Outline of the history of Tallaght

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History of Tallaght

The earliest notice we have of Taimhleacht, or Tallaght, [Tallaght is an inland village and parish in the barony of Uppercross, County Dublin, seven miles S. W. from the G.P.O., Dublin, on the road to Blessington, comprising an area of 21,868 acres. There is a population of 4,921 in the parish, and 312 in the town, inhabiting 57 houses.] is in the account of the destruction of the colony of Parthalon by the first recorded plague or pestilence, related in *The Annals of the Four Masters *to have taken place in the year A.M. 2820. The entry by those annalists is “9,000 of Parthalon’s people died in one week, on Sean-mhagh-Ealta-Edair, viz,, 5,000 men and 4,000 women, whence is named Taimhleacht Mhuin-tire-Parthaloin, now called Tallaght, near Dublin.” The word “Tamh” means an epidemic pestilence; and the term “Taimhleacht” (“the plague monument”), which frequently enters into topographical names in Ireland, signifies a place where a number of persons cut off by pestilence were interred together.

This destruction of the colony of Parthalon, which is said to have occurred in Sean-mhagh-Ealta-Edair, or the old plain of the Valley of the Flocks, stretching between Binn Edair (Howth) and Tallaght, on which the city of Dublin now stands, is thus mentioned in *The Book of Invasions1 *contained in The Book of Leinster:- “In Sean-mhagh-Edair, Parthalon became extinct in 1,000 men and 4,000 women of one week’s mortality, or Tamh.” This is the oldest manuscript account of the pestilence we now possess. [See Report of the Census Commissioners, 1851, Pt. V, vol. i, p. 41, and Blacker’s *Sketches of Boaterstown, *p. 59.]

This Parthalon, [Ruan, or Thuan, son of Parthalon, survived the plague, and is said to have lived to the time of St Patrick.] son of Sera, son of Sru, son of Asruith, son of Braiment, son of Aithecta, son of Magog, son of Japheth, son of Noah, slew his father and mother in Greece, in order to obtain the crown, and to deprive his eldest brother of the succession. He began his voyage from Mygdonia, in Greece, and, steering by Sicily, sailed on until he came into the Irish Sea. He landed upon the 14th May, at a place called Inbhir Scene [The Kenmare River.], in the west of Munster. His posterity continued in Ireland about 300 years, when the vengeance of God overtook the offspring of the parricide, and the whole number died, as mentioned, in a week at Binn Edair, now called the Hill of Howth.

The great number of burial mounds, stone circles, cairns, and other traces of an extensive place of interment of the earliest date on the Tallaght hills, would seem to give some confirmation to this tradition. Numbers of tombs, made with four rude stones, enclosing a square space, sometimes containing a cinerary urn, and covered with a heavy, flat rock, have been, from time to time, discovered. These tombs, called Kistvaens, are a very old type of burial-place, and are found all over the world.

The next we find of Tallaght is in a very ancient Irish manuscript, at present preserved in the Burgundian Library at Brussels, called *The Martyrology of Tallaght *a translation of which, by Eugene O’Curry, has been published. It was so called from having been compiled at the Monastery of Tallaght, or Tamlacht, by SS. Maelruain and Aengus, known as Aengus the Culdee. [St. Aengus wrote also the History of the Old Testament in elegant metre. Ware’s *Writers of Ireland, *vol. i, p. 53] It gives a long list of ecclesiastics.

It is impossible to ascertain at what time a monastery was founded here; but it is probable that in the reign of Donnchadh [His son, Cellach, who died in 771, is said to have been buried at Tallaght. - Annals of the Eater Masters.], who ascended the throne of Ireland in 766, and reigned till 792, may be placed the foundation of the Abbey of Tamlacht, called Tamlactense Monasterium. The celebrated bishop, St. Maelruain, or Maelruan, as the name is sometimes spelled, rebuilt or enlarged the monastery. He was called “the Bright Sun of Ireland;” and under his presidency peace, piety, and plenty prevailed throughout the ecclesiastical houses of this island. [Bishop Reeves says that Donnchadh bestowed the site of Tamlacht on St. Maelruan, and that the first erection of Tamlacht Maelruain was in 769. A poem of St. Maelruain, in Irish, has been translated by Dr. O’Donovan. - Reeves, *On the Culdees. *Canon O’Hanlon says St. Maelruain belonged to a race who sprung from the seed of Heremon. - Lives of the Irish Saints.

The list of the folk of St. Maelruain will be found in Dr. Robert Atkinson’s edition of *The Book of Leinster, *p.370.]

Aengus was a saint of the most exalted piety. He was called the Culdee, and sometimes Aengussius Hagiographus. From his infancy he devoted himself to a religious life, and to an extraordinary degree practised mortification. His progress in the paths of Christian sanctity, and his advancement in sacred learning, were so great that in a short time he bore the reputation of being one of the most pious and learned men of whom Ireland could boast. He retired to a cell which he had built, at a place still called Dysartenos, or “the Desert of Aengus,” in the county of Limerick. Here, we are told*, *he was in the habit of making 300 genuflexions each day, and of repeating the entire Psalter, in three portions, the third while tied by the neck to a stake, with half his body plunged in a tub of cold water.

