Kilfarboy church. in the barony of Ibrichan; is now a parish The monastery of Kilfobrick was founded A.D. 741. We find that Cormac, bishop and scribe of Kilfobrick, died A.D. 837.d *Conry's MSS. Act. SS. p. 360. occupied by Matthew Slattery, Esq., of Newtown House, a small distance west of the castle of Ennistymon on the same spot where once stood the Dun or palace of Baoth Bronach, king of Corcomroe, who made an offering of himself and his family and of his own palace, together with all his lands, &c., to St. MacCreiche, for the glory of God and the good of his own soul. St. MacCreiche here placed St. Mainchin his disciple, who, it will be remembered, was chief actor in recovering the spoils of Corcomroe, and who is said in this old life to have carried MacCreiche's bell, the Cuitech Fuait, and the staff of St. Luchtigern, on that occasion. In the absence of any evidence to the contrary, it is not (I believe) too much to assume that on handing over his staff (crozier) to St. Mainchin on this occasion, St. Luchtigern resigned to him the abbotship of his church and town of Ennistymon, over which St. Mainchin afterwards presided, and where he is still venerated as patron Saint of that parish. St. MacCreiche at an earlier period founded two old churches near the present village of Inagh, on the new road from Ennis to Ennistymon, and about seven miles from the latter place, these were called Cill sean botha and Teampull na-n-glas aighne, hence it is called Tempull na-h-aighne, or church of Inagh. The ruined walls of this last-mentioned church may be still traced in the churchyard of Inagh. The former was a little west of it. 17 The monastery or church of Kilfarboy was situated in the parish of Kilfarboy (to which it gives name), in the barony of Ibrikane, five miles south-south-west from Ennistymon, near Miltown Malbay. No trace now remains of the original abbey, but the site is marked by the ruin of a more modern structure in the churchyard or burial ground of Kilfarboy, which is pointed out on the Ordnance Map of Clare, sheets 23 and 31, and described in the Ordnance Survey Papers, in the Royal Irish Academy, vol. I, page 334. According to Archdall and other writers, the monastery of Kilfarboy or Kilfobric was founded A.D. 741, but there is good reason to suppose it was at least a century older. St. Lachtain, patron of the parish of Kilfarboy, is commemorated in the Felire Aenguish, at 19th March, and at the same day the following notice of him is given in O'Clery's Calendar: "Laċtain mac toirbén abb achad uir 1 n-osraiġib acas ó bealaċ feabrat anno domini 622. Lachtain, son of Torben, abbot of Achad uir in Ossory, and of Bealach Feabrath, A.D. 622." Colgan gives a short life of this Saint at 19th March, but neither Colgan nor O'Clery have attempted to identify Bealach Feabrath, where St. Lachtain is said to have founded his church. O'Donovan, in his edition of the "Annals of the Four Masters," at the year 622, n. g, appears to think that Bealach Fobrath is the place now called Ballagharay or Ballaghawry, a townland situated in the west of the parish of Kilbolane, barony of Orbraighe, or Orrery, and county of Cork, but this conjecture is highly improbable. Bealach Feabrath was the name of the mountain pass (or road) which led from the place now called Miltown Malbay to the territory of Corcomroe through that part of Hy-Breacain or Ibrikane, anciently known as Bealach Feabrath where St. Lachtain built his church, Cill-Feabrath or Kilfobric, anglicised Kilfarboy, which gave name to the townland and parish of Kilfarboy, where his name is still venerated as patron of the parish. As St. Lachtain died in the year A.D. 622, there can be no doubt that his church of Kilfarboy must have been founded before that date, which makes it at least a century older than the period assigned to it by Archdall. The name of St. Lachtain is still vividly remembered in Kilfarboy, and all over the west of Clare, and the peasantry still invoke his aid and protection in strife and danger, and among them we find such phrases as the following: When a strong or powerful person oppresses or afflicts a weak or helpless person, the injured will say: "Luigim fo grasa dé aċt fagbaim Laċtain naomta 66 Kilfenora; in the barony of Corcumroe. The annals 'na biaig ar—"I bow to the grace of God, but I leave the blessed St. Lachtain to avenge it." When one neighbour visits another in sickness or in trouble the first salutation is: 66 dia acas Muire acas Laċtain Leat, acas cad ta ort a stóir mo Eroide," &c. "May God and the blessed Virgin and St. Lachtain assist you, my dear friend, and what is the matter with you?" and as terms of applause and approbation they have: Laċtain Leat and Laċtain leat geag, ¿.e., Lachtain be with you, and Lactain be your arm, meaning, success attend you, and more strength to you, &c. Archdall gives a list of obits from the Annals of the