It is my duty as well as pleasure to notice the many enterprises that place the King's County in a respectable position amongst the few - far too few - energetic centres of Ireland. Ulster has the reputation of being the most prosperous of our four Provinces, and no doubt it is; but we are proud to be in a position to state that, in proportion to its advantages and making fair allowance for several drawbacks, there is no county more progressive than the King's. It is true we have not here the same amount of manufacturing and commercial life that is to be seen in Ulster; but then it must not be forgotten that here the "sinews of war" are not so plentiful. Notwithstanding such an inconvenience however, there is hardly a town within our bounds that cannot boast of some manufactory such as a brewery, a distillery, a teetotaller's drink generator, a flour mill, or even an oil cake mill, while the rural districts are not absolutely short of other industrial communities.

Although partially surrounded by a stretch of country the reverse of the romantic owing to the monotonous nature of the undiversifed scenery and the large admixture of bog, still by some freak of nature BELMONT is situated in a charming belt of land. It may be compared to an oasis in a desert; for while the landscape around possesses few attractions to a casual observer, the immediate locality itself furnishes a sight that might delight the heart of an Artist. Through the verdant valley flows the Great Brosna - the Great being a distinction from the Little Brosna which touches Parsonstown. This 'great' water flow is but a small sluggish stream recalling Goldsmith's line anent, the "lazy Scheldt and wandering Po." But though the Brosna at some points seems somewhat dilatory in its movements there is no river of similar size in these parts keeping so many fine wheels in motion. From the banks the ground rises at a gentle gradient until it forms a natural amphitheatre brilliant in its rich emerald colouring, relieved at intervals with clumps of trees clothed now in the gorgeous foliage of mid Summer.

In the centre of this stand the Mills and residents of the Messrs THOMAS and JAMES PERRY, who however carry on business under the old well-known title of "ROBERT PERRY & CO." The entire structures are large enough to make a neat hamlet of respectable dimensions. In the centre is the Flour-Mill - an enormous pile of masonry, 100 feet long by 40 in width and 40 in height to the Eva. This building is quite modern in its style, having been erected in 1879-80 immediately after the destructive fire. The present firm have been in occupation since 1866 and the previous Proprietor, who also carried on the flour milling in it, was Captain Collins; but in his time it was not one fourth its present size. Within twenty yards stands an Oatmeal Mill nearly as large. This had formerly been a tuck mill worked by the late Mr Thomas L'Estrange. The external aspect of the two, although very fine indeed, is excelled by what is seen inside, as the machinery is all new and of the improved kind, worked by water power and remarkable for scrupulous cleanliness. An idea may be formed of what is done in the Flour Mill on being told that in the season nine pairs of stones and seven rollers are constantly in operation, while four pairs are hardly adequate to meet the demands on the Oatmeal Mill. The Stores attached are capable of containing 20,000 barrels of corn, and outside these stand some of the dwelling-houses of the managing and working staff of the concern others having been recently provided at the village and cross-roads of BELMONT. There are also smaller buildings in which carpenters, blacksmiths and millwrights are kept employed the year round. Fifty men are constantly employed by the Firm, and their Milling department is superintended by Mr George Robins, acting as foreman miller, in which capacity he has long experience and shown exceptional zeal and ability. In fact, such qualifications are an in dispensable condition at BELMONT.

The Mills grind large quantities of Irish as well as American wheat. A great deal of the former is bought on the spot which is of considerable importance to the farmers in the locality. In addition quantities, surprising in extent, are received from Dublin. The flour made here has the reputation of being excellent in point of colour and strength, and is therefore specially suited for baking. The Messrs PERRY have offices in Tullamore, Mullingar, Ballinsloe, and in Moate, and sell much of their deliveries in these and in the neighbouring towns. The principal portion of their traffic is carried on the Grand Canal, and they also keep a number of horses on the road to cart to towns unapproached by the water way. They have a special pier on the Canal at BELMONT for their own trade, and now a new railway station has been erected in proximity for the accommodation of their trade on the Clara and Banagher Railway, which is expected to be opened in September next. In 1879 the Flour mill was burned down, but the Oatmeal Mill escaped. The rebuilding cost over £7,000, but this was nearly all covered by insurance on the buildings and stock. Situated about three miles from Banagher, fifteen from Tullamore and ten from Parsonstown, BELMONT is well worthy of a visit from those who may be so fortunate as to have occasion to travel near that attractive locality - attractive in its natural beauty as well as from the exceptional circumstance that it is the site of not only one of the largest manufactures in the King's County, but unquestionably the most extensive Flour and Corn Mills in all Ireland.

On Monday morning no small sensation was created in Tullamore by the appearance of Mr. Daniel E. William's new motorcar as it left his extensive wholesale spirit and grocery premises in Barrack Street on its way to Birr. Large numbers of people watched the progress of the interesting vehicle as it proceeded through the town with a large consignment of goods for the owner's branch establishment in Birr, and an escort of cyclists accompanied it for several miles on its maiden trip. As the motor left the town the speed was increased from four to eight miles an hour, and it appeared to run at the greatest ease, carrying a freight of about three tons. The country people along the route gazed at the novel spectacle in silent wonder, and for the first time seemed to appreciate the fact that the horseless age is destined to be no idle chimera. The car reached Birr without any hitch or accident, with the exception of a slight delay caused by the sinking of the wheels in part of the bog road near Thomastown, and arrived at Tullamore on the return journey shortly after 10 p.m. The motive power is supplied by a small oil engine, and the mechanical arrangement is of the dimplest description, a speed of ten miles an hour even with the full load being easily attainable. The vehicle was built at Cowes, Isle of Wight, and cost something like £600. Mr. Williams is to be congratulated on the commendable enterprise which impels him to carry out such a new and startling departure, and the people of the various towns to which his business extends have reason to be proud of a citizen whose liberal employment and well-directed efforts in promoting the general advancement confer such substantial benefits on the community.

Dublin Intelligence 23rd Dec 1690
A detached party from Philipstown [Daingean], Mount Mellick and thereabouts, going to join our army at Mullingar, lately received some loss, the manner was this. A troop of Dragoons, about 100 foot [soldiers], commanded by Colonel Bristow on their march towards Mullingar near Killeigh were met by about 500 of the enemy who had advantageously posted themselves on a pass near that place, our party nothing daunted at the advantage, both as to number and ground, charged them briskly and soon made them quit the place. Our party being in an enemy country made all the haste they possibly could forward which the enemy endeavored to hinder by often changing them in the rear, they continued this for 3 or 4 miles, until by the crisis of the enemy which was seconded by the country people, and the noise of the firing against one another, the enemy number increased in horse and foot to the number of above 2,000. Our party kept together, being flanked by the dragoons which the enemy horse endeavored to break and charged with pistol shot upon them, we then fired, and at the first volley killed him that commanded the horse (being a regiment of red lined with white) and many of the troops and put them into so great confusion that they immediately drew back, but we were too weak to follow them. About a mile from that place where this skirmish happened there was a bridge which our men must of necessity pass over and list the enemy should possess that, the dragoons were ordered to make all haste they could to secure it. This they did, and coming to the bridge found it broke down. By this time the enemy got betwixt the dragoons and the foot, and hindered them from joining which the dragoons finding not to be done, left them and got safely back to Mount Mellick. The foot this left alone made the best way they could after them which they did by the example of Lt. Coronal Caulfield and several other officers with the greatest courage imaginable. They charged through the enemy and afterwards retreated in so good order that having lost only Capt. Jeffries and six private soldiers and about twenty wounded they brought the rest of their men to Mount Mellick that night. It is believed that the enemy's losses as to the number of men is 100 but the enemy remaining masters of the field we cannot give a particular account of them.

Dublin Gazette 10th January 1712/13
The woods of Derrygolan near Killeigh, King's Co, belonging to the Rt Hon Lord Digby containing 23 acres, chiefly good oak trees, good ash, is for sale. Purchasers desirous of viewing it should apply to Richard Warburton, Counsel at Law, Dublin, or to John Mc Cullagh, Killeigh.

Dublin Gazette 1st March 1728/29
The post boy that carried the mails on Tuesday last was murdered between Philipstown and Tullamore and horse killed. What damage was done to the letters we have not heard.

Anthony Coughlan and alleged criminal conversation
Faulkners Dublin Journal 19th March 1734
Whereas, there was a trial held at Philipstown at the Summer assizes 1731 between me, the undermentioned Anthony Coghlan and John B. Reading for having had a familiarity and private conversation with my wife Elinor Coghlan at which time the jury brought in a verdict in favour of the said John Bor Reading, now this is to certify to mankind that I have with the assistance of men of the best understanding strictly inspected into the circumstances and facts relating thereto, and do find that the said John Bor Reading and my wife were unjustly accused by me and for which I think I am obliged through common charity to acknowledge, to do justice to their characters, and to endeavour as much as in me lyeth, to wipe off the aspersion which is thereby thrown upon them: signed Anthony Coghlan.

[We can add that the Reading family were located at Rahan near Tullamore in the late 17th century. John Reading was high sheriff of King's County in 1671.

1671. John Reading, Rachane (Rahan) ; m. Phoebe, dau. of Col. John Otway, of Cloghonan, County Tipperary ; d. 1691. In an article by T.U.Sadleir in (Midland Septs of the Pale......) Sadleir noted that ' Readingstown, now Rahan, long perpetuated the family of Reading, who seem to have settled there about the middle of the seventeenth century. John Reading, of Readingstown, High Sheriff, 1671, married Phoebe, daughter of Colonel John Otway, of Cloghonan (Castle Otway), Co. Tipperary, and died 1690. Two of his sons, Otway and Nicholas, settled near their mother's relatives at Borrisoleigh, Co. Tipperary, while John, the eldest son, succeeded to the King's County estates. This John Reading, of Readingstown, was High Sheriff in 1703, but subsequently removed his residence to Clonegown, in this county, having sold his Readingstown property to the Judge family. Exshaw's Magazine for 1757, thus notices the death of his widow, who survived him some ten years: "Died the widow of John Reading, late of Readingstown, King's County, sister of the Brigadier Borr."
[The extract is intriguing as is Anthony Coughlan.]

