The Irish standard., 1914-05-30
LEGEND OF KILDARE.

LEGEND OF KILDARE.
Kildare. or Chille-darruigh. which
signifies the church or cell under the
oak, is said to have been founded by
st. Conlaeth in the beginning of the
sixth century. 1t seems to have been
one of the primitive churches of Ire
land, and what is termed a mother
church. numbers of which were
deemed in subsequent periods bis
hoprics. though few prior to the
enth century were other than con-
vents of regular canons. who resided
in or near their churches, with their
families and pupils and disciples,
where they instructed youth in the
principles of learning and religion.
About the year 1885 Bishop Lane
founded college in the County Of
Kildare in which the Dean and Chap
ter might live in collegiate manner,
but of which there are now no re-
mains. Among the number of stu
dents who were in different periods
educated by the monks of Kildare
several were of distinguished parts,
in particular O'Buge. who fiourished
about the year 1920. called generally
in the language of the times the
burning light the mirror and orna-
ment of his country. He was we'll
skilled in divinity, philosophy. rhe-
toric, and the canon and civil law,
and buried in the Carmelite monas-
terry founded by William de vesey
in 1890, which monastery was situat-
ed within the town, and con-
founded with the ancient convent of
regular canons, of which there both
not appear to have been any parti-
clar building. The cathedral was
their church, and the members dwelt
round it, in separate houses, consti-
tuting the ancient city. The ruins of
the Cormelite monastery, or White
F'riars. are seen little to the west
of the present town, but of no great
extent. and was granted at the dis
solution to Anthony Decringe, in
1885. During the wars in the reign
of Queen Elizabeth this town suffer-
ed severely; Bishop DAILY was three
times turned out of his house, almost
naked. and plandered by the rebels;
SO that in 1000 all the houses were
In ruins and without single inhabi-
tant. This, with the almost total
alienation of the Church lands by the
Bishop. Craik and Ellsworth. from
the year 1860 to 1904, prevented the
i town of Kildare from rising again to
distinction. In 1923 a garrison was
established in the castle by the Earl
of Castlehaven, which in some meas
ure reassembled the Inhabitants, but
the cathedral, which had gone much
to decay in the time of Henry VII,
and was repaired by Bishop Lane,
was nearly destroyed in 1914, and
the steople beat down by cannon. in
which ruinous state, with the great
er part of the church, it still remains,
and the monuments, mentioned by
Harris. no more, Part of one. indeed,
lies in the churchyard, but broke.
The choir is repaired, and the pres.
ent parish church; but there are nei-
Their bishop. dean, nor chapter resi-
dent. the bishoping being held in
commendam by the Dean of Christ
Church.
In 1647 Colonel Jones took the
town upon quarter, but it was soon
after retaken by the Irish, who held
1t till the beginning of June 1649,
when it was repossessed by the Lord
Lieutenant. The present town, which
seems to be situated somewhat east
ward of the ancient, stands boldly
on rising ground, and consists of
the church, part of the castle still
inhabited, the county inflirmary,
good building on the east end, the
parish school adjoining the church,
Roman Catholic chapel, a market
house. and about 1870 houses, most
of which. however, are wretched cab
ms. 1t has four annual fairs, OBJ
tanned from it's ancient barons and
earls. held on 18th February, 26th
April, 18th May, and 10Th septem-
Der. In the reign of James 1. it was
instituted borough, governed by
Sovereign. Recorder, and two Port
reeves, and sends two members to
Parliament under the patronage of
the Duke of Leinster. Here are no
manufactures, except small one of
felt hats, and the general scarity of
water must in great measure pre-
vent any being established. The
races at the Curragh contrib uted
some years since to the business and
riches of the town, but at present it
is not much frequented by them.
Being situated on the road from
Dublin to Limerick, it is post town,
and the mail coach passes through
1t to the last mentioned city, which