A-Z of Laois in 1837

Queen's County | Introduction
Locations: A-B | E-K | L-M | O-V

C - D

Below is a list of links to the locations on this page

Castlebrack
Castletown
Clonagheen
Clonaslee
Clonenagh
Coolbanagher
Coolkerry
Coolraine
Corclone
Cullohill
Donoughmore
Durrow
Dysartenos
Dysartgallen

CAHIR, a parish, in the barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER; containing 519 inhabitants. It is situated on the road from Durrow to Kilkenny, and forms part of the union of Aughamacart, in the diocese of Ossory, in which the vicarage is included: the rectory is impropriate in Ladies G. and F. Fitzpatrick. In the R.C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Durrow.

CASTLEBRACK, a parish, in the barony of TINNEHINCH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 6 miles (W. N. W.) from Portarlington; containing 1855 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated in the north-east angle of the county, where it joins King's county, and on the river Oweness, derives its name from the castle, now in ruins, which was built by the Dunne family and was formerly a strong place surrounded by a moat. Fairs are held on May 16th and Aug. 12th. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Kildare, and is part of the union of Rosinallis or Oregan; the rectory is impropriate in Gen. Dunne. The tithes amount to £210. 2. 6., of which £140. 1. 8. is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Mountmellick; the chapel is on the townland of Clonaghedor, where there is a national school, in which are about 30 boys and 40 girls, and a hedge school, in which are about 30 boys and 20 girls.

CASTLETOWN, a village, in the parish of OFFERLANE, barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 1 3/4 mile (S. by W.) from Mountrath; containing 367 inhabitants. This place takes its name from an ancient castle, occupying a commanding situation on the bank of the river Nore, and which, in the early part of the 16th century was garrisoned by Sir Oliver Norris, son-in-law of the Earl of Ormonde, with a view to curb the power of the Fitzpatricks, to whom it was afterwards relinquished, and of whom Barnaby Fitzpatrick was, in 1541, created Baron of Upper Ossory. The village is pleasantly situated on the river Nore, and on the road from Dublin to Limerick; it contains 59 houses, many of which are good residences, and the whole has an appearance of neatness and respectability. Near it is some large flour and oatmeal-mills. A fair is held on June 29th; and there were formerly fairs on May 2nd and Oct. 18th. A constabulary police force is stationed here, and petty sessions are held on alternative Saturdays. There is a R.C. chapel in the village. - See OFFERLANE.

CLONAGHEEN, a parish, in the barony of MARYBOROUGH WEST, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 3 1/4 miles (S. E. by S.) from Mountrath: the population is returned with the parish of Clonenagh. It is situated on the road from Dublin to Limerick, and is bounded on the south-west by the river Nore, over which is a neat bridge, here called the Poor Man's Bridge. There is a large tract of valuable bog. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and is part of the union of Clonenagh, for which and Clonagheen there is but one composition of tithes. The schools are also noticed under the head of that parish. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Mountrath.

CLONASLEE, an ecclesiastical district, in the barony of TINNEHINCH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 71/4 miles (W.N.W.) from Mountmellick, and 47 3/4 (W.S.W.) from Dublin; containing 514 inhabitants, and in the village 79 houses. This place is situated on the river Barradois, over which is a good bridge, and has a penny post to Mountmellick. There is a boulting-mill in the parish, and fairs are held on May 3rd and Nov. 7th, and petty sessions weekly. Adjoining the village is the fine denesne of Brittas, the property of Gen. Dunne. The district was formerly part of the parish of Kilmanman, in the union of Rosinallis, from which it was separated some years since and erected into a district parish. It is a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Kildare, and in the patronage of the Incumbent of Rosinallis. The church is a handsome edifice, with a well-proportioned spire, erected in 1814, under the direction and auspices of Gen. Dunne, aided by a gift of £800 and a loan of £300 from the late Board of First Fruits, and for the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £377.5.6. The glebe-house was built by a gift of £450 and a loan of £50 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1830. In the R.C. divisions it is the head of a union or district, comprising also parts of the parishes of Rery and Kilmanman; the chapel is a spacious building. There is a parochial school, and also a school in connection with the trustees of Erasmus Smith's charity; the school-house, a large slated building, was erected at an expense of £300. At Clara Hill, about a mile from the village, are the ruins of an old castle, which was formerly the residence of a younger branch of the Dunne family; and near the east bank of the Barradois or Clodiagh river are the ruins of a castle, called Ballinakill, built in 1680 by Col. Dunne. To the south of this is Coolamona, once a place of considerable strength, forming an outpost of Tinnehinch, but now nearly demolished. In the neighbourhood are some raths, in one of which was found, in 1734, a rude kistvaen of unhewn flags, covered by a tumulus of earth and stones.

