Church in Kilkeeran

Situated on a slight rise in a level landscape. It is described as a graveyard on the 1836 and 1910 eds of the OS 6-inch map, but John O’Donovan writing in 1836 says that there is an ‘old church’ in Kilkeeran (Herity 2001, 83). Cogan (1862-70, 2, 396) records that the church was pulled down and an ash tree stood over the site of the altar. A church at Kilkeeran in Castlejordan parish does not appear in the ecclesiastical lists, unless its name is not recognised. The graveyard is a subrectangular or hexagonal area (dims c. 50m E-W; c. 25-45m N-S) defined by masonry walls with headstones dating from 1776 to c. 2002, but there is no indication that it ever had a church. The graveyard has been extended to the E (dims c. 30m N-S; c. 20m E-W) as far as a N-S entrance lane. The above description is derived from the published 'Archaeological Inventory of County Meath' (Dublin: Stationery Office, 1987). In certain instances the entries have been revised and updated in the light of recent research. Compiled by: Michael Moore Date of revision: 8 April, 2015

The church in Kilkeeran was likely built in the early medieval period, possibly by a local monastic community, and is associated with an early Christian settlement. It is significant as a surviving example of a rural church that predates the 19th century and may have been dedicated to a local saint, though specific details of its style or dedication are not recorded.