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RAT
beautifully situated in a richly improved demesne, com-
prising 1000 acres, embellished with fine timber and
thriving plantations, and with a beautiful and pictu-
resque lake. Kilkerran House, the residence of M.
Galway, Esq., in the grounds of which is also a fine lake,
is also in the parish. Near the south-eastern extremity
of the parish is the Red Strand, where great quantities
of calcareous sand are obtained for manure. This sand
is a formation from the debris or very minute shells,
among which some small cornua ammonis may be seen
in nearly a perfect state: it was some years since
analysed and found to contain 79 parts in 100 of calca-
reous matter. It is a curious fact that this sand is con-
fined to a narrow strand, about ½ an English mile wide,
bounded at each end by high cliffs; and though other in-
lets and strands are near it on either side, their sands do
not exhibit any calcareous matter but are all composed
of silex and argil. The Red Strand sand is carried 16
English miles into the interior for manure; at that dis-
tance 20 bags, each containing about 3 cwt., are consider-
ed sufficient to manure a statute acre; at three miles dis-
tance from the Strand from 80 to 120 bags are laid on.
More than 1000 horses and carts may be reckoned at
the Strand in one day. This sand is esteemed the best
on the southern coast, except the Bantry sand, as it is
called, which is a distinct coral formation, a perfect
calcareous mass. To the east of Galley Head, on the
southern coast of the parish, are the Doolic rocks.
Fail’s are held at New Mill on March 25th, June 29th,
and Sept. 29th, under a patent obtained by the lord of
the manor; and a constabulary police force is stationed
at Miltown, for which a barrack has been lately erected.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Ross,
and in the patronage of the Rev. H. Stewart; the
rectory is partly appropriate to the dean and chapter
of Ross, and partly impropriate in M. Roberts and
J. W. Foote, Esqrs. The tithes amount to £411.19. 10.,
of which £63. 7. 11. is payable to the appropria-
tors, £174. 2. 10. to the impropriators, and £174. 9. 2.
to the vicar. The glebe-house, an elegant villa em-
bosomed in thriving plantations, was erected by the
Rev. H. Stewart, the present incumbent, in 1831;
the glebe comprises 5½ acres, of which two only belong
to the vicar. The church, a handsome and spacious
structure in the later English style, with a square tower,
was erected in 1825, at an expense of £1900, of which
£900 was a gift from the late Board of First Fruits,
and the remainder was defrayed by Lord Carbery; it is
finely situated in the demesne of Castle Freke. In the
R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union of
Ardfield; the chapel near Miltown is a neat edifice, with
a fine altar-piece. About 160 children are taught in two
public schools, of which the male and female parochial
school is supported chiefly by Lord Carbery and the
incumbent; a very handsome school-house, with apart-
ments for the master and mistress, has been erected by
his lordship at his own expense; there is also a Sunday
school. On Galley Head, often mistaken for the old
head of Kinsale, are the ruins of Dundedy. castle; and
on the eastern side of Redstrand are the ruins of the
castle of Dunowen. The ploughland of Gahanave,
comprising about 200 acres, from which the chancellor
of the diocese derives his income, is in this parish.
RATHBEAGH, a parish, in the barony of CRANAGH,
county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 2½
VOL. II.—489
RAT
miles (N. E.) from Freshford, on the upper road from
Kilkenny to Ballyragget; containing 736 inhabitants.
This place, which is situated on the river Nore, is sup-
posed to be the ancient Argiodross, and the residence
of Heremon, one of the sons of Milesius, who came into
Ireland and laid the foundation of the Milesian dynasty
in that kingdom. The parish comprises 2281 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act, which are
mostly in a state of profitable cultivation. The ancient
manor-house of Clone, formerly the residence of Sir
Toby Caulfeild, ancestor of the Earl of Charlemont, and
now in the occupation of H. Nixon, Esq., is within the
parish. Fairs are held on the 1st of May and Novem-
ber, and Dec. 6th, chiefly for stock, and are well at-
tended; a constabulary police force is stationed here.
It is a rectory, in the diocese of Ossory, forming part of
the union of Freshford, or Aghour; the tithes amount
to £215. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part
of the union of Lisdowney. About 220 children are
taught in a school at Clone, in connection with the New
Board of Education. On the bank of the river Nore,
at this place, is a mount 40 yards in length and 25 in
breadth on the summit, and encircled by a double
fosse.
RATHBEGGAN, a parish, in the barony of RAT-
OATH, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 3
miles (S. by E.) from Dunshaughlin, on the mail road
from Dublin to Enniskillen; containing 282 inhabitants.
It comprises 2901¼ statute acres of arable and pasture
land of good quality, of which the proportions are
nearly equal, and it contains some quarries of building
stone. Rathbeggan House is the seat of John Standish,
Esq. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Meath,
and in the patronage of the Marquess of Drogheda, in
whom the rectory is impropriate: the tithes amount to
£161. 18. 9., of which £18. 9. 2. is payable to the im-
propriator, and the remainder to the vicar; the glebe,
comprising 7½ acres, is valued at £15 per annum. The
glebe-house was built in 1817, by aid of a gift of £450,
and a loan of £100, from the late Board of First
Fruits. The church is a neat modern edifice, towards
the erection of which the same Board gave £800, in
1817. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of
the union or district of Ratoath.
RATHBIN.—See BURN CHURCH.
RATHBOURNEY, a parish, in the barony of BUR-
REN, county of CLARE, and province of MUNSTER, 8½
miles (W. S. W.) from Burren, on the road to Ennisty-
mon; containing 848 inhabitants. It comprises 9440
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, a large
portion of which consists of rocky mountain pasture,
affording a rich though scanty herbage: there is also a
portion of bog. The principal residence is Gregans,
that of Fras. Martin, Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage,
in the diocese of Kilfenora, forming part of the union
of Dromcrehy and corps of the treasurership of Kil-
fenora: the tithes amount to £100. The church of the
union, a small plain building without a tower, erected
about 40 years since, is within the limits of the parish.
In the R. C. divisions it is the head of the union or
district of Glyn or Glenarragha, comprising also the
parishes of Dromcrehy, Glaninagh, and Killonoghan.
The chapel at Glenarragha was originally built by the
late Marquess of Buckingham, and has been recently
much enlarged. A glebe of 40 acres is allotted for the
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