Slaters Directory of Ireland 1846- Clifden, Galway

Is a sea-port and market town, in the parish of Omey, barony of Ballynahinch, county of Galway, 178 miles w. from Dublin, and 50 w by s. from Galway, situated on an eminence, on the shore of a winding estuary, that empties itself into Ardbear, or Clifden harbour, on the western coast. It is of modern origin, having contained in 1815 only one house, at which time the late John D'Arcy, Esq. settled here, through whose exertions more than three hundred dwellings have since been erected. It is inhabited principally by intelligent shopkeepers and traders, and there are two excellent hotels, Carr's and Hart's, the former of which has recently undergone great improvements, and both are admirably arranged wither for the comfort of families or commercial gentlemen. The scenery round Clifden being composed of mountain, rock and flood, perhaps equals, if not surpassed in rude grandeur, any other that Ireland exhibits. From any of the neighbouring hills the eye may range over the broad surface of the Atlantic on the one side, and over an interminable series of mountains overtopping each other, in Alpine grandeur, on the other. No tourist, indeed, can visit this locality without enjoying unalloyed gratification mingled with wonder. The soil is generally of a boggy nature from three to four feet deep; but a considerable portion of it has been brought into cultivation by the late John D'Arcy, Esq., and it now produces very fine grain-oats in particular, some of which obtain the best market price. The Clifden harbour is considered, by Mackenz'e one of the safest on the western coast and might, with comparatively little labour, be rendered capable of admitting vessels of any class. The quay, commenced by Mr. Nimmo, which is still incomplete, is capable of admitting vessels of two hundred tons burden. The imports comprise pitch, tar, hemp, salt

groceries, iron, and timber; the exports, corn and fish. There is an excellent salmon fishery in the Ardbear, and vast quantities of fish are taken on the coast. Two copper mines are in the neighbourhood, but not at present worked; also quarries of green and white marble, which are wrought only on a small scale. The government of the town is vested in the magistrates, who hold a petty sessions once a fortnight, and general sessions of the peace for the district twice a year.
The places of worship are a church of the establishment, beautiful building, and a commodious Roman Catholic chapel, also a monastery of the order of Saint Francis. The other public buildings and institutions are a handsome new stone court-house, a bridewell, the union workhouse, a good building on an extensive scale, a constabulary barrack, a dispensary, a national school, and a loan fund. On the summit of one of the hills, visible from any part of the town, had been erected a monument, by the contributions of the inhabitants, to perpetuate the memory of the late John D'Arcy, Esq, the founder of the town. New to the town stands Clifden Castle, a noble structure of Gothic style, the property and residence of Hyacinth D'Arcy, Esq., the proprietor of the district. The grounds are tastefully laid out and command a fine view of the ocean. There are several other seats in the neighbourhood, among with are 'Glen Owen', that of Captain William Syer, 'Enislamin', of John Lambert, Esq; 'Ardbear House', Samuel Jones, Esq.; and 'Bay View', Anthony Morris, Esq. The market is on Saturday. Fairs June 25th, September 1st, October 15th and December 17th. The parish of Omey contained, in 1811, 7,953 inhabitants, and the town of Clifden 1,509 of that number.

POST OFFICE- Catherine Thomas, Post Mistress-Letters from all ports arrive (from Galway) every evening at seven, and are despatched thereto every morning at six.

