The Kilkenny Observer Friday 28 January 2022
25
kilkennyobserver.ie
Feature
parish of Templemartin, or as it is called on the Ordnance Map, St. Martin’s. It comprises the townlands of Highrath, Lavistown, Lyrath (part of) Rathbourne and Templemartin, in all 782 statute acres. The church can scarcely be later than the 13th century. It consisted of nave and chancel; within the nave there are two uninscribed
know from history, was not his only target. However, the local inhabitants from then to the present day did not forget the sacredness of the church grounds. Tombs and burial plots were erected and constructed after the devastation, within and between the original walls of the church building. In November 1970, Mrs. Madge Buggy on behalf of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, carried out an extensive survey of the tombstones and their inscriptions. Many well-known Kilkenny family names were included in her findings. Representatives of families such as Walton, Ryan, Nolan, Long, Kavanagh, Phelan and Loughman. Indeed, on a recent visit, I learned of many more familiar city and county names, which are still in existence today. The well-respected Wheeler Cuffe family boasts a very fine preserved memorial set in the wall in the chancel. It can be clearly seen over another ornate monument. This concerns the memory of the Shortall family, who had connections with Clara Castle. As with other stone uprights, it survived Cromwell’s rampage, as it is dated 23rd December 1562. There is also the following heart rendering inscription on a tablet set into the wall on the right side body of the church. “In loving memory of Mrs. Mary Long (nee Nolan) who died on the 20th May 1920 aged 51 years, also five children who died young”. On 13th August Andrew Carroll 2019, the first who attended mass for at the blessing of least 300 years the graves, was celebrated with appropriate sincerity beside the dominant yew tree opposite the church ruin. People from neighbouring parishes and the local community gathered to honour in prayer, the memory of those who constructed the church on the holy grounds and coffin-shaped slabs, with those who attended mass incised crosses, also a and the sacraments on fragment of a baptismal or the site for so many years. holy water font.” An order of devout monks There is evidence to from Tours, France, in suggest that the New the 11th century, are Model Army led by Oliver understood to be the Cromwell, during his first religious to inhabit conquest of Ireland was the area. They too, were responsible for an attack mentioned in a special on Templemartin church. blessing by Fr Willie As a result, all that Purcell, parish priest at remains is the sad scarred Clara. During this special spectacle of what once was mass, he paid tribute to all a quaint country church who preserved the faith and monastic burial during the by-gone age. He ground. That onslaught recognised the difficulties most likely occurred presented to them at the during the late spring of time and this celebration 1650. Kilkenny being the was also held in their Confederate capital at memory. the time, it was a prime Part of the celebration objective for Cromwell’s on that damp August campaign of slaughter and evening, was the promise terror, but the city as we
At the 2019 Mass
that the holy sacrament of the mass would join the list of graveyard masses in the parish each year. Unfortunately, covid 19 and its corona virus arrived as a serious health
risk soon after, thus, shelving all immediate plans for gatherings in 2020. However, in a small way, the pre-pandemic vow of 2019 was not ignored. As once again, on 11th
November 2021, parish priest of Clara, Fr. Willie Purcell performed a sacred blessing at Templemartin’s church and graveyard, to honour once more the feast of St. Martin of Tours.
Group at Templemartin Mass on 13th Aug 2019
Alice Brennan Tony Byrne John Maher & Donal Murphy
Mass Committee Members Tom Healy Phil Dowling Donal Mc Donald & John Dowling