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. Aghamore monastery tradition linked to St. Patrick

   Aghamore · townland · Mayo · 500–600

   The name Aghamore is a corruption of Achad-mor, referring to a monastery which apocryphal authority asserts was founded on the site of the ancient church by St. Patrick for his disciple St. Loam. The parish is in the barony of Costello, County Mayo.

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   AGHAMORE, or Aughamore, a parish, 4| miles north of Ballyhaunis, and on the eastern border of the barony of Costello, co. Mayo, Connaught. Length, 7 miles; breadth, 6; area, 22,820 acres. Pop., in 1831, 7,062; in 1841. 7,675. Houses 1,411. The surface is diversified b;^ sofDe small lakes ; and, though generally good hi the quality of its soil, has a considerable extent of bog;. The name Aghamore is a corruption of Achad-mor, and refers to a monastery which rather apocryphal authority asserts to have been founded on the site 9^ the ancient church by St. Patrick for his discipla

   St. Loam This parish is a rectory in the dio. of

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

2. Ancient Augustinian monastery remains at Ballinrobe

   Ballinrobe · town · Mayo · 1337

   At the base of the swell on which Ballinrobe stands, remains of an ancient monastery survive. Archdall records it as a monastery of Augustinian friars, mentioned in the Dominican friary register of Athenry in 1337 as the 'monastery de Roba,' though its founder is unknown.

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   Mftion on the right bank of the river consists almost solely of a short continuation of the tows of cabins along the road to Westport, and of the large tenements and spacious areas of the military barracks. The site of the main body is principally the tablesummit and partly the river-ward slope of a gentle swell ; and between a large portion of it and the stream is an umbrageous and meadowy alluvial pUdn, — Scottice, * a haugh,' — along the edge of which the river trots and frolics in mirthful current. The site of the other section rises boldly but not loftily up from the margin of the stream, and sustains the suites of barracks in airiness and comparative conspicuousness of position. Owing to the flatness of ' the surrounding country, the height of a fair proportion of the town's private houses, the advantageous position of the public buildings, and the isolation of the swells in both portions of the site, the town, as seen from various points at 1^ or 2 miles' distance, look* much larger and more pretending than it really is, and even wears a prominently urban aspect. Though alto^ther inferior to Ballinasloe, Westport, and Ballina, it markedly excels the majoritv of Connaught towns in regularity, cleanliness, and amount of apparent comfort. Yet in real prosperity it has suffered serious reverses : it was once of some county importance, but now shares onl^ such privileges as are common to it with various hlthy little viUages ; and till very recently it was an important and wellgarrisoned military station, but now it pines under the complete and final abandonment of i>oth its cavalry and its infantry barracks. The market-house, fronting the main street, and occupying a comer at the intersection of the long cross street, is a plain yet neat building ; its lower story open, or in piazza style, and its upper story used as court-bouse, schoolhouse, and for miscellaneous public purposes. The cavalry barrack was originally a seat of Lord Tyrawley; and, besides occupving a site of much beauty on the river, is graced with some venerable trees which belonged to the demesne of the mansion, and which now may almost rank as antiquities of ihe town. The bridewell, situated on the outskirts of the town toward Cong, was long in a discreditable condition, but, two or three years ago, was reformed and improved. In ^e Report of 1841, the inspector says regarding it: ** I found this bridewell clean and regular; the diet is expensive, and made more so than is necessary by the average detention of prisoners being three times as long as in bridewells in general." The parish-church, situated in a recess or open area on the east side of the mun street, has a tolerably good appearance ; the Roman CathoUc chapel draws attention only from its capaciousness; and a meeting-house, erected 10 or 1 1 years ago at the expense of J. Fynn, Esq. of Ballymacgibbon, as a place of worship for evangelical Protestant dissenters, bos a mere dwelling-house aspect, and is not noticed in the Report of the Commissioners of Public Insctruction. At the base of the swell on which the main body of the town stands, and on the inner edge of the alluvial plain, are some remains of an ancient monastery. Archdall says it " was a monastery of Augustinian friars ; and in ihe register of the Dominican friary of Athenry, the monastery de Roba is mendoned in the year 1337, but when or by whom founded is not recorded." Numerous remains of churches and castles in the circumjacent country, both in and beyond the parish, seem to indicate that the town anciently possessed considerable importance. Creagh, Currymore, and other mansions in the vicinity, and the stated or occasional residence of several wealthy and influential families in the town itself or its immediate outskirts, still relieve it from mere village or plodding character. The

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

3. Ancient coal workings at Fair Head

   near Benmore or Fair Head · promontory · Antrim

   The collieries on both sides of Fair Head were wrought at a very remote period and may be among the most ancient in the British empire. The only workable bed west of the headland is 4.5 feet thick and was wrought by adits driven inwards at high water mark, some extending over 900 feet.

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   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

4. Ancient sculptured stones at Armagh

   near Armagh · town · Armagh

   Armagh possesses ancient sculptured stones in basso relievo, some depicting figures such as thieves, while others are so obliterated their meaning is uncertain and left to expert antiquarians. The remaining carvings appear to be rude ornamental fret-work rather than distinct characters.

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   thieves, in old basso relievo; the others are so much obliterated, that I leave tbeiv solution to more expert antiquarians ; they appear rather a kind of rude ornanaental fret-work, than any distinct characters." The present n^at market-house was designed at his own expense by Archbishop Stewart. Among the numerous erections of Archbishop Robinson was an assembly-room, which, while dedicated to fashionable dissipation, was yet designed to subserve charitable purposes, but which, as it aware of the incongruity between its objects, he left quite incomplete. The card and supper rooms are on a large scale; the ball-room is 60 feet by 30; and the kitchens and servants' apartments are

   suitably laid out The Mall, already repeatedly

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 137

5. Annalong pier built by proprietor but in bad repair

   near Annalong · village · Down

   A pier was erected at Annalong by the proprietor of the soil, with 12 to 15 feet of water at the head at spring tides. However, relying solely on an annual toll of £1 1s. per vessel, it fell into bad repair, and over 250 inhabitants were reportedly unemployed in 1835.

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   ANN ALONG — anciently Isle -Along — a nioun> tain-torrent, a creek, and a small village and fishingharbour, 5 miles north-east by north of Rilkeel, barony of Mourne. co. Down, Ulster. The creek is the only place, along a considerable extent of bold Highland coast, where fishing vessels can find sfaelter. " As we pass to the southward through this barony of Mourne," says Mr. Nimmo, ** the mountains recede a little, and the country improves in cultivation ; but no kind of sea-port or creek occurs worthy of notice, excepting Annalong. This little village is situated at the mouth of a considerable mountain-stream, which, passing swiftly through a gully in the slate rock, serves to keep off the swell which otherwise would seem ready to bury the small craft that find shelter within. The inhabitants have cut out a little dock in the rock on the south side, which, when I saw it, vns choke-full of little smacks and wherries. Of these there are, belonging to the place, 3 decked and 5 half-decked, containing 166 tons ; also 12 row-boats. The entrance, though narrow, is straight and deep; so that by means of leading marks and lights, the boats can run in pretty safelv. The inhabitants of this place have stated, in their memorial to the Board, the practicability of making an extensive harbour of safety here ; but this is quite out of the question. I think, however, it would be highly advisable to extend this little harbour by excavating a large space in the skerry rocks outside. Estimated expense, £1,428.*' A pier was erected by the proprietor of the soil, and has at its head from 12 to 15 feet water at the top of spring tides ; but, having no other source of support than an annual toll of £1 Is. on each of the few vessels which it shelters, it is in bad repair. Though the village appears to be a prosperous fishing-station, upwards of 250 of its inhabitants are said to have been unemployed in 1835. Pop. not specially returned.

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

6. Archbishop Usher's residence at Balsoon

   Balsoon · townland · Meath

   Archbishop Usher resided and held property in the parish of Balsoon, co. Meath. The parish church is described as an utter ruin situated in the midst of an old cemetery. Balsoon demesne is noted as somewhat antiquated.

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   BALSGON, a parish in the barony of Lower Deece, 4^ miles east-north-east of Trim, co. Meath, Leinster. Length, 1 4 mile; breadth, 1 ; area, 1,269 acres. Pop., in 1831, 311 ; in 1841, 340. Houses 61. The surface lies along the right bank of the Boyne, and consists of good land. Balsoon demesne is somewhat antiquated. Archbishop Usher resided and had property in the parish. The village of Bective Bridge [see that article], stands on the western frontier. — This parish is a rectory, and part of the benefice of Assey, in the dio. of Meath. See Asset. Tithe composition, £69 4s. 7d. ; glebe, £5 12s 6d. The church is an utter ruin, in the midst of an old cemetery. In 1834, the Protestants amounted to 7f and the Roman Catholics to 313.; «nd there was no school.

   BALTEAGH (The;, a rivulet of the barony of Kcnaught, co. Lotidotiderry, Ulster. It rises to the south of Boyd's Mountain, about 1^ mile north-west of the source of the Agivey, one of the principal affluents of the lower Bann ; and it runs 7 miles north-westward to a confluence with the Roe, at a point 2 miles below Newtownhmavaddy. Its bed is in part a calcareous freestone.

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 153

7. Ardagh village antiquity and dilapidation

   Ardagh · parish · Longford

   The village of Ardagh is a very ancient place and the seat of a diocese, but by the 1840s had declined to a mere hamlet. No traces of its former architectural splendour remained, and the cathedral was already in ruins when Harris wrote his continuation of Ware.

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   worthstown, and 5^ south-east by east of Longford. Though a very ancient place, and the seat of a diocese, it is now a mere hamlet. No traces of architectural splendour remain. All that existed of the cathedral, even when Harris wrote his continuation of Ware, was a part of a wall so built as to indicate that the undilapidated edifice had been very small. The poet Goldsmith, when a young man, once loitered on his way between Ballymahon and Edgeworthstown, strayed from the direct road, and found himself benighted on the street of Ardagh. Wishing to find an inn, but inquiring ** for the best house in the place," he was wilfully misunderstood by a wag, and directed to the large old-fashioned residence of Sir Ralph Fetherston. The baronet, whom the poet found seated by a good fire in the parlour, immediately perceived the young man's mistake; and being a humourist and well-acquainted with Goldsmith's family, he for some time encouraged the deception. The incidents of the occasion form the ground-work of the poet's well-known comedy — * Mistakes of a Night.' Fairs are held at Ardagh on April 5 and Aug. 24. Area of the village, 14 acres. Pop., in 1831, 142; in 1841, 165. Houses 29. The Bishopric of Ardagh is generally supposed to have been founded by St. Patrick, the inde&tigable evangelist, whose labours won over the great bulk of the nation to the Catholic faith. St. Patrick, says the current story, founded both the see and an abbey about the year 454 ; and first St. Moel, and afterwards his brother St. Melchus, disciples and nephews of St. Patrick, held the joint office of bishop and abbot. The bishopric now very opportunely drops out of view of the historiographers, and does not re-appear till the commencement of the 13th century. From 1217 till 1603, a list of truly Milesian names — among which appear O'Tormaig, O'Heothy, and Magsamhradhan— is preserved in testimony of a regular succession of bishops. From 1603 till 1742, though twice in the interval made separate, and held, per te, during the life of one bishop, the see was united to that of Kilmore. From 1742 till 1833, though all lying within the province of Armagh, it was held in commendam by the archbishops of Tuam ; and by the act of 1833, it was consolidated with Elphin and Kilmore. The gross amount of episcopal revenue is £3,186 28. 6id. ; the nett amount is £2,977 Us. 3d. The diocese has a dean, an archdeacon, and 4 rural deans, but no chapter. The dean's revenues are identical with those of the benefice of Ardagh ; and the honours of the archdeacon are, in all respects, merely nominaL The diocese is 61 statute miles long, and from 5 to 18 broad ; and comprehends an area of 37]>930 acres. Reckoning its parishes as 27 in number, though ecclesiastically they are 28, twenty-two of them are in Longford, seven in Leitrim, three in Westmeath, three in Cavan, one in Roscommon, and one in Sligo. The 38 parishes are disposed in 26 benefices of one parish each, and 6 of united parishes. Gross income of the benefices, £14,028 Os. 1^. ,- nett, £12,213 Os. 4}d. Twenty-six curates are employed, one each in 11 benefices, arid two or more in 5 benefiees; and they have aggregately an income of £1,981 16s. l|d. Thirty-five churches and chapels-of-ease exist in 25 of the benefices, and have aggregately 9,151 sittings. The other places of worship, are 60 Roman Catholic, 2 Presbyterian, and 9 Wesleyan Methodist. In 1834, the population consisted of 17J02 members of the Established church, 466 Presbyterians, 12 other Protestant dissenters, and 195,056 Roman Catholics, _in all, 2 1 3,236. In the same year, 1 5 schools of the London Hibernian Society, 3 of^he Board of Erasmus Smith, 6 of the Society for Discountenancing Vice, 21 of the Ifational Board, 65 aided or supported

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 121

8. Ardee parish church founded by Roger de Pipard

   Ardee · town · Louth · 1200–1299

   The parish church at Ardee is supposed to have been built by Roger de Pipard at the beginning of the 13th century and given to the Crouched friars. Part of it was destroyed during the Commonwealth period, and the remainder was repaired and renovated.

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   curacy in the dio. of Down. The rectory forms part of the benefice of Inch and corps of St. Andrews' prebend in the cathedral of Down ; and the rectorial tithes are compounded for i:200. The tithes of 6 townlands are reserved for the curacy, and compounded for £264 18s. 9d. Gross income, £277 18d. 9d. ; nett. £260 12s. 8d. Patron, the prebendary of 8t. Andrews. An assistant curate has £150 a-year, and the use of the glebe-house. The church is supposed to have been built in 1500, and repaired m 1650 by private subscription. Sittings 200; attendance 75. The Roman Catholic chapel has an attendance of TOO and up\^'ards, and is served by two oflRriaU's, who serve also the chapel of Witter. In 1834, the parishioners consisted of 173 Churchmen, (»J0 P^e^byte^ians, and 1,429 Roman Catholics; a Sunday school was attended by 27 children ; and 2 daily schools, one of which received £50 a-year from Colonel and Lady H. Forde, had on their books 1 18 boys and 97 girls.

   ARDKILL, a parish in the barony of Carbery, co. Kildare, Leinster. Post-town, Edenderry. Length, 3^ miles; breadth, 3; area, 5,848 acres. Pop., in 1831, 864; in 1841, 1.214. Houses 191. The average value of the land, in common with that of 7 adjacent parishes, is 26s. per plantation acre This parish

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog

9. Ardglass harbour engineering defects and Nimmo's remedy

   Ardglass · townland · Down

   Mr. Nimmo reported that despite money spent on Ardglass harbour, heavy ground-swells from south-east winds made it dangerously turbulent for vessels. He advised cutting a passage across the rocky ledge separating the present from the middle harbour and building a breakwater behind the perch.

