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History of Kilkeary

This story is about a place that encompasses an ancient church (ancient nunnery) and graveyard, a school and cross-roads, given the name Kilkeary - a civil parish that rests upon the main T5 road - where the T21 creates a cross-road; a minor road, or slip-road, the 315, also links the two main-roads together. Just two and a half miles west is Toomevara town and Abbey, seven miles east lies Silvermine town and mountain - five and a half miles north-west is the area’s main town Nenagh, the second largest town in County Tipperary and just below, half a mile south, the Nenagh River wends its way to Lough Derg, a lake that links Killaloe to Portumna. We are roughly in the centre of Ireland having Roscommon to the north, Limerick to the south, Clare to the west, and Kildare and Carlow to the east. By road, Kilkeary graces a hundred miles of country south-east of Dublin. Taken from ‘The Illustrated Road Book of Ireland’, Pub: for the AA in 1963. Kilkeary Cross-roads, Tipperary. Map 14, R/9 7. Cill Cheire; Ciar’s Church. Iter. 213, 214. Bendacht for Cech N-Oen Legfas, ‘A blessing on all who shall read the following’. Kilkeary National School, Kilkeary, Tipperary North, Reg. No. 22402124, built, 1945-1950. A detached six-bay single story school educating approximately 70 children, with clerestory and lower flat-roofed block to the rear with entrance porches at a north-east and north-west angles. Pitched slate roof with rendered chimney stacks. Roughcast rendered walls with render plinth. Square-headed openings with six-over-six pane timber sash and some replacement uPVC windows and timber doors. Rendered walls with stiles and metal gates to site boundary. The design includes tall windows, steep roof, and flat-roofed rear block are typical of rural national schools built throughout the country in the early twentieth century, creating an elegant façade to the front, while the porches and cornice to the rear provide a horizontal emphasis. The symmetry of the building is echoed in the symmetry of the entrance stiles. The school’s plaque gives the Gaelic/Irish Title and build of 1949.

The Monastic Churches of the Diocese, p89, gives, Cill Cera (Kilkeary) “This church takes its name from a woman saint of the early monastic period, St, Cera. It lies three miles south-east of Nenagh, and seems to be the only church held by nuns within the diocesan territory before the twelfth century, Nothing further is known of its history.

Archaeological Inventory of North Tipperary, 8-9-1995, gives: 1864 Kilkeary. OS21:14:6 (416, 13) ‘Kilkeary Church (in Ruins)’ OD 300-400 19172, 17572, gives: Church and graveyard. Situated on a south-facing slope in pasture. Described in the Civil Survey 1654-6 (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 263) as being ruined ‘the walls onely standinge’. A ruinous church (dimensions, 9m N-S; 29.3. E-W), roughly centrally placed within a graveyard, aligned E-W and outlined by wall-footings (max. Height 1.1m) and collapsed limestone rubble. The present length is possibly misleading as a low, stone-walled burial plot appears to have been added to the west end. The original length is closer to 20m based on a description in the Ordinance Survey letters (O’Flanagan 1930, vol, 1, 199). An obelisk is inserted in the east end of the church. Visible tombstones in the graveyard of William Carroll referred to in the OS letters dates to 1706. There is no cut stone which has been repaired in places. 21:74

Toomevara Parish, pages 464-5-6. This Parish is written by the scholiast of Angus, Cill Cheri, and the church of St. Kera or Cera; it is situated in the ancient Muscraidhe Thire - the two Ormonds. In Aengus is written, “Ciar Ingen Duibhrea,” St. Cir was the daughter of Duibhrea. The Book of County Tipperary by George Henry Bassett pub, Dublin 1889. Toomevara, Nenagh, Population 408, in 1881. Lies in the parish of Aghnameadle, barony of Upper Ormond, being 5 miles east of Nenagh. It was estimated that the population had been reduced since 1881 by 100. The land of the district being good for dairying. Fairs were held and a fowl market held fortnightly, on Tuesdays, September through to December. The ancient castles of Blean and Knockane are in the parish. Attached to the Catholic Church, in the village, there are remains of a Preceptory of Knights Templars, and a few interesting sepulchral sculptures, including an effigy dug up a few years ago. Toomevara is the burial place of the O’Maras, a distinguished family whose tribe name was Ui-fatha.

The old church of Kilkeary was 57 feet long and 19 feet 2 inches wide, but at present all its features are destroyed. The parts, which remained up to the nineteenth century, were built in the semi-cyclopean style of large limestones rocks. O’Donovan mentions one stone in the north wall 9 feet 3 inches long, and 3 feet 9 inches high; it was about one foot above the ground in 1840. He remarks that there was scarcely one small stone in any wall of this church, which is the surest sign of its great antiquity. The style of building in the ruin is the same as that of Kilmurry church in Aranmore; it belongs to the seventh and eighth centuries. In the churchyard of Kilkeary is a monument of General Carroll of Ballygrenade, a descendant of the O’Carrolls of Ely. St Kera, ancient Irish name, are sometimes written in various spellings; the name of this saint is written Ceara, Ciar, Cyra, Cior, and Cera; it is pronounced hard, as Kera, hence the name Kilkeary. According to the most probable account St. Cera was born in the seventh century; her death is recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters, January 5th, 679 A.D. Her father’s name was Duibhrea, descended from the line of Connor, King of Ireland. She is said to have been born in Upper or Lower Ormond, but the exact place of her birth is unknown. The saint acquired a reputation for sanctity and miracles; the best known of her miracle was that, by her prayers a great fire was extinguished in her native territory. This reputation drew many to live with her; and this company formed the foundation of her community in Upper Ormond, called after her Cill Cheri. Some writers mistook the name Kilkeary for Kilcrea in the County of Cork. Here she ruled with great sanctity and prudence. The number of the postulants increased, and the saint, following the custom of that age, left Kilkeary in company of some of the nuns, and went to the northern part of the King’s County where she obtained a site for a nunnery in the place now known as Tehelly, in the parish of Durrow, about the year AD625, when she was still young. This site was given to the abbess and her five nuns by St. Fintan Munnu. She remained in this place, until it was developed, and then returned to Kilkeary. She is supposed to be buried in Kilkeary. To her father’s name was sometimes added the word, insula, an island, which seems to refer to the place of his residence. The following stanza is taken from the Leabhar Breac, the Book of the Mac Egans.

