St Abban (St, Abban) founded a monastery here in AD650, in which he
is said to have been interred: there are some re mains of its
church. There are also remains of the old church of Aries, and of
the ancient castle of Hovendon, over the entrance to which are
quartered the arms of the Leinster and Ormonde families. Near
Castletown church is a well, which supplies water enough to turn a
mill in its immediate vicinity.
Courtesy of
Portlaoise Public Library 1999.Parish is
Killabban
The ancient and more proper title for this parish is Killabban.
It receives its present name from the parish church being placed in modern times
at Arles. This name is derived from Ard-glas, i.e. "the verdant hill;" or,
according to some, from Ard-lios, i.e. "the forted hill." The earliest place of
worship here appears to have been a chapel built in 1686, of which there is a
description and an illustration (Pl. 34, Vol. II.) in Grose's Antiquities. It is
there described as having been "built, according to tradition, by a lady of the
family of Hartpole. It is erected in the form of a cross, and is thatched. In
one arm of the cross is a small chapel, the place of interment for the Grace
family. A long Latin metrical epitaph to Dame Frances Grace, alias Bagot, wife
to Sheffield Grace, who died 3rd May, 1742, aged 32, is given; and another, in
English, to Mrs. Martha Grace, wife of Michael Grace, who died Nov. 28, 1736, in
the 55th year of her age." Grose's illustration shows this chapel to have been a
very plain structure, with the thatch sadly in need of repair. An inscribed
stone, let into the wall of the present church, records the name of the builder
of the old chapel: "Madam Scurlock, alias Walsh, alias Hartpole, built this
chapel, A.D. 168-" (last figure broken away).
According to the annals of the Grace family, this chapel was
pulled down in 1795, and was replaced by that which existed until the present
beautiful church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built, towards the erection of
which the late Mrs. Grace Grace was a munificent contributor. The Grace
mausoleum is a conspicuous object in the adjoining grave-yard. It was built in
1818, in place of the original one-erected in 1687, by Oliver Grace, Chief
Remembrance of the Exchequer; by Mrs. Alicia Kavanagh, daughter of Michael
Grace of Grace-field; Sir William Grace, Bart; and his brothers Sheffield
Juris consult, and Percy, Admiral of the Royal fleet, for themselves and
posterity, on the site of the southern wing of the church of Arles.
The
following is the inscription upon it, recording the above:
"Hoc sepulchrum
Alicia Kavanagh, filia Michaelis Grace de Gracefield, Arm.; Gulielmus Grace,
Baronettus, et fratres ejus Sheffieldus, jurisconsultus, Perceus Regiae Classis
Praefectus, poni curaverunt, A.D. MDCCCXVIII., sibi posterisque. Quo loco fuit
olim Australis ala aedis Arlesianae ab Olivero Grace de Shangano sive Gracefield,
Armig. Anno Salutis MDLXXXVII. aedificata, jamdiu vetustate collapsa."
This
mausoleum is fully described and illustrated in the family Annals, compiled by
Sheffield Grace, who traces their pedigree to Raymond Fitz William, surnamed Le
Gros, who accompanied Strongbow to Ireland, and through him further back to the
Ducal House of Tuscany.
(Above copied as was written)
St. ABBAN
&
THE PARISH OF KILLABBAN
This parochial district derives its name from St. Abban, who
built a monastery here, according to Trias Thaum., about the year 650, but,
according to other authorities, a century earlier. The Martyrology of Donegal,
at March 16th, that saint's festival, has the following :- " Abban Mac-ua-Corbmaic
of MaghArnaidhe, in Ui Ceinnsealaigh, in Leinster, and of CillAbbain in Ui
Muireadhaigh, in Leinster. He was of the race of Labraidh Lorc, son of Ugaine
Mor; Miolla, sister of Bishop Ibhair, was his mother, as his life states in the
first chapter." There are two saints Abban, commemorated in the Irish Calendars
whose acts have become hopelessly entangled. St. Abban, senior, was the nephew
of St. Ibhair, named by some as having preceded St. Conlaeth as Bishop of
Kildare. St. Ibhair having established himself at Beg-Erin, in Wexford harbour,
his nephew, Abban, went there for his education, about the year 490, being then
twelve years of age (Ussher). In his Life, by Colgan, his connexion with this
locality is thus referred to:-
"Sanctus Abbanus cum suis clericis, fines
Laginensium intravit, et venit in plebem Huathmarchy, et ipsa plebs honorifice
recepit eum, et valde gavisa est in ejus adventu. Et vir sanctus benedixit eam
diligenter, et multis diversis languoribus ibi sanatis, et miraculis perpetratis,
inde recessit in plebem Huarnidhi, ibique magnam monasterium construxit, et
propter honorem ejus in eodem loco civitas aedificata est; et monasterium et
civitas uno nomine Scoticd vocantur Ceall-Abbain." (AA. ,SS. p. 617.)