CLONENAGH, a parish, partly in the baronies of CULLINAGH and MARYBOROUGH EAST, but chiefly in that of MARYBOROUGH WEST, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER; containing, with the parish of Clonagheen and the post-town of Mountrath, 18,136 inhabitants. This place, originally called Cluain-aith-chin and Cluain-aednach, is of very remote antiquity. A monastery was founded here, at an early period, by St. Fintan, who became its first abbot, and was succeeded by St. Columba, who died in 548. This abbey was destroyed in 838, by the Danes, who, in 843, carried its venerable abbot, Aid, who was also abbot of Tirdaglass, into Munster, where, on the 8th of July, he suffered martydom. After being frequently plundered and destroyed by the Danes, it continued to flourish for a considerable period, but little is known of its history subsequently to the English invasion. At Gutney Cloy, in this parish, a battle took place between the forces of Brian Boroimhe, on their return from Clontarf, and those of Fitzpatrick, Prince of Ossory. The parish is situated on the road from Maryborough to Roscrea, and comprises, with Clonagheen, 34,855 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. Of these, from 9000 to 12,000 are bog, and about half that number is mountain and waste; the remainder is arable and pasture land, nearly in equal portions. The system of agriculture is greatly improved, and green crops have been generally introduced. Ballyfin House, the elegant mansion of Sir C. H. Coote, Premier Baronet of Ireland, is a modern structure in the Grecian style of architecture, and is fitted up in a style of costly splendour; it is situated on a very elevated site on the side of a mountain, and commands extensive views of the surrounding country. The other seats are Springmount, that of Sir E. J. Walshe, Bart.; Forest, of J. Hawkesworth, Esq.; Ann Grove Abbey, of J. E. Scott, Esq.; and Scotch Rath, of R. White, Esq. An extensive cotton manufactory is carried on at Mountrath, where fairs are held on Jan. 6th, Feb. 17th, April 20th, May 7th, June 20th, Aug. 10th, Sept. 29th, and Nov. 5th, for general farming stock. Petty sessions are held at Mountrath every Thursday, and at Ann Grove every alternate Wednesday.

The living is a rectory in the diocese of Leighlin, episcopally united, in 1661, to the rectory and vicarage of Clonagheen, and in the alternate patronage of the Crown, which has two presentations, and of the Bishop, who has one: the tithes for both parishes amount to £1500; there is neither glebe-house nor glebe. There are two churches, one at Mountrath, a spacious and handsome edifice, erected in 1800, by aid of a gift of £900 and a loan of £500, and enlarged in 1830, by aid of a loan of £1500, from the late Board of First Fruits, and towards the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £246.18.7.; and one at Roskelton, a neat small edifice, for the repair of which the Commissioners have also granted £254.12.3. At Ballyfin is a chapel, endowed by the Hon. William Pole, the chaplain of which is paid by Lord Maryborough; towards the repairs of this chapel, the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have also recently granted £368.8.4. In the R.C. divisions the parish is styled an abbacy, and constitutes the three benefices of Ballyfin, Mountrath and Clondacasey, and Raheen and Shanahoe. There are five chapels, all neat plain buildings, situated respectively at Mountrath, Ballyfin, Raheen, Shanahoe, and Clondacasey; also places of worship for the Society of Friends and Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists. There are a monastery and convent of St. Patrick's and St. Bridget's confraternity, to which a school is attached; the school-house was built by the late Dr. Delany. At Oak, Cootestreet, Ballyfin, Mountrath, Trummera, Raheen, and Ballyeagle, are national schools; and there are five schools supported by subscription. In these schools about 680 boys and 450 girls are instructed; and there are also five pay schools in which are about 170 boys and 250 girls. The late Rt. Hon. W. Pole bequeathed £100 per annum late currency for the endowment of the chapel at Ballyfin, and £20 per annum for a schoolmaster and clerk. At Forest is a chalybeate spring. - See Mountrath.

