Rathbeagh
Encyclopedia
Rathbeagh is a hill on the River Nore
in the parish of Lisdowney Parish near Ballyragget
, County Kilkenny
, Ireland
. According to Irish tradition, the Rath is the burial place of Heremon, son of the Celtic Taoiseach
Milesius
.
The Gaelic
name is Rath Beithigh, meaning "the Rath of the Birch trees." It is located in an ancient valley once called Mágh Airgid Rois ("The Plain of the Silver Wood").
It consists of a flat-topped oval mound about 41 metres (134.5 ft) north to south and 36 metres (118.1 ft) east to west. A fosse
3.7 metres (12.1 ft) wide surrounds the mound, leaving a gap at the river's edge. Outside there is a rampart about 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. The whole structure overlooks a bend on the Nore. The river is fordable at this location, so strategically the fort controlled the crossing. Parts of the Rath are being eroded by the presence of livestock in the field.
The remains of a church dedicated to St. Catherine
is located in the graveyard situated just about 300 metres (984.3 ft) north of the Rath. The church is built on the site of an earlier castle or stronghouse. Remains of what are believed to be stables or workshops were discovered in the adjacent field. The earliest gravestone date that can be distinguished in the graveyard is 1715.
Just East of the old church is a pond under the road, known locally as Poll Leabhair, meaning "the Pond of the Book" or "Hole of the Book." According to tradition, the church was desecrated during the Cromwellian wars
, and the Missal
was dumped in this pond. In the mid-19th century the church bell was found in a sand-pit in a nearby field and was presented to the Church of Ireland
Church in Killeshan, Carlow
, according to Carrigan's History of Ossory.
A well nearby is known as St. Catherine's Well. Its specific location is unclear, but it is somewhere a short distance south of Poll Leabhair and between the field known as The Paddock and the river Nore. Oral history records that the well's water was very popular as a cure for eye disease.
River Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
in the parish of Lisdowney Parish near Ballyragget
Ballyragget
Ballyragget is a small town in County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated along the river Nore in the north of the county. It is located in the province of Leinster in the south-east of the island of Ireland. Ballyragget situated on the N77 north of Kilkenny and has a population of 1,451...
, County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. According to Irish tradition, the Rath is the burial place of Heremon, son of the Celtic Taoiseach
Taoiseach
The Taoiseach is the head of government or prime minister of Ireland. The Taoiseach is appointed by the President upon the nomination of Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas , and must, in order to remain in office, retain the support of a majority in the Dáil.The current Taoiseach is...
Milesius
Míl Espáine
In Irish origin legends, Míl Espáine or Míl Espáne is the ancestor of the final inhabitants of Ireland, the "sons of Míl" or Milesians, who represent the vast majority of the Irish Gaels....
.
The Gaelic
Irish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
name is Rath Beithigh, meaning "the Rath of the Birch trees." It is located in an ancient valley once called Mágh Airgid Rois ("The Plain of the Silver Wood").
It consists of a flat-topped oval mound about 41 metres (134.5 ft) north to south and 36 metres (118.1 ft) east to west. A fosse
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
3.7 metres (12.1 ft) wide surrounds the mound, leaving a gap at the river's edge. Outside there is a rampart about 3 metres (9.8 ft) high. The whole structure overlooks a bend on the Nore. The river is fordable at this location, so strategically the fort controlled the crossing. Parts of the Rath are being eroded by the presence of livestock in the field.
The remains of a church dedicated to St. Catherine
Catherine of Alexandria
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, also known as Saint Catherine of the Wheel and The Great Martyr Saint Catherine is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, who was martyred in the early 4th century at the hands of the pagan emperor Maxentius...
is located in the graveyard situated just about 300 metres (984.3 ft) north of the Rath. The church is built on the site of an earlier castle or stronghouse. Remains of what are believed to be stables or workshops were discovered in the adjacent field. The earliest gravestone date that can be distinguished in the graveyard is 1715.
Just East of the old church is a pond under the road, known locally as Poll Leabhair, meaning "the Pond of the Book" or "Hole of the Book." According to tradition, the church was desecrated during the Cromwellian wars
Cromwellian conquest of Ireland
The Cromwellian conquest of Ireland refers to the conquest of Ireland by the forces of the English Parliament, led by Oliver Cromwell during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. Cromwell landed in Ireland with his New Model Army on behalf of England's Rump Parliament in 1649...
, and the Missal
Missal
A missal is a liturgical book containing all instructions and texts necessary for the celebration of Mass throughout the year.-History:Before the compilation of such books, several books were used when celebrating Mass...
was dumped in this pond. In the mid-19th century the church bell was found in a sand-pit in a nearby field and was presented to the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
Church in Killeshan, Carlow
Carlow
Carlow is the county town of County Carlow in Ireland. It is situated in the south-east of Ireland, 84 km from Dublin. County Carlow is the second smallest county in Ireland by area, however Carlow Town is the 14th largest urban area in Ireland by population according to the 2006 census. The...
, according to Carrigan's History of Ossory.
A well nearby is known as St. Catherine's Well. Its specific location is unclear, but it is somewhere a short distance south of Poll Leabhair and between the field known as The Paddock and the river Nore. Oral history records that the well's water was very popular as a cure for eye disease.