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nected with the mainland by a narrow causeway for
foot passengers, which is proposed to be superseded by
a bridge. An excellent road from the town to the island
has been constructed along the shore of the bay by the
Steam Navigation Company, for the convenience of
passengers, there being at present no nearer point of
embarkation than the inner side of the island. A
pier is also in progress of erection on the south-east
side of the island, at a point recommended by Capt.
Mudge in his report to the Board of Public Works, by
which the company is expected to be aided in its erec-
tion, the trade of the port being at present much
checked for want of such an accommodation. On the
island, which is about a mile from the town, is a battery,
and bomb-proof barrack mounting seven 24-poun-
ders and two howitzers, erected, with several others,
during the late continental war, for the protection of the
trade of Limerick. Here is also a revenue station,
under the Board of Customs, of which the establish-
ment consists of a surveyor and six boatmen. A light-
house (completed in 1835) has been constructed on the
extreme northern point of the island, which now
enables vessels to run for this anchorage at night, when
driven from those of Carrigaholt and Seattery. In the
town is a station of the constabulary police, and petty
sessions for the district are held on alternate Tuesdays.
A small but neat and substantial bridewell was erected
in 1831.
The parochial church, a neat modern edifice, is situ-
ated about a quarter of a mile east of the town. The
R. C. chapel is a handsome cruciform structure, lately
erected at an expense of £1200: there is also a meeting
house for Wesleyan Methodists. Near the town is a
school on Erasmus Smith’s foundation; a national
school has been recently established near the chapel;
and a school is held in the Wesleyan meeting-house.
There is a dispensary for the poor. The shores of the
bay and river are prettily wooded, and both above and
below the town are embellished with several handsome
seats, most of which command fine views of the Shan-
non and of the opposite coast of the county of Clare.
Of these the principal are Tarbert House, the residence
of Robt. Leslie, Esq.; Ahanna, of Pierce Leslie, Esq.;
Leslie Lodge, lately the residence of another branch of
that family, and now the property of Lord Haliburton;
Shannon Lawn, of D. Harnett, Esq.; Clare View, of the
Rev. R. Fitzgerald; Ballydonohue, of Thos. Fitzgerald,
Esq.; Pyrrnount, of W. Sandes, Sen., Esq.; Sallow Glen,
of W. Sandes, Esq.; and Carrunakilly, of the Rev. F.
Sandes. In a field near the town is a chalybeate spa,
not used for medicinal purposes.
TARMONBARRY, a parish, in the barony of BAL-
LINTOBBER, county of ROSCOMMON, and province of
CONNAUGHT, on the road from Strokestown to Long-
ford; containing, with part of the market and post-
town of Ruskey (which see), 4048 inhabitants. This
parish, which is situated on the Shannon, comprises
4097 statute acres, about half being inferior arable and
pasture land, and the other half consisting of unre-
claimed bog. The two branches into which the Shan-
non is here divided are crossed by two bridges connected
by a raised causeway across the intervening island, that
on the Roscommon side having seven arches, and that
on the Leinster side four, the whole forming a straight
passage, 126 yards in length and of imposing appearance:
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a flat tract above the bridge is composed chiefly of the
island of Cloondragh, formed by the Shannon, and by
two branches of the river Carnlin. At this island ter-
minates the Royal Canal, in the navigable channel of
the Camlin, which unites a little below with the Shan-
non. Here the Canal Company have extensive docks,
basins, and warehouses, called Richmond Harbour, in
honour of the Duke of Richmond, who, when Lord-
Lieutenant of Ireland, was present at the opening of
the navigation. Tarmonbarry, however, is the name
more generally given to the place, although this designa-
tion applies strictly only to the little village on the
Roscommon side of the bridge, and the surrounding
parish. Houses have increased on the Leinster side,
where there are some considerable mills on the Camlin
river, and a distillery. There are rapids in the Shan-
non at the bridge, which are avoided by coasting round
Cloondragh Island, at the lower end of which a short
canal communicates with the Shannon. The commu-
nication by water between Richmond Harbour and
Dublin is frequent and regular; four merchant boats
starting each week on fixed days. The living is a
rectory, in the diocese of Elphin, and in the patronage
of the Bishop, being the corps of the prebend of Elphin;
the tithes amount to £228. The glebe-house was built
in 1817, by aid of a gift of £400 and a loan of £344
from the late Board of First Fruits; the glebe com-
prises 16 acres, valued at £16 per ann., subject to a
rent of £2.2. to the Bishop. The church is a small
neat building in the town of Ruskey, erected by aid of
a gift of £800 from the same Board, in 1813. The
R. C. parish, also called Ruskey, is co-extensive with
that of the Established Church, and contains two
chapels, one in Ruskey, the other at Newtown. In the
parochial school about 90 children are taught: there
are also six private schools, in which are educated about
440 children; and three Sunday schools. A patron is
held here annually. There are remains of an old church
in Killybeg, with other ecclesiastical ruins in the church-
yard.
TARTARAGHAN, or the LOW PARISH, a parish,
in the barony of ONEILLAND WEST, county of ARMAGH,
and province of ULSTER, 3 miles (N. E.) from Lough-
gall, on the road from Lurgan, by Verner’s-Bridge, to
Dungannon; containing 6321 inhabitants. This parish
is bounded for a short distance on the north-east by the
river Bann, and on the north-west by the river Black-
water: it formerly was part of the parish of Drumcree,
from which it was separated by act of parliament in the
8th of Queen Anne, and erected into a distinct parish,
comprising, according to the Ordnance survey, 11,612
statute acres, of which 2122¾ are in Lough Neagh, and
in small lakes. The lands are chiefly under tillage; the
soil is light, but fertile; and the system of agriculture is
progressively improving. In the lower extremity of the
parish, bordering on Lough Neagh, is a large tract of
valuable bog; and there is a quarry of whinstone, which
is raised chiefly for building. The principal seats are
Crow Hill, the residence of J. Atkinson, Esq.; and Clan-
tileu, of E. Obrie, Esq. About one-sixth of the popula-
tion are employed in the linen manufacture. A manorial
court is held at Clantileu, every third Thursday, for the
recovery of debts to the amount of 40s.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Armagh,
and in the successive patronage of the Lord-Primate,
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