Heritage of the built environment

Heritage of the built environment.

Although wars, time, indifference and neglect have played their part, there is still a wealth of evidence of a civilized and sophisticated mediaeval Irish society, which benefited from the patronism of The Mac Giolla Phádraig. Examples of Mac Giolla Phádraig built environment heritage are found throughout Laois and Kilkenny, which formed the major part of the ancient kingdom of Ossory. These mainly include tower houses and monastic foundations. Ballaghmore castle is a magnificent example of the contribution the Mac Giolla Phádraig clan made to Ireland's mediaeval built environment. Although Ballaghmore is the only example of this heritage that is not now in ruin it is easy to visualize the splendor that was. The imaginative mind of a mid-summer visitor at a Giolla Phádraig foundation can easily sense the community life, religious festivals and military campaigns of those who lives are interwoven with these sites.

Kyle Hill

According to Lord Castletown in his book A King and his Favourite, "Barnabe Fitzpatrick, 2nd Lord Baron of Upper Ossory held the last tribal hosting and trial by Brehon laws, sitting on an old stone throne on the hill of Kyle which overlooks all Ossory and the Round Tower of Fertagh". He continues, "There is a most glorious view from the hill, overlooking Ossory, Tipperary, and many another county and range of hills down to Galtymore, Comeragh, Slievenamon and the hills along the valley of the [river] Suir".

Saighir (Seirkieran)

St. Ciaran (Kieran) who was born in west Cork settled at Saighir and as disciples gathered around him their foundation became the great monastery of Ossory. Ciaran belongs to a group of pre-Patrician saints and is said to have taken Saighir thirty years before St. Patrick. This ancient site is 8 miles north of Roscrea. At the churchyard there is an immense high cross base. The size of this base and the skill of its carving, suggest that here must have once stood one of the biggest and finest high crosses of Ireland. Cearbhail (d. 885), King of Ossory, is believed to be buried in this churchyard where, according to Lord Castletown, a horizontal slab with an Irish cross of fine design forms his tomb, on which these words in Irish, Ór do Cherball [Pray for Carroll], are inscribed.

According to Lord Castletown, "There were about twenty-three castles on our territory of [Upper] Ossory. The names of the more important were Castletown, Granston, Cullahill, Ballagh, Clonburn, Ballaghmore, Killreedy, Gurtnacleagh, Glashare, and many other minor fortresses. They made a sort of ring round [Upper] Ossory, and beacon fires could be lit from one to the other and the tribe aroused when required. Some of the old beacon places still remain on their tops". In the main, these castles were tower houses, square or rectangular in plan and contained a number of different floors. Ballaghmore Castle is a good example.

Ballaghmore Castle

One of many Fitzpatrick clan castles (most of which are now ruins). This castle was built around 1480 by the Mac Giolla Phádraigs. The castle dominated the Great Road (Bealach Mór - hence Ballaghmore) which connects Roscrea in Tipperary to Mountrath in Laois. The castle is signposted, on the left of the Roscrea - Mountrath Road and can be seen from the road.

Ballaghmore was partially destroyed by Cromwell's forces in 1647. It was restored in 1836 by a Mr. Ely with the proceeds of a hoard of gold he found on the site. Ely was shot by an angry tenant and never lived in the castle. The castle was then used as a granary and afterwards it fell into disuse, until the present owner bought it in 1990 and restored it. The castle is open daily to the public and is a truly memorable visit. Admission fee.

Aghaboe (ruins)

St. Cainnech founded his monastery here in the 6th century. According to Pochin Mould (1964) Cainnech (Canice or Kenneth) is one of the most attractive personalities of the early Irish church his popularity following immediately after Patrick, Brigit and Colmcille. He was the founder and patron of many churches in Ireland and Scotland. His principal church in Ireland was the Cow Field or Cow Place, Achadh Bó (Aghaboe). It was plundered in 913, rebuilt 1052 and burnt again 1116, rebuilt 1234, and burnt again (accidentally) in 1346 by Dermot Mac Giolla Phádraig. In the 11th century this was the cathedral city of Ossory having replaced Saighir as the chief church of Ossory. In turn Aghaboe was replaced by Kilkenny Cathedral.

The ruins are mainly from the Dominican friary which was founded in 1382 by order of Finghin, or Fineen Mac Giolla Phádraig. Portions of the original structures were incorporated into the present Protestant church (arcade near the top of the tower) and Heywood House at Ballinakill (fine windows removed in 1773).

Cullahill Castle (ruins)
Click here for a photo of Cullahill Castle

South of Durrow, in the small attractive village of Cullahill, just off the main road are the ruins of Cullahill castle. Built in 1425 this was one of the principal strongholds of the Mac Giolla Phádraig. Unfortunately, all that remains of this castle is one wall, supported at each end by barely sufficient of the adjoining walls which form shoring to support it. Truly a sight that must sadden the heart of every Fitzpatrick.

Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny (ruins)

The Kilkenny Guide is the official Irish Tourist Board Guide to County Kilkenny and in it N. Furlong says "It would be unthinkable to bypass Thomastown without a visit to a glory of Christendom, Jerpoint Cistercian Abbey. It is about 1.5 km to the southwest across the old stone bridge. It has been restored as far as possible and treated with gentle care. It was founded by Donal Mac Giolla Phádraig, King of Ossory in 1158. Its massive and immaculate remains [ruins] stand today to instruct, to impress, and to bring alive the inspiring spirit of Irish monasticism. Its story alone is sufficient to construct a canvass of dazzling colour and variety, not the least of which occurred during a period when conflict arose in the Cistercian Order between two races and cultures, reformers and reformed, the Norman French and the proud old Irish of indigenous tradition. Its Abbot refused to affect the Statutes of Kilkenny and was heavily but ineffectually fined. In 1540 this centre of civilisation was suppressed, its precincts, lands and waters bestowed on the Butlers of Ormond". Donal Mac Giolla Phádraig is buried here.

Jerpoint Abbey is cared for by the Office of Public Works who have a small Visitor Centre with an interesting exhibition. They provide a guided tour of the site. Admission fee.

Fitzpatrick Cenotaphs, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway According to Tim Robinson in his Mementos of Mortality (1991) there are three cenotaphs " in a line a few yards apart along the top of a small north-facing scarp crossing the hillside a quarter of a mile south of Cill Éinne harbour" which are dedicated to the memory of the Fitzpatricks.

Two of the cenotaphs are twenty feet high and five feet by eight feet in plan. The third is eight feet high by four feet square in plan. Those commemorated are John Fitzpatrick (d. 3 Feb. 1709), his wife Sara McSweiny (d. 5 Nov. 1709), Richard Fitzpatrick (d. 9 Oct. 1701), Florence Fitzpatrick (d. 6 Jan. 1709), Peter Fitzpatrick (d. 3 Mar. 1754), Patrick Fitzpatrick and his wife Margrett, Denis Fitzpatrick (d. 28 Dec. 1753) and John

Other sites include Aghmacart, Grangefertagh, Clonburren, Ballagh Castle, Errill, Castletown, Granstown, Clough Church and Gowran.

