A-Z of Laois in 1837
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Queen's
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LEA, or LEY, a parish, in the barony of PORTNEHINCH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, on the road from Dublin to Maryborough; containing with the greater part of the post-town of Portarlington and with the village and post-town of Ballybrittas (both separately described), 7926 inhabitants. This parish is situated in the north-eastern part of the county, and bounded on the north-east and north-west by the river Barrow, which separates it from the county of Kildare and King's county. From its central situation and proximity to the Barrow it was selected, on the seizure of Leix and the rest of the province of Leinster by Strongbow, as one of the first settlements of the English; and a strong castle was erected here, either by William, Earl Marshall, by the family of De Vesci, or by William de Braosa, to whom it came by marriage with one of the Earl's daughters. This fortress, from its commanding situation, was frequently the subject of contest between the the English lords and the native chieftains; in 1292 it is noticed by Camden as being in the possession of John Fitzthomas, one of the Geraldines, who, during the hostilities that desolated the surrounding country, brought Richard, Earl of Ulster, prisoner to this place. Contiguous to the castle, which, though the territory had descended to the Mortimers, appears to have been retained by the Fitzgeralds, was a small burgh with a market and fairs, which is said to have been destroyed in 1315 by Edward Bruce, who also burned the castle. In the latter part of the reign of Edw. II., this place was taken by Lysagh O' Moore; and on the decline of the English power, nearly the whole of the surrounding territory fell into the possession of the native septs. In 1534 the castle belonged to the Earl of Kildare, and was considered one of the six strongest castles in his possession; it was taken in 1642 by the insurgents, who were afterwards expelled by Lord Lisle; in commemoration of which an ash tree was planted in the old market-place, which is now rapidly falling to decay. The castle was dismantled by the parliamentarians under Cols. Hewson and Reynolds; and the subsequent foundations of the neighbouring town of Portarlington prevented the revival of the old burgh or town of Lea, which has since dwindled into an inconsiderable village. The parish comprises 17,932 statute acres, of which about 500 are woodland, about 1,000 waste and bog, and the remainder divided in nearly equal portions between tillage and pasture. The surface is mostly level, with a few hills of small elevation, of which the chief are Spire hill, Windmill hill, and Mullaghalig; the soil is light and shallow, and the system of agriculture improving. The substrata are limestone, limestone gravel, and reddish sand; the limestone, which is of good quality, is extensively quarried. Besides the seats noticed in the articles of Portarlington and Ballybrittas, are Gray Avon, the residence of J. Armstrong, Esq.; MountHenry, of H. Smith, Esq.; Jamestown House, of R. Cassidy, Esq.; Ballintoher of D. French Esq.; the glebe-house, of the Rev. J. Powell; Fisherstown House, of T. L. Kenney, Esq.; Killamullen of G. Blakeney, Esq.; Ballycarrol, of J. Reed, Esq.; Kilbracken, of A. W. Alloway, Esq.; and Abbeyview Cottage, of the Rev. D. Maher. The Grand Canal passes for three miles through the parish, and the river Barrow might be rendered navigable from Portarlington to Monastereven at a trifling expense. Fairs are held at Portarlington, and petty sessions are held there weekly on Wednesdays, and at Ballybrittas on Monday. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Kildare, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is appropriate to the dean and chapter. The tithes amount to £830.15.41/2., of which £553. 16. 11. is payable to the lessee of the dean and chapter, and the remainder to the vicar. The glebe-house was built by a gift of £369 and a loan to the same amount from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1829; the glebe comprises 25 acres. The church, a small neat edifice, was built by subscription, aided by a loan of £350 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1810; and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £375 for its repair. There are two chapels of ease at Portarlington. In the R. C. divisions nearly the whole of the parish forms part of the union or district of Portarlington, Emo, and Killeynard; the chapel, at Killeynard, has been lately rebuilt. About 750 children are taught in six public schools, there are also six private schools, in which are about 130 children. At Portarlington and Ballybrittas are dispensaries, and a mendicity society on Dr. Chalmers' plan is supported by subscription. There are ruins of the old churches of old Lea, Tierhoghar, and Ballyadden; and on the bank of the river Barrow are the remains of the ancient castle, consisting of a massive round tower, with several quadrangular buildings, apparently parts of the original structure and of great strength; the whole enclosed within massive walls pierced with embrasures, and presenting an imposing and venerable appearance as seen from the river. There are six raths in the parish. Near Portarlington is a powerful chalybeate spa, efficaciou in scorbutic cases.
