By Seamus Cullen
Available from Four Courts Press.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Folklore story relating to the gruesome execution of a woman in the Rathcoffey area accused of cannibalism and witchcraft.
The career and travels of St. Mochua an early Christian missionary who is associated with religious foundations in Timahoe, Celbridge, Clondalkin and Balraheen–Rathcoffey.
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.
Details of the Celbridge connection to Thomas Dongon who is regarded as the most famous pre-revolutionary Governor of New York.
Genealogical details of the Watson family, members of the ‘Society of Friends’ and their connection with Timahoe, Baltracey and Larchill.
Surviving features connected to Knockanally Crannog.
Genealogical details of the Russell family, members of the ‘Society of Friends’ from Hodgestown, Timahoe and also the McDermott family who purchased their property.
Details of the family burial ground of the Dukes of Leinster from 1850 to 1938.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Various events of local history in Clane are detailed, including a connection with almost every era in Irish history.
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.
An account of St. Farnan an early Christian missionary who brought Christianity to the Prosperous area and built the first Church in Downings Graveyard.
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.
Details of the official opening of North Kildare’s ‘Ballroom of Romance’ in the early 1950’s and an account of the entertainment following the ceremony.
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.
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.
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.
Medieval Clane was an important town in the Norman colony and in 1310 a minor incident led to a homicide. This eventually resulted in the involvement of the local Mayor, the County Sheriff and the Viceroy.
Kilcock for centuries was one of the major commercial centres in the mid-Leinster region. The article details the history of the fairs, markets and business life in the town throughout the period.
The election of 1892 in North Kildare was a bitterly fought contest. The outgoing Parnellite MP was opposed by an anti-Parnellite candidate who was actively supported by the local Catholic clergy.
Between 1171 and 2011 ten English Kings and Queens came to Ireland either as conquerors or visitors. During their stay they all visited county Kildare.
In 1899, a mix-up in the morgue of the Workhouse Hospital in Naas led to the burial of the wrong corpse in Mainham Graveyard.
The site with a history stretching back 2000 years consists of a disused graveyard, church ruins and holy well. Individuals interred in the burial ground are connected to many important events in Irish History.
Important details of Ballingappa survive in two sources from the 17th century. It has important connections with the famous Sarsfield family, the Vesey-Colthurst family and the Bingham family Earls of Lucan.
The history of Baltracey begins in the early Christian period with its connection to an ancient highway. It also has links to the Norman period and an important Quaker involvement in the modern period.
The Maynooth Company of the Volunteers mobilised on Easter Sunday along with other companies in county Kildare.
The rising was fought mainly in Dublin with minor outbreaks in a number of other counties. County Kildare also had an involvement which is well documented.
Various writers have suggested that there were four different saints from the early Christian period who could have been the St. Coca associated with Kilcock.
The earliest history of Mountarmstrong connects it to an ancient road. Accounts detailing the various owners including the Armstrong family are given together with particulars of its original name.
Millicent dates from the Norman period and throughout its history was the residence of numerous important individuals. Originally known as Newtown the present name emerged in the early 18th century.
Moortown is a townland with an interesting and historical geological origin. In the early to mid-19th century it was one of the most densely populated townlands in the county and also the home to a famous parish priest.
The history of Blackhall extends back to the pre Christian period with its connection to an ancient highway. From the Norman period the townland is noted as having connections to numerous well-known families such as the FitzGeralds, Wogans and Wolfes.
The Tower was built in the 1680s by Richard Talbot then Earl of Tyrconnell (later Duke) as a family mausoleum. Today an artist impression of the tower is used as the logo of Carton House Hotel and Golf Club.
The adventurous career of Charles Wogan, at different times was a rebel leader; agent; diplomat; army general; administrator and writer, who is best remembered for his rescue of Princess Clementina in 1719.
Kildareman, Mick Sammon, made a significant contribution to the Irish Revolution. Imprisoned for political activity in 1918, winner of an All-Ireland medal in 1919, and an important figure in the history of Bloody Sunday 1920.
A native of Landenstown Prosperous, Bridget Nixon was the mother of WT Cosgrave. As a parent of participants in the Irish Revolution she paid a heavy price, probably second only to Margaret Pearse.
In the Main Street of Maynooth, three buildings were destroyed, and an ambush took place resulting in an RIC fatality. It was the only town in Kildare were Crown forces re-established a barrack.
As part of a campaign to hamper transportation of British troops the IRA targeted four troop-trains in June and July 1921. One encounter close to Celbridge, a combat unit of 120 IRA targeted trains carrying 950 soldiers.
In the largely garrison county of Kildare, women fraternising with soldiers were subjected to heavy handed treatment by the IRA which included forcible hair cutting as punishment and as a warning to others.
Cartographic evidence and detail from ancient leases located Maudlins an extinct townland in Clane which takes its name from a leper hospital. The detail pinpoints a site close to the river Liffey in Carrigeen townland.
The family participated in at least three rebellions in Ireland against the English Crown, in 1580, 1641 and 1689 and two in Britain in 1715 and 1746. Their demise in 1922 came about due to tragic circumstances.
Following the escape from prison of anti-Treaty activists an upsurge of activity in North Kildare included targeting Baldonnell Aerodrome with assistance from the inside. Plans were also made to bomb government buildings using a commandeered aeroplane.
During the battle armoured cars and machine guns were used and eventually several National Army units surrounded and captured 22 anti-Treaty activists. There were six fatalities, one killed in action and five subsequently executed.
Michael Collins chose the IRA training camp in Celbridge to train the first contingent of the Irish Army. They obtained army uniforms and were inspected in Celbridge by Collins prior to occupying Beggars Bush barracks, Dublin.
In 1914 the British Army in the Curragh mutinied rather than assist in the implementation of Home Rule. Yet by 1922 they had to pack their bags and leave the Curragh – handing over the camp to the Irish Army.
It was the first election in Ireland following independence and four political movements participated. The treaty was the overwhelming issue with 81 percent of voters from the constituency supporting pro-Treaty candidates.
All three TD’s elected in the Kildare Constituency had never been members of Sinn Féin or the IRA. The same applied to five senators appointed from the county and also the serving chairman of Kildare County Council.
© Seamus Cullen 2008–2023 | Website designed by Sandra Davis