Kilmaine
Encyclopedia
Kilmaine or Kilmain is a barony and village
in County Mayo
, Ireland
.
The country around Kilmaine is distinguished by important iron age forts, which mark it as the residence of the local chiefs, if not of principal kings.
Some of the major iron age/medieval fortresses in the area include Lisnatreanduff in Ballymartin which has three deep ditches, whose sides were once faced with stone. A strong stone wall surrounded the space inside the inner ditch. Similar walls were on the top of the inner sides of the other ditches, and a smaller wall was on the outer edge of the outer ditch. Four entrances, dividing the defences into quadrants, gave access by ground of the natural level. It was probably the greatest fort in Mayo of the earth and stone type, and must have been an impressive building in its time.
Rausakeera (Rath Essa Caerach), near Kilmaine, is an earthen fort with a slight ditch and a souterrain inside. This use suggests that it was the inauguration place of former chieftains, adopted by the Bourkes.
When baronies were formed after the time of the Anglo Norman settlements (12th century), it was intended that Kilmaine should consist of the lands of MacWilliam, Sleight Walter, Clan Jonyn, Clan Meyler, and Sleight vic Tibbot and there were many tussles over land divisions in the area. By the 16th century, in the time of Queen Elizabeth 1, Sir Henry Sidney mentions seven lineages, or families, as coming from Mayo. Their relationships held together very much as a clan, having a '° MacDonnell" as chief, and they had great influence in the country. At the close of the sixteenth century they were described as 'only country gentlemen', no longer the leaders of Gallowglass mercenary soldiers. Their principal settlements were in Kilmaine, Carra, Burrishoole, and Tirawley, under the Bourkes, those in Clanmorris, Costello and Gallen being insignificant. http://www.shrule.com/_shrule/_display.php?pid=611&fid=21
between Shrule
and Ballinrobe
. The hinterland is entirely rural, made up of farms and scattered houses. The nearest town is Ballinrobe
, and the closest city is Galway
, less than twenty kilometres away.
The village of Kilmaine has a population of less than two hundred, while the rural population around Kilmaine is nearly 1000. Kilmaine has only recently begun to see a boost in the building of houses and the development of property in the village. Over the past few years Kilmaine has not received as many immigrants from the new EU member states as other towns and villages in Mayo have and this is the main reason the population of the village hasn't grown at the rate they have. The village of Kilmaine has a post office,a petrol station (Burkes), two shops (Walshs and Flanagans) four pubs (Walshs, Jack Murphy's, Murphys and Maloneys), a Church, School, a Garda (police) station. It also has a Gaelic Athletic Association
pitch and a community centre.
that links Galway to Caslebar. A bus service that runs four days a week between Galway and Ballina passes through Kilmaine and also travels through Caslebar.
club, Kilmaine GAA, was founded on the 9th of March, 1937. The first competitive game ever played by a Kilmaine team was against Castlegar (Claremorris), in Curran's field.
Towns and villages in the barony:
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
in County Mayo
County Mayo
County Mayo is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the village of Mayo, which is now generally known as Mayo Abbey. Mayo County Council is the local authority for the county. The population of the county is 130,552...
, Ireland
Republic of Ireland
Ireland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
.
History
The great cairns and other monuments in the country between Ballinchalla and Cross show it to have been of significance in prehistoric times. Around the time of St. Patrick in the 4th century AD, the tribe known as Conmaicne of Cuil Toladh occupied the baronies of Ross and Kilmaine. The chief of the Cuil Toladh Clan was called O'Talcharain. This tribe did not appear to any significant degree in annals and legends of the time.The country around Kilmaine is distinguished by important iron age forts, which mark it as the residence of the local chiefs, if not of principal kings.
Some of the major iron age/medieval fortresses in the area include Lisnatreanduff in Ballymartin which has three deep ditches, whose sides were once faced with stone. A strong stone wall surrounded the space inside the inner ditch. Similar walls were on the top of the inner sides of the other ditches, and a smaller wall was on the outer edge of the outer ditch. Four entrances, dividing the defences into quadrants, gave access by ground of the natural level. It was probably the greatest fort in Mayo of the earth and stone type, and must have been an impressive building in its time.
Rausakeera (Rath Essa Caerach), near Kilmaine, is an earthen fort with a slight ditch and a souterrain inside. This use suggests that it was the inauguration place of former chieftains, adopted by the Bourkes.