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   effect Bucli improvements as exist, and much more — more than was at their command — has been asked of the Commissioners of Public Works for the execution of various other plans. " It is to be regretted," says Mr. Nimmo, **that after all the money which has been expended upon this harbour, it is still far from answering expectation. When south-east winds set in, which are the most violent on this coast, the deep water being near, a heavy ground-swell runs into Ardglass, and being brought up in a short space by the ledge of the perch-rock, is deflected into the cove forming the present harbour, which, being so much bounded by wall, and steep rock, becomes excessively turbulent ; the craft thump much on the bottom, and can with difficulty hold on with all their tackle ; nor is there any means of escaping at such times into any of the other coves of the bay, so that vessels are frequently seriously damaged." He then points out the defective or erroneous construction of the present works, and proceeding to suggest a remedy, adds : ** My advice would be to cut a passage across the rocky ledge which separates the present from the middle harbour, as far as the opening behind Maggy's Rock, all of which is accessible at low water, and build with this a breakwater on the outer and broader part of the ledge behind the perch. The run having then room to pass away into the middle harbour, and out at its present entrance, would be vastly diminished near the present pier ; and vessels which lie uneasy there, might pass away into the middle harbour when the tide made, lie behind the breakwater aforesaid, or even go on to Kimroer's Port. Again, vessels coming in with too much way to luff up clear of the perch-rock, might go on, enter by the middle harbour, and bring up to the pier by the new passage." In 1827, the port possessed 4 sloops, 2 packets to the Isle of Man, 19 herring smacks of 20 or 25 tons each, and 30 yawls. In 1830, as the rendezvous of the Down fisheries, it had 39 decked vessels of aggregately 1,128 tons, 100 halfdecked vessels of 1,231 tons, 69 open sail-boats of 412 tons, and 300 row-boats of 1,200 tons ; and employed 2,441 fishermen. The export trade of the town, iu its ancient time of prosperity, was for the most part conducted through Killough Harbour, a mile distant, on a straight line ; and that place was, in consequence, called by Speed the Haven of Ardghiss. See Killough. Even yet the trade of the two places, landward and seaward, is so blended as to be treated cumulatively in all the estimates we have seen of its amount. In 1835, the total of carriage inland from the two places was 2,820 tons, and consisted chiefly of coals and manure ; and the total of carriage from the interior to them was 13,700 tons, of which 10,000 were for exportation, 1,800 were stone, lime, and turf, and 1 ,900 were articles, chiefly agricultural produce, for local consumption. In the same year, the estimated value of imports was X2,970, of which £2,860 was for coal, culm, and cinders ; and the estimated value of exports was £35,161, of which ^£21.770 was for corn, £8,846 for potatoes, £3,275 for cows and oxen, £768 for flax and tow, and the rest for horses, kelp, linen, butter, and eggs. A light-house at Ardglass exhibits a fixed light, red toward the sea, and bright toward the harbour. The disbursements on account of it in 1840 amounted to £269 Is. 9(1. In 1839-40, a dispensary in the town, under the Downpatrick Poor-law union, received £145 19s , expended £159 178. Ijd, administered to 520 patients, and served for a district containing a pop. of 8,021, and comprehending an area of 16,553 acres. Ardglass formerly gave the title of Earl to the family of Cromwell, and afterwards that of Viscount to the family of Harrington. Area of the town, 3 1 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,162; in 1841, 1,066. Houses 199.

   Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

10. Ardsalla monastery founded by St. Finian

    Ardsallagh · townland · Meath · 500–1600

    A monastery or religious establishment is said to have been founded at Ardsalla early in the 6th century by St. Finian of Clonard. The estate later formed part of the landed property of the Nangles, Barons of Navan, before passing by marriage to the Ludlow family in the early 17th century.

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    demesne of ArdsalU combine with the adjacent ones of Bellinter greatly to ornament the banks of the Boyiie. Ardwlla demesne, however, seems to be as ill kept as it is delightfully situated. The estate anciently formed part of the extensive landed property ot the Naiigles, Barons of Navan, but passed by marriage, early in the 17th century, into the possession of the family of Ludlow. In 1719 and 1727» Peter Ludlow represented Meath in parliament; and in \755 and 1760, his son was created successively liHron Ludlow, Viscount Preston, and Earl Ludlow. A monastery, or religious establishment of some sort, is $iaid to have been founded at Ardsalla, early in the

    6th century, by St. Finian of Clonard This parish

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 122

11. Armagh Cathedral school endowed by Archbishop Beresford

    near Armagh · town · Armagh

    The cathedral school in Armagh, attended by 12 choir boys and 30 private pupils, was endowed by Archbishop Beresford for the education of choir boys and provided the master with a £75 salary.

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    New Holland, Anneville, Rosebrook, TuUamore, Kappa, and Ellin Park. — Armagh parish is a rectory in the dio. of Armagh. Tithe composition, including that of the district or parish of Grange, £500. Within each of the other four parishes which jointly with this constitute the benefice of Armagh, is a perpetual curacy of its own name; partly within one of them is the perpetual curacy of Armagh- Breague; and partly within two others is the perpetual curacy of Killyleagh. See Armagh-Breagce and Killti.eagh. Gross income of the benefice, £2,187 Os. lOd. ; nett, £1,457 14s. lO^d. Patron, the diocesan. The dean of Armagh cathedral has long, by usage, but not by statute, held the incumbency. The statistics of the union will be given separately in the notices of the respective parishes. Two stipendiary curates in the parish of Armagh have each a stipend of £75 ; and, in addition, the one receives £150, the other £25v from the archbishop. The parish-church is the cathedral. Sittings 750; attendance 500. St. Mark's chapelof-ease was built in 1832, at the cost of £3,691 1 8s. 2d. ; of which £1,900 was lent by the late Board of First Fruits, £262 given by Archbishop Beresford, and £1,529 18s. 2d. raised by parochial assessment and sale of gallery pews. Sittings 1,134; average attendance 450. One Presbyterian meeting-house, formerly in connection with the Synod of IJlster, is attended by 800 ; and one, formerly Secessional, is attended by from 100 to 150. An Independent meeting-house is attended by 90. Two Wesleyan Methodist chapels are not reported on. A Roman Catholic chapel is attended by 1,912; and,, in common with two chapels in Grange and Eglish, has 4 officiates. In 1834, the parishioners consisted of 3,586 members of the Estoblished church, 1,588 Presbyterians, 44 other Protestant dissenters, and 5,546 Roman Catholics ; and, in the same year, 18 daily schools had on their books 556 boys and 567 girls. One of the schools, attended by 105- boys and 84 girls, has about £100 a- year from an endowment by the late Archbishop Stewart, and £31 10s. from the present archbishop and Mr. Stewart ; and about 160 of the scholars are clothed, 15 of them by the dean. Another, the charter female school, attended by 10 or 12 girls, all of whom are elothed and boarded, was founded by the widow of the late Dean Drelincourt, and endowed by the late Archbishop Stewart. Another, the cathedral school^ attended by 12 choir boys and 30 private pupils, was endowed by Archbishop Beresford for the education of choir boys, and yields the master a salary ef ^£75^ Five were private schools for general female education ; and 3 were private schools for the classical education of boys. A boys' and girls' school in connection with the National Board, yet managed by a local committee,. is aided with £50 a-year from the Board, and a sum not named from subscription ; and it was attended, in 1833, by a large number of scholars, in (■onsequence of a partial distributioa of clothing, in 1835 by 138 boys and 272 girls, and in 1840 by 294 boys and 275 girls. Since 1835, the National Board have opened a second boys' and girls' school in the eity, and salaried it with respectively £20 and £15. The roval school or college is not included among the daily schools, and will be noticed in. the next article.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 132

12. Athassel village burned twice by armed force

    Relickmurry and Athassel · parish · Tipperary

    Athassel village was burned twice by an armed force, though the text gives no further details of the incidents or dates. The parish of Athassel and Relickmurry eventually became blended into a single parish.

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    Athassel village was twice burned by an armed force. The parish of Athassel and the pari^ of Relickmurry, or Religmurry, were at one time distinct At present, however, they are so united, or rather blended, that two of our highest or final authorities designate them * the parish of Athassel and Relickmurry,' another ' the parish of Athassel, or Relickmurry,' and another ' the parish of Religmurry.' — This parish is a rectory in the dio. of Cashel. Tithe composition, ^550. Yet the tithes of three townlands, the value of which is iK)t reported, are impropriate, and held under lease from the vicars choral of St. Patrick's, Cashel. Athassel rectory, jointly with the rectories of Ballt- GRIFFIN and Dangandaroam [which see] constitute the benefice of Athassel. Length, 6 miles; breadth, 2}. Gross income, £886 8s. 7d. ; nett, £684 ds. Id. Patron, the diocesan. The church was built in 1808, by parochial assessment, at a cost not known; and a tower was added in 1815 by means of a loan of £646 Ss. Id. from the late Board of First FruiU. Sittings 180; attendance 80. The Roman Catholic chapel has an attendance of 1,450, and shares with the chapel of Kilfeacle the care of two officiates. In 1834, the Protestants of the parish amounted to 209, and the Roman Catholics to 5,587 ; the Protestants of the union to 215, and the Roman Catholics to 7,375 ; and the daily schools of the union to 7 ; attended by 296 boys, and 184 girls. Six of the schools were in Athassel parish ; and one of these was aided with free school-house, dwelling-house, 2 acres of land, and jt* iO a-year from Lady Elisabeth Matthews.

    ATHBOY (The), a rivulet of the co. Meath, Leinster. It rises near Crosskeys in the barony of Demifore, and runs an easterly and south-easterly course of 13 miles past the to\vn of Athboy to the Boyne, at a point 2\ miles above Trim.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

13. Ballinafad Castle ruins, Sligo

    Ballinafad · townland · Sligo

    Near the village of Ballinafad at the base of the Curlew hills stand the ruins of a castle. Tradition attributed it to the MacDonoughs, but it was actually built by Captain John St. Barbe, who died in 1628.

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    B ALLINAFAD. a village in the parish of Aughanah, barony of Tiraghrill, co. Sligo, Connaught. It stands at the base of the Curlew hills, near the head of Lough Arrow, and on the mail-road from Dublin to Sligo, about 4 miles north-north-west of Boyle. In its vicinity are the ruins of a castle said by Grose to have been built by the MacDonoughs, but really built by Capt. John St. Barbe, who died In 1628. Area of the village, 12 acres. Pop. in 1831,155. Houses 32.

    BALLINAFAD, a townland and a hamlet in the parish of Clonfinlough, 2( miles south of Strokestown, barony and co. of Roscommon, Connaught. The townland comprises 125 acres. Balliiuifadcastle, some ruins of which are still visible, was the seat of one of the two rival chieftains of the sept of O'Connor. A fair is held at the hamlet on Aug. 27. Pop. returned with the parish.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 148

14. Ballinamore, Leitrim: thriving market town and canal survey

    Ballinamore · town · Leitrim · 1839–1841

    A post and market town in the parish of Outragh, co. Leitrim, noted for its clean, airy, and prosperous appearance compared to other Connaught towns. In 1839, W. T. Mulvany surveyed three lines for a projected junction canal between the Erne and Shannon; the Ballinamore line passed close by the town.

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    BALLINAMORE, a post and market town iu the parish of Outragh, barony of Carrigallen, co. Leitrim, Connaught. It stands half-way between Lough Garadice and St. John''s Lough, on the road from Carrick-on-Shannon to Belturbet, about 12^ miles north-west of Carrick-on-Shannon, and 71 north-west of Dublin. Compared to the imjorityof Connaught towns of its sice, or even of a size larger^ it has a remarkably clean, airy, comfortable, and prosperous appearance. Its markets are crowded and bustling, and seem to hare rapidly^ nursed it into a thriving condition. It derives importance also from being a sessions' town. A bridewell ia the town contains but few cells, and 2 day H)oms« the one for males and the other for females ; and is designed simply for the accommodation of a few prisoners, previous to their fiaal committal and tratismission to the county gaol. In 1839-40, a dispensary here, belonging to the Mohill Poor-law union, received £103 10s., expended £109 5s. 6d., administered to 1,967 patients, and served for a district of 43,914 acres, with 20,419 inhabitants. Schools and places of worship will be noticed in the article Outragh-: which see. Area of the town ^1 acres. Pop., in 1831, 312; in 1841, 946. Houses 146. Of three lines surveyed in 1839, hy W. T. Mulvany, civil engineer, for a pnojected junction canal between the rivers Erne and Shannon, one passes close by the town of Ballinamore, and is called by Mr. Mulvany the Ballinamore line. This line leaves the Shannon at the harbour proposed to be formed ai Leitrim, by the Shannon Commissioners, as the northern termimis of the inland steam navigation of the Shannon ; it proceeds up the valley of the Leitrim river, to the summit-level at Letterfine, where the average depth of cutting to obtain the requisite supply is but 13^ feet for a length of 2,400 yards ; it descends gradually falling ground along the yalle^ of Bidlinamore to the Erne a little above Belturbet ; and steam navigation along the Erne would oonnect its eastern terminus with the entrance of the Ulster canal at Wattle-bridge. The summit-level is 220 feet above the level of the sea; the catchment basiM contains 670 acres of lakes, available as reseriK)ir% and eomprehends an entire area of U},320 acres ; and the total rise and fall from the summit-level to the termini, 4s about 150 feet, and requires about 16 locks. Through this canal, even the rich agricultural district around the town of Boyle in co. Roseominon, would send the greater part of its produce to the ports of Newry and Belfast.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 148

15. Ballinlaw-Ferry castle of the Fforstall and Aylward families

    Ballinlaw · townland · Kilkenny

    A square tower or castle still stands at Ballinlaw-Ferry near the confluence of the Suir and the Barrow. It was built at an early period by the Fforstall family and passed by marriage into the possession of the Aylward family.

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    BALLINLA W-FERRY, a small village near the confluence of the Suir and the Barrow, and in the barony of Ida, Igrin, and Ibercon, co. Kilkenny, Leinster. A square tower or castle, which still stands here, was built at an early period by the Fforstall family, and passed by marriage into the possession of the family of Aylward. The surrounding scenery is extremely rich.

    BALLINLESS. a village in the parirth of Killevey, barony of Orior, co. Armagh, Ulster. Posttown, Newry. A Roman Catholic chapel in the village serves aUo as a National school. Some curious evidence respecting this school occurs in pages 399, 404, and elsewhere of the * Report from the Select Committee, on Plan of Education, Ireland.* published in 1837. Pop. returned with the puri^b•

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

16. Ballintoy village and its maritime landmark

    near Ballintoy · town · Antrim

    The village of Ballintoy occupies a bold and romantic site on a barren and denuded shore on the north coast of Antrim. Its church steeple serves as a conspicuous object and a useful landmark for mariners navigating the bleak coastline.

