Lickerrig and Killeeneen Parishes, names of, given as locally used in Irish; places & objects therein noticed.
October 15th 1838
Sir,
Lickerrig, the name of a parish, which lies partly in the baronies of Athenry, Dunkellin and Loughrea, and between the parishes of Kilconiron and Kilconickny, is pronounced Lic Dheirg, an inflected form of Leac Dhearg, which signifies 'red flag'. I find nothing said of this name in our extracts; nor does local tradition account for it, by pointing out the object in which it originated.
[In Pencil:] LICKERIG PH.
An old Church stands (in) ruins in the townland of Lickerrig, at which there is a grave yard. The walls are in tolerably good preservation. The extent of the building inside is 40 feet by 18½ ft. Within 10 feet of the West gable, there is on the South side wall, a pointed door of Cut stones, which is 6½ feet high, and 3 feet 2 inches broad. On the same wall, near the East gable, is a breach, where, it appears, there was a window originally.
Within 4 feet of the ground, begins (inside) on the East gable, a lancet ([In pencil:] narrow) window, which is 4 feet broad in the lower part, rises to the height at least of 8 feet, and is arched at top, with cut stones cemented with lime and sand mortar. On the outside, it begins at the height of 6ft. 4inches. from the ground, is 1 foot broad, and is broken down in the upper part. Between the door and West gable, there is on the South side wall, a (pointed) small window, which is now stopped with stones and mortar. And on the West gable, is still visible a window in like manner stopped up, being apparently 3 feet high and 10 inches broad. At the top is placed a stone orna(mented) with indents artificially made in it.
Near the ruinous walls of the Bawn {Babhún} of an old Castle, which are in Tooloobaunbeg (Tuath Lúbáin Beag} townland, there is an old Church in ruins within a grave yard.
Of the East gable of this church, only the Vestiges remain. On the South side wall, near this gable, is seen a lancet window now opened at top, under the Corner of which, next to the gable, is a recess nearly of a circular form in the upper part, but slightly approaching to a point, in height, 2 feet, and in breadth in the lower part 17½ inches. Towards the West end, on this (South} sidewall, there is an entrance, which was formerly a door-way, but is now battered on both sides, so as to form a breach in appearance. It is of a quadrangular form, and has
a rude flag stone, 5 feet long and 1½ foot on an average, in thickness, placed across it in the upper part. To the right of this door way, as one enters, there is fixed in the wall, a font, which is now partly broken. In the West end of the Church there is an apartment with a stone roof on it, 8 feet in length, 8 feet in height and of the same breadth with the Church. A small opening of the lancet (narrow round-headed) form, on the North side, admits light into it. The entrance is from the Church, by an opening on the wall between (separating) it and (from) the apartment, near the South side-wall. The gable and sidewalls rise so (much) higher than this apartment that it is evident there was another over it.
On the North sidewall near the West end, is a breach, which, very likely, was originally an entrance, or door way.
The extent of the Church, exclusively of this just mentioned apartment, is 38 feet, by 17 ft. The length of the whole building may be set down as nearly 48 feet.
There is a modern building of which, I find no historical notice in our documents.
Inquisition taken at Galway 20th March 1608 before Geoffrey Osbaldstone Esqre. {and others} by the oaths of lawful men who say &c.,&c. That it was found by an Inquisition
taken before John Crofton Esqre at Athenry 1st October 1584 that Rickard late Earl {Rickard son of Ulick, who was first Earl of Clanrickard} died 24th July 1582 seized in fee and fee taile of the several lands followinge viz. - &c., &c.
Among the Castles and lands mentioned, the Castle of Twolubin, and 23/4 qr, are noticed.
I find it afterwards stated in the Inquisition that Earl Ulick (viz. Ulick, son of Rickard, who was son of Ulick, the first Earl} was seized in fee and fee tayle of the lands, among which are mentioned the Castle of Two-lobar {&, 3 q.}.
This Earl was also seized according to the same Inquisition, of the Castle of Beallakerin {& 1 q.}, the Castle of Dunsandle {& 2 q.}. Does any Inquis. show at what period the ancestor of Daly of Dunsandal got possession of it? Who was he and of what family?
Beallakerin, Beul Atha Chaorthainn, now Anglicised Ballykeeran, a townland in this parish? Within Dunsandal (Dún Sandail} Demesne, an old Castle stands in ruins.
