DRUMRANEY

"DRUMRANEY, (or Drumrath), a parish and post town in the barony of Kilkenny West, in the county of Westmeath, province of Leinster, Ireland, 2 miles W. of Ballymore. It is situated on the eastern boundary of the barony. The surface rises 451 feet on Carrickaneeha. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Meath, value £82, in the patronage of the Incumbent of Ballyloughloe. The church was built in 1811 by the late Board of First Fruits. It contains a Roman Catholic chapel, two schools under the National Board, and two day schools. Walterstown, now a ruin in an extremely fine demesne, was the ancient seat of the Dillon family, and celebrated in a poem by Dr. George Hynde. Other seats are Dorington, Walterstown Lodge, Newgrove, &c. An abbey is alleged to have existed here near St. Enan's Well, dedicated to that saint in 588, and was destroyed in 946 by Ostman, and again by Brian M'Cinneide fifty years later. There are ruins of two castles, Killaniny and Ardnagrath. There are also remains of raths, and traces of ancient buildings. Limestone is plentiful. At Walterstown is a police station.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868.  Copyright Colin Hinson ©2018]