The Parliamentary gazetteer of Ireland

Each story keeps the passage it was read from. Open one to read it as the scan has it, and, where the companion has written its own telling, that too. The passages are read off photographs of the page by machine, so a word here and there comes out wrong; they are kept as the reading produced them, so you can check any of them against the scan.

1. Ardmore as ancient Danish settlement

   Ardmore · town · Waterford · 1197–1745

   Ardmore is said to have been anciently a Danish settlement, with more probability than the hagiographic legends of St. Declan. A deed of 1197, seen by Dr. Smith, conveyed land from a Dane named Christiana to the Memins family, who held it until 1745. Circular intrenchments and other Danish works remain in the vicinity.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   We need hardly say that the wild popular fables to which we have alluded are very nearly on a footing of authenticity with this pretty piece of pretended hagiography ; or that such utt«r confusion pervades the whole story of Declan as to prevent the educement from it oif alnoost any portion of real history. Ardmore — we are told too, and with more probability— was anciently a Danish settlement. A short deed of the year 1197) seen by Dr. Smith, conveyed from a Dane of the name of Christiana Hy- Dorothy, a small tract of land to the family of the Memins, with whom it renmined till they sold it in 1745. In the vicinity are circular intrenchments and other Danish works. In the village, when Dr. Smith wrote, was ** the stump of a castle ;" and not long before a much larger one was taken down. In the churchyard, on a rocky eminence, near a sandv cove, stand the chief of the ecclesiastical antiquities, — St. Declan's dormitory or shrine, the church, and a round tower. The dormitory is a mere stone hut, lighted by one small square window, and derives all its interest from containing the remains of the real or supposed tomb of St. Declan. The church, judging from the massive irregularity of its architecture, and the clumsiness of its buttresses, is evidently very ancient. Only the part of it used for service is now roofed. On the interior of the west wall are twelve figures, each under a small Saxon arch, but much defaced by the attrition of weather; and beneath these, within the semicircular projections, are irregularly executed bas-reliefs of various subjects, the chief of which seem to be the baptism of Christ, a Jewish sacri6ce, the judgment of Solomon, and Adam and Eve in paradise. The round tower, immediately south of the church, is 91 feet in height, and 15 feet in diameter at the base ; the doorway is 16 feet from the ground ; and 4 windows in the highest story, each two mutually opposite, are larger than any other apertures except the doorway. The tower gradually diminishes in diameter from bottom to top; and terminates in a pyramidal roof of cut stone. '* A kind of crutch, like a cross," which formerly surmounted it, has disappeared. Four projecting belts or courses of masoiy-y carried round the tower, and separating it into a basement and 4 stories or compartments, render it unique among the curious antiquities of its class. Tiudition takes occasion from the existence of two transverse pieces of oak in the highest story, and from some other indications of the uses of a belfry, to assert that a bell once hung in the tower of so powerful a tone that its sound was heard at the distance of 8 miles, in the Gun-More^ or Big Glen. The tower is a conspicuous feature, in a landscape of n»ny miles in diameter, and occasionally serves as a landmark to mariners. About a nnle from the village, and crowning the brow of some shelving rocks which immediately overhang the bay, are slender vestiges of a place of worship, supposed

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

2. Arranmore fishing community and harbours

   near Aran Island · island or archipelago · Donegal

   The inhabitants of Arranmore pursue fishing with greater zeal than any others on the Donegal coast, using curraghs and yawls but lacking boats fit for open water. Mr. Nimmo identified several marine inlets on the east coast, including at Skailtalung and Leabargu, that could be cheaply improved into boat harbours. A lighthouse on the island exhibited a fixed bright light.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   in the Rosses, 8 miles north by east«f Daunis Head, less than a mile west of Rutland Island, and 3 miles south-west of Cruit Island. Length, 3 miles; breadth, 2^ ; area, 4,335 statute acres. Pop., about 1,000. The surface is rolling and hilly, and sends up B summit to the altitude of 745 feet above sea-level. Only about 650 acres are in tillage and pasture ; all the remainder being rock and bog. Ironstone and manganese abound. Subdivision of land among tenants and cottiers descends to even "a cow*s fDot," or the quarter of a cow's grass. The northern and west4;rn shores are steep inaccessible cliffs ; b«t the east coast has several marine indentations capable of being cheaply improved into snug little fishing harbours. The side of a ledge of rough rocks in one place might, at a small expense, be cut into a good landing-place, and A^'ould, says Mr. Nimmo, "be indestructible.*' An opening at Skailtalung, though shallow, is a good boat harbour in northerly swells; it is flanked on the sooth by a long ledge or reef; and it could be thoroughly improved at an expense of only £70. A creek at Leabargu, near the anchorage called Arran Road and to leeward, requires a »mall pier along a ledge of slate rock ; it could be provided with one at the cost of about £450 ; and it would then shelter the boats of the north end of the island, and enable small vessels to discharge. A little sandy bay, called ihe Tent, and situated between Skailtalu'ng and lieabarga, is nearlv enclosed by rocks, could at small cost be made quiet in all winds, and, though very shallow, would be a good place for laying up boats. The inhabitants pursue the fishery with more zeal than any other persons on the Donegal coast ; and they have many curraghs and yawls, but no boats fit for going outside of the Sound. A lighthouse on the island exhibits a fixed bright light; ajid, in 1840, cost £74 43s. 8<1.

   ARRAN (Nirw). See Killeen.

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

3. Askeaton Castle — Desmond ruin on a rock above the town

   Askeaton · townland · Limerick

   Askeaton Castle, built by the seventh Earl of Desmond, is described as a ponderous and splendid ruin on a high rock insulated by the River Deel, immediately above the town. Its remains are 40 feet high and contain Desmond's gaol and banqueting-room, evincing uncommon strength with fine architectural taste.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   ASKEATON, a market-town, the capital of the parish iust described, and formerly a parliamentary borough, stands on the river Deel, 2^ miles above its confluence with the Shannon, 5 north-northwest of Rathkeale, 14 west-south-west of Limerick, and 15 east by north of Tarbert. Though ancientlv a large walled town, it is now a poor lumpisii village; and though advantageously situated for trade, and an object of attention in the plans of at least two great national works of improvement, it does not seem to be moving from stagnancy and inertion. Only about 20 of its houses are slated; and the rest, of course, possess the cabin or hut character so prevalent in poor Irish towns. Yet some of the older and roofless houses retain % ghastly appearance of having once been respectable. The town has shared the fate of its ancient lords, the Desmonds. Its castle, built by the seventh Earl of Desmond, is a ponderous and splendid ruin, on a considerably high rock, insulated by the Deel, and immediately above the town. Its remains are 40 feet high, contain Desmond's gaol and bam^uettinfroom, and evince uncommon strength in union wiUi fine architectural taste. Besides being fortified by

   ASK

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

4. Ballybeg Abbey ruins and round tower near Buttevant

   Ballybeg · townland · Cork · 1237–1622

   A priory of Augustinian canons was founded at Ballybeg in 1237 by Philip de Barry, with ruins still standing including the stump of an ancient round tower and an equestrian brass statue of the founder. The lands comprised 2,060 Irish acres but were valued at only £60 per year in 1622.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   BALLYBEG, an ecclesiastical parish in the barony of Orrery and Rilmore, about 1 mile louthsouth-east of Buttevant, and 4 miles west by south of Doneracle, co. Cork, Munster. Length, 1 1 mile ; breadth, 1 ; area, 2,085 acres. Pop. not specially returned. It seems to be indoded, by the civil arrangement, in the parish of Buttevant. The lurface is ploughed, in one line, by a romantic rocky ravine, known as Ballybeg Glen ; consists elsewhere of good tillage and pasture land ; and is traversed southward by the road from Buttevant to Mallow. At the base of a rising ground which b crowned with a beautiful grove of fir, stands the neat mansion of Springfield, long the seat of the fiunily of Norcot. At the opening of Ballybeg Glen, are the ruins of a priory of canons regular of the order of Augustine. The monastery was founded, in 1237* by Pliilip de Barry ; it was endowed partly by him, and partly by his son David, the founder of the friary of Buttevant ; and, at the disitolution, it was granted to Sir Daniel Norton, in trust for the lady of Sir Thonws Norris, Lord-president of Munster. Its lands comprised 2,060 Irish acres, yet were valued, in 1622, at only £60 a-vear ; and its additional tithes and glebes were, at the same time, valued at £900 a-year. Though the ruins indicate the edifice to have been a

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

5. Ballycastle chapel built by Col. Hugh Boyd, 1754

   near Ballycastle · town · Antrim · 1754

   The chapel of the chapelry of Ballycastle in the parish of Ramoan was built in 1754 by Colonel Hugh Boyd at his own expense of over £2,769. The Boyd estate continued to fund a portion of the chaplain's income and all repair costs, with sittings for 300 and attendance around 200.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   BALLYCASTLE, a chapelry roimd Ballycastle bay, and containing the town of Ballycastle, within the parish of Ramoan, barony of Carey, eo; Antrim, Ulster. Though nominally a chapelry without cure, the chaplain has always had the sole charge of the congregation of the cfaapeL Most of its statistics are included in those of Ramoan, dio. of Connor. Gross income, £56 8s. d|d. ; nett, £25 8s. 5Jd. Patron, Hugh Boyd, Esq., a ward in chancery. A portion of the income, amounting to £36 18s. 5|d., and all charges for repairs on the chapel, communion elements, &c., are paid by the agent of the Boyd estate. The chapel was built, in 1754, by the late Col. Hugh Boyd, at a cost, aH defrayed by himself, of £2,769 4s. 7^d. Sittings 300 ; attendance 200k Ballycastle is also a Roman Catholic parish, containing two chapels, under the care of one officiate. For a notice of these chapels, of Protestant dissenters* meeting-houses, and of schools, see article Ramoan*

   BALLTCA-STLE, a post, market, and sea-port town, in the chapelry just noticed, is pieturesquelj situated on the shore of the small bay of Ballycastle, and at the foot of the monarch-mountain of knocklead, 3^ miles east of Fair Head, 5 south by vrest of Rathlin Island, 20 north of Ballymena, and 1 14^ north of Dublin. It consists of an upper and a lower town lying upwards of ^ of a mile asunder, and connected by a straight umbrageous handsome awnue. The lower town is called the Quay, and contains, besides private buildings, a glass-house, bpeweries, tanneries, and other works, whidi have fallen t» ruin since the decline of loeal trade, and a pile whick was once used as a custom-house, but is now occik pied as a barrack. The upper town is the kuver and greatly more important section; and contains the neat spired church of the chapelrv, a Romaa Catholic chapel, Presbyterian, and Methodist meeting-houses, two good inns, and several neat villas and pretendifig private mansions. In 1823, three nuigi». trates and six other families of i«spectability,* at*

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

6. Ballymacoda-castle built by Thomas Fitzgerald

   Ballymacoda · townland · Cork · 1521

   Ballymacoda-castle, near Castlemartyr in Cork, was built in 1521 by Thomas Fitzgerald. The parish also has a tradition that the poisonous quality of the yew tree was confirmed when cattle ate its foliage in Ballymacoda garden and suddenly died.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   BALLYMACODA, a village and a Roman Catholic parish in the barony of Imokilly, co. Cork, and in the dio. of Cloyne and Ross, Munster. Posttown, Castlemartyr. The statistics are given under the civil parochial divisions. Ballymacoda-castle, in the parish, and situated near Castlemartyr, was built, in 1521, by Thomas Fitzgerald. The poisonous quality of the yew tree is said to have been discovered or confirmed in the course of last century, by cattle eating of its foliage in Ballymacoda garden, and suddenly dying. The village of Ballymacoda stands within the civil parish of Kilnuicdonogh. Area. 18 acres. Pop., in 1841, 305. Houses 57.

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

7. Bandon's 17th-century fortifications compared to Londonderry

   Bandon · town · Cork · 1600–1699

   A 17th-century account boasts of Bandon's town walls, which were stronger, thicker, and higher than those of Londonderry. The town had three ports and castles with turrets and flankers prepared with ordnance.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   more in compass tlmn tfaat of Londonderry; that my walls are stronger, thicker, and higher than theirs, only they have a strong ranvpier within that Bandon- Bridge wanteth; that there is no comparison between their ports and mine, there being in my town three, each of them containing 26 rooms; the castles, with the turrets and flankers, being all platformed with lead, and prepared with ordnance, and the buildings ef my town, both for the number •f the houses, and goodness of building, far beyond theirs." Yet Sir Bachard Clw, a distinguished native, who lived in the place, and described it in the 17th century, says, ** The streets were so placed that almo8t every hou«e had a garden to it, which^ being planted with trees, made it seem as if it was built in a wood."

   Exclusive Spirit In all its early history, Baadon-

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 158

8. Battle of Ardskull and Dominican friars' burial, 1315

   Athy · town · Kildare · 1315

   In 1315 the town of Athy was plundered by the Scots under Bruce. At the battle of Ardskull, combatants on both sides—Raymond le Grace, Sir William Pendergrist, Sir Fergus Andrissan, and Sir Walter Murray—were slain and all interred in the Athy abbey of Dominican friars.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   Hiatory.] — A battle is said by Keating to have been fought in the 2d or 3d century, on the site of Athy, between the people of Munster and those of Leix, under Lavighseagh Cean Mordha ; and a ford at the place was anciently a practicable and frequented passage between the principality of Leix or Lavighseagh in Queen's co., and that of Celleagh or Caelian in CO Kildare. These two circumstances may account for two ancient names of the place, — Ath- Trodain, * the ford of conflict,' and Ath-Bhiedhbha, •the ford of the adversary.' The latter of these names, as pronounced in the Erse fashion, though looking in Roman letters as if unpronounceable, is ▼ery nearly the short modern Athv. But. a name by which — in the corrupted form ot Bla-Theag, pronounced Blahai, the town continues to be known — is Bally-da-Dhae, * the town of the two houses;' and seems evidently to refer to the two monasteries built in the !3th century. The founding of these establishments is asserted to have been the origin of the town ; and as they were founded by English settlers, not only the monks, but the inhabitants of the town, were principally of that nation. In 1308, the town was burnt by the Irish. In the following year. Lord John de Bonnerille, slain near the town of ArdskuU, was interred in the church of the Athy abbey of crouched friars. In 1315, the town was plundered by the Scots under Bruce ; and Haymond le Grace and Sir William Pendergrist on the English side, and Sir Fergus Andrissan and Sir Walter Murray on the Scots side, were slain at the battle of ArdskuU, and all interred in the Athy abbey of Dominican friars. See Ardskull : see also Ardree. About the year 1424, Thomas, seventh Earl of Kildare, then Lord Offaly, obtained, by marriage with Dorothea, daughter of Anthony O'More of Leix, th«* manors of Woodstock and Rheban, including the town of Athy, and established within them a courtbaron and court-leet. Various historical passages are connected with the castle of Woodstock : which see. Athy, from the gradual contraction of the English pale, became a ifrontier and garrison town, commanding an important passage over the Barrow, and, in this connection, it received the accession of the fortalice, the remaining tower of which is called White's Castle. In 1642, the Earl of Ormond arrived at the town with 3,000 foot and 500 horse ; and sent out from it parties to relieve the garrisons of Carlow, Ballinakill, Berte, Cloghgrennan, and

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 146

9. Bog of Allen: vast bogland traversed by the Grand Canal

   near Bog of Allen · bog · Kildare

   A vast series of bogs in Leinster, chiefly in Kildare and King's County, covering tens of thousands of acres with peat depths averaging 25 feet. The monotonous and dismal scenery is traversed by the Grand Canal, making it well known to travellers; turf-cutters' excavated hovels are a long-remarked feature of the landscape.

