KILCOWAN, or KILCOAN, a parish, in the
barony of BARGY, county of WEXFORD, and province of
LEINSTER, 10 miles (S. W. by S.) from Wexford, on the
lough formed by the burrow of Ballyteigue; containing
557 inhabitants. This parish comprises 1959 statute
acres, as applotted under the tithe act: the land, which
is chiefly in tillage, is partly manured with sea-weed, procured
from the lough, and partly with lime, quarries of
good limestone being worked on the townland of Baldwinstown.
It is in the diocese of Ferns; the rectory is
impropriate in the representatives of W. Bell, Esq., and
the vicarage forms part of the union of Mulrankin. The
tithes amount to £162. 11. 6., of which £111. 18. 3. is
payable to the impropriators, and £50. 13. 3. to the
vicar. In the R. C. divisions it forms part of the union
or district of Rathangan. A school-house has been
lately erected at the village of Baldwinstown, in which
about 40 children are educated, under the superintendence
of the parish priest. Near the village is the
castle of Baldwinstown, consisting of a lofty tower, about
30 feet square, the walls of which at the base measure
nearly 13 feet in thickness.