OULART

OULART, a town, in the parish of MILLENAGH, barony of BALLAGHKEEN, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 6 ½ miles (E.) from Enniscorthy, on the road from Gorey to Wexford; containing 161 inhabitants. During the disturbances of 1798, a large body of the insurgents encamped on Oulart hill, on Sunday, the 27th of May; and on the same morning a detachment of the North Cork Militia, consisting of 110 chosen men, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Foote, marched from Wexford and attacked the insurgents on the south side of the hill, who fled at the first onset, and were pursued at full speed by the militia, but the latter being flushed with their success, neglected to preserve any order in the pursuit. While the insurgents were endeavouring to escape on the north side of the hill, they were informed that a large body of cavalry from Gorey was advancing to cut off their retreat, and turning round on their pursuers, who had nearly reached the summit of the hill almost breathless and in disorder, charged them with their pikes, and destroyed the whole detachment, with the exception only of the Lieutenant-Colonel, one serjeant, and three privates.

The town, which in 1831 contained 30 houses, is a chief station of the constabulary police, and has a penny post to Enniscorthy. Fairs are held on Twelfth day, Shrove-Tuesday, Easter-Monday, Ascension-day, and Michaelmas-day, for cattle, pigs and sheep. Oulart gives name to the R. C. district, comprising the greater part of the parish of Melina, the whole of Kilnemanagh, the greater part of Killesk and Kilcormuck, part of Castle-Ellis, and a small portion of Ballyhuskard: the chapel adjoins the town. A school is about to be established in the house now occupied by the parish priest, a new residence having been recently built for him. In the vicinity of the town, but within the limits of the adjoining parish of Kilnemanagh, is a fever hospital and dispensary, established in 1827: it is under the care of a physician, who also acts as apothecary, and has a residence rent-free, with a salary of £100 per annum.