Castlemagner Parish
From Historical And Topographical Notes
Collected By: Colonel James Grove White J. P., D. L., Vol. II, Cork
Printed and published by Guy and Co., 70 Patrick Street, 1911.
Sheet 24, six-inch O.S., and Sheet 175,
one-inch O.S. Barony of Duhallow, Parish of Castlemagner.
It lies two miles west of Cecilstown, which is the post town.
It derives its name from the Magner family.
RUINS OF CASTLE MAGNER.
(Photo by late Rev. Henry Swanzy Rector of Castlemagner)
In 1881 the following is recorded:-Area of
parish, 7,88oa. Ir. 26p., statute; houses, 221; pop. 1,174; families, 216; R.C’s, 1,121; Prots., 53; val.
£5,913 15s. od. (Guy).
The rectories and tithes of Castlemagner, with many others, were granted to Sir John Jephson, Kt., 12th December, 10 James I., in
Cork (p. 211. Folio Calendar of Patent Rolls of James I., P.R.O.D.).
Lewis (pub. 1837) describes the parish as
follows: - "Castlemagner, a parish partly in the
barony of Orrery and Kilmore,
but chiefly in that of Duhallow, County of Cork, and
Province of Numster, 3 ½ miles (E. by N.) from Kanturk, containing 2,853 inhabitants. It derives its name
from the family of Magner to whom this part of the
country formerly belonged, and who erected a castle here, which was forfeited
during the protectorate. Not far from Castlemagner,
in the parish of Subulter, is Knockninoss."
Lewis gives an account of Loghort Castle, which will be described under the name.
He continues: The parish is situated on
the new line of road from Mallow to Kanturk, and is partly
bounded on the south by the river Blackwater, and
contains about 7,760 statute acres, consisting of nearly equal portions of
arable and pasture land; there is some woodland, and a considerable quantity of
wet rushy ground, but no bog or waste. The soil is
generally fertile, producing excellent crops, and there are several large dairy
farms. On the lands of Coolnamagh are several pits of
culm, forming part of the Dromagh
vein, but not worked at present. Limestone abounds, and is quarried for
building, repairing roads, and making lime. The new government road to King-Willliam’s Town passes through the extremity of the parish
for about a mile and a half.
The seats in the parish are Ballygiblin (Sir W.W. Becher,
Bart.), Bettyville (J. Terry, Esq.) Ramaher (C. Purcell, Esq.), The Glebe House (Rev. J.D.
Penrose), Cecilstown Lodge (W. Wrixon,
Esq.), and Assolas (belonging to Sir W.W. Becher).
The "Field Book" of 1840 states:
Castle Magner Parish. A large parish, nearly all
arable. It has some rough pasture. It contains about 45 Danish forts. Portions
of four rivers. About 12 gentlemen’s houses, 8 demesnes, one-third of the town Kanturk, 2 villages, one old castle in ruins, a noble
residence, a church, several quarries of common stone, several springs, wells,
limekilns, ponds, &c. (Ord. Sur. Office, Dublin).
Castlemagner Parish (R.C.)
THE R.C. CHURCH,
CASTLEMAGNER.
Rev. J. Greene, P.P.
"The Ancient and Modern Names of the
Parishes of Cloyne," taken from the Diocesan
Register, written by the Right Reverend Matthew McKenna, R.C. Bishop of Cloyne and Ross, in the year 1785: - Names, modern, Castlemagner; ancient, Castslemagner;
patron saint, dedicated to B.V. (Brady, i., lxviii.)
1291. "Ecca
de MUNEMANARRACH xxs under decia
Iis." (Tax P. Nic.)
"E. Monymandragh
idem cum Castlemagner." (V.B of 1670) (Brady, vol.ii, p. 100)
A list of the Popish Parish Priests
registered for the County of Cork the eleventh day of July, 1704, &c.,
&c.
William Sheehan, residing at Garretmaegarret, aged sixty-two years of the parishes of Kilbrin, Castlemagner, and Ballyclogh. He received Popish Orders in 1668 at Lumbriensis, from the Bishop of Lumvariensis.
Sureties were – John Quin, of Ballydaheen,
£50; Owen O’Callaghan, of Lottsy, £50.
Owen O’Connell, residing at Killcaskan, aged sixty-six years. He was Parish Priest of Clonmeen, Kilshanig, and part of Castlemagner. He received Popish Orders in 1666 at Dublin
from Patrick Plunket. His sureties were Manus
O’Keefe, of Knocknageehy, £50; and Callaghan of Lismealcomin. £50 ("Journal." Pp. 56 and 58, 19)
PAROCHIAL HOUSE,
CASTLEMAGNER.
Rev. J. Greene, P.P.
An abstract of the state of Poperty in Diocese of Cloyne.
Nov. 6th, 731, gives: - Parish of Castlemagner
and Ballyclogh. One old Masshouse.
Two officiating Popish Priests. No Convent of Frayars
of Nuns. No Popish school. ("Journal," P. 51, 1893). Lewis (pub.
1837) writes: - In the R.C. divisions this parish is the head of a union or
district comprising CastleMagner, Rosskeen,
and Subulter, and has a small chapel here. A school
of 50 boys and 30 girls, under the National Board, is aided by Sir W.W. Becher, Bart., who allows 20 guineas per annum; and a
school for boys and girls is supported by the trustees of Erasmus Smith’s
foundation, who allowed £20 per annum to the master, with a contingent gratuity
of £10 and £14 per annum to the mistress, with a like gratuity of £8. The
school house which contains apartments for the teachers is a neat building in
the rustic style, erected by the late Hon. John Perceval, and is kept in repair
by Lord Arden. (Under Castlemagner).