Church

The National Monuments Service's description

Kilkeedy Church described in 1840 as following; 'The old church of this parish, situated in the glebe of Kilkeedy, appears to have been a lateral building formerly attached to a larger one; as it lies contrary to the direction of almost all old churches, the greatest length of this church being from North to South (29 ft. [8.83m]). The modern church would seem to occupy the site of the ancient main buildings, the North wall of the former being attached to the S end of the present ruin which has lost the southern wall. Its breadth from east to west is 18 ft. [5.5m]. The east wall had a window, the form of which is now destroyed. There is a doorway on the west wall 20 ft. [6m] from the north wall and 5 ft. [1.5m] from the wall of the new church. It is 6 ft. [1.8m] high by 4 ft. 2 in. [1.27m] and arched with thin stones on the inside; on the outside it is 5½ ft. [1.6m] high by 3 ft. 5 in. [1m] and has a round arch of cut limestone. The walls are about 10 ft. [3m] high & 3 ft. 2 in. [0.92m] in thickness. This church does not appear to be very old. There is another small portion of a wall 9 ft. [2.7m] east of this, but it is utterly featureless. There is a large graveyard attached' (OSL vol. 2, 134-5).
Westropp gives the following details about Kilkeedy Church; 'A parish in Pubblebrian. Perhaps Kelliedun, 1201; Kilkid, 1302. Thomas de Burgo was found to have held the perpetual vicarage of Kylkyde, now lapsed to the Pope, 1369 (Papal Petitions, i., p. 450; Theiner, p. 339). Keilchidy dedicated to SS. Simon and Jude (28th Oct.), 1410. Kilkydy granted with other rectories formerly belonging to Athassell to G. Moore, 1578 (Fiant,3414). Kilkide in repair with a thatched roof (Visitation, 1615). Given in D.S.(B.) 26 map and Civil Survey. Fabric - Of the older church, only a north wing, 29 feet [8.85m] north and south and 18 feet [5.5m] wide, and a featureless fragment to the east still remain. The east wall has a defaced window, the west, a door, arched inside with flags and with cut stone outside. Monuments - Samuel Cooper, of Cooper Hill, 1779, and James and Mary Berry' (Westropp 1904-5, 369).
Church of Ireland church ruins described by the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage as a; 'Freestanding Board of First Fruits Church of Ireland church, rebuilt in 1813, having three-stage square-plan tower to west and four-bay nave. Single-bay single-storey blocks to north elevation. Tower having hexagonal limestone spire and crenellations to corners. No roof. Cut limestone eaves course to nave. Rubble limestone walls with cut stone stringcourses to tower. Monsell family mausoleum to north-west block. Graveyard to site. Pair of square-profile rendered piers to west having stepped caps and single-leaf metal gate. Rubble limestone boundary walls with stile to west' (www.buildingsofireland.ie; Reg. No. 21901224).

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 4 October 2018

References

OSL - Ordnance Survey Letters. Letters written by members of the Ordnance Survey's 'Topographical Department' (T. O'Conor, A. O'Curry, E. Curry, J. O'Donovan and P. O'Keeffe) sent to headquarters from the field (1834-41). MSS in Royal Irish Academy.

Westropp, T.J. 1904-5 A survey of the ancient churches of Co. Limerick. Proceedings of the Royal Irish Academy 25C, 327-479.