Tuamgraney

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Tuamgraney
Gaelic: An Tuaim Gréine
County Clare

Tuamgraney Garden of Remembrance
Location
Grid reference: R639845
Location: 52°54’-0"N, 8°31’60"W
Data
Post town: Tuamgraney
Postcode: V94
Local Government

Tuamgraney or Tomgraney is a village and civil parish in eastern County Clare. Situated half a mile from the River Graney which flows into Lough Derg, it is an ancient settlement, noted for St Cronán's Church, said to be the oldest church in constant use in the British Isles.[1]

Location

The parish is in the barony of Tulla Upper and contains the villages of Scarriff and Tomgraney. It is 7½ by 2¾ miles and covers 14,181 acres. The parish is rugged, with heights ranging from 122 to 1,126 ft above sea level. It contains the Scariff river from its headstreams through Lough O'Grady to its mouth in Scarriff bay, Lough Derg.[2] The village of Tuamgraney lies in such close proximity to the town of Scarriff that today the two are often considered to be one single settlement.[3] There is a holy well dedicated to St Cronán in the Currakyle townland.[4] The nearby castle of Tuamgraney is still in a good state of preservation.[5]

History

Tuamgraney parish was founded by a saint named Cronán or Chronain, possibly the same Crónán Abbot and bishop who founded Roscrea. The place is mentioned in the annals from as early as AD 735. There was a round tower, which was repaired by Brian Boru, and the castles of Tuamgraney and Scarriff. In 1560 both castles belonged to Edmond O'Grady.[4]

In 1633 Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, bought ten quarters of land north of the Graney River, including the castle and ironworks of Scarriff. These lands were combined with the old Moynoe parish to form the Scariff parish.[5] Today the village of Scarriff is in the Roman Catholic parish of Scariff and Moynoe, part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe.[6] The southern part of Tuamgraney parish was combined with the mediæval parish of Kilnoe early in the 18th century to form the parish of Bodyke.[7] The Roman Catholic parish of Bodyke encompasses Bodyke, Kilnoe and Tuamgraney, also in the Killaloe Diocese.[8]

The novelist Edna O'Brien was born in Tuamgraney in 1930. Noted genealogist Edward MacLysaght is buried at St Cronan's Church.[1]

Annalistic references

See Annals of Inisfallen (AI)

  • AI749 Kl. Death of Conchellach, abbot of Tuaim Gréine.
  • AI934.1 Kl. Repose of Rebachán son of Mothla, abbot of Tuaim Gréine and king of Dál Cais.
  • AI1003.8 Repose of Donngal son of Beoán, abbot of Tuaim Gréine.
  • AI1020.2 Muiredach Ua hAililléin, lector of Tuaim Gréine, rested in Christ.
  • AI1024.8 Niall Ua Cellaig, lector of Tuaim Gréine, rested in Christ.
  • AI1026.7 Conall Ua Cillíne, coarb of Crónán of Tuaim Gréine, fell asleep.

References