Mullinahone

History

The name of Mullinahone appears first as a settlement in the records of the "Hearth Money Rolls" in the years 1665 to 1667, then spelled as Moninehoan. The "Hearth Money Rolls" were a rent or tax on houses in the post-Cromwellian period. It was entered as a village or settled area of nine 'cabbins' with hearths, that is, permanent structures, which were not very common then, it appears after the wars of the time. Just across the river (a tributary of the River Anner) was the main village of Killaghy, in what is now Fethard and Killaghy streets. Both were extensions of the worker/artisan settlements of Killaghy Castle and lands whose estate walls adjoin the modern town today. Killaghy has existed since the first lord of Killaghy or Compsey, named St Aubyn or Tobin, built his castle there in the 13th century. There is one earlier mention of Mullinahone as a place name. This is dated 1551 in the Calendar of Justiciary Rolls (State papers then), regarding Inquisitions or trials held there. This was possibly at the old 13th century Norman keep in present-day Carrick St in Mullinahone townland. The Lord of Compsey was James Tobin, who was then (1551) Justiciar of County Tipperary. The Tobins were a Norman family. The modern parish was formed in the 18th century as the Catholic Church was re-organised when Penal Laws were relaxed. In 1772, it was joined with Drangan parish, and then in 1826, it was separated again. The old Gaelic entity of Compsey extended as far as Glenbower and Ahenny in Grangemockler parish and also part of Cloneen and adjoining areas. Mullinahone was on one of the two routes from Ossory to Cashel or Leinster to Munster in medieval times. Known as the Pass of Compsey in Norman times, the passage was by Callan and Modeshill and crossed the river at…