MOCOLLOP CASTLE

Black and white photographs of the ruins of Mocollop Castle and surrounding buildings taken in September 1997 by Keith Johnson a well-known Australian genealogist and co-editor of the Genealogical Research Directory, published annually since 1981. He is descended from the Drew family.

Ruin of Drew home at Mocollop adjoining the Castle.

Ruin of Drew home.

18th Century outbuildings, Mocollop Castle.

In 1999 a person researching the Drew surname sent me by e-mail a scanned excerpt from an article entitled "The Castles in North East Cork and Near its Borders". I was later able to establish that the article had been written by Gabriel O'Connor Redmond and had been published in the Journal of the Cork Historical and Archaeological Society (JCHAS) in 1918. This excerpt had been taken from Part II (or I?), Vol XXIV No II (?), January-March 1918, pps 1-6, other Parts being Part III pps 62-66; Part IV, Vol XXIV No 119, July-September 1918, pps 93-103, pps 145-151; also pps 21-25, 91-97 in Vol XXV (Second Series), 1919. There was an earlier companion article "The Castles in North-East Cork" by Eaton W. Waters which appeared in the JCHAS, Vol XXII, No III, Second Series, July-September 1916, pps 97-109, 162-168 and Vol XXIII (Second Series) 1917, pps 30-35 and in Vol XXIV (this Part not sighted).

I have reproduced the excerpt below because, while it is rather sketchy about the early history of the Castle, it contains much incidental information relevant to Mocollop e.g. a suggestion that the original Church was demolished before the new one (1810) was built and that although James, the 7th Earl of Desmond, died at Mocollop, he was interred in the South Abbey at Youghal.

This article, the other Parts in the series, and the companion one by E W Waters, contain other items of interest:

The scanning process might have distorted some of the spellings in the text and I would therefore appreciate any corrections from readers. I would also be interested to hear from anyone who could give me an historical overview of the period covered.

 

The Castles in North East Cork and Near its Borders

By Gabriel O'Connell Redmond, M.R.C.P.I., &c (Council Member)

 

The lofty scenes around their sires recall,

Fierce in the field, and generous in the Hall,

The mountain crag, and stream, and waving tree,

Breathe forth some proud and glorious history.

The history of this important part of the country is still comparatively unknown, and little or no reference so far, I believe, has been made in this to the many notable castles, the ruins of which still remain by the banks of the lower Blackwater, and its tributary the Bride, with the exception of Conna Castle, of which an account appeared in the issue of July-Sept, 1915, rendering any further notice of it unnecessary here. (Footnote 1: The river Bride, and the adjacent Upper Blackwater castles, have recently been fully described in these pages by Dr. Eaton W. Waters, J.P.)

I have included a few of the adjacent border castles in the County of Waterford, whose history and that of its former owners may be said to belong to the County Cork, as well as to Waterford County.

MOCOLLOP CASTLE.

Beginning therefore with Mocollop Castle (which stands almost due north of Conna) on the northern bank of the Blackwater, some information will now be given of it, and of the other Blackwater-side castles, including the most southern of their number, Strancally and Templemichael, the latter situated a few miles from Youghal, between Rhincrew and Molana Abbey, an account of which latter was published in the Jan-Mar., 1916, issue of the Journal but omitting Lismore and Dromana Castles, the latter being the subject of an interesting book, published a few years ago by Lady Muir Mackenzie (nee Villiers-Stuart), of Dromana.

The ruins of Mocollop Castle are rather picturesque in appearance, situated low down on the northern bank of the Blackwater, near its brink, about eight or ten miles west of Lismore. The ruins consist of a donjon or circular keep, flanked at the base with square towers. Nearly half of the principal tower was demolished, it is said, by Cromwell in the 17th century, but the winding staircase was till recently, if not now, almost perfect.

James, the seventh Earl of Desmond, third son of Gerald the Poet-Earl, died at Mocollop Castle in 1462, but was interred in the South Abbey at Youghal. He was the father of Thomas, the eighth Earl of Desmond, called Thomas of Drogheda, from his having been beheaded there in 1467. He left five stalwart sons, who to avenge their father's death, rebelled and laid waste the country. The four eldest were all in their turn Earls of Desmond; and in order to pacify them, the King of England made them grants of land and castles, with immunities and privileges as well. The youngest brother, Gerald Oge, who did not succeed to the Earldom, received as his hereditary domain the entire territory of Coshmore and Coshbride, in the County Waterford, in which are included the parishes of Mocollop, Tallow, Lismore, Kilwatermoy, Kilcockan, and Templemichael. Gerald's eldest son, James, died at Mocollop in 1557. The subjoined pedigree, which I have compiled from various authentic records, indicates clearly the Coshmore and Coshbride FitzGeralds: (Pedigree not reproduced)

A descendant of James, the eldest son of Gerald Oge, held possession of Mocollop Castle against Cromwell in 1649. In the Drew pedigree it is stated that it was defended by Lieutenant Thomas Maunsell. Mocollop signifies, in Irish the "Plain of the Cattle," from Magh, a plain, and Collop, cattle. Bordering as it does on the Blackwater, it was, no doubt, formely, as it is now, an excellent pasturage for cattle. The parish of Mocollop bounds the County Cork on the west, and the mountains separate it from the County Tipperary on the north.