Four Masters," as belonging to this place, in his MS. additions preserved in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy, which appears to support Dr. O'Donovan's opinion that Archdall confounded Kilfarboy, Cill Feabrath, in the county of Clare, with Cill Foibrighe, or Kilfoibric, now Kilbrew, near Ashbourne, in the county of Meath, and it may be also confounded with Bealach Abhra, in Muscraigh, in the county of Cork, another of St. Lachtain's churches. See "Annals of the Four Masters," A.D. 622, p. 245, A.D. 737, n. f. 768, n.'k. 836, n. g. In the Ordnance Survey Papers of the county of Clare in the Royal Irish Academy, vol. i., p. 331-4, we find the following notice of the parish and church of Kilfarboy: : The parish of Kilfarboy, in the barony of Ibricken and county of Clare, is bounded on the north by the parish of Kilmannaheen, in the barony of Corcomroe, on the east by the parish of Cloony, in Corcomroe barony, and the parish of Eidhneach, in the barony of Inchiquin; on the south by the parish of Kilmurry, in the barony of Ibricken, and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. See Engraved Map of Down Survey. The name of this parish is of ecclesiastical origin, but whether the component parts are radically correct is more than I am at present prepared to decide. The present form of the name is that by which it is known within the memory of the oldest inhabitant, and it is also by that name the parish is set down in the book of Regal Visitation. The name as it is spoken would be spelled thus, Cill Fearbaigh, i.e., the Church of Saint Fearbach, but of this Fearbach no historical account has reached us. There is a tradition in the district that this church is called Kill-Fearabuidhe from a number of (yellow men) Spaniards who were drowned at Spanish Point, near it, having been buried here many years ago. That the Spaniards were drowned and buried here is a fact, but whether the peasantry in striving to account for the origin of the name of the church have not pressed this circumstance into their assistance, is a matter that may be surmised. Kill-Fearbuidhe would literally mean the Church of the Yellow Men; but Ceill Feab-Rath, as it is written in "O'Clery's Calendar," would mean the Church of the Healing or Sanctifying Graces, and this was the name by which the place was known for centuries before the advent of the Spaniards or "Yellow Men." Archdall seems to think that this is the Cill Foibric mentioned by Colgan (A. A. S. S. p. 360), of which Cormack was Bishop, whose death is placed by the same authority in the year 837. He may or may not be right in this, but he has no proof that Cill Foibric was situated in the ancient district of Ui-Bracain. "There is no recollection of Cill Foibric or of St. Cormac here, neither is there of any other saint, but of Saint Lachtain, whose festival is still observed in the parish on the 19th day of March, the same as in Achad-Uir in Ossory, and whose well is situated within the churchyard, and still much frequented by devotees" and invalids, on Sundays and Thursdays, nor are those visitors niggardly of their presents to the shrine of the saint, for nothing is seen about the well but old memorials of their affection and devoted piety. The old Church of Kilfarboy stands in the townland of Kilfarboy, to which it gives its name, measuring 65 feet 9 inches in length, and 17 feet in breadth; the walls in good preservation, excepting the west gable, which is down to the height of the side walls. There is a pointed doorway in the south side, at Munster tell us, that Morogh O'Brien burnt the abbey of Kilfenora,18 and slew many people therein, A.D. 1055. Killaloe, the seat of a bishop, and situated on the western banks of the river Shannon, near the noted cataract. St. Molualobhair, the grandson of Eocha Bailldearg, King of North Munster, founded an abbey here about the beginning of the 6th century. He was succeeded by his disciple St. Flannan, who about the year 639 was consecrated bishop of the place; from this time we hear no more of it as an abbey.g 19 Killaloe was anciently the resort of many pilgrims. •Was called anciently Kildalua. Collectan. vol. 1, p. 439. War. Bish. p. 590. the distance of 14 feet from the west gable, 6 feet 4 inches high, and 3 feet 6 inches wide, built up in front, with well cut stones, and having a holy water font inserted in the wall on the right hand side as one goes in. Six feet 3 inches from the east gable, in the same side, is a pointed window, 7 feet high and 3 feet wide, inside, 4 feet from the ground outside where it measures 4 feet in height, and 6 inches in breadth at top, and 7 inches at bottom, having its sides perforated for iron bars. There is a pointed window in the east gable, measuring 6 feet 9 inches in height on the inside, and 3 feet in breadth, and 4 feet 10 inches in height, and 7 inches in breadth on the outside. The sides perforated for the reception of iron bars. The walls are built for the most part of long thin quarry stones.