William Carrigan
Encyclopedia
William Carrigan was an Irish canon of the diocese of Ossory and historian, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
. He received his childhood education in the Ballyfoyle National School and then in Wellington Square in Kilkenny City. He then attended the ecclesiastical side of St Kieran’s College. His education was continued at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth today a part of the larger NUI Maynooth. He was ordained by Francis Moran, Bishop of Ossory
, in 1884. His first posting was as curate in Ballyragget
in North County Kilkenny. Bishop Moran was a distinguished historian, having founded the Ossory Archaeological Society in 1872. He encouraged William’s interests in history and he joined the Ossory Archaeological Society in 1884; his first paper was printed in the last issue of the Ossory Archaeological Society in 1886.
’s History of Kilkenny and P. M. Egan's Guide to Kilkenny. The clergy played an active role in these developments; the Rev. James Graves
was a frequent contributor to the Kilkenny Archaeological Society. William Carrigan with his high interest in local history
took these developments as reason to create his own writings. The Bishop of Ossory, Dr Brownrigg, encouraged Carrigan to begin a compilation of a history of Ossory. The Bishop would fund his travels and subscribe to the finished works.
Carrigan travelled around the diocese speaking at great length to older people, taking count of folklore traditions and oral history
. We owe it to Carrigan that we still have these today. He also trudged through existing works and resolved conflicting accounts. All of his holidays were spent in the Public Records Office, Dublin, collecting information that related with Ossory. By the late 1890s he already had an immense collection of material. What remained was to concentrate it into a manageable work.
The first volume deals with the overall history of the diocese from Pre-Christianity Celtic times to the Christianisation and through the Past Bishops and Clergy. The remaining volumes examine Ossor'’s parishes. It explains each parishes' buildings, churches, castles, monuments etc. Townlands are also examined and the origins of their names explained as well as prominent families and tombstone inscriptions etc.
Illustrations add to in the richness of his work; photography
is used to its full extent. The firm chosen to print the work was Sealy, Bryer and Walker of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin. The firm had long experience of printing historical works. 738 individuals subscribed to the work. 840 copies were sold; the remaining 160 were lost in Dublin during the 1916 Rising. The work was well received on its publication and although other diocesan histories exist, none come to par with it for its range and depth.
in 1911. He continued to write and collect material; a further volume was planned but never got to be published. His unpublished works are preserved in the Diocesan Archives in St Kieran's College
.
Canon Carrigan died in 1924, his health had deteriorated since he had had 'Spanish Flu' in 1918. His legacy has continued to this day. His history is still for many people their introduction to the local history of their area. His lavish use of illustrations and photographs gives the work an accessibility lacking in many histories of the time.
on the 7–8 October 2005, the index was launched at the conference along with a digitized CD-ROM edition of the 'History' combined with the new index. At the conference a variety of papers were delivered on Canon Carrigan himself and the ecclesiastical history
of the diocese.
Early life
William Carrigan was the youngest of 13 children. He was born in Ruthstown, Ballyfoyle, County KilkennyKilkenny
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...
. He received his childhood education in the Ballyfoyle National School and then in Wellington Square in Kilkenny City. He then attended the ecclesiastical side of St Kieran’s College. His education was continued at St. Patrick's College, Maynooth today a part of the larger NUI Maynooth. He was ordained by Francis Moran, Bishop of Ossory
Bishop of Ossory
The Bishop of Ossory is an episcopal title which takes its name after the ancient of Kingdom of Ossory in the Province of Leinster, Ireland. In the Roman Catholic Church it remains a separate title, but in the Church of Ireland it has been united with other bishoprics.-History:The diocese of Ossory...
, in 1884. His first posting was as curate in Ballyragget
Ballyragget
Ballyragget is a small town in County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated along the river Nore in the north of the county. It is located in the province of Leinster in the south-east of the island of Ireland. Ballyragget situated on the N77 north of Kilkenny and has a population of 1,451...
in North County Kilkenny. Bishop Moran was a distinguished historian, having founded the Ossory Archaeological Society in 1872. He encouraged William’s interests in history and he joined the Ossory Archaeological Society in 1884; his first paper was printed in the last issue of the Ossory Archaeological Society in 1886.
Sources and origins of his works
The 19th Century saw a great interest in history. Kilkenny had already seen two major historical works written in the 1880s, John HoganJohn Hogan
John Hogan may refer to:*John Hogan , American Revolutionary War soldier and politician*John Hogan , Irish sculptor, creator of The Dead Christ...