   Read the passage

   Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

   rivers, as their natural direction for drainage. At obco tbe largest, the least interrupted, and the most characteristically featured portion of the series, expands principally in the north-west of Kildare, and westward thence into King's ce. ; and this is often designated* par excellence, the Bog of Allen. The Kildare portion of this bog has been estimated at 36,430 English acr-es, with an average elevation above low water of 270 feet ; the western portion, sometimes called the Barrow bog, is about 41,075 acres in extent, with an average height above low water of 266 feet. The peat of four of the bogs reported on bv Mr. Griffith, varies in depth from 12 feet to 42, and averages 25 ; on the surface, it exhibits a great variety of toe moss plants ; to the depth of about 10 feet, it is a mass of moss fibres, in different stages of decomposition; through a further depth of averageW 10 feet, it consists of a light blackish brown turf, with the mossy fibres still visible, but not perfect ; at a further depth, the turf becomes blacker and more compact; and near the bottom, it forms s dense black substance which, when dried, bears a close resemblance to bituminous coal ; and is susceptible q( a considerable polish. The beg rests generally on s stratum of yellow or blue clay, from I to 6 feet tnick ; everywhere beneath the clay, to a depth unknown, lies a mixed mass of clay and limestone gravel. The scenery of the Bog of Allen is monotonous and dismal to a degree quite oppressive; and, in consequence of its being traversed by the Grand canal — that great path of passenger-transit for all classes, from the landed proprietor to the -penniless peasant — it is an object better known and more talked of than its repulsive character would seem to promise. ** For many miles," says Brewer, " which to the traveller appear ' lengthening as he goe»,* few objects shoot above the gloomy plain, and awaken the fatigued attention. In the distance, it is true, the mountains of Wicklow, mingling with the skies of the horizon, suggest hints of the earthly elysium enjoyed by more fortunate tourists in that quarter ; but the exercise of fancy excited by this distant prospect, merely increases distaste, by provoking in the mind a strong degree of contrast." Over many a mile, too, not even a distant height or an adjacent human dwelling, or one fruit of cultivation, occurs to relieve the oppressive tedium ; and a traveller, who possesses a taste for the beauties of landscape, is for the moment, glad of such a poor object as an occaMonal heathy hillock, or the more welcome occurrence of a gravelly ridge to hide from his view the boggy chaos. Much of the better portions of bog near the canal has been cut into turf for the supply of the Dublin market The miserable habitations of the turf-cutters have long been the subject of remark, and are described by Dr. Walsh, the historian of Dublin, in terras which have drawn the attention and excited the wonder of individuals personally unacquainted with Ireland. '* The first care of a turf-cutter," says he, ** is to seek a dry bank above the influence of floods ; and here he excavates his future habitation to such a depth that little more is vi>ible than the roof. This is sometimes covered with scanty thatch, but oftener with turf pared from the bog, which, as the herbage is upwards, so perfectly assimilates with the surrounding scenery, that the eye would pass over it unneticed, were it not undeceived by a number of children sallying from a hole on one side, accompanied frequently by the cut, the pig, and the goat, the joint inmates of the hovel ; and sometimes a cloud of smoke which, finding no oiner vent, issues through the roof, which, from its slight texture, is everywhere pervious to it, betrays the habitation." Yet such hideous abodes, such graves

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

10. Cistercian monastery founded at Abbeyleix, 1183

    Abbeyleix · town · Laois · 1183

    A monastery was founded at Abbeyleix in 1183 under the auspices of Coroheger O'More, colonized with Cistercian monks from Baltinglass abbey. A town arose under monastic influence and became the principal seat of O'More, head of a powerful native sept inhabiting the territory anciently known as Leix.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    electoral divisions, with their respective pop., in 1831, are, Abbeyleix, 4,956; Ballinakill, 5,926; Timahoe, 1,591; Ballyroan, 5,748; the Raheen, 5,559; Castletown, 5,130; Aghaboe, 2,915; KUlermogh, 1,398; Coolkerry, 1,947; Aughmacart, 2,279 ; and Durrow, 4,146. The ex-of!icio guardians amount to 8, and the elected guardians to 24 ; and of the latter, 4 are chosen by each of the divisions of Abbeyleix and the Raheen, 1 by each of the divisions of Timahoe and Killermogh, and 2 by each of the other divisions. The total nett annual value of the property rated is £72,816 2s. 8d. ; the total number of persons rated in the first rate was 6,125 ; and of this total, 1,397 persons were rated for a valuation, not exceeding £1, — 817 not exceeding £2,-539 not exceeding £3,-374 not exceeding £4, — and 352 not exceeding £5. The workhouse was contracted for on June 16tb, 1840, — to be completed in October 1841.— to cost £5.850 for building and completion, and £1,020 for fittings and contingencies. — to occupy an area of 5 acres, 3 roods, 11 perches, obtained for £6 12s. Sd. of annual rent, and £130 of compensation to occupying tenant; and to contain accomniodation for 500 paupers. The workhouse was opened for the admission of paupers, on June 6th, 1842; the total expenses incurred thence till Feb. 6th, 1843, amounted to £2,246 16s. 10^., and the total amount of previous miscellaneous expense was £551 128. 4d. There is no fever hospital in the union. The dispensary districts are six in number; they contained in 1831, a population of 33,112 ; and they have their seats at Abbeyleix, at Bidlacolla and Swan, at Ballinakill, at Durrow, at Offerlane, and at Raheen. The Abbeyleix dispensary serves for a district of 10,818 acres, with a fopulation of 5,816; and in 1839, it expended £175 9s. 6d., and administered to 1,200 patients. In 1842, the Abbeyleix Loan Fund had a capital of £6,984, circulated £32,586 in 8,674 loans, cleared a nett profit of £771 6s., and expended for charitable purposes £1,488; and from the date of its institution till the close of 1842, it circulated £121,676 in 32,903 loans, cleared a nett profit of £3,047 4s. 6d., and expended for charitable purpos^es £2,462 18s. 1 Id. A religious house is said to have been founded on or near the site of Abbeyleix, about the year 600. The monastery, however, from which it and the parish denve their name, was founded only in 1 183, under the auspices of Coroheger O^More, and colonized by him with Cistertian monks from the abbey of Baltinglass. A town arose under monastic influence, and soon acquired importance by becoming the principal seat of O'More, the head of a powerful native sept who inhabited the very extensive territory anciently known as Leix. See Leix In

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

11. Dublin Liberties silk manufacture

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1690–1838

    The silk manufacture of Ireland was introduced by French refugees and established in the Liberties of Dublin at the close of the 17th century. By May 1838 there were 400 silk weavers in Dublin, most employed on tabinets, tabareas, velvets, and ribbons.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    The silk manufacture of Ireland was introduced by the French refugees, and established in the Liberties of the city of Dublin, at the close of the 17th century. A small number of the silk weavers are employed in the manufacture of velvets and ribbons, and all the remainder in the manufacture of tabinets or poplins and tabareas, — the latter article shot with linen yam, and the former with worsted. The total of silk weavers in Dublin, in May 1838, was 400 ; and of these, 280 were employed on tabinets and tabareas, 30 on velvets, and 32 on ribbons, while the remainder were either tabinet weavers only occasionally employed, or whole silk or single4iand ribbonweavers who could not find employment. A statement has been made, but is believed to be exaggerated, that, in 1776, the silk manufacture employed 3,400 weavers, 340 dyers, 1,700 winders, 200 female throwsters, and 200 quill-winders and drawboys, — or a total of 6,840 persons. Since 1776, however, the manufacture has never been extensive, and has been subject to continual fluctuations. The value of raw and organzine silk imported into Ireland in 1790 amounted to £96,130 ; in 1791 to £Sl,4lZy in 1792 to £112,689, in 1793 to £101,665, in 1794 to £25,293, in 1795 to £51,930, in 1796 to £88,130, in 1797 to £67,300, in 1798 to £42,292, in 1799 to £63,620, in 1800 to £78,451, in 1801 to £43,669, in 1802 to £46,282, in 1803 to £74,423, in 1804 to £64,334, in 1805 to £93,103, in 1806 to £67,222, in 1807 to £53,255, in 1808 to £72,301, in 1809 to £34,831, in 1810 to £67,100, in 1811 to £71,203. The number of pounds imported in 1813 amounted to 104,186, in 1817 to 60,094, in 1821 to 58,729, and in 1826 to 62,128.

    The number of corn-mills, corn-kilns, distilleries, breweries, maltsters' establishments, paper manufactories, glass-works, and tobacco manufactories, in each of the excise districts in Ireland, on July 10, 1836, is shown in the following table, compiled from the Appendix to the Twentieth Report of the Excise Enquiry Commissioners : —

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 50

12. Dunbrin rath and extinct town of Ardree

    Ardree · townland · Kildare · 900–1603

    A rath called Dunbrin on the west side of the River Barrow yielded Danish coins and is supposed to have been a Danish station. The extinct town of Ardree on the east bank was the scene of a 10th-century battle between the Danes and the Irish; after the English arrival a castle was erected and a garrison maintained as late as Elizabeth's reign.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    ARDREE, or Little Ari>ree, or Abdee, a small parish on the western border of the barony of Kilkes and Moone, co. Kildare, Leinster. The surface consists chiefly of light tillage land, and forms part of the immediate banks of the Barrow, about a mile south of Athy. Length, } of a-mile ; breadth, k; area, 323 acres. Pop., in 1631, 372; in 1841, 205. Houses 41. — This parish is a vicarage in the dio. of Dublin ; and forms part of the benefice of Atht: which see. The vicarial tithes are compounded for £8, and the rectorial for £16; and the latter are impropriate, and belong to the representatives of John Goold. There is neither church, chapel, nor school. In 1834, the parishioners consisted of 32 Protestants and 276 Roman Catholics. — The name Ardree is a corruption of Athirdriagh, * the ford of the royal height ;' and originally designated a town which stood on a rising ground in the parish, and commanded a ford and pass of the river on the great southern road to Dublin. A rath, called Dunbrin, still remains on the west side of the river ; and, from its having yielded up a number of Danish coins, is supposed to have been a Danish station. The town stood on the east bank opposite the rath; and figures in history as the scene of a battle, in the 10th century, between the Danes and the Irish. After the arrival of the English, a castle was erected in the town ; so late as the reign of Elizabeth, a garrison was maintained ; and, at more recent periods, a number of that queen's coins have been found on the spot. The town fell into decay on the establishment of Athy ; and has long been extinct. A writer of the year 1793 says, *' Several streets may still be traced, in particular one called Botharbellagher, or the street of the great road leading to the town of Ardscul or Ascul, now also no more. The road also which led through it is still visible on both sides of the river for some miles, and seems to have been paved." See Ardskull.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

13. Great October Fair of Ballinasloe

    Ballinasloe · town · Galway · 1790–1840

    The great fair of Ballinasloe, held from the 5th to the 9th of October, exercised influence over adjacent and midland counties and even affected cattle dealings in Dublin. Sheep were exposed in Garbally demesne, with an average of 90,000 sheep and 12,000 black cattle brought for sale.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    com business otherwise of some importance, has markedly increased since the opening of^the extended cut of the canal. In 1836, branch-ofRces of the National Bank, the Bank of Ireland, and the Agricultural and Commercial Bank were established. In 1838, the public conveyances — additional to the pas. sage-boats on the Grand canal, which, in 1836, conyeyed from the town 4,596 passengers — were a car to Athlone, a mail-car to Roscrea, a coach to Dublin, a mail-coach to Westport, a coach and a car to Gal way, and a coach to Tuam in communication unth the canal -boats, and a coach and a mail-coach in transit between Galway and Dublin. The extension-line of the Grand canal from the Shannon to the town was opened for traffic in 1828, is 16 miles in length, and drains nearly 12,000 acres of bog. In the improvements detailed by the Commissioners for the Shannon and its tributaries, are included plans for lowering the water of the Shannon, which will enhance the value of much low land along the river's banks, and confer marked benefit on the town. See Suck. During 10 years, preceding 1636, the quantity of grain sold in the market was 6,435 tons of wheat. 2,756 of barley, and 21,226 of oats ; and in the Ia«t of these years, it was 780 tons of wheat, 48 of barley, and 2,502 of oats. For a scries of years, the qiuuitity of wool brought to the market — chiefly at a great wool fair established in 1757 by an ancestor of Lord Clancarty, and held iti the month of July — was from 560 to 7^ tons ; yet this is said to have been exceeded fourfold or fivefold by the quantity sold under the market's influence, bat without being brought to the town for sale. The establishment of factors in Dublin and other great towns, however, has, for years past, drawn the wool to other quarters. A fair well-known to fame as ** the great fair of Ballinasloe/' is held from the 5th till the 9th of October, and not only exercises a powerful influence over the ac^acent and midland counties, but aflfects dealings for cattle even in the metropolis itself. Horses are exposed on a part of the fair green ; black or horned cattle are exposed athwart the green's broad expanse; and sheep are exposed in a spacious park within the enclosures of Garbally demesne. "Dealers in various commodities, and tradesmen of different callings from the metropolis also bring their goods and productions to the fair ; and shops and warehouses in the town are ceded to them for the occasion, the prices paid being usually very high. Lodgings, both in private houses and at the inns, are in great demand, and must be generally bespoken in advance, whilst the charges are greatly augmented beyond the ordinary current rates at other periods." The average number of sheep and black cattle brought in for sale, is computed to be respectively 90,000 and 12,000; and the greatest number of sheep sold in any year between 1790 and 1840, was 86.374, in the year 1828; and of black cattle, was 11,163, in the year 1840. Area of the Roscommon section of the town, 9 acres; of the Galway section, 131 acres. Pop. of the whole, in 1831. 4,615; in 1841, 4,934. Houses 619. Pop. of the Roscommon section, in 1831, 475 ; in 1841 , 305. Houses 48. Pop. of the Galway section, in 1831, 4,140 ; in 1841, 4,6*29. Houses 571.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 151

14. Holy well hermitage at Ardmore

    Ardmore · town · Waterford · 1798

    A holy well in a remaining fragment of wall at the Old Temple of Dissart was dressed into neatness and adopted as a kind of hermitage by a private soldier of the Donegal militia who retired there after the rebellion of 1798. Adjoining are holes whence silver is said to have been mined.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    to have been older than that in the churchyard, and called the old Temple of Dissart. A high gable of it, ornamented with a well-cut Gothic window, was, about 15 years ago, demolished by a sudden gu^t of wind. A * holy well,* in a remaining fragment of one of the walls, was dressed into neatness, and adopted as a kind of hermitage, by a private soldier of the Donegal militia, who retired hither after the rebellion of 1798. Adjoining are some holes, whence silver is said to have been mined. St. Declan's stone, his alleged scull encased in silver, the observances of visiters to the * holy well,' and the crowding of peasants to the Ardmore * patrons,' are matters which, as topographists, we merely name.

    ARDMORE, CO. Armagh. See Moyntaghs.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

15. Margaret Fitzgerald's additions to Balleen Castle

    Balleen · parish · Kilkenny · 1480–1540

    Margaret Fitzgerald, wife of the eighth Earl of Ormonde and a woman of extraordinary energy, is traditionally said to have made additions to Balleen Castle. Local peasantry still point out the 'chair' of 'Peg Garrett' or 'Maughluid ni Gearodh,' the names by which they designate her.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    Spa h on the west border. See Ballt8PEU.an. The castle of Balleen, an imposing ruin, and once a phiee of considerable extent and strength, crowns a slowly ascending yet rather lofty hill, and overlooks a richly cultivated and beautifully diversified expanse of country. The edifice is of various dates ; it is said by tradition never to have been completed, and it consisted, when in its prime, of two towers, an intervening large hall, a fine eastern wing, an inner and outer ballium, and the several offices of a large castle, the whole surrounded by a deep fosse, which was tilled from an adjoining stream. The walls of the ballium are partly overthrown, and lie in large prostrate masses ; and where they are in any degree preserved, they exhibit large square loop* holes, suitable to small early artillery. Excepting these and the two towers, all the castle, its halls and vaulted chambers, are now a confused mass of rubl)ish ; and ** as if to mock at the departed grandeur of the place, a hovel has arisen within its fallen courts, and includes the ancient portal through which often passed with goodly retinue many a noble chieftain of the ButlA* race." The north-west tower, now in a very dilapidated condition, seems to have been erected in the 14th century; it was the keep of tiie original ibrtalice, and it consisted of four stories, one of which was vaulted. The other tower i<i, as to its mere masonry, in a state of tolerable preservation ; it was built in the year [453 by the fifth Eurl of Ormonde, a powerful noble, and a favourite of Henr^" VI. ; and its windows, with graceful label-mouhhiig^i, mullions, and transoms, partly overhung and interlacx'd with ivy. are of elegant construction. The castle was a principal stronghold of the Earls of Ormonde, and was probably designed by the fifth Eiirl to be extended and beautified into a reMdence befitting his high rank and power. Margaret Fitzgerald, the lady of the eighth Earl, and a person of extraordinary encTgy of character, is traditionally said to have made additions to the edifice; and the neighbouring peasantry still point out the * chair' of * Peg G.irrct,' or * Maugluid ni Gearodh,' the names by which they designate the lady. In ]t>UO, the castle, along with the fortalices of Athnaorlar and Mountgarret, was taken by Thomas, Earl of Oimonde, from the Count Mountgarret, then in rebellion; and it eventually suffered dismantling and dilapidation from the soldiers of Cromwell. — Balleen i» a vicarage and a component part of the benefice of Au(;H(>urk [which see], in the dio. of Ossory. Its vicarial tithes, jointly with those of Coolcashin, are compounded for £54 1 6s. 8d. ; and its rectorial tithes — the rtnitorial tithes of * Clontubrit'-— jointly with those of Coolcashin, are compounded for £109 13>. 4^(1, and appropriated to the dean and chapter of Sl Canice, Kilkenny. The Roman Catholic c!iapi>l has an attendance of '200; and in the Roman Catholic parochial arrangement is grou|)ed with the chapels ui Coolcashin and Lisdowney. In 1834, the parishioners were all Roman C-atholics, and there was no school.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 147

