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RATHVILLY, a parish, in the barony of RATHVILLY, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (N. E.) from Tallow, on the road to Baltinglass, and on the rivers Slaney and Derreen; containing 3187 inhabitants, of which number, 305 are in the village. This parish comprises 9103 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, three-fourths being meadow and pasture, and the remainder, excepting some bog, arable land. Within its limits, close on the confines of Wicklow county, is the townland of Ladytown, belonging to Baltinglass parish in that county. Granite exists here, but is not much used. The village of Rathvilly is on the eastern side of the Slaney, and consists of 58 houses. Fairs are held on Jan. 1st, March 25th, June 24th, Aug. 1st, and Nov. 12th, for general farming stock. Lisnova was lately the residence of the Bunbury family. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Leighlin, episcopally united, since 1683, to the rectories of Rathmore and Straboe, and the impropriate cure of Rahill, and in the patronage of the Crown, by agreement with the bishop. The tithes amount to £784. 12. 3., and the entire tithes of the benefice to £1060. 2. 5 1/2. The glebe comprises 12 acres, on which is the glebe-house. The church, built in 1751, though small, is a pretty structure with a handsome spire lately added; it has been lately repaired by a grant of £315 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising this parish and that of Rathmore, and parts of Straboe, Kiltegan, and Kilranala; and containing three chapels, of which two are in Rathvilly; that at Tynock was built about five years since, and has a belfry; that in the village of Rathvilly is a large old slated building, in which a national school is held. There is also a national school at Knockleshan: these schools afford instruction to about 550 children, and about 50 are taught in a private school. On the townland of Tobinstown there is a large cromlech; at the west end are two pillar stones, eight feet high; the table stone is twenty-three feet long, and at the west end eight feet broad, but at the other, which rests on small stones elevated about a foot from the ground, it is only six. The thickness at the upper end is four feet, at the lower two; the under surface is plain and even, but the upper is convex. Along the sides are several upright stones, from three to six feet, rendering the space underneath an enclosed room, entered between the two tall uprights. From this entrance is a sort of avenue, forty yards long, formed by small irregular artificial hillocks: the whole is in a low plain field, near a rivulet, on the road from Tallow to Hacketstown. On the townland of Waterstown is a rude stone cross, seven feet high, where the parish church is supposed originally to have stood. Near the village is an old rath, from which the name of the place appears to have been taken. Here are remains of a religious house called Erchorn: there is also a ruin of a church called Cloughafaile.

RATHWIRE, a village, in the parish of KILLUCAN, barony of FARBILL, county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (N. N. W.) from Kinnegad, near the road to Killucan; containing 45 houses and 265 inhabitants. The barony of Farbill was formerly called the manor of Rathwire; it was granted by Edw. I. to Mortimer, Earl of March, and afterwards by Edw. III., in the ninth year of his reign, to Sir John D'Arcy, the then chief governor of Ireland. Here is a spacious R. C. chapel, being one of the two belonging to the district of Killucan. Some vestiges of a castle erected here by Hugh de Lacy may still be traced.

RATOATH, a parish (formerly a parliamentary borough), in the barony of RATOATH, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (N. W.) from Ashbourne, and 11 1/2 (N. W.) from Dublin; containing 1779 inhabitants, of which number, 552 are in the village. This place, anciently called Rathtotoath, is supposed to have derived that name from a conspicuous mount near the church, on which Malachy, the first monarch of all Ireland, is said to have held a convention of the states. In the reign of Hen. VI. it was classed among the borough towns of Meath, and had attained such importance as to give its name to the hundred in which it is situated; it had also an abbey, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, and sent members to the Irish parliament, which it continued to do till the Union, when the borough was disfranchised. The village contains 96 houses, but retains nothing of its former importance. The manufacture of sacking and the weaving of linen are carried on to a small extent; and fairs, chiefly for cattle and pigs, are held on April 18th, June 1st, and Nov. 20th, for which, though authorised by patent, no toll has been lately demanded. A constabulary police force is stationed here, and a manorial court was formerly held, but within the last few years has been discontinued.

The parish comprises 8207 3/4 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: the land is generally of good quality and in a state of profitable cultivation; rather more than half is under tillage, producing favourable crops; the remainder, with the exception of a moderate portion of bog, is in meadow and pasture. Stone of good quality is quarried for building and for repairing the roads. The principal seats are the Manor House, that of J. I. Corballis, Esq., pleasantly situated in the town; and Lagore, of M. Thunder, Esq., a handsome residence in a richly wooded demesne, abounding with stately timber. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Meath; the rectory is partly impropriate in T. L. Norman and J. I. Corballis, Esqrs., and the vicar of Athlone; and partly united to the vicarage, which by act of council in 1682, was united to the rectories and vicarages of Greenogue, Killeglan, Creekstown, and Donaghmore, and to the chapelry of Cookstown, together forming the union of Ratoath, in the alternate patronage of the Crown and the family of Norman. The tithes amount to £515, of which £55 is payable to T. L. Norman, Esq., £62. 10. to J. I. Corballis, Esq., £62. 10. to the vicar of Athlone, and the remainder to the vicar of Ratoath: the glebe-house, situated close to the church, was built in 1813, at an expense of £2200, of which £100 was a gift and £900 a loan from the late Board of First Fruits, and the remainder was defrayed by the then incumbent; the glebe comprises 6 1/2 acres, valued at £19. 10. per ann.: the gross income of the whole benefice amounts to £788. 7. 3. per annum. The church, towards the erection of which the late Board of First Fruits granted a loan of £800, in 1817, is a neat edifice in good repair. In the R. C. divisions this parish is the head of a union, comprising also the parishes of Cookstown, Killeglan, and Rathbeggan; there are chapels at Ratoath and Killeglan. About 240 children are taught in a parochial and a national school, of which the former is aided by a donation of £10 per ann. from the incumbent; there is also a dispensary. The rath from which the parish takes its name has been planted; several old coins have been found near it. There are no remains either of the abbey of St. Mary Magdalene, or of a chantry for three priests, which formerly existed here.

RATTOO, a parish, in the barony of CLANMAURICE, county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, 7 miles (W. by S.) from Listowel, on the road from Tralee to Ballybunnian, by Cashen ferry; containing 3117 inhabitants. In ancient writings this place is called "Rathtoy," and from the term "Burgess lands" being applied to designate some grounds in the vicinity, it is supposed that Rattoo was formerly a corporate town: it is also said to have had seven churches, and to have been once the seat of a bishoprick, a statement which its ancient round tower seems to countenance. An abbey of Canons Regular of St. Augustine (originally a preceptory belonging to the Knights Hospitallers) was founded here by one Friar William and confirmed by Miler Fitz Miler, in the reign of King John. It was subsequently occupied by Aroasian Canons, and dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul; the abbot was a lord of parliament. In 1600 the buildings were fortified by the Irish, but burned on the approach of Sir Chas. Wilmot's forces, by whom the castle of Rattoo was taken and garrisoned. The parish is situated at the confluence of the rivers Feale and Brick, and comprises 7624 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £4082 per annum. About two-thirds of the land are arable, and the remainder, with the exception of about 730 acres of bog, consists of coarse pasture. The surface is in some parts hilly, but the lower grounds are marshy, being generally inundated in winter, but made available by extensive drainage for tillage and pasture. About 100 acres have been embanked by T. A. Stoughton, Esq., and are now in a high state of cultivation; sea weed is generally used for manure, and the state of agriculture is progressively improving. There are several quarries of good brown stone, used for building, and a flag-stone quarry, which has not yet been much worked. Several boats and lighters are employed in fishing and in the conveyance of sea manure. Fairs and petty sessions are held at Benmare, which see. The seats are Ballyhorgan, the residence of T. A. Stoughton, Esq.; Rattoo Lodge, of W. T. Gun, Esq.; Bushmount, of Dominick Rice, Esq.; Millview, of Kerry Supple, Esq.; and Dromartin, of J. Creagh, Esq. The living is an impropriate cure, in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe; the rectory is impropriate in T. A. Stoughton, Esq., who is patron of the curacy: the tithes amount to £285, the whole of which is payable to the impropriator, who allows £10 per ann. to the incumbent of Killury for discharging the clerical duties. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Killury or Causeway, and has a chapel at Ballyduff. About 150 children are educated in three private schools. There are no remains of the castle, but those of the abbey still exist, and, together with the adjoining lofty round tower which is" still entire and clothed with ivy, form an interesting and picturesque group.

RAUGHLEY, a village, in the parish of DRUMCLIFF, barony of LOWER CARBERY, county of SLIGO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 10 miles (N. W.) from Sligo; containing 122 inhabitants. This place, which is situated on the north side of the bay of Sligo, takes its name from a small elevated peninsula connected with the sand hills on the shore by a long narrow isthmus; and having on the south-west side the Wheaten Rock, which extends nearly half a mile to the north-east and south-west, and is partly dry at spring tides; and off the south end, the Bird Rocks, about two cables' length from the shore. A pier has been erected by government, which affords great accommodation to vessels trading with Sligo, and to the boats engaged in the fisheries off this coast, in which more than 200 persons are occasionally employed; large quantities of sea manure are landed at the pier, which is within half a mile of the nearest public road, and a coast-guard station is placed here, forming one of the five that constitute the district of Sligo. The village contains 25 dwellings, most of which are thatched cabins. Near it is Rockley Lodge, the residence of John Jones, Esq. Near the western shore is the romantic hill of Knocklane, under which are some remains of fortifications; and on the eastern shore, about half a mile from the village, are the ruins of the old castle of Artarmon, now deeply buried in the sand, the ancient residence of the Gore family. The blowing sands of Knocklane extend northward from the village, and are about two miles long and two broad; they have already covered a great tract of good land and about 150 cabins, and are constantly in motion, giving a dreary and desolate appearance to the country around. On the western shore is a remarkable chasm in the limestone rock, called the Pigeon Holes, and by the peasantry the Punch Bowls; into these the sea rushes with great impetuosity, and in rough weather is forced upwards to a considerable height. Close to the shore is a chalybeate spring of great strength, which is sometimes covered by the tide.

RAVEN, county of WEXFORD.--See ST. MARGARET.

RAYLESTOWN, or VILLARAILE, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (S. E.) from Cashel; containing 290 inhabitants. This parish comprises 861 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, forming part of the union of Fethard: the tithes amount to £73. 16. 11. In the R. C. divisions also it is part of the union or district of Fethard. There is a pay school, in which about 50 children are taught.

RAYMOCHY, or RAY, a parish, in the barony of RAPHOE, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (E. by N.) from Letterkenny; containing 5756 inhabitants. This parish, also called Raghniohie, is situated on Lough Swilly, and comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 14,820 statute acres. The land is chiefly arable, and there is some bog and mountain: agriculture is much improving. Fairs are held at Manor-Cunningham, on the 6th of every second month, commencing in January, principally for cattle. Lough Swilly is navigable to the sea for vessels of 200 tons' burden. Leslie Hill is the seat of J. Beers, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Raphoe, and in the patronage of the Provost and Fellows of Trinity College, Dublin: the tithes amount to £650, and the glebe comprises 505 Cunningham acres, valued at £254. 13. 10. per ann. The glebe-house was built in 1775 by the then incumbent. The church is a plain building, erected in 1792 at a cost of £646, of which £554 was contributed by the landed proprietors, and £92 by parochial assessment; the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £167. 6. 4. for repairs. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Lagan, or All Saints; there is a chapel at Drimairghill. There are two Presbyterian meetinghouses in connection with the Synod of Ulster, and one for Seceders, all of the second class. About 240 childdren are educated in three public schools, of which the parochial school receives an annual donation from Col. Robertson's fund; and another is endowed with a house and 20 acres of land by one of the family of Beers. There are also nine private schools, in which are about 270 children, and five Sunday schools.

RAYMUNTERDONY, or RAYMUNTERDOYNE, a parish, in the barony of KILMACRENAN, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (S. W.) from Dunfanaghy, on the road to Dungloe; containing 2193 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the northwestern coast, and, according to the Ordnance survey, comprises 12,017 statute acres; more than two-thirds is mountainous, the remainder being tolerably good land; agriculture is in an improving state: here is a fine slate quarry. Fairs are held on the last Thursday in every month at Falcarogh, on the Cross-roads. Ballyconnell is the residence of the Rev. J. Olphert; and Carrow-Cannon, of T. Olphert, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Raphoe, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £102. 12., and the glebe comprises 1804 Cunningham acres, valued at £227 per annum. The glebe-house was erected in 1815, at a cost of £1025, of which £250 was a gift and £500 a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. The church is a plain neat building, erected by aid of a gift of £500 from the same Board, in 1803. In the R. C. divisions the parish is called Tullaghobigley-East, being united to part of the parish of Tullaghobigley-East, in which place is the chapel. A school is aided by an annual donation from Col. Robertson's fund, and another is partly supported by Mr. Olphert and the Rector. At Cross-roads there is a dispensary, maintained in the usual manner. In the old church-yard is a remarkable cross, measuring 21 feet in length, which lies on the ground.

REDBAY, a hamlet, in the parish of LAYDE, barony of LOWER GLENARM, county of ANTRIM, and province of ULSTER, 1 1/4 mile (S.) from Cushendall: the population is returned with the parish. This place is situated on the eastern coast, and on the new coast road from Glenarm to the Giants' Causeway; the shore is bold, and above the bay are some lofty cliffs of romantic appearance, on one of which are the interesting remains of Redbay castle, said to have been erected in the reign of Elizabeth. Underneath this castle is a spacious and singular cavern, of which the sides and the roof are formed of rounded silicious stones imbedded in a matrix of sandstone, commonly called pudding-stone, and differing entirely from those of the rocks in the vicinity; the opening is towards the sea, and through the arch which forms the entrance is a fine view of the sea, especially at high water, when it is agitated. In the vicinity is a small R. C. chapel belonging to the union or district of Cushendall.

REDCITY, or DEMELLOGE, (also called KILMILLOCK), a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 1 1/4 mile (S. W.) from Fethard; containing 364 inhabitants, and comprising 1189 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, annexed to the rectory and vicarage of Tullamain, and in the patronage of the Archbishop: the tithes amount to £96, and the tithes of both parishes to £236. The parishioners attend the adjoining parish church of Fethard.

REDCROSS, a parish, in the barony of ARKLOW, county of WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (N. E.) from Arklow, on the old road to Wicklow; containing 1528 inhabitants, of which number, 280 are in the village This parish was formed in 1829, out of the unions of Kilbride, Dunganstown, and Castlemacadam, and constituted a parish of itself. The land is under an improving system of cultivation, and is chiefly arable and pasture, there being but little bog or waste mountain. Near Ballykane is a good slate quarry. The village consists of 48 houses: fairs are held for cattle on May 6th, Aug 5th, and Nov. 1st. Petty sessions are held on alternate Tuesdays; and here is a constabulary police station. Ballykane, the residence of Mrs. Foot, is agreeably situated in a secluded spot; East Acton is the residence of the Rev. J. W. Grier; Kilpatrick, of J. Byrne, Esq,; Ballyrogan, of E. Byrne, Esq.; Temple-Lyon, of W. L. Bestall, Esq.; and Revelscourt, of Mrs. Brass. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Dublin, endowed with a stipend of £75 per annum, payable by the incumbents of the three before-mentioned unions, who are also patrons in rotation, and an augmentation of £30 from Primate Boulter's fund. The church is a small neat edifice, without tower or spire, and was erected in 1829 by subscription, aided by a gift from the late Board of First Fruits; it is situated in the village on a spot which, with the churchyard, was gratuitously presented by the Earl of Wicklow, who also gave £100 towards its erection. In the R. C. divisions the parish is part of the union or district of Newbridge and Baranisky. The parochial school is aided by a small annual donation from the incumbent; and a female school is aided by Mrs. Lundy Foot: in these schools are about 100 children. A dispensary was established in 1834, from which there is a branch at Dunganstown. In the demesne of Ballykane is an old rath; there is also another at Ballyrogan, called Kilpedder. On the townland of Chappie are the remains of an old church with a burial-ground; adjoining which was an extensive fortification, nearly levelled in 1834.

REDHILLS, a village, in that part of the parish of ANNAGH which is in the barony of TULLAGHGARVEY, county of CAVAN, and province of ULSTER, 2 miles (N. E.) from Belturbet, on the road to Ballyhaine: the population is returned with the parish. It takes its name from the peculiarly red colour of the soil, which arises from its being strongly impregnated with iron: the roads near it are all of a deep red colour. Here is a R. C. chapel belonging to the district of Annagh East, or Killoughter.

REISK, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of WATERFORD, and province of MUNSTER, 5 1/2 miles (S. W.) from Waterford; containing 734 inhabitants. A considerable range of high land extends into this parish from that of Donisle, and here dividing into two branches, which enclose the low grounds and lake of Ballyscanlan, extends onward towards Waterford. It is chiefly composed of pudding-stone and clay-slate, with occasional large masses of jasper, and is overspread with masses varying in size from field stones to stupendous rocks. In an open space amid the hills is a small conical hill called Cruach, or "the Heap", in which is a vein of rich lead ore containing a considerable proportion of silver: this was formerly worked to a great extent.

In the neighbourhood are large beds of sand and appearances of limestone. The vicinity of Pembrokestown is marked by a romantic wildness of peculiar character; the hills which rise precipitously, are covered with bold and rugged rocks, and between these irregular elevations are small patches of the finest land well watered and sheltered. The parish is in the diocese of Waterford; part of the rectory forms one of the denominations constituting the corps of the deanery, and the remainder one of those comprising the corps of the archdeaconry; the vicarage is cpiscopally united to that of Kilmeaden, and in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes amount to £226. 4. 6., of which £79. 4. 6. is payable to the vicar, and the remainder to the appropriators; and there is a glebe of 12 acres, of which 8 belong to the rectory, and the remainder to the vicarage. About 25 children are educated in a private school. On the abrupt conical eminence called Sugar Loaf hill is a perfect cromlech composed of four oblong masses of rock placed on end, and supporting a table stone of considerable magnitude, at a height of about 20 feet; underneath, in the centre, is a single stone of inferior height. Close to this cromlech are the ruins of the ancient parish church. In the vicinity of Pembrokestown is a smaller cromlech, also an ancient fort or rath.

RELICKMURRY, or RELIGMURRY, a parish, in the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 4 miles (S. W.) from Cashel, near the road to Tipperary: the population is returned with the parish of Athassel. It is situated on the river Suir, and forms part of the tract called the "Golden Vale," from the superior quality of the land, a large portion of which is under grass. Within its limits is the post-town of Golden, which is described under its own head. At Castle Lake is a distillery, employing generally from 40 to 50 persons. Adjoining it is the neat residence of Thomas Mathew, Esq.; and at Rockview is that of Sam. Cooper, Esq., surrounded by neatly planted grounds. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, united from time immemorial to those of Athassel, Ballygriffin, and Dangandargan, and in the patronage of the Archbishop; the tithes of Relickmurry and Athassel amount to £550, and those of the entire benefice to £846. 8. 7. The glebe-house was built in 1819, when the late Board of First Fruits granted £100 as a gift, and £1500 as a loan, towards its erection, the remainder of its cost being defrayed by the rector: the glebe comprises 20 acres. The church is situated in the town of Golden. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also the parishes of Athassel, Kilfeacle, and Dogstown; and containing the chapels of Golden and Kilfeacle. In the national school at Thomastown, and in a school supported by Lady Elizabeth Mathew about 150 children are educated; and there are four private schools, in which are about 240 children.

RENVILLE, a village, in the parish of ORANMORE, barony of DUNKELLIN, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 1 mile (W. by S.) from Oranmore, on the road to Ardfry and the bay of Galway; containing 207 inhabitants. Within Renville Point is New Harbour (sometimes called Renville), which is a place of refuge in severe weather for vessels trading to Galway. In gales of wind, when it is dangerous to lie in the Galway roads, many vessels run for this harbour, where they are sheltered from every wind, and at low water lie in a bed of soft clayey mud: there is 19 feet of water at high spring tides. A small pier has been constructed, which, if extended about 40 yards further, would be of great utility. The village, which is a station of the constabulary police, is much frequented in the summer by families from Galway and other parts of the county for the benefit of sea-bathing, for which there is every facility. The beautiful demesnes of Renville, the seat of Philip Lynch Athy, Esq., and Ardfry, of Lord Wallscourt, also afford great attractions to visitors. Some fine specimens of lead-ore, black marble, and gypsum have been found on the estate of Renville, on which also is an old castle in good preservation.

RERYMORE, or REARY, a parish, in the barony of TINNEHINCH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 6 miles (N. W.) from Mountmellick, on the road to Parsonstown; containing 2729 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the river Barrow, which is here little more than a mountain stream: the land is generally of good quality and in a profitable state of cultivation; it is chiefly under tillage, and the system of agriculture is improved. The principal seats are Reary Vale, the residence of R. Meredith, Esq., and Rerymore, of J. Meredith, Esq., in the grounds of which are the ruins of the ancient church, with an extensive burial-place, which is still in use. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Kildare, forming part of the union of Oregan, or Rosenallis; the rectory is impropriate in Gen. Dunne. The tithes amount to £220. 2. 5 1/2., of which £146. 14. 11 1/2. is payable to the impropriator, and £73. 7. 6. to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions the parish is partly in the union of Clonaslee, and partly in that of Rosenallis. About 110 children are taught in two public schools; and there is a private school, in which are about 20 children. Near the ruins of the church is a well dedicated to St. Finian, which is still held in great veneration by the peasantry and greatly resorted to on the festival of that saint; it consists of three or four cavities in the solid rock, which are always full of clear water.

REYNAGH, a parish, in the barony of GARRYCASTLE, KING'S county, and province of LEINSTER on the road from Parsonstown to Banagher bridge and Galway; containing, with the post-town of Banagher, 4271 inhabitants. This place takes its name from a monastery founded here by St. Regnacia, sister to St. Finian, who died in 563. The establishment, which was called Kill-Rignaighe, was placed under the superintendence of Talacia, mother of St. Finian, who was abbess for some time; but no further details of its history are recorded. The parish is situated on the river Shannon, and comprises 6555 statute acres, of which a very large proportion is bog; part is waste land, chiefly sand hills; and the remainder, which is chiefly under tillage, is of very indifferent quality. The system of agriculture is in a very backward state, though, from the abundance of limestone, which is quarried both for building and agricultural uses, the lands under a better system might be easily improved. About half a mile from Banagher, on the road to Parsonstown, is Carrigcastle, the demesne of H. B. Armstrong, Esq., with the extensive flour-mills, established in 1818 and employing 20 persons: in the ruins of an adjoining castle coins of Queen Elizabeth and several skeletons were found. Mount Carteret is the property of John Priaulx Armstrong Esq.; the glebe-house, the residence of the Rev. John Burdett; and Claremount, of the late Henry Goode, Esq. There are extensive flour and oatmeal-mills at Garrycastle. The Shannon affords facility of conveyance by steam-boats to Limerick, and the canal to Dublin. Fairs are held on May 1st and Sept. 15th, for horses, cattle, and sheep; and petty sessions are held at Banagher every Monday. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Meath; one-half of the rectory is impropriate and at present the subject of litigation; the other half is annexed to the vicarage, which in 1798 was united to the vicarage of Gallen, and is in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes amount to £588. 7. 8., payable in moieties to the impropriator and the vicar. The glebe-house was rebuilt in 1800, and has been enlarged by the present incumbent, at an expense of £664. 12. 3 3/4.: the glebe comprises 94 acres, valued at £173. 18. per annum, and there is also a glebe at Gallen of 137 acres, valued at £155. 12. 3.; the gross income of the benefice, including tithe and glebe, amounts to £681. 7. 11. per annum. The church, a handsome structure in the later English style, with a tower surmounted by a well-proportioned spire, and in very good repair, was erected in 1829, at an expense of £2030 British, advanced on loan by the late Board of First Fruits. There is also a church in the parish of Gallen. In the R. C. divisions this parish is in the diocese of Ardagh, and the head of a union called Banagher, comprising also the parish of Gallen; the chapel at Banagher is a large plain edifice, and there is also a chapel in Gallen. About 340 children are taught in two public schools; and there are seven private schools, in which are about 350 children. There is also a royal free school at Cuba House, near Banagher, which see; and a dispensary. There are some remains of the Danish rath called Garrycastle, also the ruins of Streamstovvn castle, and of an ancient church called All Saints, near which is a holy well.

