Mountrath
Encyclopedia
Mountrath is a small town
in County Laois
, Ireland
. Bypassed by the M7 motorway in 2010, the town lies on the R445
midway between Dublin and Limerick
, exactly 96.5 km (60 mi) from both cities.
In 2006 it had a population of 1,435. The river that flows through the town is called the Whitehorse and gets it name from the white colouring that was present in its water from the whiskey distillery that used to be in the centre of the town.
". Older anglicisations include Moyenrath, Moynrath, Monrath, Moyenrae, Moynrae and Moenra.
tree called St Fintan's Well. The original well was filled in, but the water re-appeared in the centre of the tree. Hundreds of Irish
pennies have been beaten into the bark as good luck offerings, until they eventually killed the tree. and go to Mountrath Service Station for refreshments.
In the beginning of the 17th century, the lands around Mountrath became the property of Charles Coote. Despite the wild surrounding country, which was covered with woodlands, he laid the foundation of the present town. In 1628 Coote obtained for the inhabitants a grant of two weekly markets and two fairs, and established a very extensive linen
and fustian
manufactory. In the year 1641, as a Royalist supporter, much of his property was destroyed during the Irish Confederacy in the War of the Three Kingdoms.
His son Sam Coote regained the castle and estate of Mountrath, along with other properties and following the Restoration, was created Earl of Mountrath
. This title was extant until the death of Charles Henry, the 7th Earl, in 1802, when became extinct. Newpark, adjoining the town, was the residence of the Earl of Mountrath. In 1831 the town contained 429 houses; iron was made and wrought here till the neighbouring woods were consumed for charcoal fuel. The Post Chaise Companion, published in 1805, states that "Near Mountrath is an extensive bank containing, or rather, formed of excellent iron ore, within a few metres of the surface; here an iron and metal foundry has been established and wrought some years since with great success; but at present, from the scarcity of charcoal, on the destruction of the neighbouring woods, the furnaces are seldom employed; it is much to be regretted that such a valuable manufacture should be discontinued on the above account, as the country abounds with bogs, and charred turf might probably be substituted in the place of charcoal for most purposes."
Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837, states:
"An extensive factory for spinning and weaving cotton is carried on by Mr. Greenham, who employs 150 persons in the spinning mills, and about 500 in weaving calicoes at their own houses; the average quantity manufactured is from 200 to 250 pieces weekly. Stuff-weaving is also carried on extensively; there is a large brewery and malting establishment, and an extensive oil mill; and the inhabitants carry on a very extensive country trade."
In the latter portion of the eighteenth and early nineteenth twentieth century, the Orange Order was strong in the town of Mountrath and surrounding townships. Older leases granted on the Castlecoote estate, on which the town was built, were written in strict accordance with the Penal Laws, and contained a clause prohibiting the letting, selling, or bestowal of ground for the purpose of erecting a Roman Catholic Church
. In consequence of this prohibition, the place of worship used by local Catholics stood upon a sand-bank beside a tributary of the River Nore
called 'The Brook".
In 1794, Dr. Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin proposed to build a parish church. Lord Castlecoote was publicly opposed to the proposal but the political climate of toleration that followed the Relief Act of 1793 encouraged the bishop. He made application for a site to Mr.Hawkesworth, agent to Lord Castlecoote. This gentleman found Dr. Delany a suitable plot from his own landholdings and shortly after, through his influence with the proprietor, procured a perpetual peppercorn lease as a site for a parish church. Building commenced about in 1795.
On the 18 April 1809, the Convent of St. Brigid, at Mountrath, was founded by three sisters from the mother house at Tullow. Soon after, the Monastery of St. Patrick was established. Both convent and monastery communities were employed in the education of Roman Catholic pupils.
A new church was completed in 1867. The exertions made by Brother John, of the Mountrath Monastery, contributed to the success of the undertaking. This zealous religious travelled through a great portion of North America, Australia and New Zealand, soliciting funds which enabled him to transmit the large sum of £4,000, over and above his expenses. The new church of Mountrath is one of the finer parochial churches in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. Several priests were interred in the former church. Through the care of a recent pastor, the inscribed tablets which marked their last resting places, have been installed in the wall of the new church.
