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Irish Narrow Gauge - Schull

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Schull - S&SR

• osi 100m reference: V931318, map DM088
• Skull - in Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of 1842
• see also: Schull Pier
• map: [SSRJB: m-5-p154-1941 ]
• track diagrams: [SSRJB: d-6-p156-1886 d-6-p156-1953 ]
  [SSTAN d-6-p15- ]
• photos:
  • general: [INGV1: b-5-p19-1938.07.01 ]
    [SSRJB: b-6-p153-1944 b-6-p157-1939 b-6-p157-?1920 b-6-p165-?1898 b-6-p195-?1910 b-6-p213-1938 ]
    [NLE6L: b-5-d6-1939 ]
    [SSTAN b-6-p16- b-6-p16-1886 ]
  • carriage shed: [SSRJB: b-6-p158-1938 b-6-p159-1938 b-6-p160-?1935 ]
  • engine shed: [SSRJB: b-6-p160-?1898 b-6-p161-1938 b-6-p161-1953 ]
  • goods shed: [SSRJB: b-6-p161-1953 ]
  • platform: [SSRJB: b-6-p158-1938 ]
  • station: [SSRJB: b-6-p94-?1924 b-6-p158-1936 b-6-p158-1938 b-6-p159-1938 b-6-p159-1938 b-6-p160-?1898 b-6-p160-?1935 b-6-p256-1899 ]
  • station nameboard: [SSRJB: b-6-p3- ]
  • turntable: [SSRJB: b-6-p161-1938 b-6-p175-?1936 ]
  • water tower: [SSRJB: b-6-p161-1938 b-6-p175-?1936 ]
• staff:
  • station master:
    • 1886: Michael O'Sullivan
    • ????: James Daly
    • ????: Daniel O'Donovan
    • ????: James Florence O'Sullivan
• Cassell's 1899:

  Skull, or Schull, coast parish and village, West Carbery barony, South West county Cork, Ireland ; acreage 37,992. The parish lies on the peninsula formed by Dunmanus Bay on the north and Long Island Bay to the south, and includes several islands off the coast. It is very mountainous, exhibiting some grand scenery, in which Mount Gabriel (1,339 feet) is prominent. A considerable quantity of copper ore has been discovered from time to time. This once gave employment to a number of persons, and many thousand tone of ore were sent to Swansea ; but the works were ultimately abandoned. In 1847 the parish was particularly afflicted by the famine, which carried off several hundreds of its poorer inhabitants. Skull was anciently called Sancta Maria de Scholis (== "St. Mary of the Schools"), and is traditionally alleged to have been for some time the chief seat of learning in south-western Munster. The harbout affords good shelter and anchorage to vessels of moderate tonnage, having two to eight fathoms of water at low tide ; and although the entrance is impeded by some sunken rocks, it is well defended from the fury of the Atlantic by Castle Island and Long Island, which lie immediately outside. A protestant church of the modern English style, with a belfry, is situated near the town. The workhouse is about 1 mile east of the fillage. There is a market on Thursday for butter, eggs and fowls ; and monthly fairs are held. Population (parish) : 7,200. Population (village) : 490.

• Lewis' Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837:

  SCHULL, a parish, in the Western Division of the barony of WEST CARBERY, county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 11 miles from Skibbereen, on the road to Crookhaven; containing, with several inhabited islands in Roaring Water bay, 5,252 inhabitants, of which number, 385 are in the village. It is exceedingly wild and uncultivated, and appears in the earlier periods of Irish history to have been regarded as of very great importance for its numerous defiles and strongholds amidst its rocks; and in later times, from the erection of several castles by the various native septs, which from their situation and great strength would appear to have been impregnable. The castles of Dunbeacon and Dunmanus, on Dunmanus bay, were built by the sept of O'Mahony ; the former to protect the boundary and pass between their territories and those of the O'Donovans. At Lemcon, in the south of the parish, are the remains of a castle which was taken, in 1612, by the Lord-President of Munster, on his return to Cork after the siege of Dunboy; to the east of these, on the shore of Roaring Water bay, are the castles of Ardintenant and Rossbrin; and opposite to the former, on an island about a mile from the shore, are the remains of Black castle, which gave name to the island, all of which were erected by the sept of O'Slahony. At Liscalia are also the remains of a very extensive fort, surrounded by a double rampart and fosse, which gives name to that district, signifying "the Battle Fort," and where a sanguinary battle is said to have taken place between the Irish and the Danes, in which the latter were defeated with great slaughter. At Rath trovane is also a similar fort, surrounded by a mound of earth and strengthened with a massive stone wall, firmly built without mortar. The parish forms the eastern portion of a peninsula extending from Dunmanus bay, on the north, to Roaring Water bay on the south, and comprising 84,000 statute acres, of which 24,204 are applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £7898 per annum. The surface is rocky and very uneven, rising in some parts into mountains of considerable elevation; the highest in a chain extending from east to west is Mount Gabriel, 1145 feet above the level of the sea; the whole are of the schistose formation, in some places passing into all the varieties of transition rock. About one-third of the land, consisting principally of small patches between the rocks, is under tillage; but the system of agriculture is in a very backward state, and spade husbandry is in general practice. There are some tracts of mountain which afford tolerable pasturage to numerous herds of young cattle; but the greater portion presents only a bare rocky surface, and appears to be wholly irreclaimable. There are also considerable tracts of bog, producing a good supply of peat, part of which might be reclaimed at a moderate expense. The principal seats are Ardmanah House, the residence of Major J. Wynne; Lemcon House, of R. E. Hull, Esq.; Rock Cottage, of J. O'Callaghan, Esq.; Gortnagruach, of R. Swanton, Esq.; Audley Lodge, of Capt. Forster, R. N.; Greenmount, of Capt. Long; Ballydebob Cottage, of the Rev. J. Barry, P. P. ; and Ardirivema, of the Rev. L. O'Sullivan. The islands within the limits of the parish are Long island, Goat island, Castle island, Horse island, Dunmanus, Ballydehob, Carbery island, the Three Calves, and the islands of Carty and Moan. The largest of these is Long island, but the most valuable is Horse island, abounding with copper ore of good quality, which is found also in other parts of the parish. Some very extensive mines have been opened on the summit of Cappach bill by the proprietor, Lord Audley and they were subsequently worked by the Irish Mining company, but are now rented by the West Cork Mining company, who have for a time suspended their operations here while they are working the mines in Horse island, about a mile and a half distant; the ore found at Cappach and Horse island is very pure. The same company, in 1835, opened very extensive slate quarries at Audley's Cove and at Tilemuck, in this parish, in which 500 men are constantly employed; the slate is of excellent quality, compact, hard, and durable; and great quantities have been already sent to London and other English markets, where it is in great demand. Trials for copper ore and slate have also been made with success in various parts of the parish, the working of which will he highly beneficial, by providing constant employment to the dense population of this wild and hitherto almost unknown portion of the country. The mines and quarries now in progress are situated close to the shores of Roaring Water bay, upon a small creek called Audley's Cove, from which their produce can be readily shipped for any British port. The bay is accessible to vessels of 600 tons' burden; and the harbour of Skull is well sheltered, the ground level, and the water in the anchorage averaging from three to four fathoms; the entrance is perfectly safe, and at all times practicable, there being only one rock, which is situated nearly in the centre, and is dry at two hours' ebb. A new line of road parallel with the shore, and leading from Skibbereen to Rock island and Crookhaven, has been constructed, which will materially benefit the trade of the place. The village contains 79 houses, several of which are modern and well built. A fair for cattle, sheep and pigs is held at Skull on the 5th of January, and fairs are also held in the village of Ballydehob, which see. A constabulary police force is stationed here and also at Ballydehob ; and there are coast-guard stations on Long island and at Skull, which latter is a detachment from the station at Crookhaven, in the district of Skibbereen. A manorial court is held at Lerncon, every third Monday, at which debts under £5 are recoverable; there is also an ecclesiastical manor belonging to the bishop of Ross, for which a court is held occasionally; and petty sessions are held at Towermore every alternate week. The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Cork, and in the alternate patronage of the Crown and the Bishop: the tithes amount to £850. The glebe-house is a handsome residence, and the glebe comprises 631 acres. The church, towards the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £207, is a small plain edifice, erected in 1790. At Ballydebob is a very handsome church, in the later English style, erected in 1829 as a chapel of ease, at an expense of £600, a gift from the late Board of First Fruits; divine service is also performed in three schoolrooms in the parish. In the R. C. divisions the parish is divided into East and West Skull, which latter forms part of the union of Kilmore; in the eastern division are two chapels, one at Ballydehob and the other at Skull, in which also is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. About 340 children are taught in six public schools, of which three are supported by the rector; and there are nine private schools (in which are about 230 children), a Sunday school, and a dispensary. Near Towermore, on the road to Rock island, are the remains of a cromlech, called "the Altar;" and on the road to Four-mile-Water are those of another, with an imperfect circle of upright stones. On the shores of Dunmanus bay are the beautiful remains of the ancient church of Kilcoma; and at Bawnaknuckane are the ruins of an ancient religious house and seminary, and of the ancient castle of Rossbrin, in which was written the Psalter of that name by a bard of the O'Mahony family. An ancient skein, or sword, was found in the churchyard in 1835; and at Quoilahmore a great number of silver coins of the reign of Anne were recently discovered.