Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

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tracts of bog both on the mountain and low lands, and
considerable quantities of marl. The seats are Kilbeg,
that of S. Bradshaw, Esq.; and Mountain Glen, of S.
Chadwick, Esq. The living is a perpetual curacy, in
the diocese of Cashel, and in the patronage of the Arch-
bishop, to whose, mensal the rectory is appropriate: the
tithes amount to £215.8.4½. The church is a small
dilapidated building, and it is in contemplation to erect
another; in the meantime divine service is performed
at Cappagh House, the residence of Mrs. Hunt, in the
village of Cappaghwhite, which see. In the R. C. divi-
sions the parish is partly a district of itself, called Cap-
paghwhite, from the chapel being in that village; and
partly in the union of Templebeg: there is also a chapel
at Carnavarcha. About 270 children are taught in three
public schools, of which two are supported by Lord
Lismore and the perpetual curate; and there is also a
Sunday school. There is a chalybeate spring in the
parish, in great repute.
TOOMAVARA, a village, in the parish of AGHNA-
MADLE, barony of UPPER ORMOND, county of TIPPER-
ARY, and province of MUNSTER, 5½| miles (E. by N.) from
Nenagh, on the mail coach road from Dublin to Limer-
ick; containing 790 inhabitants. This place, of which
the name signifies “the burial-place of the O’Mearas,”
is a constabulary police station; and has fairs on Whit-
Monday, July 27th, Sept. 29th, and Nov. 4th, chiefly
for cattle, corn, and butter. A stream runs through
the village, on which is a good site for a mill. In the
R. C. divisions it is the head of a union or district, com-
prising the parishes of Aghnamadle and Ballymackey,
in each of which is a chapel; that in the village is a
neat building. Here are a national school and a dispen-
sary. Some ruins are supposed to be those of a pre-
ceptory of the Knights Templars; near the village stand
the two ancient castles of Knockane and Blane.
TOOME, a post-town, in the parish of DUNEANE,
barony of UPPER TOOME, county of ANTRIM, and pro-
vince of ULSTER, 22½ miles (W. N. W.) from Belfast, on
the road to Londonderry, and 102½ (N. by W.) from
Dublin; containing 122 inhabitants. This place, which
gives name to the barony, had at a very early period a
ford or ferry across the river Bann, which formed the
only pass from one part of Ulster to the other, and on
the first invasion of the English was considered to be of
so much importance that De Courcey erected a castle
here for its protection. It has been the scene of many
sanguinary contests, its name being conspicuous in the
history of all the insurrections that have occurred in this
part of the country. In the parliamentary war the castle
was surprised and taken by the R. C. bishop of Clogh-
er, in 1650, but was soon after taken by Col. Venables, an
officer in Oliver Cromwell’s army, by whose orders it
was subsequently dismantled. In the disturbances of
1798, a body of insurgents, after their defeat at Antrim,
retreated from Randalstown to this place and posted
themselves on the eastern side of the river, where they
remained for two days, and on the approach of Gen.
Knox, who was marching hither with 1500 of the yeo-
manry, to prevent the disaffected of Derry from joining
them, they broke down one of the arches of the bridge,
with a view to interrupt his progress. The town, which
contains only about 20 houses, is situated on the eastern
bank of the river Barm, over which in its short course
from Lough Beg into Lough Neagh is a handsome bridge,
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erected at the sole expense of the late Earl O’Neill. It
has a sub-post-office to Randalstown and Castledawson,
and is a constabulary police station. In the court-house
are held petty sessions every fortnight, and the court for
the manor of Mullaghgane. Near the spot where the river
unites with Lough Neagh is a good wharf with a com-
modious quay. Fairs are held on March 28th and Dec.
4th, and a pleasure fair is held at the bridge on Easter-
Monday. The remains of the castle have fallen from
the cliff and are scattered on the strand of Lough
Neagh; many cannon balls have been found near its
site.
TORY, or TORRE, an island, in the parish of TUL-
LAGHOBIGLY, barony of KILMACRENAN, county of DON-
EGAL, and province of ULSTER, on the north-west coast,
three leagues (N. W.) from Horn Head, two leagues
(N. E.) from Bloody Farland Point, and 12 miles (S. W.)
from Dunfanaghy; containing, in 1835,70 families. It
is about three miles in length and one in breadth,
comprising about 1200 acres, of which 205 are arable
or pasture, the remainder being mountain or barren
sands. Here is a lake called Lough Altin, of consider-
able extent. Clay is found of different kinds and
colours, some of which is made by the inhabitants into
earthen vessels capable of resisting a strong heat. The
spinning of flax and wool is carried on to some extent,
the females commencing as soon as they are able to sit
at the wheel; the men are employed in agriculture and
fishing. On the north point of the island is a light-
house, in lat. 55°. 16’. 10”. and Ion. 8°. 15’. erected by
the corporation for improving the port of Dublin in 1832:
it is a bright fixed light, the lantern elevated 122 feet
above the sea at high water, and may be seen for 17
nautical miles when the atmosphere is clear. With
southerly winds a vessel may stop on the east side of
the island in fair weather. The clay found in one of the
churches is held in veneration as a preservative from
injuries of any kind, particularly from fire. Ruins of
several ecclesiastical buildings exist here, including those
of an abbey of which St. Ernan, the son of St. Colman,
was abbot about 650; another yet presents a steeple 64
feet high and 54 feet in circumference. Here are also
two stone crosses, one 7 feet, the other 3 feet, in length.
About a mile further off are the ruins of an old building,
called by the inhabitants Ballaas Castle.
TOUGH, or TUORAGH, a parish, in the barony
of OWNEYBEG, county of LIMERICK, and province of
MUNSTER, 9 miles (S. E.) from Limerick, on the little
river Mulcairn, or Mulchairj containing 3534 inhab-
itants. This parish comprises 1728 statute acres of
land, some of which is very fertile, some indifferent, and
some bog: it is partly under a tolerable system of cul-
tivation, but generally the holdings are small and the
inhabitants very poor. At Drumsally there is an exten-
sive tract of turbary, around which stand a great num-
ber of wretched cabins. Fairs are held at the village of
Cappamore, which see. Near the river is Tower Hill,
a fine house and demesne, the residence of W. Lloyd,
Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of
Emly, forming part of the union of Abington; the tithes
amount to £250. In the R. C. divisions it is the head
of a union or district, called Cappamore, comprising
this parish and those of Clonkeen, Abington, and part
of Doon: the chapel is a large plain edifice in the vil-
lage. Here are parochial schools, and a school at Tower