Some lost medieval graveslabs in Tipperary

 

I was reminded to reread Sheahans "Nenagh and its Neighbourhood" recently and its amazing what you come across when you go back to a book. I came across a few missing medieval graveslabs mentioned in it of great importance.

One was at Knigh graveyard and is mentioned on pg 42 as follows.

"one of the O'Fogarty family whose tombstone bears an inscription in Irish".

I've checked the Ormond Histoical Society survey of the graveyard and there is no mention in it.
Anyone ever come across it? As far as I know inscriptions in Irish from that period are rare in North Tipperary.

Another missing Gaelic graveslab, this time at Templechally, Ballina, Co. Tipp. Unlikely to be found again but just interesting to known it may have existed.

Sheehan in Nenagh and its Neighbourhood has this to say about it

"Tombstone of Doctor James Hickie (Medicinae Doctor Peritissimus). Died 1648. Who forfeited in 1641 among the' Irish Papists' of those times. This family were body physician's to the O'Briens of Thomond and the McIbriens Ara. The name is a Dalcassian one."

 

Another missing Gaelic Medieval graveslab, this time at Burgesbeg graveyard.

From Gleeson Churches in the Deanery of Ormond (1951) as following; 'close to the east end of the south wall is a tombstone (broken) of the Uí Briain family partly in black letter. It is inscribed "Hic jacet Donatus Dermitius als Bryn de Gortmore'.

The picture is one from 1771 in the same graveyard.

The last of my lost graveslabs / tombs for the time being. This is a sketch of the Mulryan chest tomb at Abbey Owney or Abington of one of last chiefs of the O'Mulryan / Ryan clan, William O'Mulryan.

The sketch is my drawing of a sketch by Dineley from 1681! It's amazing it exists.

Part of the tomb may have ended up at Glenstal Abbey. Is it possible that some more of it has been retained in the surrounding area?

A Barbarous Murder in Duharra - the Calib Minnit gravestone

"Here Lyeth The Body of Calib Minnit Who was Barbously Murdered By John Chery, Ann Parker, James McDowel and others, at Crannagh Duff in Dowharra, the 2nd day of April, Ano Domini 1707."

From Knigh Graveyard in North Tipp. A heck of a message to leave in stone when it is still being discussed 313 years later.

According to Daniel Grace's book on the area (Portrait of a Parish - Monsea & Killodiernan) - Calib Minnitt was a philanderer and may have gotten Miss Ann Parker pregnant and refused to marry her. She was probably a relative of Captain John Parker. She set up to meet him again at Crannagh Duff and gave him one last chance to agree to marry her. When he refused, she dropped her handkerchief and some of her father's tenants appeared and murdered him! It finishs by saying that the murderers were never prosecuted as Miss Parker had been dishonoured but the Minnits carved their names on his headstone for posterity. It also mentions that Minnit may have been charged previously for rape of another lady but got off of that for the lesser crime of fornication. 

A Medieval Inscription of the O'Meara Clan at Toomevara

 

The O'Meara Inscription on Toomevara Priory. I've made an attempt at highlighting it as best as I could in the picture attached. I've done it purely from the photo so there may be some errors.

Rev. John Gleeson in 1915 pg 469 gives the following which he says "A returned America, Mr. Michael O'Meara, late of Bawn, took a cast of the inscription, and submitted it to an expert, as follows :-
"Clara Meara dum Tamulo
Jacet haec progago,
Cui aether Precibus Paude,
Viator Iter Gulielmo
-Undecipherable-
Helene Burc Paude
Cruoris iter-illa via me
Ritis stravit sedes Terra er
Apcit marmor eu haec lec
Tor sit Tibi testis Or,
1664, Educet Malo"

I can make out a lot of it but the 1664 line at the end seems to be missing now?

From archaeology.ie, it is thought to translate as

"While the renowned offspring of O'Meara reposes in this tomb. To whom O Traveller happily open Heaven by thy prayer. To William. To Ellen Bourke open heaven. By the merits of his blood he made possible that path. He snatched thrones from earth. Let this marble be a witness to thee O reader, 1664 henceforth from Evil".

A burial vault of the Mac Egan Clan of Ormond

 

Recorded as being a tomb of the MacEgan clan (on archaeology.ie) of the nearby Aghnameadle Castle and thought to date to the 18th / 19th C. The MacEgans were hereditary Brehons of the O'Kennedys and had a great place of learning here.

There is no evidence of burials such as graveslabs within. The doorway is likely to have been built from a reused doorway from the nearby church ruins.

It is recorded in Toomevara, an Unbroken Chain pg 10

"The Mac Egan had a school there which was similar to a modern day university. The remains of their castle still stands as a monument to their greatness. They are buried in a stone vault in Aghnameadle graveyard. Lady Margaret Mac Egan who is reputed to have had her horse shod with silver shoes is buried here".

On pg 49 of the above it states

"The MacEgans were hereditary Brehons to the O'Kennedys of Ormond. They lived in Aghnameadle Court up until 1738 As when Howard MacEgan.,the owner at the time died. After that it passed into the hands of Denis O'Brien who was married to a Miss MaGrath, a grand-niece of Howard".

The OS maps seem to mark this building as Tinambraher which I would think translates as "Friars or monks House" so maybe it has had a few different uses.

A very interesting area full of history, the Ollatrim river runs right on the edge of the graveyard.

 

Is Metal Detecting for archaeological objects legal in the Irish Republic?

Is Metal Detecting for archaeological objects legal in the Irish Republic? 

"Summary of Key Points

The unregulated and inappropriate use of detection devices causes serious damage to Ireland’s archaeological heritage and is subject to severe penalties under the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014

It is illegal

to be in possession of a detection device at monuments and sites protected under the National Monuments Acts

to use a detection device to search for archaeological objects anywhere within the State or its territorial seas; without the prior written consent of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht

Archaeological objects are broadly defined in the National Monuments Acts and objects may come within the terms of the definition regardless of their age or degree of antiquity, e.g. 20th century material

It is illegal to promote the sale or use of detection devices for the purposes of searching for archaeological objects

It is illegal to dig or excavate for archaeological objects, or to dive on a protected wreck, anywhere in the State or its territorial seas, without the prior written consent of the Minister

Anyone who finds an archaeological object must report it to the National Museum of Ireland or designated local museum within 96 hours

Only the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht may grant consent to use a detection device for archaeological purposes – membership of any organisation or body or the sourcing of equipment from a particular supplier does not provide compliance with the law.