The fame of such sanctity spread. Numbers flocked to his retreat, to enjoy the holy anchorite’s conversation, and observe how he afflicted his unfortunate body. He was unable, therefore, to enjoy his penitential practices in peace. He secretly withdrew, and in course of time came to the monastery of St. Maelruain, at Tallaght, of the fame of which he had heard, and where his own repute was well known. He concealed his rank, and became a servant, in order that his vanity might be quenched. One day, while cutting wood, lie chopped his left hand off; he stuck it on again, and it adhered all right, so great was the purity of his lift.

At length, being accidentally discovered by St. Maelruain, he was received by him with the warmest esteem and friendship, and soon after composed a metrical poem in the Irish language, known as *The Festilogium of St. Aengus. *It gives an account of the festivals observed in the Church in his time, and of the earlier saints and martyrs. In conjunction with St. Maelruain, he composed the work before mentioned as *The Martyrology of *Tallaght

Full of good works, and in the odour of sanctity, St. Maelruain died on the 7th July, 792,

[“With a great and beautiful host,

Parmenius’ *heavy *troop,

Maelruain ran to heaven,

Splendid son of the Isle of the Gael.”

- Leabhar Breac.]

and his festival and a pattern at Tallaght were held annually on that day uninterruptedly for 1,082 years, being only abolished in 1874. [There were also several remarkable days recorded for the Monastery of Tallaght, on which treasures or relics were acquired by its church. The bell of St. Tigearnach was long preserved there, and was, no doubt, used when solemn oaths were administered. It was considered the greatest profanation to swear falsely on a bell of the kind.] St. Aengus, finding his own end approaching, retired to the scene of his early devotion, and died there on Friday, 11th March, 824, one of the most celebrated of the early Irish saints. St. Maelruain’s immediate successor was Airfhindan, or Airennan, “The Wise.”

St. Joseph, Bishop of Tamlacht, died.
The descendants of Niall, King of Ireland, having violated the termon, or churchlands, of Tallaght, the monks took the bold step of seizing and retaining the chariot-horses of Aedh, the son of Niall, on the eve of the games which were annually celebrated at Tailltenn [Now Teltown, between Kells and Navan, on the Blackwater. The fair, which was periodically held there, was much frequented for the arrangement of marriages, and it was in conjunction with this fair that the games and sports took place. See *Dublin Penny Journal *1832, p. 127.] in the County of Meath. His chariots, therefore, could not run. Aedh-Oirdnidhe for his violation afterwards made a full atonement.
Eochaidh, Coarb of Tamlacht, died.
The Monastery devastated by the Danes.
Aedhan, Abbot of Tamlacht, died.
Echtghus, Coarb of Tamlacht, died.
Conmhal, Abbot of Tamlacht, died.
Daniel, Abbot of Gleann-da-locha and Tamlacht, died.
Comghan Foda, foster-son of Maelruain, died.
Torpaidh, Bishop and Scribe of Tamlacht.
Macoige, Abbot of Tamlacht, died.
Cochlan, Abbot of Teach-munna and Tamlacht, died.
Leachnasach, Abbot of Tamlacht, died.
Scannlan, Bishop of Tamlacht, died.
Maeldomhnaigh, Abbot of Tamlacht, died.
Laidgnen, Coarb of Ferns and Tamlacht, died.
Martin, Bishop and Abbot of Tamlacht, died.
Cormac, Bishop of Tamlacht, died.
Crunmhael, Bishop and Lector of Tamlacht, died, being drowned in the Tochar.
Erc-Ua-Suailen, Bishop and Abbot of Tamlacht, died.
MacMaeilesuthain, of Tamlacht, died.
Pope Alexander III confirmed Tallaght, with its appurtenances, to the See of Dublin; a grant which ?ope Innocent further ratified in 1216. [The Archbishop’s possessions centred round three leading manors, Tallaght, Clondalkin, and Rathcoole, with Brittas dependent, and a minor detached group about Kilsantan in the Upper Dodder Valley - *Journal R.S.A.I., *1894, p.163.]
Laurence de Taulaght was Rector of Tallaght.
By the Charter of Archbishop Comyn [See notice of him in Dictionary of National Biography.], as confirmed by the Bull of Pope Celestius III, Tallaght, with its chapels [The chapels of Killohan and St. Bridget. The former, situated in the townland of Old Bawn, has been waste since 1532; while the latter stood near the Dodder, and is likewise in ruins. - D’Alton’s History of County Dublin.] and parsonage house, was given to the then newly established Collegiate Church of St. Patrick’s, in Dublin.
About this year, Archbishop de. Loundres, [Henry de Loundres was Archbishop of Dublin, 1212-28. See notice of him in Dictionary of National Biography.] being moved by the consideration that the principal dignitary of St. Patrick’s Cathedral was subject to the greatest expense, with consent of the chapter, annexed to the deanery this church with the advowson of the vicarage, expectant on the resignation of Laurence de Tallagh, at that time rector, and further appropriated to that dignity a portion of moorland, near the Grange of Dean’s Rath, for which the dean was to pay yearly at Easter one pound of frankincense to the Archbishop’s chapel at Clondalkin.
The Rector of Tallaght, as above arranged, resigned his church to the Dean of St. Patrick’s. [William FitzGuido.]
Pope Gregory IX confirmed to the Dean of St. Patrick’s the tithes, and the right of presentation to the vicarage of Tallaght,
Archbishop Luke [Archbishop of Dublin, 1228-55. See Cotton’s Fasti Ecclesiae Hibernocae.] further assured the church to the Dean, who continued to enjoy the presentation to the vicarage until it was lost to that dignitary by lapse.

