Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Pococke's Tour in Ireland in 1752 (Author: Richard Pococke)
entry 34
On the 28th Mr. Oneal went out with me three miles to the south to see Lough Melieri, which to the south is bounded by the mountains in the County of Leitrim and extends from the north east to the south west about eight miles and may be between two and three miles long; there are about half a dozen Islands in it covered with wood, a river runs into it from Lough Cane which has a communication with Lough Nilly, and the water of it falls into the sea at Bundrowes, and all these waters are this way the bounds between Ulster and Connaught and between the Counties of Donegal and Sligo. I went to take leave of Mr. Connolly and Colonel Murray, the former was not at home and I set out for Sligo, stopped on the other side of the river at Bundrowes, where there is a Castle on the river which comes out of the Lake Melvin; Here I sat down in the County of Sligo in Connaught and dined, the river being beautifully divided into four streams, by beds of pebbles on each of which are boxes to take salmon. In the road from Ballihaven in two miles I passed by Finnah Church, and then travelled two miles to the river Drock, at the mouth of which is a Castle called Bundrouch, in half a mile we came to Castle Duncarbery, and in a mile more to the mannor of Ward-house belonging to Mr.
p.74
Gore who has a jail for Debtors for a certain sum. Half a mile further we came to a rivlet there being an opening to the south in the mountains called Glanedy, through which there is a road to
Ballyhamilton. I observed beyond this a fine mountain called Gartue, which seemed to be detached from the rest, but when I came to the west of it, I saw it joined on to them: beyond this is the most beautiful mountain I ever beheld, called Benbulben. The upper part is perpendicular, but being worn in a sort of rough pillars by the rain, it appears like a Gothic work, the rest of the mountain is a steep descent and a fine verdure; I saw on it many flocks of sheep which added to the beauty of it: the top of this mountain is flat and here the hills turn to the south. I came to Bundutt in about a quarter of a mile, and had Millino Head to the south west, a mile further to Castle Buiskin, in two miles to Der Innis, and as many more to Rahamly, in a mile to the river Grause, where we turned to the south, in three to Faranangam river and in a mile to the river Drumdive, where in a churchyard is a curious old cross, on one side of which is a relief of Adam and Eve at the tree of knowledge, and some other defaced reliefs on the other side. Turning to the west I came in three miles more to Mr Knoxes fine farm to Sligo, having been informed of something curious this way, on the shore seven miles from Sligo, but omitted to make a particular enquiry concerning the nature of it. Sligo is situated on the south side of the river Gilly: There is also a sort of suburb to the north in which there is a barrack, and there is another barrack a little way out of the town, called the Strand barrack, both which are for horse; there is a foot barrack on the other side, within an old regular fortification in Oliver's time, without any fossee,
p.75
that now appears the bastion being built high. It is a town of some small trade, tho' a ship of 100 tun can come up only at spring tides, and the ships of any burthen commonly lie down at Poole, about a mile or two below the town. There are remains of an old Convent here, in which the high altar is seen entire, adorned with Gothick reliefs, and there are two or three old monuments in the church; In the cloister are remains of a stone pulpit. The church of Sligo the design of Mr. Castel's is in this shape, with windows at w, and galleries at every end except the east; the roof is a curious piece of work, and every way it is one of the best designs39 I have seen. Mr. Ormsby has a large house in the town; but the thriving state of the town and the country round, next after the barracks, and Colonel Wynne's improvements, is chiefly owing to the industry and spirit of Mr Knox; and it may be reckoned the capital of this north west part of the kingdom.