Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/30

Rh FEEMOY. 22 FERNHURST. by James I. at the " plantation of Ulster." After the rebellion of 1641 the English and Scotch settlers ac- quired most of the forfeited estates. The length of the county from Lough Nearly to a point below Newton Butler is 40 miles ; its greatest breadth is 22 miles, its area being 714 square miles, of which 289,228 acres are arable, 46,755 acres water, 114,847 acres bog, and 7,802 acres woodland, chiefly producing ash, fir, oak, and beech. Towards the N. W. the county is inter- sected by the loughs Erne, tipper and Lower, which, with their numerous islets and connecting streams, are considered amongst the grandest lakes in Ireland. [See EKNE.] The streams and waters of this county are very numerous. The principal rivers are the Axney, issuing from Lough Macnean, and traversing the S.W. of the county, besides the Bannagh, Silley, Kesh, Tempo, Colebrook, Cladagh, Termon, Finn, and the subter- ranean Eoogagh. Among the lakes worthy of remark are Melvin, Macnean, Nearty, Silley, and Eushen. Mineral springs are frequently met with. The surface is generally mountainous, climbing up on all sides of the county to the formation of a hollow or trough, where lie the great Ernes, the common receptacle of the numerous streams that issue from the mountain sides. In the neighbourhood of Cavan it becomes still more elevated, the highest ground being on Dowbally, which attains an altitude of 2,188 feet. The principal summit among the mountains of the N.W. is Belmore, 1,312 feet ; other elevations worth noting, with their respective heights, are Slieve Baught, 1,812 feet, Glenheel, 1,223 feet, North Sheen, 1,135 i'eet, Tappahan, 1,110 feet, and Carn- more, 1,034 feet. The soil is of medium quality, resting upon a bottom for the most part of limestone. In the E. red sandstone occurs, but the prevailing rock is secondary sandstone. A very handsome brown, marble is quarried at Killaston and Florence Court. Iron ore is found at Mount Cuilcagh, and the presence of coal has been de- tected at Tosset. Goats and young cattle are extensively reared on the mountains. Butter is the principal article sent to the English markets. The chief crops raised are oats, potatoes, wheat, barley, rye, turnips, flax, &c. Enniskillen, the county town, is famous for its cutlery. Flax and linen are spun, and woollen goods are woven for home use. This county contains the baronies of Clan- awley, Clankelly, Coolo, Knockninny, Lurg, Maghera- boy, Magherastephena, and Tyrkenuedy, which include 11 whole and 9 parts of parishes, 8 market towns, 3 Poor-law Unions, 3 police districts, with 25 stations, and 190 men of all ranks. It is within the Dublin Military District, of which there are two stations, one in the county town, and another at Beleek. The fair towns are Callowhill, Ohurchhill, Donagh, Ederney, and Macguire's Bridge. Fermanagh returns two members to parliament for the county and one for the borough. It conies within the N.W. circuit, and is governed by a lieutenant, 19 deputy-lieutenants, an assistant barrister, and the county magistrates. Quarter sessions, assizes, and petty sessions are held in the county town, which contains the gaol. .Quarter sessions are also held at Newton Butler. In the ecclesiastical arrangement the county is partly in the diocese of Kilmore and partly in Clogher. The principal roads of the county are from Euniskillen to Sligo, Ballyshannon, Pettigo, Omagh, Clogher, Monaghan, Cavan, and Swanlibar. Salmon, trout, eels, &c., are very abundant, and large flocks of water fowl resort to the lakes during the winter, and among them swans. FERMOY, a bar. in the co. of Cork, prov. of Munster, Ireland. It is bounded by the co. of Limerick on the N., by the bar. of Condons and Clongibbons on the E., by Barrymorc on the S., and by Orrery and Kilmore on the W. _ Its area is 121,562 acres. Part of the Nagles mountains rise on the S., and the Castle Oliver moun- tains on the N. The soil is fertile. It contains the pars, of Ardskeagh, Ballyhooly, Ballydeloughy, Bridgetown, Carrigdownane, Carrigleamleary, Caherd'uggan, Clenor, Castletownroche, Doueraile, Killathy, Killecnemer, Kilcummer, Monanimy, Eahan, St. Nathlash, Temple- roan, Wallstown, and