A curious passage, regarding the interment of St. Abban,
occurs in his Life, by Colgan. It is here given as translated by the author of
Loca Patriciana, p. 7, et seq: -" We wish to write some brief details of his
decease, and how his holy remains were deposited in the earth. On a certain day
when the time of his passage to the heavenly kingdom was at hand, calling
together some of his brethren he mentioned to them the day of his departure. The
Praepositus of his monastery, who was also the procurator of every requisite
in-doors and outside, was born in the town of Ceall Abain, which is in the
territory of the North Leinstermen, and which was the first place St. Abban had
founded in the land of the Leinstermen-to this Praepositus, alone, he disclosed
the precise hour of his dissolution. That very same moment the Praepositus
determined to carry away the blessed body of the holy man, and to bring it, if
he possibly could, to his own town; he sent messengers to his native place, in
order that his own people should collect together the North Leinstermen to come
to meet him at the appointed day, and by the road on which these messengers
should determine. These orders they obeyed with alacrity, but as the Praepositus
had the oxen already mentioned in his charge, because these were for the use of
the monastery, as the saint prophesied of them before they were born, they were
like monks, nor was there any necessity to urge them to work, as they themselves
willingly and meekly obeyed, so that the holy father and the brethren loved them
much. The Praepositus placed these oxen beside the waggon in the assigned place
on the night on which the holy father foretold his departure for heaven-and the
angels on that night were seen visiting the man of God. The Praepositus, knowing
from the lips of the saint the precise hour of his departure, ordered all the
brethren to retire to rest for some time, except his own accomplices who were
cognisant of his plans. Awaiting awhile quietly till the brotherhood had
retired, meanwhile the soul of the holy father ascended among the angelic choirs
to the heavenly kingdom. The Praepositus with his friends forthwith carried away
the sacred body from the monastery, and placed it on the waggon with the
aforesaid oxen yoked thereto, which, aware of the precious burthen they carried,
began their journey with the attendants. Then the angelic array descended from
heaven, singing sweetly around the corpse; and light like the rays of the rising
sun, or when he sets in serenity, shining from them, illuminated the whole way.
They continued thus until the venerable remains were placed in the grave, while
the leaders of the procession walked with quickened paces under the influence of
the angelic light.
"When the brotherhood arose after some repose, they went to
the place where they left the wily Praepositus; not having found him there they
then placed guards on all the gates of the cloisters, and it was only then they
learned that the Praepositus had carried away by stealth the remains of the
abbot to his own town. With weeping and wailing and violent ringing of bells,
the townsmen were gathered together; and when the sad intelligence regarding
their abbot was made known to them the whole city was plunged in grief. The
people and the clergy were more distressed that his body was stolen away from
them than that he had departed from this world, as they doubted not that they
should be delivered from every evil, and that they should be enriched with every
good, and that they should obtain the wished for favours before the relics of so
great a man, as they had been delivered by him while he lived among them. Taking
counsel together they despatch a number of messengers in different directions to
the men of South Leinster, to induce them to follow their patron and to
endeavour to recover his remains. Forthwith the populace, taking arms, go with
the brethren, to fight for their saint. A great crowd being then collected from
every side, they formed a large army, and went with eagerness to bring back the
remains to the place whence they had been removed. In the meantime the people of
the other city, with the army of North Leinster, gather together; they were more
numerous and better armed than those of the South. The holy monks, the clerics,
and the good and wise men on both sides, seeing that great danger was imminent,
ordered both parties to remain quiet, and the corpse to be detained and placed
between them, to effect, if possible, some reconciliation; but disputing with
one another, it was impossible to bring them to terms.
The N. Leinster army
asserted
'This saint erected our city, took us, his first people in this
territory, under his protection, and we have accepted him for ever as our
Patron; and our wives, our sons, and our daughters, our servants and our
handmaids, even our infants, hope in him in every necessity, and we are
determined to die rather than yield him up.' The people of Magher-naidhe, with
the S. Leinstermen spoke thus-' This holy man was sent to us by God, he lived
many years amongst us and founded many monasteries and churches in our country.
