HOLMPATRICK, a parish, in the barony of BALROTHERY,
county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER,
3½ miles (S. E.) from Balbriggan; containing, with the
town of Skerries, 3109 inhabitants. This parish, which
is situated on the eastern coast, derives its name from
the island of Innis Patrick, about a mile from the shore,
on which a monastery was founded by Sitric Mac Murchard
towards the close of the 9th century. Moel
Finian, Prince of the Bregii, became a monk in this
establishment, of which he was made abbot; and in
1148 a great synod was held here by Gelasius, Archbishop
of Armagh, assisted by Malachy O'Morgair,
apostolic legate. Between the years 1213 and 1228 the
establishment was removed from the island to the mainland,
and a building erected on the coast at a short
distance from the town of Skerries, where it continued
to flourish till the dissolution, after which the site and
possessions were granted by Queen Elizabeth to Sir
Thomas Fitzwilliam. The mountain portions of the
parish present an interesting variety of transition rocks,
chiefly of green-stone (in some parts much mixed with
calcareous matter), fine grauwacke, clay-slate, grauwacke
slate, calcareous tufa, and limestone. The limestone
rocks near Lough Shinny are worn into singular form
by the action of the sea, which has broken the surface
into bold undulations. Two small rocky islands, Colt
and Shenex, form a group with Innis Patrick; and
beyond these is the islet of Rockabill, or Cow and Calf.
Innis Patrick consists of fine grauwacke alternating with
grauwacke-slate and clay-slate, with thin layers of limestone
from half an inch to several feet in width, uniformly
dipping southward; and on its western side is a
horizontal section of the same material. The islands of
Colt and Shenex are of similar composition, but Rockabill
is of granite. At Milverton is a quarry of very fine
building stone, frequently imbedded with fossils, which,
when polished, is equal to marble and is often used for
mantel-pieces. On Shenex and Red islands are martello
towers, and at Skerries is a coast-guard station. There
are nearly fifty wherries, of from 30 to 50 tons' burden
each, belonging to Skerries: they are engaged in the fishery,
and have the benefit of a commodious harbour and
pier, where coal brigs from the English side of the channel
can unload, with an excellent roadstead and anchorage,
where large vessels frequently take shelter in unfavourable
weather. The manufacture of worked muslins
is carried on in this town extensively, and gives employment
to a great number of females. Milverton, the
seat of G. Woods, Esq., is beautifully situated in a
richly wooded demesne of 180 acres, commanding a
fine view of the sea, with the town of Skerries in the
foreground; within the demesne are the. cemetery and
some of the foundation of the church of St. Mavee, with
a well dedicated to that saint. The only other seat is
Hacketstown, the property of J. H. Hamilton, Esq.,
proprietor of the parish, and now the residence of his
agent. There are two windmills and a water-mill for
grinding corn; and fairs are held at Skerries on April
28th, and Aug. 10th, for cattle and pigs. The living is
an impropriate curacy, in the diocese of Dublin, and in
the patronage of J. H. Hamilton, Esq., in whom the
rectory is impropriate, and who has endowed the curacy
structure, 100 feet high, with walls of remarkable thickness;
it is situated on the east side of the entrance of
Waterford harbour, in Lat. 52° 7' 20" (N.), and Lon.
6° 58' (W.); the lantern contains 17 lamps, displaying
a fixed light 139 feet above the level of the sea at high
water. The living is a vicarage, episcopally united to
the impropriate curacy of Templetown, in the diocese
of Ferns, and in the patronage of the Marquess of Ely:
the tithes amount to £84. 13. 1½., of which £48. 7. 6. is
payable to the Marquess of Ely, in whom the rectory is
impropriate, and £36. 5. 7½. to the vicar. In the R. C.
divisions the parish is the head of a district, comprising
also the parishes of Templetown, St. James, and Fethard;
there are chapels at Templetown, Ramsgrange, Duncannon,
and Poulfur. The parochial school is near Loftus
Hall. Near the village of Slade are the remains of
Slade castle, said to have been erected by one of the
Hay family, descendants of Richard de la Haie, who
accompanied his kinsman, Hervey ‘de Montemarisco,
into Ireland.