churches historical kilkenny

Augustinian Friary

Eamonn Mac Risderd Butler of Pottlerath founded this Friary for the Augustinian Observants in 1462, but it was his son James who erected the existing buildings between 1467 and 1470, by which time the church had been affiliated to Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome. The church consists of one Long rectangle crowned by a central tower, and it has a decorative doorway and window in the east wall. The sedilia in the south wall of the choir is one of the most orn...

Ballylarkin Abbey near Freshford was built in 1350 by the Shorthall Family. The abbey is small in size but contains a wealth of splendid carvings and architectural features. Access direct, on private land....

the first church here was founded in 622 by St. Lachtain whose are was preserved in a 12th century shrine now in the National Museum in Dublin. The present church was built in 1730, but in the west gable is preserved a fine 12th century Romanesque doorway taken from an earlier church, the rest of which has now disappeared. The doorway, which is deep and has three orders, is covered by a hood mounding, and on the right and left has some unfortunately weathered figure sculpture. An inscription...

A 96 foot high Round Tower, missing original conical top, dominates this old monastic site whose early history is unknown. Near it stands a ruined church with flat-headed doorway and antae. The chancel and the rounded arch are later additions. The church may have been put to secular use in the 17th century tomb. In a field to the west stands a much work High Cross, possibly of 9th century date. Much of the cross is decorated with geometrical motifs. On the east face are representations of...

The remains of a Gothic church which was largely demolished in 1870. A medieval tower with a probably earlier, 12th century Romanesque doorway and a modern top still survives, together with the north wall of the church with its 15th century window. Below the later is a fine tomb dated 1622. Locked in the base of the tower is an interesting double-effigy tomb of the 15th century.

Knocktopher House nearby (private) incorporates part of the old Carmelite Friary of St. Saviour, while o...

A simple rectangular church of 12th century date, with later additions. There is a simple round-headed doorway with Romanesque mounding in the west wall, while the 12th century south door was altered later....

The most prominent monument on this old monastic site is the 6 storey high round Tower. Its door is blocked up, and its top storey may have been built at the same time as the rebuilding of the neighbouring church. The church consists of a pre-Norman nave and antae, which was later extensively rebuilt, and a chancel was added possibly in the 15th century. Near the south side of the church is a much defaced Ogham stone. A pilgrimage used to be held here in honour of St. Ciaran of Seir, who was...

A 12th century romanesque church consisting of a nave and chancel. The doorway has been much tampered with (possibly in the 16th century when the innermost order of the doorway was constructed). Over the window above the doorway is a sculptured panel showing the meeting of two people-it may have formed part of the original doorway, as at Freshford. Note the worn heads above the doorway; one is said to represent St. Moling, the founder of the church, and the other is said to be St. Fiacre. Th...

This collegiate church, was built in the late 13th century on the site of an earlier monastery. It was served by a college - clerics who lived in a community but who did not submit to the rule of a monastery. They lived in a house, now destroyed, beside the church. The church was a large and elaborate structure, with an aisled nave (the main part of the the church where the congregation sat) and a long chancel (the section of church where the altar was placed) and has high quality architectural...

This 13th century church, now in ruins, has an adjoining castellated presbytery or stone house. there are traces of the original consecration crosses to be seen the ogee headed doorways, remains of the altar, sedelia and book rest. Inside the ruined church on the North Wall is the effigy of a Norman Knight in full armour - a Cantwell warrior. It is referred to as Cantwell Fada and this effigy is the tallest of its kind in Britain or Ireland. The Cantwells were Lords of Kilfane and adjoining a...