Clonkeen

CLONKEEN, a parish, in the barony of CLANWILLIAM, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, 5½| miles (E. by S.) from Limerick; containing 628 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the road from Limerick to Abington, and contains 2496 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act.

The soil is fertile, and the land is well cultivated, producing abundant crops. The houses are generally good, and mostly surrounded with gardens and orchards, particularly near Barrington Bridge, where several neat cottages, and an hotel and post-office have been recently erected, a police station established, and numerous other improvements made. The parish is in the diocese of Emly, and the rectory is appropriate to the Archbishop of Cashel's mensal. The church, which is of Saxon or early Norman architecture, of which the western doorway is a very fine specimen, was much injured by the Whiteboys, in 1762, and has not been repaired; that at Abington is used by the parishioners. In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Murroe. There is a school, in which about 100 boys and 40 girls are taught.

from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837.