LOUGHREA

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

"LOUGHREA, a parish, post and market town, in the barony of Loughrea, county Galway, province of Connaught, Ireland. The parish is 4½ miles long by 3 broad. The surface consists of pasture and arable. Loughrea Lake is partly within the limits. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Clonfert, value £444. The church is surmounted with a steeple. It was erected in 1821 by aid of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. The Roman Catholic chapel is likewise a very attractive building. There are several day-schools. Mount Pleasant, Woodmount, and Summerhill are the chief seats. The town occupies a site on the bank of Lake Loughrea, 21 miles S.E. of Galway, and 109 from Dublin. The principal street is a thoroughfare of considerable length, consisting of tolerably built houses. It contains barracks, a court-house, linen hall, bridewell, bank, union poorhouse, and a brewery. The business of the place is confined to general trade. The Marquis of Clanricarde is the proprietor. A Carmelite friary was founded here in 1300 by Richard de Burgh. There is also a nunnery of the same order, which was first founded in 1680, and removed to its present site in 1829. At Monument Hill a Druidical circle may be seen. Loughrea gives name to a Poor-law Union, containing fifteen electoral divisions in the county of Galway. It is a chief police station, and general sessions are held twice a year; also petty sessions once a fortnight. Thursday is market day. Fairs are held on 11th February, 7th May, 20th August, and 5th December."

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