New inn for Kilbeggan
Dublin Evening Post 4th June 1734
A new house for an Inn, with stables etc., in the town of Kilbeggan with lands for meadow and grazing to be let for a term of 31 years on 3 lives from May Day next. Enquire Charles Lambert Esq., Painstown Co. Meath, or Wm. Midgby, Postmaster in Kilbeggan, where they maybe further informed.
[The Lambart family continued to have an interest in the ground rents in Kilbeggan until recent years.]

Gold Watch lost near Kinnegad
Faulkners Dublin Journal 15th July 1735
Lost: About 3 miles from Kinnegad on the road leading to Kilbeggan a plain gold watchcase. If finder brings same to Robert Holmes, Watchmaker, Dame St., Dublin; or to Mr. Dowdall at The White Hart, Kilbeggan, or to Mr. Haughter, Merchant, Athlone, a guinea reward will be given and no questions asked.

Hardwood for sale near Ferbane
Pue's Occurrences 16th Nov. 1736
To be sold: The lands of Kilnagarnah and Castlereagh lying within seven miles of Athlone, 4 of Moat and 2 of Ferbane, part of the estate of Francis Coghlan Esq., deceased; also woods of Corlehinch, Muckins and Flask, containing good oak and ash. Proposals will be received by Mrs. Anne Coghlan, relict and administrator at her house at Gallen.

'Mayor of Philipstown'
Faulkners Dublin Journal 2nd January 1739

Colley Lyons, Knight of the Shire for King's County, has been elected Burgo Master for Philipstown in place of Mr. Hart resigned.

Thomas Ulick Sadleir writing of King's county families in Midland Septs of the Pale stated that ' Though the name is now unknown the family of Lyons held for over 150 years a prominent position in the county. Captain William Lyons was one of the settlers of James Ist. time, and his possessions comprised Killeen and part of the great wood of Fercall. The estate of Clonarrow, afterwards called River Lyons [near Daingean] had been the seat of Geoffrey Philips, who died in 1601, leaving, with other issue, two sons, Henry and Colley. As the names Colley, Geoffrey, Philips and Henry are found in the pedigree of the Lyons family, we may presume that they acquired that estate by marriage with a Philips. Charles Lyons, of Killeen, High Sheriff, 1663, married Margaret, daughter of Thomas Moore, of Croghan, M.P. and died, 1694. John Lyons, who purchased Ledeston, Co. Westmeath, in 1715, and was ancestor of the family seated there, was, apparently, his younger son; Geoffrey, the elder, born 1654, succeeded to Killeen, was High Sheriff, 1693 and 1702, and married his cousin, Jane Moore, of Croghan. This Geoffrey had issue, three sons and four daughters, viz., Colley, Thomas Philips, Anne, Mary, Elizabeth, and Susan, who married Thomas Nesbitt in 1701

House at Gallen Ferbane for sale
Faulkners Dublin Journal 6th March 1739
To be sold: The lands of Gallen Barony of Garrycastle, King's Co. containing 542 acres and 73 acres of good wood, also 600 acres of bog. On the lands there is a commodious house 3 storey high with 4 rooms on a floor. Good suitable coach houses and out offices all slated. A large walled garden. The lands lie near the bridge of Ferbane. Also the lands of Kilnegurana containing 252 acres profitable land and 114 bog; and the lands of Castlerea containing 175 acres, within one mile and a half of Ferbane on the road leading
from Ferbane to Moate and Athlone. Proposals to Mrs. Coghlan, Gallen.

The ingenious John Mooney of Geashill
Faulkners Dublin Journal 2nd February 1742
John Mooney of King's Co. has received a premium from the Dublin Society for his invention of a surveying instrument whereby the figure and contents of any survey are taken and ascertained with great exactness and expedition and the contents of any irregular figure and of any number of sides are reduced to one triangle, and the whole contents at once easily known which method upon examination has been found to be geometrically true. [In an article by HORNER (Arnold). Some examples of representation of height data on Irish maps before 1750. In Irish Geography, vii, pp 68-80.
See pp 76-77 for a note on John Mooney, Geashill, map maker. Horner wrote that Mooney was from Geashill and that his name appeared in the Dublin papers in connection with his mapping work. Few of his maps survive but this writer is aware of his surveys of leasehold plots for Lord Tullamore in the 1740s and 1750s. He died in 1764 with the entry in the Geashill parish register describing him as the 'ingenious John Murray'.

Inn at Banagher for sale
Faulkners Dublin Journal 12th March 1743
To be set for a number of years, on to be sold the interest in a lease by all Peter Kelly, Banagher, of the large Inn, in which he now liveth, with brew house barn, stable, malthouse and other convenient offices, good granary and storage, and coach house with 50 acres of land, also eel weirs. Very fit for business or factory, or for a tanner as there is a pump at the door and water in the garden. It also lies well for a stagecoach or chairs, as the road will be quite finished next season to Dublin, and as Banagher is expected soon to be in the hands of an improving land lord, the said place will turn into good account in business. Proposals to Peter Kelly, Banagher.

Clonony Castle was the home of a branch of the MacCoughlans who held sway in Garrycastle Barony or Delvin MacCoughlan.

No credit for Reilly of Moate
Faulkners Dublin Journal 8th Nov. 1746
Whereas Farrell Reilly of Moat Co. Westmeath, coachmaker, hath lately run away from said town indebted to several persons particularly to newcomer Lestrange of Banagher who some time ago agreed with him to make a four wheel chair, and advanced him between £4 and £5 cash and a promissory note for £5 without which said Reilly told him he could not finish the chair. This is to warn all persons not to accept said promissory note in payment.

Woodfield Clara
Faulkners Dublin Journal 17 March 1747
To be set by public auction for ready money, the lands of Woodfield alias Coraghboy, King's Co., near Moate, for payment of debts and legacies of the late John Gee, consisting of sheep, bullocks, cows, horses. Also the furniture, plate and articles of husbandry, carts cars plows. The lands of Woodfield, Ballanamanton and Lisnagarnah are to be set by Edward Moore, Woodfield.

Meeting of King's County men in Dame Street inn
Faulkners Dublin Journal 24th Nov. 1747
The gentlemen of the King's County are desired to meet next Monday 30th Nov. at 3 o'clock at the Rose and Bottle, Dame Street, Dublin, there to dine together. [Gilbert in his History of the city of Dublin (1854-59) states that it was the second most important inn in Dame Street and the resort of several clubs including the Boyne Society, the members of the Ouzel Gallery and a place much frequented by the men of Louth. No trace of the inn could be found after 1773. (p 306 vol. 2) ]

New M.P. for King's County
Faulkners Dublin Journal 5th January 1748
Henry Lyons of River Lyons was unanimously elected Knight of the Shire for King's County.

Pickpocket in Ballinahoun
Faulkners Dublin Journal 6th Sepember 1748
The two following Bank Notes of Messrs. Wilcox and Dawson payable to bearer six days after date: No 26 11th of August 1748 for £14: 19s., and No 81 for £10, were either lost or picked out of the pocket of Thomas Flanagan carrier between Moat and Ballinahoun wrapt up in a handkerchief together with one guinea and a half in gold and 9s 11d in silver. The said carrier between that they were picked out of his pocket by one Thos. Burk who has since absconded. He is of middle stature, well set, black bushy hair, a thin black meagre complexion about 40 years of age, born near Moate aforesaid. Information to Thos. Mullock, Skinners Row, Dublin or to Henry Fry, Merchant, Athlone or Mr. John Jessop, Ferbane, who will pay a guinea for said notes, or 2 guineas for apprehension and conviction of Burk.

New roads between King's County and Westmeath
Faulkners Dublin Journal 11th April 1749
At Philipstown Assizes presentments were made for the making of cross roads in the King's County over bogs to lead to the counties of Westmeath and other counties which will shorten the routes by many miles, and drain unprofitable land. At the same time the gentlemen of the County agreed to have a survey made and a large correct map of that County engraved to be hung up in their houses. [ In an earlier issue we mentioned the mapmaker John Mooney of Geashill who may have been commissioned to do this county map of which tracings of small areas are known to survive (Horner 1974) and Green (1949).

River Lyons House near Daingean was the home of Henry Lyons, Knight of the Shire for King's County in 1748.

Murders at Clonmacnois
Faulkners Dublin Journal 2nd December 1749
James Coghlan of Clonfanlau, King's Co. and Mr. Leicester Fitzgerald of Tully, Co. Westmeath, and others with them brought before John Travers of Mount Temple, near Moatgrenoge 3 men, 2 women and a boy, apprehended on the 30th past, at or near Ballimore, on suspicion of robbing and murdering Bryan Kenny of Sevenchurches King's Co., herd or shepherd, on the 29th past in the night at said Bryans Kenny's house and of shooting said Bryans wife in one of her thighs at the same time of which she has since, it is said, died. The names of the said persons are: Michael Coleman, peddler or dealer in stockings: James McLoughlin peddler, Bryan Dolan, Margaret Ryan, wife or mistress of the said Mr. Coleman, Mary Dooley, wife of said Jasper McLoughlin. On examination of the said men it would appear that they committed said robbery and murder and were returned to Mullingar jail to await trial at next King's Co. Assizes.

Executions and transportation
Faulkners Dublin Journal 7th April 1750
The Assizes for King's Co., ended on Wednesday when one Tyrrell was condemned for horse stealing, and Bryan Dolan, Jasper Mc Loughlin and Michael Coleman for robbing and murdering Bryan Kenny at Sevenchurches, King's Co., were condemned and executed yesterday at that place. One of them to be hanged in chains. Two of their wives, accomplices, a boy, to be transported with two or three others.

An Armstrong marriage
Faulkners Dublin Journal 24th September 1751
Marriage : Andrew Armstrong, Gallen King's Co. to Constantia Maria Pigott, the second daughter of John Pigott, Queen's Co.

