The death of the venerable Dr. Cantwell necessitated a change of residence, and hence Dr. Nulty, now Bishop of Meath, became Parish Priest of Navan and Mullingar. In May, 1867, the Rev. John Duncan, Pastor of Castletown-Geoghegan, was translated to Trim, where he is Vicar-Forane and Master of Conference for the deanery.

CHAPTER XVIII.

1. CASTLEJORDAN.-2. CASTLEPOLLARD.-3. CASTLETOWNDELVIN. — 4. CASTLETOWN-GEOGHEGAN.-5. CHURCHTOWN, OR DYSART.-6. FORE.-7. KILLUCAN.-8. KINNEGAD.-9. MAYNE, OR TURBOTSTOWN.-10. MILLTOWN. -11. MOYVORE.-12. MULLINGAR.-13. MULTIFERNAM. -14. ROCH FORT-BRIDGE.-15. SONNA.-16. TURIN.

THE Deanery or Conference district of Mullingar, comprises the union parishes of Castlejordan, Castlepollard, Castletown-Delvin, Castletown-Geoghegan, Churchtown or Dysart, Fore, Killucan, Kinnegad, Mayne or Turbotstown, Milltown, Moyvore, Mullingar, Multifernam, Rochfort-bridge, Sonna, and Turin. The Vicar of the district is Very Rev. Michael Mullen, P.P. of Kilbixy; and the Masters of Conference are Very Rev. Michael Mullen, Rev. William Mathews, Administrator of Delvin, and Rev. Mathew Gaffney, President of the College of Mullingar.

1. Castlejordan.

This union comprises the parishes of Ballyboggan and Castlejordan. Early in the last century the parishes of Clonard, Ballyboggan, Castlejordan, and part of the barony of Farbill, were grouped into one union, and this arrangement lasted down to 1826, when, on the death of Rev. Gerald O'Reilly, this district was formed into the separate unions of Kinnegad and Castlejordan. The parish of Clonard is located in the barony of Upper Moyfenragh. The parish of Ballyboggan, or "De Laude Dei," is situated

also in Upper Moyfenragh. The parish of Castlejordan, or Gungedagh, is comprised partly in the barony of Upper Moyfenragh, partly in the barony of Coolestown, but chiefly in that of Warrenstown, King's County.

Clonard is gone monastery and church; not a stone remains. A Protestant house of worship is built on the site. All that remains of the once magnificent abbey of Ballyboggan is a quadrangular building measuring one hundred and eighty-seven feet by twenty-five. The other walls have been levelled, and the stones carried away. In the church-yard of Ballyboggan there is a tomb to the memory of Rev. John Hoey, Rev. Thomas White, Rev. Daniel Ennis, Rev. Thady Grehan, and Rev. Gerald O'Reilly. The Rev. Michael Brawdor, who died on the 2nd of June, 1781, is also interred here.

The old church of Castlejordan has been uprooted, and succeeded by a Protestant place of worship. The old church of Tycroghan measures thirty-five feet nine inches by sixteen feet six inches. It seems to have been used for Protestant service some years back. The churchyard of Kilkeran* was pulled down; an aged ash-tree spreads its branches over the altar-site. The church of Garv has likewise been torn down. The old church of Templeavy measures thirty-six and a-half feet by fourteen and a-half; it is, like the rest, a complete ruin. There was a vast number of churches in this union, and that of Kinnegad, but most of these have been pulled down, uprooted, and their grave-yards converted into pasture land. Ireland is a conquered country.

There was a holy well convenient, called Tobar-Odran.

NOTE.-In an old registry of deaths kept in this district in the last century, and which is at present in Kinnegad, I found not only the dates duly recorded, but also the cemeteries in which the parishioners were interred. The following grave-yards are mentioned, spelled here as in the registry-viz., Annscoffey, Ballyboggan, Balnadrumny, Balradrimin, Balliburley, Ballymacullen, Carrick, Carrickous, Carneorish, Carinstown, Clonard, Clondaly, Clonfad, Crohan, Dinfert, Garv, Griffinstown, Hardwood, Kilbeg, Kilglass, Kilkeran, Kilcolm, Killreiny, Killyon, Racore, Raharney, Rossan, Rathmolyon, Scardin, Templeavy, Templevile, and Tycroghan.

Pastors since 1690.