Introduction

The unauthorised use of detection devices to look for archaeological objects contravenes the law in Ireland, as set out in the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014.
Such usage is subject to severe penalties, including imprisonment and/or fines. The categories of objects that are most commonly located by metal detectorists in Ireland, such as coins, tokens, buttons, clothes fasteners, thimbles, keys, seals, weights, strap ends and belt mounts, all fulfil the definition of ‘archaeological objects’ which may only be searched for under licence from the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Therefore it is advisable not to engage in any general searching for lost or buried objects as to do so may place you at risk of prosecution and also endanger the archaeological heritage.
 

How can metal detecting cause damage to archaeological sites and objects?

Unregulated and inappropriate use of metal detectors causes serious damage to Ireland’s archaeological heritage. Unsupervised recovery of archaeological objects by untrained and unlicensed users of metal detectors can greatly diminish, or can entirely eliminate any knowledge or research value that might be gained from a particular discovery.
Archaeological objects must be excavated in a structured scientific manner, with careful recording of their association with other objects, structures, features and soil layers. Failure to expertly record the context from which an object has been removed results in an irreplaceable loss of knowledge of the past.
Random searches with metal detectors cannot determine whether a find is of archaeological importance or if it is a recent discard. The result in either case is that the soil or setting is greatly disturbed and any non-metallic evidence and objects are likely to be destroyed.
 

What is the law on metal detecting?

 
To prevent damage to our archaeological heritage by the unauthorised use of metal detectors, the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 regulate the use of metal detectors for archaeological purposes throughout the State of Ireland and its territorial seas.
Unless you have formally applied for and received consent in writing from the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the National Monuments Acts, it is against the law:
 

to be in possession of a detection device in, or at, a site protected under the National Monuments Acts. This includes:– 

a monument subject to a Preservation Order

a monument in the ownership or guardianship of the Minister or a local authority

a monument entered in the Register of Historic Monuments

a monument included in the Record of Monuments and Places

the area around a wreck subject to an underwater heritage order

to use a detection device for the purpose of searching for archaeological objects anywhere within the State or its territorial seas.

The penalty for an offence in relation to the above is a fine of up to €63,486 and/or up to 3 months imprisonment.
Anyone using a metal detector in contravention of the above restrictions and who, following detection of an archaeological object, digs to retrieve the object without an excavation licence may be guilty of an additional offence under the National Monuments Acts.
 

Can I search for archaeological objects without a metal detector?

 
Unless you have a licence from the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, it is also an offence to dig or excavate for the purpose of searching for archaeological objects, or anything of archaeological interest, even though you may not be using a metal detector. It is also an offence to dive on a wreck that is 100 or more years old, or which is subject to an underwater heritage order, or to search for archaeological objects located underwater, without being in possession of a formal consent from the Minister.
The penalty for this offence is a fine of up to €126,972 and/or up to 12 months imprisonment.
 

What is the law in relation to the promotion of the sale or use of metal detectors to search for archaeological objects?

 
Under the terms of the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 it is illegal to promote, whether by advertising or otherwise, the sale or use of detection devices for the purpose of searching for archaeological objects. The penalty for those found guilty of this offence is a fine of up to €2,500.
 

What is an “archaeological object”?

 
The term ‘archaeological object’ is defined in the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014 and has a broad meaning in terms of type and age of objects. Commonplace objects of relatively recent date such as coins and militaria, including 20th century material, may fall within the category of ‘archaeological object’. Such objects may come within the terms of the definition regardless of their date and degree of antiquity. It may not be apparent until an object has been dug up that it is an archaeological object. In that event, the damage will already have been done and an offence is likely to have been committed.

Where should I report the finding of an archaeological object?

 
Under the terms of the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014, ownership of any archaeological object with no known owner is vested in the State. Anyone who finds an archaeological object must report it within 96 hours to the National Museum of Ireland or to a Designated County or City Museum in the locality. Anyone found guilty of an offence under these provisions is subject to a fine of up to €111,100 and/or 5 years imprisonment.
 It is also a requirement of the Acts that anyone who finds a wreck that is more than 100 years old lying on, in or under the seabed, or in land covered by water, must report the find within 96 hours to An Garda Síochána or the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
 

What is the general advice to the public on the use of metal detectors?

 
It is against the law to engage in general searches for archaeological objects in Ireland using a metal detecting device unless you have received written consent from the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. To do so without such consent places you at risk of prosecution. The onus is on the operator to ensure that a metal detector is used in accordance with the law.
While it is illegal to use a metal detector anywhere to search for archaeological objects without the formal consent of the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, it is an offence to even be in possession of a metal detecting device without the Minister’s consent on the site of any monument or archaeological area protected under the National Monuments Acts. This also applies to areas which are subject to underwater heritage orders made under the National Monuments Acts.
 
There are around 130,000 archaeological monuments located all across the State which are protected under the terms of the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014. In many cases, there may be no surviving above ground remains and it may not be immediately apparent that there is the site of a protected monument at a particular location.
The locations of recorded monuments are identified on the website of the National Monuments Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, www.archaeology.ie.
 

Who is responsible for granting consents and licences under the National Monuments Acts?

 
Only the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is authorised to grant consent to use a metal detector for archaeological purposes within the State and to license archaeological excavations. There is no other form of legal authorisation or approval to detect for archaeological objects. Detection consents and licences are only given to named individuals for specific sites. Licences are never issued collectively or through an intermediary.
You do not have a Ministerial consent to detect or any other authorisation to use a metal detector for archaeological purposes as a result of any of the circumstances below:

your membership of any organisation or body;

l your level of training in the use of metal detectors;

l your use of a particular type/brand of metal detector;

l obtaining your metal detector from a particular supplier or source.

 

What is the policy of the minister in relation to consents for use of metal detectors?

