Middle Third (South Tipperary)
Encyclopedia
Middle Third is one of the baronies of Ireland
, a historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Cashel
. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Eliogarty
to the north (whose chief town is Thurles
), Iffa and Offa East
to the south (whose chief town is Clonmel
), Clanwilliam
to the west (whose chief town is Tipperary
) and Slievardagh
to the east (whose chief town is Mullinahone
).
It is currently administered by South Tipperary
County Council.
invasion as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they have been administratively obsolete since 1898. However, they continue to be used in land registration and specification such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic
túath which had submitted to the Crown.
Dal gCais
dynasty. The High King
of Ireland, Brian Boru
, fortified Cashel in 990. Murtagh O'Brien, King of Cashel, in presence of the chiefs and clergy, made a grant in 1101 of the "Rock" with the territory around it to O'Dunan, "noble bishop and chief senior of Munster". In 1127 Cormac III of Munster, King of Desmond, erected close to his palace on the "Rock" a church, now known as Cormac's Chapel, which was consecrated in 1134. By the Synod of Kells, 1152, Cashel became an archiepiscopal see.
There are frequent references to "Tuadh Mumhan" in the Irish Annals beginning in the latter 11th century, but as a separate entity representing all of northern Munster an entry for the year 1118 seems to mark a milestone event. In that year, a treaty at Gleann Maidhir (Glanmire) divided the Kingdom of Munster into northern (Tuadh Mumhan) and southern (Des Mumhan) halves, a division apparently running near the border of modern counties Limerick and Cork. The entry in the Annals for 1118 reads, " A hosting by Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair, king of Connacht, and by Murchadh O Maelsechlainn, king of Temhair, along with him, and by Aed O'Ruairc, into Mumha, as far as Glenn-Maghair; and he gave Des-Mumha to Mac Carthaigh, and Tuadh-Mumha to the sons of Diarmaid Ua Briain, and carried off the hostages of each."
included the area about the diocese of Killaloe
, and additionally encompassed the traditional territorites of Úi Fidgeinti, Uí Chonaill Gabra, Eóghanacht Áine, Éile, Corco Mruadh, the tribes of Uaithne (later held by the Síl Cennétich, and much of Eóghanacht Caisel and Ciarraige Luachra.
By the early 13th century, through the encroachment of the Anglo-Norman Butler family and others into eastern Thomond (north Tipperary, east Limerick and south Offaly), part of which came to be known as Ormond or East Munster, the kingdom of Thomond was greatly reduced.
. After a vacancy of six years Maurice FitzGibbon (1567–1578) a Cistercian abbot who belonged to the royal Desmond family, was promoted to the archbishopric by pope Pius V
, but James MacCaghwell was put forward by Elizabeth I of England
. Thus began the Anglican religion at Cashel. When the Penal Laws were sufficiently relaxed, the Roman Catholic archbishops returned openly to the see
, but changed their residence and cathedra
to Thurles
.
was split into North
and South Riding
s in 1836, Middle Third was allocated to the south riding. However, the neighbouring barony of Kilnamanagh was split into Upper and Lower half-baronies, being allocated to the north and south ridings respectively.
(not to be confused with an Ecclesiastical parish).
Note: while the civil parish of Holycross
straddles two baronies (Eliogarty
and this baraony) and indeed two counties (North Tipperary
and South Tipperary
), the village itself and the abbey are entirly located in Eliogarty.
Barony (Ireland)
In Ireland, a barony is a historical subdivision of a county. They were created, like the counties, in the centuries after the Norman invasion, and were analogous to the hundreds into which the counties of England were divided. In early use they were also called cantreds...
, a historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Cashel
Cashel, County Tipperary
Cashel is a town in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 2936 at the 2006 census. The town gives its name to the ecclesiastical province of Cashel. Additionally, the cathedra of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly was originally in the town prior to the English Reformation....
. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Eliogarty
Eliogarty
Eliogarty is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Thurles. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Ikerrin to the north , Kilnamanagh Upper to the west and Middle Third to the south .The...
to the north (whose chief town is Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
), Iffa and Offa East
Iffa and Offa East
Iffa and Offa East is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Clonmel...
to the south (whose chief town is Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
), Clanwilliam
Clanwilliam (County Tipperary)
Clanwilliam is one of the baronies of Ireland, a historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Tipperary. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Kilnamanagh Lower to the north , Iffa and Offa West to the south and Middle Third to the east .It is...
to the west (whose chief town is Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
) and Slievardagh
Slievardagh
Slievardagh is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Mullinahone...
to the east (whose chief town is Mullinahone
Mullinahone
Mullinahone is a village in the barony of Slievardagh, South Tipperary in Ireland. It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.The Irish Census of 2006 recorded the village as having a population of 372.-Location and access:...