’s History of Kilkenny and P. M. Egan's Guide to Kilkenny. The clergy played an active role in these developments; the Rev. James Graves
James Graves (antiquarian)
Rev. James Graves , was an Irish clergyman, antiquary and archaeologist of the Victorian era.- Life :A native of Kilkenny, James's father the Revd. Richard Graves kept a school in the city, and James himself was born on St Canice's day, 11 October. He later regretted that he had not been named...
was a frequent contributor to the Kilkenny Archaeological Society. William Carrigan with his high interest in local history
Local history
Local history is the study of history in a geographically local context and it often concentrates on the local community. It incorporates cultural and social aspects of history...
took these developments as reason to create his own writings. The Bishop of Ossory, Dr Brownrigg, encouraged Carrigan to begin a compilation of a history of Ossory. The Bishop would fund his travels and subscribe to the finished works.
Carrigan travelled around the diocese speaking at great length to older people, taking count of folklore traditions and oral history
Oral history
Oral history is the collection and study of historical information about individuals, families, important events, or everyday life using audiotapes, videotapes, or transcriptions of planned interviews...
. We owe it to Carrigan that we still have these today. He also trudged through existing works and resolved conflicting accounts. All of his holidays were spent in the Public Records Office, Dublin, collecting information that related with Ossory. By the late 1890s he already had an immense collection of material. What remained was to concentrate it into a manageable work.
"The History and Antiquities of Ossory"
William Carrigan was only 45 when this work was completed. The finished work, divided into four volumes, took six years in the writing, between 1897 and 1903.The first volume deals with the overall history of the diocese from Pre-Christianity Celtic times to the Christianisation and through the Past Bishops and Clergy. The remaining volumes examine Ossor'’s parishes. It explains each parishes' buildings, churches, castles, monuments etc. Townlands are also examined and the origins of their names explained as well as prominent families and tombstone inscriptions etc.
Illustrations add to in the richness of his work; photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
is used to its full extent. The firm chosen to print the work was Sealy, Bryer and Walker of Middle Abbey Street, Dublin. The firm had long experience of printing historical works. 738 individuals subscribed to the work. 840 copies were sold; the remaining 160 were lost in Dublin during the 1916 Rising. The work was well received on its publication and although other diocesan histories exist, none come to par with it for its range and depth.
Later life
His keen interest in history continued for the rest of his life. He became parish priest of Durrow, County LaoisDurrow, County Laois
Durrow is a small town located in south County Laois, Ireland. Bypassed by the M8 motorway on 28 May 2010, the town is located on the R639 road at its junction with the N77. The river Erkina flows through Durrow and joins the River Nore about 1.5 km east of the town...
in 1911. He continued to write and collect material; a further volume was planned but never got to be published. His unpublished works are preserved in the Diocesan Archives in St Kieran's College
St Kieran's College
St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, Ireland is primarily a Secondary school for boys. It has long been a nursery for hurling, and is located on College Road in Kilkenny in County Kilkenny, Ireland.- History :...
.
Canon Carrigan died in 1924, his health had deteriorated since he had had 'Spanish Flu' in 1918. His legacy has continued to this day. His history is still for many people their introduction to the local history of their area. His lavish use of illustrations and photographs gives the work an accessibility lacking in many histories of the time.
Commemoration in 2005
2005 marked the centenary of the publication of his work. In Kilkenny the diocese set up a commemorative committee to mark this occasion. It was decide to mark the occasion in two ways. Firstly a new comprehensive index was commissioned for the four volumes. The indexing was undertaken by Helen Litton. This new volume provided a level of accessibility to the work previously lacking. The second strand was a Centenary Conference organised in St Kieran's CollegeSt Kieran's College
St. Kieran's College, Kilkenny, Ireland is primarily a Secondary school for boys. It has long been a nursery for hurling, and is located on College Road in Kilkenny in County Kilkenny, Ireland.- History :...
on the 7–8 October 2005, the index was launched at the conference along with a digitized CD-ROM edition of the 'History' combined with the new index. At the conference a variety of papers were delivered on Canon Carrigan himself and the ecclesiastical history
Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum
The Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum is a work in Latin by Bede on the history of the Christian Churches in England, and of England generally; its main focus is on the conflict between Roman and Celtic Christianity.It is considered to be one of the most important original references on...
of the diocese.
External links
- AAI | Pages in History at www.askaboutireland.ie