Free Byrne's Dictionary of Irish Local History by Joseph Byrne

without having to perform a service. In September 1823, at the instigation of the archbishop of Dublin, the sexton of St Kevin’s church in Dublin, intervened in the burial of Arthur D’ Arcy to forbid the recitation of graveside prayers by a priest. Catholics were outraged and a government attempt to legislate its way out of the embarrassment with the Easement of Burials Act (5 Geo. IV, c. 25, 15 April 1824) actually worsened the situation. The Catholic Association attacked as intolerable the provision that non-Anglican clergymen must apply to the Church of Ireland minister for permission to assist at gravesides and embarked on a campaign to purchase distinctly Catholic burial sites. Within a few years both Goldenbridge (1829) and Glasnevin (1832) were operative and Church of Ireland ministers were left to rue the sexton’s meddling as the well of burial fees dried up. (FitzPatrick, History ; O’Brien and Dunne, Catholic Ireland , p. 51.)
    burgage . The holding of a burgess , recognisable by a narrow street frontage and a long narrow garden behind the house.
    burgess . A town inhabitant or citizen of a borough with full citizenship rights. Statute conferred a considerable array of privileges on burgesses, the most important of which included the granting of burgage holdings at an annual rent of one shilling per annum, the right of burgesses to own their own hundred court and the entitlement to a share in common fields. This set of privileges was known as the law of Breteuil . The offer of burgess status during periods of colonisation was probably a lure to attract settlers. Members of municipal corporations, usually to the number of 12 or 13, were also known as burgesses and possessed important privileges in relation to the election of parliamentary representatives. See borough.
    burning and paring . See bettimore.
    buddachan . (Ir.) A measure of oysters containing 360 oysters. One bushel contained two-and-a-half buddachans and weighed one hundredweight.
    bushel . A measure of capacity and weight characterised by great regional diversity. In terms of capacity the bushel is equivalent to four pecks , eight gallons or 32.239 litres. The imperial bushel, established in 1826, contains 80 pounds liquid measure or 60 pounds in weight, the Tudor Winchester bushel slightly less at 77.6 pounds. See barrel.
    butt . A cask for wine or ale, the capacity of which varied according to the commodity. A butt of ale contained 108 to 140 gallons whereas a butt of wine contained 126 gallons. Two hogsheads were equivalent to a butt or pipe and two butts or pipes were equivalent to a tun .
    butlerage . See prisage.
    buying . See ceannuigheacht .
    byre dwelling . A one-roomed house in which animals are stabled at one end and people inhabit the other. Known as a ‘long house’ in England. (O’Neill, Life , pp. 12–13.)

C
    c. See cap.
    cadastral . Of or having to do with the extent, boundaries, value and ownership of real property. Cadastral surveys such as Griffith’s Valuation were conducted for taxation purposes.
    caddow . A coarse, woollen blanket or covering.
    cairn . A mound of stones heaped over a prehistoric tomb.
    caiseal . A rath or ring-fort enclosed by a bank or banks of stone and usually located in areas of stony ground. Also known as a cathair .
    calabar, calaber . The fur of a red squirrel.
    calendar . 1: Roman. There were twelve months in the Roman calendar, each of which was subdivided into calends, ides and nones. Calends was always the first day of the month and nones the ninth day before ides counting both days. As ides fell on either the thirteenth (all months except March, May, July or October) or the fifteenth, nones always fell on the fifth or seventh. Dates were reckoned according to the number of days forward to each one. Thus, IV Non. Jan. was 2 January, nones being the fifth. Calends was reckoned in relation to the next month, III Kal. Jan. being 30 December 2: Gregorian. In 1752 the