-Ordnance Survey of Clare, vol. 1, pp. 331-4. 18 This was the cathedral church of the ancient episcopal city of Kilfenora, dedicated to St. Fechen, patron of the diocese. It was situated about four and a half miles north-north-east from the town of Ennistymon, in the barony of Corcomroe. This ancient church is now represented by the Protestant church of Kilfenora, and the seven stone crosses that marked the sanctuary of the cathedral have all disappeared but two, and it appears hopeless to seek their history. One of them, however, may be still seen on the demesne of Clansford, at Killaloe. It was removed thither in the year 1821 by the Right Rev. Dr. Mant, Protestant bishop of the united dioceses of Killaloe and Kilfenora, and placed in the beautiful demesne of Clansford, with a Latin inscription indicating its history: Quam spectas crucem, In agro Fenaborensi vetustate collapsam, Ne penitus incuria, situque abolesceret Hic Apud sedem Laonensem Antiquitatis Ecclesiasticae studiosus Utriusque Dioceseos Episcopus. A.D. MDCCCXXI. A few yards west of Kilfenora was Kilcarragh, a monastery or hospital endowed with one quarter of land; the site is marked on the Ordnance Map of Clare, sheet 16. 19 The following notice of the parish of Killaloe is found in the Ordnance Survey of Clare, vol ii. p. 339. "This parish is bounded on the north by the parishes of O'Gonnello and Kilno; on the west by that of Killokennedy; on the south by Kiltennaanlea, and on the east by the Shannon, which separates it from the county of Tipperary. "The name of this parish is in all the ancient Irish authorities written Cill da lua which means the church of St. Dalua, Molua or Luanus, a famous saint who flourished towards the end of the sixth century. Ledwich, indeed, contends that Cill lo lua is the true name, and that it means the church upon or near the water. In this, however, he Kilnagallech,20 on the shore of the river Shannon and two miles and an half N. W. of Inis Scattery. St. Senan gave the veil to the daughters of Nateus in Kilcochaille, now called Kilnacaillech, or the Church of the Nuns, not far from Inis Scattery.h Killoen,21 in the barony of Islands. About the year 1190 Donald O'Brien, King of Limerick, founded an abbey here Act. SS. p. 540. opposes the whole stream of Irish history, for every authority states that Kill da lua, means the church of St. Molua, the leper. On this subject a few observations are here called for: He "Was Ledwich certain that Killaloe means the church near the water? could not have been, because he was not master of the Irish language, and even if he were, he could not be certain that his interpretation was correct, for Lua, though given in the Irish vocabularies without authority' as one of the primitive words for water, is not to be found in composition in any Irish book or MS., or entering into the names of places in any part of Ireland; and even if Lua were found in the names of places as signifying water, it could not be certain that it meant water when placed after the term Cill a church. # * * * # St. Molua was succeeded by St. Flannan, who was consecrated bishop of the place about the year 639, and from that period forward Killaloe is mentioned in Irish history as the seat of a bishop. For the history of Killaloe, see Harris's "Ware," and "Annals of the Four Masters," transcribed into the first volume of the "Clare Extracts," pp. 335, 336, 338, 340, 341, 342, 343, 344, 345, & 346. The well of St. Flannan, who became patron of the diocese is situated in the east corner of Killaloe town, and N. W. of the Cathedral. His memory was formerly celebrated at it on the 18th of December, but now it is visited on any day the pilgrims think proper. Immediately to the north of the Cathedral there is a small stone-roofed church, or Duirtheach, not unlike St. Columkille's house at Kells, or St. Kevin's kitchen at Glendalough. It measures on the outside 36 feet 4 inches in length, and 35 feet in breadth. The doorway is placed in the west gable, but I could not ascertain its original height, as the ground is several feet raised. It is 4 feet 8 inches in width at the point where the arch springs. The height from the present level of the ground to the vertex of the arch is 6 feet. This doorway is semicircular at the top, and consists of four concentric circles not unlike the doorway of the church of Rahen, in the King's County; of Incha Gaill, in Lough Corrib; and of St. Caimin's church on Inis Cealtra. In the very sharp gable over this doorway is placed near the top a round-headed window, which afforded light to the upper story. The roof is of stone, and seems to have been very firmly constructed, but it is now much broken and overgrown with grass and small ash trees. The little choir of this Duirtheach is now destroyed, but its breadth can be ascertained from stones projecting from the east gable. The choir arch is not unlike in form that in St. Kevin's kitchen, but not so high, being only 8 feet 6 inches high from the present level of the ground. Over this little choir arch, near the top of the gable is placed a rectilineally-pointed window, not unlike those found in many of the round towers.