KILCONNELL

KILCONNELL, a post-town and a parish, in the barony of KILCONNELL, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 30 ½ miles (E. by N.) from Galway, and 785 (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 3400, 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 vicarage, 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. 2 ¾. is payable to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, £32. 6. 1 ¾. to the prebendary, and £64. 12. 3 ¾. to the vicar: and the entire tithes of the benefice amount to £266. 15. 4 ½. 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.