RHEBAN, county of KILDARE.--See CHURCHTOWN.

RHODE, a hamlet, in that part of the parish of BALLYBURLEY which is in the barony of LOWER PHILIPSTOWN, KING'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 6 miles (W.) from Edenderry; containing 55 inhabitants. It consists of 12 houses, situated in the midst of a rich grazing district, on the estate of J. Wakely, Esq., whose residence, Ballyburley, adjoins the hamlet. In the vicinity are also Rathmoyle, the residence of Geo. Rait, Esq.; Clonin, of S. Rait, Esq.; Coolville, of T. Grattan, Esq.; and Greenhill, of F. L. Dames, Esq., mostly environed by plantations. In the hamlet is a substantial and spacious R. C. chapel belonging to the union or district of Castropetre, or Edenderry. According to Archdall, an abbey was founded at Liethmore, in the vicinity, by St. Pulcherius (called in Irish St. Mochoemoc), who died in 655.

RICHARDSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of ARDEE, county of LOUTH, and province of LEINSTER, 2 3/4 miles (E.) from Ardee, on the road to Annagasson; containing 537 inhabitants. This parish is bounded on the north by the river Dee, which separates it from the parish of Stabannon; and comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 1089 3/4 statute acres, which are nearly divided in equal portions between pasture and tillage. The land is generally of good quality, but those parts near the river are frequently overflowed; the system of agriculture is improving: the principal manure is lime, which is brought from Ardee, whence turf also is procured, there being no bog in the parish. The river is only partially navigable here. The obstructions in its bed are chiefly from eel weirs and a wall built across its old bed, at the bleach-green at Drumgoolstown. Richardstown Castle, the seat of J. H. Dawson, Esq., a structure of great strength and antiquity, has been partly modernised and embellished with new turrets by the proprietor, and converted into a handsome residence; it is situated in a highly improved demesne of 153 acres. The spinning and weaving of linen are carried on in some of the farm-houses. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Armagh, forming part of the union of Stabannon; the rectory is impropriate in Viscount Ferrard. The tithes amount to £117. 17. 4., the whole of which is payable to the impropriator. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union of Dunleer. There are some remains of an old chapel near the castle, in tolerable preservation, with a baptismal font, and a vase for holy water in the wall near the door. There is also a well, called Sunday well, formerly held in great veneration.

RICHHILL, a post-town, in that part of the parish of KILMORE, which is in the barony of ONEILLAND WEST, county of ARMAGH, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (E. by N.) from Armagh, and 64 (N. by W.) from Dublin, on the old road from Armagh to Belfast: containing 937 inhabitants. This town is situated on the river Tallwater, in the heart of a rich agricultural and populous manufacturing district, and from its elevated situation has an interesting appearance. It consists of two principal streets and contains 189 houses, of which several are handsome and well built; its chief commercial importance arose from its extensive linen market, in which the average weekly sales amounted to £2600, and the supply of which afforded constant employment to a great number of persons in the neighbourhood. But since the construction of a new line of road from Armagh to Belfast, which in shortening the distance between those places avoids this town, the market has declined, except for the sale of a little linen yarn, and the trade has been greatly diminished. Fairs are held on Shrove-Tuesday, July 26th, and Oct. 15th, principally for cattle; and a constabulary police force is stationed in the town. The market-house, a substantial and commodious building, was erected in 1753 by W. Richardson, Esq. There are places of worship for Presbyterians in connection with the Synod of Ulster, the Society of Friends, and Wesleyan Methodists; a school on Erasmus Smith's foundation, for which a handsome house was built in 1819, at the expense of the late Lord-Primate, and W. Richardson, Esq., who endowed it with two acres of land; a dispensary, and a clothing society. The neighbourhood is beautifully varied, and the scenery pleasingly picturesque. The ancient mansion of the Misses Richardson, proprietors of the town, with its castellated turrets, embosomed in a highly cultivated tract of country, chiefly in demesne, and richly wooded, forms an interesting feature; and within two miles is Castle Dillon, the seat of Sir Thos. Molyneux, Bart., in a demesne abounding with stately forest trees and embellished with a fine sheet of water, and an obelisk 60 feet high, erected by the late Rt. Hon. Sir Capel Molyneux, in commemoration of Irish legislative independence obtained in 1782 by the volunteers of Ireland; the same baronet also erected a column to commemorate the foundation of the order of the Knights of St. Patrick. Adjoining Castle Dillon is Hockley Lodge, the seat of the Hon. Henry Caulfield, brother of Lord Charlemont, an elegant modern residence, containing some stately apartments and an extensive and valuable library. The poor of the neighbourhood of Richhill derive great benefit from the munificence and philanthropy of the Hon. Mrs. Caulfield and the Misses Richardson.

RICHMOND HARBOUR, also called CLONDRA, or CLOONDRA, a village, in that part of the parish of KILLASHEE which is in the barony of LONGFORD, county of LONGFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 4 miles (W.) from Longford; containing 41 houses and 214 inhabitants. It is situated on the river Camlin near its junction with the Shannon; the former is here crossed by a bridge of five arches, and is connected by a lock with the terminus of the Royal Canal from Dublin, thus affording a great facility of conveyance for agricultural produce, particularly corn, of which a considerable quantity is sold daily in the village. Here is the extensive distillery of Mr. Wm. Fleming, producing annually more than 70,000 gallons of whiskey, and employing upwards of 70 persons. A constabulary police force is stationed in the village, and there is a penny post to Longford. A branch of the Shannon from the vicinity of Castle Forbes falls into the Camlin near the village, and forms the isolated tract called the Island of Clondra.

RINCURRAN, a parish, partly in the barony of KINNALEA, but chiefly in that of KINSALE, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER; containing, with part of the town of Kinsale, 3758 inhabitants. This place was the scene of some sharp conflicts while the Spaniards held possession of the town of Kinsale in 1600; the castle of Rincurran was besieged by Sir George Carew in person, and defended by a garrison under a Spanish commander, who made repeated offers to surrender upon terms. Sir George refusing these terms, and insisting on an unconditional surrender, the commander resolved to blow up the fortress, but the garrison compelled him to yield, and in compliment to his gallantry he was permitted to wear his sword and to deliver it into the hands of Sir George himself. In 1656 the castle was demolished by order of Cromwell, and in 1670, another was erected on its site by the Duke of Ormonde, at an expense of £75,000, and named Charles Fort in honour of Chas. II. It contains platforms for 75 pieces of cannon, of which only 35 are now mounted, with accommodations for the staff, barracks for 400 men, an armoury, and two bombproof magazines; it completely commands the harbour of Kinsale, and is strongly garrisoned under the superintendence of a governor and fort major.

The parish, which is bounded on the south by the harbour of Kinsale, and on the east by Oyster haven, comprises 5186 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £5511 per annum. The land is of medium quality; about four-fifths are under tillage; the system of agriculture is improved; about 150 acres of marsh have been recently brought into cultivation, and there is neither waste land nor bog. Rathmore, the seat of J. Thos. Cramer, Esq., is a handsome mansion embosomed in flourishing plantations and finely situated on the peninsula between the harbour of Kinsale and Oyster haven. Knuckduve, the seat of Lieut-Gen. Sir Thos. Browne, K. C. H., is beautifully situated above Oyster haven, and commands from different parts of the grounds a variety of picturesque and interesting views. There are also, in the parish, Long Quays, the residence of the Rev. J. B. Creagh; Cove Cottage, of J. Daunt, Esq.; Snugmore, of C. Newenham, Esq.; Harbour Hill, of A. Dorman, Esq.; Cove House, of Major Heard; and Heathfield, of H. Bastable, Esq. Scilly and Cove, two small villages in this parish, are much frequented during the bathing season, and contain some modern villas and handsome lodges, which are occupied by gentry from various parts of the country. A regatta is held generally in July or August, and a race-course has been completed by subscription, on which races are held after the regatta. An extensive and lucrative fishery is carried on at both villages, affording employment to more than 200 men. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cork, and in the patronage of the Crown: the tithes amount to £461. 10. 9 1/4.; the glebe comprises 3 acres. The church is a small neat edifice with a square tower, and being situated on an eminence, serves as a conspicuous landmark for mariners. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union of Kinsale. About 50 children are taught in the parochial school, which is supported by the rector, who also maintains a Sunday school. There are numerous remains of forts and intrenchments, but not a vestige of the old castle: the ruins of the old church have disappeared, but the cemetery is still used. Along the shore near Cove and Scilly are several chalybeate springs, but not much used.

RINGAGONAGH, or RING, a parish, partly in the barony of DECIES-without-DRUM, but chiefly in that of DECIES-within-DRUM, county of WATERFORD, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (S. S. E.) from Dungarvan; containing 2425 inhabitants. This parish, which is called also Rineogonagh, is bounded on the north by Dungarvan bay and harbour, and on the north-west by the Bricky river; and comprises 28,385 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. It contains a portion of the Drum mountain, and stretching into Dungarvan bay are the long promontories of Helwick Head and Conygary. Part of the land, more especially that bordering on Dungarvan, is of good quality and in a high state of cultivation; the system of agriculture is improved, and, within the last few years, some of the highest hills have been brought into cultivation. The principal manure is sand and sea-weed, which are found in abundance in the bay and on the coast; during the greater part of May and June, from 40 to 50 boats are employed in collecting and conveying the weed to Dungarvan for sale. The surrounding scenery is bold and in many parts strikingly romantic and picturesque. Ring Mount is the residence of Thos. Anthony, Esq. The herring fishery is carried on here to a considerable extent; from 40 to 50 boats are engaged in taking the fish, which are found here in abundance and cured; not less than 200 persons are employed in that trade. Near Helwick Head about a dozen houses were built, in 1828, for the accommodation of the fishermen; and a pier was at the same time erected to form a harbour for their boats, by H. V. Stewart, Esq., the principal landed proprietor of the parish. A coast-guard station has been established here, which is one of the five constituting the district of Youghal. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Lismore, and in the patronage of the Duke of Devonshire, in whom the rectory is impropriate: the tithes amount to £221. 10. 9., of which £147. 13. 10. is payable to the impropriator, and £73. 16. 11. to the vicar. The church was rebuilt in 1822, for which purpose the late Board of First Fruits contributed a gift of £600; it is a plain and neat edifice. The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church; the chapel is a modern edifice, situated on an eminence. About 70 children are taught in two private schools. Near the church is a well dedicated to St. Nicholas; and on an eminence in the parish is an artificial cavern.

RINGA-ROGA, or DUNNEGAL ISLAND, in the parish of CREAGH, Eastern Division of the barony of WEST CARBERY, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (W.) from Skibbereen, on the southern coast; containing 786 inhabitants. This island is situated in the harbour of Baltimore, and is connected with the mainland, about midway between Skibbereen and Baltimore, by an excellent causeway and bridge constructed across the channel by the proprietor, Sir W. W. Becher, Bart. It extends, nearly north and south, three miles in length by about one in breadth, comprising 986 acres of land, generally rocky, bare, and comparatively unproductive, particularly on the south side of the island; the soil towards the centre is tolerably good, but the arable land generally consists of small patches among the rocks, cultivated by spade labour, and manured by sea-weed, which, as well as the produce of the soil, is always conveyed on horseback. The inhabitants are entirely supplied with fuel from the mainland, there being none of any kind on the island.

RINGRONE, or RINGORAN, a parish, partly in the barony and liberties of KINSALE, and partly in the Eastern Division of the barony of EAST CARBERY, but chiefly in the barony of COURCIES, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER; 2 1/2 miles (S. W.) from Kinsale, from which it is separated by the river Bandon, containing, in 1831, 4813 inhabitants, since which time the population has considerably increased. This place, from the peculiarity of its situation, projecting far into the sea 011 the south, and on the east and north completely commanding the entrance of the celebrated and ancient harbour of "Cean Sailah," now Kinsale, has from a very early period been distinguished as a place of importance. On the conquest of Ireland, the surrounding territory was granted to John de Courcy, afterwards Earl of Ulster, who erected a strong castle at Duncearma, near the old head of Kinsale, and another at this place, opposite to that town. The former of these castles was for many generations the baronial residence of his descendants; and the latter was occupied by a formidable garrison for the protection of the port and the ferry leading to it. Near the fortress, which, during the occupation of Kinsale by the Spaniards in 1600, and also during the war of the Revolution, was an object of severe contest, was a royal dock-yard, where the whole of the King's ships on this station employed in the war as convoys were refitted and repaired.

The parish, which is situated on the southern coast and on the shore of Kinsale harbour, comprises 9586 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £6887 per annum: the northern portion, immediately opposite to the town of Kinsale, is bounded by the river Bandon; the southern stretches out into the long promontory called the old head of Kinsale, and on the east is a peninsula projecting boldly into the entrance of the harbour. The soil is light but fertile, and, especially in the western part of the parish, the land is rich and in good cultivation: the system of agriculture is improved; in some places green crops are cultivated with success. The cliffs around the shore are in many places strikingly bold and interesting, and there are numerous pleasing and picturesque glens; the schistose formation is generally prevalent in the hills, changing into all the varieties of transition rock, with extensive veins of quartz traversing them in every direction. Near the Old Head is an extensive tract of land covered with sand blown in from the bay, which is every year increasing; there is no other waste land, and very little bog; the want of fuel is consequently much felt. The principal seats are Coolmain, that of E. Stowell, Esq.; Glouneveraine, of J. Howe, Esq.; Lahorne, of H. Scott, Esq.; Ballinspittle, of J. B. Gibbons, Esq.; Fort Arthur, of W. Galway, Esq.; Ardkelly, of R. Gillman, Esq.; Roughwood, of W. Bullen, Esq.; Castle Park, of J. Gillman, Esq.; and Sea View, of the Rev. J. B. Webb. There are also several excellent farm-houses. The inhabitants are principally employed in agriculture and the fisheries. There are coast-guard stations at Howes Strand, the Old Head, and Sandy Cove, forming three of the eight that constitute the district of Kinsale. The Old Head is situated in lat 51° 36' 15," and lon. 8° 33' 15": it is a bold and lofty promontory rising abruptly from the sea. On the head is a well-built lighthouse, the lantern of which has an elevation of 294 feet above the level of the sea, and contains 27 lamps, exhibiting a bright steady light which in clear weather is visible at a distance of 23 nautical miles.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cork; the patronage is at present disputed. The tithes amount to £750; the glebe comprises only 3/4 of an acre. The church, a small ancient edifice without either tower or spire, is situated at the head of Sandy Cove, overlooking the Bandon water: divine service is also performed in a school-house near the Old Head, for the accommodation of parishioners in that district. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union of Courcies; the chapel is at Ballinspittle. About 15 children are taught in the parochial school, supported by the rector; and there are three private schools, in which are about 200 children, and a Sunday school. At the Ferry side, near Kinsale, are almshouses for four Protestant widows, founded by Dr. Worth, Bishop of Killaloe, who endowed them with £10 per ann., which sum is now paid by W. H. W. Newenham, Esq., of Coolmore. The old castle of Duncearma, the ancient residence of the de Courcys, is a venerable ruin: it is situated on the narrower part of the Old Head, on a rock which at the base has been perforated by the action of the waves in the form of an irregular pointed arch. A little to the north of it are the ruins of a more modern edifice, the residence of the barons of Kinsale, near which are the remains of a signal tower. Opposite Kinsale are the ruins of Ringrone castle and Old Fort, or Castle-ne-Park; the latter a very strong citadel with extensive bulwarks, ramparts, and fosses; in the inner court are the remains of the two towers of the gateway entrance and drawbridge. The old castle of Ringrone gives the title of Baron to the ancient family of de Courcy.

RINGSEND, a small town, in that part of the parish of ST. MARY, DONNYBROOK, which is in the county of the city of DUBLIN, in the province of LEINSTER, 1 1/2 mile (E.) from the General Post-office: the population is returned with the parish. This place, according to O'Halloran, was originally called Rin-Aun, signifying, in the Irish language, "the point of the tide," from its situation at the confluence of the Dodder with the Liffey: its present name is either a singular corruption of the former, or may perhaps have arisen from the large blocks of stone into which rings of iron were inserted for mooring vessels, previously to the construction of the present mole. The town is built upon the eastern bank of the Dodder, and has a mean and dilapidated appearance, having fallen into decay since the discontinuance of its extensive salt-works: its southern portion, which is a few hundred yards detached, is called Irishtown, and is in a less ruinous condition; it is much frequented for sea-bathing, from its proximity to Dublin. There are also hot and cold sea-water baths; the Cranfield baths, which are here much frequented, are said to have been the first hot sea water baths erected in Ireland. Iron-works were established here by the grandfather of the late proprietor, Mr. C. K. Clarke by whom they have been recently disposed of: the articles manufactured are steam-engines and all kinds of machinery, iron boats and utensils of various kinds. There are also glass-works, a chymical laboratory, and a distillery. The Grand Canal Company have docks to the west of this place, opening a communication between the canal and the river Liffey. Ship-building is carried on, and many of the inhabitants are employed in the fishery. Along the whole of the shore are strong embankments to keep out the sea, which at high water is above the level of the town; and similar precautions are taken to prevent inundation from the river Dodder, which frequently overflows its banks. In 1649, Sir William Ussher, though attended by many of his friends, was drowned in crossing this dangerous stream, over which a bridge of stone was afterwards erected; but the river suddenly changed its course and rendered it useless, till the stream was again forced into its former channel. In 1796, the corporation for improving the port of Dublin diverted the stream into a new channel through the low grounds between Irishtown and Dublin; and in 1802 the bridge was destroyed by a flood, and a handsome bridge of granite, of one arch, was erected, over which the road by the docks to Dublin is carried. A church was built in Irishtown, in 1703, under an act of the 2nd of Queen Anne, on account of the distance from the parish church and the difficulty of access from the frequent inundation of the roads. It is an endowed chapelry, in the diocese of Dublin, and in the patronage of the Crown, and is designated, by the 10th of Geo. I., the "Royal chapel of St. Matthew, Ringsend." There is a R. C. chapel in Irishtown, in connection with which is a boys' school, and in the village of Ringsend is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. A day school for boys, a Sunday school, an infants' school, a dispensary, and a shop for supplying the poor with necessaries at reduced prices, are all kept in one large and neat building, erected in Irishtown in 1832, at an expense of £800, defrayed by subscription.

RIVERSTOWN, a village, partly in the parish of TEMPLEUSQUE, and partly in that of CAHIRLOG, barony of BARRYMORE, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 5 1/2 miles (N. E. by E.) from Cork, on the road to Dublin; containing 241 inhabitants. This small but beautiful village, which is situated in a fertile and richly planted valley, about a mile from Glanmire, and close to the confluence of two small rivers, was formerly called Sadlierstown, but is now generally known by its more modern appellation, which it probably derived from its situation. Riverstown Lodge, the seat of J. Lane, Esq., is pleasantly situated in the village; closely adjoining is the handsome mansion of J. Browne, Esq., in an ample and richly planted demesne; and in the immediate neighbourhood are numerous large and handsome houses, principally occupied by gentlemen connected with the various manufactories of Riverstown and Glanmire. The Riverstown distillery, the property of Messrs. Lyon and Co., affords employment to about 60 persons, and on an average produces annually 120,000 gallons of whiskey; and there are two extensive mills for spinning cotton yarn, in which a great number of men, women, and children are employed. A constabulary police force is stationed in the village. The whole of the neighbourhood is richly planted, and embellished with thriving woods of oak, of more than 30 years' growth; and the scenery of the valley in which the village is situated is beautifully picturesque. About half a mile to the north-east is the parish church of Kilcoane, a small edifice in the early English style, with a low square tower, over the roof of which is a bell without any covering.

RIVERSTOWN, a village, partly in the parish of DRUMCOLLUM, but chiefly in that of KILMACALLANE, barony of TIRAGHRILL, county of SLIGO, and province of CONNAUGHT, on the road from Collooney to Ballyfarnon; containing 89 houses and 421 inhabitants. It is a constabulary police station, and contains the parish church, (a plain building) a meeting-house for Methodist, and a dispensary. It is the head of a R. C. union or district, comprising this parish and those of Taunagh and Drumcullum, in which union are two chapels; that in Riverstown is a plain building.

ROACH, or ROCHE, a parish, in the barony of UPPER DUNDALK, county of LOUTH, and province of LEINSTER, 4 miles (W.) from Dundalk, near the road to Crossmaglen; containing 1426 inhabitants. Roche castle is supposed to have been originally erected in the reign of Hen. II. by the family of De Verdun, who were among the earliest of the English settlers in this part of Ireland. In the parliamentary war it was held for the king, but in 1649 it was taken and partly demolished by the forces of Cromwell. The castle is situated on a rock, to the shape of which the buildings were conformed so as to include its entire summit; the area enclosed by the ramparts is of an irregular semicircular form, and the front, which forms the chord of the segment, is 85 feet in length; at the opposite extremity are the ruins of a keep, with a sallyport and circular towers, apparently the oldest portion of the buildings.

An extensive view of the surrounding country is obtained from the castle, which in itself forms one of the most striking features in the neighbourhood. The parish comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 3305 1/4 statute acres of tolerably good land, mostly in tillage; it is bounded on the south by the river Creggan, or Castletown, and contains Roach, the former residence of Mr. Reilly; and Shortstones, the neat residence of Robt. Bailie, Esq. It is a curacy, in the diocese of Armagh, forming part of the union of Baronstown: the rectory is impropriate in John Pratt, Esq., to whom the tithes, amounting to £248. 11. 10., are entirely payable. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Dundalk.

ROBEEN, a parish, in the barony of KILMAINE, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 2 miles (W.) from Hollymount, on the road to Castlebar; containing 3193 inhabitants. The parish, situated on the river Robe, from which it takes its name, comprises 4605 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: the land is of medium quality, and is chiefly under tillage, with some extensive tracts of pasture; the system of agriculture is improved, and there is little or no waste land. The principal seats are Newbrook, the property of Lord Clanmorris, a handsome mansion, situated in an extensive and well-wooded demesne; Bloomfield, of the Rev. Francis Rutledge; Beechgrove, of W. Brunach, Esq.; Brownestown, of Lieut. Browne; and Togher, of G. Rutledge, Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Tuam, forming part of the union of Hollymount, or Kilcommon: the tithes amount to £147. 13. 10 1/4. The church, which is that of the union, was enlarged in 1818 at an expense of £923. 1. 6 1/2., a gift from the late Board of First Fruits. In the R. C. divisions it is also part of the union of Kilcommon and Robeen; the chapel, situated in this parish, is a large slated edifice. About 160 children are taught in two public schools. There are some remains of ancient castles in the village of Robeen and at Togher.

ROBERTSTOWN, a market-town, in the parish of KILMAOGUE, barony of CONNELL, county of KILDARE, and province of LEINSTER, 7 miles (N.) from Kildare; containing 47 houses and 281 inhabitants. It is situated on the Grand Canal, and is one of the packet-boat stages from the metropolis, from which, by this conveyance, it is about 20 miles distant: there is a branch canal hence to Athy. The market is on Wednesday, and several fairs are held in the course of the year. A constabulary police force is stationed in the town, and there is a dispensary for the poor. The town is the property of W. Ireland, Esq., of Doro-ville.

