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Carlow County - Ireland Genealogical Projects (IGP TM)

County of Carlow in 1837
A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland
By
Samuel Lewis


AGHA, or AUGHA, a parish, in the barony of IDRONE EAST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, comprising part of the market and post town of Leighlin-bridge, and containing 1739 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the east side of the river Barrow, which is navigable to Waterford, and on the road from Carlow to Kilkenny. An abbey, called Achadfinglass, was founded here at a very early period by St. Fintan, and in 864, in which year it was plundered by the Danes, had risen into some note ; its site is now unknown. The parish contains 4028 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and is wholly under cultivation; the system of agriculture is improving. Limestone for burning is procured within its limits. The principal seats are Rathwade, the residence of B. B. Newton, Esq., and Steuart Lodge, of W. R. Steuart, Esq. Fairs for the sale of live stock are held on Easter-Monday, May 14th, Sept. 23rd, and Dec. 27th; and there are two at Orchard on Whit-Tuesday and Oct. 2nd. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin, and forms part of the union of Dunleckney; the rectory is impropriate in A. Weldon, Esq. The tithes amount to £415. 7. 8¼., of which £276. 18. 5½. is payable to the impropriator, and £128. 9. 2¾. to the vicar. The church is in ruins. In the R. C. divisions it is partly in the union or district of Dunleckney, and partly in that of Old Leighlin: the chapel, situated at Newtown, is a handsome edifice lately erected. There are two schools for boys and girls; one situated at Leighlin-bridge, and the other, a large and handsome edifice lately built, near the R. C. chapel; they afford instruction to 120 boys and 230 girls. There is also a private pay school, in which are about 20 children; and a dispensary. — See LEIGHLIN-BRIDGE

ARDREVAN, county of CARLOW. — See FENNAGH. ARDRIE, (LITTLE) a parish, in the barony of KILKEA and MOONE, county of KILDARE, and province of LEINSTER, ½ a mile (S. by E.) from Athy; containing 302 inhabitants. This place, which is situated on the road from Athy to Carlow, and comprises only 295 statute acres, anciently belonged to the monastery of St. Thomas, near Dublin, and was assigned to the precentorship m the cathedral church of St. Patrick, Dublin, on the institution of that dignity in 1219. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Dublin, partly appropriate to the precentorship, partly impropriate in Michael Goold Adams, Esq., and partly forming a portion of the union of St. Michael's Athy. The tithes amount to £24, of which £16 is payable to the impropriator, and £8 to the incumbent of St. Michael's; the portion appropriated to the precentorship is 154a. 2r. 8p., let on lease at an annual rent of £12.

ARDRISTTN, a parish, in the barony of RATHVILLY, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 1¾ mile (S. W. by W.) from Tullow, on the road to Clonegal; containing 543 inhabitants. It comprises 1525 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; and within its limits is a part of the suburbs of the town of Tullow, called the Green and Tullow-beg. Except one townland entirely surrounded by the parish of Aghade, it is bounded on the east and south-east by the river Slaney. More than one-half of its surface consists of meadow and pasture land; the rest, with the exception of a small tract of bog, is arable. It formerly constituted part of the union of Aghade: the living is now a distinct impropriate curacy, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the patronage of the Bishop ; the tithes amount to £145. The ruins of the church, situated on the townland of Ardristin, are divided by a pointed arch and are 63 feet in length. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Tullow.

BAGNALSTOWN, a post-town, in the parish of DUNLECKNEY, barony of IDRONE EAST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 8 miles (S.) from Carlow, and 49 miles (S. S. W.) from Dublin; containing 1315 inhabitants. This town is beautifully situated on the river Barrow, and on one of the mail coach roads from Dublin to Kilkenny; it is a place of considerable trade, and is rapidly rising into importance; there are some extensive corn-mills. It has a patent for two fairs, and ten other fairs have been lately established by the proprietors. Quarter sessions are held here in Jan., April, July, and October. Petty sessions are held every Monday; and there is a manorial court, but no seneschal is at present appointed. Here is a station of the constabulary police. The court-house is a handsome building in the Grecian style, in front of which is a portico with four Doric pillars. There is also a large and handsome R. C. chapel, and a dispensary.

