The De Angulo clan were granted land in Meath in early 1170’s by Hugh de Lacy 1 . Jocelyn (Gausslyn) de Angulo granted Navan and Ardbracken, he was the subsequent founder of the town of Navan. His father , Gilbert 1 was granted Nobber, Ratoath and Mahergallion, and this family were aristocratic mercenaries according to eminent historians Edwards and gallant condotieres by Curtis.as such they built many castles in Meath and in upper Shannon and west to Connacht as they expanded their influence and family marriage connections with the Native Irish. This was the key to their success.
Dictionary of Irish Biography details this family well. Wikipedia is a terrible source for any info at all.
The original land grants were all the area of Bru na Boine, which is a mind blowing aspect of this family.
St Mary’s Monastery in Navan was rebuilt and re edified by Jocelyn De Angulo, whose name comes from their base in Wales, Angle in Pembrokeshire.
They had St a mary Churches and Abbeys where ever they settled, in fact the great Knight John De Courcy had a Charter (see St John Brooks Article) of the Abbey Of Navan detailing the grants used to endow this a Monastery . Many famous Zknights of the Invasion of Ireland mentioned as witness to these docs, all the first wave of a Cambro Norman’s eventually becoming Hibernis Ipso
Another interesting aspect of the De Angulo is the Bishop of Meath 1250’s was Richard de la Corner, another. Name of the De Angulo, whose son Thomas de la Corner was Bishop of Salisbury in England in 1280’s, after attempting to become Archbishop Of Dublin. Richards jsister, Avicia de la Corner, was the Prioress of the famous Augustinian Monastery Of Lismullin, 2 miles from the Hill of Tara. This very famous Monastery was the most important Augustinian religious house until the dissolution of the monasteries by King Henry the 8th, over 400 years of continual religious devotion.
More to come on this amazing clan, little known in Irish history, who were a Barons of Navan for 700 years.
