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A heritage day out in County Kilkenny

Everything this site lists for County Kilkenny in one place: 271 entries across holy wells, pattern days, monuments, castles and the coast. Each links to the record or page it comes from. More about County Kilkenny →

On this site for County Kilkenny
Holy wells 157Pattern days 11Round towers 5High crosses 14Ogham stones 18Mass rocks 2Sweathouses 1Megalithic tombs 30Crannógs 1Abbeys and friaries 17Castles 15Lighthouses 0Award beaches 0National parks 0
Holy wells · 157

From: Sites and Monuments Record (Republic); Wikidata for Northern Ireland. Holy wells page →

Pattern days · 11
  • Maighin Well, Tullamaine · 21 January · Tullamaine (Ashbrook) · “Carrigan records that a pattern was formerly held at Tullamaine's holy well on 21 January.” · SMR KK022-027004 ↗
  • Holy well, Kells · St Bridget's Day, 1 February · Kells · “The 1839 OS Letters say stations and a pattern were held here "not many years since" on St Bridget's Day.” · SMR KK027-042 ↗
  • St Bridget's Well, Kilbride · 1 February, St Bridget's feast · Baunta Commons · “A pattern was held at Kilbride graveyard and well on St Bridget's feast until the beginning of the 19th century.” · SMR KK026-014 ↗
  • St Brigid's Well, Ballyconra · the saint's feast day · Ballyconra · “O'Kelly (1969) mentions St Brigid's Well, where a pattern was held on the saint's feast day.” · SMR KK009-013004 ↗
  • Holy well, Maudlin · 29 June · Maudlin (Fassadinin By., Kilmacar ED) · “A great pattern was held here on 29 June until 1838, when the parish priests suppressed it.” · SMR KK010-095 ↗
  • Holy Trinity Well, Ballycannon · second Sunday in July · Ballycannon · “O'Kelly (1969) wrote that a pattern was still held on the second Sunday in July at Holy Trinity Well.” · SMR KK013-085 ↗
  • Tobar San Séain (St James's Well), Mill Island · last Sunday in July · Mill Island · “The pattern day was the last Sunday in July until the early years of the 20th century.” · SMR KK026-011 ↗
  • Holy well, Brabstown · 15 August · Brabstown (Crannagh By.) · “Carrigan (1905) records a pattern formerly held here on 15 August.” · SMR KK018-038001 ↗
  • Holy well, Burnchurch · first Sunday of August · Burnchurch · “A pattern was held here on the first Sunday of August until the early 19th century, though people disputed whether the true feast was 1 or 3 August.” · SMR KK023-053003 ↗
  • Tobar an Chillín, Coolaghmore · first Sunday in September · Coolaghmore · “O'Kelly (1985) wrote that a pattern is held at the "little church well" on the first Sunday in September.” · SMR KK030-004008 ↗
  • Holy well, Johnswell · not recorded · Johnswell · “Bishop Marum suppressed the pattern altogether, although the pilgrimage around the spring continued for many years after.” · SMR KK015-009 ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record descriptions and Wikipedia. Pattern days page →

Round towers · 5
  • Aghaviller · “A modified 12th/13th-century church with later residential tower lies along the N wall of the graveyard c. 25m to the NE.” · SMR KK031-030001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Gardens (Kilkenny City By., St. Canice Par.) · “Round tower situated 1.5m S of the S wall of the S transept of St Canice's Cathedral.” · SMR KK019-026175- ↗ · map ↗
  • Grangefertagh · “According to the Annals of the Four Master, the round tower, along with ‘Eochaidh O’Cuim, the Chief Master’ who was inside it, was burned in 1156.” · SMR KK008-047004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Kilree (Kells By.) · “There round tower is located on the W edge of the graveyard of Kilree church.” · SMR KK027-044003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Tullaherin · “The origins of Tullaherin are unclear as the name has changed over the centuries, however, Manning (1998, 19-21) argues that Tullaherin equates with Telach nInmainne which is mentioned in the annals in 1026 when it was …” · SMR KK024-062004- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. Round towers page →

