Rathfriland

County Down

Raymondscountydownwebsite

Drumgooland, population, 10,281 Drumgooland Lower, population 10,281 of entire parish Drumgooland Upper,10,281 of entire parish
Francis, C. Beers, Esq, J. P. Rev. P. Morgan, P .P. Rev. Michael O'Loughlin, P. P.
Respectable farmers. Men who have small farms, from 10 to 12 acres of land. The landlords are farmers, there might be a few exceptions.
From £1.10 shillings to £2, with a small bit of ground. A cabin with one apartment, about £1, with 2 about £1. 10shillings, with a rood of a garden, about £2. 10 shillings. The rent without land is in general, from £1 to £2 a year, with land about double the rent, paid to the chief landlord.
Built with stone, badly furnished, beds very bad. The cabins are generally of a very bad description, not keeping out the rain, and even previous to the wind, being for the most part built with stones without any lime, beds are usually of straw, without any bedstead, there are some exceptions. They are of the poorest description, and furnished accordingly, in many cases there are no bedsteads, and in general bedding very uncomfortable.
Rent generally  paid with duty labour. They hold them for money payable half yearly, duty days are sometimes required , but then the rent of the house or cabin is lower, the landlords of the cabins usually give some employment to those who hold them from them.. The cottiers here are in general, tenants at will, duty labour is not unusual, sometimes a cabin is let for one week or two days work in the week.
Several. About six or seven. I know of no instance of the kind.
Much worse since the year 1815, population much increased. Is becoming much worse, population much increased. Exceedingly deteriorated since that period in every respect, the population is increasing.
It has not been disturbed. Has been disturbed frequently by party disputes. Peaceable since that period.
None. None. There are no such institutions in this parish.
None. None. None.
From nine to fourteen in the parish. There are eight public houses in the parish, illicit distillation does not prevail here. There are three public houses, Iam told that illicit distillation

The Mass Rock

http://www.carfin.org.uk/index.htm

Inscription

Carfin Irish Site

Carfin Irish Site   A majority of Catholics in Scotland were descendents  of emigrants who arrived from Ireland in the 19th.and 20th.centuries.This site was constructed in 2001 in recognition of the contribution made by the Irish to Catholicism and society in Scotland. St.Patrick Irelands national saint and a patron of the Irish abroad. In front of an estimated 60,000 crowd this statue was unveiled by Belfast M. P. Joe Devlin in 1930.During penal times in Ireland the saying of mass was outlawed ,in response, people and priests chose isolated spots in the country and hills to avoid the authorities, Mass was often celebrated using a rock as an alter.

The Mass Rock on this site was brought from County Down and situated in Carfin in 1934.From 1845 untill 1851 due mainly to economical  and political conditions in the Country, Ireland suffered a great calamity in the shape of catastrophic famine, during the famine over one million people died and a million more emigrated. About one hundred thousand Irish came to Scotland in this period. This monument was erected using donations raised by the descendants of Irish emigrants to Scotland and the Goverment of Ireland. It commemorates those perished and those who survived and made a life for themselves and their ofsprings in Scotland

Shown above is the Mass rock which weighs two and a half tons, This was presented to Carfin Grotto, Scotland, in 1934 by a Protestant landowner from Rathfriland, County Down on whose land the rock was sited. To the right of the rock stands the Irish famine cross which was unveiled by Irish premier Bertie Ahern in June 2001.The plaque in front of the rock is in memory of the famine victims. (From the Ulster Herald 1935, the Mass rock was sent to Carfin Grotto by Canon Fitzpatrick from Rathfriland County Down.)

Drumgath, Rathfriland

 Drumgath parish & townland of 375 acres; 4km W of Hilltown; means ' ridge of the battles'; granted to Sir Arthur Magennis in 1609

Lurgancahone ,a townland 3km SW of Rathfriland; 558 acres ;means ' Cu Chonnacht's long ridge';originally owned by Magennis clan; Catholic chapel here; proprietor Marquis of Downshire

The celebration of Mass at this rock may have commenced about the time one of the Magennis families settled in Lurgancahone in 1726. The actual rock forming the altar was removed about a decade ago and enshrined in Carfin, Scotland. the site of the rock which weighs two and a half tons, on the lands of Mr. Frank Maginnis, Lurgancahone is about one mile to the north of the present Church at Drumgath. This station was ceased to be used after 1780, about which time a Mass shed was erected on the site of the present Church at Drumgath. Mr. Frank Maginnis, Canon James Fitzpatrick and members of the A.O.H (Belfast) were involved in presenting the Mass rock to Carfin Grotto, Scotland in 1934.

