Killabban Parish
The
ancient and more proper title for this parish is
Killabban. It receives its present name from the
parish church being placed in modern times at Arles.
This name is derived from Ard-glas, i.e. "the verdant
hill;" or, according to some, from Ard-lios, i.e. "the
forted hill."
The earliest place of worship here
appears to have been a chapel built in 1686, of which
there is a description and an illustration (Pl. 34,
Vol. II.) in Grose's Antiquities. It is there
described as having been "built, according to
tradition, by a lady of the family of Hartpole. It is
erected in the form of a cross, and is thatched. In
one arm of the cross is a small chapel, the place of
interment for the Grace family. A long Latin metrical
epitaph to Dame Frances Grace, alias Bagot, wife to
Sheffield Grace, who died 3rd May, 1742, aged 32, is
given; and another, in English, to Mrs. Martha Grace,
wife of Michael Grace, who died Nov. 28, 1736, in the
55th year of her age." Grose's illustration shows this
chapel to have been a very plain structure, with the
thatch sadly in need of repair. An inscribed stone,
let into the wall of the present church, records the
name of the builder of the old chapel: "Madam
Scurlock, alias Walsh, alias Hartpole, built this
chapel, A.D. 168-" (last figure broken away).
According to the annals of the Grace family, this
chapel was pulled down in 1795, and was replaced by
that which existed until the present beautiful church
of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built, towards the
erection of which the late Mrs. Grace Grace was a
munificent contributor. The Grace mausoleum is a
conspicuous object in the adjoining grave-yard. It was
built in 1818, in place of the original one-erected in
1687, by Oliver Grace, Chief Remembrance of the
Exchequer; by Mrs. Alicia Kavanagh, daughter of
Michael Grace of Grace-field; Sir William Grace, Bart;
and his brothers Sheffield Juris consult, and Percy,
Admiral of the Royal fleet, for themselves and
posterity, on the site of the southern wing of the
church of Arles.
The following is the inscription upon it, recording
the above:
"Hoc sepulchrum Alicia Kavanagh, filia Michaelis
Grace de Gracefield, Arm.; Gulielmus Grace,
Baronettus, et fratres ejus Sheffieldus,
jurisconsultus, Perceus Regiae Classis Praefectus,
poni curaverunt, A.D. MDCCCXVIII., sibi
posterisque. Quo loco fuit olim Australis ala
aedis Arlesianae ab Olivero Grace de Shangano sive
Gracefield, Armig. Anno Salutis MDLXXXVII.
aedificata, jamdiu vetustate collapsa."
This mausoleum is fully described and illustrated in
the family Annals, compiled by Sheffield Grace, who
traces their pedigree to Raymond Fitz William,
surnamed Le Gros, who accompanied Strongbow to
Ireland, and through him further back to the Ducal
House of Tuscany.
(Above copied as was written)
Source: Rev M Comerford "Collections relating to the
Dioceses of Kildare and Leighlin" Vol. 3 (1886)
Killabban
Church
(now a
monastic site)
Killabban Parish Church after its partial
restoration.
Source:
https://arlesparish.ie/killabban-monastery/ |
Killabban Parish Church before its partial
restoration.
Source: Photo
by M. Brennan |
St. Abban in the Parish of Killabban
Historical landmark in
the Republic of Ireland
This parochial district derives its name from St.
Abban, who built a monastery here, according to Trias
Thaum., about the year 650, but, according to other
authorities, a century earlier. The Martyrology of
Donegal, at March 16th, that saint's festival, has the
following :- " Abban Mac-ua-Corbmaic of MaghArnaidhe,
in Ui Ceinnsealaigh, in Leinster, and of CillAbbain in
Ui Muireadhaigh, in Leinster.
He was of the race of
Labraidh Lorc, son of Ugaine Mor; Miolla, sister of
Bishop Ibhair, was his mother, as his life states in
the first chapter." There are two saints Abban,
commemorated in the Irish Calendars whose acts have
become hopelessly entangled. St. Abban, senior, was
the nephew of St. Ibhair, named by some as having
preceded St. Conlaeth as Bishop of Kildare. St. Ibhair
having established himself at Beg-Erin, in Wexford
harbour, his nephew, Abban, went there for his
education, about the year 490, being then twelve years
of age (Ussher). In his Life, by Colgan, his connexion
with this locality is thus referred to:-
"Sanctus Abbanus cum suis clericis, fines Laginensium
intravit, et venit in plebem Huathmarchy, et ipsa
plebs honorifice recepit eum, et valde gavisa est in
ejus adventu. Et vir sanctus benedixit eam diligenter,
et multis diversis languoribus ibi sanatis, et
miraculis perpetratis, inde recessit in plebem
Huarnidhi, ibique magnam monasterium construxit, et
propter honorem ejus in eodem loco civitas aedificata
est; et monasterium et civitas uno nomine Scoticd
vocantur Ceall-Abbain." (AA. ,SS. p. 617.)