BALLINACARRIG, otherwise STAPLESTOWN, a parish, partly in the barony of RATHVILLY, but chiefly in that of CARLOW, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 1 mile (E. N. E.) from Carlow; containing 615 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the river Burren, and on the road from Carlow to Tullow, comprises 2576 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £2200 per annum. Two-thirds of the land are arable, and nearly one-third pasture or wet grazing land; there is little waste or unprofitable bog; the state of agriculture i3 improving. There are some quarries of excellent granite for building; and mills at which about 10,000 barrels of flour are annually made. The principal gentlemen's seats are Kilmany, the residence of S. Elliott, Esq.; Staplestown Lodge, of H. Waters, Esq.; and Staplestown Mills, of Mason, Esq. The living is an impropriate curacy, in the diocese of Leighlin, united by act of council in 1804 to the rectories of Tullowmagrmagb. and Ballycrogue, constituting the union of Staplestown, in the ,gift of the Bishop; the rectory is appropriate to the Dean and Chapter of Leighlin. The tithes amount to £170, of; which £100 is payable to the dean and chapter, and; £70 to the impropriate. curate: the entire tithes of the benefice payable to the incumbent amount to £411.17.6. The church, situated in Staplestown, is a small neat edifice, erected in 1821; it contains a tablet to the memory of Walter Bagenal, the last male representative of that ancient family. There is a glebe-house but no glebe. In the R. C. divisions the parish is in the union or district of Tullowmagrinagh, also called Tinriland. There are two schools, in which are about 40 children. Some remains of the old church yet exist. Sir Wm. Temple resided at Staplestown, from which many of his letters are dated; there are still some remains of the house in which he lived.

BALLON, a parish, in the barony of FORTH, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 3½ miles (S. B.) from Tullow; containing 1439 inhabitants, of which number, 161 are in the village. This •parish is situated on the road from Newtown-Barry to Carlow, and comprises 3520 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: it is principally grazing land; the state of agriculture is much improved; and in Ballon hill is a quarry of fine granite. The gentlemen's seats are Larogh, the residence of J. O'Brien, Esq.; and Altamount, of Nelson St. George, Esq. Fairs are held here on March 28th, and Aug. 12th. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin, and is part of the union of Aghade : the rectory is impropriate in Lord Cloncurry. The tithes amount to £220 of which £140 is payable to the impropriator, and £80 to the incumbent. In the R. C. divisions, this parish forms part of the union or district of Gilbertstown, called also Ballon and Ratoe: the chapel, situated in the village of Ballon, is in good repair. In the village is also a school for boys and girls, for which the school-house was built by R. Marshall, Esq.; and there is another at Conaberry. These schools afford instruction to about 160 boys and 160 girls; and there are two hedge schools, in which are about 190 boys and 130 girls.

BALLYCROGUE, a parish, in the barony and county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S. E. by E.) from Carlow; containing 72 inhabitants. This small parish is situated on the river Burren, and consists of only one townland, comprising 385 statute acres. In civil matters it is considered as forming part of Ballinacarrig, and is one of the three parishes which constitute the union of Ballinacarrig or Staplestown, in the diocese of Leighlin: the tithes amount to £21. 2. 6. In the R. C. divisions it is in the district of Tullowmagrinagh.

BALLYELLIN, a parish, partly in the barony of ST. MULLIN'S, but chiefly in that of IDRONE EAST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, adjacent to Graigue and Goresbridge; containing 1760 inhabitants. This parish consists of two detached portions separated by the parish of Slyguff, one of which contains five townlands, and the other, two: it is bounded on the north by the river Barrow, which separates it from the county of Kilkenny, and over which there is abridge at Goresbridge; and comprises 5266 statute acres, of which 4754 are applotted under the tithe act and valued at £4052 per annum. Here is a quarry of black marble, used for tombstones and chimney-pieces. Ballyellin House is the residence of Walter Blackney, Esq. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and forms part of the union of Lorum: the tithes amount to £413. 1. 6½. The ruins of the church are situated within a burial ground near the road from Borris to Goresbridge. In the R. C. divisions it is in the union or district of Bagnalstown or Dunleckney. On the lands of Clowater are the ruins of a castle.

