MAGHERALLY, a parish, in the barony of LOWER-IVEAGH, county of DOWN, and province of ULSTER, 3
miles (E.) from Banbridge, on the road to Downpatrick;
containing 3189 inhabitants. This parish, called also
Magherawley, comprises, according to the Ordnance
survey, 5243¾ statute acres, of which 22½ are water,
and the remainder, with the exception of about 150
acres of bog, good arable and pasture land; the soil is
fertile, and the system of agriculture improving. The
principal seats are Tullyhenan, the residence of J.
Lindsay, Esq.; and the glebe-house, of the Rev. M.
Sampson. Many of the inhabitants are employed in
weaving linen for the manufacturers at Banbridge. The
living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Dromore,
the rectory forming part of the union of Aghaderg
and of the corps of the deanery of Dromore, and.
the vicarage in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes
amount to £190. 14. 6., of which £60. 10. is payable
to the dean, and £130. 4. 6. to the vicar; the gross
revenue of the benefice, including tithes and. glebe, and
an augmentation from the Ecclesiastical Commissioners
of £31. 8. 0., is £191. 12. 6. The glebe-house was built
in 1780, at an expense of £276. 18. 5½, of which onethird
was a gift from the late Board of First Fruits, and
the remainder paid by the incumbent; the glebe comprises
20 acres, valued at £30 per ann,, held under the
see of Dromore at 5s. per annum. The church, a small
but handsome modern edifice with a tower and spire,
towards which the late Board of First Fruits gave
£276. 18. 5½., is situated on an eminence. In the R. C.
divisions the parish forms part of the union or district
of Tullylish. There is a place of worship for Presbyterians
in connection with the Synod of Ulster, of the
second class. About 160 children are taught in the
parochial school, built in 1828, and now in connection
with the New Board of Education; since that period
schools have been established at Corbet, Ballymoney,
and Mullaghfernaghan. There are also three private
schools, in which are about 260 children. Numerous
forts are scattered over the parish, but they are rapidly
disappearing in consequence of the advancement of
agriculture.