CLONARD

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

"CLONARD, a parish in the barony of Upper Moyfenrath, in the county of Meath, province of Leinster, Ireland. It is 1 mile from Hill-of-Down station on the Mullingar railway, at which place the post office is now for the more convenience, though formerly at Clonard. The parish lies along the banks of the river Boyne, which here separates it from the county of Kildare. It contains the villages of Longwood, Harwood, and part of Lough Crobog, and is traversed by the road from Dublin to Connaught, and by the Royal canal. The lands, formerly subject to overflow from Boyne river, are not so now, but are rendered most profitable by drainage. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Meath, value with Killyon, £330, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is of considerable size, with steeple and four minarets. It contains many handsome monuments and tombs. The glebe house is pleasantly situated in a demesne of 40 Irish acres, largely planted, and further improvements are progressing. There is a Roman Catholic chapel and several schools. The history of ancient Clonard, which signifies " Western height," is very obscure; tradition attributes its foundation to St. Fiman, who built a monastery and nunnery, and founded here the abbey church in 520. It continued as a bishopric, alike independent of England and Rome, till the 12th century, when, with other parts of Ireland, it was subjugated by Henry II. It was a great seat of religious learning, and resorted to by divines from distant shores. In the steeple of the church is preserved the old head, cut in rude stone, of St. Finian, believed to be of very early date."

"HARDWOOD, a hamlet in the parish of Clonard, barony of Upper Moyfenrath, county Meath, province of Leinster, Ireland, 7 miles N.W. of Innfield."

"LONGWOOD, a post-office village in the parish of Clonard, in the barony of Upper Moyfenrath, county Meath, province of Leinster, Ireland, 4 miles N.W. of Innfield. It is situated on the river Blackwater. It contains a Roman Catholic chapel and a police station. Petty sessions are held at intervals. Fairs are held on 1st February, 28th April, 12th July, and 11th December."

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