MULLINGAR

"MULLINGAR, a parish, post, market, and county town, in the baronies of Fartullagh, Moyashel, and Magherademon, county Westmeath, province of Leinster, Ireland. The parish is 9½ miles long, and its breadth ranges from 1 mile to 7 miles. The surface is slightly hilly, and diversified by several lakes, the principal of which are loughs Owel and Ennel. The Royal canal passes through the parish, as also does the road from Dublin to Sligo. The town is situated near the banks of the river Brosna, on the Grand canal, and between the before-mentioned lakes of Owel and Ennel. It is a station on the Dublin and Galway railway, and is considered the capital of Westmeath, being the place where the assizes are held. In 1227 a friary was founded here by Bishop Petyt, and the Nugents established another monastery in 1237. The town was first founded by the English, from whom it was won by MacGeoghegan in 1329, when Thomas le Botiller was slain. It was destroyed by fire in 1464, but was rebuilt, and given by Queen Elizabeth to the Forbeses, who caused it to be recognised as a borough. It was afterwards fortified by General de Ginkell in 1690. Previous to the Union it was a parliamentary borough, returning two members to the Irish parliament. The Petyts and Duke Schomberg took title of baron from this place. The town, which is well built, consists of one principal thoroughfare, with several diverging streets. It contains the court-house, county gaol, infantry barracks, market-house, infirmary, union poorhouse, two banks, and a chief police station. The principal trade is in wool and butter. Quarter sessions are held in January, April, June, and October, and petty sessions once a week, on Saturday. It is the headquarters of the county militia. The Westmeath Guardian is published in the town. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Meath, value £318, in the patronage of the crown. The church is a cruciform structure, erected in 1813 on the site of the ancient one. The Roman Catholic chapel, with another in the parish, is united to that of Gainstown. Besides there are in the town a convent with its school, Presbyterian and Wesleyan Methodist meeting-houses, diocesan, National, and Protestant schools. Belmount House, Lakefield House, Montevedo, and Lynn House, are among the principal residences. The Poor-law Union of Mullingar contains 26 electoral divisions in the county of Westmeath. Here are remains of two castles, and traces of Danish earthworks. Thursday is market day. Fairs are held on the 6th April, 4th July, 29th August, and 11th and 12th November."

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