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Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

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KNO<br />

into a narrow passage called the Hag’s Glen, of terrific<br />

wildness, and is continued along the brow of a rocky-<br />

precipice overhanging one of the lakes, of which there<br />

are several in this mountainous region, and under a<br />

projecting crag called the Hag’s Tooth through a very<br />

confined passage hemmed in with huge masses of rugged<br />

rock. From the summit is a most extensive and mag-<br />

nificent view, embracing the course of the Shannon<br />

from Loop Head to Limerick, with a large portion of<br />

the county of Clare, the bays of Dingle, Castlemaine,<br />

the Kenmare river or bay, and the Tralee bay and<br />

mountains to the north-west; and, to the south and<br />

west, the Bantry mountains and Dursey islands, and the<br />

coast of Kerry with its numerous inlets. Of the lakes in<br />

the interior, Lough Cara is the most conspicuous; part<br />

only of the Lower Lake of Killarney is visible, the others<br />

being concealed by the intervening heights. The other<br />

Reeks range in parallel ridges; on several are seen small<br />

lakes, and the view to the south-west comprehends an<br />

extensive and beautiful expanse of mountain scenery, in-<br />

cluding the Glencar mountain and others of the M c Gilly-<br />

cuddy range, intersected with deep glens and extensive<br />

wilds. The Reeks consist of soft argillaceous schistus or<br />

sandstone, large masses of which frequently detach them-<br />

selves and roll down; the larger rocks are of a grey sili-<br />

cious stone intersected with thick veins of quartz, and<br />

in the interstices are found small hexaedral prisms of<br />

rock crystal, and some coarse amethysts. Between the<br />

Purple mountain and M c Gillycuddy’s Reeks is a singular<br />

defile called the Gap of Dunloe, or Dunlogh; the en-<br />

trance is extremely narrow, and the mountains on each<br />

side rise perpendicularly to a towering height, throwing<br />

a deep shadow on the waters of a lake, between which,<br />

on one side, and the lofty cliff on the other, is a narrow<br />

road in which are scattered masses of broken rock<br />

impeding the progress of carriages beyond a certain<br />

point; and beyond this, impending crags of threatening<br />

aspect render the passage to pedestrians apparently<br />

hazardous: several small bridges are thrown over the<br />

stream which runs through the defile. This pass opens<br />

into the valley of Coome Dhuve, at the western extremity<br />

of which is a very considerable lough, called the Red<br />

Trout lake; and opposite the termination of the defile<br />

is a beautiful waterfall of great height, the water of<br />

which descends into a succession of small lakes that<br />

occupy the whole extent of the valley. The Gap affords<br />

excellent pasturage for sheep; it was formerly covered<br />

with wood. From a bank on the south side is a splen-<br />

did view of the Upper Lake of Killarney, with its richly<br />

wooded islands and surrounding mountains, among<br />

which the ornamental tower at Gheramine is seen to<br />

great advantage; and on the right is the Coome Dhuve, or<br />

“Black Valley,” a deep hollow among the Reeks with<br />

a dark lake at its extremity, above which are precipitous<br />

mountains. The lands under cultivation are chiefly in<br />

tillage, but a very large portion of the parish is moun-<br />

tain pasture; the soil is light and gravelly, and inter-<br />

spersed with large tracts of bog. The system of agri-<br />

culture is gradually improving; at Manus is a lime-<br />

stone quarry, which is extensively worked, chiefly for<br />

agricultural purposes; at Glencare is a small slate<br />

quarry, and slate is also found in the Gap of Dunloe.<br />

Dunloe Castle, the seat of D. Mahony, Esq., was for-<br />

merly the residence of the 0’Sullivan family, and was<br />

built by the O’Sullivan More, by whose descendants it<br />

237<br />

KNO<br />

was occupied at the time of its bombardment by Gen.<br />

Ireton during the parliamentary war: it is situated<br />

about a mile from the Lower Lake of Killarney, on<br />

a steep bank rising from the river Laune, and in the<br />

midst of a thickly wooded dcmesne, and commands a<br />

fine view of the Lower Lake, and of the scenery of the<br />

Gap, with the M c Gillycuddy mountains. The other seats<br />

are Beaufort House, the residence of Frederick Win.<br />

Mullins, Esq., built on the site of Short Castle; White-<br />

field, of M c Gillycuddy of the Reeks; Churchtown,<br />

of Sir Arthur Blennerhasset, Bart.; Cullina, of Kean<br />

Mahony, Esq.; and Glencare, of R. Newton, Esq.<br />

There are also several sporting-lodges near Lough<br />

Cara, the beauty of which has been much increas-<br />

ed by the plantations of M c Gillycuddy of the Reeks.<br />

The river Laune produces excellent salmon, and the<br />

mountains abound with wild fowl and game. The<br />

small village of Blackstones is surrounded by rocky<br />

hills and high mountains, in the rugged crags of which<br />

the yew, holly, and arbutus grow in wild luxuriance. To<br />

the north are two considerable lakes formed by the river<br />

Cara, and enclosed by lofty mountains, from the lower<br />

of which the river flows into Dingle bay. Iron-works<br />

were established here by Sir William Petty and carried<br />

on till the middle of the last century, when they were<br />

discontinued for want of fuel, the timber of the neigh-<br />

bourhood being wholly exhausted. The hops and gar-<br />

den roses planted by the English settlers still grow here<br />

in a wild state. Fairs are held at Kilgobbinett on Feb.<br />

11th and Dec. 21st; the former is a great fair for pigs,<br />

which are frequently sold to the amount of £4000.<br />

There is a constabulary police station at Beaufort, and<br />

petty sessions are held at Tuagh every three weeks.<br />

The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Ardfert<br />

and Aghadoe, and in the patronage of the Crown; the<br />

tithes amount to £260. 2. 2½. The glebe-house was<br />

built by a gift of £276 and a loan of £461 from the<br />

late Board of First Fruits, in 1828: there is also a glebe.<br />

The church, a plain structure with a square tower, was<br />

built in 1812 by a gift of £800 from the same Board;<br />

but having been burnt during the disturbances in.<br />

1822, it was rebuilt in 1825, by a loan of £240 from<br />

the Board of Public Works. In the R. C. divisions the<br />

parish, with the exception of Glencare, forms part of<br />

the union or district of Killorglin; there is a chapel at<br />

Tuagh, and another at Glencare, which latter is in the<br />

district of Glenbegh. About 180 children are taught in<br />

three private schools; and there is a national school-<br />

house at Cullina, towards the erection of which the late<br />

Col. Mahony bequeathed £100, and Kean Mahony,<br />

Esq., gives two acres of land towards its support.<br />

Near Churchtown are the ruins of Castle Cor, formerly<br />

the residence of the M c Gillycuddy family. There are<br />

some remains of the old church in the burial-ground;<br />

and at Kilgobbinett and Killoghane are those of other<br />

churches, or chapels of ease, the latter of which was<br />

dependent on Castle Cor. In the reign of Elizabeth<br />

Glencare gave the title of Earl to Donald Mac Carty<br />

More, by whose descendants it was forfeited.<br />

KNOCKANEY.—See ANEY.<br />

KNOCKANURE, a parish, in the barony of IRAGH-<br />

TICONNOR, county of KERRY, and province of MUN-<br />

STER, 4 miles (E. by N.) from Listowel, on the river<br />

Feale; containing 1246 inhabitants. This parish, which<br />

is situated on the confines of the county of Limerick,

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