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KIL
norial courts are held occasionally, and petty sessions
on the first Monday in every month.
The parish extends along the western banks of the
river Bann more than six miles, and comprises, accord-
ing to the Ordnance survey, 6314½ statute acres, of
which 3486 are applotted under the tithe act, and 138½
are in the Bann. The soil, though varying in differ-
ent parts, is generally light, resting upon a substra-
tum of basalt, which in many places rises above the
surface, and of which detached blocks of various sizes
are scattered in the wildest confusion. There is neither
limestone nor stone for building in the parish; nor is
there any timber or plantation in the neighbourhood;
but many of the leases having expired, the Mercers’ Com-
pany have already commenced some extensive and valu-
able improvements. The land is principally under til-
lage, producing tolerably good crops; the system of
agriculture, though better than formerly, is still capable
of farther improvement; there is an extensive tract of
bog, affording an abundant supply of fuel. The line of
road between this place and the county of Antrim is now
being changed, which will greatly increase the facility of
travelling. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of
Derry, and in the patronage of the Bishop: the tithes
amount to £258. 9. 3. The glebe-house, situated near
the church on a glebe of three acres, was built in 1774;
and there is a glebe in the parish of Tamlaght-O’Crilly,
comprising 351 acres. The church is a small and very
ancient edifice, with a bell turret on the western gable;
arrangements are in progress for the erection of a larger
at the expense of the Mercers’ Company. In the R.
C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or dis-
trict of Desertoghill, called also Kilrea. There is a place
of worship for Presbyterians in connection with the
Synod of Ulster, of the third class; and a small con-
gregation of Seceders assemble in a temporary building.
About 550 children are taught in five public schools,
of which the parochial school is supported by subscrip-
tions, aided by the rector; one by the trustees of Eras-
mus Smith’s charity, for which the Mercers’ Com-
pany erected a handsome stone building, in 1813, at an
expense of £700; and two others by the same com-
pany. There are also three private schools, in which
are about 140 children. The company support 22 schools
on their estate, in which together about 1000 children
are gratuitously instructed and supplied with books.
There are some picturesque remains of the ancient castle
of Movanagher, about 1½ mile to the north of the present
town: during the parliamentary war it was garrisoned
for the king, but shortly after fell into the hands of the
parliamentarians, by whom, after being repeatedly taken
and retaken, it was finally dismantled in 1649. The
ford at Portoneil, and the ferry across the Bann, were in
the same war scenes of much slaughter; and in 1688
they were severely contested and alternately in the pos-
session of both parties.
KILRENNY, a parish, in the barony of CARBERY,
county of KILDARE, and province of LEINSTER, 4 miles
(S. E.) from Kinnegad, on the road from Edenderry to
Clonard; containing 608 inhabitants. The land is
good and almost equally divided between an improving
system of tillage and pasture: there is but little bog,
and no waste land. Kilglass is the residence of J.
Shaw, Esq. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of
Kildare, and in the patronage of the Bishop; the rec-
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KIL
tory is impropriate in the Loftus family of Killyon.
The tithes amount to £45, of which £30 is payable to
the impropriator and £15 to the vicar. In the R. C.
divisions it forms part of the union or district of Bally-
na, or Johnstown.
KILRICKILL, a parish, partly in the barony of
LOUGHREA, but chiefly in that of ATHENRY, county of
GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 4 miles (E. by
N.) from Loughrea, on the road to Ballinasloe; con-
taining 2003 inhabitants. A nunnery is said to have
been founded by St. Patrick for his sister, St. Richella,
at Kilbought, at which place the Whaley family founded
a monastery for the third order of Franciscans, of which
there are some remains. The parish comprises 4580
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act. Here
are some good stone quarries; one at Dartfield pro-
duces a black stone which takes a high polish. Lime-
stone is also procured; and there is a small quantity of
bog, which has been much reduced by injudicious cut-
ting. Dartfield is the seat of R. Blake, Esq., J.P.
There is a constabulary police station in the village,
and a manorial court is held once every three weeks. It
is a vicarage, in the diocese of Clonfert, forming part
of the union of Loughrea: the rectory is appropriate
to the deanery and the prebends of Droghta and Bally-
noulter in the cathedral of Clonfert. The tithes amount
to £102. 10., of which £30 is payable to the dean,
£27. 10. to the prebendary of Droghta, £25 to the pre-
bendary of Ballynoulter, and £20 to the vicar. In the
R. C. divisions it is the head of a union or district,
comprising this parish and Killalaghton, in each of
which is a chapel. Here is a school in which about 100
children are instructed. At Kilbought are the remains
of an ancient chapel, said to have belonged to the
Franciscan friary; the burial-ground has been recently
enclosed and planted with yew trees. The castle of
Wallscourt gave the title of baron to the family of
Blake.
KILROAN, KILLOWEN, or KILLOWNEY, a pa-
rish, in the barony of COURCEYS, county of CORK, and
province of MUNSTER, 3¼ miles (S.) from Kinsale, on
the western side of the entrance to Kinsale harbour;
containing 641 inhabitants. This small parish, which
is surrounded by the parish of Ringrone, except on the
eastern side, where it is bounded by the sea, contains
several picturesque glens. The soil is good, but in-
differently cultivated: the substratum is of schistose
formation, changing into transition rocks traversed by
numerous veins of quartz. It is a rectory, in the diocese
of Cork, entirely appropriate to the vicars choral of
Cork cathedral: the tithes amount to £112. In the
R. C. divisions it forms part of the union or district of
Courceys. On the cliff at Courtafuteen are the pictur-
esque ruins of the old church, built of unhewn stone
and with loop-hole windows.
KILROE.—See KILMANLOE.
KILROGUE, a village, in the parish of LACCAGH,
barony of CLARE, county of GALWAY, and province of
CONNAUGHT, 6 miles (N. E. by N.) from Galway, on the
road to Tuam; containing 48 inhabitants. This small
village, consisting only of a very few scattered dwellings.
has, since the census of 1821, decreased to nearly one-
fourth part of its population at that time.
KILRONAN, county of GALWAY.—See KILLA-
RARAN.