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Killiney Church
Nuns' Abbey
Cill Iníon Léinín
Killiney church 0059.JPG
Killiney Church is located in Dublin
Killiney Church
Killiney Church
Location in Dublin
53°15′17″N 6°06′59″W / 53.25472°N 6.11631°W / 53.25472; -6.11631
Location Marino Avenue West, Killiney, Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown
Country Ireland
Denomination Pre-Reformation Catholic
History
Founded 11th century
Architecture
Style Norman
Years built 11th century
Specifications
Length 11.5 m (38 ft)
Width 9 m (30 ft)
Administration
Diocese Dublin

Killiney Church is a very old and interesting church located in County Dublin, Ireland. It has a long history, dating back to the 11th century. However, the site itself was important even earlier, around the 6th century. This historic spot was once home to a monastery and is linked to some fascinating stories about early Irish saints. Today, it stands as a protected National Monument of Ireland.

Where is Killiney Church?

Killiney Church is found about 240 meters (about 787 feet) west of the coast in County Dublin, Ireland. It's also about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) south of Killiney Hill. Today, the church site is surrounded by modern houses. You can find it near Marino Avenue West in Killiney.

History of the Site

Killiney Church 3
View of the entrance

The area where Killiney Church stands has been a special place for a very long time.

Early Monastery

From the 6th to 7th centuries, a monastery was located on this very spot. A monastery is a place where monks or nuns live and worship. The name of this early site was Cill Ingean Léinín. This means "Church of the Daughters of Léinín" in Irish.

The Seven Sisters

The name refers to seven virgin sisters who lived there. Their names were Aiglenn, Macha, Luiden, Druiden, Luicill, Bimtach, and Briga. One of the sisters, Briga, is also known as the patron saint of Tully Church. Their brother was a famous saint named Colmán of Cloyne (Colmán mac Léníne), who lived from 530 to 606 AD. The festival day for these sisters was celebrated on March 6th.

Building the Church

The church building you see today was constructed much later, in the 11th century. This means it was built during the Norman period in Ireland. The church is a great example of the ancient buildings that still stand in Ireland.

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