often affords peculiar value in the landscape, contrasted with the blue tints or silvery lights upon the waters. The greatest deficiency in the scene is the want of wood; and considering how many are the rugged head-lands, where the ground in its present natural and uncultivated state is of little or no value, except for rough pasturage, yet which, if properly planted and fenced, would soon produce trees and yield considerable profit, it is lamentable to think that more attention should not have been paid to a subject so intimately connected with the national wealth, and the consequent prosperity and improvement of the people. Timber likewise might be readily transported along the lake to a sure market. Young plantations may be seen, however, upon a few parts of the shores, and still more on the distant hills; but chiefly for ornament near dwellinghouses. Here and there also, a few groves of fullgrown trees remain standing, affording decided evidence that timber of considerable size and value may be produced on apparently light and rocky soil. The trees at St. John's, on the Roscommon shore, might be cited as an example. The rocky shores of Cashel, county Longford, Sir George Featherstones, covered with most thriving plantations, also afford irrefragable proof that profit as well as embellishment might be obtained even within the duration of a single generation. Some of the islands also bear fine trees. The best wooded one is Hare Island, near the Westmeath shore, at the southern end of the lake, the property of Viscount Castlemaine, who has converted it into pleasure - grounds, and constructed a fanciful cottage residence, embowered within the old trees.-The remains of antiquity, both military and ecclesiastical, along the shores of Lough Ree, are peculiar sources of interest, standing as monuments of the predilection which the ancient inhabitants of the country entertained for the confines of this beautiful sheet of water, whether in reference to the strength of certain places as military positions, or to the calmness and retirement which others afforded for the purposes of religion and devotion. Rocky promontories were usually the seats of the former; and islands were selected for the church and the monastery. * The navigation of Lough Ree is by no means devoid of risk to those who are unacquainted with its sunken rocks and shoals; and the depth of water is liable to considerable variation. Thus, rocks which when the lake is full may be safely passed, are in dry seasons brought near the surface, and become perilous; whilst, on the contrary, rocks which at ordinary periods are distinctly visible, and consequently easily avoidable, become, when the waters rise, concealed without being covered to a sufficient depth, to float a boat. For trading boats of burthen, the worst and most difficult part of the passage is near Lanesborough, at the entrance into the first bay or inlet, going downwards from the town, where the channel is narrow and tortuous; the passage becomes more troublesome in proportion as the waters fall; the bottom here is soft and muddy. According to Mr. Longfield's survey, the greatest depth of water in the lake does not exceed 75 feet; but this depth does not extend to any large portion of the lake, but is rather confined to holes or hollows in the bottom, such as usually occur in limestone countries; in many instances the soundings within a few feet are reduced to one-half. It may readily be conceived from these circumstances, that the heavy boats commonly used on the canals, and on the river, are but ill-adapted to navigate the lake; those which ply both on the canals and upon the river are provided commonly with moveable masts; and as the Upper Shannon affords no regular trackways for horses, the passage is effected partly by sails, partly by poling, which last, on the soft bottoms that so frequently occur, is very laborious. The passage of the lake is never attempted in these boats without a favourable wind, or the appearance of the continuance of easy weather. Lough Ree is, however, provided far better than Lough Allen by nature, with places of refuge; and safe anchorage is found in some of the deep and well-sheltered bays. But along the whole Roscommon shore, there is not a single public quay for boats of burthen, and but few places naturally favourable