—Ordnance Survey of Clare, Royal Irish Academy, vol ii., P 339. 20 This church of Kilnagallegh is the church anciently called Cill-Leochaille, and appears to be that which is now called Kill-na g-Caillech, e. i. Cella Sanctimonialium 2. e. Church of the Nuns, situated not far from St. Senan's church of Inis Cathaigh, in the country of Corcabaischin. The Irish lives of St. Senan record his visit to this church the day previous to his death, and his bequest of a relic to them for their protection. 21 This abbey was situated in the parish of Killowne (or Clareabbey), in the barony of Islands, about two and a half miles south by west from Ennis, on the old for nuns following the rule of St. Augustin, and dedicated it to St. John the Baptist. Slaney, the daughter of Donogh Carbreach, King of Thomond, was abbess of this nunnery, and died A. D. 1260; she was pre-eminent in devotion, alms deeds, and hospitality to all the women then in Munster.k Kilshanny,22 In the barony of Corcumroe. The cell of Kilshanny, alias Kilfonna, was annexed to the abbey of Cor cumroe. This monastery, with all its appurtenances, mills and fisheries, was granted to Robert Hickman.1 Quin,23 called also Quint, or Quinchy, is in the barony of Bunratty, five miles east of Ennis. War. mon. Annal. Innisfal. Lodge, vol. 1, p. 251. Rolls. road to Kildysart. The ruin is still in pretty good preservation, and handsomely situated near the north-eastern extremity of the beautiful lake of Killowne, in the picturesque demesne of Killowne (New Hall), the seat of W. E. A. MacDonnell, Esq. Near this abbey is a celebrated holy well, dedicated to St. John, on the eve of whose festival it is much resorted to by the pious people of the surrounding country as a place of pilgrimage and devotion to St. John. Inquisition 15th May, II. King James, finds that King Henry VIII., Ist July, xxxv. of his reign, granted to Morrogh, Earl of Thomond, this abbey, with three quarters and half a quarter of land in this county, with all the appurte nances, viz., all the tithes in the parish of Killowne and Kilnekelly, worth £13 45. annual rent. Two parts of the tithes of Inishe and Clonrawde, containing 4 quarters of land; 2 parts of the tithes between Bothes Clares; 2 parts of the tithes in Kilmihil and Kilchreishe; 2 parts of Mourghy, and the rectory thereof, containing 4 quarters of land; 2 parts of the tithes of Rathkerney, and 2 parts of the tithes of 2 quarters of land near the noulet of Awne O'Gorna, in Ballyussin. Ch-Remem.-Archdall's MS. Additions, Royal Irish Academy. 22 This monastery was situated in the parish of Killshanny, in the barony of Corcomroe, about two and a half miles north from Ennistymon, on the road to Kilfenora. It was built by Donald More O'Brien, King of Thomond, about the year 1194, under the invocation of St. Augustine, for Cistercians, and endowed with certain lands and privileges. St. Augustine is still venerated as the patron of the parish. The ruins are yet in good preservation, and traditionally venerated by the people of the surrounding country. There is a holy well at no great distance on the south side, dedicated to St. Augustine, where a patron is still held on the 28th of August, the feast of that saint. The traditional history of the bells of St. Augustine, which were preserved here till very recently, constitutes, perhaps, the most interesting part of the modern history of this place. It was generally believed that to swear falsely by the bell of St. Augustine was immediately followed by some remarkable manifestation of the guilt of the person who had done so, and tradition has it that some persons guilty of having sworn falsely upon Clog naomh Augustin (or St. Augustine's bell), were known to rise from their bed on the following day with their mouth or face painfully distorted. This bell was preserved by a poor family in the village of Kilshanny, who were known as the hereditary keepers of St. Augustine's bell, and who, by usage, were considered to be entitled to a certain fee for the use of the bell and for the proper administration of the oath. Within a recent period the bells have been removed by some agency, not well known, and may be now seen in the collection of antiquities in the British Museum. For a further account of these bells, see "Kilkenny Archaeological Journal" for the year 1852-3, p. 61-2, &c., &c. 23 This magnificent abbey was situated in the ancient territory of Clann Coillean, or Mac Namaras of Thomond (who were its founders), in the present barony of |