Goresbridge And It's Past
There have been people living in Goresbridge for thousands of years!
![Picture](/uploads/9/3/0/7/93076598/published/first-irish-farmers.jpg?1492633837)
Barrowmount Dolmen
Pre Historic Ireland has left it mark on the countryside. This is in a subtle way, and not at all like way we now leave our mark on our environment today. Evidence has been found about how our ancestors lived throughout the pre historic ages in Ireland. The first people in Ireland came after the Ice Age. This was the Mesolitic Age (8000BC - 4000BC). They were hunter gathers who lived by doing just that, hunting ,fishing and gathering wild nuts and berries. Then came the Megolitic Age (4000BC - 2500BC) when people started to settle down, grow crops and keep animals. They lived in groups and also had monuments for their dead. There are very famous examples of this time such as Newgrange and Poulnabrone in Clare. Goresbridge and its surrounding areas also have traces of our past, although not at all famous, are interesting to know about. It is certain that our neighborhood has had people living here for thousands of years!
Goresbridge has it own Megalitic Tomb at Barrowmount. This was known locally as "The Druids Altar" and can be seen identified on early maps of Goresbridge.
Pre Historic Ireland has left it mark on the countryside. This is in a subtle way, and not at all like way we now leave our mark on our environment today. Evidence has been found about how our ancestors lived throughout the pre historic ages in Ireland. The first people in Ireland came after the Ice Age. This was the Mesolitic Age (8000BC - 4000BC). They were hunter gathers who lived by doing just that, hunting ,fishing and gathering wild nuts and berries. Then came the Megolitic Age (4000BC - 2500BC) when people started to settle down, grow crops and keep animals. They lived in groups and also had monuments for their dead. There are very famous examples of this time such as Newgrange and Poulnabrone in Clare. Goresbridge and its surrounding areas also have traces of our past, although not at all famous, are interesting to know about. It is certain that our neighborhood has had people living here for thousands of years!
Goresbridge has it own Megalitic Tomb at Barrowmount. This was known locally as "The Druids Altar" and can be seen identified on early maps of Goresbridge.
![Picture](/uploads/9/3/0/7/93076598/editor/165_4.jpg?250)
A lot of these Dolmens in earlier times were thought to be alters because of the large flat stone that was on top of smaller uprights and that they were used by pagans for human sacrifices!! Or that they were even made by giants!
But of course they were not. It was the way of Stone Age man to honor their dead and to send them on their final journey to the next world. They were also thought to be boundary markers of these early communities.
The Dolmen at Barrowmount can be seen from the barrow line not far from the Garlic meadows. It is on a slope near the river but it is above the flood plain. As with most of these type of tombs it's entrance faces east, to the rising sun. The people from Goresbridge who built it would have been very in touch with nature. There life revolved around the changing seasons.
One report from 1999 using a method called divining or dowsing, said the tomb "is located over two underground watercourses which merge beneath and flow onward towards the river at 23 paces below ground"
A report from a 2009 examination says::
"it consists of a large roof-stone, measuring 3.5m in length, 2.3m in width and 0.60m in depth which has slipped from its support stone, south and one large erect monolith,2.5m in height, 1.8m in width and 0.40m in depth which has a band of quartz running diagonally.
The other support stone has fallen inside the chamber but seems to be of the same dimensions as the erect stone and shows all the characteristics of a portal tomb.
The whole tomb is surrounded by a cairn/mound, 10m in diameter and 1m in max. height and would seem to have an easterly orientation.
A small tree growing in the center and the other stones present may be from field clearance, as the field has been very well ploughed over a long period of time."