The Mass rock was transported from Newry to Carfin Grotto on the 17th.October.1934,it was met at Carfin Grotto by a large number of the Ancient Order of Hibernians, who escorted it before the Shrine of St. Patrick, it was a gift from Canon Fitzpatrick.

Canon James Fitzpatrick became Adm. on 9th. July 1949. A native of Clonduff, he was educated at Maynooth and ordained in Newry Cathedral by Bishop O'Neill on 8th. February 1903. Fr. Fitzpatrick was a curate in Newry for the next twenty years and became Adm., there in September 1923. During his years as Administrator in Newry he was involved in the ceremonies surrounding the solemn consecration of the Cathedral, in 1925. Fr. Fitzpatrick was Parish Priest of Drumgath from 1932-49, also becoming a member of the Cathedral Chapter in 1932. In 1950 he was appointed Archdeacon. Not long after coming to Warrenpoint Archdeacon Fitzpatrick was responsible for the purchasing of land in the townland of Dromore, on the edge of the town. This land was, in due course, converted into use as a cemetery for the Warrenpoint part of Clonallon Parish. The new cemetery was solemnly consecrated on the morning of Wednesday 2nd. July 1952 by Bishop O'Doherty, assisted by the Archdeacon. Following the consecration, a Mass was celebrated in the cemetery that day by Warrenpoint curate, Fr. Alex McMullan. Archdeacon Fitzpatrick became Dean of the Cathedral Chapter in 1955 and was appointed a Domestic Prelate by the Pope on 12th. November 1957. Dean Fitzpatrick died on 25th. February 1961 and was buried in Burren

Seeking a copy of a photograph of canon James Fitzpatrick

Raymond

A Mass rock (Carraig an Aifrinn in Irish was a stone used in mid-seventeenth century Ireland as a location for Catholic worship. Isolated locations were sought to hold religious ceremony, as Catholic mass was a matter of difficulty and danger at the time as a result of both Cromwell's campaign against the Irish, and the Penal Law of 1695. Bishops were banished and priests had to register thereafter. In some cases Priest Hunters were used.

In many instances a stone would be taken from a church ruin, and relocated to a rural area, with a simple cross carved on its top. Because the activity was illegal, the services were not scheduled and their occurrence was communicated verbally between parishioners.

The practice had waned by the late seventeenth century, when worship moved to thatched Mass houses.
Similar stones could to be found in Scotland where they are called Mass Stones

Old Rathfriland News, from the 1800's

 

Aberdeen Journal, Wednesday June 25th. 1806, On the 1st.inst.,in the 79th. year of his age, the Rev. Thomas Main, he has been dissenting minister of the parish of Drumgooland, near Rathfriland, for the space of 57 years, he was one of the oldest of the seceding body of the Presbyterian clergy in Ireland, when a student he bore arms in the Royal army, as a volunteer at the battle of Falkirk.

Aug. 13th.1830, Belfast News Letter, County of Down Assizes, Downpatrick, Monday August 9th.
Margaret Trimble, Sen. and Margaret Trimble, Jun. for stealing a number of articles at Rathfriland on the 8th. July, the property of Arthur Lavery, also for stealing 2 yards of cloth the property of Henry McKay, the elder prisoner was found guilty and the younger acquitted, three months imprisonment and hard labour.

Nov. 12th. 1831,Belfast News Letter. A farmer at Drumgath, Downshire was fined 10 shillings last week for having in his possession
a jacket of a deserter from the 67th. regiment, under the late mutiny act this penalty cannot be mitigated.

