Location
The modern parish of Killenaule & Moyglass is situated in the baronies of Slieveardagh and Middlethird. The foundation of Killenaule can be traced back to the 5th century when St. Naul established a monastery here, around which a village soon sprang up.
It is geographically located on the main Kilkenny/Cashel road, approximately twenty-three miles from Kilkenny and eleven from Cashel, sixteen miles north of Clonmel and ninety-five miles south-west of Dublin. The population statistics are circa 2300 while the parish consists of 25,025 statute acres Killenaule town is built on the River Bauteogue which flows from Ballynonty direction through Killenaule, down by Graigue, St. Johnstown, Knockelly etc and eventually it joins the Clashawley. This river flows through Laffansbridge and forms a boundary between the townslands of - Graystown, Burnchurch, Cattaganstown, Buffana, Knockinglass and Clonbrogan, where it eventually joins the Suir.
History
The town of Killenaule lies at the Southern extremity of the range of The Slieveardagh Hills — situated 17 miles from Clonmel, 10 miles from Thurles, 10 miles from Cashel and 28 miles from Kilkenny City. The area has a chequered and colourful history, from Scandinavian invasions in the 9th Century, to a battle at Crohane in 852.
In the Norman Era, Killenaule was granted to a settler named Stantton, and the town achieved the status of Borough. Names associated during this period with Killenaule include Butler, Laffan and Cantwell.
During the 16th Century and the reign of Henry VIII lands in Killenaule were under the ownership of names like Britt, Purcell and again Cantwell and Butler. Around the mid 1500s landowners included Thomas Morris in Killenaule, Ballinure, Ballintogher and Moyglass. In 1640 the chief landowners among others were, Theo Mansell, Cataganstown 560 acres, Edmund Kearney Knockinglass, 800 acres, Everard of Fethard, 600 acres in Moyglass lower, Robert St. John, 300 acres in Roan, Cantwell of Killeens 700 acres, James Earl of Ormond 1600 acres in Killenaule. In Ballinure, landowners were Richard Tobin and Walter Hackett, Florence Fennell had 160 acres in Cooleagh, Morish Stokes, 800 acres in Coolquil and Henry Laffen had 1600 acres at Noan.
The principal Landlord in the Killenaule area was an absentee landlord named Waldron and the town of Killenaule was part of the Waldron Estate in the early 1900s. On the death of Mr Waldron the deeds passed on to the trustees of the Bank of Ireland. Around 1976 much controversy arose in Killenaule as some of the Waldron leases had expired and the townspeople wished to purchase outright the leases on their holdings. Various local meetings were held and with the co-operation of Tipp SR. Co. Council, and legal advice, a satisfactory agreement was reached between leaseholders and Waldron Reps.
In more modern times the two largest estates adjacent to Killenaule have been the Lanespark Estate, Ballynonty, and the Noan Estate, Ballinure. These both provided a welcome boost to the local economy by providing employment and various small industries.
Killenaule and its surrounding area, has a large and varied history and heritage to offer. The area has many fine ancient Ring Forts, Tower Houses and Castles to support its local history.
Rathmoley double Ring Fort is one of the finest complete double Ring Forts in the Country now preserved by the State. It is also situated in a prime viewing area very adjacent to Killenaule Town and discovered on its site, in Autumn 1925, was The Killenaule Viking Silver Hoard, now in the possession of the National Museum of Ireland. The site of Killenaule Castle is just a few hundred yards from the town centre and the Norman Graystown Castle is just a few miles to the south west of Killenaule. Other notable Castles are St. Johnstown, Coolquill, Mortlestown and Cooleagh Castle at Ballinure. The area has many natural resources including coal mining and peat harvesting. Killenaule is also noted for the very successful horse racing industries and numerous greyhound breeding and training establishments in the locality. In recent years, Killenaule Stone Quarries have established a thriving business at Kilbrennal Quarry. The stone is both used as road trunking and also very much sought for ornamental design.