COOLBANAGHER, or COOLBENGER, a parish, in the barony of PORTNEHINCH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER; containing with the parish of Ardea, or Ardrea, the post-town of Emo, and part of that of Mountmellick, 7456 inhabitants. It comprises 8623 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The soil is generally fertile, and there is a considerable tract of wasteland, which is mostly exhausted bog, also a large tract of valuable bog; the system of agriculture is daily improving. Limestone abounds, and is quarried for building, repairing the roads, and burning into lime for manure. The principal seats are Emo Park, the residence of the Earl of Portarlington; Woodbrook, of Major Chetwood; Lauragh, of the Rev. Sir Erasumus Dixon Borrowes, Bart.; Knightstown, of Joseph Kemmis, Esq.; and Shane Castle, of Thomas Kemmis, Esq. From a desire to introduce manufactures and trade into this part of the country, for the employment of the population, Mr. Kemmis has established, on his estate at Shane, an iron-foundry and manufactory. The Dublin Grand Canal passes through the parish to Mountmellick; also a tributary steam which, running northward, falls into the Barrow at Portnehinch bridge. Petty sessions are held at Lauragh.

The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Kildare, episcopally united, in 1804, to the rectory of Ardea or Ardrea, together forming the union of Coolbanagher, in the patronage of the Crown: the tithes amount to £276.18.51/2. per annum. The extent of the union as applotted under the tithe act, is 15,763 acres; and the tithes for the whole amount to £536.6.13/4. per annum. The glebe-house, in Ardea, is a handsome residence, built in 1790: the glebe comprises 26 1/2 acres. The church, also in Ardea, is a handsome edifice, erected at the expense of the late Lord Portarlington, on the summit of an eminence not far from the southern extremity of the union. In the R.C. divisions this parish forms part of the union or district of Portarlington; the chapel, at Emo, is a very neat edifice. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. The parochial school is at Moret, and there are about six other schools at that and other places in the parish: a spacious slated building was erected for one under the trustees of Erasmus Smith's charity, at an expense of £500, chiefly defrayed by I. C. Chetwood, Esq.; and the school at Emo is endowed with 20 acres of land by the Hon. Lionel Dawson. There are about 700 children in these schools. The ruins of the ancient church are still visible, and also those of the castle of Moret, in the vicinity of which are the venerable remains of Shane Castle, formerly called "Sion," or "Shehan Castle," which was the head of a manor, when in the possession of Sir Robert Preston, in 1397, but it has shared the fate of the other castles of Leix. During the parliamentary war it was seized by the insurgents, in 1641; taken from them the year following by Sir Charles Coote, retaken by Owen Roe O'Nial in 1646, and finally surrendered, in 1650, to Cols. Hewson and Reynolds, who demolished the outworks, and left nothing but the present building remaining. It is situated on a high conical hill, and was fitted up in the last century by Dean Coote, who converted it into a very pleasant residence. - See EMO and MOUNTMELLICK.

COOLKERRY, a parish, in the barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 1 mile (E. by S.) from Rathdowney, on the road to Castledurrow; containing 375 inhabitants. This parish comprises 1720 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, entirely impropriate in the Ladies G. and A. Fitzpatrick: the tithes amount to £110, wholly payable to the impropriators, who allow an annual stipend of £10.10. to the vicar of Aughmacart for performing the clerical duties. The church is in ruins, and the Protestant parishioners attend the church at Rathdowney. In the R.C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Aghavoe.

COOLRAINE, a village, in the parish of OFFERLANE, barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S country and province of LEINSTER, 4 miles (N.W.) from Mountrath, on the road to Roscrea; containing 53 houses and 324 inhabitants. It is a constabulary police station. A boulting-mill has been erected, and there is a dispensary in the village, near which is the parochial school-house, a neat stone building. - See OFFERLANE.

