September, 2023

In 1905, Rev. William Carrigan (1860-1924) published his authoritative history of the Diocese of Ossory. This four-volume work is entitled, The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory.

Ossory

Prior to the establishment of the Diocese of Ossory there was an ancient kingdom of Ossory. The diocese was established in 549 and uniquely has nearly the same borders as the ancient Kingdom of Ossory. Today, the diocese serves over 85,000 people, is comprised of 42 parishes in Kilkenny, Laois and Offaly and covers 1,972 square kilometers. For a brief history of the diocese see, the webpage of the Diocese.

Rev. Fr. William Carrigan (1860-1924)

Although Fr. Carrigan and his four-volume work have been heralded for recording the past before the Gelic oral tradition was lost (Brendan Ó Cathaoir, “An Irishman’s Diary,” The Irish Times, 14 Nov. 2005) and is often cited making it a valuable resource, very little has been published concerning Fr. Carrigan himself.

Shortly after Fr. Carrigan’s death another clergyman Rev. Ambrose Coleman, O.P., wrote a biography of Fr. Carrigan, but it was published in the Irish Ecclesiastical Record in 1927 and 1928 in seven instalments. More available is a lecture delivered in 1973 by Margaret M. Phelan outlining Fr. Carrigan’s early life, the writing of his treatise and the publication challenges (Margaret M. Phelan, Old Kilkenny Review (1976) (pp. 148-157) (lecture 9 Nov. 1973) p. 154.)

Native of Co. Kilkenny

William Carrigan was the youngest of 13 children comprised of 11 boys and two girls. He was born in 1860 at Ruthstown, Ballyfoyle, Kilkenny. He was described as a delicate boy “much given to his father’s company. Together they roamed the country looking at graveyard and reading the stones” (Phelan; p. 148). William began his education at the Natioinal School in Ballyfoyle. At 11 years of age he went to a day school in Wellington Square in Kilkenny city and later to St. Kieran’s College where one of his brothers also attended. They both “went over to the ecclesiastical side of the college and from there to Maynooth” (Phelan; p. 149). 

Within a year of ordination “he faltered” (Phelan; p. 149).  Unsure of his ability he went to stay with his brother, who was then a curate in Callan.” After reflection William asked to continue and was ordained  in 1884 at the Presentation Convent. For a couple of years he taught at St. Kieran’s College and in 1888 he was sent as curate to Ballyragget. “He always carried in one pocket a stole, ritual and holy oils and in another a pencil and notebook to jot down what he heard or saw without delay” (Phelan; p. 150).

Writing and Publishing

The actual writing of the four-volume work took Fr. Carrigan six years from 1897 to 1903. He produced a first draft and unhappy with it revised the entire four volumes twice. Fr. Carrigan did this all by hand with no mechanical aid such as a typewriter. It took two years for the publishers to edit and publish the work in 1905. During this period the author advertised, issued circulars, and wrote to individuals seeking subscribers for his work.

Glenmore Subscribers

Through his efforts Fr. Carrigan garnered 738 subscribers. At the end of Volume 1 is a list of the subscribers and two Glenmore men are among the list: William Walsh, C.C. of Glenmore, Waterford (sic); and Rev. Thomas Phelan, P.P. Glenmore, Waterford (sic). Glenmore due to its proximity to Waterford had a Waterford postal address notwithstanding the fact Glenmore parish is in Kilkenny. Given the number of subscribers in the US it is likely that natives of Glenmore abroad may be also on the subscriber list.

Printing Costs

The bill for printing 1,000 copies of History and Antiquities of Ossory with illustrations and binding 750 copies came to £1,248-16-4. Postage to subscribers amounted to £52. Up to the end of 1906, 46 more copies were sold bringing the total sales to 784. “In February 1906, Fr. Carrigan owed £249 and at the end of 1906, £130. He was still only a curate on £80 a year and it took him five years to clear the debt and he had become a Parish Priest.” No further sales took place and in March 1911 he cleared the last £7 he owed for the publishing (Phelan; p. 154.)

By 1916, 840 copies had been sold and 160 copies were with the publishers, Sealy, Bryer and Walker. These copies with the plates illustrating the history burned during the Easter Rebellion. The Losses Commission compensated Fr. Carrigan and “at last the poor author was paid in part for his studies and his troubles.” (Phelan; p. 154.)

Although early sales were not brisk, on the centenary of the publication, Helen Litton compiled a comprehensive index, with over 20,000 entries, to Fr. Carrigan’s four volume work. This index in invaluable to students of history, archaeology and genealogy in the Diocese of Ossory and reflects the continued importance of Fr. Carrigan’s work (Ó Cathaoir/2005).

