Kilree facts for kids
| Cill Rí | |||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
 Location in Ireland
|
|||||||||||
| Monastery information | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other names | Cell-righ Cill Ruidhehi Kell Rudi |
||||||||||
| Established | 6th century | ||||||||||
| Disestablished | 1539 | ||||||||||
| Diocese | Ossory | ||||||||||
| People | |||||||||||
| Founder(s) | Rhuidche | ||||||||||
| Architecture | |||||||||||
| Status | ruined | ||||||||||
| Heritage designation |
|
||||||||||
| Style | Celtic monastic | ||||||||||
| Site | |||||||||||
| Location | Kilree, Kells, County Kilkenny | ||||||||||
| Coordinates | 52°31′05″N 7°16′07″W / 52.518056°N 7.268611°W | ||||||||||
| Visible remains | church, round tower, cross | ||||||||||
| Public access | yes | ||||||||||
Kilree is an old Christian monastery (a place where monks lived) and an important National Monument in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It's a cool historical site with a church, a tall round tower, and a special stone cross.
Contents
Where is Kilree Located?
Kilree is found about 2.4 kilometers (or 1.5 miles) south of a town called Kells, County Kilkenny.
Exploring Kilree's History
How Kilree Began
The monastery at Kilree is believed to have been started in the 6th century. A saint named Rhuidche supposedly founded it. The name Cell-righ (which means "Rhuidche's church") comes from him.
The Mystery of King Niall Caille
There's a local story about Niall Caille, who was a powerful High King of Ireland. People in the area believe he drowned in the Kings River near Callan in the year 846 AD. His body was then supposedly found near Kells, County Kilkenny.
Some local tales even say he was buried under the high cross at Kilree. Others claim he was buried outside the church because he wasn't Christian. However, old historical records say King Niall drowned in a different river, far away in Armagh. Also, he was a Christian king, so the story about him being pagan isn't likely true. It's more probable that this famous king wasn't connected to Kilree at all.
Later Years of the Monastery
By the year 1340, the Kilree site became part of Kells Priory. This was another important religious house nearby. In 1539, the monastery was given over to Henry VIII, the King of England. After this, the abbot (the head monk) was given a pension for life.
What You Can See at Kilree Today
Kilree has the remains of an old church, a tall round tower, and a unique high cross.
The Ancient Church
This church is very old, built before the Romanesque style became popular. You can see its "antae," which are special side walls that stick out. The church still has its original oval-shaped enclosure around it.
The Tall Round Tower
The round tower at Kilree stands about 26 meters (85 feet) tall. Its arched doorway is made of sandstone and is about 1.64 meters (5.4 feet) above the ground. This doorway has decorative patterns around it.
Near the top, where the bells would have been, there are four windows. These windows face the main compass directions (north, south, east, and west). The very top of the tower, called the cap, is now gone. However, you can still see the battlements, which are like a protective wall around the top. This tower is special because it sits on a rectangular stone base, a feature only found here and at Aghaviller.
The Impressive High Cross
The Kilree High Cross was put up sometime in the 8th or 9th century. It is 2.75 meters (9 feet) tall. The cross is covered with interesting designs, including raised bumps called "bosses" and geometric patterns.
On the east side of the cross, you can see a scene of people hunting. The west side shows two famous Bible stories: the Adoration of the Magi (when the wise men visited baby Jesus) and Daniel in the Lions' Den.
