CUROFIN, or COROFIN, a small market-town and post-town,
in the parish of KILNEBOY, barony of INCHIQUIN,
county of CLARE, and province of MUNSTER, 7 miles
(N. N. W.) from Ennis, on the road to Kilfenora, and
118 miles (W. S. W.) from Dublin; containing 900 inhabitants.
This town is situated about three-quarters
of a mile south-east of Inchiquin lake, and near the
western extremity of Lough Tadane: these loughs are
connected by a river flowing through them, which is
here crossed by a stone bridge. It comprises about 140
houses, mostly thatched, and consists of one main street,
commencing near the bridge, and a shorter one branching
off, towards the east, at the end of which stands the
church, and on the south side of it the R. C. chapel.
Considerable quantities of yarn stockings, the manufacture
of the surrounding country, were formerly brought
to this place for sale, but the trade has long been on
the decline. Adjoining the bridge is Richmond, the
residence of the Rev. S. Walsh, P. P; and about threequarters
of a mile west of the town, and near the shore
of Inchiquin lake, is Riverstown, the old mansion of the
Burton family, now converted into a chief constabulary
police station. A boat race has lately been established
on the lake of Inchiquin (which is remarkable for the
beauty of its scenery and for its fine trout), and is likely
to become annual. Lough Tadane is said to abound
with roach and very large pike. A small market is held
on Wednesday; and there are two fairs, one on the day
before Ascension-day, and one on Nov. 22nd. The
market-house is an old building, supported by slanting
buttresses, and is at present almost disused, the corn,
being chiefly sent to Ennis. Petty sessions are held on
alternate Wednesdays; and road sessions for the district
are also held here. A seneschal's court for the
manor of Inchiquin is occasionally held, in which small
debts are recoverable. The church is a small neat edifice.
The R. C. chapel is a spacious slated building,
erected by subscription about ten years since. The parochial
school is chiefly supported by the Rev. Mr. Blood
and Edward Synge, Esq. Here is also a large school,
under the patronage of the parish priest. Hugh McCurtin,
the learned antiquary, grammarian, and poet, author
of an Irish dictionary, died here about 1720, and was
interred at Kilvedane, in the neighbourhood. See KILNEBOY.