for loading or unloading. Neither is there a public road leading down to the lake, excepting at the bay of Kilmore and at St. John's. No villages are scattered along its shores; nor does there appear to be any place interested in or connected with the navigation of the lake, except it be some miserable little hamlet or some cluster of cabins, where the boatmen may perhaps land to replenish their humble store of provisions or procure a glass of whiskey, probably illicitly sold. **The whole traffic of Lough Ree is confined, or very nearly so, to the intercourse between Lanesborough and Athlone, and vice versa. Manure, indeed, may be occasionally conveyed from Athlone, and a chance load of slates or foreign timber dropped along the shores; potatoes or corn may also be carried to or from one market to the other; but there can scarcely be said to exist any steady, regular traffic, except it be for the few cargoes of native coal brought down from Lough Allen; and this coal is neither in request for the distilleries and breweries of Athlone, nor for the steamboats on the lower lakes of the Shannon; the former chiefly consume turf, the latter sea-borne coal. ・・ No part, probably, of the whole course of the Shannon, most certainly no part of the Upper Shannon, affords so many advantageous positions for towns and villages as the shores of Lough Ree; and, were the example followed of Holland or Switzerland, those two regions of industry and perseverance, where the population spreads down to the lakes, the rivers, and canals, as affording the means of frequent and ready intercourse, the waters of Lough Ree might become enlivened with the sail and oar, and the cheerful notes of commerce be echoed from shore to shore. At present, except for the accidental appearance of the light skiff wafted over the surface by the zephyr, the face of the lake is a scene of solitude, silence, and melancholy." "Lough Ree," says the Second Report of the Commissioners for the Improvement of the river Shannon, "is another fine sheet of broad water, with, however, a very soft shoaly bank at its northern extremity, and a somewhat intricate rocky passage, though of small extent, in the middle. At Lanesborough, situated at the northern extremity of the lake, is an obstruction giving a fall of 9 inches or a foot, which is passed by a lock, and thence there is deep water, with a few occasional shoals, but no difference of level to affect the navigation, up to Tarmon-Barry,—a distance of 8 miles. The slight obstruction at Lanesborough can be easily removed, so as to form a continuous navigable course; and thus, for the whole extent between Killaloe and Tarmon-Barry, a distance of 85 miles, there will be an unrivalled lake and river navigation, with an abundant depth of water throughout, and having but two locks-one at Meelick, nine miles above the northern extremity of Lough Derg, and the other at Athlone, close to the southern extremity of Lough Ree. This portion of the river, passing as it does through the centre of Ireland, nearly in a north and south direction, is connected with Dublin by means of the Grand and Royal Canals, which join the Shannon; the former at Shannon Harbour, near Banagher, to the north of Lough Derg; and the latter at Tarmon-Barry, 8 miles REEK (THE). See CROAGHPATRICK. REENDONEGAN, a demesne and a sheet of water, 13 mile north by east of the town of Bantry, barony of Bantry, co. Cork, Munster. The demesne is finely planted, and is the residence of Daniel O'Sullivan, Esq., the brother-in-law of Daniel O'Connel, Esq. The sheet of water measures about half-a-mile in length, and is separated from the head of Bantry bay by a narrow neck of land. REFEART. See GLENDALOUGH. REGINALD'S TOWER. See WATERFORD (CITY OF). RENARD, one of several denominations of a bog in the parishes of Cahir and Killemlagh, barony of Iveragh, co. Kerry, Munster. The chief of the other denominations are Ochermoony and Derreen. The bogs lie at the east end and on the south-east side of the sound or harbour of Valentia. "These bogs," said Mr. Nimmo, in 1814, "are bounded on the west side by the Valentia harbour and creek of the Derreen, navigable for boats up to the bridge of Aghnagar; on the east, they have the hill of Bennittee, rising to the elevation of 1,262 feet; on the south-east, Knockatubrid ascends to 1,556 