Killaliathan Church Explained

Killaliathan Church
Other Name:	Killagholehane Church
Native Name:	Cill Achadh Uí Liatháin
Native Name Lang:	ga
Pushpin Map:	Ireland
Relief:	yes
Coordinates:	52.3318°N -8.9771°W
Country:	Ireland
Denomination:	Church of Ireland
Previous Denomination:	Catholic (pre-Reformation)
Functional Status:	inactive
Embedded:	Designation1: National Monument of Ireland Designation1 Number: 86 Designation1 Offname: Killaliathan Church^[1]
Years Built:	15th century AD
Closed Date:	1812
Length:	14m (46feet)
Width:	9m (30feet)
Floor Count:	1
Floor Area:	125m2
Materials:	limestone, mortar
Diocese:	Limerick and Killaloe

Killaliathan Church, also called Killagholehane Church, is a medieval church and a National Monument in County Limerick.^[2]

Location

The church is located south of Broadford, County Limerick.^[3]

History

The site was the location of an earlier Christian church, established c. 1200 after a summer snowfall that covered the entire area, except for the field, so the church was dedicated to Our Lady of the Snows.^[4] The land was donated by the local rulers, the Uí Liatháin, and so it was named Cill Achadh Uí Liatháin, "church of Uí Liatháin's field," or Killaliathan. The original church was destroyed in war in 1302, and a new church erected in its place. This was called Killagholehane (Cill Deochain Liatháin, "Deacon Liathán's church").^[5]

Killaliathan Church was replaced by a new Church of Ireland church in the village of Broadford in 1812. The graveyard is still in use.^[6]

Church

The division of the east window into three lights is unusual. The baptismal font, a 15th-century tomb, and part of the sacristy still remain. A gallery once stood above the doorway.^[7] The tomb may belong to the famous Ó Dálaigh bardic family.^[8]

Notes and References

1. Web site: National Monuments in State Care: Ownership & Guardianship . 4 March 2009 . national Monuments Service . 25 December 2021 . 9 July 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170709012416/https://www.archaeology.ie/sites/default/files/media/pdf/monuments-in-state-care-limerick.pdf .
2. Web site: Killagholehane Way | Limerick.ie. www.limerick.ie. 2 November 2019. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182136/https://www.limerick.ie/discover/eat-see-do/sports-recreation/activities/walking/county-limerick-trails/killagholehane-way.
   - Book: Golden Priest, Wooden Chalice. Tim. Norris. Tess. Livingstone. 2 November 2005. Connor Court Publishing Pty Ltd. 9780975801529. Google Books. 2 October 2020. 9 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309181746/https://books.google.com/books?id=cGUP-Gca5wUC&q=Killagholehane++&pg=PA14.
   - Web site: ByRoute 6.2 Co. Limerick // Co. Kerry | Ireland Byways. | Page 7. 2 November 2019. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182133/https://irelandbyways.co.uk/ireland-routes/byroute-6/byroute-63-co-limerick-co-kerry/7/.
3. Web site: Killaliathan - Topographical Dictionary of Ireland (1837). LibraryIreland. 2 November 2019. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182132/https://www.libraryireland.com/topog/K/Killaliathan-Upper-Connello-Limerick.php.
   - Book: A History of the Church in Killagholehane and Broadford. John O'Sullivan. 1988 . 2 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182130/http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/llBinder41.pdf . dead . 27 October 2022 .
4. Web site: Killagholehane Cemetery and Church. Discover Ireland. 2 November 2019. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182127/https://www.discoverireland.ie/Arts-Culture-Heritage/killagholehane-cemetery-and-church/86695.
5. Web site: Cill Deochain Liatháin/Killagholehane. Logainm. 2 November 2019. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182130/https://www.logainm.ie/en/1563.
   - Web site: Killagholehane Cemetery and Church . Ireland. 2 November 2019. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182140/https://www.ireland.com/what-is-available/attractions-built-heritage/churches-abbeys-and-monasteries/destinations/republic-of-ireland/limerick/broadford/all/1-86695/. dead.
6. Web site: Lacka Lower . Historic Graves . 2 November 2019. 2 November 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182137/https://historicgraves.com/graveyard/lacka-lower/li-klle.
7. Web site: Dromcolliher . 2 November 2019 . 2 November 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20191102182133/http://www.limerickcity.ie/media/drom11.pdf . dead .
8. Web site: Fence at Killagholehane church ruins. 19 November 2014. Flickr. 2 November 2019. 9 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220309181752/https://www.flickr.com/photos/juliek1967/15659619269/.