MARYBOROUGH, an incorporated market and post-town, (formerly a parliamentary borough), and a parish, in the barony of EAST MARYBOROUGH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 10 1/2 miles (W.) from Athy, and 40 (S.W.) from Dublin, on the road to Roscrea and Limerick; containing 5306 inhabitants, of which number 3223 are in the town. This place derived its importance and its name from the erection of the ancient territory of Leix, by act of parliament of the 7th and 8th of Philip and Mary, into the Queen's county, of which it was constituted the county and assize town, and was called Maryborough in honour of the queen. The town appears to have been selected for this purpose both from its central situation and its proximity to a strong fortress, which had been recently erected to retain in obedience to the English crown this portion of the country, which had been reduced by the Earl of Sussex. In 1570, Queen Elizabeth granted to the inhabitants a charter of incorporation, which conferred upon them all the privileges enjoyed by those of Naas, Drogheda, and Dundalk, together with a market on Thursday; and in 1635, the corporation obtained from Chas. I. a grant of two fairs.
On the breaking out of the war in 1641, this was one of the places held by the confederate Catholics; it was seized by Owen Roe O'Nial in 1646, but was subsequently retaken by Lord Castlehaven; and in 1650, the fortress was taken by the parliamentarian troops under Cols. Reynolds and Hewson, by whom it was entirely demolished. The town, which is situated on a river tributary to the Barrow, contains 508 houses, irregularly built and of indifferent appearance; the streets are narrow and inconvenient, badly paved, and the inhabitants are indifferently supplied with water from want of pumps. There are barracks for a company of infantry, a handsome range of buildings. A considerable trade is carried on in flour, for the manufacture of which there are three mills, and in the neighbouring districts the woollen manufacture was formerly carried on to a very great extent. The market is on Thursday; and fairs are held on Jan. 1st, Feb. 24th, March 25th, May 12th, July 5th, Sept. 4th, Oct. 26th, and Dec. 12th, for cattle, horses, pigs, and pedlery. Under the charter of Elizabeth the corporation consisted of a burgomaster, two bailiffs, and an indefinite number of burgomaster, two bailifs, and an infinate number of burgesses and freemen, assisted by a town-clerk, serjeant-at-mace, and inferior officers. The burgomaster and bailiffs were to be annually elected on Michaelmas-day from the burgesses, by a majority of their number, by whom also vacancies in that body were filled up and freemen admitted only by favour. The burgomaster and bailiffs were by the charter compelled to take the oaths of office before the constable of the fort or castle of Maryborough, which office, though now a sinecure, is still retained; or, in his absence, before the burgesses and commons of the borough; the former is justice of peace within the borough, and, with the two bailiffs, escheator, clerk of the market, and coroner. The town-clerk is also serjeant-at-mace, billetmaster, and weigh-master, to which offices he is appointed by the burgomaster. By the charter the corporation continued to return two members to the Irish parliament till the Union, when the franchise was abolished. The borough court, which had jurisdiction to any amount, has been discontinued for more than 40 years; and in 1829 the members of the corporation had so diminished in number, that no legal election of officers took place, although the townspeople took upon themselves to elect a burgomaster, bailiffs, and other corporate officers; and in 1830, one burgess and two freemen of the old corporation held a meeting, at which the former was elected burgomaster by the latter, who were also elected bailiffs by the former; the townspeople also elected the same number of officers, without any legal authority in either case. The civil business of the borough is transacted at the quarter sessions for the county, which are held here in April and October; the assizes for the county are also held here at the usual periods, and petty sessions weekly before the county magistrates. There is a neat and commodious court-house; part of the old gaol adjoining it has been converted into offices for the county business, and it is proposed to fit up the remainder as a police barrack and a bridewell. The town is the head-quarters of the constabulary police of the county, for which it is the depot. The county gaol and house of correction was completed in 1830, and cost £18,500: it is a spacious and well-arranged edifice on the radiating plan, consisting of a central building of three stories, which contains the kitchen, the governor's apartments, with a board room, and a chapel for both Protestants and Catholics; and four radiating wings, each divided into two parts, thus forming eight wards, four for male criminal prisoners, two for male debtors, one for female criminal prisoners, and one for female debtors. Attached to each are day and work-rooms and airing-yards: there are also an infirmary, nine solitary cells and a tread wheel, used for raising water; the prison is heated by stoves. A school is opened in each ward, and the rules of prison discipline, according to the most improved system, are strictly observed. The District Lunatic Asylum for the King's and Queen's counties and those of Westmeath and Longford is established here; it was erected at an expense, including the purchase of land and furniture, of £24,172.
