Category: RELIGION

Protestantism in Castlemagner

The first Protestant Church in Castlemagner was converted from the early Roman Catholic church (circa 800) that was attached to the old Gaelic settlement of Munemanarrach (shrubbery of the sheepfold).

The majority of the ruling classes in Cork ignored the reformation in England (1543) even though they had all signed for the Act of Supremacy (1560). They conveniently ignored its contents and openly practised the Roman Catholic religion. Although all the leading families who took part in the unsuccessful Fitzmaurice rebellion in 1579 got the Queen’s pardon, allowing them to hold on to their land, property and titles, they were forced to adopt the Protestant religion. Edmond Magner became the first Protestant vicar of the old Gaelic church which was now for Protestant worship only. Continue reading “Protestantism in Castlemagner”

8TH CENTURY CHURCH IN SUBULTER

The church in Subulter was built in around 780. It was built in a Romanesque style with local limestone. The church was at the centre of an old Gaelic settlement called Mona na Mandaragh. The settlement was probably built by followers of St Berrahert of Tullylease. St Berrahert is credited with converting a druidic settlement (which was probably located around the present site of Marybrook House).

Síle ni Gig

An effigy of Síle Ní Gig, the supreme druidic Goddess of fertility, was set into the wall of the church in Subulter when it was built and later transferred to the Holy Well in Castlemagner. This suggests a strong converted druidic association with the early Christian church in Ireland. This would be in keeping with the Celtic Christian practice and teaching of this time. Continue reading “8TH CENTURY CHURCH IN SUBULTER”

St Brigit’s Graveyard

The present burial in the townland of Castlemagner has been in use from early Christian times (c. 800). It was walled in with the building of the new Church of Ireland church in 1817. The imposing gateway was a gift from Lord Arden of Lohort Castle. In 1926, the local landlord, Mr. Beecher, added about a third of an acre and in 1980 Cork County Council added another acre, which was also walled in and a new 12 foot entrance and gateway completed. Catholics and Protestants have been buried there side by side since 1591.

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The Great Famine – A Castlemagner Perspective

If you could step into a time machine and travel back 170 years you would have witnessed a most distressing scene at the cross-roads in Castlemagner village.  It was the time of the Great Irish Famine.  While the fertile lands of Castlemagner parish meant that the local population did not succumb to the same mortal fate of their fellow country men and women, the procession of those less fortunate from other parts of county Cork wove a path to a soup kitchen ran from the present Castle Bar in Castlemagner.  Its hard to imagine that the current pub building that bears witness to the social vagaries of modern village life was once the scene of such despair and death. Continue reading “The Great Famine – A Castlemagner Perspective”

Monastery of the Knights Templar in Subulter

In 1183 the north and eastern part of Castlemagner was overrun by Norman invaders named Barry. The eastern end was assigned to William Magner and the Northern end to the ‘Knights Templar’. These were a military order of lay monks drawn from the high ranking Norman ruling families.  Those interested in understanding the true nature of this order of military monks can start their search here.  

This order constructed a monastery in the present townland of Subulter overlooking the Marybrook bridge on the land occupied by the Taylor family. A manor farm to support this monastery was developed on the site of the present Marybrook House amounting to 600 acres and occupied parts of the present townlands of Subulter, Knocknanuss and Lackaleigh. A site in the southern end of Lackaleigh was set aside for stabling horses for farm work and war horses for the young knights. This site is occupied by the present Assolas house. Continue reading “Monastery of the Knights Templar in Subulter”

A Story of Cures at Castlemagner Holy Well

Castlemagner holy well, also called St Brigit’s Well, like most Holy Wells in Ireland traces its origins back to pre-Christian druidic religion and ritual, when wells were known as sacred wells. They were used by the celtic druids for pagan rituals and ceremony. Celtic pagans believed water to be a source of life. It is therefore reasonable to assume that pagan worship at this well could stretch back four thousand years. Continue reading “A Story of Cures at Castlemagner Holy Well”

Venerable Edel Quinn

Castlemagner born Edel Quinn, declared venerable by Pope John Paul II in 1994. There are many accounts of this wonderful woman. This is how we remember her in Castlemagner.

Edel Quinn was born in Grenane in the parish of Castlemagner Kanturk Co Cork in a house known locally as the Magpie House.  She was born on 14 September 1907. Her father, Charles Quinn, a native of Tuam Co Galway, was manager of the National Bank in Kanturk.

Edel’s mother’s maiden name was Louise Burke Brown of Kilmihal, Co Clare.  Her mother wanted her to be called Adele after one of her own sisters and the priest mistakenly took her name to be Edel at her baptism in Castlemagner. Continue reading “Venerable Edel Quinn”