County Tipperary

Transcribed by Mel Lockie ©2013

TIPPERARY, a county, of the province of MUNSTER, bounded on the east by the King's and Queen's counties, and that of Kilkenny; on the south, by that of Waterford; on the west, by those of Cork, Limerick, and Clare, from which latter it is separated by the Shannon and Lough Derg; and on the north, by that of Galway and King's county. It extends from 52° 12' to 53° 9' N. Lat., and from 7° 20'to 8° 26' W. Lon.; comprising an area, according to the Ordnance survey, of 1,013,173 statute acres, of which 819,69S consist of cultivated land, 182,147 of bog, mountain, and unimproved waste, and 11,328 are covered with water. The population, in 1821, was 346,896; and in 1831, 402,363.

The inhabitants of this portion of the island are designated by Ptolemy the Coriondi. Ængus McNafrach, King of Munster in the fifth century, is said to have enlarged the territory of the powerful tribe of the Desii, occupying the present county of Waterford, by the addition of the southern part of Tipperary, then forming a district called Magh Femin, but afterwards designated Desie Thuasgeart or North Desie, to distinguish it from the more southern lands of the same sept. According to Vallancey, the chiefs of Magh Femin, whose principal residence was on the rock of Cashel, obtained the name of Hy dun na moi, or "the chiefs of the hill of the plain," rendered by corruption O'Donnohue, and from them descended the Mac Carthies. The Desii maintained a separate sovereignty until overpowered by the first English invaders, against whom, however, they carried on a sanguinary and protracted struggle. The families then holding superior rank were those of O'Fogarty, occupying the territory about Thurles, anciently called Hy Fogarta; O'Brien, possessing the tract bordering on the Shannon, below Lough Derg, called Aradh Cliach, and forming the present barony of Owney and Arra; and O'Kennedy, who held Muscraighe Thire, now the baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond. The names of several other small districts have also been preserved, such as Corca Eathrach, including the country around Holy Cross and Cashel, forming a considerable part of Goulin, or the Golden Vale; Eoganacht, a territory and sept to the north of this, around Thurles; and Hy-Kerrin still further north. Ormond, the name of the northern part of the county, signifies East Munster. The first English army that penetrated into this part of the island was led in person by Hen. II., who, in 1172, advanced from Waterford, and on the banks of the Suir received the submissions of the surrounding chieftains of the south; but on his return these submissions were for the most part retracted, and hostilities with the English commenced by the march of Earl Strongbow with an army to Cashel, where he reviewed his troops, and having received information of the strength and posture of the enemy, sent to Dublin, for the aid of the Ostmen forces enlisted in the English service there. When this auxiliary force had advanced as far as Thurles, it was suddenly attacked by O'Brien of Thomond so successfully, that their four principal leaders and 400 men were slain; upon which Strongbow made a precipitate retreat to Waterford. Afterwards Prince John, to secure the southern part of the county in subjection to the English authority, ordered the erection of castles at Ardfinnan and Tipperary. The next great struggle originated in an attempt made by Daniel O'Brien, of Thomond, to dispossess the English of this tract of country, for which purpose he levied a considerable force, and the contending parties having met at Thurles, a battle ensued in which the English were discomfited. But this did not put an end to the contest; the English still continued to ravage the territories of O'Brien, and to increase the number of their castles, which they gradually extended towards the Shannon. When the territory had been in a great measure reduced. Hen. II. granted the whole of its lay possessions to Theobald Walter, who accompanied prince John to Ireland, in 1185, and was constituted "Chief Butler" of Ireland, a dignity made hereditary in his family, and from which it derives its name. Tipperary was one of the counties erected into shire ground by King John, in 1210. In 1315, Edmund, the fifth chief Butler of Ireland, received a grant of the return of all writs in his cantreds of Ormon, Hyogarty, and Hyocaroyl; and his son and successor, James, was created Earl of Ormonde in 1328. Edw. III. granted to this nobleman's son, James, who had married Eleanor Bohun, grand-daughter of Edw. I., for the better support of the name and honour of Earl of Ormonde, and in consideration of his valuable services, and of the consanguinity existing between him and his majesty, the regality, fees, and all other liberties in the county of Tipperary, and also the prisage of wines in Ireland. The royal liberty thus established in the county continued until the commencement of the last century, having, through the power, talents and loyalty of the family, been preserved long after the other royal liberties in Ireland had ceased to exist. The lands of the church being exempt from the palatine jurisdiction, formed considerable tracts within the limits of the county, in which the king's writs and ordinary jurisdiction had free course; these lands, in contradistinction to the county palatine, were designated the Cross of Tipperary, had their own sheriffs, and sent separate members to the Irish parliament. From a representation of this parliament, in 1430, it appears, that the greater part of the county was then subject to "Irish enemies, or English rebels," meaning by the latter name, such as, under the loose authority of the age, lived in the old native fashion, in contempt of the King's authority or the English law; but the Butler family and the archbishops of Cashel were at a subsequent period firm in their allegiance to Hen. VII., in opposition to the attempts of Lambert Simnel. In the reign of Hen VIII., ordinances for the government of this and other western counties, in which English law had been long disregarded, were committed for execution to the Earl of Ormonde. In the 28th of the same reign, much of the possessions and privileges of the earldom vested in the king, by his marriage with Anne Boleyn, while such portions as were settled in tail male, including the prisage of wines, passed to the eldest heir male of the family, Sir Pierce Butler, created Earl of Ossory, and commonly styled Lord Ormonde, and in 1537, the same king confirmed to this nobleman all the lordships and manors anciently belonging to the family, in this and other counties. In 1632, James, commonly styled "the great Duke of Ormonde," succeeded to the possessions of his family; and in the subsequent civil commotions, in which he acted so important a part, this county suffered very severely. In 1642, almost every fort and castle was captured by the Irish, and nearly all the relations of the earl were at once involved in the insurrection. In 1647, it suffered from the military ravages of Lord Inchiquin, who took Cahir and Cashel, and ravaged the whole county. After the fall of Clonmel in 1650, a great portion of the forfeited lands of the rebels was divided amongst the parliamentarian adventurers, and subsequently confirmed to them by the act of settlement after the Restoration. James, Duke of Ormonde, obtained confirmation of all his ancient paternal property by several patents and statutes of Chas. II., and the royalties and liberties thereby granted were extended over the county at large, including the Gross of Tipperary, and were confirmed by act of parliament in the 14th and 15th of the same king. James, grandson of the Great Duke, was impeached on the accession of Geo. I., and, fleeing to France, was attainted of high treason by an act of the British parliament, and his estates confiscated; and by an act of the Irish parliament, in the 2nd of Geo. I., all the liberties, regalities, franchises, courts of law and equity, jurisdictions, rights, power and authorities, granted by the letters patent and acts of parliament above mentioned, were for ever extinguished, and the rolls and records thereof, consisting of the pleadings in the court palatine of Tipperary from 1662 to 1714 and leases of lands from the Duke during the same period, were deposited chiefly in the Rolls Office of Chancery in Ireland, and a few in the office of the Chirographer of the Common Pleas. However, by an English statute in 1721, his brother, the Earl of Arran, was enabled to purchase the estates, and after his Grace's death without issue, succeeded as heir and representative of the Butlers of Ireland. From this nobleman's time until the year 1791, the ancient honours of the house of Ormonde remained dormant; but in that year John Butler, Esq., of the castle of Kilkenny, was restored to the earldoms of Ormond and Ossory, Viscounty of Thurles, &c.; no statute of restoration being deemed necessary on the occasion, as the title had not been attainted by an act of the Irish parliament. The present Marquess of Ormonde still retains the honorary office of Chief Butler, but the profits of the butlerage and prisage were purchased from the family for £216,000, under the 46th, 50th, and 51st of Geo. III., and vested in the Crown for the benefit of the public.

The county is partly in the dioceses of Lismore, Emly, and Killaloe, but chiefly in that of Cashel: for purposes of civil jurisdiction it is divided into the baronies of Clanwilliam, Eliogarty, Iffa and Offa East, Iffa and Offa West, Ikerrin, Kilnemanagh, Middlethird, Lower Ormond, Upper Ormond, Owney and Arra, and Slievardagh. It contains the borough, assize and markettown of Clonmel; the city and borough of Cashel; the corporate, market, and post-town of Fethard, formerly a parliamentary borough; the market-town and post-towns of Nenagh, Thurles, Carrick-on-Suir, Tipperary, Roscrea, Clogheen, Killenaule, Cahir, and Templemore; and the post-towns of Burris-o-Leagh, Burris-o-Kane, Cloghjordan, Newport, Golden, Littleton, and New Birmingham: the largest villages are Bansha, (which has a penny post) Emly, Toomavara, Silvermines, Ballina, Ballingarry, and Mullinahone. It sent eight members to the Irish parliament, two for the county, and two for each of the boroughs of Clonmel, Cashel, and Fethard; but since the Union its represen- tatives in the Imperial parliament have been two for the county and one for each of the boroughs of Clonmel and Cashel. The county members are elected at Clonmel: the constituency, as registered up to Jan. 1st, 1837, consisted of 837 £50, 379 £20, and 1600 £10 freeholders; 62 £20 and 228 £10 leaseholders; and 16 £50 and 15 £20 rent chargers; making a total of 3137 voters. The county is included in the Leinster Circuit. The local government is vested in a lieutenant, 30 deputy-lieutenants, and 153 other magistrates, with the usual county officers, including 4 coroners. There are 99 constabulary police stations, comprising altogether a force of 2 magistrates, 10 chief officers, 77 constables, 464 men and 21 horses. The county gaol is at Clonmel, and there are bridewells at Cahir, Clogheen, Tipperary, Cashel, New Birmingham, Thurles, Templemore, Roscrea, Nenagh, Burris-o-Kane and Newport. The lunatic asylum for the county is at Clonmel; where also is the county House of Industry, with a lunatic asylum attached to it, principally for cases of idiotcy: the county infirmary is at Cashel: there are Fever hospitals at Clonmel, Tipperary, Cahir, Burris-o-Kane, Clógheen, Cloghjordan, Cashel, Carrick-on-Suir, Nenagh, Roscrea, and Templernore; and dispensaries at Ballingarry, Bird Hill, Burris-o-Leagh, Burris-o-Kane, Ballyporeen, Clonmel, Drangan, Golden, Kilsheelan, Newcastle, Portroe, Poulmucka, Lorrha, Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir, Clogheen, Cappaghwhite, Cloghjordan, Dundrum, Fethard, Killenaule, Mullinahone, Nenagh, Newport, Ballynonty, Roscrea, Silvermines, Tipperary, Thurles, Templemore, Toomavarra, Littleton and Ballymacky, each maintained by equal Grand Jury presentments and private subscriptions. The Grand Jury presentments for 1835 amounted to £56,795. 16. 0., of which £442. 6. 6. was for new roads and bridges, &c.; £21,629. 2. 10. for repairs of roads and bridges; £20,065. 16. 1. for public buildings, charities, officers' salaries and incidents; £11,811.7.10. for the police; and £2847. 2. 9. for repayments of advances made by Government. In the military arrangements the county is partly in the western, but chiefly in the south-western, district; and within its limits are nine barracks, or military stations: four for cavalry, at Cahir, Carrick-on-Suir, Clogheen, and Fethard; four for infantry, at Cashel, Nenagh, Roscrea, and Templemore; and one for cavalry, artillery and infantry at Clonmel; the whole capable of accommodating 139 officers and 2938 men.

