Aharney or Lisdowney Civil Parish, Counties Laois and Kilkenny, Ireland

Aharney,or AGHARNEY,also called LISDOWNEY, a parish, partly in the barony of UPPER OSSORY, Queen's county, but chiefly in that of GALMOY, county of Kilkenny, and in the province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S. by E.) from Durrow, on the road to Kilkenny city; containing 2156 inhabitants.

It comprises 6809 statute acres as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £4616 per ann., and is nearly equally divided between tillage and pasturage; there is plenty of limestone used both for building and burning. At Balyconra is an extensive flour mill capable of manufacturing 16,000 barrels of flour annually; and there is another at the bridge of Ballyragget both carried on by John Mosse, Esq.,

Ballyconra situated in a fine demesne on the banks of the river Nore is the ancient seat of the family of Butler Earls of Kilkenny, and is the occasional residence of the Hon. Pierce butler.

A manor court is held at Clontubrid once a month. The jurisdiction of which extends over this parish.

The living consists of a rectory and a vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, the former united to the rectory at Attanagh, and the latter forming part of the vicarial union of Attanagh; the tithes amount to £340 of which £226:13:4 is payable to the rector, and the remainder to the vicar.

In the Roman Catholic divisions, this parish is the head of a district or union, called the Union of Lisdowney, comprising the parishes of Aharney, Sheffin, Balleen, Coolcashin, and parts of Rathbeagh and Grange, containing three chapels; that of Lisdowney with a schoolhouse attached was built by subscription.

About 100 boys and 100 girls are taught in the school, and about 80 boys and 40 girls in two pay schools; there is also a Sunday school. The parochial church is in ruins; on the demesne of Ballyconra, where is the burial place of the family of Butler, are other remains; and on the opposite side of the river there is a Danish fort.

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