PROSPEROUS, a town, in the parish of KILLYBEGGS,
barony of CLANE, county of KILDARE, and province
of LEINSTER, 11 miles (S. W.) from Leixlip; containing
1038 inhabitants. This place, which is situated
near the Grand Canal, owes its origin to Mr. Robert
Brooke, who, towards the close of the last century, expended
a large fortune in attempting to establish the
cotton manufacture here. In less than three years a
town, consisting of 200 houses, was built, and establishments
were completed for all the various branches of
that manufacture, including the printing of linen and
cotton goods, and also for making the requisite machinery
connected with the works; and from the flattering
prospect of success which grew with the attempt, the
town rather prematurely derived its name. In pursuing
this object, however, that gentleman exceeded the limits
of his own private fortune, and upon application to parliament
obtained a grant of £25,000; but in 1786, having
again occasion to apply to parliament for assistance,
his petition was rejected and the works consequently
were discontinued. Upon this occasion 1400 looms
were thrown out of employment, and every other branch
of the manufacture, together with the making of the
requisite machinery, ceased. Though the undertaking
was never revived, still the manufacture was continued
on a very limited scale till 1798, when," during the disturbances
of that year, a party of the insurgents attacked
the town and surprised a party of the king's troops,
whom they put to the sword. Since that period the
town has gradually declined in importance, and is at
present little more than a pile of ruins; a very few
weavers still find some employment, but its situation in
a low and marshy spot, surrounded by bogs and without
water-power, affords neither advantages for the establishment
of works of importance, nor reasonable hope
of its revival. Near the town, the Grand Canal is carried
through the hill of Downings. A constabulary
police station has been established here, and there is a
small thatched R. C. chapel.