FETHARD

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

"FETHARD, a parish and post town in the barony of Shelbourne, county Wexford, province of Leinster, Ireland, 2 miles S. of Enniscorthy, and 109 from Dublin. The parish extends chiefly between Waterford Harbour and Bannow Bay. The surface consists generally of good land. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ferns, value £235, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is very ancient. It contains the tomb of Alexander Devereux, last Abbot of Dunbrody and Bishop of Ferns, buried here in 1556. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to those of Templetown, Ramsgrange, and Duncannon. Here are a Protestant Sunday and four day schools, chiefly supported by the Marquis of Ely. The town stands upon a bay bearing its name. Though now but a village, it was formerly a borough returning two members to the Irish parliament, incorporated by James I. It contains coastguard and police stations, and a dispensary within the Ross Poor-law union. The site was granted by Strongbow to Raymond-le-Gros, his brother-in-law, who built a castle here, afterwards used as the seat of the bishops of Ferns until 1648. Fethard Castle is the seat of the Marquis of Ely. Limestone is exported, and a considerable herring and other fishery is carried on. On Bagenbun Head are traces of an encampment. A fair is held on the 5th and 6th August."

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