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Union of Kilmanaheen,
Kilasbuglenane, Kilmacreehy, Kileilagh and Kilmoon
I. The Name
of the Parish, Situation, Extent, &c.
Name of the
Parish
This union consists of the parishes of Kilmanaheen, Kilasbuglenane, Kilmacreehy,
Kileilagh and Kilmoon; four of them are situated in the barony of Corcomroe,
county of Clare, and diocese of Kilfenora. The fifth, (Kilmoon) is in
the barony of Burren, and in the said county and diocese. These two baronies
of Burren and Corcomroe were formerly known by the names of East and West
Corcomroe; afterwards by the present names of Burren and Corcomroe, which
they still retain.
Derivation
Kilasbuglenane is derived from the Irish words ‘keil,’ church,
‘asbog,’ Bishop, and ‘Lenane’ the Bishop’s
name. Kilmoon is also derived from ‘keil,’ and ‘Moon’
the founder. The parish of Kilmacreehy is also known by the name of Quoranna;
‘quoe’ in Irish signifies distinct, and ‘ranna,’
or ‘rena’ a projection into the sea called a cape. Kilasbuglenane
was anciently called east Kilmacreehy. The parish of Kileilagh (so called
from ‘keil’ a church, and ‘Eilagh’ the founder),
is likewise called by another name, viz. Quoclea, from ‘quoe’
distinct, and ‘clea’ the contraction of ‘gleagh’,
which signifies calling or making signals on different occasions, particularly
when they apprehend danger from an enemy.
Boundaries
The union is situated due-west of Ireland, and bounded on that point by
the part of the Atlantic Ocean called Malbay. Kilasbuglenane lies to the
north of Kilmanaheen; Kilmacreehy to the west of Kilasbuglenane, and is
bounded by the sea to the south-west and north-west. Kileilagh lies to
the south of Kilmacreehy, and is bounded on the north by the bay of Galway;
and Kilmoon lies to the south-east of Kileilagh.
Extent
The distance between the extreme ends of the union coast-ways is nearly
15 miles; in a right line, not half that distance; the breadth at all
points is narrow; in some parts about one mile, and in a few more than
three. The distance of Kilmanaheen in computed miles, from north-east
to south-east is about 4 miles, and in breadth about from 2 to 2½
miles. That of Kilmacreehy and Kilasbuglenane from east to west about
5, and from north to south 2 miles; that of Kilmoon from east to west
about 3 miles, and from north to south about 2; and that of Kileilagh
from east to west 4, and from north to south 2.
Soil
The three parishes of Kilmanaheen, Kilasbuglenane, and Kilmacreehy, are
all what we call cold stone or grit-ground, and have scarce any rocky
ground in them. The other two are mostly limestone ground, and abound
with rocks.
Surface
The greater part of the union is pasture land; the one-fifth of it at
least is heathy mountain. This mountain ground, from the population of
the country, is every day reclaiming and becoming arable. In some parts
where they manure and lay it down properly, it answers for meadow. The
proportion of meadow, natural and made in the union, is, to the rest of
the land as one to twenty, or thereabouts.
Rivers
The river of Ennistymon has its source on the mountains, south-east of
the village of the same name, and runs through it; it has a large cascade
in the town, which in the time of flood forms a most sublime and beautiful
picturesque, and in view of the mansion-house. Another of inferior note,
the river of Ballingaddy to the north of Ennistymon, has its source near
Kilfenora, which is about four miles to the east of a bridge that is made
over this river, and about eight miles from the sea.
These two rivers unite near the sea; there is no other river worth noticing,
nor loughs worth mentioning. There is no place that can be called a harbour;
there are many creeks, and the highest clifts in Ireland, as is supposed,
near the signal tower, and at either side of it.
Malbay
These creeks are remarkable for being safe receptacles for seals. The
noise from these creeks, and the agitation of the sea in the time of a
storm from the west, being the usual direction of storms in this country,
is awful in the extreme; and the entire shore dangerous for vessels to
come near, and on that account called Malbay.
Mountains
and Hills
We have many mountains and hills in the union, the entire of which is
nearly pasturable, some heathy, and a few of them barren. The largest
and highest of those mountains in the parish of Kilmoon, is very heathy,
and is the only one that continues to have grouse on it; the rest are
not deserving notice.
Bogs, Moors,
Woods, &c.
There are bogs interspersed, which are fully sufficient for the inhabitants
for many generations to come; but none of them of sufficient extent, to
attract public notice for reclaiming. The principal moors lie between
the parish of Kilmoon and the signal tower mentioned in sect. IV. and
even those are reclaiming every day. No woods or thickets of any note
exist in the union. An old man of the name of Michael Daly, who died about
twenty years ago, and who was then more than 100 years old, asserted,
that almost the entire country about Ennistymon, was, within his recollection,
covered with woods mostly oak and ash full grown, and that he frequently
shot wild pheasants in those woods. He was a huntsman to the late Mr.
O’Brien, who bore testimony to his veracity. In most of the bogs,
and even near the sea are found large trees, 12 or 16 feet under the surface,
particularly from 30 to 50 feet long, and some from two to four feet in
diameter, sound and good timber.
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to Union of Kilmanaheen, Kilasbuglenane, Kilmacreehy, Kileilagh and Kilmoon
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