REISK

REISK, a parish, in the barony of MIDDLETHIRD, county of WATERFORD, and province of MUNSTER, 5 ½ miles (S. W.) from Waterford; containing 734 inhabitants. A considerable range of high land extends into this parish from that of Donisle, and here dividing into two branches, which enclose the low grounds and lake of Ballyscanlan, extends onward towards Waterford. It is chiefly composed of pudding-stone and clay-slate, with occasional large masses of jasper, and is overspread with masses varying in size from field stones to stupendous rocks. In an open space amid the hills is a small conical hill called Cruach, or "the Heap", in which is a vein of rich lead ore containing a considerable proportion of silver: this was formerly worked to a great extent.

In the neighbourhood are large beds of sand and appearances of limestone. The vicinity of Pembrokestown is marked by a romantic wildness of peculiar character; the hills which rise precipitously, are covered with bold and rugged rocks, and between these irregular elevations are small patches of the finest land well watered and sheltered. The parish is in the diocese of Waterford; part of the rectory forms one of the denominations constituting the corps of the deanery, and the remainder one of those comprising the corps of the archdeaconry; the vicarage is cpiscopally united to that of Kilmeaden, and in the patronage of the Bishop.

The tithes amount to £226. 4. 6., of which £79. 4. 6. is payable to the vicar, and the remainder to the appropriators; and there is a glebe of 12 acres, of which 8 belong to the rectory, and the remainder to the vicarage. About 25 children are educated in a private school. On the abrupt conical eminence called Sugar Loaf hill is a perfect cromlech composed of four oblong masses of rock placed on end, and supporting a table stone of considerable magnitude, at a height of about 20 feet; underneath, in the centre, is a single stone of inferior height. Close to this cromlech are the ruins of the ancient parish church. In the vicinity of Pembrokestown is a smaller cromlech, also an ancient fort or rath.