COOLCRAHEEN,
or COOLCRAGHIN, a parish, in the barony of FASSADINING,
county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (N. N.
E.) from Freshford ; containing 668
inhabitants.
This parish
is situated on the road from Kilkenny city
to Castle-Durrow, and contains 2768
statute acres, mostly under tillage. Limestone is abundant, and is used
for building and burning for manure.
Foulksrath
Castle is of some antiquity, but has been converted into a comfortable
dwelling by T. Wright, Esq., an eminent agriculturist and grazier.
It is
a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of
Ossory, and is part of the union of Odogh:
the tithes amount to £200.
In the
Roman Catholic divisions it forms part of the unions or districts
of Conahy and Muckalee.
The ruins
of Inchmore castle, opposite Inchmore island in the river
Nore, are in this parish: it consisted of a strong square keep of
considerable antiquity, united to a splendid mansion in the Elizabethan
style, and was erected by Robert Grace, baron of Courtstown,
and member of parliament for the county of Kilkenny, who died about
the year 1640.
