Kilnaboy

Kilnaboy
Village, townland, civil parish
Poulnabrone portal tomb Poulnabrone portal tomb
Kilnaboy Location in Ireland
Coordinates:
Country	Ireland
Province	Munster
County	County Clare
Population (2011)
• Total	689
Time zone	WET (UTC+0)
• Summer (DST)	IST (WEST) (UTC-1)

Kilnaboy or Killinaboy (Irish: Cill Iníne Baoith, meaning "church of Baoth's daughter") is a village, townland and civil parish in County Clare, Ireland. It is in the The Burren, an area rich in heritage and natural beauty. In 2011, the area had 347 inhabitants.

Village

Kilnaboy has a medieval church of 11th-century origin, repaired in 1715. The Church includes a Sheela na Gig (possible medieval fertility symbol) over the door and a cross on the church gable. There is a round tower nearby.

Civil parish

Kilnaboy is a parish in the historic barony of Inchiquin. Its chief town, Corofin, is located on the southern extremity of the parish. It is mentioned with regard to the Papal taxation of 1302-06. There are over 300 national monuments in the area including Leamaneh Castle and Cahercommaun stone fort.

Geography

It is located in the limestone hills of The Burren. Mullaghmore mountain is close by. There are very extensive tracts of bog in the eastern portion of the parish. According to the 1837 survey of Lewis:

"The surface is boldly diversified and embellished with the picturesque lakes of Inchiquin and Tadune, the latter of which is but partly in the parish. The lake of Inchiquin is about 2½ miles in circumference, and is situated at the base of a richly wooded range of hills, forming a fine contrast to the bare limestone rocks in the vicinity."

Places of interest

• Poulnabrone Dolmen is a portal tomb, dating back to the Neolithic period, and situated 9.6 km (6.0 mi) north-west of Kilnaboy.
• The "Burren National Park" is mostly based in Kilnaboy, but extends to other neighbouring parishes. It is often frequented by botanists and archeologists alike.
• Glanquin house, Kilnaboy was used as an exterior of "Craggy Island Parochial House" in the hit comedy series Father Ted.
• Leamaneh, Inchiquin and Ballyportry are fine examples of Irish castles. Ballyportry is completely restored.

People

• Kilnaboy is home to the former Minister for defence, Tony Killeen.
• Declan Kelleher is the former President of the I.N.T.O.
• Michael Sonny Murphy was an Olympic athlete who represented Ireland at the 1932 Los Angeles Summer games. He was also the holder of many National records and titles. The Sonny Murphy Road Race is held in Kilnaboy every year and has just recently had its 25th anniversary.
• Seamus Clancy is the first Clare footballer to win an All-Star award which was achieved in 1992. His brother Colm Clancy also played a starring role in that Munster championship winning side and their father Donal was one of the selectors.
• PJ Curtis is a well-known author and radio presenter, and was road and sound manager of the well-known group, The Bothy Band.
• Francis G. Neylon, renowned traditional Irish musician (concert flute, piccolo), was born in Kilnaboy in 1921 in the cottage now known as Tigh Éamoin.

Ecclesiastical parish

Kilnaboy is part of the parish of "Corofin, Kilnaboy and Rath" in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. There are three churches in the parish: St Brigid's (Corofin), St Joseph's (Kilnaboy) and St Mary's (Rath).

See also

• List of towns and villages in Ireland