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CAH
of the landscape. Cahir Abbey, the residence of Richard
Grubb, Esq., is a handsome house recently erected by
the proprietor, and pleasantly situated in grounds taste-
fully disposed and commanding some fine views. The
other seats are Garnavella, the handsome residence of
J. Archer Butler, Esq.; Altavilla, of W. Going, Esq.;
Ballybrado, of J. Wm, Fennell, Esq.; and Killemley
Hall, beautifully situated on the river Suir and com-
manding some highly picturesque views, the property of
H. Hughes, Esq., but in the occupation of L. Clutter-
buck, Esq. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of
Lismore, episcopally united, in 1803, to that of Grange
St. John, forming the union of Cahir, in the patronage
of the Crown; the rectory is appropriate to the Arch-
bishop of Cashel. The tithes amount to £900, of
which £500 is payable to the archbishop, and £400 to
the vicar; and the gross tithes of the benefice, payable to
the vicar, amount to £460. The church was rebuilt, in
1817, by aid of a loan of £2500 from the late Board
of First Fruits: it is a spacious structure of stone, in
the later English style, with an embattled tower sur-
mounted by a finely proportioned spire, the whole after
a design by Mr. Nash, of London. The glebe-house, a
handsome residence, was built by aid of a gift of £100
and a loan of £750 from the same Board, in 1809: the
glebe comprises 10a. 2r. 22p. In the R. C. divisions
this parish is the head of a union or district, comprising
the parishes of Cahir and Mortlestown; the chapel,
lately rebuilt, is a spacious and handsome cruciform
edifice, in the later English style, with a lofty and well-
proportioned spire. There is a place of worship for the
Society of Friends. The parochial schools are under
the trustees of Erasmus Smith’s charity; the school-
house was built at an expense of £1034, of which £600
was defrayed from the funds of that charity, and £434
by the late Earl of Glengall, who also gave two acres of
land; and there is a national school, aided by subscrip-
tion. In these schools about 180 boys and 170 girls
are instructed; there are also twelve private schools,
in which are about 580 children. A dispensary and
fever hospital were founded by the local London Relief
Committee. The ruins of the old castle are situated on
an island in the river, and present a very interesting and
highly picturesque appearance. This is the burial-place
of the Butler family, Earls of Glengall, to whom it gives
the inferior titles of Viscount and Baron.
CAHIRCIVEEN, a market and post-town, in the
parish of CAHIR., barony of IVERAGH, county of KERRY,
and province of MUNSTER, 36 miles (S. W.) from Tralee,
and 183 (S. W. by W.) from Dublin; containing 1192
inhabitants. This town, of which the greater portion
has arisen since the formation of the new line of road
along the coast of Castlemaine bay and through the
Iveragh mountains to Valencia, is pleasantly situated at
the base of the Cahirciveen mountain, and on the high
road from Tralee to Valencia. In 1815 there were only
five houses in the entire village, but within the last ten
years it has rapidly increased, and consists of one prin-
cipal street stretching along the main road, and of two
smaller streets branching from it at right angles, one of
which leads down to the quay, and the other to the
upper road or old village of Cahir, which consists only
of mud cabins. The houses on the new road are neatly
built and roofed with slate; the town has a lively and
cheerful appearance; the approaches are all by good
239
CAH
roads kept in excellent order, and great improvements
have been made in the neighbourhood. A subscription
news-room upon a small scale has been established, also
an agency for transacting business with the National
Bank of Ireland. The chief trade carried on is the
importation of timber, salt, and iron; oats and flour
from some mills to the east of the town are occasionally
exported. The flour-mills were erected at an expense
exceeding £4000, and from the increasing cultivation of
wheat in this district, are now extensively worked. A
pier and a small quay were constructed in 1822, which
are much used, but would have been more beneficial to
the town had they been built a little below the present
site; the quay is accessible to vessels of considerable
burden. About 400 persons are employed in the fishery,
but being also engaged in agriculture they neglect the
best seasons for fishing. At Renard Point, immediately
opposite to the “foot” of Valencia island, is a small quay,
from which is a ferry to Valencia. It is supposed that
Renard, which is about 2½ miles to the west of Cahir-
civeen, will be the commencement of the great western
railway, should that work be carried into execution.
The market is on Saturday; and fairs are held on the
1st of September and 13th of December, besides which,
several others have been recently established. A con-
stabulary police force has been stationed here; and
petty sessions are held in the town every alternate week.
The bridewell is a neat and well-arranged building. The
parish church and the R. C. chapel (the latter a hand-
some building), and a fever hospital and dispensary, are
situated in the town. Here is also a national school.—
See CAHIR.
CAHIRCONLISH, a post-town and parish (formerly
incorporated), in the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county
of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 7 miles (E. S.
E.) from Limerick, and 116 (S. W. by W.) from Dublin;
containing 3964 inhabitants, of which number, 703 are
in the town. It is situated one mile west of the new
line of road from Limerick to Clonmel, and was formerly
a walled town, containing four castles and an extensive
and celebrated college, every vestige of which has long
since disappeared, and its site is only known from a
field still retaining the name of the College Field. The
town was formerly incorporated, as appears by a grant
made in the 32nd of Edw. III., and dated Nov. 9th,
1358, conferring “murage for 20 years” on “the Provost,
Bailiff, and Commonalty of the town of Catherkenlyshe.”
On Aug. 7th, 1690, Wm. III. encamped here on his
march to the siege of Limerick, as did also Gen. de
Ginkell in the following year. The town contains about
120 houses, of which several are large and well built,
but in a dilapidated state: it is a constabulary police
station, and fairs are held on May 16th, Aug. 20th, Oct.
17th, and Dec. 5th.
The parish contains 4777 statute acres: the soil is
variable, but in general very productive; about one-
third is under tillage; the remainder is meadow, pas-
ture, or demesne, with about 120 acres of bog, which
is here valuable. Near the town stands Cahirconlish
House, a handsome modern residence, erected near the
site of the old family mansion, by the proprietor, Major
Wm. Wilson; it is surrounded by fine plantations and
ornamental grounds. The old mansion, which stood
on a rock, was one of the castles above noticed, and,
though previously exhibiting no extraordinary marks