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ARD
which are about 120 boys and 60 girls. The lands
of Moycashel, which give name to the barony, are
situated in this parish. Anciently here were several
castles, now mostly in ruins; that of Donour is still
preserved in good repair by Sir Richard Nagle, Bart.,
and there is another at Bracca. The fort of Ardnorcher,
or Ard-an-orchor, literally translated “the fort of
slaughter,” was one of the frontier forts of the English
pale, and for some centuries past has been vulgarly
called “Horseleap,” on account of an extraordinary leap
which is said to have been formerly made into it over
the drawbridge by an English knight, in escaping from
a close pursuit: this ancient doon or moat formed a
strong link in the chain of forts and castles constructed
along that part of the county of Meath which was
within the English pale, to protect the new settlers and
check the inroads of the Irish. At Temple-Maccateer
are the remains of a monastery, said to have been
founded in 440 by St. Kiaran; and at Gageborough was
a nunnery, founded by Matilda de Lacey in the 13th
century; many coins have been dug up at the former
place. A holy well, dedicated to St. David, was formerly
much resorted to on the patron day, the 27th of June,
but the custom has nearly fallen into disuse.
ARDPATRICK, formerly a parish, now forming part
of the parish of KILQUANE, in the barony of COSTLEA,
county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 4½|
miles (S. E.) from Kilmallock; containing, with Kilquane
and the parish of Particles, 2735 inhabitants. An
abbey is said to have been founded here by St. Patrick,
of which circumstance, though no historical record
exists, there is yet sufficient evidence that a religious
foundation was established here in the earliest ages
of Christianity. By an inquisition of the 39th of Eliza-
beth, it was found that the hill of Ardpatrick was
anciently granted to the corbeship founded in the
church of Ardpatrick, a small sum out of the proceeds
being paid annually to the bishop; and that the office of
corbe had from time immemorial been continued by
succession in the sept of the Langanes, by one of whom
it was then held. Near the confines of this townland is
Sunville, the ancient residence of the Godsall family.
In the ecclesiastical divisions it is unknown as a parish,
and in ancient records was supposed to be part of that
of Donoughmore, in the county of Clare, forming a
portion of the estate belonging to the see, and held
under lease from the Bishop of Limerick; but for many
years it has been united to the parish of Kilquane.
The tithes amount to £33. 13. 10. In the R. C. divi-
sions it forms part of the union or district of Kilfinnan;
a large and handsome chapel has been lately erected at
the foot of Ardpatrick hill. On the summit of this hill
are the ruins of the ancient monastery; and near the
north-west angle are the remains of an ancient round
tower, the greater portion of which fell down a few years
since. Gold ore has been found here, also the fossil
remains of an elk, or moose deer, which are now in the
possession of G. Russell, Esq., of Charleville.—See
KILQUANE.
ARDQUIN.—See ARDGUIN.
ARDRAHAN, a parish and post-town, partly in the
barony of KILTARTAN and partly in that of LOUGH-
REA, but chiefly in the barony of DUNKELLIN, county
of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 15 miles
(S. E. by E.) from Galway, and 97 (W. by S.) from
56
ARD
Dublin, on the road from Limerick to Galway; contain-
ing 3805 inhabitants. It comprises 12,950 statute acres,
as applotted under the tithe act, a large portion of which
is irreclaimable waste, though at the eastern extremity
of the parish is a range of peat mountain, which is pro-
fitable as affording pasture for numerous black cattle.
Flannel is rather extensively made by hand-spinning,
for which a ready sale is found at Oranmore market, 12
miles distant. The principal residences are Cregclare,
that of J. S. Lambert, Esq.; Castle Taylor, of Gen. Sir
J. Taylor; Tillyra, of J. Martyn, Esq.; Castle Daly,
of J. Daly, Esq.; and Rahenc, of J. O’Hara, Esq. A
constabulary police force is stationed here, and petty
sessions are held once a fortnight.
The living is a vicarage with a portion of the rectory,
and with the rectory of Beagh forms the union of Ard-
rahan, in the diocese of Kilmacduagh, and in the patron-
age of the Marquess of Clanricarde. The tithes amount
to £463, of which £84 is payable to the bishop, £23 to
the archdeacon, and £356 to the incumbent; and the
gross tithes of the benefice amount to £535. 6. 1½. The
church was erected about 30 years since, by aid of a
loan from the late Board of First Fruits, but was so in-
differently built as to require a new roof, and has recently
been repaired by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. The
glebe-house was also erected by a gift of £400 and a
loan of £400 from the Board of First Fruits. The glebe
comprises twelve acres. The R. C. parish is co-exten-
sive with that of the Established Church, and there is
a chapel at Labane; divine service is also performed
occasionally by the parish priest at Tyllira castle. A
national school is about to be established, and there are
several pay schools in the parish. Here is a dispensary
for Ardrahan and Gort. Along the mountain’s side
are several mineral springs, and where there are strong
indications of iron ore.
ARDRESS, a village, in the parish of KILLAGHTON,
barony of KILCONNELL, county of GALWAY, and province
of CONNAUGHT, 5½ miles (S. W.) from Ballinasloe; con-
taining 136 inhabitants.
ARDREVAN, county of CARLOW.—See FENNAGH.
ARDRIE, (LITTLE) a parish, in the barony of
KILKEA and MOONE, county of KILDARE, and province
of LEINSTER, ½ a mile (S. by E.) from Athy; containing
302 inhabitants. This place, which is situated on the
road from Athy to Carlow, and comprises only 295
statute acres, anciently belonged to the monastery of St.
Thomas, near Dublin, and was assigned to the precen-
torship in the cathedral church of St. Patrick, Dublin, on
the institution of that dignity in 1219. It is a rectory,
in the diocese of Dublin, partly appropriate to the pre-
centorship, partly impropriate in Michael Goold Adams,
Esq., and partly forming a portion of the union of St.
Michael’s Athy. The tithes amount to £24, of which
£16 is payable to the impropriator, and £8 to the in-
cumbent of St. Michael’s; the portion appropriated to
the precentorship is 154a. 2r. 8p., let on lease at an
annual rent of £12.
ARDRISTIN, a parish, in the barony of RATHVILLY,
county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 1¾ mile
(S. W. by W.) from Tullow, on the road to Clonegal;
containing 543 inhabitants. It comprises 1525 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act; and within its
limits is a part of the suburbs of the town of Tullow,
called the Green and Tullow-beg. Except one townland