The surrounding bogland has left a Hugh store of folklore and as this area was the last Gaelic speaking area of Killenaule, a large vocabulary of many old Irish words have remained in the area. The late Dr. Thomas Morris, former Archbishop of Cashel & Emily documented these for posterity. The normal piseogs that exist throughout rural Ireland can be heard in the Killenaule area.
The Hills of Killenaule Festival provides entertainment cultural, sporting and musical around mid-summer and has been growing in popularity since its inception three years ago. There are at least four local historians in the locality and much activity surrounds the now restored Church of Ireland in River Street, which houses the Slieveardagh Rural Development Co. Ltd, administrative centre, and is also the local Cultural and Enterprise Centre. All of the data from headstones from the ten local cemeteries have been logged and computed and also available to visitors are the complete list of death records for Killenaule, dating back to when these records were first logged.
Killenaule is also the home of Derrynaflan Island, where on a dark and dreary February Sunday evening in 1980, Mr. Webb and his son unearthed the priceless Derrynaflan Hoard, consisting of an 8th century chalice, a strainer or ladle, a stand — all enclosed in a bronze basin, buried eighteen inches below ground, and found about 20 yards from the main church ruin. This priceless archaeological find continues to bring many students of history, historians and interested tourists to our area to view the exact location of the find. Derrynaflan Island is situated approximately 4 miles north west of Killenaule Town.
Situated near the village of Moyglass is the ancestral site of the home of Ned Kelly the famed Australian bush ranger at Clonbrogan. This site is of major significance to all Australians who visit our town. A natural amenity available to all visitors in the future is the beautiful lake and nature reserve, presently under construction at Derryvilla between Glengoole and Killenaule, where a large tract of bogland has been flooded and converted to a lake, this will be complimented by a pony trekking area and a nature and wild-life preserve. Ideal viewing points around the Killenaule area include Knockforlagh, The Reen, Rathmoley, Graigue Upper, Knockavardagh, Crickeen and Monslatt, all providing beautiful scenic views of the various “Hills of Killenaule”. Those same “Hills of Killenaule” have been immortalised in song by the late Davy Mc Cormack, Ardagh House, who wrote this widely known local song in praise of our native hills. At Mardyke or “The Found” near Killenaule can be seen the remains of the first mining village in Ireland and also visible the remains of a mining Engine House and Air Vent. Mardyke in its glory days boasted an R.I.C. Barracks, a National School and three streets: Barrack Street, Puddle Street and Middle Street and numerous Mining Company buildings. At its peak over 1,000 men were employed in mining across the Slieveardagh Hills around 1827.
Bord Na Mona at its former works at Littleton and more recently at Killeens briquette factory provides a national fuel resource and also valuable local employment.
Local traditions of cheese making can be found at the home of Mr. Louis Grubb, Silverfort, home of the famous “Cashel Blue Cheese”. Also cheese is made at Sullivans Ballinure, home of Derrynaflan variety. A number of local people are involved in the craft industry, mainly in needlework, Art, and Hurley making. Scoil Ruain is the base of Derrynaflan School of furniture & design, where post Leaving Cert students study the craft of designing once off furniture pieces.
Killenaule Tidy Towns Committee and numerous other personal, have had and continue regular meetings with senior officials of Planning, Environment, Roads, and Sanitary services to keep abreast of proposals and council initiatives, concerning Killenaule Town and surrounds. The main concerns at these meetings entail traffic restrictions in Killenaule Town, proper sign posting derelict sights and dangerous and derelict buildings in our locality. Concern has also been aired regarding proper public lighting, provision of proper footpaths and car parking and public toilet facilities, also the planting and landscaping the approach roads to our Town.
Killenaule Town has had a new Sewerage system installed at Crosscannon in recent years. This system is capable of, and has the capacity to deal with current housing development as of now, however, future development may entail an enlargement of this present system.
