Bun Cloidi

The Battle of Bunclody in the 1798

The battle of Bunclody was fought on the 1st of June in 1798 when a force of insurgents, under the leadership of Fr. Mogue Kearns, a native of Kiltealy, attacked the town. Miles Byrne, a young man from Monaseed, suggested to Fr. Kearns that if a detachment of men were placed at the opposite side of the town victory would be assured. Fr. Kearns would not take his advice. The insurgents took the town, the garrison under Colonel L'Estrange retreated at full speed up towards Kildavin. The insurgents, meanwhile, dispersed through the streets visiting friends and partaking of food, but L'Estrange and his soldiers met reinforcements, returned to the town and attacked the insurgents who were driven out with considerable losses. The survivors made their way back to the insurgents' camp at Vinegar Hill. In 1875, when the bridge over the River Slaney was being widened, a quantity of human bones was found. These were thought to be the remains of those killed at the battle in 1798 and were interred in the old cemetery where a fine Celtic cross was erected in their memory.

Bunclody Churches

St. Mary’s Church of Ireland Church was built in 1775. At first it had a wooden spire, but later the building was enlarged, and the present stone steeple erected The gallery of the church was made to accommodate people from Kildavin district. The rectory, off Ryland Road, was built in I805.

John Wesley, founder of the Methodists, visited Bunclody on two occasions, in 1769 and in 1787. The Methodist chapel was erected about 1810. (It is now The Chantry Restaurant.) There was no Catholic church in Bunclody until one was built in 1825-26 in the townland of Ballinapark, then in the parish of Kilrush. and dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. Before that, people went to Mass in an improvised chapel in a building in what has since been called Chapel Lane (probably opposite Kelly’s Restaurant). The Church of St Mary Magdalene was demolished in 1970 when the present Church of the Blessed Trinity was opened.

Bunclody Schools

In 1826 there were five schools in the town. About 55 pupils attended the Erasmus Smith school on Ryland Road, now a tourist hostel. This served as the school for Church of Ireland pupils until the new school in Carrigduff was built . A new school was erected at the top of Irish Street in 1826 where 60 pupils attended. This is the house now called Riverview. Eighty-five pupils attended the largest school which was attached to the newly erected St Mary Magdalene's Church, and there were two other schools, one catering for 76 pupils and 31 were taught in the other.