Walsh of Carrickmines
and The Dublin Walshs
"Where the little river Bray falls into the sea, a little higher up one sees
Ould Court,
an estate of the Walshs of Carrickmain, of ancient nobility
and numerous in these parts."
- Camden.
The first so called "Walsh" in Dublin is mentioned as David the Welshman, who is said to have
been created Baron of Carrickmines in 1172 by King Henry II. An elaborate genealogy had been constructed for him beginning with his marriage to a daughter of Justin McCarthy, from whom he received lands in Kerry. Mr. Valentine Hussey-Walsh, who had a right to be considered an expert, rejected the early part of the genealogy (Ref: Genealogist Vol. 17) for want of evidence in the records. Moreover, Mr. James Mills, after a thorough study of the records, does not include Carrickmines in the list of feudal tenures established in the district south of Dublin at that time (Ref: Journal R.S.A.I) in the territory reserved by the King, but as Carrickmayne was in the lands held by the Archbishops of Dublin the statement may be exact nevertheless. In 1186 the lands of Telachneepscop (or Tolach na n-Escop, now the parish of Tully where Carricklines lies) was confirmed to Holy Trinity Church [Dublin], lands which had granted to that church by Sigraghre, son of Thorkil, a Norse nobleman of Dublin, possibly before the conquest [pre-1170].
In the year 1175, at the bank of the flooding River Shannon opposite Limerick, in company with Raymond Fitz William Fitz Gerald "le Gros" and Meiler Fitz Henry, the Book of Howth speaks of "a young knight among them, newly dubbed, fair and manfully, Raymond's nephew, hight Dawy Walshe, through great courage that had over all the others," crossed the raging river in example for the remainder of the force to follow.
Another source is Giraldus Cambrensis who relates the story of David at the Battle of Limerick as, "A young soldier, Raymond's nephew, David Welsh,
taking his surname from his family, though he was also a Welshman born, a handsome youth, and tall above the rest, was so chafed at the delay, that,
willing to risk his own life to win honour, he put spurs to his horse and plunged into the river, although the bottom was full of rocks and stones. By crossing obliquely, he was able to stem the current; and his noble horse landing him safely on the opposite bank, he shouted to his comrades that
he had discovered a ford; but notwithstanding this , no one would cross after him but a man-at-arms whose name was Geoffrey Judas."
Giraldus continues, "Meyler (son of Henry FitzHenry, and grandson of Henry I. and Nesta), who had come with Raymond in this expedition, perceiving
this, and burning to share the honour of a bold enterprise with David, who was also his near kinsman, spurred his strong horse . . ."
The latin reference that Giraldus uses for David is David Agnomine Walensis non Cognomine, Natione Kambrensis non Cognatione.
This David "Walsh" was said to not only have been created Baron of Carrickmaine in Dublin, but of John's Cross in Kerry. It goes on to say (Ref: Journal of Ossory Society) he was granted lands at Huntstown near Dublin, at Old Connaught in Wicklow, and Abington in Limerick. Unfortunately, neither the title Baron of Carrickmaine, or of John's Cross, are documented, and because Carrickmines was known to be church-land in the late 12th century, historians view the titles as fictional. However, it should be noted that in order for the early English archbishops of Dublin to exploit their lands to the full, they organized them in the same way as a lay baron would, in the form of manors. Included among the principal archepiscopal manors of early English Dublin were Kill-of-the-Grange and Shankill; areas containing Walsh possessions in medieval times (e.g. Brennanstown and Shanganagh).
Further reference mentions David's marriage to Mary McCarthy, eldest daughter of Justin of Aglias and Sarah Sullivan, receiving with her, from her father, much land in Kerry, where he erected three castles; Castle Walsh of Alan, of Cusneen and of Murry, which castles are situated at the foot of Knockatee. Manus, son of David, founded the abbey of Rosbercon (Kilkenny) and another near Dublin, and enriched them with many lands and ornaments. From David was lineally descended Thomas John Reymund Walsh, of Carrickmaine in Dublin and John's Cross in Kerry, and dynast of Castle Walsh.
Among the ancient Welsh records collected by Nicholas Owen and included in his "British Remains" (London, 1777) there is a list of the arms attibuted to members of the Royal Tribes of Wales. Owen gives the arms of "Cadogan of Ustrad Flur (Ystrad Flur or Strata Florida)," "Azure, a lion rampant argent," which replicate the arms of Walsh of Carrickmines, except that the latter, as a mark of "difference," are "debruised by a fess per pale of the second and gules." The silver lion in a blue field was also borne, according to the same authority, by "Cadrod, from who are descended the Owens of Anglesey; and by "the Baron Coedmore" [Coetmor]; and by Cadogan ap Grono, whose descendants are men of Strata Florida. Perhaps the first David 'Walsh' of Carrickmaine originated from one or more of these houses in Wales. That he was Welsh, or at least part Welsh, is given in his name, as well as the references to him in the records. That he came from Wales with the early Cambro-Normans (1169-1172) in the campaign into Ireland is apparent.
