ST. FEIGHIN'S

"ST. FEIGHIN'S, (or Fore), a parish in the barony of Fore, county Westmeath, province of Leinster, Ireland 3 miles E. of Castle Pollard, its post town. It is situated near the margin of Lough Lone, and contains Collinstown. The living is a curacy in the diocese of Meath, value with Rathgraff, £361, in the patronage of the bishop. There are two Roman Catholic chapels in the parish (united), and four day schools. St. Feighin's is of very ancient origin, and was formerly a borough, returning two members before the Union. It is said to date its foundation from the setting up of a priory for Canons Regular by St. Fechan in the middle of the 7th century; it was restored in 1209 by Walter de Lacy, and became a cell to the monastery of Evreux, in Normandy. After the Dissolution it was granted to the Delvin family. Traces of this monastery are yet to be seen. Building-stone is quarried. Raths are very numerous in the neighbourhood.

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