KILRONAN

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

"KILRONAN, a parish in the barony of Boyle, county Roscommon, province of Connaught, Ireland, 9 miles N.E. of Boyle. Keadue is its post town. It is 5 miles long by 4 broad, and contains the villages of Keadue and Ballyfarnon. The surface, which is partly mountainous and boggy, comprises portions of loughs Allen and Meelagh. The interior is traversed by the road from Leitrim to Sligo. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Ardagh, value £134, in the patronage of the bishop. The church was built by the late Board of First Fruits in 1788. There are two Roman Catholic chapels, a Sunday and six day schools. Kilronan Castle is the principal seat. In the burial-ground of the old church, now in ruins, lie the remains of Carolan, the composer, who died at Alderford in 1741. Sandstone and limestone are worked, and coal, and iron are also found."

"BALLYFARNAN, a village in the parish of Kilronan, and barony of Boyle, in the county of Roscommon, province of Connaught, Ireland, 15 miles to the N. of Roscommon. A police force is stationed here. There is a weekly market. Fairs are held on the 9th February, the 16th April, the 19th May, the 6th July, the 20th August, the 21st September, the 20th October, and the 17th December."

"KEADUE, (or Keadew), a post-office village in the parish of Kilronan, barony of Boyle, county Roscommon, province of Connaught, Ireland, 7 miles N.W. of Carrick-on-Shannon, and 9 N.E. of Boyle. It is situated on the road from Battlebridge to Ballyfornan, near the Arigna iron-works. It contains a dispensary within the Boyle Poor-law Union, also market and sessions houses. Castle-Tenison stands about 2 miles distant. Carolan, the bard, who was a native of this village, is buried in Kilronan old church.

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