About the year 1250, there was a record in St. Mary's Abbey of a charter from John Coventry to Gilbert le Waleys de Howde (Howth?) in Ostman's town,
Dublin (Oxmanton); and another entry in the Chartulary mentions "Walteri, filii Roberti Walensis," who gave a parcel of land to the Abbey, situated
between Dunleary (? parish of Monkstown) and Bernemeth. It should be stressed that these early references to Walensis and le Waleys were apparently common references to those of Welsh descent, and not necessarily a reference to the later Walsh surname.
On 10 March 1276, Philip Howel and a Geoffrey Harold (perhaps of the Kilgobbin family) sat on the jury at an inquisition to determine the lands at villa Walensis held from the archbishop of Dublin by Elias le Waleys (the Welshman). The land in question would seem to be Balibren (Baile na mBretnach, meaning town of the Welsh), now the modern townland of Walshestown located within the parish of Lusk in the barony of Balrothery East. This Balibren was undoubtedly the land of Righerid le Walleys (the Welshman) (d.1228), the lord of Cloghran who offered his homage to Henry III on 5 November 1222.
In late April 1309, Maruice Howel, Richard le Waleys, and Henry O'Toole were noted on Lord Lieutenant Piers Gaveston's campaign against the O'Byrnes (of the Wicklow mountains).
In 1314 the government pardoned the offences of Maurice Howel, Archebaud (Archbold) Howel, Richard le Waleys, Richard Roth le Waleys, Robert Lawless, and others, due to their service in Offaly and the Leinster mountains.
From November 1316 to January 1317, Maurice Howel is noted serving as part of the garrison of Newcastle McKynegan in east Wicklow. Howel again served as guardian of the Leinster marches during 1324-25, earning £26 13s. 4d.
The 1326 rental of the manor of Clonkeen shows Maurice Howel leasing Carrickmines and Balybrenan from Holy Trinity, while his kinsman Peter Howel was allowed to occupy nearby Ballymorthan.
Also about 1326 Thomas Walsch, chaplain, was granted a lease and the tithes of the town of Balybrenan [Brennanstown] in the parish which Carrickmines is situated. What seems apparent is the Walshs and Howels of Carrickmines were very near kinsmen, perhaps even originating from the Welsh community living in the Carrickmines/Kilgobbin area prior to the Anglo-Norman arrival.
In August 1329 Maurice Howel, Thomas Harold, and Thomas Archbold, served against the O'Byrnes.
In 1331 William the Walysshe was bailiff (sheriff) of Dublin. In 1334, Maurice Howel delivered some O'Tooles into custody.
On April 23, 1350, Peter Howel, Richard fitz Michael Howel, Elias fitz Robert Walsh and Hugh fitz Robert Lawless were part of the assembly to elect Walter Harold as head of his sept.
In 1350 we again find mention of the Dublin Walshs. They, with the Harolds, Archbolds, Lawlesses and Hackets were posted along the rampart of the Pale, their charge to keep the Byrnes and O'Tooles away from Dublin. But something had offended the Harolds, who, perhaps with some of the others, were themselves making war on Dublin. The Viceroy made peace with them, and caused an election to be held at which the captain of the Harolds was named. One of the Walshs was there, doubtless as a relative of the Harolds. In the course of the next century the Walshs seem to have taken over a number of border castles formerly held by other families, the defence of the Pale coming more and more under their charge. We are entitled to believe that they had been at Carrickmines from the beginning, although there is some evidence that the Archbolds were there for a time.
In 1360 Robert Walsh was bailiff (sheriff) of Dublin. He was probably one of the signers (Robert Waleys) of a protest to send representatives from Ireland to the Parliament or Council of the King in England as required by writ. It is probably the original Sinn Fein declaration emanating from the Anglo-Irish.
Carrickmines
Writing in the early twentieth century the author Francis Elrington Ball, in his "History of the County Dublin", describes Carrickmines Castle as "A fragment of an ancient building, now forming the end wall of a piggery, is to be found in a farmyard not far from the railway station of Carrickmines, on the right-hand side of the road leading to Golden Ball. It is of massive proportions, and contains a light or window." "This fragment is all that remains of a strongly-fortified castle, which was erected at Carrickmines, after the English Conquest, to protect the south marches of the City of Dublin. These, owing to Carrickmines being the most convenient route for the Irish tribes in making their raids, were exposed at that point to much danger, and by the aid of the castle the marauders were often successfully opposed before they descended on the cultivated lands of Kill-of-the-Grange and Monkstown."
"The castle was garrisoned by a branch of the Walsh family, to which the lands of Carrickmines, or the Little Plain of Rocks, had been given, and its occupants combined in a remarkable degree the aptitude for martial and for agricultural pursuits necessary to make them successful colonists. At first they were not able to withstand alone the attacks of the enemy from the mountains, and, in the 14th century, troops were dispatched from time to time to their assistance. But in the beginning of the 15th century, the Walshes had established a reputation for prowess in the field which kept the tribes in more awe, and allowed the Walshes to devote more attention to the cultivation of their lands."