ROBERTSTOWN, or CASTLE-ROBERT, a parish, in the Shanid Division of the barony of LOWER CONNELLO, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 4 miles (W.) from Askeaton, on the road from Limerick to Tarbert; containing, with Foyn's Island, 1794 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the river Shannon, in a level and fertile district, is nearly equidistant from the towns of Askeaton, Rathkeale, and Glin. The land is in general good, though in some places interspersed with detached masses of stone; the greater portion is under tillage, producing favourable crops, and there are good tracts of pasture. The system of agriculture is in a backward state; large portions of land are cultivated with the spade, and manure is carried to the fields on the shoulders of women. That portion of the parish called Ahenish, and improperly considered as an island, is flat and is frequently inundated by the river Shannon; the higher grounds are all well cultivated, and the lower grounds afford rich pasturage. The principal seats are Old Abbey, the residence of W. Morgan, Esq.; Fort Anne, of S. E. Johnson, Esq.; and Congreiff, of Mrs. Griffin; and at no great distance is Mount Trenchard, the seat of the Rt. Hon. Thos. Spring Rice. Foyn's island lies immediately off Lehys Point, where the rock has been deeply excavated in forming a new line of road. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Limerick, united to the vicarage of Dunmoylan, together forming the union of Robertstown, or Dunmoylan, in the patronage of the Earl of Cork, in whom the rectory is impropriate: the tithes amount to £367. 12. 10 1/2., of which two-thirds are payable to the impropriator and one-third to the vicar; the gross tithes of the benefice amount to £200. 17. 7 1/2. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union of Shanagolden; the chapel is a large and neat modern edifice. There are three private schools, in which are about 140 children. The ruins of the old church are near the village; about one mile distant are the interesting remains of the abbey of Manister-na-Gillagh-Dubh, here called the "old abbey," near which are some ancient fortifications; and on the lands of Ahenish are the ruins of Dysart castle.

ROBERTSTOWN, a parish, in the barony of LOWER KELLS, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 2 3/4 miles (S. W.) from Nobber, on the road to Kells; containing 335 inhabitants. This parish comprises 1640 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the land is of good quality and chiefly in pasture. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Meath, forming part of the union of Newtown: the tithes amount to £76. 10. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Stahalmock. About 90 children are educated in two private schools.

ROBINSTOWN, a village, in the parish of KILLSKYRE, barony of UPPER KELLS, county of MEATH, and province of LEINSTER, containing 29 houses and 146 inhabitants. Here is a station of the constabulary police.

ROCHESTOWN, or BALLYWILLIAM, a parish, in the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 6 miles (S.) from Limerick, on the road to Bruff; containing 190 inhabitants. This place takes its name from the Roches, its proprietors, who, in the reign of Hen. VII., erected a strong castle here on a bold rock, of which the remains still form a conspicuous and interesting feature in the surrounding landscape. A monastery for Franciscan friars was founded here in the 13th century by the Clangibbon family, and called Bailenambratharbeg, or "Little Friars'-town," to distinguish it from Friars'-town in the parish of Cahirvalla; at the dissolution it was granted to Sir Thomas Baird. The parish is situated on the river Commogue, and comprises 1059 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: the land is of good quality; about one-fourth part is under tillage, and the remainder rich meadow and pasture; on the banks of the river are some corcass lands, sometimes overflowed, but which might be embanked at a very trifling expense. The substratum is limestone, and the western termination of the basaltic formation appears in one or two places much decomposed and assuming a columnar tendency. The principal seat is Ballynaguard, the handsome residence of J. Croker, Esq., pleasantly situated in an extensive and well-wooded demesne; there are several excellent farm-houses. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, and in the patronage of the Archbishop; the rectory is partly impropriate in E. D. Freeman, Esq., and partly in J. Croker, Esq. The tithes amount to £60, of which £20. 11. 4. is payable to Mr. Freeman, £19. 9. 8. to Mr. Croker, and the remainder to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union of Ballybricken. On the banks of the Commogue, near Six-Mile-Bridge, are the remains of the ancient monastery.

ROCHESTOWN, a parish, in the barony of IFFA and OFFA WEST, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 2 1/2 miles (S. by E.) from Cahir, on the river Suir; containing 411 inhabitants. It comprises 966 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. Rochestown, the seat of S. Barton, Esq., is beautifully situated near the banks of the river, commanding a fine view of the Clogheen mountains. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Lismore, forming part of the union of Ardfinnan: the tithes amount to £95. In the R. C. divisions also it is part of the union or district of Ardfinnan. About 100 children are educated in a private school. There are some remains of an ancient church and castle, with several forts or raths usually attributed to the Danes.

ROCHFORT-BRIDGE, formerly called BEGGAR'S-BRIDGE, a post-town, in the parish of CASTLELOST, barony of FARTULLAGH, county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 7 1/2 miles (S. W.) from Kinnegad, on the road from Dublin to Athlone; containing 27 houses and 171 inhabitants. It is traditionally stated that this place derived its former name from the circumstance of a beggar having died here, in whose pockets was found money sufficient to build the bridge, which crosses a small stream at the eastern extremity of the village. It is a station of the constabulary police, and contains the parochial church and a National school.

ROCKCORRY, a village, in the parish of EMATRIS, barony of DARTRY, county of MONAGHAN, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (N. E.) from Cootehill, on the old road to Monaghan; the population is returned with the parish. The place derives its name from the family of Corry, on whose estate it is situated, and whose residence is contiguous to the village. It consists of one wide street, of which many of the houses are of respectable appearance, and it has a neat market-house. The market is on Wednesday, and there is a fair on the last Wednesday in each month. Here is a station of the constabulary police, and petty sessions are held on alternate Wednesdays. In the village are meetinghouses for Presbyterians of the Seceding Synod, and for Wesleyan Methodists; the former is of recent erection, and both are neat buildings. An infants' school, chiefly supported by Mrs. Devereux, is held in the market-house, to which a sewing-school is attached; and there is a dispensary.

ROCK ISLAND, a village, in the parish of KILMOE, Western Division of the barony of WEST CARBERY, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 19 miles (S. W.) from Skibbereen: the population is returned with the parish. It is advantageously situated on a peninsulated rock opposite Crookhaven, on the south-western coast, and has risen into a flourishing state through the spirited exertions of its proprietor, R. Notter, Esq. A new line of road has been recently opened between this place and Skibbereen, and the post-office has been removed hither from Crookhaven: there is a mail to Skibbereen every second day. Immediately off the village, which contains some well-built houses, is the entrance to the spacious and well-sheltered harbour of Crookhaven, noticed in the article on that place. Here is a coast-guard station (usually called the Crookhaven station), being one of the nine included in the Skibbereen district. A dispensary has been established in the village.

ROCKMILLS, a village, in the parish of NATHLASH, or ST. NICHOLAS, barony of FERMOY, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 2 miles (N. N. W.) from Glanworth, on the road to Kildorrery: the population is returned with the parish. It derives its name from the large flour-mills in the immediate vicinity, romantically situated in the rocky vale of the river Funcheon; adjoining the mills is Rockrnill Lodge, the residence of Mrs. Oliver. In the village is the parochial church, a small neat building with a tower and spire. The surrounding scenery is varied and highly picturesque.

ROCKSBOROUGH.--See INCHINABACKY.

ROCKY ISLAND, in the parish of TEMPLEROBIN, barony of BARRYMORE, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 1 mile (S.) from Cove, in the harbour of Cork; the population is returned with Hawlbowling island. This island, an immense mass of limestone rising abruptly from the bay to the height of 42 feet above high water mark, and terminating in a conical point, was selected by the Board of Ordnance as a magazine for the military depot of the south of Ireland. In 1815, the surface of the rock, with the exception of its summit, on which a watch-tower has been formed, approached by a winding stair-case cut in the solid rock, was levelled; and beneath it large vaults have been excavated, to each of which is a separate entrance from a deep road-way sunk in the rock, and continued round its entire circumference. The magazine contains 25,000 barrels of gunpowder, and is under the care of a detachment of the artillery from the establishment at Spike island, who are the only inhabitants of the place. The approach from the bay to the road surrounding the magazine is through a lofty archway hewn out of the rock. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Passage.

ROEBUCK, a district, in the parish of TANEY, half-barony of RATHDOWN, county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 2 1/2 miles (S.) from the General Post-office, Dublin, on the road to Enniskerry, by way of Clonskea: the population is returned with the parish. Roebuck Castle, the seat of A. B. Crofton, Esq., was originally erected at a remote period and strongly fortified. About the year 1534 it was the residence of Lord Trimleston, then Lord Chancellor of Ireland; and it was occupied by Jas. II. and the Duke of Berwick, when they encamped in this neighbourhood. It was subsequently suffered to fall into decay, until about the year 1790, when it was repaired by the then Lord Trimleston, who fitted up one of the apartments, a noble room, 50 feet in length, as a theatre. About 10 years after it was purchased by James Crofton, Esq., the father of the present proprietor, who pulled down a portion of the buildings, and modernised the remainder, of which the room before mentioned, now used as the drawing-room, is the only remaining part of the old castle. This district is chiefly occupied by handsome villas, situated in tastefully disposed grounds, many of which command magnificent views of the bay and city of Dublin, the Dublin and Wicklow mountains, and the beautiful adjacent country. Among these are Roebuck Lodge, the residence of J. E. Hyndman, Esq., formerly the manor-house, and about 50 years since the only house in the district with the exception of the castle; Rich View, the residence of M. Powell, Esq.; Springfield, of Sir John Franks, Knt.; Roebuck House, of J. Power, Esq.; Roebuck, of John Ennis, Esq.; Mount Dillon, of the Rev. Dr. Prior; Roebuck Hall, of the Rt. Hon. Fras. Blackburne; Moorefield, of P. Curtis, Esq.; Prospect House, of Lady Harty; Roebuck Park, of Geo. Kinahan, Esq.; Roebuck Villa, of D. Kinahan, Esq.; Farm Hill, of Jas. Pratt, Esq.; Castle View, of A. Brewster, Esq.; Roebuck House, of J. D. Farrer, Esq.; Roebuck Grove, of Jno. Cumming, Esq.; Casino, of Geo. Stapleton, Esq.; Rosemount, of R. Corballis, Esq.; Rose Vale, of Geo. Thorpe, Esq.; Rose Villa, of L. E. Leipsett, Esq., M.D.; Roebuck, of R. Connor, Esq.; Bloom Villa, of Col. Thackeray; Bird Avenue, of F. Codd, Esq.; Hermitage, of W. C. Quinn, Esq.; Friarsland, of C. Copland, Esq.; and Ivy Lodge, of Robt. Billing, Esq. Adjoining Roebuck Castle is a remarkable walnut tree, which grew out of an old wall, carrying in its trunk a large stone that is now upwards of four feet from the ground. Several coins of Elizabeth and Jas. I. have been found here.

ROE ISLAND, in the parish and barony of BURRISHOOLE, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 7 miles (W.) from Newport-Pratt. It is situated in Clew bay on the western coast; on the south side is a steep clay cliff, by which it is distinguished from the other isles: it affords fine pasture for cattle. Here is a small deep harbour with good ground, but there are several rocks and shoals in the vicinity.

ROGERICALVI, supposed to have been formerly a parish, and to be now merged into that of TEMPLEMOLOGGA, in the barony of CONDONS and CLONGIBBONS, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER; it is still retained in the incumbent's title as a vicarage, in the diocese of Cloyne, forming part of the union of Clenore, and corps of the chancellorship of the cathedral of Cloyne.

RONANISH, an island, in the parish of INNISKEEL, barony of BOYLAGH, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 3 miles (N. W.) from Narin, on the northwest coast.

ROOTSTOWN, or RUTHSTOWN, a village, in the parish of STABANNON, barony of ARDEE, county of LOUTH, and province of LEINSTER, 2 miles (E.) from Ardee, on the road to Castle-Bellingham; containing 25 houses and 148 inhabitants. In its vicinity are the ruins of the castle of Rootstown, noticed under the head of Stabannon.

ROSCOMMON (County of), an inland county of the province of CONNAUGHT, bounded on the north by the county of Leitrim, on the north-west by those of Mayo and Sligo, on the south-west and south by that of Galway, and on the east by the counties of Leitrim, Longford, Westmeath, and King's. It extends from 53° 16' to 54° 7' (N. Lat.), and from 7° 50' to 8° 46' (W. Lon.); comprising an area, according to the Ordnance survey, of 609,405 statute acres, of which 453,555 are cultivated land, 131,063 are uncultivated mountain and bog, and 24,787 are under water. The population, in 1821, was 208,729; and in 1831, 249,613.

According to Ptolemy, this region was inhabited by the Auteri, who occupied also the present county of Galway. Among the native septs by whom it was afterwards occupied, the O'Conors enjoyed the supreme authority in the central districts, the Mac Dermots in the northern, and the O'Ceilys or O'Kellys in the southern. After the arrival of the English in the country, Murrough, son of Roderic O'Conor, King of Ireland, during his father's absence, persuaded Milo de Cogan to undertake an expedition into Connaught, who having come to Roscommon was there joined by Murrough, and their united forces commenced a marauding campaign through the neighbouring districts. In 1204, this part of the island was ravaged by Wm. Bourke Fitz-Aldelm; in 1216, Athlone castle was erected by King John; and in 1268 Robert de Ufford, Lord Justice, commenced that of Roscommon, which shortly afterwards fell into the hands of the natives. The erection of the county into shire ground must have taken place at a very early period, as notices of the sheriffs of Roscommon and Connaught are found among the records of the reign of Edw. I., into which counties the portions of the province that acknowledged the English supremacy were divided.

Roscommon was included in the grant of Connaught made by Hen. III. to Richard de Burgo, or Bourke, with the exception of five cantreds reserved to the crown adjacent to the castle of Athlone; Edw. I., in the 13th year of his reign, granted to Thomas de Clare and Geoffry de Conobyll, "the king's waste lands in Connaught, in the region of Roscoman." That the de Burgos held possessions here appears from Richard de Burgo assembling his forces at Roscommon, to oppose Edward Bruce when he was joined by Felim O'Conor; and their united forces took their route by Athlone. The latter chieftain, however, having subsequently taken part with Bruce, encountered the Anglo-Normans at Athenry, on which occasion the power of the O'Conor sept received an irrecoverable shock. The possessions of the de Burgos became vested in the English crown through the marriage of the daughter and heir of William, the last Earl of Ulster of this name, with the Duke of Clarence; but the native septs appear to have resumed almost entire possession of Roscommon until the reign of Elizabeth. The O'Conors of Roscommon were divided into the families of O'Conor Ruadh or Roe, "the Red," and O'Conor Dhunne, or Don, "the dark or brown," from two rival chieftains thus distinguished by the colour of their hair, who were generally at war with one another; the chief seat of one was Ballynafad castle, and of the other that of Ballintobber. In 1565, Connaught was subdivided according to its present arrangement by Sir Henry Sidney, Lord-Deputy, when the county acquired its present limits. The country of the Mac Dermots was named the barony of Boyle; that of O'Conor Don forms the barony of Ballintobber; that of O'Conor Roe, the barony of Roscommon; and that of the O'Kellys, the barony of Athlone and the half barony of Moycarnon. The principal castles were those of Athlone, Roscommon, and St. John, the last of which was in ruins, all belonging to the Queen; and that of Ballintobber, belonging to O'Conor Don. Sir John Perrot, Lord-Deputy, compelled the native chiefs, in 1584, to resign their territories into the hands of the crown, to execute indentures of submission, and to receive re-grants, whereby their estates were to descend in future according to the rules of the common law of England. Both the septs of O'Conor firmly maintained their allegiance to Elizabeth; and O'Conor Don, who had been knighted by her, represented the new county in parliament in 1585. When the Earl of Strafford, in the reign of Chas. I., adopted the project of subverting the titles of all the proprietors of Connaught, he adduced legal objections against their indentures with Sir John Perrot, and against every grant and other document produced; and attending the Commissioners of plantation in person, he began with Roscommon in the execution of his plans. The commission was opened for this county; the king's title to the lands was produced, examined, and submitted to a jury composed of the principal inhabitants, who were told by the earl that his majesty's intention in establishing his title was to make them a rich and civil people, and participators in the glorious and excellent work of reformation which he had now undertaken; to these persuasive arguments he also joined threats, and thus induced the jury unhesitatingly to give a verdict in favour of the crown. The Deputy then published a proclamation, whereby all proprietors throughout the province were assured of easy composition, and of new and indefeasible grants. In the war of 1641, Roscommon for some time took no part: but in the succeeding disturbances its ancient families joined with the confederate Catholics, and obtained entire possession of the country, although they were twice defeated by Lord Ranelagh, President of Connaught. Accordingly, on the termination of the war, they were stripped of their possessions, which were divided among English and Scotch adventurers. At the Restoration, however, the family of O'Conor Don regained part of its property on the western side of the county, and has ever since kept possession of it: it is, therefore, the only family in this county which now enjoys the possessions held by it previously to the arrival of the English.

Roscommon is partly in the diocese of Clonfert, partly in that of Tuam, but chiefly in that of Elphin. For purposes of civil jurisdiction it is divided into the baronies of Athlone, Ballintobber, Ballymoe, Boyle, Moycarnon, and Roscommon. It contains the corporate, market and assize-town of Roscommon; the corporate and market-towns of Boyle and Tulsk; the market and post-towns of Castlerea, Elphin, Frenchpark and Strokestown; the post-towns of Athleague and Mount-Talbot; nearly the whole of the important and flourishing market and post-town of Ballinasloe; and parts of the towns of Athlone, Jamestown, Lanesborough and Carrick-on-Shannon: the largest villages are Lough Glyn, Ruskey (each of which has a penny post), Knockcroghery, Tarmonbarry, and Castle Plunket. It sent eight members to the Irish parliament, two for the county at large, and two for each of the boroughs of Roscommon, Boyle, and Tulsk; but since the union the two returned for the county are its only representatives. The elections take place at Roscommon. The constituency, as registered up to the beginning of the year 1837, consists of 405 freeholders of £50, 201 of £20, and 1287 of £10; 9 leaseholders of £20 and 96 of £10; making in the whole 1998 electors. The county is included in the Connaught circuit; the assizes are held at Roscommon, where the court-house and county gaol are situated. There are also court-houses and bridewells at Athlone, Boyle, Castlerea and Strokestown. For the convenience of holding the general sessions of the peace, the county is divided into the districts of Athlone and Boyle, the former of which comprises the baronies of Athlone, Ballymoe, and Moycarnon, and the parishes of Kilbride, Roscommon, Kilteevan, Kilgeffin, and Clontuskert; the latter comprises the remainder of the county. The sessions for the former are held at Athlone and Roscommon; and for the latter at Boyle, Castlerea, and Strokestown. For the purpose of holding petty sessions it is divided into the eighteen districts of Clogher, Belanagare, Croghan, French-park, Boyle, Roscommon, Athlone, Ballydangan, Tobberpatrick, Four-Mile-house, Rahara, Rooskey, Keadue, Ballintobber, Kilmore, Lanesborough, Elphin, and Mount-Talbot, with a small exempt district in the vicinity of Tulsk. The local government is vested in the lieutenant, 10 deputy-lieutenants, and 90 other magistrates, together with the usual county officers, including three coroners. There are 54 constabulary stations, having in the whole a force of 1 stipendiary magistrate, 1 sub-inspector, 6 chief officers, 66 sub-constables, 250 men and 8 horses. The total amount of Grand Jury presentments for the year 1835 was £27,378. 6. 5., of which £1130. 13. 2 1/2. was for the roads, bridges, &c., of the county at large; £7058. 9. l 1/2. for those of the baronies; £8575. 11. 4 1/2. for public buildings, charities, officers' salaries and incidents; £5759. 11. 1 1/2. for the police; and £4854. 1. 7. for repayment of advances made by Government. The district lunatic asylum for the whole of the province of Connaught is at Ballinasloe. The county infirmary is at Roscommon; and there are dispensaries at Athlone, Athleague, Ballagh, Boyle, Castlerea, Croghan, Elphin, French-park, Keadue, Lecarrow, Loughlin, Strokestown, and Tulsk, supported by Grand Jury presentments and private subscriptions in equal proportions. In military arrangements the county is included in the western district, that part of Athlone within it being the headquarters of the district, which, besides Roscommon, extends over the counties of Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Galway (except the town of Mountshannon), Longford, Westmeath, and King's county, with the barony of Lower Ormond in the county of Tipperary, not including the town of Nenagh. The county contains three barrack stations; two at Athlone for artillery and infantry, and one at Roscommon for infantry, affording, in the whole, accommodation for 30 officers and 521 men.

The county is of very irregular form, its length being nearly 60 English miles, whilst its greatest breadth does not exceed 32; southward it quickly contracts to ten, and northward it gradually declines to three, forming an important frontier to the whole of Connaught. Its general surface forms part of the vast limestone plain of the central parts of the island, with only four very striking elevations of surface. These are, the mountains on the borders of Lough Allen, in its northern extremity; the Curlew mountains on its north-western confines, near Boyle; the great ridge of Slievebawn, extending through the baronies of Ballintobber and Roscommon, and Slieveaeluyn, near Ballinlough, in the west. In the plain districts are considerable tracts of flat ground, through which the rivers wind a sluggish course, frequently overflowing their hanks, and inundating the adjoining country. Some of the larger bogs also present flat surfaces of considerable extent, while others are diversified with all the inequalities of the hills upon which they are situated. Remarkably extensive tracts of flat alluvial land, and of bog, occur along the courses of the Shannon and Suck, forming detached portions of the bog of Allen, the most worthy of notice being those situated near Athlone and Lanesborough, both of which are crossed by several ridges of limestone gravel. Along the Suck, and along the Shannon south of Carrick, the shores in several parts are bold, and the cliffs occasionally overhang the water; but these in general are formed of compact masses of limestone gravel and indurated clay. The highest mountains are those of Bracklieve and Slieve Curkagh, in the most northern extremity of the county, between which the river Arigna flows in a deep valley, over which the mountains rise upwards of 1000 feet with steep and rugged acclivities, and broad perpendicular faces of rock. Next to these in height is the ridge of Slieve Bawn, which, from the shores of Lough Bodarrig on the Shannon, extends nearly southward, from two to four miles distant from that river, to the parallel of Lanes-borough. On the east side, towards the Shannon, a gradual slope extends nearly from the crest of the ridge down to the edge of the flat bogs which stretch along the base, and up the sides of these acclivities cultivation is annually extending. The western side of the range is more broken, the pastures are naturally richer, and groves are scattered along the base. Amid the mountains forming the northern boundary of the county are numerous scenes of a very picturesque character. Some parts of the banks of the Suck are also beautiful, and the shores of some of the lakes are delightful, yet there is a great deficiency of wood throughout the county, although in the neighbourhood of some of the principal residences there are groves and plantations, showing by their luxuriant growth the capabilities of the soil for such productions.

