Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition
A Tour in Ireland, with general observations on the present state of that kingdom in 1776–78 (Author: Arthur Young)

entry 24

September 5. To Drumoland, the seat of Sir Lucius O'Brien, in the county of Clare, a gentleman who had been repeatedly assiduous to procure me every sort of information. I should remark, as I have now left


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Galway, that that county, from entering it in the road to Tuam till leaving it to-day, has been, upon the whole, inferior to most of the parts I have travelled in Ireland in point of beauty: there are not mountains of a magnitude to make the view striking. It is perfectly free from woods, and even trees, except about gentlemen's houses, nor has it a variety in its face. I do not, however, speak without exception; I passed some tracts which are cheerful. Drumoland has a pleasing variety of grounds about the house; it stands on a hill gently rising from a lake of twenty-four acres, in the middle of a noble wood of oak, ash, poplar, &c.; three beautiful hills rise above, over which the plantations spread in a varied manner; and these hills command very fine views of the great rivers Fergus and Shannon at their junction, being each of them a league wide.

There is a view of the Shannon from Limerick to Foynes Island, which is thirty miles, with all its bays, bends, islands, and fertile shores. It is from one to three miles broad, a most noble river, deserving regal navies for its ornament, or, what are better, fleets of merchantmen, the cheerful signs of far-extended commerce, instead of a few miserable fishing-boats, the only canvas that swelled upon the scene; but the want of commerce in her ports is the misfortune not the fault of Ireland—thanks for the deficiency to that illiberal spirit of trading jealousy, which has at times actuated and disgraced so many nations. The prospect


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has a noble outline in the bold mountains of Tipperary, Cork, Limerick, and Kerry. The whole view magnificent.

At the foot of this hill is the castle of Bunratty, a very large edifice, the seat of the O'Briens, princes of Thomond; it stands on the bank of a river, which falls into the Shannon near it. About this castle and that of Rosmanagher the land is the best in the county of Clare; it is worth £1 13s. an acre, and fats a bullock per acre in summer, besides winter feed.

To Limerick, through a cheerful country, on the banks of the river, in a vale surrounded by distant mountains. That city is very finely situated, partly on an island formed by the Shannon. The new part, called Newtown Pery, from Mr. Pery the speaker, who owns a considerable part of the city, and represents it in Parliament, is well built. The houses are new ones, of brick, large, and in right lines. There is a communication with the rest of the town by a handsome bridge of three large arches erected at Mr. Pery's expense. Here are docks, quays, and a custom-house, which is a good building, faces the river, and on the opposite banks is a large quadrangular one, the house of industry. This part of Limerick is very cheerful and agreeable, and carries all the marks of a flourishing place.

The exports of this port are beef, pork, butter, hides, and rape-seed. The imports are rum, sugar, timber,


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tobacco, wines, coals, bark, salt, &c. The customs and excise, about sixteen years ago, amounted to £16,000, at present £32,000, and rather more four or five years ago.

Whole revenue: 1751 [...] £16,000

Whole revenue: 1775 [...] £51,000

Revenue of the Port of Limerick

DateAmount in £
Year ending March 25, 175920, 494
Year ending March 25, 176029,197
Year ending March 25, 176120,727
Year ending March 25, 176220,650
Year ending March 25, 176320,525
Year ending March 25, 176432,635
Year ending March 25, 176531,099
2

  1. Wheat, 1s. 1d. a stone.
  2. Barley and oats, 5 ¾ d. to 6d.
  3. Scotch coals, 18s.; Whitehaven, 20s.
  4. A boat-load of turf, 20 tons, 45s.
  5. Salmon, three halfpence.
  6. Trout, 2d., very fine, per lb.
  7. Eels, 2d. a pound.
  8. Rabbits, 8d. a couple.
  9. Wild ducks, 20d. to 2s. a couple.
  10. Teal, 10d. a couple.
  11. Plover, 6d. a couple.
  12. Widgeon, 10d. ditto.
  13. Hares, 1s. each, commonly sold all the year round.
  14. Woodcocks, 20d. to 2s. 2d. a brace.
  15. Oysters, 4d. to 1s. a 100.
  16. Lobsters, 1s. to 1s. 6d., if good.

Land sells at twenty years' purchase. Rents were at the highest in 1765; fell since, but in four years have fallen 8s. to 10s. an acre about Limerick. They are at a stand at present, owing to the high price of provisions from pasture. The number of people in


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Limerick is computed at thirty-two thousand; it is exceedingly populous for the size, the chief street quite crowded; many sedan chairs in town, and some hackney chaises. Assemblies the year round, in a new assembly-house built for the purpose, and plays and concerts common.

Upon the whole, Limerick must be a very gay place, but when the usual number of troops are in town much more so. To show the general expenses of living, I was told of a person's keeping a carriage, four horses, three men, three maids, a good table, a wife, three children, and a nurse, and all for £500 a year:

ServantCost from £ s. d.To £ s. d.
A footman4 4 06 6 0
A professed woman-cook6 6 0
A house-maid3 0 0
A kitchen-maid2 0 0
A butler10 0 012 0 0

A barrel of beef or pork, 200 lb. weight. Vessels of 400 tons can come up with spring tides, which rise fourteen feet.