The surface of the county is composed of several extensive and fertile tracts of champaign country, separated from each other by ranges of hills. The greatest tract of level country is that watered by the Suir, from its source near Roscrea to Ardfinnan, extending in length about 50 miles, and in breadth averaging 15. Although it presents a nearly level appearance, when viewed from the surrounding heights, owing to the general equality of its successive swells, it is found to be diversified with slightly depressed valleys and gentle elevations, which, combined with an exuberant fertility, present a pleasing though by no means a picturesque succession of scenery. The part of this plain between the Kilnamanagh and Galtee ranges, in the centre of which the town of Tipperary is situated, and which is bounded by a line drawn from Bansha and Thomastown. near Golden on the east, and by another from Galbally through Pallasgreine to the Bilboa mountains on the west, has been designated the "Golden Vale," on account of the surpassing richness of its soil. The general elevation of its surface is about 400 feet above the level of the sea, though in some parts it does not exceed 250: from Cashel upwards it varies from 326 to 474 feet. On the east it is bounded at first by a large tract of bog, a branch of that of Allen, extending into the contiguous county of Kilkenny; farther south, it is enclosed by the low range of the Slievardagh hills, forming the Killenaule coal district, extending from the vicinity of Freshford, in the county of Kilkenny, a distance of eighteen miles south-westward, to a point five miles beyond Killenaule: the breadth of this range is about six miles; it is most elevated and abrupt towards the north-western side, where the height of the hills above the subjacent plain varies from 300 to 600 feet, while towards the south-east the surface gradually declines, and in that direction flow all the principal streams. Farther south the boundary of the plain is terminated on this side by the elevated group of Slievena- man, to the south-east of Fethard, from which several ranges of hills extend into the county of Kilkenny. On the south the vale is immediately overlooked by the steep and towering heights of the Monevullagh and Knockmeledown mountains, which form the county boundary towards Waterford; and along the base of the latter, a branch of the plain extends westward from Cahir and Ardfinnan, by Clogheen and Ballyporeen, into the vale of the Blackwater, which forms the northeastern part of the county of Cork. On the north of this portion of the plain stands the noble range of the Galtees, which on this side rise for the most part with a gentle ascent, while on the north-west they are in many parts extremely precipitous. The length of this range is twenty miles to its termination at the river Funcheon near Mitchelstown, which river forms part of the boundary between Tipperary and Cork, and its breadth from five to seven. The highest summit is Galtymore, which attains an elevation of about 2500 feet. The wild magnificence of this chain is, from its sudden elevation in the midst of a fertile plain, very striking; and its vast groupings present an assemblage of the most interesting features in boldness, freedom of outline, and variety of aspect. There are three curious circular lakes of small extent on these mountains, and the glens diverging from them present many natural beauties, particularly the western glen, in which is a fine cascade. North of these is a subordinate and lower parallel ridge, called Slieve-na-muck, near the base of which stands the town of Tipperary. From this vicinity a second branch of the great plain, through which a road runs from Clonmel to Limerick, extends to the western confines of the county, where it is met by the more elevated district in the vicinity of Pallasgreine, in the county of Limerick; and to the north of this vale rises the grand group of the Bilboa, Keeper, and Slieve- Phelim mountains, presenting a grand and varied outline. Among these, which occupy a wide district, is pre-eminently distinguished the Keeper mountain, between Newport and Silvermines, to the north-west of which; lies another mountain group on the borders of the Shannon at Lough Derg, appearing to form part of a range extending by Killaloe to the vicinity of Six-milebridge, in the county of Clare, though here intersected by this grand watercourse. The Bilboa mountains separ.ate the baronies of Ormond from the other baronies; and from them the western boundary of the grand vale of Tipperary is continued by a narrow range of heights, called the Kilnamanagh hills, which stretches hence north-eastward above Thurles and Templemore, forming the Devil's Bit mountains; and from these, again, a lower series of hills extends by Roscrea to the more elevated Slievebloom mountains, separating the King's from the Queen's county, and which makes the length of the entire range not less than 40 miles. The Keeper mountains and their northern dependencies within the. county of Tipperary form a wild tract of country, extending in length about 24 miles, and in breadth about 20, and comprehending an extent of about 480 square miles, throughout the whole of which there was, until lately, scarcely any road passable for wheel carriages; but two excellent lines have recently been constructed by Government. From these mountains to the banks of the Shannon, and its expansion Lough Derg, extends the fertile plain of the Ormonds, of similar character to the Golden Vale, like it highly cultivated and adorned with many rich demesnes. The common elevation of this plain varies from 114 to 274 feet, gradually declining towards Lough Derg.

The soil of the great plains and vales consists of calcareous loams of various quality, but for the most part exuberantly fertile, and forming, in parts of the southern and south-western baronies of Clanwilliam, Middlethird, and Iffa and Offa, the most productive portion of the county; these baronies contributing more to the county cess than all the other seven, and comprising a greater number of highly cultivated farms. The rest of the low country is similar in character, forming extensive agricultural tracts; the hills are occupied by poorer soils on substrata of slate and sandstone, and are often very shallow. Great progress, however, has been made in their improvement, by means of the facilities which the construction of new roads has afforded for the introduction of lime as a manure, which is procured in abundance in the low country.

The soil of the Slievardagh hills is of a cold and wet nature, abounding in many places with yellow clay. Contiguous to the bog of Allen lies a great extent of flat marshy ground, producing little but sedges and aquatic grasses, used for thatching and litter. The diversified nature of its surface renders the county equally noted for its good sheepwalks, its rich corn-fields, and its fertile grazing pastures. In describing the husbandry of the county it may be. classed into five districts, three agricultural, occupying the plains, and two of pasturage, comprising the mountain tracts. The principal of the former is the plain from Carrick to Tipperary, the superior quality of the soil of which, and its contiguity to Clonmel, the great mart for export, have caused it to be occupied by the more wealthy class of landholders, in farms averaging about 50 or 60 acres, though sometimes considerably more: here the lands under tillage exceed the quantity of pasture in the proportion of five to three. Of the other two agricultural districts, one occupies the upper part of the same plain, extending to Roscrea, Burris-o-leagh, Dundrum and Cappaghwhite, while the third forms the plain country extending from the northwestern mountains to the Shannon and Lough Derg. The mountain districts are the coal tract of Slievardagh. and Killenaule, and the mountains of Upper Ormond and Kilnemanagh.

By much the greater part of the hills of Slievardagh are under tillage; the farms, which were of considerable size, averaging from 80 to 100 acres, have been in many instances so subdivided among the descendants of the original lessees, that they do not now average more than 10. The mountain district of Upper Ormond, including the Keeper and Kilnamanagh mountains, though elevated, affords good pasturage to the summit; the bases of these mountains, particularly on the north, are fertile and under excellent cultivation, which is extending a considerable way up their sides. In the low lands the general course of crops is potatoes, wheat, and oats, sometimes for two years, after which the same course is resumed, after liming or manuring. On light and shallow soils barley sometimes succeeds the potatoes. Bere is usually taken off rich deep soils that have remained long under pasturage. In the mountain districts, wheat is cultivated only in a few peculiarly favourable valleys, except where the increased use of lime has extended its growth on the Slievardagh hills. Sometimes the corn crops are repeated until the soil is entirely exhausted, and then it is left to regain its natural sward, and remains untilled for a few years. The common mode of planting the potatoes is in lazy beds, but in many parts they are now drilled. The artificial grasses are red and white clover, rye-grass, and hay-seeds, which last are now almost invariably sown whenever land is laid down for grass. The grass lands are good and sound, and though not in general clothed with the luxuriant herbage that adorns the county of Limerick, the butter is of superior quality. The most productive lands are the abundant tracts of low meadow along the banks of the larger rivers descending from the mountains, and constantly enriched by their alluvial deposits. These lands are here designated Inches, signifying "islands." A considerable portion of fertile land is devoted to the purposes of the dairy; and there are some extensive grazing farms, on which large herds of cattle are fattened. The butter, which is made in large quantities in the dairies, is mostly packed in firkins and sent to Clonmel, Waterford, or Limerick, for the English market, or by the canal to Dublin: the demand for it is annually increasing. The principal manure is lime, which is extensively used on the rich lands of the vale, and in reclaiming and improving the colder soils of the high lands. A compost of turf mould mixed with the refuse of the farm-yard is also used, particularly for top-dressing. Limestone gravel is likewise in demand: that taken from the escars in the coal district between Killenaule and New Park, which form fertile and picturesque hills chiefly composed of this material, was formerly in great repute as manure, and was always spread on the ground without being calcined. Agricultural implements and carriages of improved construction are every year coming more into use; a light car with a wicker body is common. The fences are generally large mounds of earth from six to eight feet at the base, thrown up from the trench, frequently topped with white thorn or furze. In some districts stone walls are the general fence: a few resident gentlemen have set the example of an improved English system of fencing. Notwithstanding the un- dulatory character of the plain country, which renders the land less retentive of moisture than the contiguous county of Kilkenny, large tracts of the tillage land require draining. In many parts, a mode of drawing the water off pasture lands, called pipe-draining, has been introduced from Limerick: it consists of a narrow drain, covered with a thick surface sod, resting on an offset on each side. In some parts of the Ormonds, and on the lands of the principal gentry, the most approved systems of green-cropping are practised: the raising of clover has become general among the farmers, by whom rape, flax, vetches, and hemp are occasionally sown, though not to any great extent. Flax is cultivated in small plots, on the headlands or in a corner of the field, for domestic use only. The fields are generally very small, even in the dairy districts seldom exceeding five or six acres, and in tillage land being from two to four. The number and width of the ditches in such a mode of arrangement must throw much land out of cultivation. Great improvements have taken place latterly in the breeds of every kind of cattle: the breed most esteemed for the dairy is the Irish cow crossed by the Holderness or Durham, the latter of which seems to thrive best on every soil but the limestone, where the cross between the Devon and Limerick answers better: the Kerry cow crossed by the Old Leicester is small, but fattens rapidly in the lowland pastures. Sheep are seldom seen except with the gentry and large farmers: the defective system of fencing, the small holdings and subsequent minute subdivisions of the fields tend to exclude them from the management of the small farmer: in the mountain districts the small old hairy country breed is still to be found. Pigs are very numerous, forming part of the stock from the highest to the lowest landholder: they grow rapidly, are easily fattened, and much care is bestowed on them: great numbers are shipped for England both alive and dead. The breeding and improvement of horses is also much attended to, although the number is now less than what it formerly was, the farmers having brought into use a greater number of asses and mules to perform the drudgery. Some of the asses are of a large Spanish breed; they are almost everywhere used by the poorer classes. There are very few woods, and these are mostly mere copses, consisting of underwood, or stunted oak, whitethorn and birch. The defect is in course of being remedied by the numerous plantations around the mansions of the gentry, in some of the glens and on the. sides of the hills; the most extensive wood of this description is that in the western Galtees, round the mountain lodge of the Earl of Kingston. Several good nurseries for forest trees have been established, particularly in the neighbourhood of Clonmel, and great encouragement to plant is held out by many of the landed proprietors. The greatest extent of bog is that formed originally by the obstructed waters of the Nore, which constitutes a tract of 36,025 statute acres, between Roscrea, Urlingford, and Killenaule, forming part of the bog of Allen: its general elevation is about 400 feet above the level of the sea. This vast tract, now wholly unprofitable except for fuel, is, according to a computation made by the surveyors in 1811, capable of being reclaimed at the moderate expense of 5s. per acre, and of being converted into land of the best quality; but with the exception of petty encroachments and improvements on the borders, no attempt has hitherto been made to carry into execution the plans then deemed practicable. The great object is the removal of obstructions in the bed of the Nore, which flows through these morasses, and must form their main drain. There are several other detached bogs, all capable of being reclaimed, because they command a fall towards some one of the great rivers of the county. Yet, notwithstanding these extended tracts of turbary, the bog is so unequally distributed that the peasantry in many parts suffer much from the want of fuel; in the neighbourhood of Cahir, the women and children are chiefly employed in collecting every thing of a combustible nature from the ditches and roads. In 1786, one of the smaller bogs of the county overflowed, and submerged some lands in its progress to the Suir at Ballygriffin. The mineral productions are various and important.

The plain country forms part of the great limestone field of Ireland. The Roscrea and Devil's Bit mountains, which are a continuation of the Slievebloom range, consist of sandstone in mass, whose covering everywhere assumes the form of conglomerate: the Keeper and Bilboa mountains, in which this range terminates, consist of a nucleus of clay-slate surrounded by sandstone, except on the north, near the village of Silvermines, where the clay-slate comes immediately in contact with the limestone of the flat district, extending nearly to Lough Derg: the surrounding sandstone in some parts forms a red coarse conglomerate, similar to that of Lyons and Donabate, near Dublin, and is quarried for mill-stones. The Galtees, with the subordinate ridge of Slieve-na-muck, consist wholly of sandstone, the upper part of which forms strata from one to two feet thick, gradually curving in the form of the summit: the sandstone of Slieve-na-muck is arranged in horizontal strata, which yield excellent flags. The Knockmeledown and Monavullagh mountains, ranging along the southern boundary of the county, are likewise composed of clay-slate, with sandstone at the base and horizontal strata of the same formation on their summits: the Slieve-na-man group is of analogous structure, consisting of a nucleus of clay-slate surrounded and surmounted by sandstone, which is connected with the sandstone hills stretching by Nine-mile-house towards Carrick-on-Suir and Thomastown. The clayslate to the east of Slieve-na-man, extending towards Kilmagany, yields good slates, particularly in the quarries of Inchmagloeh, or the Ormond quarries. The Killenaule coal district chiefly occupies a low range of heights extending to Coalbrook, on the north-east, a distance of about 5 miles. The strata constituting this formation are shale and sandstone, the principal bed of the latter forming the main body of the elevated part of the coal hills; the whole occupy a depression in the limestone strata, from the borders of which they dip to a common centre, those declining from the northwest having a descent about twice as rapid as those from the south-eastern margin. This bed of sandstone forms narrow troughs or basins lying north-east and south-west, in which are beds of fire-clay, forming the immediate floor of the coal and covered next it by two beds of shale and one of iron rock. In some instances this series appears to be repeated, two or more seams of coal lying one above the other in the same trough, which are generally from 40 to 43 yards from the surface to the upper bed of coal, with a breadth of from 500 to 700 yards. The fire-clay under the coal varies in thickness from four to nine feet, and is everywhere interspersed with vegetable impressions, apparently of grasses, which, when fresh, have a glossy surface. The roof also exhibits vegetable impressions of a similar kind, chiefly of ferns, reeds and grasses, but occasionally of shells.

