COUNTY LOUTH
1846
This is a maritime county,
the smallest in Ireland, bounded on the east by the Irish
Sea, on the west by the counties of Monaghan and Meath, on
the north by Carlingford Bay and the county of Armagh, and
on the south by that of Meath. Its greatest length in the
direction of south by west is twenty-eight miles; and its
greatest breadth west by north is eighteen; comprehending an
area of 201,906 acres; of which about 179,000 are arable;
5,300 of plantations; 1,200 occupied by towns; 800 covered
by water, and the remainder, about 15,600, irreclaimable or
uncultivated land. Although the smallest county
in the island, it presents distinguishing features, as to
its scenery and soil, well deserving attention. The surface
of the country is uneven and studded with lofty hills, many
of which bear thriving plantations, which contribute to the
beauty of the scenery. Louth constituted the centre of the
English pale, originally extending from Wicklow on the
south, to Dunluce on the north; and its fragments of ancient
monuments are interesting and numerous, some bearing marks
of considerable magnificence. The soil is generally
fertile, producing fine grain and heavy green crops; indeed,
Louth may be considered as an agricultural county of
considerable value. The manufacture of sheetings, and other
kinds of coarser linen cloth, is carried on, in the
neighbourhood of Drogheda, to a considerable extent, and
there are large bleach-greens in and around that locality.
There are three places of export for the agricultural and
manufacturing produce—Newry in the north, Drogheda in the
south, and Dundalk midway between the two; and inland
communication is effectually facilitated by the Dublin and
Belfast railway, which passes through the county, and Lough Carlingford, which leads up to the Newry canal, and by it
with the inland navigation of Ulster. There is an oyster
fishery at Carlingford Bay, the produce of which is held in
great estimation, and finds a ready market in Dublin and
other towns. The CLIMATE of Louth is mild,
but humid; not more so, however, than other sea-bound
counties generally are. The geology of the county is very
simple. The mountains in the north are chiefly composed of
granite; and clay slate, limestone, impure ironstone, and
pyrites of iron, form the sub-strata of other districts. The
rivers which have connexion with this county are the Flurry,
the Stranarn, the Cully, and the Creaghan—all streams from
Armagh, and with the Fane from Monaghan, flow into Dundalk
Bay. The Lagan, the Glyde, the Dee, and the Boyne, are the
other streams defined by name—the last celebrated for the
battle fought on its banks between James I and William III.
The lakes within the county are Newtown-balregan, Corteal.
Kercock, Beaulieu, Drumcah, and two or three smaller sheets
of water. In Sept. 1843, there were
(including those at Drogheda) 62 national schools attended
by 10,500 children.
DIVISIONS, POPULATION,
REPRESENTATION, &C. The number of baronies
comprised in the county are six ”namely, Ardee, Drogheda,
Dundalk Lower, Dundalk Upper, Ferrard, and Louth: these are
divided into sixty-four parishes (including those
comprehended in the county of the town of DROGHEDA). The population of the county,
by the census taken in 1841, was, males, 62,297; females,
65,943: total, 128,240. The number of houses inhabited, at
that period, was 22,856; uninhabited, 1,286; and houses
building, 98. Prior to the Union Louth sent
ten representatives to the Irish Parliament; two for the
county at large, and two each for the boroughs of Ardee,
Carlingford, Dundalk, and Dunleer; at the period referred to
all the boroughs were disfranchised except Dundalk, which
sends one member to the Imperial Parliament, and the county
at large two the present representatives for the latter are
Richard Montesquieu, Esquire, Barmeath, in this county; and
the Hon. Thomas Vesey Dawson, of Dartrey, county of
Monaghan. The county of the town of Drogheda is represented
by one member, in the person of Sir William Meredyth
Somerville, Baronet.
(SOURCE: Slater's, National Commercial Directory of
Ireland,1846 p.14).
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