Ordnance Survey Letters by John O'Donovan and Eugene Curry, 1839

Parish of Kilfeeragh (a)

                                                                                                                         Kilidisert,
                                                                                                                         8th November 1839.

Sir,
The Parish of Kilfeeragh, in the north side of the Barony of Moyarta, Co. of Clare, is bounded on the north by Killard Parish in the Barony of Ibricken, west by the Atlantic Ocean, south by Moyarta Parish and on the east by Kilrush Parish. See Name Book.

The name of this Parish is of ecclesiastical origin as Cill-Fhiachraigh, i.e., Church of Saint Fiachrach, but of this Saint there is no recollection in the Parish, nor do I find any of the Saints of that name, as mentioned in the Irish Calendar, connected with this place.

We find St. Fiachra mentioned in the Irish Calendar at the 25th of March and 4th of September without references to any Church and others of the name whose places are set down in different other parts of the Country.

Of the old Church of Kilfeeragh there remains not a vestige; its place is occupied by a Protestant house of worship of rather modern erection. There is a large burying ground attached to it, but no well or crosses.

There is a deserted burying ground in the Townland of Kilimo from which the Townland takes its name. This was probably a Church dedicated to St. Dioma of whom we find the following mention in the Irish Calendar:-

Dioma, 22nd March, 3rd November.
Dioma Dubh Esbug Choindeire, 6th January.
Dioma Mac Cais, 12th May.

There is a small burying place in the Townland of Bawnmore called Cill-na-mBan-Órtha, i.e., the Church of the Women of Prayers, or of the Golden Hair. There is a Holy Well here called Tobar-na-mBan-Ortha at which Stations continue to be performed, but on no particular day.

There is a large and much frequented burying ground either in this Parish or in the Parish of Killard called Cill-tSeanain, i.e., St. Senan’s Church, but of this place I find no mention in the Name Book of either Parish. I know the place long and well and always heard a Townland called after it. It lies about three miles north-east of Kilkee, and is very popularly known in the surrounding Parishes. This must have been founded by or dedicated to St. Senan of Inis-Catha, tho’ there is no mention made of it in his life.

They shew the site of a little burying place at Kilkee (Cill-Chaoidhe) from which the Townland takes its name, and the Holy Well of St. Caoidhe, called still Tobar-Caoidhe, lies about two miles south west of it on the brink of the cliff near the Bishop’s Island, still occasionally frequented for the cure of diseases of the eye. There is another fine spring well near the site of the burying place called Tobar-Seanan, at which Stations continue still to be performed.