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AGH
the lake in connection with the Synod of Ulster, another
at Glascar with the Seceding Synod, and a third at Scar-
vagh, all of the first class; one for Covenanters near
Scarvagh, and one for Primitive Methodists at Lough-
brickland. There are two public schools, in which are
about 100 boys and 70 girls; and eleven private pay
schools, in which are about 400 boys and 290 girls.
Some remains of an ancient church exist in the town-
land of Drumsallagh; and about half a mile to the
south-west of Lough-brickland are three upright stones,
called “the three sisters of Greenan,” apparently the
remains of an ancient cromlech: they are situated on a
gentle eminence, and near them is a fourth lying in a
ditch. In 1826, a canoe formed out of a solid piece of
oak was found in Meenan bog; and in a small earth-
work near it were found several gold ornaments, earthen
pots, and other relics of antiquity. At Drummillar is a
vast cairn of loose stones, 60 feet high and 226 feet
in circumference.—See LOUGHBRICKLAND and SCAR-
VAGH.
AGHADOE, a parish, in the barony of MAGONIHY,
county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER; contain-
ing, with part of the town of Killarney, 4796 inhabit-
ants. This place was formerly the head of a bishop’s
see, merged from time immemorial into that of Ardfert,
which, with Limerick, forms the bishoprick of Limerick,
Ardfert and Aghadoe. The annals of Innisfallen state that
a son of O’Donoghue was buried in an abbey founded
here by him, which was standing in 1231. The only
traces of its ancient dignity are the ruins of its cathedral,
and the archdeaconry of Aghadoe, of which it still forms
the corps. The parish is situated chiefly on the road
from Killarney to Milltown and Tralee, and partly on
that from Killarney to Cork: it comprehends within its
limits the Island of Innisfallen, and part of the lakes of
Killarney, and comprises 17,720 statute acres, as ap-
plotted under the tithe act. The lands consist of a
ridge of shaly rock bounding and overlooking the lake;
and of a flat spreading towards the north into a wide
expanse of wet bog, with shoals of gravel. On the expi-
ration of the lease of this manor, held under its proprietor,
Lord Headley, in 1826, his lordship took the estate
under his own management; the farms, previously con-
sisting of small portions of land held under middlemen
by cottier tenants, were surveyed and improved upon
an arrangement adapted to the mutual benefit of land-
lord and tenant, and let on leases of 21 years in por-
tions varying from 100 to 200 acres, with stipulated
allowances for building comfortable farm-houses, making
fences and drains, and drawing the requisite quantities
of lime for the improvement of the soil. Several miles
of new road have been constructed, and extensive plan-
tations made solely at his lordship’s expense. The
hovels formerly occupied by the cottier tenants have
been superseded by good farm-houses built of stone and
roofed with slate; attached to each are orchards and
gardens, and the whole face of the district presents
an appearance of improvement. Lord Headley has
a pattern farm of considerable extent adjoining his
demesne, and has erected a splendid villa in the Italian
style of architecture, commanding an interesting and
extensive view over the great Lower Lake of Killarney;
the approach is by a small but elegant bridge across
a ravine, leading from the entrance gate and lodge,
which are both in a corresponding style of architecture.
14
AGH
The plantations of Aghadoe House comprise about 100
acres, extending along the hill overlooking the lake.
[For Lord Headley’s other improvements see the articles
on Castleisland and Glanbegh.] Grena, the seat of John
O’Connell, Esq., is pleasantly situated on the river
Laune, near its outlet from the lake: this river is con-
sidered capable of being made navigable from Castle-
maine bay to the lake. The other seats are Lakeville,
the residence of James O’Connell, Esq., so called from
its proximity to the Lower Lake; Fossa Cottage, of
W. B. Harding, Lord Headley’s agent; Lakelands, at
present unoccupied; Gurtroe, of S. Riordan, Esq.; Pros-
pect Hall, of the Hon. T. Browne, brother of the Earl
of Kenmare, commanding a fine view of the lake and
its numerous islands; and, on the opposite side of the
lake, Tomies, the seat of D. J. O’Sullivan, Esq. Near
the town of Killarney, but within the limits of this
parish, are the extensive flour-mills of Messrs. Galway
and Leahy, worked by the small river Dinagh.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Ardfert and
Aghadoe, forming the corps of the archdeaconry of
Aghadoe, in the patronage of the Bishop, and partly
impropriate in the Earl of Donoughmore and H. Herbert,
Esq., of Muckross. The tithes, including those of “the
five plough-lands of Killarney,” amount to £552. 4. 7½.,
of which £447. 4. 7½. is payable to the archdeacon,
and of the remainder, £55 is payable to the lessee
of Lord Donoughmore, and £50 to H. Herbert, Esq.,
as abbot of Innisfallen. A glebe of 10¾ acres, and one-
third of the tithes of the “Church Quarter” in the
parish of Kilgarvan, with tithes in Tuosist amounting
to £15.6. 11½. late currency, belong also to the arch-
deacon. There is at present neither church nor glebe-
house: the ancient and much used burial-ground ad-
joining the ruins of the cathedral of Aghadoe has been
enlarged by the addition of a slip of ground given
by Lord Headley. It is in contemplation to erect a
church on a site to the west of the ancient cathedral,
presented by Lord Headley, who has also contributed
£100 towards a subscription now in progress for this
purpose, and at present amounting to about £700, to
which the archdeacon, who has appointed a curate, sub-
scribed £100, and the Countess of Rosse, £50. In the
R. C. divisions this parish forms part of the unions or
districts of Killarney, Killorglin, and Glenflesk; the
chapel for the portion of the parish in the district of
Killarney is at Fossa, to the north of the lake, adjoin-
ing the plantations of Lord Headley; and at Barraduff
is also a chapel for that part of the parish which is in
the district of Glenflesk. In that part of the town of
Killarney which is within this parish is a convent for
nuns of the order of the Presentation, in which is a
school of nearly 400 girls, who are gratuitously in-
structed by the ladies of the convent, and to the support
of which the Earl of Kenmare contributes £100 per
annum. There is also a school supported partly by an
annual donation of £5 from his lordship, and by sub-
scription. The venerable remains of the ancient cathe-
dral are situated on the summit of a range of low hills,
sloping gradually towards the northern shore of the
great Lower Lake. Near them are the ruins of an an-
cient round tower, of which about 20 feet are yet stand-
ing 5 and at a short distance are those of an ancient
castle, usually called “the Pulpit.”
AGHADOWN.—See AUGHADOWN.