Rosenallis Parish
Source: Rev. M Comerford Collections relating to the Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin Vol. 2
The present ecclesiastical district known as the parish of
Rosenallis is composed of the old parish of Rosenallis proper, with
a portion of that of Rearymore.
The ancient parish of Rosenallis forms the S.E. portion of Hy-Regan,
now the Barony of Tinnehinch. It is bounded on the N. and N.W. by
the parish of Rearymore; E., by the parish of Castlebrack; S., by
the parishes of Ardea and Clonenagh; and S.W. by the parish of
Offerilan. Rossanallis, now corruptly pronounced Rosenallis, seems
to be the church called Ros Finghlaise, by ecclesiastical writers.
This name signifies the wood of the Finglas, or clear stream, an
appellation which would be applicable enough to the townland in
which the original parish church stood. This parish was dedicated to
St. Brigid of Kildare, as we learn from Colgan, in his chapter de
Ecclesiis et locis S. Brigidae in Hibernia dicatis, - amongst which
he inserts this church, - "Templum S. Brigidae in vico de
Rosfinnglas in Hyriegain" and in the List of Churches supplied by
Dr. Rosse MacGeoghegan, Bishop of Kildare to Colgan, it is set down
as "Ecclesia parochialis Stae Brigidae de Rossanollis." A further
confirmation of this is the fact, that a Holy Well in the village of
Rosenallis bears the name of this Saint. No portion of the old
structure is now in existence, its place being occupied by the new
Protestant Church. An ancient Round Tower stood opposite the door of
the church. It was described to Dr. O'Donovan, in 1838, by an old
man, who often saw and examined it as "a narrow steeple of rough
masonry, not so high or well built as the steeple of Timahoe." It
was pulled down some years before that date by the protestant
minister. Sir Charles Coote, who saw and examined this tower, did
not believe it to be one of the ancient Round Towers about which the
antiquarians of the last century have written so much.
"The Quakers," he writes, "have a large burial-place well enclosed,
near the village (Rosenallis), and on the rise of the hill, which is
all a vast rock, stands a very neat and handsome Protestant Church,
and the walls of a round tower are contiguous to it, but not
one-third as high as these circular towers seen through the kingdom,
nor evidently was it built for the like purpose. The walls of
wind-mill stand at some distance from the village, and bear strong
resemblance to the tower just described, but the former has no
entrance." Miss Beaufort, in her Essay, &c., quotes the Parochial
Surveys in support of a statement that Rosenallis is supposed to
derive its name from Rossa Failgea, son of Cathoir Mor, monarch of
Ireland in the second century; but Dr. Petrie (Round Towers, pp.
40-41,) shows that there are no grounds for this assertion.
REARYMORE
This ancient parish forms the central portion of the territory of Hy-Regan.
It is bounded on the N. by the King's County; E. and S.E., by the
parishes of Castlebrack and Rosenallis; S. by the parish of
Offerilan, in Ossory; and W., by the parish of Kilmanman. There were
two places of the name in Leinster. We are not told what this Reary
was, but it is more than probable it was a fort or residence of a
Chief. The old natives of the parish say that there was formerly a
rath on the top of the hill at Rearymore. The name Reary, (more
being added to distinguish this townland from Rearybeg,) seems to
have been first applied to a fort and afterwards to a little church
erected near it by St. Fionan, which was finally applied to the
parish belonging to that church. The ruins of the old church of
Rearymore are still to be seen in the townland of that name,of which
portions of the N. and W. walls are standing, and, near them, Holy
Wells springing from rocks with white-thorn bushes growing near, in
this parish is situated the townland of Tinnehinch, which contains
the ruins of the principal castle of Hy-Regan, from which that
territory received its baronial name. The present ruins of the
castle are very trifling, but it was certainly, when perfect, a
castle of considerable importance and extent. In the account of the
division in four parts of the lands and chiefries in suite between
Tadie Doyne, (O'Dunn) and Charles Doyne, this castle and
appurtenances are mentioned, as belonging to the second division, in
words which give us a clear idea of the importance of the building.
"The castle of Tenahinsie, the hall, the chambers at the end of the
hall, the stonewall of an hall which joineth to the castle, the
kitchen, the brew-house, the back-house, the stable, the porters
lodgings and all the houses within the Bawen; the two gardens, the
four orchards, the park and the meddow on the south syde of the
castle, the myll and all the houses on th' easte syde of the river
of the Barrow in the towne and fields of Tenahinsie, in the
territory of Iregari in the Queen's County."
In the Annals of the Four Masters are found the following references
to this locality.
"A.M. 3549. The twentieth year of the reign of Eithrial, son of
Irial Faidh, son of Eremon, when he fell by Conmhael, son of Emer,
in the battle of Raeire." (Identified as Rearymore by O'Donovan.)
