Graveyard in Kilkeary

Situated just off summit of low hillock on S-facing slope in pasture with good views of the surrounding countryside. According to the Annals, Cill Chéire [Kilkeary] was named after the Virgin Saint Ciar or Cera who died on the 5th of January in the year 679 (O'Donovan 1856, 287). The extant medieval church ruins may have been built on the site of an Early Christian church or nunnery founded by St. Ciar. The curving section of the E boundary wall of the graveyard may suggest the presence of an earlier earthen enclosure around the church site and this may indicate the presence of an early Christian enclosure at Kilkeary Church and graveyard. O'Hanlon (1875, 66) recorded that, 'The Poor Law Guardians of Nenagh Union have lately enclosed the graveyard with a wall'. Kilkeary church ruins (TN021-074001-) stands off centre to N within a sub-rectangular shaped graveyard (approx. dims. 40m N-S x 70m E-W) enclosed by a 19th century wall with entrance gate and stone stile at NE. An obelisk has been inserted into the E end of the church. Visible tombstones in the graveyard date from the eighteenth to the twentieth century - the gravestone of William Carroll referred to in the OS Letters dates to 1706. There is no cut stone visible in the graveyard or in the boundary wall which has been repaired in places. O'Hanlon (1875, 66) mentioned the presence of cut stone in the graveyard which he described as following; 'The church seems very ancient, and some of the old stones, which are scattered about the churchyard, are very long and broad. One of them measures 12 feet [3.65m] in length by 4 feet [1.2m] in width. All are covered over with moss. This ancient burial-place contains the tombs of the D'Altons of Knuck D'Alton, and of the O'Carrolls of Ballycrenode and Tulla, a branch and sept of the O'Carrolls of Ely O'Carroll'. Compiled and revised by: Caimin O'Brien. Date of revised upload: 07 January 2019