GOWRAN

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

"GOWRAN, a parish and post town in the barony of Gowran, county Kilkenny, province of Leinster, Ireland, 8 miles E. of Kilkenny, and 67 from Dublin. It is a station on the Dublin and Kilkenny railway. The parish is 4 miles long and over 3 broad. The surface consists of a good soil, and is traversed in the E. by a small tributary to the Nore. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Ossory, value £395. The church was built in 1827 by the late Board of First Fruits. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to three others. There are several day schools in the parish. The old church is thought to have belonged to an ancient religious house. It was in the early English style, but is now in a ruinous state. It contains many family monuments; among others one to the Gowran family, and another to the Butlers. Gowran Castle is the seat of Viscount Clifden, the proprietor of the town. The town is a place of antiquity and decayed importance. It was formerly a parliamentary borough, returning two members before the Union. It obtained its charter in the time of James I., and is governed by a portreeve, burgesses, and freemen, but its market is now extinct. Here are a Roman Catholic chapel and dispensary within the Kilkenny Poor-law Union. A castle of great strength was built here by the Earl of Ormond in the 14th century. In it Teigue O'Carroll was confined in 1399. It fell into decay, but was rebuilt, by Margaret the "Great," Countess of Ormond, circa 1500, and was totally destroyed in 1650 by the Cromwellians. Fairs are held on the 8th March, 9th May, 10th August, 6th October, and 8th December."

"BARROWMOUNT, a village in the parish and barony of Gowran, in the county of Kilkenny, province of Leinster, Ireland, 1 mile from Goresbridge. It is seated on the west bank of the river Barrow, near Gowran Castle, the seat of Viscount Clifden. In the vicinity are ruins of a monastery, and an ancient circle of stones. Fairs are held on the 13th April, the 15th June, the 1st August, and the 15th October."

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