HISTORY

The archaeological evidence shows that the parish has been inhabited for approximately 3,500 years. Early settlers lived in the cahers (forts). There are no records of those who lived in the cahers. However, local tradition says that the O'Hehir family lived in the caher at Cahermacon at one time.

 

Some later settlers lived in castles. Apart from Leamaneh, Inchiquin and Ballyportry castles which are listed, historical records refer to castles at:

Killinaboy (located about 50 metres east of Killinaboy Graveyard & Round Tower) and owned by Domhnaill O'Brien in 1574;

Cahermacon / Ballycasheen (located near the Children’s burial ground in that area) and was willed by Murrough O'Brien to his son Teige in 1551; and

Rinnamona / Carrownamaddra (located near the site of the Fullachta Fia in that area) and listed among the properties willed by Conor O'Brien of Leamaneh to his son, Donough in 1603.

 

 'An Cabhail Mhor' located some 200 metres directly west of house No. A15 in Killinaboy is probably the oldest house still standing in the parish. It is described as a Jacobean fortified house. Accordingly, it dates to the early 17th century and was then the residence of the Blood family, two of whom were Deans of Kilfenora at that time. Local tradition says that the O’Quin family resided here after losing their demesne at Inchiquin to the O'Briens and that this house was known as De Clare's. However, the present structure has the features of a Jacobean fortified house. The house may have been built on the site of an earlier house, as was the practice then. That earlier house may have become known as De Clare's since that name was associated with nearby Dysart O'Dea in earlier times. It is also possible that the name derives from the wooden bridge or plank, called 'clár' in Gaelic, that is said to have crossed the nearby river Fergus at this point, to facilitate those journeying through this area.

 

While the 18th and 19th centuries saw many planter houses, mainly Georgian, being built, the majority of the tenants lived in 'botháns' which were very often substandard. It was at this time also that the ‘clachan settlements’ (extended family group settlements) grew. The Great Famine of the 1840s created an even further drop in the standard of housing for the tenant class, into which a very high percentage of the population fell. The 20th century saw an improvement in housing conditions. Some of the better houses of that time were built by The Congested District Board and by the successor to that body, The Irish Land Commission.

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Tombstones in Killinaboy and Coad graveyards show records of some prominent old local family names. 

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