Killone

Killone (Irish: Cill Eoin) is a civil parish of County Clare, Ireland, to the southwest of Ennis. It is known for the ruins of Killone Abbey.

Location

Killone is in the Barony of Islands, 2.5 miles (4.0 km) southwest of Ennis on the road to Kildysart. It is 1 mile (1.6 km) southwest of Clareabbey. The parish is 3.75 by 3.25 miles (6.04 by 5.23 km) and covers 5,718 acres (2,314 ha). The parish covers most of the western screen of the head of the River Fergus estuary, and combines fertile low ground with rocky hillocks, hills, and ridges. The parish holds Killone Lough.

Antiquities

Domnall Mór Ua Briain, styled King of Limerick, founded Killone Abbey around 1190 for Augustinian nuns, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist. Slaney, daughter of King Donogh Carbreach of Thomond, was abbess of this nunnery. She died in 1260. The ruins are near the northeast of Lake Killone. Killone Abbey is linked to Clare Abbey by the Pilgrim's road, a footpath. There is a holy well dedicated to Saint John near the abbey.