Antiquities
View Document (PDF)
Antiquities in Kilmaine parish, from Irish Tourist Association Survey, 1945
This is by far the most substantial section of the Kilmaine survey, comprising thirteen pages. A feature of this area was the number of castles, erected by the de Burgos or Burkes, as fortresses. Many were listed as being occupied at some time by members of the “Mac Jonyn” family. This appears to be a corruption of “Mac Seoinín” , later anglicised as “Jennings”. Mac Seoinín was a subset of the Burke family. The antiquities described include:
- Turin Castle:- in Turin townland. A very detailed architectural description is provided. Little is known of its history. There are associations with the De Burgos (Burkes). Diagrams of various floors of the castle are included.
- Killernan Castle:- Killernan townland. Architectural details again described. Originally a Burke stronghold and about two hundred years prior to the survey was occupied by a family called Blake. It was taken by Lord Edward Fitton, President of Connaught in 1571.
- Cregduff Castle:- Brief architectural description. Was also a Burke castle and also taken over by Fitton in 1571.
- Ballisnahyny Castle:- Brief architectural description given. Again, a Burke Castle.
- Cloghans Castle:- In lands of Cloghan House. Ocuupied by Myles Burke 1571-74. Also taken by Fitton.
- Kilquire Castle:- Totally destroyed. Also a Burke castle.
- Kilkeeran Castle:- Ruins of a single-storey residence, not really a castle. Supposedly owned by eleven Elwood brothers who all died in a drowning accident.
- Ballybockagh Castle: A burke Castle, occupied by Thomas Burke in 1578.
- Ellistron Castle:- In Ellistron Park. Owned by Walter Burke in 1578.
- Bunnacrower Castle:- Owned in 1586 by “Moyler Bourke of Moneycrower” A supplementary note in the survey , filed at the end of the antiquities section offers further details of the history of the castle and various Burke occupiers. Apparently the old name for the castle was “Moneycrower”
- Cregmore Castle:- a Burke fortress.
- Kill Abbey:- A detailes architectural description is provided. No historical details offered other than it being a Patrician site.
- Church ruin in Moorgagagh:- May have been formerly a parish church.
- Church ruins in Kilmaine village:- Thought to have been a parish church and is on the site of a church built by St. Patrick. This church was known as “Cill Mheadhain” or “Middle church”, from which Kilmaine got its name.
- Church ruins in Kilkeeran:- Nothing known of its history.
- Megalithic remains in Knocknageeha, apparently the remains of a chambered cairn.
- Megalithic remains in Ballynulty:- also the remains of a chambered cairn.
- Lissnatreanduff:- in Ballymartin townland, this is the largest stone fort in Mayo
The headings for the survey are listed below. Clicking on the heading will open the relevant section in the survey.
Amenities and general information
Curiosities, customs, patterns