The building stands in the middle of an enclosed area of 22a. 12r. 7p., handsomely laid out and planted for the recreation of the patients and the use of the establishment, and presents a front of hewn limestone, raised from quarries in the neighbourhood, extending 365 feet. It is composed of a central building, containing the governor's residence and other apartments connected with the management of the institution, and having the kitchen, laundry, baths and other out-offices in the rear. From the centre branch out the wings, containing corridors, sleeping-rooms, day-rooms, and working halls; there are four corridors, &c., for each sex, all admirably constructed and of easy access for the purpose of superintendence. Water for culinary purposes is conveyed by pipes from a rivulet that passes through the enclosed area, and each corridor is furnished with an ample supply of the purest water from a never-failing spring which issues from a neighbouring limestone rock. The building, which is capable of accommodating from 150 to 160 patients, is now nearly full, and an enlargement of it is in contemplation: the average expense of each patient for the year 1836 was £16.12.7., on the gross expenditure, which is defrayed by the several counties in proportion to the number of patients sent hither from each. The county infirmary, situated near the lunatic asylum, and opened in 1808, consists of a large building of three stories, each traversed from end to end by a corridor communicating with eleven wards, capable of accommodating five patients each. The funds are derived from parliamentary grants, county presentments, (limited to £1400 per ann.) subscriptions and fines at petty sessions. The number of patients admitted in 1836 was 868; the expenditure £990. The dispensary, connected with the infirmary, afforded relief to 8650 extern patients.
The parish, also called Borris, comprises 5465 statute acres of good land, of which about 200 acres adjoining the town were formerly a common, which was enclosed at the union, one-half being divided between Lord Castlecoote and Sir John Parnell, Bart., and the remainder distributed equally among the 13 freemen, reserving a small rent for the widows of freemen, and since that period no freemen have been elected. The soil is fertile and the system of agriculture improved. A remarkable natural bank, called the Ridge, passes across the union for nearly six miles without interruption, and with a few small chasms near Tullamore, for nearly twenty-five miles, extending into King's county; it is in some parts not more than 100 feet wide at the base, and slopes gradually towards the summit, which is from 20 to 30 feet in breadth; it appears as if formed by the ebbing and flowing of water, and in some places separates the uplands from low course grounds, of which nature, in some places, the lands on both sides of it partake. A fine well, which is held in great veneration by the peasantry, issues from it near Woodville, about a mile from Maryborough. The principal seats in the vicinity are Shane House, the residence of Tho. Kemmis, Esq.; Lamberton Park, of the Hon. Justice Moore; Sheffield, of Major Cassan; Woodville of F. Thompson Esq.; the Heath House, of M. J. O'Reilly, Esq.; New Park, of the Rev. Thos. Harpur; Portrane, of W. Woodroofe, Esq.; Cremorgan, of L. Moore, Esq.; Broomfield, of Robt. Onions, Esq.; Ballyknock, of J. Cassan, Esq.; Rathleix House, of W. Clark, Esq.; Rock View of R. Graves, Esq.; and Millbrook, of H. P. Delaney, Esq. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, episcopally united, in 1721, to the rectory and vicarage of Kilcolemanbane and the vicarage of Straboe, and in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes amount to £392.6.1 3/4.; the glebe, in the parish of Kilcolemanbane, comprises only one acre; and the gross value of the benefice is £667.16.4 1/2. The church, towards the erection of which the late Board of First Fruits gave £500, was built about the beginning of the present century, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners are about to have it new roofed and thoroughly repaired. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also the parishes of Straboe, Kilcolemanbane, Dysartenos, Killeny, Kilmurry, and Kilteale. The chapel in the town is a spacious and handsome edifice, not yet completed; on the outside of the front are busts representing the heads of the four evangelists. There are also chapels at the Heath and Rathenisca; and there is a convent of the Presentation order in the town, consisting of a superioress and 16 professed nuns, who devote themselves to the gratuitous education of poor girls, of whom an average number of 200 attends the school. The Wesleyans and Calvinists have places of worship in the town. The parochial school-house was built at an expense of £250, of which £150 was raised by subscription and £100 granted from the Lord-Lieutenant's school fund. About 600 children are taught in the parochial and in a national school; there are also six private schools, in which are about 100 children. A Temperance Society has been established very lately. The remains of the old church still exist; there is also an extensive and very old burial-ground on the ridge adjoining it, and several raths in various parts. The only remains of Maryborough castle are a portion of a bastion and the walls; some ruins of Castle Clonrear still exist. Maryborough gives the title of Baron, in the English peerage, to W. Wellesley Pole, next brother of Marquess Wellesley; this nobleman is the present constable of the fort and castle.