).
It is currently administered by South Tipperary
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
County Council.
Legal context
Baronies were created after the NormanNormans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
invasion as subdivisions of counties and were used for administration. While baronies continue to be officially defined units, they have been administratively obsolete since 1898. However, they continue to be used in land registration and specification such as in planning permissions. In many cases, a barony corresponds to an earlier Gaelic
Gaels
The Gaels or Goidels are speakers of one of the Goidelic Celtic languages: Irish, Scottish Gaelic, and Manx. Goidelic speech originated in Ireland and subsequently spread to western and northern Scotland and the Isle of Man....
túath which had submitted to the Crown.
History
The history of the barony is also the history of the Kingdom of Munster which had Cashel for its capital. Later, the kingdom would be divided into northern and southern statelets.Dynasts of Mumhan
The Éoganacht were a federation of tribes claiming a common lineage and spread throughout Munster. They were noted as kings of Munster from an early period until the rise of the Dal gCais in the 10th century. The main sub-tribes in the region of the barony were:- Eóghanacht Chaisil (Cashel). Septs included MacCarthy, O'Sullivan, O'Callaghan.
- Éoganacht Beag Chaisil (Eoganacht Caille na Manach, in the barony of Kilnamanagh)
- Éoganacht Mhór Muman (about Knockgraffon, in the barony of Middle Third)
- Eóghanacht Airthir Chliach (Tipperary town district)
- Eóghanacht Durluis (in or near Thurles, in the barony of Eliogarty)
Dal gCais
Dál gCais
The Dál gCais were a dynastic group of related septs located in north Munster who rose to political prominence in the 10th century AD in Ireland. They claimed descent from Cormac Cas, or Cas mac Conall Echlúath, hence the term "Dál", meaning "portion" or "share" of Cas...
dynasty. The High King
High king
A high king is a king who holds a position of seniority over a group of other kings, without the title of Emperor; compare King of Kings.Rulers who have been termed "high king" include:...
of Ireland, Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
, fortified Cashel in 990. Murtagh O'Brien, King of Cashel, in presence of the chiefs and clergy, made a grant in 1101 of the "Rock" with the territory around it to O'Dunan, "noble bishop and chief senior of Munster". In 1127 Cormac III of Munster, King of Desmond, erected close to his palace on the "Rock" a church, now known as Cormac's Chapel, which was consecrated in 1134. By the Synod of Kells, 1152, Cashel became an archiepiscopal see.
There are frequent references to "Tuadh Mumhan" in the Irish Annals beginning in the latter 11th century, but as a separate entity representing all of northern Munster an entry for the year 1118 seems to mark a milestone event. In that year, a treaty at Gleann Maidhir (Glanmire) divided the Kingdom of Munster into northern (Tuadh Mumhan) and southern (Des Mumhan) halves, a division apparently running near the border of modern counties Limerick and Cork. The entry in the Annals for 1118 reads, " A hosting by Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair, king of Connacht, and by Murchadh O Maelsechlainn, king of Temhair, along with him, and by Aed O'Ruairc, into Mumha, as far as Glenn-Maghair; and he gave Des-Mumha to Mac Carthaigh, and Tuadh-Mumha to the sons of Diarmaid Ua Briain, and carried off the hostages of each."
Lordship of Ireland
With this 12th century division of Munster into two parts, ThomondThomond
Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...
included the area about the diocese of Killaloe
Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe
The Diocese of Killaloe is a Roman Catholic diocese in mid-western Ireland. It is one of six suffragan dioceses in the ecclesiastical province of Cashel and is subject to the Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly. The diocese is in the secular province of the same name - Munster...
, and additionally encompassed the traditional territorites of Úi Fidgeinti, Uí Chonaill Gabra, Eóghanacht Áine, Éile, Corco Mruadh, the tribes of Uaithne (later held by the Síl Cennétich, and much of Eóghanacht Caisel and Ciarraige Luachra.
By the early 13th century, through the encroachment of the Anglo-Norman Butler family and others into eastern Thomond (north Tipperary, east Limerick and south Offaly), part of which came to be known as Ormond or East Munster, the kingdom of Thomond was greatly reduced.
