Settlement deserted in Coolaghmore

In area of rough grazing with outcropping bedrock, with a stone revetted pond E of the church (KK030-004001-) and graveyard (KK030-004003-). Coolaghmore is located c. 4.5km S of Callan. The spelling of the placename has varied over the centuries (https://www.logainm.ie/en/26228), including Coilleagh (1363), Coylagh (c. 1450), Cwolaghmore (c. 1559), Cuolagh More (c. 1654) (Curtis 1934, vol. 2, 77; Cal. Lib. Rub. 21-c; F. 100; Simington 1931, vol. 1, 100) and there are also references to ‘Old Coylagh/le Oldquoillach/Oldcoyllagh’ in 1344, 1370 and c. 1418 respectively (Curtis 1932, vol. 1, 326 (deed 769); Curtis 1934, vol. 2, 115; Curtis 1935, vol. 3, 19) and ‘le Nywecoillagh and Nova Coillagh’ in 1375 and c. 1413 respectively (Curtis 1934, vol. 2, 150; ibid, 317). Many of these references relate to land in Coolaghmore and not to the town/borough itself. In the 14th century the borough was also referred to as ‘Sumertown’ and ‘Somerton’ (Curtis 1934, vol. 1, 73-4 (deed 92)). The relationship between Old Coolaghmore and New Coolaghmore is not known, though references to both are contemporary and suggest two settlements, though perhaps geographically they were quite close. In 1344, ‘Richard Somerton of Tibirken grants to Walter son of John son of Hugh fitz Randulf and Thomas son of John son of Hugh fitz Randulf eighteen acres arable and two wood in the tenement of Old Coylagh in Somerton near Callan in the field called “Fernewhille,” as measured and assigned…Given at Erleystown’ (Curtis 1932, vol. 1, 325-6 (deed 769)). A deed from 1363 confirms, ‘the liberties of Sumertoun near Callan’, by Gilbert Marshall, Earl of Pembroke. This deed refers to the same borough as, ‘Sumertoun, Sumertone and Somerton’ and ‘Coilagh and Coillagh’, the former being the newly acquired English name, which did not persist, and the latter being the pre-existing Irish name for the area. In the early 15th century, 1426, the rental of the Earl and Countess of Stafford from ‘the burgagery of Coillagh’ was 26s which compares well with the rent from ‘the burgagery of Jerpoint’ which was 12s, suggesting a thriving settlement. In the will of Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond dated 1576, he leaves to Patrick Sherlock, for his lifetime, ‘my town of Cowlagh’. In 1580/81 an indenture between Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond and ‘Nicholas Quemerford of Mogorban’, Co. Tipperary, grants, ‘the town commonly called Colaghmore, Co. Kilkenny, with the castle, meases, etc., belonging to the same, to have and hold to said Nicholas, etc., as Patrick Sherlok held the same, for 21 years at annual rent of 20l [pounds]’. The town/borough subsequently declined and the medieval settlement is no longer obvious. It is likely to have occupied the area in the vicinity of the church (KK030-004001-), where there are low earthen banks (H c. 0.5m), and probably continued southward into the present townland of Coolaghflags. The castle (KK030-004001-) is indicated on the Down Survey barony map of Kells SE of the church, though the precise location is unknown.