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Reposted by ihta_ria.bsky.social

Library of the Royal Irish Academy @rialibrary.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

Did you know the RIA Library issues a quarterly e-newsletter? ✉️ The Autumn 2026 edition is available here: us6.campaign-archive.com?u=f64b0c0a4c... Make sure to subscribe and be the first to hear about our lectures, tours, exhibitions and events!

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

To explore more of the history, topography and development of #Kells, you can access Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 4 by Anngret Simms with Katharine Simms freely here: www.ria.ie/irish-histor... #IHTA #MapMonday

ria.ie

Kells - Royal Irish Academy

Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 4 Kells by Anngret Simms (Dublin, 1990)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The Round Tower remains the dominant monument of the monastic site. Visible across the surrounding countryside, it acted as a landmark within the urban landscape and emphasised the centrality of the church enclosure in the life of the town #IHTA #MapMonday

Plate 2. Cannon Street, Kells, c. 1900 (Lawrence collection, National Library of Ireland)

Plate 1 Kells, from the air, 1971 (Leo Swan)

Kells, view from the east. Watercolour. Artist unknown, inscribed 'Kells, L.E.W.; July 18:[18]?03. Courtesy of Cooke Antiques, Dublin

Black and white etching looking towards the round tower and church of Kells

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

The boundaries of monastic Kells were marked by monumental sculpture. The High Crosses stood at key points around the precinct and helped define sacred space. They served as visual markers for residents, travellers and pilgrims moving through the settlement #IHTA #MapMonday

Extract from the topographical information on the High Crosses and market cross

Extract from Fig. 1 Medieval Kells, largely based on Kells val., HEM, Swan.
Black and white text map showing the alignment of the Columban monastery and walled town

Extract from Map 3 Kells, 1974, Ordnance Survey of Ireland, scale 1:5000

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Unlike many medieval towns which developed around markets or castles, Kells grew around a religious foundation. The monastery acted as a centre of worship, learning, administration and exchange, which attracted people to settle around its precinct and created the nucleus of an urban community #IHTA

Map 4 Part of 'A map of the town and lands of Kells in the co. Meath, part of the estate of the Rt Hon. Thos Ld Visct Headfort', 1762 by John O'Brien (Hedafort papers, National Library of Ireland, courtesy of eary of Bective) original scale ten Irish perches to one inch (1:2520)

extract from the topographical information on 11 Religion

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

According to tradition, St Columba founded a monastery in the 6th cent. Significantly, the monastery occupied an earlier enclosed site whose boundaries continued to influence the layout and curved streets of the later town #IHTA #MapMonday

Kells, 1837 Ordnance Survey town plan at a scale of 1:2500
Coloured reconstructed map of Kells showing individual plots, pink as private, red as public, shades of green for gardens, meadows, orchards, water sources in blue and roads in white

Fig. 1 Medieval Kells, largely based on Kells val., HEM, Swan.
Black and white text map showing the alignment of the Columban monastery and walled town

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

Kells derives from the Irish Ceanannas, a name possibly connected with an earlier royal fort or "head fort" (ceann lios). Long before it became a medieval town, the site was an important secular & ecclesiastical centre whose elevated position helped shape later settlement patterns. #IHTA #MapMonday

Kells and its surroundings, Ordnance Survey of Ireland, 1860-65 at a scale of 1:50000
Black and white hachured map showing routeways and built-up areas

Extract from the topographical information showing the origin of the placename

Extract from the Kells essay with a header of a painting of a street view facing up to the church

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 05/10/2026

We're back for #MapMonday and this week we're in the Co. Meath town of #Kells Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 4, Kells by Anngret Simms with Katharine Simms was published by @ria.ie in 1990 #IHTA

Cover of IHTA no. 4 Kells by Anngret Simms with Katharine Simms published by the Royal Irish Academy, Dublin, in 1990.
Cream cover with green text and an image of houses, the round tower and a steeple in the background

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 30/09/2026

We had a wonderful field trip to New Ross last Friday and met with members of Wexford County Council, locals from New Ross, had a walking tour of the town and a special tour of the Ros Tapestry. #NewRoss #YOTN Read more here: www.ria.ie/2026/09/30/i...

ria.ie

IHTA field trip to New Ross, Co. Wexford - Royal Irish Academy

Group from the Irish Historic Towns Atlas and Royal Irish Academy visited New Ross and met with Wexford County Council and New Ross representatives to discuss the forthcoming atlas, have a walking tou...