This Earl was likewise seized of Lyssinagrisagh & Buockine {1 q.}.
There is a fort called Lios na Drise, Lissnadrisha near Dunsandal Demesne. The change from Lyssinagrisagh might have easily happened; and the name, having ceased to be used in designating a portion of land, might be still retained in the fort, (in) which, it originated. (g for d in Inquis?)
Buockine is pronounced in Irish, Buáicín and Anglicised Bookeen {rectè Bwookeen?}. Bookeen North, and Bookeen South townlands lie in this parish.
Near Cloghareevaun bridge there is, I was informed, an old Castle called Caisleán Chloch Ríabháin (Clogheerevaun Castle).
Saint Clerans {proprietor, James Burke Esqr.} is in Irish, called Iseirt Chleíreáin, {recté Disert Chleíreaín}
The Inquisition of 1608, above referred to, states that John King Esqre. being seized in fee by letters patents bearing date at Dublin 9 March 3d year K. James, did by deed dated 24th Nov. 1607 give, grant, bargain, sell and Confirm to Rickard then Earl Clanrickard and his heires for ever the several parcells of land, among which, is set down Iser-Cleran {½ qr .}.(Was Iser Cleran originally an Ecclesiastical name? Does this appear in our Ecclesiastical documents?)
At Saint Clerans, there is an old Castle, and near it there stands a Castle, for which I got the name of Riversville {Castle}. I met no one, who knew any old Irish name for it. I could not ascertain for certainty whether it is situated in Lickerrig parish, or not. I do not however find Riversville in the Name-books, of the parish.
Killeeneen Parish, in the By. of Dunkellin, is bounded on the N. and N.W. by the parish of Athenry, on the East by Killora parish, and on the S. and W by the parish of Killeely.
The Irish name of this parish is Cill Fhínín, which corresponds in sound with the Anglicised form of it, given here.
There is no tradition that the old Church which gave name to the parish, was Called after a Saint.
Is there a Saint Finin (Finghin) {Feeneen}. If there be, where were the Churches built by, or dedicated to him, located?
The West gable of the old Church, partly covered with ivy; a (small) portion of the North sidewall attached to it; and the South sidewall are still standing; the remainder of the building, fell to destruction.
On South side wall near West gable, is to be seen, a pointed door of Cut stones, 6 feet 4 inches high, and 3½ feet broad, the lower part of which is destroyed on both sides.
there is a holy well called tobar briocáin, st. briocan's well, near a place, which goes by the name of laghtgal {leacht geal} (white monument}, where there are two fairs held in the year, one on Whitsun' Monday, and the other on the 26th of October.
The persons whom I consulted concerning the names in Killeeneen parish, place Laghtgal in it; which I doubt very much to be the Case, since the name does not appear in the Name book.
Is the holy well in this Parish?
Lisheen {Lisín}, grave yard lies in Cahercruinn (Cathair Cruinn} townland; the site of Shanbally Castle, is to be seen in Shanbally townland.
In the Inquisition referred to under the parish of Lickerrig in this letter, it is said that Ulick, {son of Rickard, who was (son) of Ulick first Earl of Clanrickard}, was seized, of several lands and Castles, of which were Fahy mc Tibbett {½ qr.} Lysnenowla {½ qr.} Cargyn {4 q.}, Cregnananta (2 qr.} the Castle of Kilcolgyn* {& 2 qr.} Caherpeake and Clonloghan {1 q.}.
*Kilcolgan now the name of a Parish in the Baronies of Dunkellin, Kiltartan and Loughrea.
Caherpeake. - ? - In Killeeneenbeg T.L. there is a fort the name of which, is written Caherfaka in the Name book. I did not find this name known, when I was in the parish. - Clonloghan - where?
Fahy mc Tibbett is pronounced in Irish Faithche mhic Tiobhóid, which would be Anglicised Fahymactibbot; now the name of a townland in this parish.
Lisnanowla does not meet a corresponding name of a townland in this parish. There is however a fort in Killeeneenmore T.L. which is called Cathair Lios na n-ubal, Caherlissnanool.
Cargyn - where?
Cregnananta, Creig an Neanta, Cregananta T.L. in this parish.
Servant,
T. O'Conor