High crosses · 14
  • Aughkiletaun · “According to Grattan Bellew (ibid.) the, 'base of the granite church [this should read cross] can be seen behind the eastern gable which is all that now remains of the ancient church.” · SMR KK025-035003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ballyogan · “Killanin and Duignan (1967, 302) describe the church in Ballyogan as, ‘Páirc an Teampaill, alias the Chapel Field, site in turn of an early monastery (High Cross now at Graiguenamanagh) and a manorial church’, giving …” · SMR KK029-038002- ↗ · map ↗
  • Castletown (Iverk By) · “Associated with the early medieval monastery of Kilkieran, and within Kilkieran graveyard there is a tall slender high cross (H 3.2m; base of shaft Wth 0.28m, T 0.25m; arms Wth 0.43m), which stands E of the church and …” · SMR KK034-032003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Castletown (Iverk By) · “Associated with the early medieval monastery of Kilkieran, and within Kilkieran graveyard, standing SW of the tallest of the high crosses.” · SMR KK034-032004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Castletown (Iverk By) · “A sandstone high cross (H 2.45m; base of shaft Wth 0.45m, T 0.42m; arms Wth 1.08m), described by both Harbison (1992, 117) and Roe (1976, 35-7) as the West Cross.” · SMR KK034-032005- ↗ · map ↗
  • Castletown (Iverk By) · “Associated with the early medieval monastery of Kilkieran, and within the graveyard of Kilkiernan church stands the tapering shaft (H 1.43m; Wth at base 0.34m; Wth at top 25m; T at base 0.19m; T at top 0.18m) of a …” · SMR KK034-032006- ↗ · map ↗
  • Graiguenamanagh · present location of a moved object · “The S cross is associated with the medieval church in Aughkiletaun townland.” · SMR KK029-018002- ↗ · map ↗
  • Graiguenamanagh · present location of a moved object · “According to Killanin and Duignan (1967, 302), this, 'North Cross is from an early monastic site in Ballyogan.” · SMR KK029-018012- ↗ · map ↗
  • Killamery · “The high cross is on a hillock where there are a number of 18th and 19th century headstones.” · SMR KK030-008004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Kilree (Kells By.) · “The cross is within a small enclosure with a metal fence which rests on a stone platform which surrounds the stone.” · SMR KK027-044004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Leggetsrath East · “In the very centre of the enclosing ring, is an ancient pillar-stone of granite, standing to a height of 3½ ft. [c. 1m] over the ground, and about 17 in. [0.44m] wide and 12 in. [0.31m] thick; it is rough below, but …” · SMR KK019-030003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Leggetsrath West · present location of a moved object · “No. 173); vol. 2 fig. 471) as, 'the fragment of a head from a possible high cross that was stored in the National Museum of Ireland and which he described from a photograph taken by the Museum as a thin cross fragment …” · SMR KK019-026387- ↗ · map ↗
  • Thomastown · SMR KK028-040002- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ullard · “In the graveyard of Ullard 12th-century church and graveyard, located immediately SE of a handball alley which was built onto the E end of the church.” · SMR KK025-038002- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. High crosses page →

