Cloneybrien (sometimes written as Cloney Brien) is a small community (called a townland) of just over 800 acres in Northern Tipperary on Lough Derg (The Red Lake) in the Arra Mountains. Most of that acreage is on the eastern flank of Laghtea hill, although there is also some lowlands that tend towards bog. The gaelic name is Cluain ui Bhriain which translates to O'Brien's Meadow. Previous to about 1318 the clan O'Donegan was in control of part of the Arra mountains but as a retreating faction of the clan O'Brien came across the Shannon they easy took the lands. The O'Briens then controlled the lands until the Cromwellian advance in the 1650s.
The other nearest townlands are Drum, Loughtea, Townlough Upper, Killoran, Corbally, Ballingeer, Coolbawn and Derrybeg. The nearest villages are Castletown, Portroe, Newtown, Gerrykennedy and Grange. The nearest towns are Nenagh and Killaloe and the nearest city is Limerick.
In Griffiths Valuation of Ireland (1848-1864) and the 1901 Census of Ireland, Cloneybrien is considered to be in Castletownarra Parish. In later documents it is often cited as being in Castletown, Portroe or Nenagh Parish (either civil or ecclesiastical).
Cloneybrien Hill (part of the Laghtea Hill complex) is most widely known for the crosses that have adorned it. In 1932 a stone cross was erected to commemorate the Eucharistic Congress. In 1945 the cross was broken when struck by lightening. In 2002 a new stainless steel cross was erected on the opposite side of the hill top.
Some landmarks of the area would be:
Cloneybrien House: A large historic home that has been home to many families including the manager of the Imperial Slate Mining Company and some Ryans (relation unknown).
Patrick's Well (not to be confused with St. Patrick's Well that is in Clonmel, Tipperary): A spring that used to be used for blessings.
St. Patrick's Rock "It is said they were made by St. Patrick's mule & hound on the occasion on which he rested at the well in Cloneybrien."
Colley's Cowl: The remains of a small house up on the hill under the cross that could've been used as a shelter while hearding or as a hermit's haunt.
Sally's Rocks: An outcrop of stones that local Historian, Michael Joy, suggests were named for a Sally Carroll that inherited the land that had little else of note.
Cillín or Infant's Burial Ground (Killeen or Kylenabaustee): Now something of a thicket, this was the unconsecrated land for the burial of the unbaptized. These can be found all over Ireland. There is a deep controversy regarding this practice and many book written about it.
The Gap and the Gap Slate Quarry: A very old quarry (pre-1840) that is small in comparison to Garrybeg/Curragh/Corbally next door but was said to be significant and produced high quality slates. The quarry is also the source for a small stream that was the main water source for Portroe for 50 year (again, according to Michael Joy).
Knockaunreelyon and the Graves of the Leinster Men in Coolbaun: Probably the biggest tourist draw in the area, there are a number of stories or versions of the same story that exist. I wont debate these but a common theme seems to be that after a battle in Coolbawn where the Leinstermen were defeated (The Graves) by the army of Brian Baru, King Brian and/or his men, granted the King of Leinster's final request and took him up to the gap to be killed and buried within sight of his lands as Leinster can be seen just to the north and east of here (out over Nenagh). It is an interesting story and I suggest further reading on it.
General Links:
Maps:
Thanks to Joann Hinz for helping me with some of the terminology and landmarks and of course to Michael Joy for his diligence and dedication to the parish.
