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REN
In the neighbourhood are large beds of sand and ap-
pearances of limestone. The vicinity of Pembrokestown
is marked by a romantic wildness of peculiar character;
the hills which rise precipitously, are covered with bold
and rugged rocks, and between these irregular elevations
are small patches of the finest land well watered and
sheltered. The parish is in the diocese of Waterford;
part of the rectory forms one of the denominations con-
stituting the corps of the deanery, and the remainder
one of those comprising the corps of the archdeaconry; the
vicarage is episcopally united to that of Kilmeaden,
and in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes amount
to £226. 4. 6., of which £79. 4. 6. is payable to the
vicar, and the remainder to the appropriators; and there
is a glebe of 12 acres, of which 8 belong to the rectory,
and the remainder to the vicarage. About 25 children
are educated in a private school. On the abrupt conical
eminence called Sugar Loaf hill is a perfect cromlech
composed of four oblong masses of rock placed on end,
and supporting a table stone of considerable magnitude,
at a height of about 20 feet; underneath, in the centre,
is a single stone of inferior height. Close to this crom-
lech are the ruins of the ancient parish church. In the
vicinity of Pembrokestown is a smaller cromlech, also
an ancient fort or rath.
RELICKMURRY, or RELIGMURRY, a parish, in
the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county of TIPPERARY,
and province of MUNSTER, 4 miles (S. W.) from Cashel,
near the road to Tipperary: the population is returned
with the parish of Athassel. It is situated on the river
Suir, and forms part of the tract called the “Golden
Vale,” from the superior quality of the land, a large
portion of which is under grass. Within its limits is
the post-town of Golden, which is described under its
own head. At Castle Lake is a distillery, employing
generally from 40 to 50 persons. Adjoining it is the neat
residence of Thomas Mathew, Esq.; and at Rockview
is that of Sam. Cooper, Esq., surrounded by neatly
planted grounds. The living is a rectory, in the diocese
of Cashel, united from time immemorial to those of
Athassel, Ballygriffin, and Dangandargan, and in the
patronage of the Archbishop; the tithes of Relickmurry
and Athassel amount to £550, and those of the entire
benefice to £846. 8.7. The glebe-house was built in
1819, when the late Board of First Fruits granted £100
as a gift, and £1500 as a loan, towards its erection, the
remainder of its cost being defrayed by the rector: the
glebe comprises 20 acres. The church is situated in the
town of Golden. In the R. C. divisions the parish is
the head of a union or district, comprising also the pa-
rishes of Athassel, Kilfeacle, and Dogstown; and con-
taining the chapels of Golden and Kilfeacle. In the
national school at Thomastown, and in a school sup-
ported by Lady Elizabeth Mathew about 150 children
are educated; and there are four private schools, in
which are about 240 children.
RENVILLE, a village, in the parish of ORANMORE,
barony of DUNKELLIN, county of GALWAY, and province
of CONNAUGHT, 1 mile (W. by S.) from Oranmore, on
the road to Ardfry and the bay of Galway; containing
207 inhabitants. Within Renville Point is New Har-
bour (sometimes called Renville), which is a place of
refuge in severe weather for vessels trading to Galway.
In gales of wind, when it is dangerous to lie in the Gal-
way roads, many vessels run for this harbour, where
512
REY
they are sheltered from every wind, and at low water
lie in a bed of soft clayey mud: there is 19 feet
of water at high spring tides. A small pier has been
constructed, which, if extended about 40 yards further,
would be of great utility. The village, which is a station
of the constabulary police, is much frequented in the
summer by families from Galway and other parts of the
county for the benefit of sea-bathing, for which there is
every facility. The beautiful demesnes of Renville, the
seat of Philip Lynch Athy, Esq., and Ardfry, of Lord
Wallscourt, also afford great attractions to visitors.
Some fine specimens of lead-ore, black marble, and gyp-
sum have been found on the estate of Renville, on which
also is an old castle in good preservation.
RERYMORE, or REARY, a parish, in the barony
of TINNEHINCH, QUEEN’S county, and province of
LEINSTER, 6 miles (N. W.) from Mountmellick, on the
road to Parsonstown; containing 2729 inhabitants.
This parish is situated on the river Barrow, which is
here little more than a mountain stream: the land is
generally of good quality and in a profitable state of
cultivation; it is chiefly under tillage, and the system
of agriculture is improved. The principal seats are
Reary Vale, the residence of R. Meredith, Esq., and
Rerymore, of J. Meredith, Esq., in the grounds of which
are the ruins of the ancient church, with an extensive
burial-place, which is still in use. The living is a vicar-
age, in the diocese of Kildare, forming part of the union
of Oregan, or Rosenallis; the rectory is impropriate in
Gen. Dunne. The tithes amount to £220. 2. 5½., of
which £146. 14. 11½. is payable to the impropriator, and
£73. 7. 6. to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions the pa-
rish is partly in the union of Clonaslee, and partly in
that of Rosenallis. About 110 children are taught in
two public schools; and there is a private school, in
which are about 20 children. Near the ruins of the
church is a well dedicated to St. Finian, which is still
held in great veneration by the peasantry and greatly
resorted to on the festival of that saint; it consists of
three or four cavities in the solid rock, which are always
full of clear water.
REYNAGH, a parish, in the barony of GARRY-
CASTLE, KING’S county, and province of LEINSTER
on the road from Parsonstown to Banagher bridge and
Galway; containing, with the post-town of Banagher,
4271 inhabitants. This place takes its name from a
monastery founded here by St. Regnacia, sister to St.
Finian, who died in 563. The establishment, which
was called Kill-Rignaighe, was placed under the super-
intendence of Talacia, mother of St. Finian, who was
abbess for some time; but no further details of its his-
tory are recorded. The parish is situated on the river
Shannon, and comprises 6555 statute acres, of which
a very large proportion is bog; part is waste land, chiefly
sand hills; and the remainder, which is chiefly under
tillage, is of very indifferent quality. The system of
agriculture is in a very backward state, though, from
the abundance of limestone, which is quarried both
for building and agricultural uses, the lands under a
better system might be easily improved. About half a
mile from Banagher, on the road to Parsonstown, is
Carrigcastle, the demesne of H. B. Armstrong, Esq.,
with the extensive flour-mills, established in 1818 and
employing 20 persons: in the ruins of an adjoining
castle coins of Queen Elizabeth and several skeletons