Kilnasoolagh ( ga, Cill Átha na Súileach) is a civil parish in

County Clare County Clare ( ga, Contae an Chláir) is a county in Ireland, in the Southern Region and the province of Munster, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council is the local authority. The county had a population of 118,817 ...

, Ireland, and a townland within that parish. Church records mention the parish in 1256.

Location

In 1845 the parish lay on the west border of the barony of Lower Bunratty. It is west of Newmarket-on-Fergus and is in area. It covers just over , including in Dromoland lake. The land is on the east of the upper Fergus estuary and is generally fertile. The parish contains the

townland A townland ( ga, baile fearainn; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a small geographical division of land, historically and currently used in Ireland and in the Western Isles in Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of Gaelic orig ...

s of Ballygirreen, Ballynacragga, Ballysallagh East, Ballysallagh West, Ballyconneely, Carrigoran, Corkanaknockaun, Dromoland, Ing East, Ing West, Kilkieran, Knockmurragha, Knocksaggart, Latoon North, Latoon South, Lisduff, Kilnasoolagh, Rathfolan and Trennahow.

History

Kilnasoolagh means the Church of the Religious People. There are records of a priest named Peter being in charge of the parish in 1256. The ''History of the Wars of Thomond'' often refers to Kilnasoolagh. In 1311 Mahone O'Brien and Loghlen Reagh O'Dea met there, and in 1312 Murtagh O'Brien plundered the church. The original church was pulled down by the Protestants, and a new one erected on the site. The new Anglican church was built in 1686 by Sir Donough O'Brien of

Dromoland Castle Dromoland Castle ( ga, Drom Ólainn) is a castle, located near Newmarket-on-Fergus in County Clare, Ireland. It is operated as a five-star luxury hotel with a golf course, with its restaurant, the "Earl of Thomond", being awarded a Michel ...

, replacing the earlier building or buildings. This was in turn replaced by a limestone church with seating capacity of 100 built in 1815 by James Pain. The entrance gate arch to the church may have come from an early building. The church holds a white marble sculpture of Sir Donogh O'Brien, the first baronet, carved by

Louis-François Roubiliac Louis-François Roubiliac (or Roubilliac, or Roubillac) (31 August 1702 – 11 January 1762) was a French sculptor who worked in England. One of the four most prominent sculptors in London working in the rococo style, he was described by Margar ...

(c. 1705–1762). The population in 1831 was 1,319. In 1841 it was 1,158, with 162 houses. As of 1834 there were 105 Protestants and 1,311 Catholics. In 1845 the dominant building in the parish was Dromoland Castle, owned by Sir Lucius O'Brien. There were two old castles, just beyond the boundary of the parish, and some ancient Druidical ovals or circles. The road from

Limerick Limerick ( ; ga, Luimneach ) is a western city in Ireland situated within County Limerick. It is in the province of Munster and is located in the Mid-West which comprises part of the Southern Region. With a population of 94,192 at the 2016 ...

Ennis Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...

crossed the parish.

Today

Dromoland Castle is now a luxury hotel. Kilnasoolagh parish is today part of the

Catholic The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the List of Christian denominations by number of members, largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics Catholic Church by country, worldwide . It is am ...

parish of Newmarket-on-Fergus which also contains the civil parishes of Bunratty, Clonloghan,

Drumline Marching percussion instruments are instruments specially designed to be played while moving. This is achieved by attaching the drum(s) to a special harness (also called a carrier or rack) worn by the drummer, although not all marching bands us ...

, Kilconry, Kilmaleery and

Tomfinlough Tomfinlough ( ga, Tuaim Fhionnlocha) is a civil parish in County Clare, Ireland. A Christian establishment was first made here around 540 AD. The parish lands were often raided by Irish, Viking, Norman and English forces in the years that follow ...

References

Notes Citations Sources * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Kilnasoolagh Civil parishes of County Clare Townlands of County Clare