Thomas O'Conor in this letter reviews the remains at Seir Kieran - one of the more important historic sites in the county.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[Letter no. 34 from Thomas O'Conor ]

Recd. at O.S.O. 29th Jany. 1838.

Sir,

The only remains of a Church at Seirkieran consist of one piece of a wall lying to the northwest of the Parish Church and between both stands a round building which is commonly called turret by the people. This turret does not exceed seventeen feet in height on the outside; there is an entrance on the northwest side, which is two yards wide at the ground and runs the whole height of the building; the walls on each side of it are at least four??? feet thick. The diameter inside of the building is about twelve feet. There are five openings within a few feet of the top of the wall, which are confined to the extent of a few inches everyway outside and are widened on the inside.

It appears to have had a stone roof, small portions of which remain as yet attached to the inside of the wall and to have never been higher. What the use of this edifice was is not now well known in the country. Some think it was a vestry or sacristy belonging to the ancient Church that was there. Others who are more inclined for fire worship conjecture it was a fire temple (a round tower in other words) on a minor scale. Those are persons who read some opinions on fire temples.

Perhaps it may be found on examination that there were minor round towers attached to the old Churches. The one, which is our present subject, is noticed and called by the name of "small tower" in an Inquisition 27th December XI Elizabeth, cited by Archdall speaking of Seirkeran. The Inquisition states that:-

"The Prior was found seized of the site of the Priory containing one acre, in which were the walls of a Church, a small tower, a great stone house covered with thatch, now used as the Parish Church and two other houses, then the residence of the Canons, worth excluding repairs, 3/4d. yearly."

Around the Churchyard in some places are earthen works thrown up, as some think, for fortifications at the time of the late disturbances in this country (A.D. 1641, etc.). And outside the Church yard wall at the south east corner are traceable the vestiges of some edifices of stone work.

The existence of these vestiges, indicative of the extent of the building that had been in this place and the identity of the name of its Patron Saint with that of St. Kieran of Clonmacnoise, has given origin to the popular tradition that St. Kieran was first going to build the seven Churches here, but some occurrence taking place which prevented him from executing his design, he removed to Clonmacnoise, where he built his Churches.

This tradition confounds St. Kieran of Saigir with St. Kieran surnamed Mac an tSaoir, i.e., the Son of the Carpenter, who erected Clonmacnoise, notwithstanding that St. Kieran of Saigir, born in A.D. 352 according to Archdall citing Usher as authority, founded his monastery in A.D. 402, according to Colgan in AA. SS. p. 429, also referred to by this writer; whilst Kieran of Clonmacnoise, born in A.D. 516, erected his monastery in A.D. 548 (Archdall). What authorities are referred to by him for the latter dates.

These supposed modern fortifications may probably be the sites of the houses of the old ecclesiastical City of Saigir Kierain.

The Inquisition27th December XI Elizabeth, quoted above, finds that:-

"The Villa of Shyre belonged to the Canons, in which were six cottages and forty acres of arable and pasture lands, of the annual value of 6s. 8d."

St. Kieran's Day, 5th March, is still held a holiday in this Parish. His well lies about a quarter of a mile from the Church yard to the south at the foot of a tree in a low flat of ground.

St. Kieran's Bush is a white thorn standing in the middle of the road running between Roscrea and Kinitty and to the southwest of the Churchyard. At this bush is a stone, having on it the impression of the Saint's hand, that of the fingers and thumb being distinctly visible. These are the objects about the place having the name of St. Kieran annexed to them. There is in the same field in which the Churchyard is and to the north of the latter, a bush with some stones around its foot, at which the prayers of some persons who make voluntary vows when invoking Divine assistance though the intercession of St. Kieran, are effused.

The deaths of the Abbots of Saighir are recorded in the Annals at the following years, viz., 739, 771, 783, 788, 807, 809, 801, 826, 832. At 841 it is recorder that Birr and Saighir were plundered by the Danes.

A.D.
846. Anluan, Abbot of Saighir, died.

867. Coromac, the son of Eladhaigh, Abbot of Saighir, a Bishop and Scribe, died.

868. Guan, the son of Dichoscha, Abbot of Saighir, died.

885. Sloghadach O'Raidhnen, Abbot of Saighir, died.

907. Corbmac, Bishop of Saighir, died.

919. Fergall, the son of Maoilmordha, Abbot of Saighir, died.

920. Aodh O'Raithnen (now Ferns) Sage of Saighir and Senior Professor of Ireland, died.

937. Cellach O'Kelly, Prior of Saighir, died.

941. Fogartach, Abbot of Saighir, died.

951. Cenfaola, the son of Suibhne, Abbot of Saighir, died in pilgrimage at Glendaloch.

961. Ferghal, the son of Ceallaigh, died at Saighir after performing his pilgrimage.

1004. Fogartach, Abbot of Leighlin and Saighir, died.

1012. The Prior of Saighir was killed.

1048. Dumchad O'Kelechuir, Comharb of Ciarain Saighre, died.

1079. Cellach (the Lusty) Comharb of Ciarain Saighre and of Brenain Bierra, died.

1548. Saighir, Chiarain and Kilcormac (now Frankford) were burned and destroyed by the English and O'Carroll.

We find in the Down Survey "Upon the lands of Ballimonin stands a castle."

This castle, now called Ballymony Castle, stands in ruins near the centre of Oakly Park Townland in this Parish. Tradition says it belonged to O'Carroll who had a castle also in Kilmain Townland, of which I was informed there are some remains as yet.

I give here a list of some castles which belonged to O'Carroll and are in this neighbourhood:-

  1. Leap Castle (Caislean Leim Ui Bhanain - in Ely) - 4 Masters, A.D. 1557.
  2. Ballymony Castle.
  3. Kilmain Castle.
  4. Fortill Castle.
  5. Rathmore Castle.

There is a tradition connected with the Turret above spoken of the circumstances related by which, suggests to some, the idea of its being a penitentiary or a place for leading a life of retirement. There is hardly any truth in the account itself, but if it be divested of the additional garb of fiction which it very likely received, there may be some feature found in it which would lead to a discovery of the truth.

It is saids that three sisters lead a life of retirement from wordly bustle in this little edifice, who were, perhaps, on account of the very great age to which they are said to have attained, called "Babes of the Wood." This tradition may, perhaps, have taken its origin from the circumstance of persons having shut themselves up for some time here to perform either an enjoined or voluntary penance, and viewed in this manner may have some truth in it.

This tradition I have laid down merely to preserve it and viewing it as of no great importance, made remarks to show to what circumstance it is referable.

Your obedient servant,
T. O'Conor.