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FOU
passing near the foot of the mountain was intercepted by
a large party of the insurgents, the whole detachment cut
to pieces, and the howitzers and ammunition captured.
Immediately afterwards, Lieut.-Col. Maxwell marched
out from Wexford with 200 of the Donegal regiment
and about 150 of the yeoman cavalry, to support the
13th regiment commanded by Major-Gen. Faweet, which
was expected from Duncannon Fort; but the Major
having heard of the disaster at the Three Rocks, fell
back with his regiment, after having advanced as far as
Taghmon. Col. Maxwell, who had been also apprised
of the destruction of the detachment, collected his forces
and advanced towards the insurgents, to co-operate with
Major Watson, of whose retreat he was ignorant. On
his arrival near the, Three Rocks, he was attacked by a
numerous body of the insurgents, who rushed down
from the mountain with a view of cutting off his retreat;
but they were repulsed by a steady fire from the Donegal
regiment, and Col. Maxwell seeing no appearance of
Major-Gen. Fawcct, and finding his forces exposed to
great risk without any prospect of advantage, retreated to
Wexford. This place now became the chief rendezvous
of the insurgents, whose numbers were so formidable,
that it was considered necessary by the garrison and
inhabitants of Wexford to abandon the town, of which
the former immediately took possession.
The mountain rises two miles south-west of Wexford,
to an elevation of about 500 feet above the level of the
sea, and extends upwards of three miles in the same
direction, having a mean breadth of nearly two miles; it
is chiefly composed of quartz, with a slight covering of
alluvial soil, partly under cultivation and partly pro-
ducing only furze and heath, which serve for fuel.
Many of the peasantry have located themselves on its
sides, and by immense labour have cleared away the
stones from a considerable tract and converted it into
good arable land, of which they remain in uudisturbed
possession. Its summit rises into a variety of fantastic
forms, and commands a grand and very extrusive pros-
pect. In. the R. C. divisions the sides of this mountain
are included in the respective districts or parishes im-
mediately adjoining. On that part which borders on
Kilmannon is a public school, in w hieh about 160 children
are educated.
FOSSEY, or TIMAHOE, a parish, partly in the
barony of MARYBOROUGH, but chiefly in that of CEL-
LINAGH, QUEEN’S county, and province of LEINSTER,
2 miles (S. W.) from Stradbally, on the ruiui from Strad-
bally to Ballinakill; containing 1810 inhabitants and
comprising 10,1600 statute acres, as applotted under the
tithe act. Fairs are held on April 5th, July 2nd, and
Oct. 18th. The living in a vicarage, in the diocese of
Leighlin, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory
is impropriate in J. Hone, Esq. The tithes amount to
£387. 18. 9., of which £258. 9. 2½. is payable to the im-
propriator, and the remainder to vicar, in the R. C.
divisions this parish forms part of the union or dis-
trict of Stradbally, and contains a handsome chapel.
The parochial school i.s aided by Mrs. Cosby; ami there
are five private schools, in which about 170 children are
educated.
FOUR-MILE-BURN, a hamlet, in the parish of
DONEGORE, barony of UPPER ANTRIM, COUNTY of AN-
TRIM, and province of ULSTER; CONTAINING 15 houses
and 73 inhabitants.
634
FOY
FOURl-MILE-WATER, a village, in the parish of
KILRONAN, barony of GLANAHEIRY, county of WATER-
FORD, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (S, S. W.) from
Clonmel, on the river Suir, over which i.s a good stone
bridge: the population is returned with the parish. It
has a constabulary police station, a neat und commodious
R. C. chapel, and some remains of a castle.
FOWRE.-See FEIGHAN of FORE.
FOXFORD, a market and post-town, in the parish
of TOOMORE, barony of GALLEN, county of MAYO, and
province of CONNAUGHT, 8 milcs (S.) from Ballina, and
132 (N. W. by W.) from Dublin, on the river Moy, and
on the road from Ballimi to Swinford; containing 1068
inhabitants, and consisting of 209 houses indifferently built.
The Irish, or Celtic, term for Foxford is Belass,
signifying the “mouth of a cutaract.” During the dis-
turbances of 1798, when the French, under Gen, Hum-
bert, had taken possesion of the town of Ballina, the
garrison, under Col. Sir T. Chapman and Major Keir, re-
treated to this place; and Gen. Humbert, on abandon-
ing Castlebar, passcd with his army through the town,
on his route to Sligo. It is a place of verv great, anti-
quity, and was formerly the key of Tyrawley; from it
the district, which extends a considerable distance,
even into the adjoining county of Galway, takes its
name it is mostly surrounded by a chain of high
mountains. The beautiful river Moy, which in its
course receives the principal waters of the county of
Mnyo, until it discharges itself into the sea at Ballina,
runs through the town, where it is crossed by a very
ancient bridge of sevcral arches., now in a state of decay.
By the dissolution of the Linen Board, 140 looms in
this town anil ncighbourhood were thrown out of em-
ployment: the only trade carried on is in corn. The
market is on Thursday, and fairs are held, chiefly for
cattle, on May 16th. June 25th, Oct. 3rd, and Dec, 10th.
‘Ihere is a market and court- house, where petty sessions
are held on alternate Friday a constabulary police
station, and an infantry barrack. This place is remark-
able for the longrevity of the inhabitants, being consi-
dercd one the healthiest spot in this or any of the
adjoining counties. In the town stand the parish church
and a R. C. chapel, and there are two public schools.
About there miles distant, on the castlebar road, are
the ruins of an extensive monastery, still inhabited by a
solitary individual of the order, and accrording as one
dies this place is supplied by another. At a ford a little
below the town is a huge rock, called Cromwell’s rock,
where it is stated the Protector’s army crossed the
May, during the civil war. A few years since, which
the streets were undergoing some repairs, a deep pit
was sunk at the corner of the main street, to raise
travel, on which occasion a great number of human
skulls and skeletons was dug up, evidently indicating
the scene of some battle.
FOYNE’S ISLAND, in the parish of ROBERSTOWN,
Shanid Division of the barony of LOWER CONNELLO,
county of LIMERICK, and province of Munster, 4
mils (N.) from Shanagolden, near Lehy’s Point, on the
.southern shore of the river Shannon: the population
is returned with the parish. This place has been re-
commended by Capt. Mudge, the Governament engineer,
as AFFORDING extensive and secure anchorage for ship-
ping, and consequently as a proper situation for the
construction of docks and quays, at, present it is seledom