"A.D. 1547. At this time the forces of the Lord Justice were
(engaged in) erecting a fortification in Leix around Badhun
Riaganach, where he left warriors to oppose O'Conor and O'More." On
this passage O'Donovan (Ord. Surv. Papers,) writes: "This Badhun-Riaganach
is the Bawn Regan of the old map of Leax and Ophaly on which it is
shown near the source of the river Barrow. It can be no other than
the castle of Tinnahinch. The Four Masters are wrong in placing it
in Leix, for it certainly was in Ophaly."
"A.D. 1555. The Lord Justice of Ireland mustered an army to march
into Munster. O'Brien mustered another army to oppose him, and
marched into Hy-Regan,to meet the Lord Justice. They (however) made
peace with each other; the Irish, from the Barrow to the Shannon, on
the part of O'Brien; and the English of Munster on the part of the
Lord Justice."
It is said that there are 22 priests interred at Reary; a record of
their names and other particulars is known to have existed in the
district about 60 years ago, but it cannot now be discovered. The
following monumental inscriptions are to be seen there: -
"Here lieth the body of the Rev. Father Keadaugh Dunn, who departed,
the 6th of July, 1714, and was Priest in the Barony of Tenehinch, 40
years."
"Here lie the Remains of the Rev. M. Valentine Dunne, Rector of
Rosenallis and the annext parishes, and Chancellor of Kildare. Aged
78 years, and 43 years P.P. of ye said 17 D.
Departed, May the 22nd, 1780."
"Here lieth the body of the Rev. John Kinin, who departed this life
the 10th May, 1734."
"To the memory of the Rev. Thaddeus Dunne, P.P. of O'Regan.
Descended of an ancient family in this Parish, devoted to virtue and
to piety from his earliest years, he was admitted to the sacred
ministry in the prime of life. Having completed his studies in the
College of Lombards in Paris, he returned to Ireland and, after some
years spent in the faithful discharge of his duties, was appointed
Pastor of his native parish, over which he presided for six and
twenty years. The simplicity of his manners, the piety of his
demeanour, and unremitting attention to the wants and interests of
his flock, obtained for him the respect of all classes of people,
and secured to him the confidence and affection of those committed
to his charge. He died greatly regretted, after a short illness, on
the 6th day of April, in the year of our Lord, 1828; of his age, the
60th. R.I.P."
The present fine parish church of Rosenallis was erected some 20
years ago, on a site bestowed for that purpose by the late Mr.
Piggott, of Cappard, who also generously contributed £200 towards
the work. The following inscriptions are copied from monuments
placed in this church: -
"In memory of Rev. John Byrne, P.P. of Rosenallis, who departed this
life January 20th, 1847, aged 57 years. Requiescat in pace."
"Of your charity pray for the soul of the Rev. Richard Coffey, P.P.
of Rosenallis, who died 10th of May, AD 1877, in the 55th year of
his age. On whose soul sweet Jesus have mercy."
"Underneath lie the mortal remains of the Rev. Andrew Hipwell, of
Wrinn, who died the 18th day of March, 1864, in the 40th year of his
age, eleven of which he devoted, with great piety, zeal, and
efficiency, to the sacred duties of his ministry. His life from
childhood was spent in the service of his God, in the well-founded
hope of an eternal reward. May he rest in peace."
"Erected by Mrs. Dunne, of Rathangan, to the memory of her beloved
brother, Rev. James Fleming, who departed this life on April 12th,
1872, aged 64 years. Requiescat in pace."
SUCCESSION OF PASTORS
Rosenallis having been united to Clonaslee until the year 1793, the
succession to that date has been already given in the chapter on
Clonaslee. On the translation of Rev. Patrick Dunne, to Kilcock, in
1793, Rosenallis became a distinct parish, over which FATHER HOSEY
was appointed Parish Priest; he died in 1802, and was succeeded by
REV. JAMES CONRAN. Very soon after his appointment, Father Conran,
with the consent of the Bishop, arranged an exchange of Parishes
with the P.P. of Ballon, Co. Carlow, - REV. THADY DUNNE, previously
of Ballon, succeeding to the Parish of Rosenallis. In 1811, Father
Dunne received the pastoral charge of Clonaslee in addition to
Rosenallis. He died April 6th, 1828, and was interred at Reary. On
the death of Father Dunne the parishes of Rosenallis and Clonaslee
were again separated. REV. JOHN BYRNE was appointed P.P. of
Rosenallis. He died in 1847, and was buried at Rosenallis. REV. JOHN
MOONEY succeeded. Father Mooney had been originally a Dominican. He
died in April, 1876. Rev. RICHARD COFFEY succeeded; he died May
10th, 1877, and had for successor the present Pastor, The REV.
MARTIN F. MAHER