KNOCKLONG

KNOCKLONG, or LONG, a parish, in the barony of COSTLEA, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 6 miles (S. E.) from Bruff, on the road from Limerick to Mitchelstown; containing 2842 inhabitants. It comprises 4298 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, about one-fourth of which is under tillage, and the remainder consists of rich meadow and pasture land, principally in large dairy farms. The soil is in general very good, being based on limestone, of which there are two good quarries; here is also abundance of bog. A butter market is held on Tuesdays, and fairs are held at Knocklong on May 23rd and Oct. 1st, for fat cattle, sheep, and pigs; the October fair has a large show of good horses: fairs are also held at Knocktoran, on March 3rd, April 6th, July 29th, Nov. 1st, and Dec. 20th. The Morning Star river, which bounds the parish on the southern side, contains very fine trout.

The principal seats are Castle Jane, the residence of Thaddeus R. Ryan, Esq.; and Hill Cottage, of the Rev. E. Graham. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Emly, forming part of the union of Aney; the rectory is impropriate in the Earl of Limerick.

The tithes amount to £422. 12. 5., of which two-thirds are payable to the impropriator, and one-third to the vicar. There is a glebe of 6 acres.

In the R. C. divisions it is the head of a union or district, and has chapels at Knocklong and Glenbrohane. There are two private schools, in which 120 children are educated. The ruins of Knocklong castle are on an eminence commanding very extensive views: it was the seat of the O'Hurleys, and near it are the remains of a church. In the grounds of Ryves castle is an ancient burial-ground, with a lofty and handsome vault for the Lowe family, who were formerly proprietors of the castle. The Clangibbon family also had here the castle of Ballinahinch.