The largest and most beautiful of the lakes wholly belonging to the county is Lough Kea, close to the town of Boyle, now more generally known by the name of Rockingham lake, from the seat of Lord Lorton on its southern shore. Several rivers from the south and west are tributary to it, but its principal supply proceeds from Lough Gara, on the borders of Sligo, whence a rapid stream called the Boyle water enters the western . extremity of the lake; it discharges itself by a narrow outlet, which soon expands into a series of lakes that take their common name from the town of Oakford in their neighbourhood, and discharge themselves into the Shannon. The scenery throughout the whole of this chain of lakes is highly picturesque. To the north of Lough Kea are the smaller lakes of Lough Skean and Lough Meelagh, the latter very beautiful and both communicating with the Shannon by a common outlet. In the west of the county is Lough Aeluyn, and in its neighbourhood are Loughs Erritt and Glynn. In the central part, to the east of Elphin and Strokestown, are numerous small lakes, the waters of most of which find a passage to the Shannon; Lough Funcheon, in the barony of Athlone, is the only lake of any extent in the south. The eastern boundary of the county is bordered by several of the lakes formed by the Shannon; Lough Gara, already noticed, is on its western side between it and Sligo. In winter the extent of water in the county is considerably increased by the turloughs or temporary lakes which usually disappear in summer, though they sometimes remain through the whole of that season, and occasionally even a second year. These turloughs, which vary considerably in extent during different years, occupy shallow basins in the limestone districts, where fissures in the rocks and swallow-holes occur; and are apparently formed by these vents being stopped by the back water from the subterraneous reservoirs with which they are connected. Such as have a grassy bottom, when the waters retire in time, produce most luxuriant crops. Some are of considerable size; that of Mantua contains about 600 English acres; and one near Lough Glynn is upwards of half a mile in length; they are most numerous in the western and central parts of the county. The extent of surface occupied by water, in the baronies of Boyle and Roscommon, is much greater than in all the other divisions. The soil, though of great variety, may be divided into two remarkable portions, that based on the limestone of the plain districts, and that on the sandstone of the mountains and their vicinities, of which the former is by much the most fertile, forming the natural pasture land for which Roscommon has been so long celebrated, particularly the pasturages in the vicinity of Tulsk and Kilcorky and in the plains to the south-east of the town of Boyle. Extensive tracts of very light shallow soil are commonly devoted to sheep-feeding, more particularly along the ridges which separate the waters of the Suck and the Shannon, where the limestone rock is so sparingly covered, that the plough cannot be used. Rich deep loams are also met with in the limestone districts, and the dry, mellow sandy lands between Elphin and Kingston are particularly noted for their fertility. Between the surface soil and the rock are often vast alluvial deposits of gravel and loams of various texture. Some of the sandstone soils, as in the vicinity of the Curlew mountains, though of a very poor quality, are susceptible of great improvement by judicious cultivation. The only sandy land is contiguous to Lough Aeluyn, where it appears to have been formed by drifts from the shores of the lake. On the mountains, dry patches covered with heath are occasionally found; but the surface is commonly wet and boggy. Great improvements by draining may be effected in every part of the county, both by deepening the streams in the low grounds, and by making drains in the uplands, where cold, wet and spongy land, producing rushes and aquatic plants, occurs in places apparently little likely to produce them.

Although tillage has in later years been greatly extended, yet the general system of agriculture, except on the lands held by wealthy individuals, is still in a very backward state. The course consists of an introductory crop of potatoes, followed by wheat, barley, bere, and oats, or by such of these corn crops as the fertility of the soil is calculated to produce with the greatest advantage, until the ground is exhausted, when it is "let out," that is, the land is allowed to remain in its natural state after the last crop has been drawn off, and continues thus until a new herbage is produced, in which thistles, docks, and ragweed usually predominate. Agriculture has made rapid advances among the gentry and wealthier farmers; the most approved implements and modes of culture have been introduced, but, probably in consequence of the system of shallow ploughing still generally adhered to, turnips and mangel wurzel, whose roots strike deep into the ground, do not succeed so well as in some other counties. The English spade is unknown, its place being supplied by the loy, so common throughout Connaught. The steeveen, used in setting potatoes, is merely a pointed stake, with a cross piece near the lower end to receive the foot, and which likewise determines the depth of the holes. In certain districts of Roscommon, as in other places where spade husbandry prevails, it is usual for the people to exchange labour reciprocally, and to unite in considerable numbers in the fields of individuals in rotation, more especially for the purpose of planting or digging potatoes. The extensive grazing farms present a remarkable contrast to the fallow tillage land: the pastures are unrivalled in beauty and fertility. The highest quality of pasture land, consisting of native grasses, is reckoned to feed a bullock and a sheep per acre; on other lands an acre and a half is required, and on some grazing farms forty bullocks are allotted to a hundred acres.

The best land for feeding bullocks is the district extending from Elphin to Castlerea; that for sheep, those from Roscommon to Tulsk, and thence northwards to Boyle. Dairy farms are neither numerous nor extensive, yet the butter made in the county is of remarkably good quality and everywhere commands high prices. Great attention is paid to the breeds of cattle; the favourite stock is the Old Leicester crossed with the long-horned breed of the country, as being best adapted to the soil, remarkable for their symmetry, of good size, and easily fattened: the bullocks are larger than those in any other part of Ireland; they are generally disposed of at the October fair of Ballinasloe: sheep are also reared in great numbers; the most approved kinds are the New Leicester and a cross between it and the native breed; the wool of the latter being close and fine, and the mutton peculiarly well-flavoured. The superiority of both cattle and sheep in this county is attributable both to the excellence of the soil and the skill and attention of the breeder. The horses are likewise in high estimation both as roadsters and hunters. Pigs, though superior to those of many other parts, are not a common stock; goats are seldom seen except with the cottiers in the mountainous districts. The fences for the most part are high dry stone walls, which are preferred to the quickset hedge, even by most of the wealthier and more intelligent farmers, as affording more shelter to the cattle. Draining and irrigation are little practised, though much could be effected in this respect, as the bogs, which are interspersed throughout most parts in various sizes, from tracts of a thousand acres to patches scarcely adequate to supply the neighbouring district with fuel, are all so situated with respect to elevation and subsoil as to make their drainage and reclamation a work of little difficulty or expense. The country in general is extremely deficient in timber. Its ancient forests have long since been cleared away; their only remaining traces are on the shores of some of the lakes; and not until lately have any general or enlarged exertions been made to reinvest the country with this useful and beautiful appendage. The only plantations are in the neighbourhood of the mansions of the nobility and gentry. To the west of Castlerea and on the shores of Lough Ree the land spontaneously throws up shoots of oak, hazel and other species of forest trees in great abundance; and small copses, chiefly of underwood, are often met with among the rocky ravines. Turf is universally the fuel of the common people, and generally of the farmers: the principal part of the coal that has been raised in the north, above the quantity consumed in the iron-works, has been sold for the supply of more distant places, where fuel is less plentiful.

All the plain district is based on limestone, varying in appearance and quality. The upper beds are commonly of a grey colour and of secondary formation, abounding with petrifactions, principally madrepores. The lower beds are more commonly of a blackish hue, and the stone contains large portions of argillaceous and silicious earths, which frequently render it unfit for burning: this impure limestone, called calp, is often accompanied by thin layers of Lydian stone, which are sometimes so numerous and minute as to give the rock a striped appearance. The calp beds are commonly succeeded by strata of black limestone of a crystalline structure, susceptible of a high polish; but in the northern parts of the county, the limestone of the lower beds, even where they come in contact with the sandstone, are of a light grey colour, and of a crystalline texture and susceptible of polish. Silicious sandstone appears in several parts of the county rising up from beneath the limestone bed and forming isolated hills, and likewise composing the long ridge of Slievebawn, where it appears on the summit in large broken masses. Of similar composition is the hill of Ballyfermoile, and at Belanagare the sandstone appears at the surface in very thin flags, which are used in the vicinity for roofing houses. In the more western part of the county, beyond Castlerea, sandstone appears in various places, and limestone is comparatively rare. But by far the most interesting part of Roscommon, in reference to its geological formation, is the northern mountainous district on the confines of Lough Allen, forming the celebrated coal and iron district of Arigna. This coal district forms a portion of that of the county of Leitrim, but of its two most important divisions, one is wholly and the other chiefly in the northern end of this county. The strata are arranged with great regularity, rising immediately into the high flat-topped mountains of Bracklieve and Slieve Curkagh. They dip conformably with the subjacent limestone, and in opposition to the southern declivity of the mountains; but the continuity of the different beds is frequently broken by faults, where the strata of one part of a hill have slipped down to a lower level, producing a variation of level of from 20 to 40 yards. In the series of strata the lowest and first above the limestone base is blank slate clay, about 600 feet in thickness, in the upper part of which are shale and thin beds of sandstone; it likewise contains numerous beds of clay iron-stone, from half an inch to two feet in thickness. Resting on it there is from thirty to sixty feet of greyish white rock, called the first or great sandstone. Above this succeeds black slate clay, from nine to twenty feet thick, covered by grey sandstone from six to ten feet thick, on which rests sandstone from one to three feet in thickness, with fossil impressions, known by the name of "seat rock," incumbent on which is fire-clay of a similar thickness. This forms the seat of a stratum of coal intermixed with thin laminae of shale, from one to three feet thick, above which is greyish white sandstone, from four to twenty feet; next, black slate clay from six to fifteen feet; and then sandstone from twelve to fifteen feet. This forms the seat of the second coal stratum, which is of good quality, and the only one yet discovered that will repay the labour of the miner: it varies from one foot four inches to two feet six inches, and appears to promise an abundant produce: the stratum is thicker, and the coal better, than any before known. Its roof is grey, soft slate clay, from ten to fifteen feet thick, above which is white sandstone, from twenty-four to forty-five feet, on which rests the third and uppermost seam of coal, from eight to nine inches only in thickness. Above it is slate clay in beds varying in thickness, generally soft and black, and containing innumerable thin layers of clay iron-stone: these beds are unitedly from 100 to 200 feet thick, and are succeeded by blackish grey sandstone slate in thin layers, from 30 to 60 feet thick, capped by sandstone flag, from 30 to 50 feet, which forms the summits of the coal mountains, and is the highest stratum in the county in geological and in actual elevation: the chief workings now in operation vary from 260 to 270 feet below the surface.

The course of the Arigna river, which runs through a deep and narrow valley, has been adopted as a line of division between the coal field of Bracklieve, on the south, and that of Slieve Curkagh on the north, in both of which the strata are nearly similar, although minor differences, such as the change of soft slate clay into sandstone slate, may be observed within a few yards. A peculiarity of these coal districts is that of the beds of coal all lying at a considerable elevation in the mountains, where their outcrop may be distinctly traced in various places. The coal district to the south of the Arigna river extends in the direction of the mountain, from south-east to north-west, about nine miles, and in breadth about two, comprising an area of 4540 acres; and the coal field to the north of that river comprises about 1940 acres; making a total of about 6480. The quality of the coal, though not equal to that of White-haven or Newcastle, is sufficiently well adapted for culinary or manufacturing purposes, being a medium between the quick blazing coal of Scotland and the coal of Whitehaven. Inconsiderable workings appear to have been made in the borders of the several seams from an early period; but the first important era in the mining history of the district was the establishment of iron-works at Arigna, in 1788, by three brothers of the name of O'Reilly. By these enterprising men, pit coal was for the first time used in Ireland in the smelting of iron-ore; and both bar and pig iron of the best quality were produced. But the speculation proved unsuccessful, and, after passing into other hands, the concern was discontinued in 1808, although it had two coal mines in the southern district for its supply, the Rover colliery, about a mile distant, and the Aughabehy colliery, the largest in the district, about three miles distant. A report on the mineral wealth of this district, made by Mr. Griffith to the Royal Dublin Society, in 1814, and the repetition of the statements therein contained by that, gentleman before a committee of the House of Commons in 1824, induced the investiture of capital in the working of these mines by several companies, who made the borders of Lough Allen the scene of revived activity and industry. The Irish and the Hibernian Mining Companies began operations in the mountains on the north side of the Arigna river, but suspicions were soon entertained by the agents both as to the reported extent and thickness of the coal; and the Hibernian Company at once abandoned the speculation as unworthy of further attention. The Irish Mining Company, however, persevered, and opened several pits, the largest of which, at Tullynaha, was worked to advantage for a long time. But the body that engaged most extensively in these works was the Arigna Mining Company, formed in London during the speculating period of 1824 and 1825, whose affairs became the subject of a parliamentary investigation and of a long and expensive chancery suit, which was not terminated until Jan. 1836. In 1824, a lease of the old Arigna works was obtained from Mr. Latouche; a colony of engineers and workmen was brought over from England in the same year; the works were restored, the coal and iron mines reopened, and 230 tons of iron were manufactured between Nov. 1825 and May 1826, at an expense of £8. 4. per ton, when the furnace became choked, in consequence of which the smelting was discontinued and the works were suffered to fall into decay until after the decision in chancery, when Mr. Flattery, in whose favour the decree was made, recommenced the works, which have been since in full operation, producing 18 tons of castings daily and affording employment to 560 men: the metal wrought is said to be equal to the best Swedish iron. Fine castings of every description are made here and shipped for Dublin, where there is already a great demand for them. In connection with these works are the collieries of Rover and Aughabehy, belonging to the old proprietors, and a new pit, in which the coal is superior in quality and the seam thicker than any of those previously discovered, has been opened at Gubberother by Mr. Flattery, who is about to form a railway from his works to the lake. The same spirited individual is erecting a building for the manufacture of bar, rod, and sheet iron. The value of these works to the manufacturing industry of the country is much diminished by the want of good roads through this mountainous district. The works are near the shore of Lough Allen and 9 miles from Carrick on Shannon, south of the Arigna river, where the royalties chiefly belong to Mr. Tennison, though one is held under the Archbishop of Tuam. There are coal mines on both sides of this mountain ridge, of which the most important is that of Aughabehy, more distant than any from the iron-works. The iron-stone of the neighbourhood is of the greatest variety, richness, and abundance; and the limestone used as a flux is of the best quality.

Of other mineral productions, it remains only to state that clay suitable for potters' use and for tobacco pipes is found in different parts of the county: in the vicinity of Roscommon are several small potteries; and at Knockcroghery there is a manufactory for tobacco pipes. Fire-bricks have been made from the fireclay of the coal districts, and considerable quantities are now made at the Arigna works. Iron-stone is found not only in the northern but likewise in the western part of the county, where it was formerly smelted in small quantities; and between Mantua and Belanagare occurs a tough compound calcareous stone, containing pale, blueish, striated flints, resembling chalcedony and agate. Except the above, scarcely any manufactures are now carried on; that of linen, which partially flourished while supported by bounties, having become nearly extinct when they were withdrawn; and even the domestic manufacture of coarse flannels, striped woollens, and cotton stuffs, for home consumption, is injured by the rivalry of cheap goods from England. The commerce therefore consists in the export of agricultural produce, in the extensive sales of cattle at the surrounding marts, of which Ballinasloe is the principal, and in the importation of the foreign supplies required by its wealthier population.

The chief rivers connected with the county are the Shannon and the Suck. The Shannon, from Lough Allen, throughout the whole of its course along the eastern frontier of the county, has been made navigable, notwithstanding its numerous rapids. The difficulties of the first seven miles and a half are obviated by a canal from Lough Allen, near Drumshambo, to Battlebridge, whence the navigation is continued down the river to Carrick-on-Shannon, below which it winds a smooth and majestic course beneath high cliffs of gravel on the Roscommon side, and a mile or two farther forms numerous little bays and inlets, and encircles some small islands. A second canal then occurs, to avoid the rapids between Jamestown and Drumsna. After passing through Loughs Bodarrig and Boffin, the Shannon again becomes shallow and narrow, and, to obviate the obstructions, a canal of about three-quarters of a mile in length is carried past the falls of Ruskey. At Tarmonbarry the rapids are avoided by coasting round the great island of Cloondra, at the lower end of which a short canal re-communicates with the river: the next town on the navigation is Lanesborough, where rapids are avoided by another artificial cut, and immediately below the river expands into Lough Ree, nearly eighteen English miles in length, the navigation of which is attended with some danger on account of its sunken rocks and shoals, the most difficult part being the end next Lanesborough, where the channel is narrow and tortuous; the greatest depth of water of this lake does not exceed seventy-five feet, and the general depth is much less. Great numbers of pleasure boats are kept upon it, but along the whole Roscommon shore there is not a quay for large vessels, nor any place interested in, or connected with, the navigation of the lake, except an occasional group of cabins. From the lower end of Lough Ree the Shannon glides in a broad navigable channel a mile and a half to Athlone, below the ancient bridge of which the falls are avoided by a canal about a mile in length. The rest of its course is through a dreary and thinly inhabited country by Shannon bridge to the influx of the Suck, where it quits the county. With the Shannon navigation are connected all the other lines of water communication with which this county is intersected, the Royal Canal to Dublin entering it at Richmond harbour below Tarmonbarry, and the Grand Canal at Shannon harbour, below the confines of the county, whence a branch is extended westward to Ballinasloe. The Shannon serves for the transmission of turf, brick, sand, lime, flags, marble, slates, native timber, manures, coal, culm, and stone for building; besides potatoes, meal, flour, grain, and other articles of provision. Coal is brought down from Lough Allen to Carrick, Drumsna, and even to Athlone; but the population is so dispersed over the country, that the trade in this article is necessarily very small. Corn and butter are exported by the canals; and heavy articles, such as sugar, iron, deals, slates, manufactured goods, &c., received by them in return.

The Suck is navigable to Ballinasloe for flat-bottomed barks of light burden; small row boats ascend still higher; but the construction of the canal from this town to Shannon harbour has rendered the river navigation unnecessary. The Shannon and Suck abound with all the common kinds of river fish, especially with eels, of which vast quantities are taken at weirs erected for the purpose, and a large supply sent to Dublin; those of the Suck are esteemed peculiarly fine. The principal smaller rivers are the Breeogue; the Lung, which has a subterraneous passage for about a mile, collaterally with one of its tributaries, and at length enters Lough Gara; and the Gara river, or Boyle water, which, on emerging from Lough Kea, becomes navigable for small craft, but below Knockvicar bridge, and below the upper lough of Oakford, dwindles into a mere stream which, in ordinary seasons, could scarcely be supposed to afford the only channel for all the waters which pour from Lough Gara and Lough Kea. Besides this last tributary, the Shannon receives from Roscommon the powerful stream of Arigna; the Fiorish, from Lough Skean and Meelagh; and a large stream from under Carnadoe bridge, discharged from a chain of small lakes in the interior, the lowest and largest of which is about three miles in length. Plans have been proposed for extending a branch of the Shannon and Royal Canal navigations to the town of Roscommon; but their execution has not been undertaken. The roads are numerous and highly important, as the lines of communication between Dublin and every part of Connaught pass through this county. The old lines of road are crooked and in many parts very hilly, but generally well made, though wet in winter in consequence of the drains and watercourses not being properly attended to. A line has recently been opened from Tarmonbarry to Lung bridge, another from Roscommon to Richmond harbour and Ruskey, and another from Lanesborough to Strokestown. All the roads are kept in order by Grand Jury presentments, as there are no toll gates in the county.

The most numerous class of antiquities are the raths, which abound in the northern and middle baronies, but are less frequent in the south. No less than 470 are marked on the Grand Jury map of the county; and the people generally regard them with veneration, deeming it unlucky to disturb or cultivate them. At Jamestown are two, remarkable for being situated so close to each other that the encircling trenches join. There is a still more curious circular fortification at Lough Glynn, and at Oran are the remains of an ancient round tower. The monastic remains are also various and interesting; Archdall enumerates 50 religious establishments of various kinds; and there are still interesting and picturesque ruins of Boyle abbey, of that at Clonshanvill, of Trinity abbey on the shores of Lough Kea; of the priory of Inchmacneerin, an island in the same lake; of Tulsk abbey; of the Dominican convent at Roscommon; of Derane abbey, two miles north-east from Roscommon; and of Clontuskert abbey, in the same vicinity. There are also a large old church and other ecclesiastical ruins at St. John's. Several remains of small castles are scattered through the county, undeserving particular notice. The following are most remarkable: the old castle of Lough Glynn; the fortress on Castle island, in Lough Kea, anciently belonging to Mac Dermot; Ballynafad castle, the ancient seat of O'Conor Roe; the extensive ruins of Roscommon castle; those of Ballintobber castle, belonging anciently to O'Conor Don; the old keep of Athlone castle; the ruined fortress and fortified isthmus of St. John's; and the old castle of Ballinasloe. Old Coote Hall, in the parish of Tumna, presents curious remains of fortification in a tower and ruined walls; and at Belanagare, Kilmore, and near Athleague, are ancient ruined mansions, conspicuous by their tall ornamented chimneys and high gables. Among the antiquities may be noticed the old bridge of Athlone, the inscription on which states it to have been built in the 9th year of Elizabeth, and records several circumstances connected with the history of that period. The county contains a considerable number of seats, of which some are very splendid, and surrounded by grounds of great beauty; they are all noticed in their respective parishes; and though every part of it, but more particularly the barony of Boyle, affords numerous instances of improvements in the buildings, even down to the cottages of the peasantry, yet too many instances of squalid misery in their habitations are still to be met with. Among the most remarkable natural curiosities are the swallow holes, through which several of the streams are precipitated into subterraneous caverns: the largest river having a subterranean course is the Lung, near Lough Glynn. At Rathcroaghan, Kilmacumsky, and other places are natural and artificial caves, in which have been found various fossil bones. Roscommon confers the title of Earl on the family of Dillon.

ROSCOMMON, an incorporated market and assize town (formerly a parliamentary borough), and a parish, in the barony of BALLINTOBBER, county of ROSCOMMON, and province of CONNAUGHT, 15 1/4 miles (W. by N.) from Athlone, and 74 3/4 (W.) from Dublin, on the road to Sligo; containing 8374 inhabitants, of which number, 3306 are in the town. This place appears to have derived both its origin and its name, originally Ros-Coeman, or "Coeman's marsh," from the foundation of an abbey of Canons Regular in a low situation here, by St. Coeman, or Comanus, a disciple of St. Finian, about the year 540. This abbey was pillaged by the Danes in S07, and plundered and burnt by the people of Munster in 1134; it, however, was soon afterwards restored, and in 1156 its endowments were greatly augmented by Turlogh the Great, King of Ireland. In 1204, the establishment was plundered by William Bourke Fitz-Aldelm, one of the earliest English adventurers that penetrated into Connaught. A Dominican friary was founded here in 1253, by Felim McCahile Croovdearg O'Conor, King of Connaught, who was interred in it in 1265; both these establishments, at the dissolution, were granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir Nicholas Malby, Knt., and his heirs, at a yearly rent of £30. 5. 10. In 1268, Sir Robert de Ufford, the English Lord-Justice, erected a strong castle here, which, four years afterwards, when Maurice Fitz-Maurice. Earl of Kildare, was Lord-Justice, was razed to the ground by the native Irish. This castle was rebuilt, and in 1276 was again taken by the Irish, who on that occasion obtained a signal victory over the English; and in the following year, Thomas de Clare, who had retaken it, was, with his father-in-law, the Earl of Kildare, surrounded by the native forces, and compelled to purchase a safe retreat by the final surrender of the place. The De Burgos afterwards recovered possession of this fortress. The castle, on its first erection and also the town which gradually rose around it, paid a ground rent to the abbot of the older monastery. In 1360, the town was destroyed by fire, and in 1498 the Earl of Kildare, then Lord-Deputy, in an expedition into Connaught, took possession of the castle, which he strongly fortified. It subsequently fell into the hands of the enemy, who kept possession of it till 1566, when it was retaken for the Queen by Sir Henry Sidney, Lord-Deputy, who placed Sir Thomas L'Estrange in it as governor, with a garrison of infantry and 20 horsemen. In the parliamentary war of 1641, the castle was held for the king by Sir Michael Earnley, with a detachment of the President of Connaught's troops; and in 1642 it made a brave defence against the assaults of the insurgent forces, but ultimately fell into their hands. The insurgents kept possession of it till 1652, when it was delivered up to Col. Reynolds, an officer of the parliamentarian army.

