Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

CAS
dimensions. These fortifications occupy the entire
summit of the hill, and are prominently conspicuous for
many miles around. Various lines of circumvallation
may be traced around the castle; and. on the plains
below are the remains of a fort, little inferior to that
on the summit of the hill, and the ruins of the old church
or chapel, covered with ivy and presenting a picturesque
object, in the cemetery, which is,still used as a burial-
ground. About a mile from the castle are the ruins of
Balrichen castle, within half a mile of which are the
remains of a singular fort, called Mount, or Moat Albani,
situated near the small river Carrickasticken. The
castle of Balrichen, or Balbriggan, which formerly be-
longed to one of the chiefs of the English pale, is situ-
ated on a gradual ascent between two winding rivers:
it consisted of a lofty quadrangular tower, with a walled
court-yard capable of containing a numerous retinue.
Beyond this castle is the pleasant little promontory of
Balrichen, between the rivers of Balrichen and Philips-
town, which unite near this place. Various druidical
remains are scattered over this promontory, the chief
of which are a circle of five large upright stones on the
summit of a hill, a cairn and several pillars, some
detached, and some in groups. On an elevated piece of
ground, called Carrickedmond, at no great distance
from Balrichen, and near the Carrickasticken river, are
numerous druidical relics, consisting of a temple of two
concentric circles of large stones, with two smaller stones
in the centre, two cairns, the foundations of a circular
building, several small circles in which rude earthen
kistvaens and human bones have been found, and de-
tached upright stones, some of large size and probably
monumental.
CASTLETOWN, a village, in the parish of LACKAN,
barony of TYRAWLEY, county of MAYO, and province of
CONNAUGHT, 8 miles (N.N.W.) from Killala: the popu-
lation is returned with the parish. This village, which
consists of about 60 houses, is pleasantly situated on the
bay of Killala, and has two fairs, one on June 15th, and
the other on Sept. 29th.
CASTLETOWN, a village, in the parish of Offer-
lane, barony of Upper OSSORY, QUEEN’S county, and
province of LEINSTER, 1¾ mile (S. by W.) from Mount-
rath; containing 367 inhabitants. This place takes its
name from an ancient castle, occupying a commanding
situation on the bank of the river Nore, and which, in
the early part of the 16th century, was garrisoned by
Sir Oliver Norris, son-in-law of the Earl of Ormonde,
with a view to curb the power of the Fitzpatricks, to
whom it was afterwards relinquished, and of whom
Barnaby Fitzpatrick was, in 1541, created Baron of
Upper Ossory. The village is pleasantly situated on the
river Nore, and on the road from Dublin to Limerick;
it contains 59 houses, many of which are good residences,
and the whole has an appearance of neatness and respect-
ability. Near it are some large flour and oatmeal-mills.
A fair is held on June 29th; and there were formerly
fairs on May 2nd and Oct. 18th. A constabulary police
force is stationed here, and petty sessions are held on
alternate Saturdays. There is a R. C. chapel in the
village.—See OFFERLANE.
CASTLETOWN-ARRA, a parish, in the barony of
OWNEY and ARRA, county of TIPPERARY, and province
of MUNSTER, 8 miles (W. N. W.) from Nenagh; contain-
ing 4110 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the
309
CAS
river Shannon, and on the road from Nenagh to Killaloe;
it comprises 6697 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act,
and valued at £5110 per annum: about 720
acres are mountain, and the remainder is good arable
and pasture land. At Garry-Kennedy are some very
extensive slate quarries belonging to the Mining Com-
pany of Ireland, from which great quantities of slate
are raised and shipped from a quay which has been con-
structed there, for which the steam navigation on the
Shannon, and the canal, afford every facility. The sce-
nery is strikingly diversified; it includes a large portion
of Lough Derg, and the mountains of Clare and Galway.
Castlelough, the seat of Anthony Parker, Esq., is finely
situated in a richly cultivated demesne of 640 acres,
embellished with timber of stately growth and with
young and thriving plantations; the deer park is exten-
sive and well stocked. The other seats within the parish
are Lansdowne, the residence of Mrs. Parker, and those
of G. Watson and — Kent, Esqrs., at Garry-Kennedy.
A constabulary police force has been stationed here;
and fairs, chiefly for cattle, sheep, and pigs, are held at
Portroe on March 22nd, May 14th, July 23rd, and Nov.
11th. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the
diocese of Killaloe, episcopally united, in 1781, to the
rectories and vicarages of Youghal-Arra and Burgess-
Beg, forming the union of Castletown-Arra, in the pa-
tronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £304.12.3¾.,
and of the whole benefice to £997. 16. 11¼. The church,
an ancient structure of simple style, is pleasingly situated
on the margin of Lough Derg. The glebe-house was
built by aid of a gift of £250 and aloan of £550 from,
the late Board of First Fruits, in 1820. The glebe com-
prises 3 acres, and there are other glebe lands in the
union, comprising together 4a. 3r., making in the whole
7a. 3r. The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of
the Established Church; the chapel is at Portroe. A
parochial school, in which about 50 boys and 30 girls
are instructed, is supported by the rector; and there
is a pay school, in which are about 120 boys and 70
girls. The old castle from which this place derived its
name was formerly the residence of the Parkers, but is
now in ruins; the demesne skirts the Shannon for a
considerable distance, commanding some beautiful and
extensive views.
CASTLETOWN-CONYERS, a parish, in the barony
of UPPER CONNELLO EAST, county of LIMERICK, and
province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (S.) from Ballingarry:
the population is returned with the union or parish of
Corcomohide. This place, called anciently Kilnoodan,
took the name of Castletown-Mac-Eineiry from a castle
erected here, in 1349, by a chieftain of that name, who
possessed a large extent of territory in this part of the
country, which was forfeited by the adherence of his
descendant to the cause of Jas. II., and granted by Wm.
III. to Capt. George Conyers, from whom it derives its
present appellation. Archdall notices an abbey of great
splendour and extent, founded here by the Mac Eineiry
family; but nothing further is recorded of its history,
nor are there any remains of it. The parish is situated on
the road from Rathkeale to Charleville, and comprises
10,086 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act:
about one-eighth of the land is under tillage, producing
good crops; the remainder is in demesnes, and in mea-
dow and pasture land belonging to large dairy farms;
there is a large tract of turbary, which is very valuable