FINNOE, a parish, in the barony of LOWER-ORMOND,
county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER,
l½ mile (W. S. W.) from Burris-o-Kane, on one
of the roads from Nen'agh to Portumna; containing
1399 inhabitants, and comprising 4003 statute acres,
of which about 800 are bog; the remainder being
mostly pasture land. A lake, covering about 60 acres
was drained about 10 years since; the land is reclaimed,
and very productive, and the.state of agriculture generally
is much improved. Large quantities of shell marl
are found at Springfield; and there is plenty of limestone
for the purposes of agriculture, and for building.
A small river, called Ballyfinboy, separates this parish
from Burris-o-Kane, and empties itself into the Shannon
at Castle Biggs. The principal seats are Finnoe House,
the residence of T. Waller, Esq.; Ormond Cottage, of
S. Waller, Esq.; Rodeen, of J. Falkiner, Esq.; Bell
Park, of T. ‘Robinson, Esq.; the glebe-house, of the
Rev. Pierce. Goold; and Bellgrove, the property of -
Lennard, Esq. The living is a rectory and, vicarage, in
the diocese of Killaloe, episcopally united in 1790 to the
rectory and vicarage; of Cloghprior, and in the patronage
of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £217. The
glebe-house, situated on a glebe of 4a. 4a. 3r. 26p., half a
mile from the church, was built by aid of a gift of
£400, and a loan of £400, in 1819, from the late Board
of First Fruits; there is also a glebe of 28 acres, for
which the incumbent pays £17 per annum. The church
is a neat edifice, repaired and improved by aid of a loan
of £323, in 1822, from the same Board. In the R. C.
divisions the parish forms part of the union or district
of Kilbarron; there is a chapel on the townland of Fir-
grove, which is on the boundary of Finnoe and Kilbarron.
About 70 children are taught in a private school.
Ballyfinboy castle is a square tower in good preservation.
Many large elk horns have been found at Springfield
bog; and on that townland there is a strong chalybeate
spa, only partially used.