Volume 1

The beauties of Ireland. Being original delineations, topographical, historical, and biographical, of each county / By J.N. Brewer. Illustrated with engravings, by J. & H.S. Storer, after original drawings, chiefly by Mr. Petrie.

  • Brewer, J. N. (James Norris)
Date:
1825-1826
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The beauties of Ireland. Being original delineations, topographical, historical, and biographical, of each county / By J.N. Brewer. Illustrated with engravings, by J. & H.S. Storer, after original drawings, chiefly by Mr. Petrie. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    the distance of fifty-nine milesfrom Dublin, is well circumstanced for commercial interchanges, and enjoys a considerable and in- creasing trade. . This town is justly described, in the Statistical Survey by Mr. Tighe, as a ‘kind of depot for Kilkenny, since the navigation ends here, and cars can come from Kilkenny and réturn in the day.”” The name is derived from Thomas Fitz-An- thony Walsh, seneschal of Leinster, an Anglo-Norman, by whom the town was founded. This place is also sometimes termed, in Irish, Baly-mac-andon, (Anthony's Town), in attention to the - patronymic of its founder, The river Nore is here crossed by a light and handsome stone bridge of five arches, completed, by At each end of the bridge stands an antient square tower, formerly connected with the line of fortification by which the town was sur- rounded. It is evident that the principal houses, in past times, partook of the castellated character, even down to ages not far distant. ‘The most antient domestic building, in fair preservation, has door and window cases of stone, square and canopied. Over the door is inscribed, ‘‘ Owen Fennell, and Ellan Tobin, A.D. 1646.” dition,’ there was a Dominican convent at this place, concerning which foundation the reverend author of the Monasticon ‘ could is observed in the MSS. of the Chevalier de Montmorency) is of a very surprising character, since Mr. Archdall must have had before him the authority of Dr. Burke, Bishop of Ossory, (Hiber. Do- minicana, p. 337,) exhibiting the fact of such an institution at Thomastown. But, if lettered information were not sufficient, a visit to the place in question could not have failed to remove the scepticism of this author. The ruins of the ‘abbey comprise five several windows. The chancel constitutes the present church, and is far from being an inelegant specimen of the pointed style of design... The pillars are quadruple, each capital varying from the