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    BALL IN TOY, a parish containing a Tillage of the same name, on the north coast of the barony of Carey, and of the county of Antrim, Ulster. It extends 5 miles along the shore, and 3 into the interior. Area. 12,753 acres, 3 roods, 22 perches. Pop., in 1631, 4,662; in 1841, 4,616. Houses 901. The coast-district consists, for the most part, of good land ; but the interior districts are, to a large extent, but decreasingly moorish and boggy. Knocksoghy hill rises behind the village ; and though partly rocky, and generally coated with much furce and heath, is all fit for pasture. Crooghmore, or ' the large stack,* rises abruptly to the height of 471 feet abo?e sea-level ; is arable on its skirts, and verdant on its sides ; consists solely of basalt, and has some basaltic columns near its summit ; is crowned by a large sepulchral cairn ; and figures conspicuousl v in a great expanse of landscape. Woods and thickets do not exist; and even niigle trees are scarce. The rirulets Dunse verick and Inover drain the surface, and drire 2 or 3 mills. Salmon fisheries exist at Port Braddon, Carickarede, and Lanybaan ; and glashen, grey^uniet, and cod, are caught in great plenty; and various other kinds of fiith, in considerable quantity, along the coast. Basalt, capable of being as neatlv dressed with the hammer as if cut with a diisel, is extenyively quarried. Indurated chalk, used as limestone, abounds in the sea-board townlands of Ballintoy, Magherabuy, Clegnagh, Limeneagh, and Balliiiastrail. In 1756, wood coal was diMcovered in the hill above the village, and worked with such effect as to supply the salt-works of Portru<»h and Coleraine ; it resembles charred wood, has a ftmell resembling that of rotten timber, and usually occurs in veins of from 2 or 4 inches to 5 feet thick, alternating with beds of basalt; but though used freely for burning chalk, and occasionally lor fuel, it \i much depreciated on account of its disagreeable odour. In the townland of Templestragh an old church, supposied to have been that of the parishes of Ballintoy and Billj^ before they were divided, stands in ruin ; and in its vicinity are two pieces of burj-ing-ground. Raths, moats, Druidical temples, caves, and other similar antiquities, exist Mr. Atkinson, after observing that the parishioners, so hr as appears from the account in Mason's Statistical Survey, had no lawyer, no physician, and only one minister, and vet were prosperous, remarks: " How it is that they have lived so long without priests, lawyers, and physicians, we beg them to expluin for the good of their wretched country ; for undoubtedly it is an anomaly in the history of Europe ; indeed the record of this parish ought to be placi'd in the museums of that quarter of the world, as a philosophical curiosity. The antiquities of this p«ri>h are no less remarkable: among them, are hatchets of stone, flint, and brass, bracelets, fibuUe, bnt.* ^-ases, and other articles of remote antiquity ; as also urns filled with burned bones ; but the most interenting to us, of all those antiquities, is that of a gold coin of Valentiuian, which was brought to the niini>ter, in perfect preservation, and was in his custody a few years since." The village of Ballintoy stands 4 miles north-west of Biillvcastle, 6 east oif Bushmills, and 44 north-north-west of Belfast. Area, 12 acres. Pop., in IftSl, 278; in 1841, 810. Houses 65. The village occupies a bold and romantic site on an impresMvely barren and denuded shore ; and the steeple of its church is a conspicuous object in so bleak a view, and has become a useful landmark to mariners. Fairs are held on June 3, Sept. 4, and

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

17. Ballycastle trade figures, 1835

    near Ballycastle · town · Antrim · 1835

    In 1835, Ballycastle's trade amounted to £1,791 in exports and £2,030 13s. 3d. in imports, comprising kelp, corn, meal, potatoes, cattle, calf skins, coals, culm, iron, slates, oak-bark, salt and tin plates. Total inland carriage to the town was 9,950 tons.

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    trance. " It appears to me," says Mr. Nimmo, " that the harbour ot Ballycastle may he recovered and retained at no great expense. The mouth or entrance was originally laid too near the sands ; and the river being turned off, the sand carried down thereby to the entrance was necessarily deposited by the sea in the still water within the harbour. To obviate this, we should build a breakwater, with paved face, from the head of the present east pier obliquely, to the rock at tail of West Head, finish that head, turn in the river, and make a pent of all above the Salmonhouse, or even the lime-kiln ; and, after some scouring, the sand will certainly lower greatly. I do not promise more than a bar harbour ; though there it good reascm to expect the same or greater depth than at first. The ledge on the north-west keeps off the ocean swell ; and, under its lee, a safe entrance will be obtained. It will also afford a place for warping rings. The expense nuiy be about £5,000 Irish. * " It may not be amiss," says the Guide to the Giant** Causeway, " to mention why Ballycastle claimed the advantage of a pier, erected at the public charge, and therefore whether a second effort should be made to accomplish its construction. The exports of Ballycastle were coal ; earth used in China manufactories, equivalent to kaolin; this was procured on Fair Head ; granite from Ballypatrick Mountain, resembling petunse, also used in the composition of china; potters' clay, brick clay, and excellent fire stones ; sand for glass making ; kelp^ and manganese. To these may be added freestone, limestone, and flints. From this enumeration it is obvious that the wealth of Ballycastle is of an inexhaustible, imperishable nature, and such as to render it a matter of public benefit to re-establish this harbour, upon sucn improved principles that the biUows of the ocean shall roar against it in vain." The trade of the town was not quite extinguished by the ruin of the harbour ; and, in 1835, amounted, in the estimated value of exports and imports, to respectively £1,791, and ^£2,030 13s. 3d. The exports consisted of 109 tona of kelp, 179 tons of corn and meal, 201 tons of potatoes, 35 head of cattle, and 96 untanned calf skini ; and the imports consisted of coals, culm, cinders, iron, slates, oak-bark, salt, tinned plates, and other articles. The total estimated inland carriage from the town amounted to TOO tons, — and to the town, to 9,950 tons ; and the latter consisted of 500 tons for exportation, 1,350 for local consumpt as food, 150 of exciseable shop and imported articles net received by direct importation, and 7,950 of stone, lime, turf, flic. In 1838, the public conveyances were a mail car to Cushendall, and 2 caravans to Coleraine. Fairs are held on July 15, Aug. 29, Nov. 3, and Dec. 1.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

18. Ballygelly basaltic cliff and Carncastle ruin

    Ballygelly · townland · Antrim

    A basaltic cliff and headland on the Antrim coast, consisting of incipiently columnar strata whose pillars measure 8 to 10 feet between joints, all dipping towards the land. Upon a bold, periodically insulated rock at its base stands the curious ruin of Carncastle, while the view from the highway encompasses Shaw's castle and the dark precipitous hills called the Salagh Braes.

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    BALLYGELLY, a basaltic cliff and headUnd in the parish of Camcastle, 4^ miles north by west of Larne, barony of Upper Glenarn, co. Antrim, Ulster. It consists of basaltic strata, incipiently columnar. The rudely formed pillars which compose the strata measure from 8 to 10 feet between the ioints ; and, in common with kindred f trata along the whole of the Antrim coast, they all dip towards the land. Upon the summit of a bold and periodically insulated rock at the base of the cliff stands the curious ruin of Carncasti^: see that article. A view from the highway, a little to the north, has the headland as a prominent feature, and is extremely grand. Ballygelly appears, in that view, to rise abruptly* or with an almost mural ascent from the sea; while the shore makes a large semicircular sweep from its base by Shaw's castle, and forms a magmiicent estuary, and a continuous range of dark precipitous hills, called the Salagh Braes, constitute an imposing background.

    BALLYGIBBON, a parish in the north-east comer of the barony of Upper Ormond, 4 miles north-east of Nenagh, co. Tipperary, Blunster. Length, 2 miles ; breadth, 1 mile ; area, 3,294 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,074; in 1841, 1,321. Houses 219. The sur&ce lies on the eastern frontier of the county, declines to the west, and consists, for the most part, of inferior land. The seats are Ballygibbon, Buntis, and Ballycapple. — This parish is a rectory, and part of the benefice of Balltmacket [which see], in the dio. of KUlaloe. Tithe composition, £101 10s. 9|d. In 1834, the parishioners were all Roman Catholics ; and there was neither church, chapel, nor school.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

19. Ballyhalbert fishing harbour and bay

    Ballyhalbert · townland · Down

    The villagers of Ballyhalbert were actively engaged in the herring fishery, with numerous vessels of various types. Nimmo described the failed small boat harbour at Ballyhemlan and proposed a better pier at Sandyland bay near Bur Island, estimating costs of £250–£2,000.

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    BALLYHALBERT, a parish, containing a village of the same name, about the middle of the east coast of the barony of Ardes, co. Down, Ulster. Length, 3 miles; breadth, 2; area, 4,011 acres, 3 roods, 39 perches. Pop., in 1841, 2,656. Houses 502. The land is generally of good quality. The principal mansion is Echlinville. The village of Ballybalbert is situated on the coast, 9 miles south by east of Donaghadee. Area, 16 acres. Pop., in 1831, 322; in 1841, 361. Houses 68. The villagers are actively engaged in the herring.fishery ; and, several vears ago, had 5 carrying sloops and bounty vessels, 14 smacks and wherries, and 12 yawls. A bay, of no great extent of indentation, sweeps from the alternately dry and submerged ledge of Wallace Rock on the north, round bv the site of the village, to a headland and the small isle called Bur Island on the south. During summer, the tishing.vessels anchor in this bay, in front of the village; but during winter, they require to lie haulea up. ** Near the north end of the village," says Mr. Nimmo, "are some rocks on the shore, at a place called Ballyhemlan. A sm.ill boat harbour was attempted here lately by the inhabitants, but is now ifl total ruin. It might be replaced for about £250; or rather a better one, in my opinion, might be formed, with the opening on the south side of the rock, for about £300, and would be a harbour to leeward for a few boats, when the road of Ballybalbert was unsafe. * * On the other side of the town, the point of Bur Isle running out makes a little bay, called Sandyland, which is rather more inviting; and here a tolerable pier may be made: the cost, in rough stone, will be about £2,000, to cover an extent of 1 J acre." Near the village stood a Benedictine monastery, founded about the commencement of the 13th century, by Sir John de Courcy, and popularly called the Black Abljey. The property of the monastery, consisting of three

    BAL

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

20. Ballymena workhouse construction

    near Ballymena · town · Antrim · 1840–1843

    The Ballymena Union workhouse was contracted for in November 1840, intended to cost £6,600 for building and £1,800 for fittings, on a 6-acre site purchased for £602. By February 1843 it remained unopened, with total union expenditure then at £695.

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    Its electoral divisions, with their respective pop. In 1831, are, Ballymena, 5,644; Kirkinriola, 2,961 1 Oalgorm, 5,121; Ballyconnelly, 2,314; Aboghill, 3,634; Portglenone, 3,756; Lisnagarran, 3,104; Dunminning, 2,573; Glenbuck, 2,000; Dundermot, 1,069; Clough, 2,603; Newtown-Crommelin, 1,640; Glenravil, 1,593; Broughshane, 3,406; Longmore, 1,476; Slemish, 2,4&; Glenwherry, 1,358; Ballyclug, 3,182; Kells, 5,708; Cloghogo, 2,579; Dunmanaway, 2,668; Ballyscullion, 3,351; and Toome, 2,743. The number of ex-ofllicio and of elected guardians is respectively 6 and 28 ; and of the latter, 3 are returned by the division of Ballymena, 2 by each of the divisions of Oalgorm, Portglenone, and Kells, and 1 by each of the othe** divisions. The total nett annual value of property rated is £96,425 lOs. ; the total number of persona rated is 11,500; and of these, 1,565 are rated for a valuation not exceeding £1, — 1,739, not exceeding £2, — 961, not exceeding £3, — 974, not exceeding £4, — and 722, not exceeding £5. The workhouse was contracted for on Nov. 9, 1840, — to be com* pleted in May, 1842,— to cost £6,600 for building and completion, and £1,800 for fittings and contingencies,— to occupy a site of 6 acres, 4 perches, purchased for £602 10s., — and to contain accommod^ tion for 900 paupers. On Feb. 6, 1843, the workhouse was still unopened ; and the total expenditure of the union up to that date was £695 4s. lid. The only medi(^ charities are two dispensaries at Toome Bridge and Aboghill.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

21. Ballywilliam fishing creek near Copeland Islands

    Ballywilliam · townland · Down

    Ballywilliam is a creek and fishing-station on the north-east coast of the barony of Ardes, Co. Down, confronting the Copeland Islands between Portaferry and Donaghadee. Fishermen formed shelter between two ledges of rock, and the place once had five cutter-rigged smacks and four yawls. Nearby is Ballywilliam Cottage, the residence of Lady Charlotte Jocelyn.

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    BALLYWILLIAM, a creek and fishing-stotion on the north-east coast of the barony of Ardes, co. Down, Ulster. The creek confronts the Copeland Islands, and is situated between Porta vo and Donaghadee. Some shelter has been formed by the fishermen between two ledges of rock. A few years ago the place had 5 cutter-rigged smacks, of 6 or 7 tons each, and 4 yawls. Mr. Nimmo reported that an artificial improvement of the harbour, at the small cost of £200, would enclose about one-third of an acre, facilitate communication to the Copeland Islands, and shelter boats on the north side of the Bush Rock, when wind or tide prevents them from getting down to Donaghadee. In the vicinity is Ballywilliam cottage, the residence of Lady Charlotte Jocelyn.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 153

22. Banagher's Shannon trade and navigation

    Banagher · town · Offaly

    Banagher served as a commercial depot commanding the whole navigation of the Shannon, downward to the sea and upward to Lough Allen. It stood 2 miles from where the Grand Canal crosses the river, affording outlets to Ballinasloe and Dublin, and conducted considerable trade in corn and provisions.

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    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

23. Banduff castle, O'Donovan stronghold and Morris family seat

    near Banduff · townland · Cork

    Banduff, one mile north-west of Rosscarbery, comprises a mansion and an ancient castle. The mansion has been the seat of the Morris family for several generations and crowns a rock rising from a picturesque vale; the attached ancient castle was formerly a stronghold of the O'Donovans.

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    BANDUFF, a mansion and an ancient castle, 1 mile north-west of Rosscarbery, western division of the baronv of East Carbery, co. Cork, Munster. The mansion has been for several generations the teat of the Morris family ; and is an old but romantically situated pile. It crowns a rock which rises from a small and picturesque vale ; and attached to it it the ancient castle, formerly a stronghold of tho O'Donovans.

    BANFOOT-FERRY, a locality on the south

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 160

24. Bangor incorporated by charter of James I

    near Bangor · town · Down · 1612

    Bangor was incorporated by charter of 10 James I, with borough limits including the town and surrounding district. The corporation, called the Provost, Free Burgesses, and Commonalty, was long dominated by the Ward family and excluded Roman Catholics prior to the Reform Act.

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    Bangor whs incorporated bv charter of 10 James L The borough limits originally included the town, and a small surrounding district, the exact boundaries of which ceased to be known; and they now include a pentagonal area, containing the town and merely as much interspersed ground as lies within straight lines drawn from the extremities of the streets. The corporation is called, " The Provost, Free Burgesses, and Commonalty of the Borough of Bangor ;" and consists, according to the charter, of a provost^ 12 tree burgesses, and an unlimited number of freemen. During raa/iy years previous to the Reform act, the corporation %vas exclusive of Roman Catholics, and consisted of members, Crieoda, and dependents of the Ward family; and, at the date of that act, 10 of the free burgesses were members of the Established church, and the other 2 were Protestant dissenters. Previous to the National Union, the provost and free burgesses returned two members to parliament; and at the borough's disfranchisement, the one-half of the £15,000 of compensation money was given to Henry Thomas, £^rl of Carriek, and the other half to the Hon. Edward Ward and Sir John Parnell, Bart., committees of the estate of Nicholas, Viscount Bangor, a lunatic. A local court is held before a seneschal, for the manor of Bangor, from three weeks to three weeks, oa 'I hufiidays, with jurisdiction to the amount of j£20 Iribh. A court-leet is held annually by the seneschid for appointing constables to the several to wnlands of the manor. A court of petty-sessions is held by the magistrates of the county. A place of confinement, called ** the Black Hole," seems to be a tool of the provost only in terrorem^ and not for actual use. A party of the county constabulary are stationed in the town. The streets are neither watched nor lighted; and they are partially kept in repair at the cost of the corporation. Harbour and ballast dues to the amount of about £23 a-year are collected ; and, while doubtful as to the party to whom they legally belong, seem all to l»e expended on harbour protection and impiovement. The corporate property presents a rare instance of Iris^h borough lands preserved with care, and of an income, generally speaking, usefully expended, and satisCuctonlv accounted for. In 1832, the income amounted to Jt60 15a. S^d., and the expenditure to £81 7s. 6d. A further property ' in charity lands ' is disputed in trusteeship between the curporutiun and the Ward family, yields a revenue of £42 11^. Id., and is all appropriated to charitable

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 162

25. Bank of Ireland's exclusive Dublin banking charter

    Dublin · city · Dublin

    The charter of the Bank of Ireland granted it the exclusive privilege of banking in Dublin and for fifty Irish miles around, preventing joint stock banks from issuing notes in that area.

