308 Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy, 



Aylmer, Esq., and commonly called Viscountess of Baltinglass" in 

 1589 (Fiant Elizabeth 5386).i 



III. County Coek. 



Mourne is situate three miles south of Mallow in the Barony of 

 Barretts. According to Ware, " Alexander de Sancta Helena was 

 either founder or first benefactor in the reign of King John." 

 It was also known as Mora, or Ballynamona. Charles Smith, in his 

 " History of Cork," incorrectly and without authority calls it a 

 Commandery of the Templars. The castle, of which considerable 

 remains still exist, appears to date from about 1335, as in that 

 year the Prior of Kilmainham committed ''the whole government 

 and custody of our house at Mora" to Eriar John Eitz-Richard, in 

 consideration of his erecting a castle there within ten years. (King 

 MS.) Mourne was leased at the dissolution to Dermot MacCormack-oge, 

 its last Preceptor, at a rent of £9 (Eiant Henry VIII, 461). It was 

 subsequently granted in 1577 to Cormac MacTeig MacCarthy (Eiant 

 Elizabeth 3121) ; but his descendants forfeited it after the rebellion 

 of 1641.2 



IV. County Doavn. 



Ards. — Now known .as Castleboy, or Johnstown, situate in the 

 Barony of Ards, three miles north of Portaferry. According to Ware 

 this house was founded for the Knights Hospitallers by Hugh de Lacy. 

 The names of some of the early Preceptors are given by Archdall 

 In the agreement about the " Liber Hospes " in Winetavern Street, 



1 Ballymoon, near Bagenalstown, is another reputed Templar foundation in the 

 County Carlow, as to which there is no direct evidence to authenticate the 

 traditional account. It is not included in Ware's list. 



- Rhincrew. A persistent tradition, for which, however, I can find no reliable 

 documentary authority, ascribes the remains of a monastic foundation which 

 occupy tbe summit of the promontory at the moutli of the Blackwater overlooking 

 the town of Youghal, to a Templar origin. That excellent antiquary, the late 

 Canon Hayman, in his "Annals of Youghal," adopts the tradition, to which 

 Charles Smith, in his " History of Cork," and Crofton Croker, in " Researches in 

 the South of Ireland," have given wide currency. Canon Hayman surmises 

 that Rhincrew was founded by Raymond le Gros in 1183, but without assigning 

 any authority. It is not included in any of the extant lists of Templar foundations. 

 Rhincrew became part of Sir Walter Raleigh's large estates, and passed from him 

 to the Earl of Cork. 



