IRL-TIPPERARY-L Archives

From: "Mary Heaphy" <>
Subject: [IRL-TIP] 4-12-1899 Nenagh Guardian.
Date: Fri, 4 May 2007 14:18:50 +0100

4-12-1899 Nenagh Guardian.



NENAGH CASTLE

A contributor sends the following:

Nenagh castle, a magnificent specimen of the military architecture of the
Norman period, is one of the largest of its kind in Ireland, and is said to
have been erected in King John's time, when the class of fortification was
mostly used. With the valour of the Normans was exhibited in placing such a
powerful castle , in its central position, occupying as it does a commanding
view of the " fertile vale of the Ormonds", one of the most beautiful and
richest districts in the midland counties, if not in the whole of Ireland -
a district worth fighting for and keeping when conquered. It is surrounded
by varied and lovely mountains some of which are rich in minerals - one, the
Silvermines, known from an early date, contiguous to which, and extending to
the Shannon, lie the Slate Quarries of Owney and Arra, a boundless source of
wealth- and is bounded on the West by the mighty Shannon spreading like a
sea, " a land flowing with milk and honey".

Well might its milesian princes and chiefs - the O'Kennedy's, O'Brien's, O'Carroll's,
O'Meara's O'Meaghers and McEgan's - sorely regret when obliged to give up
their ancient possessions to the Norman conquerors. - the Butlers, the
Graces, Demariscos and company - who in their turn, were compelled to
surrender all to its present Cromwellian owners, who will, in all
probability, in the near future, from economic and other causes, aided by
the turn of the political wheel, hand back the land to the occupiers, the
ancient milesians, under a Compulsory Purchase Bill, the only real solution
to the Irish land question that can ever take place.

The land of Ireland form North to South presents on its surface the
indelible marks of its various peoples and conquerors, the prehistoric
Tumuli or Barrow, the subterranean dwelling of the fir bolg, the moat of the
Tuatha De Danann, the stone circle and cromlech of the druid, the rath, the
cairn of the Milesian, the circular castle, the stronghold of the Danes and
Normans, and the square castle of the Elizabethan period, soon after to be
dismantled and left tenantless by Cromwell.

Nenagh Castle fulfilled admirable the purpose for which it was constructed ,
defying the battering ram, one of which Tipperary boasts at present, and for
some years past and the warfare then in use; but on the discovery of
gunpowder, and its introduction for warlike purpose its doom was sealed, and
it declined steadily, frequently changing owners, until finally evacuated,
about the year 1690. In 1641 Nenagh Castle was taken by the Irish under Owen
Roe O'Neill, but was soon afterwards surrendered by him to Lord Inchiquin.
In 1651 Cromwell's forces, when on their way to Limerick, laid siege to
Nenagh Castle, and after battering compelled its unconditional surrender,
and tradition says that Ireton ordered its governor to be hanged from its
topmost window. After this it remained garrisoned as one of the Duke of
Ormond's manor houses ( all of these were levelled previously except the
castle of Nenagh) until the year 1688, when it fell into the hands of Long
Anthony O'Carroll, the descendant of O'Carroll of Ely, who was obliged
afterwards to fly from it, leaving the town of Nenagh in flames.

In the year 1200 a hospital of Augustinian Canons dedicated to St. John was
established near Nenagh (richly endowed by the Butler's) called the house of
St. John or in Irish (Teacheon), the modern Tyrone.

A large Franciscan Convent was founded in Nenagh in the reign of Henry III
by the O'Kennedy's, or as some think by the Butler's, where a provincial
chapter was held in the year 1344. One of it's friars wrote a historical
work of considerable merit known as the "Annals of Nenagh". In the year 1370
Brian Og O'Brien, aided by the English, under Earl Desmond, in a fierce
battle here defeated his uncle, Turlough, and was after wards known as Brien
Catha an Aonig- " Brien of the battle of Nenagh.

This thread:

• [IRL-TIP] 4-12-1899 Nenagh Guardian. by "Mary Heaphy" <>