From Sonairte
The Ninch, the home of Sonairte is an area of rich history. Here are some of the major land mark events that have taken place.
400 : In ancient times, the coastal region of Meath was known as Brega. According to legend, Laogh MacRiangabra, who was CuCullain's charioteer, is buried at the "motte", a burial mound at the Ninch. Inhumations excavated there dated at 460+85AD.
800 : The end of the 8th century marked the start of the Viking raids along coast of Ireland. It is recorded that in 837 AD there were sixty Viking ships in the Boyne. The Annals of Ulster refers to a slaughter of foreigners at "an Inse" ( The Ninch ) in 852 AD. In 1032, the Danish chief Sitric landed at Colpe and proceeded to Mornington where he was defeated, losing 300 of his men.
1182 : Sir Hugh de Lacy made a grant of land at Colpe ( south of Drogheda ) to the canon regulars of St. Augustine. The abbey was dedicated to St. Columba and was a grange cell of the priory of St. Mary of Llanthony in Monmouthshire, Wales.
1270 : Robert Burdon granted land in le Ninche to Sir Theobald le Botiller .
1296 : Merchants William and Richard, sons of Adam of Preston, Lancashire, were the first of the de Preston family to arrive in Drogheda. This family has been associated with the Drogheda area for centuries ( Preston's Distillery , Gormanston Castle ).
1314 : Johanna de Say, granted her house & lands at Nynche to her son Henry Fitz Lenys ( Fitz Leon).
1316 : William and Richard de Preston were well established in Drogheda by this time. The king granted them lands in Gaffney, Richardstown, Arthurstown and Fingalstown, which had been forfeited by Sir Hugh de Lacy in rebellion. In 1322, William and Richard were requested by the king to help Sir Robert de Leyburn in the war against the Scots. In return, they received special letters of protection and safe conduct. In 1326 Richard de Preston was appointed Constable of the Castle of Drogheda and in the same year his brother Roger was appointed second Justice of the Justiciars Court in Ireland.
1341 : Roger de Preston acquired Midnightstown (Minnistown) as the beginning of his landed estate. He died in or around 1346.
1361 : Roger's son Robert was knighted in the field by Lionel, Duke of Clarence during expeditions against the O'Byrnes of Wicklow.
1382 :Sir Robert, his son Christopher, and his uncle William, leased the manor of Nynch from Robert Fitz Lenys. By 1388 they owned the manor in freehold, Mariota Fitz Leones, wife of Robert, and her son Nicholas Fitz Leones, having released all their rights. By 1396, Robert de Preston, 2nd son of Sir Robert by his 2nd wife Johanna Hugely, occupied the manor of Nynch.
1396 -1478 : Various documents indicate that the Preston family remained in occupation of manor of Nynch until the Distributions of the 1650's.
1478 : The "Irish Cartularies of Llanthony Prima and Secunda" notes that tithes were due from Robert Preston in Rogerstown, Thomas Preston in Mynestown and Robert Preston in Nynche.
