a maritime county in the province of Leinster, in Ireland, bounded on the N. by the county of Down and the Bay of Carlingford, on the E. by the Irish Sea, on the S. by the county of Meath, and on the W. by the counties of Meath and Monaghan. It is the smallest county of Ireland, comprising an area of only 315 square miles, or 201,434 acres; of which 178,972 are arable, 15,603 uncultivated, 5318 in plantations, 728 in towns, and 813 covered by water. Of the 15,000 acres of uncultivated or coarse pasture land of unproductive nature, it is estimated that 3000 may be drained and tilled; 5000 may be drained for pasture, and 7000 acres of the elevated ground near the summit of the mountains must be considered incapable of improvement.

In the time of Ptolemy it formed part of the maritime district inhabited by the Voluntii. Afterwards it was known by the name of Argiall, Orgiall, or Uriell, which also comprehended the greater part of the counties of Meath, Monaghan, and Armagh. Its leading families of Irish extraction were the O'Carrols and the MacScannans. It was conquered by the English under De Courcy in his progress northwards to Ulster, and formed one of the twelve counties into which King John divided that part of Ireland which acknowledged his authority, and was granted to De Courcy, and subsequently to De Lacy, as earls of Ulster. By De Lacy it was divided and subgranted among the families of De Verdon, Peppard, Taaffe, Bellew, Gernon, &c. It is now divided into the six baronies—Ardee, Drogheda, Upper and Lower Dundalk, Ferrard, and Louth, which are subdivided into sixty-one parishes, all in the archdiocese of Armagh, and two parts of parishes in the diocese of Clogher.

The southern part of the county is fertile and agreeably diversified by gentle undulations of surface. Proceeding northwards, it becomes more hilly, until, at its most northern extremity, it rises into the bold and picturesque mountains of Ravensdale and Carlingford, which in some places attain an elevation of nearly 2000 feet. The rivers are the Dee, the Clyde, the Fane, and the Castletown. None of them are navigable, being useful solely for irrigation and other purposes of rural economy. The Boyne, which forms part of the southern boundary of the county, is navigable for large vessels as far as Drogheda. The county has a considerable line of sea-coast, consisting chiefly of a sandy strand, except where it is broken by the projection of Clogher Head, a bold promontory, which, although only 180 feet in height, forms a striking feature from the adjoining flat sandy beach. The Bay of Dundalk extends beyond this point for seven miles at its mouth, indenting the coast for an equal distance inland. The Carlingford Mountains, bounding the northern extremity of the county, separate it from the bay of that name, which forms the line of demarcation both between the counties of Louth and Down and the provinces of Leinster and Ulster. This bay is deep and narrow, extending in length upwards of nine miles, with an average breadth of a mile and a half. It is navigable to Warrenpoint, near the town of Newry, and its shores on both sides are much admired for their bold and picturesque scenery. Immense beds of oysters, in high estimation amongst gastronomists for peculiar delicacy of flavour, occupy different localities in this bay.

The soil in the southern lowlands is well adapted for tillage, being composed of a rich vegetable mould resting on marl or on limestone, sometimes with a substratum of slate. The quality of the soil diminishes in agricultural value as the land rises towards the N., and the summits of the mountainous district produce only heath and scanty herbage.

The mountains are composed chiefly of granite. On their borders hornblende and primitive greenstone are found in abundance, after which are exterior ranges of transition rock. The lower lands rest on a clay-slate formation. The line of separation between the granite and the clay-slate extends from Carlingford Bay, over the summit of the Ravensdale Mountains, into the county of Armagh. Flint limestone appears in the neighbourhood of Drogheda and Ardee. A lead mine was worked for a short period at Salterstown, near the sea-coast.

The returns of the population, taken at different periods, present the following results:

| Year | Population | |------|------------| | 1769 | 67,512 | | 1792 | 57,759 | | 1821 | 111,011 | | 1831 | 104,241 | | 1841 | 111,979 | | 1851 | 90,812 |

The county, though the smallest in Ireland, sent no fewer than twelve representatives to the Irish parliament. Two were returned for the county, two for the town of Drogheda, and two each for the boroughs of Dundalk, Ardee, Carlingford, and Dunleer. The Act of Union reduced this number to four;—two for the county, one for Drogheda, and one for Dundalk; and this arrangement still continues.

