All Lewis entries for Burrishoole

BURRISHOOLE

BURRISHOOLE, a parish, in the barony of BURRISHOOLE, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT; containing, with the market and post-town of Newport-Pratt, 11,761 inhabitants. This place, from a bull of Pope Innocent VIII., dated February 9th, 1486, appears to have been distinguished as the scat of a monastery for friars of the Dominican order, founded by Richard de Bourke, Lord Mac William Oughter, head of the Turlough family, and dedicated to the Blessed Virgin. The monastery was granted to Nicholas Weston, who assigned it to Theobald, Viscount Costello-Galen ; there are still some remains. The parish is situated on the north-east shore of Clew bay, and on the high road from Castlebar to Achill island: it comprises 12,550 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. The lands are chiefly under tillage; and many of the islands in Clew bay, which are within the parish, afford good pasturage for sheep. There is a large tract of mountain and bog, about two-thirds of which are reclaimable. Salt-works were formerly carried on here. The principal inhabited islands are Mynishmore, Inish-na-crusna, Inishcougha, Inishurken, Inishtubride, and Inishturk. There are two large lakes in the parish, called Lough Feagh and Lough Furnace; and on the narrow neck of land between these are the ruins of an old smelting furnace; there is also another at the old abbey. The river of Burrishoole, on which is an excellent salmon fishery, has its source in these lakes. The principal seats are Newport House, that of Sir R. Annesley O'Donell, Bart.; Newfield, of J. McLoughlin, Esq.; Seamount, of Connell O'Donnell, Esq.; Tymore, of J.T. S. Stuart, Esq.; Newfort, of J. Hilles, Esq.; and Abbeyville, of J. McDonnell, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Tuam, and in the patronage of the Archbishop the tithes amount to £350. The church is a neat plain structure, for the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £338. 9. 3. The glebe-house was built by aid of a gift of £400 and a loan of £360, in 1819, from the late Board of First Fruits: the glebe comprises 51a. 3r. 26p. The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church, and contains two chapels, one at Newport-Pratt and the other at Newfield, both good slated buildings. There is a place of worship for Primitive Methodists, open each alternate Wednesday and Friday; and a Presbyterian minister attends occasionally and performs divine service in the parish school-house. There are twelve public schools in the parish; that at Trienbeg is aided by an annual donation from the Marquess of Sligo, and a school-house at Newport-Pratt was erected at the expense of the Rev. Jas. Hughes, P. P. In these schools are about 1300 children; and in a hedge school at Carrig-a-neady are about 20 children. There are the remains of a castle, formerly belonging to the O'Malley family; also several Druidical caves, many of which contain large rooms arched over with flags. A patron is held here on St. Dominick's day, the 4th of August. -See NEWPORT-PRATT.

MYNISHMORE

MYNISHMORE, an island, in the parish and barony of BURRISHOOLE, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT, S miles (w.) from Newport-Pratt ; containing 80 inhabitants. This island, which is so called to distinguish it from the smaller island of Mynishbeg, is situated in Clew bay, and is the most western of the islands in that bay which are within the limits of the parish. It is a coast-guard station, and one of the six constituting the district of Westport.

NEWPORT

NEWPORT, or NEWPORT-PRATT, a market and post-town, in the parish and barony of BURRISHOOLE, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 5? miles (N. by W.) from Westport (to which it has a sub-post-office), and 139? (W. by N.) from Dublin ; containing 1235 inhabitants. This town, which is situated at the extremity of Clew bay, was the original port of discharge for the county of Mayo ; it is intersected by a fine river, which rises in Lough Beltra and falls into the bay ; the river Burrishoole also flows through the parish, and both abound with excellent salmon, for taking which weirs are placed about half a mile above the town. It consists of one principal street and several others, and contains about 230 houses, some of which are well built and of neat appearance. The trade, formerly very extensive, has, from the difficulty of communication with the interior, been in a great measure transferred to Westport, and at present consists principally in the export of grain, of which, on an average, 1000 tons are annually shipped to England. The pier was erected at the expense of Sir R. A. O'Donel and some of the merchants of the town ; the quays are extensive and commodious, and accessible to vessels of 200 tons burden, which can be moored in safety alongside and take in or deliver their cargoes at all times of the tide, and within a few hundred yards may lie at anchor in perfect security. The channel is safe, and the harbour very commodious : the entrance into the bay, which is called Clew, Newport, or Westport bay, is spacious and direct; and within it are numerous islets and rocks, between which, on each side, are several good roadsteads, capable of accommodating large vessels, with good anchorage in from two to six fathoms. The market is on Tuesday ; and fairs are held on June 8th, Aug. 1st, Nov. 11th, and Dec. 20th. A chief constabulary police force is stationed in the town ; petty sessions are held every Tuesday, and a manorial court on the first Wednesday in every month. The court-house, in which the sessions are held, is a small neat building. The parish church and a Roman Catholic chapel are situated in the town. In the vicinity is Newport House, the seat of Sir Richard Annesley O'Donel, Bart. Three miles distant, on the seashore, is Rockfleet Castle, a small square fortress, said to have been built by Grana-Uile, better known as Grace O'Malley, and celebrated for her maritime exploits ; and about a mile to the south-east of the town is Carrickaneady, one of the castles said to have been built by the Burkes.

ROE ISLAND

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

ROSSTRUNK

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