Athy — Athy,townparks (athy Rural Ed) (detached Portion),townparks (athy West Urban Ed)

At a strategically important crossing point of the River Barrow. According to Bradley et al. (1986a vol. 1, 35), The placename ‘Athy’ is derived from ‘Ath I’, “the ford of Aei”, a warrior killed here in legendary combat. The Anglo-Norman settlement at Athy appears to date from at least the mid 13th-century when two priories (Dominican: KD035-022004- and Fratres Cruciferi: KD035-022006-) and a church (St. Michael’s: KD035-022014-) are known to have been in existence. The Michael family, lords of the barony of Reban since the conquest, were also the Lords of Athy. An early castle (KD035-022001-) was also likely to have existed – the sergeant of the ‘ward of Athy’ is mentioned in 1297 (ibid.) – although its precise location is not recorded. The nascent Anglo-Norman settlement must also have enjoyed a level of protection from Woodstock Castle (KD035-021----), a 13th-century structure near the W-bank of the Barrow. Athy also developed as an inland port; the passage of boats from New Ross to Athy is first referred to in the 13th-century. Although a borough is likely to have been established at an early date, (Athy was burnt in 1308), the earliest recorded evidence for its existence is not until 1326 when Geoffrey de Hereford is referred to as ‘burgess of Athy’ (op. cit 36). Although well outside the Pale, Athy was an important outpost on the route between Dublin and the Anglo-Irish territories of the south-east. Greater exposure to attack by the Irish in the later medieval period led the government to make extra provision for the defence of the town, and new fortifications were constructed in 1417. In 1431, Athy was described as the “greatest fortress and key of the countryside” (op. cit. 37). While the town is likely to have been enclosed earlier, the first specific reference to town defences (KD035-022002-) does not occur until 1515, when Athy belonged to the earl of Kildare. Athy and Kildare were granted charters by Henry VIII giving inhabitants the right to elect a provost and hold a weekly market, and authorising them to fortify their towns. Athy was a Silken Thomas stronghold in his revolt of 1534-5, and was subsequently forfeited by the earl of Kildare. The town came under repeated Irish attack in the later 16th-century. A new charter of incorporation was granted by James I in 1613 and the town was heavily garrisoned during the rebellion of 1641-2. In 1648, Athy was held by troops of Owen Roe O’Neill and was unsuccessfully besieged by Preston. In 1650, Catholic forces under Dillon blew up the castle and the bridge on the approach of the Cromwellians under Hewson. The census of 1659 recorded a population of 452 in the borough of Athy. Two serious fires occurred around 1670 when many of the inhabitants were described as “English tradesmen”. In 1682, Thomas Monk described Athy as “every way commodious for Trade, but noe manifacture being driven, poore”. The town is divided in two by the S-flowing River Barrow, but its main street pattern is linear E-W: Leinster St. to the E of the river (intersected by Stanhope St. to the N and Offaly St. to the S) and Duke St. to the W of the river (off which Woodstock St. runs to the N). Athy’s surviving street pattern is difficult to date and original elements were probably altered in the 18th-century (Bradley et al. 1986a vol. 1, 35-40). Compiled by: Gearóid Conroy Date of upload: 11 December 2013