KILCOMMON, a parish, in the barony of BALLINACOR,
county of WICKLOW, and province of LEINSTER;
containing, with the post-town of Tinahely, 3470 inhabitants.
It comprises 11,119 acres of moderately fertile
land, in a good state of cultivation, the system of agriculture
having been greatly improved under the influence
of the Shillelagh Agricultural Society: there are
some mountain land and peat bog. The principal seats
are Ballybeg, the residence of Mrs. Symes; Rockingham,
of the Rev. W. Barber; Town View, of H. Morton,
Esq.; Ballyshonogue, of R. Bates, Esq.; and the
residence of the parish priest, which was built by
Earl Fitzwilliam. The parish is in the diocese of
Ferns, and is a rectory, forming part, of the union and
prebend of Crosspatrick in the cathedral of Ferns: the
tithes amount to £456. 18. 5¾. The church, a neat
building, was enlarged in 1820, for which the late Board
of First Fruits granted a loan of £700. In the R. C.
divisions it is the head of a union or district, comprising
the parishes of Kilcommon, Preban, and Kilpipe, and
called Killavany and Tinahely: there are chapels at
Killavany and Crossbridge, both of which were erected
by Earl Fitzwilliam. About 90 children are educated
in a public school, to which Earl Fitzwilliam subscribes
£6 annually, and about the same number in a private
school. See TINAHELY.