Kildare in the Annals
The main early Christian monastic foundations kept annals which recorded both local events and events of wider countrywide or worldwide significance. Some of these annals have survived and provide the main sources for this reconstruction. While it is possible, and indeed probable, that the foundation at Kildare kept its own annals, they have not survived to the modern age.
Covered here are events from the founding of the monastery by St. Brigid in the late 5th century to the suppression of the monasteries in the 16th century, a span of 1100 years of Kildare’s history
This list is obviously not exhaustive. Sources are listed below the chronology.
| Date | Event |
| 484 | St Brigid founded monastery. St Brigid was member of FOTHAIRT |
| 519/520 | St Conleth died on 4 MaySt Conleth died |
| 523? | Shrine of St Brigid erected |
| 524/526/528 | St Brigid died in her 70th year |
| 638 | Aed Dubh, king of Leinster, resigned and became an Augustinian (?) here and after became abbot and bishop (see IKHK pg 152 which states that he was not king) |
| 639 | Aed Dubh, bishop, died |
| 630/680 | Cogitosus writes life of St Brigid |
| 685 | Ghnahat, abbess, died |
| 691 | Lochne Mann, abbot, died |
| 693 | Fforanan, abbot, died |
| 709 | Mael Dobarchon, bishop, died (19 Feb) |
| 710 | Some mention of burning of monastery |
| 727 | Anchon, the scribe of Kildare, died |
| 729 | Sevdan, the daughter of Corck, abbess, died |
| 756 | Eghtigin, bishop, was killed by a priest at St Bridget’s alter (sic) in Kildare, as he was celebrating of mass, which is the reason that since that time a priest is prohibited to celebrate mass in Kildare in the presence of a bishop |
| 762 | Eothigern, bishop, died (killed by a priest in the church of Kildare) |
| 762 | Wooden church mentioned |
| 770 | Town and monastery burned |
| 772 | Kildare was burnt on the 4th of the Ides of June |
| 774 | Town and monastery burned |
| 781 | Battle on Curragh between Bran Ardchenn Mac Muiredaig, king of Leinster, and Ruaidri Mac Faelain. Bran taken prisoner. |
| 784 | Morieagh McCahall, abbot, died |
| 784/787 | Lomwhile, bishop, diedLomthuile, bishop, died |
| 787 | Lomthuili and Sneid Bran both named as bishop of Kildare |
| 787 | Sneidbran, bishop, died |
| 799 | Placing of the remains of St Conleth in a shrine of gold and silver |
| 802 | Ffine, abbess, died |
| 805 | Finnsneaghty McKeallay, king of Leinster, died in Kildare |
| 808 | Fisneachta Cetharderc (Four Eyes), king of Leinster, died of a painful disease in Kildare |
| 824 | Shiell McFferay, abbott, died |
| 827 | Mortcan of Kildare died |
| 828 | Morean, abbess died |
| 830/883 | Ceallach Mac Bran, king of Leinster, gained a battle over the community of Kildare in their church and many were slain “on the Feast of St John in the Autumn (29 Aug) on St John’s Day in harvest.” |
| 830 | (Aff)rick, abbess, died |
| 830/834 | Twachar, bishop and scribe of Kildare, died Tuathcar, bishop, died |
| 833 | Danes sacked and plundered |
| 833/835 | Farannan, abbot of Armagh, visited the Abbey attended by a retinue of his clergy. During his stay, Fethlimid, son of Crimthan, at the head of an armed force seized the church, and carried off the clergy as prisoners.(There was a dispute re abbot of Armagh) |
| 836 | Danish fleet of 30 ships arrived in the Liffey and another in the Boyne. They plundered every church and abbey within the territories of Magh Liffe and Magh Breagh. They destroyed the town (Kildare) with fire and sword and carried off the shrines of St Brigid and St Conleth |
| 837/840 | Orhanagh, bishop, died. Orthanach ua Coellamae Currig, bishop, died |
| 842 | Dunamase was assaulted and destroyed by the Danes where they killed Kehernagh, old abbot of Kildare |
| 862/864 | Owen Britt, bishop, scribe and anchorite and a venerable worthy old man of the age of well nigh 116 years diedAedgen Britt, bishop and anchorite (died) |
| 863 | Keallagh McAilealla, abbot of Kildare and Hugh died in Pictland |
| 868 | Church rebuilt by Queen Flanna, wife of Finliath, king of Ireland |
| 870 | Moengal, bishop, died |
| 870 | King of Leinster, resigns and becomes abbot |
| 875 | Robartach and Lachtnan both named as bishopsRobartach mac na Cerddae, bishop (also scribe and abbot of Killeigh) died |
| 881 | Suibne ua Finsnechtai, bishop, died |
| 883 | Danes spoil town (Kildare), and its religious houses, taking captive the abbot and 280 of his clergy and family |
| 883 | Ceallach Mac Bran, king of Leinster, gained a battle over the community of Cell-dara in their church, and many were slain |
