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RUS
Clodagh, noticed in the article on Cloneamera. The
living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of
Ossory, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes
amount to £560. The church is a plain building, for
the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
have recently granted £327. In the R. C. divisions
the parish forms part of the union or district of Inis-
tioge, and contains a chapel. In the parochial school,
aided by the rector, and in the national school at Rower,
about 170 children are educated; there are also a private
school, in which are about 140 children; and a Sunday
school. The ruined castle of Coolkill, said to have
belonged to the Butler family, still exists; and there
are several broken cromlechs in the vicinity of Bally-
nabarna.
ROYAL OAK, a village, in the parish of KILLI-
NANE, barony of IDRONE WEST, county of CARLOW,
and province of LEINSTER, 1 mile (S. W.) from Bag-
nalstown, on the road from Dublin to Carlow; contain-
ing 82 houses and 428 inhabitants. This place is situ-
ated on the river Barrow, which is here crossed by a
bridge, and derives its name from that of an old and
well-known inn in its vicinity, which was established
previously to the erection of the village.
ROYSLEA.—See ROSSLEA.
RUAN, county of CLARE.—See DYSERT.
RUSH, a small sea-port and fishing town, in the
parish of LUSK, barony of BALROTHERY, county of
DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 6 miles (N. E.)
from Swords, and 13½ (N. by E.) from Dublin; con-
taining 2144 inhabitants. This town, which is situated
on the eastern coast, contains 442 houses, chiefly inha-
bited by fishermen; and has, since the 16th century,
been celebrated for the great quantities of ling which
are taken and cured by the inhabitants. Previously to
the discontinuance of the fishing bounties, 22 boats were
employed in this fishery, which number has since been
reduced to 16 of about 40 tons each, carrying seven or
eight men. The harbour is difficult of access, and
consequently adapted only for small vessels. The chan-
nel has from seven to eight feet depth at low water, and
is much exposed to a heavy swell during the prevalence
of winds from the north-east. A small pier has been
erected on a ledge of rock extending into the sea, and
covered on the north side by a reef of rocks, which
affords good accommodation to the vessels employed in
the fishery. The sands are celebrated for early pota-
toes, which are produced here in abundance. On the
south side of the bay, and to the east of the pier, are
beds of fine compact limestone and black slate clay and
conglomerate limestone alternating. A coast-guard
station has been established here, forming one of the
nine which constitute the district of Swords; a consta-
bulary police force is stationed in the town, and there
is a martello tower on the beach. A patent exists for
fairs on May 1st and Sept, 29th, but they are not held.
The parish church is three miles distant, and therefore,
for the accommodation of the town, divine service is
performed once every Sunday in the parochial school-
room, a large and commodious building, in which are
a lending library and a depository of bibles. In the
R. C. divisions the town forms the head of a union or
district, including also Lambay island and part of the
adjoining districts: there are chapels at Rush and on
Lambay island; the former was built about 70 years
541
RUS
since, and a tower, embattled and surmounted with a
cross, was added to it in 1833, by subscription; the
interior is well fitted up and has a carved altar-piece
brought from France. Adjoining it is the residence of
the parish priest, built in 1823 by subscription, to which
the late Mrs. Palmer, of Rush House, largely contri-
buted and also gave an acre and a half of land for a
site. A dispensary in the town is supported in the
usual manner. About half a mile from the town is Rush
House, now called Kenure Park, formerly the residence
of the great Duke of Ormonde, and subsequently of Sir
Henry Echlin, Bart., from whom it was purchased
by an ancestor of Sir W. H. Palmer, Bart., its present
proprietor. The mansion is spacious and handsome,
and contains many good apartments, a collection of
valuable paintings by the first masters, and a selection
of vases and other relics from the remains of Pompeii,
collected by the late Mr. Palmer when in Italy. The
demesne is richly embellished with stately timber, and
commands some interesting views, embracing the town
of Rush, Lambay island, and a great expanse of sea;
and within the grounds are the picturesque ruins of
Kenure church, in which is a large tomb inscribed
to the memory of George, fourth Baron of Strabane,
who died in 1668. Near these ruins are the remains
of an ancient castle, a holy well dedicated to St. Ca-
therine, and part of an ancient cross.
RUSKEY, or ROOSKEY, a market and post-town,
partly in that portion of the parish of MOHILL which is
in the barony and county of LONGFORD, in the province
of LEINSTER, and partly in that portion of it which is
in the barony of MOHILI. and county of LEITRIM, but
chiefly in the parish of TARMONBARRY, barony of BAJ-
LINTOBBER, county of ROSCOMMON, and province of
CONNAUGHT, 7¾ miles (N. by W.) from Longford, and
66¼ (W. N. W.) from Dublin, on the road to Sligo: the
population is returned with the respective parishes.
This place is situated on the river Shannon, over
which is a bridge of nine arches connecting the coun-
ties of Leitrim and Longford (which here unite) with
the county of Roscommon. It participates in the ge-
neral trade of the river, and has a market on Wednes-
day, which is well attended. The fairs, which are now
discontinued, were formerly among the principal that
were held on the Leitrim side of the river. A consta-
bulary police force is stationed here, and petty sessions
are held on alternate Thursdays. The parish church of
Tarmonbarry is situated in the town, and there is a
R. C. chapel for the union or district of Ruskey.
RUSSAGH, county of MEATH.—See CLONA-
BRENY.
RUSSAGH, a parish, in the barony of MOYGOISH,
county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 4½
miles (S. E.) from Edgeworthstown, on the road from
Dublin to Sligo; containing 778 inhabitants. This
parish, which extends on the south to the river Inny,
and includes the small lake of Lough Gar or Cappa,
comprises 6500 statute acres, which, exclusive of a
large proportion of bog, is in general good land and
chiefly under tillage. The soil is fertile and the system
of agriculture improving; limestone abounds and is
quarried for agricultural purposes, and there are also
quarries of black flag-stone of very fine quality. The
living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Ardagh, and in the
patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is impropriate in