The following items relative to Mocollop Castle are chiefly taken from the State Papers:

1363. The Economist or Procurator of Lismore Cathedral had the Parsonages of Lismore and Mocollop, except the tithes of some of the lands.

1557. James Fitz Gerald of Mocollop (son of Gerold oge) died.

1564, June 17th. His son, Gerald fitz James FitzGerald, had been presented to the Deanery of Lismore when a boy, and held that benefice for 19 years, a layman. He was deprived of the benefice in 1583.

1568, Nov. 18th. From the Tower of London the Earl of Desmond wrote to his wife, Dame Eleanor, that "the bearer, John oge Mac Cragh, was to be reinstated in the custody of the Manor of Mokawilopoie (Mocollop, near Lismore), in the County of Waterford, and that Donnachadh Mac Cragh was "to deliver the said Manor and Castle of Mowkollopoche to his father, John Mac Cragh, whom he much conamiserates now in his latter days."

1570 or '71. Sir James FitzMaurice of Mocollop defended Mocollop Castle against the Earl of Ormond, which, however, he surrendered to the Earl on May 4th. Sir James then attacked Conna Castle, and killed 40 men, retainers of Sir Thomas also capturing 16 persons, "of which two captains of the galloglasses were hanged."

1577, Feb.15th. Pardon to Maurice Fitz james FitzGerald of Mocollop Castle, Gerald and James, his sons. 1587. Gerald FitzJames, Thomas FitzJames, and John FitzJames, sons of Sir James FitzGerald of Mocollop Castle, attainted. The following addition to the pedigree illustrates these records: (Pedigree not reproduced).

1587, Feb. 28th. Grant to Sir Walter Raleigh dated, "from our Manor of Greenwich, the last day of February, in the 29th year of our reign." ..... and the castle and lands of Mocollop, &c to hold for ever in fee farm in free soccage at a rent of 100 marks sterling.

Page 38, Cal.Pat.Rolls, 2 James I., 1st April. Lease made by Sir Walter Raleigh to Sir Richard Boyle.

1592 34 Eliz. To George Conyers, gent., the castle, towne, and mill of Mocolloppe and other lands (quoted in Sainthill's "Old Countess of Desmond").

1598, August. Sir James FitzMaurice of Mocollop Castle, James Fitz Thomas, rightful Earl of Desmond, and his brother, Sir John of Desmond, joined the Irish against the Earl of Ormond. This Sir James FitzMaurice of Mocollop was the 2nd son of Maurice FitzJames FitzGerald of Mocollop, to whom pardon was granted on Feb. 15th, 1577 (see ante).

From a brother of Thomas of Drogheda named Gcrald "Mor'' the FitzGeralds of Dromana were descended. This Gerald Mor was the Lord of the Decies.

With Mocollop Castle has been connected for many years the Drew family, of whom we are enabled to present the following sketch:

THE DREWS of MOCOLLOP CASTLE

The following genealogy of the Drew family of Mocollop Castle, by the late Rev. Pierce Drew of Youghal, originally appeared in John Gough Nichols' "Topographer and Genealogist" vol ii., page 209, London, 1853, and was afterwards separately published.

The stirp (root) of this ancient family, as Prince in his ''Worthies of Devon'' expresses himself, was Drogo or Drew, who as Lysons in his "Britannia" informs us, was a noble Norman, son of Walter (recte William) de Ponz, third son of Richard. Duke of Normandy, grandfather of the Conqueror (see Barony of Clifford in Debrett's "Peerage"), Drogo was brother of Richard, ancestor of the Cliffords, and had 73 Manors in Devon at the time of the Doomesday Survey Book.

(Pedigree not reproduced).

His grandson, Drogo de Tign was lord of Tigraton Drew in Devon in the reign of Henry II., and, as Sir Wiliam Poll states, ''both gave name and took name from that manor.'' By time's continuancy Riodon says, ''this name was mollified into Drew,'' and it has flourished with great reputation in the County of Devon from the Norman Conquest to the present time. Camden derives it thus: "Dru, in Latin Dryugo or Drogo, subtle as Callidus in Latine, if it come from the Saxon or German; but if it come from the French, lively or lusty (Nicotitus).'' See Caraden's ''Remains''). Prince gives a curious deed, dated 4th year of Edward IV, by which it was provided that the rents of certain messuages near Modbury be applied towards maintaining an honest chaplain to pray for the souls of John Drew, Esq., and Joan, his wife; Henry Drew, Esq., and his three wives; Sir Richard Chamfernon, Sir Thomas Carew, and others.

