Part of the land, more especially that bordering on Dungarvan, is of good quality and in a high state of cultivation; the system of agriculture is improved, and within the last few years, some of the highest hills have been brought into cultivation. The principal manure is sand and sea-weed, which are found in abundance in the bay and on the coast; during the greater part of May and June, from 50 to 100 boats are employed in collecting and conveying the weed to Dungarvan for sale, and frequently a revenue of £50 a day is thus derived by the parish. The surrounding scenery is bold, and in many parts strikingly romantic and picturesque.

The herring-fishery is carried on to a considerable extent: from 40 to 50 boats are engaged in taking the fish, which are found here in abundance, and cured; not less than 200 persons are employed in that trade. Near Helvick Head about a dozen houses were built, in 1828, for the accommodation of the fishermen; and a pier was at the same time erected to form a harbour for their boats by Lord Stuart de Decies, the principal landed proprietor of the parish.

A coast-guard station has been established, which is one of the five constituting the district of Youghal. Between the village of Ring and the Black Rock, which stands at the mouth of the harbour of Dungarvan, about midway, lies a dangerous ledge of rocks on which several vessels have been lately lost; the rocks are partially visible at the lowest spring tides: a lighthouse here is very desirable.

The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Lismore, and in the patronage of the Duke of Devonshire, in whom the rectory is impropriate: the tithe rent-charge is £166.3., two-thirds payable to the impropriator, and one-third to the vicar. There is no glebe-house; the glebe consists of 1½ acre. The church was rebuilt in 1822, the late board of First Fruits contributing £600; it is a plain and neat edifice. The Roman Catholic parish is much more extensive than that of the Established church, as it includes Ballycurreen and a large tract of mountain of Slieve Grine; the chapel is a modern edifice, situated on an eminence. Near the church is a well dedicated to St Nicholas; and on an eminence in the parish is an artificial cavern.