Valuable watch lost
Faulkners Dublin Journal 1st Oct. 1751
Dropt on the road between Litter, Balnahown and Ballyboy, a gold watch made by Gregg London. Reward by Mr. Hugh Carroll, Derrydalny, King's Co.

Major new road through the midlands planned
Faulkners Dublin Journal 10th Nov. 1752
The new turnpike road that is to be made through parts of Counties Kildare, Kings, Westmeath, Roscommon Galway, will, as near as it is possible, and where it is practicable to be made, be made in a direct line, and no part of it whatever is to be less than 50 feet in breadth between the ditches and drains, with a bed of 18 feet of gravel in breadth and 18 inches thick, no house or walls are to be built within 20 feet of the road. By the construction of this road the journey to Galway will be lessened by 18 miles and to Athlone and other towns in proportion.

The new road referred to was probably the present Dublin to Galway road. Tyrrellspass Castle pictured here would on that old route.

Warneford Armstrong estate for sale
Faulkners Dublin Journal 14th Nov. 1752
To be sold in fee simple the following lands, part of the estate of Warnford Armstrong of Clara. Corbane 160 acres Tenant Geo Lowther situated near the town of Ferbane. This land is now set by Mr. Lowther at a profit rent of £20 a year. A mill and small parcel of land part of Corbane. A fee farm rent of £40 a year out of Killaghantober, near Tullamore, Ballivor, near Banagher, 150 acres.

Clara Stud for sale
FDJ 5 December 1752
To be sold at Clara King's County the entire stud of Mr Warnford Armstrong.
[T.U.Sadleir writing in (Midland Septs. . . .(Dublin 1915).) statet that ' With ramifications endless and residences innumerable, the Armstrong family, though still represented in the county, cannot be followed in detail. Their original ancestor came from the Scottishlborder, and settled in Fermanage. Several of his sons established themselves in the King's County, Edmund at Stonestown; Thomas, the third son, at Ballycumber, and Archibald, the eight, at Ballylin. Edmund's heir male and representative, Andrew Armstrong, of Gallen Priory, many years M.P. for the county, and twice High Sheriff, was created a baronet in 1841 and the title is now enjoyed by his grandson, Sir Andrew Armstrong, third baronet; while Archibald was ancestor of Sir George Armstrong, Bart., well-known proprietor of the "Globe" newspaper, who obtained a similar honor in 1892. General Armstrong, who founded Woolwich Arsenal, was also a member of this family.
At the Summer Assizes, 1779, no less than four Armstrongs were on the Grand Jury, three of them being named Andrew. Besides these branches of the one family, there were also the Armstrongs of Mount Heaton, who came of a different stock. See also (King's Inns Admissions)
Armstrong, Edmund, 1st s. of Andrew, Gallen, King's Co. M.T., 6 Jan. 1775. H 1779.

Owen Mooney fives notice of his spendthrift sons
Faulkners Dublin Journal 2nd Oct. 1753
Whereas I, Owen Moony of Doone King's Co. Esq., have the misfortune of having two unhappy, drunken profligate sons, by name John and Edward, who acted without regard to the filial duty from children to their parents, though I have waited 20 years and upwards in hopes of their being reclaimed (in vain), they being rather 10 times worse than ever, taking upon themselves to raise great and large sums of money, and also to cut leases of my estate and take fines and bribes, to the detriment of such as were so unhappy as to deal in that way with them; and for as much that I, the said, Owen Moony never was under any marriage agreement or settlement, and that I levied a fine and suffered a recovery and have settled my estate independent of my said sons by which I have made void all their acts and deeds and all other their impositions in writing or otherwise made or done by them touching or concerning my estate or any part thereof; I further acquaint the public that none may be imposed upon that the leases made by them, the said John or Ned, to Andrew Armstrong, Barrackmaster of Athlone etc, deceased, and since registered by his son, Archibald Armstrong of Rosenagh, is by my settlement made null and void, and I give this notice to prevent any honest man or woman being imposed upon.
O. Moony 17 Sept. 1753.

A reward for the arrest of William Kennedy of Birr
Faulkners Dublin Journal 5th January 1754
On the 16th Nov. last Wm. Kennedy son of Widow Kennedy, Birr with about 10 men, broke open the house of Wm. Adamson, Balnalack, near Moate, Co. Westmeath, in the dead time of the night, with intent to carry away forcibly, Mrs. Anne Barlow, whoever secures said Wm. Kennedy, so that he be brought to justice shall receive 15 guinea reward from the said Mrs. Barlow.

The borough of Banagher celebrates
Faulkners Dublin Journal 13th April 1754
The inhabitants of the Borough of Banagher, hearing of the safe arrival of Henry L'Estrange, their representative in Parliament, there were bonfires upon the occasion, and great demonstrations of joy, after which the inhabitants assembled together at the house of Mr. Thompson to drink that patriot's health, and a barrel of ale was given to the weavers for that purpose by their employers.[T.U. Sadleir in a note on the high sheriffs of King's County noted members of the L'Estrange family were high sheriffs in 1684 and 1685.

'1684 and 1685. Thomas L'Estrange Moystown ; b. 1656 ; m. Frances Peisley, dau. of Anthony Atkinson, of Cangort, King's County. [Eldest s. of Henry L'Estrange, High Sheriff, 1656.]
(King's Inns Admissions) L'Estrange, Thomas. s. of Torriano Francis, Lynn, Westmeath; under 25; B.A., T.C.D.; afft. Henry Mulock Pilkington. E 1844.]

Remains of a Moony tower-house at Doon near Ballinahown

Death of Owen Mooney of Doon
Faulkners Dublin Journal 26th April 1755
Died: 13th at Doone, King's Co., Owen Moony, aged 82 years, he had left an estate of £1,000 per annum to his nephew, Owen Moony Esq.

Political meeting of loyalists at Ballycumber
Faulkners Dublin Journal 12th July 1755
The Independent Electors of King's Co. who met at Ballycumber on the 1st July to celebrate the happy event of the battle of the Boyne have adjourned and will meet again at the house of Patrick Coghlan, Ferbane on 1st August, Gilbert Holmes, Chairman.

Faulkners Dublin Journal 26th August 1755
To be let: the Park of Pallice [Pallas], King's Co. 151 acres, enclosed by a stone wall 9 feet high, in which park there is a good house, offices garden, orchards and many thriving plantations of which upwards of £5,000 has been apart. The Park is bounded on the south by a fine lake with gravelly stone, which abounds with wild fowl and fish. It is situated on the first road between Tullamore and Ballyboy. [Formerly the Malone property the roof was blown off the house in the Big Wind of 1839. Latter owned by the Graham family and now the property of Paul Rigney. The old house is a ruin.]

Also to be sold: the inheritance of 660 acres of land adjoining said Park set in farms 12 years ago to 3 Protestant tenants for 3 lives and 4 Popish tenants for 31 years, on each farm is a good house: Proposals to Warneford Armstrong, Pallice near Tullamore.

McAuley of Kilcormac
Faulkners Dublin Journal 11th Nov.1755
Francis McGawly of Frankford gives public notice that he is entitled by right of his father to the lands of Tully, Tullywood and barn lately advertised by Frederick French to be let. He intends to file a bill in the High Court of Chancery to recover said lands. [the late Liam Cox wrote of the McAuley in the Journal of the Old Athlone Society]

Death of a Clara employer
Faulkners Dublin Journal 16th or 20th Dec.1755
Died: At Clara, King's Co., Mr. Braddock an eminent merchant and one of the people called Quakers, and a great employer of labour.

Pue's Occurences 9th Nov. 1756
There being a vacancy for a Knight of the Shire for King's County by the death of my father Sir Laurence Parsons Bt., and as my family has had the houses to represent you in so many parliaments, I therefore humbly offer myself a candidate at the next election to succeed him and request your votes and interest on that occasion which shall always be gratefully acknowledged by, gentlemen, your most devoted and faithful humble servant Wm. Parsons.

Election times in King's County: selection of Digby and Parsons
Faulkners Dublin Journal 30th August 1757
The Independent Electors of King's Co. have decided to assemble in their respective Baronies to select a candidate to represent the County in Parliament. Those of Ballyboy met at Frankford, and selected Mr. Digby. All loyal-toasts were drunk at a dinner: The Monarch: Royal Family: the Immortal Memory of King Wm. Success to Mr.[Simon] Digby: prosperity of King's Co., Ireland: Lord Kildare; the family of Blundell, King of Prussia the Protestant colony of Edenderry etc.

Faulkners Dublin Journal 11th Oct. 1757
Sir Wm. Parsons attended Ferbane and was met by a number of the real Independent Electors of the Barony of Garrycastle, who, upon the strictest examination, the majority of the freeholders in the Barony determined to support Sir Wm., at the next election.

11th Oct. 1757
The real Independent Electors of Kilcoursey by met Sir Wm. Parsons at Clara and the majority agreed that he was the natural and proper person to represent them in Parliament and each determined to exert their freedom and independence at the ensuring election in his favour, being a resident in the county, with a large paternal fortune and rep., of an ancient family who adhered to the Constitution at all times.

Poacher shot and killed at Durrow
Faulkners Dublin Journal 2nd Sept. 1758
A man named Barrett gathering nuts in the Wood of Dora[Durrow], King's Co., on being discovered by the proprietor, he [the proprietor] shot him dead for which he immediately delivered himself up to take his trial for same.

Durrow landowner tried for murder
Faulkners Dublin Journal 23rd Sept. 1758
Stephen Rawson Stepney Esq., was tried at Philipstown and acquitted of the murder of Barrett, one of the Kilbeggan rioters, and was found guilty of manslaughter.

Goldsmith School at Lissoy
Faulkners Dublin Journal 5th Jan. 1760
The Rev. Mr. Goldsmith, Curate of Kilkenny, Westmeath, begs leave to inform the public, that he has removed his school from Lawfield to Lishoy for the better accommodation of his young gentlemen. It is situated in a fine country, and healthful air, nearly midway on the great road leading from Athlone to Ballymahon. Such gentlemen as will be pleased to place their sons under his care may be assumed that the strictest attention will be given to every part of the course of reading appointed by the Provest Senior Fellows of our [Trinity] College, and that the tenderest care will be taken of their health and morals. Letters directed to said Mr. Goldsmith, Lishoy near Athlone will be answered.
N.B. Good Masters attend said School to instruct the young gentlemen in writing Arithmetic, Fencing and Dancing. Dated 17th December 1759.

New bridge at Shannonbridge
FDJ 30 August 1757
It is hoped that the new bridge at Raghra or Shannonbridge will be available for cattle attending the fair there on the 26th September, a patent for which has been granted to Henry L'Estrange. [O'Keefe and Simington in their monumental work on Irish Stone Bridges ( Dublin 1991) p.239 state that Shannonbridge was discussed by the Irish House of Commons in 1759 when Henry L'Estrange applied for a grant of £2,000 towards its cost. John Eyre, member said he knew that the work was completely finished and 'believed that considerably more than £2,000 had been expended on same'. The petition seeking aid to finish the bridge begun over the River Shannon at Raghra is referred to in the Journals of the Irish House of Commons for the year 1755 (under Petitions pp 501-2. It was pointed out that it would shorten the Galway Dublin route by near 20 miles. A committee of the House was appointed to consider the matter and it was ultimately resolved to seek £2,000. Cox and Gould in Ireland's Bridges (Dublin2003) illustrate the bridge and state that Thomas Rhodes in his surveys of the Shannon in the 1830s decided to retain the bridge [unlike Banagher, built in 1690 and replaced in 1844. In passing it is worth mentioning that Clonmacnois bridge discovered in 1994 was erected in 804 and is the oldest identifiable bridge in Ireland see Cox and Gould, p.11]. Shannonbridge is a multi-span masonry bridge which excluding the navigation arch at the east end of the bridge has sixteen semicircular arches spanning between six ft thick piers. The cast-iron swivel bridge designed by Robert Mallet was erected in 1843 over the navigation channel and was replaced in the 1980s with a simple reinforced concrete fixed span ( see Cox and Gould p.12). The fortifications at the west end date from 1812 and have been discussed by Paul Kerrigan in his work on the Napoleonic fortifications.

Development proposals for Cloghan with 2,500 sheep for sale
Faulkner's Dublin Journal 8th Sept. 1761
To be sold: At Cloghan, King's Co. the entire stock of Thos. Coghlan consisting of upwards of 2,500 sheep being a remarkable top breed collected from the best flocks in the kingdom, together with upwards of 300 bullocks and some horses.
Also to be set: the following lands, part of the estate of Thomas Coghlan of Garrycastle Park 130 ac. well enclosed with a five foot wall and quickest ditches, and there is material drawn to the spot to complete a 7 foot wall round the whole. No person need apply for said Park that will not tie himself down not to till it.
Also to be let: in the town Cloghan several plots of ground to Protestant tenants who are tradesmen. Particular encouragement will be given to anyone who will carry on the linen business. Those who are able to build for themselves will have leases for lives renewable forever of the plots at their present real estate value of the land; and such as are not able to build shall have houses erected for them and every other reasonable encouragement they can expect. There is over 1800 acres of land out of lease contiguous to the town of Cloghan, with a mill, with great conveniences of turbary and stones. The proprietor has a patent for two yearly fairs and 2 weekly markets. Proposals to Thomas Coghlan, Cloghan. [This proposal appears to have resulted in the building of the five or six substantial houses in the village, most of which have now been spoilt or demolished.]

Defrauding the Revenue near Ferbane
Faulkner's Dublin Journal 9th June 1761
Whereas John Ward, carman, produced a counterfeit copperplate permit for whisky, signed with the name Robert Wilkinson, gauger of Clara in Athlone district and it appearing by information that Joseph Henderson of Fakeeran, King's County and a schoolmaster who lives in the same house, had procured from Dublin the counterfeit stamp and filled it up forging the said Wilkinson's name, the Commissioners of His Majesty's Revenue after a reward of £50 for the apprehension of said Joseph Henderson; and a reward of £200 for discovery of the person or persons concerned in the giving of the counterfeit stamp for strong water permits, upon conviction.

Fire at Cappincur
Faulkner's Dublin Journal 24th Oct. 1761
On last Tuesday evening the house and the great part of the furniture, together with the stables and a considerable quantity of hay owned by Geo. Jackson at Cappincur near Tullamore, were consumed by fire of accidental origin.

Lands at Ballduff and a water mill for letting
Faulkners Dublin Journal 16th Nov. 1762
To be let: Lands of Ballyduff and Killinroe, King's Co. on which there is a good watermill. One mile from Tullamore and 3 from Clara. Estate of Edward Luther Esq. [The Luther family may have been Anabaptists. One is buried at Kilbride Tullamore and another is referred to as a surety for the parish priest of Tulllamore in 1704.]

A McCoghlan castle at Garrycastle near Banag

Of all the transport developments in the country, it is arguable that none was quite so great an achievement as the construction of the Grand Canal. When completed, this man-made waterway was the longest in the British Isles, and by joining the River Shannon with the River Barrow, it provided an alternative mode of transport between sixteen counties and linked the cities of Dublin, Limerick and Waterford. In later times, after falling into a period of disuse having been surpassed by railways in terms of viability, the canal has been developed as a tourism and recreation outlet. Indeed, it is now one of the county's most valuable assets.

From Bronze Age times, there were a series of tracks connecting the various inhabited areas of Offaly. These tracks were further developed by the Celts into an intricate network of roadways. Although it is impossible to prove, it is likely that present-day roadways largely follow the paths of these routes.

Legends from the era when Ireland was ruled by the High Kings, recall a series of Highways extending from Tara in the Kingdom of Meath into the outer reaches of the country. It is suggested that one of these highways which was supposed to have connected Leinster with Munster, ran through the old Gaelic area of Fearcall - possibly from Daingean down through Ballyboy and Kilcormac into Birr.

However, it would seem that the existence of these highways is little more than myth. Nevertheless, it is undeniable that there were roads of various standards throughout the county. Obviously, it would be mistaken to view these routes as roads in the modern sense; rather they were rough tracks which had been hewn from the dense woodlands of the area.

The most widely used of these roads would have been able to take two chariots abreast at certain given points and were maintained by the local tuatha (clans). More often than not, however, these routes would have been far more primitive than that. Indeed, the word "bothar" (Irish for road) is derived from the word "bo" which is the Irish for cow. This would indicate that many of these tracks were little more than cow-passes.

One of the more developed routes ran along the Eiscir Riada in West Offaly and is supposed to have connected the east of Ireland with west. This route passed down through Durrow and Clonmacnoise until it reached Shannonbridge where the Shannon was forded. The esker proved more suitable for land travel than the surrounding areas while it also conveniently connected the most important ecclesiastical sites in the county.

Names such as Ballaghmore (which in Irish is bealach mor - big passing) suggest that a similar route passed through the Slieve Blooms connecting Offaly and Laois; while a variety of smaller routes intertwined to connect the strongholds of the O'Carrolls and the O'Dunnes in the same area. A further network of roads also connected the monasteries at Durrow, Tihilly, Lynally, Drumcullen, Kinnitty, Seir Kieran, Birr and Roscrea.

Firm evidence of road development only emerges after the plantation of Laois-Offaly from the sixteenth century onwards. In his efforts to pacify the area, Captain Bellingham built a series of military roads into the east of the county. Eventually these roads were extended throughout the county and the cost of their maintenance was supported by settlers who came into the area. It was the building of these roads allowing greatly improved transportation that permitted the plantation of Munster in the seventeenth century.

In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries turnpike roads signalled a further improvement in standards. These roads were used by stage coaches with fees being paid at toll-gates along the route. By the eighteenth century, Grand Juries - which were the forerunners of modern County Councils - were charged with the maintenance of these roads; while for roads which ran acrosss a number of counties, special independent bodies consisting of members of the local gentry called Trustees of the Road were in charge.

A degree of notoriety surrounds the certain aspects of road-building policy in Ireland in the nineteenth century. Central to this were works instituted during the famine to increase the level of wealth in various areas by commissioning the building of roads. In several cases these roads appeared to go nowhere in particular - coming instead to an abrupt halt in deserted areas. One such "famine road" ran across the slopes of Stooagh in the Slieve Blooms near Ballinrally, before seemingly ending without reason.

In the same area in the years after the famine, a road was built which was of much greater significance. This road is reported to follow the ancient highway connecting Laois and Offaly and it involved blasting a pathway throughout the mountain at what became known as The Cut.

After independence the road network in Offaly was continually up-graded with the development of several primary routes in the county. The main road connecting the east and west coasts of Ireland runs along the west of the county, while other primary routes also connect the main towns and villages of Offaly with the main roads to the south and the north.

The construction of the Grand Canal revolutionised transport in Ireland as a whole, and in Offaly in particular. In the seventeenth century road transport was still at a very rudimentary stage of development, ensuring that on its finalisation the canal was in a position to dominate travel to and from the county. Most importantly, it allowed for the speedier transportation of goods, thereby facilitating the establishment of industry in the area.

As early as 1664, the acting Viceroy in Ireland, the Duke of Ormond, considered the question of inland navigation as a means towards improving communication within the country. However, it was not until 1751 that a Board of Inland Navigation was established. Work commenced on constructing a canal which would connect Dublin with the River Shannon and the River Barrow in 1756.

In the early years the building of the Grand Canal, which was to be financed by government bodies, was beset by difficulties. Bad planning and bad engineering ensured that the first twenty miles of the canal cost twice as much as had been forecast and had proceeded at a ridculously slow pace. Fifteen years after the commencement of construction, Dublin Corporation found that it had no funds remaining to finance the canal - to such an extent that they were even unable to extend the canal as far as the Bog of Allen.

