Chapter 18.

The Barony of Balrothery.

This maritime district, according to the survey and valuation of 1824, comprises 14 parishes subdivided into 174 townlands, and has been assessed to the ancient subsidies as extending over 30,370 arable acres, and 1,699 acres then deemed unprofitable. The [408] parishes there assigned to it are Lusk, Holmpatrick, Baldungan, Balrothery, Balscadden, Naul, Hollywood, Grallagh, Garristown, Ballymadun, Palmerstown, Westpalstown, Ballyboghill, and Dunabate. In this scope are 12 small towns and 16 villages. The surface of the barony is for the most part level, and the soil productive, resting almost entirely on limestone. it is, however, badly supplied with rivers, and its harbours have not been much improved. Being the most remote from the metropolis it is principally used in tillage.

The quantity of ground forfeited herein in 1641, was returned as 19,948a. profitable, and 737a. unprofitable, while the glebe lands were stated at the same time as 334a.

Passing out of Clonmethan, the first locality worthy of notice is

Drishogue,

i.e. the brambly district,

One of the manors confirmed by King Henry the Second to the abbey of the Blessed Virgin, subsequently further assured to that house by John Earl of Morton in 1185, and which continued so appropriated down to the time of the dissolution, when, by inquisition of 1541, the abbot of that abbey was found seised of two messuages, 114a. of arable, 4a. of meadow, and 102a. of pasture here, annual value, besides reprises £4 10*s., *while a subsequent inquisition finds John Bathe seised of a messuage and 60A. here, which he held of the king *in capite *by knight’s Service. [Inquis. in Canc. Hib.]

In 1542 Patrick Barnewall had a grant of the monastic possessions [409] in Drishogue, while for another portion 120a; plantation measure, James Duke of York passed patent in 1666; the latter, on his attainder, were in 1703 granted to Marmaduke Coghill, Esq., while for the former, with a considerable addition, Lord Kingsland passed fresh patent in 1685.

Lispobel,

the succeeding locality, suggests in its name, i.e. the fort of the people, that it was the ancient site of an humbler Areopagus, a justice mount of the Brehon dispensation, and certainly commands from its high grounds, a most extensive landscape over the barony of Balrothery, terminated in mountainous succession by the heights of Garristown, Mullahow, the Man of War, Baldungan with its ruins, Lambay, &c.

Although this place now presents no traces of a religious edifice, it had formerly one of the five chapelries subservient to Swords.

In 1202 Philip de Nugent gave to the priory of Christ Church two acres of Lispobel, and in the village of Lispobel half an acre, adjoining his mansion near the river, on the west side, to build a house on, with the depasturage of his entire holding there. [Registry ogf Christ Church.]

In the 16th century, this locality was the property of the Kynton family, from whom it passed to that of Barnewall, a portion being vested in the Lords of Howth. For a notice in 1619, see at “Howth.” In 1641 Richard Barnewall of Lispobel was one of those on whose head the Lords Justices and Council, in their sanguinary appraisement, set a price of £400. His possessions here were thereupon forfeited, and in 1659 the Protector demised them with other lands, to Sir John Temple for a term of 51 years.

In 1666 Sir George Rawdon had a grant of the town and lands of Lispobel 545a. statute measure, Nuttstpwn 444A., as also of the [410] denominations of Weystown and Cordanstown, of which he died seised in 1684. This grant was made in pursuance of a clause in the Act of Settlement, and in consideration of a sum of £2,324 10s. 4d., due to him “for provisions and money disbursed for the use of the army in Ireland.”

In 1685 Lord Kingsland passed patent for *(inter *alia) the mill of Lispobel, while in 1691 a recovery was suffered to the use of the St. Lawrence family of their estates in LispobeL Parnellstown, Effolstown, Balliskadden, Boranston, &c.

A pretty shaded road, with hawthorns at the one side, and the luxuriant furze at the other, leads hence back by the course of the river, direct to Rollestown and Fieldstown. The present line of inquiry, however, turns to

Skidow,

a townland, the fee of Mr. Coote, an absentee.

Its tithes were early appropriated to the economy of St. Patrick’s.

In 1344 Skidow was accounted a manor, and is so described in records of that period, John the son of John de la Field being then seised thereof.

In 1542 Patrick Barnewall had a grant for ever of Skidow, and sundry other lands in this vicinity. An inquisition of 1547 ascertained the extent and value of the tithes of this denomination, which were in 1564 demised by the chapter of St. Patrick’s to Barnaby Scurloghe, “in consideration of good council to be given by him during life to the chapter.” In 1645 the Same tithes were leased by the chapter to Lord Chief Baron Bysse, and he, being at that time Recorder, likewise covenanted to give the chapter “good counsel in matters of law during his life.” For a notice of the tithes of Skidow in 1683, see “Killeigh.”

In 1685 Lord Kingsland passed patent for *(inter alia) *Skidow and Balgeeth 360 acres.

Ch. 19. Corduff..