A painted window, and a marble altar have been erected to honour the former pastor, James Dunne. Another marble altar has been raised as a memorial of former pastor Andrew M'Donald. The parochial church plate includes a chalice, the gift of Bishop Delany, bearing the following inscription:- " In honorem Sanctissimae Sacramenti Eucharistiae suis impensis hunc calicem fieri curavit Reverendissimus Daniel Delany, epus. Kilds. et Leighs. Donoque dedit parochiae de Mountrath,
St Aengus and The Brigidine Convent in Mountrath both closed in May/June 2009. In September 2009 they amalgamated with nearby Patrician College Ballyfin to form Mountrath Community School
Primary schools there are three primary in mountrath
St.Fintan's B.N.S
Scoil Bhríde girls' school
Clonenagh primary school
Town
A town is a human settlement larger than a village but smaller than a city. The size a settlement must be in order to be called a "town" varies considerably in different parts of the world, so that, for example, many American "small towns" seem to British people to be no more than villages, while...
in County Laois
County Laois
County Laois is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It was formerly known as Queen's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. The county's name was formerly spelt as Laoighis and Leix. Laois County Council...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. Bypassed by the M7 motorway in 2010, the town lies on the R445
R445 road
The R445 road is a regional road in Ireland. The route is a non-motorway alternative route to the N7/M7 motorway between Dublin and Limerick. Indeed, much of the route comprises roads that were formerly part of the N7 between the cities, prior to motorway and other bypasses...
midway between Dublin and Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
, exactly 96.5 km (60 mi) from both cities.
In 2006 it had a population of 1,435. The river that flows through the town is called the Whitehorse and gets it name from the white colouring that was present in its water from the whiskey distillery that used to be in the centre of the town.
Name
Mountrath is an anglicisation of the Irish name Maighean Rátha, which roughly means "precinct of the ringfortRingfort
Ringforts are circular fortified settlements that were mostly built during the Iron Age , although some were built as late as the Early Middle Ages . They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland...
". Older anglicisations include Moyenrath, Moynrath, Monrath, Moyenrae, Moynrae and Moenra.
Places of interest
Near Mountrath on the R445 towards Portlaoise is a shapeless old Wish Tree in the form of a SycamoreSycamore Maple
Acer pseudoplatanus, the sycamore maple, is a species of maple native to central Europe and southwestern Asia, from France east to Ukraine, and south in mountains to northern Spain, northern Turkey, and the Caucasus. It is not related to other trees called sycamore or plane tree in the Platanus...
tree called St Fintan's Well. The original well was filled in, but the water re-appeared in the centre of the tree. Hundreds of Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
pennies have been beaten into the bark as good luck offerings, until they eventually killed the tree. and go to Mountrath Service Station for refreshments.
History
The important Synod of Ráth Breasail was held near Mountrath in 1111.In the beginning of the 17th century, the lands around Mountrath became the property of Charles Coote. Despite the wild surrounding country, which was covered with woodlands, he laid the foundation of the present town. In 1628 Coote obtained for the inhabitants a grant of two weekly markets and two fairs, and established a very extensive linen
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibers of the flax plant, Linum usitatissimum. Linen is labor-intensive to manufacture, but when it is made into garments, it is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather....
and fustian
Fustian
Fustian is a term for a variety of heavy woven, mostly cotton fabrics, chiefly prepared for menswear. It is also used to refer to pompous, inflated or pretentious writing or speech, from at least the time of Shakespeare...
manufactory. In the year 1641, as a Royalist supporter, much of his property was destroyed during the Irish Confederacy in the War of the Three Kingdoms.
His son Sam Coote regained the castle and estate of Mountrath, along with other properties and following the Restoration, was created Earl of Mountrath
Earl of Mountrath
Earl of Mountrath was a title in the Peerage of Ireland created on 6 September 1660, along with the titles Viscount Coote and Baron Coote, for Sir Charles Coote, 2nd Baronet...
