DONERAILE

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

"DONERAILE, a parish, post and market town, in the barony of Fermoy, in the county of Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 24 miles N.E. of Youghall, and 124 S.W. of Dublin, near the Great Southern and Western railway. There is some upland and bog, but the arable portion consists of good soil. The river Awbeg: Spenser's "Gentle Mulla"-is here crossed by a handsome stone bridge. The town is situated at the foot of the Galtee mountains. It consists of one principal street, and contains a dispensary, loan fund, police station, and barracks. It was a parliamentary borough before the Union. The living is a perpetual curacy in the dioc, of Cloyne, value with another, £275, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was built in 1816 by loan from the Board of First Fruits, and a gift from John Hamilton, Esq. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Templeroan. There are several daily schools. Petty sessions and a manor court are held at intervals within the town. Prominent among the numerous seats are-Doneraile Park, the seat of the proprietor, Viscount Doneraile, a descendant of the St. Leger family; and Criagh Castle. Kilcoleman Castle, now a ruin, was the house of the poet Spenser at the time he wrote the "Faery Queen." There are also remains of other castles in the vicinity."

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