Ogham stones · 18
  • Ballyboodan · “On the N edge of the upper face, along the eastern portion for a length of c. 1.15m from the E edge, is an ogham inscription read by Macalister (1945, 42-4, no. 38) as: CORBI KOI MAQI LABRID.” · SMR KK031-058---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Churchclara · “This ogham stone, first noted in 1869, was reused as a sill for a round-headed window which was inserted in the E gable in the late 12th/early 13th century, replacing the original window (Ó Carragáin 2010, 158, fig. …” · SMR KK020-017003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Churchclara · “One of two red sandstone ogham stones incorporated into the fabric of Clara medieval church.” · SMR KK020-017010- ↗ · map ↗
  • Cloghabrody · “This record relates to the original location of the ogham stone found in 1969 in this townland: the precise location is not known.” · SMR KK028-101---- ↗
  • Dunbell Big · “Prim (1872-3, 225) published a map of the raths in Dunbell, with one of the enclosures, annotated ‘D’ and described as, ‘the rath in which the Oghams were found’” · SMR KK024-010003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Dunbell Big · “Prim (1872-3, 225) published a map of the raths in Dunbell, with one of the enclosures, annotated ‘D’ and described as, ‘the rath in which the Oghams were found’” · SMR KK024-010004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Fiddaun Upper · “A large grit pillar (H 2.1m; Wth 0.8m; T 0.5m) with an ogham inscription on both edges of the W face, which has 'suffered badly from cattle and weather-wear'” · SMR KK029-020---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Gardens (Kilkenny City By., St. Mary’s Par.) · present location of a moved object · “It is mounted on a wooden base in such a way as to obscure the final consonant on the first angle of the inscription.” · SMR KK019-131---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Gowran · “The ogham stone (max H 1.51m; max. Wth 0.43m; D 0.33) bears a 'large cross potent, crookedly set out [and] cut on the original base of the inscribed face . .” · SMR KK020-060007- ↗ · map ↗
  • Greenhill · “Unfortunately the slab was subsequently broken up when the graveyard wall was being built, but Moore (ibid.) goes on to say that he, 'discovered a small fragment of it inserted as [a] coigne [quoin] in the north angle …” · SMR KK013-067003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Jerpointabbey · present location of a moved object · “The church and holy well of Columbkille are on the E side of the stream and it may be that there is a connection between this church site and the ogham stone (pers. comm.” · SMR KK028-062011- ↗ · map ↗
  • Lamoge · “One of two ogham stones (see also KK034-013004-) located in the graveyard of Lamoge.” · SMR KK034-013003- ↗ · map ↗
  • Lamoge · “One of two ogham stones (see also KK034-013003-) located in the graveyard of Lamoge.” · SMR KK034-013004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Legan · “A cross-inscribed ogham stone (2.03 x 0.51 x 0.42m, converted from Macalister 1945, 38, no. 34), which was `formerly a corner-stone (?) in a now ruined structure called Legan Castle ' (Macalister, ibid.), is today …” · SMR KK028-026002- ↗ · map ↗
  • Leggetsrath West · present location of a moved object · “Fragment of an ogham stone (Wth 0.252m; T 0.11m), with two smooth stone faces (surviving Wth 0.144m and 0.13m respectively) on either side of a well-defined obtuse angle.” · SMR KK019-026398- ↗ · map ↗
  • Shankill · “It is mounted on a wooden base in such a way as to obscure the final consonant on the first angle of the inscription.” · SMR KK016-013---- ↗
  • Tullaherin · “One of two ogham stones (see also KK024-062009-) at this early church site, which also has a round tower.” · SMR KK024-062005- ↗ · map ↗
  • Tullaherin · “One of two ogham stones (see also KK024-006005-) at this early church site, which also has a round tower.” · SMR KK024-062009- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. Ogham stones page →

Mass rocks · 2
  • Ballynacronny · Penal Mass station · “Local information that people came to an old building in this field when Owning chapel was ‘closed against the priest and people’ (a reference to Carrigan 1905).” · SMR KK034-056---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Deerpark (Knocktopher By.) · Penal Mass station · “Midway along is an ‘altar’ flanked by pointed-arch recesses (H 1.1m; Wth 0.5m).” · SMR KK040-075---- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. Mass rocks page →

Sweathouses · 1
  • Castlegarden · “A roughly circular structure (ext. diam. c. 2.75m; wall T c. 0.6m; int. wall H 1.3m; overall int. H c. 1.6m), the roof of which corbels inwards towards a circular opening (c. 0.44m x 0.6m) at the apex of the roof.” · SMR KK024-110002- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. Sweathouses page →

