KILMALLOCK

kilmallock, a market town of county limerick, ireland, in the east parliamentary division, 1241⁄4 m. s.w. of dublin by the great southern & western main line. pop. (1901), 1206. it commands a natural route (now followed by the railway) through the hills to the south and south-west, and is a site of great historical interest. it received a charter in the reign of edward iii., at which time it was walled and fortified, and entered by four gates, two of which remain. it was a military post of importance in elizabeth's reign, but its fortifications were for the most part demolished by order of cromwell. two castellated mansions are still to be seen. the church of st peter and st paul belonged to a former abbey, and has a tower at the north-west corner which is a converted round tower. the dominican abbey, of the 13th century, has early english remains of great beauty and a tomb to edmund, the last of the white knights, a branch of the family of desmond intimately connected with kilmallock, who received their title from edward iii. at the battle of halidon hill. the foundation of kilmallock, however, is attributed to the geraldines, who had several towns in this vicinity. eight miles from the town is lough gur, near which are numerous stone circles and other remains. kilmallock returned two members to the irish parliament.