battle O'Carroll was slain. In the reign of Elizabeth, the celebrated James Fitz-Maurice, of Desmond, took this town; and in the year 1650, Callan was exposed to still more severe penalties of warfare. In that year Oliver Cromwell, having second in command the republican Colonel Sankey, captured the place, after experiencing resistance for a few days, with a great waste of blood amongst the inhabitants. Hugh de Mapilton, bishop of Ossory from 1251 to 1256, is said by the annalist Thady Dowling, to have erected an Augustinian friary in this town; but the true founder, according to Archdall, was Sir James Butler, of Poolestown, who died A. D. 1487, and from whom the present Ormonde family is lineally descended. At the time of the dissolution this friary was granted to Thomas Earl of Ormonde, and some remains of the buildings are still to be seen. The town of Callan was incorporated in the reign of Henry IV. and the charter was renewed by King James I. END OF THE COUNTY OF KILKENNY. END OF VOL. I. |