The town is principally built on the eastern and southern sides of a hill, at the base of which are the remains of its ancient and venerable religious buildings, and its once stately castle; it consists of one main street, forming its chief entrance from the north, and expanding at the extremity into a wide open area, round which are some of the public buildings and the best of its more ancient houses. Several smaller streets of very inferior character diverge from the main street: the total number of houses is 581, of which 400 are merely cabins; of the remainder, several are handsome and well built, and a few are pleasing villas. The inhabitants are but indifferently supplied with water from a deep well in the centre of the town, and from others near the base of the hill; in summer the supply is very inadequate. Five roads radiate from the town to different parts of the country. About half a mile distant are barracks for . one troop of horse. Races, which are supported by subscription, are held annually on a course about a mile from the town; and a newspaper is published weekly. The principal trade is in grain, of which large quantities are sent to Lanes-borough, whence it is conveyed by the Shannon; this trade has greatly increased since the improvement of the roads and the facilities afforded by the continuation of the Royal Canal; and a plan is under consideration for the construction of a line of navigation from the town, either to the Shannon or to the Royal Canal harbour at Tarmonbarry. A branch of the National Bank of Ireland was opened in the town in 1837: there are also a public brewery and a tanyard. The market is on Saturday, and is numerously attended and abundantly supplied with corn and provisions of all kinds; among various other articles exposed for sale are frieze, coarse woolen stuffs, flannels, and a little linen, with coarse brown pottery made in the neighbourhood, for which the clay is brought in carts from the borders of the river Shannon. Fairs are held on Whit-Monday and Dec. 5th, and are well attended. A chief constabulary police force is stationed in the town. The market-house, originally the old gaol, was afterwards used as a lunatic asylum, and since the removal of the patients to the district asylum, has been appropriated to its present use.

The town received a charter of incorporation in the reign of Edw. I., and in 1310 the burgesses petitioned for a confirmation of it from Edw. II., who issued to the Lord Chief Justice, Chancellor, and Treasurer of Ireland his writ of inquiry for that purpose, but neither the return nor any subsequent proceedings to this writ are recorded. Jas. I., in the 10th of his reign, granted the inhabitants a charter of incorporation, under the designation of the "Provost, Free Burgesses, and Commonalty of the Borough of Roscommon," with power to hold a court of record with jurisdiction to the amount of five marks, and to return two members to the Irish parliament. A new charter was subsequently granted by Jas. II., which increased the number of free burgesses from twelve to eighteen, and extended the jurisdiction of the court from five marks to £5, which latter alteration alone was adopted by the corporation. Under the charter of Jas. I., by which the town was governed, the corporation consisted of a provost, twelve free burgesses, and an indefinite number of freemen. The provost was annually chosen from the free burgesses by a majority of that body, by whom also vacancies in their number were filled up as they occurred, and the freemen were admitted solely by favour. The corporation continued to return two members to the Irish parliament till the Union, when the borough was disfranchised. Since that period it has become virtually extinct, and the only local court now held is that of the manor of Roscommon, held before the seneschal, at which debts not exceeding £10 are recoverable. The assizes for the county are held here, and the general sessions for the division of Athlone twice in the year; petty sessions are also held in the town every Monday. The new court-house, situated on a levelled space on the western brow of the hill, is a handsome and spacious structure with a Doric portico in front; and contains, besides two well arranged court-rooms for criminal and civil business, a superb room for the Grand Jury, an apartment for the use of the judges, a room for the barristers, refreshment rooms, and accommodations for persons having business at the assizes or sessions, with complete ranges of requisite offices. Near it is the new gaol for the county, built upon the radiating principle and of a polygonal form, containing eight wards, with airing-yards and work-rooms, and 91 sleeping cells, an hospital, a chapel, school, and tread-wheel.

The parish comprises 7289 statute acres, of which 6345 are applotted under the tithe act. The land is of good quality and generally in a state of profitable cultivation, and the neighbourhood is rich in agricultural produce. The principal seats are Carrowroe, the residence of R. Goff, Esq., a substantial and handsome mansion of limestone, with a Doric portico in front, situated in a highly improved and richly wooded demesne, commanding fine views of the surrounding country; and Hazelbrook of R. Blakeney, Esq., pleasingly situated; and within two or three miles of the town is Moate Park, the seat of Lord Crofton, a handsome and spacious modern mansion, situated in an ample demesne richly wooded. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Elphin, episcopally united, in 1805, to the vicarages of Kilbride and Kilteevan, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is impropriate in the Earl of Essex. The tithes amount to £147. 13. 10., of which £73. 16. 11. is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar; the gross income of the benefice, including a bequest by the late Lord Ranelagh of £18. 9. per ann., amounts to £292. 14. 11. The church is a neat edifice with a square tower, in which are a doorway and window of elegant design. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also the parish of Kilteevan, in each of which is a chapel. The chapel in this parish being too small for the congregation, the old court-house was purchased from the Grand Jury by the Rev. John Madden, P.P., and converted into a chapel with galleries; there is a painting of the Crucifixion over the altar, and others on the walls; the building cost £2000; the former chapel is now used as a school. About 360 children are taught in six public schools, of which one is supported by a bequest of £52 per annum by the late Lord Ranelagh; and there are 12 private schools, in which are about 540 children. The county infirmary is a plain substantial building, consisting of a centre and two wings, erected, as appears from a tablet over the entrance, at the sole expense of Mrs. Walcott, sister of the late Lord Chief Justice Caulfeild, in 1783: it contains 50 beds, with a small detached fever hospital, and a dispensary for the relief of extern patients, of whom nearly 16,000 annually receive medical assistance; the number of patients received into the infirmary is more than 300 annually, and the annual expenses of the institution are about £1000; the income arises from an annuity of £92. 6. 2. bequeathed by Mrs. Walcott, donations and subscriptions, parliamentary grants, and presentments. An equitable loan society was established in 1830, with a capital of £150; it has now a capital of £4000, circulating in small loans, raised chiefly by the exertions of Mr. Carson, who has built several neat cottages, to be occupied by the poor rent-free, and two for poor widows, who are supported by him and the Protestant curate. There are some remains of the Dominican friary, consisting of the church, 137 feet in length, and 23 in width, with a northern transept, in which is an aisle separated by four pointed arches, resting on massive round pillars: over the principal entrance is a very beautiful window, with an enriched architrave decorated with pinnacles; the windows in the choir and other parts are lancet-shaped and much mutilated; under an arch on the north side of the choir is a tomb with a mutilated effigy, said to be that of O'Conor, and on the base are four warlike figures in high relief, representing ancient gallowglasses. Fragments of sculptured stones are scattered over the whole area, which, notwithstanding the shallowness of the soil, is still used as a burial-place. The ruins of the castle, on the north side of the town, have a grand and imposing appearance, as seen from various points of view; they occupy a quadrangular area, 223 feet in length, and 173 feet in breadth; each angle is defended by a round tower; two similar towers project from the eastern side to defend the gateway entrance, and on the western side is a square gateway tower of smaller dimensions; the lower stories of the towers are strongly groined, and the upper are of more airy character, with spacious windows of handsome design, and appear to have been connected with a rectangular edifice in the inner court, which contained the state apartments; the whole is surrounded with outer walls, defended at the angles with low round towers. Two miles to the northeast of the town are the remains of the abbey of Derhan, or Derane, said to have been granted to a party of monks from the abbey of Roscommon by O'Conor, at an early period, but the date of its foundation is unknown; they occupy the summit of a barren hill, but present few interesting details, except the mutilated remains of a large window, which appears to have been very highly enriched; adjoining is an extensive cemetery, still in general use. Roscommon gives the title of Earl to the family of Dillon.

ROSCOMROE, a parish, in the barony of BALLYBRITT, KING'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 6 miles (S. E. by E.) from Parsonstown, on the road from Roscrea to Tullamore; containing 1287 inhabitants. It is situated on the confines of the Queen's county, and is bounded on the east by the Slieve Bloom mountains. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Killaloe, forming part of the union of Kinnitty: the rectory is impropriate in the representatives of the late J. Curtis, Esq. The tithes amount to £88. 12. 3 3/4., of which £33. 4. 7 1/2. is payable to the impropriators, and the remainder to the vicar: the glebe comprises 20 acres. In the R. C. divisions also it is part of the union or district of Kinnitty.

ROSCONNELL, a parish, partly in the barony of FASSADINING, county of KILKENNY, but chiefly in that of UPPER OSSORY, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, 1 3/4 mile (S. by W.) from Ballynakill, on the road to Durrow; containing 795 inhabitants, and comprising 1942 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Ossory, forming part of the union of Attanagh: the tithes amount to £143. 1. 6 1/2. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Ballyragget. About 30 children are educated in a private school.

ROSCREA, a market and post-town (formerly the seat of a diocese), and a parish, partly in the baronies of CLONLISK and BALLYBRITT, KING'S county, and province of LEINSTER, but chiefly in the barony of IKERRIN, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 35 miles (N. E.) from Limerick, and 40 (S. W.) from Dublin, on the mail coach road to Limerick; containing 9096 inhabitants, of which number, 5512 are in the town. This place, of which the name, signifying a marshy situation, was descriptive of its early state, appears to have arisen from the foundation of a monastery here by St. Cronan, who flourished about the year 620, and was interred in the church. The establishment, which was for Canons Regular of the order of St. Augustine, was amply endowed, and soon became the seat of a small surrounding diocese; and the town had become a place of importance prior to the close of the ninth century. In 942, the Danes from Limerick and the west approached this place at the time of its great fair, which was frequented by merchants from all parts of the kingdom, and even from foreign parts; but the people, being apprised of their design, marched out of the town to meet them, and after an obstinate conflict, in which more than 4000 of their men were slain, entirely defeated them and killed their leader. The town was destroyed by fire in 1133 and 1147; and was plundered by the inhabitants of the district of Cashel in 1153, and in the year following was again destroyed by fire. During this century the ancient see of Roscrea was united to that of Killaloe, since which period there is no further notice of the abbey. In 1213, King John, with the consent of the Bishop of Killaloe, proprietor of the manor of Roscrea by the union of the sees, built a strong castle here to defend the town and neighbourhood against the incursions of Moriertach O'Brien, who had committed great devastations in this part of the country. The manor was, in 1280, given to Edw. I. by Matthew Hogan, Bishop of Killaloe, with the assent of his Dean and Chapter, in exchange for other lands in the county of Dublin: and in the following year it was granted by that monarch to Edmund Butler, afterwards Earl of Carrick, in whose family it remained till the reign of Wm. III., and by whom a strong castle was erected, of which a considerable part is still remaining. A Franciscan friary was founded here, in 1490, by Mulrany-na-Feasoige O'Carrol, or his wife Bribiana, which at the dissolution was granted to Thomas, Earl of Ormonde.

The town is situated on a small river which is tributary to the Brosna, and consists of several streets irregularly built, containing 663 houses, most of which are of indifferent appearance; the remains of its castles and ecclesiastical edifices, which were extensive and stately structures, with its ancient round tower, convey an idea of its former importance, and render it an interesting object as seen from the hills in the surrounding neighbourhood, which abounds with picturesque scenery. The infantry barracks, formerly the mansion of the Damer family, are adapted for 7 officers and 106 noncommissioned officers and privates, with stabling for 4 horses. From its situation in the heart of a fertile district, the town carries on a brisk trade for the supply of the smaller towns in the neighbourhood, and is the principal mart for the agricultural and other produce of the surrounding country. The manufacture of coarse woollen cloths was established here in 1822, by Mr. Henry Buckley, and affords employment to about 100 persons; there are also three flour-mills, two breweries, and two tanneries, in full operation. The market days are Thursday and Saturday; and fairs are held on March 25th, May 7th, June 21st, Aug. 8th, Oct. 9th, and Nov. 29th, when vast quantities of cattle of all kinds and other farming stock are sold. The market-house is commodious, and there are also public shambles. A chief constabulary police force is stationed here; petty sessions are held every Monday, and a manorial court, in which debts to the amount of £10 Irish are recoverable, is held in the market-house every month before the seneschal. The bridewell contains 12 sleeping cells, 3 day-rooms, and two airing-yards, with a hall which is used also for a chapel.

The parish comprises 10,719 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £7859 per ann.: the land is extremely fertile, and the system of agriculture greatly improved; limestone abounds and is quarried for agricultural purposes and for building, and there are extensive quarries of grit-stone. The seats are Juane, that of P. Jackson, Esq., situated in an extensive, highly cultivated, and richly planted demesne; and Mount Butler, the handsome and pleasant residence of Capt. Smith. Near the town but not within the parish, are Verdant Hill, the residence of the Rev. Mr. Townsend; Corville, of the Hon. F. Prittie; Golden Grove, of W. P. Vaughan, Esq.; Mount Heaton, of Mrs. Hutchinson; Mona Incha, of G. Birch, Esq.; Glen Albert, of Albert F. Maxwell, Esq.; Killavella, of F. Jackson, Esq.: the Grove, of Smith, Esq.; Ashbury, of Mrs. Bridge; Dungar Park, of Mrs. Evans; Laurel Hill, of S. Palmer, Esq.; Lowlands, of Mrs. Rollestone; and Mill Park, of Adam Acres, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Killaloe, episcopally united, in 1779, to the rectory and vicarage of Kyle, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £484. 12. 3 3/4. The glebe-house, towards the erection of which the late Board of First Fruits contributed a gift of £100 and a loan of £775, in 1812, is a good residence; the glebe comprises about 1 3/4 acre, and the gross income of the benefice amounts to £596. 6. 1 3/4. The church, towards the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have granted £160, is situated near the site of the ancient abbey, and was erected in 1812. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also the parish of Kyle, and containing a chapel in each parish. There are places of worship for the Society of Friends and Primitive Methodists. About 260 children are taught in three public schools, of which one is supported by the trustees of Erasmus Smith's charity and endowed with two acres of land by Lady Caroline Damer, who also contributed £300 for the erection of the school-house; and there are seven private schools, in which are about 200 children. A dispensary was established in 1809 by the late Drs. Smith and Powell; and in 1830 the Earl of Portarlington gave a plot of land as a site and £50 towards the erection of a suitable building. A fever hospital and house of recovery was established by subscription in 1824; it contains four sick wards and two convalescent wards, and is capable of accommodating 32 sick and 24 convalescent patients. A cholera hospital was erected in 1832, which contains two wards and is capable of receiving 40 patients.

The only remains of the ancient abbey is the western gable, with an arched door now forming an entrance to the present churchyard; on each side of the arch are two flat niches, and above the doorway is a figure of the patron saint, Cronan, but much mutilated. In the churchyard is part of a circular cross, which, with another stone now forming part of the wall, is called the shrine of St. Cronan, and is rudely sculptured with a representation of the Crucifixion and other figures. On the opposite side of the road, to the north-west of the old church, is an ancient round tower; it is about, 80 feet high and in good preservation, and is covered with a dome roof of wood; around its base are two tiers of stone steps, and about 15 feet from the ground is a circular arched doorway, above which, at an elevation of 15 feet, is a pointed window. There are also some remains of the Culdee establishment of Mona Incha, where, from the time of St. Columba, who flourished early in the 6th century, and was the founder of that order, subsisted till the beginning of the 17th century a fraternity of monks remarkable for their learning and sanctity, who strenuously resisted the usurpations of the see of Rome, and are mentioned by Archbishop Ussher as existing in the earlier part of his time. In the north-western part of the town are the remains of the Franciscan friary, still in tolerable preservation; the tower of the ancient church forms the entrance to the R. C. chapel. In a street called the Mall is still standing a circular tower, forming a portion of the castle erected by King John, which has been recently roofed; and in the centre of the town, and in good preservation, is the lofty square castle built by the Ormond family, part of which has been appropriated as a dep6t for military stores for the use of the troops quartered in the barracks. St. Canice here wrote a copy of the four gospels, called Glass Kennic, or "the Chain of Canice", which till the time of Archbishop Ussher was preserved in the abbey of this place; there was also a curious copy written by Dimma, a scribe, the son of Aengus, son of Carthin, which was also kept there in a curiously ornamented box, and was most probably the manuscript in the possession of Sir William Betham, Ulster King at Arms. There is a chalybeate spring at Corville, near the town.

ROSENALLIS, or OREGAN, a parish, in the barony of TINNEHINCH, QUEEN'S county, and province of LEINSTER, on the road from Emo to Birr, through Clonaslee; containing, with the greater part of the post-town of Mount-Mellick (which is separately described), 8463 inhabitants. The parish is said to have derived its name from Rossa Failgea, eldest son of Cathavir O'More. The north-eastern extremity of the Slieve Bloom mountains is included in it. The Barrow rises in Tinnehinch hill, and after receiving the tributary stream of the Owenass, or Onas, quits the parish near Mount-Mellick. The soil is cold, but capable of great improvement by the application of lime, which is much used, as is also a compost of clay, bog mould and the refuse of the farm-yard. In the Slieve Bloom mountains are quarries of a soft white sandstone, which hardens when exposed to the air, and is susceptible of a high polish; it is in great demand throughout the country for chimney-pieces and hearth-stones; a coarser kind is used for flagging. Another peculiarity of these mountains is the fertility of their northern side, which is interspersed with neat farm-houses and cultivated enclosures to its summit, while its southern side is mostly a heathy waste. Iron ore was formerly raised, but is not now. There is a large tract of bog in this district, affording an abundant supply of fuel. Tillage is more attended to than grazing: there are but few flocks of sheep. The chief crops are potatoes, wheat, barley and oats. Near Mount-Mellick are three public nurseries. Besides the fairs which are held in the last-named town, there is one at Tinnehinch on Oct. 29th solely for pigs. Comfortable farm-houses are thickly scattered through the parish, and there are several good mansions, of which the principal are Capard, the residence of John Pigott, Esq., situated on the side of a hill commanding an extensive view of the adjacent country, with the towns of Mount-Mellick, Maryborough, Portarlington, Mountrath, and Monastereven; Rynn, of Mrs. Croasdaile; Summergrove, of J. Sabatier, Esq.; and the Glebe, of the Rev. Geo. Kemmis. The manufacture of woollen cloths, stuffs and cottons is carried on chiefly in Mount-Mellick and its vicinity; there are also breweries and distilleries.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Kildare: the rectory is impropriate in Gen. Dunne; the vicarage, united with those of Castlebrack, Kilmanman, and Rerymore, is in the patronage of Thos. Kemmis, Esq. The tithes amount to £398. 15. 4 3/4., of which £265. 16. 11 1/4. is payable to the impropriator, and £133. 18. 5 1/2. to the vicar; the parishes of the union constitute the barony of Tinnehinch, and the tithes of the benefice amount to £336. 3. 3 1/2. The glebe-house, at Camira, is a commodious building on an elevated piece of ground near the village of Rosenallis, and has a glebe of 180 acres annexed to it, besides which there are 356 acres of glebe, including mountain land, in the other parishes of the union. The church, at Rosenallis, is a neat building, and has been lately thoroughly repaired by means of a grant of £578 from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners: there is a chapel of ease at Mount-Mellick. In the R. C. divisions Rosenallis is the head of a union or district, comprising parts of the parishes of Rosenallis, Castlebrack and Rerymore; the other part of the parish is in the district of Mount-Mellick; there are chapels at Capard and Mount-Mellick. The Society of Friends have an enclosed burial-ground near the village. Besides the schools at Mount-Mellick, there are two in Rosenallis, one of which is a national school. At Rosenallis is a station of the constabulary police. Within the grounds of Cappard are several raths, and brass coins of Jas. II. were dug up near the mansion a few years since. A remarkable togher or bog-pass, in the neighbourhood, is pointed out as the place where an engagement took place between parties of King William's and King James's forces, in which the latter were defeated.

ROSINAN, a parish, in the barony of KNOCKTOPHER, county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (N. N. W.) from Waterford, on the road to Kilkenny; containing 1130 inhabitants, and comprising 5105 1/2 statute acres. It is in the diocese of Ossory; the rectory is appropriate to the vicars choral of the cathedral of St. Canice, Kilkenny, and the vicarage forms part of the union of Kilbeacon. The tithes amount to £207, of which £138 is payable to the vicars choral, and the remainder to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Kilmacow.

ROSKEEN, or RUSHEEN, a parish, in the barony of DUHALLOW, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (S. E.) from Kanturk, on the road to Mallow; containing 591 inhabitants. It is bounded on the south by the river Blackwater, which is here crossed by a stone bridge of ten arches. Near this bridge commences the new Government road, which at Clonbanin branches off on the right to King-William's-Town and Castle-Island, and on the left towards Killarney. The parish comprises 1795 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the land is in general good and chiefly in tillage, and the state of agriculture has of late years undergone considerable improvement. On the lands of Pallis, the estate of Robt. Phayre, Esq., are several beds of culm, which have not yet been worked; limestone is also found on that estate, and brownstone adapted for ordinary building purposes is found in other parts of the parish. The Blackwater is here very rapid and subject to floods, but at ordinary times is fordable in several places. Roskeen House, the residence of Pierce Power, Esq., is pleasantly situated near the river and commands a fine view of the majestic mountain of St. Hilary. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Cloyne, forming part of the union of Clonmeen: the rectory is impropriate in Robt. Phayre, Esq. The tithes amount to £80. 10. 7., of which £55 is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Castlemagner.

ROSS, a parish, in the barony of Ross, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 3 miles (W. by N.) from Cong, on the road to Connemara and the sea at Killery bay; containing 4361 inhabitants. This parish, which was formerly known also by the name of Faghery, together with the adjoining parish of Cong, forms the narrow isthmus which separates the extensive loughs Corrib and Mask, and comprises 44,062 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £3923 per annum. About two-fifths of the land are rough mountain pasture, all of which by judicious treatment could be reclaimed and rendered available for agricultural purposes, one-fifth waste, one-fifth bog, and the remainder, with the exception of about 500 acres of wood, good arable land in a profitable state of cultivation. Great quantities of oats raised here are sold at Clonlur, in this parish, where a market is held on Saturday, and fairs for general farming stock on Feb. 1st, March 17th, July 1st, and Sept. 1st. A small market for corn is also held at Fairhill during the season. A few of the inhabitants are employed in spinning flax and woollen yarn for their own use. Lumber boats are employed on Lough Mask in carrying turf, timber, grain, and other agricultural produce of the parish to Galway, and a communication with the sea and the Killery harbours affords great facility of conveyance. In the mountain of Glanlosh is a slate quarry, the property of Thos. Martin, Esq., but not worked at present. The only seats are Ross Hill, the property of the Earl of Leitrim, at present unoccupied; Petersburgh, the residence of C. Lynch, Esq.; and Benlevy Lodge, of J. Blake, Esq. At the head of Lough Corrib, which is navigable to the neighbourhood of Galway, is the Corrib hotel, situated at Maam, among the mountains, at the foot of Noneen More, at the entrance of Joyces' country and the Killeries, and commanding a beautiful view of the picturesque scenery in this very romantic district. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Tuam, forming part of the union of Kilmolara; the tithes amount to £430. In the R. C. divisions it is the head of a union or district, comprising also part of the parish of Cong; this union is also called Feara, and contains three chapels, two at Ross and one at Cong. About 240 children are taught in two public schools, one of which is in connection with the Kildare-place Society and the other with the Board of National Education; and there is a private school at Fairhill, in which are about 50 children. A monastery for Conventual Franciscans was founded here in 1431, which was reformed by the Observantines in 1470. There are some remains of Castle Kirk, on the island of that name in Lough Corrib. Near the house of Ross-hill are the ruins of an ancient church and a burial-ground, called by the people in the neighbourhood Russ the Faghery to distinguish it from the abbey of Ross near Headford, which is called Russ Rela.

