Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 1.djvu/93

Rh ARDCANNY. 83 ARDCOLME. AKD CANNY, a par. in the bar. of Kenry, in the co. of Limerick, prov. of Minister, Ireland, 8 miles to the V. of Limerick. It is pleasantly situated at the con- fluence of the river Hague with the Shannon, being bounded on the N. by the latter, and on the E. by the former, of those rivers. The soil is very fertile, resting on limestone. A largo part of the land is meadow and pasture. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Limerick, Ardfert, and Aghadoe, val. 277, in the patron, of the bishop. There are many gentlemen's seats along the banks of the Hague ; among them are Cartown, Mellon, Rockfield, Shannon Grove, which was the seat of the Earls of Charleville, Mount Pleasant, &c. There is an old fortress formed of loose stones at Rockfield. ARDCARNE, a par. in the bar. of Boyle, in the co. of Roscommon, prov. of Cohnaught, Ireland, 4 miles to the E. of Boyle. It is situated on the southern shore of Lough Key, and the river Shannon flows along part of its eastern boundary. An abbey existed here in the 6th century, which was given by Queen Elizabeth to Trinity College, Dublin. This parish had also a nunnery of the Benedictine order, a cell to the abbey of Kilcreu- nata in Galway, and a Franciscan monasteiy. The soil is fertile, and the district well wooded. There is abun- dance of good limestone and freestone. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Kilmore, Ardagh, and Elphin, val. with the rect. of Killukin and other livings, 446, in the patron, of the bishop. The church was originally a part of the old nunnery. Rockingham House, a noble mansion in the Ionic style of architecture, situated on the shore of Lough Key, and surrounded by beautiful grounds and woods, was the seat of the Viscount Lorton. Oakport, a Gothic mansion on the Boyle river, is the seat of the Molloys. Knockvicar and Mount Francis are the other seats. Petty sessions are held weekly at Coote- hall, formerly called O'Holloy's-hall. There are two dispensaries and a free school. The par. extends over an area of 19,100 acres, of which 1,100 acres are covered by the waters of the lough. ARDCATH, a par. in the bar. of Upper Duleek, in the co. of Heath, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 6 miles to the S.W. of Drogheda. The parish contains a good slate quarry, and the inhabitants are engaged in linen and cotton weaving. The living is a vie. united with the perpet. cur. of Duleek, in the dioc. of Meath. The ruins of the old church are near the present one. Fairs are held here on the 7th May, the 21st June, and the 27th October. ARDCAVAN, a par. in the bar. of Shelmaliere, in the co. of Wexford, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 4 miles to the N.E. of Wexford. It is situated on a peninsula at the northern end of Wexford Haven, where the river Slaney joins it, and contains the greater part of the village of Castlcbridge. The living is a perpet. cur. united with the vie. of Ardcohne, in the dioc. of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighlin. Ruins of the old church stand near the shore, and there are remains of an uncient castle at Bally- tramont. The principal residence is Ely House, which belongs to the Marquis of Ely. ARDCHATTAN, a par. in the Lorn district of the co. of Argyle, Scotland, 8 miles to the N.E. of Oban. It is situated on Loch Etive, which divides the southern part of the parish from Muckaim and Loch Creran, which forms its northern boundary. The magnificent hill, Ben Cruachan, one of the loftiest in Scotland, rises from the middle of the parish to the height of 3,670 feet. Here, too, are the remains of the old fortifications, supposed to be Pictish, of which many fables have been related, especially that this was the site of Ilereyoninin, a great city, and the seat of government in the 4th century before Christ. A priory was founded in Ardchattaii by Duncan M'Coull, or, as others name him, John McDougall, in 1230, of which some part of the walls still remain. In 1308 a parliament was held there by Robert Bruce. The monastery was burnt down during the civil war of the 17th century. The district is mountainous and well wooded, and comprises, with the usual characteristics of Highland scenery, about 3,000 