PORTARLINGTO.', Ireland, • market-town and parliamentary borough. chiefly in Queen's and partly in King's County, in situated in 53' 9' N. let., 7' 12' W. long., let miles N.N.E. from Maryborough, and 414 miles S.S.W. from Dublin by the Great Southern and Westeru railway. The population in ]851 was 2728. Tho borough returns one member to the Imperial Parliament The town took the name of its founder Lord Arlington, and was called a port becanae built at a landing-place on the river. A number of French and Flemish families settled in the place. The possessions were subsequently bestowed by William III. on the Earl of Galway, who introduced other refugee families, built a church, endowed two schools, and other wise improved the town. The town and estate were afterwards purchased by the Dawson family, who received the title of Earl of Portarlington. The town consists mainly of a long street extending in a northerly direction from the canal to a square near the river,• where it turns westward at a right angle, and is continued by a bridge over the Barrow to a considerable length in King's County. The
streets are paved, and the place is well supplied with water. The principal buildings are the English church, a handsome structure, with • spire; the French church ; the Roman Catholic chapel, a spacious building with a tower and spire 140 feet high ; a chapel for Methodists; two National schools; two Free schools ; the market house; a dispensary ; and some superior schools, at one of which the Duke of Wellington and his brother the Marquis of Wellesley received part of their education. The town possesses a savings bank. Soap and candles are manufactured. Fairs are held eight times a year. Wednesday and Saturday are the market-days. Ems Park, the seat of the Earl of Portarlington, is 3 miles S.E. from the town.