Friday July 13th.1832, Cholera, Belfast News Letter. Rathfriland Board of Health, we are informed by a correspondent that the commissioners of the board of health in Rathfriland having applied by letter, in the usual course, at the Castle of Dublin, requesting information whether that board had the power of preventing persons from infected places from bringing goods into Rathfriland likely to convey infection. They received a reply from the Secretary of state, informing them that their letter had been referred to the law officer of the crown, whose opinion is, that the Commissioners have that power. Our correspondent further adds, that the board has hitherto acted, and is determined to act on the opinion referred to , during the continuance of the present awful visitation.

Oct. 21st. 1833,. Freemans Journal, The new Tithe Composition Act, The case of the parish of Drumgath has already alluded to. Under Mr. Stanley's bill for the "extinction" of Tithes, the Tithe payers of Drumgath will be much worse off than they were when they were quarrelling with Rector Davis in which Rector Davis came off second best, he wanted 15 pence an acre, they offered him 12 pence, and the Commissioner has split the differs by making it 18 pence!. There is no appeal but to the Privy Council and as Mr. Stanley's Tithe bill has made bad worse, we think an appeal to the Privy Council is tantamount to "out of the frying pan into the fire"

The Tithe payers of the parish of Killeavy offered the Rev. john Cleland, who is all but as rich as the other Jew  Mr. Rothschild  one thousand a year,   in addition to the five hundred a year which he derives from the glebe lands in the parish, 1500 a year is not a trifling sum for doing nothing. The Commissioner appointed to value the Tithes of Killeavy will take the average, and award to the Rev. John Cleland and his successors in the ministry, something above 1300 pounds sterling per annum, and which are not likely, owing to the improvement in agriculture, to decrease. Now though the Rev. John Cleland is reputed to have 200,000 pounds in the funds, we would not for fear of setting a bad example, and infringing on the rights of property, take one of "Woods halfpennies" if such be in existence, from this man of God, for his full liberty as a spiritual pastor to fleece his flock. The poor Killeavy men have been accustomed to fleecing as the eels are to skinning, and according to Irish dialectics, they must think nothing at all of it. But we do say that when the glebe lands are worth 500 pound a year, this sum is quite sufficient for the decent maintenance of a Protestant Rector to do duty to fifty Protestant families. The Tithe payers of Killeavy should assemble and petition and protest against the tax upon their industry of 1300 or 1400 a year being continued as a stipend to the successors of the Rev. Mr. Cleland, when the Rev. Mr. Cleland is called to his account and goes to his own place.

Saturday Sept. 21st.1833,  Freemans Journal, The last Gazette contains a proclamation offering a reward of one hundred pounds for the apprehension of the person or persons concerned in the murder of Archibald McGran near Rathfriland on the 28th. August, his excellency the Lord Lieutenant further promises his Majesty's pardon to any of the persons (except those who actually committed the deed) concerned in the said murder, who shall within six months give such information as will lead to the conviction of the murderers

Dec.27th. 1833, We are gratified to learn, that three persons charged with being concerned in the murder of A. McGran, near Rathfriland are in custody, that one of them has become approver, and that the actual perpetrator of the deed is now lodged safely in the goal at Downpatrick, two of the individuals above alluded to had escaped to Scotland, Newry Telegraph.

Aug. 9th. 1834, James Murphy was hanged for the above murder.

Tuesday Aug. 6th. 1833, Belfast Newsletter, On the 21st. by the Rev. John White, Presbyterian minister, Mr. James Allen of Rathfriland, merchant, to Miss Mary Perry of Warrenpoint, eldest daughter of the late Lieut. Perry, R.N.

Tuesday June 24th. 1834, Belfast News Letter. Ordination at Rathfriland, on Tuesday last the 17th inst. the Rev. Joseph Dickey was ordained to the pastoral  charge of the new Presbyterian congregation of Rathfriland in connexion  with the Synod of Ulster, the Rev. R. Anderson of Banbridge delivered an excellent discourse from Zech. chapter 9 and verse 9, after which the Rev. W. J. G. Dowlin of Portadown ably explained the nature of Presbyterian ordination and the Rev. M. Finlay of Donaghmore offered up the ordination prayer. The services of the day were concluded by the Rev. A. Heron of Ballyroney. The services were conducted in the open air in the green attached to the meeting house of the Rev. Thomas Tate, as the large crowds could not be accommodated in the meeting house, that was kindly granted for the occasion. The congregation entertained the Presbytery and their friends at dinner in Mr. Davidson's Inn, J.B. Bankhead in the chair. Mr Dickey the young gentleman who had been appointed to this important and promising congregation, finished his studies at the Royal Belfast Instituation, where the excellence of his character and his diligence as a student procured him universal respect. Mr. Dickey will we are pursuaded do his duty.

