KILLABBAN

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

"KILLABBAN, (or Kilebban) a parish in the baronies of Ballyadams and Slievemargy, Queen's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 7 miles S.E. of Stradbally. Baltinglass is its post town. It is 9 miles long by 5½ broad, and contains the villages of Ballylinan, Arles, and Ballickmoyler. The surface comprises a proportion of moorland and some fertile soil along the river Barrow, which flows on the E. boundary. The upland district is rather rich in mineral productions, including coal, lime, and building stone. The Dowglass is a small stream of the interior. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Leighlin, value £967, in the patronage of the crown. The church was erected in 1801. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to those of Ballylinan and Arles. There are four Sunday and several day schools. Cooper Hill and Ashfield are among the principal residences. Hovendon Castle is in ruins.

"ARLESS, a village in the parish of Killabban, in the barony of Slievemargy, Queen's County, in the province of Leinster, Ireland, 5 miles to the N.W. of Carlow. Tiles for roofing and flooring were formerly made here. The manufacture of linen and yam is carried on, though not to a great extent. On the site of the south wing of the old church is the mausoleum of the Grace family: it is in the perpendicular style, and was erected in 1818; its length is 21 feet, and its breadth 18 feet."

"BALLICKMOYLER, a village in the parish of Killabban, in the barony of Slievemargy, Queen's County, in the province of Leinster, Ireland, 8 miles to the S. of Athy. It is a chief police station, and petty sessions are held weekly. This village suffered severely during the Rebellion, in 1798, and has not regained its former prosperity."

"BALLYLYAN, a village in the parish of Killabban, in the barony of Ballyadams, Queen's County, province of Leinster Ireland, 10 miles to the S.E. of Maryborough. Coal mines are worked here, and there is abundance of flagstone. Iron has been found. In the vicinity are Rabin, the seat of the Weldons, chief proprietors of the place; and Gracefield Lodge, the seat of the Graces. There are several remains of antiquity near the village, including a cromlech, a great earthwork and ditch, and the ruins of a church. Near the latter, many coins have been found of very early date. Here is a police station. Petty sessions are held weekly, and fairs on the 11th January, the 10th February, the 10th May, the 2nd September, and the 26th November.

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