With the proposed scheme floundering after huge expenditure for little return, a group of businessmen formed the Grand Canal Company in 1771 and with John Traill as their engineer and William Jessop as a consultant they raised sufficient capital to proceed with the project. In 1779 the canal opened for 12 miles; by 1791 Athy had been reached; by 1797 it had progressed as far as Phillipstown (Daingean); and then in 1798 it finally reached Tullamore. Tullamore was to remain the canal's terminus for six years during which time the foundations were laid for a huge growth in prosperity in the area and led eventually to Tullamore taking over the role of county town from Phillipstown.

At first travel from Dublin to Tullamore took almost 14 hours and amongst the first passengers to use the route were a dispatch of British soldiers on their way to fight French troops who had landed in Killala Bay, County Mayo in May 1798. By 1834 the introduction of Fly Boats had cut the length of the journey to less than 9 hours - which was considerably shorter than the time required to complete the trip over land.

In 1804 the canal reached the Shannon at Shannon Harbour and branch lines were later extended to Corbally in 1811; to Ballinsloe in 1827; to Mountmellick in 1830; and to Kilbeggan in 1834. In all, the construction of the waterway marked a considerable engineering achievement with many novel difficulties overcome, such as the traversement of a bog in Edenderry through the use of the high embankments.

The industrial advances brought by the canal will be dealt with in another chapter, but amongst the immediate developments at Tullamore were the establishment of a hotel, stores, a collector's house and a dry-dock at Tullamore by Michael Hayes all of which opened in 1801.

With the county also bordered by the River Barrow and the River Shannon, the area is now idyllic for pleasure cruising and other water-based activities. Indeed, tourism along the canal could prove one of the most profitable routes forward for business in the area - a departure which would be a fitting memorial to the foresight of the earliest developers of the waterway.

If the construction of the Grand Canal is the story of triumph over adversity, the coming of railways to Offaly is no less interesting an event. As the railways offered a far speedier form of transport, their advent inevitably ensured the passing of the canal as the primary means of travel in the country and their initial arrival aroused a great deal of confrontation and bitterness between the canal companies and their new rivals.

The opening of the first ever railway in Ireland occurred on December 17, 1834 when the Dublin and Kingstown Railway carried its first passengers. The great success of this link signalled to rail entrepreneurs the opportunites for development throughout the country. Regionally based rail companies were quickly formed with two companies - the Great Southern and Western Railway and the Midland Great Western Railway having a direct impact on the county of Offaly.

These two companies were eventually to be locked in a bitter battle for supremacy in the area, but their first confrontation was with the Grand Canal Company. The Grand Canal Company realised that if it were to survive, let alone prosper, it would have to radically depart from its existing state. To that end, in 1844 it proposed a merger with the Great Southern and Western Railway which would have led to the building of a rail link between Dublin and Galway with the tracks following the route of the Grand Canal as far as the Shannon. Within a year the rail company rejected the offer as it was felt that the cost of laying the line along the banks of the canal would have been inordinately expensive. It decided instead to develop its own path across the country, thus ensuring the demise of the Grand Canal Company.

However, the Great Southern and Western Railway, whose principal line was the Dublin-Cork route, encountered bitter opposition when it announced its plans to build a rail link between Dublin and Galway which would have passed through Tullamore and Clara. A gentleman's agreement existed between the regional rail companies that none would attempt to steal custom from another's territory and, strictly, speaking, Offaly fell within the boundaries of the Midland Great Western Railway.

The Midland Great Western Railway proposed to build its Galway link through the towns of Kinnegad and Mullingar, with subsidiary lines serving the main areas of Offaly. A "Race to Galway" ensued and signalled a period of intense rivalry between the two rail companies. The Midland Great Western Railway were the first to receive legal sanction for their plans. The railway reached Kinnegad in 1847 and opened for business as far as Mullingar on 2nd October 1848. Further approval from the House of Commons allowed the Midland Great Western proceed to Athlone where they crossed the Shannon and triumphantly proclaimed the opening of a through route to Galway on 1st August 1851.

Meanwhile, the Great Southern and Western Railway had only reached Tullamore at this stage and it was not until 1858 that it received permission to extend its line from Tullamore to Athlone. Within a year and a half, this line was completed and its route dissected Offaly passing through Geashill, Tullamore and Clara.

Apart from this principal route to the west the county was also home to a number of other minor links. Amongst these was the branch of the Great Western Railway which ran into Edenberry. This line was known as the Nesbitt Junction Line on account of the £10,000 donated towards its construction by Ms. Downing Nesbitt. In 1884 the Great Southern and Western Railway opened a branch line between Clara and Banagher serving the towns of Ballycumber, Ferbane and Belmont. The final goods train on this route left Belmont station in September 1962.

Most interesting of all rail routes in Offaly was the development of the short-lived Parsonstown and Portuma Bridge Railway. This route has been described as one of the most heroic failures in railway legend. Known as the "stolen railway" it started in 1861 when the Earl of Clanrickarde was granted permission to build the 12 mile link. After financial difficulties it finally opened when the third contractor made it to Portumna in 1868. Two trains ran each day at about 6.00am and 9.30pm, while the train could only come within a mile of Portumna as Portumna Bridge was deemed unsafe for rail travel. After losing £2,000 a year for ten years the link was abandoned as a financial disaster. This abandonment was the signal for the commencement of a systematic campaign of looting. Rails, sleepers, signals, signposts and footbridges all disappeared, until finally Portumna Station Buildings themselves were removed one night.

Such was the regionalisation of Irish rail that in 1868 over 39 different rail companies operated in Ireland. This was only barely sustainable in the hey-day of rail transport, but on the coming of independence it was clear that it was not a situation which could be allowed to persist indefinitely. The fledgling Free State government established a Railway Commission in 1922 and this eventually resulted in the nationalisation of all railways in Ireland. The first steps towards the amalgamation of rail companies began with the Railways Act, 1924 which absorbed 22 companies.

This process continued in the following years and resulted in a more stream-lined service more in line with the number of customers carried and although it eventually ensured the demise of all the minor routes in the country it has ensured that the rail links to the county remain of the highest standard. Within the county itself, rail links have also served to benefit the development of Bord na Mona. Although most of the lines were operated by diesel traction, in 1949 three turf-burning locomotives were introduced to serve Portarlington Power Station from the bogs of Clonsast and Garryhinch.

The development of an efficient rail system has undoubtedly been of huge benefit to industry in the county. Just as the canals before it led to ecomomic development so too did the railways being their own forms of industry, providing a vital means of transport for such companies as D. E. Williams. The proposed upgrading and development of the system should ensure that rail links continue to play a central role in the future prosperity of the county.

MOUNTMELLICK UNION, Co. Offaly Part
Cloneygowan District, Offaly Part - Ballyshear, Cloneygowan, Hammerlane O'Dempsey, Portarlington North.

PARSONSTOWN UNION,  Co. Offaly Part
Banagher District - Banagher, Cloghan, Hunston, Lusmagh, Mounterin, Shannonbridge, Shannonbarbour
Ferbane District - Ballycumber, Clonmacnoise, Doone, Ferbane, Gallen, Hinds, Lea, Lumcloon, Moyclare, Srah.
Frankford District (Kilcormac) -Broughal, Derrinboy, Derryadd, Drurncullen, Frankford (Kilcormac).
Killyon District - Dromoyle, Kilcoltnan, Killyon, Total area, 17,111.
Kinnitty District - Kinnitty, Knockbarron, Letter, Roscomroe, Seirkieran, Tulla. Parsonstown (Birr) District-Eglish, Parsonstown.
Riverstown District - In Tipperary, 27,428 acres.

ROSCREA UNION, Co. Offaly Part,
Roscrea District, No. 1, Offaly Part-Gorteen.
Roscrea District, No 2 - Aghancon, Ettagh.
Shinrone District-Ballincor, Barna, Cangort, Cullenwaine, Dunkerrin, Mountheaton, Shinrone, Templeharry.

TULLAMORE UNION, Co. Offaly Part
Clara District - Bawn, Clara, Gorteen, Kilcumreragh, Tinnamuck.
Kilbeggan District, Offaly Part, Durrow.
Killoughey District-Derrycooly, Killeigh, Kilooly, Killoughey, Rahan, Rathrobbin, Screggan.
Philipstown (Daingean) District - Geashill, Kilconfert, Mountbriscoe, Philipstown, Raheenakeeran, Rathfeston.
Tullamore District-Ballycommon, Cappincur, Silverbrook, Tinnycross, Tullamore.

Is a post, fair, and market town in the King's County, and situated on the banks of the river Shannon; it is 66 miles to the south and west of Dublin, 14 south cast of Ballinasloe, 17 south of Athlone and 40 north by east of Limerick. About one mile south of Banagher are the ruins of Garry castle, near which stands Garry castle house The seat of Captain Thos. St. George Armstrong. At the north end of the town is a spacious stone bridge of 18 arches, built about the year 1049 by Roderick O'Connor, then King of Connaught. This bridge unites the two provinces of Leinster and Connaught, one half being in the county of Galway, and the other half in the King's county. Near the bridge, on the Galway side, are two large towers, each planted with one 24lb.traversing gun; and at the south west of the bridge is a sod battery, mounting three 24 pound traversing guns for the purpose of protecting or destroying the bridge, in case of an attack being made by the people of Connaught. At the foot of the bridge is a good barrack for two companies of foot, and apartments for three officers, with a military battery mounting rare 12 pound guns, and a large magazine underneath, which is bomb and water proof. This barrack was formally a nunnery, and communicated with the church by a subterraneous passage of about 400 yards. Banagher has an extensive trade in corn, of which great quantities are sent to the Dublin and other markets. At Cuba house, distant about ¾ of a mile, is the royal school endowed by letters patent in the 4th year of the reign of King Charles the first on the plan of Erasmus Smyth. The church is in a very ruinous state, but it is expect that a new one will soon be built, which will accommodate about 500 persons: the site fixed on is a very pleasant situation at the end of the main street leading from Parsonstown, and opposite to Cuba house.

The Catholics also are building a chapel, which, when finished, it is computed will contain 1000 persons. The market day is Friday, and there are three fairs; the principal one commences on the 15th of September and continues for four days, the first for sheep, the second for horned cattle, the third for horses, and the last day is the country fair for linen, woollens and other merchandise. The other fairs are on May 1st. and November 8th.- Population is about 1500.

POST OFFICE - post master, Mr. Richard Shape. The mail is despatched for Dublin at three in the afternoon, and returns at ten in the morning. The Cork and Limerick Mails are sent at ten in the morning, and return at twenty minutes past two in the afternoon. The Eyrecount, and Portumna bags are despatched at ten in the morning, and return at forty-five minutes past three in the afternoon. Letters to and from England and Scotland are conveyed by the Dublin mail.

Birr, otherwise called Parsonstown

Is a good post and market town, and far the most considerable of any in the King's County, 63 miles south west of Dublin, 6 south east of Banagher, 9 south west of Frankford, 10 north of Roscrea, 19 north cast of Nenagh, 19 south west of Tullamore and 40 north east of Limerick. It is situated on the river Birr, and adorned with a fine castle, build by the family of the Parsons, but now the residence of the Earl of Ross, the proprietor of the town. This castle was besieged by General Sarsfield, and relieved by Kirk; it has since been rebuilt by the present Earl. In the middle of the town is a stone column of the Doric order, with a shaft about 25 feet high, and surmounted with a pedestrian statue of the Duke of Cumberland in a Roman habit, cast in lead, and painted of a stone colour; it was erected in 1747. The church, which was built about 14 years ago at an expense exceeding 11,000 is a beautiful edifice of stone, built in the Gothic style, and possessing a square tower and one bell The Roman Catholic chapel may vie with the church, being also built of stone, and in the same style; it is adorned with a high spire, and with a statue of St. Peter, cut in stone, and holding the Keys of heaven. The noble and generous Earl of Ross gave the land and stone for this chapel, and 100 towards its erection; besides these there are two Methodist chapels and a Quaker's meeting house. The charitable institutions of Birr, are a fever hospital and dispensary, supported by county grants and annual subscriptions; a Sunday school for children of all denominations; a free school for boys, and another for girls, both supported by subscription, the latter by that of ladies only. Here is a gaol with a sessions house, where the sessions are held four times a year; the prisoners after their trial are sent to Philpstown, which is the county town. A manorial count is also held here on the first Monday in every month, for the recovery of debts under 40 shillings. The ruins of the old church are still visible; it is supposed to have been built upwards of 500 years, and was formerly the monastery of St. Brendan. One mile from the town are the Barracks, a large and elegant building, capable of holding three regiments of soldiers. Birr has two large distilleries and two breweries, which give employment to most part of the poor of the town.

The population in 1821 was 5,400. The market day is Saturday. The fairs are four, viz. February the 11th, May the 5th, August the 25th and December the 10th.

POST OFFICE.-Duke-street. Post master, Mr. William Wilkinson. The Dublin Mail is despatched at five in the evening, and arrives at half-past eight in the morning. The Banagher, Ferbane, and Eyrecourt Mails are sent at half-past one in the afternoon. The Tullamore Mail is despatched at twelve at noon, and arrives at four in the afternoon. Letters for England an Scotland by the Dublin Mail.

Cloghan

Is a small fair and post town in the King's County, 62 miles W. By .S. of Dublin 6 W. by S. of Frankford, 4 N.E. of Banagher, and 13 S. W. of Tullamore. It is governed by a seneschal, who holds a manorial court once a month, for the recovery of debts under 10 pounds. Here are a neat stone church, with a tower and one bell, and a Roman Catholic chapel, lately built by subscription. The town stands on the high road between Galway and Dublin; and possesses a very comfortable Inn, the Coghlan's Arms, established in 1769; the present proprietor is Mr. Patrick Gorman. Near the town may be seen the ruins of many old castles, formerly inhabited by the ancestors of the Coghlan family. At Moystown, one mile from Cloghan, and on the banks of the river Brusna, is the beautiful seat of Colonel H. P. L. L'Estrange, of the King's County militia; near to it there is a neat stone church, with a spire, built a few years ago, on the road leading to Ballinasloe. Population 550. Fairs are held on the 15th of May and the 29th of October.

POST OFFICE- Post Master, Mr. John Devery. The Dublin Mail is despatched at five in the evening, and arrives at nine in the morning. The Ferbane, Banagher, and Parsonstown bags arrive and depart with the Dublin Mail. Letters for England and Scotland by the Dublin Mail.

Edenderry

A MARKET and post town at the north eastern extremity of the King's county, and near the river Boyne, is 28 miles west of Dublin and 9 north of Rathangan. The woollen trade was formerly carried on to a considerable extent, but within these few years unfavourable changes have taken place; at present its principal trade is in corn, of which great quantities are brought to this market, and purchased by the neighbouring dealers. The church is a neat stone building with a tower and one bell, is situated on a neat rising ground, and commands a view of the river and of the surrounding county. Within the church is a stone tablet to the memory of Sarah Lady Blundell, Who died in the year 1701; this stone was discovered in the ruins of the old church of Monasteroris, distant about a mile and a half, and was removed hither in 1814, by Mary, Marchioness of Downshire, and Baroness Sandy, the heiress and lineal descendant of Montague Lord Viscount Blundell. Besides the church, the Catholics possess a handsome chapel, and the Methodists and Quakers have each a place of worship. The charitable institutions are, eight alms-houses for poor widows, the gift of the Marquis of Downshire, who is the Lord of the Manor; a dispensary supported by subscription; a free school for children of both sexes; and a Sunday school, established in August 1823, for children of all denominations. The town has been much improved within these few years, most of the thatched cabins having been taken down, and replaced with good stone-built and slated houses. A new road is also making from this town to Rathangan, which will cut off three miles, and bring the two towns within 6 miles of each other.

A seneschal court is held here on Thurdays and Saturdays for the recovery of small debts, at which John Brownrigg and Thomas Murray, Esqrs. preside. The population of the town and neighbourhood, in 1821, was 1439. Saturday is the marker-day, and fairs are held on Shrove Tuesday, Whiten-Thursday, and on the 4th of November.

POST OFFICE - post master, Mr. Robert Astles. The Mail for Dublin is despatched at three in the afternoon, and returns at nine in the morning. All by-Bags go by the Dublin Mail.

Portarlington

Is a respectable borough town, 35 miles west of Dublin, 5 from Mountmellick, and 9 from Mary-borough. The river Barrow divides the town into two unequal portions, the larger being situated in the Queen's County and the smaller in the King's County. Three estates of Portarlington were granted by Queen Elizabeth to Lord Clonmalire. His success, for his conduct in the rebellion of 1611, was attained of treason, and forfeited all his lands, which were bestowed on Sir Henry Bennett, one of the ministers of Charles 11. Who was created Lord Arlington, and obtained a charter for a corporation and manor. In 1666 a patent was granted him for the name of Portarlington, from which the town derives its name. The estates became forfeited again in the rebellion of 1688, and in 1696 King William granted the lands to his Dutch followers, and his favourite Lord Galway, who made leases of the town and estates for ever to a number of French Protestants, who came over with him. He also erected two churches, one for the French and the other for the English; and these are still continued, and endowed with sufficient lands. He assigned funds for an English and a French school, which were the means of establishing in Portarlington those eminent seminaries, which have produced some of the most shining characters in the kingdom; and the inhabitants feel an honourable pride in the circumstance of the present viceroy and his illustrious brother Wellington having been educated among them. The town is the resort of a great part of the rank and fashion of Leinster, is governed by a sovereign, and sends one member to the British parliament. The church is a neat edifice with a lofty spire. A celebrated spa was discovered here about 30 years ago. The markets are held on Wednesdays and Saturdays, and there are eight fairs in the year, viz. On the 5th of January, the 1st of March, the 8th of April, the 22nd of May, the 4th of July, the 1st of September, the 12th of October, and the 23nd of November. -The population amounts to near 3,000.

POST OFFICE - post Master, Mr. James Sheweraft. The mail is conveyed by horse to Monastereven every evening at eight, and returns at seven in the morning. Office hours from seven in the morning till seven at night.

Tullamore

In the King's County, is a handsome market and fair town, divided into two nearly equal parts by a river of the same name, and situated forty-five miles nearly west of Dublin, eight west of Philipstown, five south of Kilbeggan, and ten north-cast of Ballyboy. It owes its present thriving condition to the magnificent liberality of its noble proprietor, Lord Charleville, who convert an ill formed group of thatched cabins into regular streets, composed of handsome dwellings, which administer to the comforts and conveniences of a wealthy and industrious population; such an example descries to be imitated by other wealthy proprietors, and the procedure would redound to their immortal honour. The linen manufacture has been introduced here, and under judicious encouragement, cannot fail to prosper. The barracks for horse and foot are spacious and handsome, and the marker house, built at his lordship's expense, is very well adapted for its intended purpose.

The Grand Canal, from Dublin to Shannon Harbour, runs close by the town. About a quarter of a mile distant, on the banks of this canal, and near the old road leading from Dublin to Galway, are the ruins of Sragh castle, built in 1588, John Briscoe, esq., of Crofton Hall, in Cumberland, an officer of high rank and merit in Queen Elizabeth's army, and by his wife Eleanor Kerney, and their son Andrew Briscoe, esq., as appears by a tablet commemorating the event. The church, which is also about a quarter of a mile from the town, is a neat edifice with a handsome tower and one bell, and stands upon a high sandy hill; it was formerly in part surrounded by a deep bog, where there is now fine meadow and rich pasture land. Here is a handsome Roman Catholic chapel, built in the modern style of architecture under the inspection of the Rev. Michael Karney, the parish priest; and besides this the are two Methodist meeting houses. The beneficent institutions of Tullamore are a charity school, built and endowed by the Earl and Countess of Charleville, for an unlimited number of boys and girls, who are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic; two Methodist Sunday scho ols, one founded in 1813, the other in 1822; and a county infirmary, supported by subscription and county grants. Tullamore has convenient shambles for butchers' meat, and a good market for corn and other provisions; it also possesses a small silk manufactory, three extensive breweries, and a lately erected distillery. Within a short distance from the town is Lord Charleville's beautiful demesne, delightfully wooded with full-grown timber,and judiciously studded with young and thriving plantations. The various cascades contrived at the different falls of the river Cladagh produce a charming effect. Grottos and rustic bridges are tastefully disposed, and his lordship has so naturally formed an artificial excavation of nearly eight acres, that it does not appear to be the work of man; ars est celare artem. The fairs are May the 10th, July the 10th, and October the 21st. The market days are Tuesday and Saturday. - The population in 1821, including the parish, was 5,444.

