KILFENORA

In 1868, the parish of Kilfenora contained the following places:

"KILFENORA, a parish and post town in the barony of Corcomroe, county Clare, province of Munster, Ireland, 15 miles N.W. of Ennis. The parish is 5½ miles long by 5 broad. There is some mountain and bog within the limits, but the greater part consists of good pasture land. The interior is traversed by the road from Ennistimon to Burren. The living is a rectory and vicarage in the diocese of Kilfenora, value £504, in the patronage of the crown. The cathedral is an ancient building. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Kiltoraght. There are National and one or two day schools. The town is situated on the road from Ennistimon to Burren, about 147 miles from Dublin. It is the seat of a diocese, and was formerly a market town and a place of some importance. It contains a dispensary within the Ennistimon Poor-law Union. Its ancient name was Fenabore, or Edumabrach, and is said to have been the site of an abbey which was destroyed in 1055 by Murrough O'Brien. A hospital was also founded at Kilcarragh. The cathedral has a supposed monument to St. Fachnan, who is said to have established the diocese, now joined to those of Clonfert, Killaloe, and Kilmacduagh. The see lies within the baronies of Burren and Corcomroe, and comprehends seven benefices. The dean, archdeacon, precentor, and treasurer, constitute the chapter. The two dioceses of Kilfenora and Kilmacduagh have between them an ecclesiastical income of more than £3,700, while the former contains only 251 members of the Established Church, and the latter 435 Churchmen. The Roman Catholic diocese is united to Kilmacduagh. Fairs are held on Wednesday before Whit-Sunday and the 9th October."

[Transcribed from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland 1868]
by Colin Hinson ©2018