Bronze age Burial Sites
Discovered on land during ploughing at Jeanville in the 1960's and in Kilgreaney in the 1980's were similar burial sites called Cists. These were dated from the Bronze Age which was from 25000BC to 500BC in Ireland. A Cists is a burial tomb which is under the ground. They were constructed with stones and flagstones. Both sites were excavated and investigated by the National Museum of Ireland. The bodies in both were found to be cremated which indicated that they came form the earlier part of the Bronze Age. The tomb in Kilgreaney contained the remains of a man and a woman and a very young child. There was pottery found in both tombs of a similar nature. These were food vessels which would have contained food and drink which their loved ones would have placed there for their journey to the after life. They were both plain and decorated pottery which were found to be made of local clay . These were taken to the National Museum for reconstruction. |
![Picture](/uploads/9/3/0/7/93076598/editor/ring-fort-art-work.jpeg?1492030326)
Ring Fort at Duninga
Raths or Ring Forts are thought to be from the Iron Age up to early Christian times (500BC-400AD) . They were circular earthen structures with a bank and ditches for protection and living area in the middle platform. There were 2 Raths in Lower Grange and 1 in Castlekelly and there are probably more locally which over the years have been destroyed by farming or road building. There was a lot of superstition about ring forts and usually people would not interfere with them. The Rath at Duninga is a quite large one. It is on the border with Carlow, on the Kilkenny side. It is thought that it is one in a chain of forts that marks the boundary between two ancient territories. Usually the location of a large Rath on a political border was there to show strength and power. |It marks the entrance to Kilkenny. One report suggests that it was active for about 900 years! People would have lived and worked here. There were also 2 cists similar to above from the late Bronze Age found there in the early 1800's. They were beside each other containing the remains of a child and a man with clay pottery. There is also a report from 2005 saying that the 3 large boulders on the site mark a burial site from the 9th century AD.
Raths or Ring Forts are thought to be from the Iron Age up to early Christian times (500BC-400AD) . They were circular earthen structures with a bank and ditches for protection and living area in the middle platform. There were 2 Raths in Lower Grange and 1 in Castlekelly and there are probably more locally which over the years have been destroyed by farming or road building. There was a lot of superstition about ring forts and usually people would not interfere with them. The Rath at Duninga is a quite large one. It is on the border with Carlow, on the Kilkenny side. It is thought that it is one in a chain of forts that marks the boundary between two ancient territories. Usually the location of a large Rath on a political border was there to show strength and power. |It marks the entrance to Kilkenny. One report suggests that it was active for about 900 years! People would have lived and worked here. There were also 2 cists similar to above from the late Bronze Age found there in the early 1800's. They were beside each other containing the remains of a child and a man with clay pottery. There is also a report from 2005 saying that the 3 large boulders on the site mark a burial site from the 9th century AD.
![Picture](/uploads/9/3/0/7/93076598/published/monks.gif?1492027748)
Killenny Abbey Barrowmount
A Cistercian Abbey was founded in the 12th Century at Barrowmount. It was called Killenny Abbey but was also given the latin name De Valle Dei which means "The Valley Of God". This was a sister abbey to the much larger Jerpoint Abbey in Thomastown. It was also referred to as "An Sean Mhainister" the Old Abbey as it is believed to be on an even older Celtic Monastic site as Cill Eanna (Killenny) means the church of St Enda. He is associated with the Goresbridge area from the 6th Century.
With the establishment of the much larger and richer Duiske Abbey in Graignamanagh, the Killenny Abbey at Barrowmount became smaller and poorer. Over time it became apparent it should join up with Duiske Abbey and by the year 1227 it did, by order of the General Chapter. Jerpoint Abbey was not too happy with this decision as Killenny had lands granted to it by Irish Chief Dermot O' Ryan which included land at Barrowmount, but also at Duninga , Upper Grange, Lower Grange, and Mount Loftus! They didn't want Duiske to get all of this valuable land! As with most things of this nature a dispute began. But this one was to last 150 years! Jerpoint were paid a considerable sum in settlement after various tribunals on the whole thing, and eventually relinquished all claims on the Goresbridge monastery.