There is a steady rate of planning for housing in close proximity to our town and surrounding area. The applicant base is generally young married couples whose employment base is one of Thurles, Clonmel, Cashel, Kilkenny or Waterford City. Killenaule is ideally situated and provides all of the services necessary and demanded by young families building residential homes in our area.
Buildings listed locally in need of conservation include the Old Distillery Building at River Street, the former Killenaule National School now St. Mary’s Community Centre. A number of derelict buildings and sights are at present under scrutiny and in co-operation with the environmental officer of Tipp SR Co. Council; progress on this issue is expected shortly.
Killenaule is a self-sustaining town to a large degree, containing seven public houses, a supermarket, five grocery shops, a hardware shop and a Glanbia provisions store. its service include a medical clinic, a modern nursing home, three hairdressers, two victuallers, one bookmaker office, one central primary school, one secondary school (600 pupils), one roman catholic church, one Garda barracks, two drapery shops, a solicitor’s legal business, three garages and filling stations, two guest houses, one chemist shop, a funeral parlour and undertaking business, public health nurse, two practising medical doctors, a modem post office service, three existing town taxi services, one dry-cleaning service shop, a modern chip shop.
Public buildings include a modem Sports Complex Centre, a Heritage Cultural & Enterprise Centre, St. Mary’s Catholic Church; St. Mary’s Community Centre Bailey Street, a Credit Union Centre, two Electrical and T.V. shops. Killenaule town is serviced by Tipp S8.R. Co. Council Refuse Collection, a once weekly service. The existing bus services include twice daily Clonmel-Thurles and reverse. A bus service also exists to Kilkenny City daily. Train services are available at Clonmel (17 miles) and Thurles (10 miles). The National Bus service route can be availed of at Littleton (6 miles) and Urlingford (12 miles).
For the last 10 years Killenaule has provided its own FÁS Community Employment Scheme giving valuable training and experience to prospective employees. It has also used the FÁS Youth Training Schemes to publish the “History of Killenaule / Moyglass” in 1990, this gave valuable employment and experience over two and half years to over twenty young people. The Youth Training Scheme was also employed to renovate the existing Culture & Heritage Centre at River Street.
The existing Community FÁS Employment Scheme provides numerous local services e.g. Maintenance of Local cemeteries, grass cutting and cleaning of public Buildings in the area, erecting approach fencing and walls to town, planting and maintaining public flower beds etc. and assisting in running local festivals, concerts and public events.
Killenaule would be described as a modem progressive Rural Town, where the community are hard working and forward looking, who aspire to a decent standard of living and education, and their fair share in the distribution of the National Cake. Our Community is noted for their generous Cead Mile Failte to our town, where visitors will be showered with hospitality and afforded plenty of time and opportunity to learn and listen and participate in the general merriment of our life and times. In brief, in Killenaule like Tipperary, “the Stranger is treated like a King”.
by (Sean Watts PC)
The Parish of Killenaule and Moyglass
The present Catholic parish of Killenaule & Moyglass was made up of six civil parishes Magorban; Graystown; Ballinure; Cooleagh; St. Johnstown and Killenaule.
Magorban Civil Parish was made up of the following townslands:
Arbour Hill; Ballyvadin; Clonbrogan; Coalraine; Curraghtarsna; Knockbrett; Mobarnane; Magorban; Mocklershill; Silverfort; Woodhouse and Foulkstown.
Graystown Civil Parish:
Ballaghboy, Ballintogher (Part of); Ballynonty; Mardyke; Derricknew; Graystown; Kilboy; Lurgoe; Dunguib (Part of); Noan; Springhill (Part of).
Ballinure Civil Parish had the following townslands:
Cooleagh; Ballinure and Grallagh.
Cooleagh Civil Parish:
Coolbawn, Grangebarry, Cooleagh, Kilbreedy, Moyglass (Part of) Lismortagh, Milltown St. John.
