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house for boys superintended by him, and another for
girls under the patronage of Mrs. Richards. There is
also a Sunday school, besides two private pay schools
in which are about 30 children. Near the demesne of
Ardemine is a large high tumulus, called the “Moat of
Ardemine,” considered to be one of the most perfect of
its kind in Ireland: it is traditionally said to mark the
burial-place of a Danish chief.
ARDARA, a post-town and district parish, in the
barony of BANNAGH, county of DONEGAL, and province
of ULSTER, 7½ miles (N.) from Killybegs, and 134½
miles (N. W.) from Dublin; containing 456 inhabitants.
This place is situated on the river Awinea, at the bottom
of Lockrusmore bay on the northern coast, and on the
road from Narin to Killybegs. The village consists of
85 houses: it is a constabulary police station, and has a
fair on the 1st of November; petty sessions are held at
irregular intervals. The parochial district was formed by
act of council in 1829, by disuniting 38 townlands from
the parish of Killybegs, and 49 from that of Inniskeel.
The living is a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Raphoe,
and in the alternate patronage of the Rectors of Killy-
begs and Inniskeel. The income of the curate is £90
per annum, of which £35 is paid by each of the rectors
of the above-named parishes, and £20 is given from
Primate Boulter’s augmentation fund. The church is
situated in the village. The R. C. parochial district is
co-extensive with that of the Established Church, and
contains a chapel. The Wesleyan Methodists assemble
in a school-house once every alternate Sunday. A
parochial school is aided by an annual grant from Col.
Robertson’s fund; and there is a school under the
Wesleyan Missionary Society. In these schools are
about 160 boys and 80 girls; and there are also two
pay schools, in which are about 70 boys and 20 girls,
and a Sunday school. On an island in the lake of Kil-
torus, off Boylagh, near Mr. Hamilton’s, of Eden, are
the ruins of an old fortified building, near which were
formerly some rusty cannon.
ARDBOE, county of TYRONE.—See ARBOE.
ARDBRACCAN, a parish, in the barony of LOWER
NAVAN, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER,
2½ miles (W.) from Navan; containing 3798 inhabitants.
This place derived its name, signifying, in the Irish
language, “the Hill of Braccan,” from St. Braccan, who
presided over a monastery here, and died in the year
650. The establishment subsequently became the seat
of a small bishoprick, which flourished under a series of
prelates, many of whom are noticed as eminent eccle-
siastics, till the twelfth century, when, with several other
small bishopricks, it was included in the diocese of
Meath. The monastery was frequently plundered and
laid waste by the Danes, and repeatedly destroyed by
fire, from the 9th to the 12th century; and, in 1166,
Moriertach, King of Ireland, granted to it in perpetuity
a parcel of land at an annual rent of three ounces of
gold. The village, which was anciently a place of some
importance, especially during the existence of the see,
appears to have declined since the period of the English
invasion, and is no longer of any note. About one-half
of the parish is under tillage, two-fifths in pasture, and
the remainder meadow land. The only remarkable
elevation is Faughan Hill, the conical summit of which
being well planted, is conspicuous over the surrounding
flat districts; and on the western border of the parish is
42
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a chain of bogs. Limestone is quarried for building:
and at a place called White Quarry is found a particular
kind of limestone, of which the bishop’s palace is built.
Limestone, gravel, and marl are also raised for manure.
The bishop’s palace, one of the most elegant ecclesias-
tical residences in Ireland, was erected by the late
Bishop Maxwell: it is beautifully situated, and the
grounds and gardens are tastefully laid out; the demesne
is embellished with forest trees of stately growth, among
which are some remarkably fine horse-chestnut trees;
and there are also two very beautiful cedars of Lebanon,
planted by the late Bishop Pococke. Oatland House,
the residence and demesne of Blennerhasset Thompson,
Esq., is also within the parish; and Dormerstown Castle
is an old fortified residence. The weaving of linen cloth
is carried on to a small extent, and some cotton looms
are also employed by the inhabitants.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Meath,
united by act of council, in 1771, to the rectories of
Liscarton and Rataine, the chapelry of Churchtown, and
the vicarage of Martry, and by the same authority, in
1780, to the rectory of Clonmacduff, which six parishes
constitute the union of Ardbraccan, in the patronage of
the Crown. The tithes amount to £433. 16. 10¾.: the
gross amount of tithes payable to the incumbent is
£820.15. 5¼. The church is a handsome edifice, erected
in 1777, under the auspices of the late Bishop Maxwell.
The glebe-house is situated about half a mile from the
church: the glebe comprises 33 acres of profitable land.
The R. C. union or district of Ardbraccan, called also
Bohermein, includes the parishes of Ardbraccan, Martry,
Rathboyne, and parts of the parishes of Moyagher and
Liscarton: there are two chapels in Ardbraccan and one
in Rathboyne. The male and female parochial school
is principally supported by the rector, and is aided by
an annual donation from the Bishop of Meath; and
there are two free schools at Byerstown and Bohermein,
supported by bequests from the late Rev. Mr. Bran-
nigan, P. P., and by annual subscriptions from Earl
Ludlow and the parishioners. In these schools are
about 300 boys and 160 girls; and there are also two
private schools, in which are about 60 children. Dr.
Chetwood, formerly rector of this parish, left £500,
and Dr. Sterne, Bishop of Clogher, left £30 per annum,
for apprenticing the children of Protestant inhabitants
of the diocese to Protestant masters and mistresses;
about 30 children are annually apprenticed from these
funds. In the churchyard is a square tower with a spire
and vane, forming a pleasing object. There is also a
monument to Bishop Montgomery, who died in London,
on the 15th of January, 1620, and was buried here; and
on the south side of it is a small tablet to the memory
of that celebrated traveller, Bishop Pococke, who pre-
sided over the see of Meath, and died in 1765.
ARDCANDRIDGE, or ARDCANDRISK, a parish,
in the barony of SHELMALIER, county of WEXFORD, and
province of LEINSTER, 3½ miles (W. by N.) from Wex-
ford, containing 242 inhabitants. This parish is situated
on the river Slaney, by which it is bounded on the north,
and on the road from Wexford along the south bank of
the river, by way of Clonmore, to Enniscorthy: it com-
prises 1144 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe
act, and is chiefly under tillage, which has gradually
improved since the introduction of the drill system of
husbandry. Ardcandrisk House, the seat of G. Grogan