Town

The National Monuments Service's description

Historic settlement of Croagh described in the Urban Survey of Co. Limerick as following; 'Croagh is located to the south west of Limerick on the Limerick to Tralee road. The name appears to be derived from Crodhach, "a rounded hill". Little is known about the history of the Anglo-Norman settlement here. In 1289 Hugh Purcell appears to have been the owner of the manor because he granted woods and turf from the bog of "Moychro" or "Maynchro" to the bishop of Limerick (MacCaffrey 1907, 21-2). The manor remained in the hands of the Purcell's until the seventeenth century (Westropp 1906-7, 216-17). The only evidence for the existence of a borough here in the Middle Ages comes from a solitary reference in 1592 which states that there were burgages at Croaghneburgage, i.e. Croagh (16 Rep. DKPRI, 216: no. 5777; Westropp 1905-6, 217).
The history of the settlement is unknown but it is likely that the borough was established in the thirteenth century rather than in the sixteenth, when the procedure was effectively confined to the crown. It is likely that the medieval borough was centred on the church and castle site which lie to the south-west of a stepped cross-roads and to the north of Greanagh Stream. There is no evidence for burgage plots or houses in the area now although forty-six small houses were noted by Lewis in the last century (1837, i, 435)' (Bradley et. al., 1989, 111-12).
Westropp (1906-7, 216-7) recorded the following details about Croagh; '1289 Hugh Purcell granted woods and turf out of Moychro, or Maynchro, or Croagh, to Ger. the Bishop (B.B.L., xv.), and was in 1297 granted free warren there (C.S.P.I). 1305 The manor of Croch taken by Crown (Plea R., 191). 1317 Suit of Jordan Coterel, or Cotel, and Rob. and Isolda Lovelynch, about Crogh (Plea R., 122; Mem. R., m. 14). 1318 T. f. Hugh Purcell had suit with Maur., Prior of St. Mary's, Rathgell, for violence done by latter at Moycro (lb., m. 47). It remained in possession of the Purcells (see 160, supra). 1350 Walter Purcell also held Kilfinnane (Pipe R.). The descent is fully preserved from 1480; Thomas Purcell; Patrick; Pierce; 1530; Edmond, 1567; Piers, 1568-1618; James, m. Jane Blayney, dau. of Sir F. Berkeley, and his brothers General Patrick, the Confederate leader, Edm., Tho., and Ric. 1567 Edm. and, 1576, Peter got pardon (Fi. 1050,2783). 1591 T. f. J. Mac Ruddery, Knight of Glin, held the hamlet and lands (save those of Peter Purcell) at Croaghneburgage, the C. called Castell fferson (Inq. Exch., 32; Peyton, 206b). 1611 Grant to Edm. Purcell to form a manor at Croagh, with courts Leet and Baron, free warren, &c. (Pat. R., Inq. Chan., 16b). He died 1618. 1637 James died seized of C. of Crowagh, or Moycrowagh; his father, Patrick, succeeded, and held of the heirs of Hugh Purcell, as part of the manor of Corck Iheny, granted by Jas. I. in 1617 to Edm.; dower claimed, 1640, by Cecilia, or Shihy ni Shihy, widow of Pierce, and Frances Barckly, widow of James (Inq. Chan., viii., 241). 1641 Lieut. Pat. Purcell took leading part in civil war, and was a brave and humane officer. 1655 Croaghstown burgess and Spittle Land held by T. Browne, of Hospital, Croagh neburgess on river Grivagh; the manor subject to Mrs. Francess Purcell's (Barkley's) jointure; Croaghstown with C, courts Leet and Baron, a highway, a small brook, a great church, &c. (C.S., pp. 48-51 ; B.D., 21). 1669 Confirmed to Lord Kingston; Capt. T. W. Walcott held land there (Act Sett.). 1692 Rob. Purcell died leaving Croagh to his wife, Mary, for life, entailed on his cousin, J. Purcell, of Ballinvirry (Prerog.). 1726 J. Walcott settled it on Edm. Browne, of Ballyslattery, Clare, on the latter marrying Walcott's cousin, Jane Westropp, of Attyflin (Dub. Reg., 54, 399).

Compiled by: Denis Power

Revised by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of revised upload: 10 December 2018

References

Westropp, T.J. 1906-7 The ancient castles of the county of Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 26, 54-264.

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.

MacCaffrey, J. 1907 The black book of Limerick. Dublin.