feet; the head of the bog itself about 200 feet above the sea, and it descends to high-water mark. The whole bog contains 2,051 54 Irish acres, or 3,323 English acres; from which deduct 88-87 Irish acres of Derreen, 49 20 of Ochermoony, 11-13 of a croft, 118:57 of Renard, and 4:50 of other patches,-in all, 272-27; leaving of waste bog 1,789-70 Irish acres, or 2,899 English acres. The water flowing through this from a basin of 3,000 acres, should suffice for the irriga tion of 600 acres, and no great difficulty can occur as to the application of it. The bog is thin, being from 4 to 6 feet deep only of black bog. Flooding drains only will be requisite. The bog is otherwise very well situated for improvement, as shell-sand is delivered on its edge for 10d. per ton, and limestone for 2s. 6d." Estimated cost of reclamation, £730 6s. 8d. RENVILLE, RENVYLE, or RINVILLE, a village in the parish of Oranmore, 1 mile south-south-west of the town of Oranmore, barony of Dunkellin, co. Galway, Connaught. It constitutes a comparatively long single-sided street; consists chiefly of comfortable lodges and cottages; and has become favourably known as a resort of sea-bathers and a retreat for invalids. A creek of Galway bay approaches within 3 furlongs of its south-west end, and Renville Point, the headland which screens the north side of the entrance of this creek, is situated 13 mile to the westsouth-west. In the vicinity of the village are the residences of Renville-lodge, Renville-castle, Parkhouse, Kilcaimin-cottage, Seafield-house, Rockhillhouse, and Rocklands. Area of the village, 11 acres. Pop., in 1841, 222. Houses 29. RENVYLE, a headland, and various other objects, in the parish of Ballinakill, barony of Ballinahinch, co. Galway, Connaught. The headland terminates the long peninsula between Killery Harbour and Ballinakill Harbour, and is situated 6 miles west by REISK, or RIESK, a parish in the barony of Mid- south of the entrance to Killery, and 27 west-northdlethird, 5 miles south-west by south of Waterford, west of Oughterard. The demesne of Renvyle, the co. Waterford, Munster. Length, south-south-residence of Henry Blake, Esq., is situated on the westward, 34 miles; extreme breadth, 2; area, 3,826 acres, 2 roods, 12 perches, of which 12 acres, 1 rood, 38 perches are in Lough Ballyscanlan. Pop., in 1831, 971; in 1841, 1,072. Houses 160. The surface is varied in outline, and very diversified in quality of soil. A height on the northern border has an altitude above sea-level of 457 feet. Lough Ballyscanlan lies on the south-eastern boundary. The best land is worth 40s. per plantation acre per annum, and the worst is worth 5s.; and qualities between bad and middle-rate prevail. The only seat is Ballylegat-house. The road from Waterford to Bonmahon passes through the interior. This parish is a vicarage, and part of the benefice of KILMEADEN [which see], in the dio. of Waterford. Vicarial tithe composition, £79 ls. 6d. ; glebe, £4 4s. The rectorial tithes are compounded for £32 18s. 6d. ; and are impropriate in the Corporation of Waterford. In 1834, all the parishioners were Roman Catholics; and a pay daily school had on its books 14 boys and 11 girls. RELICKMURRY, or RELIGMURRY. See ATH ASSEL. coast, 2 miles east of the headland. Though greatly exposed to the fury of the Atlantic, and surrounded by a singularly wild and inhospitable tract of country, it has been worked by skill and perseverance into a scene of great culture and decoration, and made the centre of improvements which may be traced for several miles along every road, by which the demesne is approached. The mansion, though small, is commodious; and its walls are encased in slates to protect them from the effects of the seaspray. The detached hill of Renvyle forms an important feature in the home-scenery; and from it, to the west, you command a view of the inhabited islands of Innisboffin and Innisturk, the larger of the numerous islands which are scattered around; on the north, the harbour of Killery, with Muilrea, the lofti. est of the western mountains, guarding its entrance, and the cone of Croagh-Patrick towering over the lesser heights of Morisk; in the distance, Clare Island, lying athwart Clew bay, and backed by the lofty cliffs of Achill,' REOGHTY. See ROUGHTY. RERYMORE, REARYMORE, or REARY, a parish | a monastery, and two castles. Archdall alleges the in the barony of Tinnehinch, 54 miles west by north original of the monastery to have been founded in of Mountmellick, Queen's co., Leinster. Length, the 6th century by St. Regnacia, and to have been south-south-westward, 63 miles; breadth, from 13 to presided over by Talacia, the mother of St. Finian. 