BROSNA, a parish, in the barony of TRUGHENACKMY,
county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER,
10 miles (N. by E.) from Castleisland; containing 2168
inhabitants. It is situated on the small river Clydagh,
and on the confines of the counties of Limerick and
Cork, and comprises 18,013 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act, and valued at £2180 per annum. A
large portion of the land consists of coarse mountain
pasture and bog, the greater part of which might be
reclaimed. A new line of road, about eight miles in
length, is now in progress, at the expense of Col. Drummond
and C. Fairfield, Esq., extending from the bridge
over the Clydagh (an arch of 60 feet span), on the new
oad from Listowel to Newmarket, and passing through
this and the adjoining parish of Ballincuslane to the
village of Ardnagrath, on the old mountain road from
Castleisland to Millstreet. It is in contemplation to
extend this road to Scortaglin, to form a junction with
the new Government road from Castleisland to King-
William's-town, by which the surrounding country will
be greatly improved. This place was occasionally the
head-quarters of the Whiteboys, during the disturbances
of 1822; but since the opening of the road from Listowel
to Newmarket, the neighbourhood has enjoyed
perfect tranquillity. In that part of the parish which
borders on the counties of Limerick and Cork is a constabulary
police station. The living is a rectory and
vicarage, in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, and in
the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes amount to
£175. There is neither church nor glebe-house; the
glebe comprises 2¼ acres. In the R. C. divisions this
parish is the head of the union or district of Brosna or
Knocknagashel, which comprises also parts of the adjoining
parishes of Castleisland and Ballincuslane; the
hapel is a thatched but commodious building, and
during the summer months a school is held in it, under
the superintendence of the parish priest; there is also
a chapel at Knocknagashel, in the parish of Castleisland.
There are two private schools, in which about 120 children
are educated. Some slight vestiges of the ancient
parish church may still be traced in the burialground.