“Togairm Semcoin Srotha, Co Crist Cruch ronglea, Ba cain grian greit nua Ciar, ingen Duibhrea.”

“The call of Semcoin, the sage, To Crist of purist…; A new, transitory, gentle sun was Ciar, the daughter of Duibhrea.”

From the Martyrologies of Tallaght and Donegal and from Marianus O’Gorman. The manuscript Leabhar Breac – The book of the Mac Egans, was written during the time of Mac Aodhagain - a Gaelic clan of Brehons, who were hereditary lawyers firstly with the Conchobhair, Kings of Connacht, and later to the Burkes of Clanricarde.

Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of Ireland of 1837. Kilkeary is in the Electoral Division of Kilkeary, in Civil Parish of Kilkeary, in the Barony of Upper Ormond, in the County of Tipperary. Kilkeary is in the parish of Iffa and Offer East, Diocese of Lismore and County of Tipperary and province of Munster, 4 miles south-east from Nenagh on the road to Cashel. The parish contains 662 inhabitants, contains 2524 statute acres, Greenanstown House is the seat of Count D’Alton. The parish is in the deanery of Killaloe and is a rectory forms part of the union of Ballynaclough and the corps of the deanery of Killaloe,

The meaning of Kil or Cill before the place-name as in Kilkeary is given in Collins Irish dictionary as nf2 church; graveyard, cemetery using the example of cill agus tuath, Church and State. There is no K in the Gaeilge language which directs us to the Latinized Cheire or Ciar pronunciation and their spelling as Ceary, Keary, or in places Kearey (Therefore Church of Keary is the correct English translation for Kilkeary) Once again resorting to Collins Gaeilge dictionary Ciar (gsm céir, gst, compar céire) adj (hair) dark: (complexion) dark, swarthy, Gk Ierne. OCelt. Human population movement (Native) of Ireland from the Spanish Peninsular. It appears that the name could be a bodily description.

A king of Ulster named Ciar. After being banished from the court of Cruochan, sought refuge in west Munster. There he gained the territory of the first branch of the Carraige Tribe which he called Luachre in County Kerry. Taken from: Irish Kings and High Kings p160, 236, and 247. By France John Byrne, 3rd Edition, Dublin 2001.

The introduction of the name Ciar not only introduces us to a king but a saint too. The saint is also known by the spelling: Cera, Cére or Kiara and to other forms, I have taken Ciar as the most likely. In Ireland there is no accepted standard of spoken pronunciation as each County is different. The eighteen letters in the Irish alphabet borrows six more, including K, to form today’s Gælic/Irish language - Irish having almost twice as many consonant sounds as English, a further complication ready to trip up a non-Irish speaker.

Ciardha: Gǽilge nf4 (Ling) (the) Irish (language). Family name which is still in use, it is also the clan name which isn’t. By adding Oˊ to Ciardha adopts today’s form of address (Oˊ means, son of). The noun pronunciation of (C) is hard, as K is in Kick, the two syllables (ia) pronounced as ear, and the dha pronounced as a y (ee) as in Loch Ree. The prefix Ó (lit. from) can only be used when writing in Irish, writing in English the apostrophe Oˊ is used. This fada in the Irish language (lit. long) the accent above a vowel lengthens the sound of that vowel. For women the prefix is Mhic or Ui if they have adopted their partner’s name through marriage, and Nic or Ni if single or preferring not to change their name. The use of Ui can mean children or descendants of. The central/southern Uí Néill’s, Ui is a term of gentility - denotes those of the ruling family. This is a much older form than O’ or more strictly ‘Ua’. It was to this branch of the O’Neill’s that the O’Ciardha clan became indelibly linked.

In 1901, surnames in Ireland became altered to simplify the translation of the Irish form into English, e.g. the (y) ending in English replacing aigh, aidh and dha. Keary surnames are numerous in Co. Tipperary, Dublin and Westmeath. The addition of an e to the y (ey), just emphasis the ee sound – a way to assume greater Englishness adopted by immigrants a century before to find work and assume greater assimilation.

Latin was incorporated into Old Irish in about the 6th century. By the twelfth century the language evolved into modern Irish. To speak and understand English took another six centuries but only for the middle classes. Now we know where the name came from and who started using it but what happened during and after that time? I had better start again and go back to the Age of Saints to find out.

Saint Ciarȧn of Clonmacnoise, who belonged to the first generation of saintly monastic founders, died in 549 AD, over seventy years before Saint Ciar’s birth. Columba, Abbot of Iona, died twenty-three years before and Abbot Adomnȧn died twenty-five years after her birth. These recorded facts gives us a time-span, St Ciar was born over three generations after the arrival of Christianity in Ireland and was revered by her example, her teaching and her saintliness.

