Settlement cluster in Ballinlough East,bansha West

The presence of an Early Christian foundation in Bansha is indicated by the two cross-slabs (TS067-064002-; TS067-064003-) of that period found in the grounds of the former medieval church (TS067-064----), where the present C of I church is located. In the 14th century the church is mentioned in papal taxation records (Marnane, 2003, 150, 168). In 1582 Captain Thomas Norreys engaged the forces of David Mc Ulick Burke 'at the Banscho', July 23rd (Calendar State Papers, Ireland, Eliz. I, 387-88). In 1610 the settlement was leased by the Earl of Ormond and his feoffees to Richard Butler FitzPiers of Bansagh, November 10th (NLI Deed 3621) and reference in this lease is made to the castle at Bansha (TS067-062----). This was followed twenty years later by a second lease of the Earl of Ormond to Sir Richard Butler of the manor of Bansagh, October 21st 1630 (NLI Deed 3783). The Civil Survey (1654-6) refers to 'Donnogh mc Grath' an 'Irish Papist' as the proprietor in 1640 and describes that 'Uppon thsse lands stands a castle in Banshigh wanting repayre and some thatcht cabbins Inhabitted And the rest wast' (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 20). In the Census of Ireland c. 1659, ‘Bansigh’ is mentioned as having a total population of 71, of whom four where English (Pender 2002, 326-7). Compiled by: Jean Farrelly Date of upload: 17 June 2014