1306 The vicarage of Tallaght was estimated at the annual value of five marks.

Alexander de Bicknor [Archbishop of Dublin, 1317-49. See notice of him in Dictionary of National Biography.], Archbishop of Dublin, had a remission of money due by him, in consideration of his rebuilding Tallaght Castle, which work he accomplished; and from 1340 to 1821 Tallaght was a country residence of the Archbishops of Dublin.

1337.* *King Edward confirmed Tallaght to the See of Dublin [Inspeximus by Edward III of King John’s grants to See of Dublin. This Charter identifies Coillacht and its wood with Tallaght and Glenasmole. - Stokes’s *Calendar of the Liber Niger Alani, Journal R. S. A. I,, *1893.], as did King Richard in 1395.

John Colton [See Reeves’s *Visitation of Archbishop Colton, *presented by him in 1850 to the Irish Archaeological Society.], Vicar of St. Maelruain’s, of Tallaght, was elevated to the Deanery of St. Patrick’s, and subsequently became Primate.
The King presented John Young to the Vicarage of Tallaght.
The tithes of Tallaght parish were appropriated for the support of the Viceroy, Thomas Earl of Lancaster, son of Henry IV. [See mention of Tallaght in extracts from the “Roman Archives.” - *Journal R. S. A. I, *1893, p.134.]
Michael Tregury, Archbishop of Dublin, repaired Tallaght Castle. He died on the 21st December) 1471, and was buried in St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where his monument still remains. [See Introduction to *The Register of Wills and Inventories of the Diocese of Dublin, *1457-83, edited for the R. S. A. I. by H. F. Berry, Esq.]
John Alleyn, Dean of St. Patrick’s, demised to Simon Cower, Clerk, the Glebe of Tallaght Church for 59 years, the lessee being bound to pay to the Dean eight silver pence yearly, and to build a house thereon of four couples, to keep the same stiff and staunch, and to make new ditches to the glebe.
There is a letter from William Rokeby, then Archbishop of Dublin, to Cardinal Wolsey, dated from “Talaute” on December 14th in this yea; preserved amongst the Irish State Papers.
George Browne was Archbishop of Dublin, and several letters to Lord Cromwell and others on the state and religion of Ireland, were written at Tallaght; one, bearing date 16th February, 1539, contains the following lament:- “God knoweth what a treasure the King’s Majesty and your Lordship have here of my Lord Chancellor, who is a right wise gentleman, and a judge very indifferent, and shifteth matters depending before him full briefly, to the great ease of the king’s subjects, the poor suitors. And for my part, I may well account him to be my special friend, for during 14 or 15 days this Council time, I was his continual guest. Other place had I none to repair unto but only Tallaght, which adjoinable upon the Tooles, now my mortal enemies, daily oppressing my poor tenants above all others, much doubting that they be somewhat encouraged so to do, for they now being at my Lord Deputy’s peace, doth no manner robbery, but upon my only tenants. His Lordship hath sundry times said he would be even with me; but indeed, if he constrain me to lie at Tallaght, it will be odd on my behalf; for in short time I shall be in the same case with the Tooles, that my predecessor was with the Geraldine. For servants have I none, passing four and a chaplain, which is a very slender company to resist so many malefactors as be of the Tooles, and their adherents at the least 200 persons. How I am wrapped, God judge. If I endeavour not to preach the Word of God, then am I assured to incur my Prince’s and your Lordship’s displeasure. If I repair to my house at Tallaght, then am I assured nigh to be my confusion. Thus am I on every side involved with sorrows, and all I think ton little if it were for my Prince’s honour.”

Archbishop Browne was expelled under Queen Mary from his See, as being a married man; and it is thought, adds the historian, with much simplicity, that had he not been married he would have been also expelled, having been a strenuous advocate for the Reformation in both the former reigns. [See notice of George Browne in *Dictionary of National Biography, *and Letters and Papers of the Reign of Henry VIII passim.]

Lease to Edward Basnet, late Dean of St. Patrick’s, Dublin, of the Rectory of Clondalkin, County Dublin, with the tithes, &c., extending to Clondalkin, Kilbride, Ballydonan, Nangar, Dromnaghe, &c., certain lands in Tassagard and Conkill; the Rectory of Esker, in the same county; the Rectory of Rathcowle, with the tithes, &c.; the Rectory of Talaught, with a messuage and garden in the same, and the tithes, &c., in Talaught, Newton, Ordbawne, Ballyloghan, Kylmardin, Kyltipper, Burgholon, Glanego, Corbally, Jopeston, Kyllowan, Whiteston, Cokeston, Prowdeston, Donyngsfelde, Belgarde, Newlande, Ballycarran, Newhall, Kylmanaghe, Tymothan, Ballycullyan, Ballycrathe, and Kyllynynym, and all the spiritual profits of said parishes to hold for 21 years at a rent of £200; finding fit chaplains of churches of said four parishes.

The Minor Canons and Choristers of St. Patrick’s had at Tallaght eight messuages, six gardens, and five and a half acres of arable land, and a custom of six hens.

