Chapel.

Mode of Agriculture.

Rent of Land.

Manure.

Fair.

Linen

Manufacture.

There is one Roman Catholic chapel in this parish and a resident Roman Catholic clergyman. There is no other place of religious worship, nor are there any holy wells, or other religious places dedicated to saints, with the exception of St. Martin's well, before mentioned.

IX. Modes of Agriculture, Crops, &c.

The mode of agriculture throughout this parish, does not differ from what it was a century ago; the prevailing crops are wheat, oats, flax and barley. The quantities per acre are; wheat on an average from 6 to 9 barrels per acre; oats from 8 to 12; barley from 9 to 14 per acre. Land set to farmers brings for the best £3 per acre; for middling ground £2 per acre; and for the worst kind £1 per acre. These lands would not by any means bring so high a rent at the present day.

There is a great want of employment in this parish, owing to the non residence of men of property. We have no stock of cattle of any account for sale, except sheep, and these of a very inferior kind, caused by the poverty of the soil. The surface of the ground is generally burnt for manure. The price of grain and butcher's meat is very cheap, compared with other years. A fair is held annually on the 12th of February.

X. Trade, Manufactures, Commerce, &c,

There are a number of poor weavers in the parish, who bring their linen on the market day to Long

ford; the linen here is mostly of a coarse kind, from 9d. to 11d. per yard. Its value at present is much under that price. There is no woollen manufacture, except what is made into frize for the use of the inhabitants.

The river Shannon, which divides Lanesborough Inland from Connaught, being navigable to Dublin, boats Navigation from 20 to 60 tons burden, bring goods of every kind, timber, &c. from Dublin here, and return loaded with wheat, oats, barley and potatoes. Slates are also frequently brought here from Killaloe, in the county of Clare. There are no fisheries in this neighbourhood, nor any commerce but what is maintained by the few vessels just mentioned,

XI. Natural Curiosities, Remarkable Occurrences, &c.

List of incumbents, extracted from the First Fruits' Records

beats.

By certificate of Robert Lord Bishop, dated 7° die IncumNov. 1663, vicar de Rachine in dioc. Ardaghen, vac. et sequest. in man, Jacobi Spencer nri. capellani domestici.

Jacobus Milus collat. et institut. fuit 6o die Junii 1671, ad vicar. de Raghline que jacet in com, de Longford in dioc. Ardagh.

Robtus. Ramsay presbiter collat, fuit 22o die Martii 1680, ad vicariam de Rathclyne als. Lanesburrogh dioc. et com. supra.

Eliah Handcock, A. M. collat. fuit 4° die mensis Novem. anno. 1727 ad vicar. de Rathcline et Cashell in com. Longf.

Rich. Knight, was collated on the 27th day of

Oct. 1740, to the v. of Rathcline et Cashell, in co. Longford et dio. Ardagh.

Robert Moffit was collated on January 1780, to the vicarages of Rathcline and Cashell, in the co. of Longford and diocese of Ardagh.

James Farrell was instituted the 31st day of May 1813, to the vicarage of Rathcline, in the county of Longford and diocese of Ardagh, vice Robert Moffit, who held from January 1780, and vacated same by resignation.

XII. Suggestions for Improvement, and means for meliorating the condition of the People.

Various suggestions have been often offered to the public, for improving and ameliorating the condition of the poor of this country; but one plain and obvious way of ameliorating their condition would be, the residence of men of fortune and influence in their respective parishes; and there is no doubt but solid and permanent advantages might be conferred both on the clergy and laity by some modification or legislative enactment on the subject of tythes. There is a vile and shameful practice of long standing here, which undoubtedly should be suppressed, namely, that of holding a public market on the Sabbath day; it is now become so common, that nothing less than the instant vigour of the law can put it down.

No. XV.

PARISH OF

RATHCONRATH,

(Diocese of Meath, and County of Westmeath,}

BY THE REV. FRED. AUG, Potter, Rector.

Name.

1. Name of the Parish, Situation, Extent, &c.

THE ancient and modern name of the parish is Etymology Rathconrath. It derives its denomination from that regular and connected chain of raths or forts which

its surface presents in almost every townland or subdivision, as will evidently appear from the number Situation. returned. It is situated in the barony of Rathconrath, county of Westmeath, and diocese of Meath, lying nearly west of Mullingar, and bounded on the north by Kilmae-niven and Balnacarig, on the south by Bal-rath, on the east by Glascorn, and on the west by Coolgavenny and Aughnaboy. Its greatest extent from east to west, or from Rathconrath to Farthingstown and the cross-roads of Skea, is nearly one mile and three-quarters; from north to south, or from Paddingstown to the extremity of Killahee, is about four miles; and the circumference nearly Divisions. seven miles and a half. It is divided into 22 townlands, the names of which are recited in the Appen

Extent.