Mullinahone
Encyclopedia
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
.
, the county town of South Tipperary, and Kilkenny
City. It is located in a low-lying broad valley area, for the most part, two to three hundred feet above sea level in South-East Tipperary . It reaches its highest point of 1088 feet (331.6 m) on the mountain of Slievenamon
, its southern boundary. The land for the most part is on a limestone base. This has 'karst
' features, which means that it is fissured with many caves and underground streams, subjecting some areas to flooding in times of heavy rainfall.
Overlooking the northern boundary are the Slieveardagh hills and Ballingarry parish, while its western side is formed by some smaller hills such as Cappaghnagrane and Kilnagranagh and the parish of Drangan/Cloneen. To the east is Killamery
(or Carrolls) hill together with a stretch of flat, often boggy land; its boundary with County Kilkenny
county and Leinster
. This modern parish is twenty-five square miles, area or 16000 acres (64.7 km²).
In an extended form this whole area was called “An Cuimseanach” or Compsey in pre-Norman times, an ancient Gaelic word suggesting an enclosed valley area. The barony of Slieveardagh, now the electoral area, was known as the barony of Slieveardagh/Compsey in Anglo-Norman
times.
(1828-1882), writer, balladeer and Fenian leader. He was born in the village and is buried in the parish cemetery.
The name of Mullinahone appears first as a settlement in the records of the “Hearth Money Rolls” in the years 1665 to 1667 then spelled as Moninehoan. The “Hearth Money Rolls” were a rent or tax on houses in the post-Cromwellian period. It was entered as a village or settled area of nine 'cabbins' with hearths, that is, permanent structures, which were not very common then it appears after the wars of the time. Just across the river ( a tributary of the River Anner) was the main village of Killaghy, in what is now Fethard
and Killaghy streets. Both were extensions of the worker/artisan settlements of Killaghy Castle and lands whose estate walls adjoin the modern town today. Killaghy has existed since the first lord of Killaghy or Compsey, named St Aubyn or Tobin, built his castle there in the 13th century.
There is one earlier mention of Mullinahone as a place name. This is dated 1551 in the Calendar of Justiciary Rolls (State papers then), regarding Inquisitions or trials held there. This was possibly at the old 13th century Norman keep in present day Carrick St in Mullinahone townland. The Lord of Compsey was a James Tobin who was then (1551) Justiciar of County Tipperary. The Tobins were a Norman family.
Mullinahone was on one of the two routes from Ossory to Cashel
or Leinster to Munster
in medieval times. Known as the Pass of Compsey in Norman times, the passage was by Callan
and Modeshill and crossed the river at Mullinahone at the ford of Aghmonenahone under the old Norman keep in Carrick St . Then on the high road by Cappaghnagrane to Fethard and Cashel. It was then a heavily wooded area. One of the first Tobins was instructed to cut down the woods of Killaghy by royal decree to "ensure safe passage for travellers" i.e. the army and supplies.
Cromwell's troops attacked "ye States' expense" in 1654. The Tobin estates were broken up then and most of the Tobin kinsmen were transplanted to Connacht .
The army of William of Orange camped nearby in 1691 and an order went out to 'burn the Compsey' as it was believed to harbour rapperees or highway men. The order was not carried out however.
After this time the Penal Laws were enacted, with a long period of religious persecution. This was the time of the Mass rocks and of laws forbidding education and holding of property, positions of importance or the right of political franchise, lasting about a century. Priest hunters were used but only served to strengthen the religion.
This dark period in the history of the parish was marked by an uprising in 1798 on Carraigmoclear hill on Slievenamon, ending in defeat for the local men.
, Mullinahone's favourite son.
The parish and people were very much involved in the War of Independence
from circa 1919 to 1922. A monument in the village square was erected to the memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle.
, (a man-made hill of earth with a fortified wooden house on top). Later in the 15th and 16th century, a tower house
was built. The tower house was a tall slender castle of stone, and was built primarily for defence. During Tudor
times in the 16th century, a long house
was added. The 18th century saw the construction of two further buildings forming the structure of Killaghy Castle as it stands today. The castle has undergone extensive restoration. The castle was originally owned by the Despard family. It is now a self-catering business.
Mullinahone is also the home of PAWS Animal Rescue, the second largest dog sanctuary in Ireland, next to Dogs Trust Dublin. PAWS is a registered Charity which rescues and rehomes abandoned and abused dogs.
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in the barony
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...
of Slievardagh
Slievardagh
Slievardagh is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. Its chief town is Mullinahone...
, 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...
in Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. It is also a parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly
The Metropolitan Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly is a Roman Catholic archdiocese in mid-western Ireland. The diocese is in the secular province of Munster. The Diocese of Cashel was established in 1111 by the Synod of Rathbreasail and promoted to the status of a Metropolitan Province in 1152 by the...
.
The Irish Census of 2006 recorded the village as having a population of 372
.
Location and access
Mullinahone is situated roughly half-way between ClonmelClonmel
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...
, the county town of South Tipperary, and Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
City. It is located in a low-lying broad valley area, for the most part, two to three hundred feet above sea level in South-East Tipperary . It reaches its highest point of 1088 feet (331.6 m) on the mountain of Slievenamon
Slievenamon
Slievenamon is a mountain in County Tipperary in the province of Munster in Ireland. It stands at 721 m . It is located in the south of the county, near the town of Clonmel...
, its southern boundary. The land for the most part is on a limestone base. This has 'karst
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
' features, which means that it is fissured with many caves and underground streams, subjecting some areas to flooding in times of heavy rainfall.
