CHARLESTOWN, a village, in the parish of KILBRIDE-LANGAN,
barony of KILCOURSEY, KING'S county,
and province of LEINSTER, adjoining the town of Clara:
the population is returned with the parish. This place is
situated on the road from Farbane to Kilbeggan, and
was formerly the seat of an extensive linen trade, for
the management of which a linen-hall was established.
The village consists of about 40 houses, and had a
patent for two annual fairs and a linen market weekly
on Monday. Adjoining it is the castle of Kilcoursey,
once a place of great strength, which gave name to
the barony. In the vicinity are also Cloghatana, the
old residence of the Fox family; Ballynamintan and
Marshbrook, the ancient seats of the Mars family;
and Kilfylan, the residence of an ancient branch of the
De Berminghams.