 
As a general rule, the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht will not grant consents for the use and/or possession of metal detectors except to suitably qualified archaeologists or persons who will be working under professional on-site archaeological supervision.
Before consent to use a metal detector is issued, the applicant will have to make clear that the use of the device is in accordance with best archaeological practice. This is achieved through the submission of a detailed method statement setting out the proposed work programme for assessing a site and achieving the greatest possible level of archaeological knowledge from the work undertaken.
 

What if I discover an archaeological object by chance?

 
The information and regulatory provisions outlined here do not in any way affect those who may find archaeological objects by chance – for example in the course of farming activity – provided the find is reported in accordance with the advice in Paragraph 6 above. It is normal practice to pay rewards to finders of archaeological objects discovered in legitimate circumstances and reported to the National Museum of Ireland
 

Where can I get further information?

 
The legislation governing the usage of detection devices and provisions relating to the discovery and reporting of archaeological objects is available online at: www.irishstatutebook.ie
For further information, you may also contact:

National Monuments Service, Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Custom House, Dublin 1; Email – nationalmonuments@chg.gov.ie; Tel: 01-8882178

The Duty Officer, Irish Antiquities Division, National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2; Email – antiquitiesdo@museum.ie; Tel: 01-6777444

 
This document is intended only as a general guide to the provisions of the National Monuments Acts relating to metal detection devices and is not a legal interpretation of those Acts. The full text of the National Monuments Acts 1930 to 2014, and of other legislation that may be applicable, is available on www.irishstatutebook.ie.
 

Contact Details

National Monuments Service
Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Custom House, Dublin 1
Email - nationalmonuments@chg.gov.ie
Tel: 01-8882178
www.archaeology.ie

The Duty Officer
Irish Antiquities Division, National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
E-mail: antiquitiesdo@museum.ie
Tel: 01-6777444
www.museum.ie"

https://www.museum.ie/en-IE/Collections-Research/The-Law-on-Metal-Detecting-in-Ireland?fbclid=IwAR0Xe626Fa28iVYeGcriOXtDAMue2Dwe0jsZ387mO_V1Ku7Huk5ZEpijC40"

Similarly the National Monuments Service is in complete agreement

"It is against the law to engage in general searches for archaeological objects in Ireland using a metal detecting device unless you have received written consent from the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. To do so without such consent places you at risk of prosecution. The onus is on the operator to ensure that a metal detector is used in accordance with the law. While it is illegal to use a metal detector anywhere to search for archaeological objects without the formal consent of the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, it is an offence to even be in possession of a metal detecting device without the Minister’s consent on the site of any monument or archaeological area protected under the National Monuments Acts. This also applies to areas which are subject to underwater heritage orders made under the National Monuments Acts."

https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/publications/advice-on-use-of-metal-detection-devices.pdf

But I'm not trying to detect for an archaeological object?

"The National Monuments Service also explained that, with respect to this law, the term ‘archaeological objects’ is very broadly defined, regardless of the object’s age or ‘degree of antiquity’.
For example, it is possible, according to the service, for an object dating from as recently as the 20th century to be classed as an ‘archaeological object’."

https://www.agriland.ie/farming-news/farmers-ensure-food-security-we-should-ensure-security-for-farmers/?fbclid=IwAR2GY54LHzMlZw2kjFWZgstlx08oDvEFvob8ZMLP-hDWugiC_Jj9GB0Yyyc

But I'm not detecting near any known archaeological sites?

Thousands of new archaeological sites are found and recorded in Ireland on a yearly basis. Therefore yes if you detect in Ireland you are near a potential archaeological site. 

https://www.independent.ie/business/farming/news/farming-news/farmers-urged-to-be-careful-as-raft-of-ancient-sites-discovered-across-ireland-39214703.html

If I'm caught I won't be prosecuted? 

Yes a number of successful prosecutions have been made. 

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/raiders-of-the-lost-artefacts-are-nabbed-by-gardai-26041115.html

https://www.independent.ie/regionals/droghedaindependent/news/metal-detector-man-on-beach-is-fined-500-27122324.html

https://www.thejournal.ie/dead-treasure-hunters-loot-of-899-artefacts-returned-to-irish-museum-919430-May2013/

https://www.limerickpost.ie/2019/04/08/gardai-recover-3000-year-old-bronze-age-axe-after-illegal-unearthing-with-metal-detector-in-limerick/

We should set-up a scheme that makes metal detecting legal and detectorists will report their finds (Similar to PAS in the UK).

This report suggests these schemes aren't successful. 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/314510322_Quantitative_analysis_of_open-source_data_on_metal_detecting_for_cultural_property_Estimation_of_the_scale_and_intensity_of_metal_detecting_and_the_quantity_of_metal-detected_cultural_goods

Finally

Ultimately whatever loopholes a person thinks they have to metal detect in the Irish Republic may have to be examined in a criminal court case against the person using the metal detector. So you can go on what the National Museum of Ireland and the National Monuments Service publish or some person on the internet with no legal qualifications. 

Drumcullen on the border between Munster & Meath

Its hard to believe that this site not far from Birr / Kinnity in Offaly was once on the border between the Province of Meath and Munster. The nearby River Camcor acts as the boundary between Ely O'Carroll and Fir Cell.

It was originally a monastery founded by St. Barrind. In 1184 there was a meeting here between the Kings of Meath and Thomond. At this meeting Art O'Maelsechlainn was treacherously slain by Diarmuid O'Briain during what were supposed to be peace talks.

When the Normans arrived a Motte and Bailey was built (possibly by Hugh De Lacy) which again shows its strategic importance of this boundary between two kingdoms. Unfortunately the Bailey here was bull-dozed in the 1970s.

Gallows Hill

Copyright Andrew Dunn - www.andrewdunnphoto.com

In the Arra area there are not one but two Gallows Hills marked on the old OS maps. Both known as Knocknacrohy or Cnoc na Croiche. Both I believe are attributed to the Mac I Briens who are thought to have ruled the area with an iron fist.

The first is at Pallas more. I don't have a lot of details on it. The old OS maps show two possible locations for it.

Copyright OSI / NMS

This one seems to show it on the east of the road and likely at the highest point (694).

Copyright OSI / NMS

This one doesn't give a clear location for the hill. Personally I always equated the mounds in the field marked on the map above with the red arrow as being the location of the Gallows. I could be wrong though, that is why I've put together this post. 