The coal of the whole district is of the kind called stone or blind coal, similar to that of Kilkenny and Queen's county. The value of the quantity annually raised, previously to 1825, amounted to about £12,000, but has since nearly doubled. The increase is attributable in a great measure to the exertions of the Mining Company of Ireland, who took several of the mines on lease, among which were those of Glangoole, Ballygalavan, and Boulintlea, the lastnamed of which is said to be the most extensive coalfield in Ireland, and opened that of Mardyke in 1827. The principal colliery worked by an individual is that of Coalbrook, the property of Mr. Langley, in which the beds of coal are not only more extended but nearer the surface and more regularly stratified than any others in the same neighbourhood: a singular feature in the strata of these collieries is their occasional interruption by what are technically called "hags" or "faults," which consist of substitutions of firm shale in lieu of coal, commonly from three to five yards broad, ranging across the troughs in a north-western and south-eastern direction. The Coalbrook colliery has been worked for more than a century by the family of the present proprietor, and was the only mine of any importance kept open previously to the Mining Company's undertaking: the first steam-engine in this part of the country was erected in it. There are now extensive collieries in full operation at Ballinastick and Earl's Hill, belonging to Mr. Going. The troughs generally contain two or three seams of coal from one to two feet thick, covering a space varying from 50 to 600 acres. The undulating surface being favourable to the construction of adit levels, most of the seams were worked to the depth at which this mode was available before much use was made of steam power. One fourth of the produce of the seam is pure coal and the remainder culm: the former is peculiarly adapted to every purpose where a strong regular heat is required; it possesses about 87 per cen. of pure carbon, and, therefore, without any preliminary preparation, it is fit for the use of the maltster, and is carried to great distances for brewers, distillers, millers, and smiths: the culm is in great demand for burning lime, and is likewise made up into balls with a mixture of clay, and used in the kitchen: the charge for the coal at the pit's mouth varies from 20s. to 40s. per ton, according to the quality; that of the culm from 16s. to 18s. The collieries in which steam-engines are employed are worked on the most approved principles, the engine pits being sunk in the lowest part of the field whence the coal is raised; eight engines are now erected in the district, in which 34 pits are at work, giving employment to upwards of 1000 persons. In the Coalbrook pits several valuable seams of iron stone, yielding about 30 per cent, of metal, have been found, which have not yet been turned to profitable account.

The Mining Company likewise possesses extensive slate quarries in the hilly tract adjoining the lower extremity of Lough Derg. Until a late period the produce of these quarries had to be conveyed by a land carriage of six miles to Killaloe, whence it was taken by boats along the Shannon or canal, although they lie within two miles of the Shannon navigation; but a new line of road thither, and the erection of a small quay in a bay in Lough Derg, allow it now to be conveyed at a greatly reduced scale of carriage to every part of the country with which the Shannon or the canals communicate. The produce of the mine has been about 7000 tons annually. The same company had the slate quarries at Derry, close to the shipping quay on the Shannon, but these are now held by John Salmon, of Derryville, near Killaloe, Esq.; and also those at Glenpatrick, east of Clonmel, of great magnitude and returning a good profit. But the mineral works of earliest celebrity are the copper and lead mines near Silvermines. They were first worked by an English company who extracted a considerable proportion of silver from the ore; when their lease expired about a century ago, new veins were opened and the works extended in different directions by successive companies. Mr. Hudson, the last lessee, sold his interest to the Mining Company, who, after sinking some expensive shafts, relinquished the attempt. The works were opened in four places called the Old Works, Knockeen, and Kevestown, on Lord Dunally's estate, and Garryard, on that of Lord Norbury. The Old Works were carried on in a space between the clay-slate and limestone rock, which here approach each other, being several fathoms wide at the surface, but contracting until it closes at the depth of about 25 fathoms. This was filled with clay, sand, decomposed slate, and scattered blocks of limestone, lydian stone, and hornstone; the whole mass being penetrated and cemented by metallic deposits, consisting of iron ochre in various stages of induration, iron pyrites, white lead ore, galena, malachite (the value of which was unknown and it was therefore thrown away), copper pyrites, with calcareous spar and heavy spar. In Knockenroe is a powerful vein, consisting at the surface principally of quartz and iron pyrites, with some heavy spar, galena, blende, and copper pyrites. In Knockeen are various others, comprising the same substances. About five miles to the east of Newport is the old copper mine of Lackamore, the workings of which were very extensive, and an attempt was made to renew them at the beginning of the present century, but was abandoned on account of the insufficiency of the machinery to draw off the water. It was subsequently worked by the Mining Company, and yielded ores worth from £90 to £30 per ton, but has again been abandoned as unprofitable. Here are two veins running through clay-slate, and composed of brown spar, calcareous spar, clay, and iron ochre, more or less indurated, a few inches in width; and a third vein of the same material, but of greater thickness, and comprising rich copper ore in bunches at Cappaghwhite, Ballysinode, and Gurtdrum, in this county: these were also held on lease by the Mining Company, who seem, however, to have made no attempt to work the two first, but on the last they made an outlay, in 1826, of £300, apparently without any return. Ores of zinc and manganese are common in various places, but no efforts are now being made to work them.

With the exception of an extensive cotton-manufactory at Clonmel, of recent establishment, the county may be considered to be wholly devoid of manufactures. The ancient staple manufacture of wool, of which Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir formed the centre, was suppressed by the parliamentary regulations made shortly after the Revolution for the avowed purpose of confining the woollen manufacture to England and substituting that of linen in its place in Ireland; yet, notwithstanding this discouragement, stuffs and ratteens were made in large quantities until the close of the last century; and blankets and flannels, much prized for their warmth and durability, are still manufactured in various places. Flax and linen had been manufactured on a small scale, chiefly for domestic consumption, for many years, and a few grants towards the erection of scutching mills were made by the Linen Board from 1817 to 1823. In 1822, the London Society for the relief of the western counties in Ireland, during the famine occasioned by the failure of the crops, besides supplying nearly £6000 to purchase food for the poor of this county, remitted £2500 for the employment of the peasantry in the linen manufacture; in addition to which grant, other sums were contributed by various charitable societies and by the Linen Board. Societies were consequently formed in seventeen of the most important places by ladies of rank and respectability, (among whom was the Countess of Glengall, who allotted 50 acres of land at Cahir for the growth of flax) to form and superintend establishments for carrying on the manufacture; but notwithstanding these exertions, the linen trade, after languishing a few years, may be said to be nearly extinct in the county. Flour is now the staple manufacture; there being 61 large mills for grinding it on the several rivers throughout the county; and this branch of industry is deemed to be of such importance that some of the wealthiest individuals in the country have embarked their property in it.

The commerce of the county consists in the extensive exportation of its agricultural produce, the chief mart being Clonmel, from which the export trade is so great that the farmer is here always certain of a favourable market. The market of Thurles is the second in importance, and the others for agricultural produce are those of Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir, Tipperary, Cashel, Templemore, Roscrea, and Nenagh. Carrickon- Suir, like Clonmel, exports by Waterford to the English markets; Nenagh sends to Limerick, by the Shannon navigation, and to Dublin by the Grand Canal; Roscrea, to Dublin, by the Grand Canal; and Templemore, Thurles, Cashel, Tipperary, and Cahir generally send their products by land carriage to Clonmel or Waterford. The rich southern and eastern plains contribute, perhaps, one-half to the vast exports from Waterford of flour, oatmeal, barley, horned cattle, sheep, and pigs.

The principal rivers are the Shannon, the Suir, and the Nore. The Shannon, with its noble expansion, Lough Derg, forms the western boundary of the county from the mouth of the lesser Brosna to within a few miles of Limerick, a distance of about 40 statute miles, throughout the whole of which it is navigable, and displays a grand succession of striking and beautiful scenery: it receives several streams from the Kilnamanagh hills, of which the most important is that from Nenagh. The Suir, in consequence of the great length of 4 M its course throughout the entire county from north to south, forms the grand outlet for the superfluous waters of by far the greater portion of it. The principal tributaries from the baronies to the east of its course are the Derryhogan, the Littleton, and the Anner; from the hills of Kilnamanagh, three considerable streams, which discharge their waters into it near Golden; from the Galtee mountains, the Dunbeg, through the beautiful glen of Aherlow; and from the Cummeragh mountains in Waterford, the copious waters of the Nier. The Nore, from its source in the Slievebloom mountains, flows eastward for about ten miles through this county, in its way towards Burros-in-Ossory and Kilkenny; and though it has a fall of 71 feet in this distance, the various interruptions to its current have chiefly caused the formation of the vast tracts of bog extending along that part of the county. With the exception of the Shannon and the Suir, the rivers present greater facilities for irrigation and millsites than for inland navigation. An extension of the Grand Canal by Mountmellick, Roscrea and Cashel, to Carrick-on-Suir, was at one period proposed. Another extension was designed to proceed along the western side of the Slievebloom and Keeper range: and in the report of the Board of Works, in 1831, it is recommended to form a still-water communication between Parsonstown and the river Shannon, by a canal, nearly parallel with the lesser Brosna. In 1825, the late Mr. Nimmo, by desire of the resident proprietors, made a survey and estimate for the construction of a railway, to connect the towns of Cahir, Clonmel, and Carrick-on-Suir, with an extension in one direction to Limerick and in the other to Waterford, and with a branch to the Killenaule coal district. It was proposed to extend this line from Cahir to Tipperary, with a branch to Thurles, but no steps have yet been taken to execute this plan. A proposed line of railway from Dublin to Cork is intended to enter this county near Callen, and to proceed through Fethard, Cahir, and Clogheen to Ballyporeen, near which it is to enter the county of Cork. The roads of common construction are generally in good order, more especially the mail coach roads. Two lines of cross road deserve especial notice: they are called Anglesey's roads, from having been commenced in 1828 under the immediate order of the Marquess of Anglesey, then Lord- Lieutenant: one, connecting the towns of Newport and Thurles, was completed in 1830, at an expense of £9857: the other, from Nenagh to Tipperary, has been more recently finished, at an expense of about £17,200. The great object of their construction was to open a communication into the mountains through which they extend, which had been for many years the asylum of outlaws and of robbers: they also afford the means of agricultural improvement to the whole district, by the introduction, of lime from the surrounding quarries. A new line has been opened from Mitchelstown to Tipperary; another from Lismore to Mitchelstown through the Knockmeledown range; and a third is also in course of formation, being an extension of the Mitchelstown line, from Tipperary by Dundrum, in the direction of Thurles, thence to be continued toward Durrow, and to form, part of the grand mail line between Dublin and Cork, by which the distance between these cities will be shortened 33 miles. Great facilities of inter- course throughout the country are afforded by the exertions of Mr. Bianconi, an intelligent Italian settled at Clonmel, who first established a communication between Clonmel and Cahir by a jaunting car in 1815, and now has depôts of cars and horses in every post-town in the county, and in all the counties of Munster except Clare, and of Connaught except Sligo, and in the counties of Carlow, Kilkenny, King's, Queen's, Longford, Westmeath, and Wexford in Leinster, in which 84 cars, 816 horses, and 469 men are constantly engaged; some of them carry the cross mails.

The most numerous remains of antiquity are the raths or earthworks of various kinds, scattered over the surface of the county. There are also many little mounds, called Clogh Breagh, or "Stones of Sorrow," said to have been formed by passengers casting a stone each on a spot where any person had met with a violent death. There are yet standing within the limits of the county two ancient round towers, in good preservation, one on the rock of Cashel, and the other at Roscrea. In a small bog near Cullen have been found an amazing number of valuable relics of a very remote period of antiquity: they include utensils of brass; ingots, plates, plain pieces, and numerous ornaments of gold; a quantity of arrow and spear heads; gold cups, tubes, rings, and chains; brass spears of very extraordinary form, and other articles of a similar kind. The number of religious houses is stated to have been 40, and there are still remains of those of Ardfinnan, Athassel, the Dominican and Franciscan houses at Cashel, Clonmel, Corbally, Fethard, Holy Cross, Hore Abbey, Lorragh (where there are the remains of three religious edifices), Monaincha, Roscrea, Thurles, and Kilcooly. There is also an old decayed ecclesiastical building at Mullinahone, and numerous decayed parish churches. But the ruins that claim pre-eminent notice are those on the rock of Cashel, described in the account of that city, which see. Remains of ancient castles are to be met with in every part. The most remarkable of the castles are those of Nenagh Round, Ardfinnan, Cahir, Lismalin, Grestown, Gralla near Killenaule, Mealiffe, Drumban in the parish of Mealiffe, two at Roscrea, and two at Thurles; besides which may be particularly noticed the old castellated mansion in the town of Carrick-on-Suir; Carrick Castle, formerly the seat of the Earl of Carrick; and Killaghy Castle, that of F. Despard, Esq. Burnt Court is a very fine specimen of an ancient fortified mansion, and there are some remains of another at Thurles. The modern mansions of the nobility and gentry are noticed in their respective parishes. The celebrated natural caves near Mitchelstown, lately discovered, are in the parish of Templetenny, in this county, under which head a detailed description of them is given. The title of Earl of Tipperary is enjoyed by His Royal Highness Prince Adolphus Frederick, Duke of Cambridge."

