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History | Churches | Graveyards | Knights of Glin | Townlands | Priests of the Parish
Brief Parish History & Geographical Location
Glin is a parish in the Shanid Division of the barony of Lower Connello. The village is about 12 miles west from Askeaton. The Shannon Estuary flows past the village of Glin, which is probably best known as the seat of the Knights of Glin.
The parish was formerly known as Kilfergus and, in the past, the parish used to comprise of Loughill as well as Glin. Glin gets its name from Glen Corbraighe. The Corbry tribe ruled the area before the arrival of John Fitz John in the thirteenth century.
Henry II granted the town and lands around Glin to John Fitz-Thomas Fitz-Gerald, lord of the Decies and Desmond. His descendants were to become the Earls of Desmond, who received wide powers from the English in the governing of the district. The town of Glin belonged to the Knight of Glin until 1654 when it came into the possession of Londoner, William Barker. The castle that is now the home of the present Knight of Glin was built between 1780 and 1790.
Patrick O'Connor, in his book "Exploring Limerick's Past",
believes that Glin grew as a town around this period. In those times Glin
was the centre of the Knight's estate, which consisted of about 5,600 acres.
The lands consisted of the parishes of Castletown, Cappagh and Iverus and
sections of land in the parish of Croagh.
The fair days in Glin were June 8th, the first Wednesday in September and
the 3rd of December with a weekly fair each Wednesday. Despite its location,
Glin was not included in the Civil Survey of the 1650s. The village, as it
was then, was called Ballygullyhannane.
In March 1997, President Mary Robinson opened the Glin Heritage
Centre, which is situated in St. Paul's Church. Up until the 1930s the Protestant
community used the church as a place of worship but with the Protestant population
declining, the building was neglected. The centre is opened daily from April
to October.
The present day church is in the village of Glin, across from Glin Heritage Centre, which is housed in St. Paul's Protestant church. It was built in 1858. Outside the church there is a statue to the Virgin Mary on the right and there is a statue of the Crucifixion. Over the main door of the church is the foundation stone of the church, inscribed on which are the names of Fr John Bunton and Fr David Quin, who were parish priest and curate respectively in 1858 when the church was built.
Inside the church there is a stained glass window of the Sacred
Heart on the right of the church in memory of Philip W. Lowe. This window
was erected by his wife and children and was made by G. C. Riordan & Co.
of Cincinnati, Ohio. To the right of the altar there is a mosaic of Joseph
teaching Jesus carpentry.
Behind the altar there is a stained glass window to Mary & Child. To the left of the main altar there is a mosaic to the Sacred Heart and a Crucifix. The stained glass window on the left of the church is to the memory of parents John & Mary Riordan. The window depicts the Mother & Child surrounded by angels and a Dominican monk with rosary beads in his hands. This window may represent the Rosary. This window was also made by G. C. Riordan & Co.
In the grounds of the new church at Glin a number of priests who ministered in the parish over the years are buried. On the left-hand side of the entrance, there is a headstone telling us that Archdeacon Michael Ryan served as parish priest from 1948 until 1976, when he retired. Archdeacon Ryan died in 1981. Another long serving parish priest in Glin was Archdeacon James Roche who was P.P. for 29 years when he died in 1920 at the age of 97. Also buried here are Michael Canon O'Carroll, who died in 1942, and Eamonn Canon Dillane, who died in 1998.
Buried in the grounds of the church are:
Archdeacon Michael Ryan
PP 1948-1976
Died in 1981
Canon Dillane
Parish Priest
Died 26th November 1998
Arch. James Roche
PP for 29 years
Died 13th May 1920
Aged 97
Michael Canon O'Carroll
Died November 1942
Prior to the building of the present day parish church, Kilfergus was used as a place of worship. Today, the remains of a church can be seen here. Fr William MacEnery and some of the local landowners renovated this church between 1814 and 1816. The Catholic population of the parish was unable to provide adequate funds for the completion of renovations, and so it was necessary to seek financial assistance from the wealthy landowners of the area. However, the exact date of the erection of this church is unknown.
Begley mentions that there was a church and cemetery in the townland of Killmurille (Kilmurly as it is called nowadays) in 1807. Kilmurly church is in the county of Kerry but it is in parish of Glin. Until 1807, this church was considered to be in the Diocese of Ardfert. This church is dedicated to St Murghaile. Westropp measured the church as 50 feet by 23 feet. The walls were 2 feet 10 inches thick that were built from small stones. Today the church is in ruins and is covered by ivy. Parts of the walls have fallen but most of the structure of the church is intact.
Westropp also mentions a church and burial ground called Killeany,
which were in the old parish of Kilfergus, of which Glin was a part. It became
part of the Diocese of Limerick on August 13th 1807 by Bishop John Young.
