BALLYGURRUM, or BALLYGORUM, a parish,
in the barony of IDA, county of KILKENNY, and province
of LEINSTER, 4¼ miles (W. S. W.) from New Ross;
containing 693 inhabitants. This parish is situated on
the river Barrow, and comprises 1827 statute acres, as
applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £1655 per
annum. The village is pleasantly situated near the confluence
of the Suir and Barrow. Here is a square tower
or castle, built at an early period by the Fforstall or
Forestall family, which afterwards belonged to the
Aylwards, whose name is perpetuated in that of Aylwardstown,
the adjacent property of the Earl of Besborough,
and now the seat of the family of Strange.
The scenery of the immediate neighbourhood is highly
interesting, and is embellished with Ringville, the seat
of Lady Esmonde, and Rochestown, that of - Forestall,
Esq. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Ossory, and
forms part of the union of Rossbercon; the rectory is
impropriate in the Corporation of Waterford, The
tithes amount to £165, of which £110 is payable to the
corporation, and £55 to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions
it forms part of the union or district of Slieruagh.
There is a pay school, in which are about 50 children.