TULLAGHORTON, a parish, in the barony of IFFA
and OFFA-WEST, county of TIPPERARY, and province
of MUNSTER, on the mail coach road from Clonmel to
Cork, and on the river Tar; containing, with part of
the post-town of Clogheen, 1965 inhabitants. This
parish contains 2905 statute acres, as applotted under
the tithe act, mostly under tillage. Here is abundance
of limestone, used for manure and building; and peat
is cut on the mountain, much of which is reclaimable.
A silver mine was worked for a short time, about 40
years since, on the townland of Castle-Grace, but it was
discontinued, though the ore was considered valuable.
An extensive flour-mill, employing from 30 to 40 persons,
the erection of which is supposed to have cost
£6000, has lately been built at Castle-Grace by Sam.
Grubb, Esq., of Clogheen. A manorial court is held in
the parish by the seneschal of the Earl of GlengalL lord
of the manor. Parson's Green was the residence of
the late Rev. Dr. Tuckey; and Ballyboy is that of R.
Croker, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in
the diocese of Lismore; the rectory forms the corps of
the prebend of Lismore, with which the vicarage is held,
and is in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes
amount to £3S8. 9. 3.; the glebe, close to the site of
the old church, comprises 3r. 6p., and is annexed to
the vicarage. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms
part of the union or district of Ballylooby, or Whitechurch,
and contains a chapel. There are two private
schools, in which about 190 children are taught. Here
is a holy well, to which pilgrims resort once a year.
The ruins of a castle, denominated Castle-Grace, consist
at present of two towers on the east side, comprising
an area of about 40 yards square -, it was erected
as a strong position to check the inroads of the Desmonds
by Raymond le Gros, who came over with Strongbow,
and received a grant of this property, with other
possessions, from King John: it passed to the Butler
family, and is now the property of the Earl of GlengalL
At Ballyboy are slight remains, indicating that it was
once of considerable strength, of another old castle formerly
belonging to the Desmonds.