In 1371 Carrickmines was raided in strength by the Byrnes, and the Archbishop of Dublin, as a tenant in chief, had to send armed assistance for the
relief of the place. That is the only record of a call for help through five centuries, and it is not wholly certain whether the Walshs were there then or
were placed there after the raid. The defence of Dublin, for perhaps two centuries, was in the hands of the Walshs in that district to the south,
their castles of Carrickmines, Kilternan and Kilgobbin commanding the mountain passes in that direction.
In May 1372, Holy Trinity leased Ballybrenan to Thomas Walsh, a chaplain of the priory, for twenty years at a rent of 4 marks per annum. Ballybrenan was formerly held by the Howels. This, though, was conditional upon Thomas building and maintaining a stone house at Ballybrenan.
On December 12 1395 the king confirmed a grant of the confiscated lands of Lawless and Archbold, along with Hugh Lawless's lands at Carrickmines, to Janico Dartas. King Richard's grant indicates that the crown had exercised its right to Carrickmines, depriving Holy Trinity of its ownership. In turn Dartas may have confirmed Carrickmines and other lands to John and David Walsh, who held these lands from the crown by knight service. In turn these men seem to have allowed Henry fitz Adam Walsh to occupy Carrickmines Castle and work its attached lands. Henry fitz Adam was definitely in possession of Carrickmines by 11 March 1400, for Henry IV then granted 100s. from the revenues of the royal manor of Thorncastle to 'Henry Adamesone of Cairykmayn' for his good service. [source: article on Carrickmines by Emmett O'Byrne]
As time went on, and the relations with their neighbors improved, the Walshs developed other places of a different sort. They were, as Camden wrote of them, "of ancient nobility and very numerous in those parts." It is hardly conceivable that the activities of such a stock were confined to so restricted a field. They were within the area dominated by the Earls of Kildare, and as these were almost continuosly engaged in some form of warfare we may take it that there were plenty of opportunities offered for service and reward for men of this warrior breed. There are some indications that these Dublin Walshs were re-inforced by Walshs from Kilkenny, perhaps when the Ormonds were Viceroys; but in the main, and certainly for long periods, they seem to have existed independently of their Kilkenny namesakes.
In the area south of Dublin, the family of Walsh was progressing. From 1400 onward their capacity was repeatedly recognized, and they were as often called upon to shoulder more of the burden of defending the Pale. In addition to the strong places which they held as keys to the mountain passes, they obtained and developed comfortable estates at Corkaigh, at Shanganagh on the sea coast, at Old Connaught, and at or near Bray. Back of this border they had been encouraged to "inhabit upon the O'Tooles," to help keep that fighting sept in order. They developed friendly relations with those potential enemies, and with the Byrnes, relations so good that when a marriage was contracted between the chief families of the two tribes, which despite four centuries of English pressure had kept their tribal lands in common under the old Irish system, Walsh of Shanganagh and Walsh of Kilgobbin were made trustees of the contract. They were closely united by marriage to the Talbots, the Eustaces and the Fitz-Williams, families which, like their own, were very busy in the mountain regions. Now and again these families, indignant at the injustice of Dublin rule, showed their resentment in arms.
In 1401 the O'Byrnes settled a large force of O'Meagher mercenaries along the Dodder river just north of Bray. along the Dodder river just north of Bray. In August 1401, the Dubliners and the Walshes, led by Lord Mayor John Drake, slaughtered the O'Meagher mercenaries in battle at Bloody Bank near Bray (now known as Sunny Bank).
In the Dublin area, about 1406-1407, appears Harry Walshe, "Captayne of the Walshe men" and with him "James Came of Kylgobbene and Connor Came of Kylternane," places the Walshs afterwards owned and defended in the border wars. Harry Walshe was possibly Henry fitz Adam Walsh.
In 1407 the crown granted land at Balally to Henry fitz Adam's son, William fitz Henry Walsh. This grant though was subject to the building by William fitz Henry of a castle there. William fitz Henry himself resided at Symondeston in Kiltiernan parish, holding it from St Mary's abbey at Dublin. Upon the death of William fitz Henry sometime in 1407, a panel of jurors including John Archbold and John Lawless took part in an inquisition to determine the extent of Walsh holdings at Symondeston. Henry fitz Adam Walsh of Carrickmines then seems to have become the guardian of his son's recorded offspring, Henry and Esmond. Naturally, the eldest of these boys, Henry, became the heir to the lands occupied by both his father and grandfather. In December 1407, the young Henry's rights to Carrickmines were confirmed. Then John and David Walsh on December 20 confirmed Carrickmines to Henry fitz Adam before granting the rest to Maurice Walsh and John fitz Maurice Walsh. The terms of the grant were stated as "all the lands of Carrickmayne, Ballyroe, and Annody, remainder to Maurice Walsh and his heirs male, remainder to the right heirsan, in tail male, to be held of the chief lords of fee for services due and customar of the said Henry Walsh."
