Images of The Round Tower
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by Mr William Muldowney and are © 2006 |
Timahoe
This place, which was originally styled Teach Mochua, derives its
name from St. Mochua, who founded a monastery here in the seventh
century. Archdall, confounding this saint with another of the same name,
erroneously ascribes its foundation to the fifth century. St. Mochua was
venerated on the 24th of December, at which date the Martyrology of
Donegal has the entry: "Mochua, son of Lonan, of Tigh Mochua in Laoghis,
in Leinster. He was of the race of Eochaidh Finn-fuathairt, from whom
Brighit is (descended). Fineacht, daughter of Loichin, son of Dioma
Chiret, of Cill Chonaigh, was his mother." The Feilire of Aengus thus
refers to him:- " 24 Dec. A waiting on Lucianus with my-Cua, a fair
couple. Lonan's son chances (to come) to us on the night before
Christmas." To which the gloss in the Leabhar Breac, adds:- "' My-Cua,'
i. Mo-chua, son of Lonan, of Tech-Mochua in Leix of Leinster, and of
Daire Mis (?) in Sliab Fuait; i.e. of Teach Mochua in Leix, i.e. Mochua,
son of Lonan, son of Senach, son of Aengus, son of Lugna, son of
Breg-dolb, son of Art-Chorb, son of Tiacha, i.e. son of Feidlimid
Rechtmar." This saint died - according to the Chronicon, Scottorum - in
654, "A.D. Mochua, son of Lonan, quevit," but in 657, according to the
Four Masters.
A.D. 880. Focarta, son of Dubhdacheall, Abbot of TeachMochua, died. -
(Four Masters.)
AD. 919. Cairbre, son of Fearadhach, head of the piety of Leinster,
successor of Diarmaid, son of Aedh Roin, arichinnech of Tigh-Mochua, and
an anchorite, died, after a good life, at a very advanced age; . . . The
plundering of Cluain-eidhneach (Clonenagh), and the burning of the
Oratory of Mochua, by the foreigners.- (Id.)
A.D. 928. Maelcaeimbghin, son of Scannlan, Abbot of TeachMochua,
died. - (Id.)
A.D. 931. Cosgrach, son of Maelmochoirghi, Bishop of TeachMochua, and
of the Commans,* died. - (Id.)
AD. 936. Finguine, son of Fubhthaidh, son of Donnagan, son of
Fogartach, son of Duinechdha, son of Bearach, son of Mescell, †
Vice-Abbot (Prior) of Teach-Mochua and Lord of Magh-Abhna, ‡ died.-
(Id.)
A.D. 951. Gormghal, Lecturer of Teach-Mochua and Inis Robhartaigh,
died.- (Id.)
A.D. 969. Finnguine Ua Fiachrach, Abbot of Teach-Mochua, died. -
(Id.)
A.D. 1001. Conaing Ua Fiachrach, Abbot of Teach-Mochua, died.- (Id.)
A.D. 1007. Finshnechta Ua Fiachra, Abbot of Teach-Mochua died. -
(Id.)
A.D. 1041. Cuciche U Dunlaing, Lord of Laeghis, and his son, and
Cailleoc his wife, were slain by MacConin, at TeachMochua-mic-Lonain;
and he (MacConin) himself was killed on the following day by Ua Broenain,
for this act; and this was a great miracle by Mochua. - (Id.)
A.D. 1069. Gillamaire, son of Dubh, § Chief of Crimhthannan was slain
by Macraith Ua Mordha (O'More), in the doorway of the oratory of
Teach-Mochua, they having previously mutually sworn upon the relic
called Caimin which MacDuff at the time held in his hand; so that the
Caimin is yet and will for ever remain stained with his (MacDuff's)
blood. Magrath O'More was afterwards killed at Mullean-na-Crossan, in
the vicinity of Aichadbo, having the Caimin then in his possession, in
revenge for his having violated the (reliquary of the) Saints Fintan,
Mochua, and Colman. - (Id.) O'Donovan adds: "What this Caimin was, I
have nothing to determine; but I think it was a crozier, from the etymon
of the word, which means 'a crooked little thing,' which might become a
local name for a crozier that had belonged to either of the three local
Saints, Fintan, Mochua, and Colman." - (Ord. Surv. Papers, Queen's Co.,
Vol. 1, 279). " On the north-east of Ossory was the territory known as
the Three Comanns, which appears to have been annexed to Leix about the
period of Geithin, the chief of Leix, whose death is recorded by the
Four 1ifast,~ra under the year 898. He is styled "Lord of Leix and the
Comann." His posterity settled near Abbeyleix, in Ballygihen; Baile Ui
Geithin, i.e., the town of the race of Geithin. - (See Loca Patr. 264,
note).