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    A writer in the 'Banker's Magazine' for June 1844, says: ''The rapid improvement which has taken place in the condition of Ireland during the past twenty years, must be attributed almost exdosivelj to the system of banking introduced by the Joint Stock companies, established in pursuance of the act 6th Geo. lY., c. 42. The enterprise and public spirit of the founders and supporters of these banks have effected more practical good for Ireland than all the legislative measures of the past century ; Ireland is indebted to its banks for an improvement of agriculture, an extension of conmierce, and a large increase of social happiness, and of the means of ex^qyment for all classes of society. Ireland like Scotland ex^oys the advantages of a small-note circulation ; its currency, unlike that of England, is composed chiefly of notes under five pounds, and very little gold is used in the ordinary transactions of trade. It is a well-known fact that two-thirds of the circulation of notes in Ireland consists of notes of one pound, and other denominations under £6 in value. This circulation of small notes arises from the peculiarities which attend four of the chief branches of industry in Ireland, viz., the linen manufacture, the raising of com, the production of butter, and the rearing of pigs. Although each of these branches is, in the aggregate, of very considerable magnitude, yet fr'om the very great i^umber of persons engaged in them, the produce which one individual brings to market is so very small, that without a circulating medium adapted to the circumstances, the trade could not be carried on. That there is no danger of an excessive issue, in consequence of the small-note circulation, is proved by the r^ular and proper manner in which it has been conducted for so many years, and by the inmiediate check any over issue would receive from the following causes which are in constant operation ; — ^first, the notes are immediately convertible into gold, at the branch of the bank where they are issued ; secondly, the interest allowed by the Joint Stock banks on deposits, holds out a strong inducement to every one to return to the issuing bank all surplus money not wanted for immediate purposes ; thirdly, the exchange of notes with other banks in Ireland takes place, in general, didly ; fourthly, the exchange with Britain would be affected, and a demand for gold would be instantly produced by any excess of issue — this check being one of instant operation, as regards the principal Joint Stock banks, through whom the chief part of the business of rent and commercial remittances is carried on. The most important feature, however, in Irish banking, is the charter of the Bank of Ireland, which — as above stated— confers upon that bank the exclusive privilege of banking in Dublin, and for fifty Irish miles around ; this distance being about the same as that enjoyed by the Bank of England, fifty miles Irish being sixty-three English. Within this distance (which, however, is not a perfect circle, in consequence of Dublin being near the sea) no bank consisting of more than six partners can issue notes, or perform any of the functions of a banker. When the Joint Stock banks were first established beyond the prescribed limit, they opened offices in Dublin, in order to retire notes, and perform other operations essential to their existence as banks of issue. The Bank of Ireland determined to prevent this, and in consequence brought an action against the Provincial Bank for an infringement of the charter. The case, after a protracted struggle, was decided in favour of the Bank of Ireland ; but the injustice of the restriction was so apparent, that an act was passed allowing Joint Stock banks to retire their notes in Dublin, on condition of their not re-issuing them within the prescribed limit of fifty Irish miles. This is the extent of the privilege at present enjoyed by the Joint Stock banks ; they are, in every other respect, excluded from ^ the seven richest and most fertile counties of Ireland (surrounding Dublin) containing a population of about 1,500,000 souls, and within which space only six branches of the Bank of Ireland have been established, although the number of Joint Stock branches in the various towns of Ireland, beyond fifty miles from Dublin, is one hundred and thirty-one I*"

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 59

26. Bann valley scenery between Banbridge and Gilford

    near Gilford · village · Down

    The four-mile stretch of the River Bann from Banbridge down to Gilford was celebrated for its combination of scenic beauty and commercial industry, with charming villas, bleach-yards, and ornamental woodland along its serpentine banks.

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    ■re extensively carried on in and around Banbridge, there is, at Huntly Glen, a little below the town, a large thread spinning factory, and near it, at Seapatrick, an extensive establish men t for wearing union cloth by machinery." In, fact the whole tract of 4 miles along the Bann, from the town down to Gilford, presents as rich a combination of scenic beauty and commercial appliances as any of the most boasted districts of Ulster, — a continuous theatre of gay, luscious, and brilliant landscape, and of commercial ii>- dustry and genius. The Bann is powdered and patched at rapid intervals along its banks with cfaami« ing villas and beautiful bleach-yards; and rolls its silvery flood and serpentine folds along an undulated vale, decorated on the sides and summits of its swells and rising grounds witk many an ornamental clump of wood. — The town has a good hotel, a readingroom, and other useful public accommodations. A branch of the Provincial Bank was established in 1833; and a branch of the Ulster Bank in 1836. Fairs are held on Jan. 12, March 15, June 9, Aug. 2G, and Nov. 16. In 1838, the public conveyances were a coach and a car to Belfast, two cars to Newry, a car to Lurgan, a car to Rathfriland, and the various coaches and other vehicles in transit along the great north road between Dublin and Belfast. A presbytery of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland has its seat in Banbridge ; exercises inspection over 13 congregations; and meets on the first Tuesday of Feb., May, Aug., and Nov. Area of the town* 1 17 acres. Pop., in 1831, 2,469 ; in 184 1 , 3,324. Houses 573.

    BANBRUSNA, or Buhbrvsna, a hamlet in the parish of Leany, barony of Corkaree, co. Westmeath, Leinster. It* stands on the road from Dublin to Sligo, 2 miles south-east of Ballinalack, and 5 northnorth-west of MuUingar. Its site is near the foot of Lough Owhel ; and in its vicinity is Clane-Hugh, a seat of the Earl of Grenard. The bamlet is a small and poor place. Pop, in 1831, 94.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 156

27. Belfast provision trade in the 19th century

    near Belfast · city · Antrim

    Belfast was a major center for the Irish provision trade, known for preparing pork hams in enormous quantity and of excellent quality. Bacon and hams were also salted there in large quantities.

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    The provision trade of Ireland was, at one period, confined chiefly to Cork, but is now, in all its departments, very extensive also at Dublin, Belfast, Newry, and Limerick, and in the department of butter is diffused over the greater part of the kingdom. Pork hams, in enormous quantity and of excellent quality, are prepared at Belfast ; bacon and hams are salted, in large quantities, at Belfast, Wateiford, Clonmel, and Limerick ; beef is cured, on a great scale, and assorted into three classes called planters*, India, and common beef, at Limerick and Cork ; and the provision trade in general — increasingly subject, however, to a preference in England for the importation of the living animal rather than the prepared carcass — ^is very extensive in Dublin, Drogheda, Dundalk, Newry, Londonderry, Wexford, New Ross, Waterford, Clonmel, Cork, and Limerick. The official returns ceased, in 1825, to give separate details for Ireland ; yet the following table, exhibiting the quantities of exported salted meat and butter every fourth year from the Legislative Union till that date, flings considerable light on the general progress of the provision trade : —

    1809 1813 1817 1821 1825

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 35

28. Belfast's early 19th-century steam-engine expansion

    near Belfast · city · Antrim · 1806–1838

    Between 1806 and 1838, Belfast and its neighbourhood saw the erection of 50 steam-engines with an aggregate of 1,274 horse-power, reflecting the town's rapid industrialisation.

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    tteam- engin;28 seems a decided indication of the quantity of increase in manufactures. We, therefore, subjoin, on the authority of an appendix to the Second Report of the Railway Commissioners, published in 1838, a statement of the date, number, and aggregate power of the steam-engines which then existed ; and we need only premise that, though a few were employed for pumping at collieries and in other situations, the vast majority were employed in direct subordination to milling and mavofacture, that the number has since very materially increased, and that the domestic manufacture of steam-engines, particularly at Dublin, has for a number of years been extensive. *" In Belfast and its neighbourhood, there were erected in 1806, one steam-engine of 20 horse-power — in 1810 two — 1812 one— 1817 one— 1824 one— 1825 three— 1826 two — 1827 one— 1830 one— 1832 two— 1833 four— 1834 three— 1835 eight— 1836 four— 1837 five— 1838 eleven. Total, 50; horsepower, 1,274. In Clonmel and Suirville : In 1829 one — 1834 one — 1837 one. Total, 3 ; horse-power, 65. In Cork : In 1815 two — 1817 two — 1818 one— 1820 three— 1823 one— 1824 one— 1825 two— 1826 one^l828 two — 1830 three— 1835 one— 1837 one— and from 1810 to 1834 eight for foundries. Total, 28; horse-power, 412. In Dublin: In 1811 one— 1812 one — 1813 one— 1815 on©— 1816 two— 1817 two — 1824 one — 1825 one— 1826 one— 1827 one — 1828 two — 1829 one— 1831 one — 1832 one— 1833 three— 1834 two— 1835 one— 1836 two— 1837 two— 1838 one. Total, 29; horsepower, 43S. In (Jalway : In 1832 one — 1834 one — 1835 one — 1836 one. Total, 4 ; horse-power, 46. In Kilkenny : In 1816 one— 1827 one— 1832 two— 1833 one— 1838 two. Total, 7 ; horsepower, J 64. In Limerick: In 1818 four— 1822 one — 1828 one — 1830 one— 1832 one— 1834 one— 1836 two— 1838 one. Total, 12 ; horse-power, 206. In Londonderry : In 1815 one— 1825 one — 1834 one — 1835 one— 1836 two — 1837 one— 1838 one. Total, 8; horse-power, 116. In Portlaw: Three engines of 300 horse-power, for cotton-factories. In Waterford : In 1817 one — 1823 one — 1825 one^l828 one— 1832 one— 1834 one— 1835 one. Total, 7 ; horse-power, 90.''

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 48

29. Carrick-Burn Mountain and Views of Wales

    Adamstown · town · Wexford

    The parish of Adamstown features the acclivitous, rocky, and soaring mountain of Carrick-Burn, whose summit commands a distinct view of the coast of Wales on a clear day. The surrounding surface is rolling and tumulated.

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    ADAMSTOWN, a parish in the barony of Bantry, 7i miles north-east of New Ross, co. Wexford, Leinster. Length, 4 miles; breadth, 3; area 8, 134 acres. Pop., in 1831, 2,388; in 1841, 2,037. Hou^ses 355. This parish, and that of Newbawn, [which see,] have long formed the union or benence of Adamstown. The land, throughout the union, is in general light and sharp, producing barley, oats, and potatoes, but not favourable for wheat-crops, meadows, dairies, or grazing. Adamstown consists of 12 townlands, — Newbawn of 13; and the two are separated throughout by a rivulet. The surface is rolling and tumulated; and shoots up, in. one place, in the accUvitous, rocky, and soaring mountain of Carrick-Burn, whose summit commands, on a clear

    day, a distinct view of the coast of Wales. A good granite and a bad building-stone are quarried. The antiquities are one of * Strongbow's casHes,' and numerous small raths, and the ruins of several small ancient churches. Near the foot of Carrick-Burn rock or mountain, stood Scullabogue bam, in which 195 Protestants were burned to death in the rebellion of 1796. — Both parishes are rectories in the dio. of Ferns. Tithe composition of Adamstown, £410 1 3s. Id. ; of Newbawn, £360 4s. 8d. Gross income of the benefice, £796 lis. 3d. ; nett, £625 6s. 9d. Patron, the diocesan. The benefice forms the corps of the archdeaconry of Ferns. A curate has a salary of £75 and the use of the glebe-house. The church was built, in 1806, at a cost of £692 6s., gifted chiefly by the late Board of First Fruits, and partly by the earl of Rathdown. Sittings 120 ; atteudance 40. Two Roman Catholic chapels in Adamstown are attended by respectively 1,200 and 1,400; and one in Newbawn, by 550. In 1834, there were in Adamstown parish 61 Churchmen, and 1,833 Roman Catholics ; and, in the union, 105 Churchmen, and 3,427 Roman Catholics. In Adamstown parish, in 1834, were a Protestant Sunday school, two hedge-schools, and a day-school, — the last salaried with £6 from local subscription and £8 from the Society for Discountenancing Vice. A National school was commenced in the last quarter uf 1840.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

30. Castlemartyr new church on Boyle's gift land

    Castlemartyr · townland · Cork

    Castlemartyr was anciently called Leper's-town. A new handsome church was erected there on ground given by Henry Boyle, Esq., after the old church site at Ballyoughtera was removed by act of parliament.

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    BALLYOUGHTERA, a parish in the immediate vicinity of Castlemartvr, barony of Imokilly, co. Cork, Munster. Length, 54 miles; breadth, 3; area, 4,532 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,682; in 1841, 1,728. Houses 276. The surface is partly upland and partly champaign; and consists, in the former section, of inferior land, and in the latter, of some of the best land in the barony. On the border next Castlemartyr, and some distance into the interior, the landscape is rich, well- wooded, and gently picturesque. Dr. Smith, speaking of Castlemartyr, says, " It was anciently called Leper's-town, from a leper-house belonging to an adjacent place called Ballyouterngb, which was a village of some note ; and there is a tradition of its having been remarkable for a copper manufactory, — Ballyouteragh literally signifying, * a town of braziers ;* yet there is no copper-ore near this place, but iron-mines are almost everywhere round it. The old church is in ruins, and the site thereof removed to Castlemartyr, by act of parliament, where a new handsome church was erected on ground given by his excellency, Henry Boyle, Esq." — This parish is a rectory, and part of the benefice of Castlemartyr, in the dio. of Cloyne. See Castlemartyr. Tithe composition, £435 128. 7id. A glebe of 32 aeres, situated within the parish, but called Ballybraher glebe, appears to have been alienated, or at least is not in the possession of the incumbent. The Roman Catholic chapel has an attendance of 450; and, in the Roman Catholic parochial arrangement, is united to the chapel of Middleton. In 1834, the Protestants amounted to 51, and the Roman Catholics to 1,540; and 2 daily schools, one of which was annuallv aided with £lv from the National Board, and £10 from subscription^ hod on their books 109 boys and 00 girLi.

    BAL

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

31. Celebrated headlands from Portstewart to Tor Point

    near Giant's Causeway · population centre · Antrim

    The coast between Portstewart and Tor Point contains the far-famed headlands of Skerries, Dunluce, Giant's Causeway, Pleaskins, Bengore, Kenbane, and Fair Head, with singular profusion of columnar and amorphous basalt in cliffs and colonnades of the noblest character.