In 1412 the King appointed John Walsh, Thomas Waleys and others to prevent the export of grain "from Bray head to the Nanny water."
In 1417 Maurice Walsh and William Walsh were among those from Dublin County who joined in memorial to the King in praise of the vigor with which Talbot, Lord Furnival, repelled the incursions of the O'Byrnes and O'Tooles (amongst others) upon the borders of the Pale.
In 1420, Henry fitz William, still a minor, succeeded to the lands granted in 1407.
In 1421 the King committed to Thomas Walsh the custody of the manor of Ward while "in the King's hand." (One half went to a Birmingham and the other to St. Lawrence of Howth.)
On September 6, 1440, Thomas fitzMaurice Fitzgerald and Braen O'Byrne were outlawed for burning the Kilgobbin lands of James Adamesson (fitz Adam) Walsh, Henry's granduncle.
"Henry fitz William Walsh, who was captain at Carrickmones in 1441, allowed by the Crown ten marks -a large sum in those days- for protecting the liegemen, and probably it was by him that the Castle of Carrickmines was erected in the form in which it stood for the next two centuries. The lands of Carrickmines, which were held direct from the Crown by military service, had been conveyed to his grandfather, Henry, son of Adam Walsh, by John and David Walsh, and had come subsequently into the possession of his father, William Walsh, who, in 1407, was residing on part of them called Symondstown. Henry fitz William Walsh had succeeded to the lands in 1420, and, as he was then a minor, portion of his property was committed to an ecclesiastic, Richard Northorp, by name, who was exempted from rendering any account with respect to it during the minority."
In his 1456 parliament Thomas fitzMaurice Fitzgerald (now Earl of Kildare) outlawed Henry Walsh of Carrickmines and his son William. Among others to suffer the same fate were Thomas Carrach (Walsh?) of Shanganagh, Maurice Walsh, Patrick Archbold, Geoffrey Harold, Esmond Harold and a number of Lawlesses. They were pardoned in 1458 and being coerced to attack the Irish, who by now they had made friends with.
In 1460, Henry Walsh of Carrickmines, aided Archbishop Michael Tregury of Dublin to erect fortifications at Rathdown and Newcastle Lyons. Anout 1462, the O'Byrnes captureed some of Henry Walsh of Carrickmines sons.
In 1465 Henry Walsh of Carrickmines successfully petitioned Desmond for a pardon and those of his kinsmen as well as for the restoration of his property.
In 1476, the O'Byrnes and O'Toole destroyed Kilgobbin Castle, leaving Maurice Walsh destitute.
On on October 16 1481, Henry Walsh bequeathed Carrickmines to his son John fitz Henry. Henry died shortly after.
Before 1495, Theobald fitz Henry Walsh of Carrickmines succeeds to Carrickmines after his brother John fitz Henry.
The 16th century found the Walshes in occupation, either as tenants or owners, of a very wide extent of country, and they had become one of the most important families on the southern side of Dublin. The owners of the lands of Carrickmines, on which there was near the castle a hamlet called Ballinrow, and a water mill (whose site is marked on the Ordnance map), held also the lands of Kilpool and Old Court, in the County Wicklow, and were generally named amongst the officers responsible for the muster of the militia.
Henry fitz William Walsh had died in October 1481, and amongst his successors in the occupation of the castle we find:
Edmund fitz Henry Walsh, who, in 1519, was involved in litigation with the Priory of the Holy Trinity as to the adjacent lands of Keatingsland and Priorsland. Edmund fitz Henry of Carrickmines died at an uncertain date before 20 June 1537, Carrickmines then passed to his nephew, William fitz Theobald Walsh;
William, son of Theobald Walsh, who married a daughter of the house of Fitzwilliam, and died in 1572;
Richard, son of William Walsh, who married one of the Eustaces, and died in 1580;
Theobald, son of Richard Walsh, who died in 1593;
Richard, son, of Theobald Walsh. Richard fitz Theobald Walsh was a minor at the time of his father's death, and while his property was in the custody of Peter Barnewall, his guardian, the lands of Carrickmines were completely devastated by Irish marauders, who carried off "the prey of the town," notwithstanding the presence of a troop of horse, which was then stationed there.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the Walshes were described as a large and ancient stock, and as men of note in the metropolitan county, which was then "rich and plenteous in corn and cattle, and inhabited by a people of stately port and garb." The Castle of Carrickmines was surrounded by an orchard and garden, and, so far as was possible, its lands had been subjected to the plough.
But before the middle of that century the Walshes' prosperity was at an end, and they were reduced to the position of
wanderers on the earth. The part taken by the owner of Carrickmines, in the Rebellion of 1641, is not clear, but as a family the Walshes threw themselves with ardour on the Irish side, and proved that they had become at least as Irish as the Irish themselves.
