KILCUMMIN, a parish, in the barony of MOYCULLEN,
county of GALWAY, and province of CONNAUGHT;
containing, with the post-town of Oughterard, 9848 inhabitants.
It comprises 93,982 statute acres, of which
only 8811 are rated in the county books, the remainder
being bog and mountain; and includes within its limits
several uninhabited islands, and the inhabited islands of
Littermullen, Innisherk, Dynish, Farnish, and Nappagh,
in Kilkerrin and Greatman's bays. The principal seats
are Lemonfield, the residence of T. O'Flahertie, Esq.;
Port Carrin, of J. Nolan, Esq.; Ardvarn, of A. Ross,
Esq.; Clareville, of T. B. Martin, Esq.; and Lodge, of
the Rev. Dr. Kirwan. The living is a perpetual cure, in
the diocese of Tuam, united to those of Rahoon, Moycallen,
and Ballinacourty, and in the patronage of the
Archbishop; the rectory is partly impropriate in T. B.
Martin, Esq., and partly forms a portion of the union of
St. Nicholas and wardenship of Galway. The tithes
amount to £140, of which £70 is payable to the impropriator,
£35 to the warden of Galway, and £35 to
the perpetual curate. The church, which is in Oughterard,
is a small neat building, for the erection of which
the late Board of First Fruits gave £600, in 1808. For
the erection of the glebe-house, the same Board, in 1819,
gave £450 and lent £50: the glebe comprises 16 acres.
In the R. C. divisions this parish is partly in the diocese
of Galway, and partly in that of Tuam: the former part
is called Oughterard, from the chapel being at that place;
the latter is united to part of Killanin, and is called the
union or district of Killeen, in which are three chapels.
About 220 children are educated in seven, private schools.
The town of Galway and a large portion of the adjoining
country are supplied with turf from the district that
stretches along the headlands of Kilkerrin and Greatman's
bays; and the inhabitants of the interior, through
the medium of Lough Corrib, are hence supplied with
sea-sand and sea-weed for manure. Several hundred
boats are constantly employed in the conveyance of
these articles, and during the intervals between the
fishing seasons many of the fishing-boats are similarly
occupied. From this place to Galway there are two
sailing courses, one by the bay of Kilkerrin round Galin
Head, where there is a tremendous sea with strong currents;
the other by Greatman's bay, by which vessels
may keep in smooth water within the islands. This
passage is, however, obstructed by the rocky pass of
Dangan, which can only be sailed through at high tide,
so that 200 boats are sometimes waiting for a passage.
To remedy this evil, it is proposed to clear that channel
and construct piers, which would render the passage
easy at most heights of the tide. The estimated expense
of this great improvement is only £480. 3. 4., and the
Board of Public Works have recommended that half
should be paid by Government. A pier has been erected
by the Fishery Board on the north-east side of Garomna
Island, in Greatman's bay. See OUGHTERARD.