Tybroughney

The name Tiobra Fhachna means "well of Saint Fachtna", who was at Lismore Abbey in the seventh century.[6] Various anglicised spellings include Tibberaghny,[4] Tiberaghny,[7] Tipperaghny,[8] Tybroughney,[6] Tyburoughny,[8] Tibroughny,[7] Tybrachny.[4][7]

Saint Fachtna's well, the holy well from which the townland is named, lies near the ruined former parish church.[9] Saint Modomnoc reputedly lived as a hermit in the area in the sixth century, and a pattern was celebrated there on 13 February, his feast day.[10][11] The church was built before the Norman invasion of Ireland, and the parish formerly belonged to the Diocese of Lismore rather than the Diocese of Ossory.[12] A pillar in the churchyard is carved in the style of a Celtic high cross, of which it may be a remnant.[9][13] In the Church of Ireland the parish was united to Whitechurch parish by 1821,[14] and in 1833 both were among five civil parishes in the benefice of Fiddown.[8][15] In the Irish Catholic church it is part of Templeorum parish.[8]

The site is at the limit of access upstream on the Suir for medieval sea-going vessels.[6] A Viking settlement here was destroyed in 980.[6] Prince John of England built a castle here in 1185, shortly after the Norman invasion, to guard the northern border of Waterford.[6] John's castle may have been built on the site of the extant Tybroughney Castle built in the 15th century,[6] or a motte-and-bailey on a now-empty height near by.[8][16] The parish was in County Tipperary as late as 1536, but had been transferred to County Kilkenny by 1649.[17]

The section of the N24 road between Carrick-on-Suir and Piltown runs through the north of the townland. Further south is the Limerick–Rosslare railway line, between Carrick-on-Suir station and Waterford station. (The nearer station at Fiddown closed in 1964.[9][20])