3; area, 13,943 acres, 2 roods, 7 perches, of which 11This parish is a vicarage, in the dio. of Meath. acres, 3 roods, 19 perches are in Lough Duff. Pop., Vicarial tithe composition, £144 3s. 10d.; glebe, in 1831, 2,729; in 1841, 2,916. Houses 489. The £173 18s. The rectorial tithes are compounded for southern half of the parish consists of a wild, lofty, £144 3s. 10d.; and are impropriate in several perand impracticable part of the Slievebloom system of sons. The vicarages of Reynagh and GALLEN [see mountains, and contains the sources of the river that article], constitute the benefice of Reynagh. Barrow, and a watershed between that river and the Length, 8 miles; breadth, 3. Pop., in 1831, 9,731. Shannon's affluent of the Clodiagh; and even the Gross income, £681 7s. 11d.; nett, £609 6s. 73d. northern half, though comparatively low and con- Patron, the diocesan. The incumbent holds also taining a large proportion of arable land, is to a con- the benefice of Ballygurth, in the dio. of Meath, but siderable extent encumbered with bog or disposed is resident in Reynagh. A curate receives a salin natural pasture. The Gorragh rivulet, a tribu- ary of £75. The church is situated in Banagher, tary of the Clodiagh, traces the southern part of the and was built in 1829, by means of a loan of £2,030 western boundary, and after leaping down a water- 15s. 44d. from the late Board of First Fruits. Sitfall, has still an elevation of 888 feet above sea- tings 450; attendance, from 250 to 300. The church level; the Glenlaghan and Glenbarrow rivulets rise at Cloghan in Gallen has an attendance of about 40. close on the southern boundary, at very lofty eleva- One meeting-house serves for both Baptists and Metions, and proceed northward down their respective thodists. The Banagher and the Gallen Roman glens to the formation of the Barrow, near the centre Catholic chapels have an attendance of respectively of the parish; and the Barrow flows north-north- from 1,500 to 2,000, and from about 1,500 to 2,000; eastward through the interior of the northern district and, in the Roman Catholic parochial arrangement, -along a new channel to the east of its former are mutually united. In 1834, the Protestants of course and then so deflects as to run east ward along the parish amounted to 516, and the Roman Cathoa considerable part of the northern boundary. Lough lics to 4,277; the Protestants of the union to 659, Duff is situated on the northern border. The lofty and the Roman Catholics to 9,269; 4 pay daily schools line of summits called the Cones extends along the at Banagher, Cloncullen, Garbally, and the Ridge, southern boundary; the line of summits called the were usually attended by about 145 scholars; 6 other Ridge of Cappagh extends along the south-eastern daily schools in the parish had on their books 260 boundary; Baunreaghony mountain, with an altitude boys and 82 girls; and there were also 10 daily schools of 1,676 feet above sea-level, is situated at the south-in Gallen. One of the schools in Renagh, was saleast corner; Antonian mountain, with an altitude of 1,114 feet, is situated on the eastern boundary; and Knockanastumba and another mountain, with altitudes of respectively 1,359 and 1,261 feet, are situated in the interior of the southern district. The seats are Reryvale-house and Barrow-house. The chief antiquities are the site of a church, the ruins of Rerymore church, and the ruins of Rathcoffey bridge. The road from Mountmellick to Birr crosses the interior at the base of the mountains.