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

To freely access Irish Historic Towns Atlas, Fethard by Tadhg O'Keeffe and to compare with other Anglo-Norman towns, follow this link www.ria.ie/irish-histor... #MapMonday #IHTA

ria.ie

Fethard - Royal Irish Academy

Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 13 Fethard by Tadhg O’Keeffe (Dublin, 2003)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Fethard's walls are more than monuments. They define a medieval landscape where market, church, streets and gateways still tell the story of an ambitious Anglo-Norman borough and the community that sustained it for over 800 years #MapMonday #IHTA

Map 7 Part of Fethard, 1708 by Redmond Grace. Redrawn by Tadhg O'Keeffe, original scale 1:5040 enlarged by approximately one quarter

Map 2, Fethard 1840, Ordnance Survey reconstruction of the manuscript town plan at a scale of 1:2500
Coloured map showing walls, river, principal and residential buildings. Public in red, private in pink. Gardens and arable in green, water sources in blue

Map 3 Fethard, Ordnance Survey Ireland, 2000 at scale of 1:5000

Plate 4 Fethard from the air, looking north-west, 1990, by Joe Kenny
Plate 5 Fethard from the air, 2000 (Ordnance Survey Ireland, appox. 1:5000) (c) Government of Ireland, 2003

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Within the walls stood some of Fethard's most impressive medieval buildings. Holy Trinity parish church, the Augustinian friary, Court Castle and Edmond's Castle reveal a wealthy urban community whose commercial and religious life was concentrated inside the walled enclosure #MapMonday #IHTA

Plate 1. Artist's impression of Holy Trinity churchyard and adjoining buildings, Fethard, looking south-east, c. 1650, pencil drawing by Tadhg O'Keeffe

Fig 2. Fethard c. 1250 to c. 1700
Black and white text map showing the medieval town overlaid on a modern Ordnance Survey base

Extract from the topographical information on the Holy Trinity Church

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

The only surviving medieval town gate is North Gate, built in the 15th century. Other gates once punctuated the circuit, including Water Gate, Pierce's Gate, Sparrow Gate and Madam Castle, a fortified gate tower at the western entrance that survived until the 19th century. #MapMonday #IHTA

Extract from the topographical information of the mural gates in Fethard

Madam castle from the west, 1840 by G.V. Du Noyer. Bridge and gateway of Fethard, Co. Tipperary. Pencil drawing. RIA, SR/12.T.2 (79)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Visitors approaching the market had to pass through gates and negotiate deliberately angled streets. Routes from North Gate, Water Gate and Sparrow Gate did not lead directly to the market but guided people through the town's controlled urban space. #MapMonday #IHTA

Extract of Map 2, Fethard 1840, Ordnance Survey reconstruction of the manuscript town plan at a scale of 1:2500
Coloured map showing walls, river, principal and residential buildings. Public in red, private in pink. Gardens and arable in green, water sources in blue

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

By the late 13th cent. Fethard was prosperous enough to seek royal funding to enclose the town. A murage grant of 1292 raised money through taxes on goods sold in the town, including wine, hides, timber, fish and grain. The walls enclosed an oval area of c. 7.5 hectares and stretched for c. 1.1km.

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Fethard was established on an elevated site within a loop of the River Clashawley. The location offered natural protection, fertile agricultural land and commanding views of the surrounding countryside. Its Irish name, Fiodh Aird, means "the high wood". #MapMonday #IHTA

Map 1 Fethard and its surrounds, Ordnance Survey of 1893-5 at a scale of 1:50,000
Historic map showing Fethard positioned within a loop of the River Clashawley. The town occupies a raised site above surrounding lowlands, with fertile farmland and distant hills visible in the wider landscape that helped shape the town's development

Extract ofMap 1 Fethard and its surrounds, Ordnance Survey of 1893-5 at a scale of 1:50,000
Historic map showing Fethard positioned within a loop of the River Clashawley. The town occupies a raised site above surrounding lowlands, with fertile farmland and distant hills visible in the wider landscape that helped shape the town's development