The Vicarage of “Tavelaghe” was given to Simon Waten
A pardon was granted to George Browne, Arch bishop of Dublin; William Browne, of Tawlaght; Anthony Browne, of Tawlaght; Henry Sherewood, of Tawlaght; John Raathe, Edmund Crell, Laurence Browne, and William Harrolde, of Tawlaght, for offences against certain statutes.
During an invasion of the Irish into Tallaght a nephew and some servants of Adam Loftus, then Archbishop of Dublin, were slain at the gates of the palace. He writes on May 11 to the Lord Deputy urging the necessity of coercive measures, as he says the “Irishry” were never more insolent. Two years later we find Loftus entertaining the Lord Deputy as his guest at Tallaght. It was then considered the chief house of the See. One Brereton had an interest in it which Loftus was anxious to purchase, and he travelled to London on one occasion to secure the assistance of the Crown in obtaining his object. [See *Irish State Papers, *and notice of Loftus in Dictionary of National Biography.]
The Royal Visitation of this year returns the Rectory of Tallaght as belonging to the Deanery of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Thomas Brakeshaw was the minister and preacher. The value was 20 marks; and the church and chancel were in good repair and provided with books. Whitechurch and Cruagh, which were impropriate rectories, were also under the charge of the Vicar of Tallaght. In both parishes the church and chancel were in good repair, but unprovided with books, except such as the clergyman brought with him. Kilnasantan, which belonged to the economy fund of St. Patrick’s, was annexed to the vicarage of Tallaght, as was also Templeoge. The latter parish was then in sequestration, and the church and chancel were in ruin. [The lands of the See at Tallaght were about this time defined as the mountains, towns, and lands of Glasnamucky, Ballyslater, Killnasantan, and Castle Kelly; the mountains, towns, and lands of Ballymakan, containing 20 acres arable, bounded on the east by Kilbeg and Three Castles, on the south by the Common bogs, on the west by Carrickasure, and on the north by the lands of Boyestown and Sheragan; also the lands of Kiltipper, and one field on the lands of Tallaght, on the north side of a grove on the lands of Old Bawn, called the Cappagh Garden]
Launcelot Bulkeley was appointed Archbishop of Dublin. He was ancestor of the Viscounts Bulkeley. His son, William Bulkeley, built Old Bawn, near Tallaght. The Archbishop died at Tallaght on September 8th, 1650, in the eighty-second year of his age.
Archbishop Bulkeley, in his description of his diocese, thus mentions this parish:- “Tawlaght and Templeoge. - The tithes of Tawlaght belong to the Dean of St. Patrick’s, Dublin. The church and chancel are in good repair and decency. There are between three and four score that frequent Divine Service and Sermon. There is mass frequently said in the parish of Tawlaght, viz., in the towns of Ballyneskorney, Ballinan, Kilnarden; and Jobstown, sometimes in one man’s house, sometimes in another, in those towns. The tithes of Templeoge are impropriate. Sir William Parsons, knight and baronet, is farmer. The church is ruinous. John Hogben, clerk, serves the cure, which is worth £5 per annum, The priests are maintained and mass frequently said in the houses of Adam Talbott of Belgart, Barnaby Rely of Timon, Mrs. Ellenore Talbott and Mrs. Henry Talbott of Templeoge, and Pierse Archbold of Knocklin, which Pierse Archbold doth maintain a Popish schoolmaster in his town. The said Hogben is Vicar of Tawlaght, which is worth £20 per annum.”
Richard Ellis was Vicar of Tallaght. He appears also as such in 1648. On 15th February, 1660, he was collated to the Prebend of Wicklow; in 1662 he became Prebendary of Kilrane (Ferns); and in 1667 Archdeacon and Vicar-General of Ferns. He held the Archdeaconry and Prebend of Wicklow by faculty until his death in 1683.
Ordinations were held at Tallaght on May 20th, June 9th, and September 23rd. Also in 1639 on September 22nd; in 1640 on May 31st, September 20th, and December 20th; and in 1641 on June 20th and September 19th.
In the *Down Surrey *made in this year, “Tallaugh Parish “is thus described:-

“It is bounded on the north with the parrish of Clandalkin and Crumline; on the east and south-east with the parrish of Rafarnam and Creevagh; on the south with the barony of Talbotstowne, in the county of Wicklow; on the west and north-west with the parrish of Castletoone and Sagard.

“The quality of the soil is good, arable, pasture, and meadow. The south of the said parish is mountainous, and grown with heath, and many places afording noe pasture.

“It contains of forfeited land those ensueing denominations, viz., Fryerstowne, Balligscorning, Temploge, Kilnarden, Jobstowne, Whitestowne, Belgardton, and Cookestowne. The improvements therein are: At Temploge there stands a castle in repair, a tuckmill, and a house out of repair; at Jobstowne, a castle in repair, and some cottages and cabbins; and at Belgard, an old castle made habitable.