BALLYNOCKEN, a village, in the parish of FENNAGH, barony of IDRONE EAST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S. W. by W.) from Myshall; containing 28 houses and 169 inhabitants.— See FENNAGH.

BARRAGH, a parish, partly in the barony of ST. MULLINS, but chiefly in that of FORTH, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER; containing, with a part of the post-town of Newtown-Barry, 4713 inhabitants. It is situated upon the river Slaney, and on the roads from Myshall to Clonegal, and from Enniscorthy to Carlow; and comprises, with the parish of Pubbledrum, 17,602 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £1030 per annum. About 1600 acres are mountain and bog, 789 Woodlands, and the remainder arable and pasture; the state of agriculture is improving. Fine granite for building is found in the parish. The gentlemen's seats are Kilbride, the residence of J. R. Keogh, Esq.; and Ballynoe, of the Rev. G. Dawson. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the rectory is appropriate to the vicar’s choral of the cathedral of Christ-Church, Dublin: the tithes amount to £692. 6. 2., of which £461. 10. 9½. is payable to the lessee of the appropriators, and £230. 15. 4f. to the vicar. The church, situated at Kildavin, is a small edifice, built by aid of a gift of £800 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 18I2j the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have lately granted £123 for its repair. There is neither glebe nor glebe-house. In the R. C. divisions this parish is, with the exception of one townland, included in the union or district of Clonegal or Moyacomb : there is a chapel at Kildavin. A national school, in which about 120 boys and 100 girls are taught, is aided by a grant of £20 per annum from the new Board of Education; and another school is supported by Mr. Keogh. There are also three hedge schools in the parish, in which are about 130 boys and 100 girls. The estate of Clonmullen formerly belonged to the Kavanagh’s, but was forfeited in the war of 1641; it is said to have been the residence of Ellen Kavanagh, the heroine of the celebrated Irish ballad of Aileen Aroon. There are some remains of the old church, clad with ivy; the burial ground is separated from them by a rivulet.—See NEWTBNBARRY

BENEKERRY, otherwise BUSHERSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of RATHVILLY (but locally in that of Carlow), county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 2½ miles (E. N. E.) from Carlow ; containing 135 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the road from Carlow to Tullow, and is bounded on the south-west and east by the river Burren: more than four-fifths consists of meadow and pasture land, and the remainder is arable, with a few acres of Woodlands. In the ecclesiastical divisions it is not regarded as a parish, but as forming part of that of Urglin, the incumbent of which receives the tithes, except of about ten acres, which pay tithe to the incumbent of Ballinacarrig or Staplestown.

BORRIS, or BORRIS-IDRONE, a village, in the parish of CLONAGOOSE, barony of IDRONE EAST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S. E.) from Goresbridge ; containing 671 inhabitants. This place is situated near the river Barrow, on the road from Carlow to Ross : it has a patent for a market on Friday, which is not held, and a penny post to Goresbridge. Borris House, the noble seat of the late T. Kavanagh, Esq., is situated in an extensive and richly wooded demesne, and commands fine views. This mansion, which externally exhibits the appearance of an English baronial residence of the l6th century, while every advantage of convenience and splendour is secured within, has been for ages the chief residence of the posterity of Donald Kavanagh, natural son of Mac Murrough, last king of Leinster. In 1642, being garrisoned by the parliamentarians, it was besieged by the Irish, and with difficulty the garrison was relieved and reinforced by Sir C. Coote. In the disturbances of 1798 it sustained two attacks; first, on May 24th, when the insurgents were repulsed by Capt. Kavanagh's yeomanry corps, with the loss of 50 killed and wounded; and afterwards on June 12th, from a detachment sent against it from Vinegar Hill, on which occasion it was defended with great bravery by a party of the Donegal militia, who compelled the assailants, after burning the out-offices and destroying some houses in Borris, to retire with considerable loss. At Kilcamney, in the vicinity, an action was also fought, in which the insurgents were routed with the loss of their stores by the king's forces under Sir C. Asgill. Petty sessions are held here every alternate Thursday, and road sessions occasionally : the court-house was lately erected by Mr. Kavanagh. This is a chief constabulary police station; and there is a small barrack for the accommodation of about 30 men. Fairs for cattle, sheep, pigs, &c, are held on Jan. 1st, Feb. 5th, May 1st, July 2nd, Aug. 15th, Oct. 4th, and Nov. 14th, and four more fairs have been lately obtained; that in July is a considerable fair for wool. Attached to Borris House is a very handsome private chapel, erected by the late Mr. Kavanagh, and open to the inhabitants. In the R. C. divisions this place is the head of a union or district comprising parts of the parishes of Clonagoose, Ullard (county of Kilkenny),  St. Mullins, and Ballyellin, and the whole of that of Kiltennel: the parochial chapel is a handsome edifice, lately built at an expense of £2000. There is a school, in which 150 boys and 90 girls are taught: the school-house is a commodious building,  erected and fitted up by local contributions amounting to £274.5.6., and a grant of £97. 5. 6. from the National Board. A dispensary is maintained in the customary manner; and there is an institution called the Borris Benevolent Society, established about eight years, to which the payment of one shilling monthly entitles each member, in case of sickness, to a weekly allowance of 5s. for the first three months, and of 2s. 6d. afterwards so long as he shall continue sick. At Borris House is preserved the " Figeen," a curious ornament of silver and tin, found on the demesne ; and an ancient horn and a casket, called the Liath-Mersicith, esteemed among the most valuable curiosities in the museum of Trinity College, Dublin, are relics which formerly belonged to the Kavanaghs.— See CLONAGOOSE.

