DANESFORT,
or DUNFORT, a parish, in the barony of SHILLELOGHER, county
of KILKENNY, and the province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S.)
from Kilkenny city, on the road
to Thomastown; containing, with the parish of Annamult,
and part of that of Tradingetown or Ballyreddin, 1263
inhabitants.
This parish,
which is also called Dunfert and Dunsert, comprises 5832
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: the land is principally
under tillage, the soil fertile, and the system of agriculture improved;
limestone is found in abundance, and is quarried both for building and
burning into lime for manure.
Danesfort,
the seat of Major Henry Wemys, is pleasantly situated; in the
demesne are the ruins of an ancient church.
It is
a vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory,
and is part of the union of Burnchurch;
the rectory is impropriate in the mayor, aldermen, and burgesses of
the city of Kilkenny. The tithes amount to £250 of which
one-half is payable to the corporation, and the other half to the vicar.
In the
Roman Catholic divisions it is the head of a union or district,
comprising also the parishes of Ennisnag, Killahane and Grove,
Grange Abbey, and Annamult, and parts of the parishes of
Ballyreddin, Burnchurch, Kells,
and Ballybur : there are five chapels,
situated respectively at Danesfort, Lady's-well, Grange, Bennet's-bridge,
and Kells-grange.
There
is a school at Bennet's-bridge under the National Board, in which
are about 80 children; and there are two pay schools, in which about
100 are educated.
Here was
anciently a castle, built by William, Earl Mareschal ; and there
are several Danish forts in the parish.
