Eel Weirs — Baronstown Demesne,corry

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. Augustinian priory (WM011-053----) of Tristernagh sometimes called the Priory of Kilbixy, dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary and founded by Geoffrey de Constantine of Cosmeston Castle, Glamorganshire, in the late 12th century (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 196; Dugdale 1846, 1147). In 1540 an extent of the priory lands made at Tristernagh recorded the existence of 'a weir on the lake (Lough Iron) called Nany Water (Inny River?), called the Pryors Were, yielding annually 180 eels' (White 1943, 276). The precise location of this eel weir known as the 'Prior's Weir' on Lough Iron has not been identified. The eel weirs depicted on the 1838 ed. OS 6-inch map shown standing on the Inny River marking the townland boundary between Corry and Baronstown Demesne may have been built on the site of the eel weirs mentioned in the 1540 extent. 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 Tristernagh, Abbotston, and the Grange—12 messuages and 100a arable in Templeforan—in all the said towns 120a pasture and bog— a ruinous castle, and 40a arable in Kilbiskie (Kilbixy), and a weir called the Frier’s weir upon the Naniwater in Kilbiskie parish—a castle, 6 messuages, 60a arable, and 60a pasture in Ballicarge—6 messuages, 40a arable, and 15a pasture, with a watermill in Milforen— 5 messuages, and 80a arable in Monckton- 40a arable, and 40a pasture in Rathcorballye—in Siffin, 60a pasture—in Donnowre, 60a pasture; with all the customs, rents, and services of the tenants of all the said premises—the rectories, churches, chapels, and tithes, & co. of Tristernagh, Kilbiskie (Kilbixy), Killucknevan (Killucan), Imper, Sonnagh, Raysback, Stafernan, Leen and Leaken’ (Cal. pat. rolls Ire., 7 Jas I). Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien Date of upload: 21 August 2017