[Transcribed information from A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland - Samuel Lewis - 1837]

In 1868, the parish of Abington contained the following places:

"ABINGTON, a parish partly in the baronies of Owneybeg and Clanwilliam, in the county of Limerick, partly in the barony of Owney-Arra, in the county of Tipperary, and partly in the county of the City of Limerick, in the province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles E. of Newport. It was at an early period a place of importance, and had a Cistercian abbey which was founded in 1189, or, according to other authorities, in 1205, by Theobald Fitzwalter, ancestor of the Butlers, Earls of Ormond. Its ancient name was Wotheney or Woney. King John endowed the abbey with lands and several advowsons, and its abbot was a peer of the Rish House of Lords. Queen Elizabeth granted the abbey and its possessions to Captain Walshe, who erected here a fine mansion. The estate was forfeited to the crown in 1641. Only a few fragments of the abbey and the mansion now remain. The parish contains the village of Moroe, and towards its north-eastern boundary includes part of the Sliebh Phelim Mountains. Although a large portion of the ground is barren mountain, there are some lands well cultivated and some valuable meadows. The living, which is united with Tuogh, value £788, is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore, and is in the patronage of the bishop. Here is a police station, and petty sessions are held on alternate Tuesdays. Fairs are held on the 29th May and 31st August, and at Moroe on the 29th April and 27th October. Deer Park is the seat of the Earl of Carbery. There are several other seats in the parish"

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Aghacrew contained the following places:

"AGHACREW, (or Aughacrew), a parish in the lower division of the barony of Kilnamanagh, in the county of Tipperary, and province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles to the N.E. of Tipperary. The living is a rectory united with the vicarage of Teem, in the diocese of Tuam, Killala, and Achonry. The people attend divine service at Toem, as there is no church in the parish, nor is there any school. High Park is the principal residence.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Ballygriffin contained the following places:

"BALLYGRIFFIN, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles from Golden. It lies in a fertile district on the bank of the river Suir. There is a small tract of bog. The living is a rectory united with that of Athassel, in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore. Lisheen is the seat of Sir J. J. Fitzgerald, Bart."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Borrisnafarney contained the following places:

"BORRISNAFARNEY, a parish in the barony of Clonlisk, King's County, in the province of Leinster, but extending also into the barony of Skerrin, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, not far from Moneygall. It is situated in a fertile district at the foot of the Devil's Bit mountains, at the head of the small river Allitrim. The living is a rectory united with the vicarage of Bourney, in the diocese of Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, and Kilmacduagh. There are several seats of the gentry in the parish, among which are Loughton, the residence of Lord Bloomfield; Thorn Vale, Larch Vale, &c. There are vestiges of an ancient castle at Loughton. Trout are found in the Allitrim.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Bourney contained the following places:

"BOURNEY, a parish in the barony year in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 4 miles to the S. of Roscrea. It lies at the foot of the hill of Benduff, at the source of the rivers Nore and Suir. It comprises large tracts of bog and mountain. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Killaloe, Kilfenora, Clonfert, and Kilmacduagh, of the value with that of Borrisnafarney united to it, of £339, in the patronage of the bishop. There are ruins of several old castles."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Boytonrath contained the following places:

"BOYTONRATH, (or Laginstown), a parish in the barony of Middlethird, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 4 miles to the S. of Cashel. It lies near the Great Southern and Western railway. The living is an impropriate rectory in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Brickendown contained the following places:

"BRICKENDOWN, a parish in the barony of Middlethird, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, not far from Cashel. It includes the village of Mocklershill. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore, value £61, in the patronage of the bishop."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Bruis contained the following places:

"BRUIS, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 4 miles to the S.W. of Tipperary. The soil is fertile and the surface hilly, rising at Slievenamack to the height of 1,200 feet. The living is a rectory, united with that of Lattin, in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore. The principal seat is Mount Bruis."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Buolick contained the following places:

"BUOLICK, a parish in the barony of Slievardagh, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 9 miles to the E. of Thurles, which is a station on the Great Southern and Western railway. It is situated on the borders of Kilkenny, in a boggy district, near the Bog of Allen, and was the site of an ancient castle, a seat of the Butlers, of which some remains are still to be seen. Coal is found in the vicinity. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore. The church is in ruins. The principal seat is Littlefield."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Carrick contained the following places:

"CARRICK, (or Carrick-on-suir), a parish and market town in the barony of East Iffa and Offa, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 13 miles to the E. of Clonmel, and 112 miles to the S.W. of Dublin. It is situated on the border of Waterford, in a rich and highly cultivated district in the valley of the Suir, and is a station on the Waterford and Limerick railway. This parish was the site of a castle, founded soon after 1300 by the Butlers, who owned the district as well as Carrick-Beg on the opposite side of the Suir in Waterford. An Augustine priory was established here about 1200 by William de Cantell and his wife, which was given at the Dissolution to the Earl of Ormond. Another castle was built on its site. The town of Carrick-on-Suir has one main street parallel with the river, which runs E. and W., and is crossed by an old bridge of stone, connecting the town with Carrick-Beg. The principal business is the corn and provision trade. The woollen manufacture was once carried on here, but has gradually ceased. There is a good trade in timber, coal, and slate. The Suir was formerly not navigable above Fiddown, except for lighters; but at a considerable outlay improvements have been made, and vessels of 200 tons burthen now approach the town. A new townhall and a new courthouse have been erected. There are also a bridewell, barracks for infantry, and a police station. The Union poorhouse stands to the W. of the town. Quarter and petty sessions are held, the latter fortnightly. The living is a union of the rectory of Kilmurray, and vicarages of Carrick and Ardcullum, value £425 13s. 10d., with glebe-house and 8¾ acres of land, Irish. The parish church is dedicated to St. Nicholas. There are in the town a large and handsome Roman Catholic chapel, a monastery of the order of Christian Brotherhood, and a convent of the sisters of the order of the Presentation. Connected with these are large schools for boys and girls. Here are also a fever hospital and a dispensary. Carrick-on-Suir is the seat of a Poor-law Union. The castle, now partly in ruins, was long the seat of the Ormonds, and it was here that the great Duke of Ormond first received the tidings of the rebellion in 1641. The surrounding country is pre-eminent for its fertility, and the charm of its varied scenery. Among the seats of the gentry are Tinvane, the residence of H. W. Briscoe, Esq.; Deerpark Lodge, Glen Lodge, The Cottage, &c. Carrick gives the title of earl to a branch of the Butler family. Saturday is the market day. Fairs are held on the first Thursday of each month, and also on Whit-Tuesday, the 15th August, and the 10th October.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Cashel contained the following places:

"CASHEL, a city, parliamentary borough, and market town, comprises the parishes of St. John and St. Patrick's Rock, in the barony of Middlethird, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 15 miles to the N.W. of Clonmel, and 100 miles to the S.W. of Dublin. It has given name, with Goolds Cross, to a station on the Great Southern and Western railway, from which, however, it is 6 miles distant. Cashel is a place of very great antiquity, but nothing is certainly known of the date of its foundation, and very little of its early history. It was the seat of the kings of Munster, and also very early the seat of a bishopric; the royal and episcopal offices being combined. Before the middle of the 12th century the diocese of Cashel was converted into an archbishopric. In 1172 Henry II. called a synod of the Irish prelates, which met at this city, and acknowledged, as it is averred, his sovereignty, and confirmed to him and his successors the kingdom of Ireland; a decree subsequently confirmed by Pope Alexander. Early in the 13th century Cashel was constituted a borough, and shortly afterwards the town, which was given to the archbishops by Henry III., was re-granted by Archbishop Marian to the burgesses, with certain reservations. After the rebellion of the 17th century, the town was occupied by the royalists, but in 1647 was attacked and taken by storm by Lord Inchiquin for the parliament. The people had taken refuge in the cathedral, and a terrible slaughter took place. The municipal area of Cashel comprises 4,018 acres, of which 3,764 are in the rural district and 254 in the city. The city, which stands in a fine level tract of country, about 2 miles E. from the river Suir, at the foot and on the sides of the bold hill known as the Rock of Cashel, consists chiefly of five streets, Main-street being the principal one. In 1861 it comprised 919 houses, inhabited by a population of 5,596 against 957 houses, inhabited by 4,798 in 1851, showing an increase in the decennial period of 798 persons, but a decrease of 38 houses. The city is lighted with gas, and has a good supply of water from the same source from which the friars, some centuries since, brought the water through pipes into the town. A reservoir has lately been formed by the town commissioners capable of containing 600,000 gallons, at a cost of £250. Many of the houses are poorly built; but considerable improvements have been made in the general appearance of the place. No manufactures are carried on, and the only business is the general retail trade. There are a market-hall, with reading and news-rooms, a court-house, town commissioners hall, gaol, county infirmary, and fever hospital. The city contains also infantry barracks, a police station, and a savings-bank. The privileges conferred on the townsmen by Archbishop Marianus were confirmed by various royal charters, the last being granted by Charles I.; under this the city was governed till the passing of the Irish Municipal Reform Act. The corporation was then superseded, and the municipal government is now vested in a body of commissioners. The revenue of the city, derived chiefly from ancient endowments, amounts to about £1,150, and is expended by the town commissioners for the paving and cleansing of the streets, gas and water supply, and salaries of officers, &c., besides £200 yearly for the purposes of education, £180 to the parish priest as patron of the National schools, £20 to the Protestant rector to be disposed of under his control, £40 at Christmas for blankets to the poor, and £40 to the Cashel Race Fund. Cashel returned two representatives to the Irish parliament till the Union, since which it has returned one member to the imperial parliament. The constituency in 1860 was 159. It is the seat of a Poor-law Union, and contains the Union poorhouse. Quarter sessions are held here in January and July, and petty sessions weekly. The archbishopric of Cashel was reduced to a bishopric by the Church Temporalities Act, passed in the reign of William IV. The diocese, united with those of Emly, Waterford, and Lismore, is in the province of Dublin, and comprises most of the benefices in the county of Tipperary, with several in Limerick. The revenue of the see is fixed at £5,000 per annum. The chapter consists of a dean, archdeacon, precentor, chancellor, treasurer, and five prebendaries, who, with the parochial clergy, divide an income of £22,000, to provide for less than 5,000 worshippers, the number of churchmen within the diocese according to the returns of 1861. The living is an union of the three parishes of Cashel, Ballyclerihan, and Coleman, value together £430, in the patronage of the crown, and forms the corps of Cashel deanery. The parish church of St. John, which is also the modern cathedral, is a large and handsome edifice of stone, with a fine spire. It was completed about 1783, and stands on the site of an earlier church. The rest of the town is in the parish of St. Patrick's Rock, which is the cathedral parish, and is served by the vicars choral or their deputy. There are handsome chapels belonging to the Roman Catholics and Wesleyan Methodists, a nunnery of the order of the Presentation, a National and several endowed schools. The episcopal palace is a spacious mansion with pleasant grounds, in the centre of the city, and now the residence of the dean. The library attached to the see is kept in a building close to the cathedral. The chief point of attraction and interest is the Rock of Cashel, crowned with the ruins of several ancient structures, which, from their position above the surrounding country, have a grand effect. The rock is a precipitous mass of limestone, rising boldly from the plain, and in ancient times was the site of the palace of the kings of Munster. On its summit, which is approached by a narrow lane from the principal street, are the ruins of the ancient cathedral, Cormac's Chapel, the episcopal palace, or vicar's hall, and a round tower. The cathedral, founded about the middle of the 12th century by Donald O'Brien, was cruciform, with a central tower, and in the early English style. It has a monument to Archbishop Magrath, who died about 1621. Cormac's Chapel is a small, but singularly interesting example of early Norman architecture. It was built about 1127 by Cormac M'Carthy, King of Munster, and first bishop of Cashel, and consists of a nave and choir, with a small square tower. The roof is of stone, and groined. The chapel is in perfect preservation. Its dimensions are-length, 53 feet; breadth, 18 feet; height of the tower, 68 feet. Some fresco paintings were discovered on the walls by Archdeacon Cotton. The episcopal palace, or vicar's hall, was erected about 1420 by Archbishop O'Hedian. The round tower, which stands close to the N. transept of the cathedral, is built of stone, and is still well preserved. It is about 90 feet high. There are remains of a friary near the rock; and not far from the city are the ruins of Hore Abbey. Wednesday and Saturday are the market days. Fairs are held on the 26th March and the 7th August, besides customary fairs on the second Wednesday in every month."

