Oughterany Vol. I No. 2

Oughterany - Journal of the Donadea Local History Group

  • Oughterany
  • Journal of the Donadea Local History Group
  • Vol. I No. 2 1995
  • Editor - Noel Reid
  • ©1995: Donadea Local History Group
  • ISSN: 0791 - 8291

General information about Oughterany

Contents

Editorial 2
Tower Houses of the Pale in East County Kildare Tadgh O’Keeffe 5
The Civil Parish of Balraheen Seamus Cullen 13
St. Peter’s Church, Donadea Noel Reid 23
Maynooth to Edenderry Railway D. O’Leary, S. Cullen 34
Fred Stewart Robert Stewart 43
The Baltinglass Rebellion and its Kilcock Connections Kevin Lynch 45
Cill Iochtar - Killeighter Bernadette Gilligan 49
An Adventurous Timahoe Landlord Martin J. Kelly 53
Old Kildrought Church, Celbridge Des O’Leary 58
Lest We Forget John P. Lynch 72
Memorabilia An tSr Fionntan 77

Cover drawing Painstown Castle
by Pat Sherry

Editorial Comments

The second issue of Oughterany was only made possible by the dedication to research by the various authors. Dr. Tadgh O’Keeffe draws our attention to the disappearance of ninety tower houses and castles, and looking at Donadea Park, the question I ask is, where have all the Choughs gone? Two from the Eagle Gate, one from the island in the lake and the one from over the yard gateway. The stained-glass windows which were in the Castle Chapel, taken down for safety, nobody knows where they are now.

It is perhaps appropriate to intention here that the night this journal is launched, 29th September, 1995, is the 50th anniversary of my family’s arrival to Kilmurry. The second World War was drawing to a close, and the emergency was still with us. Rationing coupons were required for tea, sugar, bread, clothes etc. Petrol was still not available. Electricity was not to arrive for seven years, so paraffin and candles provided light. A government permit was required to purchase the tractor shown on page 40 in Oughterany No. I, 1 in 1946.

Trees were beginning to grow in Donadea forest. Most of these trees, except the Oak planting, have now matured and have been felled. Donadea Castle had just been gutted and the windows and floors sold off. It was a fresh-looking ruin fifty years ago. Dr. O’Keeffe’s drawing of the Castle does show the deterioration in the top section which will continue if not checked by repair. Is it not time that the Office of Public Works took it over and opened it to the public?

The "Occupiers’ Liability Act, 1994 " (no 36 of 1994) should help to allay the fear of many Landowners with historic buildings on their property of being held legally responsible for accidents to visitors.

Congratulations to Rev. Patrick Ramsbottom Parish Priest of Staplestown / Cooleragh on the beautiful restoration work to St. Benignus’ Church, Staplestown.

Also congratulations to Celbridge Community Council who with the aid of Kildare County Council and FAS have cleaned up Kildrought Churchyard, Tea Lane, Celbridge. I understand the old buildings have now been restored.

The Great Famine is presently being remembered all over the county and we would welcome and encourage articles for a future Journal on the famines in North Kildare.

Sadly we record the death of Mrs Rose Costello (nee Carroll) on 14th September 1994. Rose was for many, many years the Postmistress of the Donadea Office She was one of our best supporters and she was a mine of local information. Always a very cheerful person, a chat with her was refreshing.

Our thanks to each of the authors and especially to the public who supported Vol. 1, No. 1. Our thanks are also due to the Kildare County Library for their financial support.

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