CLONAGOOSE, a parish, in the barony of IDEONF 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 Conegford, 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, for a description of which see Borris; and Kilcoltrim, of Luke Hagarty, Esq. 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 handsome 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 denominations. The remains of the old church are situated in a burial-ground about a mile from Borris.

CLONEGAL, a post-town, in that part of the parish of MOYACOMB which is in the barony of ST. MULLINS NORTH, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 14¼ miles (S.E. by E.) from Carlow, and 53½ (S.S. W.) from Dublin; containing 446 inhabitants. It is situated on the road from Tullow to Newtownbarry, and on the river Derry, which divides it into two parts, and in 1831 comprised 76 houses. Fairs are held on July 31st, Nov. 12th and 22nd, and the first Wednesday in and the 11th of December, for cattle : fairs for the sale of frieze were formerly held on the first Wednesdays in February, March, and May, and on Ascension-day, but have been discontinued. Here is a constabulary police station. The parish church, a good modern building, is situated in the town ; and there are a R. C. chapel, a place of worship for Methodists, and a handsome schoolhouse in connection with the National Board, lately built. Here is also a castellated mansion built by the family of Esmonde, in 1625.—See MOYACOMB.

CLONMORE, a parish, in the barony of RATHVILIY, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 2½ miles (S. S. W.) from Hacketstown, on the road from Tullow to Hacketstown and Tinahely; containing 2244 inhabitants. It comprises 26,210 statute acres, of which about 2430 are covered with heath and furze, 130 are Woodlands, and 1500 bog, and of the remainder, one-fifth is arable and the rest a kind of pasture and meadow: of its entire surface, 5855 acres are applotted under the tithe act. There are some indications of agricultural improvement, although a considerable quantity of unprofitable land might be reclaimed and brought under tillage. Clonmore Lodge is the residence of Lieut.-Col. Whelan ; Castle View, of the Rev. R. A. Martin; and the glebe-house, of the Hon. and Rev. Archdeacon Stopford. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and constitutes the corps of the archdeaconry of Leighlin, in the patronage of the bishop: the tithes amount to £304. 12. 3¾. The glebe-house was built about 1812, by aid of a gift of £100 and a loan of £450 from the late Board of First Fruits: the glebe comprises ten acres. The church, a plain decent edifice, was built about the same period, by aid of a gift of £600 from the Board. In the R. C. divisions this parish is the head of a union or district, comprising the parishes of Clonmore, Liscoleman, and Mullinacuffe, and parts of those of Haroldstown, Aghold, Crecrim, and Fennagh: the chapel at Clonmore is a plain slated building, not in very good repair; and there are two others in the union, situated at Knockballastine and Kilquiggan, in the parishes of Liscoleman and Aghold. There are a parochial and a national school, affording instruction to about 180 children, including several sent hither from the Foundling Hospital in Dublin. At a short distance from the church are the venerable ruins of the castle, the origin of which, though not satisfactorily ascertained, is with some degree of probability attributed to the Earl of Ormonde, to whom the place was granted in the reign of Hen. VIII., although the castle of Clonmore is recorded to have been taken by the English in 1332. The ruins form three sides of a quadrangle, l70 feet square, of which the fourth has been demolished; at the angles are towers, and the whole was surrounded by a deep fosse, now filled up; several cabins have been built within the walls. Clonmore gives the inferior title of Baron to the Earl of Wicklow.