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    Malin Head, the most northerly ground of the county of Donegal and of the mainland of the kingdom, is situated in 55° 22' north latitude, and 7° 23' 30" longitude west of Greenwich, and tarrainatss a bold-featured peninsula, whose sides are sea-walls, and whose highest ground, Sjskin, has an altitude of 578 feet above sea-leveL The coast from Malin Head to Innishow.n Head, a distance of 21^ miles, trends south-eastward, presents a slightly sinuous line of cliffs to the S3a, and is overhung near the middle by the hills of Crocknamara and Latchet, whose altitudes above sea-level are 808 and 537 feet. The principal headlands on this stretch of coast ara Glengad and Dunmore ; and these are inconsiderable both in projection and in character. Innishowcn Head bears aloft two lighthouses with fixed lights, and is overhung by Craignamaddj mountain, whose summit has an altitude of 1,054 feet. Magilligan Point, a comparatively smaU but magnificent headland, is situated on the east side of the entrance of Lough ?oyle, about 2^ miles south of Innishowen Head. The coast thence to the vicinity of Port-Stewart, a distance of 9\ miles, is low, flat, and sandy, destitute of character, and tamely cut in one place by the embouchura of the Bann. A straight line drawn from Port-Stewart to Tor Point, extends nearly due cast, measures 26 miles, and places all the coast at a distance of from 2 or 3 furlongs to 4 miles to the north. This coast, followed round its dnuosities, measures at least 35 miles : it contains the far-famed and justly celebrated headlands of Skerries, Dunluce, Giant *s Causeway, Plaiskins, Bengore, Kenbane, and Fair Head ; it possesses a singular profusion of both columnar and amorphous basalt, piled, amassed, and soaringly edificed in clififs, escarpments, and colonnades of the noblest character ; and it challenges comparison, for at once beauty, romance, brilliance, and power, with any similar extent of coast in the world. The highest grounds on its brink are one of 307 feet behind the Giant^s Causeway, one of 395 feet at Bengore Head, and one of 636 feet at Fair Head ; but a grand feature of its central part is Enocklade, rising to the altitude of 1,685 feet, immediately behind Ballycastle. A straight line, drawn from Tor Point to the west side of the entrance of Lough Lame, extends south-south-eastward, measures 26 miles, and places very nearly the whole of the coast to the west at a maximum and a mean distance of 3^ and about 1^ miles. The principal headlands on this stretch of coast are Garron Point a little north of its middle, and Ballygalley Head near its south end ; and the almost immediate backgrounds of the bold and sometimes stupendous shores, are a chain of sublimely picturesque heights, whose skirts occasionally drop sheer down to the sea, whose escarpments often rise in mural yet broken cliflfB of chalk, and whose acclivities and summits frown impressiviely in a deep black cap of basalt. The chief summits of the chain are one near the north of 1,013 feet in altitude, Trostan 1,810 feet, Slieveaneer 1,782 feet, Nachore 1,179 feet, Collin 1,419 feet, one a little south of Collin 1,321 feet, Craigy-Hill 1,055 feet, Loughduflf 1,262 feet, and AgnewVHill 1,558 feet The north end of Island-Magee, at the east side of the entrance of Lough Lame, has a lighthouse with a fixed light. Skeenaghan Point is situated nearly 2 miles east of the west side of the entrance of Lough Lame ; and the coast thence to Black Head at the north side of the entrance of Belfast Lough, trends south by eastward, measures 7 miles, presents a bluflf and unindented face to the sea, and is overhung by one high ground of 465 feet a little south of the middle of Island-Magee, and another of 431 feet on the crown or immediately behind the extremity of Black Head.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 3

32. Cistercian abbey at Abbeyfeale

    Abbeyfeale · town · Limerick · 1188

    The village and parish of Abbeyfeale take their name from a Cistercian abbey founded in 1188. The abbey was later made a cell to the abbey of Monastemenagh in Kerry.

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    will at once fully exhibit the parish, and clearly show the economical importance of the village. The tract within the circle presents an area of 314 square miles, or 201,062 Irish acres. It forms a main portion of the great group of hills which rise between the Shannon and the Black water ; and extends 4 miles southward into Cork, 10 eastward into Limerick, and 10 westward into Kerry. A few towns or villages stand at long intervals near the circumference ; but the least remote is 8 miles from Abbeyfeale, and the others are from 10 to 12. Mansions occupied by proprietors occur nowhere to exert an influence upon the district, except in a few instances near these villages, or below the bases of the hills. Though less than one-fourth of the area has ever been cultivated, the whole affords great natural advantages to the improver, whether his object be agriculture or manufacture. The hills, tame, uniform, and uninteresting in outline, have an average altitude of about 1 ,000 feet above sea-level, and are not too high for luxuriant vegetation. They all rest on limestone, which is everywhere found round their bases ; they consist chiefly of highly indurated sandstone, and variously hardened black slate clay ; and they possess beds of culm, some of which, though dipping at a steep angle, and seldom more than 12 inches thick, have been worked. A coating of clay, from 3 to 30 feet thick, covers the rock ; a stratum of peat, from 6 inches to 3 feet thick, overlies the clay on the summits and the higher acclivities; and a vegetable soil, tolerably productive, and not a little improveable by lime, prevails over all the lower declivities and the valleys. " If," says Mr. Bryan, " the light bog were drained and dug up, and some of the clay substratum got up and mixed with it, along with a proper proportion of lime, a very superior vegetable soil may be made on every perch of the whole surface, and acres of barren heath may be made to produce the finest oats, potatoes, or hay. If three-fourths of the district be in a state of nature, the land now waste could, by industry, be made capable of maintaining 452,390 persons, or nearly half-a-million. Here might the labour of emigrants be well directed at home, which is now in active operation clearing the wastes of America, if advantage were taken of resources which our own country possesses. The manufacturers will here find advantages not less interesting: a constant supply of water in the Feale, the Smerla, the Ullahaw, the Clyda, the Brina, and several other rivers, with from 40 to 50 feet of fall, upon an average, on every mile of their length, offering a boundless field for their operations." The village of Abbeyfeale is 24 statute miles distant from a point of junction near Askeaton, with the Shannon line of railway, as laid down by the public commissioners. The dispensary at the village had, in 1840, an income of £207 ; but is 13 statute miles distant from Newcastle, the seat of the poor-law union to which it belongs, and of the medical attendant's residence. It has branches at Attea and Ardagh. The abbey, which gave name to the place, was a Cistertian one of some celebrity, founded in 1188; and afterwards made a cell to the abbey of Monastemenagh in Kerry. Half-a-mile below the village, and overiooking the Feale, are the ruins of Purt-castle ; and at 5 miles, well-situated on the Feale, is Riversdale, the seat of David Mahony, Esq. — Abbeyfeale parish is an impropriate vicarage, in the dio. oi Limerick. " Although," say the Commissioners on Ecclesiastical Revenue, '* there is a church in this impropriate parish, it does not appear that there is any provision made by the improprietor for the maintenance of an officiating minister." The vicar, who officiates, resides i£ Rathkeale. The average attendance at the churdi

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

33. Columnar basalt pavement of the Giant's Causeway

    near Giant's Causeway · population centre · Antrim

    The Giant's Causeway is formed by a great range of columnar basalt that dips toward the west. This 45-foot-thick stratum appears 100 feet above high water at Bengore Head and intersects with the sea to create the basaltic pavement.

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    The trap of Antrim has attracted so much attention, and been so frequently described, that it requires from us but slender notice. The upper surface of the chalk which it covers, presents a rough serrated outline, such as belongs to a rock long exposed to erosion ; and its hollows are filled sometimes by the trap itself, and sometimes bv a disintegration of it, in the form of a brown ochreous substance, mixed with such blood -red flints as appear to the eye 1o be solid, but fall into fragments at a stroke of the hammer. While the chalk in contact «'ith the superincumbent trap has not been altered in character, that which is in contact with trapdikes or the larger trap protruf^ions has been changed into granular marble. The trap rocks, though not displayiiig the same approach to parallelism in the apper and lower surface of each stratum as the sedimentary rocks, are much more regularly arranged in beds than has generally been supposed ; and, throughout the northern part of the county, they present, in a proximate sense, the phenomena of quite regular stratification. Yet the beds of red ochre, which form so remarkable a feature in the rliffs westward of Bengore Head, and figure so distinctly in contrast to the black colour of the trap both above and beneath them, and which, in some places, become porphyritic, and pass insensibly into clay porphyry, are the oidy or at least the chief indications by which the character of the different beds of trap can be traced ; for any one trappean stratum «o frequently changes from coarse and crystalline to fine-grained and earthy, that in one part it might be called greenstone, in another basalt, and in a third amygdaloidal wacke. But with the assistance of the ochreous strata, as well as partially with that of a bed of wood coal, the succession of the trap strata, particularly between Glenarm and the Giant's Causeway, has been somewhat accurately ascertained. We have, in an ascending scries, first, amygdaloidal trap, from 20 to 50 feet thick, but sometimes passing into greenstone, and affecting a columnar structure ; next, greenstone, from 30 to 80 feet thick, sometimes amorphous, and sometimes rudely columnar ; next, the same rock, from (50 to 100 feet thick, pass- ^g iiometimes into basalt, and sometimes into amygdaloidal wacke ; next, six alternations of blackgrained trap with thin irregular beds of red ochre, 70 feet thick ; next, red ochreous clay, now 20 and now 200 feet thick, graduating into lilac-coloured litbomarge, speckled with white; next, reddish-black ferruginous clay, 1 foot thick ; next, the great range of columnar basalt, 45 feet thick, which appears loo feet above high water at Bengore Head, dips toward the west, and forms the basaltic pavement of the Giant's Causeway by its intersection with the plme of the sea ; next, irregularly cohunnar basalt, about 50 feet thick, containing a stratum of wacke and another of wood-coal, and consisting of small columns which are variously horizontal, oblique, and vertical, and are frequently bent in fantastic forms ; next, columnar basalt, about 50 feet thick, not quite so regular in its columns as the great or Causeway range ; and, finally, six strata of rudely columnar and amorphous trap, 164 feet thick, including two beds of red ochre.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 115

34. Commandery at Ballyhack and Dunbrody Park

    Ballyhack · town · Wexford

    Ballyhack stands on the east shore of Waterford Harbour on a romantic rocky coast, with a long-established ferry crossing to Passage. Archdall records a commandery there belonging to the grand priory of Kilmainham and subordinate to Kilcloghan, while nearby Dunbrody Park is the seat of Lord Templemore.

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    storm, and has long been crossed, between Ballyhack and Passage, by a regular ferry. Fairs are held on the Thursday after Trinity Sunday, March 25, July 25, Aug. 24. and Sept. 29. ** Here," says Archdall, " we find a commandery which belonged to the grand priory of Kilmainham, and was subordinate to that of Kilcloghan." Adjacent to the village is Dunbrody Park, the seat of Lord Templemore. The name, Ballyhack, is alleged by some writers to be " a corruption of BaWy-hake. i. e. Hakes-town, from the quantity of that fish formerly brought for sale to this market." Area of the vilhige, 11 acres. Pop., in 1831, 258; in 1841, 266. Houses 54.

    BALLYHACKMORE. a village in the parish of Hollywood, barony of Lower Castlereagh, co. Down, Ulster. Area, 9 acres. Pop., in 1841, 126. Housci 28.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

35. Cork as a major emigration port

    Cork · city · Cork · 1832–1841

    In the decade ending in 1841, the port of Cork saw nearly as many emigrants depart directly for foreign countries and colonies as Belfast did, making it a primary point of departure in Munster.

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    ** The large amount of labour represented by the number of emigrants to the British colonies and foreign countries," say the Commissioners of the Census, ^^ is in itself of great interest in whatever light it is regarded. We have, however, no certain information respecting the particular occupations of these emigrants before they left the country, and have thus no means of following out the very interesting inquiry, whether the individuids, who are guided almost entirely by casual choice, and fix their destination with a very slender knowledge of the circumstances on which their success must depend, haive been conveyed to the colonies in which their labour or skill is most likely to be useful to themselves and to the community. Some inferences of the kind, however, may be drawn in a general way from the particular cii^umstancee of the localities from which they have gone. The largest number of those who have gon,e from Ireland direct to oolonies or foreign countries embarked at Belfast, viz., 20 per cent, of the lyhole number ; from Cork nearly the same ; then from Sligo, Dublin, and Londonderry. On the whole, from the ports of Ulster there went 76,905 ; from the ports of Mun^ter, 70,046 ; from Leinster, 34,977 ; from Connaught, only 32,119. The ports of Leinster, especiaUy Dublin, can scarcely be considered as giving forth the population of their own province so exclusively as those of the other provinces, being, firom its central position, and the convergence of the roads and canals upon it, a common outlet for alL But we may fairly assume, that the emigration ficom the other provincial ports consisted chiefly of persons belonging to the provinces in which they are situated. It will bo seen that Ulster contributed largely to both British and foreign emi^pration, and that Munster, which contributed so small a number of harvest labourers, has suppjiied a very large proportion of cokmial and foreign emigrants ; whilst Connaught, whose harvest labourers were by far the most muneroas, appears to supply but a small proportion of foreign emigrants. There is, however, no reason to suppose that in reality a smaller foreign emigration from Connaught has existed, as many may have sailed from other ports, and, as they migrated so largely to England, may have contributed to swell the numbers proceeding from Liverpool to foreign countries. These numbers, kowever, can only he considered as approximations, and are only of interest as leading to some inference respecting the localities which have supplied the greatest amount of foreign emigration, Kveii for this it must be at best but indefinite. The countries for which the emigrants were bound who embarked at Irish ports, are shown in the following statement : —

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 98

36. Decayed chapel and Magan family burial ground at Ballymore

    Ballymore · town · Westmeath

    In the cemetery attached to the parish church at Ballymore stands a decayed chapel that served as the ancient place of sepulture of the Magan family of Emo and Togherstown, surrounded by a double ornamental line of elm trees.

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    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

37. Decayed episcopal town of Aghadoe and its ruins

    Aghadoe · parish · Kerry

    The old decayed episcopal town of Aghadoe, now notable only for ruins evidencing its ancient importance, sits on a bare green eminence a mile and a half north-west of Killarney. It commands a magnificent and thrilling view over the lower lake of Killarney, with Ross Castle, Innisfallen, and the surrounding mountains.

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    AGHADOE, a parish, partly in the barony of Dunkerron, but chiefly in that of Magonihy, co. Kerry, Munster. The Magonihy section contains part of the town of KiLLARNET : which see. ^ Area of the parish, 19,888; of the Dunkerron section, 14,095 acres; of the rural districts of the Magonihy section, 15,772; of water, chiefly in the lower lake of Killarney, in the Dunkerron section, 1,200 acres, — in the Mahonihy section, 1,761 acres. Pop. of the parish, in 1831, 4,819; in 1841,4,897. Houses 681. Pop. of the Dunkerron section, in 1841, 134. Houses 21. Pop. of the rural districts of the Magonihy section, in 1841, 3,600. Houses 524. The surface is partly a plain, now stony, and now rich lawn and arable ground; and partly the boldly featured heights which environ the lower lake of Killarney. The old decayed episcopal town of Aghadoe, now noticeable only for some ruins which evince its ancient importance, surmounts a bare green eminence 1^ mile north-west of Killarney, and commands a view, at once broad, extensive, and various, a view quite magnificent and thrilling, over the lower lake. ** It was morning," says an anonymous but tasteful writer, "when, accompanied by a friend, I visited this elevated upland. What a contrast between the cold, comfortless ruin, whose interior was yet in deep shadow, and the luxuriant scenery spreading far around 1 Before us lay the lake, one bright, sparkling, inland sea, with its dark boundary of towering mountains sloping away to the horizon. Roiis-castle stood glittering in the early sunbeams, with its finely wooded peninsula, running into the lake ; and that little gem of the waters, the fairy

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

38. Dublin workhouse second to administer poor-law relief

    Dublin · city · Dublin · 1840

    The Dublin workhouse began administering poor-law relief on March 25, 1840, shortly after Cork became the first. This marked the early rollout of the Irish poor-law system in the capital.