He is our saint and our venerated father, he built our town, and, after many
miracles wrought among us, he was taken away to the Lord. We hope to be always
assisted by him, and know ye that we shall consign ourselves to death rather
than we shall return without him.' At this speech the wrath of the leaders and
armies on both sides was inflamed and lashed to fury-they commenced to
vituperate and contend against each other. Then the monks and clerics to whom
armed intervention was unlawful, went apart, weeping and wailing; they cried
aloud-' Alas! alas! O Lord God, why dost Thou permit this wretched slaughter of
so many noble souls on account of the corpse of Thy servant who, while alive,
was the means of preventing much bloodshed and wars? The armed ranks were about
to engage each other, urged on by dire hostility, and with impetuosity to enter
into deadly strife to fight for the body. Oh, wonderful and exceedingly great
miracle wrought by God through the merits of the saint! Behold! in the twinkling
of an eye, two oxen with a wain and corpse went to the North Leinstermen, and
two oxen of the same appearance and size, with a similar waggon and corpse, went
towards the men of South Leinster. Then the holy men on both sides, and all the
others, seeing this wonder so quickly wrought, were appeased; and, full of joy,
they cried out-' Behold how great, how excellent are the merits of the Saint
Abban before the Lord.' The people indeed rejoiced exceedingly, and giving glory
and thanks to the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, praising his saint,
returned with great joy and honour to their cities, and those who were suffering
from various diseases were brought before the relics, and all were made whole.
And the relics themselves with due honour, with canticles and hymns of praise,
after solemn mass and obsequies were consigned with honour to the tomb."
'At Killabban are the ruins of an ancient Church, consisting
of nave and chancel; nave, 45 feet by 22; chancel, 28 feet by 22. The
chancel-arch remains; it is 15 feet wide and Norman in style. The entrance-door
is in the west gable, it is 3 feet in width, and is round-headed. There is a
long lancet window in the east-end, part of the stone casing of which remains,
and shows it to have been well-wrought. There appears to be a gable campanile at
the west end, but the ruin is so completely covered with luxuriant ivy that it
is impossible to trace its architectural features satisfactorily. The fragments
of a stone coffin are scattered about within the walls of the church. In Roll of
Receipts, Easter term A.D. 1286, John, Clerk of Killabban, because he came not
when attached, was fined half a mark. (Cal. State Documents - Sweetman). A
Patent Roll, 5th and 6th of Philip and Mary, (Morrin) records the presentation
of Edward Shorthall, Clerk, to the Vicarage of Killabban. The name of Theobald
Denn, Gent, of Killabban, appears in the Registry of Parish Priests taken in
1704, as surety for Rev. Brian Moore, of Killabban, Rev. Kedagh Moore, of
Ballyadams, and Rev. Edmond McGinis, Killeshin. This is, no doubt, the Theobald
Denn, Esq., who was appointed one of the Burgesses of Old Leighlin under the
Charter granted to that Borough by King James II. On the 4th of July, 1688. Sir
Richard Butler, Bart., of Poolstown, (now Paulstown) dying in 1886, Elizabeth,
his widow, married Theobald Denn, Esq. (De Brett's Peerage.) In a Return dated
1731 (see Vol I. P. 269,) it is stated that there were in Killabban one
Mass-house, two private chapels, four schoolmasters, and two priests; and that
several itinerant priests, supposed to be regulars, frequently officiated in the
said chapels. In all likelihood, one of these private chapels was at the
residence of Theobald Denn or his descendants. For the particulars supplied by a
similar return, made, March 29th, 1766, by Edwd. Whitty, Protestant Curate.
The principal
seats in the Parish are:
- Cooper
Hill, the residence of William. Cope Cooper, Esq.
- Ashfield
Hall, the residence of P. Gale, Esq.
- Rahin,
the residence of Lieut. Col. Weldon.
- Tollerton,
the residence of Hovendon Stapleton, Esq.
- Killeen,
the residence of M. Dillon Thomas, Esq.
- Maidenhead,
the residence of the Bambrick family.
- Ardateggle
the residence of U. Fitzmaurice, Esq.
- Hollymount,
the residence of W. Fishbourne, Esq.
The living is a
rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the gift of
the Crown. The tithes amount to £1,292-6s-1½d. There
are two churches, one at Castletown and the other at
Mayo, for the erection of one of which the late Board of
First Fruits, in 1813, gave £800; and the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners have lately granted £106 for the repairs
of that at Castletown, and £172 for that at Mayo. There
is neither glebehouse nor glebe. In the R.C. divisions
the parish forms the head of two unions or districts, one
called Ballylynan and Arles, which has chapels at those
places and at Killeen; the other called Mayo and Doonane,
which is united with the parish of Rathaspick, and has
chapels at Mayo and Doonane.
About 400 children
are educated in four public schools, to three of which
the rector subscribes, and 640 in 16 private schools;
there are also six Sunday schools.
St Abban (St.Abban)
founded a monastery here in AD650, in which he is said to
have been interred: there are some re mains of its church.
There are also remains of the old church of Arles, and of
the ancient castle of Hovendon, over the entrance to
which are quartered the arms of the Leinster and Ormonde
families. Near Castletown church is a well, which
supplies, water enough to turn a mill in its immediate
vicinity.
Courtesy of
Portlaoise Public Library 1999.
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