| 884 | Scandal, bishop, died |
| 887/889/895 | Danish raids on Kildare |
| 907 | Cormac, archbishop of Cashel and king of Munster, bequeathed his horse (?) to the abbey with its splendid housings and furniture, one ounce of gold and an embroidered vestment |
| 909 | Death of Cearbhaill, king of Leinster, in Kildare |
| 910 | Cobfath, daughter of Duffe Dowen, abbess, died |
| 917 | Moreann, wife of Swart, abbess died on Monday the 6th. of the Calends of May |
| 918 | Flannagan O’Riagan, abbot and prince of Leinster, died |
| 923 | King of Leinster and abbot of Kildare, died |
| 924 | Donogh McBrenan, priest of Kildare, died |
| 923/921/924/926 | Kildare was ransacked by the son of Godfrey of Waterford and from thence brought many captives” and again by the Danes of Dublin the same year”. Plundered by the Danes of Waterford, carrying away numerous captives and richest booty |
| 926 | Onchowe, priest of Kildare, died |
| 926 | Crommoyle, bishop, died |
| 927/953 | Danes of Dublin pillaged Kildare |
| 958/962 | Kildare (town) almost completely destroyed by the Danes of Dublin and the greatest part of the inhabitants made slaves. Yet notwithstanding these frequent losses, the Collegiate School of Kildare still continued and professors constantly resided there |
| 968 | Abbot and King of Leinster, died |
| 972 | Morean, daughter of King Congalagh, abbess, died |
| 975 | St. Ancha, bishop, died |
| 980 | Animosus, author of 4th Life (of Brigid), died |
| 992 | Kildare was destroyed and preyed by the Danes of Dublin |
| 998 | Danes plundered Kildare |
| 1009 | Eihne ( O’Suartes daughter), abbess, died |
| 1012 | Danes plundered Kildare |
| 1012/1018 | All the town with the exception of one house was consumed by lightning |
| 1013 | Kildare thoroughly burnt by Danes |
| 1016 | Danes plundered Kildare |
| 1031 | Monastery burned “through the negligence of a bad woman” |
| 1038/1040 | Town destroyed by fire |
| 1050 | Kildare with its great stone church burnt |
| 1068 | Cowagh, priest of Kildare, flower of Leinster, died |
| 1069 | Dowgill, abbess, died |
| 1072 | Gormlaith, daughter of Murchad, king of Dublin, became abbess |
| 1079 | Kildare was burnt |
| 1089 | Town was destroyed by fire |
| 1096 | A council was held by Murtough O’Brien to consider among other things, the repair of the churches. |
| 1100 | Aed O Eremon, bishop, died |
| 1101 | Ferdomhnach (died). He had signed a joint appeal from the clergy and people of Waterford, asking for a bishop of Waterford in 1096. In his signature to this letter he uses the title “LAGINIENSIUM EP” |
| 1108 | Mael Finnan Mac Donngaile, chief bishop of Leinster, died |
| 1110 | Ferdomhnach the Blind, lector (Master of Harping), Kildare |
| 1111 | Synod of Rathbreasil – Kildare one of the five Episcopal Sees of Leinster |
| 1112 | Gormlaith, daughter of Murchad MacDermot and coarb of Brigid, died |
| 1132 | St Laurence O’Toole, baptised in Kildare |
| 1132/1135 | Abbess forcibly taken from her cloister by Dermot McMurrough and compelled to marry one of his followers. Not less than 170 of the inhabitants of the town and inmates of the abbey were slaughtered |
| 1146 | Cormac O’Cathasaigh, bishop, died |
| 1148 | O’Duibhin, bishop, died |
| 1160 | Finn O’Gormain (Finn Mac Cianain?), bishop, died |
| 1171 | Strongbow held court in Kildare during the greater part of the six months that Henry II spent in Ireland |
| 1171 | Sadhbh, daughter of Iron Knee Mac Murrough, coarb |
| 1175 | O’Briain, bishop, died. He did fealty to Henry II in 1172 and is most probably identified as the Bishop Malachy of Kildare, named in the Vita of St Laurence who witnessed a charter by which Dermot McMurrough founded the OSA Abbey of Ferns in 1160-62 |
| 1176 | Strongbow died |
| 1178-92 | Nehemias, bishop, named in various charters as a witness |
| 1185 | Mention of a castle at Kildare |
| 1189 | William Marshal Snr, married Isabella, daughter of Strongbow, thereby inheriting Kildare castle |
| 1206 | Cornelius Mac Gealain, having been archdeacon of Kildare, was elected and consecrated bishop of Kildare (last Irish bishop?) |
| 1219 | Earl Marshal died. Kildare castle passed to his daughter Sibell. She married William de Ferrars, 7th Earl of Derby |
| 1222 | Cornelius Mac Gealain, bishop, died |
| —- | The earl of Kildare was taken by Callogh McMurrogh O’Connor and horsemen of Offaly and yielded over to his father, Murrogh O’Connor, prince of Offaly, to be kept prisoner until he had been ransomed |