St Ciar was a native of this district, her father Duibhrea, descended from ‘the line of Connors’, Kings of Ireland. To her father’s name was sometimes added ‘insula’, an island – this refers to an island now called King’s Island, surrounded by a branch of the Shannon called Abbey River. Loch Derg’s southern side is in the Province of Ormond - where St Ciar was born. Her great sanctity and many miracles attracted numbers of holy women to share her monastic life The name of this district was written by ‘The Scholar of Aegus’, as Cill Cheire, the church of St. Kera or Cera (Church of Keary); it is situated in the ancient Muscraidhe Thire, the Upper and Lower Ormond. In Aegus written, 'Ciar Ingen Duibhrea’, (referring to St. Ciardha), daughter of king Duibhrea, who was a clan chief.

What is important to this story is that it introduces an ancient Irish name, and it is to St Ciar that I have to thank - an abbreviated form of Máel MacGioha Ciar – ‘as one of her devotees or followers’. The Clan Ciardha became established from the naming of the saint in about 650 AD - making a close connection between the church and the secular head king Duibhrea or Duina, reflected in the early writing.

John Colgan, Ireland’s national hagiographist (Writer of saints’ lives & legends) Bibliography: j. Colgan, Triadis Thaumaturgae (Dublin 1996). r. Sharpe, Medieval Irish Saints' Lives: An Introduction to Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae (Oxford 1991). c. plummer, ed., Vitae Sanctorum Hiberniae (Dublin 1997), gives, “That at the request of St Brendan, patron of Clonfert, this holy virgin, St Ciar, by her prayers, extinguished a pestiferous fire which had broken out in the region of Muscraidhe Thire.” Saint Ciar, an Abbess, founded her nunnery in Tipperary, north Munster, the area known by the Kilkeary name.

St Ciar’s nunnery grew to house thirteen postulants in about 645 AD. This settlement, in Upper Ormond, appears to have been the only one established during the early Christian era in that area - later defined as ‘in the diocese of the bishop of Killaloe’. If there was this number of nuns there was also a back-up number of helpers, friends, relatives, workers, crofters and supporters. There must have been a considerable population in and around the nunnery - a monastic community so described by Dr Richard Sharpe in the Life of Columba.

According to Omnium Sanctorum Hiberniae - a book dedicated to the saints of Ireland, we commemorate Saint Ciar as patroness of the parish which bears her name - Kilkeary, County Tipperary (today’s ancient ruined church, graveyard, school and crossroads,). John, Canon O’Hanion (1821-1905), gives us something of what is known of this holy woman and monastic foundress. The Parish of Kilkeary is in the Barony of Iffa and Offer East, in the Diocese of Lismore and County Tipperary. Dr Richard Sharpe gives a most readable account of the life of a saint in his book Adomnȧn of Iona Life of St Columba.

Life in a religious settlement is described in the Life of St Columba giving us an idea of the building and surrounding land, the nuns sitting round the fire, reading religious scripts, a guest house where visitors could stay and a store house needing to be restocked. The use of a cemetery, graves marked with a stone and the erection of a cross. All these early buildings and their uses can be easily imagined very little different to life in any community of the time or place. BBC Time Team programmes ably draw a picture of the period. St Ciar’s nunnery perhaps supported by king Duibhrea would have been a centre of the community.

Monks arriving from other European countries had a knowledge and understanding of Christian teaching and Latin. They were there to persuade the Irish leaders of a more superior way of life. To do this they glorified God explaining that salvation was to be earned that would give the converted everlasting life. In their task they were successful giving themselves time and place to settle down and to build a base. It was a natural progression for the monks to copy the bible and religious tracts to regularise what was being taught and to help their mission forward. It is from these early writings that our story takes shape.

The religious order begun to take over some of the power of the Brehons. Finnian died in the plague about ten years after the foundation of Clonard. By then both Ciaran and Columba of Terryglass were in their twenties. Saint Ciaran of Clonmacnoise from Connaught was the founder of the Abbey near Lough Ree and Columba, the greatest of the later generation of monks, founded Iona. St Ciaran was another of The Twelve Apostles of Ireland. He died on the 9th September 546 AD, at the age of 32 - buried in his little church attached to the Abbey.

The rural society of this time was not one based upon towns or villages but ring-forts, lake dwellings and later, monastery-settlements. The people populated smaller communities of much cruder construction with little or no stonework but simple pole houses often with an open roof, built on an earthen mound with ring ditches and offset entrances.

Life for the Ciardha family was based upon the group or sect. The senior or chief would have won his position by strength of arms alone. His position was not automatically passed down to his son but to the strongest in arms. Young men won their position in the group’s hierarchy by the number of cattle stolen or greatest fear wrought upon their neighbour. Common security awarded by promised payment which was guaranteed by bond. You look after me and I will look after you and we all share any prize/spoils together. It was a rough tough world with no quarter given. Ireland changed dramatically when Mac Erca (Muirchert ach mac Muiredaig, died c. 534, as High King of Ireland). Up to the twelfth century, the monastic bodies were all under the Rule of Columba 544 AD. St Ciarán, one of a number of Benedictine monks who were the first saint-founders. Between Mac Erca’s death and the arrival of Patrick Christianity became the established power base governed by Bishops. It was during Mac Erca’s time there were mass conversions covering all Irish society. Several of those Bishops stood up to the power of the lords and probably the greatest of these was St Ciarán, the ‘smith’s (carriage-wright) son’, from Enda’s Aran who founded Clonmacnoise, Co. Offaly, in 545 AD. He was one of the principals of the synods of Meg Léne at the time of ‘Diarmait the Good’, one of the great kings of Ireland. Columba commented wryly at the time of Ciarán death:

“Blessed is God who called Ciaran from this world in his youth. If he had lived to an old age, he would have aroused many men’s hostility”.

