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MONAGHAN

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

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

"MONAGHAN, (or Rackwallace), a parish, post, market, and county town, in the barony of Monaghan, county Monaghan, province of Ulster, Ireland. It is a station on the Ulster railway, and at Monaghan Road is a station on the Irish North-Western line, 16 miles S.W. by S. of Armagh, and 76 from Dublin. The parish is 6 miles long, and its greatest breadth is 4½ miles. A considerable proportion of the surface consists of parks and demesne lands. The roads from Belfast to Enniskillen, and from Dublin to Londonderry, and the Ulster canal, cross the interior. In the 9th century a monastery was founded here, which was twice sacked in the same century, but was restored in 1462 by the MacMahons. In 1611 the grant of a market and fair was obtained by Sir Edward Blayney, who was seneschal of the county, and had built a small fort in the then village of Rackwallace, which occupied the site of the present town. In 1613 a charter of incorporation was obtained, and the new borough returned two members to the Irish parliament. It was disfranchised at the Union, and is now governed by a body of commissioners. The town, which is the capital of the county of Monaghan, consists chiefly of a central square called the Diamond, from which diverge the three principal streets. The streets are narrow, but well paved and clean. The houses are in general modern. Two lakes, Monaghan Lough and Sparks Lough, are partly within the limits of the town. The principal public buildings are the parish church; the county court-house, a stone building, situated in the Diamond; the county gaol, at the W. end of the town; the cavalry barracks, an imposing block of buildings; union poorhouse, infirmary, dispensary, and linen hall, situated in the Diamond.

There are also a savings-bank, two branch banks, newsroom, and Jackson's almshouses. The linen trade has of late years declined, but is still carried on. The general trade of the town is in farm produce; also a large brewery and corn-mills. The Northern Standard is published in the town every Saturday. It is the headquarters of the county militia, and a chief police station. The county assizes are held twice a-year in the town, also general sessions four times a-year, and petty sessions once a week, on Tuesday. The living is a vicarage and rectory in the diocese of Clogher, value £482, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, situated in the middle of the town, has a tower and spire in the later English style. It was erected in place of the old one in 1836, partly by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. It contains several monuments and tablets. Near the town is the Roman Catholic chapel, with an altar-piece. There are also Presbyterian and Methodist meeting-houses, the Raphoe diocesan school, a school founded by Captain Jackson in 1808, and several National and daily schools. In the vicinity of the town are several demesnes, as Cortalvin, the seat of Lord Rossmore; Castle Shane, of the Right Hon. E. Lucas; and Camla Vale, of Col. Westenra; also remains of several forts. Monaghan is the head of a Poor-law Union containing 21 electoral divisions in county Monaghan, and of a presbytery. Market days are Monday, Tues day, and Saturday. Fairs are held on the first Monday, in every month.

"BELLANODE, a village in the parish and county of Monaghan, province of Ulster, Ireland, 3 miles to the N.W. of Monaghan. It is situated on the banks of a small stream, a feeder of the Blackwater."

"CASTLESHANE, a village in the parish of Monaghan, and barony and county of Monaghan, province of Ulster, Ireland, 3 miles to the S.E. of Monaghan. It is not far from the river Blackwater, and contains Castleshane House, the seat of the Right Hon. E. Lucas. Annual fairs are held here on the 21st June, the 21st July, the 12th August, and the 15th November."

"ROSSMORE, a demesne in the barony, county and parish of Monaghan, Ireland. It is situated under Cortolvin Hill, and gives title of baron to Lord Rossmore."

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