GOWRAN,
an incorporated post-town (formerly a parliamentary borough) and a parish,
in the barony of GOWRAN, county of KILKENNY, and province
of LEINSTER, 6 miles (E.) from Kilkenny
city, and 55 (S. W. by S.) from Dublin, on the road to
Waterford ; containing 2783 inhabitants.
This place,
though now comparatively insignificant was formerly of considerable
importance. In the 14th century a strong castle was built here by
James, third Earl of Ormonde, who made it his principal residence
till 1391, when he purchased the castle of Kilkenny. In 1399,
Teigue O'Carrol, dynast of Ely, when in arms against the royal
forces under the Lord-Deputy Scrope, was taken prisoner and confined
in the castle of this place, from which in the following year he made
his escaped. Hen. V., in the second year of his reign, by charter a
allging that "the town of Ballygaueran was situated far
from the aid of the English, and surrounded by Irish enemies who had
lately burnt it," granted the inhabitants certain customs for murage
and pavage for 40 years, to enable them to build walls for its protection.
The castle
was subsequently repaired by Margaret, the celebrated Countess
of Ormonde; and Edw. VI. granted the portreeve, burgesses, and commons
an exemption from county cess, which was confirmed by Elizabeth in 1566.
Jas. I., in the sixth year of his reign, made the town a Parliamentary
borough, and incorporated the inhabitants, under the designation of
The “Portreeve, Chief Burgesses, and Freemen of the Town and Borough
of Gowran,” by charter letting forth that the inhabitants had always
been loyal, but were then greatly reduced by the war and the late plague.
In 1650, the castle was besieged by the forces of Cromwell under
Sankey and Hewson, to whom, after an obstinate defence
by Col. Hammond it ultimately surrendered, when the commander
and the garrison were inhumanly massacred and the castle destroyed by
fire. The united forces of Cromwell and Ireton soon after
assembled here, where they were joined by those of Hewson, on
their march to besiege Kilkenny.
The town,
which is the joint property of Viscount Clifden and W. Bayly,
Esq., contains 193 houses, many of which have been recently rebuilt,
and other improvements have also taken place. There is a Four-mill ;
a constabulary police force has been established here ; and fairs are
held on March 8th, May 9th, Aug. 10th, Oct. 6th, and Dee. 8th, but the
market has been discontinued.
By the
charter of Jas. I. the corporation consists of a. portreeve, 12 chief
burgesses, and an indefinite number of freemen, assisted by a recorder,
town-clerk, a serjeant-at-mace, and other officers. The portreeve, who
is also coroner, clerk of the market, and master of the assay, is chosen
annually from the chief burgesses, and may appoint a deputy, who with
himself is Justice of the peace and of the quorum. The chief burgesses,
as vacancies occur, are chosen from the freemen by the portreeve and
a majority of their own body, by whom also all the officers of the corporation
are chosen during pleasure, and the freemen admitted.
The borough
continued to send two members to the Irish parliament till the Union,
when it was disfranchised, and the £15,000 awarded as compensation
was paid to Henry Welbore, Viscount Clifden. The corporation
has power to hold a court of record, with jurisdiction extending to
debts of £6. 13s. 4d., but no court has been held for many years
; and since the Union, although a portreeve is still elected and other
officers appointed, the corporation has been little more than nominal.
Petty sessions are held every alternate week, and the chartered fairs
are held, but the market is discontinued.
The parish
comprises 7682 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and
valued at £7417 per ann.; the land is chiefly under tillage, and
the system of agriculture improving. Limestone is plentiful and is quarried
for building and for agricultural uses. Adjoining the town is Gowran
House, the seat of Viscount Clifden, finely situated in a
richly wooded demesne, with a deer-park attached.
The living
is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese
of Ossory, and in the patronage of Viscount Clifden :
the tithes amount to £507 13s. 10d. The glebe-house, a new and
handsome residence, was built by the present incumbent under the provisions
of Primate Robinson's act ; the glebe comprises 10 acres. The church,
for the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently
granted £130, is part of a very ancient cruciform structure, which
was restored and fitted up for divine service in 1826 ; the remainder,
which is still a ruin, has some very interesting details in the early
English style, among which are a finely pointed arch of black marble
leading into the chancel; a series of similar arches lies supported
by circular and octagonal columns ; some windows of elegant design,
delicately ornamented in quatrefoil, and several interior chapels; the
doorways and the baptismal font are of black marble curiously sculptured
; there are several ancient monuments, three of which are traditionally
ascribed to the Earl of Gowran and his two sons : the founder
of the castle was interred here, as were also Edmund Butler, Earl
of Carrick, and his eldest son, James, first Earl of Ormonde;
there is also a monument with a bust of James Agar, Viscount Clifden,
who died in 1789.
In the
Roman Catholic divisions the parish is the head of a union
or district, comprising also the parishes of Dungarvan,
Blanchfieldskill, Dunbell,
Blackrath, Templemartin, Clara,
and Tascoffin : the chapel is a neat
modern edifice, to which a school-room for 300 children is now being
added; and there are three other chapels situated respectively at Pitts,
Dungarvan, and Freneystown About 30 children are taught in
the parochial school, supported by the rector; a female school is supported
by Lady Dover ; there is an infants' school, and also six private
schools, in which are about 350 children.
An alms
house was founded by Miss Diana Agar, for four poor women, who
have each £5 per annum ; and there is a dispensary.
Gowran
formerly gave the title of Baron to the family of Fitzpatrick,
Earls of Upper Ossory.
