Church

The National Monuments Service's description

The 17th century parish church of St. James in the town of Kilbeggan was located near the western limit of the town (WM038-017----). The present ruins of the 18th/19th century C. of I. church standing in the centre of a disused graveyard (WM038-017013-) probably stands on the site of the parish church of Kilbeggan that is listed in the 1606 land grant to Sir Oliver Lambert where it is described as 'a small chapel or church (WM038-017006-) belonging to the town of Kilbeggan, and to the parishioners of said monastery (WM037-017007-)’ (Erck 1846, 268) . According to Lewis (1837, ii, 51) the present C. of I. church ruins were first built in 1764 with a square tower added to the W end of the church in 1818 (Lewis 1837, ii, 19). Today only the W church tower that was built onto an earlier 18th century C. of I. church survives standing above the surface of the surrounding graveyard. It is not clear if this church was built on the site of the medieval church mentioned in 1589 or if a new church was built at this site c. 1613 with the incorporation of the town (Bradley et. al. 1985, 103). It is possible that the medieval parish church of Kilebggan was located in the nearby graveyard (WM038-017002-) to the S of the C. of I. church and that during the 17th century a new church was built where the C. of I. church is located today. In 1682 Piers (1981, 84) described Kilbeggan as ‘a corporation and market town, sending two burgesses to our parliament. This town is seated on the Brosny [Brosna] before described, over which it hath an antient [ancient] bridge, but now of late repaired, of lime and stone. In this town stands a church in repair’. The patron’s day at Kilbeggan was held on the 24th of July, the eve of the feast of St James (Ó Riain 2011, 93). The site of the Cistercian monastery (WM038-107007-) of Kilbeggan and a graveyard (WM038-017002-) lies 190m to the SSW and S respectively.

Compiled by: R. Barrett and Caimin O'Brien

Date of upload: 14 April 2014

References

Bradley, J., Halpin, A., and King, H. 1985 Urban archaeological survey - county Westmeath. Unpublished report commissioned by the Office of Public Works, Dublin.

Ó Riain, P. 2011 A dictionary of Irish Saints. Dublin. Four Courts Press.

Erck, J.C. (ed.) 1846-52 A repertory of the inrolments of the patent rolls of chancery in Ireland commencing with the reign of King James I, vol. 1, parts 1-2. Dublin.

Lewis, S. 1837 A topographical dictionary of Ireland, 2 vols. London. Lewis and Co.