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FRA
resorted to by mariners, but the steamers plying be-
tween Limerick and Kilrush call off the island to take
up passengers. There was formerly a battery of 24
guns on the island, erected for the protection of the
shipping trade of the river. On the south side is a
handsome marine villa, the summer residence of the
Earl of Dunraven; and there are several neat cottage
residences in different parts of the island.
FRACTIONS, EAST and WEST, detached portions
of the barony of MAGONIHY, county of KERRY, and
province of MUNSTER; the former being locally situated
in the parishes of Drishane, Kilmeen, and Nohoval-
Daly, in the barony of Duhallow, county of Cork, and
the latter in the parishes of Glenbegh and Killorglin,
barony of Magonihy, county of Kerry, containing in
the whole 5296 inhabitants, of which number, 285 were
in Drishane, 1045 in Kilmeen, 1304 in Nohoval-Daly,
containing together 2634; and 616 in Glenbegh, and
2046 in Killorglin, together amounting to 2662 inha-
bitants. In the ecclesiastical divisions they are consi-
dered as forming parts of the parishes above enume-
rated.
FRANCIS ABBEY (ST.); an extra-parochial dis-
trict, in the centre of the city of Limerick; containing
1483 inhabitants. This district comprises the site,
garden, and precincts of the ancient Franciscan mo-
nastery, founded in the reign of Hen. III. by Fion de
Burgo, and in which he was interred in 1287. The
abbey continued to flourish till the dissolution, when it
was granted to Alderman Sexton, and now forms part
of the estate of the Earl of Limerick. It is situated in
the Island, or Englishtown, and wholly surrounded by
the parish of St. Mary, to which it nominally belongs,
and in the R. C. divisions forms part of that parish.
There are no vestiges of the ancient buildings, nor can
their exact site be ascertained.
FRANKFORD, or KILCORMUCK, a market and
post-town, in the parish and barony of BALLYBOY,
KING’S county, and province of LEINSTER, 9½ miles
(S. W.) from Tullamore, and 59 (S. W.) from Dublin,
on the Silver river, and on the road from Tullamore to
Parsonstown; containing 204 houses and 1112 inha-
bitants. A considerable corn market is held every Sa-
turday; and fairs on May 28th and Nov. 8th. It is a
constabulaiy police station, and has petty sessions
on Saturdays. It gives name to the R. C. union or
district, of which Ballyboy is the head, and contains
the chapel. Here is a meeting-house tinder the Home
Mission Society, and a dispensary. A monastery
for Carmelites, or White Friars, was founded at this
place by Odo, son of Nellan O’Molloy, dynast of the
circumjacent territory of Fircal, or Fearcall; the founder
died in 1454, and was buried before the high altar. On
the suppression of monasteries, this house and its
dependencies were granted to Robert Leycester, Esq.,
from whose family it passed by marriage to the
Magawleys, whose seat, Ternora, is in the vicinity. The
present name of the town seems to be derived from the
family of Frank, of whom James Frank, Esq., founded
here a charter school, opened in 1753, for upwards of
forty children. Near the town is Broghill castle, for-
merly the chief seat of the O’Molloys, and once held by
the sept of O’Connor: it was taken, in 1538, by Lord
Leonard Gray. The estate now belongs to the Fitzsimon
family.—See BAILYBOY.
635
FRE
FREEMOUNT, a village, in the parish of KNOCK-
TEMPLE, barony of DUHALLOW, county of CORK, and
province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (N. by E.) from Kanturk,
on the road from Liscarrol to Newcastle: the popula-
tion is returned with the parish. It is a constabulary
police station, and contains the chapel which gives name
to the R. C. district, a plain cruciform building, to
which is attached a public school.—See KNOCKTEMPLE.
FREEPORT.—See RAHOON.
FREIGH, or FREGH ILAN, an island, in the parish
of MOYRUS, barony of BALLYNAHINCH, county of GAL-
WAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 13 miles (S. E.) from
Clifden, at the entrance of Birterbuy bay, on the west-
ern coast; containing 54 acres of land, the property of
T. Martin, Esq.: the population is returned with the
parish.
FRENCH-PARK, a market and post-town, in the
parish of TAUGHBOYNE, barony of BOYLE, county of
ROSCOMMON, and province of CONNAUGHT, 7 miles
(S. S.W.) from Boyle, and 91 (N.W.) from Dublin, at
the junction of the roads from Elphin, Boyle, Castlerea,
and Ballaghadereen; containing 76 houses and 447
inhabitants. Much advantage is likely to result to this
place from the mail coach road now constructed so as
to pass through it. Silicious sandstone for build-
ing is found within a quarter of a mile, and lime-
stone abounds. The agricultural improvements have
led to preparations for the erection of a market-house,
a market being held on Thursdays, which is much
frequented by the Sligo merchants, who purchase but-
ter in firkins for exportation; considerable quantities
of yarn are also sold, and it is an extensive pig market-
Six fairs are held during the year, on Jan. 1st, March
17th, May 21st, July 12th, Sept. 21st, and Nov. 10th.
It is a constabulary police station, and has a dispensary.
The noble seat and demesne of French Park, which
gives name to the town, is contiguous; the mansion is
a massive structure of brick, with two projecting wings,
and is the property of Arthur French, Esq.; the demesne
comprises about 1458 statute acres, finely wooded.
Here is a R. C. chapel, towards the erection of which
the French family contributed largely. Near it is the
rent-office of Arthur French, Esq., where petty sessions
are held. In the deer park of the demesne is a remark-
able cave, consisting of five rooms, supposed to be
druidical. On the verge of a bog, within half a mile of
the town, are the ruins of Clonshanvill Abbey, which,
from the open and level character of the surrounding
country, form an imposing object: it is said to have
been founded by St. Patrick, and re-erected by Mac
Dermot Roe, in 1385; it was dedicated to the Holy
Cross, and belonged to the Dominican friars. The re-
mains consist of the walls of the church, the tower of
which rests on pointed arches of a square building,
which appears to have formed the habitable part of the
monastery, and of some detached chapels within the
cemetery. The chancel is now railed off for tombs, the
cemetery being still much used. One of the most
remarkable relics is a cross of sandstone flag, rising 11
feet from the ground, said by tradition to mark the spot
beyond which a corpse might not be carried by the
relatives and friends, but there be delivered up to the
monks.
FRESHFORD, or AGHOURA, a post-town and
parish, in the barony of CRANAGH, county of KIL-
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