The Furlong's of Ireland- Part 4

Sir Thomas, Son of Robertus, is hidden in the mist of time up to date. We do know the native Irish continued to fight the invaders from time to time. We can be sure that the society was on a war footing throughout the lifetime of Thomas. He would have built and lived in a moated grange or square fort because every Norman lived in them in this period. These preceded the building of castles which were very expensive and long term projects. The Anglo-Normans built these sixty square foot mounds, some were oblong, as a defence point and to protect their families and cattle. The mound had a ditch all around filled with water from a stream and a palisade of heavy vertical timbers. The native Irish used similar forts but they were round.

These moated homes cost about $30.00 at that time, of which the moat cost $8.00 and the palisade cost about $20.00. These early homes were timber buildings on one floor and were used up to the 1400's in a few cases. Thomas may have had an income of $4000 per year if he was lucky. He would have to pay servants, field hands, and armed retainers and feed his family out of that. An idea of the value of money may be obtained from the fact that 240 acres of prime arable land could be rented for $3.00 per year.

About this time 3 monasteries were built at short distances from the traditional Furlong estate. Dunbrody Abbey was founded by a uncle of Strongbow about 9 miles west, Tinturn Abbey about 10 miles south and Graigguenamanagh Abbey to the north. Dunbrody for example still stands in ruined splendor with a 200 foot nave and fine stone window tracery. It was not unknown for Normans of property to resign and give their son the estate and spend their old age in an abbey. We do not know of any Furlong of this period doing the same.

Prince John invaded in 1210, a second attack in a few years and again the country must experience killing, burning of homes etc. Wexford became known as "Land of the Foreigners" by the rest of Ireland because it was the landing place for the many invasions. Of course the vast majority of the Irish people were Celts, a race who have lived in Ireland since just prior to the birth of Christ.

The Furlongs, like other foreigners, have since intermarried with these families and are part of the society. It is worthy of note however that the Furlongs like the other "old Anglo-Normans" did not normally intermarry with the Irish for about 400 years (1650). Another interesting point is the fact that the names of the early invaders are still to be found in the owners of farms within 30 miles of Bannow Bay.

The Furlong's of Ireland- Part 3

"According to tradition the manor and demesne of Carrigmannon was granted to the Furlong family, under the following circumstances. A gentleman of the name of the Furlongs of Furlong in Devonshire was in the train of Henry II during his visit to Ireland in 1172 when that monarch was passing a few days in Wexford. He was one day riding with some followers to chase the deer in the great oak forest of Glynn. Furlong was one of the party, and was so fortunate as to kill an immense boar which had attacked the King. The sovereign knighted his preserver at once and bestowed on him a large tract of land in the neighborhood. The Irish branch of the family assumed for their arms, the bearing of a boar issuant from an oakwood. The seat of the family was held by the curious tenure of sending a birch broom and paying suit of court yearly."

The Furlongs of County Wexford by William H. Jeffery

We do know that the Norman invasions (they continued for years) was a violent and continuous period. The Normans were better organised and had a professional army. The Irish were spare time soldiers with experience only in tribal fighting. the Normans won every battle or almost all of them. They beat the Irish in each area they came to as they toured Ireland and when they got back to the start they found the tribe ready to fight again. So they never did get them all down at the same time. In addition they had to fight the Norse in all the towns of Ireland. The Norse had been in Ireland for several hundred years and had built and held all the coast towns. The Irish had finally beaten them in 1014 in the Battle of Clontarf.

So, for a hundred years or more after Robertus landed we have Normans touring the country fighting the Irish tribes. Wexford was no doubt the strong point from which they issued forth to engage the tribes in battle. It was very convenient for warrior such as the Normans. Only forty miles across the sea from their Welsh supply bases. They had control of Bannow Bay which was in between Wexford City and Waterford City, both cities had Norsemen in large numbers and Bannows shallow bay suited their Viking type ships.

Today the names of those recorded with the 1169 invasion are still to be found in the list of owners of farms within forty miles of Bannow. Prince John invaded Ireland in 1185 and Henry died in 1189. More killing and burning of Irish homes. The record shows it was to continue for eight hundred years.