ROSS (NEW), an inland port, borough and market-town, and a parish, partly in the barony of SHELBURNE, but chiefly in that of BANTRY, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 19 1/2 miles (W. by N.) from Wexford, and 70 3/4 (S. S. W.) from Dublin, on the road from Wexford to Waterford, and on the eastern bank of the river of Ross, sometimes called the Barrow; containing 7523 inhabitants, of which number, 5011 are in the town and borough. Colgan states that St. Abban built a great monastery, now called Rossmactreoin, on the banks of the Barrow, and that this monastery, in process of time, gave rise to a noble and ancient city, formerly called Rossglas and subsequently Rossmactrium or Rossmactreoin; the magnitude and age of which was demonstrated by the ruins and walls remaining in his time (about 1620). Camden says that the town was founded by Isabella, daughter of Strongbow and consort of William le Mareschal, afterwards Earl of Pembroke, who held it in right of his wife. The charter granted to it by Roger Bigod, in the reign of Edw. I., directs that the provost, when elected, should be presented to him and his heirs at the castle of Old Ross, or, in case of absence, to their seneschal in the town of New Ross, thus shewing the pre-existence of the town. It afterwards acquired the name of Rossponte or Rosspontum, from the circumstance of a bridge having been built over the river here. Its situation on a navigable river in the heart of a fertile country soon rendered it populous and wealthy: the same circumstances exposed it to the predatory incursions of the neighbouring chieftains, to defend themselves from which the townsmen, in 1269, at which time they were grievously harassed by a feud between the Fitzmaurices and the De Burgos, resolved to secure the town by a wall. So anxious were they to accomplish this undertaking, that not only did the whole of the male population work at it by turns in companies, but many of the young women also aided in it, to commemorate which, a strong tower or gate called Maiden tower, was erected eastward in the town, for a prison exclusively for persons guilty of offences against females. The walls enclosed a circuit of a mile; and at that period the town could array for its defence, 363 cross-bow men, 1200 longbow archers, 3000 pikemen, and 104 horsemen, a number of fighting men nearly equal to its entire population at present. In the reign of Edw. I. the town was laid under an interdict by the pope, in consequence of the inhabitants having destroyed a house of the Crutched friars on account of the alleged profligacy of one of its members. Another proof of its early importance may be adduced from the attempts made by the people of Waterford to deprive it of the privileges of a trading port. The controversy, which commenced so early as the reign of Hen. III., was finally decided in favour of Ross by a decree of the English court of Chancery in the reign of Edw. III. In 1469 the town was partially burned by Donald Fuscus, then head of the Mac Murroughs or Kavanaghs; and the inhabitants afterwards suffered so much from repeated occurrences of acts of lawless violence, that, in 1483, they procured an act of parliament, empowering them to "reprize" themselves against robbers, and further enacting that no person should Allenate his freehold in the town without the consent of the provost and council. The latter provision leads to the inference that these acts of aggression were producing the effect of driving the wealthier and more respectable part of the population out of the town. This inference is confirmed by the preamble of a charter of Rich. III., which describes the place as being so reduced by this cause to extreme poverty and misery, as to be nearly depopulated. Another charter allows them to treat and make truce with the Irish enemies and to sell them provisions, as well in time of war as of peace. In the war of 1641 the town, which was then held for the Irish, was besieged by the Duke of Ormonde, who, having attempted to storm it through a practicable breach, was driven back with considerable loss and forced to raise the siege. Immediately after, the battle of Kilrush was fought in the neighbourhood, in which the Duke obtained a signal victory, and the Irish in their flight broke down the bridge of Ross to prevent his pursuit. On the arrival of Cromwell in 1649, the Duke, after having garrisoned Wexford, threw himself into this town, which he also supplied with the means of defence. Cromwell, having taken the former town, invested Ross, which, notwithstanding the Duke's precautionary measures for its defence, surrendered without resistance upon articles, and its fortifications were immediately dismantled. The gate though which his troops entered has since been called Three-Bullet gate, instead of its former name, Bewley gate, from the circumstance that three cannon-shot fired against it was the signal for demanding a surrender: the shot were found a few years after in the walls of the gateway and are in the possession of John Deane, of Stokestown. During the disturbances of 1798, the town was the scene of a most sanguinary conflict between the king's troops and the insurgents, in which the latter, after ten hours' severe fighting, during which they had possession of the greater part of the town for some time, were ultimately defeated with great slaughter. Lord Mountjoy, who commanded the county of Dublin Militia, was killed at the Three-Bullet gate during the engagement.

The town is beautifully situated on the side of a hill declining so precipitously to the Ross river (formed by the Nore and Barrow, which unite about one mile to the north of it,) as to render the communication between the upper and lower parts extremely inconvenient. Some of the principal streets run nearly parallel with the river, and are intersected by others at right angles; minor streets and lanes diverge from these in several directions: the total number of houses, in 1831, was 1040. It is well supplied with water: the streets are partially paved but not lighted, the paving and cleansing being executed by contract under the corporation. The general appearance of the town for some years did not indicate an increase of prosperity; a circumstance attributed to the difficulty of obtaining land on leases of sufficient duration to encourage building; but within the last two years there has been a visible improvement, several new houses having been built. The want of a bridge, after the destruction of the old one in 1643, was supplied by a ferry until the latter part of the last century, when a company incorporated by act of parliament raised a sum of £11,200, by means of shares; and a bridge was constructed by Mr. E. Cox, the architect of Londonderry, Waterford, and Wexford bridges, of American oak; its length, including a causeway of fifty yards on the Kilkenny side of the river, is 508 feet, and it is 40 feet, broad; it rests on 24 sets of piers, and has a drawbridge to admit the passage of large vessels into the part of the river above the town. The bridge was much injured by a severe frost in 1814, and the footways were consequently removed and have not since been replaced. The tolls, which are let annually, produce on an average £800 per ann. This bridge connects the town with the village of Rossbercon, formerly a borough of itself, but now included within the electoral boundary of New Ross. A quay, secured by a parapet coped with hewn stone, extends from the end of the bridge nearly a quarter of a mile along the eastern side of the river. On the site of an ancient church in a retired part of the town, is a cavalry barrack, a plain building containing accommodation for 3 officers, 52 men, and 44 horses. There is also a constabulary police station. The markets are held on Wednesday and Saturday; the latter is the principal and is well supplied with provisions, at moderate prices. Fairs are held on Jan.10th, Feb. 10th, March 17th, Easter-Monday, May 3rd, Whit-Monday, June 10th, July 10th, Aug. 10th, Sept. 10th, Oct. 18th, Nov. 10th, and Dec. 8th. The new corn market, erected in 1818, is an enclosure nearly 50 yards square, with a range of slated sheds along each side, twelve feet deep, opening into the central space by a series of arches; the entrances are by large gates to the north and south, contiguous to the former of which is a house for the offices of the clerk of the market. As the use of this market has not been made compulsory on the farmers, they still adhere to the old custom of carrying on their dealings in the open street. The meat market, a brick enclosure near the centre of the town, containing 25 stalls, was originally erected in 1749 and was rebuilt by John French, burgess, in 1831. There are three extensive breweries in the town, and a distillery in Rossbercon. There was formerly a profitable fishery, chiefly for salmon, carried on in small boats called cots; each cot employed two nets and four men: it has latterly declined considerably, the cause of which is said to be, in a great measure, the erection of Scotch weirs lower down the river. Ross was an independent port until about twelve years since, when it was made a branch port to Waterford; but, though independent, it was closed against all foreign produce from 1786 to 1832, when the port was re-opened by an order from the Lords of the Treasury: a bonded store for tea and other imports has been recently opened. The town is well situated for trade; the river being navigable up to it at high tides for vessels of 500 or 600 tons' burden, and for those of 200 at low water; barges can ascend the stream to Athy, where there is a branch of the Grand Canal. The principal export trade is in grain, flour, live stock, bacon, and butter. Porter, ale and beer are sent to Newfoundland, whence fish and oil are received in return; a considerable trade in timber is carried on with the Baltic and with British America, the latter resulting from the system of emigration from this port, which for several years has been very considerable; coal, culm and slates are imported from Wales. There is a transit trade to Waterford; and Kilkenny coal is brought to Ross in barges, where it is shipped for other parts. There is a boat-building establishment in the town.

New Ross obtained its first charter from Roger Bigod, Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England, in the reign of Edw. I., by which privileges were conferred upon it as extensive as those then enjoyed by the burgesses of any town in Leinster, and it was made a free port. These rights were confirmed by a number of successive charters from subsequent kings till the reign of Jas. I., whose grant is considered to be the ruling charter. A subsequent charter of Jas. II., though still in existence, is not considered to be of any validity. The style of the corporation is "the Sovereign and Free Burgesses of New Ross." The sovereign is chosen from among the burgesses: he and the burgesses elect the new burgesses, who hold office for life; as also the recorder, who holds for life or years at pleasure; two bailiffs, the senior of whom, styled "Bailiff Receiver," presided in an inferior court, now discontinued, which decided pleas under 40s.; two coroners, besides the sovereign and his deputy, who are coroners ex-officio; and other inferior officers. The recorder has no salary or other emolument, and the town court under the charter having been discontinued, his only advantage in right of his office is his being, as well as the sovereign, a justice of peace for the county of Wexford. It is one of the towns named in the new rules of Chas. II., which require that the elections of the chief magistrate, recorder, and town-clerk should be approved of by the lord-lieutenant and privy council. The sovereign and burgesses may admit freemen at pleasure, but no claim of right is allowed. By the charter of Jas. I. the liberties were extended a mile in every direction beyond its ancient limits, with the exception of the castle and lands of Mountgarret. The lands of the corporation at present amount to about 400 acres, let for about £180 per annum. The town first returned members in 1374, and continued to send two till the Union, when the number was reduced to one, which has been continued under the act of the 2nd of Wm. IV., cap. 88. The number of electors, in 1835, was, freemen 9, householders 212; total, 221. The electoral boundary, which is much more limited than that of the borough under its ancient charter on the Wexford side, but includes the village of Rossbercon, on the Kilkenny side of the river, is accurately detailed in the Appendix. The court-house, in which the business of the corporation is transacted, is a handsome structure of hewn granite, erected in 1810, at the angle formed by two of the principal streets; it is built on piers with arches springing from them and surmounted with a tower and cupola; the area within the piers was originally intended for a corn-market, but being found to be too confined for the trade of the town, it has been used as a place for the sale of leather. The Easter and Michaelmas sessions for the district are held in the town, and petty sessions once a fortnight: the sessions-house, completed in 1832 at an expense of £1334, defrayed by the county, forms a neat building; the bridewell comprises two day-rooms, seven cells, and two airing-yards, and is in very good order.

The entire parish of St. Mary's, New Ross, contains 5743 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The environs of the town are embellished with many elegant seats and fine demesnes, among which are Oaklands, the seat of Col. Sankey; Talbot Hall, of J. Hyacinth Talbot, Esq.; Macmurrough, of Chas. Tottenham, Esq., part of an estate which had been the ancient property of Dermod Mac Murrough, King of Leinster; Woodville, of Edw. Tottenham, Esq.; Maryville, of J. Talbot, Esq.; Stokestown, of Josh. Deane, Esq.; and Rosemount, the property of the Misses Rossiter. The approaches to the town from the north and east have been lately much improved by the formation of two roads, by which the steep ascents from those points are avoided. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Ferns, united by act of council, in 1768, with the rectories of St. Mary's Old Ross, Carnagh, Tulleraght, Ballyane, and Clonleigh, and the impropriate cures of Kilscanlan and Ballybrazill, the whole forming the union of New Ross, in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is impropriate in the corporation of Kilkenny. The tithes amount to £330. 3. 8 1/2., of which £220. 2. 5 3/4. is payable to the corporation of Kilkenny, and £110. 1. 2 3/4. to the vicar: the whole tithes of the benefice amount to £1152. 17. 4 1/2. In the town are a few scattered plots of building ground, called glebes, none of which is of sufficient size for the site of a glebe-house and offices. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a light and commodious edifice, rebuilt on part of the site of the former edifice, and completed in 1813, partly by a loan of £2400 from the late Board of First Fruits: it stands in a very conspicuous situation on the side of the hill; the tower, on which a spire was intended to be built, is rather low: the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have granted £390 for its repair. It contains an organ, presented by the corporation, and in the chancel are three handsome mural monuments, erected to the memory of the father of the late Chas. Tottenham, Esq., and two of his family. A neat free church, or chapel of ease, is now being erected by subscription at the southern end of the town, on a site presented by Chas. Tottenham, Esq., of Ballycurry. In the R. C. divisions the parish comprises the whole of St. Mary's parish, including the town and its suburbs on the eastern side of the river. The chapel, in South-street, is a spacious and elegant structure with large pointed windows and faced with granite. A chapel belonging to a community of Augustinian friars, consisting of four members, stands on the hill near the site of an ancient friary of the same order: and on the summit of the hill overlooking the town is a convent of Carmelite nuns, a branch of that at Ranelagh, Dublin, which was removed hither in 1817, and has also a neat chapel. The Wesleyan Methodists and the Society of Friends have each a place of worship; the Primitive Methodists meet in the court-house; and a society denominating themselves simply Christian Brethren have a neat place of worship recently erected by subscription, in Priory-lane.

The grammar school was founded in 1713 by Sir John Ivory, Knt. who bequeathed his mansion, offices, and gardens to the corporation and vicar of St. Mary's in trust for the maintenance of a master to instruct four poor boys, the sons of parents of the Established Church, in Latin and Greek: the school-house is a handsome and commodious building, re-erected with suitable offices, in 1791, at the expense of the corporation, and is capable of accommodating a considerable number of boarders and day-scholars. The school of the Friends of Education, built in 1799 by subscription, consists of a central structure and two wings, containing schools for each sex and apartments for the teachers; it is aided by a legacy of £3. 3. 0. per ann. by the late Mrs. Paul, and another of £10 per ann. Irish, chargeable on a farm called Creken, during the existing lease, bequeathed by the late Mr. John Hughes: an infants' school, capable of affording instruction to 100 children, has been lately established in connection with this school. Contiguous to the R. C. chapel are spacious school-rooms for 300 boys, who are instructed on the Lancasterian plan. The ladies of the Carmelite convent superintend a large female school, which receives an annual grant of £25 from the Board of National Education. An institution, called the College, for the preparation of candidates for the R. C. priesthood, has been converted into a private classical seminary, conducted by the Augustinian friars. In these schools are about 330 boys and 260 girls; and there are nine private schools, in which are about 300 pupils, and two Sunday schools. The charitable institutions are numerous. The Trinity hospital, founded by a bequest of Thos. Gregory, gent., and incorporated by Queen Elizabeth, consists of six houses in Priory-street for the accommodation of 14 poor women, each of whom has two rooms and an annual allowance of £ 18. 1. The Fever hospital, founded by the late H. Houghton, of Ballyane, Esq., and completed by his widow in 1809, is built in an airy and commanding situation. The infirmary for chronic diseases was built by Grand Jury presentment in 1820. A dispensary is attached to the fever hospital, and the three institutions are under the management of a committee of 12 Protestants and 12 Catholics, of which the Protestant vicar of St. Mary's and the parish priest, being in right of their offices trustees to the bequest, are always members. The funds arise from a rent-charge of £300 per ann. on the Ballyane estate, the bequest of the founder: £5 per ann. bequeathed by Mrs. Paul; one of four bridge debentures, value £20 per ann., by the late C. Tottenham, Esq.; two bridge debentures, value £10 per ann., by the late Misses Cliffe, of Bath; a Grand Jury presentment of about £400, and about £50 per ann. subscriptions: the average annual expenditure of the whole institution is £770. The vicar's almshouse provides lodging and sustenance for three poor Protestant widows from an endowment from the glebe of £5. 16. 10 1/2. per ann., a legacy of £10 per ann. from C. Tottenham, Esq., and another of £5 per ann. from the late Lord Callen. The Lying-in hospital, founded in 1809, has accommodations for six patients: and a repository, opened in 1805 to supply poor married women during the period of their confinement with suitable comforts and attendance, is supported by the sale of ladies' work presented to the Society. An Industry Society, formed about ten years since, and aided by a contribution from the British and Irish Ladies' Society in London, gives employment to poor females chiefly in spinning and knitting. The Charitable Loan, instituted in 1809, for advancing sums of from one to five pounds, free of interest, to industrious tradesmen and artisans, has issued nearly 8000 loans without suffering any loss. The Leslie Comfort Loan, for the similar purpose of loans not to exceed one guinea each, arose from donations of £100 each from Col. Leslie and Wm. Wigram, Esq., to the corporation, on being elected its representatives. A Dorcas society supported by the work of ladies, provides clothing for the poor, which is sold to them at a reduced price and payment received by small instalments. There is a savings' bank and a lending library kept in the building of the Friends of Education. A Temperance Society, said to be the first of these valuable institutions established in Europe, was founded in 1829, and owes much to the exertions of the Rev. G. W. Carr, well known in London and elsewhere as the eloquent advocate of these societies. A Bible Society was established here in 1804; and a second public library, called the Rumsey Lending Library, and consisting of religious books which are lent free of charge, was instituted by a grant of money to the Rev. G. W. Carr by Mrs. Rumsey, wife of Dr. Rumsey, of Amersham, Bucks. The bequests to the poor in general are £400 Irish in the 3 1/2 per cents., from Archdeacon Curtis, of which 1/8 is given to the poor of Old Ross and the remainder to those of New Ross; £10 per ann. Irish from Col. Barth. Elliott, to be equally divided among Protestants and Catholics; and £16. 0. 2. annually from Major Anthony Cliffe, to be distributed among the poor at Christmas.

The vestiges of ancient buildings or monuments are but few: the walls of a convent of Minorites, founded by Sir John Devereux on the site of the house of Crutched Friars destroyed by the people, were pulled down in 1732, with the exception of a large red pillar supposed to have been erected in commemoration of the former sanguinary act of the townsmen: in a garden on its site were found some ancient, sepulchral stones sculptured with crosses, and bearing inscriptions in Norman French. The walls of the chancel and transepts of the old parish church, commonly called Christ-Church, and which was originally the conventual church of St. Saviour, are in a state of tolerable preservation, affording a good specimen of the style of the 13th century. Two of the five town gates are still standing: that on the north, called the Bishop's gate, retains proofs of its former magnificence; it had a portcullis, and the roof of the archway is very delicately groined: Priory or South gate has been lately taken down. The only other remains of the walls are a small fragment near the South gate, and part of an oval tower near the Three-Bullet gate: about a mile from the town, within the bounds of its liberties, but exempt from its jurisdiction, is a square tower or keep of moderate dimensions, the remains of Mountgarret castle, from which a branch of the noble family of Butler derives its title. In the town were also standing, within the memory of some of the present inhabitants, the ruins of a fortress called Mulgrave castle, from which the family of Phipps derives the title of Baron Mulgrave of New Ross. The town gives the title of Earl to the Parsons family.

ROSS (OLD), or ST. MARY'S, OLD ROSS, a parish, in the barony of BANTRY, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 3 1/2 miles (E.) from New Ross, on the old road to Wexford; containing 2402 inhabitants. The situation of the castle built in this parish by Strongbow, or his daughter Isabella, on an extensive tract of elevated meadow land, which in Wales is called Rhos or Ros, is supposed to have been the origin of its name. On the completion of this castle, the royal residence of Dermod Mac Murrough, King of Leinster, in a valley called the Island, on the bank of the Barrow, and from its unprotected situation much exposed to the assaults of the neighbouring septs, was abandoned by Strongbow, who succeeded to that king's possessions. The superior advantages both as to security and commerce afforded by New Ross on the Barrow, where also a castle was afterwards built, led to the rapid and irrecoverable decay of this place. The parish comprises 1792 acres, chiefly under tillage, and of which the greater part was set out in farms of 40 acres each to part of a colony introduced here from Germany by the late Mrs. Ram. The inhabitants are remarkable for the comfort and neatness of their domestic arrangements. The soil is in general light; agriculture is in a state of high improvement. This property, which is peculiarly designated Old Ross, has been lately purchased by Lord Carew. Robinstown, lately the property of Geo. Giles, Esq., is now on sale. Palace, the residence of the Rev. Thos. Harman, a neat villa, recently much enlarged and improved, occupies the site of a seat originally belonging to one of the chieftains of the country; its fosse and part of the walls were in existence within the memory of persons now living. The parish is in the diocese of Ferns, and is a rectory, forming part of the union of St. Mary's, New Ross: the tithes amount to £522. 6. 9. The old church having been destroyed by the insurgents in 1798, a plain building without tower or spire was erected in its stead, for the repair and improvement of which £195 has been lately granted by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. In the R. C. divisions it is within the district of Cushinstown, in the parish of Carnagh, where the chapel is situated. The parochial school has apartments for the master, with an acre of land attached to it; Lord Carew contributes £5 annually and the rector £2 towards its maintenance. At Cushinstown there is a private school of about 60 children. John Hughes, of Cracken, in this parish, bequeathed £10 per annum late currency to the poor during the remainder of the term of his lease of Ballylane, on which it is charged. Of the ancient castle of Ross the only trace now existing is the artificial mound on which some part of it stood.

ROSS, Diocese of.--See ROSSCARBERY.

ROSSAGH.--See DONERAILE.

ROSSBERCON, or ROSSIBERCON, a parish, in the barony of IDA, county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, on the western side of the river Barrow, adjoining the town of New Ross; containing 1260 inhabitants, of which number, 369 are in the village. A monastery, dedicated to the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, was founded here by the families of Grace and Walsh, where friars-preachers were first introduced in 1267: at the Reformation it was granted to John Parker, Esq. The ruins are extensive and picturesque, comprising the lofty tower of the church, resting on four pointed arches, and the south wall of an aisle, containing five arches and ten windows. At an early period Rossbercon had a charter, by which it was constituted a distinct borough, with nearly the same privileges as those of New Ross, which town, however, completely outrivalled it, and it is now included within the electoral limits of that borough. The parish is situated on the eastern confines of the county, and comprises 2503 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The village consists of 62 houses, and is properly a suburb of New Ross, with which it is connected by a wooden bridge over the river Barrow. Here is an extensive tannery, and it is a chief constabulary police station. Fairs are held on Easter-Monday, May 3rd and 23rd, Whit-Monday, Aug. 10th, and Oct. 5th and 18th; and petty sessions once a fortnight. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, episcopally united, by act of council, in 1686, to the vicarages of Dysertmore, Shanbaugh, Ballygurrum, Kilmackevoge and Rathpatrick, together forming the union of Rossbercon, in the patronage of the corporation of Waterford, in which the rectory is impropriate: at the next avoidance, Rathpatrick, which is about a mile distant from the other parishes, is to be united to Kilculliheen. The tithes amount to £99. 6. 9., of which £66. 4. 6. is payable to the impropriators, and £33. 2. 3. to the vicar; the entire tithes of the benefice amount to £377. 13. 8 3/4. The glebes of the union comprise 21 acres: the glebe-house was erected in 1812, by aid of a gift of £450, and a loan of £88, from the late Board of First Fruits. The church is in good repair. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising this parish and those of Shanbaugh, Desertmore, and Listerling, in each of which is a chapel. The parochial school is aided by the incumbent. There are two private schools, in which about 60 children are taught; and two Sunday schools, one held in the church, and the other in the R. C. chapel.

