FENNAGH

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

"FENNAGH, a parish and post town in the baronies of Forth, East Idrone, and Rathvilly, county Carlow, province of Leinster, Ireland. The parish is divided into three sections. The East Idrone section contains the villages of Ballyknockan and Ballybrommell; the Rathvilly section part of Tullow. The rivers Slaney and Burren pass through the parish. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Leighlin, value £449, in the patronage of the crown and bishop alternately. The church was built in 1790, and stands in the village. Here is a Roman Catholic chapel united to that of Myshall, a Quaker meetinghouse, and six day schools. Here was formerly a seat of one of the kings of Leinster; and Rathnageeragh Castle, now a ruin, belonged to the Kavanaghs. There are ruins of a monastery at Drumphey. From Mount Leinster the view is very fine. There is a police station at Leighlinbridge. Granite of superior quality is quarried."

"BALLYBROMMELL, a village in the barony of East Idrone, in the county of Carlow, province of Leinster, Ireland, 3 miles from Myshall."

"BALLYKNOCKAN, a village in the barony of East Idrone, in the county of Carlow, province of Leinster, Ireland, not far from Myshall."

"TULLOW, a post and market village in the parishes of Fennagh and Tullowphelim, barony of Rathvilly, county Carlow, province of Leinster, Ireland, 8 miles N.W. of Carlow, and 48 from Dublin. The parish is traversed by the road from Carlow to Newtownbarry, and by the river Slaney, which is here crossed by a bridge built in 1767. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Leighlin, value £463. The church was erected in 1831. There are a Roman Catholic chapel, several public and two private schools. The principal residences are Coppenagh, Castlemore, Tullow Lodge, Newstown, and Rathglass. The chief trade is in corn. Tullow Castle was defended by Colonel Butler in 1650 against the army of the Parliament, but afterwards it was taken by Colonel Hewson and Colonel Reynolds. A monastic establishment was founded here by Simon Lumbard and Hugh Tallon in 1315, the temporalities of which were presented to the Earl of Ormond at the Dissolution. The Butler family take their title of viscount from this place. There are still ruins of Grace's Castle, erected by a member of that family, who were descended from Raymond le Gros. Market-days are Tuesday and Saturday. Fairs are held on 21st April, 10th July, 29th October, and 21st December.

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