SKULL

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

"SKULL, a parish and post town in the barony of Carbery West, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 57 miles S.W. of Cork, and 221 from Dublin. The surface, which extends along Skull Harbour in Roaring Water Bay, is wild, abounding in rock and mountain. Mount Gabriel rises 1,145 feet above the level of the sea. The parochial limits include the village of Ballydehob and several outlying islands. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Cork, value £737, in the patronage of the crown and bishop. The church was erected in 1720; and a new church has been built at Ballydehob. There are a Roman Catholic chapel, a Wesleyan meeting-house, 6 public schools, and a day school. The harbour, though encumbered with sunken rocks about the entrances, affords good shelter, and has a depth from 2 to 8 fathoms. Copper ore is worked here on the coast and at Horse Island, and slate at Audley's Cove. There are ruins of several old castles. Ardmanagh is the principal residence. There are police and coastguard stations. A fair is held on 5th January."

"BALLYDEHOB, a village in the parish of Skull, and barony of West Carbery, in the county of Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 8 miles to the W. of Skibbereen. It is seated on the coast near the foot of Mount Gabriel. Copper and slate are found in the neighbourhood. Besides a chapel of ease, there are chapels belonging to the Roman Catholics and Wesleyans. The village has a dispensary and a police station."

"SWANTONSTOWN, a hamlet in the barony of West Carbery, county Cork, Ireland, near Ballydehob." [Now known as Ballydehob ]

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