Report Based on 1831 Census

CARLOW

Report on the Town of Carlow; with a Description of the

Proposed Boundary.

possesses the remains of an old Castle, and is a place of great Antiquity; it has

also had various Charters, the last of which was granted to it in the time of

Charles II.  On the opposite side of the Barrow there is a Suburb called Graigue,

which, though it is in a different Parish and in a different County, we think ought

to be considered a part of the Town.  The Parish contains about 2.000 statute

Acres, of which the Town occupies but a small portion.  The Parish Church,

however, is in the Town;  and, in addition to it, there is a Roman Catholic

Chapel, College and Convent;  a large and handsome Lunatic Asylum has also

very lately been erected at Carlow for the whole Province of Lenister, but is not

yet occupied.  The whole Population of the Town (exclusive of the Suburb of

Graigue) is, according to the Census of 1831, 9, 102, and the number of houses,

1.334.  The Population has increased, but not very greatly, since 1821.

 

2. -  The Authorities of the place possess no Copy of their Charter, nor could

we procure one.  The following information, however, we have collected from

the "Liber Hiberniae:"

 The first Charter was granted by King James the First , on the 1st of April 1613, and by it the Portreeve  and 12 Burgesses were required to send two Members to Parliament.

3. -   King Charles the second, in pursuance of letters dated at Whitehall the

16th of April 1671, (reciting, that whereas many of the Charters of the several

Cities and Towns in Ireland had become forfeited during the late horrid

Rebellion, so that he might justly seize all their Liberties and Franchises, yet,

for the encouragement of trade, that he was willing to extend his favour to

such of them as the Chief Governor of Ireland should judge best meriting the

same, and to grant them new Charters) granted a new Charter to Carlow,

bearing date 24th December 1674, by which the Borough was made to

consist of a Sovereign and 12 Free Burgesses, to whom was given the power

of sending two Members to Parliament.  The Freeman (of whom there are

at present about 30 or 40) are not entitled to vote under this Charter.

 

4. - The Sovereign is elected annually, and the same individual cannot be re-elected until after the expiration of a year, so that it is necessary to have at least two resident Burgesses, (as they are at present,) who take the Sovereignty by turns.

 

The Corporation possesses no estates, but they have an annual income of a

Few hundred pounds arising from a Toll on every thing sold in the public

Market, (except potatoes;) the Freeman, possess no advantage, except Exemption

From this toll.  The Sovereign is by virtue of his office a Magistrate of the

County,* in consequence of which the exact Limits of his Jurisdiction as

Sovereign are not defined.  We could not hear of any local Acts of parliament

having ever been obtained for Carlow.

                                                                                                                4.  -  There

* There is no Recorder, nor any resident Magistrate, except the Sovereign.   Neither are there any sessions or Goal for the Town separate from those of the County.

General

Description.

Several Charters,

the last from               

Charles II.

 

Parish contains

2.000 Acres.

Population, 9.102.

Housing, 1.334

Charter.

Not in possession of

the Authorities on            

the spot.

 Corporation.

Possess no Estates.

Levy a Toll.

 

Sovereign is a Ma-

gistrate of the                      

County.

 

No Local Acts of

Parliament.

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