LISTERLING,
a parish, in the barony of IDA, county of KILKENNY, and province
of LEINSTER, 4 miles (S. S. W.) from Inistioge ; containing
1551 inhabitants.
The parish
is intersected by the Argala, a small mountain river, and is
only half a mile from the river Nore ; it comprises 5532 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act, more than two-thirds of which
are in pasture ; the remainder, with the exception of a small portion
of meadow, is under tillage. The soil is in general argillaceous, on
a basis of brittle clay slate, which is quarried on the lands of Listerling
and Browns- town ; and a vein has been discovered in the former town-land
containing lead ore, copper and silver, but it has not been worked.
In consequence of the small quantity of bog, the principal supply of
fuel is obtained from the neighbouring parish of Burnchurch.
The village, which contains 25 houses, is a station of the constabulary
police ; and fairs are held on Jan. 4th, May 6th, June 6th, Sept. 17th,
Oct. 24th, and Dec. 5th.
The living
is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and in the
patronage of the Bishop ; the tithes amount to £258. 9s. 2¾d.
The glebe-house was erected in 1821 by aid of a gift of £300 and
a loan of £500 from the late Board of First Fruits ; the glebe
comprises 10¼ acres. The church was built in 1796, by aid of
a gift of £500 from the same Board, and has been recently repaired
by a grant of £207 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
In the
Roman Catholic divisions the parish forms part of the union
or district of Rosbercon.
About
210 children are educated in a private school. There are several raths
in different parts of the parish ; and at Listerling is a mount
surrounded by a fosse, from which it is supposed to derive its name,
originally perhaps ‘Lis-Easterling,’ or “the abode of
the Ostmen” ; near it has been found a small artificial cave, and
it is traditionally stated that St. Mullen formerly resided at or near
this moat.