parts of Bally hay, Dimmahon, Derryvillane, Farahy, Glanworth, Imphrick, Kilderrery, Kilcrumper, Kilgullane, Kilquane, Litter, Moumeabbey, and Mallow. This barony, with a large portion of the surrounding baronies, was the ancient territory of the O'Kiefs, and was called Tearmuiyh, or Feramuigh-fene. It afterwards became the Roches' and Condons' country. FEEMOY, a par., post and market town, in the bar. of Condons and Clongibbons, co. Cork, prov. of Munster, Ireland. Fermoy railway is a branch line from Mallow, on the Dublin and Cork railway. The parish lies along the right bank of the river Blackwater, and is diversified by scenery of extreme beauty and luxuriance. The soil is generally of excellent quality. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Cloyne, val. 97. The church, situated in the town, is a handsome building, erected in 1808, chiefly by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits, and lately enlarged. There is a memo- rial window in the chancel, put up by the late Lady Abercromby to her husband, the late Sir Kobert Aber- cromby. The Eoman Catholic chapel is a plain, large building. Here are Wesleyan and Presbyterian chapels, a Sunday and day schools. The town stands on the Blackwater, across which a new stone bridge is in course of erection, the old one being insufficient for the in- creased traffic. The road from Dublin to Cork through Clonmel passes through it. It is a chief military and police station. It has barrack room for 2,700 troops, court-house, two nunneries, two banks, two military hospitals, mills, brewery, and a .collegiate school. General sessions are held twice a year, and petty ses- sions every fortnight. The Fermoy Poor-law Union has 22 electoral divisions in the county of Cork, with 29 guardians. The union workhouse is close to the town, but is in the parish of Clondulane. Here are a fever hospital and a dispensary. Fermoy was a mere cluster of huts scarcely deserving the name of a village aa late as 1796, when the estate was purchased by J. Anderson, Esq., who nsed every exertion to convert it into a prosperous town. It was selected by the government as an eligible post for the military, and the extensive barracks which crown the neighbouring hill were built in 1801 and 1805. The property subsequently passed into the hands of Sir Eobert Abercrombie. N umerous elegant seats are to be seen around the town. The site of the Cistercian abbey, alleged to have been founded in 1770 by the Roche family, was granted to Sir Richard Grcnville by Queen Elizabeth. In 1690 the Irish, under James II., attacked the garrison. The Roche family take the title of baron from this place. Saturday is market day. Fairs are held every month. FEEMOYLE, or LETTEECANNON, a vil. in the par. of Killonoghan, bar. of Burren, co. Clare, prov. of Munster, Ireland. FEEN, or FARN, and STAPLES, islands, ext. par., in the hund. of Islandshire, co. Northumberland. These are the principal of a group of islands lying off the north- eastern coast of the county, from 3 to S miles E. of Bam- burgh, some of them being mere rocks, invisible at high water. The navigation here is attended with much danger. _ St. Cuthbert is said to have spent the latter part of his life upon one of them, and there are some re- mains of a priory bearing his name. Here are two beacons nearly 30 feet high, which may be seen from a distance of 12 miles. This spot is rendered memorable by the heroic conduct of Grace Darling and her father in rescuing the people of the steamer Forfarslrire from eminent peril, in 1838. FEENESS BAY and HEAD, on the W. of Eday Island, North Orkneys, Scotland, in the Firth of Westray. FERNHAM, a hmlt. in the par. of Longcott, hund. of Shrivenham, co. Berks, 2 miles S. of Farringdon. It is situated in the vicinity of White Horse Yale and the Great Western railway. FEENHILL, a tnshp. in the par. of Whittington, hund. of Oswestry, co. Salop, 2 miles N.E. of Oswestry. It is situated on the river Perry. Femhill Hall is the principal residence. FERNHURST. See FARNHUEST.