Pigot & Co’s
Provincial Directory 1824 Clonakilty
At the head of a sandy bay in the county
of Cork is a considerable market town,
distant from the castle of Dublin 150 miles, from Cork 26, from Bandon 10 and from Kinsale 17. An
important trade is carried on in the manufacture of coarse linens, for the sale
of which a weekly market is held on Fridays in a spacious hall erected by the
Earl of Shannon for the accommodation of the dealers. Within the last three
years there has been a very considerable increase in this branch of industry,
and upwards of ten thousand persons are now employed in the various processes
of the manufacture, in this and the neighbouring town of Ross and the
surrounding district, whence the linens are brought for sale to the public
market. The description of good manufactured here is peculiar to the county of Cork, and called Vitries and Twills,
these are from three quarters to a yard wide, and the average price is from
4-1/2d to 8d per yard. The market is regularly attended by purchasers from Cork
and Bandon, who buy on commission for the English and Scotch houses, and the
weekly sales are computed at upwards of 1000/. The market is superintended by
Mr. Henry Franks, senr, seal master. An English gentleman has recently
established a large linen manufactory here, but the trade is, in general
carried on by persons of small capital, who employ from one to four looms. A
little cotton is also manufactured, there is a large brewery, and some corn is
exported. Clonakilty is a corporate town, and is governed by a sovereign and
recorder, who hold sessions of the peace for the town and liberties, and have
the power of enforcing the payment of small debts. It was a borough before the
union, and is the property of the Earl of Shannon. This place flourished until
the rebellion of 1641, when it was totally consumed, but is now rapidly
improving, several good houses have recently been created, a substantial market
house has been raised, and a new road formed along the Strand to the village of Ring. The church, situated upon a rising
ground, is a respectable building, and contains a good organ. The Rev. Horace
Townsend, A.M is the vicar, and Dr. Stewart, the curate. There are also a
Wesleyan meeting house, and a large Catholic chapel, of which the Rev. David
Walsh is the priest. The charitable institutions are numerous and well
conducted. The dispensary is regularly attended by a physician and an
apothecary, and no less a number than 1827 persons are reported to have
received advice from this excellent establishment during the last year. Here is
a large school of industry for Catholic girls, and a similar one for
Protestants, superintended by the most respectable ladies of the town, in these
the children are employed in fine needlework and spinning, and a portion of
their time is devoted to mental instruction. There is also a school for boys,
partly supported by the incumbent of the parish, and partly by the Dublin
Association for Discountenancing Vice and the Promotion of Religion and Virtue.
There is also a good general market on Friday, and the five fairs are held on
the 6th of April, the 30th of Jun, the 1st of
August, the 10th of October, and the 12th of November,
for cattle, merchandise, &c. At the distance of seven miles, on the direct
road to Skibbereen is a small town of Ross in
now way remarkable, except that is a bishoprick united to Cork in the year 1586. The church is a small
Gothic structure, having a handsome and lofty spire, the church yard is washed
by the arm of the sea, which is so shallow that no vessel can approach the
town. Near this place is the seat of Lord Carberry, and on the left about
midway between Ross and Skibbereen, the mansion of Lord Kingston may be seen. The population of
Clonakilty is about 5,600.
Post Office, Main
Street – Post Master, Mr. John Bennett. The mail
from Dublin, Cork
and all parts of Great
Britain, arrives everyday at half-past one,
and is dispatched every morning at half past eleven. The Skibbereen mail leaves
immediately on the arrival of the Dublin Mail.
Nobility, Gentry and
Clergy
Carberry Right Honourable Lord, Castlefreke
Allen Mrs, Sovereigns
Street
Austin Henry, junr, esq, South Ring
Barry Lieut. James, H.P. Mill St
Barry James Redmond, esq. Dunmore, near Clonakilty
Beamish George, esq. Dunmore, near Clonakilty
Bennett Samuel, esq. Magistrate, Square
Bowerman George, esq.
Square
Casey Lieut. D. O’Brien R.N.,H.P Sovereigns St
Deasy Richard, esq.
Miss St
Donovan Capt. Alex, H.P. Cottage
Evason Lieut. Allen, R.N. Galley Head, near Clonakilty
French Rev, Philip, Square
Gallwey Michael, esq. Killoran
Gillman Herbert, esq. Magistrate, Bennetts-grove, near
Clonakilty
Herrick Edward, esq.
Square
Hopkins Lieut, William R., H.P. Ballyrackay, near Clonakilty
Hoy Captain
Robert, R.N. Mill St
Hungerford Mrs, Square
Hungerford Richard, esq. Island
Hungerford Thos, esq. Rosscarbery
Hungerford Thomas, esq. Island
Jennings Rev. Wm. Rosscarbery
Molony Rev. Jeremiah, Rosscarbery
Mooney Rev. P.
