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County Offaly (King's Co.), Ireland
CIVIL PARISHES
Drumcullin
description from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837
DRUMCULLIN,
a parish, in the barony of EGLISH, or FIRCALL, KING’S
county, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (S. w. by S.) from
Frankford, on the road to Parsonstown;
containing 3113 inhabitants.
At a very early period, a religious establishment existed here, of which St.
Barrindeus was abbot about the year 590. Nearly one-half of the parish
is bog, but the land near Droughtville is considered some of the best
pasture ground in the barony. A spacious lake covers an extensive flat at
the foot of a range of thickly planted hills. Contiguous to it is a castle,
which can at pleasure be insulated by its waters. It was reduced to its present
state of ruin by Cromwell’s forces. There are limestone quarries
near, in which the fossil remains are abundant and nearly perfect. There are
two fairs at Killion; and petty sessions are held at Thomastown
every second Thursday.
The seats are Droughtville, the principal residence of the Drought
family, in a demesne comprising peculiar groups of conical hills, which
form a picturesque and pleasing scene; Thomastown, of Capt. Bennett
; Dove Grove, of J. Berry, Esq. ; Dove Hill, of
?? Holmes, Esq. ; Clonbela, of ?? Moloy, Esq. ;
and Killion, of R. Cassiday, Esq.
The parish is
in the diocese of Meath; the rectory is impropriate in the Marquess
of Downshire, and the vicarage forms part of the union of Fircall.
The tithes amount to £228. 18 shillings 5 pence of which £147.
13 shillings 10 pence is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to
the vicar there is a glebe of 216a. 3r. 6p., valued at £180. 1 shilling
per annum.
In the Roman Catholic divisions it forms part of the union or district
of Eglish; the chapel, situated at Rath, is a large plain building.
There is a school at Killion, which has a house and an acre of land,
rent-free, from Mr. Cassiday, and in which are about 40 boys and 25
girls. Mrs. Holmes maintains one at Dove Hill. There are also
four pay schools, one of which at Thomastown, has a house rent-free
from Mr. Bennett, and in which about 130 children are educated.
Adjoining Droughtville, are the remains of the old church of Drumcullin,
having a fine entrance arch of curious workmanship. Near Pallis Inn,
in this vicinity, are the ruins of a castle; and, toward, Frankford,
are four other fortified places in a similar state of decay. The plains around
are supposed to have been the scene of different sanguinary encounters as
within a spade's depth, vast quantities of human bones have been found: each
surrounding height has vestiges of ancient fortifications; and on a very strong
rath, which commands the whole district, there is an entire fort, most difficult
of access, defended by a regular and double course of works, still in good
preservation: this rath, being now planted, presents a very striking appearance.
At Ballincar is a spa, of the same nature as that of Castleconnell,
near Limerick ; the water is of a yellow hue, and famous for healing scorbutic
ulcers: another spa of the same kind is at Clonbela.
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