A
curious passage, regarding the interment of St. Abban,
occurs in his Life, by Colgan. It is here given as
translated by the author of Loca Patriciana, p. 7, et
seq: -" We wish to write some brief details of his
decease, and how his holy remains were deposited in
the earth. On a certain day when the time of his
passage to the heavenly kingdom was at hand, calling
together some of his brethren he mentioned to them the
day of his departure. The Praepositus of his
monastery, who was also the procurator of every
requisite in-doors and outside, was born in the town
of Ceall Abain, which is in the territory of the North
Leinstermen, and which was the first place St. Abban
had founded in the land of the Leinstermen-to this
Praepositus, alone, he disclosed the precise hour of
his dissolution. That very same moment the Praepositus
determined to carry away the blessed body of the holy
man, and to bring it, if he possibly could, to his own
town; he sent messengers to his native place, in order
that his own people should collect together the North
Leinstermen to come to meet him at the appointed day,
and by the road on which these messengers should
determine.
These orders they obeyed with alacrity, but as the
Praepositus had the oxen already mentioned in his
charge, because these were for the use of the
monastery, as the saint prophesied of them before they
were born, they were like monks, nor was there any
necessity to urge them to work, as they themselves
willingly and meekly obeyed, so that the holy father
and the brethren loved them much. The Praepositus
placed these oxen beside the waggon in the assigned
place on the night on which the holy father foretold
his departure for heaven-and the angels on that night
were seen visiting the man of God. The Praepositus,
knowing from the lips of the saint the precise hour of
his departure, ordered all the brethren to retire to
rest for some time, except his own accomplices who
were cognisant of his plans.
Awaiting awhile quietly till the brotherhood had
retired, meanwhile the soul of the holy father
ascended among the angelic choirs to the heavenly
kingdom. The Praepositus with his friends forthwith
carried away the sacred body from the monastery, and
placed it on the waggon with the aforesaid oxen yoked
thereto, which, aware of the precious burthen they
carried, began their journey with the attendants. Then
the angelic array descended from heaven, singing
sweetly around the corpse; and light like the rays of
the rising sun, or when he sets in serenity, shining
from them, illuminated the whole way. They continued
thus until the venerable remains were placed in the
grave, while the leaders of the procession walked with
quickened paces under the influence of the angelic
light.
"When the brotherhood arose after some repose, they
went to the place where they left the wily
Praepositus; not having found him there they then
placed guards on all the gates of the cloisters, and
it was only then they learned that the Praepositus had
carried away by stealth the remains of the abbot to
his own town. With weeping and wailing and violent
ringing of bells, the townsmen were gathered together;
and when the sad intelligence regarding their abbot
was made known to them the whole city was plunged in
grief. The people and the clergy were more distressed
that his body was stolen away from them than that he
had departed from this world, as they doubted not that
they should be delivered from every evil, and that
they should be enriched with every good, and that they
should obtain the wished for favours before the relics
of so great a man, as they had been delivered by him
while he lived among them.
Taking counsel together they despatch a number of
messengers in different directions to the men of South
Leinster, to induce them to follow their patron and to
endeavour to recover his remains. Forthwith the
populace, taking arms, go with the brethren, to fight
for their saint. A great crowd being then collected
from every side, they formed a large army, and went
with eagerness to bring back the remains to the place
whence they had been removed. In the meantime the
people of the other city, with the army of North
Leinster, gather together; they were more numerous and
better armed than those of the South. The holy monks,
the clerics, and the good and wise men on both sides,
seeing that great danger was imminent, ordered both
parties to remain quiet, and the corpse to be detained
and placed between them, to effect, if possible, some
reconciliation; but disputing with one another, it was
impossible to bring them to terms.
The N. Leinster army asserted
'This saint erected our city, took us, his first
people in this territory, under his protection, and we
have accepted him for ever as our Patron; and our
wives, our sons, and our daughters, our servants and
our handmaids, even our infants, hope in him in every
necessity, and we are determined to die rather than
yield him up.' The people of Magher-naidhe, with the
S. Leinstermen spoke thus-' This holy man was sent to
us by God, he lived many years amongst us and founded
many monasteries and churches in our country. He is
our saint and our venerated father, he built our town,
and, after many miracles wrought among us, he was
taken away to the Lord. We hope to be always assisted
by him, and know ye that we shall consign ourselves to
death rather than we shall return without him.' At
this speech the wrath of the leaders and armies on
both sides was inflamed and lashed to fury-they
commenced to vituperate and contend against each
other. Then the monks and clerics to whom armed
intervention was unlawful, went apart, weeping and
wailing; they cried aloud-' Alas! alas! O Lord God,
why dost Thou permit this wretched slaughter of so
many noble souls on account of the corpse of Thy
servant who, while alive, was the means of preventing
much bloodshed and wars?