16. Quin Abbey ruins and clearing of human remains

    Quin · town · Clare · 1464–1824

    A Franciscan friary founded in 1464 by Thomas, Earl of Kildare, and his Countess Joan stands within the Quin demesne, its ivied steeple and cloisters shaded by ancient trees. About 30–35 years before publication, the interior was cleared of accumulated human remains by soldiers brought from Limerick, as local peasants refused to assist.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    founded in 1464, by Thomas, earl of Kildare, and his Countess, Joan, for minorets of the observance, stands within the Quin demesne, and, being surrounded by venerable trees, is an impressive and romantic object. Its ivied steeple and lofty pinnacles, its simple windows and projecting buttresses, its deep shadings with ash and ancient yew trees, fitfully gilded with straggling sunbeams, combine with the beauty and seclusion of its situation to excite poetic feelings in the mind. Wild ash trees spring from the very tops of the ruinous walls of the cloisters, rise in large stems, and send out waving boughs, flinging them downward in umbrageous profusion, and, in one place, fantastically mixing them with the arms of an old yew-tree The interior of the abbey, about 30 or 35 years ago, was almost putrescent with the remains of the dead ; and was ordered by the noble proprietor to be levelled and cleared of its tombs and its heaps of skulls and bones, in order to prevent its being any longer used as a place of sepulture. The peasantry around could not be induced to aid so unwonted a purpose ; and a party of military required to be brought from Limerick. The soldiers, says a tourist of 1824, ** soon completed the work ; and the trim grassy aisle replaced the legends commemorative of the old fathers and feudal chiefs. Some monumental and confessional niches have escaped and may still be seen. In the cloisters I found two little carved fragments ; one of these was an escutcheon charged with a cross saltire ; the other a figure in rude bas-relief, about 18 inches high, representing a Grey Friar.**

    The river Maig, from its confluence with the Shannon up to Adare, is navigable for small vessels at high water. Many years ago the navigation was improved near the town, by the excavation of a new channel and the formation of a small basin or barhour. At present these works are much out of order ; and, in the recent surveys for the improvement of the Shannon navigation, improvements were suggested and pknned, to cost £2J10. ** The canal.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

17. Sacred sand tradition at tomb of Saint O'Heney, Banagher

    Banagher · parish · Derry

    The tomb of Saint O'Heney in Banagher churchyard is 9 feet in breadth, and the adjacent sand is reckoned sacred. Local tradition holds that in any horse race, whoever can throw the Banagher sand on the rider as he passes ensures success to the horse.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    between the ecclesiastical and the civil statistics of 1831, appears to be occasioned by 8 townlanda having, a few years ago, been dissevered from the parish to form, with 10 townlands from other parishes, the district perpetual curacy of Lbarmoumt: which see. The Kenaught section declines eastward from the origin and the early course of the river Roe; and the Tyrkeeran section, north-westward from the origin and the early course of the Faughan. The surface is, over a large proportion, mountainous, and, even viewed in the aggregate, is a mass of uplands dissevered by ravines and vales. Mount Sawel, on the southern boundary, has an altitude of 2,236 feet. The soil of the arable grounds is too poor to produce wheat, and rather light and gravelly to bear a rich crop of even other grains. The road from Dungiven to Strabane mns southwestward through the interior, and is overlooked in its progress by the glebe-house and church, and by the mansion of Ashpark, the seat of J. Stevenson, Esq. The other seats are Drumcovit, Taronagh, and Kilcreen. The ruins of a very ancient church and monastery in the parish possess deep interest for a judicious antiquary, and exert an influence nearly as potent as that of the intoxicating chemical gas upon an enthusiastic Hibernian believer in the thousand and one stone churches of St. Patrick and his disciples. ** After all my own researches," says the Rev. G. Y. Sampson, ** I cannot authenticate the history of one of our finest specimens of ecclesiastical architecture. It is the old church of Banagher. This is built of cut freestone, in a good and even an elegant style. Some modem characters, engraved on the west door, n>ention the foundation of the church as having been in 474, or thereabouts ; but this is not likely. Beside it stands the monastery, the only one in the county which still remains. It is entire except the roof. The door is several feet from the ground, and the building nearly square ; it appears that the stairs have been built of stone. The tradition is, that 0*Heney, a saint, was the founder, and that he used to show himself occasionally from the elevated threshold. The tomb of the saint is in the churchyard; it is 9 feet in breadth. The sand adjacent to it is reckoned sacred. In any horse-race to this day, whoever can throw the Banagher sand on the rider as he passes, insures success to the horse." A headlong, though tasteful antiquary, who wrote in an extinct Irish periodical, haa no hesitation in ascribing the origin of the building* to the 5th century ; he stoutly makitaint the high antiquity of Irish stone churches, " in despite of the assertions of Ledwich and others;" and he triumpbantly flourishes the Tripartite Life of SI. Patrick* and shows from it that, though neither Banagher nor any word like it occurs in that document, Banagher cfaurdi was one of seven which St. Patrick founded during a sojourn of seven weeks in the neighbourhood of the Faiigfaan river f Yet wild as hb daydreams are, a piece of his criticism is well worth quotation. The ** very great antiquitv " of the church, be remarks, " will be sufficiently obvioiit to the architectural antiquary, from the peculiarities of its design and masonry,— which, though common in our ecclesiastical remains, erected previoos to tb« 7th century, are not to be met with elsewhere in the British Islands, or even on the western contiaent of Europe, in any Christian edifices. In the massive but regular masonry of its walls, we find an example of that style of building usually called Etruscan; while its doorway, with architrave and inclined sides, is equally characteristic of the old Pelasgie form of architectural entrance. It was before a doorway of this kind in one of the seven churches of Glandelough, that Sir Walter Scott, with all the enthmiiMK

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 155

18. Siege and surrender of Ballymore in 1691

    Ballymore · town · Westmeath · 1691

    Ballymore was fortified anew for James II and underwent a siege by General de Ginkle, making a stout resistance before its garrison surrendered at discretion on June 8th, 1691, after which its fortifications were destroyed.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLYMORE, a market and post town, chiefly in the above parish, and partly in that of Killare, barony of Rathconrath, co. Westmeath, Leinster. It stands on the road between Athlone and Mullingar, about 12 miles west-south-west of Mullingar, and 50 west by north of Dublin. Area of the town, 94 acres ; of which 23 acres are in Killare. Pop., in 1831, 663; in 1841, 574. Houses 107. Pop. of the Killare section, in 1831, 153; in 1841, 181. Houses 29. It is a long, irregular, ill-built town, remarkable only for some historical associations, and for its horse and cattle fairs. In 1388, Theobald de Vernon, lord of the manor, obtained a grant of a weekly market, and of an annual fair of 15 days* continuance. A market is now held on Saturday ; and fairs are held on Whitmonday, and Oct. 14^ In the cemetery attached to the parish-church is a decayed chapel, the ancient place of sepulture of the Magan family of Emo and Togherstown ; and around the cemetery is a double and very ornamental line of elm trees. In 1642, the town was garrisoned by the royalists under Sir James Dillon; and, on the approach of the parliamentarian army, it was burnt and abandoned by Sir James. It was fortified anew for James II., underwent a^ siege from General de Ginkle, and made a stout resistance ; but, on Jane 8th, 1691, its garrison surrendered at discretion; and, on the conclusion of a peace, its fortifications were destroyed. Ballymore, with an extensive drcurojacent territory, was, after the settlement of the Anglo-Normans, assigned to Sir Theobald de Verdun, in right of his wife, Margaret, eldest daughter of Walter de Lacy, lord of Meath; and it after* wards passed by marriage into the possession of Englishmen who resided m their own country. In consequence of the absence of these proprietors, the estates around the town, and at some distance from it, were seized by the septs of D* Alton, Dillon, 0*Melaghlin, and Macgeoghegan. In 1600, Sir Francis Shaen was in |>osses8ion of the town and

    BAL

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

19. St. Braccan's religious establishment at Ardbraccan, 650

    Ardbraccan · townland · Meath · 650–1170

    Ardbraccan, 'the knoll of Braccan,' is said to have been made the site of a religious establishment by St. Braccan in 650, functioning as both a see and an abbey. The religious house was often plundered and burned by hostile dynasts and Danes, and is said to have partly fallen to the ground in 1170. The see became consolidated into the see of Meath.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    liter. It contains part of the village of Booermeen: whirli SCO. Length, 5J miles ; breadth, 4 ; area, 6,491 acres. Pop., in 1831. 3,799; in 1841, 4,596. Houses 678. Pop. of the rural districts in 1841. 3,884. Houses 536. The land is. for the most part, arable and good. The surface, in common with that of five contiguous parishes with which it is ecclesiastically united, is a luxuriant plain, skirted along the west with bog, and relieved in its flatness principally by a richly wooded and conspicirous hill, having somewhat the form of an obtruncated cone. A white limestone, quarried on the lands of Ardbraccan. is peculiarly suitable for embellished architecture : it is purely white when chiselled, and assumes a dark greyish tint when polished ; it becomes blackish when long exposed to the air, but can be restored by chi-ielling ; and, unlike much of the building-stone in Ireland, it neither absorbs water, nor contracts a green hue from nurturing the growth of lichens. Ardbraccan, *'the knoll ot' Braccan," is Raid to have been, in 650, made the site of a religious establishment by St. Braccan. The saint, whether Culdee or whatever else, is in the u^iial style represented as having made the affair both a see and an abbey ; and he currently figures in story as the first of a line of local bishops and abbots. The religious house, whether cathedral or abbey, or both, or neither, was often plundered and burned by hostile dymists and by Danes ; and is said to have partly fallen to the ground in 1170. The see was one of several small bishoprics which became consolidated into the see of Meath. A " strong castle" — at least an edifice designated such in a scarce pamphlet which details many events of the rebellion of 1641 — was, from an early period, the episcopal residence of this great diocese. Ardbraccan-house, the successor of the castle, and the present episcopal palace of Meath, was built since 1766 from designs by James Wyatt, Esq., and is regarded, for beauty and splendour, as the second edifice of its class in Ireland. It is composed of the Ardbraccan limestone; consists of a main building and two wings, connected by circular walls and niches ; and combines the magnificence of the palace with the comfort of the English mansion. The circumjacent demesne is extensive, and highly as well as tastefully embellished ; and. among various beautiful trees and shrubs, it contains some cedars of Lebanon and other exotics, planted bjr the oriental traveller Pococke during the time of his being bishop of Meath. A small, ill-designed, and ill-sculptured slab in the churchyard of the parish does burlesqueing duty as a monument to Bishop Pococke. The tomb of George Montgomery, bishop of Meath and Clogher, stands on the north side of the slab ; and strongly fixes attention by its minglement of pretension, barbarousness. and absurdity. Figures which it exhibits of the bishop, his wife, and his daughter, are the rudest productions of the chisel that can well be conceived. Beneath the figures are the words. *' Surges morieris. judicaberis." On the east side is a bust, with three plumes surmounted by a mitre ; above the mitre is a cup. with a representation of the Roman Catholic sacramental wafer; ami beneath the bust are two swords, laid across each other, and intersprinkled with fleurs-de-lis. On the west side is an angel blowing a trumpet, and a shield charged with armorial bearings, and surmounted also with a cup and the Roman Catholic wafer. An old square tower near this masterpiece of absunlity is surmounted by a spire and a vane, and forms a noticeable object in the plain.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 121

20. Achill Island: alpine landscape and primitive inhabitants

    near Achill Island · island or archipelago · Mayo

    Achill Island is described as a huge alpine mass of conglomerate sandstone, about 35,283 acres with nearly 4,000 inhabitants. Its cloud-cleaving summits earned it the name 'Island of Eagles,' and its inhabitants were noted for primitive manners resembling those of the 14th or 15th century, living in hamlets described as hovels thrown together indiscriminately.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    miles. It is a huge alpine mass of eonglomento sandstone, with flat bogs on the north shore; dismally barren and desolate; and peopled by about 600 mountaineers and bog-trotters of most primitive manners. The only spot on its coast where the construction of a harbour seems practicable, if at Doobeg, behind a spit of boulders at tiie mouth of two mountain-streams. See Doobeo. A strait^ less than half-a-mile in mean breadth, and extending north and south, separates the peninsula from the island. This island is proximately triangular in form, and about 30 miles in circumference ; but is so indented as to possess 80 miles of coast Its area is 35,283 acres; and its population nearly or quite 4,000. Its surfiice is, for the most part, moan* tainous and extremely wild, consisting of large flat bogs on the east, and lofty hills of quarts rock on the other two sides ; and its shores, or rather alpine sea-walls, are more mural and stupendous than those of any equal extent of coast in Ireland. Its great height, combined with its seclusion, renders its cloud-cleaving summits such fit spots for the eyrejr, that almost any stranger ignorant of its name might call it Achill Island,— * the IsUnd of Eagles.' ▲ part of the mountain which forms the western extremity, and terminates in the noted cape of Achill Head, seems as if it had suffered disseverment from a sunk continent by some tremendous convulsion of nature, and sen(u down a shelvinc precipice of about 2,200 feet right to the water^ edge. Menaan Head, on the south coast, presides over mural and projecting cliffs of 700 feet and upwards, of altitude ; and commands a sublime vietr of the entanglement of mountain and ocean, the labyrinth of islands and bays, and the intricacy of a boldly and singularly featured landscape from the Alps of Cunnemara and Joyce country, to those of Erris and the Mullet, with the intervening tracery in Clew -bay and around Croaghpatrick, ana the interior heights of Coraan, Ballycroy, and Nephin. Achill Sound, which has a common opening from the ocean with Blacksod-ba^, and extends between Achill and the mainland, is, in one place, occupied athwart more than half its breadth by the island of Innisbegil : which see. The intervening strait is called the Bull's Mouth, and is swept by a careering and dangerous tidid current The southem part of the sound, or that which washes Coraan, is fordable at low water, and '* seems," says Mr. Nimmo, *' the natural place for establishing anything like a village or seaport-town." Achill, with the exception of a small part which belongs to the marquis of Sligo, is all the property of Sir Neil O'Donnell. Its mhabitants, till within the last 8 or 9 years, were in a condition, as to manners, ideas, and arts, little if at all different from their ancestors of the 14th or 15th century. In dress, habitations^ agricultural instruments, and many other particulars which immediately meet the eye of a stranger, they were rude, poor, and outre, to a degree which pro* yoked sharp competition between wonder and com* passion. Though greatly improved by the infloeiioa of schools, of public works, and especially of the Achill mission, they still very generally possess the old peculiarities. They reside principally in hamlets, each of which has been described as ** a con* p^eries of hovels thrown indiscriminately together as if they fell in a shower from the sky." Little of their land, has yet been cultivated ; and the little that has, is chiefly manured with sea- weed and shellsand from the shores, for the rearing of a precarious potatoe crop. They possess altogether about 100 boats, and employ them principally in carrying torf to Westport. They are regarded by the nshermea of Clew-bay as quite ignorant of the craft of fish-

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

21. Bagnalstown town and the Bagenal family

    Muine Bheag (Bagenalstown) · town · Carlow · 1552

    Bagnalstown, a post-town on the River Barrow in County Carlow, was commenced by Mr. Bagnal of Dunleckny and intended to rival Versailles in architectural pretension, but became only a neat village after the mail-road was rerouted across the Barrow at Leighlin Bridge. The Bagenal family settled in the county after Sir Nicholas Bagenal's battle against Hugh Mac-Morough Kavanagh in 1552, and Dunleckny House was their ancient seat.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    town of splendour became only a large, neat village. Its present proprietor, Mr. Bagnal Newton, has greatly improved it by the promotion or erection of a Sessions-house and other buildings. The Sessions-house has a handsome Ionic portico, occupies an elevated sit«, and groups finely with surrounding objects to produce a pleasing picture. A considerable proportion of the private houses are good and showy ; and are occupied by annuitants, or by persons comparatively affluent. Many of the operative families are quarriers and dressers of granite for building, and of Carlow flag. These rocks abound in the vicinity, and are largely worked for transportation, along the navigation of the Barrow and its ramifications southward to Waterford, northward to Dublin, and in both directions to intermediate places. A fever-hospital in the town is a well-managed institution ; in 1839-40, it received £200 and expended £185 19s. ; and, in the same year, a dispensary in the town, received £114 8s., expended £101 lis., made 2,220 dispensations of medicine, and served for a district of 14,008 acres, with a pop. of 6,016. In 1842, the Bagnalstown Loan fund had a capital of £1,423 ; circulated £4.221, in 1,311 loans, and expended for charitable purposes £71 10s.; and from the date of its formation till the close of that year, it circulated £30,480 in 10,061 loans ; cleared a nett profit of £553 48. Id., and expended for charitable purposes £457 198. 4d. A handsome bridge at the town carries across the highway. In the immediate vicinity are the mansions of Dunleckny and Bagnalstown, the seats respectively of W. Newton, Esq., and of J. Newton, Esq. The plantations of the Bagnalstown demesne almost environ the town. Dunleckny is the ancient teat of the Bagnal or Bagenal family, but has been recently renovated in the Tudor style of architecture. The Bagenals settled in the county shortly after a severely contested battle, in the year 1552, between the government forces under the knightmarshal. Sir Nicholas Bagenal, and the followers of Hugh Mac-Morough Kavanagh. An intermediate possessor of Dunleckny-house between Beauchamp Bagenal, Esq., M. P., and the Newtons, was a gentleroan of the name of Rvan, said to be the lineal male representative of the chief of the O'Ryans, toparchs of Idrone, at the epoch of the Anglo-Norman invasion. Bagnalstown gives name to a Roman Catholic parish, served by an officiate and two coadjutors in the dio. of Kildare and Leighlin. See Dunlecknt. Area of the town, 61 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,315; in 1841, 2,225. Houses 350.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 147

22. Ballindoon Abbey ruins on Lough Arrow

    Ballindoon · street · Sligo · 1427

    On the east shore of Lough Arrow stand the ruins of Ballindown (Ballindoon) Abbey, a Dominican nunnery founded by the M'Donoughs in 1427. The lake itself extends about five miles, its bosom studded with islets, with the Dublin-to-Sligo road winding along its west shore past the village and castle of Ballinafad.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    ARROW, or Arta, a lake in the barony of Tiraghrill, co. Sligo, Connaught. It commences within a mile of the boundary with oo. Roscommon, and extends north-north-westward to a point 8i miles from Colooney. Length, 5 miles ; breadth, 2^ ; area, 5,120 acres. Its shores are jagged, sinuous, and intricate; its bosom is all over studded with f>lets; and its scenery, though scarcely brilliant or imposing, possesses many features of beaatv. Along its west shore winds the highway from Dublin to Sligo, by way of Boyle ; and this road, just after passing the watershed between the counties, and while running down the Sligo side of the descent, oomniands a fine view of the lake and its basin, with the Sligo and Leitrim hills in the perspective. On the road and near the lake are the village and castle ef Hallinafad ; between the road and the lake is Hall}'brook, the charmingly situated mansion of John Ffolliott, £^q. ; and on the lake's east shore are the mins of Ballindown Abbey, — a structure founded by the M'Donoughs, in 1427, for Dominican nuns.