. This title was extant until the death of Charles Henry, the 7th Earl, in 1802, when became extinct. Newpark, adjoining the town, was the residence of the Earl of Mountrath. In 1831 the town contained 429 houses; iron was made and wrought here till the neighbouring woods were consumed for charcoal fuel. The Post Chaise Companion, published in 1805, states that "Near Mountrath is an extensive bank containing, or rather, formed of excellent iron ore, within a few metres of the surface; here an iron and metal foundry has been established and wrought some years since with great success; but at present, from the scarcity of charcoal, on the destruction of the neighbouring woods, the furnaces are seldom employed; it is much to be regretted that such a valuable manufacture should be discontinued on the above account, as the country abounds with bogs, and charred turf might probably be substituted in the place of charcoal for most purposes."
Samuel Lewis in his Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837, states:
"An extensive factory for spinning and weaving cotton is carried on by Mr. Greenham, who employs 150 persons in the spinning mills, and about 500 in weaving calicoes at their own houses; the average quantity manufactured is from 200 to 250 pieces weekly. Stuff-weaving is also carried on extensively; there is a large brewery and malting establishment, and an extensive oil mill; and the inhabitants carry on a very extensive country trade."
In the latter portion of the eighteenth and early nineteenth twentieth century, the Orange Order was strong in the town of Mountrath and surrounding townships. Older leases granted on the Castlecoote estate, on which the town was built, were written in strict accordance with the Penal Laws, and contained a clause prohibiting the letting, selling, or bestowal of ground for the purpose of erecting a Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. In consequence of this prohibition, the place of worship used by local Catholics stood upon a sand-bank beside a tributary of the River Nore
River Nore
The River Nore is a long river located in south-east of Ireland. Along with the River Suir and River Barrow, it is one of the constituent rivers of the group known as the Three Sisters. The river drains approximately of Leinster. The river rises in the Devil's Bit Mountain, North Tipperary...
called 'The Brook".
In 1794, Dr. Delany, Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin proposed to build a parish church. Lord Castlecoote was publicly opposed to the proposal but the political climate of toleration that followed the Relief Act of 1793 encouraged the bishop. He made application for a site to Mr.Hawkesworth, agent to Lord Castlecoote. This gentleman found Dr. Delany a suitable plot from his own landholdings and shortly after, through his influence with the proprietor, procured a perpetual peppercorn lease as a site for a parish church. Building commenced about in 1795.
On the 18 April 1809, the Convent of St. Brigid, at Mountrath, was founded by three sisters from the mother house at Tullow. Soon after, the Monastery of St. Patrick was established. Both convent and monastery communities were employed in the education of Roman Catholic pupils.
A new church was completed in 1867. The exertions made by Brother John, of the Mountrath Monastery, contributed to the success of the undertaking. This zealous religious travelled through a great portion of North America, Australia and New Zealand, soliciting funds which enabled him to transmit the large sum of £4,000, over and above his expenses. The new church of Mountrath is one of the finer parochial churches in the Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin. Several priests were interred in the former church. Through the care of a recent pastor, the inscribed tablets which marked their last resting places, have been installed in the wall of the new church.
A painted window, and a marble altar have been erected to honour the former pastor, James Dunne. Another marble altar has been raised as a memorial of former pastor Andrew M'Donald. The parochial church plate includes a chalice, the gift of Bishop Delany, bearing the following inscription:- " In honorem Sanctissimae Sacramenti Eucharistiae suis impensis hunc calicem fieri curavit Reverendissimus Daniel Delany, epus. Kilds. et Leighs. Donoque dedit parochiae de Mountrath,
Education
SecondarySt Aengus and The Brigidine Convent in Mountrath both closed in May/June 2009. In September 2009 they amalgamated with nearby Patrician College Ballyfin to form Mountrath Community School
Mountrath Community School
Mountrath Community School is the only secondary school in Mountrath, in County Laois.It is an amalgamation of The Bridgidine Convent, Mountrath, St Aengus Post Primary School, Mountrath and Patrician College Ballyfin. It opened in September 2009 and was officially opened in 2010...
Primary schools there are three primary in mountrath
St.Fintan's B.N.S
Scoil Bhríde girls' school
Clonenagh primary school