TOUGH, or TUORAGH, a parish, in the barony
of OWNEYBEG, county of LIMERICK, and province of
MUNSTER, 9 miles (S. E.) from Limerick, on the little
river Mulcairn, or Mulchairj containing 3534 inhabitants.
This parish comprises 1728 statute acres of
land, some of which is very fertile, some indifferent, and
some bog: it is partly under a tolerable system of cultivation,
but generally the holdings are small and the
inhabitants very poor. At Drumsally there is an extensive
tract of turbary, around which stand a great number
of wretched cabins. Fairs are held at the village of
Cappamore, which see. Near the river is Tower Hill,
a fine house and demesne, the residence of W. Lloyd,
Esq. It is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of
Emly, forming part of the union of Abington; the tithes
amount to £250. In the R. C. divisions it is the head
of a union or district, called Cappamore, comprising
this parish and those of Clonkeen, Abington, and part
of Doon: the chapel is a large plain edifice in the village.
Here are parochial schools, and a school at Tower
Hill; also four private schools, in which are about ISO
children. Not far from Tower Hill are the ruins of the
old church.