 

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Clonbeg contained the following places:

"CLONBEG, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 4 miles to the S.W. of Tipperary. It lies at the foot of the Galtee mountains, on the river Aperlow. The surface is boggy and mountainous; the highest ground being on Galtee-More, which rises 3,015 feet above the sea-level. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, and Waterford, value with Killaldriff, £608, in the patronage of the bishop. The neighbourhood abounded in deer some years ago. Here is a police station, and to the S.W. of the parish stand the ruins of More Abbey. The principal residences are Ballywire, Castlereagh, Woodville, and Ballincourty."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Clonbullogue contained the following places:

"CLONBULLOGUE, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles to the S.E. of Tipperary. The surface is hilly, lying along the bank of the river Arra, and is traversed by the road from Tipperary to Cabin The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, Emly, Waterford, and Lismore, value with Tipperary, £810, in the patronage of the bishop. The chief residences are Lismacue, Banshaw, Grallagh, and Clonbulloge."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Clonpet contained the following places:

"CLONPET, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles to the S.W. of Tipperary. The surface is very mountainous, the principal summit rising 1,000 feet above sea level, among the Slievenamuck range. The living is a vicarage, united with Lattin, in the diocese of Emly. Ballyglass and Brookville are the chief residences."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Cullen contained the following places:

"CULLEN, a parish and village in the barony of Clanwilliam, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles N.W. of Tipperary. Oola is its post town. It extends along the western boundary of the barony. The parish consists of good soil, and is traversed by the road from Tipperary to Limerick. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Emly, value with three others, £556, in the patronage of the bishop The church is a plain ancient edifice. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Lattin. There is a parish school for boys and girls, also a hedge-school. The village has a police station, and was formerly a market town. Fairs are held on the 29th October, and in May or June, as appointed."

"CULLEN, a parish, partly in the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county of TIPPERARY, and partly in that of COONAGH, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 4 miles (N. W.) from Tipperary; containing 1412 inhabitants, of which number, 498 are in the village, which was formerly a market-town, but is now an inconsiderable place. Here is a constabulary police station; and two fairs are held, one moveable, either in May or June, the other on Oct. 29th. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Emly, united from time immemorial to the rectories of Solloghodmore and Sollogbodbeg, and the vicarage of Toughcluggin, together forming the union of Cullen; in the patronage of the Archbishop of Cashel. The tithes of the parish amount to £122. 7. 6½., and of the union, to £591. 5. 7¼. The glebe-house was built by aid of a gift of £100 and a loan of £900, in 1819, from the late Board of First Fruits: there are three glebes in the union, comprising together 45¼ acres. The church is a plain building.  In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Lattin: the chapel is a small building. The parochial schools, in which about 20 boys and 10 girls are educated, are supported by the incumbent, and about 120 children are taught in two hedge schools. In a small bog has been found a great number of interesting relics of remote antiquity, an account of which was furnished to the Society of Antiquaries, in 1774, by Governor Pownall, and which is inserted in their Archaeologia."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Dangandargan contained the following places:

"DANGANDARGAN, a parish in the baronies of Clanwilliam and Middlethird, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles S.W. of Cashel. Golden is its post town. It lies on the E. of the Suir valley, and on the road from Golden to Clonmel. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, value with Attrassel, £674, in the patronage of the bishop."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Derrygrath contained the following places:

"DERRYGRATH, a parish in the baronies of West Iffa and Offa, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles S.E. of Cabin It is situated on the road to that town from Clonmel, its post town. The surface has some bog and woodland. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Lismore, value £195, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is a plain structure, erected in 1814, by means of a gift from Mr. Perry, of Woodroofe, assisted by a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. There are parish hedge-schools. The principal seats are Markhamstown, Garryroe, and Woodroofe. Here are ruins of an old church and of two castles."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Dolla contained the following places:

"DOLLA, a parish in the barony of Upper Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 8 miles S. of Nenagh. It is situated on the Anglesey-road from Tipperary to Nenagh. The surface is hilly, with much bog, and is intersected by the head streams of the river, Nenagh. The living is a mensal, and wholly impropriate to the see of Killaloe. This parish has neither church, chapel, nor school. Happy Grove and Trevorstown are the residences."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Donohill contained the following places:

"DONOHILL, a parish in the baronies of Clanwilliam and Lower Kilnamanagh, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles N. of Tipperary, on the road from thence to Nenagh. The parish is mountainous, and nearly divided by a strip of Aghcrew. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Cashel, in the patronage of the bishop. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Anacarthy. There are several schools, one of which is under the National Board. The police station is at Anacarthy, which village gives name to a small stream passing through the parish. Mount Bam rises 1,188 feet above the sea-level. Copper ore is found in the northern districts. The principal seats are Philips town and Greenfield. Here are ruins of Ballysheedy Castle, and some traces of the ancient church."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Glenbane contained the following places:

"GLENBANE, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Emly, and is united with Ballyscaddan.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Kilcornan contained the following places:

"KILCORNAN, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles W. of Tipperary. Dromkeen is its post town. It is 1½ mile long by 1 broad. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Emly, value with Dromkeen, £480, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is in ruins. Here is a Roman Catholic chapel. Loughney Castle formerly stood here."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Killardry contained the following places:

"KILLARDRY, (or Killaaldaff), a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles N.W. of Cahir, its post town. The parish is about 3 miles square, and is situated near the river Aharlow. The soil it mostly poor. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, in the patronage of the bishop. Kilmogler House, Toureen House, and Maguire's Castle are within this parish. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Galbally. There are two day schools.

"KILLALDRIFF, a parish, in the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 4 miles (N. W.) from Cahir, on the road from that place to Tipperary; containing, with the chapelry of Clonfinglass, 1901 inhabitants. It comprises 5714 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £3693 per annum; and there are about 650 acres in Clonfinglass, about 1500 acres of mountain land, and a considerable quantity of bog: the land is generally good and well cultivated, and there is plenty of limestone and good building stone. The rivers Arra and Aherlow run through the parish, the latter of which joins the Suir at Ballydruid. Here is a constabulary police station. The principal seats are Kilmoyler, the residence of S. O'Meagher, Esq.; Toureen, of D. O'Meagher, Esq.; Ballydruid, of Mrs. Doherty; Kilmoylermore, of the late Constantine Maguire, Esq.; Cluin, of - Slattery, Esq.; and Bansha House, of R. Clarke, Esq. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, forming the corps of the prebend of Killaldry, or Killaldriff, in the cathedral of Cashel, and in the patronage of the Archbishop: the tithes amount to £270, and there is a glebe of 16a. 2r. 12p. In the R. C. divisions it is part of the union or district of Galbally, and has a neat chapel. About 140 children are educated in two private schools, the school-house for one of which was given by the late C. Maguire, Esq. 

There are some remains of old castles at Cappagh and Kilmoylermore; the ruin of a small church or chapel at Clonfinglass; and the remains of the old church at Killaldriff."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Killavinoge contained the following places:

"KILLAVINOGE, (or Clonmore), a parish in the barony of Ikerrin, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 4 miles N. of Templemore, its post town. It is 5 miles long, and its greatest breadth is near 4 miles. The surface, which lies along the left bank of the river Suir, contains a large proportion of bog, but the soil is good. The road from Rathdowney to Templemore traverses the interior. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, value with Templemore, £700, in the patronage of the bishop. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to those of Templemore and Killea. There are two day schools. Dromard is the principal residence.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Killea contained the following places:

"KILLEA, a parish in the barony of Ikerrin, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles N.N.W. of Templemore, its post town. It is 3 miles long by 2 broad. The surface is rather mountainous and boggy, lying near the head of the river Suir. It attains an elevation of 1,462 feet at the Kilduff Mountain, and 1,583 feet at the Devil's-bit Mountain. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, value with Templemore, £700, in the patronage of the bishop. Divine service is hold in a private house. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to those of Templemore and Killavenogh. There is a day school. Kilduff Park is the principal residence. Granite and limestone are quarried in the hills. There is a police station in the parish."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Lattin contained the following places:

"LATTIN, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles W. of Tipperary, its post town. The parish is a little over 2 miles long by 2 broad. The soil is mostly good. The road from Emly to Tipperary crosses the interior. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Emly, joined with Cordangan, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is in ruins. The Roman Catholic Chapel is united to those of Cullen and Thronell. There are two hedge-schools. Mooresfoot is the chief seat."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Lorrha contained the following places:

"LORRHA, a parish and post-office village in the barony of Lower Ormond, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles N. of Borrisokane. It is 6½ miles long by 5½ broad. The surface, though low and boggy, possesses a considerable proportion of good pasture land. The river Shannon forms the W. boundary. Loughs Derg and Frier are partly within the limits. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Killaloe, value £788, in the patronage of the bishop. Here is the parish church, besides which there is an ancient pile, built in 1269 by Walter de Burgo, and lately repaired, which is used as a place of worship. Lorrha Abbey was a structure probably founded in the 12th century; it is a ruin in middling preservation, though it appears to have been partially destroyed by fire. It contains numerous tablets; among others, is a marble monument to the M'Egans. There are several other old ruins in the parish, one of which is known as Cromwell's Castle. Near the abbey stands a modern Roman Catholic chapel.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

"CALLABEG, (or Kilnasear), also called LOUGHMOE-EAST, a parish, in the barony of ELIOGARTY, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 2 1/2 miles (S. E.) from Templemore; containing 1600 inhabitants.

This parish is situated on the river Suir, which separates it from Loughmoe-West, and on the road from Templemore to Thurles, and comprises 3417 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. On the townland of Killahara is a very fine old castle, which formerly belonged to the Purcells, and is now the property of Mr. Trant. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cashel, and is part of the union of Templetuohy and corps of the prebend of Kilbragh in the cathedral of Cashel: the tithes amount to £249. 17. 9. There is a pay school, in which are about 30 boys and 20 girls."

"CLANWILLIAM, a barony in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is bounded on the N. by Kilnemanna, on the E. by Middlethird, on the S. by Offa and Iffa, and on the W. by Limerick. Its length is 16 miles by 12½ wide. The barony contains the parishes of Bruis, Ballygriffin, Corroge, Cullen, Cordangan, Clonpet, Clonballoge, Clonbeg, Emly, Glenbane, Kilshane, Kilmucklin, Killardry, Kilfeacle, Kilcolman, Rathlynin, Solloghodmore, Solloghodbeg, Shronell, Tipperary, Templenoe, Templeniery and a part of Clonoulty, Donohill, Dangandargan, Ougnterleague, Relickmurry, Templobredon, and Teem, comprising 115,960 acres."

"DERG, a lough on the borders of the counties of Tipperary, Clare, and Galway, Ireland. It extends from Killaloe to Portumna, and has an average breadth of 2 miles. It contains the bays of Scarriff, Youg Hal, Castletown, and Scooe, and two islands of Inishcaltra or Holy Island, Inismore, and others. It is surrounded by the Slieve Bernagh and Arra mountains, and is supplied by several mountain rivers."

"DERRY, an island in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 6 miles N.W. of Borrisokane."

"DERRYFADDA, the chief of a cluster of bogs lying between the counties of Kilkenny and Tipperary, province of Leinster, Ireland. It extends over 5,540 acres."

"DEVIL'S BIT MOUNTAINS, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. They extend to the borders of King's County, province of Leinster. The highest peak is 2,084 feet. The village of Templemore lies at their base. The range derives its name from a singular looking gap on one of the principal summits. In 1790 an old copy of the Gospels, in Irish, of the 13th century, was found here in a cave."