When baronies were formed after the time of the Anglo Norman settlements (12th century), it was intended that Kilmaine should consist of the lands of MacWilliam, Sleight Walter, Clan Jonyn, Clan Meyler, and Sleight vic Tibbot and there were many tussles over land divisions in the area. By the 16th century, in the time of Queen Elizabeth 1, Sir Henry Sidney mentions seven lineages, or families, as coming from Mayo. Their relationships held together very much as a clan, having a '° MacDonnell" as chief, and they had great influence in the country. At the close of the sixteenth century they were described as 'only country gentlemen', no longer the leaders of Gallowglass mercenary soldiers. Their principal settlements were in Kilmaine, Carra, Burrishoole, and Tirawley, under the Bourkes, those in Clanmorris, Costello and Gallen being insignificant. http://www.shrule.com/_shrule/_display.php?pid=611&fid=21
Kilmaine village
"Kilmaine", derived from the Irish language 'Cill Mheán', means The Middle Church – 'Cill' is the word used in the Irish language for a church, and 'meán' is the Irish word for middle. The village is located on the N84 roadN84 road (Ireland)
The N84 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It is a major route in the West connecting Galway city with Castlebar. The route is of poor quality with a few short good sections in County Mayo between Ballintubber and Ballinrobe. Ballinrobe has become a bottleneck on the route in recent...
between Shrule
Shrule
Shrule is a village in County Mayo, Ireland. The boundary between Mayo and County Galway lies on the edge of the village. The Black River divides Shrule between Galway and Mayo....
and Ballinrobe
Ballinrobe
-Early history:Dating back to 1390, Ballinrobe is said to be the oldest town in South Mayo. The registry of the Dominican friary of Athenry mentions the monastery de Roba, an Augustinian friary whose recently restored ruins are one of the historical landmarks of the town today...
. The hinterland is entirely rural, made up of farms and scattered houses. The nearest town is Ballinrobe
Ballinrobe
-Early history:Dating back to 1390, Ballinrobe is said to be the oldest town in South Mayo. The registry of the Dominican friary of Athenry mentions the monastery de Roba, an Augustinian friary whose recently restored ruins are one of the historical landmarks of the town today...
, and the closest city is Galway
Galway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
, less than twenty kilometres away.
The village of Kilmaine has a population of less than two hundred, while the rural population around Kilmaine is nearly 1000. Kilmaine has only recently begun to see a boost in the building of houses and the development of property in the village. Over the past few years Kilmaine has not received as many immigrants from the new EU member states as other towns and villages in Mayo have and this is the main reason the population of the village hasn't grown at the rate they have. The village of Kilmaine has a post office,a petrol station (Burkes), two shops (Walshs and Flanagans) four pubs (Walshs, Jack Murphy's, Murphys and Maloneys), a Church, School, a Garda (police) station. It also has a Gaelic Athletic Association
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
pitch and a community centre.
Transport
The village lies on the N84 roadN84 road (Ireland)
The N84 road is a national secondary road in Ireland. It is a major route in the West connecting Galway city with Castlebar. The route is of poor quality with a few short good sections in County Mayo between Ballintubber and Ballinrobe. Ballinrobe has become a bottleneck on the route in recent...
that links Galway to Caslebar. A bus service that runs four days a week between Galway and Ballina passes through Kilmaine and also travels through Caslebar.
Sport
The local Gaelic Athletic AssociationGaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
club, Kilmaine GAA, was founded on the 9th of March, 1937. The first competitive game ever played by a Kilmaine team was against Castlegar (Claremorris), in Curran's field.
Kilmaine barony
Civil parishes in the barony:- Ballincalla
- Ballinrobe
- Kilmainebeg
- Kilmainemore
- Kilmolara
- Moorgagagh
Towns and villages in the barony:
- BallinrobeBallinrobe-Early history:Dating back to 1390, Ballinrobe is said to be the oldest town in South Mayo. The registry of the Dominican friary of Athenry mentions the monastery de Roba, an Augustinian friary whose recently restored ruins are one of the historical landmarks of the town today...
- CongCong, County MayoCong is a village straddling the borders of County Galway and County Mayo, in Ireland. Cong is situated on an island formed by a number of streams that surround it on all sides...
- HollymountHollymountHollymount is a village on the R331 regional road in County Mayo, Ireland. It lies mid-way between the towns of Ballinrobe and Claremorris in the plains of South Mayo. It has a post office, a mini-mart, a community center , a small fuel/petrol station, and various public houses. It also has a...
- Kilmaine
- Roundfort
- ShruleShruleShrule is a village in County Mayo, Ireland. The boundary between Mayo and County Galway lies on the edge of the village. The Black River divides Shrule between Galway and Mayo....
- The Neale
See also
- List of towns and villages in Ireland
- Charles Edward Jennings de Kilmaine
- Lewis's Topographical Dictionary (Kilmaine) 1837 http://www.from-ireland.net/mayo/lewis/kilcommon2.htm