KILCOOLY

KILCOOLY, a parish, in the barony of LEITRIM, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 4 miles (E. by S.) from Loughrea, on the road to Eyrecourt; containing 610 inhabitants. It is said to have been formerly the residence of the celebrated chieftain Norah Oge, one of the ancestors of the present family of Clanricarde; there are still some remains, in good preservation, of the ancient castle, which appears to have been a place of formidable strength. The parish comprises 1374 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the lands are in a tolerable state of cultivation, and there is only a very inconsiderable portion of bog. The gentlemen's seats are Holly Hill, the residence of P. Kelly, Esq.; and Ballydavid, of A. Gore Daly, Esq. It is in the diocese of Clonfert; the rectory is appropriate to the deanery of Clonfert, and the vicarage forms part of the union of Kilcolgan: the tithes amount to £39. 13. 11., of which £27. 13. 11. is payable to the dean, and £12 to the vicar. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union of Leitrim, and contains a chapel. There is a private school, in which are about 40 children.