| A White or Carmelite friary at Ardee is supposed also to have been founded by the Pipard family; and in the reign of Edward I received large endowments from Ralph Pipard. In 1315, it was the meeting-place of a chapter of the Carmelites and in the same year, a crowd of men, women and children fled to its church from the ravages of the Scots and Irish under Edward Bruce, and in common with their asylum were reduced to ashes by the assailants. The edifice was speedily restored and in the years 1320, 1325, 1489, and 1504, was the scene of provincial chapters or synodical assemblies. This friary, like the former, was dissolved in the 31st year of Henry VIII.
In Ardee are 14 large malting establishments, 1 tannery, 2 corn-mills, and a considerable domestic manufacture of baskets. Much corn is sold at the weekly Tuesday market; a considerable retail trade exists in the supply of the circumjacent country; and fairs are held on March 1st, April 10th, May 26th, July 8th, August 10th and llth, October 12th, and December 6th. A corn-market was erected by the corporation, about the year 1810, at the cost of nearly £2,000; and a meat-market or shambles, in 1796 at the cost of about £600. A mail car is daily in transit between Drogheda and Louth.The town is the head of an excise district which extends into the county of Monaghan. The county quarter-sessions for the division of Ardee are held in the town in January and July, when the assistant barrister for the county disposes by civil bill of cases within his jurisdiction; and petty-sessions are held once a week by the county magistrates.
(Extract from 'The Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland, 1845} |
