KILCREDAN, a parish, in the barony of IMOKILLY,
county of CORK, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles
(S. E.) from Castlemartyr; containing 573 inhabitants.
This parish, which is bounded on the south by the
Atlantic Ocean, comprises 1008 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act. The northern part is very
hilly and the soil shallow, resting on a substratum of
clay-slate; but from its immediate vicinity to the sea,
whence abundance of sea-weed and sand are procured
for manure, it is rendered tolerably productive. In
other parts the land is of good quality, and in an excellent
state of cultivation, and at Ballycrenan considerable
improvements in agriculture are in progress; about
three-fourths of the land are in tillage, and the remainder
in grazing farms, with some rough mountain pasture.
From its situation about midway between Cable island
and Ballycotton bay, and from its fine beach of sand
extending in a bold semicircular sweep for nearly four
miles, this place is much resorted to for sea-bathing.
At Ballycrenan is a coast-guard station belonging
to the district of Youghal. The living is a vicarage,
in the diocese of Cloyne, episcopally united to those
of Kilmacdonough and Garryvoe, forming the union
of Kilcredan, in the patronage of the Crown; the
rectory forms part of the union of Lisgold and corps
of the precentorship in the cathedral of Cloyne. The
tithes amount to £120, of which £80 is payable to the
precentor, and £40 to the vicar; and the aggregate tithes
of the union amount to £455. 1. 11½ The church,
erected in 1636, is about to be rebuilt; it contains
some monuments to the Tynte family, formerly proprietors
of the castle. There is no glebe-house; the
glebe comprises ll½ acres. In the R. C. divisions this
parish forms part of the union or district of Ladiesbridge.
The parochial male and female schools, in
which are about 20 children, are supported by Captain
Hoare (who gives the house rent-free), Mrs. B. Fitzgerald,
and the vicar; and there is a private school of
about 20 children. The fine ruins of Ballycrenan castle
occupy an eminence at a short distance from the coast,
commanding an interesting view of the sea and the
beautiful bay of Ballycotton: this castle was built by the
Carew family early in the 15th century, and was destroyed
in 1641; it was afterwards restored, and occupied
till 1798; the Wallis family, who purchased it
soon after the abdication of Jas. II., were the last occupiers.
L
KILCREDANE, or KILSHIDEEN (commonly called
KILKNEEDAN), a parish, in the barony of MAGONIHY,
county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, 4½
miles (N.byW.) from Killarney, on the old road toTralee;
containing 782 inhabitants, and comprising 3650 statute
acres, mostly in tillage and of good quality. It is a
vicarage, in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, forming
part of the union of Molahiffe; the rectory is impropriate
in the Crosbie family. The tithes, amounting to
£73. 16. 10., are payable in equal portions to the impropriator
and the vicar. The townlands of East and
West Inchicarriganes and Aughnablaha pay half tithes
with the parish of Kilcummin. In the R. C. divisions it
forms part of the union or district of Fieries; the chapel
at Ballyhar is a modern building. About 80 children
are educated in two private schools. On an eminence
overhanging the Gheestan river, which bounds the
parish on the north-east, are the ruins of the old
church.