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| FERMOY, COUNTY CORK.- The fine town of Fermoy, in the eastern portion of the county Cork, stands chiefly on the right bank of the Munster Blackwater, nineteen miles northeast from Cork city. In the Gaelic tounge, according to Professor Joyce, it is called Feara-muighe-Feine, shortened, according to O'Heevin, to Feara-Mueghe-"the Men of the Plain," and anglicized "Fermoy." Its most conspicuous relic of the past is the Cistercian Abbey, founded in the twelfth century, and now a ruin. In this town Sir John Anderson first introduced mail coaches, about a hundred years ago. They proved a great success and "made his fortune." These coaches found popular rivals subsequently in "Bianconi's Cars,"-which flourished int he palmy days of O'Connell, before the railroads made, practically, an end of coaches and "long cars." A fine mountain chain rises from the river bank on the south side of Fermoy, the highest peak being that of Knock-an-sceach-"Whitehorn Hill." It has an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. The town is handsomely built and well laid out. The solid stone bridge, shown in the picture, has thirteen arches, and was built in 1689-the year fefore the battle of the Boyne. It is still in an excellent state of preservation, having been, of course, frequently repaired. Fermoy contains a Catholic episcopal residence, a Catholic College, tow Convents and Christian Brothers' and National Schools. The population is estimated at 6,500. The military barracks accommodate an English garrison of 3,000 men, horse and foot. |
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