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TYR
boundary, is navigable to St. Johnstown, and thence
by an artificial navigation between three and four miles
farther up to Strabane. The Ballinderry river forms
part of the north-eastern boundary. The Blackwater,
which forms part of the southern boundary, and dis-
charges itself into Lough Neagh, is navigable to Moy
and Blackwatertown: near the mouth of this river a
canal proceeds from the lake to Coal Island, and more
than half a century since was partially opened above
New Mills, but this latter part of the undertaking
was abandoned before the canal was completed. The
beauty of the scenery in several parts is much enhanced
by woods and plantations. Large tracts of land near
Baron’s Court, and Rash or Mountjoy forest, have been
planted since 1795. Near Augher and Favour Royal
there are considerable natural woods, and throughout
the greater part of the county the soil appears disposed
to throw up a spontaneous growth of timber, but in
too many instances the young trees are neglected
and the cattle suffered to browse upon them. Near
Strabane are many large and well-stocked orchards.
The roads are numerous, and in general judiciously
laid out and kept in good repair. A new line is now
in progress of formation from Omagh by Mountfield,
Kildress, and Cookstown to Belfast. The roads are all
made and repaired by county presentments.
The remains of antiquity are neither numerous nor
peculiarly interesting. Raths are scattered over almost
every part: near the western border of the mountain
named Mary Gray, more than twelve of them may be
seen within the compass of a mile: they are generally
in pairs; many are now scarcely discernible, in conse-
quence of the farmers having drawn off the mould for
manure. The most perfect has a parapet six feet high,
with stepping-stones projecting from the inner sides in
an oblique direction to the top, like the winding of a
staircase: its diameter is 33 yards. A very remarkable
Druidical monument, called Clogh-togle, or the “lifted
stone,” stands on a hill a mile north of Newtown-
Stewart: it consists of three large stones set upright in
a triangular position, about 7 feet high each, and
covered with a broad horizontal flag, 11 feet long, 7
broad, and 15 inches thick. On an opposite hill, at the
distance of about 100 yards, was a similar relic of
larger dimensions, now lying on the ground. There is
a large and very beautiful one, also called Clogh-togle,
at Tamlaght near Coagh; it consists of six upright
stones standing about 5 feet above the ground, on
which is a large slab whose greatest diameter is 10 feet,
its circumference 28, and its greatest thickness 7 feet;
and there is another, but less perfect, in the demesne of
Loughry, and a very noble one, 12 feet high, a quarter
of a mile above Castle Derg. At Kilmeillie, near Dun-
gannon, are two circles of stones, each about 20 yards
in diameter, in the form of the figure 8. On the same
hill was found a kind of altar of dry stones, with the
charcoal and bones fresh among the stones, which re-
tained the marks of fire. An urn was found in a little
sandy hill near Cookstown, covered with a large lime-
stone slab, and surrounded by six others. Near Omagh,
three small chests containing as many urns were found
in 1712, under two heaps of stones. In the parish of
Errigal-Keroge is a flat stone set upright, about three
feet broad and of the same height above ground, having
one side covered with carvings of a regular design,
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consisting of waving and circular lines: it had been the
cover of a vault formed of flags set edgeways: in the
vault were found two earthen vessels containing ashes.
Near Dungannon were found several brazen trumpets
of an uncommon construction, with a hole in the side,
and the smaller end stopped, supposed to have been
Danish. The monastic institutions, of which traces yet
remain, are those of Ardboe, Ardstraw, Cluin-Dhub-
hain, Garvaghkerin, Puble, Grange, and Donoughmore.
Those of Clogher, Airecal-Dachioroc or Errigal-Keroge,
Corock, Ballinasagart, Dungannon, Omagh, Maghclair,
Strabane, and Trillick exist only in the records of
history. The remains of ancient castles are numerous,
but few of them are of much importance. Benburb is
the largest: near it are the ruins of one of the resi-
dences of Shane O’Nial; those of Newtown-Stewart,
Dungannon, Strabane, and Ballygawley are, together
with the modern mansions of the nobility and gentry
throughout the county, noticed under their respective
parishes.
The peasantry are very industrious. The houses of
the farmers are built in some parts of stone, in others of
clay; slating is becoming more prevalent than thatch for
roofing. The want of native timber has also been much
felt in the construction of the houses of the small farmers
and cottiers. The cabins are generally built at the joint
cost of landlord and tenant, in which case the latter has
an abatement of rent: when the whole is executed at the
tenant’s cost, a year’s rent is usually allowed him. The
use of turf for fuel is universal, except in the immediate
neighbourhood of the collieries. The food consists
of potatoes and oatmeal, and in seasons of scarcity,
barley-meal; milk is used in summer and autumn; in
winter, herrings. Sometimes a pig is killed at Christ-
mas, or several labourers join in the purchase of a cow.
The Donagh, which is kept at Brookborough, near Five-
mile-town, is a box or casket about the size of a thick
quarto volume, containing a representation of Christ and
the Apostles in high relief on brass coated with silver,
under which are some relics; it is used as a test of
veracity in taking evidence among the people. A belief
in fairies, called here the Wee People, is universal among
the poorer peasantry; as is the custom of driving their
cattle round fires lighted on Midsummer eve. A kind
of hurling, here called “common,” is a favourite amuse-
ment of the young men: formerly they devoted eleven
days at Christmas to this exercise, now they give only
one; a proof of the increase of habits of industry:
There are chalybeate springs at Dunbonrover, in Badony
parish; at the foot of Douglas mountain; besides
several of less note among the Munterlowny mountains.
At Aghaloo is a sulphureous water stronger than that
at Swanlinbar; and a very valuable mineral water at
Scarvey, two miles from Aughnacloy. Tyrone gives
the inferior titles of Earl and Viscount to the Marquess
of Waterford, the head of the Beresford family.
TYRRELL’S PASS, a post-town, partly in the pa-
rish of CLONFAD, but chiefly in that of NEWTOWN,
barony of FARTULLAGH, county of WESTMEATH, and
province of LEINSTER, 19½ miles (E.) from Athlone, and
40 (S. W.) from Dublin, on the mail coach road to Ath-
lone; containing 537 inhabitants. This town takes its
name from having been for many centuries the resi-
dence of the family of Tyrrell, of whose castle near the
town there are still some remains. It is situated at the