COOTEHILL, a market and post-town

COOTEHILL, a market and post-town, in the parish of DRUMGOON, barony of TULLAGHGARVEY, county of CAVAN, and province of ULSTER, 12 miles (N. E.) from Cavan, and 57 (N. W. by W.) from Dublin; containing 2239 inhabitants. This town is situated on the road from Kingscourt to Clones, and consists of four wide streets, containing 438 houses, nearly all of which are slated. It is on the borders of a lake, which is navigable for the greater part of the distance of seven miles between this place and Ballybay, in Monaghan; and is a considerable market for linen. The webs are principally broad sheetings of superior quality, and the number of pieces sold annually to be bleached is about 40,000. The trade, which had considerably declined, has for the last two or three years been improving. The general market is on Friday, and the corn market on Saturday, in the market-house.

Fairs are held on the second Friday in each month for cattle, flax, and yarn. Here is a chief constabulary police station. Petty sessions are held every Wednesday, and quarter sessions at Easter and in October in a very neat sessions-house. The bridewell contains three cells, with separate day-rooms and yards for males and females, and apartments for the keeper. The seats in the neighbourhood are very beautiful, especially Bellamont Forest, the residence of C. Coote, Esq., which derived its name from the title of Earl of Bellamont enjoyed, until the year 1800, by the ancient family of Coote. The house is of brick, two stories high, with a noble Doric portico of stone, and the rooms of the lower story are strikingly grand; it contains some fine paintings, among which is the death of Dido, by Guercino, also full-length portraits of the late Earl and Countess of Bellamont by Sir Joshua Reynolds, the former in the full costume of a Knight of the Bath, a fine painting in excellent preservation.

The demesne comprises above 1000 plantation acres, of which nearly one-half is occupied with woods; it includes several lakes and a spa, and commands beautiful views from Dismond Hill and its several eminences. The other principal seats are Ashfield Lodge, the residence of H. J. Clements, Esq.; Annilea, of M. Murphy, Esq.; Bellgreen, of T. Brunker, Esq.; and Rakenny, of T. L. Clements, Esq. The town contains the parish church, a R. C. chapel, and two places of worship for Presbyterians, one for the Society of Friends, one for Moravians, and one for Wesleyan Methodists. There are three schools, including an infants' school, also a Sunday school in the old church and at each of the Presbyterian chapels, a dispensary, and a Ladies' Society for selling blankets and clothing at half-price. In an ancient fort at Rakenny a considerable quantity of gold, with a large golden fibula, was found in an iron pot.—See DRUMGOON.