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ARR
the last archdeacon, it became a rectory under the pro-
visions of Bishop Mant’s act; it is in the diocese of
Connor, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the tithes
amount to £225. The church, situated in the centre of
the parish, was rebuilt in 1820, for which a loan of
£415 was obtained from the late Board of First Fruits:
it is a neat plain edifice, and has been lately repaired
by a grant of £128 from the Ecclesiastical Commis-
sioners. The glebe-house was built in 1807, at an
expense of £376.10.4.: the glebe comprises 23 acres,
valued at £30 per annum. In the R. C. divisions this
parish is united with that of Ballintoy, in each of
which there is a chapel: that in Armoy is a small edifice.
There is also a place of worship for Presbyterians in
connection with the Synod of Ulster, of the third class.
The parochial school is in the townland of Doonan;
there are national schools at Breene and in the village
of Armoy, and another school at Mulaghduff. In the
churchyard are the remains of an ancient round tower,
47½j feet in circumference and 36 feet high; the present
rector has enclosed the upper part with a dome of wood
and stone, in which is placed the church bell. Some
beautifully clear crystals, called Irish Diamonds, are
found on Knocklayd; and fragments of gneiss, por-
phyry and mica slate are found in various parts of the
parish.
ARRAN ISLANDS, a barony, in the county of
GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 30 miles (W. S.
W.) from Galway; containing 3191 inhabitants. This
barony consists of a group of islands called the South
Arran Isles, situated in the centre of the mouth of
Galway bay, stretching south-east and north-west from
52° to 53° (N. Lat.), and from 9° 30’ to 9° 42’ (W.Lon.);
and comprising Arranmore or the Great Arran to the
west, Ennismain or Innismain (called also the Middle
Island), and Innishere or the Eastern island, which are
thickly inhabited; also the small rocky isles called
Straw Island, the Branach Isles, and Illane-Earhach or
the “Western Isle. They are supposed to be the remains
of a high barrier of land separated at some remote
period by the violence of the sea; and from evident ap-
pearances of their having been anciently overspread
with wood, their retired situation, and the existence of
druidical remains, to have been appropriated to the
celebration of the religious rites of the early Irish, prior
to the introduction of Christianity. The Firbolg tribes
had possession of these islands at a very early period;
and in the third century they were held, it is said, by
the sept of Eogan More, King of Thomond. They sub-
sequently became the residence of St. Ibar, one of the mis-
sionaries sent to Ireland before the time of St. Patrick;
and in the 5th century the Great Island was given by
Engus, King of Cashel, to St. Endeus or St. Enda, who
founded several monasteries, and built several churches,
of which the principal was named after him Kill-Enda,
now called Killeany. This island soon became celebrated
for its number of holy men, and such was the fame of
Enda for sanctity, that it was visited during his lifetime
by St. Kieran, St. Brendan, and the celebrated Columb-
kill; it still bears the name of “Arran of the Saints.”
In 546 it was agreed between the kings of Munster and
Connaught, whose territories were separated by the bay
of Galway, that these islands should be independent of
both, and pay tribute to neither. In 1081 the Great Island
was ravaged by the Danes. The sept of Mac Tiege O’Brien
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ARR
were temporal lords of the islands from a very remote
period, and the inhabitants of the English part of the town
of Galway entered early into strict alliance and friendship
with them; but this compact did not save the islands
from being plundered and burnt by Sir John D’Arcy,
Lord-Justice of Ireland, who, in 1334, sailed round the
western coast with a fleet of 56 vessels. In 1485 a
monastery for Franciscans was founded in the Great
Island, in which was also erected a famous abbey for
Canons Regular. In the reign of Elizabeth the O’Briens
were expelled by the sept of O’Flaherty, of the neigh-
bouring mainland of Connaught; on which occasion
the mayor and sheriffs of Galway sent a petition to the
Queen in favour of the former, to whom, they state,
they paid an additional tribute of wine, in consideration
of their protection, and of their expenses in guarding the
bay and harbour of Galway against pirates and coast
plunderers. In consequence of this petition, a commis-
sion was issued, under which it appeared that the
islands belonged of right to the crown; and in 1587
letters patent were granted, by which the Queen, instead
of restoring them to the ancient proprietors, gave them
to John Rawson, of Athlone, on condition of his keeping
constantly on them 20 foot soldiers of the English
nation. This property afterwards became vested in
Sir Robert Lynch, of Galway; but the Clan Tieges still
claimed it as their patrimony, and taking advantage of
the troubles of 1641, prepared, with the assistance of
Boetius Clanchy, the younger, a man of great property
and influence in the county of Clare, to invade the
islands; but the execution of their design was prevented
by the timely interference of the Marquess of Clanri-
carde and the Earl of Thomond. In 1651, when the
royal authority was fast declining, the Marquess of
Clanricarde placed 200 musqueteers on these islands,
under the command of Sir Robert Lynch; the fort of
Ardkyn, in the Great Island, was soon after repaired
and mounted with cannon; and by these means they
held out against the parliamentary forces for nearly
twelve months after the surrender of Galway. In
December of that year, the Irish, defeated in every
other quarter, landed here 700 men in boats from Iar
Connaught and Inis Bophin; and on the 9th of the
following January, 1300 of the parliamentary infantry
were shipped from the bay of Galway to attack them,
and 600 more marched from the town to Iar Con-
naught, to be sent thence, if necessary, to their aid;
but on the 13th the islands surrendered, on condition
that quarter should be given to all within the fort, and
that they should have six weeks allowed them to retire
to Spain, or any other country then at peace with
England. Sir Robert Lynch, the late proprietor, being
declared a traitor, the property was forfeited and granted
to Erasmus Smith, Esq., one of the most considerable
of the London adventurers, from whom it was pur-
chased by Richard Butler, fifth son of James, first Duke
of Ormonde, who was created Earl of Arran in 1662,
and to whom it was confirmed by royal patent under the
Act of Settlement. On the surrender of Galway to the
forces of Wm, III., in 1691, Arran was again garrisoned
and a barrack was erected, in which soldiers were
quartered for many years. In 1693, the title of Earl
of the Isles of Arran was conferred on Charles, brother
of the second Duke of Ormonde, with whom it became
extinct in 175S; it was revived in favour of Sir Arthur