| 1270 | Kildare castle passed to Agnes de Ferrar, daughter of Sibell. She married William Fitzeustace de Vescy |
| 1279 – 1299 | Nicholas, bishop of Kildare to the king complaining of certain fanatic religious persons who were exciting disturbances and spreading, in the Irish language, the seeds of rebellion |
| 1286 | Calwagh (Calbach O Conchobair Failge?) taken prisoner at Kildare |
| 1290 | Castle inherited by Sir William de Vescy, son of William Fitzeustace de Vescy. He was made Lord Justice of Ireland in the same year |
| 1293 | Kildare castle captured by John Fitzthomas, Lord of Offaly |
| 1294/95 | John Fitzthomas was quarrelling with Richard de Burgh, earl of Ulster. This led to further unrest in Kildare. Calbach O Conchobair Failge captured the castle and burnt many documents. It is probably this period that is described in 1297 as “the time of the disturbances when the Odiimpsies (O’Diompsaigh) were outside the town of Kildare. It is also recorded that the followers of William Donyn broke into and robbed the castle and town of money, cloth, wheat, oats, malt, oxen, cows, sheep and pigs worth 1,000 (marks?) |
| 1297 | William de Vescy surrendered the castle of Kildare to the king. It was held for the crown by constables for the next 20 years |
| 1297 | Walter, son of Nicholas the chaplain, entered the church of St Brigid of Kildare by night and broke seven chests and took the goods found in them, to the value of a hundred shillings, and broke the church of the Friars of Mount Carmel, and is a common thief. Fled. Outlawed |
| 1297 | Repair work carried out on Kildare castle, including repair of houses, towers and gates; and the building of new bakehouse, kitchen and well. Cost £351-14-81/4 |
| 1299 | Walter l’Enfaunt recorded as keeper of castle of Kildare. ½ years payment £10 |
| 1302 | Inquisition held into claim by bishop of Kildare that the castle of Kildare had been built on church lands without permission |
| 1304-06 | A further £161-11-7 spent on Kildare castle |
| 1309 | William de Wellesley was appointed constable of Kildare Castle for life |
| 1310 | William de Wellesley received £4-11-0 for a quarters salary |
| 1310 | A charge was brought against William Feys of the Carmelite Order and a member of the community in Kildare on Sept 24, 1310. Rose Sweyn has given a chest of valuables for safe keeping “in a stone house of the friars” there. William broke the chest and stole 15 marks of silver. William Lek and his wife, Alice, were charged that they abetted and encouraged Brother William. The latter took the money to them and they had their share. They refused to admit guilt and were acquited. The friar however was found wanting. |
| 1316 | Kildare castle was attacked by Edmond (Edward) Bruce. It successfully withstood a 3 day siege. |
| 1404 | Owen McConnor McCahall O’Connor of Offaly was killed by the Earl of Kildare |
| 1539 | Carmelite friary in Kildare suppressed on 3 Apr. The friary was surrendered by the prior. It consisted of a church, belfry, dormitory hall and two chambers. Kildare also owned a messuage, a garden and a close containing one acre, as well as a cottage and six acres of arable land in the vicinity |
|
Sources |
| Annals of the Four Masters. |
| St. Brigid and the Cathedral Church of Kildare. Very Rev George Young Cowell MA ‑ Dean of Kildare, Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society, Vol 2 |
| Medieval Religious Houses in Ireland. A.Gwynn & R.N. Haddock, Longman Group, London, 1970 |
| A Walk around St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare. Leaflet in Kildare Cathedral 1989. Author Dean Patterson? |
| Urban Archaeology Survey, Part VII (iii). Co. Kildare. John Bradley, Andrew Halpin, Heather A. King, a report commissioned by the Office of Public Works |
| Lewis’s Topographical Dictionary of Ireland. Samuel Lewis 1837 |
| Annals of Ulster. |
| Annals Of Clonmacnoise. RSAI 1893-95 |
| Irish Kings and High Kings. Francis John Byrne, Pub by B.T. Batsford Ltd. |
| Irish Historic Towns Atlas No 1 (Kildare) Pub by RIA. |
| A New History of Ireland. Ed. Art Cosgrove. II. (Oxford 1993) |
| The Irish Carmelite – of the ancient observance. Peter O’Dwyer O. Carm, Carmelite Publications Dublin 1988. |
| Calendar of Documents Relating to Ireland |
| Dictionary of national biography. Ed. Leslie Stephen. X (London, 1887) |
| Calendar of Ormond Deeds. Ed. E. Curtis, 6 vols, Irish MSS Commission, 1923-43 |
| Irish Penny Magazine, No 35, Vol 1, 31 Aug 1833 ‑ extracts from Illustrations of Irish Topography No. XXXV |