Ancient history in Liberty Square The ancient territory of
Éile obtained its name from pre-historic inhabitants called the Eli, about whom little is known beyond what may be gathered from legends and traditions. The extent of
Éile varied throughout the centuries with the rise and fall of the tribes in occupation. Before the 5th century A.D. the details of its history which can be gleaned from surviving records and literature are exceedingly meagre, obscure and confusing. During this century however
Éile appears to have reached its greatest extent, stretching from
Croghan Bri Eli (
Croghan Hill in Offaly) to just south of
Cashel (in
Corca Eathrach Eli). The southern part of this territory embraced the
baronies of
Eliogarty and
Ikerrin, a great part of
Middle Third, the territory of Ileagh and a portion of the barony of
Kilnamanagh Upper. By the 8th century, the territory of ancient
Éile had broken up into a number of petty kingdoms: the O'Carroll occupied the northern portion, the O'Spillanes held Ileagh, the
Eóganacht Chaisil had annexed Middle Third while the O'Fogartys held what is now the barony of Eliogarty. The O'Fogarty's gave their name to the town. In Irish,
Durlas Éile means "Strong Fort of Éile", or more correctly
Durlas Éile Uí Fhogartaigh ("Strong Fort of the O'Fogarty's of Éile"). The clan dominated the regions of
Templemore and the
Devil's Bit stretching as far as the Tipperary/Kilkenny border.
Feudal period Towards the end of the 12th century the power of the O'Donoghue clan began to wane, and by the early part of the 13th century, the
Norman Butler dynasty came to be the most powerful. It is to the Butlers that Thurles owes much of its early development. Their architectural legacy may be seen today with two of the original family fortresses still standing (the Black Castle near the centre and O'Fogarty Castle by the Suir).
Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler (Theobald Butler) was the ancestor of the Irish branch of the Butler dynasty. His father had been the hereditary holder of the office of
Chief Butler of England and when Theobald assisted Kings
Henry II of England and
John of England in their invasions of Ireland, he was named "Chief Butler of Ireland". He was also granted a large section of the northeastern part of the
kingdom of Limerick. Later in 1328, his descendant,
James Butler, was created
Earl of Ormond by King
Edward III of England. ==Commerce==