KILFANE,
a parish, in the barony of GOWRAN, county of KILKENNY,
and province of LEINSTER, 2 miles (N. E. by N.) from Thomastown,
on the road from Dublin to Waterford ; containing 898
inhabitants.
This parish
is supposed to have derived its name from the foundation of a church
here at a very early period by St. Phian : it comprises 3830
statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, and valued at £2815
per annum, and is principally under tillage ; the agriculture is moderately
good, and there is plenty of limestone, which is used for manure.
The principal
seats are Kilfane House, the handsome residence and demesne of
John Power, jun., Esq. ; Summer Hill, of J. Snow Davis,
Esq. ; Castlefield, of ??? Willett, Esq.; and the
glebe-house, of the Rev. Archdeacon Irwin.
The living
is a rectory, in the diocese of Ossory, united by act of council,
in 1676, to the vicarages of Tullowherin and Blanchevillestown,
together forming the union of Kilfane and the corps of the archdeaconry
of Ossory, in the patronage of the Bishop. The tithes amount to £274,
and of the whole benefice to £547. 3s. 7d. The church is a neat
modern edifice with a spire, for the repairs of which the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners have recently granted £114. The glebe-house was
erected by aid of a gift of £100 and a loan of £550, in
1807, from the late Board of first Fruits ; the glebe comprises 46a.
3r.
In the
Roman Catholic divisions it forms part of the union of Thomastown.
The parochial
school, in which are about 90 children, is aided by subscriptions, of
which the archdeacon contributes £10 annually.
Here are
some remains of the ancient church, and of Kilbline and Ballynaboola
castles.
