CLOMANTO, or CLOGHMANTAGH, a parish, in
the barony of CRANAGH, county of KILKENNY, and
province of LEINSTER, 3½ miles (W.) from Freshford,
on the road from Kilkenny to Thurles; containing 889
inhabitants. It comprises 3597 statute acres, as applotted
under the tithe act, and valued at £2413 per
annum; about 480 acres are mountain and woodland,
and the remainder arable and pasture. The system of
agriculture is very much improved; and there is abundance
of limestone, which is quarried for building, but
chiefly for burning into lime, which is the chief manure.
The principal seats are Woodsgift, the residence of Sir
R. B. St. George, Bart., adjoining the demesne of which
are temporary loughs, called Loghans, formed by springs
which burst forth at the commencement of the wet season,
but discontinue in the spring; and Balief Castle,
the handsome residence of R. St. George, Esq., in the
demesne of which are the remains of the ancient castle,
a round tower in a good state of preservation. The
Clomauto flour-mills, capable of manufacturing about
12,000 barrels annually, are impelled by a small river
that intersects the parish; and attached to them is a
large starch-manufactory, both belonging to Mr. W.
Lyster. The living consists of a rectory and vicarage
united, and a perpetual curacy, in the diocese of Ossory;
the rectory and vicarage form part of the union
of Freshford and of the corps of the prebend of Aghoure
in the cathedral of St. Canice, Kilkenny; the perpetual
curacy was instituted by act of council, in 1828, by
detaching five townlands from this parish, and uniting
them with the parishes of Urlingford and Tubrid, and
portions of the parishes of Burnchurch and Tullaroan,
together forming the perpetual curacy of Clomanto,
which is in the patronage of the incumbents of the
several parishes out of which it was formed, each of
whom contributes to the curate's stipend. The tithes
amount to £184. 12. 5. The old parish church is in
ruins, and there is neither glebe-house nor glebe. A
church has been recently erected for the district curacy;
it is a handsome edifice, situated on the verge of the
parish. In the R. C. divisions the parish is partly in the
union or district of Urlingford, and partly in that of
Freshford. There are two pay schools, in which are
about 100 children. The remains of the old castle of
Clomanto consist of a square tower in good preservation;
both it and Balief castle belonged anciently to
the Shortall family. On the summit of Clomanto hill is
a circular mound of stones, 87 paces in circumference,
enclosed by a circular barrier of stones including several
acres, approaching nearest to the mound on the east.
Part of this circle has been destroyed; the name Cloghman-
Ta, signifying in the Irish language the "stone of
God," is sufficiently indicative of the use to which this
place was applied.