Kilconnell

KILCONNELL, a parish and post-town, in the barony of KILCONNELL, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 30½ miles (E.by N.) from Galway, and 78½ (W. by S.) from Dublin; containing 1910 inhabitants. It derives its name from St. Conall, who was abbot here in the time of St. Patrick. A monastery of Franciscan friars was founded about 1400, by William O'Kelly, which was reformed by his son Malachy, in 1460: at the dissolution it was granted to Charles Calthorpe, Esq. The ruins are extremely interesting, and contain several inscriptions, coats of arms, &c.; it was a favourite burial-place for many of the most respectable families in Galway. The town contains 52 houses; it is a constabulary police station, and has a penny post to Aughrim; fairs are held on May 9th, Aug. 4th, Nov. 11th, and Dec. 18th; and a manorial court is held occasionally. The parish contains 4512 statute acres, including a small quantity of bog. The seats are Hillwood, the residence of Hyacinth Donnellan, Esq.; Ballinderry, of J. Comyn, Esq.; Carrowmanagh, of T. Bermingham, Esq.; Killagh, of Capt. Donnellan; and Mount Evans, of G. Crewe, Esq.

The living is a vicarag, in the diocese of Clonfert, forming, with the rectories and vicarages of Killane and Fohenagh, the union of Kilconnell, in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is appropriate to the see, the prebend of Kilconnell in the cathedral of Clonfert, and the vicarage.  The tithes amount to £115. 7 8., of which £18. 9. 2¾ is payable to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, £32. 6. 1¾. to the prebendary, and £64. 12. 3¾. to the vicar; and the entire tithes of the benefice amount to £266. 15. 4½.  In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a district, comprising also Aughrim, in each of which is a chapel; that of Kilconnell is a large and handsome building.

About 170 children are educated in three private schools.

On the lands of Calla are the ruins of an old castle, and a lake nearly a mile in circumference. A village in this, parish, called in Irish Bollin Whin Shouge, or "Ash Village," gives the title of Baron to Lord Ashtown.

from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837.