"EAST IFFA AND OFFA, (and West Iffa and Offa) two baronies in county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. The baronies of Clanwilliam, Middlethird, and Slievardagh are on the N., county Kilkenny on the E., county Waterford on the S., and counties Cork and Limerick on the W. They are 26 miles in length, and their greatest breadth is over 12 miles. The western division contains part of the Galtee and Knockmeledown mountains, but the greater portion of the surface consists of the Golden Vale of the Suir. The river Suir washes the eastern skirts of the Galtees. West Iffa and Offa contains the parishes of Ardfinnan, Ballybacon, Derrygrath, Molough, Mortlestown, Neddans, Newcastle, Rochestown, Shanrahan, Templetenny, Tubbrid, Tullaghorton, Tullaghmelan, and Whitechurch, with the towns of Clogheen, Caber, and Ballyporeen, and part of the parish of Caher. East Iffa and Offa contains the parishes of Ballyclerahan, Carrick, Kilgrant, Kitegan, Kilcash, Kilmurry, Lisronagh, Newchapel, Rathronan, and Temple-Etny, with the town of Abbey, and part of Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel, besides part of the parishes of Donaghmore, Garran-Gibbon, Newtown-Lenuan, Inishlounaght, Killoloan, Kilsheelan, and St. Mary of Clonmel.

"ELIOGARTY, a barony, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is bounded by Ikerrin on the N., by the county Kilkenny on the E., by Middlethird on the S., and by Kilnemanagh and Upper Ormond on the W. Its length is 14 miles, by 10 wide, and it extends over 90,681 acres. The surface is varied, consisting of middling quality soil, with a large proportion of bog. It contains the parishes of Athnid, Ballymurreen, Drom, Fertiana, Galbooly, Inch, Kilclonagh, Kilfithmone, Loughmoe East and West, Moycarky, Moyne, Rahelty, Shyane, Thurles, and Twomileborris, and parts of Ballycahill, Holycross, Kilcooly, Templetouhy, and Templemore, with the towns of Templemore and Thurles."

"FUNCHEON, a rivulet rising in three headstreams on the boundaries of the counties of Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary, Ireland. The waters unite near Mitchellstown, and after a course of about 27 miles join the Blackwater 2½ miles below Fermoy. The stream is frequented by salmon and trout."

"GLENBOWER, a ravine in the county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is a very picturesque spot."

"GOLDEN-VALE, a fertile district in the counties of Limerick, Tipperary, and Waterford, Ireland, consisting principally of the valley of the river Suir. The soil of the vale is chiefly a rich loam, resting on a subsoil of lime."

"IKERRIN, a barony in county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is 13 miles in length and a little over 8 in breadth. It is bounded by King's County on the N. and N.W., by Queen's County and county Kilkenny on the E., by the barony of Eliogurty on the S., and by the barony of Lower Ormond on the W. A large portion of the Devil-Bit mountains lies within the limits on the W. The Suir traverses the length of the barony. It contains the parishes of Barnane, Killavinoge, Killea, Killoskehan, Bourney, Rathnaveoge, and Templeree, and the town of Roscrea, and parts of the parishes of Borrisnafarney, Corbally, Cullenwaine, Templemore, and Templetouhy."

"KEEPER, a mountain in county Tipperary, Ireland, rising to the height of 2,265 feet."

"KILLEEN, a bog in county Tipperary, 5 miles N.E. of Cashel."

"KILNEGARRUFF, (or Kilnegariff, a parish, partly in the barony of OWNEY and ARRA, county of TIPPERARY, and partly in the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county of LIMERICK, but chiefly in the county of the city of LIMERICK, in the province of MUNSTER, 2 miles (S. E. by S.) from Castleconnell, on the road from Limerick to Dublin; containing 2361 inhabitants. It comprises 2900 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and about 500 acres of valuable bog. The land is based on limestone; part of it is extremely rich and part sterile. Agriculture is improving rapidly, and the cultivation of green crops has been introduced.

Towards the western termination of the parish there are several flourishing plantations, which form part of the Earl of Clare's demesne. The principal seats are Thornfield, the residence of Major-Gen. Sir R. Bourke; Woodsdown, of Major Gough; Mulcaher, of the Rev. J. Crampton; and Rich Hill, of W. Howly, Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Killaloe, forming part of the union of Castleconnell: the tithes amount to £271. 14. 93/4. The church was destroyed in the war of 1641, and was rebuilt, but is now in ruins.

In the R. C. divisions it is also part of the union or district of Castleconnell, and has a large new chapel at Ahane. About 200 children are educated in three schools, to one of which Gen, Bourke, who built the school-house, subscribes £14 annually. Here is a dispensary, connected with that of Castleconnell."

"KNOCKMELEDOWN, a range of barren mountains on the borders of counties Tipperary and Waterford, Ireland, rising to the height of 2,609 feet above the sea-level at the highest point."

"LINAAN, a tributary of the river Suir, county Tipperary, Ireland."

"LOWER ORMOND, a barony in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is bounded by Kings County, county Galway, and the baronies of Upper Ormond and Owney and Arra. It extends over an area of 135,724 acres, and contains Cloghjordan and the parishes of Aglishcloghane, Ardcrony, Ballingarry, Borrisokane, Cloghprior, Dorrha, Dromineer, Finnoe, Killodiernan, Knigh, Lorrha, Loughkeen, Modreeny, Terryglass, Uskane, and parts of those of Kilbarron, Kilruane, Monsea, and Nenagh.

"LOWER and UPPER KILNAMANAGH, two baronies in county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. The former is 9 miles long by 7 broad. Its boundaries are North Kilnamanagh on its N. and W. sides, Middlethird on the E., and Clanwilliam on the S. It contains the parishes of Aghacrew, Ballintemple, Clogher, Kilmore, Kilpatrick, Rathkennan, and parts of Clonoulty, Donohill, and Oughterteague. The Upper barony is 14 miles long, and its greatest breadth is 8. Its boundaries are Upper Ormond and Ikerrin on the N., Eliogarty and Lower Kilnamanagh on the E., Clanwilliam on the S., and county Limerick on the W. It contains the parishes of Glenkeen, Moyaliff, Templebeg, Upperchurch, and parts of Ballycahill, Doon, and Toem, with the village of Borrisoleagh.

"MIDDLETHIRD, a barony in county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. Its boundaries are the baronies of Eliogarty, Slieveardagh, Iffa and Offa, Clanwilliam, and Kilnemanagh. It is 12 miles long and the same in width at the broadest part. It contains the parishes of Ardmayle, Ballysheehan, Baptist-Grange, Barretts-Grange, Boytonrath, Brickendown, Colman, Cooleagh, Coolmundry, Dogstown, Drangan, Erry, Fethard, Gaile, Horeabbey, Kilbragh, Kilconnell, Killeenasleena, Kiltinan, Knockgraffon, Magorban, Magowry, Mora, Oughteragh, Peppardstown, Railstown, Rathcool, Redcity, St. Johnstown, St. Patricksrock, Tullamain, and parts of Cloneen, Dangandargan, Donaghmore, Graystown, Holycroos, Relickmurry, and St. John Baptist."

"MONAINCHA, a bog on the borders of Queen's County and county Tipperary, Ireland, 2 miles S.E. of Roscrea. Near it are the ruins of Monaincha Abbey."

"MULKERN, a river of county Tipperary, Ireland. It rises in the Doon hills, and after receiving the tributary waters of the Deal and Newport, joins the Shannon below Anmacotty."

"NORE, a river in the county of Tipperary, Ireland. It rises near Roscrea, in the low country between the Slieve Bloom and Devil's Bit mountains, and after a course of nearly 70 miles in a S.E. direction, joins the river Barrow above New Ross, county Kilkenny."

"OWNEY AND ARRA, a barony in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is bounded by counties Galway, Clare, and Limerick, and by the barony of Ormond. It extends over an area of 89,671 acres, and contains the parishes of Burgesbeg, Castletownarra, Kilcomenty, Killoscully, Kilmastulla, Kilnarath, Kilvellane, Youghalarra, Templeachally, and parts of Abington and Monsea."

"SLIEVEARDAGH, a barony in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It contains the parishes of Ballingarry, Buolick, Crohane, Fennor, Grangemockler, Iserkieran, Killenaule, Kilvemnon, Lickfinn, Lismalin, Modeshil, Mowney, Templemichael, and parts of Cloneen, Garrangibbon, Graystown, Kilcooly, Newtownlennan, and St. John Baptist."

"SUIR, a river of counties Tipperary, Waterford, and Kilkenny, Ireland, joins the Barrow at Waterford Harbour."

"TAR, a stream of county Tipperary, Ireland, rises near Templetenny, under the Galtee mountains, and joins the Suir near Newcastle."

"TEMPLEICHALLY, (or Templekelly), also called CALLATHAMERY, a parish, in the barony of OWNEY and ARRA, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER."

"THE GALTEES, a mountain range of the counties Tipperary, Cork, and Limerick, province of Munster, Ireland. It commences near Cahir in the Suir valley, and taking a S.S.W. direction, extends 20 miles, terminating at Mount Seefin, near Charleville. The Slievenamuck hills and the Golden Vale are on the N. of the chain, the Knockmeledon mountains and Clogheen are on the S., and the beautiful glen of Aherlow lies in the midst. Many of the peaks attain an altitude of 1,000 feet; the highest is Galteemore, 3,008 feet, which has a cromlech on its summit, and a lake on its side said to be unfathomable. The Galtees abound in every variety of charming scenery.

"UPPER ORMOND, a barony in county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is surrounded by the baronies of Lower Ormond, Upper Kilnemanagh, Owney, Arra, and King's County. It area is 79,472 acres. It contains the parishes of Aghnamedle, Ballygibbon, Ballymackey, Ballynaclogh, Dolla, Kilkeary, Kilmore, Kilnaneave, Latteragh, Lisbunny, Templederry, Templedowney, and parts of Kilruane and Nenagh. It gives title of marquis to the Butlers.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Shronell contained the following places:

"SHRONELL, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles S.W. of Tipperary, its post town. The greater part of the surface is arable land of medium quality. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Emly, value £106, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was built in 1808, and the tower was subsequently added by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Shyane contained the following places:

"SHYANE, a parish in the barony of Eliogarty, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles N.N.E. of Thurles. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Cashel, value with Thurles, £950, in the patronage of the bishop."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Templebredon contained the following places:

"TEMPLEBREDON, a parish, partly in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, and partly in the barony of Coonagh, county Limerick, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles S.S.E. of Pallas-Grean, its post town. The land is generally good pasture. The living is a suspended vicarage in the diocese of Emly, in the patronage of the crown for the Earl of Kenmare. There are three private schools.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Templederry contained the following places:

"TEMPLEDERRY, a parish and post town in the barony of Upper Ormond, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 10 miles S.E. of Nenagh. It lies along the river Nenagh, near the Keeper Mountain. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Killaloe, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is a small edifice in good preservation. There are five Roman Catholic chapels and six private schools. Castle Otway is the principal residence."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Templemore contained the following places:

"TEMPLEMORE, a parish, post, and market town in the baronies of Eliogarty and Ikerrin, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 20 miles N. of Cashel, and 86 from Dublin. It is a station on the Great Southern and Western railway. The surface consists chiefly of good pasture land. The parish is crossed by the road from Athlone to Cork, and is skirted by a tributary of the river Suir. The town, situated in the valley of the Suir, is substantially built. It contains a market-house, military and police stations, bridewell, fever hospital, dispensary, and news-room. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Cashel, value with two others £700, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was erected in the present century. There are two Roman Catholic chapels, a meeting-house for Wesleyans, a public, and six private schools. The Priory and Lloydsborough are among the principal residences. The Carden family are the principal proprietors. Petty sessions are held every Wednesday. Fairs take place on 30th January, 30th March, 17th May, 28th June, 31st July, 4th September, 21st October, and 7th December."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Templeneiry contained the following places:

"TEMPLENEIRY, a parish in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 6 miles S.E. of Tipperary, its post town. The surface consists chiefly of mountain and bog. The parish includes the village of Bansha. It is traversed by the river Aherlow and by the Galtee mountains. The living is a rectory, value with two others £562, in the patronage of the bishop. The principal residences are Lismacue and Bansha Castle."

"BANSHA, (or Templeneiry), a village in the parish of Templeneiry, in the barony of Clanwilliam, and county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles to the S.E. of Tipperary. It is situated on the banks of the river Arra, and is a station on the Waterford and Limerick railway.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Templeree contained the following places:

"TEMPLEREE, a parish in the barony of Ikerrin, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles E. of Templemore, its post town. The surface consists of good soil, with some bog. The river Suir passes near the limits of the parish. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, value £155, in the patronage of the bishop. The church is in ruins. The principal seat is Castle Eeny."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

"COUNTY TIPPERARY, an inland county in the province of Munster, Ireland, is bounded N. by Galway and King's County, E. by King's County, Queen's County, and Kilkenny, S. by Waterford, and W. by Cork, Limerick, Clare, and Galway. It lies between 52° 12' and 53° 9' N. lat. and 7° 20' and 8° 26' W. long. Its greatest length from N. to S. is 70 miles, and from E. to W. 40 miles. The area is 1,659 square miles, or 1,061,731 acres, of which 843,887 are arable, 178,183 uncultivated, 23,779 under continuous plantations, 2,359 in towns, and 13,523 under water. The population in 1841 was 435,553, in 1851 it was 331,567, and in 1861 it had fallen to 249,106. The poor-law valuation in 1851 was £618,148, and the general valuation in 1861 was £670,525. The number of persons from this county who emigrated from Irish ports between May, 1851, and December, 1865, with the expressed intention of not returning, was 110,248, or 33 per cent. of the population at the former date. Previous to the English conquest the county seems to have been divided into the kingdoms of Thomond, or North Munster, and Desmond, or South Munster, the princes of each having alternately paramount rule over Munster. On the English invasion in 1172 Henry II., in person, received the submission of the native chiefs, and summoned a council at Cashel, where his authority was recognised by princes and prelates, but on his departure this submission was recalled, and the O'Briens, of Thomond, for a time successfully resisted Strongbow. In 1185 Theobald Walker, a follower of Prince John, obtained a grant of the lands near the Shannon, with the title of Chief Butler of Ireland, which became hereditary, and whence the family derives its name. In 1210 Tipperary was erected into a county by King John.

