St Augustine’s Church of Kilshanny

Immersed in the idyllic landscape of County Clare, stands the time-honored Saint Augustine's Church of Kilshanny, a spiritual lighthouse for the local community, steeped in centuries of tradition and reverence.

The genesis of Saint Augustine's Church harks back to 1828, rising phoenix-like from the remnants of a medieval church that had succumbed to time's ravages. The new church's inception was realized through the tireless commitment and hard work of the local Catholic community, who rallied to gather resources and support.

A framed picture hangs by the entrance door at St Augustines’s Church, Kilshanny with the text:

“The windows represent the spirit of faith and self-sacrifice displayed by the families who supported them in very difficult and unsettling times - with the prayer that their heroic example may be emulated in the future.”

The windows were installed when the church was built under the Ministry of Fr Martin McGuaran (1889-1919) in dedication to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary.

Fr McGuaran is listed on the 1901 Census of Clare, as aged 50 years old, from Kinlough in Co Leitrim.

St Augustine’s retains is beautiful country church charm, making it a popular spot for weddings.

There’s a famous picture attached to St Augustine’s Church in Kilshanny that tells the story of the of a land dispute that ‘aroused considerable interest and disquiet among the population in the 1890’s.

The Annfield Case is documented in Colm Hayes’ book North Clare’s Fight for Irish Freedom and concerns an emigrant, Lawrence Neylon, who departed for Australia where he acquired a ‘considerable fortune.’ He returned to Kilshanny and secured rental on the Annfield Farm for €60 a year.

Central to the story appears to be another loan, that Hayes describes as an ‘unusual arrangement’ of £400, to the landowner, Major General T.C Crowe.

Following the elder Mr Neylon’s death, his wife Eliza remarried in 1880. She died eight years later and her sons took possession of the lease. However, there were arrears outstanding, and this next unfolding of events is what drew the Parish Priest Fr Martin McGuaran into the fray.

Daniel Neylon was evicted from Annfield in August 1894. Fr McGuaran described the eviction in a letter to the Clare Journal:

“I was there when the crowbar brigade commenced their devil’s work.”

Annfield lay idle for two years until a man from Kilcorney, Thomas Markham, owner of two other farms elsewhere in the county, was granted the farm ‘much to the anger of the Kilshanny people,’ Colm Hayes writes.

The people were angry because Mr Neylon had made what they believed was a ‘reasonable offer’ for the farm.

There was trouble locally when Mr Markham tried to move his cattle and a polict

A ‘Monster Meeting’ was held in Kilshanny, attended by then MP William Redmond. It was described by the county inspector HM Scott, as an opportunity to denounce the eviction of Daniel Neylon and offer support for the family. People from all over the county attended. Huge crowds turned out, there was a pipe band and procession through Ennistymon.

Fr McMurran was a chief promoter of the meeting. He addressed the crowd to introduce William Redmond:

“They were there to deal with injustice and robbery of the worst kind and they would have this story of his treatment from Neylon himself….

They were there to ask counsel and moral support and co-operation - they wanted all the people and could spare none.”

Addressing the crowd, Redmond said:

“All Irishmen no matter how divided in other ways ought to unite and agree as one man, and that was the question of putting down with a strong hand once and for all, the enemy of the people, land grabbing.”

It was hoped the message of that Monster Meeting would be a strong enough example for the landholder to give up the farm, as had happened in O’Callaghan’s Mills, Mr Redmond told the crowd.

“It was a sad and sorry thing to think that after all these years of struggle, the grabber, like the serpent, had once more raised his head,” he said.

‘He was groaned’

Ultimately, the situation lead right to St Augustine’s Church, Kilshanny after Mr Markham, who refused to budge from the farm, appeared at Fr McGuaran’s house with three constables on May 12 1897. He informed the priest he would be attending mass the following Sunday and asked if the priest intended to stop him. The priest said he had no right to stop anyone going to mass in St Augustine’s. Markham had been ‘groaned’ eight months previously after attending mass in Ennistymon, according to a report by Inspector Scott.

The photograph, by Joseph Arthur captures the scene outside Kilshanny Church June 6 1897, when Thomas and Patrick Markham, who were accompanied by a force of almost fifty police, were advised by Fr McGurran that they should not attend Sunday mass that day as it was understood their intention was to cause a disturbance. The Markham’s proceeded despite this communication but the people of Kilshanny from an impenetrable line of defence in front of the Church which they could not pass. The situation grew tense but ended when the Markham brothers were lead away by police in order to avoid confrontation.

Daniel Neylon was later restored to Annfield House, bringing an end to the long running dispute. His descendants continue to live locally to this day.

Further history – from James Frost

“The church of Kilshanny is in a good state of preservation. At the distance of twenty perches from it is a holy well dedicated to St. Augustine, where a pattern is still held on the 28th of August. In the townland of Ballymacravan exists another holy well, called Tobar-mac-ravan, where stations continue to be performed. The castle of Bel-atha-an Gobhan.[41] (the mouth of the Smith’s ford, now called Smithstown), stands in this parish, and is in excellent condition. It belonged in 1580 to Teige MacMurrogh O’Brien. Three cahers, none of which merit particular notice, are seen in the parish of Kilshanny. By an Inquisition taken on the 16th of January, twenty-seventh year of Elizabeth, it was found that Turlogh O’Brien of Smithstown died seized of the monastery of Kilshanny, with its appurtenances and five quarters of land.[42] Subsequently it was granted, with all its lands, mills, and fisheries, to Robert Hickman.[43] By a previous Inquisition, taken 26th July, 1578, it was found that Teige, son of Murrogh O’Brien, late of Smithstown, was possessed of that castle and the adjoining watermill, together with the castle and village of Boneill, at the time of his death, in December, 1577; that his son, Turlogh, aged seven years, was his heir; and that his widow, More, was managing the property for her son. Kilshanny church had a small monastery attached to it, an offshoot of the great Cistercian house of Corcomroe, and a considerable part of the parish was abbey land belonging to the Cistercians.”

With thanks to Louise Roseingrave

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