SHRUEL,
a parish, in the barony of SLIEUEMARGUE, QUEEN'S
county, and province of LEINSTER, 2¼ miles
(N.) from Carlow; containing 163 inhabitants.
This
parish is situated on the river barrow, which here separates
from the counties of Carlow and Kildare; it comprises
784 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The castle
was built in the reign of Elizabeth soon after the reduction of
Leix to English Government, by Sir Charles Hartpole, constable
of Carlow castle and governor of the Queens county;
his extensive possessions have since passed through female heirs
into other families.
The
castle, once of some importance, is a massive pile, situated on
the banks of the Barrow; it is now the residence of Hasting
Herring Cooper Esq., Hollymount: the seatr of Wm.
Fishbourne Esq., is also in this parish.
It
is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, forming part
of the union of Slatey; the tithes
amount to £46.3s. 1d.
In
the Roman Catholic divisions it is held with part of
Kilabin