Extract from the essay of IHTA no. 13 Fethard, with an illustration of the Holy Trinity Abbey

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

Fethard is one of Ireland's finest surviving medieval walled towns. Founded in the early 13th cent as an Anglo-Norman borough, Fethard was laid out as a planned settlement whose streets, market place and walls still shape the town today. #MapMonday #IHTA

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 21/09/2026

This week we are in #Fethard for our #MapMonday thread. Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 13, Fethard by Tadhg O'Keeffe was originally published by the @ria.ie in 2003 #IHTA #MapMonday

Cover of the Irish Historic Towns Atlas for Fethard beside a map showing the town's location in south Tipperary. Fethard sits on elevated ground near the River Clashawley between Clonmel and Cashel, illustrating its strategic position within the regional landscape

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 15/09/2026

The #IHTA was represented in the recent International Commission for the History of Towns by Sarah Gearty and Michael Potterton in Kaunas, Lithuania from the 10-13 Sep 2026. This year's theme was 'Forgetting and remembering the past in urban history'. Read more: www.ria.ie/2026/09/15/i... #ICHT

ICHT Group, Day 2 (photographer: Jonas Peronis)

Michael Potterton delivering his paper in Kaunas City Hall (photographer: Jonas Petronis)

Sarah Gearty, Miha Kosi, Martin Uhrmacher, Katalin Szende and Daniel Stracke at the Atlas Working Group session (photographer: Akvilė Kašiubaitė)

ICHT Group, Day 1 (photographer: Jonas Peronis)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

To discover more on #Kilkenny's urban history you can freely access Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 10 Kilkenny by John Bradley. www.ria.ie/irish-histor... Kilkenny is one of 29 atlases that are freely available on #IHTAOnline #MapMonday #IHTA

ria.ie

Kilkenny - Royal Irish Academy

Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 10 Kilkenny by John Bradley (Dublin, 2000)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Kilkenny was never one place but several connected settlements. Irishtown, the Anglo-Norman Hightown, and the suburb of St John's were linked by bridges, roads and markets while retaining distinct identities still evident today #MapMonday #IHTA

Extract of Map 6 Growth of Kilkenny, to 1758 (Rocque's map) by John Bradley
Different coloured zones of development on a modern Ordnance Survey base

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

At the centre stood the Tholsel. Located near Crokker's Cross, where High St, Patrick St and Rose Inn Str converged, the Tholsel functioned as courthouse, treasury, council chamber and custom house. #MapMonday #IHTA

Engraving of Kilkenny market cross, c. 1760 (RSAI Jn, ii (1852-3), frontispiece

Extract from 'A survey of the city of Kilkenny', scale 200 feet to one inch, Dublin, 1758.
Black and white map of Kilkenny showing the Tholsel and cross

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

By the 13th cent. Kilkenny was enclosed by one of Ireland's most substantial town wall systems. The walls enclosed c. 28 hectares linking directly with the castle defences. Seven gates controlled movement through the town, including St Patrick's Gate, Walkin's Gate and St James's Gate. #IHTA

Fig 1 Principal sites in Kilkenny, c. 1200 to c. 1550
Black and white text map showing on the 1842 OS base showing the line of the walls and main buildings overlaid

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Between cathedral and castle, a planned town emerged. The Hightown was organised around High Street, with regularly laid-out burgage plots extending behind properties towards the town wall. Many of today's narrow lanes and property boundaries still reflect this medieval layout. #MapMonday #IHTA

Extract from 'A survey of the city of Kilkenny', scale 200 feet to one inch, Dublin, 1758.
Black and white map of Kilkenny showing the cathedral and surrounding streets and buildings

Extract from Map 2 Kilkenny, c. 1842 at a scale of 1:2500
Reconstructed Ordnance Survey of Kilkenny manuscript town plans
Coloured map showing public buildings in red, private in pink, gardens, arable etc in green and water sources in blue.

