Kilcoole Church facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kilcoole Church |
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Cill Chomhghaill
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Kilcoole Church in 2017
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 Kilcoole Church
Location in Ireland
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| 53°06′26″N 6°03′46″W / 53.107089°N 6.062804°W | |
| Location | Lott Lane, Kilcoole, County Wicklow |
| Country | Ireland |
| Denomination | Pre-Reformation Catholic |
| History | |
| Founded | 12th century |
| Dedication | Mary, mother of Jesus |
| Architecture | |
| Style | Celtic Christianity |
| Years built | 12th century |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 23 m (75 ft) |
| Width | 6 m (20 ft) |
| Height | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Number of floors | 1 |
| Floor area | 140 m2 (1,500 sq ft) |
| Materials | stone |
| Administration | |
| Diocese | Dublin |
Kilcoole Church, also known as Old Kilcoole Church, is a very old church located in Kilcoole, County Wicklow, Ireland. It was built a long time ago, in the 12th century. Today, it is protected as a National Monument because of its historical importance.
Where is Kilcoole Church?
Kilcoole Church is found on Lott Lane, right in the middle of Kilcoole village. It's about 1.5 kilometers (1 mile) west of the seashore. This church is special because it's the easternmost National Monument in the Republic of Ireland.
History of Kilcoole Church
The church gets its name from a saint called Comgall. This isn't the famous Saint Comgall from Bangor. The church was built in the 1100s and was dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus. This means it was named in her honor.
One important person buried at Kilcoole Church was Thady Byrne of Ballygannon. He was a senior member of the O'Byrne family. He was buried there in 1707.
What the Church Looks Like
The church is built in a style called "nave and chancel." The nave is the main part of the church where people would sit. The chancel is the part near the altar. The chancel probably had a steep stone roof a long time ago.
Inside the nave, you can see a square baptismal font. This is a basin used for baptisms. There is also a cross slab, which is a stone with a cross carved into it. You can also spot a small, round-headed window on the south wall.
Later, a two-story living area was added to the west side of the church. This part might have been used as a home for a priest or caretaker.
About 100 meters (109 yards) northeast of the church, there is a holy well. These wells were often believed to have special powers or were linked to saints.