Most rulers had a very strong link with the church – a clan chief could also be a priest, as could a lord – one position did not have greater importance than the other. It would not be cynical to suggest that clan chiefs saw this as an easy way to achieve salvation, maintain order and hold onto their position; the church saw the close connection as a means of converting the chief’s subjects. If these positions could be headed up by the same person or by a member of the same family then it all became very convenient and worthwhile. It is not surprising to find that some families held these offices for generations. What was important to the common people was that the coming of Christianity quietened down the acts of vandalism and theft giving stability and greater unity.

St Ciar’s church was elaborately decorated, especially around the altar; the walls painted to depict the apostles and the single roof span covered with split stone slates. For the period, this represented a building of influence and authority, a dwelling that catered for a number of nuns, visiting pilgrims and the needy, particularly women. The land close to the church was adopted as a burial ground for the local clan which is there still today.

Kilkeary today (1837) is a parish, in the barony of Iffer and Offer East in the Diocese of Lismore and County of Tipperary - a Province of Munster, 4 miles south-east from Nenagh, on the road to Cashel; it comprises 2524 statute acres; the land is generally good and mostly under tillage. Greenanstown House is the seat of Count D'Alton. The parish is a rectory, forming part of the union of Ballynaclough and corps of the deanery of Killaloe. The ruined nunnery and today’s graveyard and school sit close upon the crossroads.

The young men of the family in ancient times were putting themselves in danger by stealing cattle to the extent that there would be fights, injury and death this would leave young women without security. The society had a surplus of young women who gladly found succour at St Ciar’s nunnery. These women nursed the sick fed the poor from food bred and grown by themselves and tended the elderly.

The O'Ciardha clan was one of the family groups who made up the Múscraighe Thire who populated central and south/west Ireland – south-east of the River Shannon. The aristocratic family Uí Raibne reputedly owned Kilkeary. St Ciar who was also of the family foundered the church. Cousins held the churches of Dromineer, Toomevara, and Kilaughnane. These religious houses were all situated close to the rich pastures that line the east shore of the river.

Written evidence of the time is unavailable and even later the scribes who did write of the times had no common language. So we rely upon Latin writers who were far removed from the local people. Therefore, please excuse me for I am little better, my translation is faulty, I attribute things badly, the gap of two millennium casts long shadows and there are few clues to go on. One last explanation before I start… in the year 664/5 AD a Great Plague swept through Ireland wiping out many monastic populations. The centuries between the sixteenth and nineteenth were equally destructive to both the population and clergy during which the supporters of Henry and Cromwell later took their toll.

Other aristocratic branches of the family held smaller foundations whilst some of the family settled at the great monastery of Birr. The Uí Daigre, yet another branch, held the church of Latteragh and claimed that Odrán, its founder, was one of them. Uí Léinéne was a family of Uí Daigre, and as late as 1074, the annals record the death of Gilla Brénnainn Ua Léknine, Superior of Letracha Odráin. It can be seen that the Ciardha clan not only lived and ruled a large tract of central Ireland, were leaders of the church and provided armed men to support the High King of the period. Terryglass, Co. Tipperary was also an important religious building on the east side of Lough Derg fed by the River Shannon. The monastery was founded by St Columba of Terryglass. The Shannon and its lakes were circled by a number of communities all using their dugout canoes (coite or cimba) to plunder their neighbours stock.

O’Ciardha or O’Carey, chiefs of Cairbre O’Ciardha (Keary) in the barony of Carbery in Co. Kildare, Seȧn Mór O’Dubhagȧin (Duggan) (died 1372) wrote: “O’Ciardha are Cairbre of poets of the tribe of Nine-Hostages Niall.” The Religious Census of 1766, for Co. Tipperary has a number of entries for Thomas Keary, Daniel Keary, John Keary and Edmond Keary.

Ireland was provided with territorial bishops, each generally given a diocese close to a royal residence. As more nunneries and monasteries became established their incumbents became bishops, abbesses – and to some, great abbots. Most kings sought bishops for their own kingdoms, which gave them added power and influence. Sometimes their requests given other times they were not, perhaps allocated a monk under a bishop. The bishop, who was a monk, remained under the abbot, who was esteemed.

The southern church favoured conformity with Rome the nunneries and monasteries governed by many different groups – some as independent establishments. Unity was urgently needed which took the form of a metropolitan episcopate. The first candidate was put up in 650 AD, in the southern see of Kildare, in northern Leinster. Ultimately, both north and south united under Armagh whose bishop became Ireland’s senior bishopric. It had been founded by Saint Patrick and remained the most important of all his monasteries. The Irish word for Abbot is comarba – meaning heir. Therefore, his is the heir of the founder. In many instances, the heir was also of the same dynastic family – the same kindred - the link between the founder and the patron.

A nunnery had much the same architectural layout that a male monastery had. The heart of the complex was still the attached cloister which ran around an open space encompassing most of the important buildings - such as the church, the refectory for communal meals, kitchens, accommodation and study areas. There might also be accommodation for pilgrims who had travelled to see the holy relics the nuns had acquired and looked after (which could be anything from a slipper of the Virgin Mary to a skeletal finger of a saint). Many nunneries had a cemetery for nuns and another for lay people (men and women) who paid for the privilege of being buried there after a service in the nun’s chapel.