The number of schools and of pupils attending them during the week ended 12th April 1851, was—

| Schools | No. of Schools | No. of Pupils | |---------|---------------|--------------| | National | 48 | 2069 | | Church Education | 14 | 258 | | Endowed | 6 | 311 | | Boarding | 3 | 11 | | Private | 32 | 433 | | Parochial | 8 | 108 | | Free | 7 | 127 | | Industrial | 1 | ... | | Missionary | 1 | 2 | | Military | 1 | 15 | | Workhouse | 3 | 289 | | Gaol | 1 | 62 | | Total | 125 | 3683 |

The lands capable of cultivation are mostly kept in tillage. Potatoes, wheat, oats, and barley, raised according to the succession here stated, form the principal crops. In the northern districts oats are chiefly raised.

The total extent of land under each description of crop in 1855 and 1856 was—

| Crop | 1855 Acres | 1856 Acres | |-----------------------|------------|------------| | Wheat | 9,674 | 14,951 | | Oats | 38,630 | 34,228 | | Barley, bere, rye, beans, and peas | 22,028 | 20,155 | | Potatoes | 12,010 | 14,639 | | Turnips | 9,235 | 9,657 | | Other green crops | 2,548 | 2,615 | | Flax | 190 | 219 | | Meadow and clover | 17,286 | 18,131 | | Total | 111,501 | 114,005 |

Sheep are most abundant in the hilly districts.

The quantity of live stock in the county in 1855 and 1856 was—

| Livestock | 1855 | 1856 | |-----------|------|------| | Horses | 12,133 | 12,328 | | Cattle | 32,107 | 31,481 | | Sheep | 31,712 | 40,440 | | Pigs | 14,232 | 12,017 |

Many parts of the county are well planted. The ash tree grows in the lower grounds to a great size. The coasts furnish a constant supply of fish; and the flat shores abound with sea-fowl, especially barnacle, which, however, is not so highly esteemed for flavour as that of Wexford or Derry. The manufacture of coarse linens is carried on to a considerable extent.

Few counties can boast of so many remains of antiquity. There are two round towers,—one at Monasterboice, 110 feet in height, and in a state of excellent preservation, the other at Dromiskin, much decayed. At the former of these places there are also the remains of two small churches and of three finely sculptured crosses, one of them 18 feet high. Near the banks of a stream called the River of Balrichan, is a large artificial cave, accidentally discovered by the sinking in of a horse whilst ploughing. It consists of several narrow passages, the sides and top of which are formed of flag-stones. Some bones of large and small animals were found in it. About 2 miles from Dundalk are the ruins of a very ancient structure, which has some resemblance to the hull of an ancient galley. There are no traces of doors, windows, or loop-holes. The building has given rise to much antiquarian discussion. At Ballymacscalain is a cromlech called the Giant's Leap, consisting of a rock 12 feet long and 6 broad, elevated on three upright stones. Near it is Castle Rath, surrounded by moats and lesser raths, and with a remarkable tumulus in its vicinity. The great mound of Castleguard, near Ardee, is 90 feet in height and 600 feet in circumference at its base. Its summit terminates in an area 140 feet round. It is well planted, and surrounded by a deep trench. At Faughart are the remains of an ancient intrenchment. The decisive battle which terminated in the defeat and death of Edward Bruce, by Sir John Bermingham, afterwards Earl of Louth, was fought near this place. The remains of castles are numerous. That of Carlingford, built by King John, occupies a commanding position on a rock projecting into the bay. Castletown stands within sight of the town of Dundalk. Terfeckan Castle, once the residence of the learned Archbishop Usher, is now in ruins. The county is equally remarkable for the number of its ancient monastic edifices. Mellifont, a Cistercian abbey, 5 miles W. of Drogheda, presents some remains equally remarkable for their beauty and singularity of architecture. Others are to be traced at Carlingford, Faughart, and Monasterboice. The principal towns of the county are Dundalk, Ardee, and Drogheda.

a municipal borough of England, Lincolnshire, and a station on the Great Northern Railway, is situate on the River Ludd, 25 miles E.N.E. from Lincoln. The houses are mostly built of brick and roofed with slate, and the streets are clean, well paved, and lighted with gas. Louth has a guild-hall, a sessions-house, a house of correction, an assembly-room, several churches and chapels, almshouses, a dispensary, and a small theatre. The principal building is the church of St James, an edifice of the later English style, surmounted by an octagonal spire of 288 feet, and possessing an east window remarkable for its beautiful tracery. There is a richly endowed grammar school, founded by Edward VI., from whom the borough also received its charter. Louth is famous for its ale; and has manufactories of carpets, blankets, soap, and paper. By means of a canal, fed by the Ludd, and communicating with the Humber, it carries on a considerable traffic in corn and coals. Since the Reform Act, the borough has been divided into two wards, and governed by a mayor, six aldermen, and eighteen councillors. Markets are held on Wednesday and Saturday. In the vicinity are the ruins of a Cistercian abbey, founded in 1139 by Alexander, Bishop of Lincoln. Pop. (1851) 10,467.