CLONLEIGH

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

"CLONLEIGH, a parish in the barony of Raphoe, in the county of Donegal, province of Ulster, Ireland, three-quarters of a mile W. of Strabane, and 3 miles to the S.E. of Raphoe. The surface is pleasantly hilly, with a soil varying in quality, but the system of tillage is excellent. This parish is intersected by the river Dale, and the roads from Lifford to Raphoe, St. Johnstown, and Letterkenny. It contains the post town of Lifford, which is the county town of Donegal and the headquarters of the militia staff, and the village of Ballindrait. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Derry, value £1,080, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, situated at Lifford, was built at the end of the 17th century, with funds bequeathed by Sir Richard Hansard, whose monument is on the S. side of the chancel. There is a Presbyterian meeting-house at Ballindrait, and a Roman Catholic chapel at Murlog, 1 mile from Lifford. There are eight schools in the parish, including that in Lifford, founded by Sir Richard Hansard in the reign of James I. The rums of the abbey church still exist, on a rising ground 1 mile from Lifford. It is said to have been founded by St. Columba, and to have been placed by him in charge of his disciple, St. Lugadius, who was its patron saint, his festival being held on the 24th of March. It was originally a monastery, and is spoken of as a "Collegiate House "in the time of Henry VIII. It was suppressed by King Edward VI. The county infirmary is in Lifford as well as the county gaol and assize buildings. There is also a branch dispensary within Strabane Poor-law Union. The principal seats are Clonleigh House, Cavanacor, Combermore, Croaghan Lodge, Belmont, and Porthall. The rivers Finn and Foyle, forming the eastern boundary of the parish, separate it from those of Urney, Camus-juxta-Mourne, and Leckpatrick, in the county of Tyrone. The North Western railway, from Dundalk to Londonderry, passes through the parish, in which is the Porthall station, distant about 12 miles from Londonderry. The Finn Valley railway also passes through it the Clady station on which is about a mile from its S.W. boundary."

"BALLINDRAIT, a village in the parish of Clonleigh, barony of Raphoe, in the county of Donegal, province of Ulster, Ireland, 2 miles N.W. of Lifford."

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