About Abbey Leix

Abbey Leix is a Market and Post-town and also a Parish. It is partly in the Barony of Fassadining in the County of Kilkenny and partly in the Barony of Maryborough West in Cullinagh Queens County in the Province of Leinster. It is situated on the main mail road that runs through Athy to Cashel and on to Abbey Leix is about 47½ miles from Dublin. This place was also known as Clonkyne Leix or De Lege Dei and was the original site of a the abbey founded about the year 600. The Abbey of Leix is next mentioned in the year of 1183, when it was refounded and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin by Conogher or Corcheger O'More, who placed in it monks of the Cistercian order from Baltinglass, in the county of Wicklow, and was himself interred within its precincts. The Abbey maintained a high degree of reputation; and the town adjoining it, which took its name from the abbey, gradually rose to be the principal place in the territory of Leix, now Queen's County. In the time of Queen Elizabeth I, the abbey and some of its possessions were granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormonde, and later formed part of the estate of Viscount De Vesci. Now recognized as a Heritage Town of Ireland, Abbey Leix and the surrounding area is steeped in history, with evidence of ancient ring forts and burial grounds, early monastic buildings, Norman and medieval castles, churches and colonial estate houses. The Manor House of the Viscount de Vesci and family and the Church of Ireland Church were built by James Wyatt and the estate workers were housed in some of the finest 19th century houses in the county. The old Patrician boys' primary school has recently been converted into a heritage centre. In 1831 Abbey Leix township contained about 140 houses, 2 woollen mills, a large worsted factory and mill, an Alms House for Widows, a Dispensary and Infirmary, a Police Constabulary and Station House, and a fine building where Quarter Sessions for the County are held in June and December of each year. The Parish Church of Abbey Leix recently erected, is a very handsome building, in the later English style, with a vaulted roof of stone and an elegant spire: the old church is noted for the quality of its preserved historical buildings and was founded as an estate town by Viscount de Vesci. Every Saturday a Market is held and a Fair in Jan, March, May, July, Sept, Nov each year. The parish comprises of 11,974 acres, 400 are bog, 300 woodland, limestone is quarried here and burnt into lime and the rest is a light sandy soil used for agriculture. Abbey Leix is regarded as the Gentleman’s seat of the Viscount de Vesci other landed gentry living in and around Abbey Leix are W Bell Esq. of Bellview, Captain Croker of Thornberry, Mr. Roe of Farmley, E.B. Hancock Esq. Of Rathmoyle House and Mr. J Ferguson of Oatlands. The living vicarage is in the diocese of Leighlin and its parton is the Viscount de Vesci. At one time it was famous for its carpet industry. Many carpets from the district were used in stately homes, with some of the most notable being those used on the Titanic. Heritage House, located in the old Patrician Monastery Schoolhouse, has an award winning Interpretative Centre where you can experience 2000 years of history There is a Parochial School and an Infants School also a Work School for Girls and another Pay School that is aided by subscription for 300 children. The dispensary and infirmary are built near the site of the old Abbey where the tomb of Malachi O'More, with an inscription can also be found in the gardens.

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