† Ancestor of the O'Mores of Leix. ‡ This is probably a mistake for
O-m Buidhe, or Omuigh, which is the ancient name of the district in
which Timahoe is situated. O'Donovan § He was the ancestor of the family
of O'Duibh, now Deevy or Devoy, seated in Ui Crimthannain, Barony of E.
Maryborough, Queen's Co. - O'Donovan.
AD. 1142. Teach-Mochua was burned. (Four Masters).
The Monastery was founded, probably by the O'Mores, but of its
further history there appears to be no written record. A community
existed here as late as the year 1650, when Hewson, after dismantling
Dunamase, overran the Queen's County, and among other acts of cruelty
and devastation, murdered all the friars of this Abbey, and demolished
their house. The place where they were massacred is still called "the
road of murder."- (Ord. Surv. Letter).
Timahoe Round Tower
Source: South Dublin Libraries |
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Source: South Dublin Libraries |
Features: Timahoe is a complete tower,
though without floors or ladders. It has one of the finest four-order
Romanesque doorways in Ireland, with elaborately carved and decorated
with interlace, human heads, chevrons and capitals. It is unique in
round tower architecture.
Timahoe Round Tower and the Church
Images above are by Mr William
Muldowney and are © 2006
The Round Tower of Timahoe. - The original church to which this
belfry belonged is now replaced by a modern (Protestant) church, a few
yards to the south-west corner of which it stands. The ruins of the
ancient monastery yet remain, but they are nearly featureless; one
pointed arch may be seen in the east gable. The belfry is nearly
perfect, only a portion of its conical roof is gone. [The restoration of
the roof, and other judicious provisions for the preservation of this
tower, have lately been effected by the Board of Works.] The tower is 96
feet in height and 57 feet in circumference at the base, and the wall is
4 feet thick. The style of the masonry varies in a singular manner. Up
to the level of the door, the stones are rounded, but not laid in
courses; then above this is irregular ashlar work, which again is
super-imposed by rough work like that at the base, and then all at the
top is wide-jointed and irregular. Mr. Brash, writing on this tower
(Eccl. Architecture of Ireland, p. 35), remarks that "only the lower
part of the tower is built of limestone, which is the prevailing
material in the locality, and from thence to a height of about 35 feet,
it is constructed of a dark, buff-coloured grit or freestone not found
in the immediate locality, but met with in the form of boulders, in a
townland named Aghowna, about a mile and a quarter from Timahoe. The
workmanship of this portion is more regular than that of the base, being
built of courses of varying heights, the joints of the blocks vertical
and horizontal, carefully wrought, and in some places fitting in with
the greatest nicety. The doorway is in this portion; the remainder of
the tower is of limestone rubble, and the base has (to Mr. Brash) an air
of great antiquity, looking much worn and crushed, and showing many
signs of repair." The tower is built of limestone, with the exception of
the apertures, which are of sandstone. Both externally and internally
the stones are worked to the round, and, inside, the walls diminish by
very deep offsets, four in number, on which the floors rested. There are
five stories above the floor level, The tower springs from a plinth of
three courses, the lower being 2 feet high and 1 foot deep. - (Ord.
Survey Papers, Queen's Co., Vol. 1 p. 279).
