Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

DUL
Tate, a poet, 1652; Wm. Molyneux, mathematician,
astronomer, and patriot, 1656; Thomas Southerne, a
dramatic poet, 1659; James Butler, Duke of Ormonde,
1665; Jonathan Swift, Dean of St. Patrick’s, 1667;
Marmaduke Coghill, Chancellor of the Exchequer in
Ireland, 1673; Dr. Robert Clay ton, a celebrated prelate,
1695; Wm. Robertson, a learned divine, 1705; Thos.
Frye, the first manufacturer of porcelain in England,
1710; James McArdill, engraver, 1710; Mary Barber,
authoress, 1712; John Gast, an eminent divine, 1715;
Springer Barry, a celebrated actor, 1719; Thos. Leland,
historian, 1722; Rev. Mervyn Archdall, an antiquary,
1723; Geo. Barrett, painter, 1728; Francis Gentleman,
a dramatic writer, 1728; John. Cunningham, a poet,
1729; Edm. Chandler, Bishop of Durham, 1730;
Nathaniel Hone, portrait painter, 1730; Isaac Bicker-
staff, dramatist, 1732; Andrew Caldwell, compiler of
parliamentary debates, 1732; Hugh Hamilton, painter,
1734; James Caulfeild, first Earl of Charlemont, 1738;
Sir Philip Francis, author and statesman, 1740; Edward
Malone, critic and antiquary, 1741; John Fitzgibbon,
Earl of Clare, 1749; Henry Grattan, statesman, orator,
and patriot, 1751; Wm. Mossop, medalist, 1754; John
Hickey, sculptor, 1756; Joseph Cooper Walker, anti-
quary, 1761; Geo. McAllister, painter on glass, 1786.
The birth-dates of the following natives of Dublin have not
been ascertained: Edward Borlase, historian; Thomas
Dogget, a celebrated actor; Robert Molesworth, Viscount
Molesworth; Charles Byrne, miniature painter; Zach.
Crofton, a celebrated divine; and Wm. Halliday, Irish
grammarian. Dublin gave the title of Earl to His
Royal Highness the late Duke of Kent.
DULEEK, a parish and village, formerly a parlia-
mentary borough, partly in the barony of UPPER, but
chiefly in that of LOWER DULEEK, county of MEATH,
and province of LEINSTER, 4½ miles (S. S. W.) from Drog-
heda, on the Nannywater, and on the mail coach road
from Dublin to Belfast; containing 4470 inhabitants,
of which number, 1217 are in the village. This place
derived its name signifying, a “ House of Stone,” from
the foundation of a church here by St. Kiernan or Cier-
nan, who was baptized by St. Patrick in 450 and died
in 488. St. Patrick is also said to have founded an
abbey at this place, over which he appointed St. Kier-
nan abbot; the establishment was for several ages the
seat of a small surrounding diocese, which ultimately
merged into that of Meath. Its situation in a maritime
district exposed it to the ravages of the Danes, by whom
it was frequently plundered and sometimes destroyed.
It was plundered in 1171 by Milo de Cogan and his forces,
who on the following day were attacked and repulsed
with severe loss by the Ostmen of Dublin. A priory
for Canons Regular appears to have been founded here
by one of the family of O’Kelly, a long time prior to
the English invasion; and in 1182, a cell of the same
order was established here by Hugh de Lacy, and made
subject to the priory of Llanthony; the possessions of
this priory were granted at the dissolution to Sir Gerald
Moore, ancestor of the Drogheda family. After the
battle of the Boyne, Jas. II. retreated from Donore
at the head of Sarsfield’s regiment, and was followed
by his whole army, which poured through the pass
of Duleek pursued by a party of English dragoons. On
reaching the open ground, they drew up in order of
battle, and after cannonading their pursuers, effected
565
DUL
their retreat in good order. The village comprises 240
houses. The manufacture of ticking, formerly extensive,
is now very much diminished; there is an extensive corn
and flour-mill in the town, and another at Beaumont, the
latter recently erected and fitted up in a very complete
manner with improved machinery. On the hill of
Bellewstown is a course where races are held the last
week in June; they are generally well attended. The
market has been discontinued; but fairs are held on
March 25th, May 3rd, June 24th, and Oct. 18th. A penny
post to Drogheda and Ashbourne has been established;
there is also a chief constabulary police station. The town
was formerly governed by a portreeve and officers, an-
nually elected under the charter of Walter de Lacy,
which was confirmed by act of Edw. IV., in 1481, and
by royal charter of Jas. II., in 1686. From this latter
period it continued to send members to the Irish par-
liament till the Union, when it was disfranchised, and
the corporation became extinct: the sum of £15,000,
awarded as compensation for the loss of the elective
privilege, was paid to the trustees of H. Bruen, Esq.
Petty sessions are held every alternate week.
The parish comprises 14,343 statute acres, as ap-
plotted under the tithe act. The land is of good quality;
about two-thirds are under tillage, and the eastern por-
tion of the parish, including the hill of Bellewstown, is
excellent grazing land. Annexed to the town is a con-
siderable tract of common. Limestone is abundant, and
is quarried both for building and for agricultural pur-
poses. Platten, the seat of R. Reeves, Esq., occupies
the site of an ancient castle of the D’ Arcy family; it is
a spacious mansion, situated in a richly planted demesne.
Athcarne Castle, the seat of J. Gernon, Esq., is pleasantly
situated on the Nannywater; it formerly belonged to
the De Bathe family, and is a perfect specimen of the
Elizabethan castellated style; it is a massive pile of
building, with a still more massive keep defended by
quadrangular embattled towers, and the whole was for-
merly surrounded by a fosse: the present proprietor has
made some additions and improvements. The other
seats are Annsbrook, that of H. Smith, Esq., an
elegant mansion with a demesne tastefully embellished;
Hiltown House, of Nicholas Boylan, Esq.; Thomas-
town, of Evans Kettlewell, Esq.; Beaumont, of J.
McCann, Esq.; Wintergrass, of Lawrence Ball, Esq.;
and Duleek House, situated in an extensive demesne,
the property of the Marquess of Thomond.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Meath,
united, in 1816, to the vicarages of Dowth, Ardcath,
Tymole, and Knockcoman, and in the patronage of the
Marquess of Drogheda, in whom the rectory is impro-
priate. The tithes amount to £1092, the whole former-
ly payable to the impropriator, but on appeal to the
Privy Council in 1833, £65 per ann. was made payable
to the vicar; and the entire value of the benefice, tithe
and glebe included, is £285. There are four glebes in
the union, comprising together 48½ acres, valued at
£100. 9. per ann. The church, rebuilt in 1816 at an
expense of £1500, is a handsome structure with a tower;
in the porch is a marble statue of Judge Trotter, and
in the churchyard a richly sculptured stone cross.
In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union
or district, comprising also the parish of Cullinstown;
the chapel is a handsome edifice in the later English
style, with a school-room adjoining; and there is a