Historic town

The National Monuments Service's description

Imleach Iobhair or Emly grew from its origins as an Early Christian monastery, founded by St. Ailbe who died on the 12th of September (O'Flanagan 1930, vol. 3, 38-60). According to the Annals of the Four Masters this monastic foundation was pillaged twice and burnt five times between the 11th and 12th century, as well as earlier in 845 (ibid.). Cashel became an archbishopric and much of the territory given to Cashel was at Emly's expense, thus Emly ceased to be one of the wealthier monasteries in Munster (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 77-8, 360). In 1215 the English bishop of Emly was granted permission by King John to hold an annual fair and the bishop's weekly market was not to be disturbed (O'Dwyer and O'Dwyer 1987, 1-29). In 1303 AD a murage charter was granted to the town. In 1505-42 Bishop Thomas Hurley founded a college of secular priests at the cathedral (Gwynn and Hadcock 1970, 77-8, 360). By 1569 the monastery was united with the see of Cashel, a factor which further precipitated the decline of the monastic town of Emly (ibid.). In 1718 the Catholic bishopric joined with Cashel (O'Dwyer, M and L. 1987, 1-29). In 1303 a charter of murage was granted to the town of Emly and a map dating to 1599 (map of Munster held in T.C.D.) depicts Emly as a walled town with two gates. No physical evidence of this wall survives. In 1622 the Archbishop of Cashel visited Emly where he reported there were two castles, the 'great and the small', one of which had been the residence of the Bishop of Emly.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 26 August 2011

References

O'Dwyer, M. and O'Dwywer, L. 1987 The parish of Emly: its history and heritage.

O'Flanagan, Rev. M. (Compiler) 1930 Letters containing information relative to the antiquities of the county of Tipperary collected during the progress of the Ordnance Survey in 1840. Bray.

Gwynn, A. and Hadcock, R.N. 1970 (Reprint 1988) Medieval religious houses of Ireland. Dublin. Irish Academic Press.