08/09/2026
Community Historian Brendan Matthews. “The Inn-Keeper”. The map extract is taken from the First edition of the 6 inch to 1 mile Ordnance Survey Maps of 1835 and the green arrow indicates the site of the former 18th and early 19th century Inn or Public House , which was known as the Greenhills Tavern. The Tavern was situated directly opposite the Claristown Road and located beside a small stream the immediate area here was known as the `Gullet` The old Keenogue Chapel, which was located on the Claristown to Moorechurch Cross road may also be seen in this Map extract , along with the old farmstead of Elm Grove a little to the south-west of where the Tavern once stood. There is an account of the old Greenhills Tavern Pub regarding the renowned Highwayman, Michael alias Collier the Robber from the early 19th century. While evidence was being given against the infamous Highwayman at a Court hearing during the summer of 1817, it was stated in court by Patrick Collier of Lisdornan and brother of the Highwayman ,that Michael Collier returned home from England in 1816 to collect a couple of hundred quid that was apparently owed to him by a man named Burns, the then Landlord of the Greenhills Tavern. Unfortunately for the Highwayman, the evidence of which was also provided in court; Burns had , apparently informed the military that Collier was calling for his money and so Jenico Preston , the 12th Viscount of the nearby Gormanston Castle, along with a few Yeomanry Guards duly arrived at the pub and Collier was promptly arrested. A n original letter, which can be read among the Preston Estate Papers, held at the Manuscript Reading Room at the National Library of Ireland, clearly shows that, Sir Robert Peel, he who first established the Police Force in England,; hence the name of `Peelers`, congratulated Jenico Preston on his `recent capture of the notorious Collier`. Peel goes on to write that; `I enclose the sun of sixty pounds which I would like you to share equally amongst the Yeomanry who accompanied you on the capture`. Researched and written by Community Historian Brendan Matthews. ©2020.
