INISHMACSAINT

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

"INISHMACSAINT, (and islands, otherwise Churchhill), a parish partly in the barony of Tirhugh, county Donegal, and partly in the barony of Magheraboy, county Fermanagh, province of Ulster, Ireland. The parish is 20 miles long by 4 broad, containing its post town, Churchhill, the market town Derrygonnelly, and part of Ballyshannon. The principal part of the parish consists of a tract stretching along the margin of Lower Lough Erne. There is a considerable extent of mountain and bog, but the greater portion of the soil is arable land. Loughs Carrick and Bunnahone, and the source of the Sillies river, are within the limits. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Clogher, value £576. The church was built in 1831, by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. There are two chapels-of-ease, four Roman Catholic chapels united in pairs, and a Methodist meeting-house, also two public schools, parochial, private, and five Sunday schools. The island which gives name to this parish is situated in Lough Erne, 3 miles E.S.E. of Churchhill. It was the site of an abbey said to have been founded in the 6th century by St. Nennid. This parish contains the Shean summit and the dell of Phoula-Phouca.

"CHURCH-HILL, a village in the parish of Inishmacsaint, in the barony of Magheraboy, in the county of Fermanagh, province of Ulster, Ireland, 9 miles from Enniskillen. It is situated near the lakes Carrick and Erne, on the old coach road to Ballyshannon. Here is a church and district dispensary. The ruins of the old church and Tully Castle still remain. Fairs are held on the 11th May, 30th August, and 30th November."

"DERRYGONNELLY, a post and market town in the parish of Inishmacsaint, barony of Magheraboy, in the county of Fermanagh, province of Ulster, Ireland, 8 miles N.W. of Enniskillin. It stands on the cross roads from Enniskillin to Garrisson, and from Churchill to Belcoo Bridge. There is a police station, and petty sessions are held in the village. It is the property of the Archdall family. Fairs are held on the 24th of each month. Saturday is market day."

"GARRISSON, a village in the parishes of Devenish and Inishmacsaint, in the barony of Magheraboy, county Fermanagh, province of Ulster, Ireland, 4 miles S. of Belleek. It is situated at the head of Lough Melvin, where the river Roogagh empties itself into that lough. It contains a police station, a chapel-of-ease for Devenish, and a Roman Catholic chapel. Fairs are held on the 21st May, 19th July, 21st October, and 21st December."

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