KILLELY, or KILLEELY, a parish, partly within the north
liberties of the city of LIMERICK, but chiefly in the
barony of BUNRATTY, county of CLARE, and province
of MUNSTER, 3 miles (N. W.) from Limerick, on
the mail road to Ennis, and on the river Shannon; containing
5141 inhabitants. This parish, which is also
called Meelick, comprises 5135 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act, which are nearly equally divided
between tillage and pasture. It extends nearly to the
old Thomond bridge, at Limerick, and includes the
extensive distillery of Messrs. Brown, Stein, and Co.
Limestone abounds and is used for manure, and there
is some bog near the Shannon. There are stations of
the constabulary police at Cratloe, Meelick, and Thomond
Gate. Cratloe House is the residence of Stafford
O'Brien, Esq.; the demesne and wood of Cratloe, which
are chiefly in this parish, extend into the adjoining
parish of Kilfentinan. The living is a rectory and
vicarage, in the diocese of Limerick, and in the patronage
of the Bishop: the tithes amount to £281. 1. 111/2. The
church, a small plain structure, is picturesquely situated
at Meelick; it was built by the grandmother of the
present Marquess of Conyngham, and subsequently made
parochial; it is now undergoing a thorough repair, a
grant of £220 having been made by the Ecclesiastical
Commissioners for that purpose. The communion plate
was presented by the Conyngham family. The glebehouse,
a large mansion, commanding a beautiful view of
the Shannon, stands on a glebe of 111/2 acres. In the
R. C. divisions this parish is partly in the district of
Meelick, and partly in that of Thomond Gate, or St.
Lelia. In the parochial school, supported by the rector,
about 20 children are educated; and about 80 females
are taught in a public school supported by subscription:
there are also four private schools, containing about 170
children, and a Sunday school is held in the parochial
school-house. About one mile south-east from Cratloe
Cross is the Cratloe and Meelick public dispensary.