Mart. Ho.

In 1631, Sir John Kingsmill was regranted the lands of Castlefinn which were created into the manor of Castlefyn (DG079-046001-) with the power to hold 'a market every Monday, and two fairs at Castlefyn, one on Tuesday and Wednesday after the feast of Pentecost, and the other on St. Martin's Day (November 11), in winter, to continue two days' (Hill 1877, 518). The OS Memoirs recorded in 1836 that 'There is a market house (DG079-046002-) here built about 230 years, and the number of inhabitants amount to about 700. As usual the proportion of houses licensed to retail whiskey is very great as compared to shops of all other descriptions in the town. There is a weekly market on Mondays, a post office, and the mail to and from Londonderry and Sligo passes daily through the town'. In 1836 the OS memoirs recorded that a 'man named Scott, employed as a spy by King William's army, was taken by King James and hanged over the southern arch of the market house (1688). It was roofed about 20 years since'. A market house is depicted on the first edition of the OS 6-inch map in the centre of the diamond in the village of Castlefinn and this building is indicated on the latest edition of the OS maps. Compiled by Caimin O'Brien Date of upload/revision : 15 November 2011