In 1328 the sixth Chief Butler was created Earl of Ormond, and Edward III. granted to his son and successor, on his marriage with Elizabeth Bohun, granddaughter of Edward I., the royal privileges of the entire county, which were preserved to the family till the commencement of the last century. Frequent contests took place between the Butlers and the Geraldines, in the course of which the cathedral of Cashel was burned by the Earl of Kildare. The county was the scene of important military movements during the civil war of 1641, almost every stronghold having been at first seized by the Irish party, and subsequently reduced by Cromwell, when Clonmel, Cashel, and other places suffered severely. In the Jacobite wars Clonmel was abandoned by the Irish on the advance of William, after his victory at the Boyne in 1690. The surface is varied, comprising large tracts of level country intersected by ranges of hills. The Devil's Bit range, separated by a narrow defile at Roscrea from the Slieve Bloom mountains, extends in a continuous line across the county in a S.W. direction to the neighbourhood of Borrisoleigh, and then branch into the Bilboa mountains to the S., and the Keeper mountains towards Newport, where they are immediately connected with the Slieve Phelim mountains of Limerick. The Devil's Bit range has in no place a basis of more than 4 miles, and generally reaches an altitude of 1,300 to 1,600 feet, but Keeper mountain rises to 2,278 feet, and Moher Slieve of the same group to 1,783 feet. The Slievenamuck mountains or Tipperary hills run in a narrow ridge from Limerick to the S. of Tipperary town, reaching an elevation of only 1,215 feet at their highest point. The Galtees extend from the S.E. corner of Limerick to the valley of the Suir, near Cahir, with a basis breadth of 5 miles. They rise steeply, and at places inaccessibly, on the N. side, but slope gently on the S. Their highest summit near Limerick county is 3,015 feet, while at other points they reach 2,636, 2,588, 2,378, 2,166, and 1,969 respectively. The Knockmiledown range runs parallel to the Galtees, and form the boundary with Waterford, to which county they chiefly belong, but they here rise to 2,150 feet. Along the E. of the county is a small group, of which Slievenaman, 2,364 feet high, is the most important point. The plain of Ormond, stretching from the Devil's Bit mountains to Lough Derg, is rich, and is abundantly watered by the Shannon and its tributaries, the most important being the Brosna, Nenagh, and Mulkear. The valley of the Suir, embracing the central and southern portions of the county, and forming the Golden Vale, is fertile, and is drained by that river with its numerous affluents, while the eastern districts are watered by the King's and Munster rivers flowing into the Nore. The lakes of the county are numerous, but small and unimportant, except Lough Derg, which separates it from Galway and Clare. The only communications by water are the Shannon and the Suir, which latter is navigable for large barges to Clonmel. The Great Southern and Western railway enters near Borris-in-Ossory, and passes Thurles and Tipperary, communicating with Dublin on the N. and Cork City on the S., and having a branch line by Roscrea and Nenagh, to Limerick city. The Waterford and Limerick railway runs through the S. of the county, passing Clonmel and Tipperary. The roads are numerous, and are kept in excellent order. The level parts of the county belong to the great limestone field of Ireland. On the N. side of the Devil's Bit mountains, and about the Keeper and Bilboa groups, yellow sandstone and sandstone conglomerate prevail, and narrow belts of this formation are met with among the mountains in the S. and E. A considerable portion of the Galtees, Slievenamuck, and the S. side of the Devil's Bit ranges, and the greater part of the Keeper and Bilboa groups, consist of clay slate, graywacke, and graywacke slate; and a formation of old conglomerate, with red, purple, and grey clay slate prevails extensively in the Knockmiledown range, and is much met with among the Galtees and Slievenamuck. Coal is found on the eastern border, and thence to within a few miles of Cashel, with a small outlying district at Cashel, and one at Clonmel. The coal is of the nature of anthracite, or blind coal, and is an extension of the Kilkenny field. Copper is found at Hollyford, and zinc and lead mixed with silver at Silvermines and Shallee. The sandstone of Slievenamuck yields excellent flags, and from the Arra hills, near Lough Derg, slates are quarried equal to those of North Wales. The climate is temperate and healthy. The soil in the level parts is fertile, particularly in the Golden Vale, which is of calcareous loam, and in the district to the N. of the Devil's Bit range, comprising the baronies of Upper and Lower Ormond. Agriculture is principally attended to, but the importation of foreign corn has caused a change in this particular, while the rearing of cattle, and more particularly of sheep, has increased. In 1847, 319,334 acres were under crops, and in 1865 only 297,551 acres. The condition of the peasantry, though not satisfactory, has been considerably improved. Drainage has been carried out in many districts, and a better system of farming is adopted. The love of the soil, inherent in all Irishmen, seems specially so in the people of this county, and in 1760, and for many subsequent years, the Whiteboy disturbances, arising out of agrarian disputes, gave considerable annoyance to landowners, and so recently as 1862 the murder of two landlords is to be attributed to the same cause. The county is partly in the dioceses of Lismore, Emly, and Killaloe, but chiefly in that of Cashel. In the Roman Catholic distribution it belongs principally to the archdiocese of Cashel and diocese of Emly, but also to the dioceses of Waterford and Lismore, and that of Killaloe. Of the population in 1861, 12,800, or 5.1 per cent., were members of the Established Church; 234,881, or 94.3 per cent., were Roman Catholics; and 1,425, or 0.6 per cent., belonged to other Christian denominations. The county returns four members to parliament; two for the county at large, constituency in 1864, 8,996; and one each for the boroughs of Cashel and Clonmel, constituencies respectively in 1866, 148 and 339. It is divided for civil purposes into North Riding and South Riding, the former consisting of the baronies of Ormond, Lower and Upper, Owney and Arra, Ikerrin, Eliogarty, and Upper Kilnamanagh; the latter of Slievardagh, Lower Kilnamanagh, Middlethird, Clanwilliam, East and West Offa and Wit; and contains 193 parishes. The civil government is intrusted to a lieutenant and custos, a high sheriff, 31 deputy lieutenants, 6 resident and about 206 local magistrates. It belongs to the Leinster circuit. The assizes for the north riding are held at Nenagh, and for the south riding at Clonmel. Sessions are also held at Roscrea, Thurles, Carrick-on-Suir, Cashel, Clogheen, New Birmingham, Newport, Templemore, and Tipperary. The county belongs to the Cork, or south-western military district, and contains twelve military stations. It is divided into 9 Poor-law Unions, and there are 19 market towns. In 1863 there were 271 National schools, attended by 17,104 male and 18,046 female children, besides Church Education, private, and other schools. The principal seats in the county are, Cahir Castle, Earl of Glengall; Knocklofty, Earl of Donoughmore; Rathronan, Lord Gough; Dundrum, Lord Hawarden; Shanbally, Lord Lismore; Laughton, Lord Bloomfield; Kilboy, Lord Dunalley; Thomastown, Vicomte Chabot, besides numerous mansions of the resident gentry. The county is rich in antiquities, chiefly of the mediæval period, the most interesting being those of Cashel, Roscrea, and Golden, with Holy Cross Abbey, a specimen of the Pointed style of architecture. Here are also the stalactite caverns, called the Mitchelstown Caves."

 

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)]
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Tipperary contained the following places:

"TIPPERARY, a parish and market town in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, South Riding, province of Munster, Ireland, 23 miles N.W. from Clonmel, 56 N.W. from Waterford, and 27 S.E. from Limerick. It is situated on the river Arra, an affluent of the Suir, and has stations on the Great Southern and Western and the Waterford and Limerick railways. Its population in 1851 was 6,829, exclusive of 2,750 in the union and auxiliary workhouses which were in the town, but had fallen in 1861 to 5,872, inhabiting 975 houses. The town is old, and its name is said to be a corruption of Tipra-Rae, signifying "the wells of the plains." A castle was built here by King John, and a monastery for Augustinian friars, founded by Henry III., added to the importance of the place. The town was burned in 1329 by one of the O'Briens, but was quickly rebuilt. It is situated at the base of the Slievenamuck mountains, and almost in the centre of the Golden Vale, and, being on the direct road from Clonmel to Limerick, it is advantageously placed for improvement. It consists of one principal street, with smaller ones branching off at right angles, has lately been considerably improved, and is well lighted with gas. The care of it is vested in 21 town commissioners, including the chairman. It contains a handsome church, Roman Catholic chapel, and Presbyterian and Methodist meeting-houses. Quarter and petty sessions are held. A considerable business is done in corn, flour, and butter, and agricultural produce generally, which is sent for shipment to Waterford and Limerick. Thursdays and Saturdays are market days. Fairs are held on 5th April, 24th June, 10th October, 11th December, and on the second Tuesday of the other months in each year. The parish is in the diocese of Cashel, and has a net income of £536, the patronage being vested in the bishop. The Poor-law Union extends over 179,988 acres, with a population in 1861 of 47,298."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Toem contained the following places:

"TOEM, a parish in the baronies of Clanwilliam and Upper Kilnamanagh, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 10 miles N. of Tipperary. The surface is slightly mountainous, but has a good soil, with some extent of bog. It includes the village of Cappaghwhite, and is traversed by the road from Tipperary to Nenagh, and by the river Anycarthy. Copper ore is found in small quantities. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Cashel, and in the patronage of the bishop. The church is dilapidated. There are two Roman Catholic chapels, three public and two private schools, also a Sunday-school. There are traces of a cell belonging to the Abbey of Inchenemes, but which was granted to the Archbishop of Cashel by Queen Elizabeth. There is a medicinal spring in the vicinity."

"CAPPAGH-WHITE, a village in the parish of Toem, barony of Kilnamanagh, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles to the N. of Tipperary. There is a police station in the village. Fairs are held on the 4th June, the 27th July, the 29th September, the 16th November, and the 21st December."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Tullaghorton contained the following places:

"TULLAGHORTON, a parish in the barony of West Iffa and Offa, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. Clogheen is its post town. The parish is crossed by the road from Clonmel to Cork, and by the river Tar. It contains Clogheen and part of the Knockmealdown mountains, one spur of which, called the Sugar Loaf, rising to the height of 2,144 feet. Limestone is quarried, and lead and silver ore have been found. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Lismore. There are a Roman Catholic chapel and two private schools. The chief residences are Parson's Green and Ballyboy. The ruins of Castle Grace and Ballyboy Castle, formerly the property of the Desmonds, are in this parish."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

In 1868, the parish of Tullamain contained the following places:

"TULLAMAIN, a parish in the barony of Middlethird, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles W. of Fethard. Limestone is extensively quarried. The living is a suspended rectory in the diocese of Cashel, in the patronage of the bishop. The church has long been in ruins. There are a National and two private schools. The chief residence is Tullamaine Castle.

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

"UNKNOWN, In the gazetteers I have, the places given below are not associated with a parish. Do you know which parish they are/were in ? If so, please drop me a line via my error page (see bottom of page).
Many thanks, Colin Hinson."

"BALLAGH, a village in the barony of Lower Kilnemanagh, county of Tipperary, and province of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles to the N. of Cashel."

"BALLYBEG, a village in the barony of Eliogarty, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 3 miles from Thurles."

"BALLYPATRICK, a village in the barony of Iffa and Offa, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles to the E. of Clonmel."

"BALLYRONTY, a hamlet in the barony of Slievardagh, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, not far from Killenaule."

"BIRDHILL, a hamlet in the barony of Owney, county of Tipperary, in the province of Munster, Ireland, 4 miles from Newport. The principal residence is Birdhill House."

"CARRIG, a village in the barony of Lower Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles to the N.E. of Borrisokane."

"CARRIGAHORRIG, a village in the barony of Lower Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles to the N. of Borrisokane."

"COOLACARRA, a hamlet in the barony of Upper Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, Ireland, 10 miles S. of Nenagh."