CLONMULSH, a parish, in the barony and county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 4½ miles (S.) from Carlow, on the road to Bagnalstown ; containing 711 inhabitants. It comprises 3102 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £2458 per annum. Garryhundon, the seat of Sir R. Butler, Bart., is situated on the townland of that name, which, by an inquisition of Jas. I., in 1607, was found to be in the possession of Theobald, Lord Butler; and by a similar inquisition, in 1623, the townlands of Ballybar and Clonmulsh are recorded to have been held by Peter Carew, Baron of Idrone. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £330.15.4¾. The church is a small plain building, situated near the road. In die R. C. divisions this parish is in the union or district of Leighlin-Bridge. On the townland of Powerstown there is a school, in which about 30 children are taught, aided by an annual donation of £6 late currency from the rector.

CRYCRIM, or CRECRIM, a parish, partly in the barony of RATHVILLY, county of CARLOW, but chiefly in the half-barony of SHILLELAGH, county of WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 4½ miles (E. N. E.) from Tullow; containing 510 inhabitants. It comprises 2431 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and is an impropriate cure, in the diocese of Leighlin, forming part of the union of Aghold; the rectory is appropriate to the dean and chapter of Leighlin. The tithes amount to £144. 15. 1. of which £96. 10. 1. is payable to the dean and chapter, and £48. 5. to the appropriate curate. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Clonmore. At Ballyconnel there is a R. C. chapel, also a national school.

DUNLECKNEY, a parish, in the barony of IDRONE EAST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, on the road from Carlow to Burris; containing, with the post-town of Bagenalstown, 4217 inhabitants. This place, which is situated on the river Barrow, was anciently the seat of the Kavanaghs, Kings of Leinster; and in 1300 a preceptory of Knights Templars was founded here, which continued only till 1308, when it was suppressed. It was also the residence of the Bagenal family from the 16th to the 18th century, and is at present the property of Walter Newton, Esq. In 1545, a battle took place at Ballynakill, near Garry hill, in this parish, between the Kavanaghs of the latter place and those of Polmonty, in which, after 100 on each side were slain, the former were victorious and secured possession of the territory which was the object of their contention. The parish comprises 7751 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the land is good and the system of agriculture in an improved state. Limestone abounds and is quarried for agricultural purposes, and there are quarries of fine granite, which is used for building: the Barrow is navigable to Waterford. The principal seats are Dunleckney, that of W. Newton, Esq.; Bagenalstown House, of Miss Newton; Garry Hill House, of Viscount Duncannon; the Lodge, of Mrs. Weld ; Rathwade House, of B. B. Norton, Esq.; Lodge Mills, of S. Crosthwaite, Esq.; and Clonburrin, of W. B. Cooke, Esq. The manufacture of starch is carried on, and there is an extensive malting concern in the parish belonging to Mr. Crosthwaite; fairs and petty sessions are held at Bagenalstown. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin, united in 1795 to that of Agha, and in the patronage of A. Weldon, Esq., who is impropriator of the rectory. The tithes amount to £830. 15. 4½., of which £553. 16. 11. is payable to the impropriator, and £276. I8. 5½. to the vicar j and the vicarial tithes of the union, to £415. 7. 8¼. The glebe-house is a neat residence; the glebe comprises 10 acres. The church is a small edifice, and has been recently repaired. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district called Bagenalstown, .comprising also part of the parishes of Agha, Fenagh, and Slyguff. The chapel, a handsome edifice lately erected at an expense of £2000, is situated at Bagenalstown; and there are chapels also at Newtown and Ballinkillen, and places of worship for Wesleyan Methodists and Walkerites. The parochial school-house, a neat building in the Grecian style, is in Bagenalstown, where also is a handsome court-house in the same style, lately erected at the expense of Philip Bagenal, Esq., in which quarter sessions are held at the usual periods. Besides the parochial school, there are two private schools in the town. The side walls and gables of the old parish church are still remaining in the churchyard; the interior was lighted by narrow lancet-shaped windows. At Ballymoon are the rains of the castle of the preceptory of the Knights Templars; the walls, which are 8 feet in thickness and 30 in height, enclose a square of 130 feet, flanked by four square towers, and having a gateway entrance on the west side.— See BAGNALSTOWN.

