CASTLEBUOY, or ST-JOHNSTOWN, a liberty (extraparochial),
in the barony of ARDES, county of
DOWN, and province of ULSTER, 3 miles (N.E.) from
Portaferry; containing 744 inhabitants. This place is
situated on Cloghy bay, and, according to the Ordnance
survey, comprises 1358¼ statute acres. A commandery
or preceptory of St. John the Baptist of Jerusalem,
dependent on the priory of Kilmainham, was
founded here by Hugh de Lacy, in 1189, which continued
till the commencement of the fifteenth century;
the building is now in ruins, and the family of Echlin
possesses several townlands in freehold which have
always enjoyed exemption from tithe and church cess,
and also a manor which belonged to the commandery,
the court of which is now held once in three weeks.
The manor is called Cloghy, and the court has jurisdiction
over the liberty of Castlebuoy, the parishes of
Slanes and Ballytrustin, and part of Witter, and any
sum not exceeding £5 is recoverable in it, either by
attachment or civil bill process. The lofty tower of the
castle and ruins of the church are situated in one of the
most secluded and fertile vales in the Ardes, On a
chain of rock in the channel, three miles east from the
shore, is the South Rock or Kilwarlin light-house.
There is a private school, in which are about 70 boys
and 60 girls.