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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

In 1868, the parish of Agha contained the following places:

"AGHA, (or Augha), a parish in the barony of Idrone East, in the county of Carlow, and province of Leinster, Ireland, containing part of the market town of Leighlin Bridge. It is situated on the east bank of the river Barrow, on the road from Carlow to Kilkenny. It was the site of an abbey named Achadfinglass, founded at a very remote period by St. Finian, and plundered by the Danes in 864. The land is good and is all under cultivation. Limestone is quarried for burning. The living is a vicarage united with Dunleckny. Fairs are held on Easter Monday, on the 14th May, the 23rd September, and the 27th December, for the sale of live stock. Rathwade and Steuart Lodge are the principal residences.

"LEIGHLINBRIDGE, a post, and market town in the parishes of Agha and Wells, in the barony of East Idrone, county Carlow, province of Leinster, Ireland, 8 miles S. of Carlow and 57 from Dublin. It is situated on the bank of the river Barrow, and contains Wells parish church, a Roman Catholic church, and school. A bridge of nine arches was thrown across the river in 1320. Corn and butter constitute the principal articles of export. There are a police station and a dispensary, which latter is within the Carlow Poor-law Union. A Carmelite friary was founded here by the Carew family in the time of Henry III., of which some remains exist. It was destroyed by Rory Oge O'More in 1577, and was stormed by Ireton in 1649, having been fortified by Lord Deputy Bellingham, to whom it was granted at the Suppression. There are traces of a castle built in 1181 by John de Clavill, near the bridge, called the Black Castle; also of a fort called the White Castle, built by Gerald, Earl of Kildare, in 1408. Mondays and Saturdays are market days. Fairs are held on Easter Monday, 14th May, 25th September, and 27th December."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018