CHAMBERS'S INFORMATION FOR THE PEOPLE. 



An extensive emigration goes on from this port. 

 The population in 1881 was 29,162, of whom 

 about 15,000 were Roman Catholics. 



The city of Armagh, situated in an inland part 

 of the country, is of considerable local importance. 

 It is placed in the midst of a rich and beautiful 

 district, the face of which is singularly varied by 

 detached hills, some of which are more than looo 

 feet in height. This character of country stretches 

 from Lough Neagh in the north to the north- 

 western part of the county of Meath in the south, 

 and is well watered by lakes and streams, and, 

 generally speaking, richly furnished with wood. 

 The city stands on a hill, which is crowned by 

 the old cathedral, around which the town has 

 gradually arisen. The cathedral has been re- 

 edified, at an expense exceeding .30,000, in the 

 pointed Gothic style, for the most part in very 

 good taste ; the organ is a remarkably fine one, 

 and the choir excellent There is water-carriage 

 from both Belfast and Newry by lake and canal, 

 to within four miles of the city ; and the Ulster 

 Railway now connects it with Belfast In 1841, 

 the population was 10,245; in 1871, 8952; in 

 1 88 1, 10,070, of whom 5000 were Roman Catholics. 

 Near Armagh stands the Observatory, built and 

 endowed by Primate Robinson, whose muni- 

 ficence greatly contributed to the advance of 

 science and improvement of the whole diocese. 



CONNAUGHT. 



Connaught, the smallest of the four provinces, 

 contains but five counties, those of Leitrim, Ros- 

 common, Mayo, Sligo, and Galway. There are in 

 this province large tracts of mountainous and 

 sterile land, especially in the western parts of the 

 counties of Galway and Mayo. The peninsula 

 formed by the western part of the first of these 

 counties is named Connemara, and is famed for 

 its scenery, which somewhat resembles that of 

 Argyllshire. Connemara contains a small, scat- 

 tered, and primitive population, usually full of 

 superstitious and old feudal feelings. 



From the high grounds near Westport is 

 obtained a view of Clew Bay, a magnificent sheet 

 of almost inclosed water, full of islands, and 

 bounded by lofty mountains ; among which the 

 most conspicuous is Croagh Patrick, which is 

 regarded with superstitious feelings by the peas- 

 antry, as the spot where their tutelary saint was 

 accustomed to preach. 



Amidst the great tracts of wild ground in Con- 

 naught, there are a few other spots of an unusually 

 attractive character. The scenery round Lough 

 Allen, out of which the Shannon flows, is extremely 

 pretty, as is also that near Boyle, at the foot of 

 the Curlew Mountains. At Lough Gill, near 

 Sligo, a lake bearing a strong resemblance to the 

 Upper Lake of Killarney, and the little Bay of 

 Ardnaglass, into which falls the cataract of Bally- 

 sedare, are scenes of peculiar beauty. Much of 

 the surface of Galway is flat, shewing, for twenty 

 miles together, a succession of narrow limestone 

 rocks, like parapet-walls of three feet high, placed 



272 



in parallel lines to each other, at distances of 

 from three to ten feet : the intermediate spaces,, 

 though apparently but a waste of rock and stone, 

 supply the finest sheep-pasture in the kingdom. 



The agricultural capabilities of the province 

 are great compared with what has yet been made 

 of them ; but a considerable change in the pro- 

 prietary and occupants is infusing a new spirit, 

 and great improvement may be looked for. The 

 culture of flax is on the increase. 



There are few manufactures of any kind in th 

 province ; and the condition of the peasantry in 

 general is that of poverty. Fishing affords occu- 

 pation to a considerable number of the population. 

 In some years, the sun-fish, or basking shark, are 

 abundant off the shores of Galway, and much 

 excellent oil is produced ; but this fish is so capri- 

 cious, that the fishery cannot be looked to with 

 any certainty. 



Chief Towns. 



Galway, reckoned the capital of the west, is 

 situated in a valley lying between the bay which 

 bears its name and Lough Corrib. The town is 

 of considerable antiquity, and consists of streets 

 and lanes huddled together without any regard to 

 comfort or convenience. The whole resembles 

 a Spanish town, the result probably of its early 

 intercourse with Spain ; and a small open space 

 near the quay retains the name of Spanish Parade. 

 The ecclesiastical buildings are the parish church 

 of St Nicholas, founded in 1320, Presbyterian 

 and Methodist meeting-houses, and three Roman 

 Catholic chapels. There are three monasteries 

 and five nunneries. At the head of the educa- 

 tional institutions may be mentioned Queen's 

 College, opened in 1849. In 1851, communica- 

 tion with Dublin was opened by railway. 



The chief manufacture of Galway is flour. 

 There are three foundries, an extensive paper-mill, 

 and several breweries and distilleries in the town. 

 Salmon and sea-fish are abundant. The Bay of 

 Galway, protected by the Arran Isles from the 

 swell of the Atlantic, offers great advantages for 

 foreign trade. The harbour has been much im- 

 proved ; and there is a floating dock of five acres. 

 The exports are agricultural produce, wool, and 

 marble. In 1856, there were fourteen vessels 

 belonging to the port, with a tonnage of 1129. 

 The population, which in 1841 was 32,511, had 

 diminished in 1851 to 20,686. In 1881, it was 

 19,170, of whom 18,000 were Roman Catholics. 



Across the country in a northern direction, and 

 also situated at the head of a bay bearing its 

 name, stands SHga^ a town of a much smaller 

 population than Galway, but more important as- 

 respects its commerce. There are several hand- 

 some public buildings ; and the suburbs are 

 beautiful and picturesque. The manufacture of 

 linen is carried on ; as also of flour, meal, whisky, 

 and beer. The salmon-fishery is very productive. 

 The vessels belonging to the port in 1856 were 

 35, with a tonnage of 4352. The population in. 

 1841 was 14,318; in iSbi, 10,670. Nine Irish 

 boroughs send sixteen members to parliament. 



