Battery

The National Monuments Service's description

Indicated on Thomas Stuish's map of 1681 as, 'Cromels Battery' (Manning 1998, 69, fig. 13). According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 317), following a description of the motte at Callan (KK026-010009-), ‘At the opposite end of the town, there was a smaller Moat about 10 ft. [c. 3m] high, and known as Cromwell’s Moat; it stood partly within the Fair Green, and partly on the track of the present road to Cooliagh; it was levelled about 1850’. According to Kennedy (1984, 49), the battery was levelled, 'early in the nin[e]teenth-century by the then Callan corporation during the enclosing of the fair green area by a wall'. Walsh (1952, 17) mentions that this mound was so named, ‘because it was used by him [Cromwell] to cover his attack by cannon on the East wall and gate of the town. Human bones, horses’ bones, horses’ shoes, pistols and other accoutrements of war were dug up near this town wall in the beginning of the 19th century. This smaller moat was built on the south side of the Fair Green and was demolished a century ago. Nothing of importance was found in its construction. Some sixty years ago a well-known Callan archaeologist, the late Mr. Thomas Shelly, had excavations carried out on this moat. There is still evidence of this on the north side. He found traces of masonry and stone wall construction’. Though not indicated on the 1st (1839) ed. OS 6-inch map, there is a trigonometrical station '280 ft.' marked in the likely position of the battery, and it may have been located there because of the elevated position afforded by the mound which was probably still standing in 1839.

See attached:
KK026-010001-_01 Thomas Stuish's map of 1681 (Manning 1998, 69, fig. 13)

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 June 2019

References

Walsh, F.R. 1952 Callan. Old Kilkenny Review 5, 16-22.

Kennedy, J. 1984 Cromwell in Callan. Old Kilkenny Review, new series 3, no. 1, 47-51.

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