MOUNT-MELLICK, a market and post-town, partly in the parish of COOLBANAGHER, barony of PORTNEHINCH, but chiefly in that of ROSENALLIS, barony of TINNEHINCH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (N.W.) from Maryborough, and 40 (W.S.W.) from Dublin, on the road from Portarlington to Clonaslee; containing 4577 inhabitants. This town, which is nearly encircled by the small river Owenas or Onas, was anciently called Moun-cha-Meellick, signifying "the green island." It consists of one principal with some smaller streets, and in 1831 contained 700 houses, many of which are very neat and some elegant buildings: from the extent of its trade and manufactures it ranks as the chief town in the county. The weaving of cotton is carried on very extensively, and affords employment to about 2000 persons in the town and neighbourhood; the manufacture of woollen stuffs and course woollen cloths also is conducted on a very extensive scale by the Messrs. Beale and Messrs Milner and Sons, who have lately erected very spacious buildings adjoining the town for spinning and weaving, in which nearly the same number of persons are employed. In 1834, Messrs. J. and D. Roberts, from Anglesea, established an iron and brass foundry here, on an extensive scale, for the manufacture of steam and locomotive engines and machinery in general, in which about 40 persons are employed. There are also an extensive manufactory of bits and stirrups, a tanyard, three breweries, a flour-mill, two soap manufactories, a distillery making about 120,000 gallons of whiskey annually, and some long established potteries for tiles and the coarser kinds of earthenware. A branch of the Grand Canal, which has been brought to the town from Monastereven has greatly promoted its trade in corn, butter, and general merchandise, which is rapidly increasing. The market days are Wednesday and Saturday; fairs for cattle, horses, sheep, and pigs are held on Feb. 1st, March 17th, May 1st, June 2nd, Thursday after Trinity-Sunday, July 20th, Aug. 26th, Sept. 29th, Nov. 1st, and Dec. 11th. A chief constabulary police force is stationed in the town, and there are subordinate stations at Clonaslee, Kilcabin, and Rosenallis. By a recent act of parliament, quarter sessions are held here in April and October; and petty sessions are held by rotation weekly at Mount-Nugent, Ballymachugh, and Ballyjamesduff. A new court-house is about to be erected in or near a new street at present in progress from the church square to Irishtown. A branch of the Bank of Ireland was opened here in 1836. Here is a chapel of ease to the parish of Rosenallis, a handsome edifice, lately repaired by a grant of £110 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. In the R. C. divisions this place is the head of the union or district of Mountmellick and Castlebrack, comprising parts of the parishes of Rosenallis, Castlebrack, and Coolbanagher, and containing the chapels of Mount-Mellick and Castlebrack: the former is a spacious structure. There are also in the town places of worship for the Society of Friends, and the Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists. A parochial school of the Leinster Society of Friends was established here in 1788; there are also a school in connection with the church, a national school, and a dispensary; and a Temperance Society has been formed. There is a chalybeate spring at Derryguile.
MOUNT-RATH, a market and post-town, in the parish of CLONENAGH, barony of MARYBOROUGH WEST, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 61/2 miles (W. S. W.) from Maryborough, on the road to Roscrea, and 471/4 (S. W.) from Dublin; containing 2593 inhabitants. This place, called also Moynrath, or the "fort in the bog," became, in the beginning of the 17th century, the property of Sir Charles Coote, who, although the surrounding country was then in a wild state and overspread with woods, laid the foundation of of the present town. In 1628, Sir Charles obtained for the inhabitants a grant of two weekly markets and two fairs, and established a very extensive linen and fustian manufactory, which in the war of 1641, together with much of his other property here, was destroyed. His son Charles regained the castle and estate of Mountrath, with other large possessions, and at the Restoration was created Earl of Mountrath, which title, on the decease of Charles Henry, the seventh earl, in 1802, became extinct. The present possessor is Sir Charles Henry Coote, premier baronet of Ireland. The town, which in 1831 contained 429 houses, is neatly built, and has been the seat of successive manufactures; iron was made and wrought here till the neighbouring woods were consumed for fuel, and on its decline the cotton manufacture was established; an extensive factory for spinning and weaving cotton is carried on by Mr. Greeham, who employs 150 persons in the spinningmills, and about 500 in weaving calicoes at their own houses; the average quantity manufactured is from 200 to 250 pieces weekly. Stuff-weaving is also carried on extensively; there is a large brewery and malting establishment, and an extensive oil-mill; and the inhabitants carry on a very considerable country trade. The market is on Saturday; the veal sold here is considered to be the best in the country; much corn and butter are also sold in it: the market house is a respectable building. There are fairs on Feb. 17th, May 8th, June 20th, Aug. 10th, Sept. 19th, and Nov. 6th. General sessions are held here in June and December under the new act, and petty sessions every Thursday. A new court-house and bridewell are about to be erected.
