In this article is a short note on Killoughy and a more extended piece pinpointing Croghan Hill.

ORDNANCE SURVEY LETTERS KING'S COUNTY

[ Letter no. 11 from John O'Donovan ]

Tullamore,
January 3rd 1838.

Dear Sir,

I visited the Parish of Killoughy but found nothing curious in it but a rude old Church of no great antiquity. I have no reference to this Church from any of the Irish writers nor does tradition remember anything about its history. It lies in the Territory of Fera Ceall and seems to have been called in Irish Cill Eachadha i.e., Eochy's Church, but I have nothing to corroborate this, as the Irish language is not spoken in any Parish in the County as far as we have gone.

There is no holy well from which the name of the Patron Saint might be inferred, nor any ancient tombstone to throw light any upon its history.

I had thought that this Killoughy might be the Cill Achaidh Droma Foda of the Irish writers but I now see plainly that it is not, but an insignificant old Parish Church.

The Cill Achaidh Droma Foda of the Irish writers is described as in Ofalia in Leinster, but this is in Feara Ceall in Meath. Is there any reference in the Calendar or Colgan to Cill Echadha (Iochaidhe) or anything like it as lying in O'Molloy's Country of Feara Ceall?

In this Parish lies Pallis, a Townland which formerly contained a mansion seat of a branch of the O'Molloys, but of which there are now no remains. It is mentioned in the "Victories of Hugh O'Byrne" as plundered by him:-...

See this quoted at full length in the letter about Ballyboy. Do the Four Masters make any mention of Pailis in Feara Ceall?

Let me have the description of the Territories of Ely O'Carroll, Feara Ceall (Fercall etc.,) and Delvin Eathra or Beathra, as given by Archdall in his Nomenclat. Hib. I think he placed the Barony of Eglish in Ely O'Carroll?

Let me have Colgan's account of Liath Manchain; I now want very badly the map and description of Mageoghegan's, which you sent me to Westmeath, as I have to shew where Kinel-Fiacha met the Territory of Feara Ceall.

I return the Kildare Letters.

Your obedient servant,
John O'Donovan.