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.