The parish church, a handsome structure, is situated in the town: it was nearly rebuilt and considerably enlarged in 1832, by a grant from the late Board of First Fruits, and by subscription, and further alterations have been lately made by means of a grant from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Mount-Rath is the head of a R. C. union or district, comprising part of the parish of Clonenagh; there are two chapels, one in the town and the other at Clonad; the former a very large cruciform building. In Coote-street there is a monastery of the order of St. Patrick, in which are a superior and eight monks, who superintend a classical boarding school, a school for the middling classes, and another in connection with the Board of National Education. There is also in the town a convent of the order of St. Bridget, consisting of a supioress, eleven professed nuns, and one lay sister; some of whom are engaged in the education of young ladies of the higher classes, and others in superintending a school for poor children in connection with the Board above-mentioned; the average number of pupils in the latter school is about 200.
There are places of worship for the Society of Friends, and for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists; and a dispensary is supported in the usual manner. The parochial school, situated in the town, is under the patronage of Sir Chas. H. Coote and Lady Coote, who entirely support it; the average number of pupils is 100 of both sexes: the building, which is large, was erected in 1820, at an expense of £500, defrayed partly by subscription, and partly by a donation of £230 from Sir Chas. Coote, who also gave an acre of ground for its site; it was enlarged in 1821, at an additional expense of £350, half of which was contributed by subscription, and the remainder from the Lord- Lieutenant's fund.
Ballyfinn House, the fine residence of Sir Chas. Coote, Bart., is situated in the centre of a demesne and pleasure grounds laid out with the greatest taste, on sloping grounds overlooking a nobel lake, and nearly surrounded by densely planted hills: the entrance to the mansion is by a portico of the Ionic order: the interior is fitted up in the most costly style and has a fine collection of paintings, statues, and busts, and a large and well selected library; the pavement of the great hall was brought from Rome. The saloon and ball-room are splendid apartments; many of the articles of furniture of each were executed for Geo. IV., when Prince of Wales, and purchased by the present pocessor. The other principal seats in the vicinity are Forest, the residence of J. Hawkesworth, Esq.; Anne Grove Abbey, of J. E. Scott, Esq.; Springmount, of Mrs. Bourne; Donore, of W. Despard, Esq.; Scotchrath, of R. White, Esq.; Roundwood, of W. Hamilton, Esq.; Newpark, of Jas. Smith, Esq., M. D., formerly the residence of the late Earl of Mountrath; Westfield Farm, of J. Price, Esq.; Laca, of John Pim, Esq.; Castletown, of Edw. Palmer, Esq.; and Killeny, of Edw. Maher, Esq.
MOYANNA, a parish, in the barony of STRADBALLY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 1 mile (N.) from Stradbally, on the road to Monastereven; containing 1659 inhabitants. This parish comprises 5697 statute acres, of which 65 are woodland. The state of agriculture has improved greatly, the progress of which is much promoted by the quantities of excellent limestone here: and its vicinity to the southern branch of the Grand Canal affords great facility for disposing of its produce. James Grattan, Esq., M. P., who has a pretty shooting-lodge here, has erected a handsome bridge over the Barrow at Dunrally fort. A party of the constabulary police is stationed at Vicarstown. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Leighlin: the rectory is impropriate in the Provost and Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin, and the vicarage forms part of the union of Stradbally. The tithes amount to £417. 8. 4., of which two-thirds are payable to the impropriators and the remainder to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions also it forms part of the union or district of Stradbally; it is in contemplation to build a chapel at the village of Vicarstown. In the National school at Moyanna, and a school at Vicarstown, supported by Mrs. Grattan, about 200 children are educated. The church is in ruins.
Queen's
County | Introduction
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