Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

TAN
House, of J. Busby, Esq.; Dundrum House, of John
Walshe, Esq.; Wickham, of Wm. Farran, Esq., who
has here a museum containing a large collection of
curious and rare articles; Sweetmount, of W. Nolan,
Esq.; Churchtown, of N. Corbett, Esq.; Churchtown
House, of D. Lynch, Esq.; Sweetmount Villa, of Jas.
Burke, Esq.; Sweetmount House, of M. Ryan, Esq.;
and Belleville, of W. A. H. Minchin, Esq. At Windy
Harbour is a silk-throwing factory belonging to Mr
John Sweeny, jun., employing about 80 persons; and
in the village of Dundrum is an iron-foundry.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Dublin,
forming part of the union of St. Peter’s, and of the
corps of the archdeaconry of Dublin: the tithes amount
to £415.7.8½. The church, towards the erection of
which the late Board of First Fruits granted a loan of
£4300, in 1818, is a spacious and handsome cruciform
structure, in the later English style, with a square em-
battled tower; the interior was thoroughly renovated
in 1835, for which purpose the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners granted £256. The old church is still remain-
ing; one portion of it is used for reading the funeral
service, and another is appropriated to the parochial
school. In the cemetery are some interesting monu-
mental inscriptions, among which is one to William
Halliday, Jun., Esq., who died in 1812, aged 24; he was
distinguished for his eminent proficiency in Irish lite-
rature and his critical knowledge of his native language.
In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the
unions of Booterstown, Sandyford, St. Mary Donny-
brook, and St. Mary and St. Peter’s Rathmines; there
is a chapel at Dundrum, and a place of worship for
Wesleyan Methodists. About 400 children are taught
in four public schools, of which the parochial school is
partly supported by the rector; there is an infants’
school.—See DUNDRUM.
TANKARDSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of
RATHVILLY, county of CARLOW, and province of
LEINSTER, 1¾ mile (N. W. by N.) from Tullow; con-
taining 1101 inhabitants. It is situated on the rivers
Derreen and Slaney, the former of which separates it
from the county of Wicklow and bounds it on the east,
and the latter bounds it on the west. About seven-
tenths of its surface consist of meadow and pasture;
the remainder is arable, with a small portion of wood.
Within its limits are the small hamlet called from its
situation Tankardstown Cross roads, and Capnagh
House, the residence of Wm. Young, Esq. In eccle-
siastical concerns it is not known as a parish, but con-
stitutes part of the rectory of Tullow, in the diocese of
Leighlin; and in the R. C. divisions also it is part of
the union or district of Tullow. About 170 children
are educated in two private schools. At Capnagh are
the ruins of an old castle.
TANKARDSTOWN, or BALLYTANKARD, a pa-
rish, in the barony of COSHMA, county of LIMERICK,
and province of MUNSTER, 2 miles (S. W.) from Kil-
mallock, on the road to Bruree; containing 523 inha-
bitants. It comprises 1671 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act: the land, which is remarkably
good, rests on a substratum of limestone; there are
some large dairy farms, but the land is in general much
subdivided. Turbary being scarce in this district, cow
dung, dried and stacked like turf, is generally used as
fuel by the peasantry. Within the limits of the parish
595
TAR
is Knocksowney, which rises to a considerable height,
and forms a conspicuous object in the vicinity: the
land around it is very fertile. The living is a rectory
and vicarage, in the diocese of Limerick, and in the
patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £125.
In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or
district of Kilmallock. About 30 children are educated
in a private school. The church has long been in ruins:
within the walls near the west end is a flourishing ash
tree, and where the altar stood are a fine yew and
chesnut tree.
TANKARDSTOWN, a parish, partly in the barony
of BALLYADAMS, Queen’s county, and partly in that
of KILKEA and MOONE, county of KILDARE, and pro-
vince of LEINSTER, 3 miles (S.) from Athy, on the road
to Carlow; containing 1918 inhabitants. It is situ-
ated on the river Barrow, and comprises 8938 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at
£4056 per ann.: within its limits are some quarries of
limestone. The state of agriculture is progressively
improving, and the Barrow navigation affords great
facility for the conveyance of its produce to Waterford.
The seats are Kilmoroney, the improved and handsome
residence of the Very Rev. Dean Trench; Farm Hill, of
Geo. Evans, Esq.; and Leinster Lodge, of J. Perrin,
Esq. The parish is in the diocese of Dublin, and is a
rectory and vicarage, forming part of the union of
Athy: the tithes amount to £325.19.4. In the R. C.
divisions also it is part of the union of Athy. About
120 children are educated in a school under the Na-
tional Board; and there is a private school, in which
are about 30 children. On the margin of the Barrow
is a Danish rath.
TARAGH, TARAH, or TARA, a parish, in the ba-
rony of SKREEN, county of MEATH, and province of
LEINSTER, 3½ miles (N. by W.) from Dunshaughlin;
containing 688 inhabitants. Taragh Hill, which was
also named Teagh-mor, signifying “the Great House,”
and frequently called also Temora, derived that ap-
pellation from its having been, to the end of the
sixth century, the place where was assembled the
convocation of the states general of Ireland, held here
every three years for the deliberation and decision of
civil and ecclesiastical matters, and also for the election
and investiture with supreme authority of one chief,
who was appointed sovereign of all Ireland. This tri-
ennial convocation of the provincial kings, priests, and
bards is said to have been originally instituted by the
great Ollamh Fodhla, one of the ancient monarchs, cele-
brated as a great legislator, in the traditional records of
the kingdom. Tuathal, a Milesian prince, is said to
have convoked an assembly here after his victory over
the Firbolgs, when he was recognised by the states as
supreme monarch. During the ceremony of inaugura-
tion, the monarchs were placed upon the Liafail, or
“stone of destiny,” which was afterwards removed to
Scotland and used for a similar purpose, whence it
was taken by Edw. I. as a trophy of his victory over
that people, and placed in Westminster abbey, where it
is still preserved. The hill of Taragh was also selected
by St. Patrick as a convenient spot from which to pro-
mulgate the doctrines of Christianity, which rapidly
extended to every part of Ireland. In 980, the Danes
sustained a signal defeat on this hill, which contributed
materially to their final expulsion from the country a
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