CORCLONE, a parish, in the barony of STRADBALLY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 2 miles (N.E.) from Stradbally, on the road to Athy, containing 650 inhabitants. This parish comprises about 2400 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The Grand Canal passes through it. The gentlemen's seats are Ballykilcavan, the residence of Sir E. H. Walsh, Bart.; and Brockley Park, of - Finer, Esq. The living, formerly united to that of Killeny, from which it has been recently separated, is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the tithes amount to £233. There is no glebe-house; the glebe comprises 2a. 39p. The church is a neat small edifice in good repair. In the R.C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Stradbally; there is no chapel at present, but it is in contemplation to build one at Vickerstown.

CULLOHILL, a village, in the parish of AGHAMACART, barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S county, and province of Leinster, 3 miles (W.) from Durrow, on the road to Kilkenny; the population is returned with the parish. Fairs are held on May 27th and Oct. 2nd, for farming stock in general, but particularly sheep. A constabulary police force is stationed here; and the parochial chapel of the district of Durrow is situated in the village. - See AGHAMACART.

DONOUGHMORE, a parish, in the barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 1 1/4 mile (N.W. by N.) from Rathdowney, on the road from Burros-in-Ossory to Kilkenny; containing 1211 inhabitants, of which number, 383 are in the village. This parish contains 3226 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The village comprises about 70 houses, and contains extensive corn-mills and a large starch manufactory. Fairs are held in it on March 28th, June 12th and 13th, Aug. 31st, and Dec. 12th. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £154.9.7 1/2. There is a glebe-house, with a glebe of 193 acres. The church was rebuilt by aid of a loan of £500 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1821. In the R.C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Rathdowney, and contains a plain chapel. The parochial school is endowed with an acre of land by the rector, and there are two private schools, in all which about 100 children are educated.

DURROW, or CASTLE-DURROW, a market and post-town, and a parish, partly in the barony of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S county, but chiefly in that of GALMOY, county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 12 miles (S. by E.) from Maryborough, and 54 (S.W.) from Dublin, on the road from Athy to Cashel; containing 2911 inhabitants, of which number 1298 are in the town. This parish comprises 6843 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; three-fourths of the land are arable and pasture, about 1000 acres woodland, and 300 bog. The town, which is on the bank of the river Erkin, contains 236 houses forming a square, many of which are well-built and slated. It is included in the county of Kilkenny for civil purposes, but is completely surrounded by Queen's county, of which it formed a part until the Earl of Ormonde, by act of parliament, procured its annexation to Kilkenny. Malt is made here, and there is a large boulting-mill. The market is held on Friday in the market-house; and fairs are held on the second Thursday (O.S.) in May, Aug., and Nov., and Feb. 2nd, March 4th, April 16th, July 3rd, and Oct. 8th. It is a constabulary police station, and has a dispensary. Petty sessions are held on alternate Fridays. Adjoining the town is Castle-Durrow, a large ancient mansion belonging to Viscount Ashbrook, from which he takes the title of Baron. Here are also Donmore, the residence of the Staples family; Moyne, of R. Hamilton Stubber Esq.; and Castlewood, of R. Lawrenson, Esq. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of St. Canice's, Kilkenny; the rectory is appropriate to the economy estate of the cathedral. The tithes amount to £360, of which £240 is payable to the lessee under the economy estate, and £120 to the vicar. There is a glebe-house, with a glebe of more than 18 acres. A cattle show was established here, in 1801, by the Midland Farming Society. The church is a large building, with a tower and spire, and has recently been repaired by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, at an expense of £738. In the R. C. divisions part of the parish is in the union or district of Ballyragget, and the remainder with Aghamacart forms the district of Durrow, in which is a chapel. The Wesleyan Methodists have a meeting house in the town. The parochial school is aided by Lord Ashbrook and the incumbent, and an infants' school is supported by an annual donation of £52 from Mrs. Walker. About 70 children are educated in these schools, about 180 in four private schools, and there is also a Sunday school. At Callohill, on the estate of Lord Carbery, are the ruins of a castle. A monastery once existed at Durrow, but its history is unknown; and at Ballynasleigh was a large altar, or cromlech, which was destroyed in a search for money, also another cromlech and some enclosures and pits.