GENTRY AND CLERGY	Morris Anthony, Esq. Bay View	HOTELS
Adamson Mr. Christopher, Paul Renny	O'Neill John A., Esq. Bunnowen Castle	Carr Paul, (family, commercial and posting)
Ash Rev. James, Tully	Rossbrough Mr. John, Clifden	Hart Martin R (family, commercial, and posting. and agent to the London Corporation Assurance.)
Blake Henry, Esq, Renvyle House	Shea Gartside, Esq. Shinnernagh	PUBLIC HOUSES.
Bodkin Walter, Esq. Omey	Smyth John, Esq., Killeries	Connegs Matthew Lydon Michael Connelly William Monaghan John Corbett James Mullen Francis Corbett William Mullen John Davies Catherine Mullen Martin Joyce Redmond Mullen Patrick Kearney Henry O'Dowd Anne King Stephen Prendergast, Jas. King John
Colles Mr. William H., Ferry hill	Syer Capt. William (inspector of coast guard), Glenowen	SHOPKEEPERS & TRADERS.
Connerys Mr. William, Aughness	Thompson General Alex., Salruck	Connolly Andrew, draper
D'Arcy Hyacinth, Esq. J.P. Clifden Castle	Webb Mr. Arthur, Streamstown House.	Connolly James, draper
Devonish Mrs. Eliza, Lough glen	Yeates Mr. William, Ballinakill.	Connolly John, draper
Duan Mr. Patrick, the Cottage	PROFESSIONAL PERSONS	Corbett John, earthenware dealer
Duncan Rev. Joseph, Roundstone	Bodkin Christopher, M.D. & surgeon	Creighton Abraham, corn miller
Firmen Mrs. P. Rushnacaragh	Bodkin Francis, druggist	Cribban Tobias, Tailor
Fitzmorris the Very Rev.Peter, V.G., Clifden	Jones Samuel, county surveyor, Ardbear House	Faherty Michael, leather seller
Foster Rev. Mark A., Clifden	Mahon Bartholomew, land agent, Rock Cottage.	Faherty William, earthenware dealer
Gibson Mrs.__, Ardbear House	Morgan Robert J, surgeon	Gorham Anthony, hardware dealer
Graham Francis J, Esq. Ballinakill	Pierce William, surveyor, Clifden House	Grancy James, baker
Griffin Rev. John, P.P., Tully	Sarsfield William Henry, M.D. and surgeon
Jones Samuel, Esq. Ardbear House	MERCHANTS
Lambert John, Esq. Enislamin	D'Arcy James, Clifden
Lester Mr. Richard, Ross Cottage	Hildebrand Henry, Clifden and Boffin Island
Levington Mrs. Julia, Glenerne	Levington William, (corn), Clifden and Westport.
Lynch Edward, Esq., Fahey
M'Donnough Mr. Valentine, Manin House
Madden Bassil, Esq. Omey
Martin Thomas B., Esq. M.P. Balinahinch Castle

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SHOPKEEPERS, &C.	Needham James, tallow chandler	PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS, &c.
Griffin John, baker	Nugent James, shoe maker	BRIDEWELL-Dominic Kerrigan, keeper.
Griffin Roger, grocer	Nolan James, boot and shoe maker	CONSTABULARY BARRACK- James Ireland, sub inspector.
Healy Patrick, contractor	O'Connor Michael, draper	COURT HOUSE- Paul Carr, keeper.
Higgin James, hardware dealer	O'Meara John, draper	DISPENSARY - William H. Suffield, physician, Francis Bodkin, apothecary.
Higgin Michael, colour dealer	Reilly Michl. clothes dealer	FREE SCHOOL- William Galaher, master
Joyce Austin, boot and shoe maker	Robinson John, salmon curer, Roundstone	LOAN FUND- James D'Arcy, Esq. treasurer, Glenera; C.A. J. Pierse, secretary, William Galaher, clerk.
Joyce Michael, draper	Wallace Stephen, draper	STAMP OFFICE- Martin H. Hart, distributor.
Kean William, earthenware dealer	PLACES OF WORSHIP, And Their Ministers.	UNION WORKHOUSE - John Griffin, clerk.
Linskey Michael, provision seller	ESTABLISHED CHURCH- Rev. Mark A Foster, curate, William Galaher, clerk.	CAR
Lyden Thomas, pawnbroker	ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPEL, The Very Rev. Peter Fitzmorris, parish priest, Rev. Eugene O'Coyne and Rev. Peter Roche, curates.	To Galway, Bianconi's Car, from Carr's Hotel, every morning, at six goes through Oughterhard. - Mr. Paul Carr, agent.
M'Cabe John, shoe maker	FRANCISCAN MONASTERY- James G. Carroll, Superior.
M'Dermott John, hardware dealer
M'Donnell John, marble polisher
M'Donnell Patrick, marble polisher
M'Guiness John, draper
Mullett Martin, grocer