KILCROHANE

KILCROHANE, or MUNTEBARRA, a parish, in the West Division of the barony of WEST CARBERY, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 14 miles (S. W.) from Bantry, on the southern coast; containing 4317 inhabitants. This parish, which is situated between the bays of Dunmanus and Bantry, forms a peninsula terminating in Sheep's Head, and comprises 13,230 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £2247 per annum. Of these, 9168 acres are mountain, 1667 coarse pasturage, 2125 arable, 260 good pasture land, and about 10 acres bog. The soil is generally rocky and unproductive, and much of the land is uncultivated; its exposed situation between the bays lays it open to the full force of the westerly and north-westerly winds, and is very unfavourable to agricultural improvement. A ridge of mountains of clay-slate intersects the parish from east to west, and on the highest point is a signal tower, communicating with those of Bere island and Three-Castle Head. There are several small lakes; manganese is found in different places, and there are indications of copper ore, and abundance of slate of good quality, but no attempt has yet been made to work any of these minerals.

The only seat is O'Donovan's Cove, the residence of T. O'Donovan, Esq. Sheep's Head is situated in 51¦ 32' (N. Lat.) and 9¦ 39' (W. Lon.), and is 4 miles (N. N. E.) from Three-Castle Head; between them is the entrance to Dunmanus bay, The parish is in the diocese of Cork; the rectory is impropriate in Lord Riversdale, and the vicarage forms part of the union of Durrus. The tithes amount to £370, of which £135 is payable to the impropriator and the remainder to the vicar; the glebe comprises 5 ½ acres. The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church; the chapel is a small plain edifice. On the shore of Dunmanus bay are the ruins of the old parish church, and near it are the remains of the ancient castle of the O'Donovans, built in the 16th century.