Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
Pococke's Tour in Ireland in 1752 (Author: Richard Pococke)

entry 71

On the 3d I set out and went about a mile to the south in west in view of the river, and leaving the road to Ducannon Fort struck into the road to Nash Balligarvan and Clamines; I went near Slea Quiltah which is over the river, in about a mile we came to Castle Terri [gap: extent: one or two words] and soon came to Aglamau and in half a mile further to Dunmain Mr. Beyley's having lost the way to Nash further to the north, but came into it at Balligarvan. The house of


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Dunmeen was the habitation of Lord Altham, where it is said he parted from his Lady, and when afterwards a dead child was born of one of the name of Esther, they afterwards came together, and then it was, as I understood that it is said she was delivered in the house of Mr. Annesley, who now again sets up for the estate and title.53 We soon passed near Abbey Kilbrayney belonging to Mr. Cliff: and farther to the east saw on a height Brianstown Mr. Tenches; we came in half a mile to Castle Boley, and in half a mile more to Dungulow Castle and soon after to Clamines, which they say was formerly a town of trade, tho' there is now only one house in it, but there are three old towers or Castles remaining in it, one of which is near the Parish church of St. Nicholas, and in it was an arch'd chapel with an apartment over it. The other two are in a line, and they say there was a row of houses between them and another row built so as to make a street, and part of the Cross of the Market place is remember'd as standing: Just over the river are remains of a Convent, which I was informed was of Augustinian Monks; near it is St. Marie's chapel: Just above, the Blackwater from the west, and Folkes's mill river from the north unite, and make the river of Clamines, which lower is called the river of Bannoe; the tide comes up here making a sort of a bay and at low water they cross over on a kind of a Causeway they have made, but the water comes three or four feet over it: This is a Burrough, Mr. Annesley's estate, but the Burrough is in Lord Loftus. I here dined on the provisions I had brought, and a dish of fish the Farmer provided for me, of the white

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Trout and Plaice, the latter very little inferior to Turbet. He had a son who is dumb, but very sharp in country business and has a very strong sense of Religion. I here left my horses to cross over to go to Bannoe and took horses to ride four miles south to Fethard; Having travelled about half way I came to the old Convent of Tintern, turned into a mansion house of the Colclough's; the church was large with a great tower in the middle, the Chancel part was converted into a house with three floors and chimneys, of which I never saw an instance before: I was informed that this family came over in Queen Elizabeth's time, that an Ancestor marrying a Papist went over to the popish religion, but in the present is a Convert who has fixed a Spinning School here and a linnen Manufactory and built a little market house in the village. I came to Fethard pleasantly situated on the north side of a small river, about a mile from the Bay of Bannoe. It is a Burrough belonging to Lord Loftus who has built a little town here; It was a manor of the Bishop of Ferns, but exchanged for another Estate. The Castle was the Bishop's house, one of the name of Ram was the last that liv'd in it: It was afterwards the Mansion house of the Loftus family. There are remains of an old chapel and of a building which they say, was the Bishop's Study and that there was a Terrace to it from the Castle: There is a turret near the town built like a Castle, which is on the Glebe, and is supposed to have been the Parsonage house: In this bay there is a small oyster bed for Lord Loftus's use; I had been formerly at this place and the places I shall describe.—Bag and Bun a mile to the south east where Strongbow landed in the time of Henry 2d. in a little bay made by that head and the head to the north of it at the mouth of Fethard river. It is said he came with

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two ships, one named Bag, the other Bun; there is a double entrenchment round it: A narrow strip of Land extends to the south on the east side of the harbour of Waterford, on which stands a Light house called Hook Tower and there being a place call'd Crook opposite to it, 'tis said that on landing the General declared he would take Ireland by Hook or by Crook. Here is Loftus Hall the seat of Lord Loftus a descendant of Primate Loftus, no tree will grow above the shelter of the walls; the mulberry tree thrives best of any with that shelter: This strip of land is exceeding rich, as it is constantly manur'd by the spray of the sea. About two miles farther to the west is Duncannonfort, which was built to command the passage up the river, the lower works are cut out of the rock, and the channel being close to it, no ship can go up but must be within canon shot; some soldiers are always here in Garrison; near this fort is a very good chalybeat spring. King James had a ship ready here in case of any disaster, and after the battle of the Boyne he lay in Dublin; and came here the next day and embark'd for France. About two miles farther is Ballyhack opposite to Passage and under the hill in the same manner; here are some great Fairs held for tame fowls of all sorts which sell very cheap, as also white coarse frieze at low prices.