Fassadinin Explained

Official Name:Fassadinin
Native Name:Fásach an Deighnín (Irish)
Native Name Lang:ga
Other Name:Barony of Fassadinin
Settlement Type:Barony
Image Alt:260
Etymology:Wilderness along the Dinin river
Coordinates:52.8°N -7.2167°W
Pushpin Map:Ireland
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Ireland
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Ireland
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:Leinster
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:County Kilkenny
Established Title:Cantred of Odoth
Established Date:1358
Established Title1:Fasaghdenyn and Idoghe
Established Date1:1587
Parts Type:Civil parishes
Parts Style:coll
P1:Attanagh
P2:Odagh
P3:Castlecomer
P4:Kilmenan
P5:Kilmacar
P6:Kilmademoge
P7:Kilmadum
P8:Coolcraheen
P9:Dysart
P10:Donaghmore
P11:Dunmore
P12:Grangemaccomb
P13:Muckalee
P14:Mayne
P15:Abbeyleix
P16:Mothell
P17:Rathbeagh
P18:Rathaspick
P19:Rosconnell
Government Type:County Council
Governing Body:Kilkenny County Council
Area Total Km2:276.2

Fassadinin, sometimes written Fassadining, is a barony in the north of County Kilkenny, Ireland. It is one of 12 baronies in County Kilkenny. The size of the barony is . There are 19 civil parishes in Fassadinin. The chief town today is Castlecomer. The N78 Kilkenny/Athy road bisects the barony. Fassadinin is currently administered by Kilkenny County Council.

Fassadinin lies at the north of the county, with the baronies of Galmoy and Crannagh to the west (whose chief towns are Galmoy and Freshford), and the baronies of the Kilkenny and Gowran to the south (whose chief towns are Kilkenny and Gowran). It is surrounded on two sides by counties Laois to the north and Carlow to the east.

Foulksrath Castle and Kells Priory are located in Fassadinin.

History

The barony was part of in the historic kingdom of Osraige (Ossory) and was the territory of the Uí Duach (Idough) clan. The name of Fassadinin, in Irish "Fásach an Deighnín", meaning "Wilderness along the Dinan". From Old Irish, "fásach", meaning "uninhabited place, waste, wilderness", of the Dinin River. According to O'Heerin's Topographical Poem (1420) at the time of the Norman invasion the area was the territory of the clan called the Ua Braonáin (O'Brennan) of Uí Duach. Uí Duach was made into the medieval cantred of Odogh or Idogh. In 1358 this Barony was known by its ancient name the "Cantred of Odoth". Ui Duach was also called the cantred of the Comar (from Comar now Castlecomer) which comprised the whole of the president barony of Fassadinin, and a considerable part of Galmoy. The earliest reference to the barony as Fassadinin was in 1587 where it was described as the barony of "Fasaghdenyn and Idoghe".

In Edmund Ignatius Hogan's "Description of Ireland, in anno 1598" it was described as the barony of "Fasagh, Denny, and Idogh" and the constables were of the barony of "Fasagh de Myn and Odoghe" or "Fasaghdenya and Odoghe". Fassadining was recorded in the Down Survey (1656), the 1840 Ordnance Survey Map and on Griffith's Valuation (1864).

In 1247 Geoffrey de Fraxino (de la Freyne) held a quarter Knight's fee at Kilmenan in the barony of Fassadinin held previously by a Walter Purcell. The 1608 constables were Robnett Purcell of Foulksrath and William O'Brena of Ballyhomyn (Ballyhimmin). The early families recorded included O'Brena of Rathcally, Purcell of Esker, Purcell of Lysmayne, O'Brena of Uskertye, Farr McDonnogh of Croghtoncle, and Duffe of Crint. The Brennans ruled in this region with remarkable independence and persistence, it was not until 1635 the town and remaining Brennan lands were handed over to Sir Christopher Wandesforde. The Wandesfords were based in Fassadining.

In the 18th century County Kilkenny consisted of the Liberties of Kilkenny and of Callan and the baronies of Galmoy, Lower Ossory, Fassadinig, Cranagh, Shellilogher, Gowran, Kells, Knocktopher, Ida, Igrin, Iverk and Ibercon. By the 19th century these were restructured into the baronies of Callan, Crannagh, Fassadinin, Galmoy, Gowran, Ida, Iverk, Kells, Knocktopher, and Shillelogher. Today, the county is subdivided into 12 baronies. These include Kilkenny in the centre of the county, and clockwise from north of the county, Fassadinin, Gowran, Ida, Kilculliheen, Iverk, Knocktopher, Kells, Callan, Shellilogher, Crannagh, Galmoy.

Geography

The county is subdivided into 12 baronies These include Kilkenny in the centre of the county, and clockwise from north of the county, Fassadinin, Gowran, Ida, Kilculliheen, Iverk, Knocktopher, Kells, Callan, Shillelogher, Crannagh, Galmoy.

Fassadinin contains the towns of Ballyragget and Castlecomer, and the settlements of Odagh, Clogh, Jenkinstown, Coan, Coolcullen and Coolbaun. Fassadinin is made up of 19 civil parishes of Attanagh, Odagh, Castlecomer, Kilmenan, Kilmacar, Kilmademoge, Kilmadum, Coolcraheen, Dysart, Donaghmore, Dunmore, Grangemaccomb, Muckalee, Mayne, Abbeyleix, Mothell, Rathbeagh, Rathaspick and Rosconnell. And these include 126 townlands (See List of townlands in County Kilkenny).

The rivers Dinin (Dinan) flows through Fassadinin. Fassadinin contains Castlecomer Woods and Jenkinstown Wood, and a well named 'Lady's Well' and Foulksrath Castle. Parts were in the Poor law unions of Castlecomer, Kilkenny, and Urlingford. In the Gaelic Athletic Association in Kilkenny St Martin's club has a catchment area is roughly comprehended by the barony.

Today it is part of the Roman Catholic Church diocese of Ossory and the Church of Ireland diocese of Cashel and Ossory.

See also

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