Slater's Directory of Ireland 1846-Eyrecourt, Galway

A small market town in the parish of Donanaghta, barony of Longford, county of Galway, about 90 miles w. by s. from Dublin, 40 e. by s. from Galway, 14 n.w. from Parsonstown, and 11 s.e. from Ballinasloe; situated in the midst of a fine corn district, on the road by Banagher to Loughrea. The town derives its name from the Eyre family, lords of the manor; and contiguous to the town is Eyrecourt Castle, a magnificent structure, the property of the family, at present occupied by John Eyre, Esq. J.P., a great patron of the town, and evincing a lively anxiety for its prosperity. The interior of the castle is eminently deserving the stranger's notice; the staircase, in particular, is supposed to be the finest in Ireland. Over the hall door is inscribed the following sentence, 'Welcome to the House of Liberty.' In the demesne, which is beautifully laid out, is a large fort, from which a cave is said to run two miles and a half, and to pen near the beautiful and ancient abbey of Mellick. The trade of the place is quite of a local character, and with the exception of the Eyrecourt corn mils, of Mr. Horsman, there is no prominent branch. Te government of the town is vested in the magistrates and a seneschal; the former meet in petty session once a fortnight; the latter holds a court every three weeks- both in the court-house.
The parish church of Donanaghta is a plain but neat stone edifice, erected in 1818, with a tower and one bell. The Roman Catholic chapel is large and handsome

and will accommodate a congregation of one thousand persons. In 1777 a school was erected here by order of, and endowed by Bishop Cumberland. The school premises, which have been recently re-built, from one of the principal buildings of the town; and the establishment flourishes under the admirable management of Mr. John Coen, B.A. There is also a school in connexion with the 'Ladies Hibernian Female School Society' A dispensary here is supported party by the county and partly by subscription. The market days are Tuesday and Saturday. Fairs February 8th, the first Monday after Easter Monday, July 10th, Sept. 8th, Nov. 10th and Dec. 21st. The February and November fairs have been recently instituted. The parish of Donanaghta contained, in 1841, 1,870 in habitants and the town of Eyrecourt 1,419 of that number.

POST OFFICE, Mary Eyre, Post Mistress-Letters from Ballinasloe arrive every morning at a quarter before nine, and are despatched thereto every afternoon at ten minutes past four.- Letters from Banagher and Parsonstown arrive every afternoon at four and are despatched every morning at ten minutes before nine.- Letters from Portumna arrive every afternoon at a quarter before four and are despatched thereto every morning at five minutes past nine.

GENTRY AND CLERGY	Eyre Robert, attorney, Main st	Maguire George, nail maker, Main st
Allman Mr. Fras. Tallywood Cottage	Lovelock Patrick, apothecary, Main st	Mahon John, linen draper, Main st
Blake Mrs Anne, Main st	Mahon George, physician, Main st	M'Nevin Patrick, harness maker, Market st
Blake, Mrs. Jane, Green trees	SCHOOLS	Mahoney John, baker, Main st
Blake Peter, Esq. Market st	Coen John, B.A.(boarding) River st	O'Donnell Joseph, provision dealer, Coates' lane
Burke Mr. William B. Quansborough Lodge	Endowed School, River st-Mister John Coen, B.A., master	Rodden Jno. provision dealer, Main st
Butson the Ven. Archdeacon James S. Clonfret	Ladies' Hibernian Female Society's School, Market street, Daniel Rosingrave, master; Rebecca M'Govern, mistress	Rodgers Isaac, provision dlr, Main st
Coen Rev Ths. P.P. Grange House	INNS & PUBLIC HOUSES	Sords Wm, grocer & baker, Main st
Daly Mr. John, Clonnachaise	Coen Anne, Main st	Staunton Patrick, cartwright, Main st
Daly Mr. Richard G. Wood View	Daly Zechariah, Main st	Thompson Luke, boot & shoe maker, Market st
Doyle Mrs Anne, Main st	Egan Joseph (and posting house) Main street	Thompson, Wm. boot & shoe maker, Main st
Egan Mr. John Woodfield	Mahon Thomas, Main st	Topin Nicholas, butcher, Market st
Eyre John Esq., Hasson Park	SHOPKEEPERS & TRADERS	PLACES OF WORSHIP And their Ministers
Eyre John, Esq. (magistrate), Eyre- court Castle.	Buckley Robert, rag dealer, Main st	Saint John's Church, market st.- Rev. Richard B. Eyre, the Glebe; Thomas Leech, clerk, Market street.
Eyre Rev. Richard, the Glebe	Brereton Catherine, grocer & linen draper, Main st	Roman Catholic Chapel, Main street - Rev. Thomas Coen, parish priest, Main street, Rev. James Kavanagh, curate, Main street
Eyre Robt, Esq. (seneschal) the Cottage	Coates Samuel, farmer, Coates' lane	PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS &c.
Flanagan Miss Anne, Market st	Coghlan Patrick, farmer, Main st	Bridewell, Market st- James Dunbar, keeper
Flanagan Henry, Esq. Woburn	Connor Thos., blacksmith, Pound st	Constabulary Barrack, Main street- Samuel Abbott, sub-inspector, Laurencetown.
Grome Mr. Edward, Clonfert	Donoghoe Michael, provision dealer, Main st	Court House, Market street- Daniel Rosingrave, keeper.
Grome Mr John, Market st	Fallon Patrick, dyer, River st	Dispensary, Main st- Mr. George Mahan, physician
Kavanagh Rev. James, C.C. Main st	Ford Martin, provision dealer, Main st	Stamp Office, Main st- Thomas Curran distributor.
Kelly Patrick, Esq, Longford House	Gannon Patrick, farmer, Coates' lane	CARS From William Sord's, grocer, Main street.
Kelly Mr. Stephen, Longford House	Horsman Edwd., corn miller, Eyrecourt Mills	To Ballinasloe, a Mail Car, every afternoon at ten minutes past four.
Lemon Mr. Joseph, Ormond View	Howard Patrick, grocer & stationer, Main st	To Parsonstown, a Mail Car, every morning at ten minujtes before nine; goes through Banagher.
Montgomery Mr. John, Green trees	Hourigan, Michael, butcher, Main st	To Portumna, a Mail Car, every morning at five minutes past nine.
Seymour Rev. David, Abbey land	Kelly Jno., grocer & draper, Main st
Seymour Eyre, Esq., Lisanacody	Kelly Thos, grocer & draper, Main st
Seymour Mr. Robert, Clonfert Cottage	Killeen Jno. grocer & draper, Main st
Seymour Mr. Simeon, Tower View	Larkin Denis, nail maker, Main st
Skerrett Mr. Patrick Mark, Main st	Larkin Philip, nail maker, Market st
Smith John, Esq, Prospect House	M'Carty Bridget, provision dealer, Coates' lane
Trench Jno. Eyre, Esq. Prospect House
PROFESSIONAL PERSONS
Blake James, attorney, Main st
Calanan Nicholas, attorney, Main st
Cowan John, attorney, Main st
Cowan Joseph Henry, attorney and sub-sheriff of Galway, Main st