Keel Burial Ground and Church

The medieval church of Kilgarrylander also known as 'Garrinlondrye' is located in the townland of Keel (An Chill), parish of Kilgarrylander (Cill Gharraí an Lóndraigh), diocese of Ardfert, barony of Trughanacmy. In 1576, Queen Elizabeth granted a 21 year lease to Thomas Clinton, 'of the site of the abbey of Kylaha [KE047-047001-] alias our Lady abbey de Bello Loco, co. Kerry' which included 'half the rectories of Kiltullaugh, and Garrynlondry' (Nicholls 1994, 378). Twelve years later, in 1588 Queen Elizabeth granted a 21 year lease to 'Thomas Springe; of the site of the abbey of Killaha, alias our Lady Abbey de Bello Loco, co. Kerry' which included 'a moiety of the rectories of Kiltalaghe and Garrinlondrye' (ibid., 53). In 1605, James I, granted lands to George Thornton of Limerick which included the 'the moiety of the rectories of Kiltallaugh and Garrinlondrie' (Erck 1846-52, 189). In 1615 the Royal Visitation of the Diocese of Ardfert recorded that; 'The vicaradge of Garryllondry [Garranclandrig] and the Parsonadge of Ballinvolir [Ballinvoher]. Sequestered by me to Roger Davies minister. Valoris 3 libri [pounds]. Church up indifferent well' (Murphy 1915, 186).

Medieval church ruins described in 1841 as; ‘Nothing now remains of the old Church of this Parish but the West gable and twenty four feet [7.3m] of the length of the South wall. The length of the building cannot be ascertained, but its breadth appears to have been about twenty one feet six inches [6.5m]. The South wall is two feet ten inches [0.86m] in thickness and about ten feet [3m] high and built of brown freestone cemented with lime and sand mortar. The doorway is on the West gable; it is quadrangular on both sides, its internal part is formed of hammered stones, and its external part of chiselled ones, and measures four feet two and a half inches [1.3m] in height and two feet five inches [0.73m]. The lintel is also chiselled and is three feet long [0.9m], seven inches [0.17m] high and enters the wall ten inches [0.25m]. This however, is not an old doorway. A pattern was formerly held at this church on the eleventh of February, but no saint is remembered at present’ (OSL; O’Donovan 1983, 103-4).

St. Carthage’s Church ruins described in 1942 as follows; ‘A gable and portion of the side walls of this ancient church remain, in Kill graveyard. Tradition holds that it was here St. Carthage received Holy Orders. Born in the vicinity, the saint is said to have tended sheep and cattle as a boy, on the slopes of Sliabh Mish. When 12 yrs. old he chanced one evening to pass near the monastery in search of strayed animals, and was so enraptured by the beautiful singing of the monks that he crept inside the walls where he fell asleep. He was later found and brought home by searchers from his father’s house. After some time he begged permission to go to the monastery, where he was educated and ordained. In later years he founded monasteries in the place now called Castlemaine and at Coolcleane, 2 miles away, before setting out on his great missionary work in various parts of Ireland’ (ITA Survey).

The church name of Cill Gharraidh Londrais means the Church of Garrylander, or the Field or Garden of Landers, a family name of English origin (OSL). Church ruins and graveyard surveyed in 2012 and described by Dunne (2012) as follows; 'The upstanding relict remains of the W gable and S wall are all that survives above ground of the parish church of Kilgarrylander, much as O’Donovan recorded it in 1841. The W gable is in a poor condition but amazingly still stands to full height even though the outer facing stones have been robbed or tumbled out in several areas. Furthermore, the majority of the pointing has disappeared and there is extensive ivy growth also. There is a large pile of loose stones within and outside the doorway in the W gable. The surviving section of the S elevation stands to full height and is in a much better condition and well pointed. The SW and NW corners of the church have a distinct featured batter or buttress like feature. This feature though does not extend along the S elevation and is much robbed out especially at the NW corner'.