Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/724

Rh LODTII. 716 LOUTH. great devastations in the county, and towards the close of the 17th century negociations took place between O'Nial and O'Donel and the English government as to the right of the English to that part of Ulster between the Boyne and Dundalk, and the towns of Carlingford, Carrickfergus, and Newry ; but nothing came of these negociations, and from that period Louth has formed part of Leiuster province. Edward Bruce was killed at Dundalk in 1318. At Drogheda, at an old church gate, " Poyning's law" was passed in 1694, Cromwell having previously taken it by assault in 1649. Louth comprises an area of 315 square miles, or 201,434 acres, of which 178,972 are arable, and about 16,000 uncultivated. Its greatest length, from Drogheda to Carlingford Bay, is 32 miles, and its greatest breadth 15 miles. The southern districts of the county are level, with some parts undulating, all in a high state of cultivation. The Eavensdale, Cooley, and Carlingford mountains are to the N. From the mouth of the Boyne tho coast is low and sandy for nearly 10 miles northward to Clogher Head, where is a natural harbour. To the S. of Duuany Head is a sandy bay with some reefs ; these are covered at high-water, but left dry for a considerable distance at ebb-tide. Dunany Point is the southern extremity of Dundalk Bay, the town and harbour being its most inland point. From tho head of the bay the land sweeps round tho peninsula which projects to the S.E. between Dundalk Bay and Carlingford Lough. Here, on the northern side, the mouniains already mentioned rise grandly from the water's edge, their height ranging from 904 feet to 1,935 feet, the height of Carlingford Mountain. Carlingford and Dundalk bays arc unsafe for shipping ; but great quantities of fish are caught, including turbot, cod, haddock, and herring, and oysters of a delicious flavour at Carlingford, the greater portion of which are sent to Dublin. The county is almost wholly agricultural ; the southern parts are the most fertile, tho best land being about Ardee and Louth ; and though large parts are pasture, all kinds of grains are extensively cultivated. Great quantities of flax are also grown, and sent to the spinners of Bolton, Leeds, and other manufacturing towns in England. The population in 1851 was 107,657, which in 1861 had decreased to 90,713. It is calculated that 62 per cent, of the popula- tion arc employed in agriculture, and about 27 per cent, in manufacture and commerce. .Louth is divided into 6 bars., Ardee, Drogheda, Upper and Lower Dundalk, Ferrard, and Louth, and contains 04 pars. Before the Union, Louth returned 10 members to the Irish parlia- ment ; since it has only returned three to -the Imperial parliament viz., two for the county and one for Dun- dalk borough. The chief towns are Dundalk, Ardee, and part of Drogheda. Dundalk is tho county, assize, and sessions town, and tho head-quarters of the police. It is in the diocese of Armagh, and in the Belfast and Dublin military districts, and is governed by a lieu- tenant, custos rotulorum, 13 deputy-lieutenants, a high sheriff, and some 45 magistrates. The district lunatic asylum is in Dublin ; the county hospital at Dundalk, which is reckoned one of the most complete of its kind in Ireland, both as to the structure and the way in which it is conducted. There is a considerable quantity of linen manufactured at Drogheda, and there are large bleach-grounds at Collon and Ravensdale. There are largo pin manufactories at Dundalk and Louth ; also an iron and brass foundry. There are also extensive breweries and distilleries : the ale of Castle Bcllingham has long been held in very high repute. Flax-mills abound on all the smaller rivers, and there are also many large flour and meal mills in the county. Most of the rivers are small ; they include the Boyne, cele- brated for the battle of that name, fought in 1690, in which William III. defeated James II., who watched the engagement from Donore Churcli ; tho Flurry, Stranarn, Cully, and Craeghan, which rise in county Armagh, and flow into Dundalk Bay ; the Fane flows into the same bay, the Lagan and Dee into the sea below Castle Belling- ham ; and many small streams rise