The church did not suppress Gaeilge (Irish) but retained part of it within Latin. The monastic libraries kept these works and preserved them. Not only was this liberal attitude reflected in the churches writings but in the Christian services. Clerics used Irish in their studies and teaching, consulting a written grammar of the Irish tongue. Whether they knew what the outcome would be is not clear but it made secular and clerical writing universally greater than English.

The monasteries and nunneries housed the teachers of Latin. Their ringed stonewalls, built on a rampart mound, and gave security and isolation from the unsettled land. These cashels were every bit as defensive as the lord’s castle, a place where the whole community could shelter. This was no haphazard arrangement but a place declaring wealth and power.

Books the monks copied were originally written in continental Europe. Trade flourished between countries nearest Ireland. This was not just normal trade between Britain, France, Spain and Ireland but religious sustenance as well. All religious houses had a scribe who attended to the matters of the day. In other times copied out books of learning so that they could be passed on. A Psalter, known as the Cathach attributed to St Colum Cille, was written at about the time St Ciar was performing her good works. The Irish missionaries travelled on the continent baptising Germans and Austrians building up the faithful as they went. They went on pilgrimages ‘seeking salvation and solitude’ evangelising pagan people preparing a way for later monks to build upon.

It was not always the case that an Abbot was a bishop who governed a diocese or administered a tribe’s territory there was no such organization these things were interchangeable. This company of Christian women who formed the foundation of St Ciar’s community in Upper Ormond in 645 AD were named after her, attending ‘Cill Cheire (Church of Keary).’ It was here that she ruled with considerable skill, increasing the postulants - giving the foundation credence and sanctity.

St Ciar’s veneration was no trifling matter. To be officially recognised and canonized means she was accepted by Rome and worthy of obedience. This allowed St Ciar to expect her followers in matters of the church and women to be obeyed. Being a daughter of the king added to the weight power and prestige. This link between king and church made it easier to assume and hold onto power. This close association between the ruling body, either local or national, and the priesthood is a feature of early religious foundations. It was in both their interests to have this close connection keeping power centralized but also greatly assisting religious foundation.

When the nunnery at Kilkeary was well established and capable of self-regulation she left, accompanied by five nuns, to start a new foundation in North Offaly, King’s County, where she obtained a site for another nunnery from St. Fintan. It was in a place now known as Tehelly, in the parish of Durrow, formed in about the year 655 AD. This was close to Clonmacnoise and St Ciaran’s Church. The original foundation continued to flourish and minister to the local people.

Following the tidal river north, from the mouth of the river Shannon, you come to a Lough called Derg – the settlement of Killaloe occupies the land at the mouth to the Lough. The great river continues through the lough northwards, to Clonmacnoise, a wealthy, sixth-century fort-like monastery built of stone before entering Lough Ree… then onwards... upto Carrick on the Shannon. (The spelling is lough for Irish and Loch for Scottish.) Lough n loch m3; Lough Derg Loch Dearg or Deirgeirt; Lough Erne Loch´Eirme; Lough Neagh Loch nEathach: Belfast Lough Loch Lao.

It did not matter where St Ciar travelled her title to property and obedience went with her. She and the bishop, who was son of the king of Munster, jointly ruled the church. An early law tract refers to the bishop of Cork and Emly as uasal-epscop, giving them a status equal to the king of Munster - who was overlord of the southern half of Ireland.

Later, St Ciar (Canonized Pre-Congregation) returned to Kilkeary where she was reputed to have died of natural causes. Nothing is known of the subsequent history - of the nunnery or her burial place, but her death is recorded in the Annals of the Four Masters January 5th 679 Rewritten by John O’Donovan, LLD., M.R.I.A. Barrister at Law, Second Edition 1856. The following stanza is from Leahhar Breac, the Book of the MacEgans – Irish Pedigrees (Learned Brehons and historians) by John O’Hart, 1892 (5th Edition) ‘The call of Semeoin, the sage, To Christ of purist…; A new, transitory, gentle nun was Ciar, the daughter of Duibhrea.’

It was in the middle, and latter part, of the first millennium that proper written records were kept. ‘The Irish Annals.’ Their genesis, evolution and history, by D.P.McCarthy, senior lecturer in the department of computer science and a fellow of Trinity College, Dublin. Book of Kells, illuminated manuscripts, (This book was to be kept on the altar of churches and monesteries in ancient times) written and illuminated c.800 CE. Rewritten by Joshua J. Mark, and ‘The lives of the Saints’ written in 1577, first published 1579, by Skarga are three sources of early recorded history - written by scribes in Latin - the result of intended missionary zeal by Christian bishops and their scribes.

Gildas developed Latin literature in a style and order fit for publication. His paragraphs, sentences and words were impressions build upon the spoken word – placed together by sound and syllable. The language was from Europe but based upon English. As Ireland was the first large country to become Christian outside the Roman Empire, scholars had to write the Irish language, in Latin characters. They were compelled to write with an alphabet. Ogam notches became outdated in the seventh century - still not deciphered. Latin preserved the first written records. This is when the K began to be used especially by map makers. Thereafter Latin began to be changed - English, Welsh and Irish adapted and added to – developed into our modern literature.

Ciardha is the Gaelic spelling of the family name or clan - used by scribes in about 650 AD. Later writers increasingly used Cary, Carey or Keary as a more identifiable written form. The written Irish-language was mainly derived from Latin and assumed closer integration to the accepted form of spelling and pronunciation in the sixth century - probably when the K was first used in some written texts. In its softer anglicised form of Cary or Carey, it is natural not to make the difference so hard.

