a market town of Queen's county, Ireland, pleasantly situated on the Owenass (an affluent of the Barrow) which nearly encircles it. Pop. (1901), 2407. It is the terminus of a branch of the Great Southern & Western railway, 72 m. N. of Maryborough and 582 W.S.W. of Dublin. A branch of the Grand Canal also reaches the town, providing water communication with Dublin, and with Waterford by the river Barrow. There are industries of malting, tanning, woollen and salt manufactures, and iron-founding. A settlement of Quakers has contributed largely to the prosperity of the town. A provincial school of the Leinster Society of Friends was founded here in 1796.