Killaliathan Church, also called Killagholehane Church, is a medieval church and a National Monument in County Limerick.[2]

Killaliathan Church
Killagholehane Church
Cill Achadh Uí Liatháin
Killaliathan Church is located in Ireland
Killaliathan Church
Killaliathan Church
52°19′55″N 8°58′38″W / 52.331812°N 8.977135°W / 52.331812; -8.977135
LocationLacka Lower, Broadford, County Limerick
CountryIreland
DenominationChurch of Ireland
Previous denominationCatholic (pre-Reformation)
History
DedicationOur Lady of the Snows
Architecture
Functional statusinactive
Years built15th century AD
Closed1812
Specifications
Length14 m (46 ft)
Width9 m (30 ft)
Number of floors1
Floor area125 m2 (1,350 sq ft)
Materialslimestone, mortar
Administration
DioceseLimerick and Killaloe
Designations
Official nameKillaliathan Church[1]
Reference no.86

Location

edit

The church is located 1.6 kilometres (0.99 mi) south of Broadford, County Limerick.[3]

History

edit

The site was the location of an earlier Christian church, established c. 1200 after a summer snowfall that covered the entire area, except for the field, so the church was dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows.[4] The land was donated by the local rulers, the Uí Liatháin, and so it was named Cill Achadh Uí Liatháin, "church of Uí Liatháin's field," or Killaliathan. The original church was destroyed in war in 1302, and a new church erected in its place. This was called Killagholehane (Cill Deochain Liatháin, "Deacon Liathán's church").[5]

Killaliathan Church was replaced by a new Church of Ireland church in the village of Broadford in 1812. The graveyard is still in use.[6]

Church

edit

The division of the east window into three lights is unusual. The baptismal font, a 15th-century tomb, and part of the sacristy still remain. A gallery once stood above the doorway.[7] The tomb may belong to the famous Ó Dálaigh bardic family.[8]

References

edit
  1. ^ "National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship" (PDF). national Monuments Service. 4 March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 July 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  2. ^ "Killagholehane Way | Limerick.ie". www.limerick.ie. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
    - Norris, Tim; Livingstone, Tess (2 November 2005). Golden Priest, Wooden Chalice. Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd. ISBN 9780975801529. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 2 October 2020 – via Google Books.
    - "ByRoute 6.2 Co. Limerick // Co. Kerry | Ireland Byways. | Page 7". Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  3. ^ "Killaliathan - Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837)". LibraryIreland. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
    - John O'Sullivan (1988). A History of the Church in Killagholehane and Broadford (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  4. ^ "Killagholehane Cemetery and Church". Discover Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  5. ^ "Cill Deochain Liatháin/Killagholehane". Logainm. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
    - "Killagholehane Cemetery and Church". Ireland. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  6. ^ "Lacka Lower". Historic Graves. 29 June 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  7. ^ "Dromcolliher" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 November 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2019.
  8. ^ "Fence at Killagholehane church ruins". 19 November 2014. Archived from the original on 9 March 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2019 – via Flickr.