Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

BAL
BALLYBOYS, in the barony of LOWER DUNDALK,
county of LOUTH, and province of LEINSTER, on. the
north side of the bay of Dundalk; the population is
returned with Ballymascanlan. It comprises, according
to the Ordnance survey, 1435¾ statute acres, and con-
tains within its limits Bellurgan Park, the seat of E.
Tipping, Esq., in which is a picturesque eminence com-
manding views of a bold and striking character. In the
R. C. divisions it forms a separate district, called “The
Lordship;” the chapel is situated near the bay, on the
road to Riverstown.
BALLYBRACK, a hamlet, in that part of the parish
of ROSSMERE which is within the barony of DECIES-
without-DRUM, county of WATERFORD, and province
of MUNSTER, 2 miles (S. E.) from Kilmacthomas; con-
taining 28 dwellings and 165 inhabitants.
BALLYBRAZILL, a parish, in the barony of SHEL-
BURNE, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER,
5 miles (S. E.) from New Ross; containing 384 inhabi-
tants. This small parish is situated on the road from
Wexford, by Ballinlaw Ferry, to Waterford, and was,
during the disturbances of 1798, visited by the insur-
gent army, which, after the battle of New Ross, en-
camped at Slieve Keiltre, which is partly within its
limits, and took possession of Ballysop, now the seat of
the Rev. W. Gifford, which they made the head-quarters
of the commander in chief. The lands are principally
in tillage, and the system of agriculture is generally im-
proving. A small domestic manufacture of woollen
cloth is carried on, affording employment to a few per-
sons. It is an impropriate curacy, in the diocese of
Ferns, and is part of the union of St. Mary’s, New
Ross; the rectory is impropriate in the Marquess of
Ely: the tithes amount to £100, payable to the im-
propriator, who pays annually to the curate £2 late
currency. The church is in ruins. In the R. C. divisions
it is included in the union or district of Suttons, of
which the chapel is at Horeswood, in the parish of
Kilmokea.
BALLYBRENNAN, a parish, in the barony of
FORTH, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER,
5 miles (S. S. E.) from Wexford; containing 260 inha-
bitants. This parish is situated on the southern channel
of Wexford haven, and on the road from Wexford to
Rosslare Fort. It comprises 1030 statute acres 3 the
system of agriculture has much improved, principally
through the exertions of Messrs. H. and R. Jones, the
latter of whom has reclaimed from the harbour about
five acres of land, now forming a thriving plantation.
A few of the inhabitants, during the season, are employed
in the herring fishery. Ballybrennan Castle is the pro-
perty of the Earl of Rathdown, and is occupied by Mr.
R. Jones, who has a large corn store here, and has
lately erected a windmill. The remains of the ancient
castle, except a wall incorporated in the modern dwell-
ing-house, have been taken down by the present tenant;
several human bones were recently found near its site.
The living is a rectory and vicarage, formerly included
in the Wexford union, from which it was separated in
1831, in the diocese of Ferns, and in the patronage of
the Bishop: the tithes amount to £57. 15. 6¾., in addi-
tion to which the incumbent receives £14. 1. 5½. out of
the tithes of Killinick. The church is in ruins. In the
R. C. divisions the parish is within the union or district
of Tagoat.
124
BAL
BALLYBRICKEN.—See CAHIRELLY.
BALLYBRITTAS, a village and post-town, in
the parish of LEA, barony of PORTNAHINCH, QUEEN’S
county, and province of LEINSTER, 7¼ miles (N. E.)
from Maryborough, and 33 miles (S. W. by W.) from
Dublin; containing 168 inhabitants. This place is cele-
brated for a battle which was fought here, in the reign
of Elizabeth, between a part of the army of the Earl of
Essex and the Irish, led by the chieftains O’Dempsey
and O’Moore, in which the former was defeated; and
from the circumstance of the latter cutting off the high
plumes worn by the English, the scene of the conflict
was called “the Pass of Plumes.” The village, which is
situated on the high road from Dublin to Maryborough,
consists of about 30 houses neatly built, and has a
pleasing appearance. In the vicinity are Bellegrove, the
residence of G. Adair, Esq.; Glenmalire, of Mrs. Trench;
Rath, of T. Trench, Esq., the Derries, of R. M. Alloway,
Esq.; and Ashfield, of H. Birch, Esq. Fairs are held
on March 25th, May 12th, and Aug. 15th; petty sessions
are held once a fortnight; and here is a station of the
constabulary police. Near the village were formerly the
remains of an ancient castle, which belonged to the
O’Dempseys, Lords of Clanmalire, and was destroyed
in the time of Cromwell.—See LEA.
BALLYBROOD, a parish, in the barony of CLAN-
WILLIAM, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUN-
STER, 3 miles (S.) from Cahirconlish; containing 1520
inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the road
from Cahirconlish to Herbertstown, comprises 2224
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: about
one-half is arable, and the remainder is meadow and
pasture, with a small quantity of valuable bog. The
soil is mostly fertile, and the system of agriculture
improved; the principal crops are wheat, barley, oats,
and potatoes. Basalt forms the principal substratum,
and rises to a considerable elevation, forming the hill of
Ballybrood: it assumes in some places a shivery slaty
appearance, and in others is tabular and compact, but
is suddenly terminated by a small rivulet between the
church and the glebe-house, where the limestone for-
mation commences. The limestone is of good quality,
and great quantities are quarried and burnt upon the
spot for manure. The principal residences are Bally-
brood House, that of S. Maunsell, Esq.; Mount Mi-
nute, of W. Gabbet, Esq.; and Caherline House, now
occupied by a farmer: there are also several large and
well-built farm-houses. Fairs are held here on June
12th and Oct. 11th; two others named in the charter
are discontinued. A constabulary police force is sta-
tioned here; the barrack has a small castellated tower.
The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of
Emly, with the vicarage of Isertlaurence, the rectories
and vicarages of Kilteely, or Listeely, and Rathjordan,
and the entire rectory of Aglishcormick united at a
period prior to any known record, which five parishes
constitute the union of Ballybrood, and the corps of
the precentorship of the cathedral of Emly, in the
patronage of the Archbishop of Cashel: the tithes
amount to £150, and of the whole benefice to £689. 6. 9¼.
The parish church, built by aid of a gift of £500 from
the late Board of First Fruits, in 1807, was burnt by the
Rockites in 1822; and the present handsome edifice,
in the early English style, with a tower surmounted
with an octagonal spire, was erected in the following