DYSART

"DYSART, a parish in the baronies of Moycashel and Magheradernon, Moycashel, and Rathconrath, in the county of Westmeath, province of Leinster, Ireland, 6 miles S.W. of Mullingar, its post town. This parish occupies the S. and W. sides of Lough Ennel. The surface consists of a good soil, with large tracts of bog. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Meath, value with Churchtown, £346, in the patronage of the crown and bishop alternately. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Conragh. There is a day school and a police station. An abbey is supposed to have been founded here by St. Colman. One of the islands belonging to the parish was fortified by the Irish in 1641, but was ultimately reduced by the English. There are ruins of the ancient church burial ground, and of Dysart House, once the seat of the Nugent family. Lilliput is another seat here. Limestone is very abundant."

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