CASTLE-CONNOR, a parish, in the barony of TYRERAGH, county of SLIGO, and province of CONNAUGHT, 4 miles (N. by E.) from Ballina; containing 4507 inhabitants.
This place derives its name from an ancient castle, of which the ruins are still visible; and is situated on the river Moy and on the road from Ballina to Sligo.
The parish comprises 16,223 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act; the greater portion is under an improving system of tillage, and there are some large stock farms; there is a considerable extent of bog, and abundance of limestone is quarried for agricultural and other purposes.
The principal seats are:
- Moyview, that of the Hon. Col Wingfield;
- Cottlestown, of S. Kirkwood, Esq.;
- Knockroe House, of G. Ruttledge, Esq.;
- Seaville, of P. I. Howly, Esq.; and
- Kinnaird, of J. Paget, Esq.
The living is a vicarage, in the diocese of Killala, united by act of council, in 1806, to the vicarage of Kilglass; the rectory, formerly appropriate to the see, is now sequestrated in the Ecclesiastical Commissioners.
- The tithes amount to £476. 6. 1., one-half of which is payable to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and the other to- the vicar.
- The church was built by aid of a gift of £900 from the late Board of First Fruits, in 1818.
- The glebe-house was built in 1820, by aid of a gift of £100 and a loan of £675 from the same Board: the glebe of the union comprises 50 acres.
The R. C. parish is co-extensive with that of the Established Church; the chapel is at Castletown.
A school is supported at Doorneen; and there are three pay schools, in which are about 240 children.
Here is also a dispensary.
There are some remains of the old castle on the bank of the Moy, and of the old church of Kilvanley with a burial-ground. There are also some Danish raths.
SOURCE: A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis (pub 1837)
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