Kilcooly

KILCOOLY, a parish, in the barony of SLIEVARDAGH, county of TIPPERARY, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (S.) from Johnstown; containing, with the town of New Birmingham, 3667 inhabitants. Donagh Carbragh O'Brien, King of Limerick, founded an abbey here for Cistertian monks, about 1200, which, at the Reformation, was granted to the Earl of Ormond: the ruins are extensive, and contain a fine east window and some handsome tombs of the Ikerrin branch of the Butler family: the proprietor, W. Barker, Esq., has lately erected a study, or summer-house, in them. The parish comprises 9052 statute acres, as applotted under the tithe act, of which the whole is arable and pasture, except about 300 acres of woodland. Limestone abounds, and coal and culm are found on Mr.

Barker's estate. Kilcooly Abbey, the residence of Mr.

Barker, stands in a well-planted demesne of above 1600 statute acres. On its eastern verge is a tower built to commemorate the battle of Waterloo, which, being on a high hill, serves as an excellent landmark.

On the hills is a colony of Palatines, brought from the county of Limerick, about 60 years since, by the late Sir W. Barker, Bart. The living is a rectory, in the diocese of Cashel, and in the patronage of the Crown: the tithes amount to £507. 13. 10½. The church is a handsome modern structure. There is a glebe-house, for the erection of which the late Board of First Fruits, in 1818, gave £350 and lent £450: the glebe comprises 22 acres, for which £42. 12. per annum late currency is paid by the rector. In the R. C. divisions this parish forms part of the district of Gurtnahoe, or Fennor, and has a chapel at New Birmingham. There is also a meeting-house for Wesleyan Methodists. About 280 children are educated in two public schools, to one of which Mr. and Lady Harriet Barker subscribe £20 per annum. There are some ruins of the castle of Grange.

See BIRMINGHAM-NEW.

from Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of Ireland, 1837.