The Noonan's were the Erenagh (Hereditary Priests) of St. Beretchert Church Tullylease Ireland

EXCERPT from the Published

Breifne, the Journal of the Cumman Seanchais Bhreifne, Vol. IX,

And I quote, “Much of the vitality of Christianity in ancient and medieval Ireland was connected with successful harmonization of elements of Latin Christianity with older ways of thought and practice that had their origins in ancient Gaelic culture. A twelfth-century reform led by Mael Maedoc Ua Morgair ( Saint Malachy), Archbishp of Armagh, introduced the Cistercian Order to Ireland weakening the preexisting Gaelic monastic settlements and threatening long-standing accommodations between Roman and Gaelic usages. This reform movement also resulted in reorganization of the bishoprics of Ireland along territorial lines, rather than on the basis of kin-based principalities. As part of this reorganization, ownership of much church land was formally transferred from monastic groups to local bishops. Previous occupants retained use of these lands, on condition of annual payments to the bishop, and providing “hospitality” to that prelate on his visitations. The head of the family that held possession and use of a particular tract of church land held the title ‘erenagh’-originally the designation of the head of a monastic settlement. In many cases an erenagh also was also called ‘coarb’-successor of the venerable founder of a monastic community.”

This Cross slab is hung inside the ruins of St. Beretchert Church Tullylease county Cork.