Shanballymore, also historically referred to as Templeruan – Sonnachgowan, is situated on the North bank of the Awbeg River – Spenser's 'Mulla Fair' – astride the road from Mallow to Mitchelstown. It is also traversed by the 'Bianconi Road'.This is the old road which crosses Wallstown Hill over the river and Clogher Hill, the cobbled surface of which can still be seen in a few places. The modern 'New Line' was built as a public work around the hills during one of the famines in the last century. Shanballymore has three names as the heading show. The earliest appears in the Crichad on Chaoille and the Papal Taxation of Pope Nicholas, 1291; Sonnach Gobunn, the second name, Templeroan makes its appearance as an alternative name about 1400 and remains as the name of the Civil or Church of Ireland parish. This latter name is important, as census figures and other official information for the parish will be found under this title. The youngest name is Shanballymore, the name of the Roman Catholic parish. That it has a history worth telling is evident from the fact that, within its 3,866 acres, it contained four tower houses or castles, via Ballinamona, Sonnach, Castleruan and Dannanstown, and three churches, Kilelly, kilclagmusey & Templeroan,. Each will be discussed in its place. There is also a reference to a Shanballymore Castle, but that would appear to be in error for Castleruahn. The vicinity of Shanballymore was part of the Tuath of Ui Bece Abha Uachtarach with Castletownroche and Wallstown parishes, as shown in the 'Crichid an Chaoilli', a description of\ the area now known as the Barony of Fermoy. The text appears in 'The Book of Lismore and taxed at a tithe or tenth. It is not mentioned in the pipe Roll of Cloyne. it appears from other documents of the period and later, to have been united with Wallstown & Ballygrigan parishes rather than Doneraile. In 1821 the population of the Parish was 1,413 people, 668 males and 745 females divided into 253 families and living in 236 houses. 413 were unemployed. In 1831 1,788 and in 1941 1802 people 564 males and 590 females, in these years the village population rose from 199 in 1821, to 415 in 80 houses in 1831, and in 1841, some 471 people in 89 houses and 392 in 1851. A Patent exists for a Fair but it is not now held. In 1821 there were 164 boys and 54 girls in school in the parish. In 1826 there were 2 schools in Shanballymore and Ballyhourode, where Matthew Reardon taught 32 boys and 18 girls, all Roman Catholics in a wretched hovel which beggars description and the other in Shanballymore where James Riall was Master to either 122 or 100 pupils in a sonte and mud thatched house. The primary valuation of 1851 listed Patrick O'Keefe as the National Teacher in Shanballymore. Ballinamona Here is the remains of a Nagle Castle – one of the many in Shanballymore, Annikisha and Killavullen. Those still showing above ground are Monanimy, Carrigacunna and Ballinamona. Annakisha has disappeared completely. The Nagles were a Norman family of considerable strength almost from their arrival in Ireland, Sir Richard Nagle of Clogher was Solicitor General for Ireland under James II and was one of the most influential members of the patriot Parliament of 1689. Better known today as Nano, foundress of the presentation Convent Order, from whom many people of shanballymore have received their education in nearby Doneraile. One part of the castle no longer to be seen is a 'sheela-na-gig' which was found built into the wall and later destroyed. Sheelas were usually reliefs carved in stone and set into castle and church walls possible to ward off evil. They take the form of rather grotesque Females and appear to have originated as church ornaments. Legend has it that Garret Nagle of Ballinamona was in London cutting a figure of the coronation of King George IV and his workmen found the sheela in the castle. Being considerably upset by the lewd figure, they broke it, They also broke the 'luck' as shortly after Nagle had to sell the castle and lands to cover debts. Grove White had a note from Walter Jones of Doneraile to the effect that Garrett Nagle of Ballinamona having been implicated in the pretendersrebellion of 1745 had to leave for France with all his possessions during the voyage he lost all his books, jewels, and manuscripts amongst which the later were some unpublished works of the poet Spencer, which he inherited through a great-grandmother.
Townlands in Shanballymore
The electoral division of Shanballymore, which shares its name with the village, contains 20 townlands. These include: Ballinamona - Ballydoyle - Ballyguyroe - Ballyhourode - Ballywalter - Carriganuroe - Carrigleagh - Cliadh Dubh - Clogher - Commons - Clustogue & Kilconnors - Dannanstown - Graig - Graig upper - Oldtown - Parksouth - Pike - Pouleagh - Castle Ruane - Shanagh - Shanballymore - Templeruan - Waterdyke.
