Remembering Petronella de Meath: Ireland Atones for a 700-Year-Old Witch Trial
Mythology/Folklore/History
Wednesday 30th, October 2024
This week, the town of Kilkenny, Ireland, is commemorating a dark chapter in its history, the 1324 execution of Petronella de Meath, believed to be the first woman in Ireland to be killed on charges of witchcraft. The anniversary marks 700 years since her death, and Kilkenny will host a series of events, including an atonement service, discussions with historians and archaeologists, and an educational initiative designed for local schools. The programme aims to honour her memory and address what church leaders have described as an “utter miscarriage of justice”.
Petronella de Meath was a maidservant to Alice Kyteler, a wealthy woman in Kilkenny, which at the time was a busy Norman town. Petronella’s fate became entangled with that of her employer after Kyteler faced accusations of witchcraft. Following the deaths of four of Kyteler’s husbands, suspicions of foul play intensified, and Kyteler was ultimately charged with using sorcery to poison them. Petronella, seen as a possible accomplice, was also implicated.
Both women were found guilty of witchcraft, though their outcomes diverged dramatically. Kyteler managed to flee, likely due to her influential connections and financial power as a moneylender who had reportedly lent funds to the English crown. Petronella, however, had no such influence to protect her, left vulnerable by her lack of social standing, she was executed on the 3rd of November 1324.
The service for Petronella de Meath will be held at St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny, where Dean Stephen Farrell reflects on the long delayed efforts at making amends. “What happened to her was an utter miscarriage of justice”, Farrell said, adding that it represented “the abuse of power”. His statement underscores the perceived injustice of Petronella’s trial, which many historians believe was tainted by social prejudice and religious zealotry.
Petronella’s execution was part of a broader shift in attitudes towards witchcraft in the 14th century. Until shortly before her trial, witchcraft was generally considered a misdemeanour rather than a heresy. This changed in 1320, however, when Pope John XXII issued a papal bull (a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by a pope of the Catholic Church) condemning witchcraft as heresy and opening the door for far harsher penalties.
As for Alice Kyteler, her wealth and connections likely contributed to her escape from justice, whereas Petronella, “a servant girl from Meath” with no one in a position to defend her, was left to face the consequences alone. “She was without guilt, but without influence”, Farrell stated.
Dean Farrell’s comments echo a desire for reflection and accountability in acknowledging the injustices suffered by Petronella. While some members of the Kyteler family are interred within the cathedral grounds, Petronella’s lack of a grave or memorial had, until now, left her story largely forgotten. The idea of a formal atonement service grew out of a commitment to address her undeserved fate and to educate future generations about the consequences of unchecked authority.
Kilkenny’s educational programme will ensure local students learn about Petronella’s trial, a piece of history that many may have never encountered in such detail. Organisers are also planning an oral history project to capture the ways that Petronella’s legacy has persisted or vanished over the centuries.
By shedding light on Petronella de Meath’s life and death, Kilkenny’s efforts serve as a reminder of the risks that marginalised individuals often faced in a period when accusations of witchcraft were increasingly weaponised. Through remembrance and atonement, the town aims to bring some measure of justice to a figure who, as Farrell emphasised, was “far from home” and “without powerful relatives protecting her”.
Petronella de Meath was a maidservant to Alice Kyteler, a wealthy woman in Kilkenny, which at the time was a busy Norman town. Petronella’s fate became entangled with that of her employer after Kyteler faced accusations of witchcraft. Following the deaths of four of Kyteler’s husbands, suspicions of foul play intensified, and Kyteler was ultimately charged with using sorcery to poison them. Petronella, seen as a possible accomplice, was also implicated.
Both women were found guilty of witchcraft, though their outcomes diverged dramatically. Kyteler managed to flee, likely due to her influential connections and financial power as a moneylender who had reportedly lent funds to the English crown. Petronella, however, had no such influence to protect her, left vulnerable by her lack of social standing, she was executed on the 3rd of November 1324.
The service for Petronella de Meath will be held at St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny, where Dean Stephen Farrell reflects on the long delayed efforts at making amends. “What happened to her was an utter miscarriage of justice”, Farrell said, adding that it represented “the abuse of power”. His statement underscores the perceived injustice of Petronella’s trial, which many historians believe was tainted by social prejudice and religious zealotry.
Petronella’s execution was part of a broader shift in attitudes towards witchcraft in the 14th century. Until shortly before her trial, witchcraft was generally considered a misdemeanour rather than a heresy. This changed in 1320, however, when Pope John XXII issued a papal bull (a type of public decree, letters patent, or charter issued by a pope of the Catholic Church) condemning witchcraft as heresy and opening the door for far harsher penalties.
As for Alice Kyteler, her wealth and connections likely contributed to her escape from justice, whereas Petronella, “a servant girl from Meath” with no one in a position to defend her, was left to face the consequences alone. “She was without guilt, but without influence”, Farrell stated.
Dean Farrell’s comments echo a desire for reflection and accountability in acknowledging the injustices suffered by Petronella. While some members of the Kyteler family are interred within the cathedral grounds, Petronella’s lack of a grave or memorial had, until now, left her story largely forgotten. The idea of a formal atonement service grew out of a commitment to address her undeserved fate and to educate future generations about the consequences of unchecked authority.
Kilkenny’s educational programme will ensure local students learn about Petronella’s trial, a piece of history that many may have never encountered in such detail. Organisers are also planning an oral history project to capture the ways that Petronella’s legacy has persisted or vanished over the centuries.
By shedding light on Petronella de Meath’s life and death, Kilkenny’s efforts serve as a reminder of the risks that marginalised individuals often faced in a period when accusations of witchcraft were increasingly weaponised. Through remembrance and atonement, the town aims to bring some measure of justice to a figure who, as Farrell emphasised, was “far from home” and “without powerful relatives protecting her”.
