Kilmacrehy

File:Liscannor Castle.JPG

Kilmacrehy is part of the historical Barony of Corcomroe. It is about {{convert|4|mi}} to the west of Ennistymon. It is on the north shore of Liscannor Bay on the western coast of Clare. The parish makes up the peninsula that extends to the basaltic promontory called Hag's Head. From this point the Cliffs known as the Cliffs of Moher run to the northeast gradually rising to O'Brien's Tower,{{efn|The Cliffs of Moher are named after Moher ui Ruaidhin (O'Ruaidhin's fort), an old stone fort that stood near Hag's Head. The fort was pulled down at the start of the 19th century and its stones used to build a telegraph tower.{{sfn|Frost|1893}} }} where they are about {{convert|600|ft}} above sea level.{{sfn|Lewis|1837}}

Dough townland is the only part of the parish that lies on the south bank of the estuary of the Inagh River.

The parish once had the alias of Quoranna, meaning "the distinct projection", an allusion to the imposing cliffs.{{sfn|Kilmacrehy: Parliamentary Gazetteer 1845}}

An 1837 account says that the parish contained {{convert|5492|acre}}, as applotted under the tithe act, including pasture and arable land fertilised with seaweed.{{sfn|Lewis|1837}}

An 1845 account gives the parish a total area of {{convert|7403|acre}}, and dimensions of about {{convert|3.75|by|3.5|mi}}.{{sfn|Kilmacrehy: Parliamentary Gazetteer 1845}}

Today, part of the town of Lahinch is located in the townland of Dough.{{cite web |url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/lahinch.htm|title= Lahinch|publisher=Clare Library|access-date=27 December 2016}}

The parish includes the townlands of Ardnacraa, Ardnahea, Ballycotteen North, Ballycotteen South, Ballyea, Ballyheean, Ballyherragh, Ballylaan, Ballymaclinaun, Ballynalackan, Ballysteen, Ballyvorda, Ballyvislane, Beaghy, Caherbarnagh, Caherycahill, Cloghaundine, Derreen, Dough, Kilconnell, Kineilty, Laghcloon, Laghvally, Liscannor, Lislorkan North, Lislorkan South, Rannagh, Shingaunagh North, Shingaunagh South, Slievenageeragh and Teeraghbeg.{{sfn|Map of Kilmacrehy Parish showing Townlands}}

The parish is possibly named after Saint Mac Creiche, who according to tradition founded several churches in what is now County Clare. He may not have been a historical figure, however. The parish church of Kilmacrehy is the only one that bears his name.{{sfn|O'Curry|1873|p=332}} Some rocks out in the bay before the strand are called MacCreiche's Bed, and about {{convert|200|m}} to the northwest is MacCreiche's Well.{{sfn|Frost|1893}}

In 1588 some ships of the Spanish Armada were wrecked on the shore.{{sfn|Lewis|1837}}

As of 1831 the parish's population was 3,343. By 1841 it was 4,264 in 673 houses.{{sfn|Kilmacrehy: Parliamentary Gazetteer 1845}}

The ruins of the old parish church in Laghcloon townland, east of Liscannor, features several arches and prominent moldings in its walls.

Despite the alleged early Christian roots, written documentation only goes back to the 14th century. Most of the ornamentation that survives today dates to much later. The nave features a holy water font, a window and a broken bell chamber on the west wall. A high semi-Gothic arch divides the nave from the chancel, which may be a later addition to the church. A recess in the north wall reportedly served as a tomb like a similar structure in Kilfenora Cathedral. A prominent hood is crowned by a mitred head. A recess in the south wall may have once been a window with two Gothic arches topped by a carved head wearing a flat cap. It was reconstructed in a drawing by Thomas Johnson Westropp.{{cite book|last=Cunningham|first=George|title=Burren Journey West|publisher=Shannonside Mid Western Regional Tourism Organisation|year=1980|isbn=0-9503080-2-1}}{{rp|64–5}}

Aodh Buí Mac Cruitín was buried in an unmarked grave in the churchyard.{{rp|65}}

The parish also holds two ruined castles: Dough and Liscannor.{{sfn|Lewis|1837}}

There is a holy well near Birchfield dedicated to Saint Bridget.{{sfn|Lewis|1837}}

The devotees and people looking for the cure of illness would visit the well on the eve of the first Sunday of August.{{sfn|Frost|1893}}

In 1834 there were 3,571 Roman Catholics and 24 Protestants.{{sfn|Kilmacrehy: Parliamentary Gazetteer 1845}}

As of 1837 the parish was part of the Catholic district of Liscanor, which also includes the parish of Killaspuglenane.{{sfn|Lewis|1837}}

From 1779 the Church of Ireland vicarage of Kilmacrehy was part of the archdeaconry of Kilfenora, which also included the vicarages of Kilmanaheen, Kilaspughenane, Killeilagh and Kilmoon, and after 1785 included the rectories of Carrune and Killeilagh. The archdeaconry was in the Diocese of Kilfenora, and the province of Cashel.{{sfn|Carlisle|1810|p=483ff}}

Notes

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Citations

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Sources

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• {{cite book

|last=Carlisle|first=Nicholas|title=A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland: Exhibiting the Names of the Several Cities, Towns, Parishes, and Villages ... Collected from the Most Authentic Documents, and Arranged in Alphabetical Order. Being a Continuation of the Topography of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k9k-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PT483|access-date=6 March 2014

|year=1810|publisher=W. Miller}}

• {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Cill Mhic Creiche, Placenames Database of Ireland}}|url=http://www.logainm.ie/450.aspx |work=Placenames Database of Ireland

|title=Cill Mhic Creiche |access-date=2014-04-10}}

• {{cite book |url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/history/frost/chap7_kilmacreehy_parish.htm

|last=Frost|first=James|title=The History and Topography of the County of Clare

|chapter=Kilmacreehy Parish|publisher=Sealy, Bryers & Walker |year=1893|access-date=2014-03-06}}

• {{cite book|ref={{harvid|Kilmacrehy: Parliamentary Gazetteer 1845}}|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilmacreehy1845.htm

|chapter=Kilmacrehy|title=Parliamentary Gazetteer of Ireland |year=1845|access-date=2014-03-06}}

• {{cite book|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilmacreehy1837.htm

|last=Lewis|first=Samuel|chapter=Kilmacrehy|title=County Clare: A History and Topography |year=1837|access-date=2014-03-06}}

• {{cite web|ref={{harvid|Map of Kilmacrehy Parish showing Townlands}}|url=http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/coclare/places/kilmacrehy_townlands.htm

|title=Map of Kilmacrehy Parish showing Townlands|publisher=Clare County Library |access-date=2014-03-06}}

• {{cite book

|last=O'Curry|first=Eugene|title=Lectures, vol. 2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TH0OAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA332|access-date=6 March 2014

|year=1873|publisher=Williams and Norgate}}

{{refend}}

{{Civil parishes of County Clare}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kilmacrehy}}

Category:Civil parishes of County Clare