description from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837

Castleblayney Town Trades Directory 1931

MUCKNOE (also known as Macrey), a parish, in the barony of CREMORNE, county of MONAGHAN and province of ULSTER, on the road from Carrickmacross to Armagh ; containing, with the post-town of Castle-Blayney, 9717 inhabitants.

This parish comprises 17,194 statute acres, according to the Ordnance survey, of which 14,155 are applotted under the tithe act, 377¾ are in Mucknoe lake, and 163 in smaller lakes ; the land consists chiefly of arable and pasture, but there are large detached tracts of bog, and a considerable portion is mountain, of which Mullyash rises 1034 feet above the level of the sea. The principal crops are oats, flax, and potatoes : stone quarries are worked for-building ; and there are two corn-mills. Monthly fairs are held at Castle-Blayney.

Castle-Blayney, the seat of Lord Blayney, is noticed under the head of that town.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Clogher, and in the patronage of the Bishop ; the tithes amount to £436. 3s. 1d. The glebe-house was erected in 1828, at an expense of £1057, of which £184 was a gift and £553 a loan from the late Board of First Fruits ; the glebe comprises 20 acres, valued at £39 per annum. The church stands in Castle-Blayney : it was erected in 1810 by a loan of £1000 from the same Board, and gifts of £200 from the late Lord Blayney, £100 from Lord Templeton, and £50 from Lady Eliz. Alexander.

In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish is partly in the union of Clontibret, and partly a benefice in itself ; it has two chapels, one at Oram, and the other in Castle-Blayney, which is a neat building.

There are four places of worship for Presbyterians ; one in connection with the Synod of Ulster, of the second class ; two at Frankfort and Carmoney Grove, in connection with the Seceding Synod, the latter of the second class ; and one belonging to the Scotch Covenanters. There is also a meeting-house for Wesleyan Methodists.

About 700 children are educated in 11 public schools, of which the parochial school is aided by the incumbent ; and a female school is supported by Lady Blayney ; and in 11 private schools are about 540 children.

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