Marriage, Tuesday May 12th. 1835 ,On the 5th.inst. Mr Robert Davison, of Drumgath, to Margaret, eldest daughter of the late Mr. Robert McKee, Rathfriland.

June 27th. 1835, Caledonian Mercury, The 27th. depot marched on Tuesday morning to relieve the 60th. reserve companies at Nenagh and Newport. The 33rd. have recieved orders to send the following detachments to assist the civil power on the 12th.day of July, one company to Keady and one company to Rathfriland, as also subalterns detachments to Loughbrickland and Castlewellan.

Tuesday Aug. 11th. 1835, Belfast Newsletter, Joseph Cochrane, Andrew Davison and Samuel Stevenson for a riot on the 1st. July at Rathfriland. Captain Crofton, chief constable of police is a magistrate and has resided at Hilltown, near Rathfriland for some time, he went on the 1st. July to Rathfriland in consequence of information, he remembers 9 O'Clock in the evening, being a good market day a good many people were assembled,  saw a bonfire and a crowd around it, they were very noisy recommended them to put the the fire out, but they refused, then ordered his men to put the fire out, went after this to the lodgings of the military officers stationed in town, about half past ten heard drums and went out  with 13 police officers and 12 of the military and their officers, called on them to disperse in the Kings name, there were about 200 in the crowd, they did not disperse. Those in front of the drums opened right and left and those who were playing the music came up close.  proceeded then to take the drums from them, two large drums and a small one,  then heard shouting, "gather round them" stones were thrown, then said if they did not cease he would order the military to open fire, returned towards the market house with three prisoners and left them in charge of the police and military, saw Cochrane and Stevenson as prisoners, the mob followed to the market house shouting to hell with the Pope, trying to close with the military, read the riot act then, the rain came on heavy, the mob dispersed.

William Waters is Chief constable of police was with Captain Crofton on the night in question, when he ordered them to stop, the mob moved up close to the men, seized a drum himself and the man who held it was taken into custody, his name is Davison, two others were taken prisoner and brought to the market house, there was a great deal of noise among them, heard them shouting to hell with the Pope, did not see any stones thrown, it was about half an hour from he heard the drums till they dispersed. They were playing party tunes, did not think they had any fire arms, Cross examined, it is quite common in that part of the country to beat drums?,

Francis Murphy, policeman, witness took Cochrane into custody, he and some others had a hold of the drum, and dammed them to hold on, took him to the market house, Cross examined, saw no stone thrown, Cochrane made no resistance. Joseph Mercer, another policeman, the three prisoners were given into his charge when the drums were taken and marched to the market house, saw no stones thrown. James McMullen  policeman, saw one stone thrown with great violence and one of the military complained of being struck, was struck himself with a stone at the market house, all found guilty.

Friday July 15th. 1836, Belfast News Letter. Repairs of Churches, The Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland are ready to receive proposals for repairing the churches of the parishes of, Loughgall, County of Armagh, Louth, County of Louth, Killead and Carrickfergus County of Antrim, Drumgath, County of Down.

Pursuant to plans and specifications lodged in the hands of the respective clergymen of those several parishes, each proposal to contain an estimate in detail of the prices for which the work is proposed to be done, and of the instalments by which the person proposing requires to be paid, and to be accompanied by referances as to the qualifications and competency of the proposed contractor, and by the written consent of two solvent persons, to become sureties for the due performance of the contract, and where practicable, by testimonials from respectable persons.

