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St. Michael's Church and Holy Well, Tinnahinch

Overlooking the River Barrow and Mount Brandon, lies the ruins of St. Michael's Church and Graveyard, the church was built around the 12th or 13th century. Between the church and the river, you can find the Holy Well of St. Michael, which by custom was visited after the mass held in the church above, on the Sunday closest to Michaelmas Day, 29th September.

Tinnahinch Castle

(Article from an old newspaper found under the floorboards of a local house.)

ANCIENT CASTLE TO BE DEMOLISHED.

At Tinnahinch (Tighe-na-hinse, the House of the Island or River Meadow), Co. Carlow, there stands the ruins of an old castle, a picturesque object beside the banks of the Barrow. Like all the other ancient monuments in the country it too has its painful history. Built in the 16th century it has been known since as the Castle of the Butlers. It is of ancient design, the only entrance to it was a small door in an angle in the western side which was defended by a bartizan at the top of the building. At  the Eastern corner nearest to the river was a Barbian or watch tower constructed on corbels projecting from the walls by which the northern and eastern side was defended.

Many tales of lawless wickedness and wild romances in which the owners of the castle bore a leading part are still related in the neighbourhood. It is told that Butler who resided in the castle was born in England. Being brought to this country when an infant he was reared by a family called Archdexin residing at Raheen, about two miles from Graig—na Managh. When he reached London he was in great favour with the Queen from whom he received grants of land in the Counties Carlow and Kilkenny. The story goes that he constructed at the top of castle an immense reservoir for water, capable of holding as much as would flood the castle, which having filled he invited a large number of the neighbouring Irish amounting to 700 to dinner. When they had assembled the means of egress was secured and Butler going to the top of the castle discharged the contents of the reservoir, by which means they were all drowned.

Tradition tells us, and it is said locally, there is never an assembly, fair or meeting in Graigue but the day is sure to come wet. The history of this structure doleful as it may remain, but the ruins of the castle are to be no more, as they are to be demolished by the Grand Canal Company, they being considered dangerous.

 

The prediction by this newspaper never came to pass, and Tinnahinch Castle remains a picturesque object beside the banks of the Barrow.

(See link on the left for more up to date information!)

 

The Barrow

The River Barrow flows through the towns of Graiguenamanagh and Tinnahinch and messing about on the river is popular with locals and visitors alike.

For more information click here.

The Graving Docks

The site of the nineteenth century graving docks below the bridge was used from early times for building the flat bottomed clarachans or clarauns which, until the canalisation of the Barrow, were pulled along the river by teams of hauliers. In 1821 the Barrow Navigation Company established the graving dock, the chambers of which are thought to be still intact. Here were built many of the long tailed wooden barges which plied the river well into the present century.

The Old Market House

It was here that, on Sunday 24th October 1830, a meeting was held ‘for the purpose of concerting measures to prevent the payment of tithe rent in the parish’. It transpired that this meeting led to the first shots being fired in what came to be remembered in history as ‘The Tithe War’. The Old Market House has now been restored and is a centre-piece in the town square.

Thomas Cloney’s House

Situated in Abbey Street is the house which once belonged to General Thomas Cloney, a leader in the rebellion of 1798, and later the close associate of Daniel O’Connell. He lived here from 1802 until his death in 1850.

Celtic Crosses and the Mass House

Within the grounds of Duiske Abbey stand the Akylthawn and Ballyogan Crosses, dating from the eighth and ninth centuries, both of which are decorated with carved figures and Celtic ornamentation. Nearby is the site of the thatched Mass house which served the local people from 1728 to 1812.

The Fountain

Originally positioned by the footpath near the North West corner of the abbey and bearing the appropriate Slainte inscription on its fascia. This fountain provided the first public supply of piped water to the people of Graiguenamanagh in 1899

The Clapper Bridge

Sited at the junction of the Duiske river and the monks’ mill race, the medieval foot-bridge beside Our Lady’s Well crosses the river on the shortest, route between the thirteenth century abbey and its mills.

Bachelor’s Walk

Now it’s just a lonely lane leading westward from Gahan House, but in 1800s Bachelor’s Walk contained fifteen small cabins. From one of these cabins the O’Leary family emigrated to America. It is said that one of their cows kicked over the lamp that started the great Chicago fire in 1871.

The Bianconi Yard

In the early nineteenth century, there was a regular passenger service provided by Bianconi coaches between Waterford and Carlow. Every day the two-horse, four-wheeled cars arrived in Graignamanagh to deliver the mail and change horses. The animals were replaced every ten miles or so, and this made it possible for the cars to travel at a good speed of around eight miles per hour. The first staging post in Graigue was at the Canal Hotel, but this was later changed to the Abbey Hotel, now Doyle’s pub in Main Street, and the old stables still stand to this day.

The Turf Market

In bygone days regular markets were held in Graigue, selling and bartering what produce the locals couldn’t provide for themselves. One of these took place in an open place on the banks of the Duiske and specialised in fuel. The throughway from High Street to Lower Main Street, known as the Turf market, retains the memory in its name.

Peg Washington‘s Lane

In the early 1800s, houses began to go up rapidly along the Duiske in the Turfmarket. A local widow, Peg Washington viewed this development with concern, fearing that her access to the river would be cut off. Having complained to the local ‘Powers-that-be’, she was asked what width she needed. Peg replied: ‘Just the width of meself’, and the result is still there to be seen today - the ‘smallest lane in the world’, leading from the Turfmarket to the waters of the Duiske.

Ullard

A magnificent Romanesque doorway and a tenth century high cross are the principal features in the monastic ruins at Ullard, about three miles from Graigue. The foundation was dedicated to Saint Fiachra who was also revered in France, where he died in 670 AD. The faces of Saint Fiachra and Saint Moling are engraved in the doorway. There are signs that the building was repeatedly burned - evidence, perhaps, of Viking raids in the tenth century.

Coolhill Castle

If you have the good fortune to travel by boat downriver between Saint Mullin’s and The Rower, you will soon come upon the imposing sight of Coolhill This thirteenth century circular structure stands on a prominence on a bend of the Barrow and its situation is most impressive. It was once the stronghold of the De La Rupes who were the feudal lords of The Rower and later became known as Roches. By car or on foot, the castle can be reached by taking a turn off the main road (signposted) just outside The Rower on the Graigue side.