Overlooking the northern boundary are the Slieveardagh hills and Ballingarry parish, while its western side is formed by some smaller hills such as Cappaghnagrane and Kilnagranagh and the parish of Drangan/Cloneen. To the east is Killamery
Killamery
Killamery is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It was the site of a monastery and has a High Cross.Two bullauns and a holy well are also found nearby....
(or Carrolls) hill together with a stretch of flat, often boggy land; its boundary with County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
county and Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
. This modern parish is twenty-five square miles, area or 16000 acres (64.7 km²).
In an extended form this whole area was called “An Cuimseanach” or Compsey in pre-Norman times, an ancient Gaelic word suggesting an enclosed valley area. The barony of Slieveardagh, now the electoral area, was known as the barony of Slieveardagh/Compsey in Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
times.
History
Its most famous son was Charles KickhamCharles Kickham
Charles Joseph Kickham was an Irish revolutionary, novelist, poet, journalist and one of the most prominent members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.-Early life:...
(1828-1882), writer, balladeer and Fenian leader. He was born in the village and is buried in the parish cemetery.
Fethard
-Constituencies:*Fethard *Fethard...
and Killaghy streets. Both were extensions of the worker/artisan settlements of Killaghy Castle and lands whose estate walls adjoin the modern town today. Killaghy has existed since the first lord of Killaghy or Compsey, named St Aubyn or Tobin, built his castle there in the 13th century.
There is one earlier mention of Mullinahone as a place name. This is dated 1551 in the Calendar of Justiciary Rolls (State papers then), regarding Inquisitions or trials held there. This was possibly at the old 13th century Norman keep in present day Carrick St in Mullinahone townland. The Lord of Compsey was a James Tobin who was then (1551) Justiciar of County Tipperary. The Tobins were a Norman family.
Modern Boundary
The modern parish was formed in the 18th century as the Catholic Church was re-organised when Penal Laws were relaxed. From 1772 it was joined with Drangan parish, then in 1826 it was separated again. The old Gaelic entity of Compsey extended as far as Glenbower and Ahenny in Grangemockler parish and also part of Cloneen and adjoining areas.Mullinahone was on one of the two routes from Ossory to 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....
or Leinster to Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
in medieval times. Known as the Pass of Compsey in Norman times, the passage was by Callan
Callan
-People:Callan is the birth place of some famous people, namely:* Edmund Ignatius Rice, founder of the Irish Christian Brothers and the Presentation Brothers* Callan also has links with Asa Griggs Candler's family and the Coca-Cola company....
and Modeshill and crossed the river at Mullinahone at the ford of Aghmonenahone under the old Norman keep in Carrick St . Then on the high road by Cappaghnagrane to Fethard and Cashel. It was then a heavily wooded area. One of the first Tobins was instructed to cut down the woods of Killaghy by royal decree to "ensure safe passage for travellers" i.e. the army and supplies.
Feudal period
In 1317 the Scottish army of Robert and Edward de Bruce came through here with much pillage. It took a week for them to get from Callan to Cashel.Cromwell's troops attacked "ye States' expense" in 1654. The Tobin estates were broken up then and most of the Tobin kinsmen were transplanted to Connacht .
The army of William of Orange camped nearby in 1691 and an order went out to 'burn the Compsey' as it was believed to harbour rapperees or highway men. The order was not carried out however.
After this time the Penal Laws were enacted, with a long period of religious persecution. This was the time of the Mass rocks and of laws forbidding education and holding of property, positions of importance or the right of political franchise, lasting about a century. Priest hunters were used but only served to strengthen the religion.
This dark period in the history of the parish was marked by an uprising in 1798 on Carraigmoclear hill on Slievenamon, ending in defeat for the local men.
The Great Famine
Later, in the 1840s the Great Famine caused many deaths in the parish, perhaps as high as 27% of the population between famine and emigration, in a decade. Locally there were attempts at physical force movements in 1848 and 1867, influenced by local writer and patriot Charles KickhamCharles Kickham
Charles Joseph Kickham was an Irish revolutionary, novelist, poet, journalist and one of the most prominent members of the Irish Republican Brotherhood.-Early life:...
, Mullinahone's favourite son.
The Land War
Mullinahone suffered considerably during this period at the end of the 19th century from the excesses of landlordism. Tenant rights were achieved after many Government Land Acts and much suffering.The parish and people were very much involved in the War of Independence
Irish War of Independence
The Irish War of Independence , Anglo-Irish War, Black and Tan War, or Tan War was a guerrilla war mounted by the Irish Republican Army against the British government and its forces in Ireland. It began in January 1919, following the Irish Republic's declaration of independence. Both sides agreed...
from circa 1919 to 1922. A monument in the village square was erected to the memory of those who lost their lives in the struggle.
Places of interest
Amenities in Mullinahone include Killaghy Castle which is a Norman castle dating back to 1206. It was originally a Motte-and-baileyMotte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
, (a man-made hill of earth with a fortified wooden house on top). Later in the 15th and 16th century, a tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
was built. The tower house was a tall slender castle of stone, and was built primarily for defence. During Tudor
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
times in the 16th century, a long house
Long house
A longhouse or long house is a type of long, proportionately narrow, single-room building built by peoples in various parts of the world including Asia, Europe and North America....
was added. The 18th century saw the construction of two further buildings forming the structure of Killaghy Castle as it stands today. The castle has undergone extensive restoration. The castle was originally owned by the Despard family. It is now a self-catering business.
Mullinahone is also the home of PAWS Animal Rescue, the second largest dog sanctuary in Ireland, next to Dogs Trust Dublin. PAWS is a registered Charity which rescues and rehomes abandoned and abused dogs.
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland