KILCLOONEY

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

"KILCLOONEY, a parish in the baronies of Lower Fews and Crior, county Armagh, province of Ulster, Ireland, containing part of Markethill, its post town. The parish is 6 miles long by 4 broad, and includes the village of Cairnamhanaghan. The surface is rather hilly and boggy. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Armagh, value £741, in the patronage of the primate. The church is a small edifice erected in 1794 by means of a gift from the late Board of First Fruits. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to those of Lisnadil and Armaghbreague. There are two Presbyterian meeting-houses, and eight public day schools. Cotton and linen weaving occupy some of the inhabitants. There are some traces of the old church, which was burnt in 1641. Clay, slate, and building stone are quarried, and lead ore and coal are found."

"MARKETHILL, a small post and market town in the parishes of Mullaghbrack and Kilclooney, in the barony of Lower Fews, county Armagh, province of Ulster, Ireland, 6 miles S.E. of Armagh, and 76 from Dublin. It is a station on the Newry and Armagh railway. The town is situated on the road from Armagh to Newry. It contains a police station, bridewell, and court-house, and petty sessions are held at intervals. There are three chapels and a school. The dispensary is within the Armagh Poor-law Union. In the vicinity is Draper's Hill, spoken of in Dean Swift's works, also Gosford Castle, the seat of Lord Gosford."

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