Chapter 16.

Killossery,

otherwise called Ashbourne-rath, and stated in an ancient document as comprising the following townlands:

  Acres   Acres

Killossery 80 Brazeel 100

Rath of Killossery 172 Mount Stewart 40

Blackhall 40 Newtown Brazeel 27

Rollestown 240 Leys Brazeel 50

Lispobel 320 Morgan’s-bush 20

Surgotstown 240 Scatternagh 60

Brackdenstown 80 Knockbryan and Dromin 17

Willybush 20    

Mention is also made of Caddelstown as appertaining thereto, but no account is given of its specific contents.

The rectory being appropriated to the dean and chapter of St. Patrick’s, and the tithes to its economy, Killossery ranks as but a curacy in the union and deanery of Swords, extending, according to the Trigonometrical Survey, over 2,731a. 0r. 28p. Its total population was returned in 1831 as 380 persons, of whom 374 are stated to be Roman Catholics. - There is a school in the parish to which the National Board allows £10 per annum, and which in 1834 was attended by 121 pupils. The principal lord of the fee is a Mr. Coote resident in Hampshire.

Within the ivied ruins of its ancient church, which was dedicated to St. Brigid, [Repertorium Viride.] is a tombstone [401] commemorative of the Reverend Philip O’Reilly, parish priest of Rollestown in 1789.

For a notice of Killossery and the origin of the name of Ashbourne, see at “Pickerstown” in 1359, and for another notice in 1489, see “Swords” at that year.

An inquisition of 1547 defines the extent and value of the economy’s tithes here, which were in 1565 demised for 21 years, at the annual rent of £13 6s. 8d. to Henry Draycot, as the tithes personal, predial, and mixed, of corn and hay from the rectory, &c. of Killossery.

In 1584 Queen Elizabeth granted to Ellen and Richard Nugent of Kilkarne, the lands of Kilmore and other denominations containing 240a., the town of Curragh, and a farm in the Rath of Killossery 60a., &c., to hold at a certain annual rent.

At the close of this century Philip Hoare held of George Cadell as of his manor of Cadellstown, four messuages and one carucate of land in the town and fields of Killossery, *alias *the Rath of Killossery, alias Ashbourne-rath, annual value, four shillings, also a water-mill and fulling-mill here, [Inquis. in Canc. Hib.], all which premises said Philip surrendered to the crown in 1612, and having taken out a fresh patent thereof, died seised of the same in 1630. His heir was attainted and outlawed for his politics in 1641, but Philip Hoare obtained a fresh patent of the same property. For a notice of the Nugent property here in 1611, see at “Cloghran-Swords.”

The regal visitation of 1615 returns this church as then impropriate to the economy of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. At which time Robert Barnewall of Dunbroe, held two messuages and 50a. here from the king, in capite for knight’s service. [Ib.]

In 1641 Thomas Conran forfeited a moiety of Surgotstown, 125a. in this parish, which he held from the Archbishop of Dublin, subject to chief rent. [Ib.]

In 1660 Philip Hoare passed patent for *(inter alia) *123a., plantation measure, in the Rath of Killossery, *alias *Ashbourne-rath [402], with two water-mills there, &c. For a notice, of its tithes in 1681, see *ante *at “Malahide.”

In 1682 Christopher Fagan died seised in tail male of the small tithes of the Rath of Killossery, therein stated to be in the Barony of Coolock. [Inquis. in Canc. Hib.] For a notice of the Barnewall possessions here in 1685, see at “Turvey.” In 1697 Edmund Murphy was returned as parish priest of Killossery, and resident in Rollestown.

In 1703 Robert Echlm had a grant of 39a., part of the Rath of Killossery, “the estate of Richard Fagan attainted,” while John Asgill passed patent for 158a. in said Rath and in Willybush, “the estate of Martin Dillon, attainted,” subject, however, to certain remainders to the Dillon family.

Hence, crossing a pretty stream, the tourist arrives at

Ch. 17. Rollestown.