Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/361

ROSS. 349 ROSSES, THE. principal villages are Inyergordon, Alness, Inver, Bridg- end, Barbaraville, Balintore, Drummond, Milntown, Saltburn, Jamima, Portleigh, Shandwick, Hilltown, r<>rlmahomack, Rockfield, Balnabruach, Cononbridge, Evantown, Avoch, Charlestown, Auchterneid, Keith- town, Contin, Maryburgh, Munlochy, Jamestown, Jean- town, Redcastle, Poolewe, Plockton, Dornie, Bundal- loch, Sbieldag, and TJllapool. The two counties return one member to parliament, the constituency in 1861 being 821 for Ross-shire, and 41 for Cromartyshire ; and the population of the joint counties, in 1851, 82,707, which had decreased in 1861 to 82,301, comprising 17,230 separate families, the people being mostly Gaelic speaking. Cromarty, Dingwall, and Tain contribute to Wick, in the county of Caithness, in returning one member to parliament, and Fortrose contributes to In- verness. The two counties are governed by one sheriff, but have each their lord-lieutenant and deputy-lieu- tenant, assisted by 25 deputy-lieutenants in five sub- divisions for the two counties. The sheriff, ordinary, and small-debt and commissary courts are held for Ross-shire at Dingwall, Tain, and Stornoway every Tuesday and Friday during session, and for Cromarty- sliire, at Cromarty, on the first Thursday of each month during session, but the quarter sessions and commissary court only meet when specially called ; small-debt courts are held at Fortrose, Invergordon, Jeantown, and Kincardine. For ecclesiastical purposes Ross and Cro- marty shires comprise the three presbyteries of Cha- nonry, Dingwall, and Tain, which constitute the synod of Koss, and the two presbyteries of Lochcarron and Lewis, which belong to the synod of Glenelg. The ancient diocese of Ross in the Scotch Episcopalian Church is now united to Moray. There are 27 parishes, besides parts of two others on the mainland, and 4 parishes in the island of Lewis ; but the number of places of worship belonging to the Established Church in 1851 was 35. There were also 43 Free churches, 2 United Presbyterian, fi Episcopalian, 1 Independent, 1 Baptist, and 1 Roman Catholic. There is the Easter Koss Union poorhouse for 9 parishes, with accommodation for 175 paupers, and the Black Isle poorhouse for 7 parishes. The only noblemen's seats are Applec.ross, of Viscount Dunblane, and Loch-Luichart Lodge, of Lord Ash- burton ; but there are numerous mansions belonging to the landed gentry. This county gives title to a herald in the Lord Lyon's court. The most interesting antiquities are the cathedral at Fortrose, St. Duthac's old church, Lochlin castle and abbey, Mulvoy church, in the Isle of Lewis, and the castles of Dingwall, Craighonse, In- vergordon, Donan, Kinkell, and Strome, also Druidical stones or altars at Fearn, Kincardine, and Loch-Royg, Danish pillars, and vitrified forts on the E. coast, be- sides cairns, duns, and Picts' houses, scattered through various parts of the county. ROSS, a tnshp. in the par. of Belford, hund. of Islundshiro, co. Northumberland, formerly in Durham, 3 miles N.E. of Belford. It is situated near the coast, on which great quantities of cockles are found. ROSS, a vil. in the par. of Comrie, co. Perth, Scot- land, adjoining the town of Comrie. ROSS, an ancient par. in the co. of Argyle, Scotland, now joined to Kilfinichcn. ROSS, a vil. in the par. of Mordington, co. Berwick, Scotland. It is situated at the base of a cliff which has a falling rivulet, which swells during rainy weather and forms several cascades. The houses are principally built on tbe beach, near high-water mark. JiOSS. dec ROSSCABBEHY, co. Cork. ROSS, a vil. in the bar. of Moyarta, co. Clare, Ire- land, 5 miles W. of Carrigaholt. It gives name to a bay, and has remains of an ancient castle. >, a bar. in the co. of Galway, prov. of Con- ,ht, Ireland, containing the par. of Ross, and parts of Ballinchalla, Balllnrobe, and Cone, comprising about 98,600 acres. Ku.SS, a par. in the bar. of Ross, co. Galway, prov. of Connuught, Ireland, 3 miles N.W. of Cong, its post town. The surface consists