey of the Queen's
County :-" There was formerly a monastery at Clonagh; a fine steeple was erected
here, and was pulled down by the barbarian who tenanted the ground, for the sake
of the limestone of which it was built. The ruins of the monastery are yet to be
seen, with the vestige of a curious arch," This, O'Donovan remarks, is shown as
a large church on the old map of Leix and Offaly. At the present time there is
nothing to indicate the former existence of buildings at this place.
(Above as was written)
CASTLETOWN
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Castletown Church - Church of Ireland |
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The present Protestant church stands on an ancient church site
Local tradition avers that Father Bryan Moore, the then P.P., celebrated mass
here on the day on which was fought the Battle of the Boyne. There is also a
tradition of a priest having been drowned by accident, in the adjoining river.
Some Catholics are still interred in the burial-ground attached to this church.
A remarkable mound, probably a Tumulus, stands at a few paces' distance from the
church.
Photos by M. Brennan & W. Muldowney