    ARROW, Arva, or Uncion (TheV a river of CO. Sligo, Ulster. It issues from the lake just described, and puriHies a north-north-westerly, yet ia part a sinuous, course of about 10 miles, to a confluence with the Owenbi'g in the vicinity of Coloonev. Over al>out one-half of its len^h it runs in Tiraghrill ; and over the remainder, it divides that barony from Cor ran.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

23. Demolition of Ballyscullion House

    Ballyscullion · townland · Derry

    Ballyscullion House, once the property of Lord Bristol, Bishop of Derry, was considered one of the most magnificent mansions in Ulster. It was taken down approximately 99 years before 1846, and its portico was later moved to adorn St. George's Church in Belfast.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    the river Btam. Pop. •# the wMCr in mir<^4fiS : in 1841, 6,979. Hooter 1,100. Pcm. of the Antrim lection, in 1841, 471. Houtet 88. Popt of the rani districts of the Londonderry section, in 1841, 5|709( HouMB 995i The Arable and pasture gronnds conprise about one moiety of the are»: and they are good in quality, and extend along Lough Beg and the river Bann. Chief eiisttng eSbjects of interest will be noticed under the wotcb, Castlb-Pawsok and Beo (Louor) : which see. BaHyseuUion-hottse,. the property of tho late Lord Bristol, bishop of iXerry, was one of the most magnificent mansioos ia> Ulster, but about 99 years ago wm taken down. \ts line of building extended nearly 350> feet Theground plan of the central and main iMHt was anoval of 94 feet by 84; the exterior wall of this was ornamented at intervals all round with 20 fluted O^ rintbian pilasters 2^ feet in diameter ; the northern face presented a stately portico, supported by si& pillars, similar in osdet and dimension to the pilastera ; an attic story, 12 £eet high, rose above a neat entablature; and a spacious dome surmounted the whole, and terminated in an elegant sky-light. Two long corridors led from the two* sides of the main building to picture gaUeriies, each 82 feet by 25; and in front of the galleries were two squares of offices, each 1 10 feet The interior of the princely pile corresponded in magnificence with the exterior; but the lawn and the woods of the demesne corresponded neither with the house, nor ¥rith the di^ cumjacent diversified landscape. The portico now adorns St. Geonj^e's church m Belfiut See Belfast— This pansh is a rectory, and a separate benefice, in the dio. of Berry. Tithe comporition, £350; glebe, £90. Gross income, £486 8s. Id. ; nett^ £447 4s. 5^. Patron, the diocesan. A curate has a stipend of £75. The church is » very old building. Sittings 400; attendance 23a There is » ehapeUof-ease at Castle-Da wsoN :: whidi see. The other places of wonhip are three, and bdong to- ProtesUnt dissenters, to Methodists, and to Ro> man Catholics. The attendance in the second and the third of these is respectively 00 and 450. in 1884, the parishioners consisted of 1,096 Churchmen^ MOO Presbyterians, and 3,627 Roman Catholics ^ and 9 daily schools,— one of which was partly sup* Dorted by subscription, one partlv by the Weslem Missionary Sodetjtr three JMttly dv the London Hu bemian Sodety, and one of these three partly by the wctorand the owners of Bellaghy estate,— bad on their books 307 boys and 261 girls. In 1839^ the National Board granted £82 toward the ereeUng and furnishing of a sdiool at Ballyiieas.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

24. Labyrinthine limestone cave at Ovens, County Cork

    Ovens · electoral division · Cork

    A remarkable stalactitic cave beneath a limestone arch in the parish of Athnowen features branching passages described as a perfect underground labyrinth. Dr. Smith computed going a quarter of a mile underground, and country people said the cave runs to Gill Abbey near Cork.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    ATHNOWEN, Owen, Ovens, or St. Mart, a parish in the barony of East Muskerry, 6( miles west-south-west of Cork, co. Cork, Munster. Length, 4 miles ; breadth, 3 ; area, 4,838 acres. Pop., in 1831. 1,953; in 1841, 1,925. Houses 287. The townlands of Carrigane, Clas<«es, Grange, and Lisheens, formerly belonged to the barony of Barretts ; but were transferred, by authority of 6 and 7 William IV., c. 84, s. 51, to the barony of East Muskerry. The northern boundary of the parish is traced by the river I^e, and the southern and eastern boundaries by the Bride. About twothirds of the land are good and arable ; and the other third is of indifferent quality. A ramified, Ftalactitic, and in many respects wonderful, cave, in the parish, is thus described by Dr. Smith : — ** In it is a most remarkable cave, beneath a stupendous limestone arch, 12 feet high at the entrance, but declines to less than 6. In KMne places it is higher, and in others so low that one is obliged to creep in advancing through it. The passage is on the west side ; but, in about 20 yards, the cave winds towards the south and south-east. Another way leads on due south, to a well about fourscore yards from its entrance. There are many other branches, some running in a serpentine manner, others like so maiiv alleys crossing each other, mostly so broad that 6 or 8 persons may walk abreast, the whole forming a perfect labyrinth under-ground. In order to visit these passages, it would be necessary to take the same precaution as Ariadne made Theseus use, when he was obliged to fight the Minotaur in the Cretan labyrinth." ** This grotto is all lined with a natural gypsum, or stalactical matter, which pervades through the rocks, and is a stronger cement than human industry has yet invented. By my computation, I went a quarter of an English mile under ground in this place ; and the country people say that it runs to Gill- Abbey, near Cork. 'There is also another entrance near the church to this cave." The labyrinthine scries of cavern^:, at least those roost accessible, have been de>poiled of their spars and stalactites, and have otherwise under^ne some changes ; but they still excite the astonishment of stranger*, and form a favourite topic of popular story among the natives. The small village of Ovens or Owen, Ftands on the river Bride ; an«l Grange, the principal mansion in the parish, stands in the ridnit/

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 146

25. Silver coins of Irish kings dug up near Ballylinan, 1786

    Ballylynan · town · Laois · 1786

    In 1786, peasants digging near Ballylinan discovered an urn containing small silver coins believed to reference Irish kings and chieftains between 862 and 900. Several coins are preserved in the museum of Trinity College, Dublin.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    thicksets were manufactured, about 4 ^ears ago, but it is now discontinued." The village still presents a poor appearance; yet possesses interest firom some antiquarian associations. On the north side of it are the house and plantations of Rahin, the seat of the Weldon family, the town's proprietors ; a family who are reputed to have settled here in the reign of James L, or upwards of a century previous to the removal of the Ball^linch family of Grace from CO. Kilkenny to this vicinity. In 1786, some peasants dug up, in the neighbourhood of the town, an urn containing a great number of small silver coins, all believed to bear reference to Irish kings and chieftains between the years 862 and 900. An account of these coins is given in the Transactions of the Royal Irish Society, and in Gough's Edition of Camden*s Britannia; and several of them are preserved in the museum of Trinity College, Dublin. Within view of the village, and crowning a hill at no great distance, are the ruins of Bally« adams-castle. See Balltadams. Area of the village, 24 acres. Pop., in 1831, 533 ; iu 1841, 445. Houses 89.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

26. Trinitarian Abbey ruins, Adare

    Adare · townland · Limerick

    The ruins of the Trinitarian abbey at Adare, founded for the redemption of Christian captives, stand at the extremity of the village with very little remaining except the steeple. Its founder was Thomas Fitzgerald, seventh Baron of Offaly and father of the first Earls of Desmond and Kildare. Its very large possessions were given by Elizabeth to Sir H. Wallop, and the rectory of Adare once belonged to the nunneries of this abbey.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    the right, we enter by a low Gothic door, into a well-enclosed field or park, bounded on the village side with walls, and on the other sides by deep groves. Here stands the White or Augustinian abbey, completely sheeted on two sides with ivy. The steeple is lofty, and very slender, and tapers to the battlements. The cloisters, all of marble, and supported by low, slender, and handsomely ornamented columns, are in a^ well-preserved condition. This abbey was founded in 1315, by John, earl of Kildare, son of Thomas, sumamed Nuppagh, or the Ape.* — At the extremity of the village stand the ruins of the abbey of Trinitarians, founded for the redemption of Christian captives. Of this stmeture very little remains except the steeple. Its founder was Thomas Fitzgerald, seventh Baron of OflTalv, and fiither of the first Earls of Desmond and Kildare. Very large possessions were attached to it, which, with all their premises and appurtenances, were given by Elizabeth to Sir H. Wallop. A rather curious circumstance in monastic history is, that the rectory of Adare belonged at one time to the nunneries of this abbey The Franciscan abbey,

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

27. 1798 rebel victory at Ballyellis

    Ballyellis · townland · Wexford · 1798

    On June 30, 1798, insurgents led by Byrne, Fitzgerald, and Pery defeated a royalist force of regulars and yeomanry under Colonel Pilson at Ballyellis demesne. Not a man of the victorious rebel party was said to have been killed.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLYELLIS, a demesne in the parish of Car. new, barony of Scare walsh, co. Wexford, Leinster. It lies 1 ^ mile east of the town of Carnew, in co. Wicklow, on the south side of the road thence to Gorey. On this demesne, June 30, 1798, a party of insurgents, headed by Byrne of Ballymannu'S, Fitzgerald of Newpark, and Pery of Inch, encountered and totally defeated a considerable royalist force of regulars and yeomanry under the command of Col. Pilson, of the regiment of ancient Britons. Col. Pilson's horse was killed under him. a great many of his men were wounded, and 2 of the Ballaghean yeomanry, 6 of the Gorey yeomanry. 1 1 of the 5th dragoon guards, 28 rank and file of the regiment of ancient Briton % and one officer, a black trumpeter, were slain. Not a man of the victorious party is said to have been killed. Bally ellis-hou-:e was formerly the seat of Sir J. J. W. Jervis. Bart. ; but, on occasion of the successful rebel tight, it was reduced to ashes.

    BALLYELLIS, a seat of the Earl of Listowel, now occupied by Mr. Creagh, on the right bank of the Blackwater, in the vicinity of Mallow, co. Cork, Munster.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

28. 1820 banking panic: Roche and Leslie failures in Cork

    Cork · city · Cork

    During a series of rapid banking failures across Ireland, the firm of Roche and Co. in Cork failed in June, followed on the same morning by the suspension of payment by Leslie and Co. in the same city.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    panic. Then began an accumulative series of those rapid failures which seem to be known to no other country, and which spread indescribable calamity and consternation over the whole surface of the island. In the month of June, the Banking firm of Roche and Co., of Cork, failed ; and, on the same morning, that of Leslie and Co. suspended payment in the same city. By the next Saturday, Messrs. Maunsell, of Limerick, had closed their doors. These embarrassments were quickly followed by the stoppage of Messrs. Rial, at Clonmel ; Sause, at Carrick-on-Suir ; Newport, at Waterford; Loughnan, at Kilkenny; Alexander, at Dublin; until, within a single month, eleven Banks had broken, and in the whole south of Ireland there remained open only two bouses — Messrs. Delacour, at Mallow, and Redmond, at Wexford."

    In 1783, the Bank of Ireland commenced operation with a capital of ;£600,000 Irish currency ; from 1784 till 1799, its dividend was from 5 to 6 per cent. ; in 1800, its capital was £1,500,000, and its dividend 7 per cent. ; in 1809, its capital was £2,500,000, and its dividend up to 1814 was 7^ per cent. ; in 1821, a bonus of £500,000 was added to the original capital; from 1821 to 1829, the dividend was 10 per cent. ; and from 1829 to 1835, the dividend was 9 per cent. In 1797, the circulation of the Bank of Ireland was £621,917; in 1808, £2,827,000; in 1809, £3,068,100; in 1810, £3,157,300; in 1813, £4,212,600; in 1821, £5,181,600 ; in 1825, £6,309,300 ; and in 1843, £3,100,000. The banks formed since the legalizing of joint stock bimks in 1821, have been the Hibernian, the Northern, the Provincial, the Belfast, the Agricultural, the Provident, the National, the Ulster, the Royal, the Tipperary, and the London and Dublin banks. The Agricultural and the Provident have ceased ; and the partners, branches, and capital of the others, as well as of the Bank of Ireland, in 1843, are shown in the following table : —

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 58

29. Abbeylara Cistercian abbey and St Patrick tradition

    Abbeylara · townland · Longford · 1205–1803

    The abbey of Larah (or Lerha) at Abbeylara, County Longford, traditionally claimed St Patrick as its founder, though the text disputes this on evidential grounds. It was founded or refounded in 1205 by the Tuite family for Cistercian monks; its last abbot, Richard O'Terrall, became Bishop of Ardagh in 1541, and part of the abbey site is now occupied by the parish church built in 1803.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    ABBEY LARA, a pariah, containing a village of the same name, on the eastern border of the barony of Granard, oo. Longford, Leinster. Its length, including an intersection 3| miles broad of the parish of Granard, is 14 miles; its breadth is 2 miles ; and its area, including 626 acres of water, is 9,150 acres. Pop., in 1831, 3,112; in 1841, 3,084. Houses 505. The land is, in general, of a good quality. Lough*CooDoh, though not distinguished IQT b^uty or for great extent, is a conspicuous feature. On the south-west shore of the lake are the village of Abbeylara, and the site of the abbey whence it and the parish have their name. The village stands on the road from Granard to Dublin ; 3^ miles south-east of Granard, and 6^ miles northwest of Castle-Pollard. Area 9 acres. Pop., in 1831, 316; in 1841, 194. Houses 28. The abbe^r of Larah or Lerha claims, but on no feasible evidence, to have been founded by St. Patrick. In 1205, it was rcfounded, or more probablv founded, by the Tuite family, for Cistertian monks. Richard OTerrall, the last abbot, became bishop of Ardagh in 1541. Part of the abbey's site is now occupied

    by the parish-church This parish is a vicarage,

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

30. Ancient abbey and holy well of St. Cuan at Ahascragh

    Ahascragh · town · Galway · 788–1846

    An ancient abbey at Ahascragh, allegedly founded by St. Cuan who died in 788, though the claim is doubted. A holy well at the town long shared in St. Cuan's celebrity and still drew devotion at the time of writing.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    chef-d'oeuvre in architecture imparti to it eclat ; yet its tone, of comfort renders the sight of it quite a relief to the eye which has wandered over the numerous squalid villages of Connaught A lendingfund, instituted and managed by the benevolent rector, is, according to a report of it published soma time ago, " established on such good principles, that, though it circulates £3,000 annually among the lower classes, and has been the means of giving competence and comfort to hundreds, yet it is not decreasing its capital, and there are very few instances indeed where the people who take advantage of the loan do not strictly discharge their engagements.*' In 1842, the Loan Fund had a capital of £634, circulated £2,961 in 810 loans,, and expended for charitable purposes £20. An ancient abbey, which stood at Ath-ascrath, is alleged, though the statement may be doubted, to have been founded by St. Cuan, who died in 788. This St. Cuan is of course the patron saint of the place ; and he figures in some current popular legends and thaumaturgic tales which we do not choose to repeat. A holy well at the town long participated largely, and stUl participates to a degree, in St. Cuan's celebrity. The public conveyances of Ahascragh are all in transit, — the mail-coach between Dublin and Westport, a car between Ballinasloe and Tuam, and a coach between the latter towns to connect Tuom with the terminus of the Grand canal. As a post-town, Ahascragh has sub-offices at Ardrahan and Burrin. Fairs are held on Easter- Monday, on the Wednesday in Trinity* week, on Aug. 25, and on Nov. 24.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

