Grangefertagh facts for kids
| Gráinseach na Fearta Fearta-Caerach |
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Round tower
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 Location in Ireland
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| Monastery information | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Fertagh |
| Order | Canons Regular of Saint Augustine |
| Established | early 6th century |
| Disestablished | 1536 |
| Diocese | Ossory |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | Ciarán of Saigir |
| Architecture | |
| Functional Status | In ruins |
| Style | Celtic monastic |
| Site | |
| Location | Grangefertagh, Johnstown, County Kilkenny, Ireland |
| Coordinates | 52°46′42″N 7°32′41″W / 52.778459°N 7.544599°W |
| Public access | yes |
| Official name | Grangefertagh Round Tower and Church |
| Reference no. | 74 |
Grangefertagh is an old abbey, which is like a special home for monks, located in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Today, it's a National Monument, meaning it's a protected historical site.
Contents
Where is Grangefertagh?
Grangefertagh is found about 3.3 kilometers (about 2 miles) north of a town called Johnstown in County Kilkenny. It's close to where people used to cross the River Goul.
The Story of Grangefertagh
How it Began
Grangefertagh was started a very long time ago, in the 500s AD. It was founded by a saint named Ciarán of Saigir. Back then, it was known as Fearta-Cáerach, which means "Sheep's Tomb."
Viking Times
In the year 861, a local ruler named Cerball mac Dúnlainge fought against a group of Vikings at Fertagh. He won the battle. Later, a tall, round tower was built at the site. Sadly, in 1156, a high king named Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn set fire to the tower while a teacher, called a lector, was inside.
Rebuilding and Changes
The monastery was reopened in the early 1200s by the de Blancheville family. It became home to a group of monks called the Canons Regular of St Augustine.
By 1421, the monastery was in such bad shape that the monks couldn't live there anymore. They had to leave and ask for food every day. But good news came in 1455! A canon (a type of priest) named Thady Megirid or Magriyd helped rebuild it.
The monastery was officially closed down in 1541, during a time when many monasteries were being shut. However, the church part of Grangefertagh was still used until about 1780. Today, part of it is even used as a Gaelic handball alley, which is a place to play a sport similar to squash.
What's Left Today
The Tall Round Tower
The tower at Grangefertagh is about 31 meters (over 100 feet) tall! It has nine windows. Six of these windows have angled tops, and three have flat tops. Four of the angled windows are on the very top floor, facing the four main directions: north, south, east, and west. The tower is mostly complete up to its top edge, but only a small part of its original cap remains.
The entrance to the tower is on the northeast side. It's about 3.3 meters (nearly 11 feet) above the ground.
The Old Church
West of the tower, you'll find the Augustinian monastery church, which dates back to the 1200s. Inside a small side chapel, there's a tomb from the 1500s. People believe it belongs to Seán Mac Giolla Phádraig, who was a king of the area called Osraige.
The tomb has statues, called effigies, of a man in armor and a woman. These are thought to be Seán and his wife, Nóirín Ní Mórdha. Some historians believe other members of the Mac Giolla Phádraig dynasty (his family) are also buried there. The sides of the tomb are decorated with beautiful patterns and designs carved into the stone.
In 2020, an article was written about this tomb. It talked about how unusual some parts of the tomb are, making it different from other similar tombs made by sculptors from the Ormond area.