A new cemetery for the parish was opened recently in the townland of Kinnard, on the road to Athea, due to lack of space in Kilfergus and Glin.
Buried in the graveyard at Glin church are a number of priests
who ministered in the parish over the years. The oldest headstone we found
in the cemetery at the back of the church dated from the 31st of October 1878.
The headstone is to the memory of James Hough.
A large cemetery is adjacent to the church ruins in Kilfergus. The tomb of the Knights of Glin is near the church ruins. This cemetery has been the resting-place of the Knights of Glin from around 1400 until 1866 according to a plaque, which has been erected over their tomb.
The oldest headstone that we could decipher was in memory of John Murry who died on November 8th 1802. Due to the age of the cemetery, some of the inscriptions on headstones and tombs have faded away. However, it is possible that this cemetery may have been a burial place since the 1400s, bearing in mind the inscription on the tomb of the Knights of Glin.
According to Westropp, there was a burial ground surrounding
Killeany church, which was in the old parish of Kilfergus.
There is a burial ground surrounding the church ruin in Kilmurly. No headstones are visible at this site but a plaque was erected here by Tarbert Youth Social Action Group in 1995. The plaque was erected to the memory of the Holy Innocents that are buried within the church ruins.
Originally Normans, the Knights of Glin are a branch of the Desmond Geraldines, who were also called the Fitzgeralds. The first castle they built was by Thomas Fitzgerald in Shanid around 1200.
There are two versions of how the title was bestowed on them. According to the first version, the father of all the Geraldines was John Fitz-Thomas Fitzgerald, who was of Anglo-Norman descent. He was father to four or five illegitimate sons and, with his royal authority, he conferred Gibbon as the White Knight, Maurice as the Knight of Kerry or the Green Knight and John Fitz John as the Black Knight or the Knight of Glin. The second version claims that King Edward III conferred the three brothers with knighthoods after the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.
Unlike most knighthoods, this one is inheritable and at present the 29th Knight of Glin is Desmond John Villiers Fitzgerald. Down through the years, it can be shown that the Knight of Glin has supported people who revolted against the English forces. In 1567, the Knight was to be sentenced to death along with his son but escaped death due to a legal technicality. His son, however, was not as lucky. Edmund Fitzthomas Fitzgerald decided not to get involved in the second Desmond Rebellion and had his lands and castle restored to him. By the turn of the century, his attitude had changed.
In 1600, due to the Knight's support of O'Neill and O'Donnell, the Knight of Glin was besieged in Glin castle by the English troops who were led by Sir George Carew. Carew had earlier captured the six-year-old son of the Knight and threatened to kill him if the Knight did not surrender. The Knight replied that he and his wife would be able to have more children if their son was killed. After two days, the English took the castle and many of the defenders of the castle were either killed or drowned in the Glencorbry River. The ruins of this castle are still visible.
The castle was the home of the Knights of Glin from about 1260 until 1642, when a house was build near the site of the present castle. In 1730, John Fitzgerald conformed to the Protestant religion and became Knight in 1732. He was the first Protestant Knight.
The present day castle was build between 1780 and 1790 by John Bateman. Although it is called a castle, it is actually a Georgian house. The contractor was a Mr. Sheehy and the stone was brought from Athea by horse drawn sledge. By 1798, the majority of the interior was finished but with the Fitzgeralds about to become bankrupt, the craftsmen downed tools and left the castle. The "Cracked Knight" who was the Knight at the time, burned many of the documents relating to the history of the Knights of Glin and other family matters in the 1860s. His grandson Desmond FitzJohn saved the castle from being burned by a Sinn Féin mob in 1923. FitzJohn was confined to a wheelchair as a result of a stroke in 1910 and refused to leave the house, telling the mob that "you'll have to burn me in it boys". On hearing this, the mob left and the house was saved.
Traditions
A tradition that survives in the parish concerns weddings.
When a newly married couple emerge from the Church of the Immaculate Conception,
they are prevented from leaving the church. Children block the road by placing
a rope across the road. The road is reopened when the children have received
money from the couple.