-This parish is a vicarage, and part of the benefice of OREGAN [which see], in the dio. of Kildare. Vicarial tithe composition, £73 7s. 6d. ; glebe, £80. The rectorial tithes are compounded for £146 14s. 113d.; and are impropriate in General Dunne of Brittas. In 1834, the Protestants amounted to 197, and the Roman Catholics to 2,499; and 3 daily schools-one of which was supported by subscription, and one was salaried with £6 a-year from the National Boardhad on their books 79 boys and 63 girls. RETAINE. See RATAINE. REYNAGH, or RYNAGH, a parish in the barony of Garrycastle, King's co., Leinster. It lies on the western verge of the province, and contains the town of BANAGHER: which see. Length, north-northwestward, 5 miles; extreme breadth, 24; area, 8,826 acres, 2 roods, 20 perches, of which 112 acres, 2 roods, 37 perches are in the river Shannon. Pop., in 1831, 4,721; in 1841, 5,106. Houses 823. Pop. of the rural districts, in 1841, 2,279. Houses 378. The Shannon describes the north-western boundary; it contributes to Reynagh the lower part of the island of Bullock; and in winter, it is here subject to prolonged and extensive overfloodings. A large proportion of the parochial surface is bog; and the remainder consists, in general, of tolerably fair land. The seats are Mount-Corteret-house, Claremount-house, Milltown-house, Hill-house, Mount-Erin, Ballaghanoher-house, Castle-Garden-house, and Cuba-Court. The principal hamlets are Rapemills, Coolfin, and Timolin. The chief antiquities are ruins of a church, aried with £12 a-year from the National Board and £3 3s. from subscription; one was salaried with £2 Irish from the vicar and £8 from the Association for Discountenancing Vice; and one was a royal endowed school, attended by 5 boarders and 6 day scholars, and supported by large fees from the scholars, and by the proceeds of an endowment of from 360 to 400 acres of land, In 1843, a daily school and an infant school in Banagher were salaried with respectively £20 and £12 6s. 8d. from the National Board. RHEBAN, a barony. See NARRAGH. RHEBAN, an old castle, and the site of a quondam town, in the parish of Churchtown, barony of West Narragh and Rheban, co. Kildare, Leinster. The site of the town is on the right bank of the Barrow, 23 miles north-west by north of Athy; and it is alleged to have been a seat of population so early as the second century. The castle stands on this site, immediately overhanging the Barrow; "and" —says a writer in an extinct Irish periodical—“ it was built, or greatly enlarged, in the early part of the thirteenth century, by Richard de St. Michael, when this and Donamare, an adjoining district, were erected into a barony, and granted to him in fee, of which he was created baron. Rheban was found of consequence to the first English settlers, who repaired and strengthened the castle; as also the opposite one of Kilberry, both intended to protect a ford on the river. The name of this castle was anciently Raiba or Righ-ban, that is, the habitation of the king; and though now in ruins, some idea can be formed of its former grandeur. Its massive walls, its mullioned windows, with its imposing situation,-show it to be a place designed to awe the surrounding country, and forcibly call to mind the days when the chivalrous De St. Michael held his court here in feudal splendour, and lorded it over the petty chieftains of the borders of the Pale. In 1325, in the absence of the English settlers, Rheban, Donamare, and all their dependencies, were taken by O'Moore. In 1424, Thomas Fitzgerald, Lord Offaley, and afterwards seventh Earl of Kildare, marrying Dorothea, daughter of Anthony O'Moore, received in dower the manors of Rheban and Woodstock. In 1642, the Marquis of Ormond took Rhe- | ban from the rebels, after an obstinate resistance. In 1648, it was taken by Owen Roe O'Neil, who was afterwards defeated by Lord Inchiquin, and compelled to surrender Rheban and Athy. Near the castle is a very high conical mount, thought to have been a sepulchral mound, raised over some king or chieftain, and though artificial in a great degree, there was, nevertheless, advantage taken of a natural height, as may be seen by the undisturbed beds of gravel that are now taken from it for road purposes." RHINESHARK. See RINESHARK. RHODE, or ROADE, a hamlet in the parish of Ballyburley, barony of Warrenstown, King's co., Leinster. It is situated 44 miles north-east of Philipstown, and 5 west of Edenderry. A dispensary here is within the Edenderry Poor-law union; and, in 1839-40, it expended £154 5s. 3d., and administered to 1,143 patients. At the hamlet is a Roman Catholie chapel; and within a mile of it are the residences of Clonin-house, Coolville-house, Ballyburley-house, Grovesand-house, Greenhedge-house, Rathmoylehouse, Killare-house, Tobberdaly-house, and Ballyburley-cottage. Pop. of the hamlet, in 1831, 55. Houses 8. RHYNAGH. See REYNAGH. 