KELLS

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

"KELLS, a parish in the baronies of Shillelogher and Kells, county Kilkenny, province of Leinster, Ireland, 7 miles S.S.W. of Kilkenny. Thomastown is its post town. The parish is 3½ miles long by 2 broad. The surface lies principally within the valley of King's river, and consists of good soil. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ossory, value with six others, £551, in the patronage of the diocesan and of the Marquis of Ormonde alternately. The church was built in 1843. There is also an ancient church in the parish, and two Roman Catholic chapels. Here are a parish school, two day schools, and a Sunday-school. Garrynamanagh, Kellsborough, and Newtown are the principal residences. The village stands on the King's river; though formerly a town of some importance, and the site of an abbey, it is now a poor and obscure village. It was founded with the castle by Geoffrey Fitzrobert de Marisco, who built the priory in 1183. It afterwards came into the possession of the Birminghams, and was burnt in 1252 and 1327. It was occupied by Edward Bruce in 1316, and about the same time was fortified by Sir Eustace Le Poer. At the suppression of monasteries the priory, of which some remains still exist, was granted to the Earl of Ormonde. There is a police station."

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