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

In c. 1173 the Anglo-Normans chose a different hill, 750 m S. of St Canice's to establish Kilkenny Castle. The castle controlled a bridge crossing, river traffic and major routeways. Its location created a new focus for settlement and marked the southern anchor the Anglo-Norman Hightown #IHTA

Plate 1 Part of view of Kilkenny, looking north-west, c. 1698, by Francis Place, pen and ink wash. (National Gallery of Ireland)

Map 4 Part of 'The Liberties of Kilkenny', c. 1655, Down Survey (National Archives of Ireland)

Extract from the topographical information showing the entry for Kilkenny Castle

John's Bridge, Bridge House and Kilkenny Castle from the north, c. 1800 by J.G. Robertson (ed.) in Antiquities and scenery of the county of Kilkenny (Kilkenny, 1851, repr. 1983)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

The cathedral stands on a hill above the Nore within the footprint of an earlier ecclesiastical enclosure. Today's curving streets, including Vicar St, Dean St & St Canice's Place, trace parts of this early medieval boundary before the Anglo-Norman arrival #MapMonday #IHTA

St Canice's Cathedral, 1839 by W.J. Wakeman, watercolouse, RIA Ordnance Survey sketches
Black and white view of the cathedral and round tower

Extract from the topographical information on St Canice's Cathedral

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

Before the Anglo-Normans arrived, Kilkenny was an important ecclesiastical settlement centred on St Canice's & the crossing point of the River Nore. The creation of a second urban core followed that transformed Kilkenny into medieval Ireland's leading inland city #MapMonday #IHTA

Map 1 Kilkenny and its surroundings. Ordnance Survey of Ireland, 1894 - 1900 at a scale of 1:50,000
Black and white map showing the urban core of Kilkenny with routeways and geographical influences

Screen shot of the extract from the topographical essay of Kilkenny with a header image of a prospect of the city

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

We move inland to Kilkenny for our next #MapMonday thread. Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 10 Kilkenny by John Bradley was originally published by the @ria.ie in 2000 #IHTA

Cover of IHTA no. 10 Kilkenny by John Bradley, published by Royal Irish Academy
Image of the market cross with people around it in a green wash

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

IHTA Managing Editor @sarah-gearty.bsky.social with IHTA Chair, Michael Potterton in Kaunas, Lithuania at the International Commission for the History of Towns that is focusing on 'Forgetting and remembering the past in urban history' #ICHT2026 #IHTA @ria.ie

Sarah Gearty and Michael Potterton posing for a photograph in front of a large screen with an historic image and 'Forgetting and remembering the past in urban history' above it.

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 10/09/2026

This year's annual International Commission for the History of Towns is underway in Kaunas, Lithuania. Michael Potterton delivered a paper 'Forgetting and remembering the past in Anglo-Norman Urban Ireland' this morning and the Atlas Working Group meets tomorrow where Sarah Gearty is a panelist

Michael Potterton standing at a lectern delivering his paper to an audience with a screen behind him displaying the Limerick atlas

Michael Potterton delivering his paper to an audience with screen behind him displaying his slides.

A photograph of part of the conference programme with Michael Potterton's abstract

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Join Ruth McManus on a walking tour of Drumcondra as part of the Dublin Book Festival! 📆Thurs 5 Nov 2026 🕝14:30 📍Belvedere House, DCU St Patrick’s Campus, Drumcondra Rd Upper, Dublin 9 Booking details below🚶‍♀️ dublinbookfestival.com/event/drumco... @dublinbookfest.bsky.social @ria.ie #IHTA

dublinbookfestival.com

Drumcondra Walking Tour - Dublin Book Festival

Join a historical walking tour of Drumcondra with author Ruth McManus at Dublin Book Festival 2026

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Every year we work with @maynoothuniversity.ie History Department to mentor student interns on their Summer Programme for Undergraduate Research (SPUR). This year Jaime Reynolds was part of the IHTA team in June and July. Read about her time with us here in @ria.ie www.ria.ie/2026/09/08/s... #IHTA

ria.ie

Spur Student, Jaime Reynolds in the IHTA - Royal Irish Academy

Maynooth University Student, Jaime Reynolds, gives an account of her six weeks as a SPUR student with the Irish Historic Towns Atlas

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Reposted by ihta_ria.bsky.social

UCD School of Archaeology, Dublin @ucdarchaeology.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

‘The Castle on the Campus’ 🏰In 'Archaeology Ireland' Prof. Tadhg O’Keeffe explores a medieval castle in the grounds of UCD. Building on Beranger’s eighteenth-century illustration, historical sources and standing architecture it explores one of the Dublin castles long assumed to have been lost.

