SWORDS

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

"SWORDS, a parish, post, and market town in the barony of Nethercross, county Dublin, province of Leinster, Ireland. It is situated on the steep banks of a stream, 9 miles N. of Dublin. It is a station on the Dublin and Drogheda railway. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Dublin, value with others £329, in the patronage of the archbishop. There are a Roman Catholic chapel and a large charity school. Brackenstown is one of the chief seats. The town is a place of great antiquity, and is supposed to have originated in a monastery founded here by St. Columbkill. Here, on the outbreak of the civil war in 1641, the first Irish army assembled. In this parish are the ruins of a castle and round tower, and some other antiquities. Fairs are held on 17th March, 9th May, 12th July, and 8th November."

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