31. Ancient mine workings discovered near Ballycastle

    near Ballycastle · town · Antrim · 1770

    Around 1770, miners working an unexplored part of the cliff near Ballycastle unexpectedly discovered a very extensive old excavation. It had been worked upon a regular system by evidently expert miners using implements different from those in use at the time, with no surviving tradition of the period or persons.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    Minerals.'] — The primary reck district of the county is confined to a small mountain-group in the extreme north-east, around Knocklade. Though consisting chiefly of mica schist, it presents various features of high interest, both in Rself and on account of its skirting the small coalfield of Fair Head. The old red sandstone and the rocks which accompany it are still more limited, and, excepting in a few unimportant patches, are found only in a band between the primary district and Red bay. — The coal district is situated on the north coast, both east aad west of Fair Head. Only one workable bed appears to exist west of the heaaland; it is 4^ feet thick, and looks out from the face of the magnificent and far-stretching cWffi it has been wrought by means of adits or galleries driven inwards at the level of high water nark ; and it dips southward at such an angle that the adits were, in some instances, carried upwards of 900 feet before meeting the declining stratum. The beds east or rather south-east of Fair Head, occur around Murlough bay, and appear to be quite distinct from those on the west; they are six in number, and vary from 12 to 30 inches in thickness; ibur of them are bituminous, and two carbonaceous; and the latter lie, the one immediately above, and the other below, an apparently intruded mass of columnar trap, 70 feet thick. A section of the cliff on the north side of Murlough bay exhibits, in descending series, about 100 feet of columnar greenstone, 20 of brownish red sandstone, 1 of biCumiiK)us ooal, 80 of 'red sandstone, 6 of black shale, 2^ of highly bituminous ooal, 40 of brownish red sandstone, one.hulf of highly bituminous coal, 20 of red sandstone, 10 of black shale, 2^ of bituminous coal, 60 of bla<*k shale, 24 of uninflammable carbonaceous coal, 2 of black shale passing into flinty slate, 70 of columnar trap, 2 of black shale, 8;^ of uninflammable carbonaceous coal, alternating with thin beds of black shale, and 10 to the base of the cliff but really an unascertained thickness of black shale. The height of the cliff is 437^ feet. The collieries on both sides of Fair Head, though now neglected, partly owing to the difficulty of working to the depth of old excavations, and partly from the want of a safe harbour for shipping the ooal, were wrought at a very remote period, and possibly mav be among the most ancient in the British empfre. While miners, about the year 1770, were working an unexplored part of the cliff near Ballycastle, an old excavation was unexpectedly discovered, and was found to be very extensive, and to have been wrought upon a regular system by evidently expert miners, but with implements different from those now in u^e. No traidition now remains of the period or persons of the ancient miners.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 114

32. Annaghdown's monastic institutions

    Annaghdown · townland · Galway

    Annaghdown housed a remarkable cluster of religious institutions: a Culdee abbey said to predate the seventh century under St. Meldan, a nunnery attributed to St. Brendan that acquired a steeple in 1238, a Franciscan friary, a Premonstratensian abbey, and the college of St. Brendan for four priests.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    ANNAGHDOWN, a parish on the western border of the barony of Clare, 7^ miles north of Galwav, eo. Galway, Connaught. Length, 4 miles ; breadth, 3^ ; area, 23,730 acres, — of which 4,253 acres are under water, chiefly in Lough Corrib. Pop.^ in 1831,6,093; in 1841, 7 J08. Houses 1,180. The surface extends altMig the east side of the lower part of Lough Corrib ; and is drained Into the lake by inconsiderable streams. Though promising, as part of the far-flaunting and beautiful lough's shores, to possess much fine scenery, it is totally destitute of character, and tires the mmd by alternations of tanteness and of flat and broken sterility. Even the soH ifi the aggregate is of indiflferent quality, and fails to interest the prosaic agriculturist. In prelatic and monastic associations, however, the parish, for a rural and secluded one, is singularly prominent. Annaghdown was the seat ef an early Irish bishopric, and flung the shadow of its mitre upon Galway, the capital of Connaught. The merging of its diocese, in 1324, into that of Tuam,. occasioned Galway to be governed, during 60 years, by vicars of the united ^ees, and then prompted that lingular anomaly in ecclesiastical government by which the town has ever since I>een distinguished. See Galwat. The monastic institutions of Annaghdown were an abbey, or more probably a Culdee establishment, said to have been founded prior to the seventh century, and presided over by St. Meldan ; a nunnery, alleged to have been founded by St. Brendan, and |r) have, in 1238, acquired the ornament of a steeple ; the parent or dominant Franciscan friary of Connaught and Ulster; an abbey for white canons of the Premonstratensian order ; and the college of St. Brendan, for the support of four priests. The parish is traversed north-north-eastward by the road from Galway to Ballinrobe ; and has several villages or hamlets, of which Shankhill and Aughelogun are the chief. Annaghdown is a vicarage in the dio-. of Tuam. The vicarial tithes are compounded for £415 7s. 8^., and the rectorial for £138 9s. 3d ; and the latter are impropriate, and belong to Major Kir wan of Castle- Hai!ket. This vicarage and the vi«*:iniges of Lacra<;h and Killascobe [see these article-*], con!>titute the benetice sometimes designated Annaghdown, and t^ometimes Killascobe. An* iM^'hdown and Luckagh are contiguous. Length of the<e two, 5} miles ; breadth, 4^. Killascobe is iJi/>tunt about 8 miles ; the intermediate space being orciipied by Moyloiigh and Abheyknockmoy. Gross iiKomc of the benetice, Jt754 15s. Ojd. ; nett, £096

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

33. Antique nine-arch bridge at Adare

    Adare · townland · Limerick

    An antique bridge of nine arches crosses the river Maig at Adare, its battlements overhung with ivy nearly to the water's edge. Though narrow and small-arched, it is in good picturesque keeping with the castle, abbey ruins, and groves of the Quin demesnes that surround it.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    ADARE, a market and post-town in the Coshma section of the cognominal parish, stands on the Maig, at the point where it is crossed by the post-road from Limerick to Kerry, 9 miles south-soutb-west of Limerick, and 1 10 soutii-west of DubHn. The place, though of small modern importance, is notable for ancient consideration, great beauty, fine architectural ruins, and singularly charming environs. ''Nothing,*' says Holmes, in his Sketches of Ireland, "can be more serenely beautiful than this little spot. Silent and retired, its inhabitants few, and apparently mixing little with the world, its venerable castle, with its surrounding groves, infuse in the beholder a calm sensation of pleasure truly delightful. The first view as we entered was most striking. On the left, a large ruined castle of the Desmonds rose from the brink of the river, which flowed into the old fosse. In front, the river Maig glided smoothly under an antique bridge of nine arches; its battlements overhung with ivy nearly to the water edge, the opposite banks swelling into beautiful undulating lawns, backed by the shady groves, and denghtCul grounds of the Quin demesnes, through which the turrets and ivied windows of a ruined abbey half disclosed themselves. On the right of the village, another monastic ruin lifted its venerable head amidst clustering ivy and alder.** — The ruin of the castle evinces the pile to have been of great strength, and occupies such a site of guard and command over the passage of the river as must have been selected only by a keen-eyed warrior. In the time of Elizaheth, the English sustained a sharp and prolonged contest from the Irish and Spanish followers of Desnond for the possession of this strength ; and, heing driven to extremity by a blockade, they were compelled to hazard a desperate excursion into the Knight of Glin*s country, where they fought a M'arm skirmish of eight hours, but came off without much loss. Shortly after the death of Desmond, the castle was seized by Lord Kerry, and its garrison put to the sword ; but it was recaptured by Captain Zonch ; and, in the rebellion of 1641, it was finally and completely dismantled. The most prominent parts of it still standing are three unroofed and partially dilapidated round towers. The bridge which groups with it in the view fr^m the north, though narrow, antique, and small-arched, is, as to picturesqucness, in good keeping with the objects around.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

34. Ardee's Anglo-Norman origins and monastic foundations

    Ardee · town · Louth

    Roger de Pipard obtained the manor of Ardee following the Anglo-Norman entry, making it his chief residence and founding two monastic establishments. The manor was later surrendered to Edward I and granted to Sir John Birmingham by Edward II.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    Ar<lee — anciently and unubbreviatedly Athirdfe^ * the ford on the Dee ' — has its name from the river on which it stands. Roger de Pi()ard, whose name we have repeatedly mentioned, obtained a grant of the manor soon alter the entry of the Anglo-Noruiaiui. lie and his descendants bore the title of

    Lords of Athirdee; they were not only wealthy, but greatly distinguished in Leinster and in several of the midland counties of England ; and having adopted Athirdee as their chief residence, and made it the site of two monastic establishments, they could hardly fail to attract to it a large population. The manor was surrendered by Ralph de Pipard to Edward I., and was granted by Edward II. to Sir John Birmingham, whom he created Earl of Louth. The town severely suffered, in common with its Carmelite friary, from the sanguinary assault of the Scotn and Irish under Edward Bruce ; and, owing to it* position on the northern frontier of the English pale, it was exposed to frequent and fierce attacks froin the northern Irish. In 1538, it was burned by an invading force from Ulster under O'Niel ; ana in 1641, it was captured by the joint force of the troops of Sir Phelim O'Niel, and the disaffected in the north of Leinster. On the latter occasion. Sir Henry Tiehburne marched to its relief, and after a sharp contest about a mile from the town, and a skirmish at the foot of the bridge, succeeded in expelling the enemy. Ardee gives the title of Baron m the Irish peerage to the family of Brabazaii, EarU of Meath.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 121

35. Ardmore round tower and bell tradition

    Ardmore · town · Waterford

    Ardmore's round tower, immediately south of the church, stands 91 feet high and 15 feet in diameter at the base, with a doorway 16 feet from the ground. Four projecting belts of masonry divide it into a basement and four stories, making it unique among round towers. Tradition asserts a bell once hung in the tower whose sound was heard eight miles away in the Gun-More or Big Glen.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    We need hardly say that the wild popular fables to which we have alluded are very nearly on a footing of authenticity with this pretty piece of pretended hagiography ; or that such utt«r confusion pervades the whole story of Declan as to prevent the educement from it oif alnoost any portion of real history. Ardmore — we are told too, and with more probability— was anciently a Danish settlement. A short deed of the year 1197) seen by Dr. Smith, conveyed from a Dane of the name of Christiana Hy- Dorothy, a small tract of land to the family of the Memins, with whom it renmined till they sold it in 1745. In the vicinity are circular intrenchments and other Danish works. In the village, when Dr. Smith wrote, was ** the stump of a castle ;" and not long before a much larger one was taken down. In the churchyard, on a rocky eminence, near a sandv cove, stand the chief of the ecclesiastical antiquities, — St. Declan's dormitory or shrine, the church, and a round tower. The dormitory is a mere stone hut, lighted by one small square window, and derives all its interest from containing the remains of the real or supposed tomb of St. Declan. The church, judging from the massive irregularity of its architecture, and the clumsiness of its buttresses, is evidently very ancient. Only the part of it used for service is now roofed. On the interior of the west wall are twelve figures, each under a small Saxon arch, but much defaced by the attrition of weather; and beneath these, within the semicircular projections, are irregularly executed bas-reliefs of various subjects, the chief of which seem to be the baptism of Christ, a Jewish sacri6ce, the judgment of Solomon, and Adam and Eve in paradise. The round tower, immediately south of the church, is 91 feet in height, and 15 feet in diameter at the base ; the doorway is 16 feet from the ground ; and 4 windows in the highest story, each two mutually opposite, are larger than any other apertures except the doorway. The tower gradually diminishes in diameter from bottom to top; and terminates in a pyramidal roof of cut stone. '* A kind of crutch, like a cross," which formerly surmounted it, has disappeared. Four projecting belts or courses of masoiy-y carried round the tower, and separating it into a basement and 4 stories or compartments, render it unique among the curious antiquities of its class. Tiudition takes occasion from the existence of two transverse pieces of oak in the highest story, and from some other indications of the uses of a belfry, to assert that a bell once hung in the tower of so powerful a tone that its sound was heard at the distance of 8 miles, in the Gun-More^ or Big Glen. The tower is a conspicuous feature, in a landscape of n»ny miles in diameter, and occasionally serves as a landmark to mariners. About a nnle from the village, and crowning the brow of some shelving rocks which immediately overhang the bay, are slender vestiges of a place of worship, supposed

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

36. Askeaton — cascades of the River Deel above the town

    Askeaton · townland · Limerick

    The River Deel above Askeaton tumbles in cascades and cataracts among rocks, winds among finely outlined hills and precipitous cliffs, presenting a succession of picturesque aspects. The parish landscape, though chiefly limestone, is partly rocky and of middle-rate quality.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    acres. Pop., in 1831, 4,699; in 1841, 4,438. Houses 671. Pop. of the rural districts, in 1831, 3,184: in 1841, 2,576. Houses 387. The surface declines northward down the course of the Deel or Askeaton river to the Shannon ; and, though quite destitute of the features which give force and high character to landscape, presents some softly agreeable scenes, and a few mimic groupings of romance. The Deel, above the town, leaps and tumbles in cascades and cataracts among rocks, winds among finelv outlined hills, or between precipitous and overhanging cliffs, and presents, in its frolics and costume, a succession of decidedly picturesque aspects. The land of the parish, though chiefly of limestone formation, is partly rocky and in general of only middle-rate quality. The parish is traversed westward by the north road from Limerick to Tarbert; and will be traversed in the same direction bv the Shannon line of railway communication with Dublin. Antiquities will be noticed in connection with the town. — Askeaton parish is a vicarage in the dio. of Limerick. The vicarial tithes are compounded for £150, and the rectorial for £300; and the latter are impropriate, and belong to Thomaa Leland, Esq., of Dublin. This vicarage, the rectory of Lismakeery and the chapelry of Iverus, constitute the benefice of Askeaton. See Lismakeery and Iveb^ U8. Length, 7niile8; breadth, 3. Gross income, £455 14s. 5d. ; nett, £390 15s. lO^d. Patron, Sir Matthew Blackiston, Bart. A curate has a stipend of £75. The church is so ancient a structure that no record exists of the date and cost of its erection. Sittings 250 ; attendance, about 120. The school-house of Iverus is also used as a parochial place of worship. The Askeaton Roman Catholic chapel has an attendance of between 1,000 and 1,500, and jointly with a chapel in Iverus, is served by 3 officiates. In 1834, the Protestants of the parish amounted to 197, and the Roman Catholics to 3,815 ; the Pro* testants of the union to 341, and the Roman Catholics to 6,967. In the same year, 7 daily schools in the union, all situated in Askeaton parish, had ob their hooks 249 boys and 113 giris. Two of the schools were aided each with £7 16s. from Arch* deacon Fitxgerald ; one, a female parochial school, with £14 from subscription and £8 from the Ladies' Hibernian Society ; and one, a male parochial school, with £22 from subscription. In 1839. the National Bo«rd granted £160 toward the building and fitting up of a school for boys and another for girls, each <x which was expected to have an attendance of 150l

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

37. Athboy Carmelite friary: founded 1317, dissolved under Henry VIII

    Athboy · town · Meath · 1317–1540

    A Carmelite friary was built or refounded in Athboy in 1317 and served as the meeting-place of chapters of the Carmelite order in 1325 and 1467. It was dissolved in the 31st year of Henry VIII.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    %t large ; appointed the portreeve to be the sole juBtice-of-peAce withia the borough ; and gave power to hold a court of record, with jurUdictum to jCIO. The corporation seems to have been kept up, not with the object of exercising any municipal rights, but solely for the purpose of returning two members to parliament ; and the Earls of Darnley were their ** patrons," and received for their private use the whole of the sum of £15,000 which was granted at the Union as compensation for disfranchisement. The corporation has for ^ears been extinct. A court of petty-sessions, presided over by the county magistrates, is held every Thursday. A manor court, erected by patent of 6 William and Mary, has not been held since 1800. A chief constable, and a posse of the county police, are stationed in the town. The nearest prison is the county gaol at Trim. Tolls and customs, claimed as the private property of the Darnley family, were collected till 1828, but were then resisted and abandoned. — In 1317* a Carmelite friary was built or refounded in Athbov ; in 1325 and 1467. it was the meeting-place of chapters of the Carmelite order; and in the 31st year of Henry VIIL, it was dissolved. Area of the town, 80 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,859; in 1841, 1,826. Houses 307*

    ATHBURY. See Blackwatebtowii.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

