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SLANES,
a parish, in the barony of ARDES, county of DOWN, and province of ULSTER,
4 miles (E.) from Portaferry; containing 589 inhabitants.
This parish is situated on the eastern coast, and
comprises, according to the Ordnance survey, 946½ statute acres,
the whole of which is under cultivation, and produces excellent crops
of corn, flax, and potatoes.
Here is Slane's Point, between which and Carney
Point is a cluster of rocks and shoals, one of which, called the South
rock, is three miles (E. N. E.) from Carney Point, and on it there is
a light-house, called the Kilwarlin Light, erected by the Corporation
for the Improvement of the Port of Dublin: it is a revolving light, elevated
52 feet above the sea at high water, with 10 lamps of a bright colour,
appearing once in a minute and a half: two bells are also kept tolling
in foggy weather, by means of clock work, to warn mariners of their proximity
to danger: the rocks and shoals extend a mile at least to the eastward
of the lighthouse.
Here is a coast-guard station. On the shore are
the remains of a large castellated edifice, called Newcastle, which has
given name to the district; from this is the communication with the light-house,
and here are the residences of the keepers.
It is a rectory, in the diocese of Down, forming
part of the union of Ballyphilip, and of the corps of the chancellorship
of Down; the tithes amount to £106. 13. 5½. There is no vestige
of a church, but the burial-ground remains, where once stood an extensive
edifice, traditionally said to have been a wealthy abbey: the Protestants
attend divine service at Portaferry church. In the R. C. divisions the
parish forms part of the union or district of Upper Ardee.
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