History Castlemartyr

1 history

1.1 overview of history of village

1.1.1 bronze age
1.1.2 ring forts


1.2 ballyoughtera
1.3 fitzgeralds
1.4 demise of fitzgeralds
1.5 earls of shannon
1.6 famine
1.7 war of independence
1.8 rock n roll footnote

history
overview of history of village
bronze age

traces of ancient civilisation, bronze age, found in immediate vicinity of castlemartyr. group of 6 tumuli or mounds can still seen across areas of ballindinis, ballyvorisheen , knockane. in addition tradition refers “tribal village”, , still discernible in form of thought burial mounds in townland of clasharinka.

ring forts

we can still see evidence of local tribes attempts defend , livestock against marauders , real threat posed wild animals. these defences in form of ring-forts or “raths” – circular earthworks used dwellings , farmyards , located on raised ground maximise defences. perhaps best remaining examples of these fortification/dwellings found in vicinity of village @ mogeely, kilrush, couragh, ballygibbon, parknahyla, rathaha, kilbree, ballybutler , dromada more.

ballyoughtera

the normans can credited development of inland towns in ireland, vikings having established towns in ports such dublin, wexford, waterford , limerick. evidence existence of town or “vill” in vicinity of castlemartyr found in pipe roll of cloyne, list of lands held feudal bishop of cloyne , valuations put on lands. ballyoughtera, ruin , graveyard, had been monastic settlement under norman influence , through settlement became focal point “ville” or feudal village.

ruins of ballyoughtera church

there had been 2 adjoining medieval parishes, cahirultan , ballyoughtera , both known have been in existence 1300 @ least, when ballyoughtera valued @ 5 marks , cahairultan @ 3 marks. reference dated 1364 records “richard kerdyf holds land of whole ville of martyre”. ville implied nearby mill tenant farmers grind corn, , castle, providing tenants protection. in case castle castlemartyr castle, mid-15th century in possession of fitzgeralds or geraldines.

castlemartyr known “leperstown” in ancient times because of leper house said have existed near ballyoughtera, said smith have become village of note during middle ages. historian, lewis, states ballyoughtera church built in 1549, destroyed in cromwellian wars of 1641/42. there evidence suggest church in ruins before 1641 (probably 1615) , built before 1539, chancel being added on later, possibly cope expanding population in , around village.

the fitzgeralds

in norman invasion of ireland, fitzgerald dynasty granted lands in barony of imokilly. in 1575, cambro-norman castle built, called castle of ballymartyr, attacked sir henry sidney, lord deputy, captured castle. fitzgeralds of imokilly known local peasantry madraí na fola ( dogs of blood ) due blood-thirsty disposition displayed, both in gaining control of imokilly , in continued hold on region. common tradition in locality during 15th century wild boar terrorized area. boar believed have had lair in vicinity of knockane or “cnoc na chollag” (hill of boar) , animal believed have laid waste area between knockane , killamucky or “choill na mhuice” (the wood of pig). said chief offered reward kill boar , 1 of fitzgeralds reputed have slain animal single-handedly. story goes fitzgerald’s deed, acknowledged , granted surrounding lands , family incorporated boar in coat of arms.

demise of fitzgeralds

during desmond rebellion, fitzgeralds fought against forces of queen elizabeth in region. fitzgeralds, other southern lords of hiberno-norman stock (who had become “more irish , irish themselves”), formed geraldine league oppose queen s plan force protestantism on irish people , attempt rout native chiefs , replace them english landlords. in 1581 earl of ormond overran imokilly; @ castlemartyr captured aged mother of seneschal, john fitzedmund, , hung wall of castle. fitzedmund submitted earl, did not recover lands. instead, property shared fate of other properties after desmond rebellion. confiscated , included in grant of land between lismore , castlemartyr given sir walter raleigh. fitzedmund himself arrested in 1585 , died in dublin castle in following year. in 1602, raleigh s lands around castlemartyr passed richard boyle, first earl of cork , ancestor earls of shannon.

tombstone of fitzgerald seneschals of imokilly

by 17th century fitzgeralds spent force. in south-east corner of old church in ballyoughtera, stone has boar crest surrounded triple incised circles , shallow cross carving encircle. @ northern end of ballyoughtera church ruin grave of richard boyle, 4th earl of shannon died in 1868. tomb bears inscription, “a sorrowing wife placed stone in memory of best , affectionate of husbands”.

earls of shannon

for next 2 hundred years history of castlemartyr closely linked branch of boyle family have title earl of shannon. in 1689 centre of protestant resistance against rule of james ii, swiftly defeated irish army forces under justin maccarthy put down larger rising @ bandon.

after orrery s death in 1679, title passed on oldest son. orrery s second son had 4 sons of own, roger, henry, charles , william, , henry became member of privy council of ireland, speaker of irish house of commons, chancellor of exchequer , lord chief justice of ireland. elevated peerage in 1756 baron castlemartyr, viscount boyle, earl of shannon. provided land construction of new church in village (st. anne s church of ireland) when act of parliament allowed dismantling of ballyoughtera church , re-use of of stones on new church.

