Brosna
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brosna is a parish situated in the Sliabh Luachra area of County Kerry, Ireland. It is 10 miles from the town of Castleisland. It's electoral area incorporates 5,823 acres 2 roods and 6 perches. The present population is 1,200. It consists of the Brosna Village and 34 townlands. It is a rural parish mainly agricultural, supporting 2 churches, 2 schools, a post office and 7 public houses.
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[edit] Geography
Some famous Munster Rivers have their sources in the parish - the Feale, the Clydagh, the Braonach, and the Munster Blackwater. The highest point is Mount Eagle.
Crochaun Mountain is 1400 feet above sea level, with its wonderful view. Brosna is bordered by County Cork, and County Limerick. The nearest neighbours are Castleisland and Knocknagoshel in Co Kerry, Abbeyfeale and Mountcollins in Co Limerick, and Ballydesmond and Rockchapel in Co Cork.
[edit] History
In 1837 Brosna contained 12,168 inhabitants comprising of 18,013 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at 2180 pound per annum.
A large portion of the land consisted of coarse mountain pasture and bog, the greater part fo which might be reclaimed. A new line of road, about 8 miles in length, was in progress, at the expense of Col. Drummond and C.Fairfield, Esq., extending from the bridge over the Clydagh (an arch of 60 feet span), on the new road from Listowel to Newmarket, and passing through this and the adjoining parish of Ballincuslane to the village of Ardnagrath, on the old mountain road from Castleisland to Millstreet.
It was in contemplation to extend this road to Scartaglin, to form a junction with the new Government road from Castleisland to King William's town, by which the surrounding country would have been greatly improved.
There were 2 private schools, in which about 120 children were educated.
[edit] The Name Brosna
The people and places in this vicinity tend to get nicknames which stick with them over the years. No less Brosna or Brosnach which translates to firewood. This has no bearing on the old name Cathair Bessleen in the calendar of entries in the papal register.
[edit] The Church
An old thatched church was built about 1800 when Fr Nicholas Moore was Parish Priest, in the grounds of the graveyard near the present Church. (he passed away in 1803) The present Church "St Moling & St Carthage" was built in 1868 when Fr Patrick Moriarty was Parish Priest, was designed by architect George Ashlin. This Church is in gothic form and was built from dressed stones quarried from the lands of Pat O'Callaghan in Knopoge.
The local farmers drew them to the site with horses and carts. The roof beams were made of pitch pine and the seating is also pine. Many of the stained glass windows were donated by parishioners. The Altar is marble designed by Pugin and unequalled worldwide. On arrival in Brosna it was transported by 11 horses. A fitting adornment to the beautiful Church and stained glass windows behind the Altar. The marble altar rails are much younger and were donated by Denis Guiney in 1946, in memory of his parents Cornelius and Julia Guiney (this is the Denis Guiney who began Clerys store in Dublin).
The Presbytery was built when the Church was, in 1868, a great stone building. This has been home to Parish Priests and Catholic Curates who have served the Parish. It was restored by Revd. Tadhg O'Doherty in 1998.
[edit] St. Moling's Holy Well
In 614 AD it was in the foothills of Sliabh Luachra that Saint Moling's mother who was a native of these parts, gave birth to her baby while marooned in a fall of snow as she returned to her parents home from Carlow in Leinster. A service of angels descended to the spot where the baby lay. The snow melted for 30 feet around him and a spring well marked the spot.
St Moling performed many miracles. He was Archbishop of Ferns. He returned to Carlow to his fathers royal homestead where he built a monastery. It was here he died and was buried in Tigh Moling in 646 AD. This well has been a place of pilgrimage over the years. People have paid visits to the well every Saturday in May. A decade of Rosary is said at each of the 5 kneelers around the well, going 3 times around the kneelers. Then taking sips of water from the well in their cupped hands, and many cures have been attributed.
The restoration of this well was carried out by the Brosna Heritage group in 1998 under the guidance of James Scanlon an International Sculptor-Glazier, who is a native of Brosna.
