DROMORE

DROMORE, a parish, in the barony of OMAGH, county of TYRONE, and province of ULSTER, 8 miles (S. W.) from Omagh, on the road from that place to Enniskillen; containing 10,422 inhabitants. In the war of 1641 the insurgents were defeated in some skirmishes near this place, but revenged themselves by burning the church and killing many of the inhabitants, when the English were obliged to retire. According to the Ordnance survey, it contains 25,492 ½ statute acres, the greater part of which is productive, but there are more than 4000 acres of bog and mountain land. The canal, by which it is intended to connect Loughs Foyle and Erne, will pass through this parish. The village, which comprises about 100 thatched houses, is a constabulary police station, and has a penny post to Omagh, and a dispensary. Fairs are held for farming stock on Feb. 1st, March 17th, Easter-Monday, Whit-Monday, May 1st, June 24th, Aug. 1st, Sept. 29th, Nov. 1st and 26th, and Dec. 26th. The principal seats are Lakemount, the residence of J. Hamilton, Esq.; Fairy Hill, of A. Sproule, Esq.; and the Glebe-house, of the Rev. H. Lucas St. George.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Clogher, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £694. 1. 4. The glebe-house has been lately erected, and the glebe, comprises 589 acres. The church is a small plain building, erected in 1694. The R. C. parish is coextensive with that of the Established Church, and has a chapel in the village. At Gardrum is a Presbyterian meeting-house in connection with the Synod of Ulster, of the first class; and at Toghardoo is a place of worship for Methodists. There are four public schools, in which about 450 children are educated; and sixteen private schools, in which are about 850 children; also a Sunday school. Here are some large and perfect forts; and it is stated that St. Patrick founded a nunnery here for St. Certumbria, the first Irish female who received the veil from his hands. At Kildrum was a religious house or church, which is supposed to have been the parochial church; but no vestige of the building can be traced, and the burial-ground is partially cultivated. The townlands of Shamragh and Agherdurlagh are called abbey lands, and are tithe-free.