Abbey, Tristernagh Ho. — Tristernagh Demesne

Situated on the site of Tristernagh House with medieval bridge (WM011-052----) 160m to W. Lough Iron was originally 280m to NE but since the Inny River drainage scheme of the late 1960s the shoreline of the lake now stands 650m to NE. A modern coniferous plantation now stands on the land between the priory and the lake. Augustinian priory of Tristernagh sometimes called the Priory of Kilbixy, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and founded by Geoffrey de Constantine of Cosmeston Castle, Glamorganshire (Galfridus de Constantine) in the late 12th century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 196; Dugdale 1846, 1147). Geoffrey had been granted lands in the territory of Kilbixy by Hugh de Lacy as part of the subinfeudation of the Norman Lordship of Meath (Orpen 1892, 229). The Charter of Tristernagh described the extent of the priory as following; ‘Divers liberties and privileges, together with four carucates of land adjoining; the islands in the Lough (Lough Iron), and sundry other lands, with a water mill in Kilbixy; two carucates in Cunemucks, with a mill and two fisheries, called Duffchara and Carangilly; in Balyrothy a toft, and all that land which belonged to Ralph the carpenter; a messuage without the walls of Dublin, near the village of Hogges; the churches of Kilbixy, Balyrothery, Tyrclogher, Rathroin, Glin, Croskeyn, and Killoe, with all their appurtenances; five carucates of the wood of Kilcareth, with several other lands, &c., and liberty to elect their own prior after the death of the said Henry. Witness, Simon, Bishop of Meath. Simon Rochfort, Bishop of Meath, granted to this abbey the privileges of a free churchyard’ (Cogan 1870, 605). In the ecclesiastical taxation of 1302-06, the possessions of the priory were valued at £15 11s. 4d (Cal doc Ire., 258). In 1411 a papal letter sent to Richard Hill who succeeded Richard Rowe, canon of the independent Augustinian priory of St. Mary, Tristernagh in the diocese of Meath stating that that the said priory was 'conventual and a dignity, value, after deducting its burdens and those of the convent, not exceeding 30 marks' (Cal. papal letters, 276). In the same year a second papal letter granted the priory an indulgence for the repair of the priory church described as following; 'Relaxation, during ten years, of seven years and seven quarantines of enjoined penance to penitents, who on the same feasts as above, f. 21, as far as and including SS. Peter and Paul (June 29) and that of the dedication, and on All Saints (November 1), and during the usual octaves and days, visit and give alms for the repair, conservation, or fabric of the Augustinian church and monastery of St. Mary, Tristernagh' (Cal. papal letters, 314). The monastery was surrendered on the 30th of November 1539 by Edmund Nugent, prior, commendator and bishop of Kilmore. In 1540 King Henry VIII granted ‘Edmund Nugent, Bishop of Kilmore, late commendatory of the priory of B. V. M. of Trysternaghe; of a pension of £26 13s. 4d., issuing out of Templefforan (Templeoran), &c., county Meath’ (Nicholls 1994, 17). In the same year King Henry VIII granted to ‘conventual persons of the late priory of the B. V. M. of Tristernaghe; of the pensions following :—Walter Twit (Tuite), 26s. 8d., with the service of the church of Rathaspike; Galfrid Hyll, 26s. 8d.; with the church of Kylbysky; Cornelius Note, 26s. 8d., with the church of Tristernaghe; Patrick Note, 26s. 8d., with the church of Sonnaghe; Thomas Barnewall, 26s. 8d., with the church of Impere (Emper); issuing out of Kargiston [Ballynacargy], &c., county Meath (ibid.). In 1539 the lands of the dissolved monastery were granted on a 21 year lease to Robert Delman of Dublin which included 'the site of the monastery of the B.V.M. of Tristirnaghe, the lands of Tristirnaghe, Abbayton, the Grang, Templeforan, Milne Town Templefforan, Cargestown alias Ballynecargetown, Mounctown, Syffyn, and Racorbally, county Meath, and Balrothry, county