In 1690 Rev. John Hoey was presented to the vicarage of Clonard, and in 1704 we find him registered as "Popish Priest of Clonard, Ballybogan, and Castlejordan." This venerable priest was accidentally killed, in his ninetieth year, suppressing a faction fight on the townland of Tycroghan. Multitudes of the peasantry had assembled here preconcertedly, on St. Patrick's Day,* 1732, and in a short time they commenced to fight. Sticks, stones, and every available weapon were used amongst the ignorant and deluded people, who, while their unfortunate country was plunged in the deepest misery, degradation, and slavery, saw no other enemy but rivals of a different faction, or, very often, inhabitants of a different district. It is very well known now that the hereditary oppressors of the country not only connived at, but positively encouraged, this lamentable and suicidal degradation. The heads of rival factions were subsidised; the peasantry were sought to be brutalized through the action of the infamous penal code; all unity of action, all combination against tyranny and oppression, was paralysed through the fostered divisions of the people; and thus, while public opinion was averted from the evil deeds of the taskmaster, the country was hopelessly steeped in bondage, for the people were made their own executioners.

The venerable Father Hoey having heard of the factionfight, hastened with all the energy of which his great age was capable, and, with a spirit such as animated Monsignor Affre, late Archbishop of Paris, hurried into the midst of the combatants, to make peace and reconcile the angry elements. While engaged on his charitable errand, lost to view amongst the infuriated mob, a stone accidentally struck him and felled him to the earth. There was horror, wailing, and lamentation, indeed, when it became known that their aged priest lay a corpse on the battle

*The date on Father Hoey's tomb in Ballyboggan should be 17th of March, in place of 15th.-(See vol. i., p. 170.)

ground. The poor peasantry, ever attached to their pastors, were bewildered at the sight of their murdered Father, and for many years the dread remembrance of that day had a salutary effect in promoting harmony and hushing the voice of faction. Father Hoey was buried, amidst universal regret, in the church-yard of Ballyboggan, and to this day his zealous labours and his sad end are vividly remembered.

The Rev. Thomas White succeeded, and died on the 24th of July, 1732, aged forty.

The Rev. Daniel Ennis next succeeded, and died on the 26th of June, 1765, aged eighty.

The Rev. Thady Grehan succeeded. He had been administrator for several years during the lifetime of his predecessor. Mass was celebrated in the days of persecution on the townland of Toulaght, in a place called the "Duck's Nest," in a deep valley surrounded by high land; also at Ballinakill, not far from Ballyboggan. The old chapel, before the present at Clonard, was at Kilantony, on the townland of Toulaght. The Rev. Thady Grehan erected the present chapel of Balnabracky, which has been improved by his successors. Over the entrance is a slab with the following inscription:

“Portæ inferi non prævalebunt adversus eam.

Hæc est Domus Domini firmiter edificata-A.D. 1764.

Parocho. R. D. Thadeo Grehan."

In the visitation of Dr. Plunket to this parish, May, 1788, he found four schools in operation. The Rev. Thady Grehan died on the 9th of August, 1789, in the seventy-fifth year of his age, and was buried with his predecessors in the church-yard of Ballyboggan.

The Rev. Gerald O'Reilly was appointed pastor on the 10th of August, same year. This pastor was appointed, in 1781, pastor of Kilbixy, or Sonna, and was transferred to the present union. He died on the 16th of September, 1826, in the seventy-third year of his age, and was buried in Ballyboggan. After his death this district was divided into the unions of Castlejordan and Kinnegad.

The Rev. Edward Duffy was born in Moyvore, studied in Navan and Maynooth, officiated as curate in Ballimore, administrator in Sonna, curate in Duleek, and was then appointed by Dr. Logan to the union of Castlejordan. He was buried in the chapel of Balnabracky, and over his remains a monument has been placed with the following inscription:

"Beneath are deposited the remains

of the Rev. Edward Duffy, P.P.
of Castlejordan and Ballyboggan,

who died March 29th, 1846, in the 56th year
of his age, and the 19th of his ministry in
these parishes. In the life of this
devoted Pastor was highly reflected
every virtue of the Priesthood.
In manner amiable and interesting,
in friendship warm and sincere,
he was universally loved and esteemed,
but especially by a grateful and
mourning flock, among whom

his memory will be long in benediction.
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine unto him."

The Rev. Patrick Kealy was born in the parish of Grangegeith, studied in Navan and Maynooth, and was ordained in 1831. After having officiated as curate in the parishes of Kells, Mullingar, and Navan, he administered in the parish of Castlepollard from September, 1844, to May, 1846, whence he was appointed by Dr. Cantwell to the union of Castlejordan.*

* A great amount of bickering and bad feeling in various parishes arises from contention about seats in the chapel. The rich very often wish prominent places in the house of God, and this leads to endless controversies. The present Bishop, Dr. Nulty, is doing much to crush unseemly altercation and rivalry; but two rules which Father Kealy has printed in his chapels struck the writer as very appropriate, and calculated, if universally adopted, to effect a great amount of good: 1st. That no parishioner has a right to any particular seat in either chapel. 2nd. That all parishioners having seats in either chapel shall be free to take a place, as occasion may require, even on the seats of the chapel to which they do not belong.