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    The " Act for the more effectual relief of the destitute poor in Ireland," received the royal assent on July 1, 1838 ; the office operations commenced in Sept., 1838; the erection of the workhouses commenced in June, 1839 ; and relief began to be administered on Feb. 15, 1840, in Cork, and on March 25, 18^10, in Dublin. The total number of unions and of workhouses is 130; and 4 of the latter were opened in 1840, 32 were opened in 1841, 33 were opened in 1842, 2 were opened in the early part of 1643, and 49 were in progress on March 25, 1843. The number of paupers in the workhouses on Dec. 2, 1843, was 31,428 ; the total accommodation which the 130 workhouses, when finished, will afford, is for 92,860 paupers ; and, in the event of pressure, this accommodation may be increased from 10 to 20 per cent. The number of unions in operation on Feb. 6, 184^-* inclusive of 44 whose workhouses were not opened — was 125 ; and the total expenses incurred by them previous to the opening of their workhouses amounted to £126,422 Is. ll^d., and from the opening of their workhouses till Feb. 6, 1843, £366,682 Os. 5jd. Of the expenses incurred pre*

    INTRODUCTION* CXXXVU

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 94

39. Episcopal power of the Lordship of Newry

    near Newry · parish · Armagh

    The proprietor of the Lordship of Newry uniquely retained episcopal power, holding an ecclesiastical court and granting marriage licences and probates of wills. This authority derived from the religious house that possessed the Lordship prior to the Reformation.

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    The ettahliihed church of Ireland is Protestant Episcopalian, dosd/ modelled upon the Angiicany and to intimatelj connected with it that the two are often styled the United Church of England •od Ireland. The original episcopacy of Ireland comprised a very large though unascertained anmber of bishopricB ; it afterwards became, for many centuries, reduced to 32 ; and it eventually sofTered a consolidation of these 32, first into 22, and next into 12. All the thirty-two dioceses stiU continue distinct in statistics ; all have a separate constitution and separate officers ; and the Barnes of all are as ftilly retained in topography as if each had still its own bishop. Four of the thirty-two, down to the period of the last and recent consolidation, were archbishoprics, — Armagh, Dublin, Cashel, and Tuam ; and the occupants of them were entitled respectively the Primate and Metropolitan of all Ireland, the Primate and Metropolitan of Ireland, the Primate and Metropolitan of Munster, and the Primate and Metropolitan of Connaught. The sees suffiragan to Armagh were Dromore, Down, Connor, Derry, Raphoe, Clogher, Kilmore, Ardagh, and Meath ; those suffragan to Dublin were Kildare, Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin ; those suffragan to Cashel were Bmly, Waterford, Lismore, Cork, Boss, Cloyne, Limerick, Ardfert, Killaloe, and Kilfenora ; and thoae suffragan to Tuam were Clonfert, Kilmacduagh, Elphin, Killalla, and Achonry. The ten tnioni of sees which reduced the number of bishops to 22, and for a long period limited the hierarchy to that number, were Connor with Down, Ardagh with Tuam, Leighlin with Ferns, £mly with Cashel, Lismore with Waterford, Ross with Cork, Ardfert with Limerick, Kilfenora with Killaloe, Kilmacduagh with Clonfert, and Achonry with Killalla. Three other consolidated dioceses survive more or less in name, and in some remnant of their chapters, but have lost their distinctive limits and statistics; and these are Glendalough united to Dublin, Clonmacnoise united to Meath, and Aghadoe united to Ardfert. The Church Temporalities Act of 1833 reduced the archbishoprics of Cashel and Armagh to the rank of bishoprics, transferred to the province of Armagh the bishoprics of Tuam, Killalla, Achonry, and Elphin, in the province of Tuam, transferred to the province of Dublin all the bishoprics in the province of Cashel, and the bishoprics of Clonfert and Kilmacduagh in the province of Tuam, remodelled the arrangement of several imounts of episcopal revenue, ordained the consolidation of all the sees of Ireland under 2 archbishops and 10 bishops, and appointed the consolidation to be effected gradually on the demise of the several bishops whose sees if ere to be united. The twelve principal sees, under the act, • together with the see or sees united to each, are — ^in the province of Armagh — Armagh with Clogher, 3Ieath without any annexation, Derry with Raphoe, Down with Connor and Dromore, Kilmore with Ardagh and Elphin, and Tuam with Killalla and Achonry ; and — in the province of Dublin, — Dublin with Kildare, Ossory with Leighlin and Ferns, Cashel with Emly, Waterford, ind Lismore, Ciojme with Cork and Ross, Killaloe with Kilfenora, Clonfert, and Kilmacduagh, and Limerick with Ardfert. The only dioceses which the new arrangement did not affect as to their extent or annexation, were Meath unannexed and Limerick united to Ardfert. At the close of l!i43, the diocese of Clogher still continued separate from Armagh, and the diocese of Kildare from Dublin ; so that the number of bishops, including the two archbishops, was then 14. The order of precedence is the archbishop of Armagh, the archbishop of Dublin, the bishop of Meath, the bishop of Kilddre, and the other bishops according to the date of their consecration. The einscopal income is derived principally from lands let upon lease of 21 years, and renewed from tune to time at the originally small rent upon pa3rment of fines of fluctuating amount ; and, on an ftverage of three years ending in December, 1831, it amounted to ;£151,127 128. 4^d. gross, and il28,h08 Bs. 3Jd. nett ; but, under the new arrangement, it is reduced to £82,953, — lca>ing a hddance of £G8,175 to be managed by a Board of Commissioners for the general purposes of eccleli&stical discipline and education. The proprietor of the district called the Lordship of Kcwry, is the only party who wields episcopal power within that district, — ^holding his ecclesiastical court, and prranting licences of marriages and probates of wills, under the seal of the religious house to which the Lordship belonged prior to the Reformation ; the warden of Galway wields a peculiar power, closely akin to that of a bishop, within the parishes of the wardenship of Oalway ; and the deans of Lismore, St Canice, St Patrick, and Christ-church, exercise peculiar jurisdictions within their respective deaneries. Three of the 32 dioceses, Meath, Kilmore, and Ardagh, have neither chapter, cathedral, nor economy ; and the first of these has, in lieu of the chapter, a synod presided over by the archdeacon, and consisting of all the beneficed clergymen of the diocese. The corporations of deans and chapters are 30 in number, the diocese of Dublin having two, and each of the remaining 26 dioceses one. The m^ority of the deans and chapters consist of a dean, a precentor, a chancellor, a treasurer, an archdeacon, and prebendaries, — ^the last varying in number, from one as in Dromore to 20 as in St. Patrick's of Dublin. The order of precedence among th«

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 89

40. Erection of Poor Law Union workhouses

    near Ballycastle · town · Antrim

    Workhouses were provided or under construction for the several Poor-law unions of County Antrim, including Ballycastle, Ballymena, Ballymoney, and others. This reflects the institutional response to poverty in the county in the 1840s.

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    StatUtict.'] — The prisons of the county are the cour»ty gaol at Carrickfergus, the house-of- correction at Belfast, and bridewells at Antrim, Ballymoney, and Ballymena. In 1841, the number of committals for offences against the person was 80 ; for violent offences against property, 33 ; for unvioleiit offences against property, 529 ; for malicious offences against property, 1 ; for offences against the currency, 7 ; and for offences not included in the aliove das&es, 58 ; — the number of convictions was 532 ; of capital punishments, 2 ; of transportations for 14 years, 10 ; and of transportations for 7 years, 56 ; — the number of summary convictions was K)4 ; and of committals for drunkenness 1,270. The expense of the constabulary force, for 1841, was £11,163. — The county lunatic asylum, situated at Belfast, and the county infirmary at Lisburn, will be noticed in connection with these towns*. Workhouses have been provided, or are in the course of being erected, for the several Poor>law unions of Antrim, Ballycastle, Ballymena, Bally money, Belfa«tt, Lame, and Lisburn. — TLe annual amount of the valuation of the county, under 6 and 7 'Will. IV., but exclusive of the countv of the town of Carrickfer^U!*. is £474,524 17s. 2d. The amount of county cess levied for local purposes, in 1824, was £32,094; in 1834. £45,612; in 1838, £53,256. The county itself sends two members to parliament ; and, including Belfast, Lisburn, and Carrickfergus, six members, for a total pop. of 360,875. Constituency, in 1835, 3.933; of whom 622 were £50 freeholders, 457 were £20 freeholders, 2,403 were

    £10 freeholders, 73 wer« £20 leaseholders, 368 were £10 leaseholders, 2 were £50 rent-chargers, and 8 were £20 rent-chargers. Constituency in 1841, 2, 157 ; of whom 268 were £50 fireeholdera, 213 were £20 freeholders, 1^469 were £10 freeholders, 33 were £20 leaseholders, 165 were £10 leaseholders, and 9

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 119

41. Fossil-bearing slate tract east of Pomeroy, County Tyrone

    near Pomeroy · townland · Tyrone

    A small tract of grey micaceous slate to the east of Pomeroy in County Tyrone contained a profusion of fossils including trilobites, orthoceras, ammonites, and spirifera, and was thought to belong to the Silurian series. It rested on sienite to the north and was covered by old red sandstone.

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    Grey micaceous slate, varying in grain from coarse to tne^ forms a small tract to the east of Pomeroy in co, Tyrone. It rests directly on the sienite situnted to the north ; is covered unconformably on the south, the west, and the east, by old red sandstone ; contains a profusion of fossils, particularly trilobites, orthoceras, ammonites, producta, spirifera, mya, and pleurotomaria ; and probably belongs to the Silurian series. — Several mountain masses, isolated in the 'flat limestone region in the interior of the country, consist partly of transition slate, and partly of overlying beds of old red sandstone. The chief of these are the Curlew mountains in co. Sligo, wholly

    INTRODUCTION. xlvU

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 23

42. Grand cascade of the Erne at Ballyshannon

    Ballyshannon · town · Donegal

    The Erne river is naturally navigable between Belturbet and Belleek but is hindered by a grand cascade at Ballyshannon from being navigable to the sea. The river drains large parts of six counties and expands into Lough Oughter and the Upper and Lower Lough Erne.

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    Bonnet, the Glenboy, the Benbo, and the Shanvoe. The Bimroes river carries off the superflucnt waters of Lough Melvin, and is fed or formed, through that lake, by the Garisson, the Baliagh, and the Glen rivulets. The Erne drains a small part of co. Longford, a large part of co. Leitrim, a considerable part of co. Monaghan, very nearly the whole of co. Fermanagh, a small part of co. Tyrone, and a considerable part of co. Donegal; it expands into the large and exquisitely beautiful sheets of Lough Oughter, Upper Lough Enie and Lower Lough Erne ; it connects through the Ulster canal with all the north-eastern navigations of Ireland, is proposed to be connected by canal with the Shannon, and is naturally navigable between Belturbet a few miles above the Upper Lake and Belleek a little below the lower lake, but is hindered by a grand cascade at Ballyshannon from being navigable to the sea ; and its principal tributaries are the Croghan, the Woodford, and the Annalee in co. Cavan, the Clodagh, the Amey, and the Drumany or Colebrook into Upper Lough Erne, the Sillier into the Middle Erne above Enniskillen, and the Ballinamallard and the Bonnagh into Lower Lough Erne. The Esk forms the small estuarial harbour of Donegal, at the head of Donegal bay ; and it carries off the superfluent waters of Lough Esk, and receives the tribute of the Driming. The Enny river, which flows into the head of Inver bay, is navigable for boats over about a mile. The Bunlaghy to the west side of Inver bay, the Corker to MacSwine*s bay, the Bungasteen to Killybegs harbour, and the Ballydoo and the Glen to Muckross bay, are all small rivulets. The Owenea and the Owentocher unite at the village of Ardara, to form the estuary of Loughrusmore. The Guibarra to Guibarra bay, the Trawenagh to Trawenagh bay, the Giiidore and the Clady to Guidore bay, the Ballyness to Ballyness bay, and the Raye in the vicinity of the Ballyness, are all small streams. The Lackagh, which flows into the head of Sheephaven, is navigable for vessels drawing 10 feet of water to a point about 600 yards above Lackagh bridge ; and its chief tributaries are the Owencarry and the Olune. The Lennon or Lannan falls into the west side of Lough Swilly, and is tidal and navigable to Rathmelton. The Swilly falls into the head of Lough Swilly, and forms the small tidal harbour of Letterkenny. The streams of Innishowen are all small ; and the chief of them are the Owenkillew and Owencrana to Lough Swilly in the vicinity of Buncrana, the Camdonagh to Streathbreaga bay, and the Culdaff to the head of Culdaff bay.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 23

43. Great Skellig: lighthouse rock in the Atlantic

    near Skellig Rock Great · townland · Kerry

    The Great Skellig is a lofty slate rock rising several hundred feet above sea level, about ten miles seaward from the Iveragh coast. Two lighthouses have been erected on it, with keepers regularly provisioned for six months.

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    blands, and several other islets, lie from 2| to 4} miles south of Hog Head, and serve to break the swell of the Atlantic, and diversify the seaward scenerv of the bay. Horse Island lies about 3 miles inward from each of the sentinel headlands, but pretty near the Iveragh shore. A rock in the bay. called Carrig Irrana, or Irr*s Rock, claims traditionally and in song to be the grave of Irr, one of the original Milesian chiefs, — or the place on which his body was cast, and his bones whitened, after he was drowned in the western main. The whole bay is much diversified and lifted to grandeur by its bold headlands ; and it laves a district so wild and magnificent in character, so intricate in outline, so noble and even sublime in contour, as to constitute quite a gallery of mountain and marine landscape. ** Though the roads in the district," says Mr. Fraser, " are in many places rugged and steep, and the only accom* modation a small public-house in the village of Waterville, yet in summer the splendid views which are obtained will amply repay those fond of marine and mountain scenery. * * The Skelligs rocks lie about 10 miles to seaward. On the Great Skellig, which is a lofty rock of slate rising several bundred feet above the level of the sea, two lighthou^jcs have been erected ; and the men appointed to the charge of them are regularly provisioned for six months. This rock, rising high above the billowy Atlantic, and crowned with its tall white towers, appears not merelv as a beacon to the mariner, but as a sentinel of the long line of iron-bound coast. The dark colour of the vast unbroken heathy surface of the headland of Iveragh, adds much to its wild and desolate character, and at the same time contrasts with the deep blue ocean which rolls along the whole extent of its rocky shores." Lady Chatterton, in 1838, says, •• The extensive bay of Ballinskelligs, peaceful as it looks, is said to be the most dangerous on this coast; and the harbour which goes by the same name, formed by a small island, has been, as a guide told us, * outlawed,' tJiat is, as he explained, declared to be unsafe." The harbour referred to by her ladyship, is on the west side of the bay, contiguous to Ballinaskellip island, and about 44 miles from Bolus Head ; and is provided with a regular pier of 172 feet in length, constructed and improved by various grants from government, from the Fishery Board, and from the Dublin Charitable Committee. Mr. Donnel, in his report on the Fishery Harbours, says, ** I place this harbour in the second class for its degree of utility in promoting the fisheries ;*' and he states that fish abound in the vicinity, and that the coast fishermen were improving in their exertions. According to an official ' Al^ stract of Reports,' in 1833, the pier is '* much used by fishing- vessels, and also for landing sea-manure, from the use of lar^e quantities of which the neighbouring country, tor a distance of about 7 miles round, is improving much." At the head of the bav stands the village of Waterville, and on a creek projecting from it stands Dbrrtnanb Abbey : see these articles.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 148

44. Lough Swilly shelters half the fleets of Europe

    near Lough Swilly · estuary · Donegal

    Lough Swilly penetrates 25½ miles inland with excellent interior harbours and perfectly safe anchoring ground for the largest man-of-war. It is capable of sheltering half the fleets of Europe with highly picturesque shores, yet is shamefully little known to merchants or men of taste.

