MONKNEWTOWN, a parish, in the barony of
UPPER-SLANE, county of MEATH, and province of
LEINSTER, 2½ miles (E. by N.) from Slane, on the road
to Drogheda; containing 700 inhabitants. It is bounded
on the south by the river Boyne, and on the north-east
it is separated by the Mattock from the parish of Tulloghallen,
in the county of Louth, of which, in the
ecclesiastical divisions, it is considered to form a part.
The land is in general of excellent quality, and is nearly
equally divided between tillage and pasture; the pasture
land in the vicinity of New Grange, the residence of
R. Maguire, Esq., is of the very best description. On
the river Mattock is an extensive flour-mill, partly propelled
by steam; and the canal from Drogheda to
Navan passes through the southern part of the parish.
In the R, C. divisions it forms part of the union or
district of Grangegeeth: the chapel, a neat structure, is
near the ruins of the ancient church. About 30 children
are educated in a private school. At New Grange
is a remarkable vestige of antiquity, consisting of a
mound surrounded by a circle of upright stones, and in
which is a vaulted cave in the form of a cross: it is
fully described in the article on Slane.