Acres Roods Perches

“Mr. Luttrell, of Luttrellstowne, Fryerstowne 112 0 0

“Adam Talbott, of Belgard, Balliskorninge 180 0 0

“Same 657 0 0

“Sir Henry Talbott, Temploge 265 0 10

“Adam Talbott, Kilnarden 196 0 0

“Garratt Nichold, Jobstowne 229 0 0

“Adam Talbott, Whitestowne 142 0 0

“Same, Belgardstowne 222 0 0

“Same, Part of Belgardston, called Kingswood 21 3 0

“Same, Cookestowne 75 0 0

2,099 3 10

1662. The Churchwardens of Tallaght exhibited a petition to the House of Lords, stating “that their church was in 1651 in good repair, with convenient pews, font, pulpit, and other necessaries, and also paved with hewn stone, all which cost the petitioners £300; that about the same time Captain Henry Alland, coming to quarter there with his troop, caused the roof of the said church to be pulled down, and converted the timber thereof for building a house to dwell in in the county of Kildare, and converted the slates of the church to his own use, and caused the paving-stones thereof to be carried to Dublin, to pave his kitchen entry and other rooms in his house, fed his horses in the font, and converted the seats and pews to his own use.” The petitioners therefore prayed redress, and were decreed a sum of £100, to be levied, with all costs, off the estate of the said Captain Henry Alland.

In the Hearth Money Roll of this year there appear under Tallaght: the Lord Archbishop, eight chimneys, John Jones, two chimneys, and William Brookes, two chimneys; under Old Bawn: Mr. Arch-deacon Bulkeley, 12 chimneys; and under Templeoge: Sir Henry Talbot, five chimneys.

The Minor Canons, in this year, on the expiration of a lease to Sir James Ware, demised their lands at Tallaght to the Vicars-Choral at a rent of 30s.

John Cuff collated Vicar of Tallaght. In 1681 he was appointed to Hollywood.
Edward Hinde, or Hynd, was collated on 26th November to the Vicarage of Tallaght, united to Cruagh. He had been Rector of Baldungan. A sequestration of the parish, issued on 16th August, 1689, to Louis Griffith; and in 1690 Hinde either died or resigned. He was the son of Samuel Hinde, and was born in the Isle of Man. He entered Trinity College in 1671, was elected a Scholar, graduated in 1676 B.A., and proceeded in 1679 MA.
Hugh Wilson was collated on June 4th to the Vicarage of Tallaght, united to Clondalkin; Whitechurch and Cruagh having been severed from Tallaght and united to the Archdeaconry of Dublin. He entered Trinity College as a sizar, aged 18, on 8th June, 1680, and was ordained, being B. A., priest in Christ Church Cathedral on Trinity Sunday, 22nd May, 1688, by William [Moreton], Bishop of Kildare. On 4th May of same year he was licensed as “reader” in St. Nicholas Without. On 24th May, 1699, he was collated to Whitechurch and Cruagh, which were again united to Tallaght; and on 19th November, 1701, he was appointed Prebendary of Kilmactalway in St. Patrick’s Cathedral. We find him on 15th April, 1696, at the induction of Henry Rocheblave to the Vicarage of Dunlavan; and again, on 6th April, 1703, present at the election of Proctors to Convocation for the Dublin Diocese. On 2nd February, 1727, he was collated Prebendary of Swords, and died in
Fletewood Fisher appointed on 2nd December to Vicarage Cruagh, alias Crevagh.
Mr. Jones licensed on 27th February as school-master at Tallaght.
John Griffith licensed on 24th July as schoolmaster of Cruagh and Kilgobbin.
William King, the Archbishop of Dublin, writes, on September 7th in this year, to the Bishop of Down (Edward Smyth, who had been previously Dean of St. Patrick’s) - “I am very thankful to you for your promise to contribute to repair the church of Tallaght. [A return of this date says:- “There are two churches in repair - one at Tallaugh, another at Clondalkin - served alternately; there wants a third at Whitechurch. There were anciently several churches and chapels in this parish; but are, most of them, extinct or lost.”] Bp. Lindsay [Bishop of Killaloe, who had also been previously Dean of St. Patrick’s] gives 15l, which we have, to your 15l. more, will enable us to go on with the work. There is a great inclination, God be thanked, in people to repair churches. Twelve have been built since I was Archbishop in this diocese, or paid for; six or seven are going on ; and yet I shall want ten or twelve more.” [Correspondence of Archbishop King, in Library of Trinity College, Dublin.]
Zachary Norton was collated on 23rd March to vicarage of Tallaght and curacy of Whitechurch, on resignation of Mr. Hugh Wilson. He was the son of William Norton, and was born in the Co. Wexford. On 17th May, 1703, he entered Trinity College as a sizar, at the age of 20, having been educated in Dublin under Dr. Jones. He was elected a scholar in 1707, graduated BA. in 1708, and proceeded M.A. in 1712. On 7th November, 1730, he was appointed to the Prebend of Donaghmore, and resigned Tallaght and Whitechurch.

The first vestry books extant in the parish date from this time. They are filled with reports of the Vestry meetings held for the appointment of parish officers. The Vestry also struck rates on the acreage of Tallaght, Whitechurch, and Cruagh, for the repairs of the church, and suchlike purposes. Vestries were also held for badging paupers, who were thereby licensed to beg; while unbadged beggars were liable to imprisonment. [‘Some of the badges issued to beggars are to he seen in the Museum of the Royal Irish Academy, now in the National Museum. “Badged beggars” are similar to the “Blue Gowns” mentioned in Sir Walter Scott’s Antiquary.] There was a parish officer, generally known by the name of “Bang-beggar,” whose duty it was to see that none but licensed beggars should exercise this calling and the father of a late bishop held the honourable post of “Bang-beggar” for the town of New Ross.