in the interior, which very much contribute to the fertility of the country. The roads are good and well kept. There are numerous remains of antiquity of a very varied character, in- cluding Druid circles at Ballrichan and Carrick Edmond, the ruins of a Druidical temple at Ballinahalne, near Dundalk, a cromlech at Ballymascanlan, and a large cairn on Carrick-Beant ; also Danish camps, or forts, at Rosskugh, Castle Bellingham, Mount Albini, near Kil- big Hill, and the extraordinary fort called Fayh-na-ein- eiff/te, or " the one night's work." There is a round tower at Monasterboice, 110 feet high, and part of another at Dromiskin. Upwards of twenty religious houses have existed in the county, remains of which may be seen at Carlingford, Faughart, Mcllifont, and Monasterboice, where there are two pillar crosses, 18 and 20 feet high one, named St Boyne's, being tho most ancient and the largest and most richly decorated in Ireland. There are numerous ancient castles, ac- counts of which will be found under their respectivo parishes. Large numbers of pure gold ornaments, swords, spears; bronze axes, and other antiquarian relics, have been found. In 1835 a very largo head ornament and iibula of pure gold were discovered near Monaster- boice. Edward II. created Sir John Birmingham carl of Louth, but the title died with him. Subsequently Henry VIII. created Sir Oliver Plunkett Baron Louth, whose descendants have tho title to this day. Viscount Ferrard of Collon has also tho title of Baron Oriel, tho ancient name of the county. There are many seats in the county, including those of Lord Massareene, at Oriel, and Lord Louth, at Louth Hall. LOUTH, a bar. in co. Louth, prov. of Leinster, Ire- land. It is 8 miles long, and its average breadth is 3. It is situated on the sea-coast, and the other sides aro environed by the bars, of Upper Dundalk and Ardee, and by the co. of Monaghan. It contains the pars, of Clonkeehan, Darver, Dromiskin, Killincoole, Mans- fieldtown, and parts of Iniskeen and Louth. LOUTH, a par. and post town in the bars, of Louth and Ardee, co. Louth, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 7 miles S.S.W. of Dundalk, and 49 from Dublin. The par. is 6 miles long and about 4 broad. The surface consists generally of good land, and is watered by the rivers Glyde and Fane. Lake Ross lies towards the W. Tho roads from Ardee to Castle-Blaney, and from Dundalk to Carrickmacross, pass through the interior. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Armagh, val. 1,638, in tho patron, of the crown and bishop alternately. Tho church was built at the expense of tho parish tow: tho commencement of the present century. There three Roman Catholic chapels, two National and sevi private day schools. Stephenstoun, Glydemains, anil Glydefarm are the principal residences. The town is a very ancient place, standing on the bank of the river Glyde. It is a petty sessions town, containing a police ' station and a dispensary within tho Dundalk Poor-law Union. Here aro remains of an abbey said to have been built by St. Patrick in 534, and destroyed by the Danes. In 1148 it was made a priory for canons regular by Edan, Bishop of Clogher, and a chapter was hold 1. in 1242. When Edward Bruce invaded Ireland, in 1315, he visited this town, and was entertained at priory. Henry VIII. handed the possessions of tho monastery over to the Plunkets, who take from it the title of baron. Among other remains of forts arc those of Mount Ash and Castle Ring. LOUTH, a par., market town, and municipal borougl exercising separate jurisdiction, but locally in the Wold div. of tho hund. of Louth Eske, parts of Lindsey, eo. Lincoln, 15 miles S. of Grimsby, 25 E.N.E. of Lin> and 141 from London. It has a station on the 1'ast Lincolnshire section of the Great Northern raihvav. 1 is situated in a fertile vale eastward of the W bounded on the N. and S. by chalk hills, which o mand varied and extensive prospects. The par. includes besides the borough of Louth, the tnshp. of Louth Park and the new ecclesiastical parishes of St. Michael and Holy Trinity, recently constituted by orders in council. Its ancient Latin name was Lutla, so called from its vicinity to the Lud, a small stream formed by the junc- Tho yards j iveral