Killenaule — Castlequarter (killenaule Par.),killenaule (killenaule Par.),knockavadagh

Present town of Killenaule built on site of medieval town on high ground overlooking stream to E and motte and bailey (TS054-050003-) 173m to NE. The main street runs N-S through the centre of Killenaule with houses on the E and W sides of the main street. The rear boundary plots all share a common boundary indicating that these may be the original burgage plots of the medieval settlement. Killenaule is derived from the Irish Cill Náile meaning church of St. Náile. In c. 1359 the Reeve and community of Killenaule were fined 20d for the assize of bread and ale (Calender Ormond Deeds, 1350-1413, 38). In 1417 Thomas Butler, Prior of Kilmainham granted Killenaule to his son Edmund fitz Thomas Butler (ibid, 1413-1509, 16-17). The Reeve and community of Kilsheelan were summoned to the Seneschal's Court in Clonmel in 1432 (ibid., 95). Killenaule castle was held in 1441 by the first Lord of Knight, Stanon and the following year Walter de Burgo was held in the Earl of Ormond's prison "in the Castle of the town of Killenayl" (Hassett 1990, 26-7). In 1534 Richard Cantwell granted all his messuages and lands in Killenaule to Piers, Earl of Ossory and four years later Henry VIII granted Piers and James Butler the town of Killenaule, among others, in consideration of their faithful service during the Geraldine Rebellion (op. cit., 1509-1547, 64, 178). In 1540 an indenture between Margaret, Countess dowager of Ormond and her son James Butler granted Margaret, among others, the castle, town and manor of Killenaule (ibid. 194). In 1542 James Archer granted to Thomas Marres and Edmund Purcell 'his whole inheritence in the town of Killenaule' and two years later Meiler Cantwell granted Thomas Marres, all his messuages, land etc., in Killenaule and in the burgage of the same (ibid. 221). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 26 August 2011