Kilree is a former Christian monastery and

National Monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a spec ...

located in

County Kilkenny County Kilkenny ( gle, Contae Chill Chainnigh) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the South-East Region. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. Kilkenny County Council is the local authority for the cou ...

, Ireland.

Location

Kilree is located 2.4 km (1 mile) south of Kells, County Kilkenny.

History

The monastery at Kilree was supposedly founded in the 6th century by Saint Rhuidche, from which the name ''Cell-righ'' derives. Niall Caille,

High King of Ireland High King of Ireland ( ga, Ardrí na hÉireann ) was a royal title in Gaelic Ireland held by those who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over all of Ireland. The title was held by historical kings and later sometimes assigned ana ...

, is locally believed to have drowned in the Kings River at Callan in AD 846 and his body washed up near Kells, County Kilkenny. However the Annals of the Four Masters and Annals of Inishfallen are clear the king drowned in the river Callan near Armagh. Some local histories claim he was buried under the

high cross A high cross or standing cross ( ga, cros ard / ardchros, gd, crois àrd / àrd-chrois, cy, croes uchel / croes eglwysig) is a free-standing Christian cross made of stone and often richly decorated. There was a unique Early Medieval traditi ...

at Kilree, others that he was buried outside the church grounds there because he was a pagan. The Annals however record he was heavily involved in a power struggle between two dominant monastic traditions - that of Patrick versus Brigit, with Niall favouring the latter, so the tale of his

paganism Paganism (from classical Latin ''pāgānus'' "rural", "rustic", later "civilian") is a term first used in the fourth century by early Christianity, early Christians for people in the Roman Empire who practiced polytheism, or ethnic religions ot ...

is not credible. He was primarily the king of Ailech, which was in western

County Londonderry County Londonderry ( Ulster-Scots: ''Coontie Lunnonderrie''), also known as County Derry ( ga, Contae Dhoire), is one of the six counties of Northern Ireland, one of the thirty two counties of Ireland and one of the nine counties of Ulster. B ...

, again making it unlikely he is connected with Kilree. The site came into the possession of

Kells Priory ''Kells Priory'' () is one of the largest medieval monuments in Ireland. The Augustine priory is situated alongside King's River beside the village of Kells in the townland of Rathduff (Madden), about 15 km south of the medieval city of ...

by 1340. It was surrendered to

Henry VIII Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

in 1539, and he granted the abbot a life pension.

Buildings

Church

This is an early church with pronounced antae, indicating that it is pre- Romanesque in date. It still retains its oval enclosure.

Round tower

The

round tower A fortified tower (also defensive tower or castle tower or, in context, just tower) is one of the defensive structures used in fortifications, such as castles, along with curtain walls. Castle towers can have a variety of different shapes and ful ...

is about tall, depending on which ground level it is measured from. The arched sandstone doorway is above ground level and is framed by moulding. The bell-storey has four

lintel A lintel or lintol is a type of beam (a horizontal structural element) that spans openings such as portals, doors, windows and fireplaces. It can be a decorative architectural element, or a combined ornamented structural item. In the case of w ...

led windows facing the cardinal directions. The cap is gone but battlements remain. The tower stands on a rectangular stone pad-foundation, only found here and at

Aghaviller Aghaviller () National Monument, is a church and round tower in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Aghaviller gives its name to the wider townland, civil parish, and electoral district. Located south-east of Kilkenny, about six miles south of Thoma ...

High cross

Kilree High Cross was erected in the 8th/9th Century. It is tall and covered with bosses and geometric designs. The east face has a hunting scene. The west face depicts the Adoration of the Magi and Daniel in the Lions' Den.

References

{{Reflist Christian monasteries in the Republic of Ireland Religion in County Kilkenny Archaeological sites in County Kilkenny National Monuments in County Kilkenny