Kiltrassy Kilkenny
In west Kilkenny,
located in the civil parish of Killamery and the Roman Catholic parish of
Windgap, is the townland of Kiltrassy. Similar to other sites in this part of Kilkenny,
there is a grouping of archaeological features, a standing stone, an earthen
moat, a church and well.
The church is in
ruins and has not been used for many years. The moat on the other hand is still
in very good condition.
Kiltrassy Church and well are located in the adjoining modern townland of Oldcastle, which originally formed part of Kiltrassy. A plaque on a wall on the remains of the church states that “Cill an Turasa (Kiltrassy) The church of the pilgrimage”. There is also a reference that Kiltrassy (Cill Dreasa) is named after a Saint Teresa of Spain [St Teresa of Avila (1515-82)?]. According to Carrigan, in Irish it was called “indifferently Kilthrassâ and Kyle-throssâ”.
In the Ormond deeds
of 1373 to 1376, it is referenced as Kyldresse and Kyldress:
In a Quit-claim by Walter Fitz Oliver to Geoffrey Walshe
of his rights in lands in Melagh and Saundrestoun and in Kyldresse, all in Co.
Kilkenny, March 21, 1373.
On March 21, 1373, Walter son of Walter fitz Oliver quit-claims to
Geoffrey son of Thomas son of Nicholas Howell Walshe all his right in all lands
and tenements of the town of Melagh and Saundrestoun [note: in Overk, Co.
Kilkenny], and in a carucate of land, three acres of meadow and seven of wood
in Kyldresse. Given on Monday next after the feast of St. Patrick in the 47th
year of Edward III. [source: Ormond Deeds, ii. #185, p. 127]
Quit-claim by Walter Fitz Oliver to the Earl of Ormonde
of his right in lands of Melagh and Saunderestoun and Kyldress, all in Co.
Kilkenny, Sept. 13, 1374.
...in Melagh, Correstoun, and Saunderestoun,
with a carucate of land called Barouneslondde lying in the tenement of Kyldresse in county Kilkenny. Given on the 28th day of
August in the 50th year of Edward III. August 28, 1376. Seal.
In the Calendar of the Liber Ruber of the
Diocese of Ossory, late 14th Century, has the following references:
3 (d) Kenlys
Deanery : Kenlys, Evylhart R P 12d. each in each case; Erley, Kylmegheh R 12d.,
V 6d., P 12d. in each case ; Callan R 2s., V 12d., P 2s. ; Coylagh, Tyllamayne
R 12d., V 6d., P 6d. in each case ; Kyldresse, Kylamery P 6d. in each
case ; Lomok R P 6d. each ; Maylardystoun R 6d., V 3d., P 6d. ; Ballagh R V P
6d. each ; Kyllalo [here follows space of several lines].
36.
Taxation of Ossory Diocese. ff. 57v, 62, 65*. Late in cent, xv (?). (a) The
Dean's Portion: Athnyrle 30 mks., St. Patrick's 30 mks., half of St. Mary's 18 mks.
The Precentor's : Tylahtyrim 60 mks. The Archdeacon's: Kylfan 20 inks. The
Chancellor's: Kyllamery with the Chapel of Colat and Kylldrasse 30 mks.
20d...
According
to Carrigan, similar to above, in the Red
Book of Ossory, about 1500, Kiltrassy church appears as the "Capella de
Kylldrasse" in the parish of Kyllamery ; and, in another list, of about
the same date, in the same volume, it appears as Kyldresse.
In the Calendar
of Ormond deeds, in the 1600’s the name is referenced as Kiltracie, Killtracy and
Killtrassy,
In the Civil Survey A.D. 1654-1656 County Of
Tipperary, it is called Kyltrassy
...bounded River Lennan bounded by the lands of Kyltrassy by the lands of Ballyuadlea in ye sayd Barony, in the County of Kylkenny...
Kiltrassy, if named
after the Traceys, may translate as Tracey’s wood or church. In a 1548 Fiant of
Edward VI, there is a reference to Rory Trassy of Butlerswood, which is in the
same modern civil parish, but on the opposite side of a hill.
As such, the church and moat may have had a connection with this
family.
In the 1659 census, it was called Kill
Trass.
Ref:
Carrigan, William (1905) The history and
antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, Volume 4 [Online
Book]
Lawlor, Hugh Jackson. Calendar of the Liber Ruber of
the Diocese of Ossory. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy. Section C:
Archaeology, Celtic Studies, History,
Linguistics, Literature, Vol. 27 (1908/1909), pp. 159-208
|
Kiltrassy
Moate |
Kiltrassy
Church |
Last update: 03
April 2012