Kilskyre, situated within sight of Loughcrew and close to the monastic town of Kells, has a rich heritage. This includes several passage tomb cemeteries, three important early Christian monastic sites, its Norman castles, Mass rocks and Great houses. It is the birthplace of poets and saints, and leaders of Church and State. Today, its vibrant community spirit is evident from the multiplicity of sporting, cultural, historical and charitable organisations in the parish.
See below for some historical facts and figures that have been or are located in Kilskyre:
1. St. Scire’s Abbey
Scire was the grand daughter of King Laoghaire and established her monastery in the 6th century. It flourished and became very large, prosperous and a great place of learning. It was burned several times in the 10th and 12th centuries by the Vikings and Irish raiders. Its ruins and the remains of the Round Tower are located in the old cemetery where the old Faire Castle of Kilskeer mentioned in the Down Survey once stood. Geophysical surveys have also detected remains of the ecclesiastical enclosures in the fields surrounding the modern graveyard
2. St. Scire’s Well
Holy wells had a very prominent place in the faith life of early Christian Ireland, offering visitors a peaceful place for personal devotion, prayer and healing. Ireland has far more holy wells than any other country. St. Scire’s Well is located on the Kilskyre to Clonmellon Road. The well was restored in 2008 by the local historical society. In Kilskyre, Saint Scire was locally remembered on 28th September, but her actual feast day as appointed in the ancient martyrologies is fixed on 24th March.
3. Brian O’Higgins
Brian O’Higgins was born in Glen na Mona in Kilskyre on 1st July 1882. A prolific writer and poet, he was involved in the national struggle and fought in the GPO in 1916. He was imprisoned and spent the remainder of his life fostering all things Irish. He was active in politics both before and after Irish independence and published The Wolfe Tone Annual from 1932 to 1962. He died on 10th March 1963. The local GAA Park is dedicated to his memory.
4. Michael Gary
Michael Garry was a local poet born in Miltown in 1891. He produced 2 books of poetry, ‘Poems of Michael Garry’, which are available in Meath County Library. He died on 3rd February, 1985, and is buried in Kilskyre church graveyard. A commemorative seat was erected at White Cross where he regularly sat for inspiration to compose his poetry.
5. The White Cross
The White Cross is said to be the gateway to the ancient monastery of St. Scire. There is a tradition that St. Scire and St. Colmcille held a meeting at this spot. Another tradition states that a lady and her white horse are buried here. There is also a monument nearby to the memory of Richard Connell who was murdered by Ribbonmen here on his way home from mass in 1857.
6. Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori
For 1,000 years, there was a church on the site of St. Scire’s monastery. Over the next 300 years, there was a church behind the old Post Office and later a church in the grove between the Parochial House. The present church was built between 1847 and 1854, through the efforts of Fr. Patrick Kelly who was deeply involved in the Catholic Emancipation, Repeal, Tithe War and Tenants Rights Movements. It was designed by JJ McCarthy, a student of the great Pugin, who designed the interior of Westminster.
7. Old School 1836
The Old School House, opposite the present church, was built in 1836. Boys and girls had different entrances (wall plaques still visible), and were taught separately, girls upstairs, boys downstairs. Generations of Kilskyre people were educated here, including Brian O’Higgins, Michael (The Poet) Garry and Jim Connell. It was decommissioned in 1970, when a new co-educational school was built on a new church site in the village. The remains of a cocoa house on the school site, still stands.
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Images by Barry Cronin.
Kilskyre, County Meath
