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XII. 



THE HOSPITAL OF ST. JOHX OF JERUSALEM IN 

 IRELAND. 



Br C. LITTON FALKINER, M.A. 



[Read Decemker 10, 1906. Ordered for Publication January 16. Published 

 March 15, 1907.] 



SoiiE few years since, in discussing before the Academy the origin of 

 the Phoenix Park, I had occasion to refer to the earlier history of the 

 portion of the lands at first comprised in the celebrated enclosure 

 which had formerly been attached to the once famous Priory of 

 Kilmainliam. It was not germane to my then purpose to dwell at 

 any length on the story of that ancient and splendid mediaeval 

 establishment which once occupied the site of the Royal Hospital, 

 and which has been described by "Ware as "the most noble Priory of 

 St. John of Jerusalem in Ireland." It was enough on that occasion to 

 note the fact, well known to students of local history, but not then 

 generally familiar, that the Phoenix Park had originally included 

 the lands on the south bank of the Liffey, which for two centuries 

 have been appropriated to the Royal Hospital. But the history of 

 Kilmainham in those earlier centuries when it was the headquarters 

 in Ireland of the Knights of St. John, associated as it is with remark- 

 able personages and with interesting events, is not one to be ignored 

 by anyone who cares for historical associations, or feels the attraction 

 that lies in the recovery of lost traditions and in the identification of 

 the scenes of memorable episodes. In the present paper, accordingly, 

 I propose to recount tlie Irish annals of the Knights Hospitallers, in 

 so far as they can be connected with the seat of the principal house 

 of that order in Ireland. The topics which such an endeavour will 

 naturally embrace are, in the first place, the early associations of the 

 locality in which the Priory stood, and the origin of its occupation 

 by the Order of St. John ; in the second, the extent and distribution 

 of the very considerable possessions of the Hospitallers in Ireland, 



R.I. a. PROC, vol. XXVI., SEC. c. [26] 



