GALLEN

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

"GALLEN, a parish in the barony of Garrycastle, King's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 3 miles N.E. of Banagher. Cloghan is its post town. The river Brosna flows along the N. border. The Shannon passes on the W., and the interior is intersected by the river Silver, the Grand canal, and the road from Banagher to Athlone. It contains the villages of Clonana, Cloghan, and Shannon Harbour, and part of Ferhane and Lough Boora. The surface, from its flatness and position, is very boggy. The soil is good. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Meath, value £310, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, a neat building, erected by the late Board of First Fruits in 1813, stands in the village. Here is a Roman Catholic chapel united to that of Banagher. Two National and several private schools are in the parish. Gallen Priory is the seat of Sir A. Armstrong, Bart., M.P. Gallen was anciently part of the territory of the McCoghlans, who built a castle here, reduced by Ireton in 1650. In 490 a monastery was founded by St. Carnoc, and destroyed in 820 by Felim McCroimhain. At the Dissolution the lands were granted to Sir Gerald Moore. An abbey was also founded here by St. Diarmid in the 6th century, which was burnt in 1077. Some remains of the monastery still exist."

"CLOGHAN, a village in the parish of Gallen, in the barony of Garrycastle, in King's County, province of Leinster, Ireland. It lies 16 miles to the W. of Tullamore, on the road from Banagher to Dublin. This village formerly belonged to the O'Coghlans; the old manor-house is now used as a barrack. It contains the parish church, a Roman Catholic chapel, and a police station. Within a short distance, though without the parish, is Cloghan or Lusmagh Castle; it was reduced in 1595, by the Lord Deputy, Sir William Russell, when in possession of O'Madden, who founded here a friary of the Franciscan order. Fairs are held on the 16th March, 15th May, 15th August, and 29th October."

"CLONONY, (or Clonana), a hamlet in the barony of Garrycastle, in King's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 16 miles W. of Tullamore. It is situated near the river Shannon."

"FERBANE, a post and market town in the parishes of Gallen and Wheery, in the barony of Garrycastle, King's County, province of Connaught, Ireland, 13 miles W. of Tullamore. It is situated on the banks of the river Brosna, near the confluence of that river with the Shannon, at a short distance from the Grand canal, and contains the parish church, a Roman Catholic chapel, meetinghouses for Baptists and Wesleyans, a police station, and a dispensary, the last within the Birr Poorlaw Union. A bridge commanding a fine view crosses the river. Gallen Priory and Moyclare are the principal seats. Fairs are held on 2nd August and 20th October."

"SHANNON HARBOUR, a post-office village in the parish of Gallen, barony of Garrycastle, King's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 2 miles N.N.E. of Banagher, at the confluence of the Grand Canal with the Shannon, and near the embouchure of the river Upper Brosna. There are a police station and a station of the Inland Steam Navigation Company."

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