Whether with or without the consent of the owner, Carrickmines became the centre of disaffection in the southern part of the County Dublin, and the Walshes figure prominently in the depositions made by those who suffered losses during that dreadful winter. Richard fitz Theobald Walsh, who had succeeded, in 1593, to Carrickmines, is stated in an inquisition to have died in 1620, but, according to the pedigree of a noble Austrian family, the Counts von Wallis, who claim descent from his second son, he did not die until some years later (1632).
His eldest son, Theobald, was, however, living, in 1630, in Carrickmines Castle. A payment was then made to him, on the order of a foreigner, by the Earl of Cork, and, in a report on the diocese of Dublin it is mentioned that he was maintaining at that time in the castle a priest and a friar, "to celebrate Mass and execute their functions." But he cannot have been in it when its overthrow came, as he survived the Rebellion, and acted as a captain in the Confederates’ army.
During the whole winter after the Rebellion the County Dublin, south of the city, was in the hands of the rebels. Their defeat, in February, 1642, at Dean's Grange, gave them, no doubt, a check, and they fell back upon Carrickmines Castle, which they had prepared to stand a siege.
Although the cannon, which had been brought from Bullock, appears to have been soon sent back, the castle was not left without arms, and, as events proved, was capable of affording very effective resistance. In it the main body of the rebels were assembled on a Saturday morning, at the end of March, when scouts came running in to tell them that troops were approaching, and before long they saw some horse drawing near.
The horse were few in number and the rebels treated them with scorn and contempt. But the rebels did not take into account that the troops were commanded by one of the best officers in the English army, Sir Simon Harcourt, an ancestor of the well-known statesman of the present day, Sir William Vernon Harcourt, who had just returned from Munster, where he had displayed extraordinary energy in reducing the country to obedience.
Harcourt's high spirit could ill bear the insolent demeanour of the defenders, but he was a prudent officer, and saw from the great strength of the castle that he could not successfully assail it with his small force. He, therefore, restrained himself until reinforcements arrived, to the number of 800 foot and sufficient horse to complete a troop of 250, and as it was then too late to commence operations, he placed a cordon round the castle, and guarded it all night.
During the darkness the defenders lighted a fire on the roof of the castle, which was answered by others from the hills, and Harcourt becoming alarmed, sent in to the authorities for further assistance. Meantime, the defenders made a vigorous attempt to break through the cordon, and kept up a brisk musket fire from the castle. By means of it they inflicted loss on the besiegers and terminated the gallant Harcourt's career.
Harcourt had sought cover behind a small cottage, but stood up for a moment to issue some command to the soldiers, and, on being perceived by one of the defenders, who had already done great execution amongst the besiegers, was shot through the breast. He was carried off the field alive, but died next day at Lord Fitzwilliam's Castle, at Merrion.
An additional 400 men had arrived, with two cannon, and Lieutenant-Colonel Gibson, who now took command, ordered a vigorous bombardment of the castle. The troops were roused to redoubled vigour by the loss of Harcourt, who was much beloved, and when an entry into the castle was secured, they rushed in, headed by Lieutenant Robert Hammond, afterwards famous as Governor of Carisbrooke Castle during the detention of Charles I in the Isle of Wight, and fell upon the defenders with great fury.
Fearful slaughter ensued on that Sunday evening in the peaceful valley of Carrickmines. All who were in the castle, men, women, and children, estimated to be 300 persons, were put to the sword, and the castle was blown up and levelled with the ground. The loss of the besiegers is said to have been only seven killed and nine wounded, but it included, besides Harcourt, one officer, Lieutenant Richard Cooke, killed, and another, Sergeant-Major Berry, mortally wounded. The resistance offered by the defenders to what was the flower of the English army in Ireland is very remarkable; but a statement made in the Aphorismical Discovery, that the castle was surrendered and not taken, does not appear to be well founded.
After the Restoration the property of the Walshes, at Carrickmines, was awarded by the Commissioners of Settlement to the Earl of Meath, and was subsequently assigned by him to Sir Joshua Allen, of Stillorgan, whose representative, the Earl of Carysfort, is now lord of the soil."
Mr. Valentine Hussey Walsh contributed, from papers in his possession, records
of the descents and marriages in the family of Carrickmines (Ref: Genealogist
Vol. 17). From these it appears that in 1500 William Walsh of Carrickmayne
married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Fitz William of Merrion; their son
Richard married Eleanor Fitz Eustace; their son Theobald married Eleanor Fitz
William, and their son Richard, Joan Eustace. This Richard died in 1632. His
son Theobald, who married Maria Hore, was lord of the manor of Carrickmayne
when it was taken in 1642, and Theobald's son Richard died without children.
In this family between 1550 and 1640, there were two marriages with Fitz
Williams, two with Talbots and four with Eustaces. The sons of William of
1500 were Richard, Howel, Robert, Edmund.
Balally
After having been, about 1334, in the possession of Maurice Howell and Gregory Taunton,
mentioned as tenants to the Priory of the Holy Trinity for the lands of Cabinteely and Brenanstown,
the lands of Balally, came into the possession of the Walshes of Carrickmines.
