As its name suggests Inchmore is the largest of all the islands on Lough Ree.

It has historically part of the administrative county of Longford.

The island consists of 132 acres and 32 perches and at the time of Griffith's Valuation in 1854 it was held by the Marquis of Westmeath though we know that he did have other people resident on the island.

Ring-fort

On high ground at the south end of the island is a ring-fort indicating that this island knew human habitation from early times. Throughout Ireland ring-forts survived, largely due to superstition, they were often called fairy-forts and it was considered unwise to interfere unduly with them; therefore farmers worked around them rather than risk the wrath of the spirit world. In reality these ring-forts were protected enclosures for human habitation. During the early Christian period such an enclosure would have contained shelters both for man and beast. The farmers who lived here were strong farmers, possibly the family who founded or supported the local church. The original house, like the fort itself, was circular in shape with one or two living chambers. Nothing will survive except perhaps the post holes. The most likely building material would have been hazel which would have grown locally in abundance.

Early Monasticism

The monastic ruins on Inchmore consist of one featureless church on the north side of the island. The foundation is attributed to a fifth century monk, St. Lioban (or Liberius), the son of Lossenus.

Canons Regular

Some time before 1170 Inchmore had apparently become a priory of the Canons Regular of St. Augustine. The Augustinian canons became by far the most widespread religious order in 12th C. Ireland. The priory of Canons Regular of St. Augustine on Inchmore was probably dependent on the larger monastic settlement of All Saints at Saints Island, Co Longford.

From Church to State

In 1567 Sir Henry Sidney, Queen Elizabeth's deputy in Ireland, and the man responsible for building the first stone bridge across the Shannon at Athlone, recommended to her majesty that the Baron of Delvin, a member of the Nugent family of Westmeath, be granted Inchmore on Lough Ree. Elizabeth acceded to Sidney's request and the lands of Inchmore were granted to the Baron of Delvin for a period of twenty years.

Despite the twenty year grant the island obviously remained with the family for considerably longer. A further grant recorded in the Calendar of Papal Documents relates that in 1635 the Pope permitted the Earl of Westmeath to retain the property during the schism. The Papal grant was made on condition that if the schism should come to an end that the earl would restore the abbeys to whatever orders had previously held them. The Nugent estates were very considerable and quite apart from Inchmore they also held the lands of Fore which had a very large monastic site.

 

 

Mullinalaghta formed part of the medieval territory of Annaly, largely corresponding to today's County Longford. It was under the control of the Mac Gearadháin (Gaynor) family, being referred to in sixteenth century documents as Muntergerran (Muintir Gearadháin).
Ecclesiastically, it was under the control of the abbey of Inchmore in Lough Gowna, founded by Saint Colmcille in the 6th century. This was reflected by Mullinalaghta forming part of the civil parish of Columbkille and also being part of the same Roman Catholic parish until 1839, when it was joined with the Cavan parish of Scrabby to its north, with which it has since been united. The area has been hard hit by emigration, with the population declining from a pre-Famine peak of over 3,500 to its present population of less than five hundred.

https://www.longford.ie/en/live/towns-villages/longford/

 

Mel Columcille Gerard Gibson Gibson's His second name, Colmcille, is also shared by an Irish saint, and is the name of the Aughnacliffe parish in County Longford where Gibson's mother was born and raised. Because of his mother, Gibson retains dual Irish and American citizenship. Gibson is also an Australian permanent resident.

 

CHRISTOPHER NUGENT, eldest son of Richard lord Delvin, by Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Jenico, viscount Gormanston, and widow of Thomas Nangle, styled baron of Navan, was born in 1544. On the death of his father, which occurred 10 Dec. 1559, he succeeded to the barony. During his minority he was in ward to Thomas Radcliffe earl of Sussex.
On 12 May 1563 he was matriculated as a fellow-commoner of Clare hall.
On 3 Feb. 1563-4 the queen granted to him and his heirs male the castle of Corbetston alias Ballycorbet, with lands in Ballycorbet, Dryman, Ballythomas, Clomarrye, and Balliclog in the King's county.