Copyright Google Street view

Ive marked the various mounds with red arrows on Google Streetview. So if anyone knows the definite location of Gallows Hill at Pallas, I'd be delighted to know? 

The second Gallows Hill in the area is in the townland of Greenhills, close to Kilmastulla graveyard. 

Copyright OSI / NMS

I have even less information about this one. From Google Streetview and Google Earth there doesn't appear to be any kind of earthworks or cropmarks there. Does anyone have any further information on the Gallows Hill there?

You know staying within your 5km is getting to you when you are writing about Gallow Hills using nothing but Google Earth and Streetview to research! The easing of restrictions can't come soon enough. Stay safe everyone. 

The Kings Well near Tipperary Town

Copright OSI

I first came across some folklore on duchas.ie relating to a well where Brian Boru is meant to have washed his wounds following the Battle of Soloheadbeg in 968.

"The Danes came to the hill of Brogue in the year 968. Brian Boru was going to Solohead to fight a battle with them. Brian won the battle. So after the battle Brian washed his wounds beside a well near Solohead and since then the district around it is called King's Well. At that time there was no town in Tipperary. The town was at Greenane about a mile outside the present town of Tipperary."

https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922296/4867865/5055948

I posted about it over on my facebook page, asking if anyone can came across this well or the placename. Thanks to the magic of facebook and people helping each other on it, Barbara Daly Ledwidge gave me a lead that the northern edge of Tipperary Town is known as Kings Well on google maps.

A check on archaeology.ie was able to reveal the location of a well noted as "black well" on the 1840s OS map that is now sadly no longer there on the edge of the townlands of Sadlierwell & Carrownreddy.

It is described as follows:

"In pasture, on a W-facing slope, at townland boundary between Carrownreddy and Sadleirswells. There is no visible trace of this well above ground. It is named on the 1st (1840) ed. OS 6-inch map as 'Black Well'. The ground is poorly drained on either side of the townland boundary (Wth c. 1.5m). There is no local information of a well at this location, however it is frequently noted as a wet area. According to Flynn (1913, 8-9) 'Tubber Bryan' was the name of an old well 'which existed some 200 yards from the mote on Tipperary Hills, but which is now closed up'. It was so named because of a tradition that 'Brian Boro washed his wonds there after the battle of Sulcoit' (ibid.). The well is depicted on the Down Survey map (1655-6) as 'Tobburbrien' and is mentioned in the Civil Survey (1654-5) where 'Tobberbryen' appears to be the old name for this townland (Simington 1934 vol. 2, 38)."

Logaimn.ie seems to confirm this revealing the old name for Sadlierswell was Tobar Bhriain.
https://www.logainm.ie/en/49049?s=Sadleirswells

So from the top of the Motte in Tipperary Hills it is likely that the location of the former well is visible. It could be a nice way to tie in the story of the Battle of Sologhead and the turning point in the Dál gCais clan history to the town.

Edit 

Thanks to Gary Brannigan who found the location of the well on one of the Old OS maps. I have sent it to the NMS. 

A recently discovered Megalithic Tomb at Aghnameadle

Aghnameadle Megalithic Tomb in North Tipp. Only discovered and recorded in 2017 by Tom Bán of Wovenworld bushcraft, it just shows that large structures can remain unknown in Ireland even today. Well done to Tom for finding this and bringing it to the attention of the NMS.

The area seems to be one of settlement for thousands of years with a nearby Motte and a castle belonging to the Egan clan which also doubled up as a medieval university.

The tomb it is described as follows on archaeology.ie

"Situated in slight hollow in undulating countryside with Ollatrim River 50m to NE and low hillock immediately to N. Field boundary running ENE-WSW immediately to SSE. Present remains consist of two upright orthostats their long axis aligned NE-SW standing 90cm apart with the remains of a large displaced capstone (dims. 1.75m x 1.4m x 0.45m) resting on E orthostat (dims. H 0.7m x L 1.17m x T. 0.3m) forming a small rectangular chamber (approx. dims. L 2.8m x Wth 0.9m). A second large recumbent stone immediately to N may be the remains of a collapsed side-stone or capstone. A semi-circular line of low stones immediately to N may represent kerbstones of a low mound (approx. diam. c. 3m). Possible remains of a megalithic tomb which has been partially destroyed. On the 1840 ed. OS 6-inch map the possible tomb is standing inside an irregular-shaped grove of trees which have since been removed."

Donohill and O'Sullivan Beare

From the local signage

"for centuries Donohill was where the meal for the surrounding countryside was stored in a tower on the site of this fort. This precious grain was guarded by the O'Dwyers on whose land the fort was on. On their march to Leitrim, O'Sullivan Beare's soldiers, facing starvation, stormed the tower and succeeded in overpowering the O'Dwyers".

From Bantry Bay to Leitrum by Sommerville-Large pg 153

"There was one more sharp engagement before O'Sullivan reached the shelter of the hills. The O'Dwyers and the O'Ryans made a half-hearted effort to block the trail, but when the men from Beare advanced, they retreated "stricken with fear".

The picturesque graveyard across the road from the Motte where the famous Dan Breen is buried.

A really well researched and presented sign on the Beara Breifne way, I hope it is still in good condition.

The Origins of the surname Ryan

NOTE: This is currently a work in progress and I ask for any feedback on what I have written.

Ryan is one of the top ten surnames by population / number of people in Ireland.

It would be nice if there was a simple explanation as to the meaning of the surname Ryan, unfortunately to my knowledge there isn't.

The most likely explanation is that it goes back to a King or Chief of Idrone circa 900AD named Rian or Rien. It was around this time that the Irish began taking on surnames and it may be that it was after him his descendants began to be called, O or descendent of Rian.

We are not sure how or when exactly the O'Mulryan name came about. It is likely that it means "descendent of the followers of Rian". However, this is not certain. We will see further down in this article that the genealogies suggest they are both descended from the same ancestor circa 900AD. Although other evidence does contradict this.

Just what Rian means is not known for sure. Explanations include "Little King", "Distinguished one","of noble sayings" or "tough".
Less flattering explanations for Rian include "sluggish" and for Mul that it means "bald"!

