Lewis Topographical Dictionary - OSi Online Shop

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contains a great bed of sandstone, the strata of which
form a succession of abrupt precipices with considerable
flat intervals between them: above the sandstone are
beds of slate clay succeeded by layers of coal from 4 to
6 inches thick, alternating with beds of sandstone: this
field has been but little worked. The stratification of
Lugnacuillagh mountain, on the borders of Cavan, much
resembles that of Lacka. The remainder of the coal dis-
trict to the east of Lough Allen is composed of the great
mountain group of Slieve-an-irin, or Slieve-an-Jaroin,
“the Iron Mountain;” its stratification is extremely
irregular. Three layers of coal have been discovered in
it, one of good quality, IS inches thick. Rich clay iron-
stone abounds also at various elevations, and was worked
so long as timber could be procured to feed the fur-
naces: those of Drumshambo; the last in operation, were
abandoned in 1765. The ore of this mountain is said
to be far richer than that on the Roscommon side of
the lake. In the channels of many of the streams des-
cending from it are found beds of pipe clay and yellow
ochre. Manganese is also found in great abundance.
The manufactures are few and unimportant; the prin-
cipal are the spinning of flax and the weaving of linen
cloth, which are carried on in some parts to a consider-
able extent; the greater part of the cloth is sold in the
open market to the merchants and bleachers of the
county, and the remainder is purchased by buyers from
the neighbouring northern counties. There are only
four bleach-greens now in operation, in which about
32,000 pieces are annually finished, principally for the
English market. Coarse pottery is made near Droma-
haire and Leitrim, in quantities merely sufficient to
supply the domestic demand. Friezes, flannels, and
woollen stuffs are made in various parts, and are con-
sidered equal to any of Irish fabric, particularly the
flannels, which are in great esteem and always command
good prices. The commerce of the county is also on a
very limited scale, consisting chiefly in the sale of
butter, live cattle, pigs, and a small portion of the ma-
nufactured articles above noticed. Fresh-water fish of
every kind are abundant in all the rivers and lakes;
very fine salmon are caught in the Bundoran river below
Lough Melvin: and off the coast great quantities of
herrings, sprats, cod, ling, and whiting are taken.
The principal of the numerous rivers is the Shannon
(originally Sionan, signifying “calmness,” but anciently
written Shenan), which enters the county in a copious
stream about four miles from its source in the midst of
the lonely district of Glangavlin, in the county of Gavan,
and descends southward into Lough Allen, whence it
emerges near Drumshambo and pursues a winding
southern course by Leitrim, Carrick-on-Shannon,
Jamestown, and Drumsna; it thence proceeds south-
eastward, and after forming the Loughs Bodarig and
Boffin, quits the county below Roosky. Throughout
the whole of its course from Lough Allen to this point
it separates the county from that of Roscommon, and
is navigable. The Abhain-Naille, which takes its name
from St. Naille, or Natalis, who built a monastery at
its source, rises in Killowman lake, on the summit of
Lacka mountain, whence it issues in a copious stream,
and being soon joined by other rivulets, becomes a river
of considerable size, and descends with rapidity to join
the Shannon. The Duibhachar river runs from Bel-
hovel lake southward into Lough Allen it is but four
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miles in length and is at first a small stream; but being
joined by numerous tributaries descending from the
mountain and hills of Barradaaltdeag, or “the tops of
the twelve dingles,” it becomes both wide and deep.
The smaller rivers are very numerous, rippling through
endless varieties of scenery in various parts of the county,
but the only one worthy of especial notice is the Boonid
or Bonnet, which flows through the beautiful vale of
Dromahaire into Lough Gill. The Shannon has been
rendered navigable throughout its entire length by
means of several cuts, or short canals; the principal
is that from the south-eastern extremity of Lough Allen
to Battle Bridge, four miles above Carriek: it was com-
pleted in 1817 by means of a parliamentary grant of
£15,000, and is about 5 miles in length; hitherto it has
been of little advantage, but from the great mineral
wealth of the districts with which it is connected, the
high reputation the iron found in them has already
acquired, the railway now in progress from the Arigna
works to Lough Allen, and the numerous advantages to
be expected from a spirit of internal commerce judi-
ciously directed, it is to be hoped that this fine canal,
now nearly choked with reeds, will be made available
towards increasing the internal prosperity of the country.
Other short cuts, more or less connected with the
Shannon near the shores of Leitrim, belong properly to
Roscommon, and are described in the article on that
county.
The roads are numerous, but by no means well laid
out, nor do they pass through the districts where they
would be most useful to the public. Throughout every
part of the mountainous tracts, with one exception,
there are no passable roads; the want is generally felt,
and universally admitted, but no effort was made to
remedy it until the present year, when the Grand Jury
decided upon opening a new mail line from Sligo to
Ballyshannon, through the mountains of Rocclogher,
between Cartrongibbough and the Deerpark; the line
is already marked out, but its formation has not yet
commenced. This improvement, however, will not touch
upon, or afford an opening into the rich mineral districts
of Leitrim. Some important roads have been formed
in various parts, but being made by contract the foun-
dations are defective, and the roads themselves are now
much neglected, although the materials are everywhere
most abundant and of superior quality.
Vestiges of the remotest antiquity are not numer-
ous: there are but two druidical altars, one within half
a mile of Fena, and the other on the demesne of Letter-
fyan: they are called respectively by the inhabitants
Leaba Dearmudi Graine, or “Darby and Graine’s
bed or altar.” Fifteen religious houses are recorded
to have formerly existed within the limits of the county;
and there are still remains of those of Fena, An-
naghduff, Clone, Kilnaille, and Ince in Lough Allen.
The castles and fortified mansions were also very nu-
merous; those which still remain, more or less in ruin,
are O’Rourk’s Castle, near the fortified residence called
Dromahaire Castle, those of Jamestown and Longfield,
Castlefore, Castle John, Cloncorrick Castle, Castle Car,
the fortresses of Dungarbery and Manor-Hamilton, and
two castles on the banks of Lough Gill. The modern
seats, which are not remarkable either for number or gran-
deur, are noticed under the heads of the parishes in
which they are respectively situated. The farm-houses