What is recorded here

Killagha Abbey in Kilcolman, County Kerry, is a rectangular 13th century ruin where the graveyard has become so overgrown that one fragment still lies loose outside the south wall. Sixteen other fragments were reused inside the abbey fabric, one became a gravemarker beneath the piscina, and the rest scatter along the south and southeast edges. The place feels less like a monument than a house that dropped its own stones and waited for someone to carry them back.

13th century architectural fragment from Killagha Abbey (KE047-047001-) graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Laurence Dunne as follows; 'The extant, rectangular abbey [KE047-047001-] occupies the northernmost limits of the graveyard with its N elevation forming most of the N boundary. The graveyard is little used and much neglected, overgrown and very difficult to negotiate the interior as there is only a single overgrown perimeter path. Dispersed around the old medieval abbey and graveyard are many loose medieval architectural fragments [KE047-047003/005-] some of which were reused as gravemarkers while others lie loose on the ground. Twenty-nine (29) architectural fragments (AFs) were recorded in Killagha graveyard in the course of this survey. The majority (16) are re-used within the fabric of the medieval abbey while another is re-used as a gravemarker beneath the piscina. The remainder are disposed around the exterior S and SE limits of the abbey in the graveyard. A further 6 AFs as well as twelve masons marks were noted by the writer in September 2006 and June 2010. However the full number of the AFs were not located in the course of this study due to the extent of the vegetation cover. One of the missing fragments is a 13th century bowtell-moulded jamb of sandstone from a door or window lying loose outside the S elevation of the abbey'. See attached plan and photograph courtesy of Laurence Dunne Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien based on details provided by Laurence Dunne Date of upload: 23 May 2022

The monument record does not grant public access. Check the route and ask the landowner before entering private land.