Megalithic tombs · 30
  • Ballyhenebery · “The tomb is partly incorporated in a fence on the N side of a lane.” · SMR KK038-009---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ballylowra · “The portal tomb was destroyed between 1850 and 1868.” · SMR KK032-009001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ballylowra · “On the W-facing slope of the Jerpoint Hill ridge about 1.3 km SSW of a destroyed portal tomb.” · SMR KK032-010---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ballymartin (Knocktopher By.) · “It comprises a ruined gallery (L c. 4m; av.” · SMR KK040-037---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ballynoony West · “It consists of the remains of a gallery (L 5.2m; Wth 1m narrowing to 0.7m at E).” · SMR KK036-051---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ballynoony West · “The account would appear to describe the remains of a ruined megalithic gallery.” · SMR KK040-002001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Ballynoony West,Ballyvatheen · “This monument lay 2.5km NE of Mullinavat and about 750m SSW of the wedge-tomb (Kk. 6) in the same townland.” · SMR KK036-052---- ↗
  • Barrowmount · “The tomb (H 2.5m), aligned N-S, is very ruined and only one upright is now visible.” · SMR KK021-029---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Baunfree · “Described by Ó Nualláin and Cody (1987, 74-6) as consisting of, 'a ruined megalithic chamber within a circular orthostatic kerb, concentric to and just inside which there are seven stones of what may have been an inner …” · SMR KK034-031---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Baunmore (Galmoy By.) · “At one of the lowest points immediately below a gravel ridge, in generally flat terrain, in grassland.” · SMR KK008-109---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Boolyglass · “The remains comprise a gallery (L c. 5.1m), opening to the WNW.” · SMR KK035-112---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Borrismore · “This may have been a folly erected as part of the landscaping of the former demense and cannot be classified conclusively as a portal tomb.” · SMR KK012-062---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Clomantagh (Mountgarret) · “It consists of a ruined cairn (diam. c. 25m; H 1-2m).” · SMR KK008-124001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Coan West · “It is recorded in 1849-51 that, 'a sepulchral chamber was reported to have been discovered some years since by a man named Bradley on his farm at Coan-West in the parish of Dysert.” · SMR KK006-013---- ↗
  • Corluddy · SMR KK045-017---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Derrynahinch · SMR KK032-021---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Farnoge · “Each gallery appears to have been divided into two chambers.” · SMR KK040-020001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Garryduff (Iverk By.) · SMR KK035-114---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Glencloghlea · SMR KK037-023---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Harristown,Kilmogue · “The tomb is indicated on the 1st ed. OS map as ‘Leac an Scáil’, and versions of the name have appeared in various publications.” · SMR KK035-044---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Killonerry · “The monument is very ruined and comprises a roofstone (L 3.75m; Wth 3m; T 0.9m), resting above a displaced orthostat, probably a sidestone.” · SMR KK038-005---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Kilmogue · SMR KK035-087---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Knockroe (Kells By., Killamery Ed) · “There are very good views of hills to the SE-S-SW and of Slievenamon to the W, with Baunfree passage tomb on Kilmacoliver Hill being visible 3.6km to the SSE and the cairn on Slivevenamon being visible 11km to the WSW.” · SMR KK034-019001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Licketstown · “The exact nature of this site is uncertain and it cannot be classified with certainty as a megalithic tomb.” · SMR KK045-015---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Newmarket · “In 1983 the monument consisted of two portal stones (max. H 2.1m and 1.6m) which leaned markedly to the SE and indicated a chamber opening uphill to the SW.” · SMR KK031-031---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Owning · “Comprising a ruined chamber facing SSE represented by a broken W portal, a door-stone, the W sidestone and a leaning-in backstone.” · SMR KK035-053---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Owning · “Only an E end stone and adjoining N sidestone of a gallery remained in 1974.” · SMR KK035-096---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Raheen (Iverk By.) · “It comprises a small ruined chamber (L c. 1.8m; Wth 1m), facing uphill to ENE.” · SMR KK039-044---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Rathcurby South · “The tomb consists of a small chamber (L at least c. 1.3m; Wth c. 1m), aligned NNE - SSW.” · SMR KK042-050---- ↗ · map ↗
  • Tubbrid · “It consists of a chamber (L at least 2.5m) opening to the NE.” · SMR KK039-064---- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. Megalithic tombs page →

Crannógs · 1
  • Loughmerans · “In very boggy terrain, formerly a small lough and c. 60-80m from dryland to the S and E.” · SMR KK014-063---- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. Crannógs page →

