NEWTON STEWART, 10 m. N.W. of Omagh, stands amidst pleasing river scenery on the Foyle. The picturesque tourist may amuse himself with much mountain landscape in its vicinity. See ruins of ancient Castle. The Marquis of Abercorn's seat at Baron's Court is supposed to be the handsomest model of a nobleman's residence in the kingdom. See the beautiful grounds and well wooded demesne, with a fine lake, from whence the ruins of ancient Castle, and the Ch. have a pretty effect.
OMAGH, 87 m. N. of Dublin, is the shire town. See ruins of ancient Castle, and some remains of an Abbey and Franciscan friary; with ruins of a curious Ch. 4 m. dist. Hall, vol. ii. p. 118, speaks of it as a very thriving place, on account of the linen and other manufactures carried on there.
STRABANE, 20 m. N.W. of Omagh, stands very pleasantly on the river Foyle, with some very fine prospects. A thriving place; forming a good station for much of the scenery of Tyrone, Donnegal, and Derry, with good accommodations; but Hall, vol. ii. p. 120, complains much of extravagant charges. See the remains of the once elegant ruins of Corock Abbey for Franciscan friars; also the seat of Lord Montjoy.
Coals only have as yet been discovered; but it is supposed that iron exists in many places, as there are numerous chalybeates.
_Agrostis canina_, Brown Bent Grass:--in very wet meadows in northern parts.
_Aira cæspitosa_, Turfy Bent Grass:--in the mountainous district near Strabane.
_Astragalus glycyphyllos_, Liquorice Vetch:--in upland pastures.
_Achillea Millefolium_, Yarrow:--on river sides.
_Crepis biennis_, Rough Hawk's-beard:--in meadows.
_Erica cinerea_, Fine Heath:--on moorlands.
_Eriophoron polystachion_, Cotton Grass:--in wet meadows.
Scarcely equals half the extent of some of the larger counties. It is bounded on the N. by the Suir, on the W. by the Blackwater, and on the E. and S. by the ocean. Mr. Wakefield observes, "that two such noble estuaries as the Suir and Blackwater are seldom seen, abounding with magnificent and romantic scenery, combining with lofty mountainous tracts."
DUNGARVON, 21 m. S.W. of Waterford, is one of the greatest fishing-towns in Ireland, being situated near the Nymph Bank; but Mr. Curwen complains heavily of the bad accommodations which he met with: the town small; the streets narrow: yet persons returning from the lakes will do well to take this place in their route. Crossing the Ferry at Youghall, and passing through an uncultivated tract of mountain scenery, destitute of inhabitants, but highly susceptible of improvement, the tourist approaches this town, built on the beach, and appearing, from the descent of the mountain, as if it stood in the sea. Dungarvon itself will not detain him long. See Barrack on site of an ancient Castle; also ruins of Augustine Abbey of Gothic architecture; lofty steeple springing from a curious vault; ancient monument (1400). In the summer much company will be met with as a bathing-place. If the tourist is hurried, and without time to examine the whole county, he may take an interesting ride across it towards Clonmell. Leave Dungarvon, cross a valley of excellent land about 4 m. wide; turn round a projecting chain of mountains, and then see the small village of Kilmacthomas, from which village the first few miles exhibit the same face of country, till within a short distance of the banks of the Suir, where the eye is once more gratified with the appearance of trees. On the right, for nearly the whole of the way, there are magnificent views of the ocean, but not a gentleman's seat is to be seen in the whole distance between Youghall and Lord Waterford's seat at Curraghmore. Ardmore, 8 m. S.W. of Dungarvon, stands near the sea; a poor village, once episcopal. Examine ruins of two Ch. with curious sculpture; round tower, 100 feet high, 15 in diameter; St. Declan's dormitory in cemetery; St. Declan's stone, that swam from Rome to bring home his belt and vestments: Danish Raths. Dromana, the splendid mansion and demesne of Lord Grandison Duck's-pool, 1 m., ruins of Abbey. Kilmacthomas, 9 m. N.E., pleasing village, with good river scenery and fishing, and some remains of Castle. Whitchurch, 5 m. W., has curious cave called Con-a-glour, or the Pigeon-hole, 150 feet long, with subterraneous river, fantastical crystallizations, &c., from whence (or Lismore) the tourist may visit Oonamort.