Seamus Cullen’s Personal Web Site
Featuring Local History from North Kildare
- The Pale
- History of Rathcoffey
- The Capture of Kilcock by Rebells
- St Peter’s Well, Dunmurraghill
- St Coca’s Well, Kilcock
- The Founding of Rathcoffey Chapel
- The Aneen Road
- The Drummin Road
- Horrible Events at Hungry Hall
- The Lady in White
- St Mochua
- Bridget Fitzgerald of Maynooth
- The Formation of Rathcoffey GAA Club
- Thomas Dongan, Earl of Limerick
- The Baltracey Quakers
- Knockanally Crannog
- Land Transactions in Hodgestown
- Carton Cemetery
- Michael Quigley
- Hamilton Rowan
- Hugh Ware
- The Battle of Ovidstown
- Conflict and Rebellion in North Kildare 1792–98
- The Trial and Execution of Laurence O’Connor at Naas in 1795
- The History of Clane
- Sinead De Valera and her County Kildare Connections
- St Farnan and Downings Graveyard
- Edward O’Connor
- Rathcoffey CYMS Hall
- An American Presidential Visit to County Kildare
- The History of Donadea Demesne
- Wolfe Tone and his Family Connections with County Kildare
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The Pale
Frontier boundary built around Dublin in 1494
The Pale gives its name to a phrase in the English language, Beyond the Pale. The history of this boundary in North Kildare is given and the line of the Pale between the two sole surviving sections is traced.
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The History of Rathcoffey
Covering a period from 8000 BC to 1900
Various events of local history in Rathcoffey are detailed, including the involvement of the village in six rebellions and profiling notable individuals from the area.
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The Capture of Kilcock by Rebells
Details of the activities of rebels who took over Kilcock in June 1798
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St Peter’s Well, Dunmurraghill
Early Christian Centre Associated with St Patrick
Details of a Holy Well that has connections with pre-Christian religious activity, before St Patrick visited the site and brought Christianity to the area. The subsequent history is also given.
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St Coca’s Well, Kilcock
Holy well associated with St Coca in the Early Christian period
An account of St Coca an early Christian missionary that brought Christianity to the area and her connection to the Holy Well that bears her name.
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The Founding of Rathcoffey Chapel
The Oldest Post-Reformation Catholic Church in County Kildare and the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin
An account of how a stable on the Wogan Estate became Rathcoffey Chapel in 1710. The role played by Lady Tyrconnell widow of the Viceroy of King James II is also detailed.
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The Aneen Road
The Story of an Ancient Road in Rathcoffey
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The Drummin Road
Origin of an Ancient Road in Rathcoffey
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Horrible Events at Hungry Hall
Folklore Tale from the Rathcoffey Area
Folklore story relating to the gruesome execution of a woman in the Rathcoffey area accused of cannibalism and witchcraft.
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The Lady in White
Ghost Story Associated with the Rathcoffey Area in the 1860’s
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St Mochua
Early Christian Missionary in North Kildare and South Dublin
The career and travels of St Mochua an early Christian missionary who is associated with religious foundations in Timahoe, Celbridge, Clondalkin and Balraheen–Rathcoffey.
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Bridget Fitzgerald of Maynooth
An Earl’s Wife who was Left Behind at the Flight of the Earls in 1607
The story of a Kildare involvement in the ‘Flight of the Earls’. Rory O’Donnell one of the two Earls that left in the flight did not get time to bring his wife Bridget FitzGerald who was staying in Maynooth Castle.
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The Formation of Rathcoffey GAA Club
An Account and an Analysis of the First Meeting of Rathcoffey GAA Club in 1888
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Thomas Dongan, Earl of Limerick
Famous Governor of New York from Castletown, Celbridge
Details of the Celbridge connection to Thomas Dongon who is regarded as the most famous pre-revolutionary Governor of New York.
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The Baltracey Quakers
The Story of a Quaker Family who were Members of Timahoe Meeting
Genealogical details of the Watson family, members of the ‘Society of Friends’ and their connection with Timahoe, Baltracey and Larchill.
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Knockanally Crannog
A Possible Causeway at Knockanally Crannog
Surviving features connected to Knockanally Crannog.
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Land Transactions in Hodgestown
Details of the Russell and McDermott families who lived in the townland in the 18th and 19th centuries
Genealogical details of the Russell family, members of the ‘Society of Friends’ from Hodgestown, Timahoe and also the McDermott family who purchased their property.
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Carton Cemetery
Burial ground of the Dukes of Leinster
Details of the family burial ground of the Dukes of Leinster from 1850 to 1938.
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Michael Quigley
Head of Robert Emmet’s Personal Staff throughout the Emmet Conspiracy and Attempted Rising in 1803
Profile of Michael Quigley, a builder, a farmer, a 98’ rebel, head of Robert Emmet’s personal staff and informer. Includes original details of his connections with Robert Emmet throughout 1803.
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Hamilton Rowan
Prominent United Irishman in the 1790’s
Profile of Archibald Hamilton Rowan, a prominent United Irishman from the early 1790’s, and his connection with Rathcoffey. Published in Fugitive Warfare, 1998. This article is hosted on Hermann Geissel’s site.
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Hugh Ware
1798 Rebel Leader and French Colonel in the Napoleonic Wars
A 98’ rebel, Emmet Rising conspirator and a leading officer in the Irish regiment in France during the Napoleonic wars. He was the last commander of an exiled Irish Regiment on the Continent. Published in Fugitive Warfare, 1998. This article is hosted on Hermann Geissel’s site.
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The Battle of Ovidstown
The Last Major Field Battle in the Dublin Area
Reconstruction details of the Battle of Ovidstown, 21st of June 1798 between Irish rebels and crown forces. Published in Fugitive Warfare, 1998. Colonel William Aylmer, commander of the rebels at Ovidstown, is pictured above. This article is hosted on Hermann Geissel’s site.
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Conflict and Rebellion in North Kildare 1792–98
The history of the 1798 Rebellion in North Kildare
An account of rebellious activity both before and during 1798 in the northern half of County Kildare is given, including the capture of Prosperous. Also the subsequent guerrilla tactics associated with the rebels which came to be known as Fugitive Warfare. This article is hosted on Hermann Geissel’s site.
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The Trial and Execution
of Laurence O’Connor at Naas in 1795Execution of the last man sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered in County Kildare
A local Defender leader who was arrsted in Kilcock while recruiting new members during the Defender crises of 1795. The events surrounding this incident resulted in the execution of four men.
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The History of Clane
From the Earliest Times to 1945
Various events of local history in Clane are detailed, including a connection with almost every era in Irish history.
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Sinead De Valera
and her County Kildare ConnectionsThe History of a County Kildare Family
Genealogical details of the Flanagan family covering three centuries. Includes historical particulars relating to the ancestors of Sinead De Valera and their interest in the Irish language.
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St Farnan and Downings Graveyard
An early Christian centre founded by St Farnan
An account of St Farnan an early Christian missionary who brought Christianity to the Prosperous area and built the first Church in Downings Graveyard.
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Edward O’Connor
The Career of a 19th century Naas Town Commissioner
Details of a prominent Naas entrepreneur and local politician, who was twice imprisoned for his nationalist principals, firstly, as a Fenian in 1865 and secondly, during the ‘Land War’ in 1882.
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Rathcoffey CYMS Hall
Built between August 1951 and January 1952
Details of the official opening of a rural hall in North Kildare in the early 1950’s and an account of the entertainment following the ceremony.
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An American Presidential Visit
to County KildareAn account of President Nixon visiting his ancestral burial ground
The story of an early 18th century Quaker community in Timahoe, North Kildare. In 1970 President Nixon, a descendent of one of the Quaker families from the community, visited his maternal ancestral burial ground in Timahoe.
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The History of Donadea Demesne
From the earliest times to 2003
Details of the history of Donadea, from the early Christian period to the present time. Includes a full account of the construction of Donadea Demesne in the 19th century which is now the nucleus of Donadea Forest Park.
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Wolfe Tone and his Family Connections
with County KildareThe Story of an 18th century County Kildare Farming Family
Genealogical details of the Tone family and their direct connection with Bodenstown from 1750 to 1818. Also includes personal details of Wolfe Tone, his wife and children, parents, siblings, uncles and aunts.
© Seamus Cullen 2010 | Website designed by Sandra Davis