Date

Event

484

St Brigid founded monastery

St Brigid was member of FOTHAIRT

519

520

St Conleth died on 4 May

St Conleth died

523?

Shrine of St Brigid erected

524

526

528

St Brigid died in her 70^th. year

638

Aed Dubh, king of Leinster, resigned and became an Augustinian (?) here and after became abbot and bishop (see IKHK pg 152 which states that he was not king

639

Aed Dubh, bishop, died

630

680

Cogitosus writes life of St Brigid

685

Ghnahat, abbess, died

691

Lochne Mann, abbot, died

693

Fforanan, abbot, died

709

Mael Dobarchon, bishop, died (19 Feb)

710

Some mention of burning of monastery

727

Anchon, the scribe of Kildare, died

729

Sevdan, the daughter of Corck, abbess, died

756

Eghtigin, bishop, was killed by a priest at St Bridget's alter (sic) in Kildare, as he was celebrating of mass, which is the reason that since that time a priest is prohibited to celebrate mass in Kildare in the presence of a bishop

762

Eothigern, bishop, died (killed by a priest in church of Kildare)

762

Wooden church mentioned

770

Town and monastery burned

772

Kildare was burnt on the 4^th. of the Ides of June

774

Town and monastery burned

781

Battle on Curragh between Bran Ardchenn Mac Muiredaig, king of Leinster, and Ruaidri Mac Faelain. Bran taken prisoner.

784

Morieagh McCahall, abbot, died

784

787

Lomwhile, bishop, died

Lomthuile, bishop, died

787

Lomthuili and Sneid Bran both named as bishop of Kildare

787

Sneidbran, bishop, died

799

Placing of the remains of St Conleth in a shrine of gold and silver

802

Ffine, abbess, died

805

Finnsneaghty McKeallay, king of Leinster, died in Kildare

808

Fisneachta Cetharderc (Four Eyes), king of Leinster, died of a painful disease in Kildare

824

Shiell McFferay, abbott, died

827

Mortcan of Kildare died

828

Morean, abbess died

830

883

Ceallach Mac Bran, king of Leinster, gained a battle over the community of Kildare in their church and many were slain

"on the Feast of St John in the Autumn" (29 Aug)

"on St John's Day in harvest"

830

(Aff)rick, abbess, died

830

834

Twachar, bishop and scribe of Kildare, died

Tuathcar, bishop, died

833

Danes sacked and plundered

833

835

Farannan, abbot of Armagh, visited the Abbey attended by a retinue of his clergy. During his stay, Fethlimid, son of Crimthan, at the head of an armed force seized the church, and carried off the clergy as prisoners.

(There was a dispute re abbot of Armagh)

836

Danish fleet of 30 ships arrived in the Liffey and another in the Boyne. They plundered every church and abbey within the territories of Magh Liffe and Magh Breagh. They destroyed the town (Kildare) with fire and sword and carried off the shrines of St Brigid and St Conleth

837

840

Orhanagh, bishop, died

Orthanach ua Coellamae Currig, bishop, died

842

Dunamase was assaulted and destroyed by the Danes where they killed Kehernagh, old abbot of Kildare

862

864

Owen Britt, bishop, scribe and anchorite and a venerable worthy old man of the age of well nigh 116 years died

Aedgen Britt, bishop and anchorite (died)

863

Keallagh McAilealla, abbot of Kildare and Hugh died in Pictland

868

Church rebuilt by Queen Flanna, wife of Finliath, king of Ireland

870

Moengal, bishop, died

870

???, king of Leinster, resigns and becomes abbot

875

Robartach and Lachtnan both named as bishops

Robartach mac na Cerddae, bishop (also scribe and abbot of Killeigh) died

881

Suibne ua Finsnechtai, bishop, died

883

Danes spoil town (Kildare), and its religious houses, taking captive the abbot and 280 of his clergy and family

883

Ceallach Mac Bran, king of Leinster, gained a battle over the community of Cell-dara in their church, and many were slain

884

Scandal, bishop, died

887

889

895

Danish raids on Kildare

907

Cormac, archbishop of Cashel and king of Munster, bequeathed his horse (?) to the abbey with its splendid housings and furniture, one ounce of gold and an embroidered vestment

909

Death of Cearbhaill, king of Leinster, in Kildare

910

Cobfath, daughter of Duffe Dowen, abbess, died

917

Moreann, wife of Swart, abbess died on Monday the 6^th. of the Calends of May

918

Flannagan O'Riagan, abbot and prince of Leinster, died

923

???, king of Leinster and abbot of Kildare, died

924

Donogh McBrenan, priest of Kildare, died

923

921

924

926

Kildare was ransacked by the son of Godfrey of Waterford and from thence brought many captives

" and againe by the Danes of Dublin the same year".

Plundered by the Danes of Waterford, carrying away numerous captives and richest booty

926

Onchowe, priest of Kildare, died

926

Crommoyle, bishop, died

927

953

Danes of Dublin pillaged Kildare

958

962

Kildare (town) almost completely destroyed by the Danes of Dublin and the greatest part of the inhabitants made slaves. Yet notwithstanding these frequent losses, the Collegiate School of Kildare still continued and professors constantly resided there

968

???, abbot and king of Leinster, died

972

Morean, daughter of King Congalagh, abbess, died

975

St. Ancha, bishop, died and old and holy man

980

Animosus, author of 4^th. Life (of Brigid), died

992

Kildare was destroyed and preyed by the Danes of Dublin

998

Danes plundered Kildare

1009

Eihne ( O'Suartes daughter), abbess, died

1012

Danes plundered Kildare

1012

1018

All the town with the exception of one house was consumed by lightning

1013

Kildare thoroughly burnt by Danes

1016

Danes plundered Kildare

1031

Monastery burned "through the negligence of a bad woman"

1038

1040

Town (?) destroyed by fire

1050

Kildare with its great stone church burnt

1068

Cowagh, priest of Kildare, flower of Leinster, died

1069

Dowgill, abbess, died

1072

Gormlaith,  daughter of Murchad, king of Dublin, became abbess

1079

Kildare was burnt

1089

Town was destroyed by fire

1096

A council was held by Murtough O'Brien to consider among other things, the repair of the churches.

