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CUM
a very large cromlech, the table stone of which is 10
feet long, and is supported by four pillars; and at Mul-
laghbuoy are the remains of another, but less perfect.
In the townland of Listress is a large artificial cave, with
five chambers, all built of field stones, covered with
broad flag-stones, over which is a covering of earth two
feet thick.
CUMBER, UPPER, a parish, partly in the barony
of STRABANE, county of TYRONE, but chiefly in that of
TIRKEERAN, county of DERRY, and province of ULSTER,
7½ miles (N. E.) from Londonderry; containing, with
Claudy (which has a daily penny post), 5430 inhabitants.
The early history of this parish cannot be satisfactorily
traced, further than that St. Patrick, having crossed
the Foyle, founded several churches in this district, one
of which occupied the site of the present church of
Cumber. The original name is variously written by
early historians; the present is modern, and acquired
since the taxation of Pope Nicholas in 1291. At the
Reformation the rectory belonged to the abbey of Derry,
and was given by Jas. I. to the bishop, as part of the
abbey lands. In 1622, it appears, by the Ulster Visita-
tion book, to have been held with Banagher. The
ancient parish of Cumber was the most extensive in the
diocese, until 1794, when it was divided into Upper and
Lower Cumber, by order in council: the parish of Upper
Cumber, according to the Ordnance survey, comprising
26,202¼ statute acres, of which 23,072¾ are in Derry,
and 3129½ in Tyrone; the latter form a hilly district
amid the Mounterloney mountains. In some parts,
particularly on the Walworth estate, and on that of
Learmont, the land, though hilly, is well cultivated;
the extensive bogs are being worked out, and brought
into cultivation. The inhabitants combine the weaving
of linen cloth, with agricultural pursuits; there are
several commodious and excellent bleach-greens on the
Faughan water, none of which, however, are now at
work. The southern parts of the parish consist chiefly
of mountains, the principal of which is Sawel, the
highest in the county, being 2236 feet above the level of
the sea; its summit is on the boundary between two
counties. These mountains afford excellent pasturage
on every side; and the rivers Faughan, Glenrandle, and
Dungorthin have their sources in them. There are
large woods and much valuable timber in the demesne
of Park-Learmont; and the plantations of Cumber,
Alia, and Kilcatton greatly embellish the surrounding
scenery. There are several large and elegant houses, of
which the principal are Learmont, the seat of Barre
Beresford, Esq.; Cumber House, of John H. Browne,
Esq.; Kilcatton Hall, of Alexander Ogilby, Esq.; and
Alla, of the Rev. Francis Brownlow.
The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Derry, and
forms the corps of a prebend in the cathedral of Derry,
in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to
£740. The glebe, situated in Glenrandle, half a mile
from the church, consists of the townlands of Alla,
Gilky Hill, and Tullentraim, containing 1508 statute
acres. The church is a large modern edifice, with a
small bell turret on the western gable, erected in 1757,
on the site of an ancient building. In 1831, eight
townlands were separated from the parish, to form part
of the new district or parish of Learmont, and the
rector of Upper Cumber has the alternate presentation
to that perpetual cure. In the R. C. divisions the
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CUR
parish is partly included in the union or district of
Banagher, and partly forms the head of a district, com-
prising also a part of that of Lower Cumber; there are
chapels at Claudy and Gortscreagan. The Presbyterians
have a meeting-house at Claudy, in connection with the
Synod of Ulster. The parochial school, situated on the
glebe lands of Alla, is well built and convenient; it is
supported by the trustees of Erasmus Smith’s charity,
and is under the management of the rector, who has
endowed it with two acres of land. Male and female
schools were built and are supported by the Fishmon-
gers’ Company; and they have also excellent male and
female schools at Gortilea and Killycor. There are also
schools at Ballyarton, Craig, Kilcatton, and. Claudy.
A female school at Claudy is principally supported by
Lady Catherine Brownlow, who likewise contributes to
some others. A female work school at Cumber was
built and is supported by Mrs. Browne and other ladies
of the parish. A male and female school at Learmont
is principally supported by the Beresford family. There
are also Sunday schools and a private day school. At
Mulderg is a large dispensary, built and supported by
the Fishmongers’ Company. There are the remains of
a druidical altar at Baltibrecan; and at Altaghoney
were discovered, in the summer of 1835, three stone
coffins, each covered with three flag stones, and in each
an urn containing ashes, calcined bones, &c. The
graves were two feet deep in the gravel, where 8 feet of
bog had been cut off the surface; and near the coffins
were two idols, carved out of solid oak, which, with the
urns, are now in good preservation, in the museum of
Alex. Ogilby, Esq., of Kilcatton, who has also a good
collection of landscapes, groups, &c, more than 200 of
which are from his own pencil.
CURDANGAN.—See CARDANGAN.
CURNASASE, a village, in the parish of DULEEN,
barony of UPPER KELLS, county of MEATH, and province
of LEINSTER; containing 21 thatched houses and 108
inhabitants.
CURNASEER, a village, in the parish of KILTOOM,
barony of ATHLONE, county of ROSCOMMON, and pro-
vince of CONNAUGHT, 3 miles (N. W.) from Athlone, on
the road to Roscommon; the population is returned
with the parish. It has a station of the constabulary-
police. A large R. C. chapel is in course of erection
near it, also a school-house, which is to be in connec-
tion with the National Board.
CUROFIN, or COROFIN, a small market and post-
town, in the parish of KILNEBOY, barony of INCHIQUIN,
county of CLARE, and province of MUNSTER, 7 miles
(N. N. W.) from Ennis, on the road to Kilfenora, and
118 miles (W. S. W.) from Dublin; containing 900 in-
habitants. This town is situated about three-quarters
of a mile south-east of Inchiquin lake, and near the
western extremity of Lough Tadane: these loughs are
connected by a river flowing through them, which is
here crossed by a stone bridge. It comprises about 140
houses, mostly thatched, and consists of one main street,
commencing near the bridge, and a shorter one branch-
ing off, towards the east, at the end of which stands the
church, and on the south side of it the R. C. chapel.
Considerable quantities of yarn stockings, the manufac-
ture of the surrounding country, were formerly brought
to this place for sale, but the trade has long been on
the decline. Adjoining the bridge is Richmond, the