Kilcleagh

KILCLEAGH, or MOATE, a parish, in the barony of CLONLONAN, county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER, on the road from Athlone to Dublin; containing, with the post-town of Moate, 6160 inhabitants. It comprises 9231 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and is principally grazing land; there is also a considerable quantity of bog, and abundance of limestone and gritstone. The principal seats are Ballymahown, the ancient residence of the Malone family; Castle Daly, the seat of J. M. Daly, Esq.; Newbridge, of R. Matthews, Esq.; Moate Castle, of Cuthbert J. Clibborn, Esq.; and Farnagh, of R. Adamson, Esq.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Meath, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £276. 6. 11. The church was built in 1782, enlarged by aid of a gift of £300 and a loan of £500 from the late Board of First Fruits in 1819, and lately repaired by a grant, of £228 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The glebe-house was purchased in 1819, by aid of a gift of £300 and a loan of £500 from the same Board: the glebe comprises 86 acres. In the R. C. divisions the parish is in the diocese of Ardagh: part of it forms the district of Moate, in which are two chapels, one there and one at Bogagh; the other, with the parish of Lemonaghan, constitutes that of Ballymahown, in which also are two chapels, one at Ballymahown, in this parish. There is also a meeting-house for the Society of Friends. About 250 children are educated in four public, and 210 in seven private, schools.

Near Farnagh are the ruins of the castle of Clonlonan, which gave name to the barony. See MOATE.

from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837.