MACROOM

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

"MACROOM, a parish, post, and market town in the barony of West Muskerry, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland. The parish is 6 miles long by 3 broad. The surface comprises a mountainous district named Muskerrybeg. The arable land is of good quality. The river Sullane intersects the interior, and is joined by the Lany within the limits. The river Lee courses along the southern boundary. The roads from Cork to Killarney and from Cork to Bantry cross the parish. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Cloyne, value £368, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was erected by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits in 1824. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Aghabullogne. There are Sunday and daily schools. Macroom Castle is the demesne of the Hon. W. Hedges. Mount Massey is another seat. The town is situated on the bank of the river Sullane, and on the Cork and Killarney road, 19 miles W. of Cork, and 171 from Dublin. It presents an irregular and poor appearance, but contains a court-house, market-house, parish church and chapels, bridewell, mills, &c. The river is crossed in two places by bridges of nine arches. It is a chief police station, and petty and quarter sessions are held in the courthouse. The castle is a very prominent object on the river's bank. It succeeded the ancient castle founded by the Carew family in the reign of John, and repaired by the MacCarthys in the 16th century. It was stormed and reduced in 1620 by Sir Charles Wilmot, and was for the second time burnt in 1690, when it was forfeited by the MacCarthy family. The Poor-law Union of Macroom lies within the county of Cork, and contains 16 electoral divisions. Saturday is market day. Fairs are held on the 12th of every month."

"MASSYTOWN, a village in the barony of West Muskerry, county Cork, Ireland. It is situated on the banks of the Sullane, and forms a suburb of Macroon."

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