Now we dig deeper. 

Callinan in "The Four Tipperary Septs" on pg 56 includes "Rien" on a pedigree of the O'Mulrians (which he references to Mac Fibris). It doesn't give a date as to when he lived.

In Celtic Leinster by Alfred Smyth pg 128 he looks at "Rián" and his descendants  the "Ua Rián". He takes his information on this lineage from the Book of Leinster.

This Rián seems to have lived in the 800 / 900s based on a date that is given for his great-grand-uncle Drongal dying in 761AD.

This ties in with the information given in Bart Jaski's genealogical tables for the Uí Cheinnselaig (the ruling family of Leinster who Rian was a member of) which gives Rian as living at 900AD. See here.

Taking Mac Fibris's Mulryan pedigree (from a start date for Crumthan as 483 and using intervals of 30 years then is likely that this Rien may have lived circa 933AD.

This would suggest they are the same person. However the next in descent from Rien on Mac Fibris table, namely William, does not appear in Bart Jaski's table.

Maurice Gleeson looks at O'Harts Pedigree of the O'Ryan's here. Again the descent is different so it is hard to known how reliable the "Rian" link is.


Further work needs to be done by checking the originals ie The Book of Leinster and Mac Firbris (which I think is based on the Book of Leinster).

Meaning of the name Rian.

Most first names have a meaning. For example my own name comes from the Germanic, "leader of his people". What Rian itself means is unclear, one surname solution given online a lot is that it is "little king". However I have yet to find the original reference for this. It is possible as Rí in Irish is King.

Dineen's Irish dictionary gives a multitude of meaning to the word Rian.

http://glg.csisdmz.ul.ie/popup.php?lang=irish&numero=0895-riamnac.png

For example "A distinguished one" or "of noble sayings" or a "pathway hewn through enemies" being some interesting ones. It also gives Rian as an early Irish word for the "sea".

O'Hart gives "Rien" as Righin in the Ryan pedigree here.
He gives a translation of this as "sluggish / dilatory" but in Dineen's Dictionary Righin can also mean "tough", see here.

Doing a google search brings up a number of explanations: 

The first on irishroots.com gives the following 

"Ryan is today one of the ten commonest surnames in Ireland. It is an anglicised form of the old Gaelic O'Maoilriaghain / O'Maoilriain, meaning 'descendant of a devotee of St Riaghan'."

This seems to do the rounds on various surname websites and sounds reasonable enough until you do a search for St. Riaghan

The only reference I have been able to find to a St. Riaghan in Irelands relates to a holy well dedicated to them in Glenties in Co. Donegal.

So I think that seems an unlikely solution to the meaning of the name purely due to geography. It could make sense if St. Riaghan was venerated in either Carlow or Tipp / Limerick.

I have managed to find St Riaghan in "A Dictionary of Irish Saints" by Padraig O Riain and he describes him as follows

"Ríoghán of Kilrean (Ceall Ríogháin), parish of Killybegs Lower, barony of Boylagh, Co. Donegal. Like his brothers, Manchán Míanach, and Rodaighe, the cruimhtear (presbyter), Ríoghán son of Fáilbhe belonged to the Ceinéal Boghaine branch of Ceinéal Conaill which gave name to the Donegal barony of Banagh. Although little else is known about this saint, whose name derives from rí, 'king', his church had the distinction of being selected as a place to be visited by Suibhne Gealt after the battle of Moira (Magh Rath) in 636. At Kilrean, from his perch in a tree, Suibhne was spoken to by the 'high-king', Domhnall son of Aodh, who had emerged victorious from the battle. The feast of the 'royal presbyter' Ríoghán fell on 9 August."

So from this it seems unlikely the name relates directly to St Riaghan or St Ríoghán as he was a Saint in a different part of the country and a different time-period. However O Riain does seem to confirm that Ríoghán derives from rí or king and so that may support the translation for Rian as "Little King".

How does this relate to the Mulryans?

Firstly it is unclear whether all Ryans are of the one origin. There are a number of locations from which the surname originated.  The main branches are the O'Ryans of Idrone in Carlow and the O'Mulryans of Owney & Owneybeg in Tipperary / Limerick.

Other smaller groups are the O'Mulrennans of Clanconnor in Roscommon which over time changed into Mulryan and later Ryan. O'Mulrennan is likely to be from O'Maoilbhréanainn or devotee of St. Brendan. The surname Ruane / Ruan seems also to have been changed into Ryan over the years as well. Its original origin is different and can be attributed to the Mayo & Galway areas.

It is likely that the O'Ryans or O'Mulryans were from Leinster or Laingan while the O'Mulrennans would be of Connacht origin and trace their origin to Muireadach Maoilleathan, a King of Connacht.
The O'Ryans stayed in the Leinster region and were Chiefs or sometimes styled "Princes" of Idrone, which was a tuath or later barony in Carlow / Kilkenny. Essentially they would have been local kings of a their own "country" with an overking, in their case the King of Leinster.

The O'Mulryans also seem to be of Leinster origin and according to ancient genealogies descend from a joint ancestor to the O'Ryans. Why and exactly when they left the Leinster area to head to the Tipp / Limerick border in Owney & Owneybeg is not fully known.

It is likely that if you have the surname Ryan, that you are descended from the O'Mulryans of Owney & Owneybeg. They would be the most populous branch of what later became the surname Ryan.

Mac Lysaght says this about the Mulryans (Irish Families pg145):

"Ryan's are really O'Mulryans - this earlier form of the name is, however, now almost obsolete: even in the census of 1659 in Co. Limerick Ryan outnumbers Mulryan by about four to one, and today there is not one O'Mulryan or Mulryan in the telephone directory."

Meaning of Mul

Woulfe states that Maoil or Maol generally is a descendant or follower, often of a saint. However this is not universally the case eg Ó Maoilmhín is "descendant of a polish chief" or Ó Maolaidh which means "descendant of a speckled chief". Woulfe almost substitutes it for "Chief" in these case for example Ó Maolbháin which he translates as "descendant of the white chief".
This is a bit confusing as on one hand he says it is the follower or servant of a saint and on the other a chief.

