ABBEYLEIX

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

"ABBEYLEIX, a parish and market town, in the baronies of Cullinagh-Clarmallagh and West Maryborough, in Queen's County and the barony of Fassidinin, in the county of Kilkenny, province of Leinster, Ireland. It is situated on the river Nore, not far from the Dysart hills, 9 miles S.W. of Maryborough, and 59 miles from Dublin. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin, value £139, in the patronage of Viscount de Vesci. The town consists of one long street, extending along the old coach-road between Durrow and Maryborough and Dublin. It is neatly built, and has a handsome church, erected a few years ago, in the perpendicular style, with a fine spire. The old church is not generally used. There are two chapels in the town, a market-house, sessions-house, bridewell, an almshouse for poor widows, a dispensary, and infirmary. The chief seats are Abbeyleix House, the residence of the Viscount de Vesci; and Belleview. The parish contains 13,546 acres, of which about 400 acres are bog and 300 acres wood land. There is a curious freestone quarry; much good limestone is obtained, and good potters' clay. The woollen manufactures and the flour-mills furnish occupation for many hands. There is a chief police station in the town. Quarter sessions are held in June and December; Petty sessions, weekly, on Saturday, which is the market-day. Fairs are held on the 26th January, the 17th March, the 5th May, the 20th June; the 20th September, and the 4th November. A monastery is said to have been founded here about the year 600, but nothing more is heard of it till 1183. In that year it was refounded by Conogher O'More, and occupied by Cistercian monks, from Baltinglass, in Wicklow. Here the founder was buried, the house grew famous, and the town became chief in the territory of Leix, now Queen's County. Queen Elizabeth, in the sixth year of her reign, granted the monastery and its possessions to Thomas, Earl of Ormond. It now forms part of the estate of Viscount de Vesci. Of the cathedral of Aghaboe, near Abbeyleix, the chancel is the principal vestige. It was repaired in 1818, and is now used as the parish church of Aghaboe."

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