TINAHELY, a market-town and post-town, in the parish
of KILCOMMON, barony of BALLINACOR, county of
WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER, 20 miles (S. W.)
from Wicklow, and 41 (S.) from Dublin, on the road
from Rathdrum to Carnew; containing 575 inhabitants.
This place formed part of the vast estate of the
celebrated and unfortunate Earl of Strafford, who commenced
the erection of a splendid mansion at Coolruss,
about a quarter of a mile from the town, the ruins of
which are vulgarly called "Black Tom's Cellars:" on
the attainder of that nobleman the estate was forfeited
to the Crown, and subsequently became the property of
the ancestor of Earl Fitzwilliam, the present proprietor.
During the disturbances of 1798, the town was entirely
destroyed, but was soon afterwards rebuilt in an improved
style: it is situated in a wild and mountainous
district, on the banks of a small stream, over which is
a stone bridge of five arches. A market is held every
Wednesday; and fairs, chiefly for cattle and pigs, on
the first Wednesday after the 1st of Jan., Feb. 7th, the
first Wednesday after St. Patrick's day, the second
Wednesday in April, May 8th, the 4th day and the
last Wednesday in June, the first Wednesday after the
12th of July, Aug. 7th, the second Wednesday in Sept.,
the first Wednesday after the 29th of Sept., Nov. 7th,
and the second Wednesday in Dec. Here is a chief
constabulary police station; a manorial court is held in
April, and petty sessions on alternate Wednesdays in a
room over the market-house, a neat edifice, erected by
the late Earl Fitzwilliam. Soap-boiling is carried on,
and there are an extensive flour-mill and a tan-yard. In
the town are a few good houses, and in the immediate
vicinity are Town View, situated on high ground, the
residence of Lieut. H.Morton, whence a fine view of
the town and surrounding country is obtained; and
Ballicionougue, of R. Bates, Esq. The Primitive Wesleyan
Methodists hold their meetings in the sessionsroom,
A school is maintained partly by a grant from
Earl Fitzwilliam and partly by the rector; and a dispensary
is aided by an annual grant of £50 from Earl
Fitzwilliam. See KILCOMMON.