Castletown Delvin in 1839
Castletown Delvin is in the barony of Delvin, 50 miles from Dublin.
An old castle, built here by De Lacy, lord of Meath, was for a time the residence of the Nugents, who built also the castle of Clonin or Clonyn in the parish. Of the castle built by De Lacy the ruins remain: the walls form a quadrangle with towers at the corners.
There are several other castellated ruins in the neighbourhood.
Clonin was burnt during the civil war of Charles I on the approach of Cromwell. The name of Clonyn is retained by the present residence of the marquis of Westmeath.
The town consisted in 1831 of a single street of 77 houses, with a population of 419.
There are a parish church, a plain old building, but in good repair, and a Catholic chapel.
The market lately established is on Friday, and there are three fairs in the year.
Petty-sessions are held, and a body of the county constabulary have their station here.
The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Meath. The parish is at the head of a Catholic parochial union.
There is a dispensary.
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