Lickfinn

(Dr. Willie Nolan)

Lickfinn,( also spelt Lickfine) was another medieval parish in the barony of Slieveardagh.  In the earliest papal taxation books, the church of Lickfinn is mentioned, the site of where the church lies is unknown but local tradition has it that it was situated in the townsland of Tullequaine.  This is on the Ballynonty road mid-way between Lickfinn and Ballynonty.  Local tradition also states that there was also an associated graveyard there.  Lickfinn was also known as Goddard's town.

One of the earliest recorded references to Lickfinn was a raid in the Summer of 1446. The Desmonds went on the rampage with large forces including McGillapatrick of Ossory, O'More of Leix and Donal McMurrough.  They left a trail of destruction extending from Fueghans in Offa, to Buolick, Glengoole and Lickfinn.  In the year 1447 a petition was sent to the Earl of Ormond for help in the aftermath of the attack.  The people of Mellisson, Glengoole and Lickfinn were amongst the petitioners.

According to the Civil Survey 1640 Lickfinn was held in the possession of James Earl of Ormond, and it was said that "all Lickfinn is wast without improvement".  Lickfinn like the rest of the parish was in total devastation at that time because of the civil war in the between the Catholic ‘Confederation of Kilkenny’ and the English Parliamentary army.  In the year 1831 the population of Lickfinn amounted to the total of 464 people, 10 years later there were 548 people and 91 houses situated here.