Unofficial guide. Not the National Monuments Service, the OPW, Fáilte Ireland or the landowner. Disclaimer
At a glance
- TypeChurch
- Date or period mentioned19th-century
- Recorded sizeint. 15.6m E-W; 6.6m N-S
- Condition (as surveyed)Ruined
What to look for
- East window
- Graveyard
Picked out from the Archaeological Survey description below.
Can you visit?
- No source says it is open to the public.Most monuments in Ireland stand on private farmland.
- Ask the landowner before crossing fields, close gates, leave the stones as you find them.Visiting responsibly
History and description
In the centre of Kilgarvan graveyard (KE094-004003-). The ruin of a rectangular gable-ended church (int. dims. 15.6m E-W; 6.6m N-S) built of coursed rubble set in a lime mortar.
Full archaeological record 263 words
In the centre of Kilgarvan graveyard (KE094-004003-). The ruin of a rectangular gable-ended church (int. dims. 15.6m E-W; 6.6m N-S) built of coursed rubble set in a lime mortar. Apart from the E gable the walls mostly survive to full height (H of side walls c. 2.4m) and are partially ivy clad. It is entered through a doorway (H 1.95m; int. Wth 1.65m) W-of-centre in the S wall. The door surround is missing but the rear embrasure is covered by a segmental arch. In the centre of the E gable is a window with a single pointed light (H 1.95m; Wth 0.22m); the splayed embrasure is covered by a segmental arch and the base consists of three stepped-down slabs. There is a lintelled window embrasure with a lintelled light (H 0.76m; Wth 0.18m) near the W end of the N wall and similar embrasure with a pointed light (H 1.1m; Wth 0.18m) near the E end of the N wall. There is another lintelled embrasure with a lintelled light (H 1.3m; Wth 0.18m) near the E end of the S wall. There is a wall press (Wth 0.6m; H 0.45m; D 0.45m) in the E end of the N and S walls, between the windows and the E wall. There is a broken stoup (H 0.46m; Wth 0.48m; D 0.24m) in the S wall, 2m E of the door. There is a graveslab (KE094-004005-) in the SW corner of the interior which is otherwise full of 18th/19th-century tombs and grave-markers. This is the remains of the medieval parish church of Kilgarvan. (OSL, 170)
Archaeological Survey of Ireland, National Monuments Service (CC BY 4.0) · Updated 30 May 2011 · Based on the Archaeological Inventory of County Kerry. Volume I: South-West Kerry. It describes the site as it was when surveyed.
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Around Kilgarvan Church
Other heritage nearby
- Dromagorteen Stone CircleStone circle · 9.5 km
Recorded within 5 km
- 23 ringfortsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 9 standing stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 ancient churchesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 holy wellsArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 2 ogham stonesArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 monastic siteArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 castleArchaeological Survey of Ireland
- 1 stone circleArchaeological Survey of Ireland
Walks and trails
- Kilgarvan Village LoopWalking Trail · 3.0 km · nearest point 0.1 km
- Kilbanow Mountain LoopWalking Trail · 5.3 km · nearest point 0.3 km
- Sheen Valley Cycle Trails - Priest's LeapRoad Cycling Trail · 57.5 km · nearest point 1.0 km
Outdoors, towns and places to stay
- Rossacroo WoodForests · 6.5 km
- Gougane Barra Forest ParkForests · 10 km
- Derrycunnihy Wood Nature ReserveNature reserves · 13 km
- Sheheree Bog Nature ReserveNature reserves · 15 km
- Muxnaw LodgeHistoric stays · 11 km
Other attractions nearby
- Michael J Quill CentreMuseums and Attraction · 1.6 km
- Beara Outdoor AdventuresWalking · 9.6 km
- Bonane Heritage ParkMuseums and Attraction · 10.0 km
- Gougane Barra Forest BathingNature and Wildlife · 10 km
What's on nearby
- Sorcha Richardson2026-11-05 · 16 km
- Gearoid McCarthy2026-11-06 · 16 km
- Declan O'Rourke: Oceanic2026-11-07 · 16 km