O'Growney goes with follower of a saint as the main meaning of Maoil. However it can also mean the follower of a personal name. See here. In some cases it could be just bald.

Another explanation relates to the Mul or Maol part of the O'Mulryan surname. Callinan on page 8 of "The Four Tipperary Septs" states that "The prefix Maol or Mul which signifies bald or tonsured has never been found applied to the record of the O'Ryans of Idrone, but appears universally in all references to the O'Mulryans of Owney and adjoining territories until the latter part of the 17th century when it gradually became obsolete, chiefly through the substitution of Ryan for Mulryan by Dr. Petty in compiling the Civil and Down Surveys for the Cromwellian government".

It is unlikely that it does apply to bald - there are circa 80 families with Maoil in their surname included in Woulfe's surname history (see here). Most are translated as follower, servant or chief, so bald is one of the least likely explanations.

Maurice Gleeson also looks at the Ryan surname in the key surname dictionaries and the implication they have to DNA here.

I have used the references from his post for the various quotations below.

First we look at Mac Lysaght who writes about the Ryans in Surnames of Ireland (1957) and Irish Familes (1957)

O) Ryan Ó Maoilriain is the correct form in the homeland of the great sept of Ryan, formerly Mulryan; but it is now usually abbreviated to O Riain, which is properly the name of a small Leinster sept. Ryan is by far the most numerous name in Co. Tipperary having almost four times the population of the next in order (O'Brien and Maher). For a note on the derivation of Ryan see introduction, pp. xvi-xvii. Bibl.

IF Map Tipperary (Mulryan), Carlow (O'Ryan). See Ruane.

(from Surnames of Ireland, p263)


(O) Ruane Ó Ruadháin (ruadh, red). A sept of the Uí Maine. The variant Royan is found in the same area - Gortyroyan near Ballinasloe is Gort Uí Ruadháin in Irish. Royan, however, has inevitably been sometimes changed to Ryan by absorption, notably in Co. Mayo, as also have Rouine and Ruane. MIF   Map Galway."

(from Surnames of Ireland, p262)

The abbreviation IF relates to Mac Lysaght's book Irish Families, and Map Tipperary refers the reader to the map in that book on page 222 where the Mulryan name is located. The entry for Ryan in Irish Families has a lot more information:


RYAN, O'Mulrian   Ryan is amongst the ten most numerous surname in Ireland with an estimated population of 27,500. Only a very small proportion of these use the prefix O. Subject to one exception, to be noticed later in this section, it is safe to say that the great majority of the 27,500 Ryan’s are really O'Mulryans – this earlier form of the name is, however, now almost obsolete: even in the census of 1659 in Co. Limerick Ryan outnumbers Mulryan by about four to one, and today there is not one O'Mulryan or Mulryan in the telephone directory. The sept of Ó Maoilriain was located in Owney, formerly called Owney O'Mulryan, which forms two modern Baronies on the borders of Limerick and Tipperary, in which counties the Ryan’s are particularly numerous today. They do not appear in the records of this territory (formerly belonging to the O'Heffernans) until the 14th century, but after they settled there, they became very powerful.

The Ryan's of Co. Carlow and other counties in that part of Leinster, are distinct from those dealt with above, though both are of the race of Cathaoir Mór, King of Leinster in the second century. These are Ó Riain, not Ó Maoilriain: the chief of this sept was lord of Ui Drone (whence the name of the barony of Idrone in Co. Carlow).

(from Irish Families p145)"

Next we look at is by Patrick Woulfe titled Irish Names and Surnames (1923).

In it he states

"1) Ó MAOILRIAGHAIN, Ó MAOILRIAIN—O Mulrigan, O Mulryan, O Mulrean, Mulryan, Mulroyan, Mulryne, Mulrine, Mulrain, O'Ryan, Ryan; 'descendant of Maolriain' (follower of Riaghan or Rian); the name of a family of Leinster origin who settled in the 13th or 14th century in Uaithne-tire and Uaithne-cliach, now the baronies of Owney, in Co. Tipperary, and Owneybeg, in the east of Co. Limerick, where they became very numerous and powerful. In 1610, William Ryan surrendered to the king all his landed property and all his rights of or in the barony of Owney O Mulrian, and received them back by letters patent. The family property was, however, lost in the confiscations of the 17th century. There are many very respectable families of the name in Tipperary and Limerick, and the name itself is very common in these counties.

2) Ó RIAGHAIN, Ó RIAIN—O Rian, O'Ryan, Ryan: 'descendant of Riaghan,' or 'Rian'; the name of a Carlow family who were lords of Uí Dróna, the present barony of Idrone, and are now numerous through Leinster; to be distinguished from Ó Maoilriain of Munster and Ó Ruaidhín of Connacht, which are both now incorrectly anglicised O'Ryan or Ryan


3) Ó RUADHÁIN—O Ruane, O Rowane, O Roan, Ruane, Rouane, Roane, Ruan, Roan, Roon, Rowan, Rewan, Royan, (Ryan); 'descendant of Ruadhán' (diminutive of ruadh, red); also Ó Ruaidhín; the name (1) of an old Mayo family of the Ui Fiachrach, who possessed a district lying between Newbrook and Killeen, to the north of Ballinrobe; and (2) of an old Galway family of the Ui Maine  race. No fewer than seven of the name were bishops of various sees in Connacht, in the 12th and 13th centuries. The name is still very common in that province, generally anglicised Ruane, but sometimes disguised as Ryan.

4) Ó RUAIDHÍN—O Ruyne, O Royn, O Roen, Rouine, Royan, Rowen, (Ruane, O'Ryan, Ryan); 'descendant of Ruaidhín' (diminutive of ruadh, red); the same as Ó Ruadháin, which see, both forms being used by the same family, and equally common in Connacht. Some of the name have been long settled in Leinster.

