Medieval Offaly: The Arrival of the Anglo-Normans

From Timber Castles To The Origins Of Industry

During the twelfth century, the Irish monks started building stone churches and round towers in an architectural style known as the Romanesque. Cormac's chapel on the Rock of Cashel, built in 1127-34, was the first Romanesque church in Ireland. This style of architecture was introduced from Europe. It is based on the use of the round arch, and is dominated by zigzag or chevron pattern, which were used as decorative features on carved stone.

The Nun's Chapel in Clonmacnoise and the churches at Rahan are classic examples of Romanesque buildings in Offaly. At the same time, the church was undergoing a reformation in moving from monastic church rule to a parish church system.

Dioceses were managed by a bishop and were answerable to the Church in Rome. As part of this reform movement, came the Augustinian order, which established itself at Seir Kieran, Killeigh, Gallen and Durrow in the twelfth century. This could be seen as an attempt by the Celtic monasteries to reform their structure by introducing these reforming orders.

Later, during the thirteenth, fourteenth and fifteenth centuries new religious orders were set up at places like Kilcormac, where the Carmelites settled and at Killeigh and Monasteroris where the Franciscans were established in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries respectively. New parishes were established in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. For example in 1424, the church of Lynally was converted into a parish church for the newly created parish of Fearceall (baronies of Ballyboy, Eglish and part of Ballycowan).

Between 1536-1574, the monasteries of Offaly were dissolved by Henry VIII, and their lands were, in most cases, granted to English settlers. In 1538, John Lye was granted the site of the priory of Canons of Killeigh, with the gardens and dwellings attached to the monastery. In 1574, Nicholas Harberte was granted the old town of Monasteroris with its dissolved friary, two castles and twenty cottages and was renamed Harbartiston. Outside the world of the church, this period is witness to one of the most important historical events in the history of Ireland, the arrival of the Anglo-Normans.

In 1166, Rory O'Connor banished Diarmait Mac Murchadha, the deposed King of Leinster. Mac Murchadha went to Britain to get support from the King of England in his attempt to regain his lost throne. In 1169, a band of soldiers, or mercenaries, from England, Wales and Flanders, under the leadership of Richard de Clare (Strongbow), landed at Wexford to help Diarmait regain his kingship. Richard de Clare, better known as Strongbow, married Diarmait's daughter, Aoife, and became King of Leinster himself after Diarmait's death in 1171.

Between 1170 and 1220, the Anglo-Normans started the process of expansion and colonisation of lands throughout Ireland. This resulted in land being taken away from the native kings, and given to the new Anglo-Norman lords. Naturally enough, this was not a peaceful process and led to conflict and war between the Anglo-Norman lords and the Irish Kings.

The monument most visible in the Irish landscape from this period is known as a motte and bailey, which is in fact the foundations for a timber castle. These timber castles were used as military centres, built by the Anglo-Normans, during their initial war campaign in a new region. Once the area had been conquered, the castle would then become the location of the Lord's house and farm, and was known as a manor.

Once this was achieved, a stone castle often replaced the timber castle. Such an event may have occurred at Clonmacnoise, where the present day stone castle may have been built on top of an earlier timber castle.

A motte consists of a steep sided flat topped mound of earth, which resembles an upturned pudding bowl, the top of this was enclosed by a timber fence protecting a timber tower. Usually located to one side of the mound, there was a rectangular or D-shaped area enclosed by an earthen bank, crowned by a wooden fence, known as a bailey. This bailey acted as the courtyard for the castle, and would have been where the lord's soldiers and horses would have rested during their war campaign.

Drumcullen motte is a classic example of a timber castle, while Drumcooley near Edenderry, is another good example of a motte with an intact bailey. Once the Norman lord had fully established himself in the area and subdued the local resistance, he went about setting up a farm on his lands, and often established a community or village and parish church. This type of development, with castle, church and village became the classic medieval settlement in twelfth and thirteenth century Offaly. However, in a lot of instances, these new towns or villages appeared to have failed and when the Irish kings regained control of their areas from the late thirteenth century, these villages appear to have been abandoned.

In archaeological terms this type of site is known as a deserted medieval village with Cannakill near Croghan Hill being the best known example in Offaly. Contemporary with these villages, medieval farmers of Anglo-Norman descent were also setting up farmsteads in the countryside. Tillage was their main economic livelihood. These farmsteads consisted of square shaped areas, enclosed by an earthen bank, and often protected by a water filled moat, with a causeway across the moat acting as an entrance into the farmyard. This type of site is known as a moated site, with an excellent example located at Curralanty cross roads just outside Shinrone. The moated site would have acted as a defensive feature, protecting the farmers house and outhouses from fire and attack from the Irish kings. Very often medieval fields can be seen in the surrounding area around the moated site.

A moated site known as O'Dempsey's fort not far from Geashill

These Anglo-Norman families were familiar with the structure of a parochial church, and acted as supporters for the diocesan church resulting in the decline of the monastic Celtic church. Some leading Norman families in Offaly were the Fitzmaurices, who held lands around Geashill and Portarlington as early as 1199 AD, and the de Bermingham family around Edenderry, Hugh de Lacy was granted the whole province of Meath and was killed while inspecting his timber castle at Durrow in 1186.

