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NEW
trict, comprising also the parish of Adamstown, and
parts of Donowney and Horetown, and containing the
chapels of Newbawn, Adamstown, Raheen, and Cullins-
town: that of Newbawn is a spacious modern cruci-
form structure. About 50 children are educated in two
private schools; and there is a dispensary for the pa-
rishes of Newbawn and Clongeen. On Newbawn farm,
now in the occupation of Mr. Tobias Rossiter, are the
remains of an ancient castle, apparently of Norman
foundation, consisting chiefly of a tower, of which the
staircase leading to the summit is still in tolerable
preservation. Several ancient raths or forts are scat-
tered over the parish.
NEWBLISS, a market and post-town, in the parish
of KILLEEVAN, barony of DARTRY, county of MONAGH-
AN, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (E. S. E.) from
Clones, and 66 (N. W.) from Dublin, on the road from
Clones to Dublin; containing 497 inhabitants. It is
situated on the estate, and contiguous to the fine de-
mesne and plantations, of Andrew Ker, Esq., M.D.; and
consists of one wide street, containing 95 houses, mostly
of respectable appearance. It is a station of the con-
stabulary police, and has a sub-post-office to Clones and
Cootehill. The market, which is on Saturday, is prin-
cipally for pigs and flax; and fairs are held on the last
Saturday in each month, chiefly for cattle and pigs:
the market-house and shambles are neat buildings, and
there is a good inn. Here are a neat meeting-house for
Presbyterians, erected in 1816; a school under the Lon-
don Hibernian Society; and a dispensary.
NEWBRIDGE, a market and post-town, in the
parish of GREAT CONNELL, barony of CONNELL, county
of KILDARE, and province of LEINSTER, 5¼ miles
(S. W. by W.) from Naas, and 21 (S. W.) from Dublin;
containing 577 inhabitants. This place is of very recent
origin, and appears to have arisen since the erection of
extensive barracks for cavalry, in 1816, on the property
of Thos. Eyre Powell, Esq. It is situated on the river
Liffey, over which there is a handsome stone bridge of
five arches, but so narrow that two carriages cannot
drive abreast on it, from which it derives its name,
and on the mail coach, road from Dublin to Lime-
rick. The town at present consists only of one street,
on the western bank of the river; but it is yet in
its infancy, and there is every prospect of its in-
crease. The barracks are spacious and handsome,
consisting of two parallel ranges of building, connected
by a central range at right angles; and are capable of
accommodating two regiments, with apartments for their
officers, and an hospital for 100 patients. A patent has
been obtained for two free markets, which are held on
Tuesday and Friday in every week, and for two fairs, on
the 3rd of May and 15th of August. Here are also a
constabulary police station, a dispensary, and a R. C.
chapel, with a friary.
NEWBRIDGE, a village, in the parish of CASTLE-
MACADAM, barony of BALLTNACOR, county of WICKLOW,
and province of LEINSTER, 4¼ miles (S.) from Rath-
drum, to which it has a penny post: the population is
returned with the parish. It is pleasantly situated in
the vale of Ovoca, on the eastern bank of the river of
that name, and near the mail road from Dublin to Wex-
ford. It gives name, with Baranisky, to the R. C.
union or district, and contains a neat chapel, to which a
national school is attached.
424
NEW
NEWCASTLE, a small sea-port town, in the parish
of KILCOO, barony of UPPER IVEAGH, county of DOWN,
and province of ULSTER, 3½ miles (S. E.) from Castle-
wellan; containing 987 inhabitants. This place, which
is situated on the shore of Dundrum bay, in the Irish
sea, derives its name from a castle erected here by Felix
Magennis, in the memorable year of the Spanish Armada;
and though only an inconsiderable fishing village pre-
viously to the year 1822, it has since been gradually
increasing in importance. In addition to its trade as a
port, it has made great advances as a fashionable place
for sea-bathing, and is now nearly a mile in length,
containing several large and handsome private dwell-
ing-houses, and numerous comfortable and respectable
lodging-houses. The castle, built by Magennis close to
the sea shore, has been taken down, and on its site Earl
Annesley has erected a spacious and elegant hotel, from
a design by Mr. Duff, of Belfast, at an expense of £3000,
which is fitted up with superior accommodations, in-
cluding hot and cold baths, and every requisite arrange-
ment. The house is beautifully situated and commands
a most extensive prospect, embracing the isle and calf
of Man in the foreground, and in the rear the lofty
mountains of Mourne. Earl Annesley has also built an
elegant marine residence, called Donard Lodge, at the
foot of Slieve Donard; the demesne is laid out with
great taste, and within its limits is a chalybeate spa, to
which the public has free access. The other seats are
Tollymore, the residence of Mrs. Keowen, situated near
the town; Brook Lodge, of W. Beers, Esq.; and the
residence of John Law, Esq., a handsome mansion in
the Elizabethan style. The environs are of pleasing
character, and abound with interesting scenery; they
afford many agreeable walks and rides, and within two
miles of the town are Tollymore Park, the handsome
seat of the Earl of Roden, and the beautiful village and
church of Bryansford. The trade of the port consists
chiefly in the export of oats, barley, and potatoes, of
which large quantities are sent to Dublin and Liverpool.
A commodious pier has been erected on an extensive
scale, at an expense of £30,000; it is accessible at high
water to vessels of large burden, and has been very
beneficial to the trade of the town. Granite of very
fine quality abounds in the neighbourhood; the quarry
was first opened, in 1824, by J. Lynn, Esq., and the
stone is conveyed from the mountain by a rail-road to
the pier, and large quantities of it are shipped. From
this quarry was raised the stone for the court-house, new
prison, infirmary, and fever hospital of Downpatrick, the
chapel of ease in this town, and the spire of Inch church.
Newcastle is the head of a coast-guard district, which
extends from Strangford to Warren Point, including the
stations of Gun Island, Ardglass, St. John’s Point or
Killough, Leestone, and Cranfield, comprising a force of
one resident inspector, seven officers, and 66 men. A
penny post has been established to Castlewellan, and a
constabulary police force has been stationed here. The
chapel of ease is a handsome building, with a spire at
the east end; it was erected at an expense of £1500 by
Earl Annesley, who pays the curate a stipend of £100.
In the mountains and streams near the town are found
fine specimens of rock crystal, of the various hues of
beryl, emerald, amethyst, and topaz, some of which have
brought high prices. Sand eels are found in great
numbers on the beach at particular seasons. Within a