Kilconnell
| Kilconnell Cill Chonaill | |
|---|---|
| Village | |
  Kilconnell | |
| Coordinates: 53°19′47″N 8°24′15″W / 53.3298°N 8.4043°WCoordinates: 53°19′47″N 8°24′15″W / 53.3298°N 8.4043°W | |
| Country | Ireland |
| Province | Connacht |
| County | County Galway |
| Elevation | 83 m (272 ft) |
| Time zone | WET (UTC+0) |
| • Summer (DST) | IST (WEST) (UTC-1) |
| Irish Grid Reference | M739314 |
Kilconnell (Irish: Cill Chonaill, meaning "St Conal's church") is a small rural village in County Galway, Ireland.
Its population in 2006 was 680.[1] Its land is mainly used for dairy farming and the raising of cattle.
It was once part of the kingdom of the Soghain of Connacht before being conquered by the Uí Maine.
The last known prosecution of a Priest under the Popery Acts was the trial of Fr John O'Connor, Parish Priest of Aughrim and Kilconnell in 1822 at the Galway Summer Assizes, he was acquitted.[2]
This village was the birthplace of Fianna Fáil (FF) politician Johnny Callanan (1910–1982). His nephew Joe Callanan (FF) lost his Dáil seat in the Galway East constituency in the General Election of 2007.
Kilconnell Abbey
Kilconnell is the location of a Franciscan friary, founded in 1414, by William O'Kelly, Lord of Ui Maine,[3] known locally as the Abbey. Although in ruins it is well maintained by the OPW. The abbey is the burial place for the O'Kelly sept, whose family crest can be seen on some of the headstones. Note: The contributor of the July 2008 Photograph, a member of the O'Kelly sept, searched the grounds for tombstones that allegedly display the Enfield or family crest, but did not see any on the Kelly markers located. They may have been removed, or washed over in time.
The Papal Nuncio Archbishop Giovanni Rinuccini stayed in the Abbey on 20 June 1648 on his way back from the Confederation at Kilkenny.[4]
The Abbey is believed to have been uninhabited since about 1785 due to a fall in vocations.[5]
There is a passage that runs under the Abbey to the grounds of Ballinderry house. It was excavated in the 1940s but was not navigated due to the risk of collapse.
Uí Maine
The area around Kilconnell was the stronghold of the O'Kellys, lords of Uí Maine and the Donnellan clans.
Kilconnell is in the parish of Aughrim and Kilconnell. Aughrim is famous for the decisive battle of the Williamite wars in 1691. The French General St. Ruth had rallied the Irish towards victory when his head was blown off by cannon fire and the Irish fled the field, only to be cut down in their thousands by the English forces. Hundreds of the O'Kellys lost their lives at this battle.
The local lake, Lough Acalla, has a crannog in the centre and is a well-maintained and popular rainbow trout fishery.
Ballinderry House
Ballinderry House, the former seat of the Comyn family, who are relations of Daniel O'Connell, has been restored and is now a guest house.
Athletic Clubs
The local GAA team is called St. Gabriels; their only major success came in 1979 when they won a Galway football title. The nearby parish of Cappataggle combines with Kilconnell to form a hurling team, which is the club of Galway senior hurling star Damien Joyce, a native of Kilconnell. St Gabriels Ladies GAA football club provides gaelic football to the parishes of Kilconnell, Aughrim, Kilreekil & Cappataggle. St Gabriels Ladies GAA Football Club plays its home games in Aughrim, County Galway, it trains also in Kilconnell at the St Gabriels sports complex. www.stgabrielsladiesgaa.com is their website.
See also
- List of abbeys and priories in Ireland (County Galway)
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
References
- ↑ "Central Statistics Office Ireland". Census 2006 reports. cso.ie.
- ↑ Kilconnel - The Popery Acts
- ↑ Patrick Conlan o.f.m, The Franciscan Friary Kilconnell, Co. Galway (Athlone, 2007), p.4
- ↑ Patrick Conlan o.f.m, The Franciscan Friary Kilconnell, Co. Galway (Athlone, 2007), p.9
- ↑ Patrick Conlan o.f.m, The Franciscan Friary Kilconnell, Co. Galway (Athlone, 2007), p.14