A Cistercian Abbey was founded in the 12th Century at Barrowmount. It was called Killenny Abbey but was also given the latin name De Valle Dei which means "The Valley Of God". This was a sister abbey to the much larger Jerpoint Abbey in Thomastown. It was also referred to as "An Sean Mhainister" the Old Abbey as it is believed to be on an even older Celtic Monastic site as Cill Eanna (Killenny) means the church of St Enda. He is associated with the Goresbridge area from the 6th Century.
With the establishment of the much larger and richer Duiske Abbey in Graignamanagh, the Killenny Abbey at Barrowmount became smaller and poorer. Over time it became apparent it should join up with Duiske Abbey and by the year 1227 it did, by order of the General Chapter. Jerpoint Abbey was not too happy with this decision as Killenny had lands granted to it by Irish Chief Dermot O' Ryan which included land at Barrowmount, but also at Duninga , Upper Grange, Lower Grange, and Mount Loftus! They didn't want Duiske to get all of this valuable land! As with most things of this nature a dispute began. But this one was to last 150 years! Jerpoint were paid a considerable sum in settlement after various tribunals on the whole thing, and eventually relinquished all claims on the Goresbridge monastery.
The Battle of Goresbridge and Kilcumney The 1798 Rebellion in Ireland was one of the most widespread and bloody. It lasted 6 months and left 30,000 dead. Inspired by the 1789 French Revolution, Theobald Wolfe Tone founded the United Irishmen which was thought numbered up to 100,000.
"To unite Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter under the common name of Irishmen in order to break the connection with England, the never failing source of all our political evils, that was my aim" said Wolf Tone. The Rebellion was not a military success but fanned the embers of the desire for independence from England. The Rebels suffered a heavy defeat at Vinegar Hill in Enniscorthy but many of them escaped to fight on for a further month. There were many brave battles after this and one such was The Battle of Kilcumney and Goresbridge. Under the leadership of Fr John Murphy from Boolavogue Co Wexford, the Rebels were on the way to Castlecomer to meet up with the colliers there. On the 22nd of June they were camped outside of Goresbridge and their plan was to attack the garrison of infantry and cavalry who were here to protect the vital crossing of the Barrow Bridge. The next morning on the 23rd, the Rebels which were reported by Sir Charles Asgill to have numbered 5000, fought against a company of the 4th Dragon Guards in Goresbridge and succeeded in pushing them back and taking many of the militia prisoner the officers having deserted their men. The Rebels advanced to Shankill and on to Castlecomer where on the 24th June 2 columns led by Fr Murphy and Myles Byrne attacked the Crown Forces there. The town of 'Comer was burned to the ground. Both sides seemed to retreat and it was decided that the Rebels should return to Wexford which brought them to Goresbridge again and to Kilcumney Hill the next day. |
One essay reads : "Arriving at Kilcumney Hill late on the evening of June the 25th 1798 the rebels set up camp. The dawn awakening of the 26th of June was a brutal one. The camp was attacked by well equipped crown troops who had moved in during the night and surrounded them. The insurgents were in no fit state to engage, retreat was the only option, or face annihilation. Most made it back across the mountain into Wexford. However some who had fallen behind met their inevitable fate. Unfortunately the crown forces did not confine their targets to rebels in arms on that fateful day of June the 26th 1798. Instead they ran amuck, wreaking their vengeance on the peaceable local inhabitants who had remained in their homes." About one hundred and forty people were slaughtered, leaving perhaps four or five hundred unprotected orphans. "Whether humanity or a less noble motive actuated Sir Charles Asgill, it is certain that he adopted great caution in coming to close quarters with the retreating insurgents, who kept a party of good sharp-shooters to cover their retreat; these had caused many officers and men to fall earlier in the engagement. But Sir Charles reserved his troops for an easier victory. Men, women and children were this day 26 June, butchered in cold blood…. They were all slaughtered without mercy. Some of the troops were ordered to the houses of the farmers.....the several houses they had robbed before they took their leave they burned to ashes." So described General Thomas Cloney of the massacre which took place after the battle of Kilcumney. |
The Canal On The Barrow
![Picture](/uploads/9/3/0/7/93076598/editor/river-locks.png?1493226157)
The Barrow was linked with the Grand Canal in Dublin in the 18th century. Committees were set up earlier in the British Parliament in 1703 and 1759 to make the Barrow navigable and a grant was obtained but no work began until 1761. Work was slow and it took 20 years to get a few miles from Graignamanagh to Clashganny! But eventually things improved and progress was made and to day the Barrow has 23 locks all done without a JCB in sight! The Barrow Navigation Company traded on the Barrow and by 1830 transportation was at 60,000 tones of goods a year! It was taken over by the Grand Canal Company in 1894 for £32,000. Eventually the Railways took over most of the trade from the canals, but it was still a commercial waterway into the 1950's. It was at this time run by CIE.