What era or part of the country ‘K’ rather than ‘C’ used, is unclear perhaps the use of K (as in kick, in the Gaelic Q form) happened when the Gælic Cill (church) was replaced by the Latinized Kil - for place-names on maps – hence, Kilkeary and Kilkenny. Most place names are in that form. The method of spelling might indicate who commissioned the work, when, and for what purpose.

The history about the right language and spelling of a family name explains what happened in Ireland that caused such disturbance and distress. The clan chiefs, Anglo-Irish aristocracy, their upstarts, the invaders, clerics and politicians may deserve censure, for the chaos that marks the islands history, but the people certainly do not. The derivations of a name throughout the centuries give proof to the matter. In this instance, from O’Ciardha to Ciar, Cheire to Carie, Carey, Keary and Kearey.

This unity under Gælic kings, represented by Ui Neill, continued for nearly two-hundred years, until the Normans were invited to save the then ruling body. From this moment, Gaeilge Ireland began to lose its identity and power base. This call, to an outside body, was to have far-reaching effects - ultimately not reversible. This was the downfall of Ireland it allowed the Normans to assume power by invitation – as a right. Richard FitzGilbert de Clare, Strongbow, was promised payment for saving the Irish throne for O’Neill which he claimed in full giving estates to followers who had supported him. By 1300 the Normans controlled most of Ireland.

The O’Ciardha (Cary or Keary) clan were a senior branch of the Cenel Cairpri, descended from Cairpre populated the central southwestern areas of Ireland, an ancient Gaeilge warrior kingdom speaking Gaeltacht. The chiefs of clan O’Ciardha were closely related to the supreme ruler of southern Ireland they were minor kings, ruling that part of southern Ireland located just below Lough Derg in today’s northern Tipperary.

‘O’Cary rules over Carbery of bards, He is of the tribe of Niall of the nine Hostages, There are none but themselves there, Of the clans of Niall over Leinster.

The main clan lands were Slievefelim or the Silvermine Mountains and Hills in the kingdom of Munster, not far from Ossory. They were a senior group controlling a vast area related to Ui Neill. Another branch of O’Ciardha – further east, inhabited Carbury, Co Kildare. This extended family grouping - Cairbre Ua gCiardha, were also a prosperous family with many cattle.

The ancient place of St Ciardha’s monastic house. Situated in a valley between two towns - Nenagh and Toomyvara, and two mountains – Slievekimalta and Devilsbit. To the north lies the Central Lowlands: an area of farms, market towns, peat bogs, glens and lakes. Before intensive cultivation, the land was heavily forested. As with the growth of many settlements the nearest navigateable river influenced its development; in this case it was the River Shannon and in particular Lough Derg, five miles north of Nenagh its southern banks bordered Lower Ormond and Arra and Owney.

The main family territory was roughly in the centre of the country and conforms to an area of hill and lowland. It was bog-free downland, rich in minerals and well drained and hedged. This part of inland central-Ireland is bordered by several clan territories and like all such lands continually fought over.

John O’Hart, author of Irish Pedigrees 1892 (5th Edition) Volume [1], Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4) gives: this family is believed to be a branch of the “Cahill” family of Connaught, which derived its name from Cathal. Arms: Gyronny of six ar, and vert, as many fleurs-de-lis counter changed. Crest: A lion’s paw holding a scimitar proper.

AODH (or Hugh) a brother of Columhan, who is No. 94, on the “O’Shaughnessy” pedigree, was the ancestor of MacCathail; anglicized Cahill 102 on the “Cahill” of Connaught pedigree: and was in Gaelic/Irish known as O’Ciardha, anglicised O’Cearry, O’Carry, O’Carrie, Carry, Carey, Keary, and Kearey. 94. Aodh: son of Cobhthach. 95. Bec: his son. 96. Comuscach: his son. 97. Conchobhar: his son. 98. Thorp (“torp:’ Irish, bulk): his son; a quo O’Thorpa, anglicised Thorp, Torpy, and Tarpy.99. Cinaoth: his son. 100. Ogan: his son. 101. Ogan: his son. 102 Cathal (“Cathal;” Irish, valour; Heb. cail, a man’s name): his son; a quo MacCathsil.

Volume [2], 347. Retrieved 1st February 2011. AD1200, King of Cathal Carragh Ua Conchobhair, later, King of Connacht 1202-1224, “O’Feenaghty his chief door-keeper, (guard) O’Maelconaire, historian and recorder of all the tributes due to O’Conor, Mac Tully his physician, and Mac Egan his Brehon” (Brehon Laws (Encyclopaedia Britannica), Gaelic, Feinechus: ancient laws of Ireland dates back to 7th and 8th century: arbitrator, umpire, and expounded the laws. Kinship was the clan, an essential qualification for holding office or property.) Succeeded by Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair (anglicised as Cathal O’Connor and Cathal the Red-handed O’Conor) (1153-1224), the youngest son of the Irish High King Tairrdelbach mac Ruaidri Ua Conchobair, was a King of Connacht from 1189-1199, re-inaugurated on the stone at Clonalis 1201, thereafter reigning until 1224. He succeeded his elder half-brother Ruaidri’s son Conchobar Máenmaige as ruler of Connacht; his son Cathal Carrach 1199-1202 then ruled, with Cathal Crobhdearge taking over to deal with the Norman invaders. In 1224 Cathal wrote to Henry III as Lord of Ireland, asking that his son Od (Aedh) be granted all of Connacht. Kilkenny Archaeological Society 1855. The Life and Times of Cathal.

