BUTTEVANT

In 1868, the parish of Buttevant contained the following places:

"BUTTEVANT, (or Bothon), a parish in the barony of Orrery, in the county of Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 28 miles to the N. W. of Cork, and 137 miles to the S.W. of Dublin, by the Great Southern and Western railway, on which it is a station. It is situated in a fertile and cultivated country on the banks of the river Awbeg, and was formerly a market town. Its name is said to be a corruption of the phrase Boutez en avant (equivalent to "Forwards!"), a war-cry of its ancient lords, the De Barrys, earls of Barrymore. The grant of a market was obtained in the reign of Henry III. A priory of the Franciscan order was founded, or perhaps refounded, here about the end of the 13th century, by one of the De Barrys. A nunnery also existed here at an early period. The manor belonged to the De Barrys, who had a castle in the parish. The town, consisting chiefly of one street, is on the W. bank of the Awbeg, and has a market and court-house, extensive barracks, police station, and large flour-mill. Petty sessions are held once a fortnight. The living is a union of two vicarages and two perpetual curacies, of the gross value of £129. It is in the diocese of Cloyne, and in the patronage of the bishop. The church, which stands by the river, on the site of an earlier one, is a handsome building in the perpendicular style, with a tower and beautiful spire. It was erected in 1826. A handsome new Roman Catholic chapel has been built. It is a stone structure in the form of a cross, in the perpendicular style, with a central embattled tower. There are also a fever hospital, a dispensary, and two schools-one for boys, the other for girls. In the town are the ruins of an old fortress, called Lombard's Castle, and on the banks of the river, the "Gentle Mulla" of Spenser's poem, are the fine remains of the priory, with many monuments to the Barrys, Fitzgeralds, and other families. The bones of those who fell at the battle of Knocknanoiss, in 1647, are piled up in great heaps in the crypt of the priory. In the vicinity is Kilcolman Castle, where Spenser lived, and wrote the "Faerie Queene." Buttevant gave the title of viscount to the earls of Barrymore. The manor is now held by Lord Doneraile. Buttevant Castle, formerly part of the fortifications of the town, is situated on a rock by the Awbeg, and is the property of the Lloyd family. There are several pleasant seats of the gentry. Fairs for the sale of cattle are held on the 27th March, and the 14th October.

"LESGRIFFIN, a village in the barony of Orrery, county Cork, Ireland, 3 miles from Buttevant." [Lisgriffin]

"RATHCLARE, a village in the county of Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, near Buttevant, and 126 miles from Dublin. Fairs are held at intervals between April and December."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]  Copyright Colin Hinson ©2018