5) Ó SRAITHEÁIN, Ó SRUITHEÁIN, Ó SRUTHÁIN—O Srahane, O Shrihane, O Sreighan, O Shrean, O Streffan, Shryhane, Sruffaun, Strohane, Strahan, Straghan, Strachan, Strain, Bywater, (Ryan); 'descendant of Sruthán,' or 'Sruitheán' (diminutive of sruth, an elder, a sage, a man of letters); the name of an old Tirconnell family, the head of which was chief of Clann Snedhgile, a sept of the Cinel Conaill, seated in Glenswilly, to the west of Letterkenny, and also erenagh of Conwall in the same district. Some of the family had come southward before the end of the 16th century, probably as followers of the MacSweenys, and settled in Co. Cork, where the name is still extant, but often 'translated' Bywater, as if from 'sruthán,' a streamlet. In Co. Mayo, it is sometimes strangely anglicised Ryan."

O'Hart only gives a small mention of the suranme Ryan in his book "Irish Pedigrees; or, The origin and stem of the Irish nation" (1892)


"THE following is a brief summary of the Irish families in Munster, beginning with the three branches of the race of Heber: namely, the Dalcassians, the Eugenians, and the Clan Cian.
...
VII. Of the Leinster Milesians of the race of Heremon, were some chiefs and clans of note in Munster, as O'Felan, princes of Desies in Waterford; and O'Bric, chiefs in Waterford; O'Dwyer and O'Ryan, chiefs in Tipperary; and O'Gorman, chiefs in Clare.

(from Chief Irish Families of Munster) 


THE following accounts of the Irish chiefs and clans of Ossory, Offaley, and Leix, have been collected from the Topographies of O'Heeran, O'Dugan, O'Brien, O'Halloran, and others:—
...
30. O'Ryan and O'Felan were ancient families of note in Kilkenny, as well as in Carlow, Tipperary, and Waterford.

(from Irish Chiefs and Clans in Ossory, Offaley, Leix"

John Grenham on his website gives a number of explanation but they don't deviate much from the above.

Are you an O'Meara from Toomevara? This might be a carving of your forefather.

Are you an O'Meara from Toomevara? Then this may be a carving of one of your forefathers from the 600 years ago. I stumbled across this recently.

"Leaning against the inside of the north wall of the ruined church standing on the south of the modern Church is a wedge shaped tombstone. It has a band of inscription down either side and the top half is occupied by an equal armed cross with an inscription below the arms. A band of conventional gothic foliage separates it from a figure of a man carved in deep false relief on the centre of the lower portion of the stone. He is dressed in a tight-sleeved gown arranged in a curious pyramidal fashion below, and with a hood over his shoulders, the gole hanging down his chest in a point. His hands are shown together in front of him below his waist. The top of his head is flat, with what are presumably intended for curls with a band below them. The Black Letter inscription round the sides of the slab is only partly legible. Commencing on the sinister side at the level of the commemorated man's shoulders, the inscription is....



HIC JACET IOHES OMAR?

Here lies John O'Mar?


The style is bold but crude and angular, and the suggested date is late fifteenth century."


Churches in the Deanery of Ormond part II / Dermot F. Gleeson (1952) North Munster Antiquarian Journal

A possible burial mound rediscovered and a solution to a townland name at Townlough

The Mound from the shoreline

Two of my interests came together in the rediscovering and recording of a possible burial mound in the Castletown Arra area of Tipperary between Portroe & Ballina.

While working through deceased local historian Mikey Joy's archives I came across reference to a place known as the Sally Point in the townland of Townlough Lower. Initially I always thought of Townlough as being up in the "hills", I didn't really realise that the townland stretched all of 2kms down to the lake.

It was described as a mound where there was some folklore related to fairies interfering with workers at harvest time. With the scanning work continuing with this large archive of material I didn't think too much more about it but slowly I think I turned it over in my head.

I knew that the meaning of the name Townlough was "Tuaim an Lacha" or "Burial Mound by the Lake" and this had always bothered me, what tomb / burial mound was it referring to? I had actually wondered was it the Graves of the Leinstermen, which is just on the edge of the townland in Coolbaun but actually about 2km away from the lake.

I wondered was there anything unusual along the lake shore in the townland and thanks to aerial photos on archaeology.ie I could see that there was an unusual grove of trees that "kicked" out from the natural tree line.

Copyright OSI / NMS

I looked on the old maps and this little "kick" seems to date back till at least the 1840s and is included in all of them.

Copyright OSI / NMS

I then went through all the stuff that has been scanned as part of the Mikey Joy Archive and found a more detailed version within the archive with some more information on this mound at the Sally point.

"The Sally Point

This mound is known locally as The Fairy Clump and is situated at The Sally Point, Townlough Lower.  

Iniscealtra or Holy Island is approximately 3 1/2 miles away in Scariff Bay. In the 9th and 10th centuries the monastery there was the target of several attacks by the Norsemen. The monks built a round tower for protection and it is at this point we enter the realm of folklore. The story is that, as well as the round tower, the monks also built an underground passage all of 3 1/2 miles long with an exit at this point. It sounds incredible, but old residents of the area would tell you that in the early years of the century the site was explored by an archaeologist, who was rewarded for his efforts by finding the exit of the tunnel. He entered the passage, but after proceeding a considerable distance, his lighted candle failed indicating lack of oxygen, so he had to abandon his mission and return to the daylight.


Other stories from this locality concern the activities of the 'good people' especially around the mound at the eerie hour of midnight. In the last century this land was farmed as part of Derrycastle. This particular field was usually a meadow and mown at the time with scythes. In hot weather the men would work in the early morning and again late in the evening, sometimes continuing until one or two o'clock with moonlight. On one particular midnight they edged their scythes beside the Fairy Mound, but when they went to mow, the grass was lying and they couldn't cut it.  

In this case the men decided they weren't welcome and went home for a few hours sleep. When they came back in the morning the hay was standing, the edge had returned to their scythes and they were able to continue their work unhindered".

What seemed particular persuasive was the mention of a "tunnel" in the mound. Now of course it isn't possible that is went all the way under the lake to Holy Island but often mounds with passages or cists within have folklore like this.

Finally I got a chance between everything to head over that way by fishing boat (weather and life in general) and amazingly my hunch was correct. There was a mound at this location (see picture above).

Is is a definitely a burial mound? That will be difficult to ascertain for sure. In the townland there are also the remains of a towerhouse linked to the Rollestons and the field boundaries could suggest that there was formerly some kind of estate gardens here. Could this mound be some kind of garden feature, a tree ring perhaps? I don't think so.

