College

The National Monuments Service's description

In the SE angle of St Mary’s graveyard (KK020-060024-), c. 30m from the church (KK020-060006-).
In 1312 a college was established to compensate Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick for the loss of any financial entitlement (advowson) from St Mary’s church, which were due to the patron, and which was now being given to the Dean and Chapter of St Canice’s, Kilkenny. The Dean and Chapter agreed to, ‘find, and support at our own expense, four priests to celebrate Masses in the said Church of the Blessed Mary for the said Edmund and Joan, his wife, and sons and daughters; and for all his ancestors and successors, living and dead’ (Carrigan 1905, vol. 3, 409). The college appears to have continued post-Reformation under Protestant chaplains and it is mentioned in the Regal Visitation Book of 1615 (ibid, 409-10).
The priests, or chaplains, lived collegiately, in community and their residence is indicated as, ‘Colledge’ on White’s 1710/11 map of Gowran. In the early 20th century the foundations of the college are described as being ‘still traceable’ (Carrigan 1905, vol. 3, 409). Drennan (1965, 58-9) noted that, ‘Traces of this college can still be seen and its back wall was probably strengthened to make the wall of the present Protestant cemetery’. There was no trace of the building when inspected in 1992.

See attached copy of White map 1710/11

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 24 March 2021

References

Drennan, C. 1965 Gowran. Old Kilkenny Review, vol. 17, 59-61.

White, J. 1710/11 A survey of the towne and lands of Gowrane in the County of Kilkenny belonging to Mr Lewis Chaigneau of Dublin merch[an]t made in the presence of Mr David Chaigneau Mr John Bayly Mr John Sandbeach Sam[ue]l Bingham James Quigly and Mr James White the surveyor; and the said lands contain arable pasture and meadow one thousand two hundred ninety seven acres thirty five perches plantation measure over and above all deductions for intermixt lands and common high roads as appeareth by a table of reference hereunto. Surveyed in the month of March 1710/11 by a scale of 20 p[er]chs. Ja: White. NLI MS map 21.F.55 (4).

Carrigan, Rev. W. 1905 (Reprint 1981) The history and antiquities of the diocese of Ossory, 4 vols. Kilkenny. Roberts Books and Wellbrook Press.