CLONENAGH

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

"CLONENAGH, AND CLONAGHEEN (or Mountrath), a parish in the baronies of Cullenagh and East and West Maryborough, in Queen's County province of Leinster, Ireland, 3 miles S.W. of Maryborough. It is situated on the river Nore, and the Ownass stream, a tributary to the Barrow, which describes its northern boundary. It contains the post town of Mountrath. The soil is of second rate quality; the surface somewhat boggy and mountainous, containing some minor elevations of the Slievebloom range, and intersected south-westerly by the road from Dublin to Limerick. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Leighlin, value £1,125, in the patronage of the crown. At Mountrath stands the church, built in 1796 chiefly at the expense of the late Earl of Mountrath. This parish includes the two chapelries of Ballyfin and Roskelton. There are five or six chapels and meetinghouses for Quakers and Presbyterians. There are 19 day schools, nine of which are National. Clonenagh and Clonagheen, though formerly separate parishes, are now united. A monastery is alleged to have been founded here by St. Fintan. The principal seats are Ballyfin, Woodbrook, Newpark, Woodbine, Forest House, Springmount, Sbanahoe, Anngrove Abbey, Mount Eagle, Raheen, and Tinnakill.

"MOUNTRATH, a post and market town in the parish of Clonenagh, in the barony of West Maryborough, Queen's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 7 miles W.S.W. of Maryborough, and 59 from Dublin. It is a station on the Great Southern and Western railway. It is situated on a small tributary of the river Nore, and on the road from Dublin to Limerick. Here are the parish church, four chapels, a nunnery, monastery, bridewell, schools, market house, mills, brewery, and a dispensary, which last is in the Mountmellick Poor-law Union, also a chief police station. Petty sessions are held at intervals. There is a brisk general trade carried on, besides some cotton weaving. The town owes its foundation to the Coote family in 1628, who took the title of earl from it. Forest House is the principal seat in the vicinity. Saturday is market day. Fairs are held on the 17th February, 8th May, 20th June, 10th August, 19th September, and 6th November."

"RAHEEN, a village in the parish of Clonenagh, barony of West Maryborough, Queen's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 3¼ miles N.W. of Abbeyleix, and 4½ S.E. of Mountrath. In the neighbourhood are the seats of Tillakin and Raheen."

"ROSKELTON, a hamlet in the barony of West Maryborough, Queen's County, Ireland, 3 miles S.E. of Mountrath."

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