DYSARTENOS, a parish, partly in the barony of MARYBOROUGH EAST, but chiefly in that of STRADBALLY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 3 1/2 miles (W. by S.) from Stradbally, on the road to Maryborough; containing 1354 inhabitants. This place, at a very remote period, was the residence of the O'Mores, princes of Leix; and also of Dermod McMurrough, king of Leinster. A monastery was founded here by Aengus, on his retirement from Clonenagh abbey, of which he was abbot, but though it flourished for some time, not even the site is known. The parish is the property of Sir Henry Parnell, Bart., who has fitted up a place of summer residence within the walls of the ancient fortress. Fairs are held here on Whit-Monday, and Oct. 12th. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin, united from time immemorial to the vicarage of Kilteel, and in the patronage of Lord Carew, in whom the rectory is impropriate. The tithes amount to £416.10.101/2., of which £277.12.111/4. is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar. The glebe-house was built in 1813, by a gift of £400, and a loan of £360 from the late Board of First Fruits; the glebe comprises seven acres. The church, towards the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have lately granted £333, is a small edifice with a square tower, forming a very picturesque object, on the summit of one of the Dysart hills. In the R.C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Maryborough; the chapel is a neat building. About 140 children are taught in a national school and there is also a Sunday school. The fortress of Dunamase occupies the summit of a precipitous rock, rising from the midst of an extensive plain and from a very remote age was the residence of the O'Mores, and with the territory of Leinster became the property of Strongbow, Earl of Pembroke, by marriage with the daughter of Dermod McMurrough, King of Leinster, and afterwards passed again by marriage to William de Braos, the reputed founder of the castle and manor of Dunamase. In 1264 it was held by Maurice Fitzgerald, and soon after by Lord Mortimer, during whose absence in England it was, with seven other of his castle, seized by his vassal O'More, to whom he had entrusted it. Lord Mortimer, on his subsequent recovery of the fortress, increased its strength by additional fortifications; and it was for a long period an object of continued contests between the English and the native chieftains. It was further strengthened in the reign of Jas. I., but was taken in 1641 by the insurgents, who were soon after driven out by Sir Chas. Coote; it afterwards surrendered to Gen. Preston but was retaken by the parliamentarians, who in 1646 were expelled by Owen Roe O'Neill, who carried it by assault. In 1649 it was taken by Lord Castlehaven, but the year following the garrison surrendered to the parliamentarian forces under Cols. Hewson and Reynolds, by whom it was dismantled and nearly demolished. The remains occupy the summit of a hill 200 feet high, and consist of a barbican and watch-tower defending the entrance on the south-west side, on which alone it was accessible; from the barbican a draw-bridge afforded access to the first gateway which is defended by two towers. The interior consists of an outer and inner court; and the whole is defended by walls of great thickness surrounding the summit of the hill, which is more than 1000 feet in circuit, fortified at intervals with towers. The ruins of the keep, in which was apparently a chapel, occupy the highest ground; and adjoining it are the remains of the state apartments. Small silver coins of the early Irish kings have been found on the site of the ruins.

DYSARTGALLEN, a parish, in the barony of CULLINAGH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, on the road from Durrow to Abbeyleix; containing with the post-town of Ballinakill (which is described under its own head), 4018 inhabitants. This parish comprises 10,557 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the soil is generally good and the land in a profitable state of cultivation; there is a small quantity of bog, and grit-stone is quarried for building. The only seat of importance is Monaclare, the residence of S. M. Stubber, Esq. Fairs are held monthly at Ballinakill. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin, and in the patronage of Earl Stanhope: the tithes amount to £406.3.1. The glebe-house was built by a gift of £100, and a loan of £550 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1810; the glebe comprises 30 acres. The church, towards the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £292, is a handsome building with a spire, situated in Ballinakill; it has a window of stained glass, and was erected in 1821, by a loan of £1100. The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church; there is a chapel at Ballinakill, and another at Knockardgurt. About 680 children are taught in two public schools, of which the parochial school is supported by the rector who also built the school-house; and there are also five private schools, in which are about 160 children. Mr. Dillon bequeathed £500 to the R. C. poor of the parish. There are some remains of the castles of Moate and Ballinakill; and at Heywood is a chalybeate spring.

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