it henry boyle, 1st earl of shannon, built eastern portion of present mansion house , set beautifying estate between years 1733 , 1764 , these improvement mentioned in smith’s “history of cork”. on henry s death in 1764 estate went son, richard, father attained high political standing. richard carried out of major extensions mansion house , how introduced practice of more sophisticated form of animal husbandry , crop-rearing. during period james “capability” brown landscaped estate planted woods. in addition robert west, famous stuccadore added delicate embellishment interior of mansion house.

famine

not single district in country, remained unscathed ravages of great famine. in imogeela, baptismal figures (an indication of number of births) prior famine indicate young , expanding population average of 238 baptisms between years 1836 , 1840. decline, however, in years after famine stark. 1888, baptismal figures dropped average of 60 per annum, quarter of once had been. similarly, effects of starvation , emigration in area can detected. in years , including 1844 there average of 55 marriages per year in parish. in decade after 1847 figure had been halved , late 19th century, figures had dropped still further all-time low of 2 weddings parish of imogeela in year 1888.

war of independence

while of castlemartyr s recorded history explores landlordist era in locality. war of independence affected village , legacy can still seen in village today. on 9 february 1920, castlemartyr disturbed revolver fire during capture of local r.i.c. barracks. barracks large built building, situated on main street more or less opposite roman catholic church. @ time housed garrison of 8 men, including sergeants o brien , o sullivan. earlier day, diarmuid o hurley, officer commanding midleton company, i.r.a., learned 2 of castlemartyr r.i.c. men, sergeant o brien , constable collins, on duty @ fair in midleton. part of plan capture barracks o hurley decided capture them returned castlemartyr later in evening. in doing improve chances of success weakening garrison there seizing 2 men. 5 o clock, o brien , collins cycling homewards @ churchtown, blocked farm cart pushed through gateway volunteers under tadhg manley. r.i.c. men had jump bikes save colliding cart. behind cart 2 of volunteers, rushed them revolvers drawn. unarmed policemen bundled nearby farmyard blindfolded , handcuffed. 1 of volunteers rushed away inform diarmuid o hurley o brien , collins taking no part in defence of barrack. on return left in charge of 2 prisoners , 2 colleagues moved off castlemartyr in hope of arresting r.i.c. men found patrolling there, further reducing strength of garrison.

constable hanrahan, pounced upon 2 volunteers emerged barracks 7 p.m., , held captive outside town. discovered constable hassett in house in town, , yet constable on leave. meant 5 members of garrison accounted for. communication o hurley in midleton difficult 2 volunteers, had watch barrack and, @ same time, hold constable hanrahan. furthermore, @ 8 o clock, 1 of them had cut telephone line castlemartyr exchange. important, killeagh aerodrome, strong military garrison, less 3 miles away. meanwhile, men of midleton company detailed operation, having finished work day, set out 7 p.m., headed diarmuid o hurley. on way picked 2 r.i.c. prisoners @ churchtown , advanced castlemartyr. disappointed when did not find 2 comrades in vicinity of r.i.c. barrack, diarmuid o hurley, thinking must have gone awry plans knocked @ barrack door. constable lee, sensing danger opened door had running chain on inside. thrust revolver through opening , fired. o hurley got own revolver through opening failed fire, struck out @ opponent s head, injuring him blow of revolver and, @ same time, snapping chain powerful thrust of foot. in moment o hurley , men in building. sergeant o sullivan, realising futility of resistance, surrendered, , volunteers removed military equipment barracks , without further opposition.

on evening of 27 november 1920, liam heffernan, conna , employed chauffeur shot dead in village. heffernan member of “b” company, first battalion, first cork brigade , car drove used convey officers of local ira battalion various locations units trained , organised. , 4 members of fourth battalion in car parked bridge opposite premises on main street owned whites (now mcgrath’s bar). battalion vice commandant had gone whites transact business. heffernan waited in car. 2 passing ric officers recognised heffernan sat in car reading newspaper, , knowing him member of ira, both officers approached car , began question occupants. immediately, gunfire began. although, not confirmed, onlookers claimed 1 of ric officers had shot @ occupants in car without warning. on hearing shots outside, ira officer in whites rushed out onto street , succeeded in getting car while shooting @ police officers. in exchange of fire, 1 police officer killed , other hit. liam heffernan, although wounded, managed start car , drive away. swung car sharply on bridge , onto mogeely road, had not gone far when became obvious driver dying. 1 of companions took on wheel , reached conna, local doctor pronounced heffernan dead. inscribed stone monument memory unveiled in castlemartyr on 23 may 1971, short distance place shot.

rock n roll footnote

the village played part in more recent rock n roll history. while on tour in ireland in january 1965, rolling stones breezed village on way play savoy theatre in cork played 1 of last gigs before embarking on third tour of u.s. (the 1 on wrote , recorded satisfaction ). while bill wyman , charlie watts took tea @ mrs. farrell s eating house, mick jagger, keith richards , brian jones nipped across street barry s bar stronger refreshments before set off city. documentary charlie darling directed peter whitehead (limited release in 1966) depicts brief sequence of band getting out of car, austin princess, bridge, outside shaugnessy s premises, site of village greengrocer.