For further information see, Rev. James Brennan, “Canon Carrigan: Historian,” Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Old Kilkenny Review (1953) p. 1-8).

Presenting to Glenmore Readers

During the Irish Civil War, the Munster Express printed excerpts of Carrigan’s work in the newspaper. The first of 4 excerpts about Glenmore was published on 5 May 1923, p. 6. It is likely that the newspaper’s interest in Kilkenny history stemmed from the owner’s family connections. See our post of 24 January 2022 regarding the editor and proprieter of the Munster Express, Edward Walsh (1862-1946).  More recently, when Fr. Barron was P.P. of Glenmore in the 1990’s he often placed short excerpts from Carrigan’s work in the Parish Bulletin.

Although the Munster Express excerpts exclude interesting information and contain a number of typographical errors, they did introduce the learned work to the Munster Express readers as did Fr. Barron’s later efforts. Luckily the four volumes have been digitalized, and are available on line. (We have linked to the New York Public Library as its digitalized copy and supports work best.) Chapter 4 in Volume 4 (p. 88-102) is the chapter dedicated to the Parish of Glenmore. Below is the unabridged beginning of the chapter. Any explanations or information not part of the original text have been placed in [    ].

Parish of Glenmore  

It formed one parochial union with Slieverue down to 1846, when it became a separate parish. It takes in the entire of the civil parishes of Ballygurrim, Kilcoan, Kilbride, and Kilmakevoge, and more than half of the civil parish of Kilcolumb. Its area is 13,529 statute acres.

Ballygurrim

In ancient documents Ballygurrim appears as Ballywolgom, Ballymolgorine, Ballymolgorme, Balimolgurn etc. The name signifies O’Mugurrim’s Town. In Irish it would be written Baile Ui Maoit-guirm. [Helpfully Fr. Carrigan then provided how the Balygurrim was pronounced in Glenmore]. The local pronunciation is Bolle-ghizzhm, which is a slight corruption of Bolleel-ghizzhm.

The name Maolgorm does not occur in the Ossorian pedigrees in the Book of Leinster and Book of Lecain; it was in use, however, among the Deisi of the Co. Waterford; for, under the year 890 the Four Masters record that “Maelgorm, Tanist of the Deisi, was slain.” [A Tanist is the successor apparent to a Celtic chief, chosen by election among the clan during the chief’s lifetime.]

Ballygurrim was one of the parishes appropriated to the Nunnery of Kilkilliheen by David Fitz Milo, Baron of Overke, about the year 1240. The parish church, traditionally said to have been at one time of considerably ecclesiastical importance, consisted of nave and chancel, and was 60 feet long internally. The walls were 2 ft. 9 ins. thick, and are all levelled within one yard of the ground, except the west gable of the nave, which is about 22 feet high. A baptismal font, square and unornamented, on the outside, lies within the ruins.

There is but one ancient monument, viz., a large floor slab, lying in the corner of the chancel; it has a large cross, in relief down the centre, at each side of which are carvings of the emblems of our Lord’s Passion. On the edge is the following inscription in raised Roman capitals:

HIC JACET ROBERTVS DEN DE BALLYBVSSHER GENEROSVS QVIOBIT 23 MAI 1626 ET VXOR EIVS 10[AN]NA AELWARD QVI [rest uncut].

Translation–“Here lie Robert Den of Ballybusher (Busherstown), gentleman, who died May 23^rd, 1626, and Johanna Aylward, his wife, who…”

William Den, probably a son of Robert, forfeited Busherstown, under Cromwell, and was transplanted to Connaught in 1653.

A little to the north of the churchyard is a well called Tubberathoggarth, or the priest’s well, which some consider to have been holy. There is no tradition regarding it.

St. Colman is patron saint of Ballygurrim. Bishop Phelan’s List assigns his feast to May 21^st. He is presumably identical with St. Colman Lobhar (i.e., the Leper) of Mayo, in the territory of the Dalcasiaus, commemorated on the same day in the Martyrology of Donegal. (Carrigan (1905) The History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory, vol. IX, p. 88). [For further information concerning St. Colman Lobhar see, the Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae website.]

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As time and space allows we will continue posting this work concerning Glenmore.

Please send any corrections, additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com.

The featured drawing above is the Moat at Borris-on-Ossory and in the illustration at the commencement of the Glenmore section (Chapter 4, Vol. 4.) of Carrigan’s work. The photo of the gable end of the Ballygurrin church ruins was taken on 7 June 2020 during a COVID outing.

Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh