BROWNSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of UPPER-DULEEK,
county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER,
4 miles (E. by S.) from Navan; containing 487 inhabitants.
It is situated on the road from Navan, through
Ashbourne, to Dublin, and comprises 864 statute acres
of arable and pasture land, with the exception of about
32 acres of waste and bog: the land is fertile and
principally under tillage, and the system of agriculture
is improving. There is a good limestone quarry; a
valuable stratum of potters' clay has been discovered; and
there are strong indications of the existence of copper
ore, but no attempt to work it has hitherto been made.
The only seat is Brownstown House, the property and
ormerly the residence of the Somerville family, and
now being put into a state of repair. It is a rectory, in
the diocese of Meath, entirely impropriate in Sir W.
Meredyth Somerville, Bart.: the tithes amount to £73.
There is no church or chapel, only an ancient burialground:
the clerical duties of the parish are performed
by the incumbent of the adjoining parishes forming the
union of Kentstown. In the R. C. divisions it forms
part of the union or district of Blacklion. There are
two hedge schools, in which are about 34 boys and
24 girls.