KILLEIGH

Samuel Lewis

A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland

1837

KILLEIGH, a village and chapelry (formerly a post-town), in that part of the parish of GEASHILL which is in the barony of GEASHILL, KING'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 9 ¾ miles (N. W.) from Portarlington, on the road from Dublin to Birr; containing 478 inhabitants. An abbey was founded here in the 6th century, which existed till the dissolution, and in 1578 was granted, with its possessions, to Gerald, Earl of Kildare. A nunnery was founded by the Warren family in the 12th century, for nuns of the order of St. Augustine; and a monastery for Grey friars was established here in the reign of Edward I., which was granted to John Allee, at the Reformation. It contains 86 houses and a brewery and malting-house, and is a constabulary police station. Fairs are held on July 1st, and Oct. 17th. It is a chapelry, in the diocese of Kildare, annexed to the benefice of Geashill, and has a large ancient chapel.

In the R. C. divisions it is in the union or district of Ballycane, or Geashill, and has a spacious chapel. Here are some remains of one of the religious houses, close to which is the entrance to a cave; and there are also some remains of a rath that formerly surrounded the village.—See GEASHILL.

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