Origin of the name Kilmactigue

Today, we’re familiar with the name of Kilmactigue but if you go back to 1309 when a taxation survey was carried out in this area there was no mention of Kilmactigue even though names such as Claddagh, Knockbrack etc. were listed. However, our first reference to it is found in the Annals of the Four Masters where it stated that a church was built in 1439 by Cormac, son of Tighe on a site which was situated between two rivers namely, Belclare and Leenane.

Cormac was one of the O’Hara Clan which was the predominant Irish family in the parish. It was he who built this new church and as he was the son of Tighe O’Hara, the new church became the church of the son of Tighe, Kil-mac-tigue. No remnant of this ancient church exists but using a bit of common sense, you could say it was built someplace near the present run-down Protestant church. This site is between the Belclare and Leenane rivers. It could be that the Leenane river is Carrowreagh River of today. Incidentally, Cormac is supposed to have lived in Belclare Castle so you would expect this new church to be built locally.