Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/583

This page needs to be proofread.
575

LEITRIM. 575 LEITRIM. round Lough Allen are chiefly formed of millstone grit, while those farther N. are mountain limestone. The Ohl lied sandstone occurs on the sea-coast. The granite and trap found on the western side of the Bonnet, with the gneiss and mica slate of Benbo, are the only primary rocks in the county. Coal and iron are plentiful on the W. of Lough Allen, and lead, copper, and manganese on the mountains near Manorhamilton. There are lulphur springs at Drumsna, Meelock, Athimonus, Drumshanbo, and Cashcarrigan, and chalybeate spas at the northern extremity of Lough Allen and at Oakfield, near the coast. The climate is cold and damp, and sub- ject to sudden changes. The land is more suited for grazing than for agriculture, and though the dairies are neither large nor numerous, still, as nearly each family possesses a cow or two, large quantities of butter are made for exportation to England. The best breeds are a cross between the old Leicester and Durham for the lowlands, and between the Leicester and the native long-horn for the uplands. The new Leicester breed of iheep, or a cross between that breed and the sheep of the country, are found to thrive exceedingly well. The breed of pigs is not so good as in other parts of Ireland, and the horses are not equal to those of Longford, Eos- common, and Sligo. The agricultural capabilities of the county are not sufficiently developed, and modern im- provements are but sparingly used. The most fertile tracts are the valleys of the Shannon, Einn, and Bonnet, tnd the flat country in the S.W. of the county. The chief crops are oats, potatoes, and flax, but wheat, barley, and clover are becoming more common. Good orchards and kitchen gardens are found attached to most of the farmhouses. The food of the country people is chiefly oaten bread and potatoes, with buttermilk and fish. Heat is not within the reach of the lower classes. The majority of the inhabitants can speak English. Leitrim is divided into the following five baronies : Carrigallen, Dromahaire, Leitrim, Mohill, and Eossclogher, which contain 14 parishes and parts of 3 others. There are four market towns C arrick-on-Shannon, Manorhamilton, BaUinamore, and Mohill. The first mentioned is tho county, assize, and sessions town ; the first three havo quarter sessions courts ; and the first two, with Mohill,

  • are the heads of Poor-law Unions. The above towns,

with Dromahaire, are the heads of police districts, there keing in all 39 stations, the chief station being at Carrick. The county returns two members to the House of Commons. At tho Union, before which six members were returned, Carrick and Jamestown were disfranchised, but the former is still the place of election for tho county. Tho population in 1851 was 111,915, and in 1861, 104,744. The local government is iin the hands of a lieutenant and custos, a high sheriff, 16 deputy-lieutenants, and 55 magistrates. The county ia in tho Connaught circuit and tho Belfast military district. The barracks bf the regulars are at Carrick, and tho headquarters of the militia at Mohill. Tho revenue police have stations at Drumshanbo, Manor- hamilton, Mohill, and Drumkeeran. Tho county prison is at Carrick, and there are court-houses and bridewells also at Manorhamilton and Ballinamore. The connty infirmary is situated at Carrick, and dispensaries in that town and at Ballinamore, Carrigallen, Drumsna, Kin- lough, Kiltubrid, Manorhamilton, and Mohill. Leitrim has tho right of sending 34 patients to the Connaught lunatic asylum at Ballinasloe. Leitrim is in the dio- of Kilmpre and Ardagh. The earldom of Leitrim was granted in 1795 to Robert Clements, who had pre- .y held the barony and viscounty. The manufac- in the county are unimportant, the principal being the spinning of flax and weaving of linen. Friezes, nd other coarse woollen stuffs are also made, innel especially is considered as good as any ! i eland. At Dromahaire and Loitrim a con- qnantity of common pottery is manufactured. .tiquities of interest in Leitrim are, the Druid