ROSSCARBERY, a market and post-town and parish, and the seat of the diocese of Ross, partly in the barony of IBANE and BARRYROE, and partly in the Western Division of the barony of EAST CARBERY, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 32 miles (S. W.) from Cork, and 158 (S. W.) from Dublin on the road from Cork to Skibbereen; containing 8714 inhabitants, of which number, 1522 are in the town. This place is noticed in ancient ecclesiastical records under the appellation of Ross Alithri, signifying in the Irish language "the Field of Pilgrims"; it is also in other records called Ross Elihir, and Ylider; and from its situation in that barony takes its present name Ross-carbery, to distinguish it from the town of Ross, in the county of Wexford. It appears to have acquired great celebrity from the reputed sanctity of St. Faughnan, Abbot of Moelanfaidh, in the county of Waterford, who flourished in the early part of the 6th century, and founded an abbey at this place, over which he presided till his death. This abbey, under his successors, became a celebrated seat of learning, much resorted to by families from the south-west of Ireland, and numbered among its scholars St. Finchad, a celebrated disciple of St. Finbar. The exact date of its foundation is not ascertained, nor is it known whether the monastery was of the Augustine or Benedictine order, though at one time it belonged to the latter, and was subject to the celebrated Benedictine abbey of St. James without the walls of the city of Wurtzburgh, in Germany. A town gradually rose around the monastery, which Hanmer, in his Chronicle of Ireland, describes as a walled city, and which subsequently became the seat of a diocese; but in the wars of the McCarties, O'Driscols, and other Irish septs, the walls were thrown down, and a great part of the town was destroyed. At the time of the English invasion the place was much decayed; all the lands, except such as belonged to the bishop, were granted to Fitz-Stephen, by whom they were afterwards assigned to Adam de Roches. King John, on petition of the Bishop, granted the inhabitants of "Ross Lehir" a charter of incorporation, with very ample privileges; but no particulars of its municipal government are recorded. The castle, which was in the possession of the insurgents early in the parliamentary war, was taken from them by Col. Myn, in 1643, but was finally surrendered to the parliamentary forces in 1652. In the war of the Revolution it was garrisoned by the Irish forces of Jas. II., commanded by Gen. McCarty, and was reconnoitred by a detachment of English troops, who considering its reduction impracticable, made themselves masters of a neighbouring fort and proceeded to Tralee.

The town, which is wholly within the Western Division of East Carbery, is situated on the southern coast, at the head of an extensive creek called Ross harbour, and occupies the summit of a gentle eminence; it consists principally of a square and four small streets, containing 282 houses, mostly of indifferent appearance, and retains but few vestiges of its ancient importance. The manufacture of coarse linen was formerly carried on to a very considerable extent, but has latterly greatly diminished, and the inhabitants are chiefly employed in agriculture and in fishing. Near the town are the extensive flour-mills of Mr. Lloyd, in which more than 5000 barrels of fine flour are annually made. The harbour, situated about half a mile to the west of Dundedy Head, occasionally affords shelter to small vessels, but only in moderate weather; the entrance is nearly dry at low water, and at high water it is rocky and dangerous, especially when the wind is from the sea. On the bar are ten feet at high water of spring, and eight feet at neap, tides. The harbour itself is almost useless from a ridge of sand hills which has accumulated nearly to the height of 12 feet, and extends across the entrance, leaving only a channel of a few yards in breadth on the west side, through which the tide rushes with great rapidity. The inner bay, which is more than a mile in length and about half a mile broad, is, on the receding of the tide, a dry firm sand, and might be reclaimed at a moderate expense. A new line of road has been carried across the bay by a raised causeway, 400 yards long, and connected with the mainland by a bridge at its western extremity. The bay is celebrated for the great numbers of silver eels which are taken in it during the summer months. The market is on Wednesday, but is indifferently supplied; and fairs are held on Aug. 26th, and the 19th of Sept. and Dec. The market-house is an old building in the centre of the square. A constabulary police force is stationed here, and at Milk Cove is a coast-guard station, which is one of the three that constitute the district of Skibbereen. Petty sessions are held every Wednesday, and a court for the manor of Ross every three weeks, at which debts not exceeding 40s. are recoverable. The court-house is a very neat building; adjoining it is the police barrack.

The SEE of Ross had its origin in the foundation of the monastery by St. Faughnan or Fachnan, surnamed Mongach or "the hairy," the church of which, according to the best authorities, became the cathedral church of the diocese in the 6th century, and its founder the first bishop. St. Fachnan was succeeded by St. Fin-chad, but neither of him nor of his successors, with the exception of Dongal Mac Folact, whom Flaherty makes the 27th Bishop of Ross, and with his predecessors all of the same house or sept, is any thing recorded prior to the arrival of the English. Since that period there has been, with little intermission, a regular succession of bishops, of whom the first, Daniel, was consecrated by authority of Pope Celestine at Rome, and succeeded to the prelacy in 1197. But having obtained the see by forged letters alleged to have been from the Irish bishops, an enquiry was instituted, and he was deprived by Pope Innocent III., by whose order Florence, who had been canonically elected, was confirmed by apostolic authority in 1210. During the prelacy of Matthew O'Fin, who presided over the see from 1310 till 1330, several of its possessions, which had been unjustly usurped by Thomas Barret and Philip de Carew, were recovered by default; but the crown thinking the recovery had been made by collusion, to avoid the statute of Mortmain, ordered an inquest to be held, which decided in favour of the bishop. In 1377 the see was vacant, and the custos was fined 100 marks for not appearing upon summons at the parliament held at Castledermot. Thomas O'Herlihy, who succeeded in 1563, assisted, with Donat, Bishop of Raphoe, and Eugene, Bishop of Achonry, at the council of Trent in that year. He was succeeded by William Lyon, during whose prelacy the see was united by Queen Elizabeth to that of Cork, with which it has ever since continued; and with which, under the provisions of the Church Temporalities act, it became, on the death of Dr. Brinkley, in Sept. 1835, united to the see of Cloyne, now the diocese of Cloyne, Cork, and Ross, and the temporalities became vested in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners. It is one of the eleven dioceses that constitute the ecclesiastical province of Cashel, and is wholly within the county of Cork, comprising an estimated superficies of 124,000 square acres. The possessions of the see comprise 8179 statute acres of profitable land; and the gross annual revenue of the bishop, on an average of three years ending Dec. 31st, 1831, amounted to £1715. 17. 9 1/4. The chapter consists of a dean, precentor, chancellor, treasurer, archdeacon, and the prebendaries of Timoleague, Inchydony, Curragrainemore, Donoughmore, and Templebryan; there is also one vicar choral. The income of the deanery amounts to £91 per ann., arising from the ploughland of Ardagh, containing 238 acres; houses and gardens in the town of Rosscarbery, and the rectorial tithes of the parish of Desert; that of the precentorship amounts to £205, arising from the rent of 237 acres of land in the parish of Rosscarbery; that of the chancellorship to £11. 1. 6 1/2., arising from the rent of the lands of Gahaniffmore, in the parish of Rathbarry, containing 178 acres; and that of the treasurer-ship to £63, arising from the ploughland of Tinneel, in the parish of Rosscarbery, containing 2105 acres. The consistorial court is held at Cork. The total number of parishes in the diocese is 33, comprised within 30 benefices, of which 8 are unions of two or more parishes, and 25 single parishes; of these, two are in the patronage of the Crown, one in the alternate patronage of the Crown and the Bishop, 23 in the patronage of the Bishop, one in that of the Dean, and the remainder in lay patronage. The total number of churches is 18; a grant has been obtained for building a church at Templecoma; and there are nine school-rooms or other houses licensed by the bishop, in which divine service is performed, and 11 glebe-houses. The cathedral church, which from time immemorial has been also used as the parish church, was rebuilt in 1612: it was a handsome structure, in the later English style, with a lofty square tower, which in 1806 was surmounted with an octagonal spire of hewn limestone, at an expense of £964; the church is now being rebuilt on an enlarged scale by the addition of a south transept, which will render it perfectly cruciform. The entrance on the south is by a fine Norman arch; and above the western door is a lofty window of three lights, enriched with tracery. The nave is separated from the choir by a stone skreen; the choir has a large and handsome window at the east end; the north and south aisles are lighted with square-headed windows enriched with tracery; and the whole will bear the character of uniformity. The economy fund of the cathedral amounts to £558. 15. 5 1/2. per ann., arising from the tithes of the parishes of Rosscarbery, Kilkerranmore, Rathbarry, Kilfaughnabeg, and Kilmacabea.

In the R. C. divisions the diocese is united with that of Cloyne, forming the bishoprick of Cloyne and Ross; the latter differs in extent from the Protestant diocese, by excluding the barony of Bere, which forms part of the R. C. diocese of Kerry. It comprises 12 parochial benefices, or unions, and contains 21 chapels, which are served by 24 clergymen, of whom, including the bishop, 13 are parish priests and 11 coadjutors or curates.

The parish comprises 12,535 statute acres, of which 1288 are tithe-free; about three-fourths of the land are arable, and the remainder, with the exception of a portion of bog and waste, is in pasture. The surface is very uneven, rising in some parts into hills of considerable elevation: the soil, though light, is fertile; but, except on the lands of Mr. Townsend and other resident gentlemen who have adopted every improvement in husbandry and the use of the best farming implements, the system of agriculture is in a very backward state: much of the land is cultivated by the spade, and manure is carried to the field on the backs of horses. Several large slate quarries have been opened, of which some produce slate of very superior quality; and copper ore and manganese abound in almost every part, but no efficient means are employed to work them to advantage. The principal seats are Cahirmore, the residence of T. Hungerford, Esq.; Derry, of the Rev. H. Townsend; Castle Downeen, of R. Smith, Esq.; Milleen, of the Rev. W. Jennings; Millfield, of Lieut. Lloyd, R.N.; Farley Cottage, of T. Hungerford, Esq.; and The Hill, of Capt. W. Starkie. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Ross, partly appropriate to the vicar choral, and partly to the dean and chapter, in trust for the economy fund of the cathedral: the tithes amount to £776. 19. 4., of which £434. 0. 11. is payable to the vicar choral, and £342. 18. 5. to the dean and chapter. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also part of the parishes of Kilfaughnabeg and Kilkerranmore, and containing two chapels, one at Ardagh, near the town, a handsome edifice, erected in 1820 at the head of the bay, on a site surrounded by rocks and plantations; and the other at Lissavord, three miles distant. About 130 children are taught in five public schools, of which the parochial male school is supported by the dean and chapter and the vicar choral; the parochial female school-house was built by Lord Carbery; and an infants' school is supported by Miss Townsend. There are also four private schools, in which are about 120 children; and two Sunday schools. The Rev. S. Jervois, in 1786, bequeathed £400, the interest of which is annually divided among the Protestant poor, and £10 annually, which is paid as apprentice fees with the most deserving boy and girl in the Sunday school. The Rev. T. Hoare, the present vicar choral, has also given by deed £500, the interest of which is annually divided among the most necessitous poor of the parish. On an island which was formerly joined to the mainland are the ruins of Downeen castle; and at Ballyvoureen are the remains of an ancient house in the Elizabethan style, formerly the residence of the Coppinger family. At Temple Faughnan, about a mile and a half from the town, are the ruins of a house erected by the Knights Templars in 1301, and modernised in 1712. Adjoining the town are the remains of the abbey founded by St. Faughnan: the side walls of the choir of the church, rudely built of unhewn stone, are still standing; on the south side are the remains of a circular arch, and adjoining the ruin is the tomb of the Rev. J. Power, who died in 1831: it is much resorted to by pilgrims. In the south wall of the cathedral is an old carved head, said to be that of St. Faughnan. Banduff castle, built by the O'Donovans, and afterwards called Castle Salem, was an extensive building with a walled park and more than 300 acres of oak wood, all now destroyed. In the grounds of Tinneel are the remains of a cromlech. The Rev. Horace Townsend, author of the Statistical Survey of the county of Cork, is resident at Derry, in this parish.

ROSSDROIT, a parish, in the barony of BANTRY, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 4 miles (W. S. W.) from Enniscorthy, on the road to New Ross; containing 1976 inhabitants. This parish and that of Templescobin, both formerly belonging to the abbey of Timolin, were by letters patent granted, in 1619, to Henry Perse, Esq., at a small annual rent. They were forfeited to the Crown by Peirse Butler, Esq., in 1641, and in 1667 were incorporated and assigned, under the Act of Settlement, to the incumbent of Rossdroit, otherwise Templescobin, at the annual rent of £1. 2. 7 1/2. In 1806 the townlands of Clohass and Scobin were separated from Rossdroit, and constituted a distinct parish, under the name of Templescobin, which see. The parish, which is supposed to derive part of its name from a bridge over a small stream falling into the river Boro near the village of Clough, comprises 7999 statute acres, chiefly under tillage; the soil is light, and the state of agriculture is improving, but limestone for manure is not to be obtained nearer than Enniscorthy. At Ballyhighland, on the border of the parish, is a lead mine, which was worked about 20 years since; it has been lately re-opened by a mining company and is now in full work. Fairs for cattle are held at Moneyhore on the 25th of Feb., March, and May, on Oct. 2nd, and Dec. 7th; four of these are held by patent, for which a fee of 15s. per ann. is paid to the Crown by Mr. Wm. Condon, of Dublin. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Ferns, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £590. 15. 9. per ann., and there is a glebe of 20 acres subject to a rent of 21s. (Irish currency) per acre. The glebe-house, the residence of the Rev. W. Hinson, is a substantial and commodious mansion, towards the erection of which the late Board of First Fruits, in 1814, granted £100 as a gift, and £675 as a loan. The church is a neat edifice, built in 1795 when the same Board contributed a gift of £500. The original tower being in a dangerous state was taken down a few years since, and a new tower erected at the expense of the parishioners; the granite quoins used in its construction were brought from the ruins of the Franciscan friary at Enniscorthy. The church has been lately repaired, the Ecclesiastical commissioners having granted £223 for that purpose. Adjoining it are the ruins of the ancient edifice. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Davidstown, comprising also the parishes of St. John, Templescobin, and that part of Clonmore called the "Quarter of Clough," and containing the chapels of Davidstown and Courtnacuddy, both in this parish: the former is a neat building. At Ballybawn is a school under the trustees of Erasmus Smith's charity, who allow the master £20 per ann., with a contingent gratuity of £10: the school-house is built on a piece of ground presented by the late S. Ram, Esq., containing two acres, of which the master has the use rent-free: there is also a school adjoining the chapel at Courtnacuddy. In these schools about 70 children are educated; and there two private schools, in which are about 90 children.

ROSSDUFF, a parish, in the barony of GAULTIER, county of WATERFORD, and province of MUNSTER; containing 88 inhabitants. This small parish is situated upon the harbour of Waterford, and comprises only 194 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Waterford, forming part of the union of Killare: the tithes amount to £10.

ROSSES (UPPER and LOWER), two villages in the parish of DRUMCLIFFE, barony of LOWER CARBERY, county of SLIGO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 5 miles (N. N. W.) from Sligo; the former containing 170 inhabitants: the population of the latter is returned with the parish. They are situated on the peninsula that separates the pool of Sligo from the bay of Drumcliffe. On the shore of the former are several bathing-lodges for the accommodation of visiters during the season; and in the vicinity is the race course of Bomore, where races are held by subscription, generally in August.

ROSSINVER, a parish, partly in the lower half-barony of CARBERY, county of SLIGO, but chiefly in that of ROSSCLOGHER, county of LEITRIM, and province of CONNAUGHT, 5 1/2 miles (S. S. W.) from Ballyshannon, on the road to Manor-Hamilton; containing 13,370 inhabitants. The parish is situated at the northern extremity of the county, where it touches the bay of Donegal, and comprises 49,179 1/2 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The land in the southern part is principally in pasture, and some successful attempts at irrigation have been made. Towards the sea it is more generally under tillage: the soil is tolerably fertile, and the system of agriculture is improving. Limestone is found in the mountains and freestone in the lower lands. The surrounding scenery is beautifully diversified, and from some of the higher grounds are numerous interesting views, combining features of much grandeur. Woodville House, the seat of J. Dickson, Esq., is a handsome mansion, situated in a highly cultivated demesne embellished with extensive and thriving plantations; and near the small village of Tullaghan, on the sea-shore, are several handsome seats and pleasing villas. Of these, the principal are Tynte Lodge, the residence of J. P. Tynte, Esq.; Fair View, of the Rev. H. M. Nash; Duugarbery Lodge, of the Rev. J. L. Dickson, vicar of the parish; and several neat bathing-lodges. On Lough Melvin is Mount Prospect, the seat of T. Conolly, Esq., beautifully situated and commanding some fine views; about a mile from Kinlough is Brook Hill, that of Capt. Johnston, romantically situated tinder the brow of the mountain; and one mile farther is Glenade House, the handsome residence of L. Tottenham, Esq. Lough Melvin is a beautiful sheet of water, studded with picturesque islands, and celebrated for the gillaroo trout, which is found here in abundance. The river Drowse, which flows from the lake into the sea, and separates this county from that of Donegal, abounds with salmon of choice quality, which is in season during the whole of the year. Fairs are held at Kin-lough on the 6th of every month; at Tullaghan, in May, Aug., Nov., and Dec.; a fair is held at Moague on the 1st of July, and petty sessions at Kinlough on alternate Mondays.

The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Kilmore, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is partly appropriate to the see, and partly impropriate in Owen Wynne, Esq. The tithes amount to £450, of which £140 is payable to the bishop, £140 to the impropriator, and £170 to the vicar. The glebe, situated in the parish of Killasnet, six miles distant, comprises 320 acres, valued at £170 per annum. The church, for the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have granted £406, is a neat plain edifice. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms the three separate benefices of Kinlough, Glenade, and Ballaghameehan, in each of which is a chapel. About 560 children are taught in five public schools, of which the parochial school is aided by the incumbent, and two are supported by Sir Robert Booth Gore, Bart., and -- La Touche, Esq.; there are also 12 private schools, in which are about 550 children, and a Sunday school. There are only slight vestiges of Dungarbery castle, an extensive building, erected by Isabel Clancy in the reign of Elizabeth within a quarter of a mile from the sea; one gable end with an arched doorway only remains. On an island in Lough Melvin are the remains of the castle of Rossclogher, and on the eastern shore are the ruins of the ancient church of Rossinver, supposed to have been that of the nunnery of Doiremell, founded by St, Tigernach for his mother, St. Mella. At Keelogues are the ruins of an old church, and at Conwell is a cemetery, still used by the Roman Catholics as a burial-place. On the Oakfield estate is a mineral spring, and another at Tullaghan; and about a mile from the latter is a sulphureous spring in much repute.

ROSSLARE, a parish, in the barony of FORTH, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 7 miles (S. E. by S.) from Wexford; containing 897 inhabitants. The parish, which is peninsular, is situated on the eastern side of Wexford Harbour, its northern extremity forming the southern side of the entrance to the harbour. It comprises 1744 statute acres of well-cultivated land, exclusive of an extensive rabbit burrow, or sand bank, a portion of which has been enclosed within the last few years. In 1814 an English company expended nearly £30,000 in attempting to reclaim a large tract of land from the harbour; but just as the enclosure was completed, the tide during a heavy gale of wind made a breach in the embankment; and the company having exhausted their funds, and being unable to repair the damage, Jas. Boyd, Esq., lord of the manor, took possession of it, and succeeded in reclaiming about 200 statute acres (about one-fourth of the tract originally embanked), which are now in cultivation, and have produced good crops of corn: it is considered that the remainder of the tract might still be reclaimed at a comparatively small expense. In excavating for the drains, a number of the roots and stems of oak trees, and several antlers, were discovered; similar remains have also been found in a small bog. Marl abounds, and, together with sea weed, is used for manure. With a view to afford employment for children, a quantity of the sea weed called alga marina was lately collected, and, after its saline properties had been extracted, it was sent to Dublin and Liverpool for making mattresses and cushions, for which it has been found well adapted: it is still occasionally collected. A considerable herring fishery is carried on in Rosslare bay, in which about 30 boats belonging to this place are engaged during the season; these are joined by boats from Kilmore and other places. A new road, about two miles in length, has been lately made from Rathdowney Point towards the southern part of the peninsula, which cuts off a considerable angle of the old road from Wexford. On its extreme northern point is situated the coast-guard station called Rosslare fort, a quadrangular range of buildings, containing ten houses, being the chief of the five stations comprised in the Wexford district. Near the fort is the pilot station of the Wexford Quay corporation; the establishment consists of 14 pilots, and an officer or chief pilot: three of the former are generally in attendance on the quay at Wexford. Rosslare House, the residence of James Boyd, Esq., is a handsome mansion, commanding an extensive and diversified prospect of the town, bridge, and shipping of Wexford, and of several seats and plantations in the vicinity: it is surrounded by a plantation of evergreens, which, notwithstanding the sandy soil and its proximity to the sea, is in a flourishing condition: twelve years since there was not a single tree at Rosslare. Near Mr. Boyd's mansion is the neat residence of Nath. Vicary, Esq., also surrounded by a thriving plantation of evergreens. The parish is in the diocese of Ferns, and is a rectory and vicarage, forming part of the union of Kilscoran (also called the union of Tacumshane) and corps of the chancellorship of Ferns: the tithes amount to £192. 8. 3 3/4, and there is a small glebe of about 3/4 of an acre. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Tagoat, and has a neat chapel at that village, which see. A school-house was erected, and the school for a time supported as a seminary for literary instruction, by Mr. Boyd, aided by the subscriptions of some other gentlemen; it is now used solely as a place for teaching needlework. About 40 children are educated in a school at Tagoat patronised by the parish priest. The ruins of the old church still exist: those of an ancient chapel at Rosslare, called St. Breoch's, or St. Bridget's, were taken down some years since.

ROSSLEA, or ROYSLEA, a village, in that part of the parish of CLONES which is in the barony of CLONKELLY, county of FERMANAGH, and province of ULSTER, 4 miles (N. N. E.) from Clones, on the road from Lisnaskea to Monaghan; containing 355 inhabitants. The place is romantically situated near the celebrated mountain of Carnmore, in a fine meadow district, several townlands of which are rich pasture land, especially those of Lisnabrack and Salloo, where vast numbers of oxen are annually fed for the English market. The village consists of one irregularly built street, containing 71 houses, and is connected with the new line of road on the mountain from Enniskillen to Belfast by a bridge over the river Fin. In the vicinity is Lake View, the residence of the Rev. T. Bogue, P. P., a beautiful villa, overlooking the lake of Island Hill and commanding a fine view of several other small lakes in the neighbourhood; it is surrounded with grounds tastefully laid out and richly embellished. Here is a flax-mill belonging to Mr. Lynch. Fairs are held on the 8th of every month; a constabulary police force is stationed here, and petty sessions and manorial courts are held in the court-house, a neat building in the centre of the village. The R. C. chapel is a very handsome edifice of stone, with a tower and campanile turret: the interior is highly embellished; the windows are enriched with stained glass, and over the altar-piece is a fine painting. Carnmore mountain is of lofty elevation, and abounds with wild and romantic scenery; from its summit are seen 32 lakes, including Lough Erne; and its deep glens are inhabited by a numerous class of peasantry of singular habits and of great originality of character.

ROSSLEE, a parish, in the barony of CARRA, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 6 miles (S. S. E.) from Castlebar, on the road to Hollymount; containing 886 inhabitants. The land is chiefly in pasture and under tillage; there is but little bog. Thomastown is the seat of T. V. Clendening, Esq.; Mount Pleasant, of G. Mahon, Esq.; Castle Lucas, of G. Ormsby, Esq.; and Lakemount, of J. O'Dowd, Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Tuam, forming part of the union of Balla: the tithes amount to £80. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Balla. Here is a private school of about 30 boys and 20 girls. At Clogher Lucas are the ruins of an old castle.