Petrie thus refers to this tower in his Essay on the Round Towers of
Ireland, p. 233 and seq: -
"The opinions which I have ventured to express as to the age of the
doorway of the Round Tower of Kildare (namely, the close of the 8th or
beginning of the 9th century, or even possibly to the age of St. Brigid;
see p. 232), and consequently to the antiquity, in Ireland, of the style
of architecture which it exhibits, will, I think, receive additional
support from the agreement of many of its ornaments with those seen in
the better preserved, if not more beautiful, doorway of the Round Tower
of Timahoe, in the Queen's County-a doorway which seems to be of
contemporaneous erection, and which, like that of Kildare, exhibits many
peculiarities that I do not recollect to have found in buildings of the
Norman times, either in England or Ireland. As this doorway, which is
the finest of its kind remaining in Ireland, is of the highest interest,
not only on account of the richness, and, as I conceive, antiquity of
its decorations, but also from its high state of preservation, it will
be desirable that I should endeavour to illustrate its several features
as clearly as possible both by drawings and verbal descriptions.
"This doorway, like that of Kildare, is formed of a hard siliceous
sandstone, and may be described as consisting of two divisions,
separated from each other by a double reveal, and presenting each a
double compound recessed arch, resting on plain shafts with flat
capitals. As in the doorway of the Tower of Kildare, the carving is all
in very low relief, and its height from the ground is the same with that
of the doorway of that Tower, namely 15 feet. On its external face, the
outer arch rests on a sill projecting from the face of the wall, and is
ornamented on each side with two semi columns and other mouldings. The
capitals of the shafts are decorated with human heads; and the bases,
which are in better preservation than the capitals, present, at their
alternate western angles, a figure not unlike an hour-glass. The
architrave, on its external face, is more simply decorated, but on its
soffit it presents an ornament which may be described as a pellet and
bead moulding.
The measurement of the shafts of this external arch, including the
bases and capitals, is 5 feet 8 inches. The breadth, at the spring of
the arch is 3 feet 9 inches, and at the base 4 feet; and the entire
height of the arch is 7 feet 6 inches. The jambs of this outer division
splay by an obtuse angle to the second or recessed arch, which is
ornamented somewhat similarly to the first, except that the soffit of
the arch is more highly enriched, presenting a diagonal panelling, which
forms a chevron moulding at its corners. The jambs of this second arch,
which are 1 foot 3 inches in width, are rounded into semi columns at
their angles; and though their bases present no decorations, their
imposts or capitals-if such they may be called, which are more of the
nature of friezes,-are ornamented in a very elegant style of design, and
are fortunately in a high state of preservation. These jambs, including
the bases and capitals, are 5 feet in height, and 1 foot 3 inches in
depth. The width of the arch at top is 2 feet 6 inches, and at bottom 2
feet 9 inches; and the entire height from the floor to the vertex of the
arch, is 6 feet 3 inches. The floor of this recessed arch, or sub-arch,
is raised by a step 9 inches in height above the external one.
Of the capitals, or impost mouldings, that at the west side presents
at each angle a human head, with thick moustache, lank whiskers, and
curling, flowing beard. The hair of each head is divided in the middle
of the forehead; and, passing over the ear, forms by a mutual
interlacing in the intervening space, a kind of cross of complicated and
graceful tracery. The capitals on the east side present a design,
similar, but differing in some of the details-the whiskers of the heads
being curled, and the interlacing of the hair forming a cross, less
complicated, but equally graceful. The reveal, which divides the outer
compound archway from the inner one, is, on each side, 6 inches in
depth, and 7¼ inches in breadth, and is without ornament of any kind;
but the inner compound archway is equally ornamented with the outer one.
Like the outer archway, this compartment consists of two parts, or
concentric arches, the floors of which, like those of the outer archway,
rise over each other by steps, 9 inches in height. The front arch of
this division is 4 feet 3 inches in height, from its floor to the spring
of the arch, 7 inches in depth, and 5 feet 6 inches in height from the
floor to the vertex of the arch. Its width is 2 feet 6 inches at the
capitals, and 2 feet 9 inches at the bases. The inner arch, or sub-arch,
measures 1 foot 6 inches in width at its capitals, and 1 foot 9 inches
at its bases, and 4 feet 4 inches in height from the floor to the vertex
of the arch. The jambs are 3 feet 7 inches in height, and 1 foot 3
inches in breadth. At the base of the jamb at the west side, there is a
fourth step, 9 inches in height, and 5 in breadth, and running parallel
with the wall; but its use it would now be difficult to conjecture. The
outer division of this inner archway, as in the first compound archway
already described, presents a semi-column at each of its angles, with a
human head as a capital. The head at the west side exhibits the hair
arranged in massive curls over the forehead, while the space at the back
of the head, and under the cheek, is filled with a flowery interlaced
ornament, which springs from an angular moulding at each side of the
semicircular shaft. The head, forming the capital at the east side,
exhibits the hair divided over the forehead, a plain moustache, and the
hair arranged in straight plaits under the chin, from ear to ear. The
bases of the shafts present an equal dissimilarity in design as the
capitals. That on the west side exhibits above the plinth an ornament in
depressed relief, and over it a human head, rudely carved in low relief,
having the moustache and beard arranged in stiff and straight plaits.
