ENNISTYMON, a small market and post town in the parish of Kilmanaheen, Barony of Corcomroe, Co. Clare, Munster.
It stands on the Ennistymon river, 2¼ miles east of the head of Liscanor bay, 8 north by east of Miltown-Malbay, 9 west of Corrofin, 12¾ west-north-west of Ennis, and 124¾ west by south of Dublin.
The town is washed by a singularly romantic reach of the Ennistymon River, and encompassed by a range of low and picturesque hills, which are enriched with the plantations of Ennistymon-house, the seat of Andrew Finucane, Esq.; and it probably excels every town and village of its size in Ireland for accessories and environs of scenic power and beauty.
The river, while careering down the high and broken ledge of rocks adjacent to the town, forms a rapid as richly picturesque as that of the merry and beauteous stream which dances down upon BALLYSADERE.
Ennistymon, though obscure as a place of trade, might if properly encouraged, figure as conspicuously and prosperously as any small town in the kingdom.
- Fairs are held on March 25, May 15, July 2, Aug. 22, Sept. 29, Nov. 19, and Dec. 12.
- A caravan and a mail-car pass through the town, in running between Killaloe and Miltown-Malbay.
- The district bridewell contains 4 cells, 2 day-rooms, and 2 yards, and is kept in very good order.
In the vicinity of the town are the old castle of the O'Briens, and Woodmount, the seat of Mr Lysaght.
The Ennistymon Poor-Law Union ranks as the 60th, and was declared on Aug. 3, 1839.
- It lies all in Co. Clare, and comprises an area of 152,609 acres, with a pop., in 1831, of 49,637.
- Its electoral divisions, with their respective pop., in 1831, are Ennistymon, 9,020; Miltown-Malbay, 6,389; Liscanor, 7,797; Kilshanny, 2,013; Killilagh, 3,359; Kilfenora, 3,897; Rath, 2,521; Corrofin, 3,678; Carron, 1,380; Burren, 3,286; Drumcreehy, 2,303; Rathborney, 1,721; and Killonahan, 2,273.
- Its ex-officio guardians are 7, and its elected guardians 21; and 5 of the latter are elected by Ennistymon division, 3 by Miltown-Malbay, 2 by Liscanor, 2 by Corrofin, and 1 by each of the other divisions.
- The total nett annual value of property rated is £67,486 17s.; the total number of persons rated is 7,231; and of these, 711 are rated for a valuation not exceeding £1, 607, not exceeding £2 and 624, not exceeding £3, 648, not exceeding £4, and 575, not exceeding £5.
- The workhouse was contracted for in June 1840, and was to be completed in Nov. 1841, to cost £6,600 for building and completion, and £1,200 for fittings and contingencies,to occupy an area of 6 acres, obtained for an annual rent of £21, and to contain accommodation for 600 persons. The date of the first admission of paupers was Sept. 5, 1842; the total expenditure thence till Feb. 6, 1843, was £388 12s. 11 ¼d.; and the total previous expenditure was £1,689 8s. 5½d.
The medical charities within the union are dispensaries at Ennistymon, Ballyvaughan, Corrofin, Kilfenora, and Miltown-Malbay. The Ennistymon dispensary serves for a pop. of 18,907; and, in 1839-40, it expended £20 14s., and administered to 539 patients.
Ennistymon gives name to a Roman Catholic parish in the diocese of Killaloe - KILMANAHEEN.
Area of the town, 58 acres. Pop., in 1831, 1,430; in 1841, 2,089. Houses 346.
Families employed chiefly in agriculture, 107; in manufactures and trade, 233; in other pursuits, 99. Families dependent chiefly on property and professions, 28; on the directing of labour, 237; on their own manual labour, 153; on means not specified, 21.