acres of forest, chiefly consisting of oak, ash, birch, hazel, and alder, with a few pine and fir planta- tions. At every cutting these woods are supposed to yield from 15,000 to 16,000 of timber. Roes and fallow deer run wild in the woods. Several small streams flow through it, of which the principal are the Awe, the Etive, and the Kinloss. The living, val. 283, is in the presb. of Lorn, and in the patron, of Campbell of Loch- nell. There are two churches in Ardchattan proper, both situated close upon the northern shore of Loch Etive, being 10 miles from the western, and 31 miles from the north- eastern boundary of the parish. There are chapels of ease at Muckaim and Inverguesechan in Glenetive ; besides a Free church in Ardchattan proper, and another in Muckaim. There are two assembly's schools, a society's school, and three or four private schools. At the mouth of Loch Etive, and on its southern coast stand the ruins of Dunstaflhage Castle. It is a square structure with round towers at three of its angles, and the rock it stands on has been cut to a similar form. The situation of the castle, on the end of a pro- montory, is very striking. The founder of this fortress is unknown, but it is supposed probable that at a very early period here was a royal residence and place of sepulture. The present structure is thought to be not of earlier date than the 14th century. At that period it became the possession of the McDougalls. In 1305 it was taken and garrisoned by Bruce. It was here that the Earl of Argyle effected his landing in 1685. The most interesting circumstance connected with the castle is, that in it was deposited the famous coronation stono which is now attached to the chair in which the British sovereigns are crowned. This stone was brought to Westminster by Edward I., who seized it at Scone, where the Scottish monarchs were crowned. Kenneth II. had transferred it to Scone in 834 from Dunstafmage ; when and whence it came to Dunstaflhage, we have only fables to tell us. If wo can believe these, it was the stone on which the patriarch Jacob slept on the plains of Luz, and which arrived at Dunstafmage after various and wonderful travels. The burial-place of the early kings was the small and elegant chapel near the castle. The principal residence in the parish is Ardchattan House. The par. extends above 40 miles in extreme length, and about 10 miles in mean breadth. ARDCLACH, a par. in the co. of Nairn, Scotland, 8 miles to the S.E. of Nairn. It is situated on the western bank of the river Tindhorn, in a mountainous and heathy district. The living, val. 248, is in the presb. of Nairn, and in the patron, of Brodie of Lethen, chief heritor, and is 11 miles long, and between 7 and 8 miles broad. There are about 2,000 acres of arable laud, and 4,000 acres of moss and moor, with a considerable quantity of woodland, which abounds in game of all kinds, including the deer. About a mile below Dulsie there is an ancient sculptured tablet, 8 feet high, having a rude cross and many Runic characters discernible on its surface. ARDCLARE, Roscommon. See CLOOXYGOEHICAX. ARDCLINIS, a par. in tho bar. of Lower Glenarm, in tho co. of Antrim, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, 4 miles to the N.W. of Glenarm. It occupies an elevated tract on the coast, not far from Red Bay, and contains the vils. of Camlough and Glenariff. There is abundance of limestone and basalt in tho district. A fishery is carried on in tho bay. The living- is a rect. united with that of Aghcrton, in the dioc. of Down, Connor, and Dromore. There are remains of a Danish cam]), on a headland, called Dunmanl, near Garron Point. The principal resi- dences are Drumnasole, Knappan, and Bay Lodge. ARDCOLME, a par. in the bar. of Shelmaliere, in the co. of Wexibrd, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 3 miles to the N.E. of Wexford. It is situated at the north end of Wexford haven, and includes part of the village of Castle Bridge, and the island of Erin Beg, in the har- bour. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Ossory, Ferns, and Leighliu, val. with the perpet. cur. of Ardcavau and several other bulletin s, 514, in the patron, of the 1 ishop. The church is at Castlebridge, and occupies the site of an old castle. It was built in 176-i, and has