The base of the corresponding shaft, at the east side, is less
ornamented, and exhibits a sort of bulbous figure resting on a high
plinth.
The architrave of this arch is without ornament on its face, but its
archivolt is richly decorated with a triple-chevron moulding. The
sub-arch, or recessed division of this archway, is sculptured in a style
altogether different from that of the outer archway, being not in
relief, as are all the other carvings of this interesting remain, but in
depressed lines, and of a simpler design. The jambs are rounded into
semicircular shafts at both their angles. The ornaments on the capitals
are carried from the true capital to its abacus. The bases of the
semicircular shafts at the angles, are bulbous figures, like that
already described on the eastern shaft of the outer archway; and the
intermediate spaces are ornamented with crosses, formed by a check in
alternate depression and relief. The architrave of this archway presents
a simple round moulding, with angular fillets on each side, and the
soffit is carved into lozenge panels.
"Though I cannot in this, as in the instance of Kildare, adduce any
historical evidence in support of the antiquity of the doorway-for I
should be afraid to venture on ascribing its erection to the time of St.
Mochua, the original founder and patron saint of Timahoe, who flourished
in the sixth century-yet it will, I think, be seen that it presents no
architectural features differing from those in the doorway of the Round
Tower of Kildare, which are not obviously derived, like the latter, from
the debased Roman architecture of the Lower Empire, and which it would
be hazardous in the extreme to deny may be of a very early age- earlier,
at least, than any Norman examples of the kind, noticed as remaining in
England. The strongest evidence in favour of the antiquity of this
doorway may be drawn from the construction and general style of the
Tower, as in the fine-jointed character of the ashlar work in the
doorway and windows; and still more in the straight-sided arches of all
the windows which, with the exception of a small quadrangular one,
perfectly agree in style with those of the most ancient churches and
Round Towers in Ireland, and with those of the churches in England, now
considered as Saxon."
Sir William Betham having been informed than an urn containing
cremated bones had been found beneath the floor of the Round Tower of
Timahoe, wrote to Mr. Pierce Moore of Cremorgen, in the neighbourhood.
Mr. Moore in reply tells him that on inquiry he finds that fifty years
before some persons were tempted to dig within the tower in search of
money, and that they came upon a flag-stone, underneath which they found
an earthen vessel filled with bones, which had the appearance of being
burned. He adds that "this circumstance caused them no surprise, as in
almost every sand-hill in the neighbourhood (of which there are a great
number) similar earthen vessels, filled with bones, have been found at
four to eight feet down." Sir W. Betham concludes from this, that the
Round Towers were used as monuments and sepulchres for the dead, and the
pagan process of cremation having taken place with regard to the remains
said to have been found at Timahoe, he judges, that they were of pagan
origin. Mr. Petrie in reply (1) questions the fact of the finding of
this pagan sepulchral urn within the tower, for which there is no
evidence beyond a mere hearsay story of more than fifty years' standing;
and (2), even if it had been found there, it would only go to prove that
the wall of the tower had been built around one of these low sand-hills
which Mr. Moore says are so numerous in the neighbourhood, and in which
it was so usual to find similar earthen vessels filled with bones.-(Id.
418.)
