KILLACONENAGH

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

"KILLACONENAGH, (or Killaghanenagh), a parish in the barony of Bear, county Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, containing its post town Castletown-Bearhaven. The parish which is 8 miles long by 3 broad, includes the Great Bear Island. It is situated at Bearhaven, on Bantry Bay, and consists mainly of the southern spurs of the Slievemish mountains, which rise to the height of 1,214 feet at Miskush. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ross, value with two others, £385, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was erected in 1812 by the late Board of First Fruits. There are Roman' Catholic chapels at Castletown and Bear Island, united to that of Kilnamanagh. There are a Sunday and five day schools. Dunboy Castle and Cameatringane are the principal residences. The castles of the O'Sullivans and M'Carthys are in ruins.

"BALLYDONAGAN, a village in the parish of Killaconenagh, and barony of Bear, in the county of Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 7 miles to the S. W. of Castletown. It is seated on the coast of a small bay between Cod's Head and Dursey Island"

"CASTLETOWN-BEARHAVEN, a village in the parish of Killaconenagh, barony of Bear, in the county of Cork, province of Munster, Ireland, 20 miles to the W. of Bantry. It is situated in a mountainous district on the N. coast of Bantry Bay, opposite Bear Island, and is noted as the place where the French, who effected a landing in 1796, were made prisoners. Near this place stood the castle of Dunboy, which belonged to the O'Sullivans, and was taken and dismantled by the English about 1602. Near Castletown, on the N., are the Allihais copper-mines, which were opened in 1812. The village consists of one street, and is chiefly inhabited by fishermen and small traders. Castletown is the seat of a Poor-law Union and contains the Union poorhouse. Close to the village is the parish church of Kilaconenagh. There is a spacious Roman Catholic chapel, built in 1822; coastguard and police stations, and a bridewell. Some vestiges exist of M'Dermot's castle. Fairs are held here on the 1st January, Easter Tuesday, the 12th May, and the 4th September."

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