BORRIS, or BORRIS-IDRONE, a village, in the
parish of CLONAGOOSE, barony of IDRONE-EAST, county
of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S. E.)
from Goresbridge; containing 67 L inhabitants. This
place is situated near the river Barrow, on the road from
Carlow to Ross: it has a patent for a market on Friday,
"which is not held, and a penny post to Goresbridge.
Borris House, the noble seat of the late T. Kavanagh, Esq.,
is situated in an extensive and richly wooded demesne,
and commands fine views terminated on the south-east
by the imposing range of the Blackstairs mountains.
This mansion, which externally exhibits the appearance
of an English baronial residence of the 16th century,
while every advantage of convenience and splendour is
secured within, has been for ages the chief residence of
the posterity of Donald Kavanagh, natural son of Mac
Murrough, last King of Leinster, whose name and
authority he subsequently assumed. In 1642, being
garrisoned by the parliamentarians, it was besieged by
the Irish, and with difficulty the garrison was relieved
and reinforced by Sir C. Coote. In the disturbances of
1798 it sustained two attacks; first, on May 24th, when
the insurgents were repulsed by Capt. Kavanagh's yeomanry
corps, with the loss of 50 killed and wounded;
and afterwards on June 12th, from a detachment sent
against it from Vinegar Hill, on which occasion it was
defended with great bravery by a party of the Donegal
militia, who compelled the assailants, after burning the
out-offices and destroying some houses in Borris, to
retire with considerable loss. At Kilcamney, in the
vicinity, an action was also fought, in which the insurgents
were routed with the loss of their stores by the
king's forces under Sir C. Asgill. Petty sessions are
held here every alternate Thursday, and road sessions
occasionally: the court-house was lately erected by Mr.
Kavanagh. This is a chief constabulary police station;
and there is a small barrack for the accommodation of
about 30 men. Fairs for cattle, sheep, pigs, &c, are
held on Jan. 1st, Feb. 5th, May 1st, July 2nd, Aug. 15th,
Oct. 4th, and Nov. 14th, and four more fairs have been
lately obtained; that in July is a considerable fair for
wool. Attached to Borris House is a very handsome
private chapel, erected by the late Mr. Kavanagh, and
open to the inhabitants. In the R. C. divisions this
place is the head of a union or district comprising parts
of the parishes of Clonagoose, Ullard (county of Kilkenny),
St. Mullins, and Ballyellin, and the whole of
that of Kiltennel: the parochial chapel is a handsome
edifice, lately built at an expense of £2000. There is a
school, in which 150 boys and 90 girls are taught: the
school-house is a commodious building, erected and
fitted up by local contributions amounting to £274. 5, 6.,
and a grant of £97. 5. 6. from the National Board. A
dispensary is maintained in the customary manner; and
there is an institution called the Borris Benevolent
Society, established about eight years, to which the
payment of one shilling monthly entitles each member,
in case of sickness, to a weekly allowance of 5s. for the
first three months, and of 2s. 6d. afterwards so long as
he shall continue sick. At Borris House is preserved
the "Figeen," a curious ornament of silver and tin,
found on the demesne; and an ancient horn and a casket,
called the Liath-Mersicith, esteemed among the most
valuable curiosities in the museum of Trinity College,
Dublin, are relics which formerly belonged to the Kavanaghs.
See CLONAGOOSE.