ROSSMANOGUE, a parish, partly in the barony of SCARAWALSH, but chiefly in that of GOREY, county of WEXFORD, and province of LEINSTER, 5 miles (N. E.) from Ferns; containing 1211 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the river Bann, and is skirted by the high road from Camolin to Carnew, comprises 4451 1/2 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, chiefly in tillage: on its border is a small red bog. It is a rectory, in the diocese of Ferns, forming part of the union and corps of the prebend of Tomb in the cathedral of Ferns: the tithes amount to £165. 4. 7 1/4; and there is a glebe of 14 acres. The church is in ruins. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Camolin; the chapel is at Craneford, adjoining which is a residence for the priest. About 100 children are educated in two private schools. The late Rt. Hon. George Ogle, of Bellevue, in this county, author of "Molly Asthore" and other admired ballads, received the earlier part of his education under the Rev. Mr. Millar, then rector of this parish.

ROSSMERE, ROSSMIRE, or ROSSMORE, a parish, partly in the barony of DECIES-without-DRUM, but chiefly in that of UPPERTHIRD, county of WATERFORD, and province of MUNSTER; containing, with the post-town of Kilmacthomas (which is separately described), 2484 inhabitants. It forms a narrow slip of land separating the portions of Upperthird barony; and within its limits, at Newtown, on the confines of the three baronies of Upperthird, Middlethird, and Decies-without-Drum, it was designed to build a new town, of which the streets were marked out and paved, but only a few houses were built, and these have since mostly gone to ruin. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Lismore, and in the patronage of the Duke of Devonshire, in whom the rectory is impropriate: the tithes amount to £500, of which £300 is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the vicar. The church is a modern structure, towards the erection of which the late Board of First Fruits granted a loan of £750, in 1831; and there is a R. C. chapel. About 150 children are educated in two private schools; and there is a Sunday school under the superintendence of the curate.

ROSSNOWLOUGH, an ecclesiastical district, in the barony of TYRHUGH, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 3 miles (N. W.) from Ballyshannon, on the west of the road to Donegal and on the sea coast; containing 1006 inhabitants. In the year 1830, nine townlands, comprising 2403 1/2 statute acres, were separated from the parish of Drumholm and constituted the ecclesiastical district parish of Rossnowlough. It is a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Raphoe, and in the patronage of the Vicar of Drumholm: the gross value of the benefice is £108. 8. 9., of which £75 is paid by the vicar, and £25 from Primate Boulter's fund; the remainder is the annual value of the glebe. The church was erected in 1831, by aid of a gift of £800 from the late Board of First Fruits. In the R. C. divisions it is in the district of Drumholm. About 360 children are educated in six public schools, of which one is supported by the trustees of Erasmus Smith's charity, one from Col. Robertson's endowment, and the remainder chiefly by subscription. There are also two private schools, in which are about 130 children; and two Sunday schools.

ROSSORY, a parish, partly in the barony of GLENAWLEY, but chiefly in that of MAGHERABOY, county of FERMANAGH, and province of ULSTER; containing, with part of the suburbs of Enniskillen, 4338 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the shores of Lough Erne, and on the roads leading respectively from Enniskillen to Sligo and Ballyshannon, comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 7654 statute acres, of which 2302 1/4 are in the barony of Glenawley, and 5351 3/4 in Magheraboy: of these, about 494 acres are water, and by far the greater portion of the remainder is meadow and pasture. The land is of good quality, and that portion of it which is under tillage is in a state of profitable cultivation: there is a moderate proportion of bog, and limestone is quarried for agricultural purposes and also for repairing the roads; the system of agriculture is much improved, and there is no waste land. The principal seats are Lisgoole abbey, the residence of M. Jones, Esq.; and Gortudrate, of A. Crawford, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Clogher, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £240. The glebe-house, a handsome residence, was erected at an expense of £1107, for which purpose the late Board of First Fruits granted a gift of £323 and a loan of £461; the glebe comprises 73 acres, valued at £136. 10 per annum. The church is an ancient edifice. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Enniskillen. At Portora, within the limits of the parish, is the Royal endowed school of Enniskillen, a handsome building, erected at an expense of £4000. About 120 children are taught in three public schools; and there are three private schools, in which are about 220 children, and a Sunday school. The interest of a bequest of £50 by Mrs. Noble is annually divided among twelve aged women. A very ancient religious foundation appears to have subsisted here, upon the site of which Lisgoole abbey was afterwards founded for Canons Regular by Mac Noellus Mackenleff, King of Ulster, about the year 1106. This establishment was destroyed by fire in 1360, and in the reign of Hen. VIII., having fallen into ruin, it was surrendered by the last abbot to Maguire, tanist of Fermanagh, by whom it was assigned to the Franciscans, and the abbey rebuilt as a place of sepulture for the principal families of that country; at the dissolution it was granted to Sir John Davies. Here is a sulphureous spring in great repute.

ROSSTRUNK, an island, in the parish and barony of BURRISHOOLE, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 4 miles (W.) from Newport-Pratt. This small island, which is situated in Clew bay, and affords good pasturage, is chiefly remarkable for its well-sheltered harbour, which has good ground for nearly a square mile, with two or three fathoms. It affords good anchorage, especially for small vessels, which may go farther up the bay to Newport-Pratt, and Burrishoole.

ROSTELLAN, a parish, in the barony of IMOKILLY, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (S. W.) from Cloyne; containing 1163 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated on the eastern shore of Cork harbour, comprises 2218 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £2562 per annum. The land is generally good, being in a limestone vale; about one half is under tillage and the other in pasture and demesne; the system of agriculture is greatly improved, under the spirited example and encouragement given by the Marquess of Thomond, whose farm is one of the best cultivated and most productive in the county. Rostellan Castle, the seat of that nobleman, is an elegant mansion on the margin of the harbour, over which it commands extensive and pleasing views, and in a highly cultivated and extensive demesne, comprehending one - third of the parish, and richly embellished with woods and plantations. The grounds are arranged with great taste, and for nearly two miles skirted by the waters of Rostellan bay, and diversified with the rural and picturesque houses of the farming steward, gardeners, and others connected with the management of the farm. The gardens are extensive and tastefully arranged; the flower gardens contain a fine selection of the choicest plants and flowers. Here are the Rostellan mills for making starch from potatoes, conducted by Mr. Prendergast. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cloyne, formerly a part of the union of Aghada, from which, on the demise of Dr. Brinkley in 1835, it was separated and made a distinct benefice; in the patronage of the Crown. The tithes amount to £288. 7. 3 1/2.; the glebe, at Kilteskin, for which the old glebe, now forming part of the demesne of Rostellan Castle, was exchanged, comprises 47 acres. The parishioners attend divine service at Aghada or Cloyne: but it is in contemplation to erect a district church for this parish and that of Garranekenefick. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Aghada; there is a small chapel at Ballinrostig. About 30 children are taught in the parochial male school, supported by the Bishop of Cloyne, and in the female school, supported wholly by the Marchioness of Thomond; and there are two private schools, in which are about 60 children. The ancient castle of Rostellan was, during the parliamentary war, surrendered to Lord Inchiquin in 1645, but was afterwards retaken by Lord Castlehaven, who also made prisoners Lord Inchiquin's brother and Col. Courtenay, who had been sent to demolish it Near the demesne is a holy well much venerated by the peasantry, and an ash tree literally covered with their offerings to the patron saint; not far distant is a stone on which is sculptured a rude representation of the crucifixion; and within the demesne are some limestone rocks, in which are capacious natural caverns, with stalactites depending from the roof.

ROSTREVOR, or ROSETREVOR, a sea-port and post-town, in the parish of KILBRONEY, barony of UPPER IVEAGH, county of DOWN, and province of ULSTER, 7 miles (E. by S.) from Newry, and 57 (N.) from Dublin; containing 996 inhabitants. This place was anciently called Castle Roe or Rory, from its original founder, Rory, one of the family of the Magennises, Lords of Iveagh, of whose baronial castle, subsequently occupied by the Trevor family, there are still some remains near the town; it derived its present appellation from Rose, youngest daughter of Sir Marmaduke Whitchurch, after whose marriage with Trevor, Viscount Dungannon, the family seat, Iveagh castle, was invariably called Rosetrevor. The town is beautifully situated in a cove of Carlingford Lough, at the western termination of the Mourne mountains, and contains 185 houses, which are large and handsomely built. The streets are wide and open, and the whole town has a cheerful and attractive appearance. The air is salubrious, and the town is very desirable as a residence from its fine situation on a gentle eminence sheltered by mountains on the north, south, and east, and open on the west to Carlingford bay, the shores of which are richly planted and embellished with numerous seats, handsome villas, and picturesque cottages. The port is principally frequented by fishing boats, for the accommodation of which there is a small quay, from which is a walk nearly a mile in length, thickly shaded with trees; and on the side of the mountain is a stone of very large dimensions, called Cloughmorne, which is frequently visited for the very extensive and beautiful prospect it commands. Between this place and Warrenspoint, in Carlingford Lough, is a large extent of soft ground, on which are two fathoms of water, where large vessels frequenting the port of Newry lie at their moorings. In the vicinity of the town are some salt-works. Fairs are held here on Shrove-Tuesday, Aug. 1st, Sept. 19th, Nov. 1st, and Dec. 11th. The parish church, a handsome cruciform edifice with a lofty embattled tower crowned with pinnacles, is situated in the principal street; and near it is a neat R. C. chapel, with a campanile turret. Here are handsome school-houses, with residences for the masters and mistresses; the schools are supported by Mrs. Ross and Mrs Balfour. There are some remains of Castle Roe and Greencastle, and of the old churches of Kilbroney and Killowen; and near the town is a monumental obelisk, erected to the memory of Gen. Ross, who fell in a battle near Baltimore, in America, while leading on the British troops to the victory which they obtained on the 12th of Sept., 1814; on the four sides of the pedestal are recorded the principal engagements in which that gallant officer bore a conspicuous part.

ROUGHFORT, a village, in the parish of TEMPLEPATRICK, barony of LOWER BELFAST, county of ANTRIM, and province of ULSTER; containing 195 inhabitants. Fairs are held on May 31st and Nov. 29th.

ROUNDTOWN, a village, in the parish of RATHFARNHAM, barony of NEWCASTLE, county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 2 1/2 miles (S.) from the General Post-Office: the population is returned with the parish. The place takes its name from the arrangement of its cottages in the form of a circle: it is neat and pleasantly situated, and forms a pleasing feature in the environs of the metropolis, to which it has a twopenny post. In the immediate vicinity are numerous handsome seats and elegant villas. Bushy Park, the seat of Sir Robt. Shaw, Bart., is a spacious mansion of brick, situated in an ample demesne tastefully embellished, and commanding some beautiful views of mountain scenery. Fortfield, the admired residence of the late Rt. Hon. Sir W. McMahon, Bart., Master of the Rolls, is pleasingly situated in grounds beautifully ornamented and comprehending much interesting scenery. Kimmage, the seat of the Rt. Hon. F. Shaw, Recorder of Dublin, is a handsome mansion in the ancient English style, in a demesne highly cultivated and embellished with great taste. Terenure, the handsome seat of F. Bourne, Esq., is remarkable for the picturesque beauty of its grounds, embellished with stately timber of many varieties, and its gardens laid out with great taste and comprehending a rich selection of choice plants and flowers. In the demesne and gardens are numerous varieties of orange trees, ash, elm, horse-chesnut, holly, and hawthorn, and more than 1750 different varieties of rose trees: the conservatories and hot-houses contain upwards of 12,000 square feet of glass, and the whole is arranged in the most perfect order and preserved with the greatest care. The other seats, all of which are more or less distinguished for beauty of situation and variety of scenery, are Fortfield Lodge, that of W. Crozier, Esq.; Fanny Ville, of Mrs. Reade; Elm Grove, of Mrs. Byrne; Wainsfort, of Capt. Theo. Norton; St. John's, of W. Darley, Esq.; Willow Mount, of W. Hodges, Esq.; Mount-Tallant House, of P. Whelan, Esq.; Ashfield, of P. Cornwall, Esq.; Mount-Tallant Lodge, of E. H. Orpen, Esq.; Mountain View, of W. Deane, Esq.; Prospect, of J. Fagan, Esq.; Rathgar House, of G. McBride, Esq.; Westbourne Lodge, of T. Dickson, Esq.; Meadowbank, of T. Copperthwaite, Esq.; Prospect House, of J. Halloway, Esq.; Mount Saville, of W. Shine, Esq.; Everton, of F. Burke, Esq.; Rose Villa, of C. Wood, Esq.; Arbutus Lodge, of J. Walsh, Esq.; Elm Cottage, of R. F. Murphy, Esq., M. D.; and Rusina, of B. Brunton, Esq.

ROUNDWOOD, or TOGHER, a village, in the parish of DERRALOSSORY, barony of BALLINACOR, county of WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 4 1/2 miles (W. S. W.) from Newtown-Mount-Kennedy, on the road from Dublin to the Seven Churches: the population is returned with the parish. The extensive tract of table land on which this place is situated is watered by the river Vartrey, a fine trout stream, and is separated from Lough Dan only by the mountains of Carrigroe and Slieve Buck. From a projecting point of Slieve Buck the lake is seen in its full extent of about 160 plantation acres, supplied by a stream from Mount Tay, and another from the mountains to the west. The lake forms a graceful curve in the centre of a wildly romantic district; the lofty mountains which rise precipitously from its waters enwrap it in continual gloom, and add much to the striking solemnity of its appearance. Bog trout, grey trout, and char are found in abundance; in winter its waters overspread the low lands in the neighbourhood, and on returning to their bed leave large trunks of oak trees exposed on the surface of the land. Lead ore is found on the shores of the lake, and mines were formerly worked there. The village contains 19 houses, which are neatly built, and from its central situation it is much frequented by strangers and visitors from Dublin, for its beautiful mountain scenery, and its proximity to Lough Dan, Glendalough, and Luggelaw, which last is described under the, head of Calary. A little above it is Roundwood Park, the pleasant residence of J. Gower, Esq., the grounds of which are tastefully laid out and planted; and near the shore of Lough Dan is Lake Park, the residence of G. Macklin, Esq., which with others is more particularly noticed in the article on Derralossory. There are a good inn in the village and some smaller houses for the accommodation of visitors. Fairs are held on Jan. 3rd for cattle, March 8th for frieze, March 14th for cattle, May 19th, July 26th, Aug. 1st, and Sept. 5th and 19th, for frieze. A constabulary police force is stationed here; there is a neat R. C. chapel belonging to the union of Glendalough, and a school supported by subscription.

ROWER, or ROAR, a parish, in the barony of IDA, county of KILKENNY, and province of LEINSTER, 4 miles (S. E.) from Inistioge; containing 3589 inhabitants. This parish, which is also called Rochar, is situated at the confluence of the rivers Nore and Barrow, forming a tongue of land extending five miles in length from north to south, by about three in breadth, and comprising 10,508 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, of which about 1000 acres consist of mountain, and a small portion of bog. Within its limits are Ringwood, the seat of Lord Clifden; and an ancient residence of the Bolger family, in whose demesne, on the water's edge, is a romantic and richly wooded spot, called Ballynabarna, near which is the picturesque cascade of the Clodagh, noticed in the article on Cloneamera. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £560. The church is a plain building, for the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £327. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Inistioge, and contains a chapel. In the parochial school, aided by the rector, and in the national school at Rower, about 170 children are educated; there are also a private school, in which are about 140 children; and a Sunday school. The ruined castle of Coolkill, said to have belonged to the Butler family, still exists; and there are several broken cromlechs in the vicinity of Ballynabarna.

ROYAL OAK, a village, in the parish of KILLINANE, barony of IDRONE WEST, county of CARLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 1 mile (S. W.) from Bagnalstown, on the road from Dublin to Carlow; containing 82 houses and 428 inhabitants. This place is situated on the river Barrow, which is here crossed by a bridge, and derives its name from that of an old and well-known inn in its vicinity, which was established previously to the erection of the village.

ROYSLEA.--See ROSSLEA.

RUAN, county of CLARE.--See DYSERT.

RUSH, a small sea-port and fishing town, in the parish of LUSK, barony of BALROTHERY, county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 6 miles (N. E.) from Swords, and 13 1/2 (N. by E.) from Dublin; containing 2144 inhabitants. This town, which is situated on the eastern coast, contains 442 houses, chiefly inhabited by fishermen; and has, since the 16th century, been celebrated for the great quantities of ling which are taken and cured by the inhabitants. Previously to the discontinuance of the fishing bounties, 22 boats were employed in this fishery, which number has since been reduced to 16 of about 40 tons each, carrying seven or eight men. The harbour is difficult of access, and consequently adapted only for small vessels. The channel has from seven to eight feet depth at low water, and is much exposed to a heavy swell during the prevalence of winds from the north-east. A small pier has been erected on a ledge of rock extending into the sea, and covered on the north side by a reef of rocks, which affords good accommodation to the vessels employed in the fishery. The sands are celebrated for early potatoes, which are produced here in abundance. On the south side of the bay, and to the east of the pier, are beds of fine compact limestone and black slate clay and conglomerate limestone alternating. A coast-guard station has been established here, forming one of the nine which constitute the district of Swords; a constabulary police force is stationed in the town, and there is a martello tower on the beach. A patent exists for fairs on May 1st and Sept. 29th, but they are not held. The parish church is three miles distant, and therefore, for the accommodation of the town, divine service is performed once every Sunday in the parochial schoolroom, a large and commodious building, in which are a lending library and a depository of bibles: In the R. C. divisions the town forms the head of a union or district, including also Lambay island and part of the adjoining districts: there are chapels at Rush and on Lambay island; the former was built about 70 years since, and a tower, embattled and surmounted with a cross, was added to it in 1833, by subscription; the interior is well fitted up and has a carved altar-piece brought from France. Adjoining it is the residence of the parish priest, built in 1823 by subscription, to which the late Mrs. Palmer, of Rush House, largely contributed and also gave an acre and a half of land for a site. A dispensary in the town is supported in the usual manner. About half a mile from the town is Rush House, now called Kenure Park, formerly the residence of the great Duke of Ormonde, and subsequently of Sir Henry Echlin, Bart., from whom it was purchased by an ancestor of Sir W. H. Palmer, Bart., its present proprietor. The mansion is spacious and handsome, and contains many good apartments, a collection of valuable paintings by the first masters, and a selection of vases and other relics from the remains of Pompeii, collected by the late Mr. Palmer when in Italy. The demesne is richly embellished with stately timber, and commands some interesting views, embracing the town of Rush, Lambay island, and a great expanse of sea; and within the grounds are the picturesque ruins of Kenure church, in which is a large tomb inscribed to the memory of George, fourth Baron of Strabane, who died in 1668. Near these ruins are the remains of an ancient castle, a holy well dedicated to St. Catherine, and part of an ancient cross.

RUSKEY, or ROOSKEY, a market and post-town, partly in that portion of the parish of MOHILL which is in the barony and county of LONGFORD, in the province of LEINSTER, and partly in that portion of it which is in the barony of MOHILL and county of LEITRIM, but chiefly in the parish of TARMONBARRY, barony of BALLINTOBBER, county of ROSCOMMON, and province of CONNAUGHT, 7 3/4 miles (N. by W.) from Longford, and 66 1/4 (W. N. W.) from Dublin, on the road to Sligo: the population is returned with the respective parishes. This place is situated on the river Shannon, over which is a bridge of nine arches connecting the counties of Leitrim and Longford (which here unite) with the county of Roscommon. It participates in the general trade of the river, and has a market on Wednesday, which is well attended. The fairs, which are now discontinued, were formerly among the principal that were held on the Leitrim side of the river. A constabulary police force is stationed here, and petty sessions are held on alternate Thursdays. The parish church of Tarmonbarry is situated in the town, and there is a R. C. chapel for the union or district of Ruskey.

RUSSAGH, county of MEATH.--See CLONABRENY.

RUSSAGH, a parish, in the barony of MOYGOISH, county of WESTMEATH, and province of LEINSTER, 4 1/2 miles (S. E.) from Edgeworthstown, on the road from Dublin to Sligo; containing 778 inhabitants. This parish, which extends on the south to the river Inny, and includes the small lake of Lough Gar or Cappa, comprises 6500 statute acres, which, exclusive of a large proportion of bog, is in general good land and chiefly under tillage. The soil is fertile and the system of agriculture improving; limestone abounds and is quarried for agricultural purposes, and there are also quarries of black flag-stone of very fine quality. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Ardagh, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is impropriate in the Marquess of Westmeath. The tithes amount to £86. 5., of which £52. 10. is payable to the impropriator, and the remainder to the bishop; the glebe comprises 14 acres, valued at £21. 14. per annum. There is no church, but divine service is regularly performed in a private house licensed by the bishop. In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also the parish of Rathaspick, in each of which is a chapel; that of Russagh is situated near the village of Rathowen. There is a private school, in which are about 85 children; also a Sunday school. There are some remains of the old church with its cemetery; and some Danish raths and mineral springs.

RUTLAND, an island, in the parish of TEMPLECROAN, barony of BOYLAGH, county of DONEGAL, and province of ULSTER, 18 miles (N.) from Narin: the population is returned with the parish. This island, anciently called Innismacdurn, received its present name from its proprietor, an ancestor of the Marquess of Conyngham, in compliment to Charles, Duke of Rutland, who was at that time Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. At the time of Pynnar's survey here was a small old castle with a bawn, where a few English families had settled. It is situated off the north-western coast, forming one of the group of islands called the Rosses, and contains about 180 acres, chiefly rocky and coarse mountain land, with a considerable quantity of bog. The harbour is narrow and fit only for small vessels. The inhabitants, in each of the years 1784 and 1785, realised £40,000 from the herring fishery off the coast; and the great abundance of herrings found here at that time induced Col. Conyngham to expend £50,000 in building houses and stores and forming a town here, and in constructing roads through the mountains on the coast to the champaign country in the interior. From that period the fishery began to decline, and in 1793 it entirely failed; and though it afterwards began to revive, it never regained its former prosperity. The females are employed in knitting coarse yarn stockings. On the 16th of September, 1798, James Napper Tandy landed here from the French brig Anacreon from Brest, with three boats full of officers and men, accompanied by Gen. Rey and Col. Blackwell; but after remaining for a day and a night, hearing that the French, who had landed at Kilcummin, had surrendered and been made prisoners, they re-embarked. On the island is a coast guard station, forming one of the seven that constitute the district of Dunfanaghy; a dispensary is maintained in the usual way.

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Some books on Irish names and genealogy

BAXTER, Angus. In search of your British and Irish Roots

BEGLEY, Donal F. Handbook on Irish Genealogy

DUFFY, Godfrey F. Tracing your Donegal Ancestors

FRANKLIN, Margaret. Tracing your Limerick Ancestors

GREHAN, Ida. Irish Family Names

GRENHAM, John. Clans and Families of Ireland

GRENHAM, John. Irish Ancestors: A Pocket Guide

GRENHAM, John. Tracing your Irish Ancestors

KINEALY, Christine. Tracing your Irish Roots

LEAHY, David. County Longford and its People

MacLYSAGHT, Edward. Irish Families: Their Names, Arms, and Origins

MacLYSAGHT, Edward. More Irish Families

MacLYSAGHT, Edward. Surnames of Ireland

MAXWELL, Ian. Researching Armagh Ancestors

MAXWELL, Ian. Researching Down Ancestors

McCARTHY & CADOGAN. Tracing your Cork Ancestors

O HOGAIN, Daithi. Irish Family Names

O MURCHADHA, D. Family Names of County Cork

O'FARRELL, Padraic. Irish Surnames

O'CONNOR, Michael. Tracing your Kerry Ancestors

OKANE, William. Irish Gravestone Inscriptions

RYAN & SMITH. Tracing your Dublin Ancestors

RYAN, James G. Irish Church Records

RYAN, James G. Sources for Irish Family History

SMITH, Brian. Tracing your Mayo Ancestors
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