POST OFFICE, church-street - post Master, Mr. John McDonald. The Dublin mail arrives at fifty minutes past five in the morning, and is despatched at a quarter before seven in the evening. A by-mail is despatched at fifty-eight minutes past five in the morning to Ballyboy, Kinnitty, and Parsonstown. Letters for England and Scotland by the Dublin mail.

The problem for the student of nineteenth century Irish local history is not that of finding material but rather that of making a good selection from the vast amount of material available. Some of the most important sources for the local historian are the Reports of the Royal Commissions that enquired into the state of Ireland. This article looks at one such source, The Reports of the Commissioners for Inquiring into the Condition of the Poorer classes in Ireland, 1835 - 36.

Recession and falling prices after the Napoleonic wars, together with an expanding population and increasing unemployment led to increasing poverty in Ireland. It was the labouring classes and small landholders who suffered most.

Increasing concern was voiced, both in England and Ireland, about the state of the County but there was no agreement on the kind of remedial measures which ought to be applied. In general it could be said the British favoured the adoption by Ireland of a Poor Law system (the system of workhouse relief) with the Irish landowners and others, including Dan O'Connell, opposing this with the argument that it would result in heavy taxes on the landowners and would do nothing to alleviate the problem. What was needed they argued were more jobs and better wages.

In 1833 the house of Commons ordered that a Royal Commission be appointed to investigate the problem of poverty in Ireland.

First report
The Commission, with Archbishop Whately as Chairman, undertook "the most thorough survey of the conditions of the Irish poor yet attempted". Its first report became available in 1835 and the final report in 1836. The Commissioners reported in favour of public works and "assisted emigration". They argued against the introduction of indoor or outdoor relief on the grounds that it would be impracticable except for the poor and infirm. The Commissioners were in fact proposing a scheme for economic development and not simply poor relief, but this went far beyond what the Government had envisaged or public opinion, especially in England, would tolerate and so, the report was shelved. Instead the government introduced the workhouse system to Ireland in 1838.

The Commission in gathering evidence on social conditions sent out questionnaires to respectable gentlemen in almost every part of Ireland. The returns from these gentlemen were published as appendices to the reports of the Commission. Most of the respondents, if you can judge from the Offaly returns were clergymen.

Social Conditions
The questionnaires dealt with social conditions in the parish: employment, wages, diet, housing, conditions of landholding, emigration and so forth. Naturally the thoroughness with which the respondents completed the questionnaires varied. As to reliability one would need to compare the returns with other sources before conclusions could be drawn.

In this article I want to look at the replies to the Poor Inquiry relative to "earnings of Labourers, cottier tenants, employment of women and children" etc. Twelve questions were put to respondents ranging from the number of labourers in the parish to the employment of women and children.

Employment of Labourers
For Ballyboy the respondents, Andrew Stoney and Rev. Charles Burtin suggested from 180 to 400 labourers in employment with some living in the houses of small farmers and others employed on a casual basis when suitable weather prevailed. In Durrow the Rev. Peter Toler reckoned on 800 while Dr. William Wallace felt that in Tullamore parish some 1100 labourers had employment in Summer and 300 in Winter. In Lynally parish Mr. Alexander Andrews reported

"I cannot inform you the number. The generality of farmers employ their own children to cultivate their land; several labourers are employed in summer, in brick-yards, in the next parish: the Earl of Charleville employs constantly above 50 labourers, and the resident gentry about the same number; during the harvest, I conceive, there is employment for every man: I beg to observe that this parish abounds in lime-stone, and there are several lime-kilns, which give employment to many people: there is great facility in procuring turf: many in Tullamore, weaving linen and frieze, gave employment to many families, but it has much declined within the last few years; there are, at present, about six looms at word."

The question was posed to how labourers were maintained when out of employment and the answer in many cases was by begging. Evidence of this was already seen on the articles on Daingean in this series where Jonathan Bins reported on Daingean in he mid-1830s. Others in Offaly relied on their small holdings and potatoes grown on mostly rented ground. Joseph White of Edenderry parish said of the labourers: "Their mode of maintenance puzzles every one expending a thought on he subject" while George Atkinson of Shinrone was of the view that "The labourers of this country, having in almost every instance a spot of ground attached to their house, are not so destitute when unemployed for hire as is generally supposed; it is thought that a little time spent now and then in their own gardens would turn to more advantage than the wages earned in the same period; but it is found that the times when they are occasionally thrown out of work, instead of being taken advantage of for this purpose, are spent partly in total idleness, and partly in the unlicensed whisky house, a nuisance to a great extent in every part of this country."

Diet was generally potatoes and milk with very little meat (Ballyboy) with occasionally oatmeal (Edenderry). In Lemonaghan Andrew Macken wrote: The ordinary diet of the labourer consists of potatoes and salt during winter and spring; in summer they may produce some buttermilk: they ate meat of a coarse kind at one or two of the yearly festivals: their clothing is made up of rags, and many cannot attend divine service unless accommodated with clothes by their neighbours." Messrs. Mooney and Mullock of the same parish that labourers could be more comfortable were it not for their love of whisky, politics and cordplaying

Employment Precarious
Solow in his assessment of the barony of Ballybritt in Offaly in 1821 (based on the 1821 surviving manuscript returns) reckoned that 74 farmers held as much land as the remaining 1,008. The labourers depended in part on being hired out, on seasonal migration to Britain and in fishing and textile production. Conacre was well established at the time and was based on tillage with the labourer "a commercial speculator in potatoes" mortgaging his labour against manure and seed and paying the debt to the farmer by working for a certain number of days at an agreed rate. In the days when dole and welfare were not available (except through the workhouse) and employment was precarious conditions were ripe - if not anticipated - for the disaster following the failure of the potato crop.

Employment of Women and Children
In Ballyboy women and children were employed only in harvest time, hay time and potato picking. The children were paid from 2d to 3d per day and women 5d per day. (Men were paid from 10d in Summer to 8d in Winter.) The picture was the same in Killoughy and in Birr children of from 10 to 12 years were paid 3d and at 16 years 6d. Tullamore and Lynally were much the same. In Clonsast the Revd. George Newcome said that it was to be lamented that women and children of the parish were not more industrious "as might render their circumstances more comfortable".

£10 per Year
The family budget for the labourer was tight. He was paid mainly in money and could earn up to £10 per year with additional revenue from the working wife and children. But the system encouraged exploitation for greed on the side of the rich and of necessity on the side of the poor. For Ballyburly, Francis L. Dames wrote of the dense population that it was in a state of pauperism for the want of employment, the minute division of the ground they hold and the extravagant rent they pay for it.

"The Irish peasant will promise any rent, however exorbitant, to get possession of a house and garden and will live in the most abject poverty to try and pay for it; they are thus greatly preyed on by the small farmers on these estates where a most careful attention is not exercised to prevent division of land".

Housing Conditions
Many labourers lived and built cabins on marginal lands next to the bogs. This happened in Tullamore at Puttaughan, north of he canal and it happened in the Geashill estate of Lord Digby and led to evictions there in the 1850s. The rent of a cabin in Ballyboy with an acre of ground was about £2 per year or 40% of the income of a labourer in employment for half of the year. The further the cabin from the town the cheaper. In the towns, such as Kilcormac, a cabin with a small garden was £3 per year. For example, in Tullamore the houses in Tea Lane (near Quinnsworth) were let at 6d per week with "the lease determinable every Friday".

The cabins in the country were generally mud-walled. In Ballyboy Rev. Charles Burton noted the "Cabins are most commonly constructed with mud, that is, the upper part of them; the foundation of them, to perhaps the height of three feet, is most commonly built with stone, though not always; as to their furniture, very indifferent and bad; latterly, during the prevalence of epidemic disease, lime was pretty generally furnished to them by charitable associations, which has a good effect in making their cabins look clean, and continuing health to their inmates: they have commonly a dresser, a table, and a few stools; sometimes a couple of chairs. Their beds and bedding, I think, in many instances, uncomfortable in the extreme; not often bedsteads; and straw to lie on, with no very adequate supply of blankets."

In Tullamore the picture was the same. Most of the cabins had straw bedding and many without bedsteads". The better class of labourer in Edenderry could boast a bed of chaff and rushes. While in Leamonaghan the rags worn during the day were used as bed clothes at night.

Who were the Landlords
The landlords of cabins (as with flats today) are often provident but relatively poor people. In the lanes of Tullamore in the 1900s the landlords were often publicans, auctioneers and grocers. Andrew Stoney, himself a landlord, wrote of Ballyboy c. 1834 "In the towns the immediate landlords of small houses or cabins are, comparatively speaking, provident but poor people, who take plots from the proprietor, and build cabins to enhance the value, and, by setting one or more, live free of rent themselves, and sometimes have profit. In the county the immediate landlords and small farmers, who set patches of land from one to three acres for the purpose of lightening their rent, and having labourers near them."

Likewise in Leamonaghan the landlords of cottages were of every description from humble and industrious farmers to landlords in fee. Seldom did the principal landlord involve himself at this level. He usually let to middlemen or building speculators who in turn let to undertenants. These undertenant sub-let or took in lodgers. Duty labour was not common and the rent of cabins was generally paid in cash.

