IVERUS, or IVEROSSA, a parish, in the barony
of KENRY, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER,
3 miles (N.) from Askeaton, on the lower road
to Limerick, and on the rivers Shannon and Deel; containing
1884 inhabitants. Its name is derived from
Iverus, a Danish commander who sailed up the Shannon,
in 824, with a powerful fleet, and after obtaining
possession of Limerick founded a church here, on the.
spot where he had encamped at his debarkation. The
parish comprises 2606 statute acres, as applotted under
the tithe act: the land is very fertile, and in some places
under an excellent system of cultivation. It is embellished
with many elegant houses, the chief of which are
Ballysteen, the residence of E. Westropp, Esq.; Miltown,
of the Rev. A. Champagne; Ballynacourty, of T. E.
Davenport, Esq.; Castle View, of H. Ross, Esq.; and
Beigh, of the Rev. G. Maxwell; besides many good
farm-houses, around which are flourishing orchards.
The country around Miltown is peculiarly beautiful,
being highly cultivated, well fenced, and adorned with
cottages and lodges. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of
Limerick, forming part of the union of Askeaton; the
rectory is impropriate in Sir M. Blackeston. The tithes
amount to £240, of which £160 is payable to the impropriator,
and the remainder to the vicar. Divine service
is regularly performed in the parochial school,
which was erected in 1829, on an acre of land given by
J. Waller, Esq., of Castletown, at the expense of the
vicar, by whom it is chiefly supported. In the R. C. divisions
also it is part of the union or district of Askeaton,
and has a small chapel at Ballysteen. The ruins
of the ancient church occupy an elevated site, and, with
the exception of the roof, are nearly perfect. On the
bank of the Shannon are the ruins of Beh or Beigh
castle, and here are some Danish raths or forts in great
perfection.
J
JAMES'S (ST.), a parish, comprising the sea-port
and post-town of Arthurstown, and the villages of
Ballyhack, Duncannon, and Ramsgrange (each of which
is described under its own head), in the barony of
SHELBURNE, county of WEXFORD, and province of
LEINSTER; and containing, with the ecclesiastical parishes
of Dunbrody and Rathroe, 4122 inhabitants. It is
situated on the eastern shore of Waterford harbour, and
comprises 10,611 statute acres, chiefly in tillage: the
soil is varied, and the state of agriculture haw been much
improved. Limestone brought by lighters from Granny,
in the county of Kilkenny, and slab and sea-weed from
Waterford harbour, are used for manure. Near Arthurstown
are quarries of good millstone grit. Dunbrody Park,
the seat of Lord Templemore, and now occupied by his
agent, Pelham Babington, Esq., is situated on a finely
wooded eminence commanding an extensive and interesting
view of the harbour and surrounding country,
The living is an impropriate curacy, with those of Dunbrody
and Rathroe annexed, and with the rectory of
Killesk also united in augmentation; it is in the diocese
of Ferns, and in the patronage of Lord Templemore, in
whom the rectory is wholly impropriate; the tithes
amount to £400. The church, a small plain building
without tower or spire, is near Ballyhack; the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners have granted £367 for its repair
and improvement, which have been commenced. There
is also a chapel for the garrison at Duneannon Fort,
served by the curate of St. James's, who has quarters
in the Fort. In the R. C divisions the parish
forms part of the union or district of Hook, or Templetown,
and has a small chapel at Duneannon, and
another at Ramsgrange, near which latter place there
is a residence for the priest. The parochial school,
at Arthurstown, and an infants' school at Duncannon,
are supported by subscription, and there is another
free school, in all which about 85 children are
educated: and in nine other schools in the parish and
those of Dunbrody and Rathroe are about 175 children;
two of the latter schools are attached to the chapels
and are under the superintendence of the R. C. clergyman.
On a promontory in Waterford harbour, forming
the small bay of Neuk, are the ruins of Buttermilk
castle, said to derive its name from the exaction of a
toll on buttermilk by the monks of Dunbrody.