Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/401

Rh KERRY. 393 KERSALL. prise the far-famed Lakes of Killarney [which see], Currane on the Iveragh coast, Derryana and Lannan on the Cununara, Ganvan, Gutane, the Devil's Punch-Bowl, and some other small pools. There are medicinal waters at Killarney, Ireragh, Valentia, Iraghtieonnor, Ballybeg, Castlemaine, near Tralee, and Magherybeg. The pre- vailing rocks in the mountain districts are red and grey conglomerates and sandstones, with superincumbent silicious flags. The valleys of the Feale, Main, and Roughtv are the chief limestone districts. From Ard- fert to Kerry Head argillaceous sandstone occurs, and further on, limestone, accompanied with alum and slate at Ballybunian. The great Munster coal district em- braces a tract extending from Tralco towards the E. boundary. The iron mines of the county were formerly very considerable, Killarney being a great seat of smelting operations, but mining is now almost aban- doned. Copper has been raised at Muekross and Ross Island, and lead ore is found at the Lower Lake of Kil- larney. Copper is also worked at Kenmare to some extent. A valuable slate for roofing is quarried at Valeutia Island. Rottenstone is found at Bushfield, and various other clays and earths of commercial value. Castle Island produces Irish elate, or Lapis Hibernims, "Kerry stones." A variety of hard crystals are found at Ballyheige and near Dingle. Amethysts are brought from Kerry Head, and other pretty though valueless crystals are found in the county. The climate of Kerry ia humid, and subject to storms along the coast ; but in- land, and in the neighbourhood of Killarney, it is warm, and vegetation most luxuriant. The soil in the S. W. has much bog, but is otherwise of rather a stiff loam con- sisting of decomposed clay slate. The southern districts have been greatly influenced by the agricultural improve- ments introduced upon Lord Headly'a and the Marquis of L'msdowne's estates. In the N. the soil is stiff and clayey, and much of the land is in pasture. The soil of the midland districts is a rich loam, well adapted for grain crops and dairy farming. Of late years great progress has been made in the systems of agriculture ; but the habitations of the poorer classes, who are in general Irish speaking, are still miserable huts. The large farmers are principally feeders for dairy produce, which is carried in large quantities to Tralee. Wheat, oats, barley, rye, peas, beans, potatoes, green crops, roots, flax, and clover, are also raised. The breeding of cows is particularly attended to. The native breed is (mall, but symmetrical, and easily fattened, and when kept for stock, are excellent milkers. The Kerry pony is small, and ill adapted for draught, while the horses of foreign breeds are light and active, but not powerful. Pigs and sheep are much mixed and crossed. The wild animals are not numerous. The gourder, or Irish ortelan, is said to bo peculiar to the Blasquet islands. It is larger than a sparrow, web-footed, and is esteemed a great delicacy. Wild swans are sometimes seen in Corkaguiuey. The mountains abound with grouse, eagles, hawks, pheasants, &c. Sea fowl are very plen- tiful along the coast. The arbutus, which grows natu- rally nowhere else in these latitudes, is found in the woods of Killarncy and Banlry. The same may bo said 10 pinguicula, grandiflora, and numerous other indi- genous plants, indicating the peculiar geniality of soil ami climate. Oak, ash, and fir, form the principal plan- 113. This county is divided into eight baronies, viz. Iraghticonner, N.E., Clanmaurice, N.W., Corka- guincy, W., Dunkerrin, S.S.W., Iveragh, S.W., Gla- nerought, S., Magunihy and Trughanacmy, midland. < baronies contain S~7 parishes. The principal towns 1'raleo, the county town, Killarncy, Dingle, Listowcl, ii, Castlcisland, Ardfert, Ballylongford, and "rt. The county is within the Munster circuit (the assizes being held at Traleo), and in the military district irk, of which the barrack station is at Tralee. There are 39 stations of constabulary, and coastguard stations it Ballyhiguo, Dingle, Cahirsivcen, and West Cove. The county is governed