ATHENRY

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

"ATHENRY, a parish and market town in the barony of Athenry, and the county of Galway, province of Connaught, Ireland, 13 miles to the E. of Galway, and 120 miles from Dublin by road, or 113 miles by the Dublin and Galway railway, on which it is a station. There is a branch rail way to Tuam from Athenry, and a bill has passed (1862) for a line to Ennis, connecting this part of Ireland with Limerick, Cork, and Waterford. Athenry was a fortified town at a very remote period, and owed its origin to the De Burgos and Berminghams, Anglo-Norman adventurers. A Dominican monastery was founded here in the reign of King John, the site for which was given by Meyler de Bermingham. It was completed in 1261, and grew rapidly in wealth and importance. The earls of Ulster, who were among its principal benefactors, and other leading persons of the country, selected it for their place of interment. The town was sacked, and part of it burnt, by the sons of the Earl of Clanricarde, in 1577. Some attempt at restoration was made afterwards, but in 1596 the Irish, under Hugh O'Donnell, attacked and totally destroyed the town leaving only the castle, the church, and the abbey. Athenry appears to have been a borough before the reign of Edward II. and returned two members to parliament in the reign of Richard II. It ceased to be a parliamentary borough at the Union, and a municipal borough at the passing of the Corporation Reform Act; before which time it included a portion of the adjoining baronies of Clare, Dunkellin, Kilconnel, and Tyaquin, and was governed under a charter of Charles II. The original charter, with the seal attached to it, is now in the possession of Robert French, Esq. of Monioca Castle. The public buildings are, the church, the Roman Catholic chapel, and a National school. Here is a police station, and petty sessions are held once a fortnight by the county magistrates. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Tuam, Killala, and Achonry, of the value of £803, in the patronage of the crown and the bishop alternately. The principal residences are- Athenry House, within the precincts of the town, and Castle Ellere, Belleville, Moor Park, Castle Lambert, Moyvilla, Castle Turvin, Willmount, Rookmore, Graig-Abbey, Mhairwarra, Prospect, Raheen, and Mulpit, all within a circle of three miles of Athenry. The market is on Friday, and fairs are held on the 5th May, the 2nd July, and the 20th October. The Berminghams took from Athenry the title of baron, which was the premier barony of Ireland."

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