placenamesKilgarvan
Cill na nGarbhán
Lewis’s Mayo parish account distinguishes established fairs from a market still being proposed in 1837.
The name
These Irish name elements are associated with this record in the Logainm glossary.
An element’s translation is a clue, rather than a complete explanation of the name. Its form and meaning depend on local history and the full Irish name.
Recorded forms
- Cill na nGarbhán · Irish · main form · non-validated name
- Kilgarvan · English · main form
Place & story
Trading at O’Dowda’s-town
Samuel Lewis recorded four fair days at Bonneconlan, also called O’Dowda’s-town, within Kilgarvan parish: 13 May, 13 June, 13 August and 2 November. In 1837 he described a village of one street with a constabulary station. A weekly market was about to be established, so his account supports a proposal rather than proof that weekly trading had begun. [2]
Schooling across the parish
Lewis counted about 140 children across two schools, one supported by subscriptions. The parish included part of the Ox Mountains and lay on the Ballina–Boyle road. Its Catholic chapel at O’Dowda’s-town had been built in 1800 and was due for rebuilding when he wrote. The entry does not establish the completion date of that proposed work. [2]
Geographic information
Sources & further reading
- Logainm.ie — Kilgarvan. Place names and geographic record, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
- Kilgarvey or Kilgarvin — A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837) · Samuel Lewis
Name record retrieved 2026-10-25 · Source record modified 2025-01-10. How this page was prepared.