Sealed proposals to be sent to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland, at their office, number 2 Kildare Street, Dublin, on or before the 27th. day of July 1836, and if transmitted by post, to be directed as underneath and endorsed,

"Proposals for repairing the church of"
Under Sectretary for ireland
Castle
Dublin
Ecclesiastical Commissioners for Ireland,

Tuesday March 22nd. 1836, Belfast Newsletter, Riot in Ballyroney, John Wilson, Thomas Wilson, Joseph Green, Nathaniel Jordan, William Blakely, James Davis and Joseph Black were indicted for a riot at Ballyroney on the 13th. July last. Malby Crofton, Esq. police magistrate remembers the 13th. July, was on duty that day at Rathfriland, went to Ballyroney in consequence of information received about nine o clock. There were some dragoons and police there with witness, when arrived near the meeting house, a man named Green passed them, shouting to hell with the peelers, to hell with the pig drovers, did not mind him at first, till he returned shouting, Etc. ordered him to be taken into custody, the people were collecting on the road about the meeting house, one of the witnesses men arrested another man Thomas Wilson the people were very disorderly and were shouting, they called out to shoot the police ,identifies Wilson,

Witnesses men were advancing on the road towards Cloughskilt and the crowd were riotous, saw no arms, advised them to go home, which they would not do, they said that was their own ground and they would stay on it. Read the riot act but they would not disperse, they again became very noisy and riotous, witness wanted to get rid of the two men he had arrested and offered them bail, but they said they would not give any. a man was then arrested for striking witness with a stone, a man was arrested but not the man who struck witness with a stone. The crowd then commenced throwing stones, Major Drought and a dragoon were hit, told the crowd if they did not stop, he would order his men to fire, ordered the men to load but gave them a positive order not to fire till the last extremity, the mob continued shouting to hell with the papist Crofton "hit him" "kill him "knock him down" "shoot him",

Richard Leinster, police man, was one of Mr. Croftons party proved the same facts there were 3 or 400 of the mob, identified John Wilson, saw Jordan have a stone in his hand also identified Blakely, Davis and another man, cross-examined, did not see any of them throw stone or use insulting expressings.

Joseph Mercer, police man, saw Black with a stone, asked him what he was doing with it, he ran to the crowd and then threw the stone,

Anthony Robinson, police man took T. Wilson into custody, he was encouraging the men and calling out to them bring the "gold springs" to shoot the police men, cross-examined, Black had a stone in his hand.

DEFENCE

Jane McKay saw a part of police and Captain Crofton, saw Jordan there he was at witnesses side when the soldiers and police went past, and had neither stick nor stone in his hand nor said a word, he was standing on witnesses left hand with his back to the gate, saw no stones thrown at that time. James Stitt never saw Captain Croftons gallant honour before that day, believes he saw him on that day, saw some of the prisoners but cannot call them gallant honours, saw Black and Thomas Wilson, Wilson was prisoner in person at the time. Cross-examined by Mr. Hall, what profession are you ?, Iam of the established church "great laughter", are you a school master ?,as to trade Iam principally a shoemaker "continued laughter". The issue was then handed to the jury who in a short time returned a verdict acquitting all prisoners except Joseph Black, his lordship was surprised at the verdict, in his opinion the prisoners were either all guilty or either all not guilty and stated that if any one of them came before him again charged with a similar offence and be convicted ,their sentence would be three times three months.

Saturday 28th. October, 1837, Caledonian Mercury.The Rev. E. B. Delany was yesterday convicted at our quarter sessions, and sentenced to three months imprisonment, for an assault upon a man named Kearney, by presenting a pistol at him on the public street in Rathfriland.

Thursday Dec. 3rd. 1840,  Freemans Journal, Died at his residence, near Rathfriland, the Rev. Arthur Polin, P.P. of Drumgath. In the 35th. year of his age and 10th. of his laborious and exemplary ministry.