The ledger from 1929-1944 shows a diverse array of goods coming from Dublin to Goresbridge like furniture, bicycles, paint, porter, whiskey, tea, flour, salt, ladders, car parts, oil, seeds, biscuits, nails..... These would be sent from Dublin and the customer would pay for the carriage to the canal store. The river was a vital part of life in the country during this time.
The ledger from 1929-1944 shows a diverse array of goods coming from Dublin to Goresbridge like furniture, bicycles, paint, porter, whiskey, tea, flour, salt, ladders, car parts, oil, seeds, biscuits, nails..... These would be sent from Dublin and the customer would pay for the carriage to the canal store. The river was a vital part of life in the country during this time.
The Brigidine Convent and Boarding School
There were very harsh laws in Ireland called The Penal Laws which were described as being "for the oppression, impoverishment, and degradation of a people"! Some of the laws began to change and education of the Irish was allowed again. Before this children were taught in hidden school in the community called Hedge Schools. Because of this there was a shortage of teachers. In 1807 Bishop Delaney founded the teaching congregation of the Sisters of St Brigid in Tullow. In 1858 the first nuns came to Goresbridge and work began on a new convent and school. The school opened the boarding school in 1864 and was very prosperous. The nuns had a generous benefactor called Edward Lyons from Fenniscourt which helped when acquiring the land they needed and for the building of the Convent and School. He died in 1869 and is buried in the convent cemetery. The Brigidine nuns were busy spreading the faith and education in the province but also abroad! They traveled to Australia where sisters from Goresbridge established a convent and school in Wangaratta, Victoria in 1887 and also a combined group from Abbeyleix and Goresbridge went to Ararat, Victoria in 1888. Girls would be sent from all over Ireland from well off catholic families to be educated in Goresbridge. A science lab was opened in 1904 and in 1924 a residential Domestic Economy School was opened. In its day it was very up to date and highly regarded. They ran the primary school for local children as well. The nuns even had their own consecrated pathway over from the convent to the primary school which was built in 1904! They also had their own special area in the chapel beside the alter for mass. The last of the nuns finished teaching in the secondary school in 1978.
|
Some interesting facts about our village
Did you know that in Goresbridge there were once 3 hotels? It was once a busy little market village with regular fairs held in the fair Green. There is a scales still inside one of the gates that was used during this time. Here are some of the professions and merchants that were in Goresbridge in the 19th Century
The 1798 Rebellion Commemoration in 1948
These pictures show the 150 year commemoration of the 1798 Rebellion which was held in Goresbridge in 1948. The parade went through the village and up to Kilcummney Hill where the battle of Kilcummeny was faught in 1798. A ceremony was held with a large crowd in attendance.
50 years later, in 1998 locals walked with their replica pikes to mark the 200th year of the rising. Some there had even taken part in both occasions. The first picture shows our most famous horse man, Trainer Padddy Mullins who in 1948 was portraying Myles Byrne.
50 years later, in 1998 locals walked with their replica pikes to mark the 200th year of the rising. Some there had even taken part in both occasions. The first picture shows our most famous horse man, Trainer Padddy Mullins who in 1948 was portraying Myles Byrne.