CLONFERT

In 1868, the parish of Clonfert contained the following places:

"CLONFERT, (or Trinity Christchurch), a parish in the barony of Duhallow, in the county of Cork, province of Munster, Ireland. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Allua and Dallua, tributaries to the Blackwater, and contains the post towns of Kanturk and Newmarket. The surface is very hilly and the soil indifferent. The parish is traversed by the new road through the Bogra mountains from Cork to Abbeyfeale. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Cloyne value £461, in the patronage of the bishop. The Rev. W. Maziere Brady, D.D., author of "Clerical and Parochial Records of Cork, Cloyne, and Ross," is vicar. The church was built in 1830 by a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. It is a fine structure in the later English style. There are Roman Catholic chapels at Newmarket, Meelin, and Rockhill, which are mutually united, and one at Kanturk. There are several day schools under the National Board, a Sunday and a parochial school within the parish. A good description of culm is profitably worked here. About two miles to the N.E. of Newmarket are the ruins of Carrigacushin Castle, formerly belonging to the MacAuliffes. The MacCartys had a castle at Curragh. Newmarket, in this parish, was the birthplace of the celebrated John Philpot Curran, whose daughter Sarah, immortalised by Moore, sleeps in the village churchyard. The manor of Newmarket was granted by James I. to the Aldworth family, now represented by Richard Oliver Aldworth, Esq., D.D., of Newmarket House.

"KANTURK, a quoad sacra parish and market and post town, in the parish of Clonfert, barony of Duhallow, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland. The surface includes part of the vales of Allua and Dallua. The soil is fertile. The living is a perpetual curacy in the diocese of Cloyne, value £112, in the patronage of the Incumbent of Clonfert. The church was erected in 1792. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Kilcorkeran. There are two classical and several day schools in the parish. The town is situated at the confluence of the rivers Dallua and Allua, on the road from Mallow to Newmarket, 16 miles S.W. of Doneraile, and 163 S.W. of Dublin. It is a station on the Killarney branch of the Dublin and Cork railway. It consists of several irregularly-built streets. Many of the houses are well built. A new street has been formed. Two very extensive corn-mills stand on the river Dallua, which is crossed by a bridge of five arches; and Allua is spanned by a bridge of six arches. There are a branch bank, sessions house, and bridewell. The parish church has a tower. There is also a Roman Catholic chapel. A chief police station is seated here. Petty sessions are held once a week, and general sessions in June and September. Serge-weaving, wool-combing, and brewing are carried on. Kanturk Castle was formerly a seat of Mac Donagh Carthy, one of the McCarthys, kings of Munster, to whom the district belonged. The completion of this mansion was prevented by royal command, and it was forfeited with the estates in the rebellion of 1641. Here is a dispensary in the Kanturk Poor-law Union, which lies within the counties of Cork and Kerry. It has 14 electoral divisions, and 29 guardians. The workhouse was designed to give shelter to 800 in-door paupers. Barry Yelverton, afterwards Lord Avonmore, was a native of this town. Saturday is market day. Fairs are held in March, May, July, September, November, and December, for cattle."

"NEWMARKET, a post and market town in the parish of Clonfert, barony of Duhallow, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 4 miles N.W. of Kanturk, and 130 S.W. of Dublin. It stands on the river Allua, at the cross roads from Mallow to Listowel, and from Charleville to Killarney. The town, which consists of one long street, contains a church, Roman Catholic chapel, fever hospital, and a dispensary within the Kanturk poor-law union. The town belongs to the Aldworth family. Fairs are held on 21st April, 8th June, 16th July, 8th September, 10th October, and 21st November."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018