Tuesday Nov. 10th. 1840, Belfast News Letter. Address to the Rev .Joseph Cousins, a farewell address from the inhabitants of the town of and neighbourhood of Rathfriland (Parish of Drumgath) has been presented to the Rev. Joseph Cousins. As a Gospel minister, he is indefatigable, zealous, faithful and in private life the amiability of his manners corresponds with the exellence of his disposition and the singleness of his heart. It is highly creditable to his parishioners that they have been prompt to discern and appreciate real merit

Wednesday 19th.Jan. 1842, The Derby Mercury Horrible Effect of Insanity. On Friday night last, a woman named Mary Digney, the wife of a small farmer, residing at Drumlough near Rathfriland, while labouring under a fit of insanity, took advantage of her husbands absence to attempt the destruction of her own life, and the lives of her two children, having previously it appears provided herself with a quantity of arsenic, she administered some of it to the younger child aged about seven years and at the same time swallowing herself a large quantity of the same deadly drug. The elder child aged ten years obstinately refused the proffered draught, upon which she was laid hold of by her wretched parent and violently strangled. Shortly afterwards the husband arrived, and was, by his wife informed of all her proceedings, he instantly alarmed his neighbours and sent for a doctor, in the mean time the dose having, it is probable, been larger than ordinary, both the mother and child who had taken the arsenic discharged the contents of their stomachs and were thereby preserved. The other child was discovered entirely berefit of life, on the following day after an inquest was held upon the body, a verdict of Wilful murder was recorded.

Tuesday June 23rd. 1846, Belfast News Letter, Caution to parents. On the morning of Tuesday the 10th. inst. the wife of a poor labouring man named McKeown who resides in the town of Rathfriland and who was employed to work in an adjoining moss had occasion to go with his breakfast, and unfortunately left her infant about the age of seven months in the cradle until her return, in the interim a pig which was in or about the house, got access to the cradle, and terribly lacerated not only the right foot of the child but also its arm and face. Doctor Davidson paid every attention requisite in such distressing circumstances, but the child is not expected to live

Tuesday Dec. 29th. 1846, Belfast News Letter, A few days ago a young man named Rowan, who has lately opened a shop in the neighbourhood of Rathfriland, while priming a gun, a spark from the flint accidentally communicated with a small cake of gunpowder on the counter, causing an instantaneous explosion, by which the greater part of the roof was taken off the house. The windows were completely shattered and the walls of the house greatly damaged. The young man had suffered serious injuries, chiefly in the head and face, and now lies in a precarious state.

Dechemet, murdered 15 May 1847,Murder in the County of Down. The Newry Telegraph gives the following particulars of the shocking murder of Mr. James Paxton, suspicion has fallen upon the son and brother of the deceased, who are both held to bail untill the proceedings. The deceased who was a batchelor and a wealthy farmer, aged about 54, resided in his own house, in the parish of Drumgooland, about 5 miles from Rathfriland. The other inmates were an aged housekeeper, a female servant and a boy, who slept in an outhouse, in the yard. Early on the evening of the 11th. the deceased and his household retired to rest, in the morning it was discovered that the former had left his bed room and the house, but this was not considered extraordinary, as he was habitually an early riser, it was not till about nine o clock that the servant boy, proceeding down the avenue, accidentally discovered the body of his late master lying in a pool of water within 60 yards of the hall door, frightfully disfigured.

The boy then ran to the house of John Paxton the brother of the deceased, and announced his appalling discovery. His son James Paxton returned immediately with the servant boy to the scene of the murder and told the boy not to make any alarm but to go for the police and say that his master was found dead, adding that he himself would write to the coroner, the boy proceeded as directed. Meantime the neighbours had assembled, and it was soon evident from appearances that a violent and mortal struggle had taken place, the ground for up to about 30 yards being torn and trampled up. stones here and there as well as the walls of the avenue were speckled with blood. On the 13th. the coroner arrived and a jury was sworn in, Evidence was given and also the fact that robbery was not the object of the murder as the sum of £8 in notes and silver was found on his person. The inquest was adjourned till the 15th. .On the following day the local magistrate Mr. F. C. Beers who had been in Dublin returned to the neighbourhood and in consequence of information given him, he accompanied by Mr. J. P. Hill  Sub-Inspector and a party of police proceeded at night to the house of Mr. John Paxton which they searched, In the upper room they discovered a coat the left sleeve of which was deeply stained in blood.

