TOUGH

TOUGH, or TUORAGH, a parish, in the barony of OWNEYBEG, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 9 miles (S. E.) from Limerick, on the little river Mulcairn, or Mulchair; containing 3534 inhabitants. This parish comprises 1728 statute acres of land, some of which is very fertile, some indifferent, and some bog: it is partly under a tolerable system of cultivation, but generally the holdings are small and the inhabitants very poor. At Drumsally there is an extensive tract of turbary, around which stand a great number of wretched cabins. Fairs are held at the village of Cappamore, which see. Near the river is Tower Hill, a fine house and demesne, the residence of W. Lloyd, Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Emly, forming part of the union of Abington; the tithes amount to £250.

In the R. C. divisions it is the head of a union or district, called Cappamore, comprising this parish and those of Clonkeen, Abington, and part of Doon: the chapel is a large plain edifice in the village. Here are parochial schools, and a school at Tower Hill; also four private schools, in which are about 180 children. Not far from Tower Hill are the ruins of the old church.