MACROOMP, or MACROOM, a town of Ireland in the barony of Muskerry, county of Cork, and province of Munster, 142 miles from Dublin; it is situated amongst hills, in a dry gravelly limestone soil.—This place is said to take its name from an old crooked oak, so called in Irish, which formerly grew here. The castle was first built in King John's time, soon after the English conquest (according to Sir Richard Cox), by the Carews; but others attribute it to the Daltons. It was repaired and beautified by Teague Macarty, who died in the year 1565, and was father to
Microscop the celebrated Sir Cormac Mac Teague mentioned by
II Madagas-
car. Camden and other writers as an active person in
Queen Elizabeth's time. The late earls of Glencarty
altered this castle into a more modern structure, it be-
ing burnt down in the wars of 1641. Opposite to
the bridge is the parish-church, dedicated to St Col-
man of Cloyne. Here is a barrack for a foot company,
a market-house, and a handsome Roman Catholic chapel.
A considerable number of persons have been employed
in this town in combing wool and spinning yarn, and
some salt-works have been erected here. At half a
mile's distance is a spaw, that rises on the very brink of
a bog; its waters are a mild chalybeate, and are ac-
counted serviceable in hypochondriacal cases, and in
cutaneous eruptions. The fairs are four in the year.