Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

COR
the whole was forfeited by the attainder of the last Earl,
in 1582. This induced the settlement of new colonies
of the English; for although a considerable portion was
regranted to the Fitz-Geralds and other resident fami-
lies, the rest of the forfeitures was divided in seigniories
and granted by letters patent to several English, gentle-
men, who were called undertakers, from being bound to
perform the conditions mentioned in the articles for the
plantation of this province with English, who were con-
sequently settled here in great numbers, especially by
Sir Richard Boyle, afterwards created Earl of Cork. In
the Spanish invasion of 1600, this county was wholly
the scene of operations, particularly in the vicinity of
Kinsale. During the civil war which broke out in 1641,
the bands of trained English contributed much to the
maintenance of British interests here, which, however,
were greatly weakened by these commotions, until in a
great measure renewed towards the period of the Res-
toration by the settlement of republican officers, sol-
diers, and adventurers; and the Protestant inhabitants
of English descent again proved their strength by the
most active and important services in 1691.
This large county contains the whole of the united
dioceses of Cork, Ross, and Cloyne, and about 28,800
plantation acres of that of Ardfert and Aghadoe. By the
statute of the 4th of Geo. IV., cap. 93, it was divided, for
the more frequent holding of general sessions of the peace,
into two districts, called the East and West Ridings:
the former comprises the baronies of Duhallow, Orrery
and Kilmore, Condons and Clongibbons, Fermoy, Kin-
natalloon, Imokilly, Kerrycurrihy, Kinnalea, Barrymore,
Barretts, and East Muskerry (with the exception of the
parishes of Ahinagh and Aghabologue), together with
the liberties of the city of Cork and of Kinsale: the
West Riding is composed of the baronies of Ibane and
Barryroe, Beer or Bear, Bantry, West Muskerry, Kinal-
meaky, Courcies, East Carbery (east and west divisions),
and West Carbery (east and west divisions), with the
two parishes of Ahinagh and Aghabologue, in the barony
of East Muskerry. Besides the city of Cork, which,
with an extensive surrounding district forms a county
of itself, it contains the borough, market, and sea-port
towns of Youghal and Kinsale; the borough and mar-
ket-towns of Bandon and Mallow; the sea-port and
market-towns of Cove and Bantry; the market and
post-towns of Fermoy, Skibbereen, Macroom, and Dun-
manway; the ancient disfranchised boroughs of Balti-
more, Castlemartyr, Charleville, Clonakilty, Doneraile,
Midleton, and Rathcormac, all of which, except the
first, are post-towns; the post-towns of Ballincollig,
Buttevaut, Castletown-Bearhaven, Castletown-Roche,
Cloyne, Innishannon, Kanturk, Kildorrery, Kilworth,
West Millstreet, Mitchelstown, Passage, and Rosscar-
bery; and the small towns of Castle-Lyons, Crook-
haven, Liscarrol, and Timoleague. Prior to the Union
it sent twenty-four members to the Irish parliament,
being two for the county at large, and two for each
of the boroughs, besides the two for the county of
the city of Cork. At present it sends to the Imperial
parliament two representatives for the county at large,
two for the city of Cork, and one each for the boroughs
of Bandon, Kinsale, Mallow, and Youghal. The recent
enactments have made no alteration in the number of
representatives, but have constituted each riding a
separate jurisdiction for the purposes of registry: the
402
COR
county members are elected at the court-house in the
city of Cork. The total number of voters registered up
to March, 1836, was 4394, of which 1179 were £50,
532 £20, and 1828 £10 freeholders; 158 £20, and 639
£10 leaseholders, and 23 £50, and 35 £20 rent-chargers.
The county is included in the Munster circuit: the
assizes are held in the city of Cork 3 and by the act of
the 4th of Geo. IV., it is enacted that five general ses-
sions of the peace shall be holden in alternate months in
each of the two ridings, so that in the county at large a
session is held every month, except the two in which
the general sessions are holden for the entire county:
the sessions for each division are directed to be holden,
for the East Riding, alternately in the city of Cork, and
at Midleton, Fermoy, Mallow, and Kanturk; and for
the West Riding, alternately at Bandon, Macroom,
Bantry, Skibbereen, and Clonakilty; the precise days
to be settled by the high sheriff, the two assistant bar-
risters, and the clerk of the peace. In all processes
connected with these sessions, the several divisions are
to be carefully distinguished as Cork County East
Riding, and Cork County West Riding; but with the
exception of the power given to the lord-lieutenant to
appoint an assistant barrister for each, with a salary
equal to that of similar officers in entire counties, the
officers and jurisdictions of the county are not in any
manner altered from those which are customary. In
the city of Cork are the county gaol and house of cor-
rection, rules for the management of which were drawn
up by a committee of the magistrates in 1816, which
were afterwards embodied in the general act for the
prisons of Ireland. There are, besides, seventeen,
bridewells, situated respectively at Midleton, Bandon,
Clonakilty, Skibbereen, Bantry, Dunmanway, Macroom,
Mitchelstown, Fermoy, Mallow, Cove, Kinsale, Ross-
carbery, Millstreet, Kanturk, Youghal, and Charleville.
The number of persons charged with criminal offences
and committed to the county prison in 1835, was
740. The local government is vested in a lord-lieutenant,
deputy-lieutenants, and 282 other magistrates; be-
sides whom there are the usual county officers, including
four coroners. The constabulary force consists of 16
chief and 85 subordinate constables, and 426 men, with
horses, the expense of maintaining which is defrayed
equally by Grand Jury presentments and by Govern-
ment. The coast-guard districts are those of Youghal,
containing the stations of Helwick Head, Ardmore,
Youghal, Knockadoon, and Ballycotton; Cove, con-
taining the stations of Ballycroneen, Poor Head, Light-
house, East Ferry, Cove, Cork, Crosshaven, and Robert’s
Cove; Kinsale, containing the stations of Upper Cove,
Oyster Haven, Old Head, Howshand, Courtmasherry,
Barry’s Cove, Dunny Cove, and Dirk Cove; Skibbereen,
containing the stations of Milk Cove, Glandore, Castle-
Townsend, Barlogue, Baltimore, Long Island, Crook
Haven, Dunmanus, and Whithorse; and Castletown,
containing the stations of Colaris, Garnish, and Castle-
town: the entire force consists of 5 inspecting com-
manders, 32 chief officers, and 251 men. The public
charitable institutions are the lunatic asylum, house of
industry and infirmary at Cork, an infirmary at Mallow,
12 fever hospitals, and 48 local dispensaries, maintained
partly by subscription and partly by grand jury present-
ments: the dispensaries are situated respectively at
Mitchelstown, Millstreet Castletown-Roche, Bandon,