The family attempted to account for it by stating the old man John Paxton had been bleeding cattle, but this statement did not satisfy the magistrate, also because of further circumstances of the footmarks indented in the soil  where the deadly struggle had taken place, appearing to correspond with the peculiar shoes worn by the young man James Paxton, the eldest son of John Paxton, the eldest son of John Paxton was taken into custody and held to bail, in conjunction with two persons named Kelso father and son, On the 13th, the coroners jury again assembled ,some witnesses were examined whose evidence however added nothing material to the facts already mentioned, the Inquest was then adjourned to the 20th.

Evening Post, 30th. May 1865, County Down Assizes, Ireland Party Riots. Edward O'Hara, John Hilliard and John McEvoy were indicted for riot at Rathfriland before Chief Justice Monahan. The following report is copied from the Dublin Evening Mail. Sir Thomas Staples, Q C, and Mr. M'Donnell, QC, prosecuted. Mr. Hamill appeared for  the accused. Wallace Ratcliffe, a very intelligent youth, deposed that on the day in question, there were races at Rathfriland. There were two parties present at the races — Roman Catholics and Protestants. Heard two of the prisoners when coming home shout, "To h— l with all the Orangemen of Rathfriland" Saw O'Hare throw a lump of mortar at the Protestant party. Mr. Hamill : You were up here for walking in procession yourself ? Witness I was, sir, and I don't deny it (laughter).

 His Lordship ; When were you up here for being in a procession ? Witness : About three years ago. His Lordship : I hope you won't take part in a procession again ? The witness gave no answer, and was about to leave the box, but was recalled by his lordship. His Lordship : I ask you again, do you intend taking further part in these processions ? Witness (after considerable hesitation) : No, sir, I do not. Mr. Hamill : It is no wonder that our country is as it is. Is it one side only that should be in that dock ? His Lordship :Certainly, both should be there. (To Capt. O'Donel, R. M. for Down) : Why did you not return both parties ? Capt. O'Donel : There was only one party brought before us. His Lordship : I shall consider it my duty to report this case. Captain O'Donel said he had only been at the investigation on the last day, and then the magistrates present were unanimous as to sending the cases for trial. His Lordship : You should have acted on your own responsibility, and you should have seen what you were doing. John O'Hara, father of one of the prisoners, was examined for the defence. He said when he was leaving Rathfriland there were about 50 Protestants collected at one door in the street

 . His Lordship : Protestants. Witness : One man was firing shots. his Lordship : Do you mean firing guns ? Mr. Hamill : Yes my lord. To Sir Thomas Staples : My son was beaten and Struck with a stone, from which he has not yet properly recovered, Mr. Hamill : did you tell that to the magistrates at the time ? Witness : I did ; but the magistrates don't want to hear any but the one side of a case. His Lordship : It is very like it, upon my word. Mr. Hamill ; I declare, I think, my lord, I should stop the case to the castle. His Lordship : I hope the government will feel it necessary to institute an inquiry into this case. I will do what I can to induce them to do so. His Lordship, in charging the jury, said they had now heard the whole case, and he must say that he was very much disgusted with the way in which justice was administered in the county of Down. Both parties should have been arrested, and there should have been an investigation. Certainly, those who used guns should have been found out and put on their trial.

The charge against the men in the dock was that they were guilty of an illegal assembly, and were present as rioters. He was only sorry that he bad not enough of both parties before him — the ringleaders  and if the jury would only do their duty, and find a whole lot of both sides guilty, he would then know how to deal with them. The only evidence they had for the Crown was the boy (Ratcliffe), who when about 14 years of age was the ringleader of an illegal procession himself. The jury returned a verdict of " Not guilty." Captain O'Donel, R.M., here went up to the Bench, and said it was not his fault that in the Rathfriland riot case both parties had not been made amenable. He thought the other party should havebeen there, but the case was in the hands of the constabulary. His Lordship : I can only say that a more scandalous case on the administration of justice never came before me. I can only say that if that is a sample of the administration of justice in this county, the sooner no justice is administered here, the better.

 

Wednesday 1st. March, 1865, The sydney Herald, On the 28th February, at his residence, Bay-street, Woolloo Mooloo, Mr. Joseph Milligan, of Rathfriland, County Down, after a long and painful illness, which he bore with Christian patience, aged 63 years.

