Sandfordscourt

Cantwell's Court is an old townsland, south of Kilkenny City. There is an association with the Crusades.

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland
• List of townlands in County Kilkenny

"The estate now known as Cantwells Court is situated near Rathcoole a few miles north of Kilkenny City and about 1/2 mile north of the original castle, the remains of which still stand; it is a typical square Norman tower with traces of earthwork defenses. Cantwells Court was confiscated in 1653 and John. the then owner, was "transplanted with, Mother and dependents to Connaught". "D Garrigan in the "History and Antiquities of the Diocese of Ossory" states that he

"Joined the services of exiled Charles II, became Captain in Col, Dempsey's regiment which served under Prince of Conde, Signed petition to be restored to estates but got no redress. No record remains of ultimate fate".

The estates which John Cantwell held in Co. Kilkenny included Kilfane (1637 acres), and Cantwells Court (1376 acres) , also Dromineer (1,200 acres-), Co. Tipperary,13 Lord Ranelagh was- granted most of the Cantwells Court lands and shortly afterwards the property was renamed "Sanford's Court Lord Rane-lagh,, originally Sir Roger Jones, too-k his title from Ranelagh, near Glenmalure, when he was granted that district in 1628.15 The Ranelagh's house, the house now called Cantwells Court, has no associations with the original family. From a study of the 6" O.S. maps lb covering the area it is interesting to see that-not only have the principal names survived but so also have those of the townlands as set out in the Down survey of 1655-1659.

Mr. Liam Price, in his "Place-Names of County Wicklow, the Barony of Arklow." 1941 mentioned Ballecantowlo and Ballenecantowloe as occurring in Deeds of 1594 and 1620 respectively. The origin of these names, which are now obsolete,, is given as baile Cantwell.

Amongst the Cantwells mentioned in early documents appear the names of John, Archbishop of Cashel, 1450-1484, Oliver Bishop of Ossory, 1487-1527, who built the "great bridge" at Kilkenny - Thomas, Dean of St. Canice's Cathedral, Kilkenny, 1479-c.1491 , he surrendered the convent to the crown in 1539. In addition there are numerous references to Cantwell landowners, witnesses, soldiers and rogues.

Properties of John Cantwell of Cantwells Court: Dromineer; Nenagh; Cantwells Court; Gowran; Kilfane; Kilcollum (Nr. Thomastown) Properties of John Cantwell of Moycarky: Moycarky, Gaile (Nr. Moycarky); Killinaule; Ballingarry; Kilfeakle; Corderry, Clonbeg in Glen of Aberlow; Athassel; Other places with Cantwell associations: Holycross; Thurles; Fennor (Nr. Urlingford); Kilcooly Abbey; Cashel; Kilkenny City.

The latter include Nicholas who stole cattle in 1551 and Richard, brother of the Abbot of Holy Cross, who was shot by Lord-Mountgarret in 1621 for "plundering" the English settlers in Kilkenny. There is now little trace of Moycarky Castle. The Civil Survey (1654-1656) -lists the townlands, stated to contain 1648 acres, held by the Castle, again, most of these can be identified with present day names. Evidently the Moycarky branch of the family was also dispersed in the mid. seventeenth century. I have not been able to trace subsequent movements, but the reoccurrence of the Christian names of Thomas, John, and James points to a connection between Moycarky and, approx. 60 miles to the north, Rahan.

The following reference to Moycarky and its owners occurs in the Calendar of State Papers "

"The King (James I) to the Lord Deputy. Captain John Butler having complained to him that his wife, being sole daughter of Edmond Cantwell, and so lawful heir to the castle of Muckarke and divers other lands in that kingdom. He and his wife were absent at the death of her grandfather who survived her father and died seized of the said castle and lands. A third brother of Edmond Cantwell taking advantage of their absence did unjustly enter into possession of that Castle and &c., and still holds the same. For recovery whereof Captain Butler has prayed their (the king's) assistance. Required them to give such remedy as may stand with the law, whereof we require to have a special care, the rather because Captain Butler has brought earnest letters of recommendation from the King of Poland (Sigismond III) for expediting his cause and returning him 'back to Poland within six months.- Given under the Privy Signet at Westminster,, January 16-1623".

The Captain Butler referred to above was John, son of Edmond 2nd, Viscount Mountgarret. I have not been able to trace the result of the King's representations.

The acreage figures quoted are all "Plantation" acres; 1,000= 1,600 Statute acres. Gleeson states that the Plantation figures should be increased by 20% to allow for "some uniform and inscrutable error in all measurements".

The destruction of the Public Records Office, in which was stored almost all parochial registers, county records and other important papers, in Dublin in 1922 makes it almost impossible to bridge the gap between the seventeenth and nineteenth-centuries. Further examination of Rent Rolls, Wills$ etc.2 also tomb stones in Tipperary and Offaly will be necessary before a more complete Family Tree can be attempted. I have included in the Tree a much abbreviated pedigree of the Halpin and Coyle families to show the double connections.

BRIAN J. CANTWELL Krybreen Chalet Blacklion Greystones Co. Wicklow"