KILCLOONEY

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

"KILCLOONEY, a parish in the barony of Clonmacnowen, county Galway, province of Connaught, Ireland, containing part of its post town, Ballinasloe, also part of the village of Cleaghmore. The parish is 3 miles long by 2½ broad. It lies along the W. bank of the river Suck at the termination of the Grand canal. The surface is traversed by the great roads from Dublin to Galway and Westport. There is some bog. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Clonfert, value with Creagh, £216, in the patronage of the bishop. The church, which stands at Ballinasloe, was built about 1790, and has subsequently been enlarged. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Creagh, There are two Methodist meeting-houses in the parish; also a private and six public schools. Garbally is the residence of the Earl of Clancarty. Previous to the battle of Aughrim the English encamped here. The bridge of Millea Chean was the scene of a fierce encounter. There is a chalybeate spring at Poolboy.

"BALLINASLOE, a market town, partly in the parish of Kilclooney, in the barony of Clonmacknowen, and county of Galway, and partly in the parish of Creagh, in the barony of Moyearnon, and county of Roscommon, province of Connaught, Ireland, 14 miles to the S.W. of Athlone, and 91 miles from Dublin. It is a station on the Midland Great Western railway. The town stands on both banks of the river Suck, which here forms the boundary between the counties of Galway and Roscommon, and is crossed by a line of bridges and causeways, about 1,500 feet in length, supported on sixteen arches. According to the census of 1861, the town contains 543 inhabited houses, with a population of 3,200, of whom only 295 belong to the Established Church, 2,805 are Roman Catholics, 32 Presbyterians, 57 Methodists, and 11 of all other persuasions. The Grand canal connects Ballinasloe with Shannon harbour, and has been the means of greatly promoting the trade and prosperity of the town. The cattle fair of Ballinasloe is one of the most important in Ireland. It is held on a green on the western side of the river, between the town and Garbully Park, the seat of Earl Clancarty, the proprietor of the place. The black cattle are sold on the green; but the sheep are shown on ground within the park. Sixty thousand sheep and twelve thousand black cattle have been sold at this fair. A large wool fair takes place in July. The principal branches of trade and industry are tanning, brewing, the flour and meal trade, hat manufacture, and coach building. Good limestone is quarried in the neighbourhood of the town. Ballinasloe is the headquarters of the Galway police and militia, and has some small infantry barracks, a court-house, and a bridewell. Petty sessions are held twice a week. It is the seat of a Poor-law Union. Here is a large lunatic asylum for the province, with 14 acres of ground attached to it. The building was completed in 1833. Horticultural and agricultural societies, a savings-bank, and a dispensary are also established. Besides the parish church of Creagh, which has a fine spire and stands on a hill in the town, there are places of worship for the Roman Catholics, Wesleyans, and Primitive Methodists. There are a National and several other schools. A newspaper, called the Western Star, is published here. A strong fortress with a moat was erected at Ballinasloe, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, of which only the outer walls and a round tower now remain. It is converted into a modern residence, and is named Ivy Castle. Saturday is the market day. The great fair takes place on the 5th October, and four following days; other fairs are held on the 7th May, and on the 4th, 5th, and 6th July."

"CLEAGHMORE, a village in the parish of Kilclooney, barony of Clonmacknowen, in the county of Galway, province of Connaught, Ireland."

"POLBOY, a hamlet in the parish of Kilclooney, barony of Clonmacnowen, county Galway, province of Connaught, Ireland, 2 miles S.S.E. of Ballinasloe. It stands on the Grand canal, near the river Suck, and near the Bog of Polboy. An aqueduct has been erected here, and in the vicinity are remains of a religious house."

 

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