MOATE, or MOATE-A-GRENOGE, a market-town and
post-town, partly in the parish of KILMANAGHAN, but
chiefly in that of KILCLEAGH, barony of CLONLONAN,
county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 7¾
miles (E. by S.) from Athlone, and 52 (W. by S.) from
Dublin, on the mail coach road to Athlone; containing
1785 inhabitants. This place takes its name from a
rath or moat at the back of the town, in what was originally
the territory of the McLoughlins, and which was
called after Grace McLoughlin, Grana-oge, or "Grace's
Moat." During the war of the Revolution, a large body
of the adherents of Jas. II., which had been pursued
from Ballymore by the forces under Gen. de Ginkel,
drew up here in order to give battle to their pursuers;
but they were driven into the town, whence, after they
had vainly endeavoured to intrench themselves, they
fled to Athlone, with the loss of about 300 men, several
officers, their baggage, a great quantity of arms, and
500 horses. On their arrival at Athlone their defeat had
caused such consternation in the garrison of that place,
that the gates were closed against the fugitives from a
fear of admitting their pursuers also, and several fled
for shelter to the bogs and many perished in the river.
The town, which is neatly built and of pleasing appearance,
contains 330 houses, of which number, 244 are
slated, and the remainder thatched. The manufacture
of cottons and linens, formerly carried on here to a
very great extent, is now much diminished, affording
employment only to about 100 persons; and several
large distilleries and breweries have been altogether discontinued.
The market is on Thursday, and fairs are
held on April 25th, June 22nd, Oct. 2nd, and Dec. 3rd.
A chief constabulary police force is stationed here; a
manorial court is held on the first Monday in every
alternate month; petty sessions on alternate Thursdays,
and the general quarter sessions for the district at the
usual times. The court-house is a commodious building;
attached to it is a small bridewell. The parish
church of Kilcleagh is situated in the town; there are
also a R. C. chapel, a small convent to which a chapel
is attached, places of worship for the Society of Friends,
Baptists, and Wesleyan Methodists, and a dispensary.
Moate Castle is the seat of Cuthbert J. Clibborn,
Esq.