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BUN
new road from Kenmare to Glengariff is now in pro-
gress, under the Board of Public Works, which will pass
through the parish, over the range of mountains sepa-
rating the counties of Cork and Kerry, and will in some
places be carried to an elevation of 1000 feet above the
level of the sea, affording great facilities for the improve-
ment of this wild and mountainous district. At Drom-
feaghny is an ancient burial-ground, in which are the
ruins of an old church. In the R. C. divisions the parish
forms part of the union or district of Kilcaskin, in the
county of Cork, and diocese of Kerry; the chapel is at
Deelis. A school-house is about to be built at Tulloha,
at the joint expense of the Marquess of Lansdowne and
the National Board of Education.
BUNRATTY, a post-town, and parish, in the barony
of BUNRATTY, county of CLARE, and province of MUN-
STER, 6 miles (W. by N.) from Limerick, and 100 miles
(W. S. W.) from Dublin; containing 1300 inhabitants.
This place is situated on the mail coach road from
Limerick to Ennis, and on the northern shore of the
river Shannon. The castle was erected in 1277, by the
De Clares, and was subsequently the residence of the
Earls of Thomond; it was besieged in 1305, but not
taken; and the small town adjacent to it was burned in
1314. The castle was either enlarged or rebuilt by Sir
Thomas de Clare, in 1597, and is still the largest in the
county. Till within the last few years it was the residence
of T. de Clare Studdert, Esq., who has erected a hand-
some modern mansion in the demesne, and the old castle
is now used as a constabulary police barrack. It is a
lofty and massive quadrangular structure, with a tower
at each angle; the upper parts of the towers at each end
of the quadrangle are connected by an arch; it still
retains its old baronial hall unaltered, and, till deserted
by the family, displayed a spacious and lofty banqueting-
room; the outworks and appendages were of great extent,
as is evident from the vestiges that may still be traced.
A handsome bridge of one arch was built over the river
Ougarnee, by Mr. Studdert, who also constructed near
it a commodious quay, which is about to be enlarged;
boats of large size can come up to it. Considerable
quantities of sea manure are landed here for the supply
of the neighbourhood, and turf is brought from Kilrush.
In the Shannon near this place are several islands, one
of which, called Quay Island, is inhabited by only one
family: the anchorage off this island, called Bunratty
Roads, is considered to be the best in the Shannon, and
here the West India vessels discharge their cargoes for
Limerick. Off Clonmoney is another island, called
Saints’ Island, containing about 50 statute acres of the
richest land, and inhabited by two families. Fairs are
held here on Feb. 3rd, the second Tuesday before Easter,
June 3rd, July 19th, and Oct. 20th, for cattle, pigs, and
sheep. A seneschal’s court for the manor of Bunratty
is occasionally held, in which debts not exceeding £10
late currency may be recovered.
The parish comprises 2649 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act, and mostly in pasture; those parts
bordering on the Shannon afford rich grazing land. Bun-
ratty Castle, the seat of T. de Clare Studdert, Esq., is
pleasantly situated within the ancient demesne, and com-
mands fine views of the Shannon and of an extensive
tract of country: the mansion is spacious and of modern
design, and the demesne is embellished with fine timber
of stately growth. Immediately adjoining the village is
231
BUR
Bunratty, the residence of Mrs. Paliser, in the rear of
which are the ruins of an old church, the walls of which
are in good preservation. The other seats are Clonmoney,
that of D. Canny, Esq., and Woodpark, of M. Dalton,
Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Kil-
laloe; the rectory forms part of the union of Tomfinlogh
or Traddery, in the patronage of the Earl of Egremont;
and the vicarage part of the union of Kilfinaghty. The
tithes amount to £150, of which £100 is payable to the
rector, and £50 to the vicar. The church of the union
is at Six-mile-bridge, in that parish. The glebe-house is
situated on a glebe of 11 acres in this parish, subject to
a rent of £21. 10. per annum late currency. In the
R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of
Newmarket, and is held with several others by the
administrator of the R. C. Bishop of Killaloe; the chapel
is a commodious modern building. There is a small
school under the superintendence of the vicar, in which are
about 20 children; and at Clonmoney is a school under
the direction of the R. C. clergyman. There is also a
private school, in which about 65 children are edu-
cated.
BUOLICK, or BAOLICK, a parish, in the barony
of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province
of MUNSTER, 2½ miles (N. E.) from New Birmingham;
containing 2271 inhabitants. This parish is situated on
the confines of the county of Kilkenny, and on the road
from Johnstown to Killenaule: it is skirted on the west
by the bog of Allen, and comprises 6355 statute acres,
as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £5120
per annum. A considerable quantity of coal is obtained
here, and works are now being opened on the estate of
Mark Byrne, Esq. Littlefield is the property of E.
Cooke, Esq., who occasionally resides here. The living
is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, and in the patron-
age of the Archbishop: it is at present held by the
treasurer of the cathedral church of St. Patrick, Cashel,
but forms no part of the endowment of that dignity:
the tithes amount to £420. There is neither church,
glebe, nor glebe-house; some remains of the old church
yet exist, covered with ivy; the inhabitants resort to
Burris church. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the
head of a union or district, called Gurtnahoe, comprising
also the parishes of Kilcooley and Fennor, and contain-
ing two chapels, situated at Gurtnahoe in Buolick, and
at New Birmingham in Kilcooley; the former is a spa-
cious building, in digging the foundations for which
many human bones were discovered, supposed to be
those of the slain in a battle said to have been fought at
Ballysloe by the kings of Leinster and Munster. Three
national schools are situated at Ballysloe, Clonimiclan,
and Gurtnahoe, in which are about 180 boys and 100
girls. There are considerable remains of an old castle,
which appears to have been of great strength; it was
the residence of the family of Butler, Viscounts Ikerrin,
and is now the property of R. La Touche, Esq., who has
a considerable estate in the parish. Here are also two
large Danish forts.
BURGAGE.—See BLESSINGTON.
BURGESS, or BURGESS-BEG, a parish, in the
barony of OWNEY and ARRA, county of TIPPERARY, and
province of MUNSTER, 5½ miles (S. W.) from Nenagh;
containing 3570 inhabitants. It is situated on the mail
coach road from Dublin to Limerick, and comprises
4749 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act,