GREAT-ISLAND, or BARRYMORE-ISLAND, an island, in
the harbour of Cork, barony of Barrymore, county of
Cork, and province of Munster; containing, with the
post-town of Cove, (which is described under its own
head), 11,089 inhabitants. It was anciently called Ard-
Neimheidh, and is one of the first places mentioned in
Irish history whose locality can be fixed with precision.
A battle was fought here in 125 between Ængus,
king of Ireland, and Niadh Nuaget, a tributary prince,
in which the latter recovered the crown of Munster;
and in the 12th century the island maintained its independence
against the English for some time after they
had acquired possession of Cork and the adjacent country.
In 1329 it was the property of Lord Philip Hodnet,
who resided at Clonmel, where he was besieged by
the Barrys and Roches, and all his adherents put to
death. The Barrys having obtained possession, it was
called Barrymore Island. During the war of 1641,
a party of Lord Castlehaven's troops coming here to
plunder, were attacked by Major Power with 30 horse
and two companies of foot, and about 500 of them were
slain. In 1666 it was described by the Earl of Orrery
as very fertile, and a place of such consequence as, were
he an enemy about to invade Ireland, to be the first he
would endeavour to secure. Most of the islands and
headlands in its neighbourhood have since been strongly
fortified.
It extends five miles from east to west, and two from
north to south, comprising 221 gneeves, or 13,149 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued
at £9758 per ann., and is most advantageously situated.
To the south is the magnificent harbour of Cove; on
the west is the deep channel, half a mile wide, which
separates it from the mainland at Passage; on the
north it is bounded by the noble estuary of the Lee, and
on the east by a shallow channel which separates it
from Foaty Island, over which is a lofty bridge, from
the extremity of which branch two roads, one leading
by way of Passage to Cove, the other crossing the
island to the same port. The shores are generally bold,
and the interior has a pleasing variety of hill and dale,
watered by several small streams that flow into the
Eastern Channel. It is composed of clay-slate covered
with a light productive soil, but intermingled with fragments
of the substratum: two-thirds are under tillage,
and the remainder in pasture or included in demesnes.
Two ferries afford communication between the island
and the mainland, the western ferry to Passage, the
eastern to Midleton. There is also a communication
by land from Belvelly, where a stone bridge and causeway
connect it with. Foaty island, whence is another
causeway communicating with the mainland; a direct
communication is thus opened by land with Cork. The
beauty of its situation and salubrity of the climate have
induced many genteel families to settle here. Among
the principal seats are Marino, the residence of T. G.
French, Esq.; Ballymore House, of J. H. Bennett, Esq.;
Cuskinny, of Savage T. W. French, Esq.; Eastgrove, of J.
Bagwell, Esq.; Ballymore, of R. B. Shaw, Esq.; Ashgrove,
of R. Frankland, Esq.; Ballymore Cottage, of
W. J. Coppinger, Esq.; Belgrove, of the Rev. G. Gumbleton;
Whitepoint House, of H. H. O'Brien, Esq.;
Spy Hill, of the Rev. T. L. Coghlan; the Retreat, of
Mrs. O'Grady; Merton, of R. Morrison, Esq.; East
Hill, of Capt. Stubbs; Bellevue, of Dr. Crotty, R. C.
Bishop of Cloyne; and Ballynoe House, of A. Hargreave,
Esq. Besides these are many lodges and cottages
ornée for the accommodation of visiters during the
bathing season.
The island is divided into the Eastern and Western
parishes, which together form the union of Clonmel, or
Cove, in the diocese of Cloyne, and in the patronage
of the Bishop. The Eastern parish, called also Templerobin,
includes, in addition to the eastern part of
Great Island, part of Foaty, and the whole of Hawlbowling,
Spike, and Rocky islands (each of which is described
under its own head); it is a rectory and vicarage,
and the tithes amount to £323. The Western
parish, called Clonmel, besides the western part of the
island, includes the remaining portion of Foaty island;
it is a vicarage, and was anciently called Templelyra,
from having belonged to the Knights Templars; the entire
tithes amount to £276. 18. 5½, of which two-thirds
are payable to the lessee of the economy estate of the cathedral
of Cloyne, and one-third to the vicar: the tithes
of the benefice amount to £415. 7. 8. A third parish
was erected in 1762, by the Rev. Downes Conron, the incumbent,
on a dispute between him and the Dean and
Chapter of Cloyne relative to tithes; but a compromise
was effected and the incumbent has to pay £100
annually to the economy estate. There is no tradition
of Kilgarvan as a parish, and it is mentioned only in one
of the county records; but 20 acres of arable land in
Kilgarvan, with their tithes, &c., were granted by patent
to Sir Richard Boyle, Knt., in 1605. The glebe-house
is about to be rebuilt; there is a glebe of 18 acres belonging
to the incumbent, and one of 30 acres belonging
to the economy estate. The church, which is in Cove,
is a large and handsome edifice. In the R. C. divisions
the island forms the district of Cove, and has a
chapel in that town, and one at Funnah. There is also
a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. There are
four public schools, in which about 380, and eleven private
schools in which about 370, children are educated;
also a Sunday school, supported by the curates: most
of them are in or near Cove. The most interesting
relics of antiquity are the remains of Belvelly castle,
built by one of the Hodnets, formerly a potent family,
and of Templerobin and Clonmel churches; within the
walls of the latter are interred Tobin, the author of the
"Honeymoon" and other dramatic productions; and
the Rev. C. Wolfe, who wrote the ballad "Not a drum
was heard," on the death of Gen. Sir John Moore.