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    are Clew bay at Wegtport, Galway bay at Oolway, the estuary of the Shannon, and the bay of Dublin. The outer part of Sligo bay measures 7 miles across the entrance, and though capacious is very much exposed ; the two inner parts, called Ardnaglass Harbour and Drumcliffe bay, are large and sheltered but very shallow ; and the central inner part, constituting Sligo Harbour proper, is furnished outside of the bar with a pier which, though of rather troublesome access, possesses very important adaptation to an already considerable and a prospectiyely great trade. Ballyshannon and Donegal harbours, at respectively the south side and the head of Donegal bay, are estuarial and of small capacity and not much depth ; yet both are valuable ; and the former, in particular, might, with the help of a canal or a railway to Lower Lough Erne, become a marine outlet to all the internal navigations of the west and north-west of Ireland. The principal inlets on the north side of Donegal bay are Inver bay, MacSwine*s bay, Killybegs Harbour, and Fintragh bay ; and the third of these — Killybegs Harbour — though narrow in the entrance, has a wellsheltered anchorage in from 6 to 8 £Eithoms of water, and can accommodate vessels of any burden. Donegal bay itself, apart from the inlets upon its shores, is a mere miniature gulf^ quite open to the west, and often tossed into tremendous tumult by gales firom the Atlantic. The larger bays and estuaries between Teelin Head and Horn Head, are Loughrusb^ and Loughrusmore south of Dawras Head, Guibarra bay north of Dawras Head, Innisfere and Guidore bays several miles south of Bloody Foreland, and Ballyness bay several miles east of Bloody Foreland ; and the smaller bays and harbours of noticeable character are Malin bay between Teelin Head and Rossan Point, Glen bay immediately north of Rossan Point, Dawras bay between Loughrusmore and Dawras Head, Trawenagh bay an arm of Guibarra bay, Maghery bay north of Trawenagh, Donglo Harbour north-east of Maghery bay, Rutland Harbour between Rutland Island and the mainland, and Ourran's Port between Bloody Foreland and Ballyness bay ; but— estimating the two classes jointly — some of the bays are destitute of shelter, others are shallow, intricate, and foul, others afford good shelter and accommodation to fishing craft, and only one or two are fit for the uses of coasting vessels. The tidal current between Bloody Foreland and Horn Head a little to seaward, or through the sound between Tory Island and the mainland, runs at the rate of 2 knots in spring tides, and three-fourths of a mile in neap tides. Sheephaven, immediately east of the Horn Head peninsula, measures 4^ miles across the entrance, penetrates the land 8^ miles southward, sends off a small ramification to the town of Dunfiemaghy, and, though exposed over the greater part of its surface, is hindered from subordination to extensive trade only by the remoteness and poverty of the upland country which surrounds it. Mulroy bay sinuously penetrates the land in a prevailingly southern direction to the extent of 14 miles, but has an extreme breadth of 3^ miles, and is aggregately shallow, intricate, and unsuited to general navigation. Lough Swilly measures 4^ miles across the entrance, penetrates the land 25^ miles southward, contains some excellent interior harbours, possesses perfectly safe anchoring ground for the largest man-of-war, is capable of sheltering and accommodating half the fleets of Europe, and boasts a series of highly diversified and strongly picturesque shores ; yet it is frequented by comparatively very few trading vessels, and is shamefully little known either to merchants or to men of taste. Strathbreaga bay, which washes the south-west side of the peninsula of Malin, is a shallow and intricate inlet, pf no value whatever to navigation. From Horn Head east-north-eastward to MaUn Head, the true stream of tide sets along a line at the mean distance of about 4^ miles from the intervening headlands, six hours each way ; but within side of the line, the stream turns at half-flood to the west, and at half-ebb to the east.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 7

45. Old nine-arch bridge over the Deel at Askeaton

    Askeaton · townland · Limerick

    About 30 yards from Askeaton Castle, the river Deel is spanned by an old bridge of nine arches. The bridge is a notable antiquity in close proximity to the castle and abbey ruins.

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    its pinnacled site on the rock, and its encinetarcment with the divided stream of the Deel, it was surrounded by a lofty wall, and accessible only by a drawbridge. During the last E}irl of Desmond's rebellion in 1580, when the King's forces, under Sir George Carew, were approaching Askeaton, the garrison of the castle, being unpronded to sustain a siege, placed a train «f gunpowder within the walls, evacuated the place, fired the train, and blew up a considerable part of the building. The Earl, after three years of ceaseless warfare and various success, was driven from his castles, spoiled of his army, chased to the fastnesses of Kerry, and compelled to Ke perdu in mean apparel, much distress, and almost total unattendance. Kelly of Morierta eventually tracked the footsteps of a few kerns who had Tentnred to seize some cattle for the Earl's subsistence ; he found the hunted and fallen noble lying languidly before a fire in a ruined house ; he assailed him, wounded him, and drew from him the faint cry, '* Spare me, I am the Earl of De$>mond ;" and, heedless of theappeal, he struck off the Ekirl's head, and carried it to the Earl of Ormond, to be sent to Queen Elizabeth, and impaled on London bridge. Thus perished a family who, for four centuries, had flung rude splendour and magnificence around them, and frequently measured swords with the supreme civil power of the country. The EarFs forfeited lands amounted to 574,628 Irish acres. — About 30 yards from the castle, the Deel is spanned by an old bridge of 9 arches. About ^ of a mile from the town, and on the east brink of the river, stand the ruins of Askeaton abbey. This pile was founded in 1420, b3r James, the seventh Earl of Desmond, for friars roinorets ; and, long after its dilapidation, it ranked as one of the finest ecclesiastical ruins in Ireland. The cloisters, which are the chief part now remaining, form a square arcade of about ICO feet ; they are entirely composed of black marble; and they exhibit some beautiful and richly ornate chisellings. Askeaton was constituted a borough by charter of 11 James I. The limits included only a small space round the edificed area. The charter directed that the corporation should consist of a provost and 12 free burgesses ; that the free burgesses should hold their office for life, and annually elect from among their own number the provost ; that vacancies in the free burgess-ship should be filled up by the corporation from among ** the better and more honest of the inhabitants ;** that the provost might hold every Monday a court of record for the trial of all actions personal to the amount of 5 marks ; and that the corporation, in prosecution of the chief object of their beuig constituted, should return two members to parliament. The borough, owing to the prindple of self-election in its constitution, became at once a close borough ; it continued to act as such till it was disfranchised at the Union ; and it was then under " the patronage " of Lords Carrick and Massey. Of the sum of £15,000, which was awarded as compensation for the loss of its franchise, £6,580 was given to the Earl of Carrick, £6,580 to the trustees of the will of Hugh, Lord Massey, £1,100 to Sir Vere Hunt, Bart., and £200 to Sir Joseph Hoare, Bart. So extinct did the corporation become after the borough's disfranchisement, that the Commissioners on Municipal Corporations, when making inquiry a few years ago on the spot, could with difficulty obtain any evidence of its former existence. Power was given by James I. to Sir Francis Berkeley to hold in Askeaton weekly markets on Wednesday and Saturday, and a fiur on 20th and 21st July. Fairs are now held on dOth July and 9th Oct. Some tolls which are collected are private property. A seneschal's court, whose

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

46. Pagan cairn and toinlech north of Newry

    near Newry · parish · Armagh

    A cairn and a curious toinlech are noted as among the most noticeable pagan antiquities of County Armagh, located about two miles north of Newry. These pre-Christian monuments are highlighted as significant remnants of the county's ancient past.

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    Antiquitie8.']-~The most noticeable pagan antiquities of the county are a cairn and a very curious (Toinlech, 2 miles north of Newry ; a cairn surmounting uu nrtiticial cave on the top of Slieve Gullion ; and the Vicar's cave, 5 miles south-east of Armagh,

    on a lofty hill, which is supposed to be excavated. The principal civil antiquities are various old castles, and the vestiges of the Earl of Tyrone's intrenchments, thrown up during the long-continued war with the English, and stIU called Tyrone's Ditches. The principad ecclesiastical antiquities are the cathedral of Armagh, two or three old churches, and traces, more historical than architectural, of about 12 or 13 monastic establishments.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 131

47. Parliament held at Baldoyle in 1369

    Baldoyle · townland · Dublin · 1369

    In 1369, Sir William de Windsor, lord-justice of Ireland, held a parliament at Baldoyle. This places the coastal village of Baldoyle among the venues of medieval Irish parliamentary assemblies.

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    BALDOYLE, a parish containing a village of the same name, in the barony of CooWck, co. Dublin, Leinster. Length, 2 miles ; breadth, 1 ; area, 1,236 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,218; in 1841, 1,100. Houses 205. Pop. of the rural districts in 183 L, 209; in 1841, 265. Houses 42. The surface extends along the shores of the shallow sandy estuary of Portniarnock, immediately west of Howth,and about 16 miles north-east of Dublin. Though the immediate seaboard is sandy and bleak, the interior exhibits the fertility and lusciousness which so generally characterize the environs of the metropolis, and the aggregate quality of the land is good. Dermod Macmorough, the King of Leinster, who invited the Anglo-Normans to Ireland, aud w1k> founded, in 1166, the priory of All Saints in Dublin, granted to that monastic establishment the manor of Baldoyle, with all its serfs and farmers I In 1369, Sir WiU liam de Windsor, lord-justice of Ireland, held a parliament at Baldoyle. The village stands on the Portmarnock estuary, about half-a-miie north of the road which leads eastward from Dublin to Howth. It has a neat and comparatively comfortable ap«

    BAL

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 147

48. Rockingham demesne at Ardcarne

    Rockingham · electoral division · Roscommon

    A large part of the parish of Ardcarne is occupied by Viscount Lorton's splendid demesne of Rockingham, situated along Lough Key. The land is generally good and possesses a large amount of forest, orchard, garden and park embellishment, described as quite luscious in aspect.

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    the barony of Boyle, and 3^ miles easi-souih-easi of Boyle, CO. Roscommon, Connaiight. Length, 6 miles ; breadth, 3 ; area, 19,963 acres,— of which 1,160 acres are under water, chiefly in Lough Key. Pop., ill 1831, 6,718; ki 1841, 8,304. Houses 1,472. Lough Key skirts the north-west, and the river Boyle runs south-eastward through the interior. See Key and Boyle. The land is generally good, and possesses so large an amount of forest, orchard, garden and park embellishment, as to be quite lusciou«< in aspect. A large part of the area is occupied by Yiscount Lorton's splendid demesne of RocKiN'GHAM : see that article. Opposite Rockini^ham, and near Oak park Lough, on an agreeable site, well sheltered with trees, stands Oakparkhouse, an edifice with an extended front and numerous windows in one range, erected by the Earl of King?^ton, but since alienated on a long lease. Knock vicar bridge, across the Boyle, to the north of Oak park, was built in 1727 at the expense of the county, and commands a stretch of finely wooded scenery along the river. The parish -church crowns an eminence, and is shelt^'red with trees, near the road from Boyle to Dublin. Though modernized in the interior, it is so old a building that it may have been connected with a celebrated Benedictine nunnery which stood on the hill. A crowded cemetry beside it has long been a city of the dead, and packed with rude, crumbling, and lichen-covered tombstones. Two other monastic establishments stood in Lough Key, and will be noticed in the articles IxcHMACNERiN and TRi>aTY-l8LAND. See also, for antiquities. Castle Island. — This parish is a rectory in the dio. of Elphin. Tithe composition, £280. The rectories of Ardcame and Killuken*, and the vicarages of Kilcorkey and Kilbrixe, [see these articles,] coni*titute the benefice of Ardcarne or Killuken, and the <*orp3 of the archdeaconry of Elphin. Length of the contiguous pari^ihes of Ardcame, Killuken, and Kilbrine, 7 miles ; breadth, 4. Gross income of the benefice, £492 \0s. 3d.; nctt, £446 2s. lid. Patron, the diocei^an. A curate for Killuken has a stipend of £75, and the use of the glebe-house, and 13 acres of land. The church of Ardcame was enlarged in 1828, by means of a grant of £600 from the late Board of First Fruits. Sittings 300; attendance 150. There is a church also in Killuken. The Public Instruction Commissioners report — though the Ecclesiastical Revenue Commissioners do not — two chapels-of-ease, attended by 70 and 60. Three Roman Catholic chapels in the union are attended by 700, 550, and 400, and have three officiates. In 1834, the Protestants of the parish amounted to 514, and the Roman Catholics to 6,610 ; the Protestants of the union to 741. and the Roman Catholics to 10,939; the daily schools of the parish to 4, nith 143 boys and 79 girls ; and the daily schools of the union, exclusive of Kilcorkey, to 15, with 375 boys and 23^ girls. Two of the schools in the pari^h were aided each with £5 from the archdeacon, and one of them with a house and an acre of land from Captain Lloyd.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 121

49. Round tower and cemetery at Armoy

    near Armoy · parish · Antrim

    A dilapidated round tower in the village of Armoy stands about 44 feet high and closely resembles the less damaged tower at Antrim. It is surrounded by a cemetery.

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    ARMOY, or Ardmot, a parish, containing a village of the same name, and lying partly in the barony of Upper Dunluce, but chiefly on the western border of the barony of Carey, co. Antrim, Ulster. Length* 3^ miles; breadth, 2^ ; area, 9,665 acres,— of which 1,143 are in Upper Dunluce. Pop., in 1881, 2,622 ; in 1841, 2,766. Houses 416. Pop. of the Dunluee section, in 1841, 470. Houses 90. Part of the snrhce is a portion of the romantic vale of the river Bush ; and a chief part consists of the hilly ramifications which are connected with Knod^lade. The land is in general of but middle-rate quality. Tb« village of Annoy, situated in the glen of the Bush, about a mile from Kenbaan Head, and 4 miles south by west of Ballvcastle, appears to have been anciently a place or some note. Its name means ' the yellow heiffht, or hill.' A round tower at the village IS BO far dilapidated as to exhibit, in tolerable preservation, a height of only about 44 feet, and so closely resembles the less damaged tower at Antrim, described in our notice of that town, that any description of it would be soperfluous. Around tMt

    ARN

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 138

50. Ruinous castle of Portmore and Jeremy Taylor associations

    Portmore · townland · Antrim

    Ballinderry parish in Antrim contains the lake and ruinous castle of Portmore, redolent of associations connected with Jeremy Taylor. The chief residences of the parish include Portmore, Kiltullagh, Crew, Oatland, and Mount-Prospect.

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    BALLINDERRY, a parish, containing a village of the same name, in the barony of Upper Massarene, CO. Antrim, Ulster. Length, 4^ miles; breadth. 4; area, 10,891 acres, I rood, 26 perches, — of which 283 acres, 2 roods, 10 perches, are in Lough Portmore. Pop., in 1831, 5,346; in 1841, 5,679. Houses 1,045. The surface is low ground along the east side of Lough Neagh; and consists in general of good arable land. Amid flat ground on the west border, about half within the parochial boundary, and not far from the lip of Lough Neagh» are the lake and ruinous castle of Portmore, redolent of associations connected with the name of Jeremy Taylor. See Portmore. The chief residences are Portmore, Kiltullagh, Crew, Oatland, and Mount-Prospect. The village of Ballinderry stands on the road from Newry to Antrim, 4^ miles

    north of Moira, and 5 north-east of Lurgan.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 151

51. Ruins of Ballylickey and Rhindisart Castle on Bantry Bay

    near Ballylickey · population centre · Cork

    A small harbour at the head of Bantry Bay formed by the Ouvane rivulet. Near it are the ruins of Rhindisart-castle and the seats of Ballylickey and Laharan, belonging to the Hutchins family.

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    BALLYLICREY, a small harbour formed by fhe estuary or embouchure of the Ouvane rivulet, at the head of Bantr^ bay, co. Cork, Munster. Near it are the ruins of Rmdisart-castle ; and a brief way up the Quvane are the seats of Ballylickey and Laharan, E. and S. Hutchins, Esqrs.

