RATHMICHAEL, a parish, partly in the? barony of
UPPERCROSS, and partly in that of HALF-RATHDOWN,
county of DUBLIN, and province of LEINSTER, 2 miles
(N. W.) from Bray, on the road to Dublin; containing
1297 inhabitants. This place appears to have attained
a considerable degree of importance at a very early
period; the vicars choral of St. Patrick's, Dublin,
claimed as their ancient inheritance the town of Shanganagh,
in this parish; and the whole of that extensive
townland belonged, from the reign of Edw. I., to the
family of Walsh, of Old Connaught, till the early part
of the last century, when it was purchased by Lewis
Roberts, Esq. It has since that time been divided into
portions and let on leases in perpetuity by the heirs of
that family, who hold the fee simple of the estate; the
largest portion of the land, consisting of more than 100
plantation acres, has been for 40 years in the occupation
of Gen. Sir George Cockburn, K. C. The parish, which
is bounded on the east by the sea, comprises 2599
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and
valued at £4137 per annum. The soil is good and the
system of agriculture improved; the only waste land
is mountain, which affords rough pasturage, and there are
about 8 acres of common. Granite is found in several
places, and on the mountain of Shankill, near which there
are mines of lead worked by the Mining Company of Ireland.
Shariganagh, the seat of Sir G. Cockburn, is a spacious
and handsome castellated mansion, almost wholly
built by its proprietor: the interior contains many
elegant apartments, an extensive and well-selected library,
a fine collection of paintings by the best masters, a
variety of marbles, antique casts, and bronzes, collected
by Sir George while in Italy, and some fine specimens
of Egyptian granite, mosaic work, and other articles
of vertu. In front of the house is a handsome column
of Grecian marble with a rich Corinthian antique
capital, erected by the proprietor in commemoration of
the passing of the Reform Bill. The views from the
house are very rich and finely diversified, embracing
woods, mountain, and sea; and the grounds are ornamented
with a variety of statuary tastefully disposed.
There are several other seats in the parish, which, from
their elevated situation and proximity to the sea, command
fine prospects. The principal are Shanganagh
House, the residence of W. Hopper, Esq.; Clairmont,
of J. Clarke, Esq.; Newbrighton, of W. Graves, Esq.;
Newbrighton, of - Dillon, Esq.; Air Hill, of W. Hall,
Esq.; Chantilly, of R. Tilly, Esq.; Shankill House, of
J. V. Fowler, Esq.; Sylvan Mount, of G. Hillas, Esq.;
Skerrington, of J. Harvey, Esq.; Ellerslie, of W. Bigger,
Esq.; Ballybride House, of the Hon. R. Plunkett;
Springfield, of Mrs. Morgan; Lordello, of P. Morgan,
Esq.; Abington, of - Morigan, Esq.; Shanganagh, of
- Carter, Esq. 5 Johnstown, of - Smith, Esq.; Cherrywood,
of the Rev. J. Hunt; Emerald cottage, of Capt.
J. S. Hore, R. N.; Shankill, of R. Maddock, Esq.; and
Clifton Cottage, of Mrs. Morgan. The eastern side of
the Scalp, which abounds with features of the rudest
magnificence, is within the parish. The lead-works
of the Mining Company afford employment to many
persons. The ore is chiefly galena, but carbonate is
found in small portions; in the immediate vicinity of
the mines is a tower for making shot, and at Ballycorus
are furnaces for smelting the ore not only of
these but also of other mines in the neighbouring districts
belonging to the same company; there are also
works for rolling the lead and making pipes of all sizes.
A patent exists for holding fairs near the present
ruins of the ancient church, round which was formerly
a considerable village, but none are now held.
The parish was separated from the union of Bray in
1826. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese
of Dublin, constituting the prebend of Rathmichael
in the cathedral of St. Patrick: the tithes amount to
£250. The glebe-house is an inferior residence, built
by Dr. John Lyon, the friend and cotemporary of Dean
Swift; and there are a few acres of glebe. The church
is in ruins; the Protestant parishioners attend the
church of Bray. In the R. C. divisions the parish
forms part of the union or district of Kingstown, and
Cabinteely, and part of that of Sandyford and Glancullen.
The parochial school, at Laughlinstown, in
which are about 40 children, is supported by subscription;
and there is a private school, in which are about
60 children. An estate was bequeathed by F. Adair,
Esq., to the parish of Powerscourt and the unions
of Delgany and Bray, of the proceeds of which this
parish receives a portion. Near the ruins of the ancient
church, which occupy an. elevated site commanding
a view of the sea and the adjoining country, are the
remains of an ancient round tower, consisting of the
foundation and about two feet of the wall above ground:
it has a singular under-ground gallery, mostly choked
up, which is said to be extensive. The remains of a line
of castles and intrenchments may be traced, commencing
on the lands of Shanganagh, near Laughlinstown,
and continued over the mountain beyond Rathmichael
to Ballyman; in such as yet exist, the vaults appear
to have been centred with wicker-work. There are
several Druidical relics in the neighbourhood; also the
ruins of Puck's castle and that of Shankill, said to have
been besieged by Cromwell, and near which have been
frequently found human skeletons, and coins of the
reigns of Chas. I. and Jas. I. In a field belonging to
Mr. Hopper was discovered, in ploughing, a stone coffin
containing human bones. The glebe-house was for
several years the favourite retreat of Dr. Leland, author
of the History of Ireland, who was rector of the union
of Bray, and who planted the shrubbery which now
surrounds it.