CULFEIGHTRIN

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

"CULFEIGHTRIN, (or Cary), a parish in the barony of Cary, in the county of Antrim, province of Ulster, Ireland, 1 mile from Ballycastle, its post town. It is situated near the watering-place, Cushenden. The surface is very mountainous, the highest ground being on the Knocklade hills, which rise to a height of 1,820 feet above the level of the sea. Freestone is quarried to a large extent, and at Ballycastle is an extensive coal-mine, which has become exhausted and abandoned. The old road to the Giant's Causeway crossed the parish, and passed over the Cary mountains, but a more direct way has been recently constructed over a viaduct. The coast is remarkable for the wildness and grandeur of its scenery; Murlock Bay, Tor, Fair Head, Drimnakill Hill, and Glendun offer an unbounded field for antiquarian, artist, and geologist. Fine specimens of columnar basalt occur at Fair Head, within whose loftiest crags the eagle builds her nest. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Connor, value £262, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was rebuilt in 1830, by a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. It is in the early English style, and is a neat structure. There are two Roman Catholic chapels in this parish, which gives name to a Roman Catholic union, including the Grange of Innispollan. There are five National schools, and a village school at Cushenden. A sanguinary battle took place here, in which MacQuellan was defeated by Macdonnell in 1569. The valley of Glenshesk was the principal scene of this struggle, and the cairn of Shane O'Dennis O'Nial, who was slain in the action, is near Cushenden. At Tor are the ruins of a large fortification, and at Cushenden Bay, of Cary Castle.

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