1100

Aed O Eremon, bishop, died

1101

Ferdomhnach (died). He had signed a joint appeal from the clergy and people of Waterford, asking for a bishop of Waterford in 1096. In his signature to this letter he uses the title "LAGINIENSIUM EP"

1108

Mael Finnan Mac Donngaile, chief bishop of Leinster, died

1110

Ferdomhnach the Blind, lector (Master of Harping), Kildare

1111

Synod of Rathbreasil - Kildare one of the five Episcopal Sees of Leinster

1112

Gormlaith, daughter of Murchad MacDermot and coarb of Brigid, died

1132

St Laurence O'Toole, baptised in Kildare

1132

1135

Abbess forcibly taken from her cloister by Dermot McMurrough and compelled to marry one of his followers. Not less than 170 of the inhabitants of the town and inmates of the abbey were slaughtered

1146

Cormac O'Cathasaigh, bishop, died

1148

? O'Duibhin, bishop, died

1160

Finn O'Gormain (Finn Mac Cianain?), bishop, died

1171

Strongbow held court in Kildare during the greater part of the six months that Henry II spent in Ireland

1171

Sadhbh, daughter of Iron Knee Mac Murrough, coarb

1175

? O'Briain, bishop, died. He did fealty to Henry II in 1172 and is most probably identified as the Bishop Malachy of Kildare, named in the Vita of St Laurence who witnessed a charter by which Dermot McMurrough founded the OSA Abbey of Ferns in 1160-62

1176

Strongbow died

1178-92

Nehemias, bishop, named in various charters as a witness

1185

Mention of a castle at Kildare

1189

William Marshal Snr, married Isabella, daughter of Strongbow, thereby inheriting Kildare castle

1206

Cornelius Mac Gealain, having been archdeacon of Kildare, was elected and consecrated bishop of Kildare (last Irish bishop?)

1222

Cornelius Mac Gealain, bishop, died

????

The earl of Kildare was taken by Callogh McMurrogh O'Connor and horsemen of Offaly and yielded over to his father, Murrogh O'Connor, prince of Offaly, to be kept prisoner until he had been ransomed

1219

Earl Marshal died. Kildare castle passed to his daughter Sibell. She married William de Ferrars, 7^th. Earl of Derby

1270

Kildare castle passed to Agnes de Ferrar, daughter of Sibell. She married William Fitzeustace de Vescy

1279 - 1299

Nicholas, bishop of Kildare to the king complaining of certain fanatic religious persons who were exciting disturbances and spreading, in the Irish language, the seeds of rebellion

1286

Calwagh (Calbach O Conchobair Failge?) taken prisoner at Kildare

1290

Castle inherited by Sir William de Vescy, son of William Fitzeustace de Vescy. He was made Lord Justice of Ireland in the same year

1293

Kildare castle captured by John Fitzthomas, Lord of Offaly

1294/95

John Fitzthomas was quarrelling with Richard de Burgh, earl of Ulster. This led to further unrest in Kildare. Calbach O Conchobair Failge captured the castle and burnt many documents. It is probably this period that is described in 1297 as "the time of the disturbances when the Odiimpsies (O'Diompsaigh) were outside the town of Kildare. It is also recorded that the followers of William Donyn broke into and robbed the castle and town of money, cloth, wheat, oats, malt, oxen, cows, sheep and pigs worth 1,000 (marks?)

1297

William de Vescy surrendered the castle of Kildare to the king. It was held for the crown by constables for the next 20 years

1297

Walter, son of Nicholas the chaplain, entered the church of St Brigid of Kildare by night and broke seven chests and took the goods found in them, to the value of a hundred shillings, and broke the church of the Friars of Mount Carmel, and is a common thief. Fled. Outlawed

1297

Repair work carried out on Kildare castle, including repair of houses, towers and gates; and the building of new bakehouse, kitchen and well. Cost £351-14-81/4

1299

Walter l’Enfaunt recorded as keeper  of castle of Kildare. ½ years payment £10

1302

Inquisition held into claim by bishop of Kildare that the castle of Kildare had been built on church lands without permission

1304-06

A further £161-11-7 spent on Kildare castle

1309

William de Wellesley was appointed constable of Kildare Castle for life

1310

William de Wellesley received £4-11-0 for a quarters salary

1310

A charge was brought against William Feys of the Carmelite Order and a member of the community in Kildare on Sept 24, 1310. Rose Sweyn has given a chest of valuables for safe keeping “in a stone house of the friars” there. William broke the chest and stole 15 marks of silver. William Lek and his wife, Alice, were charged that they abetted and encouraged Brother William. The latter took the money to them and they had their share. They refused to admit guilt and were acquited. The friar however was found wanting.

1316

Kildare castle was attacked by Edmond (Edward) Bruce. It successfully withstood a 3 day siege.

1404

Owen McConnor McCahall O’Connor of Offaly was killed by the Earl of Kildare

1539

Carmelite friary in Kildare suppressed on 3 Apr. The friary was surrendered by the prior. It consisted of a church, belfry, dormitory hall and two chambers. Kildare also owned a messuage, a garden and a close containing one acre, as well as a cottage and six acres of arable land in the vicinity