I sent on the information I have to the National Monuments Service and it has since been added to the Sites and Monuments Record. The local archaeologist has not inspected it yet, only the information I was able to put together.

However I would argue that the case is strong for the discovery of Tuaim an Lacha or the Burial Mound by the Lake. A burial mound that gives its name to an entire townland must have been of importance.

Anyway I'm posting this to see if there is anymore information about the mound, for or against.

The Danes Bed - Baurnaglanna / Lackabrack

Copyright - OSI

I was looking back over some notes I took about possible archaeological features mentioned in the Irish Schools Manuscripts.

One was a Danes bed in Lackabrack near the Silvermines."There is a Danes bed in one of Kennedy's fields in Lackabrack. A Dane was coming home from selling eggs. She was asked to take the shortest road she could so she jumped into Kennedy's field and she broke her leg in the fall. She died in that spot and was buried there. That is called her bed where she was buried. The previous owners of the field "Coghlans" ploughed around it and immediately they all got sick. The bed consists of two stones at the sides, one at the head and one at the foot."

I wonder could this be a description for the megalithic structure that is just on the townland boundary between Baurnaglanna / Lackabrack. It is described on archaeology.ie as follows

"There is no recognisable ancient feature at the position indicated on the OS 6-inch map which is on the E side of a field-bank at the foot of a S-facing slope just N of the Mulkear River. An OS Name Book (c.1840) records that the name applied to a 'a heap of stones covering about a square perch [c.5 m?] of ground'. An account in a later OS Name Book (1904) claims that the feature in question was a horizontally laid stone. Crawford (1910, 41) noted a large stone buried in a field bank a projecting corner of which rested on a smaller stone. The nature of the feature referred to is uncertain. (De Valera and Ó Nualláin 1982, 97-8, No.5)"

Borlase gives a description as follows

"Borlase, No. 1 (under name of Knockanroe). This is a doubtful specimen, and situated in an unusual place, that is in the side of a glen or ravine. A large flat stone is buried in the bank, with one corner projecting, and this corner rests on a smaller stone ; nothing more can be seen. Bauraglanna is in the valley called Glenculloo, at the foot of the Keeper Mountain, a mile or more south of the village of Silver mines".


I'd say there is a very good chance they are the same.

https://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922152/4856580

Mauherslieve Mountain - An unrecorded Passage Tomb in Tipperary?

It is 16 years since I last climbed the Mauherslieve Mountain and I'm well overdue a return visit. On top is a large cairn which is likely to be a passage tomb, making it only the 2nd passage tomb in Tipperary.

From archaeology.ie

"Described in the OS Name Books (1840) as a large heap of whitish stones on the summit.. Under which it is said there is a cave or cellar in which a great number of the neighouring people took refuge in the time of the rebellion... it is not known when this cave was made in the moutain... the entrance to it cannot be seen as it is covered with the large stone above mentioned". 

The exact meaning of the word Mauher Slieve Mountain is not definite. It is sometimes translated as the Mother Mountain but I'm not 100% sure if this is accurate. The local pronounciation of it is different to the how "Mau her" is pronounced in Irish.

If we see Tempan's paper linked below (Two Moumtain Names, Slieve Felim and Mauherslieve) he records the pronounciation as "moherclea" and "moher" (see pg 123) which tallies a lot more with how I heard it myself locally in 2018 at Kennedys Bar in Rearcross.

He thinks the true meaning / name of the mountain may be "Mothar Shléibhe or Mothar an tSléibhe, 'overgrown wilderness of the mountain".

For more on the meaning see here from the North Munster Antiquarian Journal (2006).

In it he mentions Speed's 1610 map of Munster and the name "Ghe Madona" which he has been unable to identify and I do wonder is it related to Mauher Cle, one of the names given to the mountain. Could the Madona refer to Mother and Geh to Cle?

It was one of the Twelve Mountains of Ebhleen or "Phelem" as incorrectly named in Speed's 1610 map above.

From Sacred Ireland by Cary Meehan

"Ebhleen was a mytholocial figure, married to a king of Cashel. She fell in love with her stepson and eloped with him. 

Right in the heart of these mountains is a small peak called Mathair Shliabh or Mother Mountain which has a cairn of stones on top called 'the Terrot'. Those climbing the mountain would carry a stone from the bottom to add to this cairn. The cairn was said to cover the grave of a young man who refused to go to mass one Sunday and went hunting instead. Although it was June - June 29th to be exact - he was caught in a snow-storm and his body later found at the spot now marked by the Terrot.

There was a traditional outing up the mountain here unitl the 1920s. It involved the usual Lughnasa activities of berry-picking, singing and dancing, though the date was 29th June. The monks of Kilcommon were to have started it but it is more likely that they changed the date from Lughnasa to the earlier date which is the Feast of SS Peter and Paul (The Festival of Lughnasa)".

There is more on the Twelve Mountains of Ebhleen in Tempan's paper (pg 120) and it is also the location in the Lebor Gabála Erenn of the place where "the newly arrived Milesians meet with the Goddess Fódla, who appeals to Amergin, leader of the invaders to name the country after her". 

Some really interesting folklore on an event that occurred on the mountain.

"On the 3rd April 1931 a funeral was seen crossin the side of a high hill called Moher Cle, situated in the parish of Templederry about ten miles from Nenagh. That same evening Mrs. Burke of Coumnagella was dead. The funeral which consisted of white horses & common cars commenced in Coumnagella and after passing over the side of Moher Cle disappeared at Bray's Lough. There were about 50 cars all together and in some cases the drivers of the could be seen whipping the horses. The evening was clear & bright & the time about 7 o'clock." 

http://www.duchas.ie/en/cbes/4922143/4856170/5015385

I did wonder about this story and something called Charles Bonnet Syndrome. I'm not convinced really whether by giving it a name does it really explain it away but the whole thing is fascinating.

This is only the tip of the iceberg regarding this mountain, it is surrounded by megalithic tombs, of which I have written on here before. It could be argued that this mountain is a ritual "focus" of the tombs that flank it in what may have been a very well populated area when the tombs were being constructed or the area was thought of as sacred enough to justify the large amount of work that went into constructing them.

Collasped section within the cairn.