O'Keeffe, T. 2026. The castle on the campus. Archaeology Ireland 40(3), 31-38.

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

To purchase Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 31 Cork/Corcaigh by H.B. Clark and Máire Ní Laoi please do so here: www.ria.ie/irish-histor... #MapMonday #IHTA

ria.ie

Cork - Royal Irish Academy

Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 31 Cork/Corcaigh by H.B. Clarke and Maire Ni Laoi (Dublin, 2024).

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Author, Howard Clarke, MRIA will give a keynote lecture to the UCC conference 'Cork Histories' on 11 & 12 September 2026 with his lecture 'From Finbarr to Beauford: mapping early Cork' Details and programme here: www.ucc.ie/en/history/r... @ucc.ie @ria.ie #MapMonday #IHTA 10/11

ucc.ie

UCC to Host Public Conference on Cork's Rich History | University College Cork

Learn, Study and Research in UCC, Ireland's first 5 star university. Our tradition of independent thinking will prepare you for the world and the workplace in a vibrant, modern, green campus.

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The Digital Atlas of Cork/Corcaigh allows the user to interrogate maps with the topographical information, spatially, temporally and thematically using a bespoke Geographical Information System #GIS Free access here: www.ria.ie/research-pro... #MapMonday #IHTA 9/11

ria.ie

Digital Atlas of Cork/Corcaigh - Royal Irish Academy

The Digital Atlas of Cork/Corcaigh is an interactive map that invites online visitors to discover the city of Cork in a new way by exploring early maps of different dates and detailed historical infor...

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Map 2, the atlas reconstruction of Cork in 1842, allows us to see the accumulated impact of centuries of change. The medieval street spine remains, but reclamation and expansion have dramatically enlarged the urban landscape #MapMonday #IHTA 8/11

Map 2 Cork, 1842 Reconstructed Ordnance Survey map at a scale of 1:2500
Individual plots shown with principal buildings in red, private in pink, gardens etc in green and water sources in blue

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Land reclamation was a major component of the urban morphology of Cork which can be seen through the maps of Phillips (1685), Carty (1726) and Rocque (1759) #MapMonday #IHTA 7/11

Map 14 City of Cork, 1685 by Thomas Phillips (National Library of Ireland, MS 3137/16)
Colour MS military map of Cork showing river, settlements and outline of the city walls

Map 18 Plan of city of Cork and suburbs, 1726 by John Carty, photostat copy (Cork City Libraries)
Black and white map of Cork with heavy black lines for roads with coats of arms at either side of the map

Map 20 Survey of the city and suburbs of Cork, 1759 by John Rocque (National Library of Ireland, 15 B 14/9)
Black and white detailed map of the city showing streets, rivers and principal buildings

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The historical compilation map in the atlas brings these manuscript maps together, reconstructing Cork's development from c.625 to c.1750. It reveals how monastic, Hiberno-Norse, medieval and early modern landscapes combined to create the city we recognise today. #MapMonday #IHTA 6/11

Extract from Map 5 Cork c. 625 to c. 1750 with sites and features overlayed on a modern base with the river courses

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Speed's 1610 map highlights the relationship between settlement and water. Bridges, quays and channels linked Cork's different urban components, while the River Lee continued to dictate how and where the city could grow. #MapMonday #IHTA 5/11

Map 7 Cork, 1610 by John Speed (Royal Irish Academy)
Black and white printed map of Cork showing the river, walls street patterns and buildings of Cork

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Hardiman's maps of c. 1601 reveals the dense medieval core. North Main Street and South Main Street formed Cork's urban spine, with a web of lanes branching from them. The 1602 map shows Cork beginning to push beyond its medieval limits into the hinterland #MapMonday #IHTA 4/11

Fig. 3 Phases of medieval growth, to c. 1300
Black and white text map with areas of the city shaded showing the phases of growth and walls overlaid on a modern base map

Map 8 Town of Cork, c. 1601 (Board of Trinity College Library, MS 1209, no. 46)
Colour MS map of Cork showing individual buildings, rivers, bridges and walls

