Kilnamona

Kilnamona Cill na Móna
Village
Kilnamona Location in Ireland
Coordinates: 52°51′36″N 9°04′01″W / 52.86°N 9.067°W / 52.86; -9.067
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Clare
Elevation	31 m (102 ft)
Population (2006)
• Urban	443
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)
Irish Grid Reference	R496730

Kilnamona (Irish: Cill na Móna, meaning "Church of the Bog or Marshy Field") is located in the parish of Inagh-Kilnamona, situated just north-west of Ennis, County Clare, Ireland. It consists of 27 townlands in an area of just over 6,000 acres (24 km²). It is bounded to the west by Inagh, to the east Drumcliffe, to the north Dysart and to the south by Inch and Kilmaley. It is located in the historic barony of Inchiquin. It is located in the Diocese of Killaloe.

History

In the early Christian era, around 600 AD, the parish tribe was known as Cineal Baoith. Their patron saint was Saint Lachtain. He was from the Cork/Limerick area and it is assumed the tribe migrated from there.^[1] They built the original church in the marshy field that gives Kilnamona its name. A holy well called Tobar Lachtin is nearby. Another holy well, Tobar-na-Taise is in the same field.^[2] In 1603 the bronze arm of Saint Lachtain had to be removed to Kerry by a Franciscan for safe keeping. It is now preserved in the Royal Irish Academy. There are the remains of two castles in Kilnamona. Shallee Castle and Magowna Castle. The Shallee Castle and lands were in the hands of the O'Brien family but were forfeited to Queen Elizabeth in 1592.^[3] When the fury of the Cromwellian persecutions had died down, a "Mass House" was built in the townland of Knockahaurin. The chapel was a low long building. It is said that farmers who had no barns of their own were permitted to thresh their corn on its floor. The modern church was constructed in 1842.^[4] The mason's charges were £18. )Patrick Keane, Deniliquin, NSW, Australia, born in Kilnamona in 1831, donated a three panelled stain glass window depicting the Blessed Virgin, Sacred Heart and Saint Patrick, over the main Altar in memory of his parents and siblings - a marble plaque is placed on the church wall in acknowledgment.^[5] In 1932 there was a new roof put on the church as well as a new floor and baptistry. In 1965 the porch was built which was dedicated to Mike McTigue, the world champion boxer. In 2008 a sculpted bronze plaque was erected to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Brother Thomas Keane (An Bráthar Tomás Ó Catháin).^[6] Brother Keane was a native of Kilnamona who wrote (in his beloved Irish language) the first major textbook in Ireland for the new Higher Level Mathematics introduced into the Leaving Certificate Curriculum in the mid-1960s.^[7] In 1824, 141 children were being educated in the two hedge schools (139 Catholics and 2 Protestants)^[8] in the parish. The modern National School was built in 1889. Major renovations were carried out in 2008 and the extension was officially blessed by Bishop Willie Walsh in May 2009.

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  Old Graveyard Kilnamona

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  Kilnamona Church

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  Kilnamona School

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  Kilnamona School Plaque

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  Kilnamona School Plaque 2009

GAA

The First Decades

The Kilnamona GAA club was set up in 1887. It was originally called Kilnamona/Smith O'Briens. Kilnamona were dominant in the first decade of the 20th century, winning the Clare Senior Hurling Championship in 1902,1903 and 1908.^[9]

In 1902, Kilnamona defeated Barefield in the County Final. The Barefield club alleged that Kilnamona were the pick of four parishes and challenged Kilnamona to a rematch. Kilnamona captain Mick "Curk" Lyons gave the stirring reply: "Kilnamona won the medals and we mean to wear them!".^[10]

In 1903, Kilnamona defeated Thomonds in the final.^[11]

In 1908, Kilnamona proved too strong for Kilmaley in the semi final, defeating them by 1–14 to 2–3. They defeated O'Callaghan's Mills in the final on a scoreline of 0–11 to 0–10. The game being played at the Showgrounds, Ennis.

Throughout this decade, there were three captains of the Clare Hurling team that came from Kilnamona: Michael "Curk" Lyons in 1902, Frank Hegarty in 1903 and Michael Hegarty in 1909.^[12]

1950s to the 1970s

Emigration hit the club hard in the intervening years and their next adult success was not until 1957 when they won the Junior B Championship. They defeated St. John's, Kiltannon (Tulla) and Lisheen on their way to the final. On 13 October in Cusack Park, Ennis Kilnamona defeated Tubber by 8–7 to 4–3.