The armed ranks were about to engage each other, urged
on by dire hostility, and with impetuosity to enter
into deadly strife to fight for the body. Oh,
wonderful and exceedingly great miracle wrought by God
through the merits of the saint! Behold! in the
twinkling of an eye, two oxen with a wain and corpse
went to the North Leinstermen, and two oxen of the
same appearance and size, with a similar waggon and
corpse, went towards the men of South Leinster. Then
the holy men on both sides, and all the others, seeing
this wonder so quickly wrought, were appeased; and,
full of joy, they cried out-' Behold how great, how
excellent are the merits of the Saint Abban before the
Lord.' The people indeed rejoiced exceedingly, and
giving glory and thanks to the Father, and the Son,
and the Holy Ghost, praising his saint, returned with
great joy and honour to their cities, and those who
were suffering from various diseases were brought
before the relics, and all were made whole. And the
relics themselves with due honour, with canticles and
hymns of praise, after solemn mass and obsequies were
consigned with honour to the tomb."
'At Killabban are the ruins of an ancient Church,
consisting of nave and chancel; nave, 45 feet by 22;
chancel, 28 feet by 22. The chancel-arch remains; it
is 15 feet wide and Norman in style. The entrance-door
is in the west gable, it is 3 feet in width, and is
round-headed. There is a long lancet window in the
east-end, part of the stone casing of which remains,
and shows it to have been well-wrought. There appears
to be a gable campanile at the west end, but the ruin
is so completely covered with luxuriant ivy that it is
impossible to trace its architectural features
satisfactorily. The fragments of a stone coffin are
scattered about within the walls of the church. In
Roll of Receipts, Easter term A.D. 1286, John,
Clerk of Killabban, because he came not when attached,
was fined half a mark. (Cal. State Documents -
Sweetman). A Patent Roll, 5th and 6th of Philip and
Mary, (Morrin) records the presentation of Edward
Shorthall, Clerk, to the Vicarage of Killabban.
The name of Theobald Denn, Gent, of Killabban, appears
in the Registry of Parish Priests taken in 1704, as
surety for Rev. Brian Moore, of Killabban, Rev. Kedagh
Moore, of Ballyadams, and Rev. Edmond McGinis,
Killeshin. This is, no doubt, the Theobald Denn, Esq.,
who was appointed one of the Burgesses of Old Leighlin
under the Charter granted to that Borough by King
James II. On the 4th of July, 1688. Sir Richard
Butler, Bart., of Poolstown, (now Paulstown) dying in
1886, Elizabeth, his widow, married Theobald Denn,
Esq. (De Brett's Peerage.) In a Return dated 1731 (see
Vol I. P. 269,) it is stated that there were in
Killabban one Mass-house, two private chapels, four
schoolmasters, and two priests; and that several
itinerant priests, supposed to be regulars, frequently
officiated in the said chapels.
In all likelihood, one of these private chapels was at
the residence of Theobald Denn or his descendants. For
the particulars supplied by a similar return, made,
March 29th, 1766, by Edwd. Whitty, Protestant Curate.
The principal seats
in the Parish are:
-
Cooper
Hill, the residence of William. Cope
Cooper, Esq.
-
Ashfield
Hall, the residence of P. Gale, Esq.
-
Rahin,
the residence of Lieut. Col. Weldon.
-
Tollerton, the residence of Hovendon
Stapleton, Esq.
-
Killeen,
the residence of M. Dillon Thomas, Esq.
-
Maidenhead, the residence of the Bambrick
family.
-
Ardateggle the residence of U.
Fitzmaurice, Esq.
-
Hollymount, the residence of W.
Fishbourne, Esq.
The living is a
rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the gift
of the Crown. The tithes amount to £1,292-6s-1½d.
There are two churches, one at Castletown and the
other at Mayo, for the erection of one of which the
late Board of First Fruits, in 1813, gave £800; and
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have lately granted
£106 for the repairs of that at Castletown, and £172
for that at Mayo. There is neither glebehouse nor
glebe. In the R.C. divisions the parish forms the head
of two unions or districts, one called Ballylynan and
Arles, which has chapels at those places and at
Killeen; the other called Mayo and Doonane, which is
united with the parish of Rathaspick, and has chapels
at Mayo and Doonane.
About 400 children
are educated in four public schools, to three of which
the rector subscribes, and 640 in 16 private schools;
there are also six Sunday schools.
St.Abban founded a
monastery here in AD650, in which he is said to have
been interred: there are some re mains of its church.
There are also remains of the old church of Arles, and
of the ancient castle of Hovendon, over the entrance
to which are quartered the arms of the Leinster and
Ormonde families. Near Castletown church is a well,
which supplies, water enough to turn a mill in its
immediate vicinity.
Source: Portlaoise
Public Library 1999.
