School: Caisleán Uí Liatháin (C.) (roll number 6845)

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1. The History of Castlelyons (continued)

   

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   employment to many carriers, and others in the manufacture of leather; it used to be carted to Cork for transport abroad.
   There used to live here a number of architects who found work in the building of mansions for the gentry. In the middle of the principal street a large-sized Market house, with a high and lofty arch at both ends to admit the highest loads to pass through; and at the northern end was a Maypole 80 feet high above the level of the ground and as straight as the mast of a ship. The manufacture of tobacco and snuff went on here, and on the windows in the other towns used to be displayed the announcement "Castlelyons tobacco and snuff sold here."
   About a mile to the west of the town races used to be held once a year and some of the best racehorses in Ireland used to meet here. Horses belonging to the Devonshires of Kilshanig; the Smyths of Balliatray; the Courtneys of Ballinamona; the Beresfords of Waterford; the Hydes of Castlehyde etc. And it was generally known that Colonel Hydes horses were the best in the country yet they scarcely ever won for it is believed that the Jockeys used to be bribed. Colonel Hyde never went to see his horses racing but on one occasion he came and when the horses were about to be off he cried from the top of the grandstand "a bushel of gold on his horse" as a challenge to all the sporting men present and none could take him up.
   In the memorable year of 1798 an army of 10,00 men under the command of General Myers was encamped midway between the parishes of Fermoy and Castlelyons. It was from Castlelyons town and parish that army was supplied with provisions and other

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Language

   English

   Location

   Castlelyons, Co. Cork

   Informant

   David Verling

   Gender

   Male

   Address

   Castlelyons, Co. Cork