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

Parish of Kilmurry-MacMahon (a)

This Parish is bounded on the north by the Parish of Kilmichael; on the east by the Parishes of Kilfaddan and Killafin; on the south by the Shannon and on the west by the Parishes of Killimer and Kilrush.

This Parish is called in the ancient language Cill Muire, i.e., Ecclesia Mariae, the Church of the Blessed Virgin Mary, to whom the old Church was dedicated. No part of this old Church is now in existence, it having been pulled down twenty years ago to build the new Protestant Church which occupies its site. I examined the Churchyard but found no inscription there more than a century old.
There was an old Church in the Townland of Kilmore in this Parish, which has been supposed to be the Cill Mor Ara Tire of Irish Hagiologists, but there can be no truth in this supposition as Ara Tire Territory was not a part of the Country of Corca-Bhaiscinn East, in which this Kilmore is situated. No Saint is now remembered in connection with this locality.

In this Parish is situated the Townland of Clonderalaw which was the chief residence of Mac Mahon of Corca Baiscinn East, and from which the Barony received its name. Only a few fragments of this Castle are now to be seen. It was situated on a hill to the right of the road as you go from Kilmurry Church to Kildysart and about one mile from the former. It is mentioned in the list of the Castles of Thomond above referred to as the residence of Teige Mac Mahon, and the Irish Deed above given was drawn up in it on the 19th of July 1611, between Turlogh Roe Mac Mahon, Chief of East Corco-Baiscinn, and John Giltinan of Kiltylang.

The other features of antiquity in this Parish are wells, little burial places and earthen forts, of which I have written the correct names in the Field Name Book.

 

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