(Diocese of Cloyne, and County of Cork.)

BY THE REV. BASIL ORPEN, RECTOR AND VICAR.

1. The Name of the Parish, Situation, Extent, &c.
THE ancient name of this parish, now called Bally- Name and
Voorney, was Kiel-blaphar, probably derived from etymology.
Kill," signifying, in the Irish language, a burying-

place, and "Blaphor," beauty. Its modern appellation, Ballyvoorney, may be traced from " Bally," a town or village, and "Moorney," the name of a man, who had great influence and possessed a large and extensive tract in the parish; or more probably from "Voornea," which signifies beloved; so that from the latter derivation it may be aptly enough translated into the English language, the town of the beloved.* It is situation. situated in the barony of West Muskerry, county of Cork, and díocese of Cloyne; being bounded on the Boundaries west and, north by the parishes of Kilgarvan and

⚫ Both Smith and Archdall join in giving the latter of these derivations to the name of this parish. The former of these authors states, that it had been anciently called Husneagh, Borneagh, and Burneagh. See Smith's Cork, v. 1. p. 193. and Monast. Hib. p. 57.-ED.

River.

Glanflesk in the county of Kerry; on the east by that
of Clondrohid, and on the south by the parishes of
Killnemartera and Inchigeelah, sometimes called
Eveleary, the former belonging to the diocese of
Cloyne and the latter to that of Cork.

The river Sullane rises in this parish, in the mountains bordering on the county of Kerry, runs through its longitudinal or greatest extent, keeps an easterly direction or course through the parish of Clondrohid to the town of Macroom, flows about a mile farther, keeping the same easterly direction, and then disembogues itself and is lost in the river Lee. The arable, meadow and pasture land comprehend about a third part of the parish; the remainder consists of Mountains. bog and mountain. The mountains are Mallaghanuss, Reanapuble, and Jouilnenummerah, some parts of which are good for pasture, and some are heathy and almost barren. There are a great number of bogs at Derreenallin and Milleen's Rath. Timber is found in them from two to twelve feet deep; the kinds most usually raised are deal, oak, and yew.

Bogs.

Bridge.

Roads.

II. Mines, Minerals, &c.

This parish does not furnish any matter for observation under this head.

III. Modern Buildings, &c.

There are no public buildings here, except one bridge, built about forty years ago; it is in very bad repair. The roads are only two; one leading from the city of Cork through Macroom to Kenmare and Nedeen, and another leading through the parish of Glanflesk to Killarney.

IV. Ancient Buildings, &c.

The ruins of an old church, dedicated to St. Gob- Ruins. nate, are to be seen here. Who this saint was, is not accurately determined; some even question her existence. Tradition states that she was the daughter of O'Connor Sligo, and had been made abbess of a nunnery of regular canonesses here by St. Abban, who, after a very protracted life, died in the year of Christ 650. The church, which is now wholly a ruin, was 104 feet long by 24 broad, and had a steeple standing at the time that Smith wrote his account of this county. Near the altar is the tomb of the O'He- Monument. relehys or O'Hierleys, the former proprietors of this

tract. The castle, whose site is now known only by Castle.

a rude heap of stones, stood on the north side of the

Sullane.

V. Present & Former State of Population, Food, &c.

The number of families in the parish amounts to Population 488, all Roman Catholic. By allowing six to each family, the entire population will amount to 2928 souls. Their situation as to wealth is very indifferent; a great number of the natives are compelled, for want of employment at home, to go to Cork, and beyond it, to the richer parts of the county, at certain times of the year, to procure work and earn a little money to clothe themselves, their wives and children. It need scarcely be added, that their food, appearance, and mode of living, are equally poor and scanty. In Longevity. stature they are tall and robust, and they generally live to an advanced age.

Patron.

VI. Genius and Disposition of the Poorer Classes, &c.

The patron saint of this parish is called St. Abigail. The day appointed to be held in honor of her memory is the 11th of February, on which day a vast concourse of people, as well from the neighbouring as from very distant parts of the county, assemble to perform their religious, or rather, their superstitious rounds; they also meet here on Whitsunday and the day following, to perform the same silly and absurd ceremonies. There are traditionary reports that many have received great benefit from the prayers and orisons offered at these times to the patron, but without the smallest foundation. Indeed such meetings ought to be discountenanced by every religious and moral person, as they generally terminate in Language. drunkenness and bloodshed. Irish is the language most generally spoken; very few speak English.

Schools.

Rates of nition.

VII. The Education & Employment of Children, &c,

The children here are very indifferently educated. However, the present principal proprietor of the parish, Sir Nicholas C. Colthurst, much to his credit, established two schools on his estate, one for boys, and the other for girls. The number of boys that attend is about 100, but in winter the number is much diminished. In consequence of the support given by Sir Nicholas, the rates are so low as 2s. 6d. per quarter. He pays £20 per annum to both schools. The boys are taught reading, writing, and arithmetic, The girls, in number about fifty, are taught reading, writing, and plain-work.

VIII. State of Religious Establishment, Tythes, &c.

Ballyvoorney is united to no other parish. The Glebe. glebe, according to the Down Survey, lies immediately about the church, on which there is a house, now a sporting lodge, belonging to Sir Nicholas Conway Colthurst: it is universally believed that it was usurped by one of his ancestors, and part of a barren unproductive mountain, called Reanapuble, not worth 1d. per acre, given in lieu of the good glebe. Sir Nicholas, the present proprietor of the estate, seems to be a young gentleman of a generous and enlarged mind, and probably will, upon being shewn the map of the glebe out of the Down Survey, yield back a property to which he can have no legal title.

The produce of tythes in this parish consists of Tythes. potatoes, oats, and hay. The land is too poor and barren to yield wheat and barley. The inhabitants do not wish to pay half the value for them. Were it not for the interference of Sir Nicholas Colthurst, the rector's revenues would be but very trifling.

IX. Modes of Agriculture, Crops, &c.

The mode of tilling the land is by ploughing, and Mode of agriculture sometimes grubbing it with spades. The first crop is generally potatoes. A custom hitherto prevailed amongst the inhabitants, of setting a second crop of the same, but that custom is now on the decline; having perceived its evil consequences, they now till their land in rotation, successively, with potatoes and oats, as the district produces neither wheat nor barley. This parish is under a very great inconve,