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distinguish this town from St. Molin's, situated to the eastward, in the county of Carlow.-If we admit the probable correctness of the above etymology, we may safely conclude that a monastery existed here, coeval with the abbey in Carlow (founded in the seventh century) although such a religious institution is not noticed in the Monasticon Hibernicum.

A Priory of Canons regular, of the order of St. Augustin, termed the "House of God, of Mullingar," was founded at this place by Ralph le Petit, bishop of Meath, A. D. 1227; which house, with its possessions, was granted by Queen Elizabeth to the Tuite family.

A Dominican Friary, which became one of the most celebrated houses of that order in all Ireland, was founded by the family of Nugent, in the year 1237. General chapters of the order were, at four different times, held in this convent. At the suppression, the Friary and its estates were granted to Walter Hope, Esq.*

The families of Tuite and Hope having forfeited their possessions in 1641, a grant of the above two houses, with their appurtenances, and divers castles, meadows, gardens, and other property in and about the town of Mullingar, was made by the crown, in 1661, to Sir Arthur Forbes, first Earl of Granard. This grant was confirmed by the acts of settlement; and the town of Mullingar, with contiguous places, was, in 1674, constituted a manor, with many annexed privileges.

* The Dominican friars were suffered to occupy their convent, from the date of general suppression until the year 1690, when, on the arrival of King William's army, commanded by General Douglas, the friars quitted their station, and, to use the words of Mr. Story, “made a pilgrimage into Connaught." When this place was visited by Mr. Archdall, there remained only part of the bell tower, and some other unimportant ruins. The present Earl of Granard, a nobleman highly valued for his liberal feelings and tolerant principles, granted a lease of the abbey site to the Rev. Lawrence Fitzgerald, a friar of the Dominican order. The church has been rebuilt at the expense of Dr. Fitzgerald, and appropriated by him, as parish priest, to the use of his parishioners. In the immediate vicinity of the church he has also erected neat conventual buildings, for the residence of himself, and the accommodation of a few ecclesiastics, professing the rules of St. Dominick.

In regard to historical events, unconnected with ecclesiastical foundations, it may be observed that, in the year 1329, Mac Geoghegan, dynast of Kynaliagh, or Moycashell, defeated near this town an English force, under Lord Thomas le Botiller, who fell in the action. In the last internal war of the seventeenth century, Mullingar was a principal rendezvous of the army of King William. General de Ginkle fortified and made this place tenable, Colonel Brewer being named governor of the town. Upon the conclusion of peace, in November, 1691, the fortifications were demolished.

The antient family of De Petit, or Le Petit, formerly bore the title of Baron of Mullingar, in the palatinate of Meath. This family continued in great reputation until the troubles of the seventeenth century;-a time so generally subversive of the dignity of antient names in Ireland. Count Mainhard de Schomberg, or De Schonberg, was created by King William III. Duke of Leinster and Baron of Mullingar.*

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* We must not conclude our notice of this town, without offering some remarks on the old and well-known saying, "When the King comes to Mullingar ;”—a circumstance believed, according to the meaning of this saying, to be so very improbable, that any boon may be safely promised, the performance of which depends on the actual occurrence of a royal visit. By degrees, this mode of expressing a thing, improbable beyond all rational calculation, has grown into very general use in the town and neighburhood; and has even been adopted, in some instances, as a legal method of stating a contingency. Thus, several leases of lands and houses are granted in supposed actual perpetuity, i. e until the king shall come to Mullingar. Persons holding under this whimsical tenure were naturally much alarmed on the visit made to Ireland by King George IV.-The origin of the saying is not decidedly known, and we leave it for the reader to determine which of the two following traditions is the more worthy of acceptance.-By some persons it is said that, previous to the battle at the Boyne, the Catholic inhabitants of Mullingar boasted that, if James succeeded, he would, on arriving at this town, withdraw the corporation franchises from the protestants, and vest the same in catholic freemen. When William III. prevailed, the protestants retaliated on their disappointed neighbours, and tauntingly rebuked any extravagant expectation, by remarking that probably such an anticipated event might take place-" when the king should come to Mullingar !"-Other oral and traditionary historians assert that a

On the 18th of August, 1783, a very brilliant meteor was visible in the neighbourhood of this town. It appeared about half-past nine in the evening, and was visible during ten or fifteen seconds. Mr. Edgeworth, who witnessed this singular natural phenomenon, describes it to have been about one third of the moon's diameter, and observes that it moved from the north, with an equable velocity, at an elevation of about ten or twelve degrees, in a line parallel to the horizon. It exhibited the most vivid colours; the foremost part being of the brightest blue, followed by different shades of red. Twice, during its flight, it was cclipsed, or extinguished; not gradually, but at once, immerging and emerging with undiminished lustre. For further particulars the reader is referred to the 74th volume of the Transactions of the Royal Society.

