ARKLOW

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

"ARKLOW, a parish, market town, and seaport, in the barony of Arklow, in the county of Wicklow, province of Leinster, Ireland, 15 miles to the S. of Wicklow, and 50 miles from Dublin. It is situated on the coast of St. George's Channel, at the mouth of the river Ovoca, not far from Croghan Hill. It is a very ancient place, and has been a fishing station from the earliest tunes. The castle and town were granted in the reign of King John to Theobald Fitzwalter, lord butler of Ireland. A monastery was founded here by Fitzwalter, for Cistercian monks from the abbey of Furness. The neighbourhood of this town was the scene of a battle between the Irish and the English in 1281, in which the latter were victorious, and gained possession of the town. It was burnt, with several other towns and villages, in 1316, by the O'Tooles, and other Irish chiefs. The castle fell into their hands in 1331, but it was soon retaken by Lord de Birmingham. During the civil war it was garrisoned for the king till 1649, when it was assaulted by Oliver Cromwell, and entirely destroyed. Arklow was the scene of an engagement, in 1798, between the rebels and the English under General Needham, in which the former were defeated. The town stands on sloping ground on the southern bank of the river, which is crossed by a bridge of nineteen arches. According to the census of 1861, it contains 922 inhabited houses, with a population of 4,670. Of these, 3,883 are Roman Catholics, 757 belong to the Established Church, 9 are Presbyterians, and 21 Methodists. The surrounding country abounds in rich and beautiful scenery. A little to the north the Ovoca flows in a winding course through a valley of great beauty, which bears the same name as the river. Near the coast, and in the valleys, the soil is rich, and contains good marl. The town is divided into the Upper and Lower Towns, the former consisting of one good street, the latter of poor fishermen's huts. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the fishery and a small coasting trade. The port is subordinate to Dublin, and has about 250 vessels belonging to it. The harbour is only capable of admitting vessels of small size. Off the coast is a shoal called Arklow Bank, the position of which is marked out by a buoy at the northern, and a floating light at the southern end. It is 10 miles long, and the light is visible at a distance of nine miles. Arklow Bay lies between this bank and the coast. Infantry barracks are established on the site of the castle. There are coastguard and police stations, and petty sessions for the barony are held weekly. A dispensary, a fever hospital, and a savings-bank, have been established. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Dublin, Glendalagh, and Kildare, value with the perpetual curacies of Killalnerler and Kilgorman, £206, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, which was erected in 1823, is in the perpendicular style. There is a large Roman Catholic chapel, and a small one belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists There are several public and private schools. Towards the close of the 18th century, considerable excitement was caused by the discovery of gold in a stream at Croghan hill. A great number of persons resorted to the place, and in a few weeks a quantity of the precious metal was found, which sold for £10,000. The works were destroyed during the rebellion in 1798; and after renewed search and critical investigations, in 1801, they were finally abandoned. Shelton Abbey, the seat of the Earl of Wicklow, on the north bank of the Ovoca, is a striking object in the scenery around Arklow. It is situated in the parish of Kilbrede. The chief residences are Glerrart, which belongs to the Earl of Carysfort, Ballyrane, Lambarton, and Emma Vale. The market is held on Thursday. Fairs take place on the 11th January, the 22nd March, the 19th April, the 14th May, the 28th June, the 9th August, the 25th September, and the 15th November."

"CROGHAN-KINSHELA, a mountain in the parish and barony of Arklow, in the county of Wicklow, province of Leinster, Ireland, 4 miles S.W. of Arklow. It rises 2,064 feet above sea-level, and the road from Arklow to Ferns lies at its base. Eleven different metals are found in this mountain, and in its environs in 1775 gold was discovered. The fact was kept secret until 1796, when thousands hurried to the spot, and realised a sum of £10,000. Government then took possession of the mine, but the amount realised did not cover the expenses of mining, and the scheme was finally abandoned. "The Wicklow Gold Mines" have ever since afforded a theme for burlesque and jest."

"CROGHAN-MOIRA, is a hill near Croghan Kinshela, in the parish and barony of Arklow, in the county of Wicklow, province of Leinster, Ireland, said to contain veins of gold."

"GLENART, an estate of the Earl of Carysfort, in the parish and barony of Arklow, county Wicklow, province of Leinster, Ireland. The mansion is situated nearly opposite the Earl of Wicklow's demesne of Shelton Abbey."

"JOHNSTOWN, a village in the parish and barony of Arklow, county Wicklow, province of Leinster; Ireland, 3 miles W.S.W. of Arklow. It stands on the Wexford road and contains a Roman Catholic chapel and school."

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