Like other lands bordering on the mountains, those of Balally suffered much from
"wars and casualties of fortune," and in a grant from the Crown in 1407 to William Walsh
it was conditioned that he should build a small castle upon them. Although a considerable
time elapsed before its completion, this castle was ultimately erected, and became the
residence of a branch of the Walsh family. In 1546 Thomas Walsh, who was then in possession
of three houses and eighty-one acres in Balally, besides the castle, died there, and was
succeeded by his son, John, then a minor; in 1597 William Walsh was in possession, and
in 1641 James Walsh was seized of the castle and lands, as well as of those of
Edmondstown, near Rathfarnham.
The Walshes of Balally, as adherents of the Roman Catholic Church, had its services regularly performed, possibly in the ancient church, and in 1630 the Rev. John Cahill, mentioned as parish priest of Donnybrook, was commonly the celebrant. After James Walsh's death in 1646 his son, Henry, disposed of Balally for £700 to Mr. John Borr, of Dublin, but during the Commonwealth, when there was a population of seven persons of English and eleven of Irish descent inhabiting eight houses, the Parliament seized upon the lands and leased them to Lieutenant-Colonel Isaac Dobson, of Dundrum.
Kilgobbin
Kilgobbin, first held by the Harolds or the Hackets, it is not clear which,
was a post of most importance. The Parliamentary Gazetteer, published in
1840, says of the castle there that its building was popularly attributed to
the Gobban Saer, the legendary genius of Irish architecture, but that it was
really built by the Walshs of Carrickmines. "It evidently served as one of
a chain of forts or fortified residences expressly constructed to restrain
the incursions of the O'Tooles. It consists of an oblong tower without turrets
or outside defences, but planted nearly centre of the level plain extending
from the base of Three Rock Mountain to the scarp of Killiney Hill, and
effectively commanding all ingress and egress through the remarkable pass of
the Scalp, it formed, though not remarkable for strength or solidity, a
very effectual fortress when occupied by a vigilant garrison." It was the
Walshs' business to hold this and its related strong points, and they held
them.
A branch of the Walsh family of Carrickmines, the Harolds' comrades in the protection
of the Pale, later on settled on the lands of Kilgobbin. To that family was doubtless due the erection of the castle. Amongst its successive occupants were, in 1482 Morris Walsh, in 1509 Pierce, son of
Morris Walsh; in 1578 John Walsh, in 1599 Edmond Walsh, in 1615 Christopher Walsh, and in
1620 Patrick, alias Pierce Walsh, a son of John Walsh, in whose time a court was held by order of
the Exchequer at Kilgobbin, and certain persons were found guilty of non-attendance by a jury composed of the Walshes and their neighbours. Before the rebellion of 1641 Sir Adam Loftus, of Rathfarnham, had become possessed of the Walsh's interest in Kilgobbin, and under him it was then occupied by one Matthew Talbot.
In 1578 a John Walsh died siesed of 300 acres at Kilgoban and Jamestown, formerly Harold property. In 1599 Pierce Walsh of Kilgobbin was caught in the toils, for, knowing his Irish neighbors, and perhaps not fully sensible of the ruthless purpose of
the English officials, he was condemned to death after a defeat of the English by Phelim O'Byrne, an accusation of cowardice against him serving as mitigation of the incapacity of the English commander.
Shanganagh
A branch of the family of Walsh of Carrickmines had settled in the parish of Rathmichael, and by degrees the Walshes
supplanted the Lawless family. They appear first in 1447 at Shanganagh in the person of Edmund Walsh, to whom the
seigniory of that place, was leased in that year, by the Vicars Choral of St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Some twenty-five years later, in 1473, legal proceedings were instituted against Edmund Walsh for refusing to pay rent and continuing to hold the lands after the expiration of his lease, but the dispute was settled, and we find amongst the subsequent owners of Shanganagh, in 1482 Charles Walsh, in 1509 Richard Walsh, and in 1521 Charles, son of Richard Walsh.
Shanganagh Castle stood close to Loughlinstown river, in the valley near Ballybrack, with some portion of it possibly dated from 1408, when Thomas Lawless undertook to build a castle on the lands. Under the Walshes it was doubtless enlarged, and it became a residence of importance. Charles Walsh, who died in 1521, was succeeded successively by his son, Walter Walsh, who died in 1551, and by his grandson, John Walsh. The latter, who is included amongst the men of name in the County Dublin, and acted as a commissioner for the muster of the militia, owned at the time of his death in 1600, lands in the country of the O'Tooles and O'Byrnes, as well as the lands of Shanganagh and lands
in the adjoining parish of Old Connaught. By 1609 James Walsh had increased the holding to a castle, a water mill, and 203 acres, held of Peter Talbot. In 1654 John Walsh had 400 acres. He died six months before the troubles of
the time (Cromwell), and was praised in one of the letters to England; but
shortly afterwards was denounced as a rebel, as a necessary preliminary to
the appropriation of his land.