He occurs as a member of Clare hall in the list of that society presented to the queen on her visit to Cambridge in August 1564. In 1565 he was knighted, and on 22 November in that year the queen sent letters to sir Henry Sidney, lord deputy of Ireland, setting forth that lord Delvin being come to his full age, personally repaired to Ireland to possess the barony descended to him from his ancestors, wherefore her majesty thought good not only to licence him to return but specially to recommend him to the lord deputy that he should have a lease in reversion for twenty-one years of the abbey of All Saints at £20 irish rent, and the custody or captainship of Sleaught-William in the Analy, which his father held during his life and his uncle had had during his minority.

It appears that in or about August 1566 Shane O'Neal encamped in Betaghes country, and there encountered lord Delvin and the gentlemen of Westmeath.

On 10 Jan. 1566-7 the lord deputy Sidney, wrote to the privy council of England highly commending the services and fidelity of lord Delvin. The queen in consequence, by letters dated 10 May 1567, recommended the lord deputy to grant his suits for leases of the abbey of Inchmore in the Analy near to Delvin, and of the abbey of Foure lying in the midst of his country in the county of Westmeath.

In the same year he articled with her majesty to extirpate the O'Mores, sons of Ferrasse Mac Rosse, and their followers. He was to serve in person in all places within the english pale and elsewhere, and to have the leading of 150 kerne, 10 horsemen, and 50 boys of his own choice.

In April 1576 he entertained the lord deputy Sidney on his progress, but in February 1578-9 we find him at the head of those who refused to acknowledge the right claimed by the government to impose without authority of parliament or a grand council, cesses or contributions for the victualling of garrisons and the lord deputy's household.

He refused to sign the proclamation against the earl of Desmond 2 Nov. 1579, and was thereupon reprimanded.
In 1581 being suspected of holding correspondence with the rebels of Leinster, he was committed to the custody of Jaques Wingfield, master of the ordnance, and subsequently sent to England and confined in the Tower of London. His innocence ultimately appearing he obtained his discharge.

He was present at sir John Perrott's parliament 26 April 1585, and afterwards going to England the queen on his return to Ireland, by letters to sir John Perrott lord deputy, dated 13th December the same year, directed that he should have a lease of the isle of All Saints in the county of Longford for thirty years after the expiration of his then term therein. We find lord Delvin's arrest mentioned in a letter of 4 Jan. 1585-6. We suspect an error in the date.
In 1593 he was appointed by commission leader of the forces raised in the county of Westmeath at the general hosting on the hill of Tarah. He, with the Nugents his kinsmen, brought 20 horsemen there.

On 7 May 1597 the queen by a privy seal ordered him a grant in fee farm of so many manors and forfeited lands in the counties of Cavan and Longford at his election as should amount to the crown rent of £100 a-year english.

In November 1599 he had a warrant from the earl of Ormond, then commanding the queen's forces in Ireland, to treat and parley with the earl of Tyrone, and instructed Thomas Leicester his lieutenant, and Matthew Archbould his servant to treat with him accordingly.
We find him serving with 150 men under lord Mountjoy against Tyrone, but being charged with succouring the rebels and with conferences had with Tyrone at his coming out of the north into Munster in the doubtful time of the siege of Kinsale, he was committed to Dublin castle, where he died in 1602. He was buried at Castleton-Delvin on 5 October. An inquisition taken at Mullengar 11 Jan. 1602-3, states that his death occurred on 17 August, but according to a MS. in Ulster's office he died on 5 September or 1 October.