38. Athlone's old bridge and its sculptured monument

    Athlone · town · Westmeath

    The old bridge across the Shannon at Athlone had nine narrow arches with massive piers, functioning as a dam during freshets. On its southern side stood a sculptured monument with tablets bearing figures in relief of persons involved in the bridge's construction, the arms of Elizabeth, devices, mottoes, and a long inscription stating the date and circumstances of its erection.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    portance of the military station, the very worst, for both passage and water-way, upon the whole river. It has 9 arches, all narrow in the span, with huge massive intervening piers, and practically operates, during freshets, as a dam ; it is about 300 feet long, and not more than 12 feet broad, so that carriages or cars can pass one another only at reef sses on the piers, and when fairly on the carriage- way are unable to retreat ; and, to render its inconveniences complete, it has one flour mill at its west end, another at its east end, and a third over part of its arches, »o as to be to some extent a business-street. The mere daily thoroughfare between the two divisions of the town is an overmatch for the bridge's edacities ; and on market and fair days, but especially on the week of the great cattle fair of Ballinasloe, cars, carriages, cattle and crowds of men and women choke it up to suffocation, form vast accumulations at its ends, and occasionally alternate in streams of 5 or Id minutes run, now to the west and now to the east. A stage-coach arrives for the west from Dublin ; the passengers are told to make the best of their own way along the bridge, and to rendezvous at an appointed spot on the Connaught side; all spend 10 or 15 minutes in pushing and shouldering among cars, cattle, pigs, and people, before they reach the bridge ; a current at length sets in toward the west, and one passenger flings himself upon an already crowded car, another fixes himself to or upon a donkev, another is squeezed between the hams or forced along upon the rear of oxen, and a fourth is wedged among the shoulders of sonie greycoated peasantry, and carried forward on tiptoe; and a full half hour after the whole have effected their passage, they observe from their place of rendezvous, the empty stage-coach bobbing along the bridge at the rate of two yards in the minute. We have figured in such a scene — as who has not who has had frequent occasion to pass between Dublin and the west? — and, from recollection of the humiliations, the sufferings, and the positive perils which we saw endured, we congratulate both Athlone and all Connaught on the provision of a new and spacious bridge. On the southern or lower side of the old bridge, stands a curious monument illustrative of the history of the erection. This consists of a Mrall, about 9 feet broad, tilled with sculptured tablets, and surmounted by a pediment with ornamental mouldings. The tablets are of various sizes, and inserted with some regard to symmetry ; they are in some instances decorated with richly chiselled mouldings ; and they Contain figures in relievo of persons who were engaged in the construction of the bridge, the arms of Elizabeth, various devices and motlos, and one very long and prominent inscription, in large Roman capital letters in relief, stating the date of the bridge and some circumstances of its erection. —Improvements at Athlone, designed under the Commissioners for the Improvement of the Shannon, published in their Second Report, or that of the year 1837, and estimated to cost £60,000, include the removal of the bridge just described, and of two small bridges across the canal, the construction of a new bridge across the Shannon 220 feet below the site of the old one, the construction 250 feet farther down of a semicircular weir for keeping up the water to a summer level higher than the present, the widening of the canal, the construction upon the latter of a new deep lock and an elegant swivel bridge, and the opening of an approach road or new street from the west between this bridge and that across the Shannon. The new bridge on the river has 5 eliptical arches, each 50 feet in span ; its roadway i» 24 feet with a footpath of 6 feet on eai'h side, making a total breadth of 36 feet between the parapets ;

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 144

39. Atmospheric railway extension from Kingstown to Dalkey

    Dalkey · townland · Dublin · 1844

    The Dublin and Kingstown railway, the only complete line in Ireland at the start of 1844, was recently extended to Dalkey. The extension used an atmospheric railway and was 1.5 miles in length.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    None of the various extensive lines of railway projected by the public commissioners, summarilj noticed in our articles on Dublin and Leinster, and often referred to in the body of our work, have yet been constructed ; nor have the greater part of lines surveyed by other parties, and referred to in our articles on Leinster and several of the large towns, been yet undertaken. The only complete line in Ireland at the commencement of 1844 was the Dublin and Kingstown railway, 6^ miles in length, and then quite recently extended to Dalkey by an atmospheric railway 1| mile in length. The Ulster railway, from BelfJEist to Armagh, was open for passengers and goods to Portadown, 28 miles ; and the Dublin and Drogheda rsdlway, 30 miles in length, was in such a state of forwardness that it was expected to be opened in the month of May.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 66

40. Ballinakill Castle besieged by Fairfax

    Ballinakill · town · Laois

    The castle of Ballinakill was besieged by Fairfax, who battered it from an adjoining height in Heywood demesne. The garrison bravely defended it but it was eventually taken and destroyed.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLINAKILL, a market and post town, and formerly a parliamentary borough, in the parish of Dysert-Gallen, and on the southern verge of the barony of CuUinagh and of Queen's cot, Leinster. U stands in the midst of a fertile plain, 2 miles east of the river Nore, 3 south-east of Abbey]eix> and 52 j south-west by south of Dublin by way of Abbeyleix, but only 50 by way of Timahoe. The parishehurch, situated in the town, is a modern edifice, and sends aloft a spire which figures conspicuously in t-he landscape of the environing plain. The Roman Catholic chapel is a spacious structure. The military bar^-ack has accommodation for two troops of cavalry. The dispensary is within the Abbpyleix Poor-law union v and in ]839i it received £91 6s., ex{>ended £88 10s., administered td 1,100 patients, and served for a district containing 6,375 patients. Two schools, the one for boys and the other for girls, are supported by subscriptions and by the National Board. The castle of BalUnakill was besieged by Fairfax, battered by him from -an adjoining height in Heywood demesne, bravely defended by its garrison, but eventually taken and destroyed. A secondcastle was erected by the Dunns in 1680; but it was never inhabited, and now exists in ruin. Heywood,. tJie property of M. F. Trench, Esq*, is a< beautiful demesne, flinging up odours and ornament over the town, and 'Mong remarkable for the taste and skill displayed in its formation, and the care bestowed on its subsequent management. " In the vicinity are the old church and castle of Rosconnell At the commencement of the present century, the town had a brewery, 3 tanjrards, and some small woollen factories; and, being then the only market-town in CuUinagh, it had a brisk trade in grain, and was a place where ** a competition amongst the buyers inhured the fairest price to the farmer." But it has sadly declined, and is still declining. Its woollen manufacture is not far from l>eing extinct; a weekly market, which was held on Wednesday, has long been diacontiuued ; and a weekly market on Saturday,

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 148

41. Ballybeggan castle ruin in Tralee

    Ballybeggan · townland · Kerry

    Ballybeggan was a castle of stately proportions in the parish of Tralee, County Kerry, that served as a strong post during the wars between William III and James II. Only a fragmentary ruin of it remained by the 1840s.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLYBEGGAN, a quondam castle of stately proportions, in the parish of Tralee, barony of Trughenackmy, co. Kerry, Munster. The castle was a strong post in the wars between William III. and James II., and was then reduced. Only a fragmentary ruin of it now remains.

    BALLYBENNAN, a chapelry within the parish of Fennagh, dio. of Leighlin, Leinster. Length, 1 mile; bresldth, |. Yet, though nominally included in the parish, it has not, within the memory of any living person, been atts[ched to the benefice. See Fbnnaoh.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

42. Ballycastle harbour and private salmon fisheries

    near Ballycastle · town · Antrim

    Ballycastle creek on the north coast of County Antrim receives the Glenshesk and Carey rivulets by a common embouchure. The salmon fisheries there are private property, said to have been conferred by patent through the Antrim family from the Crown, extending coast-wise to uncertain limits.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLTCASTLE, a creek or small natural harbour, and a confluence of rivulets, at the town of Ballycastle, on the north coast of the barony of Carey, co^ Antrim*. The harbour will be aoticed in connection with the town. The chief rivulets are one of 3 miles in length of run from- the southwest ; the Glenshesk, 5 miles long, from the south ; and the Carey, 7i miles long from the south-east. AH these empty themselves by a common embouchure into Ballycastle ; but they are not navigable, and are, to but an inconsideraMe extent, tidaL Salmon swim up the rividets to span ; and the saK mon fisheries are all private property, and understood to have been conferred by patent through the Antrim family from the Crown, and to extend coastwise to the bays within headlands whose exact limits are not ascertained.

    BALLYCASTLE, a chapelry roimd Ballycastle bay, and containing the town of Ballycastle, within the parish of Ramoan, barony of Carey, eo; Antrim, Ulster. Though nominally a chapelry without cure, the chaplain has always had the sole charge of the congregation of the cfaapeL Most of its statistics are included in those of Ramoan, dio. of Connor. Gross income, £56 8s. d|d. ; nett, £25 8s. 5Jd. Patron, Hugh Boyd, Esq., a ward in chancery. A portion of the income, amounting to £36 18s. 5|d., and all charges for repairs on the chapel, communion elements, &c., are paid by the agent of the Boyd estate. The chapel was built, in 1754, by the late Col. Hugh Boyd, at a cost, aH defrayed by himself, of £2,769 4s. 7^d. Sittings 300 ; attendance 200k Ballycastle is also a Roman Catholic parish, containing two chapels, under the care of one officiate. For a notice of these chapels, of Protestant dissenters* meeting-houses, and of schools, see article Ramoan*

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

43. Ballycorus smelting and shot tower

    near Ballycorus · street · Dublin · 1837

    The Ballycorus smelting works, rolling and pipe mill, and shot tower in County Dublin employed 20 men and produced from 800 to 2,400 tons a-year, worth £27 per ton, as of September 1837.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    The mines and most valuable quarries, worked in September, 1837, together with the condition and produce of each, may be briefly stated : — The Derrynoose lead mine in co. Armagh was about to be deared of water by a steam-engine ; the Ballycorus smelting works, rolling and pipe mill, and shot tower, in co. Dublin, employed 20 men, and produced from 800 to 2,400 tons a-year, worth /27 per ton ; the Killaloe slate quarries in co. Tipperary, employed from 350 to 400 men, and produced from 7,000, to 10,000 tons per annum, worth £1 10s. per ton ; the Slieveardagh collieries in CO. Tipperary, employed 5 steam-engines, and from 200 to 300 men, and produced 30,000 tons per annum, worth 10s. per ton ; the Knockmahon copper mines in co. Waterford, employed 1,000 men, and produced from 4,000 to 5,000 tons per annum, worth £9 per ton ; the Glenpatrick slate quarry in CO. Waterford, employed 120 men, and produced from 2,500 to 3,000 tons per annum, worth £l IQb. per ton ; the Cairme lead mine in co. Wexford was about to be cleared of water by a steameo^e ; the Lugganure lead mine in co. Wicklow, employed from 150 to 300 men, and produced from 1,200 to 3,600 tons per annum, worth £15 per ton; the Kilcrohane copper mine near Cahirdveen in co. Kerry, employed 20 men ; the HoUyford copper mine near Cappaghwhite in co. Tipperary, employed 20 men ; the Ballysinode copper mine near Cappaghwhite in co. Tippemry, oiplojed SO men ; and Annestown lead mine neau: Tramore in co. Waterford, employed 16 men.

    Hr iNxnoDUCTioN,

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 23

44. Ballyhooley castle ruins and Convamore mansion on the Blackwater

    Ballyhooly · town · Cork

    The village of Ballyhooley is crowned by a rock bearing the present parish-church, remains of a former one, and ruins of an ancient and extensive castle of the Roches. After the forfeiture of its original owners, the castle passed to Sir Richard Aldworth. Convamore, the seat of the Earl of Listowel, stands on the Blackwater and was praised for its fine scenery and unrivalled collection of paintings.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    to Doneraile. Area, 17 acres. Pop., in 1831, 533; in 1841, 418. Houses 67- A dispensary here is within the Fermov Poor-law union ; and is one of the very few of which the Commissioners obtained no statistic returns. The present parish-church, the remains of a former one, and the ruins of an ancient and extensive castle of the Roches, all crown a rock at the village ; and, as seen from the adjacent demesne of the Earl of Listowel, they form an excellent subject for the pencil, and give a fine relief to the massive richness of surrounding woods which overhang the winding course of the river. A part of the Nttgle mountains rises behind the village, extensively sheeted with wood, and anciently covered with still greater expanse of forest, called the forest of Ballyhooley, from the castellated mansion of the Roches. This castle, after the forfeiture of its original owners, passed into the possession of Sir Richard Aidworth. Convamore, the seat of the Earl of Listowel, stands on the Blackwater, flings embellishment over much of the parish, and reciprocates groupings of scenery with the hills, and lands, and woods, and hinuous vale around it. Excepting a small proportion of coarse mountain ground, the whole parochial area consists of good land ; and it possesses so varied and expressive a contour as to be almost everywhere richly scenic. Mr. Brewer, speaking of Convamore, 8ays, '* This very handsome mansion is of recent erection, and is highly ornamental to the fine scenery amidst which it is placed. The view from the front of the house is truly admirable. Here the Blackwater is seen winding through noble masses of wood, and conducting the eye to the picturesque spectacle of a decayed castle seated on a lofty eminence upon the border of the waters. Whilst the views from the grounds are thus attractive to the lover of nature, the interior of the mansion abounds in objects calcu^ lated to gratify the admirer of the arts. The collection of paintings here reposited is, we believe, unrivalled in the county of Cork, and ranks among the best in Ireland." — Ballyhooley is a rectory in the <lio. of Cloyne. Tithe composition, £468; glebe, £,57 1*2-. id. This rectory and the vicarage of KiLLATHT [which scc] constitute the benefice of Ballyhooley, and the corps of the prebend of Aghultie. Length, 6 miles; breadth, 3^. Pop., in 1831, n,699. Gross income, £675 123. 4d. ; nett, £556 14s. 5d. Patron, the diocesan. The church was built, in 1774, at the cost of £553 168. lid. Sittings 160; attendance 35. The Roman Catholic chapel has an attendance of 1,800; and, in the Roman Catholic parochial arrangement, is united to the chapel of Castletown. In 1834, the Protestants of the parish amounted to 68, and the Roman Catholics to 2,346; the Protestants of the union to 81, and the Roman Catholics to 3,764; and 4 daily schools in the union, 3 of which were in Ballyhooley, and 1 in Killatby, had on their books 146 boys and 69 girls. Two oif the Ballyhooley schools were nominally in connexion with the National Board, and in receipt of £20 each from local subscriptions. In 1840, these two schools were salaried with respectively £12 and £10 from the Board, and had on their bookg 217 boys and 150 giris.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

45. Ballykelly charter school founded by Earl of Tyrone

    Ballykelly · townland · Derry · 1752–1834

    A charter school for 50 boys was founded in Ballykelly in 1752 by the Earl of Tyrone, with a farm of 29 Irish acres held under the Incorporated Society via the Beresford family and the Fishmongers' Company. By 1834 it taught 112 boys and 100 girls.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    B ALLYKELLY, a village in the parish of Tarnlaght-Finlagan, barony of Kenought, co. Londonderry, Ulster. It stands 2^ mites soutb-west of Newtown-Limavaddy, on the road thence to Londonderry. It has a handsome Presbyterian meeting-house; and a singularly well-supported school. ** Here," says Carlisle, **is a charter school for 50 boys, founded by the Earl of Tyrone, in 1752. The farm consists ot 29 Irish acres, and a considerable quantity of bog, which is holden under the Incorporated Society, who derive under the family of tfae Beresfords, tenants to the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers. According to the Report from the Commissioners of the Board of Education, . Ballykelly charter school appears to be very well situated for a large establishment; the house might be easily added to, and £1,000 would give full accommodation to 150 boys. The country is plentiful, the linen trade flourishing, a wealthy yeomanry,- aod many resident clergymen very near it ; the churdi k close to it; and the situation of the school is healthy.** In 1834, the school was in operation, not for boys only, but also for girls ; and taught reading, writing, arithmetic, book-keeping, and grammar to 112 boys; and reading, writing, arithmetic, and needlework to 100 girls. Its means and method of support are *' a house from the Fishmongers' Company of London, and school rates of 3s. a-quarter for each of the chHdren educated, one-half paid by the Company, and one-half by the parents if able, and the entire by tlio Company if not." Drummond, the residence of A. Sampson, Esq., agent to the Fishmongers' Company,. stands at the village. Walworth Wood, part of tiie Company's estate, and having in its demesne the remains of a castle which the Company erected Im

    BAL

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

46. Bally-lean-cliath: ancient name of Dublin from wickerwork fish weirs

    Dublin · city · Dublin

    Bally-lean-cliath was the ancient name of Dublin, literally meaning 'the town of the harbour of wickerwork,' referring to wickerwork fish weirs once common at the mouth of the Liffey. The humble fishing village formed the nucleus of the subsequent metropolis.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLY-LEAN-CLIATH. the ancient name of Dublin, the metropolis of Ireland. A literal translation is, * the town of the harbour of wickerwork ;* and a free translation, * the town of the fishing harbour.' Wickerwork wiers for catching fish were anciently in general use on the coast ; and owing, perhaps, to their being numerous at the mouth of the Liffey. they suggested the designation of the humble fishing-village, which formed the nucleus of the subsequent metropolis. Ciiath, or cliabtfi, frequently forms part of the names of places which had tishing wiers.