handcock6.gif (81659 bytes)1729. Archbishop John Hoadly pulled down a great part of the old Castle of Tallaght. It appears to have been a very extensive pile, on the site of the ancient monastic edifice, which existed until 1324, when Archbishop de Bicknor rebuilt it. Archbishop Hoadly with the materials built a mansion which Austin Cooper in 1779 thus describes:- “The archiepiscopal palace of the See of Dublin, for a thing of its kind, is the poorest I ever saw. It is a large piece of patchwork, so void of either order or regularity that it is past describing. Adjoining it is a long range of stables, &c., at the end of which is a square castle. What to call it I am at a loss. I should imagine it to be a part of the old monastery that formerly stood here. It commands more antiquity in its appearance than the palace, as it has some of the Gothic taste in it, which I could not see in the other. I went into a coach-house adjoining this, and saw in it a very large arch, stopped tip, so that some other building joined. Archbishop Hoadly was the last man who resided in it, and the modern repairs in it were done by him. When I again visited this place (1780), I found it bear a much more agreeable aspect. All the patchwork of brick and stone is destroyed by an universal dashing and whitewashing, new windows, and the crevices of the old stone-work filled with mortar. All this thorough repairing was done last summer (I suppose) by his worthy Grace the present Archbishop.” This is rather negative praise. A further description of the palace will be found later on. [The drawing above stubbornly refuses to come down in size without losing definition. Click on the thumbnail for the full image. 80k. KF]

Archbishop Hoadly was a great agriculturist. His daughter, and only child, who married Bellingham Boyle, had similar tastes; and, in an amusing letter, Swift thanks her for a pig and some butter which she had sent hint from Tallaght. She was a favourite of the Dean; he commends her love of housewifery and good sense, and writes on one occasion in great distress on hearing she was ill with the smallpox. Hoadly resigned the See of Dublin in 1742,** **on being appointed to the Primacy. He died in 1746, and was buried at Tallaght with his wife, who had died two years previously.

John Gill collated on 20th November to the vicarage of Tallaght and Rectory of Cruagh, and licensed as Curate of Whitechurch. He was born in Dublin, and entered Trinity College on 6th April, 1714, aged 16, having been educated in Dublin under Dr. Wallace. He graduated B.A., 1719,** **and proceeded M.A., 1722. On 9th April, 1731, he was collated to the Rectory of Castlemacadam, and resigned Tallaght.
Zachary Norton collated on 10th April for the second time to Tallaght, which he held until 6th June, 1737, when he was appointed Precentor of Ferns. He resigned in 1760, and died, “aged upwards of 90,” in March, 1767.
Tallaght, Whitechurch, and Cruagh were united by Act of Privy Council on 23rd* *June, the consent of Zachary Norton, incumbent, of the Rev. John Wynne, patron, of the Rev. Robert Spence, in remainder, and of the Archbishop of Dublin, having been obtained. This Act was not enrolled, as ordered; and on 23rd September, 1734, another Act was made to the same effect, signed by “John Dublin, Granard, Molesworth, Ar: Meath, John Rogerson, Tho: Marlay, Tho: Taylor, Edwd. Webster, W. Graham.”
Sir Compton Domvile, of Templeogue, and the Right Hon. James Tynte, of Old Bawn, were appointed overseers and directors of roads.
Robert Trotter collated on 13th June to vicarage of Tallaght. He was son of John Trotter, gentleman; and was born near Enniskillen. Having been educated in the County Tyrone under Master Ballantine, he entered Trinity College on 9th May, 1722, and graduated B.A. in 1727. On 9th July, 1737; he was appointed to the Prebend of Timolhan, and died in December following.
John Gill was on 7th February again instituted to vicarage of Tallaght, presented by Rev. John Wynne; as Norton had done, so likewise did he.
John Jones collated on 1st June to Tallaght, on the death of John Gill. He was a son of Captain William Jones, and was born in the County Kilkenny. He entered Trinity College on 8th March, 1735, when 19 years of age, was elected a scholar, graduated B.A. in. 1739, and proceeded M.A*. *and LL.D. In *The Dublin Gazette *for 29th July, 1740, it is announced that “last Wednesday the Rev. Mr. Jones, Minister of Tallow, near this city, was married to Miss Downes, a gentlewoman of great parts and fortune.” He expended in 1743 £52 14s. 6d. on improvements at the glebe, and £2 5s. 6d. on making a buffet in the parlour. He resigned in 1743.
Charles Cobbe [See notice of him in Dictionary of National Biography.] was Archbishop; he purchased large tracts of Church lands in Tallaght Parish, and, bequeathing them to his relatives, died in 1765.
Owen Sheill instituted on 21st March to Tallaght on the presentation of Rev. John Wynne. He was probably son of Owen Sheill, master of the Diocesan School, who was buried at St. Patrick’s in 1743. In 1737 he was licensed, 5th November, to the mastership of the Free School of St. Patrick’s, and on October 8th to the curacy of St. Luke’s. In 1748 he was admitted M.A. in Dublin University. He died in 1769.
A subscription was made amongst the parishioners to put a coved ceiling in the church, and to do other needful repairs. The two bells were then re-hung. [In the Register of the Diocese of Dublin, the yearly value or Tallaght, in the year 1744, is given as £110.
Arthur Smyth [See notice of him in Dictionary of National Biography] was Archbishop. He bequeathed £50 for the use of the poor of Tallaght. He died in 1771.
Oliver Turkington nominated on 20th November parish clerk of Tallaght by Owen Sheill, M.A., Vicar.
John Elton was collated to Tallaght on the death of Owen Sheill. He was son of Anthony Elton, and was born in the County Wicklow. He entered Trinity College on 11th May, 1737, and graduated B.A. 1742, subsequently proceeding M. A. He died in 1783.
James Robinson nominated, on 24th May, 1770, schoolmaster of Tallaght, on nomination of John Elton.
“Ye Paten or Salver bought at ye cost of ye Parish.”
At a Vestry held on 13th September this year, it was resolved “that the bell given in exchange by Mr. Goodison for the ‘two cracked hells of the parish is not so good as either of them in sound and clearness, and that the churchwardens do apply forthwith for a better bell.”
Mark Wainwright was nominated on December 5th curate of Tallaght, by John Elton, at £50 per annum. He was appointed on 21st April, 1780, Rector of Cloghran by the Crown.
In *The Freemason’s Journal *of February 19-21, the following appears:-

