posted 03-12-2000 07:36 AM            

Could someone help me?

posted 03-12-2000 03:49 PM           

ROCHE
The first of the Roches who came to Wexford with the Anglo-Normans was of definite Flemish origin, namely Richard FitzGodebert, who is described as son of Godebert Flandrensis (i.e. from Flanders). This Richard’ brother, Robert, was granted a large part of the district of the barony of Shelmalier East, immediately north of Wexford town, which became known as Rochesland.

They set up headquarters in a castle at Artramont, still standing on the banks of the Slaney. The Roches also built the towers that still stand at picturesque Ferrycarrig and at Barntown.

Sir Alexander de la Roche of Artramont founded the abbey at Selskar in Wexford town for the Canons Regular of St. Augustine in 1190. One of the family became its first Prior. Tradition has it that Alexander vowed to dedicate his life to God when, on his return from a crusade to the Holy Land, he discovered that the lady he loved had entered a convent, believing he had been killed.

The present-day Wexford historian, Richard Roche, in his account of the family states: ‘If the Roches lost their claim to titles and coats of arms in 1618, and their lands and possessions in the Cromwellian Plantation, later generations showed that they had lost none of the qualities of leadership and courage which had distinguished the family in earlier times.'

Fr. Philip Roche, born at Monaootagh, led the Wexford rebels at the Battle of Horetown in June 1798, while General Edward Roche was another of the '98 leaders.

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