FENNAGH, or FENAGH, a parish, partly in the barony of SHILLELAGH, county of WICKLOW, but chiefly in that of IDRONE EAST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (S. E.) from Leighlin-Bridge, on the rivers Slaney and Burrin, and on the road from Bagnalstown to Newtown-Barry ; containing 4324 inhabitants. This parish comprises 11,942 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £1230 perann; about 600 acres are mountain, nearly 120 bog, and the remainder good arable and pasture land in a good state of cultivation; there are some quarries of fine granite. The village of Fennagh is beautifully situated, commanding picturesque and grand views of Mount Leinster; the surrounding country is thickly planted, and die gentlemen's seats afford some good specimens of ancient architecture. Here was a well fortified castle, the seat of one of the kings of Leinster. The principal seats are Castlemore House, the residence of J. Eustace, Esq.; Hardy Mount, of J. Hardy Eustace, Esq.; Janeville, of W. Garrett, Esq.; Lumclone, of T. H. Watson, Esq.; Kilconner, of — Watson, Esq.; Ballydarton, of J. Watson, Esq.; Upton, of I. Grey, Esq.; Clonferta, of T. Dillon, Esq.; and Garryhill House, a residence of Viscount Duncannon. A penny post to Leighlin-Bridge has been established, and here is a constabulary police station. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin; the rectory is in the patronage of the Crown; and the vicarage is endowed with the townlands of Castlemore, Ballybenard, Tullowbeg, Drumphey, and Ardowen (which in the vicar's title are called chapelries), and is in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes amount to £646.3.1., of which £415. 7. 8¼. is payable to the rector, and £230. 15. 4¾. to the vicar. The glebe-house is a neat building, and the glebe comprises 16 acres. The church, a neat plain edifice, was erected in 1790; and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £206 for its repair. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Myshall; the chapel is at Drumphey. There is a place of worship for the Society of Friends. The parochial school for boys is aided by donations from the rector and vicar, and about 50 girls are taught in a school supported by subscription ; there are also five private schools, in which are about 270 children, and a dispensary. At Ranegeragh are some remains of a castle, which anciently belonged to the Kavanaghs ; at Drumphey are the ruins of an ancient monastery ; and at Castlemore is a remarkable moat.

GILBERTSTOWN, or BENDENSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of FORTH, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S. W.) from Tullow, on the road to Leighlin; containing 567 inhabitants. Building stone is found, and there is some bog. Prior to 1830 the parish formed part of the union of Aghade. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £250.0.8. In the R. C. divisions it is the head of a union or district, also called Ballon and Ratoe, comprising the parishes of Gilbertstown, Ballon, Kellistown, Templepetre, Aghade, and parts of Fennagh and Urglin, in which union are two chapels, situated at Ballon and Ratoe. About 180 children are educated in a national school.

GRAIGUE, a suburb of the town of CARLOW, in the parish of KILLESHIN, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER ; containing 1976 inhabitants. It is situated on the right bank of the river Barrow, over which there is a bridge into the town of Carlow, but ia entirely exempt from the. jurisdiction of the sovereign of that borough, although included within its limits for electoral purposes. It' comprises 114 acres, and includes 234 houses, a large flour-mill, two tanyards, and a distillery which manufactures more than 36,000 gallons of whiskey annually. It is a constabulary police station, and has fairs on Jan. 6th, Feb. 18th, April 1st, and Oct. 6th. A court-house is about to be erected, in which the general sessions for the district will be held. The parochial church, the R. C. chapel, and the parochial and national schools, are in the village; near •which about 600 of the men who were killed in the attack upon Carlow, in 1798, were buried. — See KILLESHIN-1973


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