Ordnance Survey Letters by John O'Donovan and Eugene Curry, 1839

Parish of Tulla (a)

                                                                                                                Dublin,
                                                                                                                6th December 1839.

Sir,
The Parish of Tulla, in the Barony of Tulla Upper and Co. of Clare is bounded on the north by part of the Parish of Feakle, on the northwest and west by the Parishes of Inchicronan and Clooney in the Barony of Bunratty Upper, on the southwest by the Parish of Quin in the same Barony; on the south by the Parish of Clonlea in the Barony of Tulla Upper; on the southeast by the same Parish and the Parish of Killuran and on the east and northeast by the Parishes of Killnoe and Feakle. See Engraved Map of the Down Survey.

The Irish name of this Parish is Tulach na n-Easbal, i.e., the Hill of the Apostles, from which we may infer that the Church of Tulla was originally, or more probably at a subsequent period, dedicated to the Twelve Apostles, but of its ancient Patron we can find no written account. There is, however, a rude tho’ not apparently ancient stanza remembered in this district, in which the names of the Patrons of the Churches of Tulla, Quin, Clooney and Feakle are preserved; it runs thus:-

Mochuille a tTulaigh, Mochunna sa bhFiacail,
Finghín Chúinche, is Rícín Chluaine.

Mochuille in Tulla, Mochunna in the Feakle,
Fineen of Quin and Ricin (Rikin) of Clooney.

There is no holy or Patron Day remembered in the Parish though there are several wells in this as well as in some of the neighbouring Parishes dedicated to St. Mochuille, who, it would appear, was more venerated that the immediate Patrons of those Parishes, but of whom I have no account but what has been already given. According to the Irish Calendar, a St. Mochuille was venerated in Dreasnata in Fotharta Fea, now the Barony of Forth in the Co. of Carlow, on the 12th day of June.

The present modern ruined little Church of Tulla was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, but whether the dedication of the place to her is older than the building of this Church, say 100 years, or not, I have no means of ascertaining at present. The Church deserves no particular description, since along with its being a very modern one, all its architectural features are destroyed, tho’ the walls remain in tolerable preservation very conspicuously situated on the top of the Hill or Tulach from which the place takes its name, with a burial place attached.

There is a small burial place for children and strangers in the Townland of Ballyblood, called Liskenny burying ground from a fort called Liskenny, within which it is said to have formerly stood, but which is now nearly destroyed by the road from Tulla to Kilkishen passing through it.

There is another little burying place for children called Kill-Chuille in the Townland of Craig. This place is better known by the name of Cill-Bhaile-Ui-Óir.

There is another little place of the same description in the Townland of Leathardan, called Tubber-Mochuille burying ground from being situated near that Well.

There is another little burial place of the same description in the Townland of Fosmairle.

There is a Holy Well in the Townland of Uggoon called Tobar-Mhic-Seaain, i.e., the Well of the Son of John, at which Stations still continue to be performed, but on no particular day.

There is another Well in the Townland of Gleanndrith called Tubber Cleibhin, i.e., the Well of the Little Basket and said by some people to have been a Holy Well.

There is another Holy Well called Tobar-Mochuille in the Townland of Knockdromleagh, at which Stations continue still to be performed.

There is another Holy Well dedicated to St. Bridget in the Townland of Kiltannon, at which Stations still continue to be performed.