Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

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taming 6450 inhabitants. According to Archdall, a
very rich monastery existed here, built by St. Columb
ia the 6th century, of which there is now no trace, but
the festival of that saint is observed on the 9th of June.
The parish, which is bounded on the north by the At-
lantic ocean, comprises 23 divisions, called quarter lands,
and, according to the Ordnance survey, 23,376 statute
acres, two-thirds of which are irreclaimable mountain,
land, and 127¼ are water. The shore forms asemicircle
of nearly nine miles, and abounds with sea-weed, which
is used as manure. The mountains, of which the
largest is Raghtin, rising to an elevation of 1656 feet
above the level of the sea, are chiefly composed of
whinstone and clay-slate, and near the pass to Deser-
tegney a valuable deposit of limestone has been re-
cently discovered. In the mountain of Ardagh are
veins of lead ore, which have not yet been worked.
The land is not generally favourable for cultivation.
There are three corn-mills. Fairs are held on Jan. 1st,
March 24th, June 29th, and Oct. 10th, for horses,
cattle, sheep, flax, yarn, &c. “Within, its limits are
the rivers Clonmany and Ballyhallon: the former
has its rise in Meendoran lough, and the latter from a
small spring in the western, part of the parish; they
contain trout and eels, and in autumn, salmon. Within,
the parish also is Dunaff Head, between which and
Fanet Point, in the parish of Clondevadock, is the en-
trance to Lough Swilly. On Dunree Point an artillery
station was erected in 1812, in which a small garrison
is still maintained. At Rockstown is a coast-guard
station, and at Strand, or Clonmany, one for the con-
stabulary police. The principal seats are Dresden, the
residence of T. L. Metcalfe, Esq.; Glen House, of M.
Doherty, Esq.; and the glebe-house, of the Rev. Mr.
Molloy.
The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese
of Derry, and in the patronage of the Marquess of
Donegal: the tithes amount to £400. The glebe-house,
which is on a glebe of five acres, was built in 1819, by
aid of a gift of £100, and a loan of £675, from the late
Board of First Fruits: the glebe at Cherbury comprises
365 acres, of which 300 are uncultivated. The church
is a neat structure, with a low square tower: it is
situated in the vale of Tallaght, and the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners lately granted £368. 4. 3. for its repair.
The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Esta-
blished Church, and has a large and well-built chapel.
The parochial school is aided by an annual donation
from the incumbent; and at Garryduff is a very large
and handsome school-house, built in 1835. There is a
school at Urras, aided by an annual donation from Mrs.
Merrick, in which are educated 35 boys and 17 girls;
and there are four pay schools, in which are 170 boys
and 30 girls. On the north-east of the parish are the
ruins of a castle, called Carrick-a-Brakey, consisting of a
circular tower, 25 feet high and S feet in diameter, and a
square building, 30 feet high and 10 feet in diameter. A
mile south-east of this is another castle, called in Irish
Caislean na Stucah, it stands on a pyramidal rock, in-
sulated by spring tides, the top of which is 80 perches
above the level of the sea, and is inaccessible except by
long ladders. Tradition states that it was built by
Pheletny Brasselah O’Doherty. At Magheramore is a
very perfect cromlech, consisting of a table stone of
above 20 tons, supported by three upright pillars: it is
368
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called Fion M c Cuirs finger stone. Among the natural
curiosities is a chink in a rock at Tallaght, under which
is a cavern: and at Leenan Head is a beautiful cave, 70
yards long and 5 or 6 broad, excavated by the sea,
through which boats can pass; besides a waterfall
dashing over a perpendicular rock 50 feet high, and
several caves. Here are also some chalybeate springs;
and on the lofty mountains eagles still build their nests,
and are very destructive, particularly in the lambing
season.
CLONMEEN, or CLOONMEEN, a parish, in the
barony of DUHAIXOW, county of CORK, and province
of MUNSTER, 2 miles (S. S.E.) from Kanturk; contain-
ing 5344 inhabitants. A monastery for Augustine
Friars was founded here by the O’Callaghans, ancestors
of Lord Lismore; and a castle existed here, which was
destroyed in the war of 1641. On the 26th of July,
1652, a body of the parliamentary forces under Lord
Broghill, having during the night repulsed the cavalry
of Lord Muskerry, who was endeavouring with his Irish
forces to advance to the relief of Limerick, crossed the
Blackwater, about half a mile east of Bantyre bridge,
came up with Lord Muskerry’s troops, posted on the
elevated ground of Knockbrack or Knockiclashy, and
made so resolute an attack that they were routed with
great slaughter. After the Restoration, Sir Richard Kyrle
settled here, erected iron-works, cut down woods, and
considerably improved the neighbourhood; and when
the French threatened to invade Ireland, in 1666, Sir
Richard offered to raise a troop of 60 horse. The parish
is situated on both sides of the river Blackwater, and
on the new Bogra road from Kanturk to Cork: the new
Government road to King-William’s-Town and Castle
Island passes through that part of Clonmeen which lies
to the north of the Blackwater. It comprises 20,815
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued
for the county cess at £7632 per annum. The land con-
sists partly of reclaimable mountain pasture and bog, and
partly of arable land, which latter produces wheat of a
superior quality. Culm exists at Drumcummer, but is
not worked; and there is a valuable limestone quarry
near Rosskeen bridge. Gurtmore rock, on the south side
of the Blackwater, rises to a considerable height, and
contains several large caverns. The seats are Gurtmore
House, the residence of the Rev. P. Townsend, and Gurt-
more, of E. Foote, Esq.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Cloyne, and
with part of the rectory is episcopally united to the
vicarage of Rosskeen, forming the union of Clonmeen,
in the patronage of the Bishop; the other portion of
the rectory is appropriate to the economy estate of the
cathedral of St. Colman, Cloyne. The tithes amount to
£415. 9. 3.; and the gross value of the tithes of the
benefice is £369. 4.7½. The church is an old dilapidated
building, without a tower, and was the burial-place of
the O’Callaghans: it has been recently condemned, and
it is expected that a new one will shortly be erected.
In the R. C. divisions that portion of the parish lying
north of the Blackwater forms part of the union or dis-
trict of Castle-Magner; the remainder is the head of a
union or district, comprising also the parish of Kilcor-
ney, and containing two chapels, one in each parish;
the chapel of Clonmeen, at Bantyre Cross, is a large
edifice lately built, and adjoining it is a commodious
house, erected by the late Rev. Myles Bourke, parish