66 66 RIAGH-CROGHAN, or RATHCROGHAN, the site of a quondam town in the parish of Elphin, 2 miles north-west of Tulsk, barony and county of Roscommon, Connaught. This," says an old work, was a royal residence, and the ancient capital of Connaught. The only remains of this ancient city are the Naasteaghan, where the states of Connaught assembled, and the Sacred Cave. Near Croghan stands Religna Riagh, or the resting-place of the kings of Commacrecuilt Ola. It consists of a circular area of about 200 feet diameter, surrounded with a stone ditch greatly defaced. Several transverse ditches are within the area; also heaps of coarse stones piled upon each other, specifying the graves of the interred persons. From the constructions of this cemetery, it appears to have been erected in the latter ages of paganism." All traces of the Naasteaghan, however, have disappeared; and the Sacred Cave, if such a thing ever existed, cannot now be distinguished among the numerous caverns which perforate the limestone grounds of the district. RICHARDSTOWN, a parish in the barony of Ardee, 2 miles east of the town of Ardee, co. Louth, Leinster. Length, eastward, 24 miles; extreme breadth, 1 mile; area, 1,089 acres, 2 roods, 38 perches. Pop., in 1831, 537; in 1841, 542. Houses 104. The surface consists of prime land; and is bounded along the north by the river Dee, and traversed along the interior by the road from Ardee to Drumcar. The only seat is Richardstowncastle. This parish is a vicarage, and part of the benefice of STABANNON [which see], in the dio. of Armagh. But though the parish is called a vicarage, the whole of its tithes, compounded for £117 17s. 11d., are impropriate in Viscount Ferrard. In 1834, the Protestants amounted to 17, and the Roman Catholics to 494; and there was neither church, chapel, nor school. RICHARDSTOWN, or BALLYRICHARD, a hamlet in the parish of Drangan, barony of Middlethird, 5 miles south-east by east of Killenaule, co. Tipperary, Munster. Adjacent to it is Ballyrichard bouse. RICH-HILL, a small market and post town in the parish of Kilmore, barony of West O'Neilland. co. Armagh, Ulster. It stands on the road from Armagh to Belfast, 3 miles south-east by south of Loughgall, 4 east-north-east of Armagh, 41⁄2 north by west of Markethill, 5 west-north-west of Tanderagee, 5 south-west by west of Portadown, 26 south-west of Belfast, and 644 north of Dublin. It stands on high ground, in the midst of a beautifully undulated, and richly wooded country; and it both possesses an interesting appearance in itself, and acquires warmth and picturesqueness, from the close embrace of the demesne of Rich-hill, the residence of the Richardson family, proprietors of the town and the circumjacent estate. The demesne is well enclosed and profusely wooded; and its mansion stands in full view of the street, and is a castellated pile of apparently the same date as that of Lurgan. The town is airy and neat; and has an excellent market-house, a Methodist meeting-house, a Presbyterian meeting-house, an Independent meetinghouse, and a Quakers' meeting-house. Within about a mile of it are the seats of Annagh-hill, Ballylerry, Drumard-house, Fieldmount, Sandymount, Hockleylodge, Course-lodge, Showis-house, Greenmount, Springvale, Cole-hill, Killynalarvagh-house, Fruitfield, Broomfield-house, and King's-hill. In 1843, the Rich-hill Loan Fund had a capital of £2,528, circulated £10,577 in 2,770 loans, cleared a nett profit of £75 4s. 11d., expended for charitable purposes £20, and had 19 depositors or proprietors of its capital. Fairs are held on Shrove-Tuesday, July 26, and Oct. 15. The weekly sales of linen, about 40 years ago, averaged in value £1,500 per week; and the linen trade of the town and its vicinity continues to be proportionately extensive and prosperous. Area of the town, 28 acres. Pop., in 1831, 937; in 1841, 752. Houses 147. Families employed chiefly in agriculture, 53; in manufactures and trade, 91; in other pursuits, 28. Families dependent chiefly on property and professions, 10; on the directing of labour, 95; on their own manual labour, 59; on means not specified, 8. RICHMOND, a village in the parish of Clonturk, barony of Coolock, co. Dublin, Leinster. It