Carrick on Suir — Carrickbeg,town Parks

In the 13th century Carrick-on-Suir, known as Carrickmacgriffin, was held by the Anglo-Norman family, le Brets. Between 1236 and 1246 the priory or hospital of St. John the Evangelist was founded by William de Cantelo and his wife, Dionisia. In 1247 Matthew FitzGriffin received a patent permitting him to hold a fair on Carrigmacgriffin (Power 1989, 20). The Manor became the property of Edmund Butler in the 14th century, the first Earl of Carrick. In 1309 the Butlers built a castle (TS085-004001-) on the site of the Poor Clare convent (TS085-004003-)(Killanin and Duignan 1967, 143). In 1336 James, the first Earl of Ormond founded a Franciscan friary (TS085-004002-) in Carrickbeg. By 1344 James had obtained a charter from Edward III for the town (ITA Survey 1942, 40/26.5). The earliest surviving borough charter for the town dates to 1366 (Bradley 1985, 42). In 1565 Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond, added an Elizabethan manor house (TS085-004002-) to the earlier castle (Killanin and Duignan 1967, 143). In 1650 the castle was captured by Cromwellian forces. Little survives of the town defences (TS085-004032-). The earliest record of the existence of a town wall comes from a grant of 1343 which restored the right to collect murage (Bradley 1985, 40-42). There are a number of other references to the town wall from the 14th century onwards, mainly occurring in property documents (Thomas 1992, vol. 2, 43-6). The town appears to have been enclosed on at least three sides, with the River Suir possibly acting as a natural barrier to the S. However, Thomas (ibid.) suggests that there was also a wall running parallel to the river front. The total area enclosed would have been c. 15 hectares (Bradley 1985, 40-42). Though no town gates survive there would probably have been at least four. The West Gate, at the W end of Main Street, survives as a placename and it is possible that there was an E gate at the opposite end of this street (Thomas 1992, vol.2, 43-6). It is also probable that there was a gate on New Street where it intersects with the town wall and another gate at the S end of Bridge Street (Bradley 1985, 40-42). Other medieval remains in the town include the 'Old Bridge' (TS085-004007-) and an urban tower house (TS085-004008-). The medieval church (TS085-004006-) of St. Nicholas of Myra does not survive above ground. Nor is there evidence above ground of the priory or hospital of St. John the Evangelist mentioned above. According to Bradley (1985, 42) 'the foundation charter states that it was beside the Suir and the 'garden of the Brethern of St Thomas the Martyr', referred to in a deed of c. 1300, indicates that it lay on the south side of the town, most likely adjoining the river'. It later became subject to the Hospital of St. Thomas of Acon, London (Lee 1966, 12-26) and in 1557 the 'priory' was granted to Thomas Butler, Earl of Ormond (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 347). References dating to the 15th century to a street leading towards 'le Spedell' suggest that there may have been another hospital on the W side of town (Bradley 1985, 42). There was a frankhouse of the Knights Hospitallers under Hospital of Any referred to in 1541 (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 340), however, the location of this building is unknown. A list of properties granted to the Duke of Ormond in 1668 provides good information on the types of houses in Carrick-on-Suir in the late 17th century, as well as the names of the occupants (Manning 2008, 7-20). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of revised upload: 3 November 2014