Population Jump
The population of Ireland probably reached 8.5 m. by 1845. It had risen by four fifths in the previous fifty years and over 100 years had quadrupled. The population increase in Ireland before 1845 was virtually unique in the whole of Europe. Why did population increase? There are no easy answers. Some historians emphasis the role of food supply both in preventing and reducing crises in subsistence and the avoidance of any disastrous famine (up to 1845) and in facilitating earlier marriages and high martial fertility. The work currently being done by centres at Tullamore and elsewhere on the indexing of the parish registers (events of baptism and marriage) may in due course help to flesh out the answers.

Unlike the European pattern population growth in Ireland was not accompanied by massive urbanisation. Based on the 1821 and 1841 census only about one-eight of the population lived in towns or cities of 1,500 or more - Ireland remained one of the least urbanised countries in Western Europe. Contrary perhaps to popular belief the emigration exodus had started well before the Famine. Cormac O Grada states (A new history of Ireland,v, p.120) that between 1815 and 1845 alone Ireland may have provided over one tenth of all those who had voluntarily crossed the Atlantic since Columbus. Well over half a million left Ireland between 1801 and 1845. The U.S. and Canada took about 0.9 million and Britain the remainder. After Waterloo and the ending of the French wars in 1815 the rate of emigration rose. By the 1840s emigration was removing one-half or more of the natural increase in population (i.e. the excess of births over deaths and before emigration).

In the Poor Law Inquiry respondents were asked to consider if the general condition of the poorer classes in your parish improved, deteriorated or remained stationary since the Peace of the year 1815. Is the population of the parish increasing or diminishing? The Offaly replies were as follows:

Ballyboy - Revd. Charles Burton
"The general condition of the poorer classes not improved; some years before the period mentioned in this query they had a manufacture in this town in wool, making stuffs, &c., combing the wool, and going through the whole process of its manufacture; but now nothing of the kind; industry a blank, and not much agricultural employment. I think the population of the parish the most thriving manufacture, and the consequence is poverty in equal ratio. The town of Frankford [Kilcormac] is in some measure improving, in consequence of a distillery being established there, which stirs up the resources of the country, and causes a vast deal of corn, turf, &c., to be brought in, and in other respects serves the labourer and the poor person."

Birr - Revd. Marcus McCausland
"As far as I can collect, the condition of the poorer classes is stationary since 1815: the population has certainly increased since that time."

Lynally - Alexander Andrews
"I have resided in this parish since the year 1824, and I consider the general condition of the poorer classes has improved, which I ascribe to a greater attention paid to them by the gentry: but I am of the opinion that the class above the poor is much deteriorated. The population is increasing to an alarming degree."

Lemonaghan - Andrew Mackeon
"The condition of the poor has become wretched in the extreme these years back: the linen trade flourished in the parish, and the poor were then employed and comfortable; the decay of the trade has entailed consequent misery on its followers. The population is increasing."

Banagher_parish - Rev. P. O'Farrell
"The state of the labouring poor, as well as of the farming classes, has lamentably fallen into wretchedness; the farmers, burdened with high rents and bad prices, &c., are unable to employ or pay the labourer, who is consequently dragging a weary existence, deprived of not merely the comforts, but sometimes suffering under the want of nourishing sustenance.

Ferbane_parish - Rev. John Kenny
"Their condition is deteriorated considerably, the linen trade, by which many were employed in these parishes, having failed; agriculture is their sole employment; this caused a competition for land, and raised it beyond value, and thus the farmers were unable to employ labourers, or reward sufficiently those employed. The population is increasing rapidly.

Most respondents took the view that conditions were deteriorating with population on the increase and employment opportunities especially in the linen trade (in West Offaly) greatly reduced.

Disturbance and Crime
The 1798 rebellion did not impinge tp any significant extent on Offaly. Outbreaks of violence or rebellion occurred at Kilbeggan, Clonbullogue and Ballycumber but for the most part the county remained quiet. The Bishop of Meath, Dr. Plunkett, had preached against Defenderism and other agrarian secret societies in the mid-1790s, but such secret societies continued to exist and find support from time to time. In reply to a query on disturbances some of the Offaly replies are of interest.

Kilcormac - peaceable.

Killoughy - peaceable.

Seirkieran - Party business prevailed, but was stopped.

Tullamore - It has become very much disturbed of late, have partaken of the general effects of agitation.

Lynally - The generality of Roman Catholics of the parish have refused to pay tithes and church cess the last three years, also threatening notices have been frequently posted; in other respects the parish has been peaceable.

Shinrone - Very peaceable.

and another correspondent wrote:

- Peaceable, as between rich and poor, but party fueds, and outrages arising therefrom, among the lowest class; an increasing spirit of dislike to seek legal redress, preferring to take their own revenge.

Clonsast - These parishes were always remarkable peaceable, until the last two years or so, when the agitation of the Reform question, and the many violent speeches and publications uttered at that time, give rise to certain wild notions as to the right of interfering with vested rights, meddling with the setting of land, wages of labourers, and even domestic arrangements: crimes of the darker dye were not only unknown to the oldest inhabitant, but there was even no record of their having been perpetrated in this neighbourhood until last year, when one savage murder, besides some unsuccessful attempts at assassination, took place.

Lemonaghan - The minds of farmers and lower orders of the people of Lemonaghan parish have been frequently disturbed, yet they had the good sense not to be led into material crime from the year 1798 to the 7th of Febuary 1834: it is now our painful duty, and matter of regret, that we must make it known, that on the night of 7th Febuary 1834, the house of George Holmes, of Moorock, Esq., in our itherto peaceable parish, was broken open, when the family were at rest, about 4 o'clock in the morning, and plundered of money, jewels and firearms: this worthy, peaceable, charitable, and useful man to the poor people had been indisposed for some time; we sincerely hope and trust that such horrible act was not committed by any parishioner; and also the church was broken open, and robbed of £7, previous to the robbing of Mr. Holmes.

Tissaran - Up to the year 1831 this parish was very peaceable; since that period it has been, and is, much disturbed.

The County of Brosna, for such is Offaly often called, with its 771 sq. miles ranks in area as the 18th county in Ireland. Approximately 52 miles long and 27 wide, it contains within its approximate circumstances some 1128 townlands. And the fact that each townland averages out at 406 acres suggests a lesser tendency towards subdivision than obtains in other parts of the country, a point of interest to modern students of Ireland's social history.

That the "soil of Offaly is of three kinds, limestone, bog and gravel" suggests that the Landed Gentry who arrived in with Ireland's first (but non profitable) Plantation experiment in the 1570s, busied themselves with acquiring the better limestone soils while relegating the native Irish to 'the bogs and gravels'.

But the Plantation of Laois and Offaly was nothing if not thorough. One hundred years later, Dr. William Petty, Chief Medical Officer to Cromwell's soldiery and now turned land surveyor ordered the surveyors (or terriers as they were called) under his control to "change all (townland) names from those uncouth, unintelligible (Irish) names by which their localities are known into English, the more that we might create a new era". It was thus that Offaly, like other counties also, has its goodly share of anglicised townland place names.

When viewed in general, Offaly represents a great plain. Indeed it has been said that "from Sliabh Bloom to The Hill of Allen (in neighbouring Kildare) and from Croghan Hill to An Fraoch Mor (meaning The Heath in Laois), the plain of Offaly is a tranquil as a lake".
Being full of springs as Offaly is, it is easy to appreciate many marshy areas resulted, despite the best efforts of the Brosna River to carry all waters to the Shannon. Even the word Brosna itself meaning as it does "a bundle of sticks" refers, it is thought, to decayed bundles of sticks of former alder trees which particularly suit marshy land.

The aspect of marshy or swampy land, much of it now thankfully reclaimed, is further mirrored in the ninety-three townlands which begin with the prefix Clon or Cluain. In general, Clon or Cluain means marshy land, a swamp or a meadow although some authorities (including the great O'Donovan) suggests that it means more particularly 'a raised area or field within a marsh', an oasis in fact, while the late Dr. Deirdre O'Flanagan goes a step further and offers that because early Christian settlements tended to locate on these oasis, then the term Clon or Cluain has Christian connotations.

Apart from these ninety-three Clons there are also fourteen townlands beginning with Curra or Curragh which also means 'a marsh or swamp'. The ninety-three Clons represent the largest single grouping of non anglicised Offaly townlands.

But such marshy land as the Clons and Curras naturally created small streams and rivers which needed to be crossed. These crossings we find in the sixteen townlands beginning with Atha which means 'a ford or crossing place'.

Some eighty-eight townlands, and the second largest non-anglicised grouping, begin with the word Kil or Kill which means 'a church settlement' or a possible accompanying burial place. There may be a tenuous connection this second largest grouping and the fifty-three townlands beginning with Doire (the fourth largest) Derry, or Doire, means an oak tree grove, as indeed does Durrow which also being in Offaly, was Saint Columba's favourite Irish monastery. Oak tree groves generally bespoke the pre-Christian druids who, having no symbol of their own worshipped the largest oak tree. The word 'druid' itself derives from the Irish word for oak, dair, meaning 'one who is learned from the wise old oak tree.

The third largest grouping of original Irish townlands in County Offaly is that beginning with the word 'baile'. There are fifty-five such townland prefixes. The term 'baile' originally meant "a small cluster of homesteads" since people, for one reason or another, often preferred to live as a group. And apart from a possible defensive aspect of the ancient 'baile', there are twenty four townlands containing the word 'rath' and thirteen with 'lios', both of which convey a defensive dimension.

There are nine townlands beginning with 'tulach' which means a hill, and of which An Tulach Mor (Tullamore) is a good example. Also meaning 'hill' is 'cnoc', and of these there are thirteen. Within its county boundaries, Offaly contains twenty islands on the River Shannon thirteen of which are named and seven unnamed.

The general pattern of Offaly's townland name structure fits in well with a national perspective. The six largest groupings of townland prefixes emerging from Ireland's 60,642 townlands (51,158 in the Republic) are Bailes 7,000; Kil or Cills 2,890; Clons or Cluains 1,680; Cnocs or Knocks 1,600; Lios 1,380, and Derrys 1,310.

Compiled by Michael Byrne