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BAL
nage of G. A. Hamilton, Esq. There is a chapel belong-
ing to the R. C. union or district of Balrothery and
Balbriggan, also a place of worship for Wesleyan Metho-
dists. The parochial school and a dispensary are in
the town.—See BALROTHERY.
BALDOYLE, a parish, in the barony of COOLOCK,
county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 6 miles
(N. E.) from Dublin; containing 1208 inhabitants, of
which number, 1009 are in the village. The village is
pleasantly situated on an inlet or creek of the Irish Sea,
to the north of the low isthmus that connects Howth
with the mainland: it comprises about 200 houses, and
is much frequented in summer for sea-bathing. Some
of the inhabitants are engaged in the fishery, which at
the commencement of the present century employed
nine wherries belonging to this place, averaging seven
or eight men each; at present nearly 100 men are so
engaged. Sir W. de Windsor, lord-justice of Ireland,
held a parliament here in 1369. The creek is formed
between the mainland and the long tract of sand on the
north of Howth, at the point of which, near that port, a
white buoy is placed; it is fit only for small craft. The
manor was granted to the priory of All Saints, Dublin,
by Diarmit, the son of Murchard, King of Leinster, who
founded that house in 1166. The corporation of Dublin
owns the entire parish, about two-thirds of which are
arable: the system of agriculture is improving, and the
general routine of crops is pursued with success. Do-
naghmede, the seat of Mrs. King; Talavera, of Capt.
N. Furnace; and Grange Lodge, of W. Allen, Esq., are
the principal seats. The village is a chief station of the
constabulary police, and also a coast-guard station, form-
ing one of the nine which constitute the distinct of Swords.
The Drogheda or Grand Northern Trunk railway from
Dublin to that town, for which an act has been obtained,
is intended to pass through the grange of Baldoyle.
The parish is in the diocese of Dublin, and is a curacy
forming part of the union of Howth: it is tithe-free.
In the R. C. divisions it is included in the union or
district of Baldoyle and Howth, which comprises also
the parishes of Kinsealy and Kilbarrack, and contains
three chapels, situated respectively at Howth, Kinsealy,
and Baldoyle, which last has been lately rebuilt by
subscription, and has a portico of four Tuscan pillars
surmounted by a pediment, above which rises a turret
supporting a dome and cross: attached to the chapel
are school-rooms, in which about 60 boys and 60 girls
are taught. The parochial school-house is in the village,
and there is also a hedge school in the parish, in which
are 12 children. At the Grange are the picturesque
ruins of the ancient church, surrounded by horse-chest-
nut, lime, and sycamore trees; and in the grounds of
Donaghmede is a holy well, which is resorted to on St.
John’s eve by the peasantry.
BALDUNGAN, a parish, in the barony of BALRO-
THERY, county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER,
14 miles (N. N. E.) from Dublin; containing 88 inhabit-
ants. A strong fortress was erected here, in the 13th
century, by the Barnewall family, which subsequently
became the property of the Lords of Howth, and in
the civil war of 1641 was defended for the parliament
by Col. Fitzwilliam, but was ultimately surrendered
to the royalists, by whom it was dismantled and a great
portion of the building destroyed; the remains, which
were very extensive, have, within the last few years, been
101
BAL
almost wholly taken down by the tenant. Near its site
are still some remains of a church, more than 80 feet in
length, with a tower of ten sides, of durable materials
and excellent workmanship. According to Archdall,
here was a commandery of Knights Templars, dedicated
to the Blessed Virgin, of which this was probably the
church. The prevailing substratum of the parish is
limestone; but the hill of Baldungan is chiefly com-
posed of Lydian stone and flinty slate. The living is a
rectory, in the diocese of Dublin, and in the patronage
of the Earl of Howth: the tithes amount to £52. 4.
The church is in ruins, and there is neither glebe-house
nor glebe. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part
of the union or district of Skerries.
BALDWINSTOWN, a village, in the parish of GAR-
RISTOWN, barony of BALROTHERY, county of DUBLIN,
and province of LEINSTER, 4 miles (N. W.) from Ash-
bourne; containing 35 houses and 218 inhabitants.
BALEEK, or BELLEEK, a parish, partly in the
baronies of UPPER and LOWER FEWS, and partly in
that of LOWER ORIOR, county of ARMAGH, and pro-
vince of ULSTER, 6 miles (S. E.) from Market-Hill; con-
taining 3396 inhabitants, of which number, 129 are in
the village. In the reign of Elizabeth an English gar-
rison was stationed at this place; but it was besieged
and taken by O’Donnell, of Tyrconnell, who put every
individual to the sword. The village is situated on the
road from Newry to Newtown-Hamilton, and contains
about 20 houses. The parish was constituted in 1826, by
the separation of twelve townlands, comprising 5509 sta-
tute acres, from the parish of Loughgilly, of which eight
pay tithes to the perpetual curate, and four to the rector
of Loughgilly. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the
diocese of Armagh, and in the patronage of the Rector
of Loughgilly: the tithes amount to £331. 3., of which
£179. 3. is payable to the curate, and the remainder to
the patron. The church, built in 1827, is a plain small
edifice in the ancient style, with a lofty square tower.
There is no glebe-house: the glebe comprises 20 acres
in the townland of Lisnalee. In the R. C. divisions
the parish is one of three forming the union or district
of Loughgilly, and contains a chapel. There is a place
of worship for Presbyterians. Two schools afford in-
struction to about 160 boys and 110 girls; and there
are also two hedge schools, in which are about 50 chil-
dren, and three Sunday schools.
BALFEIGHAN, a parish, in the barony of UPPER
DEECE, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER,
1 mile (N.) from Kilcock; containing 155 inhabitants.
It is situated on the road from Kilcock to Summerhill, and
is one mile and a half in length and one mile in breadth.
Piercetown, the residence of T. Cullen, Esq., is within its
limits and the Royal Canal runs through the southern
verge of the parish. It is a rectory, in the diocese of
Meath, and forms part of the union of Raddonstown:
the tithes amount to £87.13. 9½. In the R. C. divisions
it is part of the district of Batterstown. There are some
remains of the old church.
BALGREE, a hamlet, in the parish of KILSKYRE,
barony of UPPER KELLS, county of MEATH, and pro-
vince of LEINSTER; containing 12 houses and 77 inha-
bitants.
BALGRIFF1N.—See BELGRIFFIN.
BALLAGH, or BAL, a market-town and parish, in
the barony of CLANMORRIS, county of MAYO, and pro-