by a lord-lieutenant, 1 9 deputies, and about 11'2 magistrates. It sends two members to parliament for the county, and one for the borough of Tralee. The constituency of the county in 1859 was 5,278, and of the borough 244: population in 1851, 238,239; in 1861,201,800 : net value of county property, 275,132. The Poor-law Unions are, Cahirsiveen, Dingle, Kenmare, Killarney, Listowel, and Tralee. The trade of this county consists chiefly in the export of its farm produce, principally oats and butter. Woollens are manufactured for domestic use, and linen is woven at Dingle and its vicinity. The principal fishing stations are Dingle, Valentia, and Listowel. In 1S50 there were 1,092 boats employed in the fisheries around the coast. The chief takes consist of turbot, cod, ling, hake, haddock, gurnet, pollock, plaice, soles, dorees, brill, mullet, mackerel, herrings, &c., also several varieties of shell fish, as oyster, crab, lobster, and scallops. Seals formerly resorted to the Kenmare estuary, but are now rarely seen. There are many objects of antiquarian interest, as the Cyclopean fortresses of Cahirconree, Cahir-Donnel, and Staigue ; the sepulchral monuments with Ogham inscriptions near Dingle ; the stone cells at Kilmelchedor, Ventry, and Skefiig ; and the pillar towers at Lough Currane, Ra'ttoo, and Ardfert, with a fragment of one at Aghadoo. There are vestiges of 13 different monastic buildings, of which the abbeys of Ard- fert, O'Dorney, Derrynane, Lislaotin, and Mucross, are the most interesting ; also of 30 feudal castles, and of ancient fortifications of every description, scattered over the county. The principal roads are from Tralee to Abbey O'Dorney, Ardfert, Lixna, Ballybunian, Listowel, Tarbert, Kilgoblin, Dingle, Dunmore Head, Castlemaine, Killorglin, Glinsk, Cahirsiveon, Valentia, and Killarney, from thence to Cork, Kenmare, Bantry, Castleisland, Limerick, and King Williamstown. KERRY, a dioc. in the prov. of Munster, Ireland, comprising the co. of Kerry, and part of that of Cork. The Protestant diocese is co-extensive with the Roman Catholic, but is now called Ardfert and Aghadoe. In the Roman Catholic arrangement it is called Kerry, and contains 42 parishes. The bishop's parish is Killarney. KERRY, a par. in the huud. and co. of Montgomery, 3 miles E. of Newtown, its post town. It is a station on the Kerry branch railway. The parish, which is exten- sive, is situated under tho Kerry hills. It contains Trollan, Drcvor, and 16 other tnshps. A small portion of tho inhabitants are employed in the manufacture of flannel and baize, tho remainder in agriculture and tho rearing of cattle. It is a petty sessions town. The land is chiefly in pasture. Tho living is a vie. * with tho curs, of Dolfor and Sam annexed, in the dioc. of St. Asaph, val. 330, in tho patron, of the Bishop of St. David's. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient structure. In tho interior is an old font, also monuments of tho Wilkinses, and one to Richard Jones, who founded a school here. KERRY HEAD, a headland at the mouth of tho river Shannon, co. Kerry, Ireland, 8 miles N.W. of Ardfert. KERRYCROY, a vil. in tho par. of Kingarth, Island of Bute, Scotland, 3 miles S.E. of Rothsay. KERRYCURRIHY, a bar. in co. Cork, prov. of Munstor, Ireland. It is bounded on tho N. and E. by Cork harbour, on the S. by the Atlantic, and on the W. by tho bars, of Kinsale and Kinnalea. It is 12 miles long by 6 broad. The surface is varied and picturesque. It contains tho pars, of Barnahely, Kilmonoy, Liscloary, Marmullane, Templcbreedy, Monkstown, and parts of Ballinaboy, Killanully, Carrigaline, Kilpatrick; like- wise tho towns and vils. of Passage, Ballinassig, Lough- beg, Maulbaun, and Crosshaven. KERSALL, a tnshp. in tho par. of Kneosall, N. div. of the wap. of Thurgarton, co. Nottingham, 5 miles N. of Southwell, 5J S.E. of Ollerton, and 6 W. of the Carl- ton railway station. Newark is its post town. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1778. There is a place of worship for the Primitive Methodists. The Duke of Newcastle is lord of the manor. KERSALL, a hmlt. in the par. of Broughton, co. Lancaster 3 miles N.W. of Manchester.