| English Name | Irish Name | Meaning |
| Ballycullane Lower | Baile Uí Chathláin | The town of Ó Cathláin |
| Ballycullane Upper | as above | |
| Ballydonohue | Baile Uí Dhonnchú | The town of Ó Donnchú |
| Ballygiltenane Lower | Baile Mhic Giolla tSeanáin | The town of Mac Giolla tSeanáin |
| Ballyguiltenane North | as above | |
| Ballyguiltenane Upper | as above | |
| Ballygoghlan | Baile Ó gCochlán | The town of Uí Chochláin |
| Ballyhoolahan | Baile Uí Uallacháin | The town of Ó hUallacháin |
| Ballynagaul | Baile na nGall | The town of the standing stones |
| Ballynamuddagh | Baile na mBodach | The town of the low-bred persons |
| Caheragh | Cathrach | Place of stone forts |
| Cloonoughter | An Chluain Uachtair | The upper meadow |
| Court | An Chúirt | The court |
| Dromreask | Drom Riasc | Ridge of marsh |
| Farranmiller | Fearann an Mhuilleora | The land of the miller |
| Fleanbeg | Fliain | Meaning uncertain |
| Fleanmore | as above | |
| Glenagragra | Gleann an Ghrágaire | The glen of the croaker |
| Glin | Gleann Corbraí | The glen of the Corbraí |
| Glin Demense | An Gleann | The glen |
| Kilfergus | Cill Fhearghasa | The church of Fearghas |
| Killacolla | Coill an Chalaidh | The wood of the landing place |
| Killeanybeg | Coill Fhéinne | Enna’s wood |
| Killeanymore | as above | |
| Kinard | Cian Ard | Meaning uncertain |
| Tooraree Lower | Tulach Fhraoigh | Hillock of heather |
| Tooraree Upper | as above | |
| Tullyglass | An Tulach Ghlas | The green hillock |
| Tullyleague | Tulach Liag | Hillock of the stones |
| Year | Parish Priest | Curate(s) |
| 1704 - ? | Maurice Gallagher | |
| ? - ? | James O’Brien | |
| ? - 1757 | James Dundon | |
| 1757 - 1758 | Denis Conway D.D. | |
| 1758 - 1760 | Maurice Walsh | |
| 1760 - 1780 | Roger Coffee | |
| ? – 1806 | Michael MacDonnell | |
| 1806 - 1816 | William MacEnery | |
| 1816 – 1836 | Daniel O’Sullivan | |
| 1837 | Daniel O’Sullivan | Bernard McMahon |
| 1838 | Daniel O’Sullivan | Bernard McMahon |
| 1839 | Daniel O'Sullivan | Bernard McMahon |
| 1840 | Daniel O’Sullivan | Bernard McMahon |
| 1841 | Bernard McMahon | Daniel Mahon |
| ? Leahy | ||
| 1842 | Bernard McMahon | Daniel Leahy |
| 1843 | Bernard McMahon | Daniel Leahy |
| 1844 | Bernard McMahon | Daniel Leahy |
| 1845 | Bernard McMahon | James Hogan |
| 1846 | Bernard McMahon | James Hogan |
| 1847 | Bernard McMahon | Patrick Quaid |
| 1848 | Daniel McCoy | William Power |
| 1849 | Daniel McCoy | William Power |
| 1850 | Daniel McCoy | Richard Power |
| D. O’Sullivan | ||
| 1851 | Daniel McCoy | Richard Power |
| 1852 | Daniel McCoy | Richard Power |
| 1853 | Daniel McCoy | James Walsh |
| 1854 | Daniel McCoy | James Walsh |
| Michael Glesson | ||
| 1855 | Daniel McCoy | Michael Glesson |
| David Quin | ||
| 1856 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1857 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1858 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1859 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1860 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1861 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1862 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1863 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1864 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1865 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1866 | J. Bunton | David Quin |
| 1867 | J. Bunton | Luke Glesson |
| 1868 | J. Bunton | Luke Glesson |
| 1869 | J. Bunton | Luke Glesson |
| 1870 | J. Bunton | Luke Glesson |
| 1871 | J. Bunton | Luke Glesson |
| 1872 | J. Bunton | Luke Glesson |
| 1873 | J. Bunton | Luke Glesson |
| 1874 | J. Bunton | William Carroll |
| 1875 | Michael Malone | William Carroll |
| 1876 | Michael Malone | William Carroll |
| 1877 | Michael Malone | William Carroll |
| 1878 | Michael Malone | William Carroll |
| 1879 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1880 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1881 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1882 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1883 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1884 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1885 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1886 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| 1887 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| M. O’Donnell | ||
| 1888 | Michael Malone | Patrick Hurley |
| J. Fitzgerald (Adm.) | ||
| 1889 | Michael Malone | J. Fitzgerald (Adm.) |
| William Fenton | ||
| 1890 | Michael Malone | J. Fitzgerald (Adm.) |
| Patrick Kenrick | ||
| 1891 | Michael Malone | J. Fitzgerald (Adm.) |
| Patrick Kenrick | ||
| 1892 | James L. Roche | Patrick Kenrick |
| 1893 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| 1894 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| 1895 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| 1896 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1897 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1898 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1899 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1900 | James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1901 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1902 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Denis O’Keeffe |
| Charles McCarthy | ||
| 1903 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Charles McCarthy |
| John Conway | ||
| 1904 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Charles McCarthy |
| John Conway | ||
| 1905 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Charles McCarthy |
| John Conway | ||
| 1906 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Charles McCarthy |
| Michael Hannan | ||
| 1907 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Charles McCarthy |
| Michael Hannan | ||
| 1908 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Charles McCarthy |
| Patrick Coleman | ||
