KILSCANNEL

KILSCANNEL, a parish, in the barony of LOWER CONNELLO, county of LIMERICK, and province of MUNSTER, l ½ mile (W. S. W.) from Rathkeale; containing 1031 inhabitants. It comprises 3141 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act: the soil is of superior quality, being based on a substratum of limestone; about one-half of the land is under an excellent system of tillage, producing abundant crops; and the remainder is rich meadow and grazing land, affording plentiful pasture to great numbers of milch cows. There are several large dairy farms, and great quantities of butter are sent hence to Cork and Limerick for exportation. The principal gentlemen's seats are Elm Hill, the handsome residence of I. Studdert, Esq.; and Kilsconnell House, of R. L. Condon, Esq.: there are also several substantial and well-built farm-houses, occupied by highly respectable farmers.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, in the diocese of Limerick, forming part of the corps of the chancellorship of the cathedral of Limerick: the tithes amount to £210. The glebe comprises 12 acres of profitable land in two detached portions. The church, for the repair of which the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have recently granted £115, is a very neat edifice with a square embattled tower, and was erected in 1822, by a gift of £600 from the late Board of First Fruits.

In the R. C. divisions the parish forms part of the unions of Ardagh and Rathkeale. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. About 50 children are taught in the parochial school, for which a neat school-house with a residence for the master and mistress was built by subscription in 1825. Near the present church are some remains of the ancient structure.