    BALLYLIFFIN, a village in the parUh of Oonmany, barony of Innishowen, co. Donegal, Ulster. It stands near the Atlantic, close to the island of Doagh, 4 miles west of Cam, and communicates with that town by a road along the south side of the bay of Streabreaga. Fairs are held in this sequestered place on Jan. 1 , March 24, June 29, and Oct. 10. Area of the village, 6 acres. Pop., in 1841, 193. Houses 35.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

52. Ruins of Viscount Middleton's mansion, Co. Cork

    Ballyannan · townland · Cork

    The former residence of Viscount Middleton near Midleton, Co. Cork, was an extinct mansion by 1846, with only scathed birches and ruinous gate piers marking its site amidst a fine estate.

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    BALLY AN AN, the quondam residence of Viscount Middleton, near the north-east corner of Cork Harbour, and about ]| mile from the town of Middleton, co. Cork, Munster. Only a few scathed birches, and some ruinous fragments of gate piera, now indicate, amidst a fine estate, the site of the extinct mansion.

    BALLYANE, or Balltanne, a parish on the western border of the barony of Bantry and co. Wexford, and 2^ miles north-north-east of New Ro?(s, Leinster. Length, 3 miles ; breadth, 2 ; area, 4,578 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,096; in 1841, 1,292. Houses 192. The surface is washed on the west, and separated from the county of Kilkenny, by the river Barrow ; it is traversed north-north-eastward bv the road from New Ross to Dublin ; and it consists of good tillage, pasturage, and meadow land.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 152

53. Scenic glen of Aherlow between Galtees and Tipperary hills

    near Aherlow · population centre · Tipperary

    The glen of Aherlow, about six miles long, is bounded by the Galtee mountains to the south and the Tipperary hills to the north, creating a rich landscape of verdant heights, forest sheets, and luxuriant plain.

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    AHERLOW (Thb), a highly scenic stream, partly in the barony of Coshlea, co. Limerick, but chiefly in that of Clanwilliam, co. Tipperary, Munster. It rises among the western heights of the Galtee mountains, and pursues a course of about 6 miles northward, and 12 miles eastward to the Suir, at a point 2 miles above Cahir. The part of its basin or vale, which contains the 'finest scfenery, and is called, par ejcot/- /eace, the glen of Aherlow, is about 6 miles in length and 14. in mean breadth. . The Galtces, which fornix its southern screen, soar aloft to an altitude of 2,400 feet; and the Tipperary hills, along the north, though various in height, and inferior in boldness, are sufficiently lofty and intricate to give force and character to the landscape. The verdant and softly towering outlines of the Galtees, the prolonged sheets of forest on the Tipperary hills, and the breadth and luxuriance of the intervening plain, impart to the river's landscape a noble richness which quite competes with such wild sublimity as occurs in more dpine districts, and may bear comparison with some of the most boasted opulence in the great natural picture gallery of Wicklow. At the upper end of the glen are the mansions of Riversdale and Stagdale ; near the middle is New Forest ; and at the lower end.is Aherlow -Castle. See Galtss

    I^UNTADTS.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 112

54. Slieve Gullion's bold panorama

    Slieve Gullion · townland · Armagh

    Slieve Gullion mountains in Armagh rise to 1,900 feet and feature striking escarpments, ravines, and pinnacles. Sir Charles Coote described the summit as offering one of the boldest prospects in Ireland, with views of lakes, towns, and the bay of Dundalk.

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    Surface.'] — A broad band of country, bordering on Lough Neagh and the Black water, and expanding at one point as hi south as to the environs of the city of Armagh, is flat, extensively boggy, and prevailingly dull and irksome. Much the larger part of the remaining surface is rolling ground, a sea of undulations, swells, hillocks, and hilU with intermediate hollows, flats, and vales ; producing, with the aids of wood and culture, a rich and constant variety of close and luscious landscape. In this great and characterising district, extensive views are few, imposing or brilKant views are limited and rare, sublime and strictly romantic views are unknown ; but views such as please the eye of gentle and nicely cultivated taste, and evoke the songs of the melodious but energetic poet, exist in absolute profusion, and eventually almost tire bv continual repetition. A district, comprehending about one-sixth of the whole area, and occupying nearly the whole of the southern border, is prevailingly upland, partly mountainous, and nearly all pastoral or waste. The Fathom nnountains, flanking Newry river south of Newry town, have an altitude above sea-level of 820 feet; the Foughal mountains, on the southern border, 4 miles west of the former, have an altitude of 822 feet; the Slieve Girkin or Newry naountains, 1| mile west-north-west of Newry, have an altitude of 1 ,340 feet; the Slieve Gullion mountains, west of the Slieve Girkin range, and separated from it by a narrow vale and a lake, have an altitude of 1,900 feet ; and the Fews mountains, extending north and south in the baronies of their own name, are remarkable more for expanse of area and tameness of outline, than for either altitude or any other property of strictlv mountain character. Most of these heights and oi others which connect them, exhibit scenes of wildness and solitude which ma^ be pleasing to the anchorite, but are at best impressive to either the mao of social habits or the lover of the picturesque. Slieva Gullion and some heights on its western skirts, indeed, display escarpments, ravines, eliflfs, pinnacles, and general intricacy of outline, in suflScient amount to constitute both force and character in the higher orders of landscape. Around Slieve Gullion, too, is hung out one of the most magnificent natural panoramas in the kingdom. " Perhaps," says Sir Charles Coote, **a bolder prospect is not presented in our island than from its summit, comprising a great extent of country. The lakes and streams, the several towns and well-cultivated demesnes, toother with the bav of Dundalk, where the declivity is terminated,— these, with a thousand other natural beauties which are presented to the view, will repay the fatigue of the ascent ; and an awful and impressive pleasure is afforded in contemplating the bold promontories and rugged cliffs, bared by the tempests.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 125

55. Slow passage boats plying regularly between Dublin and Longford

    Longford · town · Longford · 1846

    Common or slow passage boats regularly travelled between Dublin and Longford via the Royal Canal. The journey took twenty-three hours to complete.

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    Mullingar, and thence to Longford, from which a small stream passes through Carrick-on-Shannon and Boyle to Sligo. The Athlone branch continues to Ballinasloe, where another small division takes place, a portion diverging to Tuam and Oastlebar, while the larger passes on by Loughrea to Galway. The Royal Canal runs close to the main route, touching it at several points, passing by Mullingar, and communicating with Longford by a branch from Killashee. Swift boats are now established as far as Mullingar (52 miles), which they reach in eight hours from Dublin ; and the common or slow passage boats ply regularly between Dublin and Longford, performing the journey in twenty-three hours. Next in point of consideration is a stream to the north-west ; it branches off on the left at Clonee to Trim, and to Navan on the right, passing through the latter place to Kells, Cavan, and Enniskillen." The Commissioners estimate that if railways were to be constructed from Dublin to respectively Cork, Belfast, and Mullingar, according to the lines indicated on the map, the passenger traffic upon them would be as shown in the following tables :

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 65

56. Streets of extinct Ardree town still traceable

    Ardree · townland · Kildare · 1793

    By 1793 several streets of the decayed town of Ardree could still be traced, including one called Botharbellagher, the street of the great road leading to the also-extinct town of Ardscul. The old paved road was still visible on both sides of the river for some miles.

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    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

57. The Black Hole confinement place in Bangor

    near Bangor · town · Down

    A place of confinement called 'the Black Hole' in Bangor appeared to be a tool of the provost for intimidation rather than actual use. A party of the county constabulary were stationed in the town, and the streets were neither watched nor lighted.

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    Bangor whs incorporated bv charter of 10 James L The borough limits originally included the town, and a small surrounding district, the exact boundaries of which ceased to be known; and they now include a pentagonal area, containing the town and merely as much interspersed ground as lies within straight lines drawn from the extremities of the streets. The corporation is called, " The Provost, Free Burgesses, and Commonalty of the Borough of Bangor ;" and consists, according to the charter, of a provost^ 12 tree burgesses, and an unlimited number of freemen. During raa/iy years previous to the Reform act, the corporation %vas exclusive of Roman Catholics, and consisted of members, Crieoda, and dependents of the Ward family; and, at the date of that act, 10 of the free burgesses were members of the Established church, and the other 2 were Protestant dissenters. Previous to the National Union, the provost and free burgesses returned two members to parliament; and at the borough's disfranchisement, the one-half of the £15,000 of compensation money was given to Henry Thomas, £^rl of Carriek, and the other half to the Hon. Edward Ward and Sir John Parnell, Bart., committees of the estate of Nicholas, Viscount Bangor, a lunatic. A local court is held before a seneschal, for the manor of Bangor, from three weeks to three weeks, oa 'I hufiidays, with jurisdiction to the amount of j£20 Iribh. A court-leet is held annually by the seneschid for appointing constables to the several to wnlands of the manor. A court of petty-sessions is held by the magistrates of the county. A place of confinement, called ** the Black Hole," seems to be a tool of the provost only in terrorem^ and not for actual use. A party of the county constabulary are stationed in the town. The streets are neither watched nor lighted; and they are partially kept in repair at the cost of the corporation. Harbour and ballast dues to the amount of about £23 a-year are collected ; and, while doubtful as to the party to whom they legally belong, seem all to l»e expended on harbour protection and impiovement. The corporate property presents a rare instance of Iris^h borough lands preserved with care, and of an income, generally speaking, usefully expended, and satisCuctonlv accounted for. In 1832, the income amounted to Jt60 15a. S^d., and the expenditure to £81 7s. 6d. A further property ' in charity lands ' is disputed in trusteeship between the curporutiun and the Ward family, yields a revenue of £42 11^. Id., and is all appropriated to charitable

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 162

58. The Glynnes territory around Olderfleet and Larne

    near Larne · town · Antrim

    The coastal territory from Olderfleet Castle (Larne) northward to near Ballycastle was historically known as the Glynnes, a name derived from the ravine or narrow valley character of the ground.

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    Divisions.^ — By far the greater part of Antrim, from the north coast southward, formed for a series of centuries the ancient kingdom of Dalriada ; while the southern border of the county was probably in alternate possession of the Dalriadans and their neighbours of Down. At a subsequent period, the territory from Belfast Lough and the Lagan, westward to Lough Neagh, was called North Claneboy in contradistinction to South Claneboy in Down; a part of this territory, won by the Scots of the clan Macdonnell, was called Bryan Currough's country ; the territory from Olderfleet or Lame, northward to near Ballycastle. and westward to the mountains, was called the Glynnes, from the ravine or narrow valley character of the ground ; Island Magee was subordinate to Claneboy, and dependent on the castle of Carrickfergus ; and all the rest of the country, the reduced and successional territory of Dalriada. was called the Route, and occasionally, in Elizabeth's reign, MacSorley Boy's country. An arrangement into baronies was made by Sir John Perrot in 1584. but was not, for a considerable time, completely acknowledged or rendered practical ; and it has since been so modified that even a comparatively modern list of baronies does not quite correspond with the present distribution. The division according to which all taxes upon the county are now apportioned, consists of the county of the town of Carrickfergus, and the 14 baronies of Lower Antrim, Upper Antrim, Lower Belfast, Upper Belfiast. Carey, Lower Dunluce, Upper Dunluce, Lower Glenarm, Upper Glenarm, Kilconway, Lower Maasarene. Upper Massarene, Lower Toome, and Upper Toome. 'Tonaghs were a division sometime in use ; they have been supposed to correspond to baronies, but were in reality much smaller ; and though they partly survive in name, and may be vaguely traced within ill-defined localities, they have long ceased to be recognised by either law or topography, dnament, another antiquated denomination, seems to have corresponded with the Scotch sense of the word barony, designating the estate or territorial

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 118

59. The Golden Vale as prime cattle-fattening land

    near Golden Vale · locality · Limerick

    The 'golden vale' of Limerick and Tipperary is described as one of the most extensive and valuable lands for fattening cattle in Ireland.

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    The dairy, though far from being in a perfect condition, is probably the best managed department of Irish husbandry ; and it is of great territorial extent, and much economical importance. Most of the counties of Kerry, Cork, and Waterford, part of the counties of Kilkenny, Carlow, Meath, Westmeath, Longford, and Fermanagh, and multitudes of the small farms of the countiea ^f Cavan, Monaghan, and Down, are devoted principally to the dairy, — or rather to the manufacture of butter. The method of letting dairies to dairymen at so much per cow per annum, is common to the south of Ireland with Dorsetshire, Devonshire, and other counties of the west of England. The average number of cows on a dairy farm is from 5 to 30 ; the extent of middle-rat 3 land esteemed necessary for the sustenance of each cow is about two acres ; the average daily produce of a cow's milk is 6 quarts in summer and 5 in winter ; and the average weekly produce of this in butter is 14 pounds. The fEtttening of calves for veal is little practised. — ^The grazing husbandry is not, as in England, united with the tillage husbandry ; nor, as in Scotland, are larga tracts of land devoted exclusively to the breeding of cattle. The moimtains of Ireland, instead of hAiig grazed by those who farm them, are frequently let on a partnership lease to the inhabitants of a neighbouring village, each of whom turns in a certain niimber of cattle, horses, goats, or gocso, according to the rent he pays. The few cattle that are fed on the mountainous districts are gjucrally very poor. The most extensive and valuable lands for fattening cattle are small parts of the counties of Louth and Kildare, considerable parts of the counties of Cork, Westmeath, and Queen's county, and especially the corcasses of the counties of Limerick and Clare, and *the golden vale' of the counties of Limerick and Tipperary. Vast droves of cattle are bred in the mountainous districts of the west ; and horses are bred in the mountains of Moume. Most of even the loftiest uplands yield a considerable quantity of herbage, and are very much greener, in the aggregate, than the mountains of Scotland; and Mae^ . Gillicuddy's Reeks, the loftiest group in Ireland, and one of the wildest and most desolate, were affirmed by Arthur Young to be better fattening ground for sheep than even the rich lowlands in their vicinity. The general adaptation of Ireland to grazing is very marked, and cannot, in any view, be competed with by England. Yet, in spite of this adaptation, and of various considerabij

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 30

60. The magnificent cliffs of Moher

    near Cliffs of Moher · cliff or cliffs · Clare

    The coast of County Clare is noted for its stern rocky escarpment and a fencing-line of huge boulders torn down by the ocean. It is especially remarkable for the magnificent and far-famed cliffs of Moher.

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    and Tralee bay, and respectively 4f miles to the north of the head of Brandon bay, 10^ miles to the north-north-west of the head of Tralee bay, and 8 miles to the west of the head of Ballyheigue bay. The shores around these bays are in themselves low and softly featured, though over nearly half of their extent they are flanked at a brief distance by loftily ascending acclivities ; and Kerry Head, as well as a small portion of shore on the peninsula which it terminates, is bold and comparatively high. A straight line from Kerry Head to Loop Head extends northward, measures 12^ miles, and passes across the entrance of the estuary of the Shannon ; and a straight line from Loop Head to Black Head, at the south side of the entrance of Galway bay, extends in the direction of north-east by north, measures 48| miles, and is very nearly coincident with the whole of the ocean ward shore of the county of Clare, — a shore somewhat infrequently and slightly indented by the sea, but slenderly variegated with the headlands of Ballard Point, Killard Point, Spanish Point, Fau^ Point, Hagg*s Head, and Fanore Point, and remarkable for its almost uniform character of stem rocky escarpment, its fencing-line of huge boulders torn down from it by the ocean, and especially its magnificent and far-famed cliffs of Mohar.

    Internet Archive parliamentaryga00unkngoog, Chapter 4