KILNAUGHTEN

KILNAUGHTEN, a parish, in the barony of IRAGHTICONNOR, county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, on the southern shore of the river Shannon; containing, with the post-town of Tarbert (which is described under its own head), 4371 inhabitants. The parish is estimated to comprise about 9960 statute acres, of which 8340 are applotted under the tithe act: the land is in general good and mostly under tillage, and there is a considerable portion of bog in the southern part of the parish. Limestone is brought from Askeyton by the boats employed in conveying turf from Tarbert to Limerick, and used for manure, and the state of agriculture has "latterly been much improved. On the estate of Colonel Halliburton is a quarry of excellent stone, adapted for flagging and building; the flags are chiefly sent to Limerick and other places for the streets: the stone for the bridewell and new R. C. chapel at Tarbert was taken from this quarry.

The seats are Sallow Glen, the residence of T. W. Sandes, Esq., a spacious and handsome mansion, situated in a finely wooded demesne of more than 100 acres extending along the picturesque glen of that name; Pyrmont, of W. Sandes, Esq., commanding a fine view of the Shannon; Carrunakilly, of the Rev. F. Sandes; Lislaghtin Abbey, of Pierce Crosbie, Esq.; Tarbert House, of R. Leslie, Esq., commanding a fine view of the bay of Tarbert and the river Shannon; Ahanna, of Pierce Leslie, Esq.; and Leslie Lodge, late the residence of the family of that name, recently purchased by the Hon. Colonel D. G. Halliburton. The parish is in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe: the rectory is impropriate in Anthony Raymond, Esq., and the vicarage forms part of the union of Aghavallin and Listowel. Of the tithes, amounting to £267. 9. 4 ½., two-thirds are payable to the impropriator and the remainder to the vicar. The church for this portion of the union, a neat modem building, is near Tarbert.

In the R. C. divisions the parish (with the exception of the townland of Kilmurly) forms part of the union or district of Ballylongford, also called the district of Tarbert, at which latter place is a handsome chapel of recent erection. At Sallow Glen is a school supported by Mr. Sandes; near Tarbert is a school on Erasmus Smith's foundation, with two acres of land and an excellent house for the master; and a third school is chiefly supported by the Methodists of Tarbert. In these and in four private schools about 260 children are educated. The ruins of the old church at Kilnaughten still remain in the burial-ground; and at Kilmurly, or Kilmacrehy, are vestiges of another old church or chapel. On the eastern side of the creek of Ballylongford are the picturesque ruins of the abbey of Lislaghtin, founded by O'Conor Kerry for Franciscans of the strict observance: the tower, choir, and several other parts of the buildings remain; these ruins, with the modern mansion, are in the parish of Aghavallin.