Brosna
Encyclopedia
Brosna is a parish situated in the Sliabh Luachra
area of County Kerry
, Ireland. It lies 16 km (9.9 mi) from the town of Castleisland
. Its electoral area incorporates 2356.502 ha (5,823 acres 2 rood
s and 6 perches). The present population is 1,200. It consists of Brosna town and 34 townland
s. It is a mainly agricultural rural parish, supporting two churches, two schools, a post office, and five public houses.
. The highest point is Mount Eagle.
It is in the barony of Trughanacmy
.
Crochaun Mountain is 1400 feet (426.7 m) above sea level, with its wonderful view.
Brosna is bordered by County Cork
, and County Limerick
. The nearest neighbours are Castleisland
and Knocknagoshel
in Co Kerry, Abbeyfeale
and Mountcollins
in Co Limerick, and Ballydesmond
and Rockchapel
in Co Cork.
, and passing through this and the adjoining parish of Ballincuslane to the village of Ardnagrath, on the old mountain road from Castleisland
to Millstreet
. It was in contemplation to extend this road to Scartaglin, to form a junction with the new Government road from Castleisland
to King William's town, by which the surrounding country would have been greatly improved. There were 2 private schools, in which about 120 children were educated.
. This Church is in gothic form and was built from dressed stones quarried from the lands of Pat O'Callaghan in Knopoge.
The local farmers drew them to the site with horses and carts. The roof beams were made of pitch pine and the seating is also pine. Many of the stained glass windows were donated by parishioners. The altar is marble designed by Pugin and unequalled worldwide. On arrival in Brosna it was transported by 11 horses. A fitting adornment to the beautiful church and stained glass windows behind the altar.
The marble altar rails are much younger and were donated by Denis Guiney in 1946, in memory of his parents Cornelius and Julia Guiney (this is the Denis Guiney who began Clerys
store in Dublin).
The Presbytery was built when the Church was, in 1868, a great stone building.
This has been home to parish priests and Catholic curates who have served the parish. It was restored by Revd. Tadhg O'Doherty in 1998. The Church's restoration was completed in 2010. The original stone faced interior with a slightly modern twist augments the gothic atmosphere.
The church has been the centre of much intereset since its completion.
's mother who was a native of these parts, gave birth to her baby while marooned in a fall of snow as she returned to her parents home from Carlow in Leinster. A service of angels descended to the spot where the baby lay. The snow melted for 30 feet (9.1 m) around him and a spring well marked the spot.
St Moling performed many miracles. He was Archbishop of Ferns. He returned to Carlow to his father's royal homestead where he built a monastery. It was here he died and was buried in Tigh Moling in 646 AD. This well has been a place of pilgrimage over the years. People have paid visits to the well every Saturday in May. A decade of Rosary is said at each of the 5 kneelers around the well, going 3 times around the kneelers. Then taking sips of water from the well in their cupped hands, and many cures have been attributed.
Sliabh Luachra
Sliabh Luachra is a region in Munster, Ireland, located around the River Blackwater, on the County Cork/County Kerry/County Limerick borderland.-Music and literature:...
area of County Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
, Ireland. It lies 16 km (9.9 mi) from the town of Castleisland
Castleisland
Castleisland is a town and commercial centre in County Kerry in south west Ireland. The town is renowned for the width of its main street. Castleisland has a population of 2,170....
. Its electoral area incorporates 2356.502 ha (5,823 acres 2 rood
Rood
A rood is a cross or crucifix, especially a large one in a church; a large sculpture or sometimes painting of the crucifixion of Jesus.Rood is an archaic word for pole, from Old English rōd "pole", specifically "cross", from Proto-Germanic *rodo, cognate to Old Saxon rōda, Old High German ruoda...
s and 6 perches). The present population is 1,200. It consists of Brosna town and 34 townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
s. It is a mainly agricultural rural parish, supporting two churches, two schools, a post office, and five public houses.
Geography
Some famous Munster rivers have their sources in the parish – the Clydagh, the Braonach, and the Munster BlackwaterMunster Blackwater
The Blackwater or Munster Blackwater is a river which flows through counties Kerry, Cork, and Waterford in Ireland. It rises in the Mullaghareirk Mountains in County Kerry and then flows in an easterly direction through County Cork, through Mallow and Fermoy...
. The highest point is Mount Eagle.
It is in the barony of Trughanacmy
Trughanacmy
Trughanacmy is a barony in County Kerry, Ireland. The barony is an obsolescent administrative area, having ceased to have any government function since the enactment of the Local Government Act 1898.In 1881 the barony had an area of .-Name:...
.
Crochaun Mountain is 1400 feet (426.7 m) above sea level, with its wonderful view.
