KILLONE

KILLONE, or KILLOWEN, a parish, in the barony of ISLANDS, county of CLARE, and province of MUNSTER, 2 ½ miles (S. by W.) from Ennis, on the road to Kildysart; containing 2354 inhabitants. It comprises about 3820 statute acres, as rated for the county cess. Limestone abounds, and is used for manure, for which purpose sea-weed and sand from the shores of the Fergus are also used; and the state of agriculture is gradually improving. About the year 1190, Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, founded an abbey here for nuns of the order of St. Augustine, and dedicated it to St. John the Baptist. Slaney, the pious daughter of Donogh Carbreach, King of Thomond, was abbess of this nunnery. The ruins are beautifully situated near the north-eastern extremity of the Lake of Killone, and form a very picturesque feature in the scenery. At a short distance from the abbey is a celebrated holy well, dedicated to St. John, on the eve of whose anniversary it is resorted to by the peasantry from various parts of the county.

The principal seats are, Edenvale, the residence of R. J. Stackpoole, Esq.; and New Hall, of J. McDonnell, Esq.: both are situated in picturesque demesnes, the latter being on an eminence above the Lake of Killone, and the former celebrated for its romantic vale, in which is a secluded lake, said to communicate with the river Fergus by a subterraneous channel. The parish is in the diocese of Killaloe: the rectory is impropriate in Bindon Scott, Esq., who receives the tithes, amounting to £180, and allows £10 per annum late currency for discharging the clerical duties; but the townland of Bearnageehy pays tithes to the rector of Clare Abbey.

In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of Clare, and has a chapel at Ballyea. About 170 children are educated in two private schools.