In 1965, Kilnamona won the Clare Junior Hurling Championship. They overcame Cappa/Kilmurry in the semi final by 5–5 to 4–6. On 3 October, they faced Newmarket in the final. A late goal by James O'Keefe proved decisive.

1971 saw Kilnamona win the Clare Junior Hurling Championship.^[13] They defeated Ballyea in the first round by 5–7 to 3–4. Kilmaley were defeated in the final which was held in Cusack Park Ennis on 14 September.

Kilnamona regained the Clare Junior Hurling Championship in 1975. Kilnamona defeated Éire Óg, Cratloe and Barefield on thir way to the final. Kilnamona had goals scored by Michael Kerin, Michael Keane and Milo Keane in the final against Kilmaley.

1980s to Present Day

1989 saw Kilnamona emerge triumphant over Éire Óg in the final of the Junior A Championship. In 1996 Kilnamona regained the title, defeating Kilmaley in the final. The club and defeated near neighbours Inagh in the 1998 Intermediate Championship Final. Kilnamona then won the Senior B Hurling Final soon after, defeating Clonlara on a score of 1–10 to 0–9.

Kilnamona amalgamated with Inagh for Juvenile competitions to compete in "A" championships in 2003. They enjoyed spectacular success, winning the Under 16 championship in 2006, the minor title in 2005 and 2008^[14] and the under 21 title in 2007 Clare Under-21 Hurling Championship In 2007 the Inagh and Kilnamona clubs fully merged.

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  Kilnamona Senior B Champions

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  Kilnamona U21C Champions 2007

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  Kilnamona Hurling Field

Mike McTigue

Michael Francis McTigue was born in Lickaun, Kilnamona on 26 November 1892.^[15] He was recorded in the 1901 Census of County Clare.^[16] McTigue emigrated to America in 1912 when he was 21.^[17] McTigue began boxing and fought in America for 13 years. McTigue got a shot at the World Light Heavyweight Championship in 1923. Despite the Irish Civil War still ongoing, the fight was held in La Scala Opera House in Prince's Street, Dublin against Battling Siki. McTigue won on points after 20 rounds to become the World Light Heavyweight Champion.^[18] McTigue fought multiple bouts in his career against the likes of Paul Berlenbach, Harry Greb, Mickey Walker and Tommy Loughran. He lost most of those bouts, but he actually got the best of the great Loughran during one of their no-decision contests. He also earned a close decision over Tiger Flowers. In 1927, he produced his greatest performance on American soil when he knocked out the great Berlenbach in the fourth round.^[19] He was 38 years old when his boxing licence was revoked and had been fighting for 21 years. After his enforced retirement McTigue ran a successful bar on Long Island until the late 1940s. He succumbed to poverty and ill health and was confined to various hospitals around New York for the last ten years of his life.^[20] In later years McTigue regaled listeners with tales of the highlight of his career, the Dublin bout. McTigue's favourite story involved an armed sentry stationed in his corner to keep the peace. As the rounds progressed, he stuck his bayonet between the ropes and jabbed McTigue in the leg. "I got three pounds' bet on you," the guard said. "God help you if you lose!"^[21] McTigue died in 1966.^[22] McTigue was honoured in his native parish when the porch of the church was named after him. Kilnamona's Community Centre was opened in 2001 and named in his honour.^[23]

Sport/Leisure

Kilnamona also has a camogie club. The "Cill na Móna Pitch and Putt" 18 hole course opened for business in 1995.^[24]

Population

In 1659, there were 480 inhabitants recorded (470 Catholics and 10 Protestants). The population grew rapidly up to the early 1840s, as in the rest of Ireland. In 1841, there were 1758 people recorded as living in Kilnamona. The Great Irish Famine devastated the population and by 1901 the population had shrunk to 718. According to the 2006 Census,^[25] there were 738 inhabitants of Kilnamona. This is an increase from the 699 recorded in the 2002 census. There are 2634 hectares in Kilnamona according to the census.

Notable people

• James Breen – Councillor and former independent TD

References

External links

• Clare County Library-Kilnamona
• History of Kilnamona
• Mike McTigue Official Website

Coordinates: 52°52′6.49″N 9°4′40.01″W / 52.8684694°N 9.0777806°W / 52.8684694; -9.0777806