constitutes a beautiful and comparatively retired little suburb of the city of Dublin; and it extends along the left bank of the Tolka river immediately above Ballybough-bridge, and 1 mile north-east of Dublincastle. Both in and around it are numerous handsome lodges and villas. Area of the village, 110 acres. Pop., in 1841, 570. Houses 87. Families employed chiefly in agriculture, 25; in manufactures and trade, 25; in other pursuits, 62. Families dependent chiefly on property and professions, 17; on the directing of labour, 50; on their own manual labour, 22; on means not specified, 23. RICHMOND-HARBOUR, the western terminus of the Royal Canal, at the confluence of the Camlin river with the Shannon, on the island of Cloondara, parish of Killashee, barony and county of Longford, Leinster. Much confusion of nomenclature exists in consequence of the crowding of various names upon localities closely adjacent to one another, and not very well defined; but in strict propriety, Richmond Harbour is the mere terminus of the canal, with its docks, basins, and warehouses,-Cloondara village is, with its Roman Catholic chapel, its schoolhouse, and its constabulary station, the village adjoining the canal terminus, and on the left bank of the Camlin,-Castletown is the hamlet at the east end of the bridge across the Shannon, and 5 furlongs north-north-west of the village of Cloondara, Tarmonbarry is the village at the west or Roscommon end of the bridge across the Shannon,and Fisherstown is the hamlet on the left bank of the Shannon, a little below the foot of Lough Forbes, and nearly a mile above Castletown. The name of Richmod Harbour was given to the terminus of the canal in honour of the Duke of Richmond, who, when Lord-lieutenant of Ireland, was present at the opening of the navigation. A new and deep cut of canal was proposed by the Commissioners for the improvement of the navigation of the river Shannon, to be made from the foot of Lough Forbes along the island of Cloondara, to the Shannon at the mouth of the Camlin, and end of the Royal Canal navigation; and this great and important work, designed to render the upper Shannon practicable for much larger craft than could formerly ply in it, was estimated to cost £47,152 4s. 6d. RIESK. See REISK. RIGG-BANK, a fishing-bank about 4 miles south of the Copeland Islands, barony of Ardes, co. Down, Ulster. The marks for it are Black Head of IslandMagee, outside of Great Copeland, but not so far as the Cross Isle, and Ballyvester-house on the centre notch of Scrabo. It seems to have been formed in the wake of the Copeland Islands; and it has a surface of clean sand in a depth of 9 or 10 fathoms of water. It affords a clean and plentiful trawling ground for flat fish, &c. Thurot is said to have anchored upon it. RINABELLY. See RINGabella. RINCREW, an old monastic castle in the parish of Templemichael, barony of Coshmore and Coshbride, co. Waterford, Munster. It crowns a cliffy and precipitous height on the right margin of the river Blackwater, 2 miles above Youghal; and is now a toothed and fragmentary ruin, of picturesque appearance. It originally belonged to the Knights Templars; and having been forfeited to the Crown, was, with Strancally, Ballinatra, and other lands, granted in 1586 to Sir Walter Raleigh,from whom it passed by sale to the first Earl of Cork. In the vicinity is Rincrew-cottage. bay, barony of Gualtier, co. Waterford, Munster. "A vast ridge of sand, covered with sea-bent, accumulated by the ceaseless action of the tide, stretches along the whole length of Tramore bay, and separates what is called the backstrand of Rineshark from the open coast, and also prevents the further inroads of the ocean. This backstrand, now almost a sheer waste, contains 1,000 Irish acres; and if the different proprietors who are interested would unite, under proper management this large improvable tract might soon be rescued from the influence of the tide. A small stream runs into this bay at its eastern end; and in strong southerly winds, the tide rushes with dreadful velocity up the channel of this river." The small estuarial mouth of the stream is called Rineshark Harbour; and in spite of its being at once shallow, swept with a powerful current, and in a great degree unsheltered, it offers the only chance of safety, or only possible asylum, to