Diocesan history
Various members of the Desmond and Ormond families became archbishops in the succeeding years up to the English ReformationEnglish Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
. After a vacancy of six years Maurice FitzGibbon (1567–1578) a Cistercian abbot who belonged to the royal Desmond family, was promoted to the archbishopric by pope Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
, but James MacCaghwell was put forward by Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
. Thus began the Anglican religion at Cashel. When the Penal Laws were sufficiently relaxed, the Roman Catholic archbishops returned openly to the see
Episcopal See
An episcopal see is, in the original sense, the official seat of a bishop. This seat, which is also referred to as the bishop's cathedra, is placed in the bishop's principal church, which is therefore called the bishop's cathedral...
, but changed their residence and cathedra
Cathedra
A cathedra or bishop's throne is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches...
to Thurles
Thurles
Thurles is a town situated in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is a civil parish in the historical barony of Eliogarty and is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly...
.
Modern times
When County TipperaryCounty Tipperary
County Tipperary is a county of Ireland. It is located in the province of Munster and is named after the town of Tipperary. The area of the county does not have a single local authority; local government is split between two authorities. In North Tipperary, part of the Mid-West Region, local...
was split into North
North Tipperary
North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
and South Riding
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
s in 1836, Middle Third was allocated to the south riding. However, the neighbouring barony of Kilnamanagh was split into Upper and Lower half-baronies, being allocated to the north and south ridings respectively.
Towns, villages and townlands of the barony
Civil parishes of the barony
This table lists an historical geographical sub-division of the barony known as the civil parishCivil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
(not to be confused with an Ecclesiastical parish).
| Name in Irish | Name in English |
|---|---|
| Ard Máil | Ardmayle |
| Baile an Ghraeigh | Graystown |
| Baile an Ráiligh | Railstown |
| Baile an tSeánaigh | St. Johnstown |
| Baile Bhriodúnach | Peppardstown |
| Baile na Madraí | Dogstown |
| Baile na Móna | Mora |
| Baile Uí Shíocháin | Ballysheehan |
| Bricín | Brickendown |
| Carraig Phádraig | St. Patricksrock |
| An Chathair Dhearg | Redcity |
| Cill Bhrácha | Kilbragh |
| Cill Cholmáin | Colman |
| Cill Chonaill | Kilconnell |
| Cill Teimhneáin | Kiltinan |
| Cillín an Stiabhnaigh | Killeenasteena |
| An Cluainín | Cloneen |
| Cnoc Rafann | Knockgraffon |
| An Chuailleach | Cooleagh |
| Cúil Mhondraí | Coolmundry |
| Daingean Deargáin | Dangandargan |
| Domhnach Mór | Donaghmore |
| Drongán | Drangan |
| Reilig Mhuire agus Áth Iseal | Relickmurry and Athassel |
| Fiodh Ard | Fethard Fethard, County Tipperary Fethard is a village in South Tipperary in Ireland. It is located east of Cashel on the Clashawley River where the R692, R689 and R706 regional roads intersect. It is in the barony of Middle Third, and is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly... |
| Gael | Gaile |
| Gráinseach an Bhairéadaigh | Barrettsgrange |
| Gráinseach Eoin Baiste | Baptistgrange |
| Maigh Gabhra | Magowry |
| Maigh gCorbáin | Magorban |
| An Mhainistir Liath | Horeabbey |
| Mainistir na Croiche | Holycross |
| Oireadh | Erry |
| Paróiste Eoin Baiste | St. John baptist |
| Ráth an Bhaightiúnaigh | Boytonrath |
| Ráth Cuala | Rathcool |
| Tulaigh Mheáin | Tullamain |
| Uachtar Rátha | Outeragh |
Note: while the civil parish of Holycross
Holycross
Holycross is a village in North Tipperary, Ireland. It is in the barony of Eliogarty. Unusually, the civil parish straddles two counties and the baronies of Eliogarty and of Middle Third . It is also a parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly.The village developed around the...
straddles two baronies (Eliogarty
Eliogarty
Eliogarty is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Thurles. It is one of 14 baronies in the old county of Tipperary between Ikerrin to the north , Kilnamanagh Upper to the west and Middle Third to the south .The...
and this baraony) and indeed two counties (North Tipperary
North Tipperary
North Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-West Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 48% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
and South Tipperary
South Tipperary
South Tipperary is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Munster. It is named after the town of Tipperary and consists of 52% of the land area of the traditional county of Tipperary. The county was established in 1898 and has had a county...
), the village itself and the abbey are entirly located in Eliogarty.