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and well-built edifice; and one about four miles from
the town, on the Strabane road: there is also a chapel
in the parish of Belleek. In the town there is a place
of worship for Presbyterians of the Seceding Synod;
and near it, though within the verge of the adjoining
parish, are two for Wesleyan Methodists. About 460
children are taught in four public schools, of which the
parochial school is supported by the rector, and others
by Mrs. Leslie; and there are four private schools, in.
which are about 250 children, and five Sunday schools.
Near the glebe-house are the ruins of an ancient castle,
said to have been the residence of the first Protestant
Bishop of Clogher; it was battered by Ireton in the
parliamentary war, from the neighbouring hill, on which
are still traces of the works thrown up by that officer.
There are also several Danish raths and mineral springs
in the parish. On Saints’ Island, in Lough Derg, are
the remains of an Augustinian priory, dedicated to St.
Peter and St. Paul, the foundation of which is ascribed
to St. Dabeoc, brother of St. Canoc, who flourished
towards the close of the fifth century; notwithstanding
its celebrity, it was plundered and reduced to ashes by
Bratachus O’Boyle and M c Mahon, in 1207. It was
subject to the great abbey of Armagh, and for several
ages was celebrated for its miraculous cell, called St.
Patrick’s purgatory, an invention attributed to a saint
of that name who was prior here in the ninth century:
this cell was much resorted to by pilgrims from all
parts of Europe, who were supposed to suffer in imagi-
nation, while lying within its narrow precincts, all the
pains endured by the wicked in the purgatory of the
Romish church. Its proximity to the shore, with which
it was connected by a neck of land, affording too great
facility of access, the cave was stopped up, and another
opened in a smaller island, now called the Station
Island, about half a mile from the shore, to which ac-
cess is obtained by a ferry boat constantly plying for
that purpose. Such was the reputation this place main-
tained, that safeguards were frequently granted by the
Kings of England to foreigners of distinction who
came to visit it; among others to Raymond, Viscount
de Perilleux, and Knight of Rhodes, with a train of 20
men and 30 horses, in 1397. This purgatory was re-
peatedly suppressed by the Popes, and also by the
Lords-Justices of Ireland, who banished the friars and
broke up the cell; but it was as frequently revived, and is
still visited by multitudes of pilgrims, who assemble here
during what is called “the station,” which commences
on the first of June and continues to the 15th of August,
during which time the friars are constantly engaged in
hearing confessions, enjoining penance, and performing
other devotional rites. The number annually resorting
hither during that period exceeds 10,000; each pays the
ferryman 6½d. for taking him to the island and bringing
him back; and the proprietor of the lake receives £165
per annum for allowing the ferryman to ply. The term
of continuance on the island is three, six, or nine days,
and each pilgrim spends the last twenty-four hours of
his term in the chapel of the purgatory, which receives
light only from a small window in one of the angles.
About ten years since a boat having eighty pilgrims
on board swamped and went to the bottom, and
only three of the number were saved; the bodies of the
rest were afterwards found and interred on Saints’
Island.
603
TEM
TEMPLECORRAN, or BROAD ISLAND, a parish,
in the barony of LOWER BELFAST, county of ANTRIM,
and province of ULSTER, 5 miles (N. E.) from Carrick-
fergus, on the road from Belfast to Larne, and on Lough
Lame; containing, with the village of Ballycarry (which
is separately described), 1338 inhabitants. In 1597 a
battle was fought at the highly romantic vale called
Old Mill Glen, near Ballycarry, between the Mac Quil-
lans and Mac Donnells, in which the former were de-
feated; and in November of the same year another
took place on the same spot between the Mac Donnells
and Sir John Chichester, in which the latter was slain
and his army cut to pieces. This parish, which is also
called, after the name of the village, Ballycarry, com-
prises, according to the Ordnance survey, 4744¼ statute
acres, in a high state of cultivation. The system of
husbandry is in a very improved state, and has been
much promoted by the present proprietor, who is a
practical and spirited agriculturist. Limestone and
basalt are found in great abundance. Red Hall, the
seat of G. Kerr, Esq., is an elegant mansion with a fine
demesne. The spinning of yarn and the weaving of
linen cloth are carried on. A court is held for the
manor of Broad Island by the seneschal of Marriot Dal-
way, Esq., for the recovery of debts and determination
of pleas to the amount of £20; its jurisdiction extends
over this parish and that of Kilroot. Fairs are held at
Ballycarry.
It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Connor, forming
part of the union of Ballynure and of the corps of the
prebend of Kilroot in the cathedral of Connor; the rec-
tory is impropriate in D. Kerr, Esq. The tithes amount
to £347.1.6., of which £231.7.8. is payable to the
impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar. The
church, originally a spacious and handsome cruciform
structure, is now a ruin; it was at one time occupied
by the Presbyterians, since whose ejectment it has not
been used as a place of worship. There are chapels for
Presbyterians, Independents, and Methodists; the first
is in connection with the Remonstrant Synod, and of
the first class. There are two national schools, situated
at Ballycarry and Windygap, in which are about 120
children; and a private school of 10 girls. R. G. Kerr,
Esq., in 1825, bequeathed £200 in trust to the vicar
and the senior Presbyterian minister, to divide the
interest among the poor. There is a curious hollow
cave, called the Salt Hole, into which rushes a large
stream of water which is not found again; and in the
grounds of Red Hall is a glen of very extraordinary
character. The Rev. Mr. Bryce, minister of the first
Presbyterian congregation established in Ireland, lived
and was buried here: and over the remains of a poet,
known only as the Bard of Ballycarry, a monument
has been raised.
TEMPLECROAN, a parish, in the barony of BOY-
LAGH, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER;
containing, with the post-town of Dungloe and the
islands of Arranmore and Rutland (which are sepa-
rately described), 8198 inhabitants. The parish is
situated on the north-western coast, and is bounded on
the north by the Gwidore river; it comprises, accord-
ing to the Ordnance survey, 52,921 statute acres, of
which 989½ are in the tideway of the Gwidore, and
2896 in lakes. Within its limits is the greater part of
the district called “the Rosses,” consisting of a dreary
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