The lands of Shanganagh, which had been occupied under the Commonwealth by John and Henry Baxter, were restored by the Commissioners of Settlement to John Walsh. He was a direct descendant of the last-mentioned owner (the John Walsh who died in 1600), who had been succeeded in turn by his son James Walsh, by his grandson John Walsh, who married a daughter of Sir Robert Kennedy, Bart., of Newtownmountkennedy, and by his great-grandson Edmond Walsh, the father of the claimant at the Restoration.
The claimant [another John] was only a youth, but his cause had influential supporters in his grandfather, Sir Robert Kennedy, and his uncle, Sir Richard Kennedy, who was one of the Barons of the Exchequer. John died in 1671, and was succeeded successively by his son, Edward Walsh, and another, John Walsh, who in 1705 was licensed as a loyal Roman Catholic to keep a sword, a case of pistols, and a gun. The Walshes' occupation of Shanganagh did not cease until the middle of the eighteenth century. The lands of Shanganagh, together with the Walshes' property in Old Connaught parish, passed then into the possession of the family of Roberts, now represented by Captain Lewis Riall, and in 1763 the castle of Shanganagh was destroyed by a disastrous fire.
Walsh of Shanganagh had another property at Corkaigh, marsh land of the Lawlesses which was developed into a good estate. It was in 1481 when Henry Walsh "of the marshes" (Corkaigh) granted all his lands in Carrickmayne to John Walsh.
Old Connaught
In the sixteenth century all the lands in the parish of Old Connaught came into the possession of the Walshes, excepting those of Ballyman. These, after the dissolution of the religious houses, were granted to Peter Talbot, the defender of the Pale mentioned under Rathmichael. The Walshes of Shanganagh were in possession of the lands of Old Connaught and Cork (Corkaigh), while the Walshes of Carrickmines occupied those of Phrompstown.
Members of these families resided upon the various lands, and we find on Cork in 1566, William M'Shane Walsh and Edward Walsh, in 1590 Walter Walsh, and in 1599 Edmund Walsh, who died in that year, desiring to be buried at Rathmichael; and on Phrompstown, in 1609 Edmund Walsh, who died in that year, desiring to be buried at Tully.
On the lands of Old Connaught the Walshes of Shanganagh erected in the seventeenth century a dwelling which is shown by the fact that it had five chimneys, to have been a large house, although the roof was only of thatch, and which was surrounded by an orchard, garden, and grove of ash trees. In it James Walsh, mentioned as one of the owners of Shanganagh, was residing in 1630, when Archbishop Bulkeley made his report on the Dublin diocese, and in it he maintained, the Archbishop states, several priests and friars.
Records show the Shanganagh proprietors at Old Connaught included James Walsh in 1609 and John Walsh in 1671. James Walsh, the "Irish papist" who owned it in 1654, had 500 acres and on the premises were "a castle thatched, a grove of ash trees and the walls of the parish church.
" After the seige of Limerick the old owners withdrew to France. In 1671 James Walsh died seised in tail male of
the premises in Little Bray " of the property of his ancestors and which he held of the crown by Knight's service."
(Ref: Dalton's History of Dublin County pp. 900 to 915).
Old Connaught, referred to as the cantred of Oconagh, circa 1246, in deed inspected by, among others, the bishops of Kildare and Ossoary, and R. Walens', preceptor of the Knights Templar in Ireland.
Dalkey
An inquisition post mortem taken in 1594 showed that Henry Walshe of Killincarrig,
who had died in 1570, had two castles and 75.5 acres in Dalkey, which he held of the
archbishop. The Walshes had taken of Dalkey in the fifteenth century or came close to doing so.
There were several families of the name in the area but the ones most closely
associated with Dalkey were the Walshes of Carrickmines, county Dublin and
Killincarrig, county Wicklow. They were perceived as an unruly clan, who seem to
have adopted Irish ways. William Walshe, who had a grant of Killiney from Holy Trinity in
1530, was known as McHowell. He may be the William, who got a grant of lands and tithes
in the area in 1555, when he was described as son Tybbot Walshe of Carrickmines. The
dean eventually had to take legal proceedings to recover the lands. When Henry Walshe of
Killincarrig died in 1570 he held extensive possessions in Dalkey of the archbishop and
Christ Church, including two castles and several houses. But the inquisition was not taken
until 1594, when the jury reported that "tenure of lands had long been concealed from the
Queen and her predecessors". His son, Theobold, had taken over. In 1566 William McShane
Walshe of Corke (near Bray) was pardoned for having robbed a widow, Gormla `O'Clondowil, in
Glencullen. Several of William's kinsmen, including John Walsh of Shanganagh and
Edmund Walsh of Cork, as well as members of other local families, Irish and
Old English, were pardoned at the same time for having rescued him from the custody
of the sub-sheriff of county Dublin. In 1602 Henry Walsh of Dalkey was pardoned for rebellion.