Monday 23 September 1867,The Sydney Morning Herald, On the 17th instant, at Dryburgh, Fish River,at the residence of the bride's father, by the Rev. James Adam, M.A., Mr. Robert Hudson, late of Rathfriland, County Down , to Elizabeth, second daughter of William Balgowan,Esq, late of Rhynie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

 

  Saturday 30 October 1869,The Brisbane Courier, BROWN - POLLOCK. - On the 7th October, by the Rev.James Love, Mr. William Brown, to Eliza Stewart, eldest daughter of Mr. David Pollock, and grand- daughter of the late Rev. John Stewart, Rathfriland, County Down, Ireland.

13 July 1872 ,  Otago Witness,  MARRIAGE. On the 6th June, at the Blue Spur, Tnapeka, by the Rev.T. Menzies, .Robert Ledlow, of Rathfriland, Co. Down, Ireland, to Miss Sarah Hall, seventh daughter of Mr M. Hall, Ballycastle, Co. Antrim,

The Brisbane Courier Friday 3 December 1875, Jackson-Dickson.--On the 1st December, at the residence of the bride's sister, New Farm-road, by the Rev. Alexander Hay, William Hartley Musgrave Jackson, of Telemon station, Logan River, eldest son of William Jackson, of Oakbank House, Cumberland, manager of the Carlisle and Cumberland Bank, Carlisle, to Martha Jane, youngest daughter of William   Dickson, farmer, Rathfriland, County Down Ireland.  

Monday 31 October 1887, The West Australian. A shocking occurrence is reported from Rathfriland, County Down . James Hislop, a saddler,  who about. three years ago was an inmate of the Downpatrick Asylum, bad recently shown symptoms of insanity. He was taken before the magistrates, but as no one was present to swear he was a dangerous lunatic he was released. His relatives kept him in their house until one morning, when about 6 o'clock he asked to be allowed to go over to his own premises in the Square, at Rathfriland and resume his business. Hislop walked over to the house, and, taking down the shutters, entered the premises. He was next seen to come out again with a billhook in his hand, and walk through the town in the direction of Ballyroney. The first persons he met were Thomas Brennon and John Herron, who spoke to Hislop as they passed. As he was about to attack them they drove rapidly away. An old man named Samuel Henning was shortly afterwards found lying covered with wounds and beyond hope of recovery. After slashing Henning, Hislop passed along the road until he met an elderly woman named Nancy Mulholland. A person who was in the vicinity at the time saw a bill- hook rise and fall three times, and after wards the remains of Mrs. Mulholland, mutilated in a shocking manner, were found lying in the roadway. In one of the fields adjoining the road a young, woman named Maggie Spears, her father, and two young men were working with scythes. Hislop entered the field and rushed at them. The men defended them- selves with their scythes and the maniac re- treated. He, however, immediately returned to the attack, and rushed upon the men with so much determination that the two young men were frightened and fled. The madman then struck the young woman a blow' with the billhook on the side of her head, killing her on the spot. He then attacked her father, and knocked him senseless, death resulting later. Hislop then walked out of the field and met a woman named Eliza Higgins, whom he beat about the head until she became unconscious. Hislop walked to a lake, and stripping himself, swam about. He next proceeded in a state of nudity to the house of a woman a short distance off. Having remarked to the woman, " What have I to do here ?" he rushed from the cottage and with the billhook killed a goat in a field near the house. He next returned to the lake, attacking every one he met. One old man provided himself with a weapon by tying an old bayonet to a pole and confronted the murderer, he then flung himself into the lake, emerging again, in a few minutes, and charging the crowd. When the police arrived they found Hislop in the centre of the lake, and the edges surrounded by excited people. The constables plunged into the lake, and after a terrible struggle, secured Hislop and brought him on land. When in the cell Hislop displayed to be most complete unconsciousness of the terrible crimes he had committed, and he said  he thought he was cutting off the heads of thistles. He is at present in Armagh Asylum.

The Sydney Morning Herald, Friday 8 November 1878,  MOORE. Death, August 28, at his brother's residence, Lcssize, Rathfriland, County down, Ireland, James Moore, and son-in-law of J. Henry Beanson, Cumberland-street, Sydney.