The original Gaelic form of Cahill was Mac Cathail or O’Cathail: hail is derived from the personal name Cathal, which is generally anglicized as Charles. Cahill is derived from the Old Irish “catu-ualos” which means “valor or powerful in battle”. The surname Cahill was first found in County Kerry and Tipperary as there are at least two distinct septs of the name. The first sept from County Kerry descends from the Heremon line of kings and were known as the Cahills of Connaught. The second sept claim descent from the line of kings located at Corkashinny, or the parish of Templemore, Tipperary. This line further branched to the eponymous Ballycahill, Tipperary. Both branches descend from O’Connors, the Kings of Connacht, specifically “Cathal,” also known as Conor ne Luinge Luaithe, when anglicized means “Conor, the Swifter-Sailing Ship” which may elude to the seafaring coat of arms used by the family.

These early Munster tribal lands were divided between cousins, into east and west groups. Unfortunately, both groups suffered from several competing branches, which weakened the power base. The eastern cousin’s centre was at Cashel, and the other, the northern group of lower Shannon; it was to this area that O’Ciardha was clan chief - becoming king of Thomond. He later included over lordship – suzerain, of the Ostmen of Waterford and Limerick, including their two important cities. This large area approximately conforms to today’s Co. Tipperary.

The Ciardha clan were a ‘sept’ a corruption of the word ‘sect’ adopted by the English settlers, to describe Gælic ruling families or clan groups. This allegiance between the O’Neill’s and the O’Ciardha continued until the latter lost all their clan lands over a period of six hundred years, ending at the same time as the restoration of Charles II, after Cromwell’s death.

Edward Maclysaght’s, More Irish Families, 1982, page 50, agrees that the majority of those called Carey (or Keary) belong to the O’Ciardha sept - are a senior branch of the Cenel Cairpri. It can be seen that whether C or K used it refers to the same people.

Kilkeary, in Co. Tipperary today, is a small parcel of land seven miles southeast of Nenagh, in Toomevara RC Parish. This is a relatively modern name forming a link with its more ancient past. Originally, the ecclesiastical name was Temple Downey (Teampul Domnan, the church of St. Domnan). Toomevara is derived from Tuaim ui Mheadhra, O’Meara’s Mound or tumulus. The Kilkeary parish was an area of many hundreds of acres; was spelt Kylkeary in the first quarter of the first millennium becoming a place of pilgrimage and substance - having a Canonized Saint’s religious building occupied close by. The ruins of the nunnery are adjacent to the present church. Toomevara parish contains the districts of Agnameadle, Ballymackey, Kilkeary, Templedowney and Ballygibbon. It has three ancient ecclesiastical ruins, one being the ancient foundation for women established by St. Ciar. There are also several ruined castles, some habitable, others not so being just ruins.

In all research into genealogical connections into the O’Ciardha, (Keary) clan, certain names are always cropping up; in particular, O’Meara, O’Kennedy and O’Carrolls. These were surrounding clans who often supported each other to the extent that when the clans were splitting, in the period of plantation – pushed out by the incoming English settlers, they gave substance, and security to their neighbours.

The ancient church of Kilkeary was built about 625 AD, 57 feet long and just over 19 feet wide. It is in ruins having all its features destroyed except for a few massive stones – one of several tons. It was built in a semi-cyclopean style (Closely placed stone with another) of Lange limestone rocks and is believed to be of the seventh and eighth centuries. In the graveyard is a monument to Major General William Parker Carrol of Ballygrenade, a descendant of the O’Carrolls of Ely. Previously, in 1702, an earlier member of the family was buried here. This supports the ancient tradition that local surrounding clans used this burial ground.

William Carrol was from Lissenhall, on the far side of Nenagh Town and had a very distinguished career in the Spanish Army during the Napoleonic Wars. He was highly thought of in England and married an illegitimate daughter of George III. William was also a Politician who partitioned for the separation of the Northern and Southern Grand Juries in the county, in the 1830s.

The fact that the Carrols used the Kilkeary graveyard – the site of the nunnery, was in keeping with Gælic tradition. The Carrols, Kennedys’ and Meara were all inhabitants of the east side of the Shannon – neighbours, land originally owned by the O´Ciardha. When the OˊCiardha were being harassed and evicted some transferred allegiance to the security of these clans.

Kilkeary’s nearest large town is Nenagh, seven miles west; an important centre for its Anglo-Norman association and Franciscan Friary, which the Kennedy founded in 1240, and Cromwell destroyed, in 1650. It was one of the new walled towns designed in 1171, the citizens fearing incursions from warring factions lent a hand with the building. The town council passed a law whereby every person including: shop owners, priests and women. Every person was allotted a day in the week that each had to help in building the town walls. Toomyvara, a pleasant small market town, lies four miles east, lying astride an important crossroads.

It is important again to stress that confirmation about name, place and time is impossible to confirm. Not only does the language change but the spelling within that language. Family groups within a tribe split into clans, and clans into septs. Kings described as lords, and lords as kings However, that should not present a problem. It is not a question of trying to change history but to find out where the name O’Ciardha and all the various derivations fit in to today’s changing world.

To bring the story up to date I have added the following. Unfortunately I cannot vouch for the progression of family history.

Investigations into past historical records has revealed Keary translates, by the use of Gælic/Irish, to Ciardha - O’Ciardha, a family related to the Cahill family of Connaught and a name closely linked to king. To write a story about a place, its origins, its people and the part played in Irish history involves a great deal of foraging. Not only is the name beset by numerous forms of spelling but reaches back into ancient Irish history. I will however, try to bring order and clarity to the task with the help of journals, publications and websites.

