Volume 1

The beauties of Ireland. Being original delineations, topographical, historical, and biographical, of each county / By J.N. Brewer. Illustrated with engravings, by J. & H.S. Storer, after original drawings, chiefly by Mr. Petrie.

  • Brewer, J. N. (James Norris)
Date:
1825-1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The beauties of Ireland. Being original delineations, topographical, historical, and biographical, of each county / By J.N. Brewer. Illustrated with engravings, by J. & H.S. Storer, after original drawings, chiefly by Mr. Petrie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    other in its ornamental particulars ; the door is of a correspondent lightness with the arches, and more than usually lofty. The west window is of the. narrow style that’ prevailed in the time of Henry iil. Beneath the building is’a crypt, or subterranean chapel. There are many sepulchral monuments among the remains of the abbey, including the part now used as a parochial church. Several of these are of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, but such as bear any pretensions to antiquity are so shamefully mutilated, that they could not be described without great difficulty and labour. The most curious monumental relic consists of the figure of a man, represented in gigantic proportions. This figure was dug from the ruins of the Abbey-church, and is believed to have formed part of an antient tomb belonging to the family of Denne, of Gre- nane, in the vicinity of Thomastown.’ Several of the monumental stones appear to have commemorated priors, or superiors of thie convent. | ‘ Here is a handsome Roman Catholic Chapel, built about fifteen years since; and the examiner will find, with considerable interest, that the great marble altar in this Chapel was removed to its pre- sent situation from the fine and venerable ruins of Jerpoint Abbey. George Berkeley, D. D. the learned and very eminent Bishop ef Cloyne, was the son of William Berkeley, of Thomastown. This celebrated prelate was born on the 12th of March, 1684, at Kilcrin, say his biographers, but we believe at Kilkerril, near the native town of his father. In the vicinity of the above town, on the opposite side of the river, is Grenane Castle, formerly the residence of the Anglo- Norman family of Denne, or De Den, now represented by Patrick Denne, Esq. of this county. Previous to the Union, Thomastown returned two members to parliament, nominated by Viscount Clifden; but the Grace family, of Ballylinch Castle, in this netisachood. who possessed most of the adjoining lands, were for a long period proprietors of this borough. Jerporint ABBEY, Situated on the river Nore, is distant fit Thomastown nearly two miles. To this spot we conduct the reader with mingled emotions, secure of his sympathy i In each VOL, I. GG