	Heritage of the built environment. Although wars, time, indifference and neglect have played their part, there is still a wealth of evidence of a civilized and sophisticated mediaeval Irish society, which benefited from the patronism of The Mac Giolla Phádraig. Examples of Mac Giolla Phádraig built environment heritage are found throughout Laois and Kilkenny, which formed the major part of the ancient kingdom of Ossory. These mainly include tower houses and monastic foundations. Ballaghmore castle is a magnificent example of the contribution the Mac Giolla Phádraig clan made to Ireland's mediaeval built environment. Although Ballaghmore is the only example of this heritage that is not now in ruin it is easy to visualize the splendor that was. The imaginative mind of a mid-summer visitor at a Giolla Phádraig foundation can easily sense the community life, religious festivals and military campaigns of those who lives are interwoven with these sites. Kyle Hill According to Lord Castletown in his book A King and his Favourite, "Barnabe Fitzpatrick, 2nd Lord Baron of Upper Ossory held the last tribal hosting and trial by Brehon laws, sitting on an old stone throne on the hill of Kyle which overlooks all Ossory and the Round Tower of Fertagh". He continues, "There is a most glorious view from the hill, overlooking Ossory, Tipperary, and many another county and range of hills down to Galtymore, Comeragh, Slievenamon and the hills along the valley of the [river] Suir". Saighir (Seirkieran) St. Ciaran (Kieran) who was born in west Cork settled at Saighir and as disciples gathered around him their foundation became the great monastery of Ossory. Ciaran belongs to a group of pre-Patrician saints and is said to have taken Saighir thirty years before St. Patrick. This ancient site is 8 miles north of Roscrea. At the churchyard there is an immense high cross base. The size of this base and the skill of its carving, suggest that here must have once stood one of the biggest and finest high crosses of Ireland. Cearbhail (d. 885), King of Ossory, is believed to be buried in this churchyard where, according to Lord Castletown, a horizontal slab with an Irish cross of fine design forms his tomb, on which these words in Irish, Ór do Cherball [Pray for Carroll], are inscribed. According to Lord Castletown, "There were about twenty-three castles on our territory of [Upper] Ossory. The names of the more important were Castletown, Granston, Cullahill, Ballagh, Clonburn, Ballaghmore, Killreedy, Gurtnacleagh, Glashare, and many other minor fortresses. They made a sort of ring round [Upper] Ossory, and beacon fires could be lit from one to the other and the tribe aroused when required. Some of the old beacon places still remain on their tops". In the main, these castles were tower houses, square or rectangular in plan and contained a number of different floors. Ballaghmore Castle is a good example. Ballaghmore Castle One of many Fitzpatrick clan castles (most of which are now ruins). This castle was built around 1480 by the Mac Giolla Phádraigs. The castle dominated the Great Road (Bealach Mór - hence Ballaghmore) which connects Roscrea in Tipperary to Mountrath in Laois. The castle is signposted, on the left of the Roscrea - Mountrath Road and can be seen from the road. Ballaghmore was partially destroyed by Cromwell's forces in 1647. It was restored in 1836 by a Mr. Ely with the proceeds of a hoard of gold he found on the site. Ely was shot by an angry tenant and never lived in the castle. The castle was then used as a granary and afterwards it fell into disuse, until the present owner bought it in 1990 and restored it. The castle is open daily to the public and is a truly memorable visit. Admission fee. Aghaboe (ruins) St. Cainnech founded his monastery here in the 6th century. According to Pochin Mould (1964) Cainnech (Canice or Kenneth) is one of the most attractive personalities of the early Irish church his popularity following immediately after Patrick, Brigit and Colmcille. He was the founder and patron of many churches in Ireland and Scotland. His principal church in Ireland was the Cow Field or Cow Place, Achadh Bó (Aghaboe). It was plundered in 913, rebuilt 1052 and burnt again 1116, rebuilt 1234, and burnt again (accidentally) in 1346 by Dermot Mac Giolla Phádraig. In the 11th century this was the cathedral city of Ossory having replaced Saighir as the chief church of Ossory. In turn Aghaboe was replaced by Kilkenny Cathedral. The ruins are mainly from the Dominican friary which was founded in 1382 by order of Finghin, or Fineen Mac Giolla Phádraig. Portions of the original structures were incorporated into the present Protestant church (arcade near the top of the tower) and Heywood House at Ballinakill (fine windows removed in 1773). Cullahill Castle (ruins) Click here for a photo of Cullahill Castle South of Durrow, in the small attractive village of Cullahill, just off the main road are the ruins of Cullahill castle. Built in 1425 this was one of the principal strongholds of the Mac Giolla Phádraig. Unfortunately, all that remains of this castle is one wall, supported at each end by barely sufficient of the adjoining walls which form shoring to support it. Truly a sight that must sadden the heart of every Fitzpatrick. Jerpoint Abbey, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny (ruins) The Kilkenny Guide is the official Irish Tourist Board Guide to County Kilkenny and in it N. Furlong says "It would be unthinkable to bypass Thomastown without a visit to a glory of Christendom, Jerpoint Cistercian Abbey. It is about 1.5 km to the southwest across the old stone bridge. It has been restored as far as possible and treated with gentle care. It was founded by Donal Mac Giolla Phádraig, King of Ossory in 1158. Its massive and immaculate remains [ruins] stand today to instruct, to impress, and to bring alive the inspiring spirit of Irish monasticism. Its story alone is sufficient to construct a canvass of dazzling colour and variety, not the least of which occurred during a period when conflict arose in the Cistercian Order between two races and cultures, reformers and reformed, the Norman French and the proud old Irish of indigenous tradition. Its Abbot refused to affect the Statutes of Kilkenny and was heavily but ineffectually fined. In 1540 this centre of civilisation was suppressed, its precincts, lands and waters bestowed on the Butlers of Ormond". Donal Mac Giolla Phádraig is buried here. Jerpoint Abbey is cared for by the Office of Public Works who have a small Visitor Centre with an interesting exhibition. They provide a guided tour of the site. Admission fee. Fitzpatrick Cenotaphs, Inishmore, Aran Islands, Co. Galway According to Tim Robinson in his Mementos of Mortality (1991) there are three cenotaphs " in a line a few yards apart along the top of a small north-facing scarp crossing the hillside a quarter of a mile south of Cill Éinne harbour" which are dedicated to the memory of the Fitzpatricks. Two of the cenotaphs are twenty feet high and five feet by eight feet in plan. The third is eight feet high by four feet square in plan. Those commemorated are John Fitzpatrick (d. 3 Feb. 1709), his wife Sara McSweiny (d. 5 Nov. 1709), Richard Fitzpatrick (d. 9 Oct. 1701), Florence Fitzpatrick (d. 6 Jan. 1709), Peter Fitzpatrick (d. 3 Mar. 1754), Patrick Fitzpatrick and his wife Margrett, Denis Fitzpatrick (d. 28 Dec. 1753) and John Other sites include Aghmacart, Grangefertagh, Clonburren, Ballagh Castle, Errill, Castletown, Granstown, Clough Church and Gowran.
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