“A Card. The parishioners of T-ll-w present their respects to the R-v-d D-c-r E-lt-n, and inform him that they are unanimously determined to petition the A-hb-p unless he immediately appoints a curate to officiate in said parish, or pays a more regular attendance himself; the congregation only consisting of a few, or a fracture in a single pane of glass, is but a shallow excuse for non-attendance for five weeks past. If this hint should not have the desired effect, the D-r may expect a more minute description to be laid before the public.”

Robert Fowler, [See notice of him in Dictionary of National Biography.] Archbishop of Dublin, expended £3,582 12s**. **4d. in buildings and repairs at Tallaght, and at St. Sepulchre’s in Dublin, and soon after expended a further sum of £1,397 18s. 8d. He enclosed the large garden behind the palace with a good wall still standing. Some say he altered the course of the road to its present line, as it ran formerly from the old turnpike across to the Greenhills Road, leaving the palace on the right-hand side. Being fond of agricultural pursuits, he levelled several ditches, and made many other improvements. He built also a bath-house, in the wall of which he utilized part of the old Cross of Tallaght, which had stood from time immemorial in the middle of the town. He died in 1801.
Rev. David Wilson was curate.
Samuel Hodson was nominated on 13th May curate of Tallaght, by John Elton, at £50 per annum.
Ann Murray was paid on 2nd April £2 for acting as pound-keeper during the year. The parishioners agreed to support expense of prosecutions against any person or persons who might break into the pound to rescue their cattle.
At a Vestry it was proposed that a throne be erected, or a suitable pew enclosed, for the use of His Grace the Archbishop, in Tallaght Church. Archbishop Fowler declined the honour, as he said that one seat should not be more decorated than another in a parish church.
Sequestration on September 1st of Vicarage of Tallaght and Curacy of Whitechurch, &c., to Rev. John Drury.
The Rev. Samuel Hodson, curate, was grievously assaulted when leaving the vestry-room, by a daughter of John Maxwell, the parish clerk. She insulted and abused his reverence to such a degree that the whole parish was moved with indignation. A Vestry was held forthwith, at which a memorial was prepared to the Archbishop, praying his Grace to remove the said John Maxwell from his clerkship, as he had made himself so obnoxious as to prevent memorialists from attending church; and stating that he had invented and propagated a false, scandalous, and malicious accusation against the Rev. Samuel Hodson, tending to lessen his good name and character; and that the said John Maxwell, in order to keep up the spirit of his false and malicious accusation, and with malevolent design, had frequently selected from the Divine Psalms such passages as would tend to answer his malevolent purpose, and to traduce by implication the character of the said Samuel Hodson, and had sung such parts of the Psalms during the Divine Service. At a subsequent Vestry held on 12th April, 1784, it was agreed to present a piece of plate value £5, with a suitable address, to the Rev. S. Hodson, as a small tribute of esteem and as a token of condolence under his grievances.
William Bryan, B.A., was presented on 15th February to Tallaght, by his uncle, William Bryan, of the City of Dublin, merchant. He resigned on 5th June, 1790, and was appointed on the 15th to the Rectory of Kilcronaghan, in the Diocese of Derry; with which he held the benefice of Kilkenny West, in the Diocese of Meath, by faculty dated 8th July,
He died 13th March, 1817, and was buried at Desertmartin old churchyard in the same grave with his father, the Rev. Robert Bryan, who died on 16th March, 1776, aged 66 years.
Commission on Tallaght Glebe House appointed on 19th June on petition of Catherine Elton, widow of John Elton.
Commission appointed on 12th July to view improvements for Rev. William Bryan. Cost found to be £110 9s. 10d.
The parishioners presented Rev. William Bryan with a piece of plate, value £10, as a small tribute of their esteem and appreciation of his conduct as a minister of the Gospel, and also as a spirited, active, and fearless magistrate in those stirring times.

Anthony Armstrong appointed clerk, which post he held for nearly 50 years.

