Historic town in Knockainy West

The Urban Survey of Limerick (Bradley et. al. 1989, 177-8) recorded the following about the historic settlement of Knockainy, also known as the Manor of Any; 'Knockainy is a small village located in east Limerick beside the Camoge river to the west of the Limerick to Mitchelstown road. The name is derived from Cnoc Áine, the hill of Áine. The mythological stories surrounding Áine and the dense concentration of prehistoric sites on Knockainy Hill provide clear evidence that this was an important cult site in prehistoric times (Westropp 1917). After the coming of the Normans the manor of Anya (Áine) was granted to Geoffrey de Marisco who was to found the important preceptory (LI032-147002-) for the Knights Hospitallers at Hospital nearby (Orpen 1911-20, ii, 169). In 1226 de Marisco was granted the right to hold an annual eight day fair at his manor of Anya (Sweetman 1875-86, i, no. 1415). Later in the thirteenth century the manor was granted to Thomas de Clare and on his death an extent of his lands was made from which some useful information on the layout of the manor can be derived. This extent, made in 1287, mentions that the burgesses of Any then held four carucates of land in the manor (Sweetman 1875-86, iii, 205). The subsequent history of the borough is unknown but it is likely that it suffered the fate of many of the other Limerick boroughs and that it was deserted in the later fourteenth century. The medieval borough was probably centred on the crossroads and along the roads to the north and west on the west side of the Camoge river'. In 1226 the King granted 'Geoffrey de Mariscis, justiciary of Ireland, that he have until the K.’s age a yearly fair at his manor of Addare for 8 days from the feast of St. James [July 25-Aug. 1]; and a yearly fair at his manor of Anya for 8 days from the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin [8-15 Sept.]. Mandate to the justiciary to cause the fairs to be proclaimed and held' (Cal doc Ire., entry No. 1415). There is a Fair Green on high ground to the west of Knockainy Castle (LI032-141003-) but this Green probably dates from the post-1700 period as the 'Towne Green' is annotated on the Down Survey map which shows it located in the field immediately to the W of the church ruins (LI032-141004-) and 'Black Castle' (LI032-141014-) also known as 'Desmond Castle' (NLI, MS 718). In 1389 the patent rolls recorded the granting of a pardon to 'Thomas Clifford kt and Joan his wife of their trespass in this: that they lately acquired from Roger Clifford, lord of Westmorland, the manors of Any and Corkmoyle, co. Limerick, which were held in chief, to hold to themselves for life, with remainder to Robert Clifford and the heirs male of his body, and reversion to the right heirs of the said Roger; and they entered the same without licence' (Patent Roll 12 Richard II; RCH 141/171). In 1409 the custodianship of the manor of Any changed when Thomas fitz Morice was granted 'custody of the manor of Any, co. Limerick, which belonged to Thomas Clifford kt.' (Patent Roll 10 Henry IV; RCH 189/13). The Civil Survey of Limerick recorded that Thady Grady of Killkillane was in possession in 1640 of lands in Any which included 'a Castle (LI032-141003-), nyne Cabbins & a Mill seate (LI032-141015-)' (Simington 1938, 97). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 April 2019