Mill St
O’Regan Mrs, Sovereigns
St
Power P. esq. Surgeon, R.N., H.P. Main St
Sands Captain Georgem Dunowen
Smyth John, esq. Ross-view
Smyth Richd, esq. Castle-Downheen
Spiller John, esq.
Mill St
Stewart Rev, Henry Wilson, L.L.D, Lower-tawnies
Stewart Rev. William, Magistrate, Welllfield
Sweeny James, esq.
Square
Townsend Rev. C.C. Rosscarbery
Townsend Rev. Horace, Magistrate, Derry,
near Rosscarbery
Townsend Jno. Esq. Recorder, Square
Toye Thomas, esq. Rosscarbery
Toye Winspear, esq. Rosscarbery
Walsh, Rev. David, P.P. Rosscarbery
White Rev, James, Rosscarbery
Merchants, Tradesmen,
&c
Attorneys
Bennett Francis, Sovereigns
St
Lucas John, North Ring
Spiller James, Barrack
St
Williamson Edward, Rosscarbery
Physicians
Fitzgibbon Thomas, Rosscarbery
Folliott Wm (& member of the royal college of surgeons London) Square
Hungerford George, Square
Lucas Thomas, Richfordstown
O’Connor Brien, Mill
St
Surgeon
Travers Boyle, Ballymacone
Apothecaries
Hayes Marshall, Mill
St
Justice T, Main
St
Agents
Driscol George, (Land) Main St
Hogan John, (Commission) Mill St
Molony Jas. (Commission) Square
Bakers
Baily Thomas, Main
St
Beamish Abrm. (& grocer) Main St
Hagarty Susan, Main
St
Harly Mary, Main
St
Mc Carthy James, Mill
St
Webb John, Sovereigns
St
Boot and Shoe Makers
Clarke John, Main
St
Hagarty William, Main
St
Howell Richard, Main
St
Tanner George, Sovereigns
St
Wagner William, Main
St
Brewers & Malters
Deasy & Company, near the Square
Carpenters &c
Driscol Michael, Main
St
Hart John, Mill
St
Hart Richard, Main
St
Nunan James, Main
St
Corn Merchants and
Millers
Foster John Sadleir, Shannon-vale
Hayes George & James, Castle-view
Hegarty Henry, Lisse-lane
Lucas Jasper E, North-ring
Coopers
Bateman Michael, Main
St
Hungerford, J, Lamb
St
Dyers (Blue)
Brady James, Sovereigns
St
Collins William, Market Place
Grocers
Alleyn Henry, Main
St
Bennett Jno, (& flour factor) Main St
Calanan Susan, Main
St
Deasey Daniel, Sovereigns
St
Deasy Mary, Main
St
Heas John, (& spirit dealer) Main St
Kingston Paul (and spirit dealer) Market-place
Savazge Eliza, Main
St
Toohigh James (& tallow chandler) Main St
Hardwaremen &
Dealers in oils, &c
Bennett Josias, Mill
St
Wagner James, Main
St
Linen Drapers
Abbott John (& cotton manufacturer) Main St
Driscol Cath, (& milliner) Main St
Field Ellen, Barrack
St
Hayes Timothy, Main
St
Hegarty Daniel, Main
St
Molony Jno. (& pawnbroker) Main St
Molony Timothy, Main
St
Linen Merchant and
Manufacturer
Elmore John Richard, near Mill St
Pawnbrokers
Bennett William, Mill
St
Waugh Andw & Wm, Sovereigns St
Publicans
Brady James W, Sovereigns
St
Coakley Daniel, Sovereigns
St
Condon James, Main
St
Connell John, Sovereigns
St
Crowly Cornelius, Sovereigns
St
Deasy Jeremiah, Sovereigns
St
Donovan John, Main
St
Driscol C, Sovereigns
St
Grace John, Main
St
Jones Joseph, Sovereigns
St
Mc Carthy E, Mill St
Mahony Timothy, Mill
St
Nunan Francis, Main
St
O’Herly Timothy, Main
St
O’Leary D, Barrack
St
O’Neil Owen, Market-place
O’Regan Ann, Mill
St
O’Riordan Daniel, Mill
St
Riordan John, Sovereigns
St
Sullivan Daniel, Mill
St
White Edward, Main
St
Wright Stephen, Sovereigns
St
Tailors
Sullivan James, near the Square
Twigg Patrick, Barrack
St
Miscellaneous
Cotter James, saddler, Barrack St
Deasy Ellen, wine and spirit dealer, Sovereigns St
Deasy Js, dealer in drugs, Sovereigns St
Franks Henry, junr, linen factor, Sovereigns St
Maybury Mary, dealer in drugs, Main St
Mc Carthy Jeremiah, coal and earthenware dealer, Mill St
Spiller John, painter and glazier, Main St
Coaches
Cork
and Bandon, the mail every morning and half past eleven, and returns to
Skibbereen, through Ross, every day at half past one.
