of Normandy was in 1066, such was the Earl of Pembroke in 1170; and his followers as largely participated in the success of his adventure, as did those who attended the Duke of Normandy into England. Extensive districts and entire counties rewarded these military chieftains ;* and from such splendid acquisitions, the services of their own subordinate adherents were also largely recompensed. Among these princely grants was that of Grace's country, to Raymond le Gros. This consisted of a vast tract of land, comprehending, it is said, the Barony of Cranagh, and extending northwards by the liberties of Kilkenny and the River Nore, to the borders of the Queen's County; and thence, southwards along the borders of Tipperary and the Munster river, to the liberties of Callan: forming a district between eleven and twelve miles in length, and between five and six in breath. Various lesser portions of this great territory seem to have been very early regranted in fee; for we find,† Ivo Leynach, 10th of Edward I. (1282), resisting the claim of William le Gras to six marks of silver, due from certain lands held of his Lordship of Tullaroan. Many of the minor castles erected to protect these ample possessions might consequently have owed their origin to other families besides that of Grace; though it is probable, from the ancient denominations of land so frequently terminating in

Of these personages and of most of their associates, it may be ohserved, that though they are sometimes designated under the title of adventurers, they brought with them at least as much nobility as they found. It is curions also to reflect, that nearly the same persons, who had conquered and occupied the greater part of South Wales, also planted themselves in Ireland at the expense of another Celtic race,

Rot. Plac. int. Rec. Tur. Birm. 10. Edward I.

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this name, that their feudal jurisdiction continued to be acknowledged. The central situation of Tullaroan in the district of Grace's country, naturally occasioned the selection of that place for the chief castle of the territorial lords; some of whom, we find styled baron of Tullaroan, as well as baron Grace, and baron of Courtstown. may also be attributed the subsequent appellation of "Grace's Parish," given to the adjoining lands, which they retain to this day. Though we are unable to fix a precise date to the building of this Castle, we may be allowed to conjecture that it was nearly

To their residence there

Among many instances of the kind that occur throughout this County, and those of Tipperary, Carlow, and Wexford, we will merely notice, that in this Barony there is a Ballyroe-Grace, a Brittasmore-Grace, and a Rathely-Grace,. in Tullaroan; a Bally frank-Grace, and a Knockengras, in Ballycallen; a Coolishal-Grace, and a KnockGrace, in Three Castles; a Grace-Graigue, and a Ballysheau Grace, in Clomanta ; a Ratbmoyle-Grace, and a Lough-Grace, in Ballyna-mara, &c. &c.

The possession in fee of a Barony, or a Barony by tenure, could alone entitle an ancient Baron (holding per Baroniam in Capite) to have summons to Parliament. It was however, the privilege of the Sovereign to issue summons's to such Barons only as he thought proper.In the exercise of this prerogative, some Barons by tenure were summoned regularly, many occasionally, and others not at all. Royal favour, as well as the possession or want of individual power, influenced this selection. It is in this proud right of tenure, that the origin may be found of the ancient and Parliamentary Barony of Offaley, in the family of Fitzgerald; of Olethan, in that of Barry; of Butler, in that of Butler; of Delvin, in that of Nugent; of Lixnaw. in that of Fitzmaurice; of Roche, in that of Roche; of Courcy, in that of Courcy, &c. And out of the same feudal right of tenure, grew the titular Barony of Grace, and of Courtstown, in the family of Grace; of Galtrim, in that of Hussey; of Dangan, in that of Wellesley; of Drumrany, in that of Dillon; of Shanacaber, in that of Walsh: of Navan, in that of Nagle; of Loughmoe, in that of Purcell; of Carbery, in that of

Birmingham; and of Decies, and of Burntchurch, in that of Fitzgerald.

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ceeval with "Grace's Castle" in Kilkenny, erected by William le Gras, before 11th of John, (1210). And we are further countenanced in our opinion, that it was the work of the same personage, at the same period, from the affinity between him and the 1st William, Earl of Pembroke, who married Strongbow's heir; and, from the high trust he enjoyed of being for life constable and seneschal of Leinster, and governor of Kilkenny, as well as from the exclusive privilege of possessing a castle in the Earl Marshal's city. It was probably also this William le Gras, who erected the ancient tower and gateway commonly called Grace's Gate, or Grace's Pass or Way, which formerly flanked the city walls on the west.

We must however revert a little to the first English proprietor of Tullaroan; and to the first (it may be safely added) of all the English settlers, in renown and heroic exploits.

Raymond le Grost was brother to Odo Fitzwilliam

Grace's Castle was situated between the Marshal's Castle and St. Francis' Abbey. It presented a front of 130 feet, and its massive ontworks extended to the rive: Nore, where some well cemented fragments of them are still visible. In the Hibernia Dominicana, page 270, this ancient structure is thus mentioned: “Gracaæorum gens ex Anglia in Hiberniam dudum advencrat, pluresque in variis hujus insulæ partibus assecuta est possessiones, nominatim in urbe Kilkenniensi, ubi adhuc videre est castrum allodiale illius familiæ, anglice 'Grace's Castle, propterea dictum, in quo comitia juridica, vulgo assisæ, pro comitatu Kilkennieusi singulis semestribus babentur, Principaliores porro Graceoram surcali sunt de Courtstown, de Ballylinch, de Legan et de Carney et Brittas in agro Tipperariensi."

↑ Ledwich's History of Kilkenny, page 436.

Segar's MS. Baronage of England - Hanmer's Chronicle of Ireland, page 276-Giraldus Cambrensis chapter 13. et passim. The last men