Feenagh, Creeolca, and Lotterfyan ; the abbeys

I in the 5th century by St. Caillin, "d by tho wife of Owen O'Rourke in 1508, Annaduff, Clone, Ince, and Kilnaile; and the castles at Dromahaire, Longfield, Cloncarrick, and Car all of which belonged to the O'Eourks Drumlease, Jamestown, Castlefore, Castlejohn, Dungarbery, and two on Lough Gill. The castle at Manorhamilton is a handsome building of the time of Elizabeth. The scats of the nobility and gentry in tho county are, Manor- hamilton, of the Earl of Leitrim; Lough Ehynn, Viscount Clements; Portland, White; Hollymount, Armstrong ; Killycar, Godley ; Kilbracken, Irwin ; Bel- haville, Montgomery ; Derrycairne, Nisbet ; Garradice, Percy ; Driuey House, Peyton ; Clooncorrick, Simpson ; Kilronan Castle, Tenison ; and Glenfarn Hall, Totten- ham. The Midland Great Western railway from Long- ford to Sligo runs through the S. of the county, passing Newtownforbes, Eooskey, Dromod, Drumsna, and Car- rick-on-Shannon. Another line from Enniskillen to Bundoran and Sligo is also being constructed. There is a canal from Carrick-on-Shannon to Ballyconnell or Lough Erne. The roads and distances from Carrick are, to Leitrim, 3 miles ; Drumshambo, 8 miles ; Drum- keeran, 22 miles ; Lough Balhavel, 25 miles ; Droma- haire, 29 miles ; Sligo, 39 miles ; Manorhamilton, 33 miles ; Lough Glenade, 39 miles ; Kinlough, 44 miles ; Bundoran, 46 miles ; and Ballyshannon, 57 miles : to Kiltoghcr, 4 miles; Feenagh, 12 miles; Ballinamore, 14 miles; and Newton Gore, 19 miles: to Drumsna, 3 miles ; Drumote, 9 miles ; Longford, 16 miles ; and Dublin, 90 miles : to Mohill, 9 miles ; Cloone, 13 miles ; Carrigallen, 20 miles ; and Cavan, 30 miles. LEITEIM, a bar. in the co. of Leitrim, prov. of Munster, Ireland. It is bounded by the bars, of Droma- haire, Carrigallen, and Mohill, and tho eo. of Eos- common. It is 11 miles long, and its greatest breadth is 7 miles. It contains the pars, of Kiltoghert, Kiltubbrid, and parts of those of Annaduff, Fenagh, and Mohill, with the towns of Carrick-on-Shannon and Drumsna. LEITEIM, a vil. in the par. of Kiltoghert, in the bar. and co. of Leitrim, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 4 miles S. of Drumshanbo. It is situated on the left bank of the river Shannon, and on the road from Carrick-on- Shannon to Manor-Hamilton. It is supposed to havo anciently been a town of some importance. It was called Lcftthdroman, and gave name to an ancient diocese and to tho county of Leitrim. A six-arched bridge spans the river, and" there are some vestiges of an ancient structure of unknown origin. Fairs are held on tho 22nd January, 21st February, 25th March, 6th May, 16th June, 23rd July, 1st September, 13lh October, and 1st December. LEITRIM, a bar. in co. Galway, prov. of Connanght, Ireland. Its boundaries are tho bars, of Kilconnol, Longford, Lough Derg, and co. Clare. It is 24 miles long, and its greatest breadth is 9 miles. It contains tho pars, of Ballynakill, Clonrush, Kilcooly, Kilreekill, Leitrim, and parts of Abbeygormacon, Duniry, Inish- caltra, Kilbarron, Killoran, Kilmeen, Kittcskill, and Tynagh, with the town of Mountshannon. LEITEIM, a par. in tho bar. of Leitrim, co. Galway, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 4 miles S.E. of Loughrea. Portumna is its post town. The par. is 3 miles long by 2 broad. It lies at the base of the Slieve Boughty mountains. The soil is generally good, and tho road from Loughrea to Mountshannou crosses the interior. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Clonfert, val. with Lickmolassey, 436. The Eoman Catholic chapel is united to those of Killaneen and Kilcooly. There is a day school. Carrow-Keel is the principal residence. LEITRIM, a par. in tho bars, of Condons and Cosh- more, cos. Cork and Waterford, prov. of Munster, Ire- land, 4 miles N.E. of Fermoy. Kilworth is its post town. It is 6 miles long by 3 broad. The surface con- sists of a tract peninsulated by the river Blackwater and tho small stream Araglin, It is mountainous and pas- toral for the most part, and is crossed by the road from Fermoy to Lismore. Limestone, building stone, and- slate are quarried. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Cloyne, val. with Kilworth, 712, in the patron, of tho bishop. There are two hedge-schools.