From A Topographical Dictionary of
Ireland (1837)
by Samuel Lewis
Clonagoose
A parish, in the barony of IDRONE EAST,
county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER; comprising the village
of Borris, which has a penny post to Goresbridge; and containing
2394 inhabitants. This parish, which is also called Clonegford, is
bounded on the south-west by the river Barrow, the navigation of
which extends to New Ross and Waterford, and up the river to Athy,
where the canal to Dublin commences. It comprises 5392 statute acres
in a high state of cultivation, as applotted under the tithe act;
there are about 325 acres of Woodlands and 460 of waste. The
principal seats are Borris House, the residence of the ancient
family of Kavanagh. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of
Leighlin, episcopally united, in 1714, to that of Kiltennel, but
recently separated from it, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the
rectory is impropriate in Lord Cloncurry.
The tithes amount to £255, of which £165 is
payable to the impropriator, and £90 to the vicar, whose income has
been lately augmented by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners with a
grant of £20 per ann., from Primate Boulter’s fund. A parochial
church is in progress of erection, prior to which the only place of
worship in connection with the Protestant establishment was a
beautiful private chapel attached to Borris House, built by the late
Mr. Kavanagh.
In the R.C. divisions this parish is partly
attached to the union or district of Borris, and partly to that of
Dunleckney; at the former is a hand-some chapel, lately built at an
expense of £2000. A parochial school for boys and girls, and an
infants‘ and a Sunday school, are supported by subscription; and at
Borris, Ballymartin, and Ballymurphy are national schools for both
sexes: the day schools afford instruction to about 400 boys and 320
girls. A charitable loan fund of £60 is conducted for the benefit of
the poor of all.