KILMOLASH

KILMOLASH, a parish, partly in the barony of DECIES-within-DRUM, but chiefly in that of DECIES-without-DRUM, county of WATERFORD, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (S. E.) from Lismore; containing 1397 inhabitants. It comprises 3979 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, of which about three-fourths are arable, and includes some bog and mountain land and about 70 acres of woodland. The river Phinisk flows through the parish, and on its banks at Bewley there is a cavern in the limestone rock, near which was formerly a religious edifice, said to have belonged to the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem The principal seats are Woodstock, the residence of T. Welsh, Esq.; and Ballinaparka, of T. J. Fitzgerald, Esq. It is a vicarage, in the diocese of Lismore, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory forms part of the union of Kilrush and of the corps of the archdeaconry of Lismore.

The tithes amount to £232. 10. of which £155 is payable to the rector and the remainder to the vicar. Here are the ruins of an ancient building, called Clough, where it is said King John and his attendants halted on their way from Waterford to Cork. It consisted of a quadrangle of about a quarter of an acre, enclosed with high walls, defended by towers at the angles, with a drawbridge on the south side; the towers alone appear to have been roofed. Part of the ruins of the church exist.