The branch in Ireland derives descent, through the Pomeroys, from the De Mules, De Camvilles, De Vernons, De Veres, De Vibreis up to a daughter of Henry I., King of England.

Francis Drew, second son of John Drew, Esq., of Drewscliffe, Hayne, and Sharpham in Devon, the first who settled in Ireland, came thither as a young man, a captain in Queen Elizabeth's army, towards the close of her reign. He purchased the estate of Meanus in the Co. Kerry, in the year 1623, having previously resided at Kilwinny in the County of Waterford.

"Together with all others of English blood," as an ancient memorial says, he was expelled from Kerry by the Irish rebels in the bloody year 1641 and his title deeds seized by a notorious Irish insurgent named Teige O'Connor." Soon after this he died in 1641. His second wife was Susannah Knowles of Youghal in the Co. Cork, afterwards married to Colonel John Johnson. Her sister Margaret was married to Lieutenant Thomas Maunsell, who defended the Castle of Mocollop in the Co. of Waterford, in the most gallant manner against Cromwell's forces in 1649 or '50 and who was afterwards interred in the Old Church immediately near where his tomb remained until the church was taken down, about the beginning of the present century (19th). The inscription, however, had previously been committed to paper, still preserved by Mrs. Drew of Mocollop Castle. The following is an accurate copy ''Here lyeth the body of Lieutenant Thomas Maunsell who departed this life the 13th day of March, An. Dom. 1686. Here lyeth also the body of Mrs. Magt. Maunsell his wife, who departed this life the 2nd day of February, Anno Dom I679".

This Francis eldest son of John Drew, married Margaret, eldest daughter of the Very Rev. Robert Naylor, Dean of Limerick.

An original paper still extant states that John and Robert Naylor, the uncles of Richard first Earl of Cork, followed him to Ireland. They were the brothers of Joan, the Earl's mother. The Earl of Cork gave his cousin, Margaret Naylor, in marriage to John Drew Esq, with an additional fortune and was a party to the settlement, as appears from a deed still extant. He died May 30th, 1672. Francis, second son of Barry Drew, the first of the Drewscourt family in the County Limerick, married first a daughter of Sir Francis Folkes, Knight, of Camphire, Co. Waterford, and, secondly, Ruth Nettles of Tourin, daughter of Williarn Nettles, Esq, by Mary, sister of the celebrated Valentine Greatrakes of Affane Castle, in the same county. He possessed the extraordinary power of curing diseases by simply stroking the parts affected with his hands. Robert Boyle, the great Christian Philosopher, frequently bore witness to the fact. His own life, written by himself, and printed in 1666, is still extant, and seems to have been with truth and candour. His memory is still fresh in the County of Waterford (see an account of him by Granger). The Nettles family get possession of Tourin Castle on the forfeiture of the Lord Roche in 1641.

The just-mentoned Barry Drew, Esq., was Receiver of the second Earl of Cork, and together with Sir Francis Foulkes, Knt., and Richard Musgrave, Esq., was Commissioner for the restoration of these estates after the Revolution. His house of Ballyduff, in Co. Waterford, still stands a complete and beautiful specimen of the strong castellated houses generally erected in Ireland towards the close of Elizabeth's reign and all through that of James and Charles following.

It has stone casemated windows, flanking towers, loopholed from top to bottom, a courtyard elaborately paved, and surrounded with a parapet wall, loopholed along the whole range. He died in 1695.

Francis Drew, second of that Christian name in the Irish line, and the son of John and Margaret, suffered great losses during the war previous to the Revolution. His place at Kilwinny, Co. Waterford, was completely laid waste by King James' army, and the house, with a great deal of property, burnt and destroyed. He served as a volunteer in King William's army at the battle of Aughrim, and also at the sieges of Athlone, Galway and Limerick. He was a just, devout Protestant, as several letters of his still existing prove. His remains were interred under his own seat in the Church of Castle Island, Co Kerry. His wife was Rebecca Pomeroy, a descendant of Joel de la Pomerai, lord of Biry, or Berry, in Devon, who married a daughter of King Henry I., and sister of Reginald, Earl of Cornwall. The Pomeroys married into the knightly family of De Mules, De Carriville, De Vere, De Vernon. De Valletart, ect. (see Sir William Pole). Rebecca Drew survived her husband, who died Sept. 2nd, 1734, many years; and with wonderful resolution, protected herself at Mocollop Castle, though surrounded by Irish enemies. She could use guns and pistols as determinedly as any person, and always kept them loaded in her bedroom. Her powder room existed until a few years ago. She told James II.'s Lord Chancellor in his own county that "if she had him at Macollop Castle she would have him cased like a rabbit.''

