The Parish of Killua

KILLUA, or KILLOAH, a parish, in the barony of DELVIN, county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER
From A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) by Samuel Lewis

KILLUA, or KILLOAH, a parish, in the barony of DELVIN, county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (W. N. W.) from Athboy, on the road from that place to Oldcastle; containing, with the town of Clonmellon, 2198 inhabitants.

It comprises 5360 statute acres, about half of which is in tillage, and contains limestone, but neither waste land nor bog. Killua Castle is the handsome castellated residence of Sir T. Chapman, Bart., and contains a fine collection of paintings by the old masters; the demesne comprises more than 500 acres, and contains a sheet of water, an obelisk to Sir Walter Raleigh, and the ruins of a preceptory of the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem.

Ballinlough Castle, the seat of Sir J. Nugent, Bart., is in a demesne of above 300 acres; and here is also Heathstown, the residence of W. Dyer, Esq. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Meath, forming part of the union of Killallon: the rectory is impropriate in N. Ogle, Esq.; the tithes amount to 125, of which 80 is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar.

The church, which is at Clonmellon, and is a neat structure, with a handsome spire, was built about 50 years since, partly at the expense of the late Sir B. Chapman, Bart., and has recently been repaired by a grant of 251 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. In the R. C. divisions it is the head of a union or district called Clonmellon, including also the parishes of Killallon and Clonarney, and containing chapels at Clonmellon and Killallon: the former is a neat building, with a detached belfry.

About 250 children are educated in the parochial school, for which Sir T. Chapman gave the house and ground, and Lady Chapman subscribes 10 annually; and about 160 in five private schools.

Here is an almshouse for four poor women, who have a weekly allowance from the Chapman family; and in Clonmellon are ten almshouses for aged and infirm labourers, who have each more than an acre of land, and 2 per annum, and 5 is appropriated for keeping the houses in repair: they were established under the will of the late Sir B. Chapman, Bart.

There are some remains of the old church, with a burial-ground attached, which is the place of interment of the Chapman family.--See CLONMELLON.