any vessel which_becomes embayed in the fearfully perilous bay of Tramore. See TRAMORE. RING (THE). See BLACKROCK, co. Cork. RING, or RINGARUNDEL, a small fishing-harbour on the east shore of Clonakilty bay, about 1 mile from the town of Clonakilty, barony of Ibane and Barryroe, co. Cork, Munster. A curved pier, 230 feet in length, and quay-faced on each side, was constructed here by the late Fishery Board, and has been a very useful work, not only for the purposes of the fishery, but also as a commercial harbour, and as a safety asylum for small craft. RINGABELLA, a rivulet and a cove, in the barony of Kerrycurrihy, co. Cork, Munster. The riv ulet rises near the Carrigaline river, and runs between 8 and 9 miles partly west-south-westward, but chiefly southward and eastward, to the west side of the outer harbour of Cork, at a point 1 mile north of Cork Head. The cove is simply the estuarial mouth of the rivulet; and it is sandy and hazardous in the interior, and has a dangerous sandy shoal across its entrance. The fishermen of the cove of Ringabella were formerly residents at Crosshaven, and had there fine and well-appointed boats; but, when their lands fell out of lease, they were obliged to sell their large boats, to purchase inferior ones, and to remove to Ringabella. A pier is greatly wanted for their accommodation. The demesne of Ringabella is on the south side of the cove; and a hill rises on the north side, and commands a view of the coast as far as to the Old Head of Kinsale. RINCURRAN, or RINCORAN, a parish, partly in the barony of Kinnalea, but chiefly in that of Kinsale, co. Čork, Munster. The Kinsale section contains the village of Cove, and part of the town of KINSALE: see these articles. Length, 7 miles; breadth, from to 14. Area of the Kinnalea section, 1,362 acres; of the Kinsale section, 4,055 acres. Pop. of the whole, in 1831, according to the Census, 3,815, but according to the Ecclesiastical Authorities, RINGAGONAGH, or RINAGOONAGH, & parish 3,758; in 1841, 3,506. Houses 557. Pop. of the in the barony of Decies-within-Drum, 44 miles southKinnalea section, in 1831, 412; in 1841, 384. Houses south-east of Dungarvan by the road, but only 24 60. Pop. of the rural districts of the Kinsale sec- miles in a straight line, co. Waterford, Munster. tion, in 1841, 1,994. Houses 320. The surface It contains the village of RINGVILLE: which see. occupies a large portion of the peninsula between | Length, eastward, 4 miles; breadth, from to 2; Kinsale Harbour and Oyster Harbour; and it con- area, 3,246 acres, 1 rood, 16 perches. Pop., in 1831, sists variously of pasture ground and tillage land,- 2,425; in 1841, 2,591. Houses 425. Pop. of the parts of which are good, and other parts light and rural districts, in 1841, 2,327. Houses 370. The sandy. This parish is a rectory, and a separate surface extends along the whole of the south side of benefice, in the dio. of Cork. Tithe composition, Dungarvan Harbour, and along the immediately ad £461 10s. 9d.; glebe, £5. Gross income, £466 10s.jacent part of the Atlantic. Helwick Head, in the 9d.; nett, £385 9s. 9d. Patron, the Crown. The extreme east, has an altitude of 231 feet above seaincumbent holds also the benefice of Carrigamleary, level. The coast along the north, is a low beach, in the dio. of Cloyne; but is resident in Rincurran. forsaken by the ebb tide; and the coast along the The church is of unknown date and cost. Sittings Atlantic, is bluff and rocky, and contains Piper's 150; attendance 150. In 1834, the Protestants Cliff, Muggart's bay, and Carrickbrean. The inamounted to 291, and the Roman Catholics to 3,498; terior surface consists, for the most part, of middlea Protestant Sunday school was usually attended by rate land. The principal residences are Seaview, about 20 children; and a daily school was salaried and Helwick-lodge. This parish is a vicarage, and with £42 a-year from subscription, and had on its a separate benefice, in the dio. of Lismore. Vicarial books 26 boys and 22 girls. tithe composition, £73 16s. 11d.; glebe, £2 10s. Gross income, £79 6s. 11d.; nett, £39 10s. 5 ̧d. Patron, the Duke of Devonshire. The rectorial tithes are compounded for £146 13s. 10d., and are RINDUIN. See JOHN'S (ST.), co. Roscommon. RINESHARK, or RHINESHARK, a backstrand and a small estuarial harbour, at the head of Tramore |