MONKSTOWN

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

"MONKSTOWN, a parish and post-office village in the barony of Kerrycurrihy, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles S.E. of Cork, and 160 from Dublin. There is a station at Monkstown Ferry, on the Cork, Youghal, and Queenstown railway. The parish is 3½ miles long by 2 broad, and contains the village of Maulbaun and part of the town of Passage. The surface lies about the mouth of the river Lee, near Great Island, in Cork Harbour. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Cork, value £65. The church was built by means of a sum raised by subscription in 1832. There are two or three day schools. Monkstown Castle is the principal residence. The village stands on the coast, and is a favourite watering-place. It has baths, and excellent accommodation for the numerous fashionable visitors. Here are the curious rocks called the Giant's Stairs, which formerly presented the peculiar semblance to a huge flight of steps; but a new road having been cut along the coast, a considerable portion of the rock has been removed. There formerly existed here a small religious house, a cell to St. John's Priory, Waterford, and there are still ruins of Monkstown Castle, built in 1136 by the Arohdeken family, who held the land here; but being attainted, the property came into the hands of the De Vesci family; also Danish and Druidical remains occur in various parts of the parish."

"MAULBAUN, a village in the parish of Monkstown, in the barony of Kerricurrihy, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, near Monkstown."

"WEST PASSAGE, a post and market town in the parishes of Marmullane and Monkstown, in the barony of Kerricurrihy, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 6 miles S.E. of Cork. It is a station on the Cork and Passage line of railway. This little seaport is situated on the W. side of the mouth of the river Lee, near Great Island, with which and Queenstown communication is maintained by means of a ferry. The town consists of one principal street, running for some distance along the coast, and sending off several smaller thoroughfares. It contains a church, Roman Catholic and Wesleyan chapels, and a parish school. A brisk coasting trade is carried on, and shipbuilding is a prominent branch of trade. Here is a police station, and petty sessions are held at intervals.

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