Deece Lower

Deece Lower or Lower Deece (/ˈdiːs/; Irish: Déise Íochtarach) is a historical barony in central County Meath, Ireland.^[1]

Deece Lower Déise Íochtarach (Irish)
Barony
Postbox, Drumree
Barony map of County Meath, 1900; Deece Lower is in the middle, coloured green.
Deece Lower
Coordinates: 53°32′N 6°40′W
Sovereign state	Ireland
Province	Leinster
County	Meath
Area
• Total	81.0 km2 (31.3 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 They acquired modest local taxation and spending functions in the 19th century before being superseded by the Local Government (Ireland) Act 1898.^[2]

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. The Déisi Becc were ruled by the Ó Dubháin (O'Duane) of Knowth and the Ua Maoil Lughdhach (O'Molluwey?) of Brú na Bóinne. ^[3][4] Deece was divided into Lower (northern) and Upper (southern) halves by 1807.^[5]

Geography

Deece Lower is in the middle of the county, to the southeast of the River Boyne; the countryside between Trim and Dunshaughlin.^[6]

List of settlements

Settlements within the historical barony of Deece Lower include:

• Drumree
• Kilmessan^[7]