Cloontuskert

CLONTUSKERT, or CLONTHUSKERT, a parish, in the barony of BALLINTOBBER, county of ROSCOMMON, and province of CONNAUGHT, on the river Shannon, and at the head of Lough Ree, by which it is bounded on the east and south, 1¾ mile (N. W.) from Lanesborough; containing 2975 inhabitants. This parish is also called Cloonturskan; within its limits are extensive tracts of bog. The abbey is said to have been founded by St.

Faithleg, for Augustinian canons; and, at the dissolution, a lease of its possessions was granted for 21 years to Fryall O'Farrell, at the yearly rent of £11. 9. 8.

Very little of the buildings remains, but the cemetery, which is still used, contains the tombs of several families of distinction. The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Elphin, and is part of the union of Clonfinlogh; the rectory is impropriate in the representatives of Lord Kingsland. The tithes amount to £229. 18. 3¾., of which £186. 7. 4¾. is payable to the impropriators, and the remainder to the incumbent. In the R. C. divisions this parish forms part of the union or district of Kilgeffin or Kilbride. Here are three pay schools, in which about 160 children are educated.

from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837.