CLOYNE, a market and post-town, a parish, and the seat of a
diocese, in the barony of IMOKILLY, county of CORK, and province of
MUNSTER, 14 miles (E. by S.) from Cork, and 126 (S. W. by S.) from
Dublin, on the road from Midleton to the sea; containing 6410
inhabitants, of which number, 2227 are in the town. It originated in
the foundation of the see of Cloyne by St. Colman, who died in 604.
In 707, an abbey was erected on the west side of the cathedral,
which was plundered in 978 by the people of Ossory, and again, in
1089, by Dermot, the son of Fiordhealbhach O'Brien. The town is
pleasantly situated in a level or slightly undulating plain, and is
well sheltered by rising grounds and plantations, which give great
amenity to the climate. It comprises two streets intersecting each
other at right angles, and contains 330 houses, most of which are
small and irregularly built. The bishop's palace is a large edifice,
built by Bishop Crow, in 1718, and enlarged by several of the
succeeding prelates. The grounds are well arranged, and near the
house is a noble terrace, extending the whole length of the garden.
The palace and demesne were leased, in 1836, by the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners, to H. Allen, Esq., for 999 years, at a rent of £450
per annum, a fine of £2000, and £1300 for the timber: Mr. Allen
intends to take down all the old part of the palace. The only
manufacture is that of brogues and hats, which employs about 100
persons. The market is held on Thursday, and is well attended by
buyers from Cove and Cork. Fairs are held on Feb. 24th, Easter and
Whit-Tuesdays, Aug. 1st, Sept. 12th, and Dec. 5th, for the sale of
horses, cattle, sheep, pigs, and implements of husbandry. It is a
constabulary police station. The bishop, who is lord of the manor,
appoints a seneschal, who holds a court-leet annually, and a manor
court once in three weeks. Petty sessions are held every second
Wednesday. The parish comprises 10,324 acres, of which 9552 are
subject to tithe; the remainder consists of the bishop's lands, or
those belonging to an ancient hospital, upon which part of the town
is built. The soil is good, particularly in the valley, where it
rests on a substratum of limestone. At Carrigacrump is a quarry of
fine marble, somewhat similar to the Italian dove-coloured marble;
it is the property of Col. Hooden. The parish is intersected by that
of Kilmahon, which entirely separates from it the village and
ploughland of Ballycotton, forming the extreme western point of the
coast. in Ballycotton bay. Besides the Episcopal palace, the
principal seats are Kilboy House, the residence of F. Rowland, Esq.;
Kilcrone, of J. Hanning, Esq.; Barnabrow, of J. R. Wilkinson, Esq;
the Residentiary-house, of the Rev. W. Welland; Cloyne House, the
seat of H. Allen, Esq.; the residence of the Rev. Dr. Hingston,
Vicar-General of the diocese; Jamesbrook Hall, of R. W. G. Adams,
Esq.; and Ballyhane, of T. Gaggin, Esq. Not far from the town are
Rostellan, the seat of the Marquess of Thomond, and Castle-Mary, of
the Rev. R. Longfield.