Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

CAS
of a former structure, with the belfry thickly covered
with ivy; and contains a neat mural monument to some
of the Merediths of Dicksgrove, and on the south side of
the exterior is a small sculptured head supposed to re-
present that of St. Nicholas, probably the patron saint;
it is about to be thoroughly repaired, for which purpose
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have granted £290.
The glebe-house, at Kilbannevan, was built in 1818, by
aid of a gift of £100 and a loan of £1200 from the late
Board of First Fruits; the glebe comprises 32 acres,
valued at £48 per annum. In the R. C. divisions the
parish for the greater part is the head of a union or dis-
trict, comprising also the greater portion of the parish
of Ballincuslane, and the remaining portions of both
are included in the district of Brosna. The chapel at
Castle-island is a spacious cxuciform structure, and has
recently been repaired and newly fronted with hewn
limestone; adjoining it is a dwelling-house for the parish
priest, recently erected. There is also a chapel at
Knocknagashel, in the north part of the parish, which is
attached to the Brosna district; it was erected in 1834,
on a site given by Lord Headley, who also paid one-half
of the expense of its erection, the other half being defrayed
by his lordship’s tenants in that district. There is a third
chapel at Scartaglin, in the south part of the parish,
which belongs to the district of Castle-island. Male and
female schools are supported by the proprietors of the
seigniory and the rector; and there are two schools under
the superintendence of the R. C. clergyman. In these
schools about 190 children are instructed; and there
are also eight private schools. A dispensary has been
established at the court-house. Between the western
and the central bridges, on the banks of the Maine, are
the ruins of the castle, consisting of several detached
masses, two of which are of lofty elevation, and the
whole show the original structure to have been of
considerable extent. At Kilbannevan, adjoining the
glebe-house, are the remains of an old church with a
burial-ground; and there is still remaining a portion
of the old court-house, in the rear of the present
building.
CASTLE-JORDAN, or GUNGEDAH, a parish,
partly in the barony of UPPER MOYFENRAGH, county
of MEATH, and partly in the barony of COOLESTOWN, but
chiefly in that of WARRENSTOWN, KING’S county, and
province of LEINSTER, 3¼ miles (S. W.) from Kinnegad;
containing 3967 inhabitants. This parish is situated on
the road from Trim to Philipstown, and on the river
Boyne, which separates it from the county of Kildare.
There is a very large extent of bog; and gritstone used
for building is procured from some quarries in the pa-
rish. The gentlemen’s seats are Kildangan, the resi-
dence of E. Haughton, Esq.; and Tubberdaly, of J.
Downing Nesbitt, Esq. The living is an impropriate
cure, in the diocese of Meath, united by diocesan autho-
rity to that of Ballyboggan; the rectory is wholly im-
propriate in the heirs of the late Sir Duke Gifford, to
whom the tithes, amounting to £380, are payable. The
annual income of the curate is £100 late currency, of
which £30 is paid by the impropriators and £70 by
the Trustees of Primate Boulter’s augmentation fund.
The church, which is in the county of Meath, was built
in 1826, at an expense of £664. 12. 1., defrayed by aid
of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. There
is neither glebe-house nor glebe. In the R. C. divi-
299
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sions this parish is the head of a union or district, also
called Boughilnebracnay, comprising Castle-Jordan
and Ballyboggan, and containing two chapels. There
are five private schools, in which about 190 children
are educated. Here are the ruins of a castle, formerly
occupied by the Giffords.
CASTLEKEIRAN, a village, in the parish of LOGHAN,
barony of UPPER KELLS, county of MEATH, and province
of LEINSTER, 2½ miles (W. N. W.) from Kells; contain-
ing 24 houses and 162 inhabitants.
CASTLEKNOCK, a parish, in the barony of CASTLE-
KNOCK, county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER,
3¾| miles (N. W.) from Dublin; containing 4251 inha-
bitants, of which number, 188 are in the village. Tra-
dition says that this was a royal residence of the Danes,
and that, in 1167, Roderick O’Connor encamped here
with his Connaught forces, when he led a numerous
army to Dublin, where he was solemnly inaugurated
King of Ireland, and engaged the Danish residents in
his pay. The castle was given by Earl Storongbow to his
friend, Hugh de Tyrrell, who was styled Baron of
Castleknock. It was taken by Edward Bruce in 1316,
and Hugh de Tyrrell and his lady made prisoners,
but released on the payment of a large ransom. In
June, 1642, the castle was taken for the parliament
by Col. Monk, afterwards Duke of Albemarle, who
slew in the assault 80 of its defenders, and subse-
quently hanged many more; but in November, 1647,
Owen Roe O’Nial, and Sir Thomas Esmonde, Bart.,
at the head of a royalist force, retook it. The Mar-
quess of Ormonde encamped here in 1649, when he
threatened to besiege Dublin; and after the Restoration
it fell into decay.
The parish is situated on the road from Dublin to
Navan, and is intersected by the Royal Canal: it con-
tains 6627 statute acres, the whole of which is arable
land. Here are extensive limestone quarries, in which
fossil remains are frequently found. On the Liffey are
three woollen mills, where friezes, kerseys, lambskins,
and Petershams, are manufactured; they have been
established nearly a century, and employ above 60 per-
sons during the winter. A factory for worsted and
worsted yarn has been recently established at Blanch-
ardstown, which employs between 80.and 100 persons;
there are also on the Liffey a mustard and two flour-
mills, and at Cardiff Bridge is a small iron-foundry.
The parish is within the Dublin twopenny post delivery.
Petty sessions are held every alternate Monday at Blanch-
ardstown, where there is a constabulary police station.
The scenery on the banks of the Liffey, towards Lucan,
is very beautiful, and the northern side of the valley is
celebrated for strawberries. In addition to the viceregal
lodge, and the chief and under secretaries’ residences,
the parish contains many seats commanding delightful
views: the principal seats are Sheep-hill, the residence
of J. H. Hamilton, Esq., situated in a demesne of 500
acres; Farmley, of Charles Trench, Esq.; Knockma-
roon, of Col. Colby; Park Tiew, of A. Ferrier, Esq.;
Mountsackville, of J. Hawkins, Esq.; Diswellstown, of
C. O’Keeffe, Esq.; Airfield, of R. Manders, Esq.; Hybla,
of the Rev. G. O’ Connor; Scripplestown, of W. Rathborne,
Esq.; Dunsinea, of H. Rathborne, Esq.; Scribblestown,
of A. Holmes, Esq.; Ashtown, of J. Dunne, Esq.; Elm
Green, of F. Dwyer, Esq.; Oatlands, of J. Godley, Esq.)
Haymount, of Dr. Marsh; Bellville, of J. Murphy, Esq. j
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