Map 9 City of Cork, 1602 (Board of Trinity College Library, MS 1209, no. 45)
Colour MS map of Cork at a smaller scale showing the city and hinterland

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

The cartographic story begins with the 1545 Tower Map. Cork appears as a small walled settlement occupying islands surrounded by marshes and tidal channels. Water wasn't simply a backdrop, it shaped the city's entire form. #MapMonday #IHTA 3/11

Map 6 Plan of Cork, 1545, copied by P.J. Klasen and reproduced in Tuckey, 1837 (Royal Irish Academy)
Black and white printed map of Cork city

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

Few European cities were shaped so dramatically by water. Through maps spanning four centuries, we can trace how Cork grew between the channels of the River Lee. #IHTA #MapMonday 2/11

Extract from IHTA Cork essay with an image with a prospect of the city in black and white

Fig. 1 Monastic Cork
Black and white text map showing the marshes and rivers around the site of Cork city

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 07/09/2026

We remain in Co. Cork for this week's #MapMonday with focus on Cork City Irish Historic Towns Atlas no. 31 Cork/Corcaigh by Howard Clarke and Maire Ni Laoi was originally published by @ria.ie in 2024 #IHTA 1/11

Cover of IHTA no. 31 Cork/Corcaigh by Howard Clarke and Máire Ní Laoi published by the Royal Irish Academy.
Illustration of Elizabeth Fort and St Finbarr's Cathedral in a green wash

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Royal Irish Academy @ria.ie · 01/09/2026

Celebrate Dublin Festival of History with the RIA The RIA and its research programmes will be running a number of events during the Dublin Festival of History (26 Sept – 11 Oct) For more details, visit: www.ria.ie/work/public-... @ihtaria.bsky.social @difp-ria.bsky.social @rialibrary.bsky.social

Black and white historical map showing detailed layout of Dublin city and surrounding areas, including roads, rivers, and terrain features.

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

To explore more of Youghal you can access Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 27 Youghal by David Kelly and Tadhg O'Keeffe for free here: www.ria.ie/irish-histor... #MapMonday #IHTA @ria.ie 10/10

ria.ie

Youghal - Royal Irish Academy

Irish Historic Towns Atlas, no. 27 Youghal by David Kelly and Tadhg O’Keeffe (Dublin, 2015)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Viewed together, St Mary's, the College, Myrtle Grove, the North Gate and the town walls reveal how Youghal evolved over centuries. The northern end of the town became a powerful mix of defence, religion and learning, helping make Youghal one of Ireland's most distinctive medieval port towns 9/10

Map 21 Growth map of Youghal, to c. 1902 by David Kelly
Coloured map showing the stages of development of Yougal

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

Just north-east of St Mary's stands Myrtle Grove. Probably built in the 15th cent. & likely associated with a priest of St Mary's, it formed part of the wider collegiate and ecclesiastical landscape that developed around the church. Later tradition linked the house with Sir Walter Raleigh 8/10

Black and white photograph of Myrtle Grove c. 1900 (National Library of Ireland)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

One of Youghal's most famous landmarks, the Clock Gate Tower, stands on the site of the town's principal southern gateway. Before the present structure was built in 1777, this was the location of a medieval gate known as Trinity Castle and, earlier still, the main entrance to the walled town 7/10

Clock Tower, looking north, 1844 (O'Flanagan, p. 11)
Black and white engraving of the Clock Tower with people walking along the street

Extract from the Clock Gate gaol entry from the topographical information section in IHTA no. 17 Youghal

Plate 4 North Main Street, looking south to Clock Gate c. 1900 (Lawrence Collection, National Library of Ireland)

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ihta_ria.bsky.social @ihtaria.bsky.social · 31/08/2026

In 1464 Thomas FitzGerald, Earl of Desmond, founded Our Lady's College at Youghal and elevated St Mary's to collegiate status. The foundation supported a warden, eight fellows and eight choristers, creating one of the most important ecclesiastical institutions in late medieval Munster #IHTA 6/10

St Mary's Church, c. 1860 by R.L. Stopford (private collection)
Black and white engraving of a church with a couple walking outside among the trees

Extract from Fig. 2 Youghal, c. 1550 to c. 1650 black and white text map showing the street layout, line of the walls and principal buildings.

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