Dublin; the rectories of Tristirnaghe, Kilbycksy, Templefforan, Shandonaghe, Sonnaghe, and Killoghe, county Meath, and Balrothry, county Dublin, and the advowsons of Killoghe and Balrothry. To hold for twenty-one years from the 10th July, at a rent of £60’ (ibid., 14). An Extent of the priory lands made at Trysternagh on the 8th of October 1540 listed the following possessions; 'Within the site of the priory or manor:—a church, which is the parish church; its belfry is a stone tower. Certain chambers and other buildings necessary for the farmer's use. A curtilage surrounded with a stone wall. All these are situated above a large lake, broad and deep. The other parts of the site are surrounded with a large bog, except that there is a single straight road (WM011-049----) for entrance. All the buildings are very necessary for the protection of the country. There are 7 gardens and an orchard, now unoccupied, and therefore worth nothing at present. Trysternagh, Abbotts Towne (Abbeyland), and the Graunge (Grange), in the parish of Trysternagh 20 messuages, and cottages, and 140 acres arable, Tempulforan (Templeoran) (WM011-099----) 12 mesuages. In the aforesaid 4 vills, 120 acres pasture and moor, lying alternately, occupied by the tenants in common without rent. Customs. The tenants and cottiers are each to work in the demesne 2 days in autumn reaping and binding sheaves, to convey in their own carts grain and turf to the manor site, from each drove of porkers numbering 7 or more, to give 1 porker at the Feast of All Saints; and to give 2 hens at Christmas. Kylbysky (Kilbixy), A ruinous castle (WM011-040006-) and 40 acres arable. A weir on the lake called Nany Water, called the Pryors Were, yielding annually 180 eels (White 1943, 276). In 1562 a 21 year lease of the priory was granted to Captain William Piers, seneschal of Clandeboy which included 'the site of the priory of the B.V.M. of Tristernaghe, co. Westmeath, the lands of Tresternaghe, Abbotteston, and the Grange, co. Westmeath; Tempulforan, Kilbiskye, a weir called the Prior's weir there on the lough called Navy Water, co. Westmeath; Ballecarge, Mylforen, Monketon, Rathcorbally, Syffyn, and Donmowre, same co; the rectories of Tristernaghe, Kylbiskye, Killuknewan, Imper, Sonnoghe, Raysebacke, Stafernan, Leen, and Leekyn, same co; Killoe in Annale, and Balrotherie, co. Dublin; and a house in the parish of the B.V.M. in Drogheda, in the tenure of Patrick Barnewall. To hold for 21 years from the expiration of the lease, fiant No. 858 Edward VI., at a rent of £110 3a. 8d., portion in corn. Lessee to maintain two able English horsemen, not to alien his interest without license of the sovereign, nor to set to any but English by both parents, or persons born within the English pale, and not to levy coyn or other exactions’ (Nicholls 1994 52). A land grant of 1594 to Robert Harrison of Dublin included ‘40 messuages, a water mill, and five carucates of land in the lordship of Moybrecko alias Moybreckre, co. Westmeath, a ruined weir on the river Cloneleaghe, a wood called Derfadd, with the sixth part of the red bog begin-fling at the entry of the said wood and the water course of Ethenye (Inny), and extending in length between Cloghran and Derfadd, and the tithes of grain and hay and other profits in Ballilagoran, in said co., parcel of the possessions of the priory of Tristernagh (rent £8 6s. 2d.). To hold for ever, by fealty, in common socage. Rent £8 18s. 2d. as above. If any of the lands be recovered at law by undertakers, or be found not to have been concealed, he shall surrender. In consideration of £411 17s. 0d. due to him for victuals in the time of the service of the late earl of Essex in Ireland’ (Nicholls 1994, 233-4). In 1609 King James I granted Adam Loftus of Rathfarnham Castle the ‘site, & co. of the late priory, monastery, or religious house of the B. V. Mary of Tristernagh, 7 orchards and gardens, containing 2a, and all buildings within the same—20 messuages and cottages, 140a arable in Tris