Kilbride ()
is a rural
townland
A townland (; Ulster-Scots: ''toonlann'') is a traditional small land division used in Ireland and in the Western Isles of Scotland, typically covering . The townland system is of medieval Gaelic origin, predating the Norman invasion, and mo ...
in
County Westmeath
County Westmeath (; or simply ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland. It is in the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It formed part of the historic Kingdom of ...
, Ireland.
The townland, which is approximately in area,
had a population of 26 people (in 10 occupied houses) as of the
2011 census. Kilbride townland is located within a
civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government. Civil parishes can trace their origin to the ancient system of parishes, w ...
of
the same name.
The town of
Dalystown
Dalystown () is a village in Carrick, County Westmeath, Ireland. It is located in the south of the county on the N52 road, to the north of Tyrrellspass and Rochfortbridge.
The village has a national school and a public house. Lough Ennell
...
lies to the west, with
Rochfortbridge
Rochfortbridge () is a village in County Westmeath, Ireland. The village is located at the intersection of the R400 and the R446 (formerly the N6) roads. As of the 2016 census, the population of Rochfortbridge was 1,473.
History
Rochfortb ...
and the townlands of
Castlelost and
Castlelost West to the south.
History
Evidence of ancient settlement in the area includes a number of
ringfort
Ringforts or ring forts are small circular fortification, fortified settlements built during the Bronze Age, Iron Age and early Middle Ages up to about the year 1000 AD. They are found in Northern Europe, especially in Ireland. There are ...
,
bawn
A bawn is the defensive wall surrounding an Irish tower house. It is the anglicised version of the Irish word ''bábhún'' (sometimes spelt ''badhún''), possibly meaning "cattle-stronghold" or "cattle-enclosure".See alternative traditional s ...
and
holy well
A holy well or sacred spring is a well, Spring (hydrosphere), spring or small pool of water revered either in a Christianity, Christian or Paganism, pagan context, sometimes both. The water of holy wells is often thought to have healing qualitie ...
sites within Kilbride townland.
A carved recumbent stone, known locally as the "De Profundis Stone", is also in Kilbride.
Shaped into a "coffin-like" shape with a crude cross carved into the top, the stone is approximately in length and was possibly used to mark an ancient graveyard.
It takes its name from a local tradition of stopping a funerary procession at the stone, and reciting the "De Profundis" (a colloquial name for
Psalm 130
Psalm 130 is the 130th psalm of the Book of Psalms, one of the penitential psalms and one of 15 psalms that begin with the words "A song of ascents" (Shir Hama'alot). The first verse is a call to God in deep sorrow, from "out of the depths" or ...
of the Old Testament). The Kilbride slab, made of limestone, is the only known remaining example in Ireland at which this "De Profundis" tradition was performed.
The ruin of Dunboden Park, a 19th century estate house, is also in the area.
The estate was historically associated with the Cooper family.
While the main estate house is now in ruin, a number of structures on the demesne (including a mausoleum and stable block) remain standing.
Notes
References
{{Reflist
Townlands of County Westmeath