No. XV.

PARISH OF

KILFERGUS,

(Diocese and County of Limerick,)

BY THE REV. WILLIAM ASHE, RECTOR.

I. The name of the Parish, Situation, Extent, &c.

KILFERGUS is situated on the bounds of the coun- Name. ty of Limerick, bordering on Kerry, and divided from Clare by the river Shannon. The parishes of Loughill Boundaries and Shannagolden bound it to the east; the Shannon exactly north; the parishes of Athea and Kilmoylen to the south; and Tarbert to the west. It is divided into Divisions twenty-seven ploughlands, for which see the Appendix.

It extends east and west about four miles, and on an Extent. average about five miles from north to south. There Hills are no very high hills; the highest is at the rear of the demesne of the chief proprietor. The remains of an Woods, old wood are to be seen at Cahira, and another on the lands of Ballydonaghue, near Tarbert, both carefully preserved; the large plantations which were made by the late Knight of Glin are also growing well.

Culm.

Village,

II. Mines, Minerals, &c.

A culm pit at Clugah contains the only remarkable species of mineral known here; it is much used in burning lime.

III. Modern Buildings, &c.

The village of Glin has at present a bad quay; but the situation, if a good quay were made, is very well adapted for trade, and safe anchorage for the largest vessels is in the part of the river near it. Sessions were formerly held here, but they have been discontinued for a considerable time. A new bridewell has been built. There is no market house.

Neither physician, apothecary, lawyer, or attorney Dispensary, resides in the parish. As a branch of the Shannagolden dispensary is kept here, a physician attends once a week. In the season, a number of the neighbouring gentry come here for the benefit of bathing, which is of advantage both to the civilization and the emolument of the inhabitants.

Gentle

There are but a few gentlemen's seats. The Knight of men's Seats, Glin resides in an extensive and fine mansion house, built by his father. Lancelot Kiggell, Esq. has lately built a beautiful lodge near Glin, adjoining the wood, which is seen to great advantage from the water. There are likewise nine or ten very respectable looking country houses

beautifully situated near the Shannon, which is here three miles in breadth. The view is very fine, extend- Scenery, ing fourteen miles towards the mouth of the Shannon, taking in the islands of Tarbert and Scattery; the latter island has six old churches on it, and a round tower very perfect. The view from Glen towards Limerick, extends five miles to Fayn's Island. The Shannon here produces oysters and other shell fish in great abundance.

The new mail coach road from Limerick to Tralee Roads, runs through the whole length of the parish, near the Shannon. The old road from Rathkeale to Tarbert meets the mail coach road within one mile of Tarbert,

IV. Ancient Buildings, &c.

There are the remains of an old castle and church in Ruins. the parish. The history of the sieges which the castle maintained, and the events connected with the place, are to be found in the Pacata Hibernia, Spencer, Campion, Archdall, Smith, and other historians. There is a stone over the present gate of Glin House, which was taken from the castle, with an inscription relating to the Fitzgerald family; it bears date A. D. 1615.

V. Present & Former State of Population, Food, Fuel, &c.

The number of Roman Catholics is, at six to each Population family, 2196; the Protestants amount to 55, including children and servants. The people in general Appearance are not wealthy; they dress well, and have no other

MM

Character.

Schools.

Advowson.

Tythes.

occupation than farming: from the advantage of water carriage to Limerick, the market is convenient for the sale of their goods. They seem to be remarkably healthy, and a great number of very old people is to be met with there.

VI. The Genius & Disposition of the Poorer Classes, &c.

The people of this parish are in general intelligent, and very civil; there is scarcely one family in the parish that does not speak English correctly. The attachment they feel for the Fitzgerald family is very remarkable.

VII. The Education and Employment of Children, &c.

There are but two or three schools in this parish : these are much crowded, and the people are very desirous of having their children instructed; this has been for a long time the case. A school on the Lancasterian plan is intended to be established immediately by the Knight of Glin.

VIII. State of Religious Establishment, Tythes, &c.

Kilfergus is in the gift of the Vicars Choral of Limerick, which consist of six vicars and the organist. The body appoints to this and four more vicarages in their gift, by rotation. It is not united to any parish. The tythe has within these twelve years nearly doubled in value, and this from the increase of tillage, not fiɔm any advance in the mode of valuation. The whole

tythe now amounts to more than £400 a year; but if it was estimated at its real value, it would amount to more than that sum. The rectorial part of it belongs at present to a Roman Catholic gentleman of the name of Sheehy, who purchased it from the late Crosbie Morgal's executors, who, by advancing money, got a lease for ever from the vicars; but as the lease could not be valid without the Dean's consent in writing, and as the late Honorable and Reverend Dean Crosbie refused to put his name to the lease, though he was offered a sum of money by Mr. Morgal, the present vicars are endeavouring to break the lease of the rectorial tythes of this parish, and of four other parishes in their gift, circumstanced in the same way.

There is a large slated chapel in the village of Glin, Chapel. and on a very bold commanding situation near the Church. chapel, a handsome church is now building. The late Knight of Glin promised to give twenty acres of land for a glebe, and it is expected that his son, who resides in Glin, will consent to it: there is no glebe at present. Most of the old church-yard has been annexed to the neighbouring lands, and at present the old church and about sixty acres are not in the parish of Kilfergus, but the tythe is paid to the Rev. Mr. Hart, rector of Loughill parish. These sixty acres of land belong to the see of Limerick, as likewise sixty more in the centre of the parish, and these also pay the whole tythe to the rector of Loughill.

IX. Modes of Agriculture, Crops, &c.

The farmers are rapidly improving in their method