Parish of Kilconickny, local (Irish) name of; notable objects therein remarked.
Parish of Clare Galway, places therein, noticed.
Sir,
Cill C'nuicne is the Irish pronunciation of the name of a parish which lies partly, in the baronies of Loughrea, Athenry and Dunkellin.
Kilconickny old church stands in ruins in a grave yard in the townland of Carrowmore.
The East gable was entirely destroyed; the original length within the walls, was about 40 feet; and breadth 16½ feet. There are two window places on the South side wall between the door and East gable; the one of them next to which, is on the inside, 2½ feet from the ground; 3 feet broad in the lower part; and is opened in the upper part; the wall over it being broken down. The other is about the same height from the ground {or 2ft. 8in.?} and 5 feet broad in the lower part; being likewise opened at top, by reason of the [wall] having been broken down.
On the South side wall near the west gable is the door, made of cut stones, 6 feet high and 3½ feet broad, and pointed. The West gable is 'plastered', on the inside; and on the North side wall towards the East gable, there is a window place, which is 4 feet from the ground and 4 feet broad; and is opened at top, the wall over it having been destroyed.
The whole of the remains of this Church, exhibits a very modern appearance.
In this parish, to the left of the road leading from Loughrea to Dunsandle; two miles distant from the former, and about and about one from the latter place, are seen the ruins of Killylan Church, Cill Adhlain; the North side wall and West gable
are nearly altogether destroyed. The South side wall has two breaches on it, each of which was probably a window place. The East gable remains as yet, and has a window of the lancet form on it, which is 3 feet 10 inches broad in the lower part on the inside, and is arched in the upper part with rudely cut stones cemented with lime and sand mortar. The height of the arch Cannot be set down with Certainty as the lower part of the window inside is filled up with a heap of stones thrown loosely together. The height of the window outside is 6 feet and the breadth is 1 foot 4 inches. It is made of cut stones and exhibits the pointed form.
Saint Ilan's Well, Tobar Adhlain, is a short distance from the Church to the S. West, and is placed in the Name book in Doogurraun townland. There is a large tree standing at it. A patron is held here on the 31st of October, which is St Ilan's festival. Is his name in the Calendar, or in any other ecclesiastical document?
Is the name correctly Foilanus, or Faolanus?
There is a bridge S. of Carrowbaun townland, denominated from the Church of Killylan. I find it written Kill Island Bridge in the Name book of Lickerrig parish; but it is better to make it Killylan Bridge.
In Tooloobauntample townland in this parish, is the old Church which has been described in the Letter about Lickerrig parish, as being not far distant from the ruins
of the Bawn (Babhún) of Tooloobaun old Castle.
There is a grave yard in the townland of Lackalea {Leaca Liath}. The name of this burying place is written Cappanaculliagh in the Name book, the Irish of which is Ceapach na g-Cailleach.
In the townland of Boherduff, Bothar Dubh, are three wells Called St. Columb Kille's wells. The name in Irish, however, is Tobar Choluim Cille, which translated is St. Columbkille's well.
And in the townland of Lurgan Lurgainn, are two wells called 'St. Columb Kille's wells'.
At some one of these, a stone lies, in which is visible the impression, it is said, of Saint Columb Kille's Knees, made on the occasion of the Saint having knelt to pray on it.
Two wells are also placed in Lurgan townland, which are called Tobermicduagh, Tobar mhic Dúach {local Irish pronunciation}.
Some traces of a Castle are to be seen in Cloghstookeen townland, Cloch Stúaicín.
A castle stands in a tottering state of ruin, in Lackafinna South townland, Leaca Fíonna. Raruddy old Castle stands in Rarruddy West townland, Rath Roda
In Cloonnoo East, Cluain Núadh, there was a Castle, the site of which, I was told, is still traceable.
The Inquisition taken at Galway 20th March 1608 before Geoffrey Osbaldstone Esqre. {and others} &c., says that it was found by an Inquisition taken before John Crofton Esqre. at Athenry, 1st October 1584, that Rickard {2nd} Earl {of Clanrickard} died 24th July 1582, seized in fee and fee taile of several lands, among which is set down the Castle of Leackaghfin with 2 qr.
It is afterwards stated in the same Inquisition of 1608, that Ulick Bourke {who was 3d Earl
of Clanrickard} was seized in fee and feetayle of lands in which were included Cahir-henry hoe {½ qr.} *** the Castle of Leackaghfinne {& 1 qr.}.
Caherhenryho is a townland in this parish, and is pronounced in Irish catair lanrvar.- hö. Boherduff {½ q.} is also mentioned among the lands of which the Earl was seized. Boherduff, Botará‘ Dub, is now a townland in this Parish.
These are all the notices I could collect from our extracts, relative to places in this parish. If any notices should occur elsewhere, that might illustrate its own name and origin as a parish, it will be very useful to have [them] collected together from any authentic source.
I have to make a few observations respecting a part of Clare Galway parish, that I traversed; and I annex them on the following page.
The Inquisition of 1608 above referred to, finds that Ulick Bourke father of the now Earl {that is father of Rickard who was then {4th} Earl of Clanrickard}, did enter into the said Earldome and all and singular the manors, Lordships, Castles &ca. except the Castles of Ballenasloe and the land thereunto belonging, now in the possession and tenure of the heirs of Anthony Brabazon, and also the Castle of Feartamore, and the lands thereof;
and Lysserille, now in the possession of Valentyne Blake and others, &c.
Lysserille is now Called in Irish, Lios an Bhla, which should, according to the sound, be Anglicised Liss arivla, and which is written Liss-arule, Liss-arully, and Lissarulla, in the Name book, taken from several (different) authorities. It is a townland in the parish of Clare-Galway, in which there is, it is said, a small fragment of a Castle still remaining.
Mr. Blake {Co: Mayo} is the proprietor of this townland.
There was a castle Called Cloch Maol formerly in this parish. A 'buttment' of it is still to be seen, according to local information, in Carnmore land, where there was also a monument of stones similar in form to a fort, which probably was the feature that gave name to the land. The people did not, however, latterly call it Carnn, Carn. It went commonly by the name of fort from its similarity in form to one, as has been already remarked. A small portion of this monument, is said to be still visible. I find it remarked in the Name book that Cloughmeel {rectè Cloghmweel} was once a convent. Does this appear from any authentic source?
T. O'Conor