OLDCASTLE

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

"OLDCASTLE, a parish, post and market town in the barony of Fore, county Meath, province of Leinster, Ireland, 22 miles N.W. of Navan, and 5.2 from Dublin. It is the terminus of the Dublin, Drogheda, and Oldcastle railway. The parish is 5 miles long by 3 broad, and has mostly a good soil. It is traversed by the road from Dublin to Enniskillen. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Meath, value with Kilbride, £354. The church was erected by aid of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Loughcrew. There is a Methodist meeting-house, also a Sunday-school of that sect, and several day schools. The town stands at the intersection of the roads from Dublin to Killeshandra, and from Castlepollard to Bailieborough, near the river Crosswater. The principal public buildings are the market house, savings-bank, dispensary, and a foundation school. There are extensive corn mills and lime quarries in the vicinity. J. L. W. Napper, Esq., is proprietor of the town. The Oldcastle Poor-law Union consists of 13 electoral divisions in the counties Meath, Westmeath, and Cavan. Petty sessions are held at intervals. Monday is market day. Fairs are held on the second Monday in June, 20th August, and 28th October."

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