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KIL
the ruins of an ancient strong hold, of which only the
gateway is remaining. At Ross Ferry, or Ross Port, on
the south side of Gutta mountain, are huge hills of
sand, now covering a tract which, 50 years since, was
as fertile as any in the barony. Between Renval
and Ross Ferry a gradual subsidence of the land, or
an elevation of the level of the sea, appears to have
taken place; rocks appear in two places project-
ing above the surface of the strand, and a ridge of bog
rises through the shingle to a level with high-water
mark.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Killala,
and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rectory is,
appropriate to the precentorship of the cathedral of
Killala. The tithes amount to £340, one-half payable
to the precentor, and one-half to the vicar. There is
no church, but divine service is regularly performed in
the court-house at Belmullet, and occasionally in private
houses in different parts of the parish. There is no
glebe-house; the glebe comprises 35½ acres. In the
R. C. divisions the parish forms the three districts
of Ballycroy, in which is an old thatched building at
Cross Hill, used as a chapel; Kilcommon West, in
which is a chapel built in 1832, at an expense of £300,
by subscription; and Kilcommon East, of which the
chapel is at Bangor. There are 14 schools, all of which
are private, and the total number of children educated
is 450. At Kiltairn, on the banks of the Owenmore,
are the remains of an ancient abbey, and also of the old
parish church; at Kilgalligan, are the ruins of a monas-
tery; and at Doona, the remains of a castle belonging to
the celebrated Grace O’Malley, known by the name of
Gran-Uile. Near Pallatomas is an ancient burial-ground.
The parish is rich in minerals, among which are found
the Greenland pot stone, the rutil, kyanite, white lime-
stone, feldspar, rock crystal, garnet, micaceous quartz,
and other varieties. In the townland of Enver there is
a druidical altar, consisting of three upright stones sup-
porting a large flag-stone. In January, 1835, a labourer
discovered several gold coins in a field on that town-
land; and great numbers of shillings of the reigns of
the Edwards and Hen. VIII. are frequently dug up in
various parts. The Rev. W. Maxwell wrote the greater
portion of his works at Croy Lodge, the neighbour-
hood of which was the scene of his “Wild Sports of
the West.”—See BELMULLET.
KILCOMMON, a parish, in the barony of KIL-
MAINE, county of MAYO, and province of CONNAUGHT;
containing, with the post-town of Hollymount, 6507
inhabitants. It comprises 6339 statute acres, of which
about 400 are woodland and 500 bog. Agriculture is
improving; and near Hollymount is a model agricul-
tural school, established by the Mansion-House Relief
Committee of 1822. The building and stock cost
£3000, but the school, which was built on an acre of
land given by Mr. Lindsey, has very few pupils. Limestone
is found here. The surrounding country is agreeably
diversified, and is adorned with numerous well-planted
demesnes. The principal seats in the parish are Holly-
mount House, the residence of T. S. Lindsey, Esq.; Close-
cormack House, of J. K. Gildea, Esq.; Bushfield, of An-
nesleyKnox,Esq.; Purranes,of A.Bell, Esq.; Ballyheragh
St.Leger, of B. St. Leger, Esq.; Balaheragh Lodge, of M.
Lindsey, Esq.; Greham, of R. Bowen, Esq.; Annefield, of
A. E. Bowen, Esq.; Mount Jenings, of B.Jenings, Esq.;
Bloomfield, of the Rev. F. Ruttledge; Clooney Castle,
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KIL
of J. Gildea, Esq.; Carraville, of R. Fair, Esq.; and Fort-
ville, of T. Fair, Esq. The living is a rectory and vicar-
age, in the diocese of Tuam, united by act of parliament,
in 1703, to the rectories and vicarages of Robeen and
Taghkeen, forming the union of Kilcommon, in the
patronage of the Archbishop: the tithes amount to
£339. 13. 10¼., and of the entire union to £651. 0. 1¾.
The old church, which was in Hollymount, was a chapel
of ease, built in 1688 by Archbishop Vesey, who was
buried in it, and was made the parish church on the
church of Kilcommon becoming ruinous. The present
church, which is also in Hollymount, was built in 1816,
the late Board of First Fruits having granted a loan of
£1000; it is a handsome building, with a cast-iron
spire, and is fitted up with English oak. The family
vault of Lord Clanmorris, and monuments of the Lind-
sey and Ruttledge families are in the churchyard. For
the erection of the glebe-house, the Board, in 1819, gave
£100 and lent £1200: the glebe comprises 8 a. 3 r.
In the R. C. divisions the parish is the head of a union
or district, comprising Kilcommon and Robeen, and has
two chapels in the former parish; that at Carra, built in
1830 at an expense of £1200, is a handsome building,
with galleries; that at Roundfort has a tall square tower.
About 200 children are educated in five public schools,
two of which were built and are supported by Mr. Lind-
sey, and about 250 in three private schools. Here are
the remains of some ancient forts; and elks’ horns,
coins of Queen Elizabeth’s reign, and military weapons
have been discovered at different times.—See HOLLY-
MOUNT.
KILCOMMON, a parish, in the barony of BALLI-
NACOR, county of WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER;
containing, with the post-town of Tinahely, 3470 inha-
bitants. It comprises 11,119 acres of moderately fertile
land, in a good state of cultivation, the system of agri-
culture having been greatly improved under the influ-
ence of the Shillelagh Agricultural Society: there are
some mountain land and peat bog. The principal seats
are Ballybeg, the residence of Mrs. Symes; Rocking-
ham, of the Rev. W. Barber; Town View, of H. Mor-
ton, Esq.; Ballyshonogue, of R. Bates, Esq.; and the
residence of the parish priest, which was built by
Earl Fitzwilliam. The parish is in the diocese of
Ferns, and is a rectory, forming part, of the union and
prebend of Crosspatrick in the cathedral of Ferns: the
tithes amount to £456. 18. 5¾. The church, a neat
building, was enlarged in 1820, for which the late Board
of First Fruits granted a loan of £700. In the R. C.
divisions it is the head of a union or district, comprising
the parishes of Kilcommon, Preban, and Kilpipe, and
called Killavany and Tinahely: there are chapels at
Killavany and Crossbridge, both of which were erected
by Earl Fitzwilliam. About 90 children are educated
in a public school, to which Earl Fitzwilliam subscribes
£6 annually, and about the same number in a private
school.—See TINAHELY.
KILCOMMON, or KILCOLMAN, a parish, in the
barony of NEWCASTLE, county of WICKLOW, and pro-
vince of LEINSTER, 1½| mile (N.E.) from Rathdrum, on
the mail coach road from Dublin to Wexford; contain-
ing 858 inhabitants. This parish, in the civil divisions,
is regarded as one of the four constablewicks constitut-
ing the parish of Wicklow; it comprises 2861 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the land is of
good quality, and the system of agriculture improving;
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