Brosna is bordered by County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
, and County Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
. The nearest neighbours are Castleisland
Castleisland
Castleisland is a town and commercial centre in County Kerry in south west Ireland. The town is renowned for the width of its main street. Castleisland has a population of 2,170....
and Knocknagoshel
Knocknagoshel
Knocknagoshel, officially Knocknagashel , is a village in County Kerry, Ireland. According to the 2006 census, the population of the village was 760.-History:...
in Co Kerry, Abbeyfeale
Abbeyfeale
Abbeyfeale is a historical market town in County Limerick, Ireland near the boundary with County Kerry. The town is in the midwest of Ireland, some from Newcastle West on the N21 – the main road from Limerick to Tralee.-Geography:...
and Mountcollins
Mountcollins
Mountcollins is a village in the extreme south west of County Limerick, Ireland, barely 100 metres from the border with County Kerry and just a mile from County Cork. The River Feale runs parallel to the village and is fed by the Caher River that divides the village.Mountcollins is in the Parish...
in Co Limerick, and Ballydesmond
Ballydesmond
Ballydesmond , is a rural village in County Cork, Ireland, situated on the Blackwater River, near its source in Menganine on the Cork-Kerry border. In Irish Baile Deasumhain, meaning town of the Desmond, was named after the legendary freedom fighter, the Earl of Desmond, who is believed to have...
and Rockchapel
Rockchapel
Rockchapel is a small village in north County Cork, Ireland. It is in the townland of Tooreennagrena, near the border of County Cork, County Kerry and County Limerick....
in Co Cork.
History
In 1837 Brosna contained 12,168 inhabitants in 18,013 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at 2180 pound per annum. A large portion of the land consisted of coarse mountain pasture and bog, the greater part of which might be reclaimed. A new line of road, about 8 miles (12.9 km) in length, was in progress, at the expense of Col. Drummond and C.Fairfield, Esq., extending from the bridge over the Clydagh (an arch of 60 feet (18.3 m) span), on the new road from Listowel to NewmarketNewmarket, County Cork
Newmarket, historically known as Aghatrasna , is a town in the Barony of Duhallow, County Cork, Ireland.-Sport:*Glenlara GAA and Newmarket GAA are the local Gaelic Athletic Association clubs.-People:...
, and passing through this and the adjoining parish of Ballincuslane to the village of Ardnagrath, on the old mountain road from Castleisland
Castleisland
Castleisland is a town and commercial centre in County Kerry in south west Ireland. The town is renowned for the width of its main street. Castleisland has a population of 2,170....
to Millstreet
Millstreet
Millstreet is a town in north County Cork, Ireland with a population of approximately 1,500. It is located at the foot of Clara Mountain. The town's Catholic church is dedicated to St. Patrick. Since October 1985, the town has been twinned with Pommerit-le-Vicomte in Brittany, France...
. It was in contemplation to extend this road to Scartaglin, to form a junction with the new Government road from Castleisland
Castleisland
Castleisland is a town and commercial centre in County Kerry in south west Ireland. The town is renowned for the width of its main street. Castleisland has a population of 2,170....
to King William's town, by which the surrounding country would have been greatly improved. There were 2 private schools, in which about 120 children were educated.
The name Brosna
The people and places in this vicinity tend to get nicknames which stick with them over the years. No less Brosna or Brosnach which translates to firewood. This has no bearing on the old name Cathair Bessleen in the calendar of entries in the papal register.The church
An old thatched church was built about 1800 when Fr Nicholas Moore was parish priest, in the grounds of the graveyard near the present Church. (he died in 1803) The present Church "St Moling & St Carthage" was built in 1868 when Fr Patrick Moriarty was parish priest, was designed by architect George AshlinGeorge Ashlin
George Coppinger Ashlin was an Irish architect, particularly noted for his work on churches and cathedrals. He had an early association with leading architect E.W. Pugin.-Work:*Adelaide Memorial Church, Myshall...
. This Church is in gothic form and was built from dressed stones quarried from the lands of Pat O'Callaghan in Knopoge.
The local farmers drew them to the site with horses and carts. The roof beams were made of pitch pine and the seating is also pine. Many of the stained glass windows were donated by parishioners. The altar is marble designed by Pugin and unequalled worldwide. On arrival in Brosna it was transported by 11 horses. A fitting adornment to the beautiful church and stained glass windows behind the altar.
The marble altar rails are much younger and were donated by Denis Guiney in 1946, in memory of his parents Cornelius and Julia Guiney (this is the Denis Guiney who began Clerys
Clerys
Clerys is a long-established department store on O'Connell Street in Dublin, Republic of Ireland, a focal point of the street, and of the city....
store in Dublin).
The Presbytery was built when the Church was, in 1868, a great stone building.
This has been home to parish priests and Catholic curates who have served the parish. It was restored by Revd. Tadhg O'Doherty in 1998. The Church's restoration was completed in 2010. The original stone faced interior with a slightly modern twist augments the gothic atmosphere.
The church has been the centre of much intereset since its completion.
St Moling's Holy Well
In 614 AD it was in the foothills of Sliabh Luachra that Saint MolingSaint Moling
Mo Ling was the second Bishop of Ferns in Ireland. The town of Monamolin in County Wexford is named after him, as is the parish church in Ballycanew....
's mother who was a native of these parts, gave birth to her baby while marooned in a fall of snow as she returned to her parents home from Carlow in Leinster. A service of angels descended to the spot where the baby lay. The snow melted for 30 feet (9.1 m) around him and a spring well marked the spot.
St Moling performed many miracles. He was Archbishop of Ferns. He returned to Carlow to his father's royal homestead where he built a monastery. It was here he died and was buried in Tigh Moling in 646 AD. This well has been a place of pilgrimage over the years. People have paid visits to the well every Saturday in May. A decade of Rosary is said at each of the 5 kneelers around the well, going 3 times around the kneelers. Then taking sips of water from the well in their cupped hands, and many cures have been attributed.