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847 were in the town, the population of which has since
that time considerably increased. The parish comprises
3663 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act;
about two-thirds are under cultivation, producing abun-
dant crops of corn, potatoes, and clover, the rest
being rough pasture: the land is remarkably fertile,
particularly near the town, and in some places is toler-
ably well cultivated. The town consists of a long
irregular street, comprising 150 houses, of which three
only are slated, the remainder being thatched, and all
are small and ill-built. It is a constabulary police sta-
tion; and petty sessions are held on alternate Mon-
days. Fairs take place on the Wednesday after Trinity-
Sunday, and on Sept. 4th, chiefly for cattle and pigs.
A new line of road from the town joins the mail road
on the banks of the Shannon, at Robertstown, opening
a ready communication with the county of Kerry. The
substratum in and around the town is limestone, of
which blocks of a very large size are procured for cutting
into gate-posts, pillars, slabs, &c., but are all sent away,
as no attempt has been made to cut or work them on
the spot. Black and grey marble of very superior qua-
lity are extensively found throughout the lower part of
the parish, but are only worked for repairing the roads,
or fencing the fields. The town and the surrounding
lands are principally the property of the Rt. Hon. T.
Spring Rice, Chancellor of the Exchequer, whose seat
is about three miles distant. Close adjoining the town
is Shanagolden House, the elegant residence of the Rev.
G. Vincent; and the glebe-house, more than a mile
distant from the church, is at present occupied by J.
Fitzgerald, Esq.
The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese
of Limerick; the rectory forms the corps of the precen-
torship of the cathedral of Limerick, and the vicarage
is in the patronage of the Precentor. The tithes amount
to £200, one-third of which is payable to the vicar, and
the remainder to the precentor. The glebe-house was
erected by aid of a gift of £400 and a loan of £232, in
1813, from the late Board of First Fruits: the glebe
comprises 11½ acres, being composed of three portions,
one near the church, another near the little village called.
Barracks, and the third where the glebe-house stands;
the last was purchased by the same Board. The church
is a large and handsome edifice, apparently very old;
the chancel being in ruins, the nave was fitted up for
divine service, having been roofed and a lofty square
tower built, in 1815, by aid of a loan of £450 from the
before-mentioned Board the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners have recently granted £101 for its repair. In
the R. C. divisions this parish is the head of a union or
district, comprising the parishes of Shanagolden, Kil-
moylan, and Robertstown; the chapel is a large plain
edifice, situated on a hill to the east of the town. There
are two mathematical male schools for adults, in which
are about 25 pupils; and there are 4 private schools, in
which are about 150 children. About a mile south from
the town, in the parish of Kilmoylan, is Shanid castle,
one of the most impregnable of those possessed by the
Earls of Desmond, and from which they took their
war cry of Shanid-a-boo: this castle, which gives name
to a baronial division of the county, occupies the top
of a steep hill, and is surrounded by a strong rampart
and fosse. Not far distant is a very extensive circular
fort, divided by earthworks into four compartments;
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but these subdivisions appear to be of later date than
the original formation of the fort. A mile north from
the town is Knockpatrick, said to be the highest land
in the county, whence the surrounding country is seen
stretching in extensive perspective, with the majestic
course of the Shannon through its numerous windings
to the sea. On the summit are the remains, held in
great veneration, of an old church, supposed to have
been consecrated by St. Patrick, whose chair is shewn
in an adjoining field, composed of five rude unhewn
stones; and not far distant is a well, dedicated to him,
of which various legends are related: the side walls of
this venerable edifice are nearly entire, though the east
and west gables have entirely disappeared, and the space
of the western wall is occupied by a large and curious
tomb belonging to the families of Bourke and Griffin.
From this hill are extensive and interesting views, em-
bracing the high grounds of the counties of Tipperary,
Galway, Cork, and Kerry, with the rich lands of Clare
and Limerick in the foreground, and the towns of
Limerick and Ennis rising beyond the expanded waters
of the Shannon.
SHANBALLYMORE, a village, in the parish of
TEMPLEROAN, barony of FERMOY, county of CORK, and
province of MUNSTER, 4 miles (E. S. E.) from Done-
raile, on the road to Rockmills; containing 415 inha-
bitants. This village, which sometimes gives name to
the parish, contained, in 1831, 80 houses, mostly
thatched; also one of the two R. C. chapels belonging
to the district of Doneraile, a plain cruciform building.
A patent exists for a fair, which is not held. Adjoining
the village is Shanbally, the seat of Watkins Roberts,
Esq. Here was formerly a castle, of which no vestiges
are in existence.
SHANBOUGH, a parish, in the barony of IDA,
county of KILKENNY, and province of MUNSTER, 3½
miles (W.) from New Ross; containing 429 inhabitants,
and comprising 1709 statute acres. It is a vicarage, in
the diocese of Ossory, forming part of the union of
Rossbercon: the rectory is impropriate in the corpora-
tion of Waterford. The tithes amount to £82. 19., of
which two-thirds are payable to the corporation, and
the remainder to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions also
it is part of the union or district of Rossbercon.
SHANCOE, or SHANCOUGH, a parish, in the
barony of TIRAGHRILL, county of SLIGO, and province
of CONNAUGHT, 9 miles (N. by E.) from Boyle, on the
road from Sligo to Ballyfarnon; containing 1208 inha-
bitants. It is situated on the confines of the county of
Leitrim, and comprises S909¾ statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act, of which a large portion consists of
mountain and bog; some of the land, however, is good;
limestone abounds, and iron-ore is supposed to exist in
the mountains. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Elphin,
forming part of the union of Kilmactraney; the rectory
is impropriate in Alex. Perceval, Esq. The tithes,
amounting to £33. 4. 7½., are payable in equal portions
to the impropriator and vicar. In the R. C. divisions
also the parish forms part of the union or district of
Kilmactrany. A “Patron” is annually held on July
25th at St. James’s Well.
SHANDRUM, a parish, in the barony of ORRERY
and KILMORE, county of CORK, and province of MUN-
STER, 2½ miles (S. W.) from Charleville, on the road to
Newmarket; containing 4627 inhabitants. It comprises