A second natural phenomenon likewise requires notice in this place.

In 1779, during a peal of thunder, a stone descended from the atmosphere into a meadow at Pettitswood, near Mullingar. At the instant of its fall the village became enveloped with sulphureous fumes, which continued for about six minutes. This aërolite was of a flat, cake-like figure, and weighed rather more than four ounces and a half. It was warm when it fell, was covered with a whitish-brown coat, and in other respects, as far as can be judged from the only description of it extant, resembled the stones which have so often fallen from the atmosphere, both in ancient and in

person having a disputed accompt to settle with one of the ancestors of Lord Westmeath, and a claim on his estate, which the latter could not be induced to settle amicably, the complainant appealed to the king (but to what king is not told) who answered that he should shortly visit Ireland, and that, on his arrival at Mullingar, he would compel the refractory lord to do justice to the plaintiff. This declaration of the sovereign being made public, his arrival was anxiously expected. But much time elapsing without his majesty's appearance, the man renewed his applications to the baron, who, as often as a settlement was demanded, uniformly replied, "Yes, my friend! you shall have satisfaction-When the king shall come to Mullingar." This reiterated answer, say our informants, soon grew into a proverb.

modern times. An account of this curious circumstance is preserved in the Gent. Mag. for Sept. 1796.

The scenery in the neighbourhood of Mullingar acquires a high degree of beauty from the well-wooded lakes of this district; and we have pleasure in observing that a country so attractive is further enriched by numerous handsome seats.

COOKSBOROUGH, the fine mansion of the Cooke. family, is situated near the village of Cloghan. The house is approached through a long avenue of venerable trees, and the demesne has been greatly improved, and abundantly planted, by the present owner. Among some pictures which ornament this seat is a curious portrait of Oliver Cromwell, supposed to be original.

KNOCKDRIN CASTLE, the magnificent seat of Sir Richard Levinge, Bart. has been greatly improved by the present proprietor. The demesne is very extensively planted, and partakes of some beautiful lake scenery.

BALYNAGALL, until a recent period termed Castle-reynell, was formerly the property of the Reynell family, of whom it was purchased by the present proprietor, James Gibbons, Esq. By this gentleman a splendid mansion has been erected, after the designs of Mr. Francis Johnston, at the expense, as we believe, of more than 30,000/. The demesne constitutes one of the finest, and most extensively planted estates, in this county.

CLONLOST is an antient seat of the family of Nugent. The present owner, James Nugent, Esq. colonel of the Westmeathmilitia, derives his descent from Andrew Nugent, of Donouer and Frewgin, Esq. fourth son of James, third Baron of Delvin, -ancestor of the Marquess of Westmeath.

KILLUCAN is a neat village, distant from Mullingar nearly six miles, towards the east. According to Archdall an abbey was founded here by St. Luican, at a very early period. The site of

VOL. II.

that religious house is now occupied by the parish church, a respectable modern building, surmounted by a handsome spire. The glebe house, situated near the church, is a neat building, agreeably adorned with shrubberies and plantations. In this church is the sepulchral vault of the Pakenham family.*—The inn of this village has obtained considerable notoriety, as the rendezvous of the Killucan club, one of the oldest hunting associations in Ireland.

JORISTOWN, near Killucan, is the seat of Peter Purdon, Esq. and several other members of this respectable family possess mansions in the neighbourhood. On the well-planted demesne attached to this house is the hill of Knockshiban (Fairy-queenhill) a celebrated landmark, from the summit of which is obtained an extensive and luxuriant prospect over a varied tract of country.

REYNELLA, the superb residence of Richard Molesworth Reynell, Esq. is situated on a fine demesne, adorned with a lake, and extensive plantations. The family of Reynell first settled in this county in the latter part of the seventeenth century, under the auspices of Sir Richard Reynell, chief justice of the court of king's bench. The eldest branch of the family, now settled in North America, enjoys the title of baronet, conferred in 1678. We must not omit to notice that the father of the present possessor of Reynella, had the merit of introducing into this county many improvements in agricultural pursuits.

DARDISTOWN, the seat of Theobald Featherstonhaugh, Esq. formerly belonged to a branch (now extinct) of the Nugent family. Cuthbert Featherstonhaugh, Esq. of the county of Durham, ancestor of the present proprietor of this demesne, intermarried with the Magans of Emoe, in the reign of William and Mary; and pur

* For an account of the old church of Killucan, which was a building of considerable antiquity, and the largest parochial church in this county, see Collect. Hib. vol. i. pp. 60-61.

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