Historic town in Galbally

Historic town of Galbally described in the Urban Survey of Limerick as following: "Galbally is located in the south-east of Limerick some 8 miles from Tipperary town at the head of the Glen of Aherlow. In the Middle Ages it was the site of the borough of Natherlagh (Aherlow). The Anglo-Norman family associated with the borough was de Moulton (Sweetman 1876-85, iii, 289) from whom it passed in 1341 to the de Birminghams (Mills and McEnery 1916, 112-7). Little is known of the actual foundation of the Anglo-Norman settlement here because the manor appears to have been outside the main subinfeudation grants of Limerick and Tipperary (see Empey 1981). An extent made in 1341, however, provides much information on the organisation of the manor and it also mentions the presence of both burgages and burgesses (Mills and McEnery 1916, 112), from which it can be inferred that there was a borough here. The borough was located on the frontier with the native Irish, however, and it is likely that it was deserted in the later fourteenth or early fifteenth centuries as a result of the Gaelic Revival. It is likely that the medieval borough may have been located in the area surrounding the castle (LI049-086004-) and parish church (LI049-086002-). The modern town would appear to be a later development' (Bradley et. al. 1989, 129-30). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 26 September 2019