Abbeys and friaries · 17
  • Barrowmount · “According to Carrigan (1905, vol. 4, 278-80), the Abbey of Killenny, a daughter house of Jerpoint Abbey, was located, ‘in the townland of Old Abbey, now Barrowmount, parish of Paulstown, in the ancient territory of the …” · SMR KK025-015001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Callan North · “However, following Edmund’s defeat in a battle in 1462 it appears that James, his eldest son, became the founder instead and, as such, was buried in the friary in 1487.” · SMR KK026-010016- ↗ · map ↗
  • Castlecolumb · SMR KK031-051001- ↗
  • Gardens (Kilkenny City By., St. Canice Par.) · “The Dominican Priory of the Holy Trinity, known as 'the Black Abbey', was founded by the younger William Marshal (d. 1231) in 1225.” · SMR KK019-026021- ↗ · map ↗
  • Gardens (Kilkenny City By., St. John's Par.) · “The priory of the Augustinian canons of St John the Evangelist occupied much of the medieval walled suburb of St John’s which was located on the E bank of the River Nore.” · SMR KK019-026068- ↗ · map ↗
  • Gardens (Kilkenny City By., St. John's Par.) · SMR KK019-026141- ↗
  • Gardens (Kilkenny City By., St. Mary’s Par.) · “Located within the NE angle of the Kilkenny city and incorporated within the city wall, one of the mural towers of which, known as Evans Turret, stands c. 75m N of the E gable of the friary church.” · SMR KK019-026101- ↗ · map ↗
  • Graiguenamanagh · “The Cistercian abbey of Duiske de valle sancti salvatoris (valley of the Holy Redeemer) was founded in 1204 by William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke and Leinster, though the foundation charter dates to 1207.” · SMR KK029-018001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Grangecuffe · “The “graveyard belonging to the monastery,” was in the next field, known as the Mooneearawrdh, or the high-meadow, but it was almost entirely destroyed many years ago by its then owner, who had a bye road run right …” · SMR KK023-096---- ↗
  • Grangefertagh · “Located on a former early medieval monastery probably founded by St Ciarán of Sir in the 6th century.” · SMR KK008-047001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Inistioge · SMR KK032-017004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Jerpointabbey · “The road from Thomastown to Ballyhale runs past the W side of the abbey.” · SMR KK028-062005- ↗ · map ↗
  • Kellymount · “The site of an abbey is indicated at this location on the 1st (1839) ed. and 1900 ed. OS 6-inch map.” · SMR KK015-032001- ↗ · map ↗
  • Knocktopherabbey · SMR KK031-017008- ↗ · map ↗
  • Loughill · “According to the OS Letters of 1839, ‘About one hundred yards west of the Church [KK001-004001-] is a small portion of an old wall believed by the people to be a part of an Abbey, and it is said by them that the Church …” · SMR KK001-004003- ↗
  • Loughill · “‘Loughill Monastery’, according to Carrigan (1905, vol. 2, 115-7), ‘stood about 150 yards to the south or south-east of the church, in the same field, to the west of Warren’s old house.” · SMR KK001-004004- ↗ · map ↗
  • Rathduff (Madden) · “The foundation lies immediately N of an early medieval church dedicated to St Kieran of Sighir with the possible remains of an ecclesiastical enclosure.” · SMR KK027-029004- ↗ · map ↗

From: Sites and Monuments Record. Abbeys and friaries page →

Castles · 15

From: Wikipedia's castle categories. Castles page →

Lighthouses · none on our lists

From: Wikipedia's list of lighthouses in Ireland. Lighthouses page →

Award beaches · none on our lists

From: Blue Flag and Green Coast awards. Award beaches page →

National parks · none on our lists

From: Wikipedia, National parks of Ireland. National parks page →

Before you go looking

Source: National Monuments Service, Archaeological Survey of Ireland, Sites and Monuments Record, open data via data.gov.ie ↗ (CC BY 4.0); every record links to the Historic Environment Viewer ↗. Northern Ireland: Northern Ireland Sites and Monuments Record (Department for Communities, Historic Environment Division), OpenDataNI ↗.

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