of a neck of land lying between loughs Corrib and Mask, and contains a large proportion of mountain and bog. The living is a rect. and vie. in the dioo. of Tuam, val. with Kilmolara, 335, in the patron, of the bishop. Here is a Roman Catholic chapel, also two public schools. Ross Hill and Petersburg!! are the chief residences ; near the former are the ruins of an old church. ROSS, a hmlt. in the bar. of Skreen, co. Meath, Ireland, 5 miles N.W. of Dunshaughlin, and 7 S.E. of Navau. ROSS, a bog in Queen's County, Ireland, near Mary- borough. ROSS, an islet in the lower lake of Killarney, co. Kerry, Ireland. It now belongs to Lord Keninare, having once been possessed by the O'Donoghues, who built a castle on it, which was taken and dismantled by the parliamentary General Ludlow in 1652. It is chiefly valuable for its lead and copper mines, and commands views of the lakes of Killarney. ROSS, a lough on the borders of cos. Armagh and Monaghan, Ireland, 5 miles S.E. of Castleblaney. ROSSCARBERY, a par., post, and market town in the W. div. of East Carbery bar., co. Cork, prov. of Munster, Ireland, 32 miles S.W. of Cork. The surface consists for the most part of good land, but is hilly. The town is situated on the road from Cork to Skibbereen, and near Ross harbour. It site is slightly elevated, and it consists of four streets and a central square. It contains a market house, court house, police and coastguard stations. Petty sessions are held weekly. The harbour has become useless from the formation of a sandbar across the entrance. The inner bay, which becomes dry at low water, is celebrated for its silver eels. This town originated in an abbey, founded by St. Faughnan, who lived in the early part of the 6th century. It became a seat of learning, and after- wards an episcopal seat and a walled town ; but at the time of the English invasion it was in a state of decay, and the wall had disappeared. It received a charter of incorporation in the time of King John. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Ross, val. 362, in the patron, of the dean. The Roman Catholic chapel forms the head of a district. There are five public, and as many pri- vate schools. The chief seats are Cahermoro, Dcrry, Castle Downeen, llilleen, Millfield, and Farley Cottage. The diocese of Ross lies within the county of Cork, and comprises 26 benefices. It ia united in the see of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross. The cathedral is the parish church already mentioned. Wednesday is market day. Fairs are held 26th August and 19th September and De- cember. ROSSDROIT, a par. in the bar. of Bantry, co. Wex- ford, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 4 miles S.W. of Ennis- corthy, its post town. The surface consists of a light soil, and is traversed by the road from Enniscorthy to New Ross. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Ferns, val. 464, in the patron, of the bishop. The church was erected in 1795 by means of a gift from the late Board of First Fruits. This parish is joined to Davids- town in the Roman Catholic arrangement. There is a school, supported by the Erasmus Smith Charity, besides several private schools. Near the village are ruins of the old church. Fairs are held in February, March, May, October, and December. ROSSDUFF, a small par. in the bar. of Gualtiere, co. Waterford, prov. of Munster, Ireland. Waterford is its post town. It is situated on Waterford harbour. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Waterford, forming part of the benefice of Killure, which see. ROSSEE, a par. in the bar. of Carra, co. Mayo, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 6 miles S.S.E. of Castle- bar. Hollymount is its post town. The soil is fertile, upon a substratum of limestone. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Tuam, val. with Balla, 324, in the patron, of the bishop. It is joined to Balla in the Roman Catholic division. There is a school, also ruins of a castle at Clogher Lucas. ROSSES, THE, several isles in the bar. of Boylagh, co. Donegal, Ireland, including Inniscu, Innismakadu,