St. Johnstown Civil Parish:
St. Johnstown, Kilkennybeg and Lismoynan.
Killenaule Civil Parish:
Ballyphilip; Castlequarter; Cattaganstown; Cooldine; Crosscannon; Garrane; Graigue Lower; Graigue Upper; Killeens; Killenaule; Knockabritta; Knockavardagh; Kylenahone; Monslatt; Mortlestown; Mount Taylor; Rathmoley; Rathroe; Roan.
There are sixty townslands in the parish of Killenaule & Moyglass:
ARBOURHILL - Baile an tSásaraigh
The town of An Sásarach (An Sásarach is derived from a surname of Anglo-Norman origin which is recorded in Ireland in the late 13th century as le Sauser.
BALLAGHBOY – An Bealach Buí
The yellow way
BALLINTOGHER - Baile an Tóchair
The town of the causeway
BALLINURE - Baile an lúir
The town of the yew
BALLYNONTY - Baile an Fhantaigh
The town of the Nobleman
BALLYPHILIP - Baile Mhic Philib
The town of Mac Philib (The surname Mac Philib is well documented in various sources relating to this area, such as Hearth Money Records (1665-7). There are a number of other examples of Baile Mhic Philib as a toponym in Co. Tipperary).
BALLYVADIN - Baile Uí Mhaidín
The town of Ó Maidin (Ó Maidin commonly anglicized (0) Madden).
BUFFANA - Both Mhanach
Hut, tent of (the) monks
BURNCHURCH - An Teampall Loiscthe
The burnt church
CASTLEQUARTER - Ceathnú an Chaisléain
The quarterland of the castle (The Irish form of the translation. However, Ceathrú an Chaisleáin is a place-name of common occurrence. Other examples are recorded in Co. Tipperary.
CATHAGANSTOWN - Baile an Chatáganaigh
The town of An Catagánach (An Catagánach, this surname - Catagán - is of Anglo Norman origin. Examples such as Cadegan, Cattagan, are recorded in Calendar of
0rmond Deeds. Its earlier derivation remains unclear.
CLONBROGAN - Cluain Brógán
The meadow of Brógán (Brógán is probably a saint’s name).
COOLBAWN - An Chúil Bhán
The white corner
COOLDINE - An Chúil Doimhin
The deep, sunken corner
COOLEAGH (BALLINURE) - Cúil Liach
Liach has a number of meanings, both as a noun and as an adjective. Perhaps liach, meaning ‘a trowel, ladle’ is intended.
COOLEAGH (MOYGLASS) - An Chuailleach
(Cuailleach in this instance seems to be a development from earlier Coilleach, meaning wooden place).
CROSSCANNON - Cros Cheanann
The meaning of ceanann is uncertain in the present context. As an adjective ceanann conveys the meaning ‘white-headed’).
CURRAGHSCARTEEN - Currach Scairtín
Wet land of the little thicket
CURRAGHTARSNA - An Currach Tarsna
The transverse of wet land
DERRICKNEW - Doire an Chneamha
The oakwood, thicket of the garlic
DUNGUBI - Dún Goib
Fort of (the) point
FOULKSTOWN - Baile Fúca
The town of Fúca (Fúca, a personal name of Anglo-Norman origin. The name is derived from old French forma Fulco and Fourques.
GARRANE - An Garrán
The grove
GRAlGUE - An Ghráig Íochtarach, Uachtarach
The hamlet, (divided into lower and upper divisions)
GRANGEBARRY - Gráig an Bharraigh
The hamlet of An Barrach (An Barrach, this surname - de Barra - is of Anglo-Norman origin)
GRAYSTOWN - Baile an Ghraeigh
The town of An Graech (An Graech, derived from the Anglo-Norman surname, de Grey. Derives it’s name from Raymond Le Gros, who built Graystown Castle in 1170.
