This table is taken from `Kilrush Poor Law Union and the Parishes of West Clare' in the Clare Association Yearbook 2014 pp.46-50:
Notes | Electoral division |
Civil parish | Catholic parish (website) | Catholic parish (book) | Earliest Catholic registers |
TAB | Other churches |
United since 1744 | Killofin | Killofin | Kilmurry McMahon | Kilmurry MacMahon | 1837 | 1834 | Labasheeda |
Knock | Kilmurry (Clonderalaw) | 1825 | |||||
United until 1878 | Moyarta | Moyarta | Carrigaholt | Carrigaholt | 1852 | 1827 | Doonaha |
Kilballyoan | Kilballyowen | Cross (Kilballyowen) | Cross | 1878 | 1825 | Kilbaha | |
United until 1868 | Kildysert | Killadysert | Kildysart | Kildysart | 1829 | 1825 | |
Kilfidduan | Kilfiddane | Coolmeen (Kilfidane) | Cranny/Coolmeen | 1868 | 1824 | Cranny | |
United until 1854 | Killard | Killard | Doonbeg (Killard) | Doonbeg | 1855 | 1826 | Bealaha |
Kilkee | Kilfearagh | Kilkee (Kilfearagh) | Kilkee | 1836 | 1827 | Lisdeen | |
United until 1848 | Kilmacdooaun | Kilmacduane | Cooraclare (Kilmacduane) | Cooraclare | 1853 | 1825 | Cree |
Kilmihil | Kilmihil | Kilmihil | Kilmihill | 1849 | 1826 | ||
United until 1848 | Killiner | Killimer | Killimer and Knockerra | Killimer/Knockerra | 1859 | 1824 | Knockerra |
Kilrush | Kilrush | Kilrush | Kilrush | 1827 | 1826 | Moanmore | |
United until 1839 with Kilfarboy (Ennistimon PLU) | Kilmurry | Kilmurry (Ibrickan) | Mullagh (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) | Mullagh | 1839 (Kilfarboy 1831) |
1825 and 1834 |
Coore Quilty |
The early history of the boundaries between these two parishes is obscure and is complicated by the one-time existence (as I believe) of a parish centered on an Augustinian monastery near the present Killernan Graveyard. The territory of that parish may have extended to Cahermurphy in Kilmihil.
It is certain, however that two separate parishes – Kilfarboy and Kilmurry Ibrickane have existed, at least since the McGorman migration in the late 12th century. The RC Church merged the parishes (like many others) in consequence of the Penal Laws (although Fr Ryan, History of Kilmurry Ibrickane says that they were held by a single Priest prior to the Reformation), and, as you say, they were separated again in 1839.
As part of this separation the clergy (presumably Fr McGuane?) chose to ‘regularise’ the boundaries and based a new boundary on the river Annagh (as you say). This meant that Carrowduff, Doonsallagh East and West and Knockliscrane all moved from Kilmurry Ibrickane to Kilfarboy. I am not aware that Knockanalban or Shanaway East or West ever changed parochial sides!
In this area it is the norm for Townland boundaries to follow watercourses, where possible, but there is an exception in the case of Killernan which straddles the Annagh river. The clergy opted to stick with the river as their new boundary and so Killernan was split in two - part in Kilfarboy and part in Kilmurry Ibrickane. (This also applies to Doonsallagh West, but the small isolated portion has no dwellings).
On the North side of Miltown Malbay Parish, Rineen School is under the care of Fr. Murphy (Miltown) even though the townland is in Ennistymon civil & R.C. Parish.
The Miltown Parish website has a Millenium Census conducted by Fr. Seanie Murphy, who visited all the houses of his parish for his census and so delineates the R.C. Parish, with Moy being a subdivision thereof. [The townland names and numbers are not lined up in rows in the online version of the Millennium Census!]