He married Mary, daughter of Gerald, eleventh earl of Kildare. She survived till 1 Oct. 1610. By her he had issue: Richard, created earl of Westmeath; Christopher of Corbets-town, who died 3 July 1626; Gerald; Thomas of Dunfert in the county of Kildare, who died October 1634; Gilbert; William; Mabel, wife successively of Murrough, third baron of Inchinquin, and of John Fitzpatrick of Upper Ossory; Elizabeth, wife of Gerald, fourteenth earl of Kildare; Mary, the first wife of Anthony O'Dempsey, heir-apparent to Terence, first viscount Clanmalier, she died 1618; Eleanor, wife of Christopher Chevers, esq., of Macetown, she died 31 Aug. 1636; Margaret, wife of Fitzgerald, esq.; and
Juliana, second wife of sir Gerald Aylmer, bart. of Doneda in the county of Kildare, she died 1617.
In consequence of the troubled state of Ireland he had no benefit from queen Elizabeth's privy seal of 1597. James I., however, on 10 Aug. 1603, granted lands of £60 per annum to his widow and son. It may be hence inferred that there had been no solid foundation for the charge which occasioned his last imprisonment. He is author of:
Instructions for my Lieutenant Thomas Leicester, and my servant Matthewe Archbould to treate and parlie with Tyrone, by vertue of the right honorable the Lord Lieutenant of her Majesties Annie's authority. Dated xxv Novemb. 1599. Letter to the Lords of the council touching the proceedings of Leicester and Archbould 29 Nov. 1599. MS. Univ. Libr. Camb. Kk. 1. 15. f. 425, 427.
Arms: Erm. 2 bars G. Crest: a cockatrice rising, tail nowed ppr.
Collins's Sydney Papers, i. (2) 17, 82, 108, 236, 237- Erck's Repertory, 270, 272. Lodge's Peerage of Ireland, ed. Archdall, i. 234. The Earls of Kildare, 226, 241. Moryson's Itinerary, ii. 60, 62, 109. Nichols's Prog. Eliz. iii. 169. Strype's Annals, ii. 626. Talbot Papers, O. 327. Thomas's Hist. Notes, 1178. Cat. Uniy. Libr. M8S. iii. 585. Wright's Eliz. i. 144.

 

 

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If the monastery on Inchmore, Innismore, or Inchmory, also known as Great Island, was directly recognized by the Vatican when Baron Delvin acquired the island, it suggests a significant level of recognition and potentially unique status. Here are some possible titles and honors associated with such a monastery:  

1.      Abbey Nullius: This title indicates that the monastery has a special status of independence directly under the jurisdiction of the Vatican, typically headed by an abbot who reports directly to the Pope. Monasteries with this status are sometimes referred to as "territorial abbeys" and have unique privileges and responsibilities. 

2.      Papal Recognition: The monastery may have received formal recognition from the Pope, signifying its importance within the Catholic Church. This recognition could include papal privileges, such as exemption from certain ecclesiastical jurisdictions or additional authority granted to the abbot. 

3.      Royal Patronage: Given the involvement of Baron Delvin in acquiring the island, the monastery may also have enjoyed royal patronage from the aristocracy or ruling monarchy. This patronage could come with additional honors, such as royal charters, land grants, or financial support. 

4.      Canonical Erection: The monastery may have been canonically erected or established by a formal decree from the Vatican, confirming its status as a religious institution under the authority of the Catholic Church. 

5.      Historical Landmark: The monastery's recognition by the Vatican and its association with Baron Delvin could contribute to its status as a historical landmark or heritage site, signifying its importance in religious, cultural, and historical contexts. 

6.      Cultural Contributions: If the monastery has made significant cultural contributions, such as through art, music, or scholarship, it may receive additional honors recognizing its cultural heritage and intellectual influence. 

7.      Educational Institution: If the monastery includes educational facilities or has a history of scholarly pursuits, it may be recognized as an important center of learning, with associated honors for its contributions to education and intellectual discourse. 

8.      Spiritual Center: As a monastery recognized by the Vatican, Inchmore, Innismore, or Inchmory may serve as a significant spiritual center for Catholics, attracting pilgrims and visitors seeking spiritual guidance and solace. 

9.      Special Ecclesiastical Privileges: The monastery may have been granted special ecclesiastical privileges, such as the ability to administer sacraments, hold special religious ceremonies, or participate in specific liturgical traditions. 

These titles and honors reflect the potential significance and unique status of the monastery on Inchmore, Innismore, or Inchmory, particularly considering its direct recognition by the Vatican and its association with Baron Delvin. 

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