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RAH
per annum. The glebe-house was built in 1817, at an ex-
pense of £500, of which £450 was a gift and £50 a loan
from the late Board of First Fruits. The church, which
is annexed to the curacy, is a small edifice, erected in
1732, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently-
granted £166 for its repair. In the R. C. divisions the
parish is the head of a union or district, called Killina,
and comprising also the parish of Lynally; there are
chapels at Killina and Kilpatrick, and one in the parish
of Lynally. There is also a chapel annexed to the R. C.
college at Tullabeg, founded in 1818 for the education
of young gentlemen, under a rector and seven profes-
sors belonging to the order of Jesus; and a Presen-
tation convent. About 240 children are taught in four
public schools, of which the parochial school is aided by
subscription, and has a house and an acre of land rent-
free, given by Mr. Acres; and a female school is sup-
ported by the ladies of the convent, who gratuitously
instruct the children. There are also five private schools,
in which are about 250 children.
RAHARROW, or RAHARA, a parish, in the barony
of ATHLONE, county of ROSCOMMON, and province of
CONNAUGHT, 9 miles (N. W.) from Athlone, on the roads
from that place to Athleague and Roscommon; con-
taining 1630 inhabitants. It comprises 4741 statute
acres of tolerably good land, chiefly in tillage, and there
is a small portion of bog; the state of agriculture is
improving. Limestone is found in the parish, and
within its limits is Lough Funcheon, more commonly
called Ballagh Lough from a hamlet of that name at its
northern extremity: it is the largest sheet of water in
the barony, extending two miles in length and contain-
ing some islands, besides a large promontory, which is
occasionally insulated; the lough is bounded on the north-
east by hills, but its borders are elsewhere flat and
marshy, and it has on the whole a bleak appearance.
The seats are Loughfield, the residence of P. Sproules,
Esq., and Rahara, of Alex. Sproules, Esq. Petty ses-
sions are held once a fortnight at the Four Roads. It
is a vicarage, in the diocese of Elphin, forming part of
the union of Killenvoy: the rectory is impropriate in the
Incorporated Society. The tithes amount to £124. 5. 9.,
of which £66. 5. 9. is payable to the vicar, and the re-
mainder to the impropriators; and there is a glebe of
10 acres, let for £10. 1. 3. per annum. In the R. C.
divisions it is part of the union or district of St. John’s,
and contains a chapel. About 70 children are educated
in a private school.
RAHELTY, a parish, in the barony of ELIOGARTY,
county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 2½
miles (N. N. E.) from Thurles; containing 1174 inha-
bitants, and comprising 2821 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act, and valued at £2058 per annum. It
is a vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of
the union of Thurles: the rectory is impropriate in E.
Taylor, Esq. The tithes amount to £194, of which £96
is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the
vicar. In the R. C. divisions also it is part of the union
or district of Thurles. About 110 children are educated
in two private schools. The old castle of Rahelty still
exists.
RAHENY, a parish, in the barony of COOLOCK,
county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 4¼ miles
(N. E.) from the Post-office, Dublin, on the road to
Howth; containing 612 inhabitants. This place, for-
VOL. II—481
RAH
merly called Rathenny, derived its name from an ancient
rath or moat in the centre of the village, overhanging a
small stream; and is supposed to have formed part of
the district called Rechen, which, together with Baeldu-
leek (Baldoyle) and Portrahern (Portrane), was granted
by Anlave, King of Dublin, to the church of the Holy
Trinity, in 1040. It is also noticed under the name of
Rathena, by Archdall, as the birth-place or residence of
a saint about the year 570, at which time probably there
may have been a religious establishment. The celebrated
battle of Clontarf took place in its immediate vicinity;
and it may probably have been a post of some import-
anee, as commanding the pass of the small river which
flows beneath the rath in the village. The parish is
bounded on the east by the sea: the land is in general
of good quality, the greater portion is meadow and pas-
ture, and the arable land produces excellent crops of
wheat; the system of agriculture is in a very improved
state, and there is neither waste land nor bog. Lime-
stone of good quality is abundant and is quarried for
building and for agricultural purposes. The chief seats
are the Manor House, erected by a branch of the Grace
family, and now the property of W. Sweetman, Esq.;
Fox House, of J. A. Sweetman, Esq.; Fox Hill, of E. J.
Irwin, Esq.; Edenmore (formerly Violet Hill), of J.
Maconchy, Esq.; Raheny Cottage, of J. Ball, Esq.;
Bettyville, of J. Classon, Esq.; Swan’s Nest, of W.
Craig, Esq.; Belmont, of Mrs. White; and Ballyhay,
of J. D’Arcey, Esq. A constabulary police force is sta-
tioned in the village; and petty sessions are held there
on alternate Thursdays. The living is a rectory, in the
diecese of Dublin, and in the patronage of the Crown:
the tithes amount to £316. 10. 6.; the glebe-house is a
good residence, and the glebe comprises about 30 acres
of profitable land. The church, a small plain edifice,
is supposed to have been rebuilt about the year 1609.
In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the
union of Clontarf. About 150 children are taught in
two public schools, of which the parochial school is sup-
ported by the rents of eight houses forming the crescent
of Raheny, bequeathed for that purpose by the late
Samuel Dick, Esq., who, in 1787, built the school-house;
the R. C. school is chiefly supported by the Sweetman
family, of whom the late W. Sweetman, Esq., in 1820,
built the school-house, with apartments for the master,
at his own expense. There is a dispensary in the vil-
lage; and the late Mrs. Preston, in 1831, bequeathed
£100 for the poor of the parish.
RAHILL and BROUGHLSTOWN, a parish, in the
barony of RATHVILLY, county of CARLOW, and province
of LEINSTER, 2 miles (S.) from Baltinglass; contain-
ing 269 inhabitants. This parish is situated at the
northern extremity of the county, on the confines
of Wicklow, and is bounded on the east by the river
Slaney: it comprises 2636 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act, about four-fifths of which consist
of meadow and pasture, and the remainder of arable
land, with a few acres of bog. It is a rectory and im-
propriate cure, in the diocese of Leighlin; the rectory
is appropriate to the dean and chapter, and the curacy
forms part of the union of Rathvilly: the tithes amount
to £184. 12. 3½. In the R. C. divisions also it is in-
cluded in the union or district of Rathvilly. On the
townland of Rahill are the ruins of the old church,
with a burial ground attached; the surrounding scenery
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