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AGH
keaton by turf boats returning from Limerick; and sea
manure is also extensively used. A species of brown
stone of good quality is quarried for building. The
principal seats are Kiletton, the residence of W. Hickey,
Esq.; Litter, of G. Wren, Esq.; Rusheen, of F. Crosbie,
Esq.; Rushy Park, the property of Godfrey Leonard,
Esq., at present occupied by Terence O’Connor, Esq.;
Ahanogran, the seat of J. O’Connor, Esq.; and Asdee,
of Barry Collins, Esq. A steam-boat passes daily from
Kilrush to Tarbert and Limerick, and vessels of 30
tons enter the creek for potatoes and turf, in which
a considerable traffic is carried on. Dredging for oysters
off the island of Carrigue, and fishing, employ several
persons in the season. The living is a vicarage, in
the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, to which those of
Liseltin, Killehenny, Galey, Murhir, Kilnaughten, Disert,
Finuge, Listowel, and Knockanure are united, consti-
tuting the union of Aghavallin, in the patronage of An-
thony Stoughton, Esq., in whom the rectory is impro-
priate. The tithes amount to £304. 12. 2., of which
£152. 6. 1. is payable to the impropriator, and the re-
mainder to the vicar: the gross amount of tithes of the
union payable to the incumbent is £774. 17. 11. The
church, having been condemned, is about to be rebuilt
by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. There are churches
at Liseltin, Kilnaughten, and Listowel. There are
several glebes in the union, but all in the possession
of the impropriator. In the R. C. divisions this parish
is the head of the union or district of Ballylongford,
also called Tarbert, which comprises the parishes of
Aghavallin and Kilnaughten: a chapel has been recently
erected at Asdee, as a chapel of ease to that at Ballylong-
ford; and there is also a chapel at Tarbert, in the parish
of Kilnaughten. A large and commodious school-house
has been erected at Ballylongford: but the Protestant
children of the parish attend a school at Sallow Glin,
the demesne of Mr. Sandes, on the border of the adjoin-
ing parish; there are six pay schools.—See BALLY-
LONGFORD and CARRIGUE.
AGHAVOWER, or AGHAMORE, a parish, in the
barony of COSTELLO, county of MAYO, and province of
CONNAUGHT, 4½ miles (N.) from Ballyhaunis, on the
road from that place to Swinford; containing 7062
inhabitants. St. Patrick is said to have erected a mo-
nastery here, for his disciple St. Loarn. The surface of
the parish is varied with several small lakes; the lands
are chiefly under tillage 5 there is a considerable quan-
tity of bog, also a quarry of black marble. The gentle-
men’s seats are Cooge, the residence of James Dillon,
Esq.; Annach, of Thomas Tyrrell, Esq.; and Oahil,
of James McDonnell, Esq. Fairs are held at Ballina-
costello on June 3rd, Aug. 8th, Oct. 19th, and Dec.
18th. The parish is in the diocese of Tuam, and is a
rectory and vicarage, forming part of the union of Kil-
tullagh: the tithes amount to £158. 4. 10. The an-
cient church is in ruins, but the cemetery is still used.
In the R. C. divisions it is part of the district of Knock;
the chapel is an old thatched building. There are seven
pay schools, in which are about 550 children. At
Cloonfallagh there is a mineral spring.
AGHER, a parish, in the barony of UPPER DEECE,
county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 2½ miles
(S. S. W.) from Summerhill; containing 360 inhabitants.
It is situated on the road from Summerhill to Eden-
derry, and from the latter town to Dunboyne, and con-
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AGH
tains 1900 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe
act. Its surface gently undulates, and the soil consists
of loam of different qualities: about one-third of the
land is under tillage, and the remainder, with the excep-
tion of about 100 acres of bog, half of which is cut
away and partly planted, is good grazing land. There
are quarries of limestone; the Royal Canal passes near
the southern extremity of the parish. Agher House,
the residence of J. P. Winter, Esq., occupies a beautiful
situation in a demesne of about 650 statute acres, con-
taining some fine timber: the gardens are extensive and
well laid out; and the neat appearance of the cottages
on the estate manifests the proprietor’s regard for the
comforts of the peasantry. The living is a rectory, in
the diocese of Meath, and in the patronage of the
Crown: the tithes amount to £80. The church is a
neat edifice, erected by voluntary contributions and a
parochial rate, in 1804: it contains a window painted
by Gervaise, representing Paul preaching at Athens,
from the cartoons of Raphael, which was formerly in
the private chapel at Dangan, in the adjoining parish,
when that place was the seat of the Wellesley family.
There is a glebe-house, with a glebe of 12½ acres. In
the R. C. divisions this parish forms part of the union
or district of Laracor, or Summerhill: the chapel is
situated on the townland of Agher, on ground given by
the family of Winter, The parochial school for both
sexes is aided by annual donations from Mr. Winter
and the rector, and there is a private pay school; also a
dispensary.
AGHERN, or AHERN, a parish, in the barony of
KINNATALOON, county of CORK, and province of MUNS-
TER, 5 miles (E.) from Rathcormac; containing 1367
inhabitants. This parish is situated on the river Bride,
over which is a bridge of three arches of stone, and on
the mail car road from Rathcormac to Castle Martyr,
and the direct road from Cork to Tullow. A castle was
erected here, in 1389, by one of the Fitzgeralds, to com-
mand the pass of the river, on which was an ancient
ford at that time of great importance: it was of great
strength, and was powerfully garrisoned by the Earl of
Desmond against the forces of Elizabeth. At no great
distance were the castles of Duneen and Conna, both
founded by the Fitzgeralds for the defence of other
passes of the Bride, of which there are some picturesque
remains. The parish comprises 3480 statute acres, as
applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £2296 per
ann.: 2855 acres are arable and pasture land; 425 are
coarse land and bog, but capable of being improved;
and 200 consist of waste and mountain. The soil is in
general fertile, particularly in the Yale of the Bride,
where the substratum is limestone; the land is princi-
pally under-tillage, and the system of agriculture is
rapidly improving under the exertions of Spotswood
Bowles, Esq., and the Hon. and Rev. L. Tonson. Ahem
House, the residence of Mr. Bowles, is pleasantly situ-
ated near the picturesque ruins of the ancient castle,
and the grounds comprise some interesting and beautiful
scenery. There is a constabulary police station; and
petty sessions are held on the first Thursday in each
month. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese
of Cloyne; the rectory united from time immemorial to
that of Ballynoe, and in the patronage of the Crown;
and the vicarage episcopally united for many years to
the entire rectory of Britway, and in the patronage of