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DES
parish is the head of a union or district, also called Kil-
rea, comprising the parishes of Desertoghill, Tamlaght-
O’Crilly, and Kilrea, and containing three chapels, one
here and two in Tamlaght-O’Crilly. A large and hand-
some meeting-house is now being built at Moneydig for
Presbyterians in connection with the Synod of Ulster.
The parochial school at Ballyagan is supported by the
rector; there are two schools under the Mercers’ Com-
pany, two under the Ironmongers’ Company, one under
the National Board, and four others, also a private
school. St. Columbkill here founded an abbey, which
afterwards became parochial, but the old church, though
now a picturesque ruin, does not bear evidence of such
remote antiquity as some others in the neighbourhood;
in 1622 it was one of the very few in the county that
were in perfect repair. Not far distant from the old
church is a small fortress; and in an adjoining field is
an artificial cave of considerable extent, having three
chambers or galleries. A curious stone, wherein are
two small and rude founts, considered by the peasantry
to be the impress of the knees of St. Columbkill while
praying, stands in the churchyard. Half a mile above
Garvagh is a curious encampment, called the Bonny
Fort; and not far distant is a smaller one, called Rough-
fort: both appear to have been constructed to protect
the mountain pass.
DESERTSERGES, a parish, partly in the barony of
KINALMEAKY, but. chiefly in the East Division of the
barony of EAST CARBERY, county of CORK, and pro-
vince of MUNSTER, 6 miles (S. W, by W.) from Bandon,
on the old road from Cork to Dunmanway; contain-
ing 6629 inhabitants. It is situated on the south side
of the river Bandon, and comprises 15,355 statute acres,
as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £9781
per annum. A great part consists of rough pasture and
bog; he remainder is under tillage. The land is gene-
rally cold, but in some places moderately fertile; an in-
considerable tract, called Cashelmore, is common moun-
tain. Quarries of good slate are extensively worked at
Bracna. There is a large flour-mill on the river Bandon,
erected in 1835, by Arthur B. Bernard, of Palace-Anne,
Esq.; and not far distant a paper-mill. Fairs are held
at Mount-Beamish on June 26th, Aug. 1st, Sept. 29th,
and Dec. 16th, chiefly for cattle and pigs. The gentle-
men’s seats are Kilcoleman, the residence of Adderly
Beamish, Esq., beautifully situated on the banks of the
river Bandon, and surrounded by fine plantations;
Cashel, of J. Beamish, Esq.; Mount Beamish, of John
Beamish, Esq., M. D; Kilrush, of A. Poole, Esq.;
Kilcoleman-Beg, of W. Lamb, Esq. 5 Sun Lodge, of W.
M c Carty, Esq.; Church-Hill, of the Rev. Mountiford
Longfield; and Kiel, of John Wren, Esq.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Cork, and in
the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is appropriate
to the vicars choral of the cathedral of St. Finbarr, Cork.
The tithes of Desertserges amount to £1045, of which
£315 is payable to the appropriators, and £730 to the
vicar; the latter also receives the entire tithes of Gar-
ryvoe (a merged parish, to which Lord Kingsale pre-
sents), amounting to £315. There is an old glebe-
house, with a glebe of 73a. lr. 20p. The church is a good
edifice, with a square tower, erected in 1802. The R.C.
parish is co-extensive with that of the Established
Church, except a small portion of the eastern district,
which belongs to Bandon: the chapel, at Agheohil, is
58
DEV
a large modern edifice. There are three Protestant
parochial schools, in which are some R. C. children; one
at Kilrush, supported principally by Capt. Poole, and the
clergyman, and two by the Hon. and Rev. Chas. Bernard,
the curate; one of these, at Moulnarogue, a handsome
building, was erected by him in 1835; 180 boys and
girls are instructed in these schools. There are also
some pay schools, in connection with the R. C. chapel.
Numerous forts are scattered over this parish; one,
which is the most extensive and in the best preservation,
surrounded by earthworks and fosses, stands on the
lands of Kilmiran. In the north-eastern part of the
parish are traces of the old church of Garryvoe. The re-
mains of Derry castle form an interesting ruin; and
several upright stones, called Golanes, seem to have been
set up either to commemorate some important event, or
to indicate the burial-place of some warrior. At Corron
is a very powerful chalybeate spring, the waters of which
contain large quantities of sulphur and iron, held in
solution by carbonic acid gas.
DEVENISH, a parish, in the barony of MAGHERA-
BOY, county of FERMANAGH, and province of ULSTER,
2½ miles (N. W.) from Enniskillen; containing 8219 in-
habitants. This parish takes its name, signifying “Ox
Island,” from the island of Devenish in Lough Erne;
and comprises, according to the Ordnance survey (in-
cluding a detached portion and islands), 32,243¼ statute
acres, of which 1436¼ are in Lower Lough Erne, 193¾
in Lough Melvin, and 3l2¾ in small lakes. More than
half may be considered good arable land, and the re-
mainder pasture and mountain; the system, of agricul-
ture improves very slowly. The river Scillies, rising
in the mountains near Church hill, intersects the parish,
and proceeding in a southward direction falls into Lough.
Erne, near Enniskillen; and several inconsiderable
lakes are scattered over the parish. Over the Scillies
are three bridges, each of three arches, and there is also
a bridge over an arm of Lough Erne. The surface is
very uneven, and in the centre is a chain of mountains
of great breadth, extending four miles, and frequently
interspersed with patches of arable and meadow land.
the greater part affording pasture only in dry seasons.
In that part of the parish near Enniskillen there is a
scarcity of bog, but in other parts there is sufficient to
supply the inhabitants with fuel. There are excellent
quarries of limestone, and on the shore of Lough Erne
is some of superior quality, which is quarried for manu-
facturing into chimney-pieces and for building, and for
the conveyance of which the lake affords every facility.
The village of Monea is wholly within the parish, and
there are two others, Derrygonnelly and Garrison, of
which the former is partly in Innismacsaint, in which
also is situated an isolated portion of this parish, con-
stituting the farm of Aughamuldoney. Of the gentle-
men’s seats, the principal are Ely Lodge, the property
of the Marquess of Ely, situated on a picturesque island
in Lough Erne, connected with the mainland by a
bridge, and commanding an interesting view of wood
and water in beautiful combination; Graan, the seat of
A. Nixon, Esq.; Castletown, of J. Brien, Esq.; and
Hall Craig, the property of J. Weir, Esq., an ancient
and spacious mansion beautifully situated on the banks
of the Scillies. The manufacture of linen is carried on
by most of the farmers, who engage weavers to work at
their own looms, and many of the women are employed