•  Killeen, County Meath

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In 1837, Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland described Killeen like this:

KILLEEN, a parish, in the barony of SKREEN, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 2 ¼ miles (N. by W.) from Dunshaughlin, on the road from Dublin to Athboy; containing 588 inhabitants. An abbey is said to have been founded here in the 16th century by St. Endeus, and also a nunnery, of which his sister St. ...

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Fanchea was abbess. The barony came into the family of Plunkett by the marriage of Sir Christopher Plunkett, in 1403, with the only daughter and heiress of Sir Lucas Cusac; and Lucas, the tenth Lord, was created Earl of Fingall by Jas. I., in 1628. The parish comprises 2972 statute acres; about one-third is under tillage, and the remainder meadow and pasture of excellent quality; the system of agriculture is greatly improved, and there is neither waste land nor bog; there are several quarries of black limestone. Killeen Castle, the seat of the Earl of Fingall, was originally a stately structure, erected by Hugh de Lacy, in 1180, and has been enlarged and greatly improved after a design by Johnston, in which the style of its ancient architecture has been retained with fine effect; the demesne comprises more than 840 statute acres, and is tastefully laid out and embellished. The parish is in the diocese of Meath; the rectory is impropriate in P. P. Metge, of Athlumney, Esq., and the vicarage forms part of the union of Taragh; the tithes amount to £204, of which £136 is payable to the impropriator, and £68 to the vicar. The church, near the castle, is a very interesting structure, erected by Sir Christopher Plunkett, who died in 1445; the east window is of lofty dimensions and of very elegant design. Among the ancient monuments are those of the founder and his wife; of Robt. Cusack, who died in 1620; and of John Quatermas (who roofed the church) and his wife, dated 1507. It formerly contained a chantry and a guild of the Blessed Virgin. The glebe comprises 57 acres of good land. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union of Dunsany, or Kilmessan.

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