On Friday, October 13, in the year 1307, the king’s men knocked on the door. French men-at-arms arrested the Knights Templar in Paris. It was the beginning of the end for “warrior monks” and it was also the event that launched a thousand books and conspiracy theories. Shortly after the events in Paris, the Templars in Ireland were also arrested on suspicion of heresy. His empire collapsed, but are there still traces on Irish soil? A few … if you know where to look!
Who were the Knights Templar?
The Knights Templar were one of several “orders of knights” founded during the Crusades. Forming a new breed of “warrior monks”, they took oaths to protect the “Holy Land” and especially the pilgrims by sword. At the same time, the members strove to lead an exemplary Christian life, based primarily on the medieval orders of the monks. Among the knightly orders were the Hospitallers (also known as the Knights of Saint John or the Knights of Malta), the Teutonic Order, and the Order of Saint Lazarus.
The “Poor Fellow Soldiers of Jesus Christ and the Temple of Solomon” were formed in 1118 in Jerusalem, adopted Cistercian rule in later years, and were officially recognized by Pope Innocent II in 1130. From their humble beginnings, the Templars (when they became commonly known) established a quasi-world empire, consisting of fortresses and estates throughout Europe and the ‘Holy Land’. Known as fierce warriors, they also operated as bankers and moneylenders.
This latter activity probably caused his downfall: the heavily indebted Philip IV of France accused the Knights Templar of heresy in 1307, sent the leaders to jail, and staged a live trial. With the complicity of the pope, the Templars were incriminated, tortured, repressed (in 1312) and their leaders burned at the stake (1313). Most of the knights were “retired” or taken into other orders as were most of the estates, especially the Hospitallers who benefited from this.
The Knights Templar in Ireland
Ireland was not a crusader country, even the most stubborn locals were devout Christians and not heretics. So there should be no reason for the Crusaders to be here, should there?
But one must remember that knights ‘orders were largely interrelated with feudal society: Knights entered temporary service to atone for sins, some even banded together to ease the burden of their families’ estates. Others took full vows late in life, using the orders as a kind of retirement home after a worldly career. And the kings and the emperor tried to stay on the good books of orders (which, after all, provided a special ad-hoc force in times of trouble). Giving property to the orders and thus “planting” some combat-hardened veterans as an unofficial police force in wilder areas of the kingdom was normal.
This appears to have been what happened in Ireland: the Knights Templar were given property, most of which was populated by elderly knights. Still, a valid fighting force, although it may not be up to par in Palestine and Syria. Strangers who watched the natives closely, in their own interest.
Officially, the Templars arrived in Ireland in September 1220, although documents pertaining to individual Knights Templar in Ireland date back to 1177. The first knights may have entered Ireland with the Anglo-Normans from Strongbow. Whether this constitutes a participation of the order or (more likely) of individual knights is debatable.
What happened to the Irish Knights Templar after 1307?
After the events in Paris, the Knights Templar in Ireland were arrested and placed in Dublin Castle. Between fifteen and thirty knights were taken, most after having seen more than forty years of service with the order. Basically, Ireland appears to have been the home of the order’s pensioner.
Trials began in 1310 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral: the hear-and-tell accusations blew the knights off, but no evidence was found and no confessions were made. The tests ultimately failed, ending after six months in an anti-climax. The Templars were admonished to be good Christians and pensioners. Chances are, none of them will put up much resistance if left alone.
The property of the Knights Templar in Ireland was taken by the crown or transferred to the Hospitallers. Causing endless confusion for later antique dealers… and anyone traveling to Ireland trying to find Templar properties today.
On the trail of the Knights Templar in Ireland today
Today you will find references to ancient Templar properties, even if the property did not exist before the suppression of the order. A ‘Templars’ church in Ballintemple (County Cork) for example was only built in 1392. Much confusion could have been caused by the Gaelic Teampall – literally ‘temple’, but it refers to any church. Seriously confused amateur historians who like to attribute any place name with a temple reference to the Templars.
The best documented Templar link that can still be seen today can be found in Templetown (County Wexford): on the cemetery grave slabs they mark the burial sites of the ‘Poor Fellow Soldiers’. Here, near Hook Head, the Templars had land and houses.
Other Templar sites are less clearly defined:
- Baldungan (County Dublin, south of Skerries) – Some church ruins with what appears to have been a ten-sided tower are believed to be the remains of a Templar church,
- Carrigogunnell Castle (County Limerick, near Clarina): the pieces are reputed to have been built by the order,
- Clontarf Castle (County Dublin) – belonged to the Knights Templar, but the current castle has no connections except for location,
- Dungeel (County Kerry, near Killorglin) – Ruins of a church and castle reputed (and disputed) to have belonged to the Templars,
- Graney (County Kildare, near Castledermot) – Reputed ruins related to the Templars near the ruins of the Augustinian convent,
- Kilberry (County Kildare) – A possible preceptor of the Knights Templar lies in ruins near the River Barrow,
- Roosky (County Louth) – Part of the “priory” may have belonged to the Templars,
- Strand (County Limerick) – Temple Strand has a church of Templar origin almost certainly.
- Templehouse Lake (County Sligo, near Ballymote) – Ruins of a house belonging to the Templars (who gave the lake its name).
The Knights Templar: Still Strong in Myth
The real fun part of searching for Templar relics in Ireland is the ‘red herrings’ … which some people are taking very seriously. Especially in Dublin.
Kilmainham, for example, is often touted as a “Templar” foundation, referring to the village of Dublin, its church, or even Kilmainham Hospital. Neither of these have connections to the order, but the Hospitallers were active here.
Temple Bar is sometimes referred to as connected to the Knights by virtue of its name, which actually refers to a land-owning family temple.
One of the mummies in St. Michan’s vaults is commonly called “the crusader,” sometimes imagined as a Knight Templar: the deceased lived centuries after the dissolution of the order.
And in some circles, serious scholarship is totally thrown out the window and myths are wholeheartedly accepted. The website of the Galway-based Prayer Circle refers to Irish Freemasonry as follows: “Your allegiance would be to the Scottish Rite which has its roots in the Knights Templar, the most evil of organizations.”
