BLESSINGTON

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

"BLESSINGTON, a parish and market town in the barony of Lower Talbotstown, in the county of Wicklow, province of Leinster, Ireland, 18 miles to the S.W. of Dublin. It is situated on the confines of the county of Kildare, on the banks of the river Liffey, and owes its origin to Michael Boyle, Archbishop of Dublin in the reign of Charles II. A charter of incorporation was granted in 1669, from which time till the Union the borough returned two members to the Irish parliament. A police force is stationed here, and petty sessions are held once a fortnight. The district is mountainous, and there are large tracts of waste and bog. Granite, which is abundant, is quarried and exported. The fine waterfall called Poul-a-phuca is within 3 miles of Blessington. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Dublin, Glendalagh, and Kildare, of the value of £398, in the patronage of the archbishop. The church, which has a lofty tower, was erected by Archbishop Boyle, and contains a monument to him. In the vicinity are Hillsborough, the seat of the Marquis of Downshire; Russborough, the seat of the Earl of Milltown; and Russelstown. The market day is Thursday. Fairs are held on the 12th May, the 5th July, and the 12th November."

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