Parish of Doonane
The name of this parish is derived from Dun-an, "the little fort."
Dun was anciently, and is still, frequently applied to the great forts,
with a high central mound, flat at top, and surrounded by several-very
usually three-earthen circumvallations; these fortified duns, so many of
which remain all over the country, were the residences of the kings and
chiefs; they are constantly mentioned as such in the Irish
authorities………the diminutive in an is not common, but it gives name to
some places, such as ……….. Doonane in Queen's County. -(Joyce.) Dr.
Doyle describes this parish as consisting of a portion of the Abbacy of
St. Abban, and of the parish of Rathaspick. Its formation into a
distinct cure appears to be an arrangement of comparatively recent date.
It is not referred to by name in the Registry of 1704, in the Returns of
1731 and 1766, or in Dean Skeleton's list of parishes. The ancient
parish of Rathaspick, as has been already stated, extended into not only
this and the adjoining modern parish of Ballyadams, but also into that
of Clough, in the diocese of Ossory. The details regarding Rathaspick
already given, may therefore be taken as referring to this parish also.
In the ancient Taxation, given in Vol. I., p. 238, the Vicarage of
Rathaspick is valued at ten shillings. A Return, dated 1731 (see Vol.
I., p. 268), states that in Rathaspick there was one Mass-house, one
schoolmaster, and one priest. There appears to be no reference to this
district in any subsequent Return.
Source: Rev M Comerford "Collections relating to the Dioceses of
Kildare and Leighlin" Vol. 3 (1886) 5
Newtown
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- Knowles
- Newtown Cross
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- Newtown Village
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Newtown or Newtown Cross (An Baile Nua in Irish) is a
village in County Laois, Ireland.
Newtown lies close to the border between Counties Laois
and Kilkenny at the point where the road from Abbeyleix to Carlow
crosses the Kilkenny to Athy road.
Image source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
