Fairs are held on the first Monday in every month, for the sale of cattle, sheep, and pigs, and are well attended. A court for the Vintners' manor is held once every month, for the recovery of debts under £2 : its jurisdiction extends over the parishes of
- BALLYSCULLION, a parish, partly in the barony of UPPER TOOME, county of ANTRIM, parish, which is intersected by the roads leading respectively from Castle Dawson to Portglenone, and from Maghera to Bellaghy. On the plantation of Ulster, these lands were granted by Jas. I. to the Irish Society, and by them transferred to the Vintners' Company of London, who founded the castle and town of Bellaghy. Two townlands in the parish belong to the see of Derry. In the R. C. divisions this parish comprehends the grange of Ballyscullion, in the diocese of Connor, in which union are two chapels, one at Bellaghy and the other in the Grange.
- TERMONEENY, a parish, in the barony of LOUGHINSHOLIN, county of LONDONDERRY, and province of ULSTER, near the post-town of Maghera. This parish, which is bounded on the north by the river Moyola. land varies greatly in quality; around the old church of Mullach it is extremely fertile, producing abundant crops; but in the neighbourhood of Knockleighrim, high, rocky, and unproductive. The substratum is principally basalt, and many of the rocks of that formation rise abruptly above the surface, especially Knockleighrim, a bold and almost detached rock of basalt, which rises to a considerable height and is difficult of access, except on the east, to which its whole surface inclines; it has some indications of the columnar formation, and is a conspicuous object front every part of the barony.
- DESERTMARTIN Within its limits is Lough Insholin, which gives name to the barony; it contains several islands, and is nearly dry in summer. The soil is every where good, and the system of agriculture improved; the lands are chiefly in tillage, producing abundant crops; there are some valuable tracts of bog, A great portion of the mountain of Slieve Gallion, is within the parish; notwithstanding its great height, it affords excellent pasturage yearly to its summit. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Derry, and in the patronage of the Bishop; there is also another glebe belonging to the parish, called the townland of Lisgorgan, situated in Tamlaght-O'Crilly, and containing 179 acres.
- KILCRONAGHAN a parish, in the barony of LOUGHINSHOLIN, county of LONDONDERRY, and province of. ULSTER; containing, with the post-town of Tubbermore. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Derry, and in the patronage of the Bishop. In the Roman Catholic divisions this parish forms part of the union or district of Desartmartin, and has a chapel at Keenaght.
- MAGHERAFELT-on the road from Armagh to Coleraine, a market town in the barony of LOUGHINSHOLIN, county of LONDONDERRY, and province of ULSTER, 50 miles (N. W. by W.) from Londonderry city. This place suffered materially in the war of 1641; the town was plundered by the insurgents, who destroyed the church, put many of the inhabitants to death, and carried or several of the more wealthy, with a view to obtain money for their ransoms. In 1688 the town was again plundered, but on the approach of the assailants, the inhabitants took refuge in the Carntogher mountains, and subsequently found an asylum in Derry city; on this occasion the church, having been appropriated by the enemy as a barrack, was preserved. The parish, which is situated on the river Moyola. The principal substratum is basalt, which, in the townland of Polepatrick, has a columnar tendency; limestone of good quality is abundant, and coal is found in some parts. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Armagh, and in the patronage of the Lord-primate. In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish is the head of a union or district, comprising also parts of the parishes of Woods-chapel, Desertlyn, and Ballyscullion; the chapel is at Aghagaskin, about a mile from the town.
- KILLELAGH, or KILLELA a parish, in the barony of LOUGHINSHOLIN, county of LONDONDERRY, and province of ULSTER, 2 miles (N.) from Maghera on the river Clody. On its eastern boundary is Carntogher mountain, rising 1521 feet above the level of the sea. In the mountain district the inhabitants are principally native Irish, and in the plains, of Scottish extraction. Five townlands are in the manor of Maghera and belong to the see of Derry, three in the manor of Kilrea belong to the Mercers Company, and four in the manor of Bellaghy to the Vintners' Company, of London. The parish was formerly united to Maghera, but in 1794 was separated from it and now forms a distinct benefice. In the townland of Tirnony is a perfect cromlech, and near it an artificial cave formed of held stones and covered with lags. In the southern part of the parish are the ruins of a very ancient church, which was destroyed in the rebellion of the Earl of Tyrone, and subsequently rebuilt.