After the dissolution of the Priory of the Holy Trinity the lands, which probably had remained in the occupation of the Walsh family from the 14th century, were held under the Chapter of the Cathedral, in 1555, by the owner of Carrickmines, William Walsh, and, in 1571, by Owen Walsh. It was then obligatory on the tenants to bring the tithe corn to a place called "the holy stood," to mow a meadow belonging to the Cathedral, and to plant twenty oak or ash trees each year. At the beginning of the 17th century, William Rochfort - doubtless, one of the Rochforts, of Kilbogget - through his marriage to a daughter of the house of Walsh, became tenant, as did subsequently Thomas Wolverston, a younger son of the owner of Stillorgan, on his marriage to Rochfort's second wife.
Another account of the siege of Carrickmines
By the arrival of Cromwell in 1642 in Dublin, Carrickmines Castle was stormed
and blown up (in March), its garrison massacred, and Theobald, a "captain of the Irish,"
attainted. Along with Walshs in other parts of Ireland they lost everything.
An account of the engagement as described in Joyce's "Neighborhood of Dublin"
goes,
"Saturday the 26th of this month (March) Sir Simon Harcourt with a
party of horse marched toward the Castle of Carrickmines within six miles of
this city, and taking observation of the place and finding that there were
a number of rebels lodged there, he sent hither for some more horse and some
sompanies of foot and for two pieces of battery he caused to be placed, and
herwith began to batter the castle. The rebels played upon our men from the
castle with their shot, and it fotuned that Sir Simon Harcourt was ther shot
in the body and thereof died the next day."
"Our men, enraged at the loss of their commander, fell on with exceeding great
fierceness to the castle, and with admirable courage adventuring upon all
danger without the least fear with axes broke open the gate and entered it
with their swords, the rebels still continuing to shoot and slay our men even
after part of them had entered the castle; but in the end our men took the
castle, and were so highly provoked as they put all they found therein to the
sword, to the number of at least three hundred persons, and blew up the castle
with powder as a mark of terror to the rebels and indignation on that place
where a person of that woth was lost."
"And now considering that Sir Simon Harcourt hath left a widow and children
behind him, we crave leave to recommend his widow and children to His Majesty,
that by His Majesty's gracious favor that town where he gave up his life for
the honour and service of His Majesty, and the rest of that rebel's estate to
whom that town belonged (Theobald Walsh) being worth between three and four
hundred pounds per annum when this rebellion began, may be bestowed in
perpetuity for the behoof of his wife and children."
Another English account of the siege says that after the first ineffectual
attempt to take the castle a parley was called for, and that when a messenger
from the castle arrived he was put to death. After this act of bad faith the
English broke into the outer court yard, but the defenders, issued from the
citadel, attacked them "like a bolt of lightning," and drove them out. Edward
Walsh of Wicklow was in command in Theobald's absence. Women and children
were included in the massacre when the castle was finally taken.
In the survey of 1648, Carrickmines, of the inheritance of Theobald Walsh,
Irish Papist, who had acted in the Irish army as captain of a foot company,
was found to be a manor with court leet, the tithes payable to Christ Church,
Dublin.
After the establishment of the Commonwealth the Walsh's property in Old Connaught parish,
including the lands of Old Connaught, Cork, and part of Little Bray, was leased to Major Henry Jones.
After the restoration of their property to the Walshes more members of the family appear in the district. In 1665 we find Mrs. Mary Walsh at Cork, and in 1698 Edward Walsh, a brother of John Walsh of Shanganagh, died at Old Connaught House. But about the year 1684 the Walshes' interest in Little Bray was purchased from them by Jeremy Donovan, a prominent member of the Irish parliament of James II., and owner of a house in Dublin called "Donovan's Arms" in Back Lane.
Count Wallis
The last Richard and the last Theobald of Carrickmines were in Germany long
before their castle was blown up. Following the Cromwell defeat, it was
natural enough for Walsh of Carrickmines to go to Austria.
In this sphere their ability and fighting qualities won for them places of distinction
and profit. Their descendants carried on the tradition.
Major Sources: "Walsh 1170 - 1690", by J. C. Walsh; and
"A History of the County Dublin", by Francis Elrington Ball.
Possible Pedigree - of Walsh of Carrickmines.
Walshs in the Early Irish Counties
Walsh Surname - Origins of the Walsh Surname.
Walsh Arms - Variations on Walsh Coats of Arms.
Wales - Exploring Walsh Connections in Wales.
England - Early Walshs in England.
France - The French Connection.
Possible Pedigrees - of Walsh of the Mountain.
Biographies - Short Bio's on notable Walshs, plus links to online Bios.
Place Names - Historical place-names of the family of Walsh.
Walsh of Kilkenny - Historical Perspective
Confiscations - of Walsh land holdings in Ireland at the time of Cromwell.
Lament of John MacWalter - Irish caoine about Walsh of the Mountain.
Share some of your Walsh History, send information to this
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Walsh of Dublin by Dennis Walsh
Monday, 19-Jan-2004 21:17:28 MST
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