The de Burgh family were granted Connaught, and were active in the Lusmagh/Banagher area around the early thirteenth century, while Birr and south Offaly in Ely O'Carroll territory was granted to Theobald Walter as early as 1185 AD, as part of a grant of the whole province of Munster.

The timber castles and moated sites found throughout Offaly represent the legacy of the Anglo-Norman settlement of the county in early years of the thirteenth century. Early stone castle from this period are rare in County Offaly, with Clonmacnoise Castle the only known example of a thirteenth century stone castle.

By the fifteenth century, the power of the Anglo-Norman families was in decline, while the Irish kings were regaining control over their traditional regions. The tower house is one of the best known monuments in the Irish countryside and reflects this change in land ownership.

These tower houses were often the residences of the Gaelic kings from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. However, in Offaly, the majority of tower houses are constructed in the late sixteenth/early seventeenth century as the residences of the Elizabethan planters.

A tower house can be described as a vertical tower, which contains a single main chamber at each storey, and is often three or more storeys high. Srah Castle near Tullamore and Leap Castle near Roscrea are two excellent examples of tower houses in Co. Offaly.

Srah was built in 1588 by John Briscoe, an officer in Queen Elizabeth's army. During the late sixteenth century, Laois and Offaly were planted with families from Britain known as the Elizabethan planters. These families constructed fortified residences on their newly acquired lands in the architectural fashion of that period. Where Gaelic lords maintained their lands they constructed similar tower houses that reflected their power and status. The tower houses contain several defensive features, such as holes in the walls for guns or cannons, stone boxes over doorways through which missiles can be dropped on attackers below, and embattled wall walks which can be used as protective look-outs for oncoming attacks.

Sragh Castle, just outside Tullamore - a fine example of a 16th century tower house.

These buildings are often protected outside by a large stone wall known to archaeologist as a bawn wall or courtyard. Sheds, stables and the kitchens were often located in this area and were usually built up against the inside of the bawn wall.

As we move into the seventeenth century, the cramped conditions of a single chamber tower house evolves into the larger, more luxurious dwellings known as fortified houses. Ballycowan castle, built in 1626 by Jasper Herbert, is a classic example of the new architectural style of the 1600s. These new buildings are constructed on a horizontal plan to accommodate more rooms on each storey.This architectural style shows the occupants concern has moved away from defence, and is more concerned with factors such as light, space, accommodation and prestige. The presence of large fireplaces, a number of windows and tall chimney stacks, some of which have no function, are all status symbols during the seventeenth century, and can be compared with the double garages and large gateways of our modern houses. The English government also constructed several fortifications along the River Shannon at Shannonbridge and Banagher. The fort at Banagher was known as Fort Falkland, and was completed by 1624 in order to control the crossing point of this important river.

The imposing remains of Ballycowan Castle - a 17th Century fortified dwelling.

Houses of the ruling classes began to appear without any noticeable defensive features such as placements for guns. These country houses were constructed purely for residential purposes and no longer required elements of defence in their construction. In some instances, such as at Srah, these later houses were built on to the front of earlier castles, as an extension to the castle. This type of building was usually two storeys high, with chimney stacks on one, or both gable ends, with steeply pitched roofs, often covered in thatch. The middle of the seventeenth century marks the end of the castle building era in Offaly and from this time onwards the architecture reflects a more peaceful time.

During this period French Huguenot settlers were establishing glass factories at Birr, Shinrone, Lusmagh, Portarlington and possibly the Blue Ball. This new industry was utilising the abundant supply of timber from the great woods of Offaly in order to were manufacture drinking vessels, and windows for the affluent houses of Ireland. The remains of a furnace can be found at Glasshouse townland near Shinrone.

The appearance of this industry marks the start of the industrialisation of Offaly, which, in the next few centuries, would leave an indelible mark on the landscape of our county.

The Medieval Annals of Ireland

Throughout the medieval period, history and major events were recorded by monks living in the monasteries in the forms of annals. One such source is the Annals of Clonmacnoise.
Below are selections of events that occurred in Medieval Offaly and recorded in the various annals:

In 756AD, it is recorded that there was a battle fought between Clonmacnoise and the inhabitants of Birr in a place called Moyne koysse Blaie.

In 1013AD, Murtagh O'Carry Calma took Molloye or Moylemoy, Prince of Ferkeall out of he church of Durrow and killed him at Moylena adjoining to Durrow.

In 1038 AD, it is recorded that there was great "contention and fraye" between those of Delvin MacCoghlan and those of Imaine (Ui Maine/Lusmagh) in Clonmacnoise on St. Ciarans Day. Two battles that day resulted in the death of 33 persons of Imanie.

In the following year, 1039 AD, Leithmanchan (Lemanaghan) was preyed upon and spoiled by those of Imanie (Ui Maine/Lusmagh) in revenge for the falling out between those of Imanie and those of Delvin in Clonmacnois before.

In 1131 AD Donnogh O Molloy, King of Fearceall was killed in captivity by Murrough O Melaghlin. Mortagh O Molloy who succeeded Doonogh as king of Fearceall, was burnt by the family of Moyntyr Swanym in the church of Rahan.

In 1305AD, Muirchertach O Conchobuir Fhailgi and In Calbach his brother, were slain by Sir Piers Bermingham. Sr Piers had deceitfully acted as god-father to the child of In Calbach and as co-sponsor with Muirchertach.

The child, Masir was thrown over the battlements of Monasteroris Castle.