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Ballybrittas,
County Laois, Ireland
BALLYBRITTAS,
a village and post-town, in the parish of LEA, barony of
PORTNAHINCH, QUEEN'S county,
and province of LEINSTER, 7 1/4 miles (N.E.) from Maryborough,
and 33 miles (S.W. by W.) from Dublin; containing 168 inhabitants.
This
place is celebrated for a battle which was fought here, in the reign
of Elizabeth, between a part of the army of the Earl of Essex and
the Irish, led by the chieftains O'Dempsey and O'Moore,
in which the former was defeated; and from the circumstance of the
latter cutting off the high plumes worn by the English, the scene
of the conflict was called "the Pass of Plumes."
The village, which is situated on the high road from Dublin
to Maryborough (Portlaoise),
consists of about 30 houses neatly built, and has a pleasing appearance.
In
the vicinity are Bellegrove, the residence of G. Adair,
Esq.; Glenmalire, of Mrs. Trench; Rath,
of T. Trench, Esq., the Derries, of R. M. Alloway,
Esq., and Ashfield, of H. Birch, Esq.
Fairs
are held on March 25th, May 12th, and Aug. 15th; petty sessions
are held once a fortnight; and here is a station of the constabulary
police. Near the village were formerly the remains of an ancient
castle, which belonged to the O'Dempseys, Lords of Clanmalire,
and was destroyed in the time of Cromwell.
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