    BALLYLENNAN, a parish in the southern corner or extremity of the barony of West Shelmalier, 7j miles south-west of Taghmon, co. Wexford, Leinster. It contains part of the village of Fooks- MiLLS : which see. Length, 3 miles ; breadth, } ; area. 2,493 acres. Pop., in 1831, 733; in 1841, 710. Houses 122. Pop. of the rural districts, in 1841, 660. Houses 111. The surface has a southern exposure, consists of second-rate land, and is drained by the rivulet which enters the head of Bannow Harbour. The road from Dublin to Bannow traverses the interior, and is overlooked by Rosegar-

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

47. Ballymoon Castle ruins described

    Ballymoon · townland · Carlow · 1096

    Ballymoon Castle, supposed to have been built about 1096, forms a square of roughly 120 feet per side with two square towers on the north and south. The main walls are 31 feet high and 8 feet thick; the interior is utterly dilapidated. Cromwell is said to have battered it down, and armour and diamond beads were found among the ruins.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLYMOON— originally Bealla-Mochwa— B townland in the parish of bunleckney, barony of East Idrone, co. Carlow, Leinster. A great battle, according to traditionary history, was fought here on the 16th of August, 908. The belligerenU on the one side were Cormac-mac-Culinan, king and bishop of Cashel, and the princes of Ossory and Munster ; and, on the other side, Flanii, king of all Ireland, Cearbhal, king of Leinster, and Cathal, king of Connaught. The king of Cashel was slain, six thousand of his followers were cut to pieces, and his crown passed into the power of his conquerors. — Ballymoon-castle, in the townland, is supposed to have been built about the year 1096. Its ruins form a square of about 120 feet on each side, and were formerly surrounded by a moat, which is now nearly obliterated. The interior is so utterly dilapidated that only slender and interrupted vestiges exist of cross walls, and scarcely discernible traces of the bases of a few pillars. Two square towers rise respectively on the north and on the south ; the windows are mere loop-holes, 5 feet high, 4 inches broad, cruciform at top, and in good preservation ; and the entrance is on the we!>t by a cut stone archway, the upper part of which has fallen. The main walls are about 31 feet high, and not less than 8 feet thick, and are covered with earth and grass; and the masonry is of great strength and durability. An idea mav be formed of the extraordinary massiveaess ef the walls from the fact, that a pointed arch leads by stone steps in the bowels of the main wall to one of the loop-holes. The central part of the castle's interior appears to have been always an uncovered area. The castle surmounts the apex of a rocky eminence, yet is so commanded by adjacent heights that it could never have been very formidable to an invading army. Cromwell is said to have battered it dov^ii. Some curious specimens of armour, and a beautiful set of diamond beads, were dug up, a few years ago, from among the ruins.

    BALLMORAN. See Almoritja.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

48. Ballymote Castle captured by Ireton and Coote in 1652

    Ballymote · town · Sligo · 1641–1652

    During the 17th-century civil war, Ballymote Castle was held by the Irish and offered considerable resistance to the reduction of County Sligo. It was eventually captured in 1652 by united forces under Ireton and Sir Charles Coote.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLYMOTE, a small town in the parish of Emlyfadd, barony of Corran, co. Sligo, Connaught. It stands 2 miles east of the river Owenmore, 4 west of the Dublin and Sligo mail-road, 12 northwest of Boyle, and 98 north-west by west of Dublin. It is surrounded by a considerable tract of beautiful fertile hills, whose most conspicuous summit is Kish- Coran. Adjacent to the town are Earlsfield, Ballymote-castle, and the ruins of a small abbey. Earlsfield is the lodge of Sir Robert Gore Booth, Bart., the proprietor of the town. Ballymote-castle, though a ruin, is very regular, and both handsome and strong. It forms a square upon a line of 150 feet; is 60 feet hi^h ; and is flanked and quointed by towers 6 feet thick in the wall, with a strong rampart and parapet all round. It was built in 1300 by Richard I>e Bourg, second Earl of Ulster; and, along with the castle of Sligo, it was in the hands of the Irish during the civil war of the 17th century, and offered considerable resistance to the reduction of co. Sligo; but it was eventually captured, in 1652, by the united forces under Ireton and Sir Charles Coote. Ballymote Abbey was built by the sept of MacDonougn, for Franciscan friars of tne third order ; and, at tho suppression, it was granted to Sir Henry Broncard; and from him it passed to Sir William Taafe. The building seems to have been originally and always small. Its workmanship is in general artistic; and the east window is renwrkably curious. — The town has a considerable interest in the linen manufifictttre ; and serves as a depot of general wares for a comparatively large tract of agricultural country. Fain are held on the last Monday of Jan., May 11, first Monday of June and Nov., Old Style, Sept. 3, and second'Monday of Dec, Old Style. The bridewell contains 2 day-rooms, 2 cells, and 2 yards, and it kept clean and regular. The dispensary is wHhin the Sligo Poor-law union, and has a district of 40,022 acres, with a population of 15,415; and, in l83iM0» it received £143 I2s. 6<1., expended £134 Is. IM., and administered to 1,273 patients. The town giyea name to a Roman Catholic parish in the dia of Achonry. Sec Emltpadd. Area of the town, 40 acres. Pop., in 1831,875; in 1841, 839. Houses 190. BALLYMOTE. a village in the parish of I>on. aghta, and not far from Eyrecourt, barony of Longford, CO. Galway, Connaught. Fairs are held on May 22, Oct. 21, and Nov. 16. Pop. not spedally returned.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

49. Banagher town incorporated by charter of Charles I

    Banagher · town · Offaly · 1625–1800

    The town of Banagher on the Shannon was incorporated by charter of Charles I. Its borough limits extended to Streamstown castle, Garry castle, and the rivers Shannon and Brosna. At the Union, William Brabazon Ponsonby controlled the borough and received £15,000 compensation for the loss of its franchise.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    Banagher enjoys important and far-ramified facilities for trade : it is an advantageous commercial depot for a considerable extent of country on both sides of the Shannon ; it commands the whole of that great river's navigation, downward to the sea, and upward to Lough Allen ; and it stands at only 2 miles distance from the point where the Grand Canal crosses the river, and affords an outlet to Ballinasloe on the west, and to Ihiblin and all intermediate places on the east. It, in consequence, conducts a considerable trade in the export of com and other provisions ; and is also celebrated for its horse and cattle fairs. A weekly market is held on Friday; and fairs are held on May 1, Sept 15, and Nov. 2B, Communication by steam is maintained up the Shannon to Athlone, and down to Limerick. The only land communications in 1838, were one mail-car to Kilbeggan, and another in transit between Roscrea and Ballinasloe. — The town was incorporated by charter of 4th Charles I. The borough limits extended, on the north-east, to the castle of Streamstown, — on the south, to the boundary of the glebe and Garry castle, — on the south-west, to the bridge of Leesmagh, — and on the west and north-west, to the Shannon and the Brosna rivers ; but, under the new arrangement, they go no farther north or northeast than 600 yards from the intersection of the principal streets, — no farther east than to Cuba-house, — no farther south-east than to the new church, — and no farther south-west than to the intersection of the Cloghan castle-road by Hackler's Row. The corporation was called ** The Sovereign, Burgesses, and Free Commons of the borough and town of Bannacher, alias Bannagher ;" and possessed and exercised the power of sending two members to parliament. At the date of the Union, however, the Right Hon. William Brabazon Ponsonby carried the borough in his pocket, wielded all its powers, and received the whole £15,000 of compensation for the loss of its franchise. The corporation, in its forms, its courts, and almost its very name, ceased to exist the instant that it became no longer a legal apology for * the patron * appointing two national legislators. There is no corporate property. In 1S4, the produce of tolls and customs levied at markets and fairs, was let for £40 a-year, and claimed by the Hon. Frederick Pcmsonby, but was under the power of the Court of Chancery. Seven of the county constabulary are stationed in the town. Area, 286 acres. Pop., in 1831,2,636; in 1841, 2,827. Houses 445.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 155

50. Bangor Abbey ruins and Franciscan takeover in 1469

    near Bangor · town · Down · 1469

    By 1469, Bangor Abbey had fallen into ruin through neglect of the abbot, and Pope Paul II commanded that Franciscan friars of the third order take possession. The abbey rivalled Downpatrick in wealth, holding extensive lands across Ardes, Claneboys, Antrim, the Copeland islands, and Raghery.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    f>rior to the date of English interference. The foU owing are specimens : — St. Congal was born in Ulster of noble parentage, was educated in Clonenagh under St. Fintan, and, about the year 555, founded the abbey under a particular rule arawn up and established by himself ; — Cormac, king of South Leinster, immediately became one of the cowled inmates, and continued to be of their number till his death in 567 ; — St. Columbanus received his education in the abbey; — some say that 2,000 monks inhabited the bouse, some even say 3,000, some boldly stretch the number to 4,000 ; and St. Bernard narrates that 900 of them were slain by pirates in one day. The occurrence of Columbanus' name as that of a pupil it hint enough, even though reasons of an hundredfold more force did not exist, that whatever religioui establishment existed was Culdean. The alleged multitudinousness of the inmates seems doubly apocryphal,— the legend of a legend ; for ** it is probable,'* says an author of last century, that *'the credulous St. Bernard was deceived in this account by the Abbot Congan, who furnished him with memoirs for writing the life of Malachy O'Morgair, and that Congan extracted this story from the British history, wherein we are told that Ethelfrid, king of Northumberland, destroyed in one day 1,150 of the monks of Bangor, in North Wales, in the year 007* being instigated thereto by Austin the monk, because they would not submit to the authority of the pope and Austin, although the slaughter was committed two years after Austin's death. ' In 1 120, the abbey was refounded,— or, as seems more probable, a really monastic institution in Bangor, was for the first time established — by some one currently called St. Maiachy ; and, as then organized, its community appear to have been of the Augustinian order. In 1380, an enactment was made in parliament that no mere Irishman should be allowed to make his profession in this abbev. '* The abbot," says ArchdalL, *' en« joyed a towniand in the Isle of Man, called Clenanoy, on condition that he should attend on the king oif that island at certain times. The abbey of Bangor was so gone to ruin in the year 1469, through the neglect of the abbot, that Pope Paul II. commanded that the friars of the third order of St. Francis should immediately take possession of it, which was accordiugly done, says Wadding, by Father Nicholas of that order." This abbey very nearly, if not quite, equalled

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 162

51. Burning of Antrim by General Monroe, 1649

    near Antrim · town · Antrim · 1600–1649

    In 1649, General Monroe burned the town of Antrim. From 1600 until near the close of the 1798 rebellion, the town was the scene of a doleful series of burnings, murders, and battles.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    party of English, is said to have slain in one day near Antrim 3,000 of the Irish ; and, according U> CUrkson, he prepared for the engagement by priming each of his soldiers with wine and ale, and spreading out a profuse banquet of mutton, beef, and venison for the refection of the party who should conquer, — a rather notable instance, if true, of Englishmen fighting best with Dutch courage, and amid the steam of savoury viands! In 1649, the town was bamt by General Monroe ; and, in fact, from 1600 till near the close of last rebellion, it Mras the scene of a doleful series of burnings, murders, and battles. As the Ust action of its sanguinary celebrity is usually called **a dreadful engagement," and *' one of the severe contests which occurred during the unhappy civil disturbances of 1798," we choose to iiarmte it in the words of Gordon: — "The disaffected," says he, ** remained quiet in the noith till news arrived of a feditious commotion in the county of Wexford, v *'*

    ANT

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 121

52. Clare-castle, Gilbertine abbey and 1691 encampment on Mullaghcloe hill

    Mullaghcloe · townland · Westmeath · 1691

    Clare or Mullaghcloe hill is crowned with the ruins of Clare-castle and overlooks the ruins of a Gilbertine abbey at its base. In 1691, the hill served as the British and Dutch army's place of encampment under Generals De Ginkle and Douglas, preparatory to further military operations.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLYMORE, or St. Owen'b of Loughseu- BT, a parish, containing the greater part of a town of the same name, in the barony of Rathconrath, co. Westmeath, Leinster. Length, 6^ mile? ; breadth, 2} ; area, 10,465 acres, 2 roods, 7 perches,— of ■which 91 acres, 1 rood, 24 perches, are in Lough Sunderlin. Pop., in 1831, 3,494; in 1841, 3,487. Houses 614. Pop. of the rural districts, in 1831, 2,984; in 1841, 3094. Houses 540. The surface is traversed by the road from Athlone to MuUingar ; and, though lying near the eastern outer edge of the basin-system of the Shannon, consists of land which the Report before us pronounces to be ** of an excellent quality," and even **the best in Ireland for tillage and pasture." Lou^hseudy, or Lough Sunderlin, which gives the parish the latter part of its alias designation, and also gave the title of Baron in the Irish peerage to the family of Malone, is a beautiful lake, contiguous to the north side of the town, but lying partly within the parish of Killare, and covering a total area of 121 acres, 1 rood, 5 perches. Clare or Mullaghcloe hill is crowned with the ruins of Clare-castle ; overlooks at its base the ruins of a Gilbertine abbe^; and, in 1691, was the British and Dutch army s place of encampment, under Geiierab De Giiikle and Douglas, preparatory

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

53. Con O'Neil's siege of an Ardglass castle, 1537

    Ardglass · townland · Down · 1537

    In 1537, Con O'Neil sent a force under his son into Lecale to besiege a Crown-garrisoned castle at Ardglass, but on learning that the Lord-deputy Gray was preparing to march against him, he desisted and disbanded the force.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    he had marched as far as Ballykinler, he received the submission of the Savages; and that, having both parties now in his power, he grasped as his own and transmitted to his posterity the object of their contention,— Ardglass and the circumjacent country. Such history, while so far as we know the whole of what is authentic, rather obscures than enlightens the questions of the town's ancient importance, and the origin of its fortalices. Nor, after the place is viewed apart from its antiquity and early connections, is there much real history to be told. All the grand and petty customs of the ports of Ardglass and Strangford were granted by Henry VIH. in fee-farm to Gerald Fitzgerald, Earl of Kildare ; and, excepting during the period of the family's attainder, they contin«ed in the possession of the Earl's descendants till 1637, when they were sold to Charles I., and said to be worth £5,000 a-year to the king ; and, by a clause in the Act of Explanation 17 and 16 Charles II., they were confirmed to Charles II. and bis successors. In the reign of Henry VIII., one of the castles of Ardglass, being garrisoned by the Crown, was so galling a check to Con O'Neil, that, in 1537, he sent a force under the command of his son into Lecale to besiege it ; but on learning that the Lord-deputy Gray was m^ng preparations to Hiarch against him, he desisted from his attempt, and caused the force to be disbanded. About the year 1578, a strong garrison was placed in some of the castles by Sir Nicholas Bagnal, marshal of Ireland ; but they were besieged by the O'Neils, and, after a stout resistance, were obliged to surrender. During three years of the Tyrone rebellion preceding June 1601, Simon Jordan valiantly defended Jordancastle against all assailants; and, when eventually relieved by the Lord-deputy Mountjoy, was rewarded for his service both out of the private bounty of the deputy, and by a concordatum from the queen. In the memorable rebellion of 1641, the castles were for some time in possession of the Irish. So greatly and rapidly did the town decline after the close of that rebellion, and the rise of Belfast as a sea-port and the seat of a chief custom-house, that a century later the historian of Down describes it as ** now in a mean condition, consisting only of a few ordinary cabins, and 4 or 5 old decayed castles." This description has been copied or imitated in most topographical notices down to the present <Iay. Yet the town has revived, experiencea great improvement, and become at once a favourite summer retreat of sea-bathers, the rendezvous of an extensive coastline of fisheries, and the scene of considerable bustle and trade.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

54. Dr. Adam Clarke's early struggles in Agherton

    near Port Stewart · town · Derry

    Dr. Adam Clarke, the renowned Methodist preacher and commentator, achieved many of his remarkable early struggles in Agherton parish, where his father was a humble schoolmaster. He later spent much of the latter part of his life at Portstewart.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    AGHERTON, or Ballyaohron, a parish in the liberties of Coleraine, and in the nortbteast comer of CO. Londonderry, IJlstcr. It contains the village of Port-Stewabt: which see. liength, 3^ miles » breadth, 8 ; area, i3,896 acres, 3 roods, 16 perches. Pop., in 1831, 2,746; in 1641, 2,318. Houses 39B, Pop. of the rural districts in 1841, 1,715. House* 296. The Atlantic ocean washes it on the nortli» and the river Bann traces its boundary on the west. See Bann (The). The surface, while variegated and shooting ■ up into hills and acclivities, is in general practicable to the plough, and tolerably product tive in cereal crops. A band of sloping ground on the north is a fine trappean gravel, intermixed witk good dark vegetable mould, and is noted for its fertility, and for its producing such oats and barley at have long been in rcques^> for change c€ seed on claysoil farms of other districts. Stratified knolls of basalt, so indurated and generally so pure as to be very nearly columnar, range inward from the Banii« and terminate, immediately beyond the parochial boundary, in Downhill, the loftiest of the series, overlooking the river's inosculation with tbe sea. Agricultural improvement has of late years, walked over the district, and worked valuable changes in ita farming economy, and upon the aspect of its fields. Qlue marl occurs in the channel of the Bann, and inthe bottom of some dips or hollows. Iron-ore ia not unplentiful ; and, if worked, would probably be remunerating. Agriculture, fishing, and the linen manufacture, are the chief employments. Tbe splendid mansion, or virtual palace, of Downhill, though on the other side of the Bann, flings, with its cognominal hill and glen and dentesne, some influence upon the parish's localities. See Downhxu^ Of mansions within tbe boundaries may be nrntioned Flower-field and O'Hara-castle. On a slope, near the church, stood a castle, which was reputed to have been the abode of the chief Mac Quillan. *' It has lately been pulled down," says the Rev. G. V. Sampson, ** merely to build a ditch. I an ashamed to mention the name or profession of the despoiler. In the grout I found pieces of pit-coal, which confirms the belief that mining is of great antiquity." Dr. Adam Clarke, the well-known and erudite Methodist preacher and commentator^ . achieved in Agherton, where his father was a bumble schoolmaster, manv of those remarkabla stnigglea which issued in his becoming a preacher; and he spent at Port- Stewart much of tbe latter part of faje

