Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

BOW
interesting: the strata are laid open to view in the river
and the several streams; the most valuable of those
hitherto worked is the freestone, which is fonnd in
several parts, and of which the principal quarry is at
Ballyhargan. From this quarry was procured the-stone
used in building the palace of Ballyscullion, the magni-
ficent portico of which was removed to St. George’s
church, at Belfast; the stone found here is easily worked,
but hardens by exposure to the air, and is of very good
colour. Indications of manganese are also observable,
and the beautiful pebbles called Dungiven crystals are
frequently found. The weaving of linen cloth is carried
on in many of the farm-houses and cottages. There
are several seats, the principal of which are Streth
House, the residence of Mrs. Edwards; Ballyhargan, of
W. Osborne, Esq.; Ardenariff, of W. Douglas, Esq.; and
Camnish House, of the Rev. Mr. Kidd.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Derry, and
in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to
£580, The church is a large and handsome edifice, in
the later English style, with a lofty square tower crowned
with pinnacles; it was erected in 1823, by aid of a gift
of £300 from the late Board of First Fruits, and is
situated on the west bank of the Roe, about a quarter
of a mile from the site of the old church, which had
fallen to decay some years previously. The glebe-house,
a large and well-built residence, is situated on the east
bank of the river: the glebe comprises 79 acres of fer-
tile land. In the R. C. divisions this parish forms part
of the union or district of Banagher, and contains two
chapels, one at Derrylane, where service is performed
every alternate Sunday, and the other at Ballymoney.
There is a place of worship at Camnish for Presbyterians
in connection with the Synod of Ulster, of the second
class. The male and female parochial school at Burn-
foot is aided by an annual donation from the rector, and
was endowed with half an acre of land by Mr. Edwards;
the school-house, a good building of stone, was erected
at an expense of £110, of which £50 was granted from
the lord-lieutenant’s fund, and the remainder raised by
subscription. At Drumneesy is a male and female school,
aided by the rector, who also contributes to the sup-
port of an infants’ school at Bovevagh. In these schools
are about 260 children; and there are six private
schools, in which are about 280 children, and five
Sunday schools. Near the old church is an artificial
cave, 82 yards in length, with several galleries branch-
ing from it in different directions. About a mile north-
east of the church is an upright stone, near which, ac-
cording to tradition, a battle was fought, but which may
probably be part of a cromlech, as there are other stones
and vestiges of a druidical circle near the spot.
BOW, or BOA, ISLAND, partly in the parish of
TEMPLECARNE, and partly in that of DRUMKEERAN,
barony of LURG, county of FERMANAGH, and province
of ULSTER, 2 miles (S.) from Pettigo; containing 382
inhabitants. This island, situated in the upper portion
of the lower Lough Erne, comprises, according to the
Ordnance survey, 1342 statute acres, of which nearly
787 are in Drumkeeran, and the remainder in the parish
of Templecarne. The land is good, and the island is
divided into a number of small farms varying from two
to forty acres. There is a fine quarry of freestone.
In the townland of Caldragh is a burial-ground.
218
BOY
BOYANAGH, a parish, partly in the barony of
TYAQUIN, but chiefly in that of HALF-BALLYMOE, county
of GALWAY, and province of CONNATJGHT, 6¾ miles (E. by
N.) from Dunmore; containing 4861 inhabitants. It is
situated on the road from Dunmore to Castlerea, and com-
prises 13,840 statute acres, a large extent of which is waste
landandbog. Herearetwo oatmeal-mills, andlimestone is
abundant. Springfield is the seat of W. M c Dermot, Esq.;
Ashfield, of I. Kelly, Esq.; Clondoyle, of B. Kelly; Esq.;
and Lakeview, of I. O’Flyn, Esq. It is a vicarage, in the
diocese of Tuam, and is part of the union of Kilkerrin;
the rectory forms part of the union and corps of the
deanery of Tuam: the tithes amount to £185, of which
£120 is payable to the dean, and £65 to the incumbent.
The church is in ruins, but the ground is still used for
burials. In the R. C. divisions it is the head of a union
or district, also called Glanamada, comprising the parishes
of Boyanagh and Templetogher; there is a chapel in each,
of which that of Boyanagh is situated at Kelnalag. A
school, in which about 80 boys and 10 girls are taught,
is supported by Lord Fitzgerald 5 and there are three pri-
vate pay schools, in which are about 280 boys and 50 girls.
BOYLE, a corporate, market, and post-town, and a
parish, in the barony of BOYLE, county of ROSCOMMON,
and province of CONNAUGHT, 19¼ miles (S. S. E.) from
Sligo, and 84½ miles (W. N.W.) from Dublin; containing
12,597 inhabitants, of which number, 3433 are in the
town. This place had its origin in the foundation of a
religious establishment, in 1148, at Grelacdinach, which,
after several removals, was finally settled here in 1161,
by Maurice O’Dubhay, the third in succession to Peter
Mordha, its first abbot, who was promoted to the see of
Clonfert, and was drowned in the Shannon in 1171. The
abbey, which was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, was
founded for brethren of the Cistertian order of St. Ber-
nard, and as a dependency of the great abbey of Melli-
font, in the county of Louth. In 1197, Cornelius Mac
Dermot, King of Moylurg (which included the greater
part, if not the whole, of the barony of Boyle), died here
in the habit of the order, and was interred within the
precincts of the abbey. The English forces, commanded
by the lords-justices Maurice Fitzgerald and Mac Wil-
liam, in 1235, encamped within the walls of the monas-
tery, seized upon every thing belonging to it, and stripped
the monks of their habits, to punish them for their en-deavours to
assist the King of Connaught. It was pillaged
by Rory O’More, in 1315, but continued to flourish till
the dissolution, and in 1569 was given by Queen Eliza-
beth to Patrick Cusacke, of Gerrardstown, in the county
of Meath, by whom, or by a lay proprietor who after-
wards succeeded him, it was forfeited. In 1589 it was
granted to William Usher, on a lease of 21 years, at a
rent of £14. 16. 4. per annum; and in 1595 it was
besieged by the Earl of Tyrone with an army of 2300
Scottish Highlanders and Irish. In the 2nd, 4th, and
9th years of the reign of James I., inquisitions were
made to ascertain its possessions; and in 1603 it was
given to Sir John King, ancestor of the present Earl of
Kingston and Viscount Lorton, which grant was, about
15 years afterwards, confirmed by another, which con-
ferred also the privilege of holding courts leet and
baron.
The town, which is the largest in the northern part
of the county, and one of the principal within its limits,