Abbeyville - TN004-022001 - Latin Inscription

Lackeen Castle is an important site in Irish history. An O’Kennedy stronghold (Smyth 1985, 118) of sixteenth-century date which belonged to Brian Ua Cinneide Fionn, Chieftain of Ormond who died in 1588 (Harbison 1970, 230). Described in the Civil Survey (1654-6) as an ‘old ruined castle & bawne of Leackeene the walls onely standing an orchard and garden’ (Simington 1934, vol. 2, 315). Donogh Kenedy is listed as proprietor in 1640 (ibid.) The Stowe Missal was held at this site at one time. An Irish illuminated manuscript written mainly in Latin with some Gaelic in the late eighth or early ninth century, probably after 792. In the mid-11th century it was annotated and some pages rewritten at Lorrha Monastery in County Tipperary, Ireland. Also known as the Lorrha Missal. This medieval grafithi appears to show the name of Dermot Kenneddy, who returned to the site after being expelled by the English. The carving inlcudes Kennedys name and the date 1651 or 7. Discovered by David Broderick