From early times the first born son in the family was call Thomas. Thomas O’Ciardha, brother of Desmond O’Ciardha of Offaley, called Thomas Baintreabhachd (or Thomas “the Widower”), was the ancestor of “Keary,” of Fore, county Meath. This Thomas lived on the Hill commanding a view of the famous Abbey, founded at Fore by St. Fechin; and was killed at the burning of the Abbey by the Cromwellians, A.D.1654.

Commencing with the said Thomas, the following is the pedigree of this family: 1. Thomas had three sons, Thomas, Patrick, and James, three whom sought refuge, and found it, with Hugh O’Byrne, of Dublin - one of the Confederate Catholics; Patrick and James, died unmarried. The eldest son, Thomas married Mary O’Byrne, niece of the above-named Hugh, and had three sons: Thomas, Patrick, and Hugh. Both Patrick and Hugh went to Spain where Hugh, d1700, married Margaret daughter of Dermot O’Brien of Naas having five children: Dermot, Thomas, Patrick, John, and Mary. Patrick entered Spanish service. John married in 1745, Mary daughter of Owen M’Kewen of Clontarf and Swords, and had one son, Thomas b1747, and a daughter Ellen, b1749, who married in 1780, Hugh O’Moore of the O’Moores of Longford. The aforesaid Thomas married Julia, daughter of Roderick Murphy of Castledermot in 1815, having four children: Thomas, John, Patrick, and Michael.

Daniel O’Ciardha (or O’Cary), a nephew of Thomas and Julia, having conformed to the Protestant religion, called together the remnant of his family; and, in order to distinguish themselves from the said Daniel, they solemnly pledged to assume thereafter the name of Keary, and to abandon the prefix O’, and the “Carey” form of spelling the name. (More later)

John Keary 1750-1860, Dublin, married Elizabeth in St. Nicholas Within, Dublin having five children. 1. Elizabeth b1776, 2. Charlotte b1777, 3. Eleanor b 1778, (married Edward Collins 1802), 4. Thomas b1791, married Ester Pepler of Great Stanmore in 1819, St. Anne’s, Soho, Westminster, having seven children. 1. Thomas 1820-1867, married Hannah Raybould 1822-1878, in St. Andrew by the Wardrobe, 2. Ester b1822, 3. Mary b1823, 4. Charlotte b1828, 5. Elizabeth b1831. 6. William 1837-1902, married Charlotte Jane Helder 1837-1878, second marriage to Jane Mary Fordham 1856-1919. 7. Emma b1839. 5. (By the previous John Keary) Henry Carey/Kearey b 1795, married Elizabeth having two children Amelia b1818 and Henry b1820.

The aforesaid, Thomas married Mary daughter of John Keogh of Castlepollard in 1815; he was the first to omit the prefix O’ from the family name then O’Cary, and assumed the name, Keary. This Thomas died in Dublin in 1836 and was interred in the church-yard of Artane, where his tomb can be seen. Thomas and Mary had five children Patrick, John, Michael (d Liverpool 1870), Bridget, and Mary. Patrick married Anne, youngest daughter of James Butler of Fairview, Ballybough, Dublin, and died in 1884. They had ten children: Thomas, Frances, Michael, James, John, Peter, Joseph, Matthew, Patrick, and Mary-Anne.

Patrick J. Keary (Cahill): son of Patrick (ninth son of Patrick and Anne) of Colville Terrace, Ballybough Road, and of Wellington Quay, Dublin married Elizabeth only daughter of Patrick Cahill in 1875. They had four children William-Laurence Cahill Keary, b1877, John-Frances, b1887, Mary-E., and Christina.80.42.68.9 (talk) 12:59, 7 January 2020 (UTC)

Acknowledgements

History of the Ely O’Carroll. Printed by Boethius Press. Additional Material: Robert Books Limited, 1982, in TOOMEVARA PARISH: Toomevara Parish Records, pages 464-5-6. Archaeological Inventory of North Tipperary. The Monastic Churches of the Diocese of Killaloe, p89. The Last Lords of Ormond, ‘The Curse of Cromwell’, by Dermot F. Gleeson. New Edition with revisions by Donal A. Murphy. Published by Relay. The Ordinance Survey Name Books, which describes parish boundaries, the origin of place names and the monuments of historical value, are to be found in them references to Kilkeary. The Civil Survey of 1654-1656, Vol. II: carried out at the time of the Cromwellian confiscations. Early Irish Saints by John J. Oˊ Riordȧin CSsR. Wikipedia: Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair. Library of Ireland History Genealogy Culture. Kilkenny Archaeological Society 1855. The Life and Times of Cathal. Annals of the Four Masters: M1205.10. Teige, the son of Cathal Crovderg Family Tree. Library of Ireland History Cahill family genealogy- Irish Pedigrees. O’Hart, John. Irish Pedigrees 5th Edition in 2 Volumes. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co. 1976. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0737-4). Adomnȧn of Iona Life of St Columba Translated by Richard Sharpe. Penguin Classic 1995. Kept close by, throughout all my studies of ancient Ireland, have been: The Course of Irish History by Moody & Martin [4th Edition}; A History of Ireland by Mike Cronin; John, Canon O’Hanlon (1821-1905); The Great Hunger by Cecil Woodham-Smith; The Age of Arthur by John Morris; and Omnium Sanctorum Hibernia, (2012-2015): Saint Cera (Ciar) of Kilkeary, January 5th. I am grateful for their research and dedication. I am particularly thankful for the help of Tipperary Library who have always been most generous and to Michael Keary.80.42.68.9 (talk) 12:59, 7 January 2020 (UTC)