KILCONNELL, a post-town and a parish, in the barony of KILCONNELL, county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT, 30½ miles (E. by N.) from Galway city, and 78½ (W. by S.) from Dublin; containing 1910 inhabitants.
It derives its name from St. Conall, who was abbot here in the time of St. Patrick. A monastery of Franciscan friars was founded about 1400, by William O'Kelly, which was reformed by his son Malachy, in 1460 : at the dissolution it was granted to Charles Calthorpe, Esq. The ruins are extremely interesting, and contain several inscriptions, coats of arms, &c. ; it was a favourite burial-place for many of the most respectable families in Galway.
The town contains 52 houses ; it is a constabulary police station, and has a penny post to Aughrim ; fairs are held on May 9th, Aug. 4th, Nov. 11th, and Dec. 18th ; and a manorial court is held occasionally. The parish contains 4512 statute acres, including a small quantity of bog.
The seats are Hillwood, the residence of Hyacinth Donnellan, Esq. ; Ballinderry, of J. Comyn, Esq. ; Carrowmanagh, of T. Berminghamm Esq. ; Killagh, of Capt. Donnellan ; and Mount Evans, of G. Crewe, Esq.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Clonfert, forming, with the rectories and vicarages of Killane and Fohenagh, the union of Kilconnell, in the patronage of the bishop ; the rectory is appropriate to the see, the prebend of Kilconnell in the cathedral of Clonfert, and the vicarage. The tithes amount to £115. 7s. 8d., of which £18. 9s. 2¾d. is payable to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, £32. 6s. 1¾d., to the prebendary, and £64. 12s. 3¾d., to the vicar ; and the entire tithes of the benefice amount to £266. 15s. 4½d.
In the Roman Catholic divisions the parish is the head of a district, comprising also Aughrim, in each of which is a chapel; that of Kilconnell is a large and handsome building.
About 170 children are educated in three private schools.
On the lands
of Calla are the ruins of an old castle, and a lake nearly a mile in
circumference. A village in this parish, called in Irish ‘Bollin whin
shouge,’ or “Ash Village," gives the title of Baron to
Lord Ashtown.
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