Jewellery, Watches, Antiquities and Objects of Vertu

An early 18th century Irish silver recusant chalice, the hexagonal stem with large central knop, on conforming foot, inscribed ‘Joannes Barnewall Pastor de Ardbrakan, 1706’, height 15.5cm. £600-£800

With the defeat of Catholic attempts against the Protestant monarchy in the 17th and 18th centuries, penal laws were imposed in Ireland, to force Irish Catholics and Protestant dissenters to accept the established Church of Ireland. The various laws passed after the defeat of James I at the Battle of the Boyne barred Catholics from voting, holding public office, owning land, teaching, holding commissions in the army etc. For Catholic priests, fines and imprisonment, or even death, were the penalties for participation or practice of their Catholic ministry.

The Rev John Barnewall, (or Barnwell), a relative of the noble Irish family of Trimbleston, Co. Meath, was ordained in 1680 at Dunadea, Co. Kildare. In 1704, he was registered as "Popish Priest” of Ardbraccan, Martry and Rathboyne and living in Neilstown. He officiated in these humble chapels and when persecution raged, mass had to be celebrated in the hills, under hedges or other hiding places. From later writings, it appears that he suffered relentless persecution under the enforcement of these laws. “Although of illustrious birth and distinguished and manly bearing and noted for his charity, learning and selflessness he was yet the prey of blood thirsty informers and priest hunters”. Stories abound of his narrow and brave escapes from these priest hunters. One Protestant gentleman named Waller, a magistrate, offered him protection and shelter on numerous occasions, even securing his release from Trim gaol.
It is recorded that John Barnewall lived into old age, possibly into his 90s, and it is believed that he suffered martyrdom for his faith. Nothing is known of his death or his final resting place.



Ex Lot 111, Sale No 715, Phillips Auctioneers

See: The Catholics of Ireland Under the Penal Laws in the Eighteenth Century: by Patrick Francis Moran, pub 2012 Forgotten Books, originally published 1899. A copy of this book is included with this lot.
See website: www.dúchas.ie
National Folklore Collection UCD Digitization Project. The Schools’ Collection, Volume 0702 page 053 - a collection of folklore compiled by school children in Ireland in the 1930s.