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

55. First Presbyterian presbytery in Ireland formed at Carrickfergus

    near Carrickfergus · town · Antrim · 1642

    The first Presbyterian presbytery in Ireland was formed at Carrickfergus in 1642, constituting the nucleus of the Synod of Ulster. This marked the formal beginning of organised Presbyterian church government in Ireland.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    The Presbyterians of Ireland are very numerous in most parts of Ulster, but bulk very inconsiderably in each of the other three provinces, particularly in Connaught. A session, consisting of minister and elders, governs each congregation ; a presbytery, consisting of the minister or ministers, and an elder of each of an indefinite number of congregations, governs each cluster of congregations, and forms a court of appeal from the sessions ; and a general assembly or a synod, consisting of the minister or ministers, and an elder of every congregation, governs the whole body, and forms a court of appeal from the presbyteries. The ministers are appointed by the election of their congregations, or the vote of the majority ; and they are supported partly by regium donum, and partly by salary from the proceeds of seat-rents and voluntary contributions. The regium donum or royal gift was originally a grant, made by Charles II. in 1672, of ^600 a-year of " secret service money," to be distributed in equal portions among the Presbyterian ministers ; it was discontinued towards the close of Charles II.^s reign, and during the reign of James II. ; it was renewed, or rather restored in name and doubled in amount, by William III. ; it was increased in 1784 to £2,200, and in 1792 to £5,000; it was subjected in 1803 to a classification of distribution, inversely proportioned to the amount of ministers* salaries from their congregations ; and it has, at various periods, undergone augmentation till it now amounts to upwards of £25,000. The classification, adopted in 1803, distributed the ministers of both the S3mod of Ulster and the Secession Synod into three classes, and assigned sums to the former of respectively £100, £70, and £50 Irish a-year, and to the latter of respectively £70, £50, and £40, but acted on the extraordinary principle of giving the largest sum to the class who had the largest salary, and the smallest sum to the class who had the smallest salary. In 1831, the classification system was superseded by a rule of giving to every minister £75 Irish. — ^The first presbytery in Ireland was formed at Carrickfcrgus in 1642, and constituted the nucleus of the Synod of Ulster. About 1660, the Synod of Munster was formed. In 1727, the Presbytery of Antrim separated from the Synod of Ulster ; and, in 1829, the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster separated from the same body. About 1780, the Secession Synod, or more properly, the Presbjrterian Synod of Ireland, was formed ; and, in 1840, this body and the Synod of Ulster became mutually united, and took the name of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland. In 1840, the Reformed Presbyterian Synod of Ulster, which had gradually sprung up and expanded, was divided into two parts ; and in the same year, arose a small Presbyterian Secession body out of dissent from the union of the Secession S3mod with the Synod of Ulster, and became very nearly or quite identified with three congregations which had previously dissented from the Secession Synod on the principle of rejecting regium donum. The only other Presbyterian body is one of 8 or 10 congregations, connected with the Original Burgher or Original Seceder Synod of Scotland. The Synod of Munster, the Remonstrant Synod of Ulster, and the Pr^bytery of Antrim, are understood to be chiefly or wholly Arian or Unitarian ; and all the other Presbyterians are understood to be orthodox or Calvinistic. The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland consisted, in 1843, of 457 congregations, 476 ministers with charge, and 82 licentiates and ministers without charge ; and its presbyteries, together with the number of ministers with charge in each, were Ahoghill 15, Ardes 19, Armagh 17, Athlone 5 and two vacancies, Bailieborough 9, Bally bay 12, Ballymena 12 and one vacancy, Banbridge 15 and one vacancy, Belfast 35 and three vacancies, Carrickfergus 11, Cavan 9, Clogher 11, Coleraine 19 and one vacanojy

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 92

56. Gold workings on Croghan Kinshela

    near Croaghanmoira · mountain or mountain range · Wicklow

    Gold was obtained for several years in rather large quantity on the mountain of Croghan-Kinshela in County Wicklow.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    becomes evident that the bottom of the tertiary deposit must be at least 164 feet below the lerel of the sea. The clay district of Lough Neagh is similar to the potter's clay district of Bohvey, in Devonshire ; and pits have been opened in many parts for the purpose of raising pipe day ; but hitherto no beds of a pure white colour have been discovered, at least none which preeerre their white colour when exposed to the heat of the potter's baking furnace ; but there can be no doubt, if proper trials were made in different parts of the district, that pure white potter's clay would be discovered. Potter's clay, similar to that of Lough Neagh, occurs in a valley resting on the carboniferous limestone situated to the south-east of Cahir, in the county of Tipperary ; and many years since, considerable quantities of clay were raised, and exported from thence to the potteries of England. White clay also occurs in a similar position, resting on limestone near St. John's Point, and other localities on the western bank of Lough Ree, in the county of Roscommon." Yesuvian, though of not well developed crystal, has been found at Kilranelagh, in a rock composed of common garnet, quartz, and felspar. Grenalite occurs in a micaceous compound, in the lead mines of Wicklow. The precious beryl has been found embedded in granite near Loughs Bray in CO. Wicklow. Cronebane has been found in the mountains of Wicklow and Dublin. Andalusite occurs in the micaceous schist of Djouce mountain in Wicklow. A mineral nearly allied to andalusite has been found in great abundance at Killincy in co. Dublin. A crystallized mineral of characters very similar to those of indurated talc, accompanies the andalusite of Djouce mountain. Hollow spar, in very distinct specimens, has been found at and near Baltinglass in co. Wicklow. Pitch-stone, traversing granite, occurs near Newry in co. Down. Granular sulphate of baryies, mcoompanied by iron pyrites, has been found on the shore near Clonakilty in co. Cork. Wavellite, Tery similar in its external character and in its analysis to the wavellite of Devonshire, as described bj Sir Humphrey Davy, has been found about 10 miles south-east of the city of Cork. Jaspers of Tarious sizes have been discovered in yellow clay, a few feet below the surface, near the southern extremity of the granite district in co. Kilkenny. Amethysts have been found in the cliffs in the Tidnity of Kerry Head. Transparent crystals, popularly known as Kerry stones, and harder, larger, and more brilliant than Bristol stones, are comparatively abundant in various parts of Kerry. Gold was for several years obtained in rather large quantity on the mountain of Croghan- Kinshela in co. Wicklow. Silver appears to have been obtained in considerable quantities, previous to the Carlist wars of the 17th century, in the lead mines of Antrim, Sligo, and Tipperary. Copper is found at Ross Island in the lower lake of KiUarney ; at Muckross, on the shores of that lake ; at Cronebane and Ballymurtagh in co. Wicklow ; and in some parts of counties Cork, Clare, Mcath, Waterford, and Dublin. Lead occurs near Enniscorthy in co. Wexford ; at Derrynoose in co. Armagh ; near Glendalough in co. Wicklow ; near the city of Dublin ; and in parts of counties Sligo, Antrim, Tipperary, and Donegal Iron ores are plentiful in various parts of Ireland ; and, in the 17th century, they were worked in a number of districts till the circumjacent timber available for smdting was exhausted. The grey ore of manganese has been found in the peninsula of Howth, in various parts of co. Kilkenny, in the Mayo mountains of Glanmore, and in several other counties. Cobalt accompanies the copper of Muckross in co. Kerry ; and a variety of the earth black cobalt ore of Werner, has been found in the peninsula of Howth. Tin stone occurs in Croghanym«h<>U in CO. Wicklow. Porcelain earth, equal in purity to the china clay of Cornwall, has been found in the south-west of co. Wicklow. Mineral springs, chiefly chalybeate, occur in almost every county ; and those most in repute, as the resorts of invalids, are the spa of Ballyspellan near Urlingford in co. Kilkenny, the spa of Lucan near Dublin, the spa of Swanlinbar in co. Cavan, and the spa of Mallow in co. Cork.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 23

57. King William III encamped near Loughbrickland, 1690

    near Loughbrickland · village · Down · 1690

    In 1690 King William encamped within a mile of Loughbrickland and there rendezvoused his forces for the first time in that part of the north of Ireland, drawing them out in two lines as far as Scarva and Poyntz passes. The ground had earlier been stained with the blood of fleeing Protestants.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    Fitzwaters against the Islanders of the north in 1556, preserved in the library of Trinity College. Nearly midway between the first and the second passes is a small lake, called Lough-shark, from its abounding in pike, often provincially termed shark. In 1690, King William encamped within a mile of Loughbrickland ; rendezvoused there, for the first time, his forces in this part of the north of Ireland ; and drew them out in two lines, of respectively horse and foot, as far as Scarva and Poyntz passes. The ground on which the army lay, was, at a prior period, stained with the blood of not a few Protestants who were vainly fleeing before overpowering numbers This parish is a vicarage, and a

    f«parate benefice in the dio. of I>romore. Vicarial tithe composition, £248 18s. Id. ; glebe, £48- Gross income, £296 18s. Id.; nett, £234 08. 2d. Patron, the diocesan. The rectorial tithes are compounded for £497 16s. 2d., and belong to the dean of the cathedral church of Dromore. The church was built in 1668, at an unknown cost, and received the addition of a tower and spire in 1824, at a cost of £461 10s. 9id., granted by the late Board of First Fruits. Sittings 300 ; attendance from 200 to 250. One Presbyterian meeting-house in Loughbrickland is attended by from 350 to 400 ; another in Scarva, by from 200 to 300 ; and a third in Glaskerbeg, by irom 300 to 400. A Primitive Wesleyan meeting-house is attended by 300. One Roman Catholic chapel in Loughbrickland is attended by 1,000; and another in Lisnagad by 750. The parishioners consisted, in 1834, of 1,352 Churchmen, 3,864 Presbyterians, 58 other Protestant dissenters, and 3,903 Roman Catholics. The schools, in 1834, were 13 in number ; they had aggregately on their books 509 boys and 360 girls ; and, excepting one which was aided with £12 by subscription, they were all pay schools. In 1840, the National Board had two schools in Loughbrickland and Meenan, on salaries of respectively £12 and £2 ; and made grants of £126 and £98 toward building and fitting up a boys' school and a girls' school in Ballyvarley.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

58. Knights Templar church at Ballintemple near Cork

    Ballintemple · townland · Cork · 1392

    A church was erected at Ballintemple village near Cork by the Knights Templars in 1392 and was afterwards given to the prior and friars of Gill Abbey. Though the church long ago disappeared, its burial ground remains in use, described by Mr. Croker as retired and romantic, overgrown with dock leaves and nettles.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    BALLINTEMPLE, a village in the parish of St. Finbar's, barony and co. of Cork, Munster. It stands on the south side of the river Lee, about 1 ^ mile east of Cork, on the road thence to Blackrock. A church was erected here by the Knights Templars in 1392, and was afterwards given to the prior and friars of Gill Abbey. Though the church long ago disappeared, its burying-ground is still in use. '* The situation of this cemetery," says Mr. Croker, *' is retired and romantic; and the few tombstones that rise above the large dock leaves and nettles with which it is overgrown, record the names of such villagers as have died in more opulent circumstances than their neighbours. The remains of the humble farmer and the poor fisherman occupy this seduded spot, with the exception of one grave, containing a pair whose melancholy fate and early death throw an interest over the simple tablet that marks their abode." He then narrates a pathetic tale which any curious reader may see on pages 213 — 215 of his ** Researdies in the South of Ireland." Area of the village, 24 acres. Pop., in 1841, 455. Houses 77*

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

59. O'Neil castles & the Holme, Newtown-Stewart

    near Newtownstewart · village · Tyrone · 400–500

    Two extinct castles in the parish of Ardstraw, County Tyrone, traditionally said to have been built by brothers of Henry O'Neil, a storied king of Ulster in the fifth century. One stood near the confluence of the Struell and the Glenelly; the other on an alluvial plain called the Holme, used as the Newtown-Stewart parade and race-course.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    civil parish ; it includes a district in the barony of Omagh; and, in 1831, its pop. amounted to 21,212. Three considerable rivuleta drain the surface; and, becoming confluent, pass away in one stream to pay tribute to the Fovle. See Glenellt, Struell, Derg, Motle, and Mourne. The streams produce both trout and salmon. Three wooded and beauti* ful lakes adorn the demesne of Baron 's-court, and a fourth, called Creevy, and situated near Magherycrigan, is circular, and about a mile in circumference. The surface of the parish possesses such an aggregate of wood, so general a carpeting of verdure and cereal crop, and such a diversified and strongly-featured contour, as to be rich in the number and not poor in the character of ita landscapes. A mountain, called Douglass, shoots up on the north-east border ; tMro mountains, called Bessy Bell and Mary Grey, rise, the one immediately behind Newtown- Stewart, and the other about a mile to the east ; various minor heighta ' finely screen or tumulate the vales ; and a beautiful hill-range extends westward from Newtown-Stewart, crowned in the vicinity of the town with a picturesque old castle, and luxuriantly mantled in other places with groves of oak. Bessy Bell and Mary Grey are bare in the summit and russeted on the sides, but ^reen and arable round the skirta. How or when Inshmen imposed on these mountains names so thoroughly and nationally embalmed in the pathetic ballad associations of Scotland, cannot be ascertained ; but * canny* Scotamen may be pardoned for regarding the affair as one of the unaccountable freaks which distinguish the workings of Uibeniian humour. Antiquarian conjecture, aided by tradition, suggesta that pagan rites called 'Baase' were, in heathen times, performed on the summit of the westerly mountain to Bell, Beal, Apollo, or the Sun ; and that * Baase-Bell,' * the ceremonies of Bell,' was a sound which, subsequent to the celebrity of the Scottish ballad, easily glided into Bessy Bell, and suggested the counterpart of Mary Grey. Bogi, while numerous, are so equally dispersed as rather to serve for an acceptable supply of fuel, than to incumber and dispirit by a display of sterility. Mountains and bogs jointly occupy about one-third of the parochial area; and arable, pasture, and meadow grounds occupy the remainder, in the proportions to one another oi respectively 3, 2, and I. Excellent sandstone is quarried near Douglass Brid^, and sent to distant parts of the country. The pnncipal seat is the noble mansion of Baron's-coort : which see. Other seato are Castlemoyle, an ancient but respectable mansion ; Woodbrook, a neat modern house ; Aldoghal, on an upland site ; and Glennock Cottago, crowning a hill north of Newtown-Stewart, and commanding an exquisite view of the vale and hillscreens of the Struell. The parish is bisected by the mail-road from Dublin to Londonderry; and traversed by various other roads, the chief of whidi radiate from Newtown-Stewart The castle, alreadv alluded to, as surmounting a shoulder of the hillrange west of Newtown-Stewart, is an interesting object, and will be noticed in our account of that town. Two extinct castles, traditionally said to have been built by brothers of Henry O'Neil, a storied king of Ulster in the fifth century, stood, the one near the confluence of the Struell and the Glenelly, on a spot now occupied by a neat circular cottage ornee, and the other on an alluvial and river-girt plain, called the Holme, and used as the Newtown- Stewart parade and race-course. The disappearance of the latter has been ascribed to the propensity of castle-eating, or the vulgar practice of <|uarr}ing «u arehitectural antiquity tor the construction of a modern dwelling, on the i>art of the early inbabitonU uf the town. A suriiving ancient castle, situated op- K

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

60. Religious establishment of St. Columba

    near Armagh · town · Armagh · 610–687

    A religious establishment in Armagh founded in 610 and ascribed to St. Columba was nearly destroyed by fire in 670 and 687, and frequently plundered by the Danes. The last fragments of the Culdean buildings were pulled down in recent memory.

    Read the passage

    Read off the scanned page by machine, so a word here and there is misread. Kept as the reading produced it, not corrected.

    been founded in Armagh by St. Patrick; and a monastery, which affected to be identified with it, afterwards figured as a celebrated Augustinian friary, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. A religious establishment, founded in 610, and ascribed to St. Columba, was nearly destroyed by fire in 670 and 687, and was frequently desolated of its inmates, and plundered of its books, records, and treasures, by the Danes. A Franciscan friary of Minorites was founded in 1263 or 1264, by Patrick O'Scanlain, Archbishop of Armagh, or, according to Allemande, in 1291 by O'Donnel. A Dominican friary is said also to have existed in the dty ; but when, or how long, seems not recorded. Two nunneries, the one called the Church of St. Bridget, and the other called TeampuU-na-feartagh or * the Church of Miracles,' absurdly claim, like the Augustinian friary, to have been founded bv St Patrick. Pretension, in the total absence oi authentic information, even soars so high as to affirm that the Church of Miracles was erected for the use of St. Lupita, the eldest sister of St. Patrick ; that the saintess was interred within its walls; and that her body was identical with one discovered about 140 years ago, inhumed erect between two crosses, deep beneath the rubbish of the nunnery's ruins. In 1612, the Augustinian friary and its possessions were granted to Sir Toby Caulfield, for the nominal rent of £5 Irish ; and, in 1618, the two nunneries were given to Frauds Annesley, Esq. A writer in the Dublin Penny Journal says, '* In our memory, the last fragments of the Culdean buildings," the establishment of St. Columba, ** were pulled down, and the habitable part of the Augustinian monastery, dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul, was levelled to the earth." The remuns of one of the other monasteries, situated within the primate's demesne, were very extensive about the middle of last century, but have been reduced to some tolerably preserved arches and intervening pieces of walL

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 135