Mountgarret (or Mountgarrett, Mount Garrett; Irish: Mota-Gairead) is a townland in New Ross, County Wexford, Ireland. It is known for the ruins of a medieval tower house that was built by the Bishop of Ferns in 1408.
Mountgarrett | |
|---|---|
townland | |
 Mountgarrett Castle | |
  Mountgarrett | |
| Coordinates: 52°24′36″N 6°56′11″W / 52.4101°N 6.9365°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| County | County Wexford |
| Municipality | New Ross |
Location edit
Mountgarrett is in the Electoral Division of New Ross Rural. It is in Saint Marys civil parish, Barony of Bantry in County Wexford. It has an area of 35.56 hectares (87.9 acres). It lies along the River Barrow to the west, which forms the boundary between Count Wexford and County Kilkenny.[1] Bordering townlands are Ardross, Barrettspark, Castlemoyle and Craywell to the south: Knockavilla and MacMurrough to the east; and Mountelliott to the north.[1]
Hamilton (1835) says, "Mountgarrett, a lofty hill overlooking New Ross, is surmounted by the ruins of a castle, from which there is a fine view."[2] In 1841 the population was 71 and the Poor Law valuation was £91 16s. 0d.[3]
Early monastery edit
Saint Nissen was converted to Christianity by Saint Patrick in the 5th century. He became abbot of Montgarth (Mountgarret) Abbey in Wexford, on the borders of Kilkenny, of which place he is titular saint.[4]
Medieval tower house edit
Patrick Barrett, Bishop of Ferns, built a tower house at Mountgarret in 1408.[5] On 26 May 1403 King Henry V of England had given Barrett authority "to treat with Irish and English enemies in the counties of Wexford, Kilkenny and Carlow for the purpose of reforming them to peace."[6] In the mid-16th century Sir Richard Butler rebuilt the castle. He was the son of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond, and in 1550 became the first Lord of Mountgarrett.[5] The castle is the largest Norman tower house in Wexford.[7]
An 1836 illustration in the Dublin Penny Journal shows the castle partially ruined.[8] An 1878 account said the keep of Mountgarrett's castle was still in a tolerable state of preservation.[9] However, the five-storey building was not well-maintained and the south wall and part of the west wall collapsed during the winter of 2009–10.[5] There were other collapses after this. In September 2021 it was reported that a Community Monuments Fund grant of €70,000 had been obtained for stabilizing and preserving the castle. The municipality of New Ross planned to make the castle accessible to tourists.[7] The castle is located at 52°24′43″N 6°56′06″W / 52.41197°N 6.9351°W on the ring road near the greenway.[7]
Notes edit
- ^ a b Mountgarrett Townland, Co. Wexford.
- ^ Hamilton 1835, p. 300.
- ^ Reports from the Commissioners 1850, p. 57.
- ^ Butler 1833, p. 137.
- ^ a b c Dempsey 2015.
- ^ Furlong 2003, PT80.
- ^ a b c Looby 2021.
- ^ G. H. 1836, p. 364.
- ^ Hogan 1878, p. 226 fn.
Sources edit
- Butler, Alban (1833), The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints: Compiled from Original Monuments and Other Authentic Records, Illustrated with the Remarks of Judicious Modern Critics and Historians, R. Coyne
- Dempsey, Jim (September 2015), Mountgarret Medieval Tower House, retrieved 9 October 2021
- Furlong, Nicholas (23 October 2003), A History of County Wexford: A comprehensive study of Wexford's history, culture and people, Gill & Macmillan Ltd, ISBN 9780717165407, retrieved 10 October 2021
- G. H. (14 May 1836), P. Dixon Hardy (ed.), "Mountgarret Castle, County of Wexford", The Dublin Penny Journal, IV (202), retrieved 10 October 2021
- Hamilton, Charles C.. (1835), Leigh's New Pocket Road-book of Ireland: Containing an Account of All the Direct and Cross Roads, Together with a Description of Every Remarkable Place ... (3 ed.), Leigh, OCLC 18674986, retrieved 10 October 2021
- Hogan, Edmund (1878), The Description of Ireland: And the State Thereof as it is at this Present in Anno 1598, M. H. Gill, retrieved 10 October 2021
- Looby, David (14 September 2021), "Oldest Norman house in county, Mountgarrett Castle to be restored", New Ross Standard, retrieved 9 October 2021
- "Mountgarrett Townland, Co. Wexford", townlands.ie, retrieved 9 October 2021
- Reports from the Commissioners, vol. 26, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, 1850, retrieved 10 October 2021