Drumcliff, County Clare 2.07

Drumcliff, or Drumcliffe, Dromcliffe is a civil parish in County Clare, Ireland. It includes the village of Inch and part of the town of Ennis.LocationThe parish of Drumcliff is in the barony of Islands, and lies on the River Fergus on the road from Limerick to Galway. It is 5by, covering. There are two holy wells in Drumcliff, one dedicated to Saint Kieran in Rathkerry and the other dedicated to Saint Ineenboy at Croaghaun.HistoryThe townland of Clonroad became the main seat of the O'Briens around 1200. Donogh Cairbreagh O'Brien built a circular earthern fort on the south side of the river, opposite Ennis. Around 1240 he built a large Franciscan monastery at Ennis. Later Turlogh O'Brien built a stone castle near the bridge of Clonroad. It was one of the Earl of Thomond's residences for three hundred years, then was demolished and the stone used to build the house for Mr. Gore, the new proprietor. In 1580 Conor MacClancy had a castle at Inchbeg.In 1831 the population was 12,392, almost all Catholics. Including Ennis, the population was 14,083. The old church was in ruins. The churchyard contained the mass grave of 340 cholera victims. Writing in 1893, James Frost said "The church of Drumcliff is composed of various patchings, made from time to time as the building wanted repairs or the congregation more room. No part of it seems to be of great antiquity except a window on the south wall, and part of one in the east gable."