DORRAH

DORRAH, or DURROW, a parish, in the barony of LOWER ORMOND, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 3 miles (W.) from Parsonstown, on the roads leading respectively from Portumna to Parsonstown and from Nenagh to Banagher; containing 3397 inhabitants. It is situated near the river Shannon, and is bounded on the north by the Brosna, comprising 10,829 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: about 3000 acres are bog, principally lying along the Shannon and the Brosna, and consequently capable of drainage from the fall of the land towards those rivers; and of the remainder the greatest portion is under tillage; a tract of about 200 acres of meadow, called the Inches, is of remarkably fine quality, and the parish generally is in a good state of cultivation. There is a quarry of good limestone, which is burnt for manure.

The principal seats are Walsh Park, that of J. W. Walsh, Esq.; Sraduff, of T. Antisell, Esq.; Newgrove, of J. W. Bayly, Esq.; Rockview, of J. Lewis Corrigan, Esq.; Gurteen, of J. Lalor, Esq.; Arbour Hill, of J. Antisell, Esq.; Ross House, of R. Smith, Esq.; Clongowna, of the Rev. Mr. Troke; Ballyduff, of B. Walker, Esq.; and Redwood, the property of Major Bloomfield. There is a flour-mill at Derrinsallagh. The parish is in the diocese of Killaloe, and is a rectory and vicarage, forming part of the union of Lorrha and corps of the archdeaconry of Killaloe: the tithes amount to £415. 7. 8 ¼. It formerly consisted of three parishes, Bonahane, Pallas, and Ross, the remains of the churches of which are still visible, and the two former had glebes. At Ross there was a very extensive burial-ground, which has not been used as such within the memory of man. The church is a neat modern edifice, completed in 1832, for which a grant of £900 was made by the late Board of First Fruits: the old church has been occupied as a dwelling-house from time immemorial.

In the R. C. divisions also the parish forms part of the union or district of Lorrha, called also Dorrha; the chapel, on the townland of Gurteen, has been lately fitted up in a neat manner. In the demesne of Walsh Park is a school-house built by the proprietor, who supports the school; and there is a school at Gurteen in connection with the National Board. At Redwood are the ruins of an old castle, and there are some remains of the ancient parish church.