Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Pococke's Tour in Ireland in 1752 (Author: Richard Pococke)
entry 66
On the 1st of September I took leave of the Earl and Countess for so that Lady is distinguished, the daughter being made Viscountess Grandison by Patent to discend to her Heirs Male and is married to Mr. Mason. I crossed the Phinisk on a bridge and came near Affane famous for a particular sort of Cherry, something like a white heart, which Sir Walter Rawleigh brought from the Canary Islands. At new Affane is a quarry of black and white marble; and a little below it at Torrein Mr. Nettles is a marble of many colours mostly Brown, white, yellow, and blue. This place is also famous for cider; the plantation of apples having been made in these parts, by the tenants of the Earl of Cork. I crossed to the other road leading from Cappoquin to Dungarvan, leaving the Parish of Whitechurch to the right, in which at Baleylemon they have good marle, and in digging for it, they found the horns and most of the bones of a Moose Deer or Elk, which I saw at the Earl of Grandison's, a rib also was found a mile from Whitechurch, thought to be of an Elephant, but possibly might be the rib of a Whale. At Ballylemon also there is a quarry of
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fine dove-coloured and white marble, and at Kilcrump in the parish of Whitechurch is a black marble, which lies deep and is therefore neglected. I left this road and got into the Clonmel road which crosses the Parish of Modeligo, in which I saw some little remains of Mountain Castle and another entire Castle called Slady, both belonging anciently to the Magraths. I came into the road from Cappoquin to Clonmel and passed by an old Redout for soldiers against Raparees now an Alehouse called Ballinemult in the parish of Seskinan: Ascending the hill beyond this place, I had a glorious view of the fine country of Tipperary and of the river Suir, which runs towards Clonmel: We crossed here a small part of that County and descended to Four mile water or the Nier, at a bridge over it, where there is a small village at which we dined; and crossing the river came again into the County of Waterford. This river rises out of the same mountains as the Tey which runs by Killrossanty, and the Malon which runs by Kilmacthomas, and runs into the sea at Knockanmahon, and the Cloough which runs by Curraghmore Lord Tyrone's seat and so by Portlaw in the road from Waterford to Clonmel and falls into the Suir. Ascending the foot of an hill, we had a view of Kilbruantine a very pleasant seat of Mr. Rode Green's over the Suir; just opposite to it is Knocklofty an exceeding fine situation of Mr. Hutchinson's in the County of Tipperary. Near Clonmel is a spa water, not much frequented at this time. About two miles further brought us to Clonmel on the other side of the Suir in the County of Tipperary, a very pleasant situation and a thriving town well laid out. Here they have a Manufactory of Serges and other woollen goods, the Assizes are held at this place for the County of Tipperary, and at that time great contracts are made for
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wool: It was the Capital of the Duke or Ormond's Palatinate of the County of Tipperary, which was dissolved on the forfeiture of that Nobleman's estate. There is one parish Church in this town, and the Church of the Convent of Minorets, is converted into a Meeting house. Near this town is a very neat well regulated Charter School, for 20 boys and 20 girls, founded on a legacy left by Mr. Dawson. There is a horse barrack in this town: on the County of Waterford side is a spa water formerly frequented. I set out for Cashel, call'd 8 miles but cannot be less than 12 measured miles. I passed by Donoghmore and in sight of the large Castle of Mocklerstown. Cashel is situated in a very fine Country two miles from the Suir, and at the foot of the hill on which the old Cathedral stands called the Rock of Cashel; It is a poor town, but as the new road from Dublin to Cork is to pass through it, it is probable that will improve the town. There is no certain account of anything relating to the See of Cashel before Cormac King and Bishop of Cashel in 901, who is said to have built that curious old Chapel adjoining to the Cathedral, called King Cormac's Chapel, which is arched over and adorned with many little pillars like the buildings about the time of William the Conqueror: In 1134 Donald O'Brien King of Limerick built a new Church, probably the old Quire, and made a Chapel or Chapter house of the old Church: there is a fine arch now decaying over the middle of the Cross Isle. To the west of the Church and adjoining to it, is a building called King Cormac's palace which was the habitation doubtless of the succeeding Bishops. There are remains in the Church yard of a very ancient Cross. This church is built on a very fine high rock, the top of which is cover'd with Verdure and Archbishop Bolton made an easy ascent up to it; it commands
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a fine view of all the country round about. In 1569 the See of Emly was united to this Archbishoprick. In Archbishop Price's time, a few years ago the Cathedral service was removed from this place to the parish Church. There are remains of a Convent here, for there were two, one of Mendicants, and the other of Minorites. Near this town is Hore Abby of St. Mary which belonged to Cistertians. A very fine house was begun here by Archbishop Goodwin and finished by Bolton, with offices for Registry and Library and he left the best part of his Books to it: The late Archbishop Price was a Benefactor towards building a Sumptuous Charter School for sixty children. I went to see it, I set out to the west and passed by New Park, Mr. Pennyfeather's seat two miles from Cashel, and in three computed miles more came to Killenaule, a small poor town near the Collieries of Coal, which go by that name, a swifter coal than the Kilkenny coal, and not so full of Sulphur; here I lay.