Francis and Rebecca had but one child, Margaret, who married her cousin John Drew, Esq., second son of the before-mentioned Barry Drew of Ballyduff, Co. Waterford, and of Drewscourt, Co Limerick. This John Drew was a gentleman of peculiar intelligence and activity of character, which enabled him to add considerably to his estates and property: Having disarmed his opponent of his sword in a duel, he gave him his life. His will was made on the 24th of October, 1747. He had several sons, all of whom died unmarried except the eldest, Francis Drew, Esq., M.D. This gentleman studied Physic at Leyden in 1743. He was very learned and talented, and distinguished for his amiability and goodness. He lived in great hospitality at Mocollop Castle for a great number of years, an died Sept. 3rd, 1787, aged 79, lamented by all who knew him. He had married Arabella, eldest daughter and co-heir of Colonel William Godfrey* of Bushfield, now Kilcoleman Abbey, Co. Kerry, by Elizabeth, eldest daughter and co-heir of the Rev. Richard Downing of Knockgraffon, Co. Tipperary. Colonel Godfrey having left no male issue, was succeeded at Bushfield by his brother John, father of Sir William, 1st Baronet of that family. This lady's pedigree in poetry is still extant, a great curiosity, and derives her from Fiacta, King of Munster, Mac Carthy Mor, the great houses of Thomond and Ormond, Sir Valentine Brown of Ross, ancestor of the Earl of Kenmare and other distinguished personages. Through Pierce, the 8th Earl of Ormond, she had a direct descent from King Edward. She died January 3rd,. 1814 or 1804, aged 69.

[* E-mail dated 3 July 2006 from a descendant of  Captain John Godfrey, brother of William Godfrey: "...there is a victorian wooden house in Lismore standing today which is also called Bushfield and was built for one of the Godfrey offspring. The main house at Milltown only has ruins remaining."]

John Drew, Esq., eldest son of the last-mentioned Francis, was a gentleman of talent and peculiar amiability. He married Alicia, eldest daughter of Pierce Power Esq., of Affane, Co. Waterford a descendant of the very ancient baronial house of Power or de La Poer, now represented by the Marquess of Waterford. Alicia's sister Catherine married Sir Christopher Musgrave, Baronet. Of this marriage there were four sons-Francis, John, the Rev. Samuel Browning Drew, and the Rev. Pierce William Drew, of the Strand House, Youghal in whose possession was (1853) a great collection of most rare and curious family documents and papers, where also might be seen many portraits of the Drew, Naylor, Boyle, Godfrey and Power families; one of Valentine Greatrakes, and of members of several other distinguished families, also several fine suits of armour in the best preservation. and richly ornamented weapons of almost every period in our history.

This Drew family in general by the heiress of Prideaux, and through the Mortimers, Earls of March, derived descent from Henry II., Llewellyn, Prince of Wales; the King of Leinster, the Bigods, De Lacys, Montacutes, etc.

Francis Drew, Esq., second son of Dr Francis Drew, and of his wife, Arabella Godfrey, succeeded to Mocollop Castle, and married Emilia, daughter of - Boyle, Esq., and was succeeded by his eldest son, Francis Drew, who married Olivia, daughter of - Ross, Esq., and relict of Evans, Esq, by whom he had an only son Francis, an officer in the 2nd Dragoons, or Scots Greys, who died sine prole, and an only daughter and: heir, Olivia, the present (1853) proprietor of Mocollop Castle, who married James Barry Esq., of Ballyclough in the County Cork. After the latter's death his widow married Colonel Hillier. Mrs. Hi!lier having died childless, the Mocollop Castle property passed on Colonel Hillier's death to the late Dr. Drew, father of its present owner, Dr H. W. Drew.

The Drew Arms are Ermine, a lion passant, Gules, langued and armed sable. Crest A bull 's head sable, with three wheatens in its mouth, or Motto ''Drogo nomen et virtus arma dedit". Quarterings: Ocharton, Trevelyn or Clifford, de Gordon, Wynyard, Frend, Prideawe, Le Barons, Fokeray, Hinkmore, Dorsford, Pomeroy, Godfrey, Low, Downing.

Landowners in the vicinity of Mocollop at the time of Griffiths Valuation 1848-1851

Back to main Mocollop webpage.

Enquiries about this site: Denis Strangman string@hotkey.net.au