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TEMPLENOE

"TEMPLENOE, or NEW CHURCH, a parish, in the barony of DUNKERRON, county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, 5 miles (W.S.W.) from Kenmare, on the road to Sneem; containing 3882 inhabitants. It is situated on the northern shore or estuary or bay of Kenmare, from which it extends towards the base of the mountains of Mangerton and Mac Guillicuddy's Reeks, and is bounded on the east by the river Finihy, and on the west by the Blackwater, both flowing into Kenmare bay. Near the shore are the ruins of the ancient castle of Dunkerron (once the chief seat of the O'Sullivan Mores), which gives name to the barony.
The parish consists chiefly of mountain and bog; about one-sixth of it is under tillage; two-sixths are irreclaimable rocky mountain, affording, however, coarse pasturage; and the reamining three-sixths are capable of reclamation: there are about 130 acres of woodland. Limestone exists on the islands of Cappanacoss and Dunkerron, and on the contiguous shore, and indications of copper are to be seen at Gortamullen; sea-weed collected in the hay is generally used for manure. Some of the inhabitants are employed in fishing and dredging for lobsters. The Spaniards are said to have formerly carried on an extensive fishery in this bay, and there still exist on the opposite shore the remains of several long, low buildings erected by them and bearing the name of "fish palaces".
The parish is in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, and is a rectory and vicarage, forming part of the union of Kilcrohane: the tithes amount to £22.6.1¾. The church a small plain building, situated about three-quarters of a mile to the west of the ancient edifice, was erected in 1816, at an expense of £700...
In the R.C. divisions the parish forms part of the union or district of Kenmare: the ruins of the old church have been converted into a chapel."

[From A Topographical Dictionary of Ireland by Samuel Lewis (1837)]

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)]

"TEMPLENOE, a parish in the barony of Dunkerron, county Kerry, province of Munster, Ireland, 1 mile W.S.W. of Kenmare. Sneem is its post town. The surface includes a large proportion of mountain and bog. The parish, which is crossed by the road from Kenmare to Sneem, is bounded on the N. by the river Kenmare, and on the E. and the W. by the rivers Tinitry and Blackwater. There is a police station. Petty sessions are held on the first Wednesday in each month. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Ardfert and Aghadoe, value with Kilcrohane £355, in the patronage of the crown. The church was erected in 1816, partly by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. In the Roman Catholic arrangement the parish is united to Kenmare. There are three schools. Dunkerrin and Dromore are the chief residences. Limestone is quarried at the islands of Cappancus and Dunkerron, and fishing is carried on to a small extent. Here are the ruins of Dunkerron and Cappancus castles."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]

Census

Note: The Civil Parish of Templenoe ceased to be used for census purposes in the mid nineteenth century when District Electoral Divisions (DEDs) were introduced.

Templenoe was divided between the DEDs of:

Kerry County Library, Tralee has the 1901 Census on microfilm.

The Family History Library of the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter Day saints also has the 1901 and 1911 census on microfilm.
The films should be available from one of the church's Family History Centers. You can locate the nearest to you by searching at www.familysearch.com.
The relevant films are:

1901 Census Dromore DED FHL British Film 838559 Item 3
1901 Census Greenane DED FHL British Film 838560
1901 Census Kenmare DED FHL British Film 838560
1901 Census Reen DED FHL British Film 838561 Item 1
1901 Census Loughbrin DED FHL British Film 838562 Item 1
1911 Census Dromore DED FHL British Film 2170767 Item 3, 2170768 Item 1
1911 Census Greenane DED FHL British Film 2170768 Item 2
1911 Census Kenmare DED FHL British Film 2170768 Item 3
1911 Census Reen DED FHL British Film 2170770 Item 2
1911 Census Loughbrin DED FHL British Film 2170785 Item 2, 2170786 Item 1

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Church History

The parish of Templenoe was combined with neighbouring parishes at an early period in both the established Church of Ireland and the Roman Catholic church.

In the Church of Ireland Templenoe was combined with various other parishes as the incumbent minister changed. From 1678 - 1682 the parish was held with Kilcrohane, reforming a seperate parish in 1682. From 1702 to 1809 it was combined with Kenmare, Tuosist and Kilcrohane. From 1809 to 1875 Templenoe was part of Kilcrohane Union. In 1875 the Union was dissolved, and Templenoe united to Kenmare. In 1924 this became the Union of Kenmare, Templenoe and Kilgarvan. This has since been enlarged to become the Union of Kenmare and Dromod.

The medieval parish church was in Greenane townland, and the ruins of it remain in the burial ground there.

A new Church of Ireland church was built in 1816, in a different location. This church was deconsecrated and became a "The Vestry Restaurant" in 1993. The webpage of the (currently closed) restaurant has some photographs of the church. Since the closure of Templenoe church, the area has been served by the church at Kenmare.

In the Roman Catholic Church by 1819 the parish of Templenoe, Kenmare and Douros had been established. The parish appears to have been renamed Kenmare and Templenoe by 1839. In 1876 the parish was slightly enlarged.

The earliest Catholic chapel was established at the original parish church site, using the north wall of the Medieval chuch as part of the structure. This was abandoned and dismantled when a new church was built, dedicated to Our Lady of the Assumption.

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Church Records

The Church of Ireland registers for the parish of Kilcrohane only survive for marriages for the years 1846-1930. No baptismal or burial records now exist. These registers are held at the Representative Church Body Library , Braemor Park, Rathgar, Dublin 14.

According to their web page:

The staff of the RCB Library will be glad to offer advice on all queries concerning Church of Ireland archives and manuscripts and related printed and reference works. It should be stressed, however, that they will not undertake genealogical research on behalf of readers. If you have any genealogical queries, please contact the RCB Library - Email: library@ireland.anglican.org


Roman Catholic parish registers for both baptisms and marriages begin on 1st January 1819. There are gaps in the registers, however: births from March 1824 to January 1826 and marriages from July 1838 to January 1839 are missing.

The registers remain in the custody of the parish priest, although microfilm copies are at the National Archives of Ireland. Written permission from the Bishop of Kerry is required to view these records.
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Maps

A Map showing the Townlands of Kenmare from Rootsweb
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[Last updated 14-Aug-2005 04:49 PM by Laurence Jones.]