Templemore — Templemore Demesne

Situated on flat pasture with good views in all directions. Templemore, known as Corkatenny until the sixteenth century, was granted to Thomas de Hereford by Theobald Walter before his death in 1206. In a series of charters dating to the early thirteenth century de Hereford gave tithes and ecclesiastical benefices of all his lands, including 'Corcateny' to the Augustinian abbey of Saint Thomas in Dublin (Reg. St. Thomas, Dublin 194, 196, 237). This Order built a church (TN029-062001) in the town probably early in the thirteenth century, though the first reference to it in the Abbey register dates to 1240 (Gilbert 1889, 315-16). Thomas de Hereford appears to have relinquished his claims on Templemore as William de Marisco was found to have held land of Theobald Walter, son of the first Theobald, at 'Coredofeney' at the time of his death in 1284 (CDI, vol. 2, 510). A Purcell lord of Corketeni was noted in 1356 but the de Marisco family are again associated with the area in the later sixteenth century (CSPI, vol. 2, 366). The castle (TN029-062002) at Templemore dates to this period. During the seventeenth century Templemore passed through the hands of Purcell, Baron of Loughmoe and Walter Lawless (Walsh 1991, 6-7). In the Civil Survey (1654-6) Templemore is described as 'The Mannor, Castle Towne, and lands of Tamplemore' (Simington 1931, vol. 1, 78). In 1698 John Carden leased 'the Manor Town, Castle and lands of Templemore containing two colpes [c. 2000 acres]' (Walsh 1991, 126). In 1704 Carden bought the freehold to this property from the Duke of Ormond (ibid.). The Carden family lived in Templemore castle until 1740 when it was destroyed by fire (Walsh 1991, 5). The present town of Templemore was built as a market town in the latter half of the eighteenth century. The above description is derived from 'The Archaeological Inventory of County Tipperary. Vol. 1 - North Tipperary' compiled by Jean Farrelly and Caimin O'Brien (Dublin: Stationery Office, 2002). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Date of upload/revision: 22 September 2008