| 1909 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Charles McCarthy |
| Patrick Coleman | ||
| 1910 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Patrick Coleman |
| James Foley | ||
| 1911 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Patrick Coleman |
| James Foley | ||
| 1912 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | Patrick Coleman |
| James Foley | ||
| 1913 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1914 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1915 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1916 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1917 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1918 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1919 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1920 | Archdeacon James L. Roche | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1921 | Canon David Keane | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1922 | Canon David Keane | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1923 | Canon David Keane | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1924 | Canon David Keane | James Foley |
| Thomas Connolly | ||
| 1925 | Jeremiah O’Shea | Thomas Connolly |
| Michael Toomey | ||
| 1926 | Jeremiah O’Shea | Michael Toomey |
| P. Lyons | ||
| 1927 | Jeremiah O’Shea | P. Lyons |
| 1928 | Jeremiah O’Shea | P. Lyons |
| 1929 | Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1930 | Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1931 | Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1932 | Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1933 | Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1934 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1935 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1936 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | P. Lyons |
| 1937 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1938 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1939 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1940 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1941 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1942 | Canon Michael O’Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1943 | John McCarthy | |
| 1944 | William J. Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1945 | William J. Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1946 | William J. Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1947 | William J. Carroll | John McCarthy |
| 1948 | William J. Carroll | John Conners |
| 1949 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1950 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1951 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1952 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1953 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1954 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1955 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1956 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1957 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1958 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1959 | Michael Ryan | John Conners |
| 1960 | Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| 1961 | Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| 1962 | Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| 1963 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| 1964 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| 1965 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| John J. Slattery | ||
| 1966 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| Philip Quinlan | ||
| 1967 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| Philip Quinlan | ||
| 1968 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| James Costello | ||
| 1969 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| 1970 | Canon Michael Ryan | Daniel Murphy |
| 1971 | Canon Michael Ryan | Denis Browne |
| 1972 | Canon Michael Ryan | Denis Browne |
| 1973 | Canon Michael Ryan | Denis Browne |
| 1974 | Canon Michael Ryan | Denis Browne |
| 1975 | Canon Michael Ryan | Denis Browne |
| 1976 | Canon Michael Ryan | Denis Browne |
| 1977 | Gerard M. Griffin | Michael Hanly |
| 1978 | Gerard M. Griffin | Michael Hanly |
| 1979 | Gerard M. Griffin | Michael Hanly |
| 1980 | Gerard M. Griffin | Michael Hanly |
| 1981 | Cornelius Collins | Michael Hanly |
| 1982 | Cornelius Collins | Christopher Griffin |
| 1983 | Cornelius Collins | Christopher Griffin |
| 1984 | Cornelius Collins | Christopher Griffin |
| 1985 | Cornelius Collins | Christopher Griffin |
| 1986 | Cornelius Collins | Desmond McKeever |
| 1987 | Cornelius Collins | Joseph Cussen |
| 1988 | Cornelius Collins | Joseph Cussen |
| 1989 | Cornelius Collins | Joseph Cussen |
| 1990 | Cornelius Collins | Joseph Cussen |
| 1991 | Cornelius Collins | Joseph Cussen |
| 1992 | Cornelius Collins | Joseph Cussen |
| 1993 | Cornelius Collins | Joseph Cussen |
| 1994 | Canon Eamonn Dillane | Joseph O’Keeffe |
| 1995 | Canon Eamonn Dillane | Joseph O’Keeffe |
| 1996 | Canon Eamonn Dillane | Joseph O’Keeffe |
| 1997 | Canon Eamonn Dillane | Joseph O’Keeffe |
| 1998 | Canon Eamonn Dillane | David Cahill |
| 1999 | David Cahill | |
| 2000 | Martin Madigan | |
| 2001 | Martin Madigan | |
| 2002 | Martin Madigan | |
| 2003 | Martin Madigan | |
| 2004 | Martin Madigan | |
| 2005 | Martin Madigan | |
| 2006 | Thomas Crawford | Martin Madigan |
| 2007 | Thomas Crawford | Martin Madigan |
The list of Priests from 1704 to 1836 is compiled from information gained
in Begley's History of the Diocese of Limerick Vol. III page 598. The remaining
years are compiled from the Catholic Directories. Information contained in
a directory of any given year refers to what happened the previous year. For example
if a priest is recorded in the 1954 directory as being in a particular parish,
this would mean that he was actually there in 1953.
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