KILGARVAN, a parish, in the barony of GLANEROUGH, county of KERRY, and province of MUNSTER, 6 miles (N. E.) from Kenmare, on the road from that place to Millstreet and Macroom (Co. Cork).
Callan, in this parish, is celebrated for the surprise, defeat, and slaughter, in 1261, of John Fitz-Thomas and his son Maurice (ancestors of the Fitzgeralds, Earls of Desmond) by the McCartys. Tradition states that a younger son, named John, escaped the slaughter, and was afterwards called “John of Callan.”
