COOLBANAGHER

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

"COOLBANAGHER, (or Ballycollon), a parish in the barony of Portnahinch, in Queen's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 5 miles S.E. of Mountmellick. The surface consists of good land, with bog and limestone. The parish is traversed by the divergent roads from Dublin to Limerick and Cork, and the Grand canal, which branches off here to Mountmellick, and the:Barrow. It contains Lough Emo, part of Maryborough Heath (on which is a racecourse), and the postal village of Emo. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Kildare, value £454, in the patronage of the crown. The church dates from 1786. There are two Roman Catholic chapels, a place of meeting for Wesleyans, and ten day-schools within the parish. Here are the ruins of Shane Castle, destroyed during the Civil War; also remains of the castles of Morrett and Coolbanagher. Emo Park is the residence of the Earl of Portarlington.

"EMO PARK, a postal village in the parish of Coolbanagher, barony of Portnahinch, Queen's County, province of Leinster, Ireland, 5 miles N.E. of Maryboro'. It stands on the road from Dublin to Limerick, and contains a police station. Emo Park, formerly called Dawson's Grove, is the seat of the Earl of Portarlington. Within the demesne is the parish church."

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