Robert Cochrane was collated on June 11th to the vicarage of Tallaght, Curacy of Whitechurch, and Rectory of Cruagh, by the Archbishop, to whom Mr. William Bryan had given the presentation.
Grant from Archbishop on 4th June of two acres for a school in Tallaght.
“A Vestry was held in the parish church of Tallaght, which was very numerously attended, the minister in the chair, at which a motion was made and carried, with only two dissentients, to levy a tax of one penny per acre on the lands in that parish, to be appropriated towards rebuilding the Roman Catholic chapel in that district.”
It was agreed, at a Vestry Meeting on 13th November, that £69 16s. was to be levied off the parish of Tallaght to pay 11 men to serve as substitutes in the County Dublin Militia.
Matthew Handcock, of Fir House, appointed churchwarden.
Payment of 1s. 1d. was ordered for making a grave for a robber who was murdered in the mountains.
A new vestry-room was built on the north side of the church, adjoining the minister’s garden.
At a Vestry it was ordered that the church-wardens should carry the poor box through the church on Sundays, or forfeit 1*s. *1d. for each time of default.
In the Ecclesiastical Report of this year the parishes are thus described:- “Tallaght, a curacy; Whitechurch, do.; Cruagh, *alias *Crevagh, a rectory, all contiguous; extent, from east to west, five miles from north to south, five miles. Incumbent, Robert Cochrane, literate, has cure of souls; resident in the glebe house, and discharges the duties; the benefices perpetually united, time not known. One church in good repair in the parish of Tallaght, a glebe house in same, and 16 acres of glebe contiguous to the church. No curate.”
Paid for the carriage of the Ten Commandments home, 2s. 8d.
A wall ordered to be built round part of the churchyard.
Rev. Thomas Goff appointed Vicar. This was probably Mr. Goff of Oak Park, Co. Roscommon, who died in October, 1844.

June 6th. Lundy Foot, churchwarden, bought from John Bennet one large bell, weighing 9 cwts. 3 qrs. 4 lb., at 2s. 6d. per lb., £137. There was received for the old bell, weighing I cwt. 3 qrs. 19lb., at 1s. 1d. per lb., £10 15s.; and Mr. Blackburne was paid for hanging the same, £68 6s.

Rev. Thomas Strong, Curate.
Rev. J. Groves,* *Curate.
Rev. J. C. M’Causland, Curate. He was the last person who lived in the old palace, which shortly after was pulled down. The Rev. Mr. Lovett succeeded him as Curate. He was tutor to Isaac Butt, who afterwards became rather notorious, and who, when a lad, used to drive four goats and a little phaeton about the country.
An Act of Parliament, I & 2 Geo. IV, cap. 15,** **28th May, 1821, was passed at the instance of Archbishop Beresford, divesting the Archbishop of Dublin of Tallaght as a palace, and placing the mensal lands attached to it in the same circumstances as other See lands. The Act states that the buildings and offices of this demesne were then in such a state of decay as to be unfit for habitation; that a country residence for the Archbishop was unnecessary, and that the income of the See was inadequate to support the expense of two establishments; the Archbishop was, therefore, empowered to demise the sane for the usual term. The following is the schedule annexed to the said Act:-

Acres Roods Perches

The palace, offices, yard, and hay-yard 0 3 28

Castle garden 0 2 0

Melon yard 0 2 2

Large garden 4 1 34

Front lawn and pond 0 2 25

Large lawn and pond 1 0 0

Field in possession of Kelly 1 0 17

Arable meadows and pasture 17 0 20

Garden and orchard 1 2 20

Glebe 0 2 0

Demesne 174 1 23

Plantation measure, 202 2 29

William Trocke, M.A., Dub., appointed Vicar.
Archbishop Magee sold the demesne to Major Palmer, then Inspector-General of Prisons, who under-took to demolish the old palace, lest it should ever become a monastic institution. Major Palmer accordingly pulled it all down, and occupied, it is said, two years in removing the materials. With part or them he built a fine mansion-house. He built also the schoolhouse, and several cottages in the town, and repaired the roads in the neighbourhood. Nothing remained of the old palace but a great vault, formerly part of the kitchen, now a mound covered with trees. Major Palmer disposed of his interest at Tallaght to Mr. Lentaigne. [Afterwards the Right Hon. Sir John Lentaigne.] The latter kept the great gardens, enclosed by Archbishop Fowler, in good order, and made further improvements. In 1842 he leased the greater portion of the demesne to the Dominicans, who have built the present monastery, on the site of the old Castle, as hereafter mentioned.
William Robinson, M.A., Dub., appointed Vicar. He held the union of Tallaght, Whitechurch, and Cruagh for 57 years, and resigned in 1887. His death (aetatis eighty-four) took place at Tallaght Glebe House on 9th November of the same year, and his interment in the parish churchyard on tile Saturday following. Mr. Robinson was ordained in 1827. [In the Parliamentary Returns of 1864 the net value of this vicarage is given as £206 5s. 4d.]
William Elias Handcock elected on 7th September lay representative of the parish, in pursuance of a circular issued by His Grace the Archbishop of Dublin.
The Select Vestry unanimously decided on 22nd September, to object to the severance of the long-established union of the parishes of Tallaght, Cruagh, and Whitechurch.
The Select Vestry decided on 19th July to oppose the severance of Cruagh from Tallaght union.
On October 1st the foundation-stone of the new Dominican Church, St. Mary of the Rosary, was solemnly blessed and laid by the Cardinal Archbishop of Dublin. The church is of the early English style, and measures 140 feet in length. A beautiful rood-screen divides the building into equal portions, one of which is occupied by the sanctuary and choir.

The remains of the celebrated preacher, Dr. Burke, are laid in one of the side chapels. A large new wing is now being added, which will connect the church and convent.

Eugene Henry O’Meara, M.A.,** **elected Vicar of Tallaght, and is the present Incumbent. He was previously Rector of Ne’vcastle Lyons.

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