All Lewis entries for Portraine

LAMBAY

LAMBAY, an island, in the parish of PORTRANE, barony of NETHERCROSS, county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 3 miles (E. S. E.) from Rush ; containing 100 inhabitants. This island, which is situated off the eastern coast, appears to have belonged at an early period to the cathedral establishment of Christ-Church, Dublin ; by license from Edw. VI., in the 5th of his reign, it was, with the consent of the chapter, granted by the archbishop to John Chalenor and his heirs, at a fee-farm rent of £6. 13. 4., for the use of a colony which he had brought to inhabit it, on condition that within six years he should build a town for the habitation of fishermen, with a place of defence surrounded by a wall and ditch, and a convenient harbour for their boats. In the reign of Elizabeth the island was granted to Archbishop Ussher, who resided here for a considerable time, during which he is said to have written part of his works ; after his decease it was purchased from his representatives by the family of Talbot, who are its present proprietors. It is about four miles in circumference, and forms an elevated ridge, with rocky knolls and cragged brows, strongly contrasting with the flat Sandy Shore of the mainland, appearing like the last offset of the Wicklow mountains in this direction, and corresponding with the detached heights of Ireland's Eye, Howth, and Dalkey, at the opposite extremity. It contains more than 650 plantation acres of land well watered with numerous streams and susceptible of cultivation, to which a portion of it has been subjected ; it abounds with rabbits, sea parrots, puffins, and Cornish choughs. The rocky grounds surrounding the island form a plentiful lobster and crab fishery, and are much frequented by the Lough Shinny fishermen, who carry on a lucrative trade here. The channel between the island and the main land at Rush point and Portrane is about three miles wide ; and about 200 yards from the west end is the Burrin rock, dry at half tide, and on which a perch is placed ; between it and the island are four fathoms of water. About a quarter of a mile from the north-western extremity of the island, or Scotch point, is a cluster of rocks called "the Tailors," on which a beacon is placed ; and between these rocks is a pier harbour, built by a grant of £591. 11.4. from the late Fishery Board, and of £451. 7. 8. from the proprietor, who afterwards obtained a grant from Government for its completion. It has four feet depth at the entrance at low water, and small vessels may find good anchorage and shelter from the north-east and south-east gales. On the northern side of the island is the Cardurris rock ; the remainder of the shore is lofty and precipitous, with clear ground at a short distance ; and vessels may anchor in safety to leeward ; on the south-eastern side is a spacious cavern, called "Seal Hole," from the number of seals that breed there ; and on the north side, between the Tailors and Cardurris rock, is a cavern about 150 feet in length, with stalagmites arising from the floor, and stalactites depending from the roof. Experienced pilots for the Dublin coast, and supplies of excellent spring water may always be obtained here, and on the island is a coast-guard station. The geological features are chiefly trap rock, greenstone in massive beds ; greenstone porphyry alternating with small strata of clay-slate, conglomerate sandstone well adapted for millstones ; grauwacke, and grauwacke slate ; the porphyry is found in abundance, and is susceptible of a very high polish, and indications of copper are found. The castle erected by Chalenor is of polygonal form, and is occasionally inhabited by the Rt. Hon. Lord Talbot de Malahide, proprietor of the island. In the R. C. divisions the island forms part of the union or district of Rush ; the first stone of a chapel was laid in 1833 by the proprietor. There is an old burying-ground, also a well dedicated to the Holy Trinity.

PORTRANE

PORTRANE, PORTRAHAN, or PORTRAVEN (anciently called Portraehern), a parish, in the barony of NETHERCROSS, county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 4- miles (N. E.) from Swords ; containing 725 inhabitants. It comprises a great variety of substrata, including red sandstone, conglomerate, limestone, greenstone in rugged rocks, on the north side of the promontory ; and grauwacke-slate, clay-slate, greenstone-slate, and a great variety of conglomerates, and minor minerals, on the coast, all curiously intermingled. The coast is remarkably grand and bold, and the sea has worked its way into the rocks, so as to form several excavations of large extent, in one of which is a curious well of fresh water, called Clink, Portrane House, the property and residence of Geo. Evans, Esq., M.P., is a spacious brick building nearly in the centre of a fine demesne of 420 acres, well stocked with deer, and commanding extensive and splendid views ; some of the best land in the county is within this beautiful demesne, and its large plantations are more thriving than is usual in situations so much exposed to the sea blasts, It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Dublin, forming part of the union of Donabate ; the rectory is impropriate in G. Evans, Esq., and W. Ward, Esq,, who pay a small rent. The tithes amount to £137. 7. 7., of which £107. 3. 9. is payable to the impropriators, and £30. 3. 10, to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms a portion of the union or district of Donabate: the chapel is in the form of a T, and was erected, about 12 years since, on land given for that purpose by the late Lord Trimleston ; it has a burial-ground attached, and there is a residence for the priest. About 120 children are educated in two public schools, of which one for boys is supported by G. Evans, Esq., by whom the school-house, a neat rustic building, situated in a garden of about an acre in extent, was erected, and who gives the master a lodging and half an acre of land for a garden ; the other school, for girls, is supported by Mrs. Evans, who built the school-house, with apartments for the mistress ; at a proper age the children are taught embroidery, and several very elegant dresses and aprons have been worked here, one of which was for her Majesty Queen Dowager Adelaide: these schools are conducted on the Lancaste rian system, and are open to all religious sects. Remains of the old castle exist, consisting of a small square tower, long since deserted as a habitation : the last occupant was Lady Acheson.