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MOU
to Finae, in Westrneath, where it communicates with
Lough Inny, through which its waters find their way to
the Shannon: in this lake are several small islands, on
one of which are the ruins of a church and castle.
Contiguous to its shores, at Kilrogy, near Glan, is the
seat of Mrs. Dallas; and on its northern side are several
gentlemen’s residences, among which are Arley, the
beautiful cottage of Lord Farnham; and Fortland, the
residence of T. Gorlin, Esq. On the opposite shore the
ground is elevated and well planted; and the view of
the whole, comprehending the ruins of Ross castle, is
hounded by hills of considerable magnitude, among
which the most remarkable is the Ben of Fore, above
the village of that name, in the county of Westmeath.
The lake covers 2000 Irish acres, being 8 Irish miles in
length, and, in parts, 2 or 3 wide.
MOUNT-RATH, a market and post-town, in the
parish of CLONENAGH, barony of MARYBOROUGH WEST,
QUEEN’S county, and province of LEINSTER, 6½ miles
(W. S. W.) from Maryborough, on the road to Roscrea,
and 47¼ (B. W.) from Dublin; containing 2593 inha-
bitants. This place, called also Moynrath, or the “fort
in the bog,” became, in the beginning of the 17th cen-
tury, the property of Sir Charles Coote, who, although
the surrounding country was then in a wild state and
overspread with woods, laid the foundation of the
present town. In 1628, Sir Charles obtained for the
inhabitants a grant of two weekly markets and two
fairs, and established a very extensive linen and fustian
manufactory, which in the war of 1641, together with
much of his other property here, was destroyed. His
son Charles regained the castle and estate of Mountrath,
with other large possessions, and at the Restoration was
created Earl of Mountrath, which title, on the decease
of Charles Henry, the seventh earl, in 1802, became
extinct. The present possessor is Sir Charles Henry
Coote, premier baronet of Ireland. The town, which
in 1831 contained 429 houses, is neatly built, and has
been the seat of successive manufactures; iron was
made and wrought here till the neighbouring woods
were consumed for fuel, and on its decline the cotton
manufacture was established; an extensive factory for
spinning and weaving cotton is carried on by Mr.
Greenham, who employs 150 persons in the spinning-
mills, and about 500 in weaving calicoes at their own
houses; the average quantity manufactured is from 200
to 250 pieces weekly. Stuff-weaving is also carried
on extensively; there is a large brewery and malting
establishment, and an extensive oil-mill; and the in-
habitants carry on a very considerable country trade.
The market is on Saturday; the veal sold here is con-
sidered to be the best in the country; much corn and
butter are also sold in it: the market house is a re-
spectable building. There are fairs on Feb. 17th, May
8th, June 20th, Aug. 10th, Sept. 19th, and Nov. 6th.
General sessions are held here in June and December
under the new act, and petty sessions every Thursday.
A new court-house and bridewell are about to be erected.
The parish church, a handsome structure, is situated
in the town: it was nearly rebuilt and considerably
enlarged in 1832, by a grant from the late Board of
First Fruits, and by subscription, and further altera-
tions have been lately made by means of a grant from
the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. Mount-Rath is the
head of a R. C. union or district, comprising part of the
396
MOU
parish of Clonenagh; there are two chapels, one in the
town and the other at Clonad; the former a very large
cruciform building. In Coote-street there is a monas-
tery of the order of St. Patrick, in which are a superior
and eight monks, who superintend a classical boarding-
school, a school for the middling classes, and another
in connection with the Board of National Education.
There is also in the town a convent of the order of St.
Bridget, consisting of a superioress, eleven professed
nuns, and one lay sister; some of whom are engaged
in the education of young ladies of the higher classes,
and others in superintending a school for poor children
in connection with the Board above-mentioned; the
average number of pupils in the latter school is about
200. There are places of worship for the Society of
Friends, and for Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists;
and a dispensary is supported in the usual manner.
The parochial school, situated in the town, is under the
patronage of Sir Chas. H. Coote and Lady Coote, who
entirely support it; the average number of pupils is
100 of both sexes: the building, which is large, was
erected in 1820, at an expense of £500, defrayed partly
by subscription, and partly by a donation of £230 from
Sir Chas. Coote, who also gave an acre of ground for its
site; it was enlarged in 1821, at an additional expense
of £350, half of which was contributed by subscription,
and the remainder from the Lord-Lieutenant’s fund.
Ballyfinn House, the fine residence of Sir Chas. H.
Coote, Bart., is situated in the centre of a demesne and
pleasure grounds laid out with the greatest taste, on
sloping grounds overlooking a noble lake, and nearly
surrounded by densely planted hills: the entrance to
the mansion is by a portico of the Ionic order: the
interior is fitted up in the most costly style and has a
fine collection of paintings, statues, and busts, and a
large and well selected library; the pavement of the
great hall was brought from Rome. The saloon and
ball-room are splendid apartments; many of the arti-
cles of furniture of each were executed for Geo. IV.,
when Prince of Wales, and purchased by the present
possessor. The other principal seats in the vicinity are
Forest, the residence of J. Hawkesworth, Esq.; Anne
Grove Abbey, of J. E. Scott, Esq.; Springmount, of
Mrs. Bourne; Donore, of W. Despard, Esq.; Scotch-
rath, of R. White, Esq.; Roundwood, of W. Hamilton,
Esq.; Newpark, of Jas. Smith, Esq., M.D., formerly
the residence of the late Earl of Mountrath; Westfield
Farm, of J. Price, Esq.; Laca, of John Pirn, Esq.;
Castletown, of Edw. Palmer, Esq.; and Killeny, of
Edw. Maher, Esq.
MOUNTSEA.—See MONSEA.
MOUNT-SHANNON, a village, in that part of the
parish of INNISCALTHRA which is in the barony of LEI-
TRIM, county of GALWAY, and province of ,
7¾ miles (N. by W.) from Killaloe, on the road from
Woodford to Limerick; containing 171 inhabitants.
This place is beautifully situated on Lough Deirgeart,
on the confines of the county and province. Here and
at Knockafort are piers, where vessels of 20 tons’ burden
can load and unload. It is a constabulary police station;
and petty sessions are held here. There is a market-
house; fairs are held on the 28th of Feb., May, Aug.,
and Nov.; and a patent exists for a monthly fair, which
is not held. It contains the parish church, and a R. C.
chapel, erected in 1836.—See INNISCALTHRA.