A castle stood at Timahoe, built about the year 1183 by Hugh de Lacy
for Myler Fitz-Henry, who had married his niece. The King, suspicious of
the designs of De Lacy as Chief Governor, recalled him in 1181, and sent
over John, Constable of Chester, and Richard de Pech, as Justices;
these, in De Lacy's absence, as Hanmer writes, "subtilly tooke from
Myler FitzHenry the possessions in Kildare which were given him by
Strongbow, under colour of exchange, and gave him Leix, a wilde savage
country, with township of Timahoe." Eleanor Hartpole, of Shrule, who
married, firstly, Francis Cosby, killed at the battle of Stradbally
bridge in 1596, and secondly, Thomas Loftus, son of the Protestant
Archbishop of Dublin, resided in the Castle of Timahoe.-(Inquis. Lagen.,
36, Car. I.) In the Carew Calendar, Loftus of Timahoe is named.*
* Sir Thomas Loftus, of Killyan, in the County of Meath, and of
Timahoe in the Queen's County, fourth son of Archbishop Loftus, was made
Constable of the Castle of Wicklow, 19 May, 1596, and knighted 24 Sept.,
1599, by Robert, Earl of Essex. . . . He married Eleanor, daughter of
Robert, and sister of Pierce Hartpole, of Carlow, and of Shrule, in the
Queen's County, Esq., and deceasing at Timahoe, 1st Dec. 1635, was
buried on the 14th, at St. Patrick's Church, having had four sons and
two daughters.-(Lodge.)
In 1642 a battle took place here between a party of forces under
Colonel Monck, on his return from the relief of Ballinakill, and a party
under General Preston, who had advanced to intercept his retreat, in
which the latter was repulsed with considerable loss.-(Gough's Camden.)
About a mile from Timahoe, on the road to Ballinakill, there is an old
Rath or Fort.
The ancient parochial district in which Timahoe is situate, is Fossey,
the ruins of the church of which still exist at a short distance to the
south-east of the village. It measured 34 feet by 18; the doorway stood
in the west end. There was a window in the east gable, and two others
facing each other in the north and south walls, towards the west; also
two small square stone-cased apertures, 1 foot 6 inches by 1 foot each,
still more to the west, also opposite to each other in the side walls. A
fine Gothic Church was erected at Timahoe, in 1832, by the late
Cornelius Dowling, P.P., who lies interred within its walls. He also
built the equally fine Church at Vicarstown in 1836. The following
inscription appears upon his tomb: -
"Pray for the soul of the Rev. Cornelius Dowling, P.P. of Stradbally
and Timahoe, who departed this life Dec. 5th, 1850, in the 24th year of
his pastoral charge, much and deservedly regretted by all classes.
Through his untiring labours this Church, where his remains now rest,
and which is a lasting monument to his zeal, had been raised. This
tablet has been erected by a fond and affectionate sister to perpetuate
his memory amongst a flock who loved him in life, and who revere his
memory in the tomb. Requiescat in Pace."
Source: Rev. M
Comerford "Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and
Leighlin", vol 3 (1886)
Timahoe according to the
LEWIS TOPOGRAPHICAL
DICTIONARY
OF
IRELAND 1837
by Samuel Lewis
TIMAHOE, a village, in the parish of FOSEY, or
TIMAHOE, barony of CULLINAGH, QUEEN'S county, and province of
LEINSTER, 4 1/4 miles (S. S. W.) from Stradbally, on the road to
Ballinakill; containing 96 inhabitants. This place takes its name
from the foundation here of the monastery of Teach-Mochoe, by St.
Mochoe, who died in 497, and which was destroyed by fire in 1142: it
was afterwards refounded by the O'Mores, but of its further history
there is no record. There are still some slight remains of the
building, near which is an ancient round tower, 33 feet high; the
doorway is 14 feet from the ground and is ornamented with a zigzag
moulding, and the whole is in good preservation. A castle was
erected here in the reign of Elizabeth by the Cosby family, whose
descendants are still proprietors of the estate: the ruins form a
very interesting and picturesque object. In 1642 a battle took place
here between a party of forces under Col. Monck, on his return from
the relief of Ballinakill, and a party under Gen. Preston, who had
advanced to intercept his retreat, in which the latter was repulsed
with considerable loss. The vicinity abounds with rich pastures and
extensive dairy farms, and much butter of very superior quality is
sent hither for sale. The village, which contains only nine houses,
is pleasantly situated. Fairs are held on April 5th, July 2nd, and
Oct. 18th.; and a constabulary police force is stationed here. The
R. C. chapel of the union of Stradbally, a handsome cruciform
edifice in the early English style, lately erected at an expense of
£2000, is situated in the village; in which is also the parochial
school, under the patronage of Mrs. Cosby.
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