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You are > Home > Normans put Bannow on the map!
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Thursday, July 08, 2010
Normans put Bannow on the map!
THE ROLLING waves are fanned by the breeze and break up in white foam on the beach.
The ancient stones of the old church stand guard overlooking the bay.
A town, once important enough to send two members to the English Parliament, is no more visible and lies buried, courtesy of the passing of time and the shifting sands. Bannow was where the Normans decided to land when they came to Ireland in 1169.
The place is steeped in history and heritage; happily, much of it has been recorded and is being shared in modern day curiosity and knowledge through the pages of the Journal of the Bannow Historical Society, recently launched.
The turning pages unfold into a fascinating story of the distant past. Richard Roche, who once edited THE ECHO, and author of many books, including "The Norman Invasion of Ireland," published by Anvil Books in 1970, writes of "Some fighting men who landed at Bannow in 1169."
"The Bay and the Town of Bannow" is reprinted from "Transactions of the Kilkenny Archaeological Society, Vol. 1 – 1849-‘51" and it is a follow up to a similar article in the first edition. There are some interesting quotes: "When the tide has flowed to its full height, the eye of a spectator from the most elevated point of Bannow Island, rests on what appears to be a noble and well sheltered harbour of refuge, placed exactly where most required, namely at the bottom of that dangerous bay embraced by the Saltees and the point of the Hook promontory."
It is recorded that "Bannow Bay was a safe harbour. Here the five Welsh vessels, which carried the little army of Robert Fitz-Stephen, Myler Fitz-Henry, Milo FitzDavid, Harvey de Montmaurice and Maurice de Prendergast, the avant couriers of Strongbow, cast anchor in May, A.D. 1169."
It is from this source that we get a description of the lost town of Bannow and the names of some of its streets. It reinforces the argument that Bannow was once a place of great importance, a factor that attracted the Normans to land there or pure coincidence because the port was an easy and attractive place to land?
"That the channel, between Bannow Island and the site of the town, was navigable down to the comparatively late period of 1657, appears on the evidence of the map of the parish in the Down Survey, whereon Bannow bay is laid down and entered by two deep channels; but the town must have lost its importance long before this period."
Leading historian, Billy Colfer, introduces his splendid article as follows: "The mouth of the Bannow estuary was the focus of the initial Anglo-Norman incursion into Ireland in the late twelfth century with the first landing taking place on Bannow Island in 1169, followed by another at Banginbun, on the opposite shore a year later." Billy’s contribution is entitled; "Medieval Boom and Bust – The Rise and Fall of Bannow and Clonmines."
"It is confidently reported that this Clonmines was a place of great trade in times past, and a harbour for shipping of indifferent bulk until the sand filled up the ancient passage near the town of Bannow, which was the destruction of both these towns, so that there is now only a narrow passage for boats on the west side of the Island, between it and the lands of Fethard; for on the east side towards the town of Bannow, where the ancient passage was, and ships used to come in, is now a perfect dry strand and may be walked over from the strand to the town."
Tom McDonald has been burning the midnight oil and exhausting large quantities of ink and in a splendidly presented article, recalls the visit of Thomas Moore, the famous poet of the Meeting of the Waters fame and the son of a Wexford woman, to Bannow in 1836.
Moore was guest of the landlord, Boyse, and while in the neighbourhood, he gave £10 to assist in the building of the new chapel at Danescastle.
There appears to have been far more money in writing in Moore’s time!
Historical publications have a common thread in evidence; many of them call upon the Department of Folklore archives from the end of the 1930s. Michael Martin recounts the submission from Patsy Martin, born at Rochestown, Taghmon, in 1874.
Assistant editor to Greg Walsh, Dermot McCarthy, writes about George Ogle Jacob, (18191857), a soldier who perished in Delhi at the age of 38 years, and his local connections are exposed.
It appears that in every historical journal it is mandatory to include a section on townland names and Séamas S. de Vál is the recognised authority in this field.
Bannow is famed in song and story too, and Liam Gaul, who writes extensively about the history of music, recalls such popular local tunes as "Bannow’s Lonely Shore", "Bannow’s Bright Blue Ray" and "Sweet Bannow Bay", a winning entry in a Muintir na Tíre All Ireland Ballad competition in 1960 for composer, Jack McCutcheon.
The editor’s contribution is confined to local steam engineers, Andy and Pat Colfer, and the article is well illustrated showing the restoration of engines, once decaying from rust, but dramatically rescued and restored to pristine condition.
Nicky Furlong makes a valuable contribution also, and overall, this is a wonderful journal. Long may its publication continue, and there is no reason why not, because this is a district teeming with history and stories to tell.
Journal of the Bannow Historical Society, No. 2, 2010, edited by Greg Walsh, 127 pages, illustrated, available in shops locally or from any member of Bannow Historical Society, retail price €15. ISSN 2009-101X.
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