Callan, County Kilkenny
| Callan Irish: Callainn | |
| County Kilkenny | |
|---|---|
 Green Street, Callan, at sunset | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | S410440 |
| Location: | 52°33’-0"N, 7°22’60"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 2,475 |
| Local Government | |
Callan is a town in County Kilkenny, ten miles south of Kilkenny on the N76 road to Clonmel, it is near the border with County Tipperary. It is the second largest town in the county, and had a population of 2,475 at the 2016 census. Callan is the chief town of the Barony of Callan, named after the town.
History and name
Callan was founded by William the Marshal in 1207. Reputedly the place gets its name from Niall Caille, High King of Ireland. Legend has it that while at war with the Norsemen, the High King arrived in Callan to find that its river was in flood. He witnessed his servant trying to cross the river and being swept away by the fast-flowing current and the King, recorded in history as a man of action, seeing the impending disaster, impetuously urged his horse into the fast-flowing river in a vain bid to save his servant, only to be also overcome and drowned by the torrent. The river in question is now named the "Kings River".
The town received its first charter in 1217 and was entitled to choose two elected members of Parliament.[1]
In 1650, Oliver Cromwell and his New Model Army laid siege to Callan.[2] Sir Richard Talbot, the commander of the main defence had secretly organised to surrender, but some of the other defenders refused to do so, leading to a battle for the town. All of the defenders were killed, as were many of the townspeople who sought safety in the stone castle and parish church. In the late 19th century, a large number of human bones and cannonballs were discovered during excavations of the ruins of the old parish church.[3]
In order to commemorate those who died in the Callan area during the First World War, a statue was erected outside the Church of the Assumption on Green Street.
Places of interest
Callan Motte (also known locally as simply "The Moat") is located at the top of Moat Lane just off Bridge Street. It is one of Ireland's best-preserved Motte-and-bailey constructions.
Callan Augustinian Friary, known locally as the "Abbey Meadow", is at the North-East end of Callan and accessible via Bridge Street or a lane and footbridge off Mill Street. The "Abbey Meadow" also contains a reputed holy well site.[4]
St Mary's Church is a mediæval church located on Green Street. A historic workhouse is located in Prologue.
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Callan, County Kilkenny) |
References
- ↑ Walsh, Dr. F.R.. "Callan 'Olde' Parish Church". https://kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/OKR1963-14-F-R-Walsh-Callan-Olde-Parish-Church.pdf.
- ↑ McQuillan, Peter (2018-04-07). "Cromwell in Callan". https://kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/cromwell-in-callan/.
- ↑ Walsh, Dr. F.R.. "Callan 'Olde' Parish Church". https://kilkennyarchaeologicalsociety.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/OKR1963-14-F-R-Walsh-Callan-Olde-Parish-Church.pdf.
- ↑ "NMS mapping data - KK026-010018-". https://heritagedata.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=0c9eb9575b544081b0d296436d8f60f8&query=18a4b61b268-layer-9%2CSMRS%2CKK026-010018-. "KK026-010018- [..] Ritual site - holy well [..] The Augustinian friary (KK026-010016-) of Callan is located c. 60m to the N[orth]. Indicated on the 6-inch OS map as 'St. Augustine's Well'. It is a clear spring well surrounded by a stone wall"
- Callainn / Callan: Placenames Database of Ireland
- Walsh, F. R. (1952). "Callan". Old Kilkenny Review: 16–22.
- Walsh, F. R. (1963). "Callan Olde Parish Church". Old Kilkenny Review: 14–18.
- O'Brien, Seamus (1979). "Callan Electricity Board". Old Kilkenny Review: 48–49.
- Margaret Phelan (1980). "Fr Thomas O'Shea and the Callan Tenant Protection Society". Old Kilkenny Review: 49–58.
- Phelan, Margaret (1982). "Callan Doctors". Old Kilkenny Review: 364–368.
- O'Doherty, Sean (1981). "Repeal in Callan Workhouse". Old Kilkenny Review: 226–230.
- Kennedy, Joe (1984). "Cromwell in Callan". Old Kilkenny Review: 47–51.
- Kennedy, Joseph (1988). "Thomas Shelly of Callan (1823-1905) His Life and Times". Old Kilkenny Review: 492–502.
- Kennedy, Joseph (1991). "Coca-Cola (The Callan Connection)". Old Kilkenny Review: 885–894.
- Kealy, Carmel (1986). "Callan in the early 20th century". Old Kilkenny Review: 299–301.
- Kealy, Carmel (1987). "Callan Memories". Old Kilkenny Review: 379–383.
- Hogan, Patrick (1987). "The Callan Schism 1869-1879". Old Kilkenny Review: 339–357.
- Clutterbuck, Richard, Ian Elliot & Brian Shanahan (2006). "The Motte and Manor of Callan, County Kilkenny". Old Kilkenny Review: 7–28.
- Grace, Pierce A. (2011). "'Much Like Yesterday' - Callan Folklore in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries". Old Kilkenny Review: 58–63.