KILBOY - An Chill Bhuí
The yellow church
KILBREEDY - Cill Bhríde
The Church of Bríd
KILBRENNAL - Cill Bhréanaill
The Church of Bréanaill (The historical evidence of this placename shows that
Bréanaill is a development of earlier Bréanainn. The name Bréanainn was Latinised
Brendanus from which the English form Brendan is derived.
KILKENNYBEG - Cill Chainnigh Bheag
The small church of Cainneach
KILLEENS - Na Cilíní
The small churches
KILLENAULE - Cill Náile
The Church of Náile
KNOCKABRITTA - Cnoc an Bhriotaigh
The hill of An Briotach (An Briotach, this surname which comes from Old French Le Bret The Breton’, is recorded as Le Bret, Le Brit in documents relating to the early Anglo-Norman period in Co. Tipperary. It was gaelicized as de Brit).
KNOCKANGLASS - An Cnocán Glas
The green hillock
KNOCKAVARDAGH - Cnoc an Bhardaigh
The hill of An Bardach (An Bardach, a gaclicization of Ward, a surname of English origin.
KNOCKBRIT - Cnoc an Bhriotaigh
See Knockabritta
KNOCKFORLAGH - Cnoc Forlachta
Hill of (the) deluge
KYLENAHONE - Cill na hUamhan
The church of the cave, underground passage etc.
LANESPARK
Derives it’s name from the Lane Family, who were the original owners of Lanes park Estate. It was formerly known as Ballygrenny - Buaile Ghreíne (Cattle pen of .... meaning of Greíne unclear).
LISMORTAGH - Lios Muircheartaigh
Moriarty’s Fort
LURGOE - An Lorga
The shin (Conveying the meaning perhaps of ‘a long strip of land’).
MAGORBAN - Maigh gCorbáin
The plain of Corbán
MANSERGHSHILL - Cnoc an Mhainséaraigh
Hill of the manager
MARDYKE - Mairdíog
An adaptation of Mardyke, the English form of the placename. Mardyke seems to have been introduced here as the name of a coal mine. Other examples of this toponym exist, such as Mardyke, Co. Cork where its original meaning ‘marsh bank’ is very suitable.
MILLTOWN ST. JOHN - Baile an Mhuilinn
The town of the mill
MOBARNANE - Maigh Bearnáin
Fort of (the) small gap
MOCKLERSHILL - Cnoc an Mhóicléaraigh
The hill of An Moiclearach (An Moicléarach, An Anglo-Norman surname gaelicized Moicleir from Old French Mauclerc, meaning ‘bad cleric, scholar’)
MONSLATT - Maigh Slat
Plain of (the) rods, twigs
MORTLESTOWN - Baile An Mhoirtéalaigh
The town of An Moirtéalach (An Moirtéalach, derived from Anglo-Norman Martel).
MOUNT TAYLOR - Moin Táiliúir
A translation of the English form of the placename. An orthographic variant of the
recommended Irish name is recorded in an Ordanance Survey parish namebook of
1840.
MOYGLASS - Maigh Ghlas
Green plain
NOAN - An Uamhain
The cave, underground passage etc.
RATHMOLEY - Ráth an Mhóiligh
The fort of An Móileach (An Móileach, derived from an Anglo-Norman surname, probably (Mol(e).)
RATHROE - An Ráth Rua
The red fort
ROAN - Ruán an Mhóileach
The red place of An Móileach (An Móileach, see previous explanation).
SILVERFORT - Garraí an Stocdúnaigh
The garden of An Stocdúnach (An Stocdúnach, derived from Stocton, a surname of English origin.
SPRINGHILL - Cúil na gCopóg
The corner of the dock-leaves
ST. JOHNSTOWN - Baile an tSeánaigh
The town of An Seánach (An Seánach, gaelicization of the Anglo-Norman surname de Saint John/Jean which excludes the Saint part of the name).
WOODHOUSE - Tigh na Coille
The house of the wood,
