Deece Upper
Barony in County Meath, Ireland
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Deece Upper or Upper Deece (Irish: Déise Uachtarach) is a historical barony in southern County Meath, Ireland.[1][2]
Deece Upper
Déise Uachtarach (Irish) | |
|---|---|
| |
 Barony map of County Meath, 1900; Deece Upper is in the south, coloured grey. | |
  Deece Upper | |
| Coordinates: 53°27′N 6°39′W | |
| Sovereign state | Ireland |
| Province | Leinster |
| County | Meath |
| Area | |
• Total | 116.4 km2 (44.9 sq mi) |
Baronies were mainly cadastral rather than administrative units. They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.[3]
History
The barony of Deece existed before 1542 in the Lordship of Meath; it took its name from the Déisi Becc ('little Déisi'), a medieval vassal kingdom of the Kingdom of Mide. Deece Upper was the northern extremity of the Gaelic kingdom of the Ciannachta Breg. [4][5] Deece was divided into Lower (northern) and Upper (southern) halves by 1807.[6]
Geography
Deece Upper is in the south of the county, to the north of the Rye River where it forms the border with County Kildare.[7]