"CURRAGHCLONY, a hamlet in the barony of West Iffa and Offa, in the county of Tipperary, Ireland, 9 miles E. of Clogheen."

"CURRYGUIN, a village in the barony of Upper Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, Ireland, 5 miles S. of Nenagh."

"DERRY CASTLE, a demesne in the barony of Owney and Arra, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland. It is pleasantly situated on Lough Derig, 2 miles N.E. of Killaloe. In the vicinity are extensive slate-quarries."

"DUNALLY, a ruined castle in the barony of Upper Ormond, in the county of Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, near Silvermines. It stands on the ledge of a precipitous rock; a mountain stream dashing around on either side, and falling into the chasm beneath, forms a picturesque cascade. The Pritty family take the title of baron from Dunally."

"KILLEMELY, a demesne in county Tipperary, Ireland, near Cahir."

"KNOCKANURE, a demesne in county Tipperary, Ireland, near Killenaule."

"LOWESGREAN, a hamlet in the barony of Middlethird, county Tipperary, 4 miles S.E. of Cashel. Fairs are held on the 2nd August and 23rd October."

"MOUNTCASHELL, (or The Rock Of Cashel), a seat in county Tipperary, Ireland. It gives title of earl and viscount to the Moores of Moore Park.

"NINE-MILE-HOUSE, a village in the barony of Slievardagh, county Tipperary, Ireland, 9 miles E. of Fethard. It is situated under the Slievenaman Mountains."

"RICHARDSTOWN, a hamlet in the barony of Middlethird, county Tipperary, Ireland, 7 miles S.E. of Killenaule."

"ROSE GREEN, a hamlet in the barony of Middlethird, county Tipperary, Ireland, 5 miles S.E. of Cashel."

"SHANBALLY, a hamlet in the barony of West Iffa and Offa, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles N.W. of Clogheen. It is situated amidst the Galtee and Knockmelydown mountains. The Castle is the seat of the Earl of Lismore. Near here are the caves of Mitchellstown."

"SHELLEE, a village in the baronies of Owney and Arra, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles S.W. of Nenagh. Shellee House is the principal residence."

"THOMASTOWN, a village in the barony of Clanwilliam, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 6 miles N.E. of Tipperary. It is situated near the river Suir. The principal residence is Thomastown House, the seat of Viscount Chabot. There are a school, a police station, and the ruins of the church, the burial-place of the family of Mathew."

"TOBERAHEENA, a village in the barony of East Iffa and Offa, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles S.W. of Clonmel, on the river Suir. A fair is held on 2nd October."

"TWO-MILE-BRIDGE, a hamlet in the barony of East Iffa and Offa, county Tipperary, province of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles E.N.E. from Clonmel."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018

GENUKI Gazetteer maintenance - Ireland

Basic information

All the Irish Civil Parishes and Townlands appear in the gazetteer, but for many we do not have an actual location. So as a starting point it uses the centre of the county when we have no location. Where we have a parish location we use that as a starting location for the townland. All very approximate but it helps guide reasearchers to the appropriate area and as we add locations it gets nearer and nearer to the real value. So most of this work is to achieve that. There is also other documentation describing how it is achieved.

• The status of each county section can be seen on the statistics page which helps identiy the amount of work required for each county.
• Details of the format of the source files and basic techniques are described in the Gazetteer maintenance page.
• Work already mostly done on developing the Irish counties is a useful adjunct.

Work required

The starting point for each county is to take a look at the Parishes column on the statistics page. If you hold the mouse over the numbers it explains what they represent. We want to get to the stage where there is just single number here where we've created a web page for each parish. If there is a name other than Phil Stringer in the Maintainers column then somebody is already working on this county.

In the end we want to get to the stage where there is nothing in the Approx column, and nothing in the No links column but it is easiest to do some of the tasks in a particular order.

Exact location for parish

In the Approx column, if there is a number marked Parishes with an approximate location this is the simplest one to resolve first. It is those parishes that had a location in our original data and location should be nearly right. Click the number for the names of the parishes, and click each name to see a page with links to online maps. Select This place shown on a Google map. Zoom the map appropriately and drag the icon to where you think the centre of that place is. You then have the correct value to go the csv file and can change the Approx field (column C)from Y to N. If you find the Google map does not take you to a place and ther is none nearby on the map, then perhaps then perhaps an error was made in the past. So use the instructions in the next step for finding the centre location of the parish.

Parishes where we need a location

These can be identified in the Parishes column, and are labelled Civil parishes for we don't yet have a location. Click the number and see the list of names. Click a name to take you to links to online maps, the ones in the south are much easier to do.

• North - the Irish Times site is your friend as it shows where they all are on a map. It is not always easy to relate this to the modern Google map as it does not show place names. But you need to open a Google map in another browser tab and pan it and move the marker to then centre of the area shown on the Irish Times. You then have the centre location of the parish.
• South - follow the link to the Irish Ordnance survey site. Use the search menu on the right, and select the county and then Historic parishes. That shows you a historic map of the parish along with its boundaries. Pan the map until the red cross is in the centre of the parish. Don't pan it again on subsequent clicks as it changes the location that you've just found!. I find it best then to go to the 'Preview map series' menu on the right and select 'Wind report' it changes to a modern map which is much easier to relate to the Google map. Zoom, without, panning so that you can see place names that you can relate to a Google map that you've open in another tab. So look at that the OS map with one eye and move the marker on the Google map to the same location. You then have the centre location of the parish.

Cut and paste the location (Lat/Lon) into column B in the csv file for that parish entry. Change the Approx field (column C) from Y to N. Now for all the townlands without a location in this parish, change the Approx field (column C) to P, and add the parish centre location to column B. This makes the most significant improvement to the gazetteer.

Places with no location at all

As updated versions of the csv file are updated the entries that need attention in the statistics file thankfully drop. At this point the Places with no location at all in the Approx column should now have disappeared. If not it is worth fixing these now as there will be very few left for this county. Sometimes you may see Market Town in column K with the name of a description in column L. Search the gazetteer for this place to read the description. It may tell you this is also a parish. If so copy column L into column L for the parish where it is missing and then you can probably just delete the duplicate Market Town entry. For others a Google search can help identify it and lead to a location.

Townlands with a parish centre location

We are now getting to the more tedious work, but once done it makes it much more useful for researchers. In the Approx column there is probably a significant number entitled Places with a parish location. This gives list of all the names which can be clicked to link to maps, such as Google centred on the parish centre, the value in that entry in the csv file. However going through this alphabetically can be slow and it isn't as easy to spot mistakes.

The easiest method I've found is to look in the csv file at all the entries in a parish, the smaller parishes being easier. Use the gazetteer to search for the entry for the parish and ask it to display all the places in the parish on a Google map. There will be townland names on the Google map which should match the ones you need to find. If none match then the parish location may be wrong! There do seem to townlands in other parishes with the same name as actual parishes. In the rare event that this has happened, then fix the parish centre location as described above. Drag and drop the marker on the map to find the location of the townlands and change the location field in the csv file and also change the Approx to N.

Start with the ones where we already have an approximate location as they show up reasonably easily to start with. Then compare the unknown townland names nearby on the Google map with the csv file. Where they match, drag and drop and you have another answer. Google does at times have two identical names close by. I tend to use the one in the larger font as that seems to be the older one. If both are the same size I drag to point mid-way between.

So what about the townlands that don't seem to be on the Google map? Well we can go to the Irish OS site and search for the townland and see where it is on the map. Be careful that the one you get is the one you want as there can be multiple townlands with the same name. Again a useful check is to look at adjacent ones on the map and see if they are in that parish in the cav file. The Irish OS technique can only be used for counties in the South as it doesn't have the countties and townlands in the search menu for the north. If it is a county in the North try the map provided by the Northern Ireland Environment Agency. We haven't found a way to link into a location so you will need to zoom and pan to the parish location and then search for townland names. There does seem to be better coverage than Google, and it appears to have more accurate locations.

There will be some very small townlands that the Irish OS site doesn't have in the menu. If it is an island, then browse the Irish OS 6" historic map for the parish and pan and zoom across the wet areas. It is easy to find island names there. For tiny townlands that aren't islands, try a Google search as somebody may have described the location. Otherwise you are left with panning the historic 6".

There is also a technique that will find the townlands plotted on a Google map. Go to https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@?dg=dbrw&newdg=1 and put the place and county in the search bar. It normally finds it and shows a marker on a map with a rough outline of the townland. What you want is the location of the marker. So right click next to the marker and a menu will appear. Select What's here? and the lat/lon is placed in the search bar. I tend to compare that with other places in the parish to make sure it is nearby and so the right one.

In the larger parishes I find it useful to put in a framework of townlands, upload the csv file, and wait for the nightly update. Things are then clearer on the map the next day. There is less clutter and it is easier to finds ones that still need doing. You need to zoom in for Google to make some visible.

The remaining places with approximate locations

That ones that are left with approximate locations come from the CIA World Fact Book. Some will be duplicates of existing places, some geographic features and some places smaller than townlands. So take each one in the list, and select nearby places on a Google map.

• Look at nearby places marked on the map, and if a duplicate, remove it from the csv file.
• I look at all Cross Roads and tend to remove any that match the name of a nearby townland. If it is a new name check on the Irish OS map and zoom in when it usually becomes visible. You then know the exact location and can drag/drop the Google marker. It is also useful loohing at the historic 6" to see which parish it was in, and put that name in the Parish field. The CIA didn't always get the spelling right, so make any adjustments that are needed.
• If it is a named bridge, then I keep these setting the exact location, and filling in the Parish name.
• Then any small places I treat in a similar way.

It is during this phase that the towlands with parish boundaries running through them become visible as we have two or more markers at the same spot. Zoom in to make it clearer and perhaps drag one to the side to check the names and the parishes.

We only want the user to be presented with a single place at that location. We don't multiple gazetteer entries for any of these as we are trying to specify where they are, not to document an administrative hierarchy. But we can do our best to tell the user that it is in multiple parishes. So for the first entry for the townland put the names of the parishes it lies in, in the parish field separating the names with a colon ':' character (without quotes). Then delete the entries from the other parishes. We then have a single place listing all the parishes it is in.

Gotchas

There do seem to be some parishes split across counties. If you find one, get in touch with Phil as he has devised a technique to handle it but has not yet implemented it.

The Post Office's Postcode Finder

The Post Office no longer supports their postcode finder tool. Instead they advise: for the most up-to-date address and postcode details, please use your preferred mapping service such as Google Maps or Apple Maps, or use a search engine.

• The GENUKI Gazetteer covers the whole of England, Wales and Scotland and can be searched by place-name (or part of a place-name) or Ordnance Survey Grid Reference (six-figure, eg NZ183848). If there are multiple place-names matching the name you enter, you will initially be presented with a drop-down list of the matching place-names with their distances and bearings from London, England.
• A Gazetteer of British Place Names provided by the Association of British Counties. This comprehensive place-name index for Britain lists more than 50,000 places and gives the Ordnance Survey grid reference, the ancient or geographical County, and current local government information for each place name. There is comprehensive coverage of alternative spellings (including Welsh and Gaelic versions) and detailed notes specifically aimed at historians and genealogists. Appendices relate present day registration districts to local government areas and list those places which lay in a different "registration county" to their ancient County in the 19th century.
• The GB1900  Project - a crowd-sourced historical gazetteer based on the 1:10560 Ordnance Survey mapping of Great Britain
• GENUKI Church Database provides an online Parish Locator covering the whole of the UK. This includes facilities for listing other churches and parishes within any specified distance of the parish church.
• UK Placename Finder from Popular Archaeology includes details of 160,000 UK places.
• The archived copy of the BBC Domesday Project Reloaded website provides a method of searching the contents of the original BBC Domesday Gazetteer disk - a huge crowd-sourced description of the UK, dating from 1986 - by using the TNA Discovery Catalogue's results filtering facility.

Some historical gazetteers:

Lewis, Samuel. A Topographical Dictionary of England. 4 vols. London: S. Lewis and Co., 1831

Southall, Humphrey; Aucott, Paula; Fleet, Christopher; Pert, Tom; Stoner, Michael. GB1900: engaging the public in very large scale gazetteer construction from the Ordnance Survey “County Series” 1:10,560 mapping of Great Britain. Journal of Map & Geography Libraries, Vol. 13, No. 1, (2017), p. 7-28. [PDF]

Wilson, John M. The Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales. Six Volumes. Edinburgh, Scotland: A. Fullerton, 1870

The National Gazetteer: A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands. Virtue and Co., London (1868) 3 vols. [Full text - vol 1 (A-E), vol. 2 (F-M), vol. 3 (N-Z)]

Gazetteer of the British Isles. Edinburgh, Scotland: John Bartholomew and Sons, Ltd., 1966.